A bipartisan group of lawmakers voted to censure Representative Al Green following his outburst during President Donald Trump‘s address to a joint session of Congress earlier this week.
Why It Matters
A rare rebuke, censuring does not remove a member from office but serves as a formal statement of disapproval with potential political consequences.
Green, a Democrat from Texas, was disciplined for shouting at Trump during his speech and was asked to be removed from the chamber by House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Green has been a longtime critic of Trump, having filed multiple impeachment resolutions against the president, including one after his outburst.
Following the vote, Green defended his actions, saying he “was making it clear to the president that he has no mandate to cut Medicaid.”
Rep. Al Green yells at President Donald Trump during his address to the joint chambers of Congress on March 4, 2025. Rep. Al Green yells at President Donald Trump during his address to the joint chambers of Congress on March 4, 2025. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images
Al Green Censured: What Does It Mean?
Censure is a formal and public reprimand issued by a legislative body to express disapproval of a member’s actions. Unlike expulsion, it does not remove the individual from office but serves as a condemnation that can impact their influence and reputation in the House.
Green’s actions have sparked debate about the boundaries of political protest within Congress, particularly during high-profile addresses by the president. His supporters argue that his protest was justified, while critics—including members of his party—viewed it as an inappropriate breach of protocol.
Which Democrats Voted to Censure Al Green?
Approximately 10 House Democrats voted with several Republicans for Green’s reprimand. Those who voted in favor included:
- Ed Case of Hawaii
- Tom Suozzi of New York
- Jim Costa of California
- Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington
- Jared Moskowitz of Florida
- Ami Bera of California
- Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania
- Marcy Kaptur of Ohio
- Laura Gillen of New York
- Jim Himes of Connecticut
Some of these representatives hail from swing districts or moderate-leaning constituencies, which went red for Trump in the 2024 election.
Who Else Has Interrupted a President During a Joint Session?
Green is not the first lawmaker to disrupt a president during a congressional address. In 2009, Representative Joe Wilson, a South Carolina Republican, shouted “You lie!” at then-President Barack Obama during a speech on health care reform. The House later reprimanded Wilson.
More recently, in 2024 and 2023, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, interrupted then-President Joe Biden during his State of the Union address. She did not face formal censure.
Which Other Politicians Have Been Censured?
Historically, only a handful of lawmakers have faced this formal rebuke. One of the most recent cases before Green was Republican Representative Paul Gosar of Arizona, who was censured in 2021 after posting an animated video that depicted violence against Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat.
The move to censure Gosar was supported mainly by Democrats, with only two Republicans voting in favor.
In 2023, Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan was censured for her remarks regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. The resolution accused her of promoting rhetoric that was deemed antisemitic by critics.
Another prominent censure occurred in 2010, when Democratic Representative Charles Rangel of New York was censured for 11 ethics violations related to tax evasion and improper use of congressional resources. The House overwhelmingly voted to censure Rangel.
What’s Next for Al Green
Green has vowed to continue speaking out against Trump and his policies. However, the censure could impact his standing within the Democratic Party and among key House committees.
Historically, censured lawmakers have faced challenges securing leadership positions and committee assignments. Meanwhile, the broader conversation about decorum in Congress is likely to continue.
