The Delaware Valley’s Democratic congresswomen were divided on whether to censure U.S. Rep. Al Green, the angry, 77-year-old Texan who repeatedly violated House rules as he waved his cane and tried to shout down President Trump Tuesday night.
Green, who announced plans to file articles of impeachment just 15 days after Trump was sworn into his second term, wasn’t the only Democrat to engage in rude behavior during the presidential address. Many turned their backs on Trump as he entered the building and spent most of the speech scowling or waving signs of protest.
As a group, Democrats refused to stand and applaud for civilian special guests recognized by the president, even when a 13-year-old cancer survivor was given an honorary membership as a Secret Service agent. Some even made a display of storming out of the speech before it was over, including local Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon.
During the president’s address to a joint session of Congress, Green repeatedly broke decorum — and House rules — and was warned by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. The Texas Congressman refused to be seated and continued to shout and wave his cane. At that point, Johnson called for the sergeant at arms to escort Green from the chamber.
In a sign of how far over the line Green’s actions were, it took less than 48 hours for lawmakers to put forward, agree on and pass the censure resolution in a 224-198 vote. Every Republican, including Bucks County Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, voted in favor of censure. GOP members were joined by 10 Democrats, including Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, who represents Chester and Berks Counties.
Scanlon and her fellow Delaware Valley progressive Rep. Madeleine Dean voted against censure.
Johnson called out the Democratic majority that voted against censure in a case that, most observers say, was a clear violation of House rules.
“198 Democrats just voted against censuring Rep. Al Green. Instead of supporting decorum, they defended his shameful and egregious behavior. What an embarrassment,” Johnson posted on social media,
If House Democrats were embarrassed by their support of Green and his antics, it didn’t show. A group of them stood and sang “We Shall Overcome” on the House floor Thursday during the censure process, ignoring the speaker’s gavel. Politico described it as “a wild scene.”
Even Houlahan, who voted for censure, took to social media to defend her actions to her Democratic constituents.
“Today’s vote to censure my fellow representative was not easy and has angered many of you,” Houlahan said, adding that she also “called Speaker Johnson out on his and his party’s hypocrisy and reminded him of the many instances in which Republicans have blatantly broken the rules of conduct without consequence.”
This isn’t the first time local Democrats voted against censure for what many considered egregious behavior. In 2023, progressive Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) was censured for using offensive language about Israel, including promoting a chant that calls for the destruction of the Jewish state (“From the river to the sea, Palestine shall be free.”)
Florida Democrat Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz pointed out that “This phrase means eradicating Israel and Jews. Period.” But Dean, Houlahan and Scanlon all voted against the Tlaib censure resolution.
Some Democrats, including Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, have been critical of the behavior of Green and other members of their party during Trump’s speech, saying it turns off voters.
Despite the political animosity on the House floor, there were green shoots of bipartisanship in Trump’s speech Tuesday night.
The president recognized his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, for her work on the Take It Down Act, a bill making it illegal to knowingly publish nonconsensual AI-generated pornography with someone’s image. Social media and websites must remove that content when a victim notifies them. On CNN Thursday, Dean said she’s sponsoring that bill and she had sent Mrs. Trump a letter thanking her for her support.
As for his behavior, Green says he has no regrets.
“I would do it again,” he told reporters after the censure vote.
