On March 7, President Joe Biden stood in front of a joint session of Congress to deliver the annual State of the Union address in the House of Representatives chamber of the U.S. Capitol.
Among those in attendance was Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), an avid supporter of former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump. Greene was decked out in a red Trump MAGA hat, red blazer and a T-shirt emblazoned with the message “SAY HER NAME.” The t-shirt was referring to Laken Riley, a nursing student from Georgia who was killed while she was on a run, allegedly by a Venezuelan man who entered the U.S. illegally.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), posted on X that Greene’s outfit with the campaign MAGA slogan was in violation of House rules.
“MTG [Marjorie Taylor Greene] in direct violation of the rules of the House by wearing campaign insignia on the House floor,” the post said.
THE QUESTION
Is it against House rules to wear campaign attire on the House floor?
THE SOURCES
THE ANSWER
Yes, it is against House rules to wear campaign attire on the House floor.
WHAT WE FOUND
No member of Congress is allowed to use any House room or offices for the conduct of campaign activities, according to House rules. This includes the chamber of the House of Representatives in the U.S. Capitol, where the State of the Union is held.
The House Ethics Manual, which is the standard code of conduct for every member of the House, says House buildings are considered official government resources and can’t be used to conduct campaign activities.
The exact text from the manual reads: “The House buildings, and House rooms and offices including district offices are supported with official funds and hence are considered official resources. Accordingly, as a general rule, they may not be used for the conduct of campaign or political activities.”
In an interview with conservative network Right Side Broadcasting Network (RSBN) following Biden’s address, Greene said she was confronted by the House sergeant-at-arms, who is responsible for enforcing protocols, to remove the hat.
Greene said she told the sergeant-at-arms that she would not remove the hat and face whatever consequences would come for wearing the hat during the State of the Union.
The House of Representatives is expressly authorized within the U.S. Constitution to discipline or “punish” its own members for violating the rules, according to the Congressional Research Service. The following disciplinary actions can be taken in both the House and the Senate:
- Censure: A censure is a formal statement of disapproval and requires a formal, majority vote on a resolution disapproving a member’s conduct.
- Reprimand: Another statement of disapproval, but a lesser punishment than a censure. A reprimand also requires a formal vote by a majority in the House.
- “Letter of Reproval”: Issued by the House Ethics Committee; a letter that indicates a member committed misconduct, but it did not rise to the level of formal punishment.
- If the alleged misconduct was financial, a member could have to pay monetary restitution.
- Loss of seniority, which could include being stripped of committee seats.
At the time of publishing, the House had not announced any disciplinary actions for Greene as a result of her attire.
According to the House rules in place for the current 118th Congress, a House member is actually not allowed to wear hats at all during a session of the House.
“During the session of the House, a Member, Delegate or Resident Commissioner may not wear non-religious headdress or a hat or remain by the Clerk’s desk during the call of the roll or the counting of ballots,” the rule says.
VERIFY reached out to Greene’s office and the office for the sergeant-at arms for comment, but did not hear back at the time of publication.
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