Texas Congressman Al Green Removed From Trump’s Joint Session of Congress After Repeated Interruptions: ‘You Have No Right to Cut Medicaid’
Al Green, a U.S. representative from Texas’ 9th congressional district, was removed from President Trump’s Tuesday night joint session of Congress after repeatedly interrupting the president’s speech.
Only a few minutes into President Trump’s address, Green stood up from his seat and shouted, “You have no mandate to cut Medicaid,” inciting boos from the Republican side of Congressional Hall. Republicans then began chanting, “USA, USA, USA,” as Green shouted again at President Trump, “You have no right to cut Medicaid.”
Trump tried to continue his speech, but the noisy discourse continued, forcing House Speaker Mike Johnson to issue a warning: “Members are directed to uphold and maintain decorum in the house and to cease any further disruptions. That’s your warning. Members are engaging in willful and continuing breach of decorum, and the chair is prepared to direct the sergeant at arms to restore order to the joint session.”
Green refused to let up despite the warning, declaring once again that the 47th president has “no mandate to cut Medicaid.” Johnson then quickly called for the sergeant at arms to remove Green from the joint session, which invoked some Republicans to sing the chorus from the 1969 Steam track, “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye.”
Green’s protests were in response to a budget resolution gaining support from House Republicans. It calls for $880 billion in spending cuts over the next decade, which requires significant cuts to the Medicaid program.
Upon exiting the joint session, Green told reporters, “I have people who are very fearful. These are poor people, and they have only Medicaid in their lives when it comes to health care. I want [Trump] to note that his budget calls for deep cuts in Medicaid. He needs to save Medicaid [and] protect it. We need to raise the cap on Social Security, there’s a possibility it is going to be hurt, and we have to protect Medicare. These are the safety net programs that people in my congressional district depend on.”
