Congressman Al Green was forcibly removed from Donald Trump’s first joint address to Congress after interrupting the president with a loud protest. As Trump delivered a lengthy speech touting his administration’s accomplishments, Green stood up, pointed his cane, and shouted, “You have no mandate to cut Medicaid.” His outburst came in response to Trump’s recent reversal of a Biden-era executive order aimed at strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.
House Speaker Mike Johnson quickly stepped in, warning Green to stop disrupting the speech and maintain decorum. When Green refused to sit down, Johnson ordered the sergeant-at-arms to remove him from the chamber. Green was escorted out as Trump resumed his remarks, which went on for nearly 100 minutes, making it one of the longest congressional addresses in recent history.
Outside the chamber, Green defended his actions, telling reporters that he was “following the wishes of conscience.” He insisted that it was worth the disruption to take a stand against potential cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. “There are times when it’s better to stand alone than not stand at all,” he told ABC News, vowing to continue opposing Trump’s policies.
While Johnson called the incident a “spectacle” and criticized Green for making “history in a terrible way,” the congressman’s protest has drawn attention to concerns over the future of federal healthcare programs. Whether Trump will follow through on any proposed cuts remains to be seen, but Green’s removal has already sparked debates about the limits of dissent during high-profile government speeches.
