WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 04: U.S. Rep. Al Green (D-TX) is removed from the chamber as President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. Win McNamee/Pool via REUTERS
Just as President Donald Trump was about to start speaking in his address to Congress, Rep. Al Green (D-TX) stood up, shouted, "You don't have a mandate to cut Medicaid!" and forcefully waved his cane. Republicans immediately directed the sergeant-at-arms to remove him from the chamber.
The GOP quickly mocked Green on social media, and some political pundits expressed skepticism of the move, with MSNBC's Michael Cohen writing on X, "Don't think Rep. Al Green did Democrats any favors with that stunt."
But elsewhere, many figures celebrated Green's act of opposition.
"How so? What's the cost? Norms?" posted writer Tom Watson in response to Cohen.
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"I stand with Al Green!" wrote Marcus Flowers, a former congressional candidate who ran unsuccessfully against Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA).
"Looks like there's gonna be arrests in the chamber tonight! Righteous civil disobedience," wrote investigative reporter Lauren Windsor.
"Lmao it sounds like Rep. Al Green's protest hurt Trump's feelings," wrote Mashable reporter Matt Binder.
"Good for Al Green — f--- these liars," wrote Democratic strategist Mike Nellis.
"Every single Democrat should be doing what Al Green just did," wrote Sam Weinberg of the youth group Path to Progress.
Watch a clip of the protest below or at this link.
Speaker Mike Johnson calls for the Sergeant at Arms to remove Rep. Green pic.twitter.com/h5dXtSspYE
— Acyn (@Acyn) March 5, 2025