During Donald Trump’s first speech to Congress since returning to the presidency, Congressman Al Green was expelled from the chamber after interrupting the president.
At 78 years old, Green stood up and waved his cane in protest, but his words were drowned out by the shouts of the Republican caucus.
House Speaker Mike Johnson quickly intervened to restore order. As Johnson and Vice President JD Vance, seated behind Trump, stood to call for calm, the atmosphere grew even more tense. Republicans countered Democratic boos with chants of “USA!” before House staff eventually escorted Green from the chamber.
Who is Al Green?
Alexander N. Green, commonly known as Al Green, is an American politician and attorney who has represented Texas’ 9th congressional district since 2005. Born on September 1, 1947, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Green is a member of the Democratic Party and a longtime advocate for civil rights and social justice.
Before his congressional career, Green served as a justice of the peace in Harris County, Texas, for 26 years. His legal background and activism propelled him to a decisive victory in the 2004 House election for District 9, a diverse area with a predominantly African American and Latino population. Since then, he has been re-elected multiple times, solidifying his position as a leading voice in national politics.
Al Green’s Role in Congress
Since taking office, Green has championed policies promoting equitable housing, fair employment practices, and the protection of minority rights. He has been a vocal critic of Republican policies that he views as detrimental to vulnerable communities, consistently advocating for economic and social reforms to benefit his constituents.
Green played a pivotal role in efforts to hold Trump accountable. In 2017, he introduced the first articles of impeachment against the then-president, citing Trump’s firing of FBI Director James Comey as an abuse of power.
He renewed his push for impeachment in 2019, this time citing Trump’s inflammatory attacks on four Democratic congresswomen of color. Though his efforts did not succeed, they cemented his reputation as one of Trump’s fiercest opponents in Congress.
A Fierce Opponent of Donald Trump
Throughout his tenure, Green has been among the most outspoken critics of Donald Trump. He has repeatedly condemned what he sees as divisive rhetoric and policies that disproportionately harm minority communities.
In 2019, during a House Financial Services Committee hearing, he grilled top banking executives on the lack of diversity in leadership and the financial sector’s historical ties to slavery.
His commitment to his principles was on full display in 2024 when, despite being hospitalized, he left his bed and arrived in a wheelchair to vote against the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. His vote thwarted Republican efforts to secure the majority needed to advance the impeachment process.
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