Laughter filled the House floor on Wednesday as Georgia Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, presiding over the chamber, called for "decorum" during a speech by House Majority Leader Steve Scalise on the debt ceiling negotiations.
The laughter came amidst high-stakes discussions between GOP lawmakers and the White House. While Scalise was urging action on raising the borrowing limit, a lawmaker yelled out, prompting a pause in Scalise's remarks.
As Greene pounded her gavel and called for order, Democrats erupted in laughter, reflecting the controversy surrounding Greene's previous behavior and bombastic statements in Congress.
You can watch what happened in the video below.
As Scalise addressed the need for Senate and White House action on the debt ceiling, referencing the bill passed by House Republicans, a lawmaker shouted in the chamber.
Scalise paused to react to the interruption, and Greene called for "order" from the dais:
"Order! ... The members are reminded to abide by decorum of the House."
However, the Democrats' reaction was laughter, with some members, including New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Missouri Representative Cori Bush, standing and shouting. Despite Greene's attempts to restore order with her gavel, the laughter continued.
The Democrats' laughter reflects the ongoing controversy surrounding Greene's behavior since her arrival in Congress.
Her bombastic statements have occasionally played out on the House floor, including her yelling "liar" during President Joe Biden's State of the Union address and being silenced during a Homeland Security Committee hearing for accusing Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of lying.
Many have mocked Greene after footage of the moment went viral.
After the laughter subsided, Greene called for the House to be in order and recognized Scalise to continue his speech.
Scalise emphasized that House Republicans had taken action by passing a bill to address the debt ceiling issue. He urged Democrats to do their part and called for the Senate to take up the bill or propose amendments. Scalise's remarks prompted groans from Democrats, but he urged everyone to fulfill their responsibilities as legislators.
Scalise also informed lawmakers that they could leave for the Memorial Day weekend but should be prepared to return to vote on the debt ceiling with 24-hours notice. Negotiations between Republican lawmakers and White House officials have been ongoing, and pressure has mounted as the deadline approaches.
Negotiations between the White House and House Republicans have been met with challenges, with key GOP negotiators expressing their discontent and McCarthy indicating a lack of progress towards a bipartisan agreement to avert a historic debt default.
