House Votes to Censure Democrat Al Green After Disruption During Presidential Address

On Thursday morning, in a decision supported by all Republicans and ten Democratic lawmakers, the House voted to formally censure Texas Democrat Rep. Al Green. Green faced this disciplinary action after openly disrupting President Trump's speech to a joint session of Congress earlier in the week. During the address, Green stood up, raised his cane toward President Trump, and loudly voiced his disagreement, notably over Trump's stance on Medicaid.

Following the 224 to 198 vote, Green was required to stand in the well of the House chamber while the resolution condemning his behavior as inappropriate and disrespectful was read out loud. House Speaker Mike Johnson had previously attempted to regain order during the speech, instructing Green to sit down, and later directing the sergeant at arms to remove him from the chamber when he refused.

Censure, described as a formal reprimand from the legislative body, serves as a significant, although symbolic, disciplinary measure. While it brings substantial reputational damage and historical notoriety, censuring does not remove members from office or impose tangible penalties beyond the public rebuke. Historically rare, censures have become somewhat more common recently, with three Democrats—Adam Schiff, Rashida Tlaib, and Jamaal Bowman—and one Republican, Paul Gosar, all receiving this sanction over the past few years.

The resolution to censure Green was introduced by Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse of Washington, who emphasized that the decision was not personal and underscored the importance of maintaining decorum within the chamber. He described the censure as a necessary wake-up call concerning declining standards of behavior, particularly given the heightened tensions witnessed during Trump's speech.

Green displayed no regret following the vote, confirming that he would "do it again," motivated by his strong opposition to the president's plans to cut Medicaid, which he argued would harm and potentially endanger the lives of his constituents. During the debate over the resolution, Green notably shook hands with Newhouse and expressed no animosity over those supporting the censure.

While some, like Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern, condemned the censure as a "selective outrage" tactic, certain conservative Republicans believed it insufficient. Members of the House Freedom Caucus, led by Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, insisted on additional disciplinary actions, proposing to strip Green of his position on the House Financial Services Committee. They plan to introduce a resolution to accomplish that removal, indicating further developments are expected soon.