WASHINGTON: US Senator Cory Booker broke a 68-year-old record on Tuesday with the longest speech in Senate history, speaking for over 25 hours to protest the policies of President Donald Trump, Anadolu Ajansi reported.
The New Jersey Democrat took the floor at 11 pm on Monday (Mar 31), vowing to “disrupt the normal business” of the Senate and highlight what he called the “grave and urgent” threats posed by Trump’s administration.
At 11.18 pm last night (Apr 1), Booker surpassed the previous record of 24 hours and 18 minutes, set by the late Senator Strom Thurmond in 1957 during a filibuster against the Civil Rights Act.
Booker continued speaking until 12.05 am, adding 48 minutes to the record.
“I may be tired and a little hoarse, but as I said again and again on the Senate floor, this is a moment where we cannot afford to be silent — when we must speak up,” Booker wrote on X after his speech.
“I believe that history will show we rose to meet this moment. It will show we did not let the chaos and division go unanswered. It will show that when our president chose to spread lies and sow fear, we chose to come together, to work together, and to rise together,” he added.
In his remarks, he reflected on the historic significance of breaking Thurmond’s record, saying: “Maybe my ego got caught up — that maybe, maybe, just maybe, I could break this record of the man who tried to stop the rights upon which I stand.”
“I’m not here, though, because of his speech. I’m here despite his speech,” he added.
During the speech, Booker criticised the Trump administration’s handling of Medicaid, Social Security, education, and other legislative priorities.
“In just 71 days, the president of the United States has inflicted so much harm on Americans’ safety, financial stability, [and] the core foundations of our democracy,” he said.
“These are not normal times in America. And they should not be treated as such in the United States Senate.”
He also slammed the Republican Party’s legislative plans, including proposed cuts to Medicaid, and criticised Trump’s foreign policy, particularly his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
As Booker’s speech progressed, tens of thousands of viewers watched on social media platforms.
“All of America is paying attention to what you’re saying,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told Booker.
Shortly after setting the record, Booker joked about needing a break to “deal with some of the biological urgencies I’m feeling.” –BERNAMA
