Democrat Al Green Escorted Out After 'Black People Aren't Apes' Protest at Trump State Of The Union

The State of the Union address was disrupted Tuesday evening when Rep. Al Green was forcibly removed from the House chamber within minutes of President Donald Trump starting his speech.

Using a cane, the Texas Democrat held a cardboard sign reading 'Black people aren't apes!', a silent protest prompting immediate action from the House Sergeant at Arms.

This demonstration followed a widespread national backlash against a racist video shared by Trump on social media earlier in the month, which showed Barack and Michelle Obama depicted as primates. As Green was escorted out, the chamber's fragile order broke into a scene of jeering Republicans, reflexive patriotic chants, and prominent Democratic walkouts.

In straightforward terms, here's what happened inside the House chamber: Green stood out in the centre aisle while others were seated; the sign remained visible; Republicans attempted to block it from cameras; and the Speaker's authority—similar to the role of the Commons Speaker—was asserted as staff guided the Texas Democrat to the exit.

The 'Apes' Protest Sign Disrupts Proceedings

Green's protest wasn't loud on this occasion, but it was confrontational in a new way: silent, declarative, and strategically positioned as an accusation. As he was removed, Rep. Troy Nehls, another Texan, approached Green amidst a heated exchange, with Sen. Markwayne Mullin also getting involved, all of which unfolded in full view.

Footage shows Republicans obstructing the cameras with their bodies and hands, making the moment even more telling: it was not a debate, not even an argument clash, but a scramble over what would be shown on America's most televised political stage.

Some chanted 'USA! USA!' as Green exited—a reflexive show of patriotism that sounds like unity until considering its intended target.

Green, a Houston-area lawmaker known for challenging Trump, has been removed from Trump's annual address for two years in a row. The previous year, he was reported to have shouted that Trump had 'no mandate' before being escorted out; this year, the sign conveyed his message.

Trump's 'Ape' Video Stirs Further Controversy

The sign was not random. It was a direct rebuke to Trump's recent social-media post—later removed—depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as primates, a trope condemned as racist by critics across the political spectrum. Trump, pressed on whether he would apologise, refused, saying 'No,' and insisting, 'I didn't make a mistake,' while also blaming a staffer for posting the clip and calling the offensive element a 'very minor detail;' when asked if he condemned the racist portion, he said, 'Of course I do.'

Not everyone stayed silent. Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib heckled Trump during his talk about immigration, leaving the chamber while he spoke. Tlaib, wearing a pin with 'Release the Files,' shouted 'They saw the videos,' referencing Alex Pretti—an ICU nurse fatally shot in a federal law enforcement incident—turning a distant tragedy into a sharp critique from the back rows.

Others departed with their critiques. Rep. Bill Foster shared on X that he endured '5 bald-faced lies' before leaving, noting, 'Less than one hour into his speech, I'm out.' This might sound like nitpicking, but it's an admission: Democrats not only disagree with Trump's agenda; they distrust the foundations it rests upon.

The unmistakable part of Green's sign is how little it required explaining—and how swiftly the room sought to erase it.

The turbulent scenes at the State of the Union reveal that traditional American governance rituals can no longer conceal the nation's internal divisions. Although Rep. Al Green's sign was swiftly removed, the underlying controversy of the 'ape' video and the killing of Alex Pretti continues to divide voters. As the 2026 midterms near, will the GOP's calls for order appeal more to voters than the Democrats' 'silent defiance'?