GOP Rep. Dan Newhouse called Green’s outburst “unacceptable.”
House Republicans are moving forward with plans to formally censure Democratic Representative Al Green after he interrupted President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night multiple times.
By Wednesday morning, several GOP members were sharing different resolutions aimed at censuring Green, who was removed from the House chamber due to his repeated disruptions during Trump’s speech.
Republican Representative Dan Newhouse was the first to present a formal resolution on the House floor on Wednesday. His proposal was filed as privileged, which means the House must address it within two legislative days.
“Maintaining decorum and order is essential to our business in the United States Congress, and the blatant disregard for these principles shown by the Texas representative during President Trump’s address is simply unacceptable,” Newhouse remarked. “Any Member who refuses to follow the Speaker’s instructions to cease such behavior, regardless of their party, has faced and will continue to face consequences in the House of Representatives.”
On Wednesday, the House Freedom Caucus also revealed plans to introduce a censure resolution against Green.
Green’s outburst happened just minutes into Trump’s speech when the president referred to his electoral victory as a “mandate.”
The 11-term Democratic congressman from the Houston area stood up, pointed his cane, and shouted, “You have no mandate to cut Medicaid.”
Speaker Mike Johnson forcefully struck his gavel, urging lawmakers to maintain decorum and repeatedly instructing Green to take his seat. When Green refused to comply and continued his protest, Johnson ordered his removal from the chamber.
After Trump’s address, Johnson stated that Green deserved to be censured and confirmed he would “absolutely” bring a resolution to the floor once it was introduced. Speaking to reporters, he commented, “It was an unnecessary spectacle. He’s made history in the worst way possible, and I hope he enjoys it.”
On Good Morning America Wednesday, Johnson defended his decision to have Green removed.
“Al Green was trying to disrupt the entire event. But let me put it this way—if Democrats want a 77-year-old congressman to be the face of their resistance, heckling the president, then so be it,” he said.
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