Texas’ Rep Al Green Tossed Out Of Trump SOTU For Protest Over AI Video Attack Depicting Obamas As Apes

Democratic Texas Representative Al Green was removed from the House chamber during President Donald Trump's first State of the Union address of his second term on February 5, 2025, after holding up a protest sign reading 'Black People Aren't Apes' in response to a controversial video recently posted by Trump depicting former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle as apes. As Trump entered the House floor with Republican leaders including Majority Leader Steven Scalise, Green displayed his sign despite attempts by Scalise to remove it. The protest occurred in a chamber where numerous Democrats had already chosen to boycott the State of Union address entirely. The controversial video that prompted Green's protest had been posted by Trump late on February 5, drawing widespread condemnation for its racist imagery. The incident marked another chapter in the contentious relationship between Green and Trump, as the Texas Democrat has a history of protesting during the president's addresses to Congress, having been removed during previous Trump addresses for similar demonstrations.