Booker’s Senate Speech Goes Overnight as Trump Tariffs Loom
(Senate Television via AP)
As President Trump prepares to enact sweeping new tariffs on April 2nd, which he’s calling “Liberation Day,” New Jersey Senator Cory Booker is drawing national attention for delivering one of the longest Senate speeches in history. Speaking through the night, Booker’s remarks were not a filibuster—he wasn’t blocking any legislation—but a symbolic protest against what he described as a growing crisis in national leadership. He cited cuts to the federal workforce, stepped-up deportations, and especially the impending tariffs, which will affect goods like cars, steel, pharmaceuticals, lumber, and imports from China. The Trump administration argues the tariffs are about fairness and reciprocity in trade. Still, critics, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, warn the policy amounts to a tax hike on American consumers. With the tariffs set to take effect, Booker’s speech publicly showcases the concerns many Americans have over Trump's tariffs, policies, and their long-term impact on everyday Americans.
