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Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) was escorted out of the House chamber Tuesday (February 24) during President Donald Trump's State of the Union address — the second consecutive year the congressman has been removed from the annual event.
Green was holding a sign that read "Black people aren't apes" as President Trump began his address to a joint session of Congress. The sign was a direct reference to a video President Trump reposted to his Truth Social account earlier this month that depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes.
Capitol officers escorted Green out of the chamber shortly after the sign became visible on camera. The Texas Democrat did not resist as he was removed from the room.
After he was removed, Green spoke to reporters while still holding the sign.
"The first time it was spontaneity. This time it was with intentionality. I wanted to make sure that I got a message to him. That's why I took the seat where I was on the aisle, so that I could give it to him personally," Green said tonight.
"We must take a stand against this level of discrimination," Green told reporters.
"Judging from the expression on his face, he got the message. He saw it, he got the message," Green said.
Last year, Green was also removed from the House chamber during President Trump's address to Congress, at that time after he stood up and shook his cane at the president during the speech.
It remains to be seen whether Green will face any formal consequences for the disruption.