Al Green Dragged Out After Flashing 'Black People Aren't Apes' Sign at SOTU

By Rob Redding

Editor & Publisher

NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2026, 9:30 p.m. — Texas Democrat Al Green set off a floor‑shaking uproar Tuesday night when he lifted a sign reading “Black People Aren’t Apes” from his seat just as President Trump entered the House chamber for his first State of the Union after a year in office.

As the speech began he was escorted out with his sign still in his hand. The gesture appeared to reference a video Trump shared earlier this month that portrayed Barack and Michelle Obama as apes.

Members shouted “USA” as officers guided him toward the exit. As he was being escorted out one of the members - Rep. Troy Nehls, a fellow Texan - tried to snatch the sign from his hands.

Green kept talking and waiving his cane as he was moved out, but he did not resist. The shouting continued until he was outside the well of the chamber.

He was allowed to remain in the building as the address went on, but the sign was gone and the row around him had been cleared.

Trump paused briefly as the commotion played out in full view of the cameras. The chamber finally quieted enough for the president to continue his remarks.

Green’s office did not immediately comment

Rob Redding is the author of No. 1 best selling book Black Power in the Age of Artificial Supremacy Featuring Redding-Shim Kwet Yung . He is the bestselling author of 18 books. He is the host of Redding News Review Unrestricted and creator of ReddingNewsReview.com. He is also an emerging visual artist who lives and teaches at two colleges in New York City.