Senator Cory Booker, a Democrat from New Jersey, made history on Tuesday night by setting the record for the longest speech in Senate history. His marathon remarks, which began Monday evening, aimed to condemn what he described as the “grave and urgent” threat posed by the Trump administration to the country.
Booker, who is from New Jersey, surpassed the previous record of 24 hours and 18 minutes, set in 1957 by Senator Strom Thurmond, a Democrat from South Carolina. Booker’s speech lasted an astonishing 25 hours and 4 minutes. When he broke the record at 7:19 p.m. ET, he was greeted with raucous applause from his fellow senators.
At 7:45 p.m., Booker mentioned that he would “stop soon,” and by 8:04 p.m., he concluded his remarks. “This is a moral moment. It’s not left or right; it’s right or wrong. Let’s get in good trouble, my friend. Madam President, I yield the floor,” Booker said, ending his speech with a standing ovation from his colleagues.
His speech quickly gained traction online, going viral across social media platforms. The live feed on his TikTok account had garnered more than 220 million likes by early Tuesday night, even before he surpassed the 24-hour mark. His speech sparked numerous fan edits and widespread attention.
At one point, around 7 a.m., Booker continued his remarks, holding up a copy of the Constitution while saying, “Twelve hours now I’m standing, and I’m still going strong, because this president is wrong, and he’s violating principles that we hold dear and principles in this document that are so clear and plain.”
As the hours passed, Booker admitted that he was feeling fatigued. “I don’t have much gas left in the tank,” he said around 5 p.m., but he pressed on. “More Americans need to stand up and say enough is enough,” Booker urged.
Democratic lawmakers have been under increasing pressure from their constituents to respond more forcefully to the Trump administration’s sweeping policy changes, including significant cuts to the federal workforce, an increase in deportations, and sweeping tariffs.
At noon, Booker received a brief respite when Senate Chaplain Barry Black led a daily prayer. The chaplain mentioned the Capitol staff and police officers who had worked overnight to support the speech.
“We are grateful for the efforts of the floor staff, the Capitol Police, the stenographers, the pages, and all those who have worked through the night,” Chaplain Black said.
Booker had begun his speech on Monday evening, declaring his intent to disrupt “the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able.” He described the speech as a warning about the “grave and urgent” threats Americans face from the Trump administration, stressing that “bedrock commitments” to the country were being broken.
A White House spokesperson, responding to Booker’s speech, mocked him by referencing his failed 2020 presidential campaign. “Cory Booker is looking for another ‘I am Spartacus’ moment, but that didn’t work for his failed presidential campaign, and it didn’t work to block President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh. When will he realize he’s not Spartacus — he’s a spoof?” Harrison Fields, the spokesperson, said in a statement.
Booker stood the entire time without leaving the floor for a bathroom break, as doing so would have caused him to lose control of the Senate floor. He was occasionally joined by other Democratic senators, including Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, who spoke admiringly of Booker’s endurance during the 23rd hour of the speech.
“It’s really hard to get your body past hour 22 and 23,” Murphy said, “I just don’t think he’s going to stop until he has to stop.”
Murphy also mentioned that Booker had been taking small sips from two water glasses placed on his desk, and they had avoided drinking too much water.
Booker’s speech, which was his first time leading such a marathon, also included references to the civil rights icon, Representative John Lewis, a Democrat from Georgia, who passed away in 2020. Booker honored Lewis by invoking his words, saying, “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, help redeem the soul of America.”
Before concluding his speech, Booker reflected on Lewis’ legacy, saying, “Let’s be bolder in America, with a vision that inspires with hope.”
NAACP President Derrick Johnson praised Booker’s efforts, calling them an example of courage in dark times. “The darkest times call on all of us to be courageous, and that is what Cory Booker is doing,” Johnson told NBC news. He urged Congress to use the tools provided by the Constitution to remove President Trump or at least slow down his agenda.
Booker’s record-breaking speech brought attention to long speeches that have previously placed senators in the national spotlight. In 2013, Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, spoke for nearly 21 hours and 19 minutes to oppose the Affordable Care Act. In 2010, Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, delivered an 8½-hour speech that raised his political profile.
As Booker surpassed the 22-hour, 26-minute mark set by Senator Wayne Morse, a Democrat from Oregon, in 1953, his speech became the second longest in Senate history. Booker’s speech remained uninterrupted until he finally wrapped up, becoming a symbol of defiance against the Trump administration’s policies.
