US Senator Cory Booker has made history by delivering the longest speech ever recorded in the Senate, speaking for 25 hours and four minutes in a symbolic protest against President Donald Trump.
The New Jersey Democrat began his address at 7:00 PM on Monday and concluded at 8:06 PM on Tuesday, using the platform to warn of what he called a “grave and urgent” moment in American history. Though not a formal filibuster—where a speech is used to obstruct the passage of a bill—his marathon speech effectively stalled legislative business in the Republican-controlled Senate.
Booker surpassed the previous record of 24 hours and 18 minutes, set by Republican Senator Strom Thurmond in 1957, when Thurmond spoke against the Civil Rights Act. Noting the historical irony, Booker, who is African-American, reflected on his lineage as the descendant of both slaves and slave-owners.
“I’m here because as powerful as he was, the people are more powerful,” Booker remarked, contrasting his stand with Thurmond’s segregationist stance.
Senate rules for such speeches require the speaker to remain standing and refrain from bathroom breaks. Booker, 55 years old and the fourth-ranking Democrat in the chamber, prepared himself for the physical challenge, saying he would speak for as long as he was physically able.
To fill the time, he read letters from constituents affected by Trump’s policies, recited poetry, discussed sports, and answered questions from colleagues, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Dick Durbin, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.
As he reached the record-breaking milestone, he humorously acknowledged his need for a break, saying he was going to “deal with some of the biological urgencies I’m feeling.”
With the Democratic Party out of power in the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives, Booker’s speech served as a rallying moment. His act of defiance was the longest in the Senate since Republican Senator Ted Cruz’s 21-hour filibuster in 2013 against the Affordable Care Act.
Cruz, reflecting on the physical demands of such a speech, revealed his strategy for endurance: wearing comfortable shoes and drinking minimal water, following the “nothing in, nothing out” approach.
While Booker’s speech did not directly alter the course of legislation, it reinforced his position as a leading voice in the Democratic Party and demonstrated the power of symbolic resistance in American politics.
Melissa Enoch
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