By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | March 9, 2025

In a dramatic moment during President Donald Trump’s address to a Joint Session of Congress on March 4, 2025, Representative Al Green (D-TX) interrupted the speech in protest of proposed cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. His actions led to a formal censure by the House of Representatives, highlighting tensions between Democrats over how to counter the new administration’s policies.

A Bold Protest in the House Chamber

As President Trump stepped up to the podium, Rep. Green stood on the House floor and loudly objected to the president’s assertion of a mandate to cut Medicaid following the November 5, 2024, elections. Using his cane for emphasis, Green directed his remarks toward the president, saying, “You don’t have a mandate to cut Medicare, and you need to raise the cap on Social Security.”

Green’s protest was met with immediate backlash. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) demanded decorum and asked Green to take his seat. When he refused, he was escorted from the chamber by Capitol Police. The congressman later expressed no regrets, saying, “I did what I did because I don’t want people to believe he has a mandate to cut Medicaid. We have to protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. They are the foundation of our safety net.”

A Divided House Votes to Censure Green

Two days later, the House voted 224-198 to censure Green, with ten Democrats siding with Republicans in the reprimand. The vote underscores divisions within the Democratic Party over how to resist Trump’s agenda. Freshman Rep. Shomari Figures (D-AL) and Green himself voted “present.”

As Speaker Johnson announced the censure, Green and a group of Democratic colleagues responded by singing the gospel anthem “We Shall Overcome,” a gesture that angered Republican lawmakers and forced Johnson to call for a recess to restore order.

While censure is a rare and serious rebuke, it does not carry immediate punitive consequences. However, the conservative House Freedom Caucus members have signaled plans to strip Green of his committee assignments in the coming weeks.

A Legacy of Civil Rights Activism

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Green’s activism is deeply rooted in his upbringing and education. He attended Florida A&M University, Howard University, Texas Southern University, and Tuskegee University without earning an undergraduate degree. He later entered the Thurgood Marshall School of Law and earned his Juris Doctorate in 1973. He has long championed civil rights and social justice, serving Texas’ 9th Congressional District since 2001. As a law student, he earned awards in Federal Procedure and Conflicts.

Green compared his protest to the actions of the late Congressman John Lewis, with whom he was once jailed during civil rights demonstrations. “If you get in the way, you break the rules, you have to be ready to suffer the consequences,” Green said, referencing Lewis’s philosophy of “good trouble.” As a veteran civil rights advocate, he has fought for those in society whose voices, too often, are not heard.

A Stand for Social Security and Medicare

Green’s protest stemmed from concerns over potential cuts to entitlement programs. He has long advocated for raising the Social Security tax cap—currently set at $176,100—to ensure wealthier Americans contribute more to the system. Around 2035 the Social Security Trust Fund will face serious short falls.

Green opposes raising the retirement age, citing its disproportionate impact on Black men, who have a shorter average lifespan. “Raising the age would make Black men donors rather than beneficiaries of Social Security,” he explained.

Despite the censure, Green remains defiant. “I assume there is some effort to sanction me,” he said. “I will accept whatever the punishment is, but I would do it again. This is a matter of conscience.”

Moving Forward: Green’s Next Steps

In addition to continuing his advocacy for Social Security and Medicare protections, Green intends to follow through on a promise to file articles of impeachment against President Trump. “This president is causing harm to society,” he declared, reaffirming his commitment to holding Trump accountable.

While Green’s censure marks a rare rebuke for a protest during a presidential address, similar disruptions have occurred in the past. Notably, Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Lauren Boebert (R-CO) heckled President Joe Biden during his addresses, and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) infamously shouted “You lie!” during President Barack Obama’s 2009 speech. However, Green is the only member in recent years to face formal censure for such actions.

As the fallout continues, Rep. Green remains resolute. “It is more important to stand alone than not stand at all,” he said. “I’m standing for those who can’t stand for themselves.”