Senator Cory Booker shattered the record for the longest speech in U.S. Senate history on Tuesday, delivering a passionate 25-hour-and-five-minute protest against what he called President Donald Trump’s “unconstitutional” actions.
Booker’s marathon speech, during which he remained on his feet without a bathroom break, evoked memories of the classic 1939 film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. His protest surpassed the previous record set by South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond, who spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes in 1957 in an unsuccessful attempt to block the Civil Rights Act.
“Strom Thurmond’s record always… really irked me,” Booker later told MSNBC. “That the longest speech on our great Senate floor was someone who was trying to stop people like me from being in the Senate.”
As the record-breaking moment neared, the public galleries of the Senate chamber filled, and more Democratic lawmakers joined to show their support—though Republicans largely stayed away.
‘A Moral Moment’
“This is a moral moment. It’s not left or right. It’s right or wrong,” Booker declared as he wrapped up his speech. He also quoted civil rights icon John Lewis, who famously encouraged activists to get into “good trouble,” before finally yielding the floor with, “Madam President, I yield.”
Despite the grueling length of his speech, the 55-year-old New Jersey senator found moments for humor. As he surpassed Thurmond’s record, he quipped, “I want to go a little bit past this and then I’m going to deal with some of the biological urgencies I’m feeling.”
‘Foundations of Democracy’
Though Booker’s extended speech did not formally block the Senate from voting—unlike a traditional filibuster—it quickly became a rallying point for Democrats.
Booker, a former presidential candidate, took control of the Senate floor at 7:00 p.m. Monday and spoke continuously until 8:05 p.m. Tuesday. His speech was a fierce condemnation of Trump’s policies, particularly the administration’s drastic cost-cutting measures. He criticized Trump’s top advisor, billionaire Elon Musk, for slashing entire government programs without congressional approval.
Booker’s historic stand cemented his role as a leading voice of opposition, underscoring the ongoing struggle over the balance of power in Washington.
