Someone needs to tell Democrats to cut the theatrics — according to polling, it’s not working.
New Jersey Senator erupted during a Judiciary Committee vote on Thursday after Chair Chuck Grassley (R-IA) refused to allow additional time for debate on Trump nominee Emil Bove.
Booker invoked Rule 4 of the committee rules to push for additional debate time; Grassley ignored him.
“What are you afraid of?” Booker asked Grassley. “Debating this [nomination], putting things on the record — Dear God,” he said, “that’s what we are here for.”
“This lacks decency, this lacks decorum, it shows that you will not hear from your colleagues,” Booker said to Grassley in another attempt. “You are a decent man,” he said, imploring him to allow a small window of additional time for the panel to debate before pushing through with the committee vote.
“Why are you doing this?” Booker asked again.
“What are they saying to you,” he said, referring to the Trump administration, “that is making you do something to violate the decorum, the decency and the respect of this committee to at least hear each other out?”
Watch the clip below:
🚨 WATCH: Cory Booker is having an absolute MELTDOWN, and Democrats STORM OUT of a Senate hearing to advance Trump nominee Emil Bove as a federal judge
This tantrum is nothing but a performance.
STOP ELECTING THEATER KIDS! pic.twitter.com/HlTplzsLam
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) July 17, 2025
Booker quickly took to social media to share his outrage.
“I just walked out of the Senate Judiciary Committee for what was, to me, the most unimaginable thing that could happen,” Booker said. “They cut off any debate … our job is to deliberate.”
Watch the clip below:
I walked out. Senate Republicans just proved they are only here for the bidding of Donald Trump. SHAMEFUL pic.twitter.com/8A8s2r9pL7
— Sen. Cory Booker (@SenBooker) July 17, 2025
