Poli Alert Politics & Civics
Related Articles
As the East Coast woke up Tuesday morning, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) was still standing on the Senate floor, delivering a marathon 15-hour speech against the sweeping policy changes implemented by the Trump administration.
Taking the floor at 7 p.m. Monday, Booker announced his intention to disrupt “the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able.” By dawn, he remained standing, holding up a copy of the Constitution and declaring:
“Twelve hours now I’m standing, and I’m still going strong because this president is wrong, and he’s violating principles that we hold dear and principles in this document that are so clear and plain.”
Booker’s speech was a forceful rebuke of Trump’s early policies, including massive federal job cuts, aggressive deportations, and tariffs that have unsettled markets and businesses.
A Stand Against “Crisis” in America
“I rise tonight because I believe sincerely that our country is in crisis,” Booker stated at the outset, calling the moment “grave and urgent.” He warned that America’s bedrock commitments were being broken and that government institutions were under attack.
“Unnecessary hardships are being borne by Americans of all backgrounds, and institutions which are special in America, which are precious, which are unique in our country, are being recklessly—and I would say even unconstitutionally—affected, attacked, and even shattered.”
Booker has not left the floor for a break, maintaining his control of the Senate floor. Other Democratic senators have joined him intermittently, posing questions to allow him brief moments of rest.
Potential Impact on Senate Business
While Booker’s speech has not yet delayed legislation, it could impact the scheduled vote on Matthew Whitaker’s nomination as U.S. ambassador to NATO. The Senate typically convenes at 10 a.m., and Booker’s speech could push back the proceedings if it continues.
Booker Follows in Historic Footsteps
The senator invoked civil rights leader John Lewis, reflecting on his famous call to action:
“Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, help redeem the soul of America.”
Booker said he saw his speech as his own way of stepping up:
“If he’s my hero, how am I living up to his words? I’m doing this with the intention of getting in some ‘good trouble.’”
Long Senate speeches have historically served as high-profile moments for politicians. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) spoke for 21 hours in 2013 against the Affordable Care Act, and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) delivered an eight-hour speech in 2010 that boosted his national profile. The longest speech on record remains Sen. Strom Thurmond’s 24-hour filibuster against the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
As the morning progressed, it remained unclear how long Booker intended to hold the floor—or whether his protest would shift the course of Senate business in the days ahead.
