(Updated with more details) Democrats may have been hushed in their response so far to Donald Trump’s second administration, but for a brief turn tonight at least one Democrat was not so silent as the 47th President addressed a joint session of Congress.
Within minutes of Trump taking to the lectern in front of Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) members of the opposition began booing and jeering the Republican. In a sight almost unseen in modern times, in these very unprecedented times, Trump’s partisan remarks were cut short specifically by Rep. Al Green from Texas.
As fellow Democrats heckled, Republicans chanted “USA, USA,” and a silent Trump stood there the 11-term Congressman was warned by Johnson to “cease any further disruption.” Green wasn’t the only member on his feet, Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Nancy Mace (R-SC) scolded the Texan for his outburst – a bit rich coming from frequent Joe Biden heckler Taylor Greene.
With his Democratic colleagues now quiet, Rep. Green did not comply with Johnson’s demands.
In a very rare scene, the Congressman with the same name as the iconic soul singer and pastor, was soon escorted out by the Sargent-at-Arms. It all played out for the nation and the world to see on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, the BBC, ABC, CBS, C-Span, CBS and more, as well as online.
Very soon afterwards Trump openly mocked the Democrats back, and they let him.
“This is my fifth such speech to Congress, and once again, I look at the Democrats in front of me, and I realize there is absolutely nothing I can say to make them happy or to make them stand or smile or applaud,” he bellowed as Democrats sat on their hands. “Nothing I can do.”
Even before Rep. Green’s removal, a number of prominent Democrats were not even attending tonight’s speech. Of the ones who were there in the closely divided House, a number of female members of the party like former Speaker Nancy Pelosi are in their seats in pink. Additionally, as many Democrats are wearing pins in support of Ukraine against invasion from Putin’s Russia, members of the Black Caucus are wearing black.
Some members like Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) and California’s Sydney Kamlager-Dove just walked out on Trump, saying “there’s only so much bullsh*t a person can take.”
In a further break from bipartisan tradition, there were no Democrats escorting Trump down the aisle when he entered the chamber.
In fact, there was a dust-up between at least one Democrat and Republican before Trump started speaking. As the former Celebrity Apprentice host grasped the outstreched hands of Republicans, Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX) grabbed a “This Is Not Normal” sign from Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) and tossed it away.
Democratic leaders reportedly told their members to resist shouting out tonight in what is expected to be a 90-minute long speech from Trump. However, the likes of Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) has a “Musk Steals” sigh and Rep Delia Ramirez (D-Il) could be seen Tuesday in a shirt that says “NO KING. NO COUP.”
As Trump went through his usual greatest hits with falsehoods galore, he praised the attack on the bureaucracy and institutions by Elon Musk and his DOGE group — to more muted boos from Democrats. Trump also attacked Joe Biden as the “worst President ever” while bragging about dismantling his predecessor’s administration’s policies.
At the same time Rep. Green spoke with reporters outside.
Green told the White House press pool that he was led out because “he repeatedly yelled at Trump that the president had ‘no mandate’ to cut Medicaid.” The Lone Star state Democrat added. “It’s worth it to let people know that there are some people who are going to stand up” to Trump and the Senate and House majority holding GOP,
According to the pool report, Rep. Green said “he didn’t know whether he faced any formal punishment for his protest in the chamber.”
