Democrat's Adult Diaper Mystery Deepens
Sen. Booker speaking at a press conference in the U.S. Capitol advocating for passage of flood insurance legislation, 2016. Photo courtesy of Cory Booker. Public domain.
It wasn't just a political moment but a human endurance trial. On Monday evening, Democratic Sen. Cory Booker stood up in the U.S. Senate — and didn't sit back down for 25 hours and 5 minutes.
No food. No restroom. No sleep. Just the weight of a marathon mission and a body pushed to the edge. What happened on that Senate floor was part political protest, part personal reckoning, and part record-breaking feat that left many asking one simple question: How?
Setting the Stage for the Longest Senate Speech in History
Booker, a 55-year-old Senator from New Jersey and former college football player, began speaking at 7 p.m. on Monday to protest what he called dangerous moves by President Donald Trump's administration.
Booker's method was unprecedented: 25 hours and 5 minutes of speaking without relinquishing the floor — and without so much as a bathroom break.
The previous record had stood for 68 years. That was set by Strom Thurmond, the segregationist senator who infamously filibustered the 1957 Civil Rights Act for 24 hours and 18 minutes. Booker, a Black man, shattered it — and flipped the symbolism.
No Bathroom, No Meals — Just Water and Willpower
To pull it off, Booker relied on extreme preparation. He told reporters afterward that he stopped eating on Friday and cut off fluids the night before his speech began.
That fasting regime helped his body avoid digestive needs — but it came at a cost. Booker admitted to suffering from leg cramps, muscle spasms, and physical fatigue throughout his speech. He rocked back and forth in his black tennis shoes and leaned heavily on his desk, but never sat down. In fact, he had a Senate page remove his chair to eliminate the temptation.
And no — he never left to use the restroom. Not once.
The Internet Lost Its Mind Over the Bathroom Mystery
Social media exploded with theories on how Booker managed to avoid leaving the floor for a "bio-break."
Was Booker wearing an adult diaper? Had he installed some secret contraption behind his desk? "I need to know how he will pee," one user wrote on X. Another X user said, "Cory Booker is insane. 15 hours on the Senate floor. He is wearing a diaper. The eyes are cra cra," as reported by the Latin Times.
The senator declined to say whether he used any assistance device but insisted he didn't need to go thanks to his fasting strategy. Still, the mystery adds to the legend.
Help From Friends — And a Lot of Faith
While Booker did the heavy lifting, he wasn't entirely alone. Fellow Democratic senators stepped in to ask questions — a clever parliamentary trick that allowed him to pause speaking without giving up the floor. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), known for his own past marathon speech on gun reform, stayed with Booker through the night.
Before he began, Booker drew from his faith for strength by praying with Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), a Baptist minister. ABC News reported that Booker also carried a notecard with a Bible verse from Isaiah 40:31: "They shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." That was more than a quote — it was the ethos behind every minute of pain.
As the hours ticked on, members of the Congressional Black Caucus gathered in silent support near the floor.
Booker's Physical Breakdown — and Emotional Climax
By hour 20, Booker's voice cracked. His legs ached. His posture sagged.
But the moment grew.
Supporters outside the Capitol cheered. Viewers tuned in to live streams. And just after 8 p.m. Tuesday, as reported by KRON, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) asked the questions everyone was waiting for: "Do you know you've just broken the record? Do you know how proud this caucus is of you? Do you know how proud America is of you?"
The chamber erupted in applause. Booker, sweaty and exhausted, didn't sit. He didn't celebrate. He kept talking a little longer — until he finally walked off, achy, tired, and triumphant.
This wasn't a filibuster. It didn't stop legislation. It didn't end with a vote. It was performance — political theater of the highest order. But Booker truly put body and soul into that performance, and no one can deny that it made a statement.
References: Cory Booker sets a record with marathon Senate speech. Will it rally anti-Trump resistance? | Cory Booker Diaper Theories Erupt as Lawmaker Passes 20 Hours Without a Bathroom Break: 'I Need to Know' | No food or bathroom breaks: How Cory Booker is pulling off his Senate talk-a-thon | Cory Booker broke a record with his 25-hour Senate floor speech. How did he prepare to do it? | Booker sets record for longest Senate speech in history
