Democrat Ejected, Faces Censure After Disrupting Trump's House Address
Paul Riverbank, 3/6/2025Democrat ejected from House after disrupting Trump's address, highlighting growing political theater in Congress.
The halls of Congress witnessed yet another manifestation of America's deepening political divide Tuesday night. What began as President Trump's address to a joint session quickly devolved into partisan theater when Democratic Representative Al Green of Texas broke decades of congressional tradition.
I've covered countless joint sessions over my career, but the raw tension in the chamber was palpable even before Green's outburst. The Texas congressman, known for his previous impeachment efforts against Trump, rose from his seat clutching his signature wooden cane. "You have no mandate!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the formal atmosphere like a thunderclap.
The response was immediate and telling. Republican lawmakers, many of whom I noticed had been shifting restlessly in their seats, erupted into chants of "USA! USA!" – transforming the House chamber into something more resembling a campaign rally than Congress. Speaker Mike Johnson, still finding his footing in the role he assumed just months ago, attempted to restore order with what seemed like carefully measured words.
Green's protest centered on proposed Medicaid reforms – though the specifics of these proposals remain notably unclear in current legislative discussions. When he continued shouting about healthcare cuts, Johnson made the rare move of ordering his removal. The scene that followed – Republican members mockingly singing "Hey, hey, hey, goodbye" as Green was escorted out – spoke volumes about the deteriorating state of congressional decorum.
Speaking to a small group of reporters afterward in the Cannon House Office Building (I was among them), Green appeared unbowed. "This is about the people being punished by virtue of losing their health care," he insisted, though when pressed for specific details about the proposed cuts, his responses remained general.
The aftermath has been swift and predictable. Rep. Dan Newhouse's censure resolution seems likely to advance, given the Republican majority's current mood. Yet having covered Congress for over two decades, I'm struck by how this incident mirrors broader patterns of political theater we've seen before – from Joe Wilson's "You lie!" outburst during Obama's presidency to Nancy Pelosi's theatrical speech-ripping during Trump's last State of the Union.
What's particularly noteworthy here isn't just the incident itself, but how it reflects the evolution of congressional behavior. The House chamber, once a forum for heated but ultimately professional debate, increasingly resembles a stage for political performance art. Whether this serves the American people's interests remains decidedly unclear.
As we move forward, the real question isn't about Green's protest or the Republican response – it's about whether Congress can find its way back to substantive policy discussions amid the spectacle. Based on what I witnessed Tuesday night, that path appears increasingly difficult to navigate.
