...
By Jordan King
Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Representative Al Green, a Texas Democrat, has spoken out over being ejected during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union (SOTU) address after holding up a sign that read: “Black people aren’t apes!”
He said the representation of former President Barack Obama and ex-first lady Michelle Obama as apes, in a now-deleted video that was shared on Trump's Truth Social account earlier this month, was “totally unacceptable and rejectionable.”
“And, as a result, I displayed this and I wanted the president to see that Black people are not apes,” Green told reporters. “The president has never apologized, he’s never said it was wrong, he’s expressed no regrets.”
State of the Union
Donald Trump’s SOTU Speech: 5 Biggest Bombshell Moments4 min read
“The president is imposing racism from the highest office in the land,” Green added.
White House officials previously said that “a staffer erroneously made the post."
Newsweek has contacted the White House, via email outside of normal working hours, or comment.
Why It Matters
Green’s removal followed bipartisan criticism of a now-deleted video shared on Trump’s Truth Social account depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes, a racist trope that echoes dehumanizing imagery historically used against Black people.
What To Know
During the SOTU on Tuesday night, Green, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, was holding his sign up before Trump entered the, according to The Washington Post.
When Trump started speaking, Green remained standing and silently held up his sign, before he was escorted from his seat less than two minutes into the president’s speech.
Speaking to reporters afterward, Green said: “I don’t think the president has really received the message that it is unacceptable–he seems to think that he can do these…things with impunity.”
“Tonight, I wanted him to have a person confront him and let him know that Black people aren’t apes, that Black people are not going to tolerate this kind of behavior,” Green said.
The video was removed from Trump's Truth Social account after bipartisan backlash, and White House officials later said that “a staffer erroneously made the post."
The White House initially dismissed the bipartisan uproar over the video, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying that this "is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from The Lion King. Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public."
But a White House official later said that a staffer had "erroneously" made the post. Trump said he did not see the part of the video that depicted the Obamas as apes.
He told reporters on Air Force One earlier this month that he “gave it to the people who, generally, they look at the whole thing” and that if they had watched the whole thing, they “probably they would have had the sense to take it down.”
"We took it down as soon as we found out about it," he added.
What People Are Saying
Rep. Al Green said: “The representation of former President Barack Obama and ex-first lady Michelle Obama as apes... was totally unacceptable. The president has never apologized, he’s never said it was wrong, he’s expressed no regrets.”
Barack Obama, in an interview February 14: "The majority of the American people find this behavior deeply troubling. It's true that it gets attention. It’s true that it’s a distraction. As I’m traveling around the country, as you’re traveling around the country, you meet people. They still believe in decency, courtesy, kindness.
"There's this sort of clown show that's happening in social media and on television, and what is true is that there doesn't seem to be any shame about this among people who used to feel like you had to have some sort of decorum and a sense of propriety and respect for the office. So that's been lost."
What Happens Next
Green will continue campaigning in a closely watched Texas primary scheduled for March 3.
The White House and Trump campaign will likely face renewed questions about social media content and vetting practices, and any additional statements or apologies will shape how this episode resonates beyond Washington.
...
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines