‘Shut up!’ Al Green erupts at DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin during tense hearing

WASHINGTON, DC: A House hearing turned contentious on Wednesday, June 3, after Rep. Al Green and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin became embroiled in a heated exchange over remarks about racism, forcing committee leadership to step in and restore order.

The confrontation unfolded as Green was speaking about peaceful protests and racism during the hearing.

What began as a policy discussion quickly escalated into a personal dispute after Mullin interrupted the Texas Democrat, believing he was being accused of racism.

Al Green and Markwayne Mullin clash after an interruption over racist remarks

The exchange began when Green was discussing what he described as reactions to peaceful protests.

“Racists take offense at peaceful protests. A racist, Mr. Secretary, would do what happened to Ruby—” Green said before he was cut off.

Mullin immediately interjected.

“Are you calling me a racist?” he asked.

Green attempted to continue speaking, noting that he was reclaiming his allotted speaking time.

But Mullin continued pressing him for an answer.

As the interruption continued, Green grew visibly frustrated.

“Reclaiming my time, ask him to shut up,” Green said.

When Mullin continued speaking, Green raised his voice.

“Shut up! Shut up! It’s my time,” he said.

Mullin refused to let the matter go, insisting he would not allow any suggestion that he was racist to remain on the record.

“I’m not gonna let anybody call me a racist, chairman,” Mullin said.

The confrontation briefly overshadowed the hearing itself as both men spoke over each other while committee members attempted to restore order.

Committee chair intervenes after tensions escalate

The exchange came after House Committee on Homeland Security Chair Andrew Garbarino had already been forced to intervene earlier in the hearing during another heated moment involving Mullin.

Garbarino attempted to restore order and urged lawmakers to focus on the subject matter before the committee rather than personal attacks.

Green later clarified that he had never directly called Mullin a racist.

“I never called him a racist. This is my time,” Green said.

Despite that clarification, Mullin continued defending himself and arguing that the accusation needed to be addressed.

According to the discussion during the hearing, Mullin referenced his own family's experiences with racism and maintained that he would continue speaking until what he viewed as an inaccurate characterization was corrected.

The disagreement did not fully subside even after the chair attempted to move the hearing forward.

Mullin continued engaging with Green and later took a personal shot at the congressman by referencing his recent Democratic primary defeat.

The remark came after Garbarino had already instructed members to avoid addressing one another's character and focus on the issues being discussed.

Wednesday's dispute follows earlier confrontation between the two

The latest clash did not emerge in a vacuum.

Green and Mullin have previously sparred publicly, most notably during a State of the Union address when Green held up a protest sign inside the chamber.

The sign read, “BLACK PEOPLE AREN’T APES!” and Green later explained it was intended as a response to a social media post from President Donald Trump's account that depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as primates.

Before Green was escorted from the chamber, Mullin walked across several rows and attempted to grab the sign from his hands.

Video of the incident circulated widely at the time.

Green later said the imagery he was protesting was “totally unacceptable.”

Mullin, meanwhile, defended his actions and criticized Democratic conduct during the address.

In a video shared afterward, he said there was a level of decorum expected during a State of the Union speech and remarked that he “cannot stand” Green.