Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey is showing no signs of slowing down, as his all-night Senate floor speech in protest of President Donald Trump’s agenda has carried into Tuesday morning. As of 10 a.m. ET, the Democratic senator was still going, yielding to his fellow party members at times for the occasional short break.
Booker took to the floor at 7 p.m. ET Monday. “I rise with the intention of disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able,” he told his colleagues. “I rise tonight because I believe sincerely that our nation is in crisis.”
“In just 71 days, [Trump] has inflicted so much harm on Americans’ safety; financial stability; the core foundations of our democracy,” Booker said.
“The threats to the American people and American democracy are grave and urgent and we all must do more to stand against them,” he continued. “Generations from now will look back at this moment and have a single question — where were you?”
In a statement, the senator said his goal was to “uplift the stories of Americans who are being harmed by the Trump Administration’s reckless actions, attempts to undermine our institutions, and disregard for the rule of law.”
“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,” Booker said on the floor. “These are not normal times in America. And they should not be treated as such in the United States Senate.”
Watch Booker’s Senate floor speech live below:
Booker, at times with his voice cracking, shared stories from his constituents about how Trump’s drastic cuts are already taking a toll on their everyday lives. The senator read aloud a letter from a voter diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease — which Booker’s late father also suffered from — who worried about the impact the loss of Social Security benefits could have on their family.
“I tell you, I’m gonna fight to protect your Social Security. I’m gonna fight to protect the agency,” Booker pledged. “I’m gonna stand as long as I can and read stories like this because you are seen. You are heard. Your voices are more important than any of the 100 of us.”
The New Jersey Democrat also honored late civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis, whom Booker referred to as “one of my greatest heroes of life.”
“I’ve been thinking about him a lot during these last 71 days. ‘Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, help redeem the soul of America,’” Booker continued. “And had to ask myself, if he’s my hero, how am I living up to his words?”
Booker said he launched the protest “with the intention of getting in some good trouble.”
Over the course of Booker’s marathon speech, the senator took only brief breaks from speaking, yielding the floor to questions from his Democratic colleagues. As of 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday, Booker’s speech was 15 hours and counting.
As NPR noted, “The longest filibuster on record was a 1957 speech by then-Democratic Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina — in opposition to the Civil Rights Act — that lasted for 24 hours and 18 minutes.” Technically, Booker’s speech is not a filibuster since the Senate isn’t holding a debate over a specific bill or nominee. However, depending on how long Booker continues, it could still disrupt official Senate business.
Shortly after 7 a.m. ET, the senator made it clear he had no intentions of yielding the floor: “I’m rip-roaring and ready, I’m wide awake. I’m going to stand here for as many hours as I can.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
