American Senator Cory Booker set a new record by delivering the longest continuous speech in the history of the U.S. Senate. He took to the Senate floor on Monday evening and concluded his speech after 25 hours and 5 minutes. The previous record was set 68 years ago by South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond, who spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes.
Why did Booker give a long speech?
Cory Booker dedicated his speech to criticizing former President Donald Trump and the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Elon Musk. He stated that he delivered such a long speech to draw attention to government cuts in social security and threats to American democracy.
“In just 71 days, the U.S. president has caused such great harm to the safety, financial stability, and core principles of our democracy that... This is not a normal time for America,” said Senator Booker.
The historical significance of the speech
Cory Booker employed various strategies to avoid leaving the Senate floor. Democratic senators asked him questions, allowing him to catch his breath. Millions of viewers followed this speech through live broadcasts.
In his speech, the senator also discussed foreign policy, criticizing Trump for weakening NATO, being inclined towards Russian President Vladimir Putin, and making inappropriate statements about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He also expressed concerns about Trump’s claims regarding Greenland and Canada.
Brief information about Booker
Cory Booker was born in Washington and grew up in New Jersey. He played football at Stanford University and later studied law at Yale University. Booker began his political career as the mayor of Newark and was later elected to the U.S. Senate. In 2020, he ran for president but did not succeed.
The impact and results of the speech
Due to Booker’s lengthy speech, several items on the Senate's agenda were postponed to the following days. His action demonstrated the determination of Democrats in their fight against Trump’s policies. AP News described the senator’s speech as an excellent example of endurance and political will.
The senator also shared how he prepared for his speech. According to him, he stopped eating several days before the speech to reduce the need to go to the bathroom and only drank water.
“The hardest thing I had to endure was that my muscles started to cramp, and from time to time, spasms or similar things occurred,” the senator noted.
Cory Booker’s record-setting speech is sure to remain a significant event in American political history. With his address, he not only criticized government plans but also showed that Democrats can inspire hope among their supporters.
