Booker and the Bite Back Against Trump

April 7th, 2025

Roshan Shivnani

It’s not often that US political records get broken, but when they do it creates immense political buzz, seen most recently with the longest congressional speech in history. Specifically, Senator Cory Booker protested the Trump administration's policies by spending a full day standing on the Senate floor delivering a speech. Since then, much ongoing debate has sparked as to whether or not the speech was merely performative, or if it brought real issues to light while engaging Democratic support.

To understand the intent behind Booker's speech, it’s important to note the specific policies he targeted. For instance, he specifically raised alarm over the potential for cuts to Medicaid by congressional Republicans labeling them as “counterproductive,” Although Republicans said the funding cuts would be pulled from corrupt niches in the healthcare system, Booker stood firm in opposition, believing they would only deteriorate our healthcare system. Despite being just one issue discussed over the period of an entire day, it highlights the direct and targeted approach Booker took when it came to opposing the policies of Trump and Republicans in Congress.

Through the process of discussing so many political issues, Booker’s speech also stood as a way to attempt to reinvigorate Democratic support. Notably, Booker read constituent letters during his speech as a means of tying back his messaging to the Democrats he represented. Just as importantly for the Democrats, Booker helped lead the effort not as an individual achievement, but as a party wide movement by occasionally yielding to his Democratic colleagues on the floor, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, as they echoed his concerns with the administration and encouraged his efforts.

Whether the intentions behind Booker's speech are just another case of performative politics or a true representation of Democratic support still remain unclear. What is undeniable, however, is that in this record breaking feat Booker truly drew attention to the conflicts regarding Trump and the congressmen and women supporting his policy.