Cory Booker mocked for ‘delivering nothing of value’ in anti-Trump speech that lasted for record 25 hours

WASHINGTON, DC: Democratic Senator Cory Booker may have just pulled off the ultimate political spectacle.

The New Jersey senator made waves on Tuesday, April 1, after talking for 25 hours and 5 minutes straight on the Senate floor, shattering a decades-old record. He outlasted Strom Thurmond’s 24-hour-and-18-minute filibuster against the Civil Rights Act of 1957, a record that had loomed over the Senate for years. 

Cory Booker's attempt to rewrite history

Cory Booker made sure everyone knew exactly why he did it. “Since I’ve gotten to the Senate, I always felt it was a strange shadow hanging over this institution,” he told CNN.

"That the longest speech… all the issues that have come up, all the noble causes that people have done, or the things that typically try to stop—I just found it strange that he had the record," he added.

For Booker, breaking that record wasn’t just about endurance—it was about rewriting history. "And as a guy who grew up with the legends of the Civil Rights Movement, myself, my parents and their friends, it just would seem wrong to me. It always seemed wrong," he insisted.

Booker kicked off his filibuster at 7 pm ET on Monday, March 31, with nothing but a Bible verse in his pocket and a promise to keep going as long as he was "physically able."

His marathon speech effectively froze Senate business for the entire night, though it wasn’t actually stopping any major legislation.  

"I rise with the intention of disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able," Booker declared. "I rise tonight because I believe sincerely that our country is in crisis."

Cory Booker slams Donald Trump, Elon Musk over a 'broken' America in 25-hour speech 

Cory Booker spoke on several issues over the course of his 25-hour speech—most notably about President Donald Trump and his billionaire buddy Elon Musk.

He warned about Musk’s alleged efforts to overhaul the federal government under Trump and railed against potential cuts to key health care programs, painting a dire picture of what lies ahead.

“In just 71 days, the president of the United States has inflicted so much harm on Americans’ safety, financial stability, the core foundations of our democracy,” he said, before adding, “These are not normal times in America. And they should not be treated as such in the United States Senate.”

Booker invoked the late John Lewis—a Civil Rights Movement icon—as his inspiration for the speech.

“He wouldn’t treat this moral moment like it was normal,” Booker said, before asking, “Where does the Constitution live? On paper or in our hearts?”

No bathroom breaks, no yielding the floor 

Cory Booker never yielded the floor, knowing that taking even a moment’s break would allow the presiding officer to move on with Senate business. The only time he stopped speaking was during the Senate chamber’s noon prayer on Tuesday.

To pad the time, Booker read from court documents, poems, think-tank reports, and even ICE detention testimonies.

At one point, he even read the testimony of Jasmine Mooney—a Canadian actress from 'American Pie'—about her experience in ICE detention. 

The senator also read aloud interviews with conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who said that everyone in the US is entitled to due process, Newsweek reported. 

You can watch the speech here.

Internet divided on Cory Booker's record-breaking speech

Naturally, social media lost its mind over Cory Booker’s marathon speech. Democrats hailed it as a heroic stand.

Former Georgia Rep Stacey Abrams posted on X, "My friend Sen.@CoryBooker is literally standing up and speaking out—for our safety, our democracy, and our shared decency."

Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy added, "For the past 14+ hours,@SenBooker has stood on the Senate floor sharing stories of Americans harmed by the Trump Administration's actions – from gutting health care to defunding public education. Thank you, Cory, for your commitment to protecting the values our country was built on."

"Stand up, Democrats! Stand up and applaud for Cory Booker. This is exactly what we are asking our elected officials to do. Stand up for your constituents, and stand up for the truth," a comment read.

"This energy is needed by every elected Democrat right now," another gushed.

However, those on the other side of the political aisle roasted Booker.

"So apparently Senator Cory Booker gave some kind of a speech for like 15 hours while everyone was sleeping. What a f--king moron," one posted on X.

"Cory Booker is currently putting on a masterclass in Democrat priorities. Talking non-stop while delivering nothing of value," another offered.

"Senator Cory Booker ranted all night because illegals won’t get our Social Security money anymore. Perfect reminder why Dems lost," someone else chimed in.

"If I talk long enough, people will be more interested in how long I'm talking than what it is I'm saying, and I'll look smart to people who aren't smart," another quipped.

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