House votes to impeach Rep. Al Green after Trump speech interruption
House votes to impeach Rep. Al Green after Trump speech interruption: House lawmakers voted to impeach Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, after President Donald Trump was removed from his address to Congress Tuesday night. Ten Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the measure, but Green himself voted “no.” He repeatedly interrupted Trump’s speech, shouting, “You have no mandate!” as the president celebrated Republican victories. The incident highlighted deep political tensions, as some Democrats supported the impeachment, while others rallied behind Green.
Before the formal impeachment was read, Democrats disrupted the House floor proceedings by rallying around Green and singing “We Shall Overcome.” Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, struggled to restore order and finally called a recess after several failed attempts to quiet the protest. The situation escalated as Democratic and Republican lawmakers engaged in heated discussions with first-term Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and first-term Rep. Ryan McKenzie, R-Pa., at the center of the confrontation.
Republicans introduced several resolutions of censure within hours of Trump’s speech. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., introduced a resolution saying Greene had violated House decorum. He argued that Trump’s speech was not intended to be a debate but an opportunity for the president to explain his agenda. The House Freedom Caucus also tried to impeach other Democrats who protested during the speech, but Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, introduced his own resolution against Greene, garnering more than 30 Republican cosponsors.
House Democrats’ efforts to block the resolution failed, solidifying Greene’s impeachment. Democratic lawmakers followed suit with widespread criticism of their behavior during Trump’s speech, including moments of silent protest and their refusal to stand and applaud when Trump honored a 13-year-old boy as an honorary Secret Service agent. President Johnson later called on Democrats to support the impeachment, saying Greene’s willful violation of the rules warranted disciplinary action.
Despite facing a formal reprimand, Greene stood firm in defending his actions. He acknowledged that he had heard Johnson’s warnings, but said his decision was deliberate and not emotional. During the debate over his impeachment, Greene shook Newhouse’s hand and reiterated his commitment to his position. He stressed that on some issues, particularly access to health care, one must stand up for one’s beliefs regardless of the consequences.
Greene’s impeachment reflects a growing partisan divide in Congress, with political tensions spilling over onto the House floor. While some Democrats distanced themselves from his actions, others framed the response as an attack on free speech and protest. As the dust settled, the incident underscored the broader conflict over Trump’s policies and the internal divisions within the Democratic Party over how to respond to his presidency.