Jeff Merkley warns of 'tyranny' in marathon Senate speech against Trump’s leadership

WASHINGTON, DC: Oregon Democrat Jeff Merkley took to the Senate floor on Tuesday evening, October 21, and has been speaking for more than 16 hours in a marathon speech. 

Merkley, who will turn 69 on Friday, has already surpassed his personal longest floor speech, with no sign of stopping yet. 

He launched a sweeping denunciation of what he called President Donald Trump’s “authoritarian” rule and warned that America faces “the biggest threat” to its republic since the Civil War.

Merkley attacks Trump in his speech

As Jeff Merkley's address stretched into Wednesday morning, Merkley said his central message was that “tyranny has already arrived.”

“President Trump is shredding our Constitution,” Merkley said at the start of his remarks.

“Is it okay for masked federal agents to arrest people off the street because of their skin color or their accent? No way, not in a free America,” he said.

“It is not down the street. It is not around the corner. It will not be encountered on the path tomorrow. It is here at this very moment,” he declared.

Merkley reportedly remained standing at his desk since he began speaking at about 6.21 pm on Tuesday. He has gone without breaks to retain control of the floor, as Senate norms discourage interruptions.

The Oregon Democrat has been bending his legs at times, highlighting the physical strain that comes with committing to standing for so long.

There will be a short interruption at noon for the daily prayer and pledge, but after that, Merkley will be able to continue speaking for as long as he likes.

As soon as he finishes speaking, there will be another procedural vote on the GOP-backed short-term funding proposal.

Democrats rally behind Merkley

Several Democratic senators have already voiced their support online. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer thanked Merkley for “standing up for the American people.”

Sen Andy Kim wrote on X that Merkley’s speech was “a reminder that our democracy is under attack,” while Sen Chris Van Hollen praised him for sounding the alarm on "Trump’s lawless regime."

Merkley’s extended address comes just months after Sen Cory Booker set a Senate record with a 25-hour, 5-minute speech.

It also follows the nationwide 'No Kings' protests over the weekend, where demonstrators reportedly accused Democrats of not doing enough to counter Trump’s divisive policies.

Republicans slam 'useless overnight floor speech' by Merkley

Republicans criticized Merkley’s late-night speech as a publicity move.

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso argued that the all-night session forced Capitol Police and staff to work unpaid during the shutdown.

“The Democrats are going to make Capitol Police and Capitol support staff — who they refuse to pay — work all night so they can give speeches patting themselves on the back for shutting down the government and hurting the American people. How ridiculous is that?” he stated on X.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson dismissed Merkley’s remarks as “a useless overnight floor speech that no one watched.”

She said, “Democrats will do anything except vote to open the government… to help the millions of Americans who are missing paychecks, losing out on important benefits, or being otherwise harmed by the [Democrats'] decision to shut down the government over free health care for illegal aliens.”