Senator Cory Booker, D-N.J., knew that Democratic voters were craving something bold—and that’s exactly what he delivered. On April 1, he took to the Senate floor for a record-breaking, 25-hour speech, fiercely condemning the Trump administration for undermining American values and lawfulness.
The speech wasn’t just a marathon of words—it was a moment of catharsis for many Americans feeling demoralized by the political climate. For a Democratic Party still reeling from its loss to Donald Trump, it offered a rare glimmer of hope and a call to action: inspire the people to rise up against the Trump agenda.
After wrapping up the longest speech in Senate history, Booker told reporters, “A lot of people have been asking Democrats to do more, to take risks and do things differently. This felt like the right thing to do.” He added that his staff told him many people tuned in, which was exactly the kind of attention the Democrats needed. “I think we all have to do more—including myself.”
Throughout the afternoon, Booker was trending on social media platforms like TikTok, BlueSky, and even Elon Musk’s X, with over 350 million likes on his TikTok livestream. More than 300,000 viewers tuned in at once, and his office received over 28,000 voicemails of encouragement. Notable Democrats like former Vice President Kamala Harris and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi publicly praised him for his boldness.
Ezra Levin, co-founder of the progressive group Indivisible, pointed out that Democrats have been too passive in challenging Trump. “Rank-and-file Dems are desperate for leadership and fighters,” Levin said.
Senator Peter Welch, D-Vt., called Booker’s speech an inspiration. “He made the Senate relevant,” Welch said, “capturing the moment and reminding everyone why we need to push back against Trump, instead of getting lost in the day-to-day political grind.”
However, while Booker’s speech captured national attention, it didn’t stop Trump’s agenda from moving forward. After Booker finished, Republicans moved ahead with votes on Trump’s tariffs and a nomination for the U.S. ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker.
Despite critics who might call it a stunt, Democratic strategist Mike Nellis praised Booker’s speech for recognizing the power of modern media. “Stunts aren’t necessarily a bad thing,” Nellis tweeted. “The name of the game is attention, and Cory is paving the way forward.”
Booker’s speech wasn’t just about political grandstanding—it was a carefully planned feat of endurance. He prepared 1,164 pages of material and relied on physical techniques to avoid sitting or using the bathroom for the entire session. He even dehydrated himself beforehand to avoid the need for breaks. Booker remained focused on his message throughout, unlike previous long speeches, like Ted Cruz’s 21-hour protest of Obamacare in 2013, when Cruz read Green Eggs and Ham to fill time.
Inside the chamber, Booker earned a standing ovation when he surpassed Strom Thurmond’s 24-hour and 18-minute speech record, a moment that carried significant personal and historical weight for Booker, who is African American. Thurmond, who held the record for nearly 70 years, had used his filibuster to oppose the Civil Rights Act of 1957. “To surpass that was something that became really important to me,” Booker said in an interview with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow.
NAACP President Derrick Johnson praised Booker for his courage in standing up to hatred. “Despite Trump’s attempts to silence Black voices, a Black man just made history tonight in protest of Trump himself,” Johnson said in a statement.
But Booker isn’t resting on his laurels. “We’ve got to keep this movement going,” he said, emphasizing that the fight doesn’t end with his speech. “We’ve got to continue to ignite this movement.”
