Rep. Al Green escorted out of the State of the Union

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Al Green was escorted from the House chamber again on Tuesday shortly after President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address began.

The Democratic Texas congressman unfurled a sign of protest that read, “Black People Aren’t Apes.” The congressman stood in silence as the president walked past him on Tuesday night.

The sign appeared to refer to a video the president posted, and then deleted, that spread false claims about the 2020 election and included a caricature of former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama depicted as apes.

Two Trump allies, Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas and Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, had approached the area where Green was sitting before Capitol Police escorted him out.

Before Green exited, some Republicans began chanting “USA.”

This is not the first time Green was escorted out during a Trump speech to Congress. In 2025, House Speaker Mike Johnson instructed the House Sergeant of Arms to remove Green from the chamber after a verbal altercation with the president over the Trump administration’s early policies.

Representative Al Green is a Texas Democrat who last year twice mounted unsuccessful impeachment efforts, Green has been an ardent critic of Trump since the president’s first term.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.