Senator Cory Booker during his speech in the US Congress, Photo: US Senate Television via CNP/Splash News
Democratic Senator Cory Booker has set a new record in the US Senate by speaking continuously for more than 25 hours to protest President Donald Trump’s policies. His speech, which began at 19:00, became the longest filibuster in history and broke the previous record set in 1957. This was reported by Reuters
“It’s not about left or right. It’s about the struggle between good and evil. Is the Constitution alive in the heart of each of us?” Booker said during his speech.
The New Jersey senator chose this radical method of protest to draw attention to the cuts to social programmes such as Medicaid and the threats to democracy that he believes Trump’s policies pose. He stressed that the president’s administration is “destroying the foundations of the state” by firing officials and closing government agencies.
Democratic protest in the Senate
Booker’s speech became a symbol of the Democrats’ resistance to the Republican majority in the Senate. The Democrats, who found themselves in the minority after Trump’s victory, are trying to find ways to fight his initiatives, but their options are limited.
During Booker’s speech, the Senate gallery was filled to capacity with his supporters, while the Republican benches remained virtually empty.
“I took to the podium because my constituents were demanding action. We cannot remain silent when democracy is being destroyed,” Booker said.
Record-breaking filibuster
The filibuster is a tactic to block the adoption of laws through continuous speeches by senators. According to Senate rules, a speaker must remain on his or her feet and is not allowed to take a break. The only exception is the ability to answer long questions from colleagues.
The historical record for a filibuster was previously held by Strom Thurmond, who spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes in 1957 to protest against the Civil Rights Act. Booker surpassed this figure by finishing his speech after 25 hours of continuous speaking.
Experts believe that this action could strengthen Booker’s position in the Democrats’ internal party struggle ahead of the 2028 elections. “This is not only a protest, but also a political signal – Booker is claiming leadership among the Democrats,” analysts say.
Time will tell whether this record-breaking performance will have an impact on the political situation in the US. However, it is already clear that the struggle between Democrats and Republicans is only getting worse.
