During a Newsmax panel discussion, Marjorie Taylor Greene’s partner, Brian Glenn, caused a stir by expressing his disagreement with Congress’ decision to censure Rep. Al Green following an incident at a speech by Donald Trump.
House members voted largely along party lines 224 to 198 to censure Congressman Al Green in a sharp rebuke on Thursday.
While Greene, known for her strong Republican views, sided with her party on this issue, Glenn, a former journalist who recently gained attention for questioning Ukraine President Zelensky during a meeting with Trump, believed that the censure was unwarranted.
Glenn candidly stated on Newsmax that he did not support the censure against Rep. Green, acknowledging that his opinion might not align with the network’s conservative stance.
His partner Greene herself was slammed by Democrats for her behavior at last year’s State of the Union but never censured.
‘I think that should be reserved for much harsher penalties or things someone might do in line of office, fundraising, campaign violations, or anything outside of that,’ he added.
He added that censuring Al Green would set a bad precedent that could see more members punished for low-level offenses in the future.
‘That’s just something we’re going to throw out every time someone disagrees with the president or anybody that sits in the chamber.’
In recent years, Democrats like Adam Schiff, Rashida Tlaib and Jamaal Bowman, as well as Republican Paul Gosar have all been censured for various behaviors.
Marjorie Taylor Greene herself was threatened with censure in 2023 but had it dropped in a deal that also nixed a further censure of Tlaib.
Ten Democrats joined their GOP colleagues to vote ‘yea’ on the resolution to censure Al Green while two voted present.
After the vote, some Democratic lawmakers could be heard singing in the chamber ‘We Shall Overcome’ as they joined Green on the House floor.
Speaker Mike Johnson struggled to bring the House to order repeatedly banging his gavel before calling a recess.
The resolution was introduced Wednesday by GOP Congressman Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.)
It came after Green, 77, was physically removed from the House floor for interrupting Trump’s speech in a remarkable disruption to a presidential address.
But ahead of the vote, Green said despite any punishment for his actions, it would have been worth it.
Just moments into giving his speech on Tuesday night, the president had to pause as shouting could be heard on the floor chamber.
The Texas Democrat had stood up from his seat and was yelling and waving his cane at Trump.
‘You have no mandate to cut healthcare,’ Green yelled.
Some lawmakers cheered as Green stood his ground while Republican lawmakers booed on Tuesday night.
Speaker Johnson who was presiding over the session eventually stepped in, knocking his gavel in an attempt to restore order in the chamber.
‘Members are directed to uphold and maintain decorum in the House and to cease any further disruptions. That’s your warning,’ Johnson said as Trump waited to continue.
When Green refused to return to his seat, the House sergeant at arms removed him from the chamber.
As he was escorted away Republicans stood up and cheered.
Some GOP members sang ‘nah nah nah nah, goodbye’ while Democrats sat in silence.
After he was booted from the chamber, Green spoke to reporters on Capitol Hill.
‘The president said he had a mandate. And I was making it clear to the president that he has no mandate to cut Medicaid,’ Green said.
The Texas Democrat said Trump’s budget calls for ‘deep cuts in Medicaid.’
But when he introduced the resolution, Newhouse slammed Green’s behavior during the address as unacceptable regardless of party.
‘Decorum and order are the institutional grounds for the way we do business in the United States Congress, and the sheer disregard for that standard during President Trump’s address by the gentleman from Texas is unacceptable,’ he said in a statement.
On Wednesday, he and other lawmakers stood on the House floor to debate the resolution. Republicans slammed Green’s action, but Democrats defended him and criticized the president.
Green, who has served in the House since 2005, has been a leading Democrat in efforts to impeach Trump since his first term in office.
The congressman announced last month he would file articles of impeachment against the president again in his new term. He said it was in response to Trump’s backing of ‘ethnic cleansing’ of Palestinians in Gaza.
After he was removed from the House chamber on Tuesday, Green said he was willing to accept punishment for his disruption.
‘It’s worth it to let people know that there’s some of us who are going to stand up against this president’s desire to cut Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security,’ he said.
The president has pushed back on such claims, vowing to protect Medicare and Social Security.
But Democrats warn Republicans cannot meet their spending cut goals without impacting the program millions of low-income Americans rely on for health care.
