Houston Rep. Al Green removed from Trump’s 2026 State of the Union after protest sign display
Incident unfolded within minutes of the address beginning
U.S. Rep. Al Green, a Houston Democrat, was escorted out of the House chamber during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. Green’s removal came less than two minutes after the president began speaking.
Green, who represents Texas’ 9th Congressional District, stood and held a sign reading “Black people aren’t apes!” as Trump entered the chamber and started the speech. The demonstration referenced a social media post shared earlier in February from Trump’s Truth Social account that included imagery depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. The post was later deleted after public backlash.
House rules on decorum and security response
As the joint session proceeded, the House Sergeant at Arms approached Green and escorted him from the chamber. The removal followed warnings and attempts by nearby lawmakers to get Green to lower the sign and take his seat. Some Republicans began chanting “USA” as he was led out.
Security enforcement during presidential addresses is uncommon but not unprecedented. The House chamber operates under rules of decorum during joint sessions, with the presiding officer empowered to direct the Sergeant at Arms to restore order when disruptions occur.
Second consecutive year of removal during a Trump address
The Feb. 24, 2026 incident marked the second straight year Green was removed during a Trump address to Congress. On March 4, 2025, Green was ejected after repeatedly interrupting a Trump speech to a joint session, shouting that the president had “no mandate to cut Medicaid” while refusing to sit down. Two days later, on March 6, 2025, the House voted to censure Green, 224–198, a formal rebuke that does not remove a member from office.
Broader political context inside the chamber
Green’s action occurred amid heightened partisan tension surrounding Trump’s return to office in January 2025 and the opening weeks of the 2026 legislative year. While the State of the Union traditionally serves as a nationally televised accounting of the administration’s agenda, it has also become a setting for symbolic protest, with lawmakers sometimes using attire, pins, or signs to convey dissent.
This year, a number of Democratic lawmakers chose other forms of protest, including skipping the address. Green’s approach was more direct and immediately visible, prompting rapid intervention by chamber security.
Date and location: Feb. 24, 2026, House chamber, U.S. Capitol.
Triggering action: Green held a sign reading “Black people aren’t apes!” during the start of the address.
Immediate outcome: The House Sergeant at Arms escorted him out within minutes.
Relevant history: Green was removed during a 2025 Trump address and later censured by the House.
The episode underscored how the State of the Union, while governed by chamber protocol, continues to reflect broader political and cultural conflict, with disputes increasingly playing out in real time before a national audience.