Rep. Al Green Raises Cane in Defiance During Trump’s Address to Congress

WASHINGTON — Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) raised his cane and pointed it toward President Donald Trump during his address to Congress earlier this week, making a bold protest statement. The act of raising cane was not just an interruption of Trump’s speech, but a clear stand for the nation’s most vulnerable citizens, including veterans, seniors, and marginalized communities. Green’s actions led to a 224-198 vote in the U.S. House to censure him, but he remained steadfast in his commitment to stand up for those affected by the President's policies.

Green’s raised cane, a powerful and symbolic gesture, cut through Trump’s address, representing his urgent concerns about the future of Social Security and other critical programs. His refusal to back down from the confrontation was a direct challenge to an administration he views as jeopardizing the well-being of working-class Americans. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) quickly ordered Green’s removal, but the Texas representative’s resolve was unshaken.

“If you get in the way, if you’re arrested, then you’ve got to be willing to suffer the consequences,” Green said afterward, reaffirming that his protest was a necessary act of defiance to protect those at risk under the Trump administration.

Green’s protest sparked division within his party. While some Democrats, including Reps. Jasmine Crockett, Jamie Raskin, Maxwell Frost, and Ayanna Pressley, walked out in solidarity with Green, ten other Democrats voted with Republicans to censure him. Those members included Ami Bera (California), Ed Case (Hawaii), Jim Costa (California), Laura Gillen (New York), Jim Himes (Connecticut), Chrissy Houlahan (Pennsylvania), Marcy Kaptur (Ohio), Jared Moskowitz (Florida), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Washington), and Tom Suozzi (New York). These lawmakers are generally considered centrists or members of moderate Democratic groups such as the Blue Dog Coalition, the New Democrat Coalition, and the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. Some of them represent districts that Trump won in 2020, making their votes a reflection of their political positioning.

The censure vote highlighted a broader debate within the Democratic Party about the best approach to resisting the Trump agenda. While some advocate for bold, public acts of defiance like Green’s, others prefer a more measured approach, focusing on institutional challenges.

For Green, however, raising his cane was more than a symbolic protest for Texas—it was a statement for the nation. His actions underscored his unwavering commitment to fighting for vulnerable populations, regardless of the political fallout. In that moment, Green made it clear that standing up for justice, equality, and the protection of critical programs would always come first.