the New Jersey Democrat attacked President Donald Trump and Elon Musk on the Senate floor
Senator Cory Booker delivered a marathon speech in the United States Senate, where he criticized the policies of the Trump administration, particularly budget cuts and immigration policies. While some speeches of this kind have been used as legislative obstruction tactics (filibusters), Booker’s speech did not qualify as such since it did not directly block any legislation under discussion.
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Throughout his speech, Booker relied on notes and a copy of the U.S. Constitution, addressing issues such as healthcare access, national security, and social justice. His speech was only interrupted by questions from his Democratic colleagues and a prayer from the Senate chaplain. He did not take breaks for the restroom and stayed hydrated with glasses of water. His voice grew hoarse over time, but he maintained his energy until the end.
Despite the political and media impact of his speech, the White House downplayed its significance, calling it an attempt to garner attention. However, the Senate acknowledged his endurance, with Democratic leader Chuck Schumer praising it as a “tour de force.”
Cory Booker, 55, was born in Washington, D.C., but moved to northern New Jersey as a child. He has often spoken about being raised in a Black family in a predominantly white neighborhood, where his parents encountered resistance when purchasing their home.
Booker played college football at Stanford University before earning a law degree from Yale. He then worked as a nonprofit attorney, providing legal aid to low-income families. His political career began on the Newark City Council before he became mayor of New Jersey’s largest city, serving until 2013.
In 2013, he won a special election to the U.S. Senate following the passing of Frank Lautenberg. He later secured a full term in 2014 and was reelected in 2020.
Booker ran for president in 2020 with a campaign focused on optimism and unity, but he ultimately ended his bid in a crowded Democratic primary. Announcing his run from the front yard of his Newark home, he famously declared, “Love ain’t easy.”
Starting at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, the New Jersey Democrat began criticizing President Donald Trump and Elon Musk on the Senate floor
Regardless of the reactions, Booker’s resilience in the Senate marked a milestone, solidifying him in U.S. legislative history with one of the longest and most notable speeches of the modern era. With a total duration of 25 hours and 5 minutes, Booker surpassed the previous record set by Strom Thurmond at 24 hours and 18 minutes in 1957, making it the longest recorded speech in the upper chamber.
