Democratic Representative Al Green of Texas was escorted from the 2026 State of the Union address yesterday after displaying a sign reading "Black people aren’t Apes" during the presidential speech. The incident occurred during a high-profile moment in US political proceedings, drawing immediate attention from global observers.
This protest followed renewed scrutiny of a 2019 tweet by then-President Donald Trump that circulated a video depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama with simian features. While the controversial social media post predates current administration policies, its resurfacing has reignited discussions about racial sensitivity in US politics.
Parliamentary security personnel intervened within minutes of the sign being raised, citing violations of decorum rules for the annual address. The removal procedure unfolded without physical altercation, according to congressional staffers present at the event.
