Black People Aren't Apes": Congressman Displays Sign During Trump's Address to Congress

Democratic Representative Al Green was expelled Tuesday from President Donald Trump's State of the Union address after raising a sign that read "Black people aren't apes!" — a direct reference to a racist video depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as primates, which had been posted and subsequently deleted from Trump's Truth Social account.

The images, which were briefly published on the platform before being removed, depicted the Obamas — the first Black president and first lady in United States history — as monkeys, sparking widespread outrage across broad sectors of American politics.

On Tuesday, the veteran Texas congressman rose to his feet as Trump arrived to address the joint session of Congress, waving the protest sign before an audience member appeared to attempt to snatch it from his hands. Green held firm and continued displaying the banner as Trump began his prime-time address.

The lawmaker was subsequently escorted out of the chamber amid chants of "USA, USA, USA."

This is not the first time Green has made his opposition known in such a setting. During 2025, he waved a cane at Trump and shouted at the president as he made his way to address Congress, drawing boos from Republican members in attendance and prompting his removal from the chamber on that occasion as well.