| Published April 1, 2025
Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) took to the Senate floor this week for an hours-long speech railing against former President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and what he described as a growing crisis in American leadership. While some Democrats hailed the move as a bold stand, critics—especially on the right—were quick to dismiss it as a performative stunt with little real impact.
Booker, known for being a perpetual fountain of drama in the chamber, announced his big marathon speech to followers on X.
“I’m heading to the Senate floor because Donald Trump and Elon Musk have shown a complete disregard for the rule of law, the Constitution, and the needs of the American people,” he said.
“I am not going to stop speaking, I am not going to stop standing. I am going to go for as long as I’m physically able to go.”
He concluded the video by shouting, ‘This is Sparta!’
Just kidding. But would you have even been surprised if that happened?
A Marathon of Words
Booker announced his plan on social media, vowing to speak “as long as I am physically able” to protest what he called a disregard for the rule of law and the Constitution. His speech stretched for hours, with frequent references to Trump’s policies and Musk’s growing influence in political and social spheres.
But was it a filibuster? Not exactly. A true filibuster aims to block or delay legislation, but Booker’s speech had no procedural effect. Instead, it seemed designed more for media attention than legislative impact. His critics argue that it was a calculated political performance meant to rally his base rather than achieve any concrete policy goal.
The ‘Spartacus’ Playbook
This isn’t the first time Booker has leaned into grandstanding. During the 2018 confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, he famously declared, “This is my Spartacus moment,” a phrase that quickly became a meme. This latest speech feels like another chapter in that playbook—an attempt to position himself as a progressive warrior, even if the audience was limited.
A Speech That Fell Flat?
Despite the dramatic effort, reaction to Booker’s marathon speech was muted. RedState’s Rusty Weiss noted that the speech garnered little attention outside of left-leaning circles, with many questioning its effectiveness. While his allies praised his passion, critics saw it as a self-indulgent attempt to stay relevant in the national conversation.
The event underscores a broader issue in modern politics—the growing tendency of lawmakers to prioritize spectacle over substance. Whether one views Booker’s speech as a necessary stand against political adversaries or a hollow political stunt, the response suggests that most Americans simply weren’t paying attention.
In the end, the biggest question remains: Did anyone really care?
SOURCES: REDSTATE – Watch: Cory ‘Spartacus’ Booker Holds a Fake Hours-Long Anti-Trump Filibuster and ‘Nobody Cares’
AXIOS – Cory Booker gives marathon Senate speech to protest Trump policies
Be the first to comment