US senator delivers 25-hour anti-Trump speech

Democratic Senator Cory Booker delivered a record-breaking 25-hour Senate speech, condemning President Donald Trump for what he called a "reckless" assault on democratic institutions and a radical push to dismantle the federal government.

Starting at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, the New Jersey senator continued speaking until late Tuesday night, surpassing the previous Senate record of 24 hours and 18 minutes set by segregationist Strom Thurmond in 1957.

“Our institutions are being recklessly and unconstitutionally attacked and even shattered,” Booker declared, calling out Trump’s efforts to shut down agencies like the Department of Education and withhold congressionally approved spending.

He also took aim at billionaire White House adviser Elon Musk, accusing him of leading a campaign to drastically cut the size of the federal government. "The Trump-Vance administration continues to plunge us into chaos," Booker warned, referring to Vice President J.D. Vance.

Booker’s speech was not a filibuster but a symbolic stand against what he described as the erosion of American democracy under Trump’s leadership. His remarks echoed the words of the late civil rights icon John Lewis, urging Americans to get into "good trouble" in resisting policies they believe are unjust.

The speech, punctuated by brief questions from fellow Democrats to allow him to maintain the floor, came as Trump’s administration aggressively reshapes U.S. governance, cutting over 100,000 federal jobs and challenging the authority of the courts to block its policies.

At one point, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer interrupted to inform Booker that he had broken the record. "I know now," Booker said, visibly emotional, before continuing his address.

By the final hours of his speech, Democratic senators filled their side of the chamber, while Republican seats remained mostly empty. As he concluded, Booker made a final appeal to Congress to uphold its constitutional role in checking presidential power.

“For all Americans, this is a moral moment,” he said, his voice breaking. “It’s not left or right—it’s right or wrong.”