House Turmoil: 10 Democratic Moderates Team Up with GOP to Punish Al Green – What It Means for the Future

House lawmakers have voted to censure Rep. Al Green from Texas after he was removed from President Donald Trump’s address to Congress. This incident took place during a joint session where Green repeatedly interrupted the president, leading to his ejection.

In the vote, ten Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the censure. Interestingly, Green himself chose to vote “present,” indicating he neither supported nor opposed the measure, along with first-term Rep. Shomari Figures of Alabama.

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer commented that Green’s actions highlighted chaos within the Democratic party, especially following Trump’s significant electoral victories. He criticized the majority of Democrats for not supporting Green’s censure, attributing it to what he called “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

Before the censure was officially announced, a group of Democrats gathered with Green and sang “We Shall Overcome,” disrupting proceedings. Speaker Mike Johnson had to call a recess after struggling to restore order.

The situation escalated, with heated exchanges occurring between Democrats and Republicans on the floor. Notable among those who voted to censure Green were Reps. Ami Bera (Calif.), Ed Case (Hawaii), and Jim Costa (Calif.), among others.

Following the disruption, various Republican representatives wasted no time drafting resolutions to censure Green. Rep. Dan Newhouse of Washington led this effort, filing a resolution the day after Trump’s speech. He emphasized that Green had violated the decorum expected in the House, and he believed accountability was necessary.

Green, a 77-year-old veteran of the House, was heard shouting “You have no mandate!” during Trump’s speech, which celebrated Republican achievements. This outburst ultimately led to his removal by the U.S. Sergeant-at-Arms.

Many Democrats engaged in protests throughout Trump’s speech, showing their disapproval through actions like remaining seated during parts of the address. Speaker Johnson publicly challenged Democrats to support the censure measure, suggesting that joining Republicans could help rebuild trust with the public.

Reflecting on his actions, Green said he intentionally defied calls to stop, framing his protest as a matter of conscience. He expressed willingness to face the consequences for advocating for issues he cares about, such as healthcare access.

This censure is part of a broader pattern, as other lawmakers like Rashida Tlaib, Jamaal Bowman, and Adam Schiff have faced censure in recent years, highlighting ongoing tensions within Congress.

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