Sen. Cory Booker Tuesday gave an all-night speech on the Capitol denouncing President Trump and billionaire Elon Musk.
The New Jersey lawmaker took the ground of the Senate at 7 p.m. Monday and continued virtually uninterrupted till 11 a.m. and counting with a wide-ranging denunciation of Trump’s first 10 weeks in workplace, which he known as a surprising departure from American values.
“I rise with the intention of disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able. I believe sincerely that our nation is in crisis,” Booker mentioned as he launched the marathon stemwinder.
“In just 71 days, the president of the United States has inflicted so much harm on Americans’ safety, financial stability, the core foundations of our democracy,” the previous mayor of Newark mentioned. “These are not normal times in America, and they should not be treated as such.”
Booker known as out Trump for his norm-busting insurance policies together with mass deportation of immigrants with none due course of and his effort to slash authorities spending that was already permitted by Congress.
He went on by means of the night time because the chamber emptied out and after daybreak as a handful of his Democratic colleagues return to lend their help.
Sen. Cory Booker. (Tierney L. Cross/Getty Pictures)
“We’re marching through, (it’s been) 13 hours and I got more in the tank,” Booker mentioned. “It reminds me of all the times our constitution has been tested. These things should be obvious. … It’s wrong.”
In contrast to different lengthy speeches in Senate historical past, Booker’s speech was not a filibuster as a result of he was not blocking laws or a nomination. No different senators have been required to be current however staffers and U.S. Capitol law enforcement officials needed to work by means of the night time to accommodate him.
Booker took temporary breaks throughout his lengthy speech to take questions from his Democratic fellow lawmakers, whereas insisting that he “retained the floor.”
Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer was the primary to pose what senators admitted have been “softball” inquiries to Booker.
“Give us a little feeling for the strength and conviction that drive you to do this unusual taking of the floor for a long time to let the people know how bad these things are going to be,” Schumer mentioned as night time fell Monday night.
“You’re literally holding vigil for our nation,” Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia) advised Booker because the clock ticked towards 9 a.m. Tuesday morning.
“You’re like an alarm clock for this country,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) added.
Initially Printed: April 1, 2025 at 9:05 AM EDT
