House Republicans are moving swiftly to reprimand Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) after he was ejected from the House chamber for repeatedly interrupting President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night.
GOP Rep. Daniel Newhouse (R-Wash.) introduced a censure resolution on Wednesday, condemning Green’s “numerous interruptions” as a breach of decorum.
“Decorum and order are the institutional grounds for the way we do business in the United States Congress, and the sheer disregard for that standard during President Trump’s address by the gentleman from Texas is unacceptable,” said Newhouse. “A Member’s refusal to adhere to the Speaker’s direction to cease such behavior, regardless of their party, has and will continue to be reprimanded in the people’s House.”
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The incident unfolded minutes into Trump’s speech on March 4, 2025, when Green, a long-time critic of the president, stood, waved his cane, and shouted that Trump lacked a mandate to cut Medicaid. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) ordered the sergeant-at-arms to remove Green after he ignored calls to sit down, prompting chants of “USA! USA!” from Republicans.
Newhouse, speaking on the House floor, called the disruption “beyond the pale,” arguing it undermined the chamber’s standards. “We have to uphold the expectations of decorum here, or else, what are we? Just a club where everybody yells at each other,” he said.
Newhouse’s resolution, formally titled H. Res. ll in the 119th Congress, states: “Whereas on March 4, 2025, during the joint session of Congress … the President of the United States … had his remarks interrupted by the Representative from Texas, Mr. Green; Whereas the conduct of the Representative from Texas disrupted the proceedings … and was a breach of proper conduct; and Whereas after numerous disruptions, the Representative from Texas had to be removed from the chamber by the Sergeant at Arms.”
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It calls for Green to be censured, to present himself in the House well for the pronouncement, and for the Speaker to publicly read the resolution.
The resolution, deemed “privileged” under House rules, requires a vote within two legislative days—a procedural fast-track that Republicans expect to clear by Thursday. Democrats’ attempt to table the measure failed on Wednesday, with a 209-211 party-line vote ensuring the censure moves forward. If passed, Green would become the fifth member censured this decade, a once-rare rebuke that signals escalating partisan tensions.
Green, unapologetic, defended his actions as a heartfelt stand for constituents reliant on Medicaid. “What I did was from my heart. People are suffering,” he told reporters Wednesday. “I will suffer the consequences.”
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The 77-year-old Houston lawmaker, who has previously pushed to impeach Trump, added, “I didn’t just say you don’t have a mandate. I said you don’t have a mandate to cut Medicaid.”
The Freedom Caucus had warned Democrats on X of consequences for disruptions, stating, “The heckler’s veto will not be tolerated.”
Newhouse, who beat out rival resolutions, acknowledged the GOP’s eagerness to act. “I was the first to approach the speaker about this,” he said. “So, here I am.”
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