New record in the Senate: US Senator criticizes Trump for 25 hours
2 April 2025 09:28
Democratic Senator Cory Booker has set a record for the longest speech in the U.S. Senate in 70 years, speaking out against Donald Trump’s policies. His address lasted 25 hours and 5 minutes. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to Reuters.
the 55-year-old senator from New Jersey began his speech on March 31 at 19:00 EST and did not stop for more than a day. In his speech, Booker harshly criticized Trump, accusing him of “reckless” actions that undermine US democratic institutions.
The only pauses in the marathon occurred when fellow Democrats took turns approaching the podium to ask Booker questions, giving him a brief respite.
The agency notes that the record was previously set by segregationist Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina. In the summer of 1957, he launched a filibuster against civil rights legislation that lasted 24 hours and 18 minutes. In the end, Thurmond failed in his mission to block a bill that expanded federal voting rights protections for blacks.
What did Cory Booker talk about?
During his speech, the senator criticized the “crusade” of the president and his billionaire chief adviser Elon Musk, aimed at reducing a significant part of the federal government’s powers.
“The Trump-Vance administration continues to throw us into chaos. Trump’s trade war with our allies will only increase costs and fears for American families,” Booker said.
The only topic of Booker’s anger was Musk’s campaign to reduce the size and scope of the US government.
He also mentioned foreign policy in his speech. Thus, Booker said that Trump was “turning away” from NATO, “praising” Russian President Vladimir Putin, and calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator.” He also recalled threats to Panama and Greenland and the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico.
“He did not tell us that he was going to do all these things, he did not promise. He promised to lower food prices, but they are higher. He promised that he would be better for the economy – it is worse than we inherited (referring to the state of the economy under Joe Biden’s presidency – ed.
As the senator began the final hours of his speech, most of his Democratic colleagues took their seats in the chamber, while the Republican seats on the opposite side of the chamber were empty.
Booker used this time to call on Congress to control the president as outlined in the US Constitution and to listen to the voices of the electorate.
“This is a moral moment for all Americans. This is not a left or right issue. It’s right or wrong,” Booker said.
Before the speech, Booker explained that he went to the Senate because Trump and Elon Musk “have demonstrated a complete disregard for the rule of law, the Constitution, and the needs of the American people.”
“In just 71 days, the President of the United States has done so much damage to American security, financial stability, and the foundations of our democracy. These are not normal times in America,” the Democrat said.
