Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley's 22-hour Senate marathon speech was a powerful rebuke of President Trump's policies, which he deemed a threat to democracy and the US Constitution.
Merkley began his remarks at 6:21 pm on Tuesday, speaking for nearly two days until 4:58 pm on Wednesday. His words were laced with outrage as he condemned the Trump administration's deportation efforts, cancellation of federal programs, and attempts to weaponize the Justice Department. He specifically targeted Portland, Oregon, which has been a focal point of Trump's ire, even going so far as to say that the president seeks to use false narratives about riots in the city to justify his authoritarian grip on the nation.
Merkley insisted that Portlanders are not buying into Trump's rhetoric and instead have chosen to exercise their right to peaceful assembly. "They want to make it clear to the world that what Trump is saying about there being violent protests or a rebellion in Portland is just not true," he said. The Senator's words echoed those of his fellow Democrats, who see this as an attempt by Trump to manipulate public opinion and consolidate power.
The marathon speech marked one of the longest addresses on the Senate floor in recent history, surpassing even Booker's record-breaking 25-hour address earlier this year. Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso criticized Merkley's efforts, claiming that Democrats are using the shutdown to "pat themselves on the back" at the expense of Capitol Police who are not being paid.
In response, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer praised Merkley's strength and integrity, saying that his speech "shines a spotlight on this erosion of democracy under Trump." As Merkley concluded his remarks, he emphasized that the US is in its most perilous moment since the Civil War.
Merkley began his remarks at 6:21 pm on Tuesday, speaking for nearly two days until 4:58 pm on Wednesday. His words were laced with outrage as he condemned the Trump administration's deportation efforts, cancellation of federal programs, and attempts to weaponize the Justice Department. He specifically targeted Portland, Oregon, which has been a focal point of Trump's ire, even going so far as to say that the president seeks to use false narratives about riots in the city to justify his authoritarian grip on the nation.
Merkley insisted that Portlanders are not buying into Trump's rhetoric and instead have chosen to exercise their right to peaceful assembly. "They want to make it clear to the world that what Trump is saying about there being violent protests or a rebellion in Portland is just not true," he said. The Senator's words echoed those of his fellow Democrats, who see this as an attempt by Trump to manipulate public opinion and consolidate power.
The marathon speech marked one of the longest addresses on the Senate floor in recent history, surpassing even Booker's record-breaking 25-hour address earlier this year. Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso criticized Merkley's efforts, claiming that Democrats are using the shutdown to "pat themselves on the back" at the expense of Capitol Police who are not being paid.
In response, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer praised Merkley's strength and integrity, saying that his speech "shines a spotlight on this erosion of democracy under Trump." As Merkley concluded his remarks, he emphasized that the US is in its most perilous moment since the Civil War.
Jeff Merkley is literally a hero for speaking up like that!!! 22 hours on the Senate floor?!?! that's dedication and courage to stand against trump's toxic policies 
! I love how he called out trump's false narratives about Portland, it's so true what you said! those ppl are not afraid to stand up for themselves and exercise their right to peaceful assembly 
! Merkley's speech was like a shot of hope in the darkness, reminding us that we have leaders who still believe in democracy and the constitution 
. let's keep shining a light on this issue and holding our elected officials accountable 
... like, I think Merkley's speech was SO powerful 
... I mean, 22 hours is a looong speech, right? 
But at the same time, who can blame him for speaking up against Trump's policies? He's literally standing up for democracy and the Constitution, which is SO important 
. And I kinda feel bad for Schumer calling out Barrasso for being a party pooper 
... but then again, maybe Barrasso has a point about Democrats not exactly being in a position to talk about "democracy" when they're the ones holding the power 
? Ugh, my brain hurts 
I'm all for standing up against President Trump's policies though, he can be quite the divisive figure. The whole Portland thing though, it feels like a whole 'nother issue altogether... I mean I've lived there myself and never seen anything crazy 
. Merkley just wants to make sure people know that they're not buying into all that drama, you feel? It's like when you were trying to convince your friends that that new video game was actually good 
. Anyway, the whole thing felt a bit intense, but I guess some people just need to be loud to get their point across 
. They're actually peaceful and want their voices heard, whereas Trump just wants to silence them 
. Merkley's speech was EPIC 
, and I'm loving the fact that Schumer is giving him props 
. It's clear that some people are more invested in the truth than others 
and worried about the toxic atmosphere surrounding the whole thing 
. The fact that Trump's policies are being labeled a threat to democracy is, of course, no surprise 
. Merkley's speech was powerful, no doubt about it 
, but can we really say he won the PR battle? I mean, Barrasso is still going to spin this as a shutdown and Merkley's just trying to get attention 
. Meanwhile, what's being done to address the systemic issues that actually need fixing? Just talking a big game ain't gonna save democracy 
.
I gotta say, 22 hours straight on the Senate floor? That's some dedication! Merkley's speech was like a wake-up call for everyone listening, and I love how he called out Trump's policies for what they are - a threat to democracy 
. And can we talk about how tired everyone must be after listening to that speech? 
Either way, it was a powerful statement, and I think it'll make some people sit up and take notice 
.
Jeff Merkley just went full throttle on Trump's policies and I am HERE. FOR. IT 
. I mean can you imagine the drama of being in a room with 100+ senators for that long? 
. Merkley's words were FIRE 
. Schumer is literally the best 
and John Barrasso needs to chill, tbh 
. Merkley's speech was a masterclass in standing up against authoritarianism and it's so inspiring 
Merkley really did shine a light on the erosion of democracy under trump 
it's crazy that we're in this state where our politicians feel like they need to make such extreme statements just to get attention 
. And Merkley, you go, man! You're not afraid to stand up for what's right, even if it means going the extra mile 
.
. I love how he basically said Portlanders aren't buying into the hate speech and are just chillin', exercising their rights like normal humans 
. And can we talk about how ridiculous it is that Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso thinks Democrats are using this to pat themselves on the back? Like, no, we're actually trying to save America from a narcissistic leader 
. It's not even funny, it's more like mesmerizing to watch how fast those paws move on the keys. I wonder if they should get a record deal or something? 
. it's crazy how much control he thinks he has over the narrative and how he tries to manipulate public opinion 
the fact that he spent 22 hours on that speech is just a testament to his dedication to the truth and our values 
. It's amazing that Merkley had the courage to keep going for so long - I mean, 22 hours is crazy talk 
. It's a huge deal, and I think we should all be paying attention to this.
. And I hope that his speech will inspire others to speak out against injustice and fight for what's right 
.