During the State of the Union address on Tuesday, Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) held a sign that called out a racist social media post President Donald Trump recently shared of former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama.
The video, which was widely condemned by Democrats and Republicans, depicted the Obamas as apes. Trump eventually removed the video, though he declined to apologize for it. The president also claimed that he had only seen the beginning of the video and hadn’t seen the racist frames of the clip.
“Black people aren’t apes!” Green’s sign read.
Green held the sign while Trump entered the House chamber and during the beginning of his speech.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) tried to take the sign from Green after seeing it, and Reps. Pat Fallon (R-Texas) and John McGuire (R-Va.) also attempted to block it from cameras’ line of sight. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) tried to snatch it out of his hand, but Green dodged.
