BY MIRABLE ODETA
Democratic U.S. Representative Al Green said he directly confronted President Donald Trump during his State of the Union address over what he described as a “deplorable” video that had appeared earlier in the month on the president’s social media account. The video in question depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes, an image that drew outrage from critics who condemned it as racist and deeply offensive.
As Trump entered the House chamber to deliver his speech before a joint session of Congress, Green, a Democrat from Texas, stood along the aisle and unfurled a white sign bearing the message: “Black people aren’t apes.” The moment unfolded quickly but drew immediate attention inside the chamber, underscoring the tension surrounding the controversy. The White House later removed the video from the social media account, and Trump stated that it had been posted by a staff member rather than by him personally.
Green said his decision to stage the protest was deliberate and calculated. He explained that he wanted to ensure the president saw the message directly, describing the portrayal of the Obamas as not only unacceptable but morally reprehensible. According to Green, such imagery evokes a long and painful history of racist tropes used to demean Black Americans, and he felt compelled to speak out publicly in response. He said he believed remaining silent would have signaled tolerance of conduct he views as discriminatory and harmful.
Shortly after revealing the sign, Green was removed from the chamber. Speaking afterward at the Capitol, he said his intention was not merely to create a spectacle but to send a clear message that such depictions cross a line. He emphasized that portraying President Obama and the former first lady as members of the primate family was something he and others could not and would not accept. For Green, the issue extended beyond partisan politics, touching on broader questions of respect, racial sensitivity, and the tone set by national leaders.
Green, who has represented his Houston-area district since 2005, said he had carefully chosen his seat inside the chamber. By positioning himself on the aisle along the president’s path to the podium, he ensured that Trump would have to pass directly by him. The move reflected his determination to confront the matter face-to-face rather than raise objections from a distance.
This marked the second consecutive year that Green was ejected from one of Trump’s addresses to Congress. During the previous year’s speech, he had interrupted the president vocally, leading to his removal from the chamber. The repeated incidents highlight Green’s willingness to engage in high-profile protests during formal proceedings, even at the risk of disciplinary action.
Reflecting on the moment, Green said he believed the president appeared unsettled when confronted. He described Trump as turning away quickly, interpreting the reaction as a sign of discomfort. In Green’s view, the president is rarely challenged directly in such a public and personal manner, and he characterized his protest as an effort to “speak truth” in a setting where dissent is often constrained by decorum and party loyalty.
When asked whether he feared additional punishment from the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, Green acknowledged uncertainty about potential consequences. However, he indicated that the possibility of sanctions was secondary to the principle at stake. For him, the gravity of the issue — and the message he sought to convey — outweighed concerns about reprimands or formal censure, reinforcing his belief that confronting what he called a deplorable act was worth the personal and political risk.
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