President Donald Trump took a victory lap Wednesday after Representative Al Green, a Texas Democrat who twice disrupted presidential addresses, lost his primary runoff. Trump celebrated the outcome with a taunting message on Truth Social, branding the congressman 'one of the most mentally deficient in history' and offering congratulations 'to the Dumocrat Party!'
Green, who represents the Houston-based 18th Congressional District, fell to Representative Christian Menefee in Tuesday's runoff. Neither candidate secured the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a runoff in the March 3 primary. The defeat marks the end of Green's tenure, which included multiple high-profile confrontations with Trump.
Green has also introduced articles of impeachment against Trump during his second term. Trump's post referenced the disruptions, saying he would miss 'that lunatic not screaming and violently waving his cane at me during my next State of the Union Speech.' The Hill has reached out to Green's office for comment.
In March 2025, Green stood up during Trump's address to a joint session of Congress, challenging the president's claim of a 'mandate' from voters. He thrust his cane and argued Trump lacks authority to cut programs like Medicaid. The sergeant-at-arms removed him at Speaker Mike Johnson's request, as Republicans chanted 'hey, hey, hey, goodbye.' The House censured Green two days later, the 28th such action in U.S. history, calling his conduct 'a breach of proper conduct.'
Green was ejected again in February during Trump's first State of the Union address of his second term. He held a sign reading 'BLACK PEOPLE AREN'T APES,' referencing a since-deleted AI-generated video on Trump's Truth Social that depicted former President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as gorillas. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, then a senator, tried to take the sign, while Representatives Troy Nehls and Pat Fallon intervened before security removed Green.
'The President has depicted Black people, two prominent black people, the President and the First Lady, as apes,' Green told The Hill at the time. 'That cannot go unnoticed. For too long now, we have allowed all of his dastardly deeds to go unnoticed because he'll get engaged with another dastardly deed. I refuse to let this go unnoticed.'
The video sparked bipartisan backlash, with Trump ally Senator Tim Scott calling it 'the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House.' Trump said he didn't view the full video but acknowledged it was racist, though he refused to apologize when asked.
Green's loss adds to a pattern of Trump targeting political adversaries. For more on Trump's political maneuvers, see the fallout from Texas races and how endorsements shape GOP primaries.
