A US Congressman has been removed from the State of the Union address after launching a scathing protest against President Donald Trump.Representative Al Green was escorted out just minutes after Mr Trump took to the stage to commence his address.The Democrat lawmaker from Texas was holding a handwritten sign reading: “Black People Aren’t Apes!”Speaking to CNN afterwards, the 78-year-old said: “I wanted the President to see it, and he saw it, and I told him, Black people are not apes, and for him to do what he did was racist, and he knows it.
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“But sometimes we have to let him know in the public that we know it.”The sign referenced a video Mr Trump shared which depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as monkeys.The minute-long clip showed several US politicians portrayed as different animals. In the final seconds, an AI-generated frame imposed the Obamas’ faces onto the bodies of apes while “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” played in the background.White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the video portrayed “President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from The Lion King”.It marks the second straight year Mr Green has been removed from a presidential address.Last year, he interrupted a joint session of Congress during Mr Trump’s speech, standing in the aisle and shouting that the President had “no mandate”.The 11-term Democrat was ordered to leave by Speaker Mike Johnson and was later censured by Congress for his actions.US POLITICS – READ THE LATEST:Donald Trump declares ‘our nation is back’ and hails ‘turnaround’ in State of the Union addressDonald Trump sued by major company looking for ‘full refund’ from illegal tariffsAlmost FOUR MILLION files wiped after Donald Trump ordered release of UFO documentsHe was not the only Democratic lawmaker to have interrupted the State of the Union.Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar, from Minnesota, said the President was a liar after he made comments on the Somali community.It came after Mr Trump said “When it comes to the corruption that is plundering America, there has been no more stunning example than Minnesota—where members of the Somali community have pillaged an estimated $19 billion from the American taxpayer.”The Somali pirates who ransack Minnesota remind us that there are large parts of the world where bribery, corruption and lawlessness are the norm, not the exception.”He was not the only Democrat to interrupt proceedings.Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota shouted that the President was a “liar” after he made remarks about the Somali community.It followed Mr Trump saying: “When it comes to the corruption that is plundering America, there has been no more stunning example than Minnesota – where members of the Somali community have pillaged an estimated $19 billion from the American taxpayer.”The Somali pirates who ransack Minnesota remind us that there are large parts of the world where bribery, corruption and lawlessness are the norm, not the exception.”Ms Omar, the first Somali-American elected to Congress, was seated next to Representative Rashida Tlaib, who was also heard interrupting Mr Trump.Outside the chamber, Mr Green told reporters he “would do it again” – though he may not get the chance.The congressman faces a contested Democratic primary next month and is at risk of losing his seat.House Democrat leaders had anticipated some form of protest from Mr Green, who insisted he was “not defying the leadership”.
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