Al Green censure vote: A bipartisan House vote on Thursday officially censured Rep. Green for protesting Trump’s speech. Al Green (D-TX) for disrupting President Donald Trump’s address to Congress. The decision—224-198—included 10 Democrats siding with Republicans to formally rebuke Green’s actions.
Green interrupted Trump’s speech on March 4, 2025, to protest the president’s stance on Medicaid cuts. His removal from the House chamber sparked controversy, with Democrats divided over the best way to challenge Trump’s policies.
A Division Among Democrats
House leadership advised moderation to prevent giving the Republicans an advantage, but some Democrats boycotted or left. The 10 Democrats who voted for censure were:
- 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)
- Tom Suozzi (NY)
Most of these Democrats hold moderate or swing-district seats, some even representing areas where Trump won in 2024.
Republicans Push for Further Consequences
While censure is a symbolic reprimand, House conservatives want harsher penalties. The House Freedom Caucus plans to introduce a measure stripping Green of his committee assignments.
House Speaker Mike Johnson called Green’s protest “shameful and egregious”, urging Democrats to restore decorum in Congress.
Green Responds: ‘I’d Do It Again’
Despite the censure, Green remained defiant:
“I did disrupt. And I did so because the president indicated that he had a mandate. And I wanted him to know that he didn’t have a mandate to cut Medicaid.”
Democrats are warning that Medicaid is at risk as Republicans push for spending cuts under Trump’s legislative agenda.
As House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries noted, the censure vote was taken “without an official recommendation” from Democratic leadership.
Al Green censure vote: With Trump’s policies continuing to divide Congress, the battle over messaging and protest tactics is far from over.
Source: CNN News
