Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, sparked a tense confrontation during a House committee hearing Wednesday after he was caught on video calling Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin a “racist” and repeatedly telling him to “shut up” during a discussion centered on department funding.
The dramatic exchange unfolded before the House Committee on Homeland Security, where lawmakers were examining funding matters related to the department. What began as a routine hearing quickly deteriorated into a heated verbal clash that ultimately forced the chairman to suspend proceedings.
Video of the encounter shows Green launching the accusation against Mullin, calling the Homeland Security secretary a “racist” during the hearing. Following the initial remark, Green escalated the confrontation by repeatedly instructing Mullin to “shut up.”
Mullin appeared visibly surprised by the outburst, cocking his head as Green continued repeating the phrase.
“Did you just tell me to shut up,” Mullin asked as tensions rose in the committee room.
The sound of the chairman’s gavel could be heard as lawmakers attempted to restore order, but Green continued pressing his point.
“It’s my time,” Green shouted back.
Despite the escalating rhetoric, Mullin responded in a measured tone, directing his comments to House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y.
“I’m not going to let anybody call me a racist chairman,” Mullin said calmly.
Green then denied making the comment, even as the dispute continued. He once again appealed to Garbarino, urging the chairman to “tell him to shut up.”
With the confrontation showing no signs of cooling down, Garbarino ultimately suspended the proceedings following Green’s continued escalation.
The exchange highlighted the increasingly combative atmosphere that has become common in Washington hearings, where substantive policy discussions can sometimes give way to personal accusations and political theater. Wednesday’s hearing, which was intended to focus on Homeland Security funding, instead became dominated by the verbal conflict between the Texas congressman and the cabinet secretary.
Green is no stranger to high-profile confrontations. Earlier this year, he was ejected from President Donald Trump’s primetime address to a joint session of Congress, marking the second consecutive year he had been removed from such an event.
The Texas Democrat has also recently faced political setbacks back home. Green was defeated in the Democratic primary runoff for Texas’ 18th Congressional District by freshman Rep. Christian Menefee.
Wednesday’s clash adds another chapter to Green’s history of headline-grabbing confrontations. While lawmakers frequently engage in sharp disagreements, the incident underscored how quickly congressional hearings can devolve into personal disputes. As debates over homeland security and other major policy issues continue, moments like these serve as a reminder that political battles often generate more heat than light, leaving the substantive issues before Congress overshadowed by conflict.
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