Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a notorious critic of President Donald Trump, launched an hours-long anti-Trump speech on the Senate floor yesterday.
Booker, who didn’t want to keep the move a secret, announced his intentions to followers on X.
“I’m heading to the Senate floor because Donald Trump and Elon Musk have shown a complete disregard for the rule of law, the Constitution, and the needs of the American people,” he said.
“I am not going to stop speaking, I am not going to stop standing. I am going to go for as long as I’m physically able to go.”
Time to speak up pic.twitter.com/03r0s5yGPX
— Sen. Cory Booker (@SenBooker) March 31, 2025
The Senate floor is a place for debate. But Booker’s intentions quickly turned into something more than a speech aimed at trashing the policies of Trump.
Booker made good on his word and began what he called a “filibuster.”
“I rise with the intention of disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able,” Booker began his remarks. “I rise tonight because I believe sincerely that our country is in crisis.”
“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.
“These are not normal times in America. And they should not be treated as such in the United States Senate.”
New Jersey Sen. @CoryBooker is on the Senate floor, saying, "I rise with the intention of disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able" to protest President Trump and Elon Musk.
Watch live: https://t.co/Zi8OhJXJej pic.twitter.com/CXT92L6V5P
— Democracy Docket (@DemocracyDocket) April 1, 2025
Disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate?
That comment right there raised eyebrows.
Even commentators at CNN ripped Booker’s move, noting that Booker’s speech was not a filibuster by any means and is actually just a waste of time for everybody involved.
“The speech is not a filibuster because Booker is not blocking legislation or a nomination,” they write.
“The Democratic senator’s speech will keep the Senate floor open – and floor staff working as well US Capitol police members detailed to the chamber – for as long as he continues speaking, but lawmakers had concluded voting on Monday before he began his remarks.”
However, Booker’s stunt did have support from some of his Democratic colleagues.
Sen.Chris Murphy (D-CT) took to social media touting it as one of the most significant speeches he’s ever witnessed.
4:45am outside the Senate chamber. @CoryBooker about to begin hour 11 of his filibuster to protest Trump’s Medicaid cuts, corruption and lawlessness.
Been proud to be his wingman throughout. I’m here until he decides to sit down. pic.twitter.com/DcGNI3k72f
— Chris Murphy 🟧 (@ChrisMurphyCT) April 1, 2025
Nobody should be completely surprised that Booker stooped to this level. This is also the same man who went on camera joking about wanting to punch Donald Trump.
“Donald Trump is a guy who you understand he hurts you, and my testosterone sometimes makes me want to feel like punching him, which would be bad for this elderly, out-of-shape man that he is if I did that,” Booker told late-night host Seth Meyers.
“This physically weak specimen—but you see what I’m talking about here?”
.@CoryBooker: "My testosterone sometimes makes me want to feel like punching [Trump], which would be bad for this elderly, out-of-shape man that he is if I did that — a physically weak specimen." pic.twitter.com/IqOI9c5RMZ
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) July 23, 2019