Chaos erupted in the House chamber on Tuesday when Representative Al Green (D-Texas) was escorted out shortly after President Trump began his State of the Union address, as reported by The Hill. Green held up a sign that read, “BLACK PEOPLE AREN’T APES,” making quite a statement right as President Trump entered.
It was a pretty intense moment, with several members of Congress getting involved. Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) reportedly approached Green to discuss the sign, and Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) even tried to pull the sign away. However, Green quickly pulled it back, maintaining his protest. Ultimately, security officers led the Texas Democrat out of the chamber, much to the audible cheers of some Republicans present. Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas) had to hold back Nehls as Green was being escorted away.
After leaving the chamber, Green spoke about his actions, explaining that the sign directly referenced a since-deleted video clip that President Trump had previously posted. This clip allegedly depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. Green felt strongly that this kind of imagery couldn’t just pass by without notice.
Al Green has never shied away from publicly protesting against President Trump
“The President has depicted Black people, two prominent black people, the President and the First Lady, as apes. That cannot go unnoticed,” Green stated emphatically. He added that he refuses to let such actions be overshadowed by other events, emphasizing that it’s an insult not only to the Obamas but to him personally as a Black person. Green expressed his desire for President Trump to know that “somebody has the courage to tell him to his face, and that’s what I did.”
Green also shared that he wasn’t at all surprised by being escorted out of the chamber. He seemed prepared for the consequences of his protest, explaining, “on some issues, it’s better to stand alone than not stand at all.” He clearly stands as a minority among his Democrat colleagues when it comes to direct acts of protests like this one.
This isn’t the first time Green has made a dramatic stand during a presidential address. Last March, during President Trump’s speech to Congress, Green stood up to assert that the president lacked a mandate, even raising his walking cane in President Trump’s direction. That incident also led to Green’s removal from the chamber, with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) ordering the sergeant-at-arms to “restore order.”
The House later censured Green in a vote that largely followed party lines.
Published: Feb 25, 2026 12:30 pm