United States Democratic Senator Cory Booker spoke on the Senate floor for more than 25 hours today in protest of President Donald Trump’s policies, breaking the Senate’s record for the longest individual speech.
New Jersey Senator Booker began his speech at 7 pm on Monday, local time, and concluded at 8:05 pm the following day. Other Democratic senators, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, supported Booker by asking questions, offering Booker a break in speaking without yielding the floor.
“I rise with the intention of disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able,” said Booker. “I rise tonight because I believe sincerely that our nation is in crisis.”
In his speech, Booker urged Congress to hold Trump accountable for actions including sweeping cuts to the federal government, refusing to obey court orders, and the deportation of legal immigrants who have critiqued Trump. He has also read letters from New Jersey constituents outlining their opposition to Trump’s policies.
He also criticised Elon Musk’s involvement with these government cuts through his Department of Government Efficiency organisation, and the Senate’s lack of official inquiries into Musk.
“The most powerful man in the world and the richest man in the world have taken a battle axe to the Veterans’ Association, a battle axe to the Department of Education, a battle axe to the only agency solely focused on protecting consumers against big banks and other factors that might abuse them,” Booker said. “What will we do in this body? What will we do in the House of Representatives? Right now, the answer is nothing.”
This speech comes as the Department of Health and Human Services begins to fire 10,000 employees at agencies like the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration, part of Musk’s plan to drastically cut its workforce and spending.
“I confess that the Democratic Party has made terrible mistakes that gave a lane to this demagogue," Booker also said of Trump. "I confess we all must look in the mirror and say, ‘we will do better'."
Booker broke the Senate’s record for the longest individual speech. The previous record-holder, a 1957 speech by South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond against that year’s Civil Rights Act, lasted 24 hours and 18 minutes.
“Cory had a Senate page take his chair away to eliminate any temptation to sit down,” said Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, who accompanied Booker for the speech's duration. “If he sits down or leaves his desk at any point, he loses the right to keep holding the floor.”
“I believe that there is an urgent crisis in our country that we are not talking about. It’s not a left-right crisis, it’s a right-wrong crisis,” Booker said to end his speech.
“I don’t know how to solve this, I don’t know how to stop us from going down this road,” he said. “But I know who does have the power. The people of the United States of America. The power of the people is greater than the people in power.”
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