Al Green’s Future Uncertain as GOP Considers Expulsion Vote

Crowded legislative chamber with people in discussion

House Republicans are eyeing an expulsion vote for Rep. Al Green after his public disruption of President Trump’s congressional address led to a rare formal censure.

Key Takeaways

  • Rep. Al Green (D-TX) was censured after heckling President Trump and declaring “You don’t have a mandate” during a congressional address
  • House Republicans are now considering an expulsion vote, which would require a two-thirds majority to pass
  • Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) suggested Green could be the “sacrificial lamb” needed to restore congressional decorum
  • Democrats protested the censure by singing “We Shall Overcome” during the formal rebuke proceedings
  • The House Freedom Caucus plans to file additional resolutions to strip Green of his committee assignments

Unprecedented Disruption Sparks Severe Consequences

The U.S. House of Representatives descended into partisan chaos this week as members voted to censure Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) for his outburst during President Trump’s congressional address. Green’s interruption—shouting “You don’t have a mandate” at the President—resulted in Speaker Mike Johnson ordering his immediate removal from the chamber. The censure resolution, introduced by Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), cited Green’s actions as a “breach of proper conduct” and passed largely along party lines with only 10 Democrats crossing the aisle to support the measure.

The formal rebuke marks only the 28th censure in House history, placing Green in a small group of representatives who have faced such severe discipline. While some Democrats attempted to dismiss the resolution, their efforts failed in a party-line vote. The censure requires the member to stand in the well of the House while the resolution is read aloud, a humiliating public punishment designed to enforce decorum. As lawmakers gathered for the censure proceedings, House Democrats erupted in protest, singing “We Shall Overcome” in solidarity with Green.

GOP Weighs Expulsion as Next Step

What began as a censure has now escalated into serious discussions about removing Green from Congress entirely. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) has floated the idea of an expulsion vote, suggesting that more drastic measures may be necessary to restore order to congressional proceedings. “Yea, 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,” Burchett stated.

“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,” said Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.

Expulsion represents the most severe punishment available to Congress, having been used only five times in U.S. history—three times during the Civil War for supporting the Confederacy and twice in recent decades for corruption. The most recent expulsion occurred in 2023 when Rep. George Santos (R-NY) was removed following multiple ethics violations. Unlike censure, expulsion requires a two-thirds majority vote, making it a much higher bar to clear. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) quickly dismissed the possibility, noting that Republicans lack the votes needed.

Escalating Partisan Tensions

The censure and potential expulsion talks represent a significant escalation in partisan tensions following President Trump’s return to the White House. Republicans are pursuing additional punitive measures against Democrats who disrupted the censure proceedings. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) has proposed stripping committee assignments from those who interrupted the formal rebuke, while the House Freedom Caucus plans to file similar resolutions targeting Green’s committee positions specifically.

For his part, Green remains defiant in the face of these escalating consequences. The Texas Democrat, who previously filed articles of impeachment against Trump during his first term, expressed willingness to accept any punishment for his actions. Green defended his outburst as spontaneous, citing concerns about potential Medicaid cuts that would affect his constituents. As Republicans push for increasingly severe discipline, the situation highlights the deepening partisan divide in Congress and raises questions about the limits of protest within the confines of congressional decorum.

Sources:

  1. What does censure mean? Explaining Al Green’s punishment by House vote
  2. House Republicans move to censure Rep. Al Green for disrupting Trump speech – CBS News
  3. Could Al Green Face An Expulsion Vote? One GOP Lawmaker Believes That’s A ‘Reasonable Consideration’

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