Texas' Sen. Cruz threatens to end Cory Booker's Senate protest

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz wanted to put an end to U.S. Senator Cory Booker's Senate protest on Tuesday. REUTERS/Craig Hudson

In a social media post on Tuesday, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz threatened to pull the fire alarm on the Senate floor in response to U.S. Senator Cory Booker approaching his 21-hour filibuster record.

The Texas Senator did not pull the alarm, as Booker went on to beat Cruz's 21-hour Senate floor filibuster railing against the Affordable Care Act. How did Cruz react to being bested? By posting a Homer Simpson meme on his X account.

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"As Cory Booker approaches my 21-hour filibuster record, I'm contemplating pulling the fire alarm…" Cruz wrote in a social media post.

As ⁦@CoryBooker⁩ approaches my 21-hour filibuster record, I’m contemplating pulling the fire alarm….

H/T Jamal Bowman pic.twitter.com/t4EjMfErSk — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 1, 2025

Booker went on to surpass both Cruz's mark and the all-time Senate speech-length record, eclipsing the late U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond who filibustered for roughly 24 hours against the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

Booker's marathon speech began at 7 p.m. ET on Monday and continued through the evening hours on Tuesday. The senator positioned the 25-hour, 4-minute oration as a show of opposition to Trump adviser Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency's targeting of the Social Security Administration. Booker expressed concern in his remarks that DOGE's proposed cuts could be the start of broader sanctions to the social security safety net. The New Jersey Democrat's speech extended to a broader critique of the Trump administration as a whole.

"These are not normal times in our nation," Booker said on the Senate floor. "And they should not be treated as such in the United States Senate. The threats to the American people and American democracy are grave and urgent, and we all must do more to stand against them."

Democratic senators questioned Booker to allow him to take breaks from speaking. The New Jersey Democrat made it clear he would not give up the Senate Floor. He remained standing throughout his remarks to comply with Senate rules and seemingly only had water to get him through Monday night to Tuesday evening.