Congressman Ejected from Trump Speech Remains Defiant Ahead of Censure Vote: ‘I Would Do It Again’

Rep. Al Green (D-TX) struck a defiant note on the House floor for the second day in a row, stating that he does not regret disrupting President Donald Trump’s speech.

Trump delivered a record-long address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, but was interrupted early on by Green, who stood and pointed his cane at the president while railing against potential cuts to Medicaid. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) asked the 77-year-old to sit down, but Green refused and was escorted out of the chamber.

On Wednesday, House Republicans quickly advanced a resolution to censure Green, who took to the floor to explain his actions.

“And still I rise, and I rise to explain why I did what I did,” he began. “And I did it with intentionality. The president indicated that he had a mandate. I said to the president, ‘You do not have a mandate to cut Medicaid.’ I have constituents who need Medicaid. They will suffer, and some will die if they don’t get Medicaid.”

Green said he heard Johnson’s call for him to take his seat, but “I did not and I did not with intentionality.”

The lawmaker went on to say that he is prepared to face the consequences “because I don’t believe in the richest country in the world people should be without good healthcare. I stood up for my constituents then. I’m standing up for my constituents now.”

He added, “Friends, I would do it again. I have to be candid with you.”

Before Green spoke, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) railed against the proceedings, saying that Republicans “sprint to the floor to censure Al Green because he hurt Trump’s feelings. It is pathetic.”

Watch above via C-SPAN.