Al Green, a Democratic lawmaker, was dismissed from the chamber for interfering with Trump’s congressional speech

Rep. Al Green was expelled from the US House chamber for protesting during President Trump’s congressional speech.

On Tuesday evening, Texas Democrat Representative Al Green was ejected from the House floor for interfering with President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress. In protest of the proposed changes to Medicaid, Green said, “Mr. President, you don’t have a mandate.” Republicans yelling “U-S-A!” soon overpowered his tirade, and House Speaker Mike Johnson then ordered his dismissal.

In the past, Green, a strong opponent of Trump, has demanded that the president be removed from office. He said, “Trump has no mandate to cut Medicaid,” and he is drafting articles of impeachment, in an interview with reporters outside the chamber. “This is the richest country in the world, and we have people who don’t have good health care,” he said, highlighting the significance of safeguarding Medicaid, which covers healthcare for those with low incomes.

Although Democrats are concerned that Republican-led spending cuts may have an effect on Medicaid, Trump has promised that the program will continue to exist. Several Democratic politicians asked Medicaid recipients to attend the speech as guests, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Following the speech, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was on Instagram Live, saying that “Trump and the Republicans are coming for Medicaid.”

During the speech, other Democrats made statements besides Green. In solidarity of Ukraine, some female parliamentarians wore blue and yellow ties, while others wore pink gowns to protest economic measures they claim unfairly harm women. Days after a contentious meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office, Trump declared a halt to military aid to Ukraine, further escalating tensions.

As the president spoke, many Democrats stayed sat and occasionally held banners that read “false,” while Republicans repeatedly cheered and yelled in Trump’s favor.