Congressional Democrats, including New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, are deeply divided as they attempt to pass bipartisan police bills. On Tuesday, Booker publicly berated his Democratic colleagues for failing to resist President Donald Trump, despite their efforts to advance measures like trauma kits for police and family death benefits. This internal conflict reflects a broader struggle within the party about how to respond to Trump’s policies.
The confrontation centered on a heated floor exchange where Booker accused his fellow Democrats of lacking ‘backbone’ to confront Trump. His amendment, which demanded the Trump administration distribute public safety resources without political bias, posed a threat to the bills’ quick passage. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Catherine Cortez Masto criticized Booker for bringing his concerns to the floor rather than raising them earlier in the Judiciary Committee, where the bills were approved unanimously.
Booker defended his actions, explaining that Trump’s threats to withhold federal funding from states that don’t comply with his immigration agenda came only after the bills were approved by the panel in April. This situation has intensified with broader political pressure on Democrats, as Republicans are pushing for the swift approval of dozens of Trump nominees. Booker, known for his 25-hour floor speech, has called for more vigorous resistance against Trump, expressing frustration over the lack of a unified fight within the party.
The tension highlights the challenges of maintaining bipartisanship amid political polarization. Though Booker did not ultimately block the bills, the exchange underscores the deepening internal fractures within the Democratic Party, as they navigate the complexities of governance while facing strong opposition from the Republican-controlled administration.