Donald Trump was the target of Cory Booker’s frustration when the US politician, who is New Jersey senator, embarked on an epic speech, which lasted for more than 24 hours
A US politician blasted Donald Trump’s agenda during an epic 25-hour speech – the longest ever given on the Senate Chamber floor.
Cory Booker, New Jersey senator, addressed the room with barely any breaks in a speech criticising Mr Trump administration’s policies. The speech began on Monday night and he was still speaking at at 7.20pm on Tuesday, a remarkable address which surpassed the record of 24 hours and 18 minutes set by Strom Thurmond in 1957.
Opening his tirade, Mr Booker, 55, said: “I rise with the intention of disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able.” Mr Booker, from Washington DC, then went onto say: “These are not normal times in our nation, and they should not be treated as such in the United States Senate. The threats to the American people and American democracy are grave and urgent, and we all must do more to stand against them.”
Fellow Democrats asked Mr Booker, a former American football player, questions at the end of the address, used as a tool to allow the party to further show their resistance to Mr Trump’s sweeping actions, such as huge tariffs.
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Writing on X, which was known as Twitter, after the marathon speech, determined Mr Booker said: “I may be tired and a little hoarse, but as I said again and again on the Senate floor, this is a moment where we cannot afford to be silent, when we must speak up.
“What’s most clear to me tonight is that this is just the beginning, that Americans across this country, no matter their title or party, are ready to be heard. I believe that history will show we rose to meet this moment. It will show we did not let the chaos and division go unanswered. It will show that when our president chose to spread lies and sow fear, we chose to come together, to work together, and to rise together.”
His speech was the longest given in the Senate since Mr Thurmond’s rant, blasting the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1957. Like Mr Thurmond, Mr Booker had to lean on the podium and shift his feet to continue with his blistering tirade. He had to stay standing to comply with Senate rules.
The politician railed for hours against cuts to Social Security offices led by Mr Trump adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. He listed the impacts of Mr Trump’s early orders and spoke to concerns that broader cuts to the social safety net could be coming, though Republican lawmakers say the scheme won’t be touched.
Asking Mr Booker a question from the floor, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said: “Your strength, your fortitude, your clarity has just been nothing short of amazing and all of America is paying attention to what you’re saying. All of America needs to know there’s so many problems, the disastrous actions of this administration.”
