That should make for an interesting conversation over dinner.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s MAGA reporter beau, Brian Glenn, said Thursday he opposes the censuring of Rep. Al Green—who jeered President Donald Trump’s address to Congress—on the same day Greene voted in favor of a censure.
Glenn, ahead of Thursday’s vote, said during a One America News segment he fears a censure for something as trivial as disrupting a speech may set a bad precedent.
“My take on this is probably not going to be popular,” he admitted to his right-wing audience. “I don’t think that we should be censuring him for that. I just don’t. 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.”
Glenn, 56, made clear he did not condone what Green had done. However, he said the real consequences for the Texas Democrat would come from how the American public, including his constituents, viewed his actions—not from an official censure.
Glenn, who used to a local news reporter in Texas himself, warned a low bar for censures will continue, saying, ”that’s just something we’re going to throw out every time someone disagrees with the president or anybody that sits in the chamber."
“I understand it,” he added, “but personally, I wouldn’t get behind that.”
Republicans, including Glenn’s girlfriend, did not heed his advice. Greene joined every other House Republican—and 10 Democrats—to censure the 77-year-old Green. The final vote was 224-198.
A censure is a formal reprimand of a member’s conduct, but it does not take away any rights or privileges as a House member. The most recent censures were each in 2023 for Democratic lawmakers: Adam Schiff, Rashida Tlaib, and Jamaal Bowman.
The last Republican to be censured was Rep. Paul Gosar, of Arizona, who posted an anime video that depicted him killing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Greene, known for being bombastic in and around the U.S. Capitol, was threatened with a censure in 2023 for her rhetoric but had it tabled as part of a deal that also nixed a censure vote for Tlaib regarding her remarks against Israel.
Censures, once viewed as a last-resort punishment for egregious wrongdoing, like joining the Confederacy, have become more common since 2020. There was just one censure under the presidencies of Barack Obama and George W. Bush. Despite having no material affect, they do add an unsavory footnote to lawmakers’ careers.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Thursday he supported the censuring of Green.
“Rep. Al Green’s shameful and egregious behavior during President Trump’s Joint Address disgraced the institution of Congress and the constituents he serves,” he wrote on X. “He deliberately violated House rules, and an expeditious vote of censure is an appropriate remedy. Any Democrat who is concerned about regaining the trust and respect of the American people should join House Republicans in this effort.”
Green does not appear to be bothered by the outrage. He told reporters in the Capitol on Wednesday night he would “do it again” if he could.
“I think that on some questions, questions of conscience, you have to be willing to suffer the consequences,” he added, saying his protest was in defense of Medicaid as the Trump administration threatens to cut access. “And I have said I will.”
