Democratic U.S. Senator Cory Booker broke a Senate record on Tuesday by delivering a more than 25-hour speech against Republican President Donald Trump's policies.
New Jersey Senator Booker began delivering a marathon speech against President Trump's "unconstitutional" policies at 7:00 PM local time on Monday and finished it 25 hours and 4 minutes later.
During his speech, which was broadcast live on US media, the senator criticized the Trump administration's budget cuts, federal layoffs, and budget cuts within the Department of Government Efficiency.
"I stand today with the intention of disrupting the regular business of the United States Senate for as long as I can. I stand tonight because I firmly believe that our country is in crisis," he said.
Booker had to stand in front of the podium all night without any breaks, not even to go to the bathroom, so he could continue speaking.
Although Booker's speech did not prevent the Republican Party, which controls the Senate, from continuing its normal business, it quickly rallied Democrats around him despite their divisions.
"These are not normal times in America... and they should not be treated as such," Booker added, his voice breaking.
Booker began his speech at 7:00 PM (23:00 GMT) on Monday, and was still speaking until 3:00 PM on Tuesday afternoon, 20 hours later.
Booker criticized Trump's extreme cost-cutting policies and the slashing of entire government programs by his advisor, Elon Musk, the world's richest man, without congressional approval.
The senator said that Trump's tightening grip on the executive branch endangers American democracy itself.
He added, "Americans of all backgrounds are enduring needless hardship. The institutions that define America, institutions that are valuable and unique to our country, are being attacked, even recklessly destroyed, I would say, in violation of the Constitution."
He continued: "In just 71 days, the President of the United States has severely damaged the safety and financial stability of Americans, the fundamental foundations of our democracy."
Because Booker's Senate speech did not come during a vote on any bill, it did not technically constitute a legislative filibuster.
But his marathon speech could disrupt the Senate's work when it opens on Tuesday.
"Next vote: to be announced later," the council's press office said in a post on Twitter early Tuesday.
In his speech, Booker also outlined his concerns that Trump would undermine or dismantle the Social Security Administration.
"I will fight for your Social Security, I will fight to protect the agency, I will fight against unnecessary cuts that harm the service it provides," he said.
Booker is close to breaking the record for the longest speech in the Senate.
The longest speech on record in the Senate was that of Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, who delayed passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1957 by 24 hours and 18 minutes.
In September 2013, Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas delivered a 21-hour speech protesting Obamacare.
Senate rules of procedure allow any senator to speak for any amount of time, provided they remain standing and do not take a break. This tactic is called "hacking" because it takes away the chamber's ability to close debate.
The only permitted break is when the speaker takes a question from another member, which can in turn be very long, giving the senator at the podium a chance to catch his breath.