Congressman Al Green Confronts President Trump Over Racist Video During State of the Union Address
During Tuesday's State of the Union address, Democratic Representative Al Green of Texas made a bold statement by holding a sign that directly addressed a racist social media post recently shared by President Donald Trump. The sign, which read "Black people aren't apes!" was displayed as Trump entered the House chamber and during the initial moments of his speech.
Controversial Video Sparks Bipartisan Condemnation
The incident stems from a video that President Trump shared on social media depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. The video was widely condemned by both Democratic and Republican lawmakers for its racist content. Although Trump eventually removed the video from his social media platforms, he declined to offer any apology for sharing it. The president claimed he had only viewed the beginning of the video and was unaware of the racist frames contained within the clip.
Physical Confrontations and Removal from Chamber
Green's protest did not go unnoticed by his Republican colleagues. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana attempted to take the sign from Green after spotting it. Representatives Pat Fallon of Texas and John McGuire of Virginia also tried to block the sign from the cameras' line of sight. Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma made an attempt to snatch the sign directly from Green's hand, but the Texas congressman managed to dodge the effort.
The confrontation culminated with Green being removed from the chamber by the sergeant-at-arms shortly after the incident. Speaking to reporters afterward, Green explained his motivation: "Tonight, I wanted him to have a person confront him and let him know that Black people aren't apes, that Black people are not going to tolerate this kind of behavior. I refuse to tolerate this level of hate that the president is, in fact, putting into policy. I wanted him to know, and I wanted him to see it and hear it up close."
Green's History of Protesting the President
This is not the first time Representative Al Green has publicly challenged President Trump. The congressman is well-known for his vocal protests against the president, including his persistent efforts to impeach Trump during both his first and second terms. Last year, Green also criticized Trump during a congressional address and was subsequently ejected after declaring that the president had "no mandate."
Reflecting on Tuesday's confrontation, Green stated, "Judging from the expression on his face, he got the message." The incident highlights the ongoing tensions within Congress regarding racial issues and presidential conduct, with Green positioning himself as a prominent voice against what he perceives as hateful rhetoric from the nation's highest office.
