Houston Democratic Rep. Al Green was removed from the House chamber Tuesday night during President Donald Trump's State of the Union address after rising from his seat and holding a hand-written sign reading "Black People Aren't Apes" - marking the second consecutive year the 78-year-old congressman has been ejected from a Trump address to Congress.
The House Sergeant at Arms approached and escorted Green from the chamber barely two minutes into the address. House Speaker Mike Johnson slammed the gavel and called for order, telling Green to take his seat. When Green refused, Johnson ordered him forcibly removed.
Two Trump allies - Rep. Troy Nehls of Fort Bend County and Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma - had approached the area where Green was sitting before Capitol Police escorted him out. Video shows Nehls grabbing the sign as Green was escorted out. Before Green exited, some Republicans began chanting "USA."
The sign appeared to be in response to a video clip shared on Truth Social by Trump earlier this month showing the faces of former President Barack Obama and ex-first lady Michelle Obama superimposed over the bodies of apes as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" played in the background. The White House initially dismissed the bipartisan uproar, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying, "This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from The Lion King." Trump later deleted the video but did not apologize.
Speaking to reporters after his removal, Green was unapologetic. "I don't think the president has really received the message that it's unacceptable," Green said. "Tonight I wanted him to have a person confront him and let him know that Black people aren't apes, that Black people are not going to tolerate this kind of behavior."
"Last year was spontaneity. This year was intentionality," Green said of his actions.
The protest comes at a politically precarious moment for Green. He is in a hotly contested primary in the newly drawn 18th District, which includes Houston, facing off against Rep. Christian Menefee, who recently won a special election to replace the late Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner. The primary is March 3.
Trump pointed toward the Democratic side of the chamber and responded: "These people are crazy."
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