In a dramatic turn of events during Tuesday night’s State of the Union address—the first of President Donald Trump’s second term—House Speaker Mike Johnson took decisive action to restore order in the chamber. Amid a heated atmosphere and amidst pointed warnings earlier in the session, the Speaker had the Sergeant at Arms escort Rep. Al Greene out of the House after his persistent disruptions threatened to derail the proceedings.
A Chaotic Start to a Historic Address
The evening was poised to be a defining moment as President Trump delivered the opening remarks of his State of the Union speech. However, the address was quickly overshadowed by disorder when Rep. Al Greene began to create a commotion. Despite repeated instructions to maintain decorum, Greene’s behavior escalated into what many onlookers described as a “meltdown.” According to multiple eyewitness accounts, Greene not only refused to remain silent but also engaged in a disruptive display—standing, waving his cane, and attempting to shout over the President’s speech.
Speaker Mike Johnson had warned earlier that any persistent disruption would leave him with no choice but to act. As the chaos unfolded, he promptly instructed the Sergeant at Arms to remove Greene from the chamber—a move that underscored his commitment to maintaining order during one of the nation’s most critical addresses.
Inside the Chamber: Reactions from Congress
The reaction inside the House chamber was immediate and polarized. As the Sergeant at Arms led Rep. Greene out of the room, a clear division emerged among the members. Many Republican lawmakers erupted in cheers and applause, signaling their approval of the Speaker’s firm stance on maintaining decorum. In stark contrast, a segment of Democrats in the chamber expressed their discontent, with boos and disapproving glances filling the room.
The video of the incident, which quickly circulated on social media, vividly captured the duality of reactions: on one side, lawmakers standing and applauding the removal; on the other, a visibly upset opposition that could not hide their disapproval. This split in sentiment not only highlighted the intense partisan divide but also reignited debates over the appropriate standards of conduct within the halls of Congress.
Social Media Erupts: Diverse Reactions Online
Within minutes of the incident, social media platforms were ablaze with reactions. A now-viral post on X (formerly Twitter) from a high-profile account by Nick Sortor quickly garnered attention. The post read:
“🚨 #BREAKING: Speaker Johnson just ORDERED the Sergeant at Arms to forcefully REMOVE Rep. Al Greene after he had a meltdown while Trump was speaking. These people are DERANGED.”
The tweet was met with a torrent of responses from supporters who lauded the Speaker’s decisive action. Comments ranged from calls to “expel them from school like the little children they are acting” to affirmations that the disruption was a clear sign of “out-of-control behavior” by far-left Democrats. One user argued, “Weak men always break when real power enters the room. Al Greene couldn’t handle Trump speaking because deep down, he knows the system he defends is crumbling.”
However, not all responses were one-sided. A counter-post from a Democrat-leaning account attempted to frame the removal as a politically motivated move against the left. The account suggested that Speaker Johnson’s actions were a “disaster for Donald Trump,” implying that the incident was being exploited to undermine the President’s image. Despite this, many observers noted that the disruptive behavior was clearly disruptive to the speech, and the removal of a lawmaker who refused to follow orders was a step toward restoring decorum.
The Role of Speaker Mike Johnson: Restoring Order
Speaker Mike Johnson’s decision to have Rep. Al Greene removed from the chamber is being seen as an effort to uphold the sanctity of one of Congress’s most important events. As the presiding officer, Johnson’s responsibility is to ensure that debates and speeches are conducted in a respectful and orderly manner. His earlier warnings and the subsequent enforcement of those warnings reflect a broader commitment to maintaining a level of civility—even in a highly polarized environment.
