U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) launched an impassioned marathon speech on the Senate floor Monday evening, speaking continuously through Tuesday morning in protest of what he called a mounting crisis under former President Donald Trump and his administration.
Beginning just after 7 p.m. ET Monday, Booker remained on his feet more than 17 hours later, using the time to denounce the administration’s actions and highlight the voices of Americans he says are being ignored. His remarks, which drew tens of thousands of live viewers online, took aim at Trump and senior White House adviser Elon Musk, accusing them of showing blatant disregard for democratic norms, the Constitution, and everyday Americans.
While Booker has spoken for hours largely without pause, he has occasionally yielded to questions from fellow Democratic senators — a procedural move that offers him brief moments of rest while still maintaining control of the floor. The tactic has allowed him to continue his protest uninterrupted, in line with Senate rules.
Though not a filibuster — Booker is not attempting to stall or block legislation — the Senate floor remains open as long as he continues speaking. Throughout the night and into Tuesday morning, Booker read letters from constituents, touched on issues ranging from health care and education to civil liberties and foreign policy, and vowed to continue “as long as I possibly can.”
Watch Booker’s speech at:
“This is not normal,” Booker said in a pre-recorded video posted to social media while still holding the floor. “What Donald Trump is doing to our nation is not normal.”
The extended speech comes at a time of increased tension within the Democratic Party. A Trump-backed spending bill passed last month with support from nine Senate Democrats, frustrating progressives demanding a stronger stand against the administration’s agenda.
Booker, who has represented New Jersey in the Senate since 2013 and previously served as mayor of Newark, positioned his floor remarks as a call to action. “The power of the people is greater than the people in power,” he said in a Tuesday morning video update, pledging to continue his protest until physically unable to go on.
As of midday Tuesday, neither Trump nor Musk had responded publicly to the speech.
