The House of Representatives saw bipartisan support Thursday for the censure of Rep. Al Green, D-T.X., for disrupting President Donald Trump’s address to Congress.
Ten Democrats crossed party lines to support the Republican-led measure and condemn Green’s actions.
The 224-198-2 vote made Green the 28th member in House history to be censured, following his removal from the chamber Tuesday night after he stood, waved his cane, and shouted, “You have no mandate to cut Medicaid!” during Trump’s speech. Green and Rep. Shomari Figures, D-A.L., voted “present” on the censure resolution.
The ten Democrats who joined Republicans in supporting the censure were a mix of centrists, members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, and representatives from competitive districts:
- Rep. Ami Bera (California)
- Rep. Ed Case (Hawaii)
- Rep. Jim Costa (California)
- Rep. Laura Gillen (New York)
- Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Washington)
- Rep. Jim Himes (Connecticut)
- Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (Pennsylvania)
- Rep. Marcy Kaptur (Ohio)
- Rep. Jared Moskowitz (Florida)
- Rep. Tom Suozzi (New York)
House Democratic leadership did not whip against the censure resolution, allowing members to vote their conscience on the matter.
Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, explained his vote by citing consistency with his previous position.
“I voted to disapprove of Joe Wilson’s actions when he shouted at a different president, and I revere this institution,” Himes told The Hill, referring to Rep. Wilson’s, R-S.C., “you lie!” outburst during President Barack Obama’s 2009 address.
Rep. Tom Suozzi expressed frustration that Green’s protest had diverted attention from policy issues. “Instead of focusing on protecting Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare, and instead of addressing rising costs, fixing immigration, and Ukraine, too many Americans are talking about a member of Congress being removed from the chamber,” Suozzi wrote on social platform X.
The formal reading of Green’s censure was disrupted when Democrats gathered around him on the House floor and began singing “We Shall Overcome,” forcing Speaker Mike Johnson, R-L.A., to call a recess.
Green, a 77-year-old lawmaker serving his 11th term, has remained defiant despite the formal rebuke. “I did it from my heart and I will suffer whatever the consequences are,” he told reporters. “But truthfully, I would do it again.”
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., characterized the protest as a “childish outburst” that “exposed the chaos and dysfunction within the Democrat party since President Trump’s overwhelming win in November.”
The censure resolution was introduced by Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-W.A., who told Fox News, “President Trump’s address to Congress was not a debate or a forum; he was invited by the speaker to outline his agenda for the American people. The actions by my colleague from Texas broke the rules of decorum in the House, and he must be held accountable.”
Green becomes the fourth House Democrat to be censured over tantrums in recent years, joining Reps. Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), former Rep. Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.), and now-Sen. Adam Schiff (Calif.).