Cory Booker's marathon speech facts for kids
| Date | March 31 – April 1, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 25 hours, 5 minutes |
| Venue | United States Senate chamber |
| Location | United States Capitol |
| Type | Floor speech |
| Motive | Protest the second presidency of Donald Trump and the operations of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency |
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From March 31 to April 1, 2025, Cory Booker, a Democratic senator from New Jersey, gave the longest speech ever in the United States Senate. He spoke for 25 hours and 5 minutes. Senator Booker gave this very long speech to protest some actions by the government. He also spoke about the work of the Department of Government Efficiency, which was led by Elon Musk.
Booker started his speech at 7 p.m. on March 31. He finished at 8:05 p.m. on April 1, 2025. This speech was longer than the previous record. That record was held by Strom Thurmond, who spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes in 1957.
What Was the Speech About?
I rise tonight with the intention of disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able.
Senator Booker's speech began during a discussion about a different topic. It was shown live on C-SPAN and on Booker's social media accounts. Many news channels also showed parts of the speech.
Booker started his speech by honoring John Lewis. Lewis was a famous civil rights leader and politician. Booker's main goal was to protest certain government actions. He spoke about concerns regarding the Constitution and the needs of people. He also talked about the Department of Government Efficiency.
During his speech, Senator Booker had a Senate page remove his chair. He read from many binders filled with articles and letters. These letters were from people he represented in New Jersey.
Key Moments During the Speech
Booker stopped speaking at 8:06 p.m. on April 1. He had promised to stay on the Senate floor as long as he could. During his long speech, other Democratic senators asked him questions. He answered them while still holding the floor.
Some of the senators who asked questions included Chuck Schumer, Lisa Blunt Rochester, and Elizabeth Warren. Booker also read letters from people in his state. He mentioned Arizona senator John McCain. McCain had voted against a healthcare bill in 2017. Booker also shared a story about a person named Jasmine Mooney. She was held by a government agency. He also listed some important orders made by the president.
Images for kids
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Cory Anthony Booker in 2025
