Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) was censured on Thursday by the Republican-controlled House for interfering with President Trump's Tuesday speech to Congress. 

Ten Democrats joined all Republicans in endorsing the censure measure, bringing the total number of votes to 224-198. Green and Rep. Shomari Figures (D-Ala.) voted present and former remained seated alone in the middle of the aisle as the vote was being taken, as Just The News reported.

Green stood in the chamber well after the vote while Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) read the censure resolution to him, as was required under the resolution.

Congressional Black Caucus members and dozens of other Democrats gathered beside Green in the well, singing "We Shall Overcome" in unison, despite Johnson's repeated orders to disperse.

The Removal

During Trump's address to a joint session of Congress, Green rose from his seat and went toward the front of the chamber and shook his cane toward Trump. He repeatedly shouted that the president had "no mandate to cut Medicaid ... no mandate."

This followed Trump's assertion in his speech from 2024 that he had been given a mandate to reduce the federal government by the voters.

Republicans from both houses of Congress booed and jeered, including South Carolina's Nancy Mace and Georgia's Marjorie Taylor Greene. John Barrasso, a Republican from Wyoming and the Senate's majority whip, yelled out to Green, "Sit down!"

Despite Johnson's repeated warnings and banging of the gavel, Green still would not sit down or remain silent. After that, Johnson ordered the sergeant at arms to remove him.

Green's Response

According to Green, civil rights legend and late Georgia Representative John Lewis taught him the value of nonviolent protest, and Green mentioned on Wednesday that he had the "privilege of going to jail" alongside Lewis.

"So I’m not angry with the speaker. I’m not angry with the officers. I’m not upset with the members who are going to bring the motions or resolution to sanction. I will suffer the consequences," Green said. "But I must add this: What I did was from my heart. People are suffering, and I was talking about Medicaid. I didn’t just say you don’t have a mandate. I said you don’t have a mandate to cut Medicaid.

"I did it from my heart, and I will suffer whatever the consequences are," he added. "But truthfully, I would do it again."

Johnson's Rights

Both houses of Congress have the power to "punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour" according to Article I of the Constitution.

It wasn't until 1832, when a lawmaker insulted the speaker of the House, that the House formally censured him. Members have faced censure for a variety of offenses since then, including assault on the House floor, corruption, and the use of unparliamentary language during floor debate.

Green is among just 28 House members censured so far in the history of the House of Representatives.