Politics

Booker Gives Record-Breaking Senate Speech to Protest Trump, Musk

APR 1 2025·Updated APR 2 2025

Story

Above: U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) speaks to reporters after delivering a record-setting floor speech at the U.S. Capitol on April 1, 2025. Image credit: Tasos Katopodis/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images

The Facts

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) delivered on the Senate floor a record-breaking 25-hour, 5-minute speech, which started Monday at 7 p.m. Booker said he did it in order to bring attention to what he called a "crisis" being caused by Pres. Donald Trump's administration and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
CNN
FOX News
Youtube
Booker, who vowed to speak as long he was "physically able," early in his speech said his intention was to disrupt "the normal business of the United States Senate." He claimed that 71 days into the Trump administration, "so much harm" has been inflicted on Americans, and "these are not normal times in America."
CNN
Newsmax
The Associated Press
Booker's speech was not considered a filibuster because he wasn't blocking debate over a law or a nomination. Over the hours, Booker touched on Medicaid and Medicare, Social Security, research funding, immigration, and national security, among other topics.
CNN
Newsmax
Booker didn't relinquish the floor, instead taking breaks while fellow Democrats asked him questions. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who was among those who remained in the Senate with Booker, said he was returning the favor for Booker's actions during Murphy's nearly 15-hour filibuster over gun violence nine years ago.
The New York Times
Foxnews
The Associated Press
The previous record for the longest Senate speech was reportedly 24 hours and 18 minutes by Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, who filibustered against the Civil Rights Act in 1957.
X
The Associated Press

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The Spin

Republican narrative

Booker has a history of putting on a show for attention rather than legislating to benefit his constituents. Although he's grabbed the spotlight, Booker is railing against things — Medicare and Medicaid cuts — that the Trump administration already said are off the table. Trump and Musk are cutting waste and fraud, and Booker should support that.

New York Post

Foxnews

Democratic narrative

Constituents from Booker's state and across the country have been clamoring for Democrats to do something in opposition to Trump's agenda. Booker is proving that Democrats have the wherewithal to take action despite their minority status and maybe there will be more aggressive tactics taken in the near future.

The New Republic

Vanity Fair