Senator Cory Booker commenced what he vows to be a marathon speech on the Senate floor, starting at 7 p.m. ET on Monday. In his address, Booker criticized President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, highlighting their disregard for the rule of law, the Constitution, and the needs of the American people. “I am committed to speaking out and standing up for as long as I can physically go,” Booker expressed before taking the Senate floor. He condemned the harm inflicted by the president on Americans’ safety, financial stability, and democratic foundations, asserting that the country is in crisis.
Meanwhile, President Trump’s remarks about pursuing a third term sparked concerns, despite the constitutional limitation to two terms for the highest office in the nation. Trump cited his poll numbers as a reason for his potential extension in office.
Senator Booker’s speech, though not classified as a filibuster, seeks to address pressing issues without aiming to delay legislation or nominations. The duration of his speech remains open-ended, with the Senate floor available as long as his remarks continue. The speech can be viewed on C-SPAN, X, Facebook, and YouTube.
Marathon speeches in the Senate have historically served as a form of protest, with notable examples including Sen. Jeff Merkey’s 15-hour speech against Neil Gorsuch’s Supreme Court nomination in 2017 and Sen. Ted Cruz’s 21-hour address against the Affordable Care Act in 2013. Former Sen. Strom Thurman holds the record for the longest Senate speech, filibustering for over 24 hours in opposition to the Civil Rights Act in 1957.
