Senator Cory Booker has been speaking on the Senate floor for more than 18 hours as he protests action taken by President Trump’s administration.
The Democratic senator vowed on Monday evening to keep speaking for as long as he was “physically able”, as he claimed “our nation is in crisis”.
“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,” Booker said.
As of 8pm (3pm ET) on Tuesday, Booker had spoken for a total of 20 hours. He cannot yield the floor for a break or even leave to use the bathroom, as doing so would allow the presiding officer to proceed with state business.
One of Booker’s aides told CNN around the 15-hour mark that he was “feeling good”. He briefly paused for the chamber’s prayer at noon, but did not sit down and continued speaking afterwards.
His speech comes amid growing pressure on Democratic leaders to take a stand against Trump. Over his 20 hours on the Senate floor, Booker has addressed various issues, including potential Medicaid cuts, social security and immigration.
Speaking on the outset of his marathon speech, Booker said: “I rise with the intention of disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able.
“I rise tonight because I believe sincerely that our country is in crisis.”
When referring to Medicaid, Booker invoked the late GOP Sen. John McCain and his pivotal healthcare vote in 2017, saying: “Senator McCain, I know you wouldn’t sanction this; I know you would be screaming.”
Booker highlighted the harm these cuts would inflict on his fellow Americans, including his own constituents.
Republicans have stated that their legislative agenda will prioritise tackling fraud, waste, and abuse rather than targeting Medicaid—though they have yet to specify which programs will face spending cuts.
