The U.S. House of Representatives voted 224-198 on Thursday to censure Rep. Al Green (D-TX) for disrupting President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress earlier this week.
During Trump’s Tuesday night address, Rep. Green stood up, shook his cane, and began shouting at the president, sparking a chaotic moment on the House floor. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) immediately ordered Green to be removed from the chamber, an unprecedented action during a high-profile presidential address.
Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) introduced a censure resolution against Green so that it can be brought to a vote on the House floor. Despite Democratic leaders opting not to formally oppose the resolution, the measure passed with support from 10 Democrats who sided with all Republicans to censure Green.
A censure is a formal condemnation or reprimand by the House of Representatives against one of its members. While it does not remove the lawmaker from office, it serves as a severe public rebuke that can damage their political standing and reputation. Typically, a censured member must stand in the well of the House to receive the punishment as the resolution is read aloud.
Democratic colleagues joined Green in the well, linking arms and singing We Shall Overcome. The protest forced Speaker Johnson to abruptly call for a recess as the House chamber erupted into chaos and tensions flared. The House remained in recess for 25 minutes, and when it reconvened, the formal reading of the censure resolution was skipped—an unusual break from precedent.
A censure does not carry any legal penalties or impact a member’s ability to vote or serve in committees, but it is considered a big stain on their congressional record. The House has only censured a handful of members in modern history, making this a notable disciplinary action.
The final vote tally was 224-198, with all Republicans voting in favor of censure and 10 Democrats breaking ranks to support the resolution. These Democrats included Ami Bera (CA), Ed Case (HI), Jim Costa (CA), Laura Gillen (NY), Jim Himes (CT), Chrissy Houlahan (PA), Marcy Kaptur (OH), Jared Moskowitz (FL), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA) and Tom Suozzi (NY).
