US Senator Cory Booker has set a new record for the longest speech ever delivered in the Senate, speaking for 25 hours and 5 minutes. The New Jersey Democrat broke the modern record for the longest floor speech while protesting President Donald Trump’s “unconstitutional” actions.
Booker began his speech at around 7:00 PM on Monday and finished at 8:06 PM on Tuesday, vowing to speak as long as he was physically able. His marathon speech surpassed the previous record held by the late Senator Strom Thurmond, who spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes in 1957.
Booker explained that he chose to break Thurmond’s record because of Thurmond’s opposition to the 1957 Civil Rights Act. “It always seemed wrong to me,” Booker said. “As a guy who grew up with the legends of the Civil Rights Movement, it just didn’t sit right.”
During his speech, Booker criticized Trump’s radical cost-cutting policies, particularly the impact of Elon Musk’s actions in reducing government programs without congressional approval. He also warned that Trump’s concentration of executive power was jeopardizing US democracy.
“Unnecessary hardships are being imposed on Americans from all walks of life,” Booker said. “American institutions that are unique and vital to our country are being recklessly attacked, even shattered.”
He added, “In just 71 days, the president has caused so much harm to Americans’ safety, financial stability, and the core foundations of our democracy.”