Historic Protest in the US Senate
The US Senate witnessed a historic protest. Democratic Senator Cory Booker made the longest speech in the history of the Senate, speaking uninterruptedly for 25 hours and 4 minutes from the Senate rostrum to oppose Donald Trump’s economic and management policies.
The protest started on Monday and lasted until Tuesday evening
Booker began his speech at 7 p.m. on Monday and did not leave the podium until the evening hours of the following day. During this time, he did not leave the rostrum continuously to ensure that the Senate plenary session was not dispersed and the session was not interrupted.
Trump’s Budget Cuts and Administration Policies Criticised
In his speech, which was followed by the US media via live broadcast, Booker harshly criticised the Trump administration’s budget-cutting policies, layoffs of federal employees and operations carried out through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
“The Country is in Crisis” Message
Booker, who started his speech with a strong message, attracted attention with his words, “I am here to disrupt the normal business of the Senate as long as I am physically able, because I believe that our country is in a crisis.” In his speech, which lasted throughout the night, he also touched upon important social issues on the US agenda, such as Social Security, Medicaid and immigration.
He made Senate history: 1957 Record Left Behind
Booker’s speech surpassed the 24 hours and 18 minutes speech of Senator Strom Thurmond, who opposed the Civil Rights Act in 1957. Thus, Booker won the title of the person who made the longest speech in the history of the Senate. However, this protest was not considered a “filibuster” in the official sense, as it did not block any legislation or violate the internal rules.
Objective: Drawing Attention to Trump’s Wrong Policies
Booker said in a statement after his speech, “My goal is to make the public see the wrongdoings of the Trump administration. This is not just a speech, it is a warning call.”
