WASHINGTON — The House on Thursday voted to censure an unrepentant Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, for disrupting President Donald Trump's address to Congress.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., had Green removed from the chamber during the early moments of Trump's speech Tuesday night. Green stood and shouted at Trump after the Republican president said the Nov. 5 election had delivered a governing mandate not seen for many decades.
"You have no mandate," the Houston lawmaker said, shaking a cane and refusing an order from Johnson to "take your seat, sir!"

Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, left, shouts as President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP)
Republicans acted quickly to rebuke Green with a censure resolution that officially registers the House's deep disapproval of a member's conduct. Once such a resolution is approved by majority vote, the member is asked to stand in the well of the House while the speaker or presiding officer reads the resolution.
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The resolution against Green was approved in a mostly party-line vote of 224-198.
Rep. Dan Newhouse, the resolution's sponsor, said it was a "necessary, but difficult step."
"This resolution is offered in all seriousness, something that I believe we must do in order to get us to the next level of conduct in this hallowed chamber," said Newhouse, R-Wash.

Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, shouts as President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP)
It's the latest fallout of the boisterous behavior that has occurred during more recent presidential addresses to Congress. Outbursts from lawmakers have happened on bothsides of the political aisle.
Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., noted that Republicans were silent when members of their conference interrupted Democratic President Joe Biden's speech last year.
Some yelled "say her name" in reference to nursing student Laken Riley, as Biden spoke about immigration legislation that some lawmakers were working on. Riley was killed while running on the University of Georgia campus by a Venezuelan citizen who illegally entered the United States in 2022 and had been allowed to stay to pursue his immigration case.
"Nobody apologized for interrupting Joe Biden time and again," McGovern said. "You talk about lack of decorum. Go back and look at the tapes, and there was silence from the other side."
The censure resolution says Green's actions were a "breach of proper conduct" during a joint address and that his removal "after numerous disruptions." Democrats tried to table it Wednesday, but that effort failed on a party-line vote.

Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, is removed from the chamber as President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP)
Johnson tweeted before Thursday's vote that Green "disgraced the institution of Congress and the constituents he serves."
"He deliberately violated House rules, and an expeditious vote of censure is an appropriate remedy," Johnson said. "Any Democrat who is concerned about regaining the trust and respect of the American people should join House Republicans in this effort."
Green, now serving his 11th term, offered no regrets Wednesday when he explained his actions. Before speaking in his own defense from the House floor, he walked up to the Republican side of the chamber and shook Newhouse's hand. Green said he did not blame Johnson or those who had escorted him out after his outburst.
"Friends, I would do it again," Green said.
He explained his actions by saying Trump had indicated he had won a mandate from voters. But Green said Trump does not have a mandate to cut Medicaid, a program that many of his constituents rely on.
"This is a matter of principle. This is a matter of conscience," Green said. "There are people suffering in this country because they don't have health care."
He concluded his remarks by saying, "on some issues that are matters of conscience, it is better to stand alone than not stand at all."
Trump said last week about the state-federal health care program: "We're not going to touch it."
Some Democratic lawmakers skipped Trump's address. Others walked out during it. With tensions clearly on the rise, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York had told colleagues beforehand that "it is important to have a strong, determined and dignified Democratic presence in the chamber."
"I think Al Green was telling the truth," said Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif. He was among the dozens of Democrats who held up signs that said "False" and displayed other protest slogans throughout Trump's speech.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who was speaker during Trump's first term, recalled her own memorable moment during a Trump address when she ripped his speech up after he handed it to her following his address.
"Everybody has to make their expression of how they see things. I think we should keep our focus on the president's speech," Pelosi said.
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Associated Press writers Matt Brown, Lisa Mascaro and Leah Askarinam contributed to this report.
Scenes from the Capitol on night of Trump's speech

Vice President JD Vice, left, shakes hands with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., before President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Donald Trump arrives on the dais and is greeted by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Vice President JD Vance before he addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Rep. Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii, wears a jacket with writing of the U.S. Constitution on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives before President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP)

Elon Musk arrives before President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., talks with Rep. Hakeen Jeffries, D-N.Y., before President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

From left, Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., House Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain, R-Mich., and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., embrace as they talk on the floor before President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP)

Vice President JD Vance is welcomed by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., in the House Chamber before President Donald Trump arrives to address a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., takes a photo before President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick arrives before President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. arrives before President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Education Secretary Linda McMahon, left, greets Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., before President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, left, and his wife Jennifer Rauchet arrive before President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Christopher Grady, center, stands before President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP)

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, left, and associate justices, arrive in the House Chamber before President Donald Trump arrives to address a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

First lady Melania Trump, arrives in the House Chamber before President Donald Trump arrives to address a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Second lady Usha Vance, second from left, arrives before President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., arrives before President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., arrives in the House Chamber before President Donald Trump arrives to address a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., arrives before President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., arrives before President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., speaks with reporters before President Donald Trump arrives to address a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., arrives before President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., arrives before President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Eric Trump arrives before President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump arrive before President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)