In an historic speech reminiscent of the famed filibuster featured in the Mr. Smith Goes to Washington film, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker railed against the Trump administration’s anti-DEI initiatives, potential Social Security cuts, federal job losses and much more since Trump took office less than 100 days ago.
Since taking office, major issues Trump has targeted include immigration reform, deportations, tariffs, limiting DEI practices, cutting federal spending, reducing the federal workforce, increasing executive authority, and implementing a non-interventionist foreign policy, including briefly pausing aid for Ukraine in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, before subsequently resuming aid on March 11, 2025.
While voters have complained about Trump’s use of executive orders and abuse of power, both the Senate and the House of Representatives have been slow to challenge or even react to No. 47’s course of action.
Booker called out Congress out for its lack of accountability in supporting rhetoric and accepting policy harmful to the American people. “Congress…that is being too complicit to an executive that is overstepping his authority and violating the Constitution and hurting people … who rely on healthcare and Social Security,” Booker passionately explained.
“Reading these stories, sir, because the voices of the Americans that don’t have the privilege that the 100 of us don’t get to stand here but I believe the power of the people is greater than the people in power. That’s the ideals of our democracy and our Constitution.”
Before the historic speech though Booker warned voters and social media followers of his intentions, referencing the cost of new tariff impositions to Americans and worsening relations with global trading partners. “I’m going to be speaking about what Donald Trump is doing to our nation, and now, with this tariff, we are going to see more reckless steps taken that are gonna raise more prices for Americans and cost our economy even more,” he said.
“So many things that I’ll be detailing in this speech and so its my plan to continue to go for as long as we possibly can.”
He continued, saying he hopes to use his voice to “do what people are calling” on him to do.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer briefly interrupted Booker to give him news. “I just wanted to tell you, a question, do you know you have just broken the record? Do you know how proud this caucus is of you? Do you know how proud America is of you?”
New Jersey’s first Black senator had just shattered the record for the longest speech in Senate history, delivered by South Carolina’s Strom Thurmond, an arch segregationist who filibustered for 24 hours and 18 minutes against the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
His speech caught the attention of some Fox News anchors, who claimed Booker was using his time for “national attention” and his fans. Some analysts were heard saying that some of his talking points — like tax cuts for the rich — aren’t true.
However, Booker received more support than criticism from Black political colleagues, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett and Florida’s 14th Congressional District nominee Mike Harvey. “Senator Booker is representing the people of his district. For other other elected Democrats who don’t know what that means, he is doing his JOB,” Harvey wrote on X.
