Representative Al Green (D-TX) was formally condemned for his protest during President Trump’s address to Congress this week by ten Democrats and House Republicans on Thursday.
The vote shows that the Democratic Party is deeply divided over the way some members responded to the president’s comments from Tuesday night. The Democrats, who are now without legislative authority, are engaged in a national effort to challenge Trump and the incoming government with a strong, cohesive message.
Some Democrats displayed divergent methods during the president’s speech to Congress by displaying placards, leaving the event, or boycotting it completely, while others remained relatively silent.
The leadership of the House Democrats had already warned that the Republicans would use members’ calls for low-key demonstrations and moderation during the speech.
Although it is less severe than expulsion and does not involve a specific penalty beyond a public scolding of a politician, censure is nonetheless a strong rebuke of a member of Congress. A hitherto uncommon tactic, censure has become increasingly commonplace in the House chamber in recent years.
Democrats were unsuccessful in thwarting the initiative in the past. On Thursday, ten Democrats—Ami Bera of California, Ed Case of Hawaii, Jim Costa of California, Laura Gillen of New York, Jim Himes of Connecticut, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, Jared Moskowitz of Florida, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, and Tom Suozzi of New York—voted with Republicans to censure Green.
The districts represented by Democrats Kaptur, Suozzi, and Gluesenkamp Perez were all won by Trump in November.
House Speaker Mike Johnson removed Democratic congressman Mark Green (77) from the floor after he interrupted President Trump’s speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, Green informed reporters that he was prepared to “suffer the consequences” and would perform the demonstration all over again.
Before Thursday’s address, Johnson had called Green’s actions “shameful and egregious,” adding that they “disgraced the institution of Congress.”
A swift vote of censure is the proper response to his willful disregard for House rules. In an early post on X, Johnson wrote that House Republicans should be joined in this endeavor by any Democrat who cares about winning back the confidence and admiration of the American people.
