US Senator Cory Booker, a Democrat from New Jersey, has accused President Donald Trump of “recklessly” undermining the nation’s democratic institutions during an extended speech that approached the Senate record.
The 55-year-old senator began his address at 7pm (midnight Irish time) yesterday and continued through the night into this afternoon, criticizing the Republican President and his key advisor, Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual, for their attempts to dramatically reduce the size of the federal government.
“Our institutions are being unconstitutionally and recklessly attacked and even dismantled,” Mr. Booker declared, having first been elected to the Senate in 2013.
In his initial weeks in office, Mr. Trump has sought to completely shutter various government departments, including the Department of Education, while withholding funds approved by Congress and questioning the federal courts’ authority to limit his policies.
Donald Trump in his first weeks in office has moved to outright shutter government arms (file image)
Frustration has been directed at both Republican lawmakers and the leaders of the party, including top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer, for working with Senate Republicans to pass a government funding bill that prevented a partial shutdown.
“Cory Booker is seeking another ‘I am Spartacus’ moment, but that didn’t work in his failed presidential bid, nor did it stop President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh,” remarked deputy White House press secretary Harrison Fields.
Booker approaching Senate record for longest continuous speech
By the afternoon, Mr. Booker was nearing the all-time Senate record for the longest continuous speech, which is held by segregationist Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina.
In the summer of 1957, Mr. Thurmond conducted a filibuster against civil rights legislation that lasted a total of 24 hours and 18 minutes.
Ultimately, Mr. Thurmond failed to block a bill that expanded federal voting rights protections for Black Americans.
Though Mr. Booker’s speech is not directed at a specific piece of legislation and therefore is not technically considered a filibuster, it has nonetheless disrupted other Senate proceedings.
The only pauses Mr. Booker took were when a series of fellow Democrats approached the floor to ask him questions, allowing him to maintain control of his speaking time.
Signs of strain began to show as Mr. Booker dropped a piece of paper from his desk; he bent down slowly and carefully to retrieve it, only to be helped by fellow Democratic Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado, who rushed to assist him.
A common theme in Mr. Booker’s criticism was Musk’s efforts to reduce the size and scope of the US government.
Targets of Musk—and thus Mr. Trump’s proposals—include the elimination of many US foreign aid programs and significant layoffs at federal departments responsible for public health services, healthcare for veterans, and the Social Security Administration, which manages federal retirement programs.
“The Trump-Vance administration continues to drive us into chaos,” Mr. Booker stated.
“Trump’s trade conflict with our allies will only heighten costs and anxieties for American families.”
