April 2, 2025
Let’s be bold in America, not to degrade Americans, not to divide us against each other, let’s be bolder in America with a vision that inspires, with hope that starts with the people of the United States of America.
Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) delivering the final thoughts of what has become the longest-ever speech delivered on the Senate floor. Sen. Booker spoke for 25 hours and 5 minutes.
Why It Matters: The 55-year-old senator took to the Senate floor on Monday, saying he would remain there as long as he was “physically able” to push back against the Trump administration’s agenda. Sen. Booker stood for over a day, breaking a record set 68 years ago by South Carolina Sen. Strom Thurmond, a segregationist who sought to stop the advance of the Civil Rights Act in 1957 by holding his spot on the Senate floor for 24 hours and 18 minutes.
- Sen. Booker specified that his speech did not serve as a filibuster, meaning he did not speak to halt the advance of particular legislation. Rather, he stood on the Senate floor for 25 hours to offer a critique of the Trump administration and focus on what work Democrats are doing to challenge current policy changes.
- Parts of his speech included reading letters from his constituents, discussing cuts to Social Security offices, listing ramifications of President Trump’s executive orders and referencing civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis multiple times.
- To prepare for the endeavor, Sen. Booker fasted for days leading up to the speech and stopped drinking fluids on Sunday. He was not able to sit or leave the floor. He received help from some Democratic colleagues during the speech as they asked him questions to give him small breaks. Each time, Sen. Booker made clear he would yield for a question but would not yield the floor, allowing him to continue his speech.
Read More: Cory Booker sets a record with marathon Senate speech. Will it rally anti-Trump resistance? (The Associated Press)
Image Credit: Senate Television via AP
by Emily Hooker, based in Texas
