Rep. Al Green May Face Expulsion Following Heckling Incident

Congressman Al Green faces potential expulsion from the U.S. House after being formally censured for heckling President Trump during a congressional address, with some Republicans now seeking the ultimate disciplinary measure.

Key Insights

The House voted to censure Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) for interrupting President Trump’s speech, with the resolution passing largely along party lines
Republican Rep. Tim Burchett suggested expulsion could be a “reasonable consideration” to restore decorum, though this would require a two-thirds majority vote
Democrats protested the censure by singing “We Shall Overcome,” prompting Republicans to propose stripping committee assignments from participants
Ten Democrats joined Republicans in voting for the censure, while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries dismissed the possibility of expulsion

Censure Vote and Immediate Fallout

The U.S. House of Representatives formally censured Representative Al Green, Democrat from Texas, following his interruption of President Donald Trump’s congressional address. The resolution, introduced by Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse of Washington, passed predominantly along party lines with ten Democrats crossing over to support the measure. The censure officially condemned Green’s actions as “a breach of proper conduct” when he shouted “You don’t have a mandate” during Trump’s speech, causing Speaker Mike Johnson to order his removal from the chamber.

The censure resolution required Green to stand in the well of the House as the formal rebuke was read aloud. However, the disciplinary proceeding was interrupted when House Democrats began singing “We Shall Overcome” in solidarity with Green. This protest further inflamed tensions, with Speaker Johnson repeatedly calling for order and decorum to be maintained during the official proceedings. The unusual scene underscored the deepening partisan divide that has characterized this Congress.

🇺🇸 HOUSE REPUBLICANS MOVE TO CENSURE AL GREEN FOR DISRUPTING TRUMP’S SPEECH

House Republicans are advancing a censure vote against Rep. Al Green, who was removed from the House chamber after disrupting Trump’s address to Congress.

The vote comes after a Democratic motion to… https://t.co/BpGhZ1YbQD pic.twitter.com/6Ho6DsrVsA

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 5, 2025

Potential Expulsion on the Horizon

In the wake of the censure vote, several Republican lawmakers have begun discussions about pursuing harsher penalties against Green, including the possibility of expulsion from Congress entirely. Republican Representative Tim Burchett of Tennessee emerged as one of the most vocal proponents of this approach, suggesting that expulsion might be necessary to address what he characterized as ongoing disruptive behavior from certain members of the Democratic caucus.

Rep. Tim Burchett said, “Yeah, I think it could be a reasonable consideration because I think … we’re going to have to do something to combat this craziness that’s going on. At some point we have to restore decorum and Al just might be that sacrificial lamb.”

Expulsion represents the most severe punishment available to the House of Representatives and requires a two-thirds majority vote to implement. This high threshold makes successful expulsion rare in congressional history, with only five members ever being expelled. The most recent example occurred in 2023 when Representative George Santos was removed from office. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has dismissed the possibility of Green’s expulsion, citing the mathematical improbability of securing the necessary votes in the current House composition.

Growing Republican Retaliation

The fallout from Green’s censure continues to escalate as multiple Republican-led initiatives take shape. Representative Andy Ogles of Tennessee has proposed a resolution to strip committee assignments from Democrats who participated in the “We Shall Overcome” protest during Green’s censure reading. Additionally, the House Freedom Caucus has announced plans to file a separate resolution specifically targeting Green’s committee assignments as a preliminary measure short of expulsion.

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez said, “Today, I voted to censure a fellow member of Congress. When you knowingly break House rules, as Rep. Green did, it shouldn’t be surprising to face consequences. Congress should respect the co-equal office of the Presidency, regardless of who holds the job, do our constitutional duty, and stop with the theatrics at these events.”

For his part, Green has remained defiant in the face of these disciplinary actions. In remarks following his censure, he defended his outburst as a spontaneous reaction to concerns about proposed Medicaid cuts that would affect his constituents. Green, who has previously filed articles of impeachment against Trump, expressed willingness to accept whatever consequences come his way, characterizing his actions as necessary resistance rather than mere disruption. The escalating situation highlights the intensely partisan atmosphere that continues to define congressional operations in 2025.