During President Donald Trump's State of the Union address, the House chamber became the stage for a dramatic confrontation when Democratic Representative Al Green was forcibly removed for displaying a protest sign. The Texas lawmaker's silent demonstration referenced a racist video that Trump had recently shared, which depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes using artificial intelligence.
Green's sign, emblazoned with the words "Black people aren't apes!" in bold lettering, immediately drew attention as he positioned himself in the center aisle while other attendees returned to their seats following the president's entrance. The message served as a direct rebuke to Trump's social media activity, which had drawn widespread condemnation from civil rights leaders and many political figures across the spectrum.
The ejection marked the second consecutive year that Green has been removed from the annual presidential address. During last year's speech, House Speaker Mike Johnson ordered his removal for audibly shouting responses as Trump spoke. This year, Green's protest was silent but visually arresting, making it impossible for cameras and colleagues to ignore his message.
Republican lawmakers responded with visible aggression to Green's demonstration. Representative Troy Nehls, also from Texas, physically confronted his fellow congressman as staffers attempted to escort him from the chamber. Senator Markwayne Mullin approached the scene in a menacing manner, while several other Republican representatives tried to snatch the sign or block it from camera view. The chaotic scene unfolded in a setting typically characterized by strict decorum and formal protocol.
As Green departed, walking with his characteristic walking stick while clutching the protest sign, some Republicans began chanting "USA! USA!" - creating a stark and jarring contrast to the solemnity of the occasion. Green's seat remained conspicuously empty for the remainder of the speech, marked only by a simple handwritten cardboard sign bearing his name.
Outside the chamber, Green spoke defiantly to reporters, still displaying his sign for the cameras. He dismissed the significance of being ejected, calling it "of no consequence" compared to the importance of taking a moral stand against racism. The congressman emphasized that his actions were necessary and righteous. "You have to take a stand," Green declared. "I am just a person who has done it – but there are many others, I believe, who would."
Green's congressional district in Houston is predominantly African American, and he has built his political career on civil rights advocacy and fighting racial discrimination. He made history in 2017 by becoming the first member of Congress to formally call for Trump's impeachment, long before the eventual proceedings over the Ukraine matter. His consistent and vocal opposition to the president has made him a prominent figure among Trump's critics in the House.
The congressman's protest was part of a broader pattern of Democratic resistance during the address. While dozens of Democrats boycotted the event entirely, those who attended largely remained seated throughout Trump's speech. They sat in stark contrast to their Republican counterparts, who leapt to their feet to applaud after nearly every sentence the president uttered, creating a visual representation of the nation's political divide.
Several Democratic lawmakers chose to leave before the speech concluded. Senator Mark Warner of Virginia announced on the social media platform Bluesky that he "couldn't sit through an hour of Trump's lies," departing while the president discussed his economic achievements. Representative Bill Foster of Illinois gave himself a limit of "5 bald-faced lies" before exiting. "Less than one hour into his speech, I'm out," he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The atmosphere in the chamber reflected deep political divisions that have come to characterize American governance. Republican enthusiasm for Trump's policies on immigration enforcement and economic matters was met with Democratic silence or early departures. The president's direct rebuke of Democrats for not joining in standing ovations only highlighted the partisan chasm.
Green's specific protest about the Obama video touched a particularly sensitive nerve because it referenced one of the oldest and most offensive racist tropes in American history. The video used AI technology to depict the former president and first lady as apes, playing on dehumanizing imagery that has been used for centuries to justify discrimination and violence against African Americans. By sharing this content, Trump drew sharp condemnation from civil rights organizations, though his supporters largely dismissed the criticism as political correctness.
The Texas congressman's decision to use the State of the Union as a platform for this message demonstrates the increasing willingness of lawmakers to disrupt formal proceedings to make political points. While such actions break with traditional decorum, Green and his supporters argue that some issues, particularly racial justice, demand bold confrontation rather than polite silence.
The incident raises important questions about the boundaries of protest within government institutions. While the State of the Union is constitutionally mandated and traditionally follows strict protocol, individual members have occasionally used it to voice dissent. Green's removal shows that House leadership, currently controlled by Republicans, will not tolerate disruptions even when they are silent and non-violent.
For Green, the personal cost of being ejected is minimal compared to the message he hopes to send to his constituents and the nation. His district, which includes many African American voters who have faced systemic discrimination, expects their representative to speak truth to power. The sign's message - that Black people aren't apes - is a fundamental statement of human dignity that Green felt compelled to express directly to the president.
The broader Democratic response - sitting silently rather than applauding - represents a different form of protest. By withholding the customary standing ovations and applause, they visually demonstrated their opposition without breaking rules. This silent resistance, combined with walkouts from those who couldn't bear to remain, created a powerful counter-narrative to the Republican celebration.
As the political calendar moves forward, such moments of confrontation are likely to increase. Green's protest may inspire other lawmakers to find creative ways to register dissent during high-profile events. The congressman himself suggested that others would follow his example, indicating that this type of direct action could become more common in an increasingly polarized environment.
The episode also highlights the role of social media in modern political protests. Green's sign was clearly designed for camera consumption, ensuring his message would spread beyond the chamber through photographs and video clips. Similarly, Warner and Foster used platforms like Bluesky and X to explain their departures to constituents in real-time, bypassing traditional media filters and speaking directly to the public.
In the end, Green's ejection lasted only minutes, but the impact of his message may resonate far longer. By directly confronting the president about racist content, he forced a conversation that Trump and his supporters might prefer to avoid. The sign's simple, powerful statement - "Black people aren't apes!" - cut through the political theater of the State of the Union to address a fundamental issue of respect and equality.
For a congressman who has spent years fighting for civil rights and opposing Trump's presidency, Tuesday night's protest was entirely consistent with his record. Whether it changes any minds in the opposing party remains uncertain, but Green achieved his primary goal of taking a stand when he believed silence would amount to complicity. His actions serve as a reminder that in moments of moral crisis, some politicians will prioritize principle over protocol.