Sen. Merkley Delivers Nearly 23-Hour Speech Warning of Trump Authoritarianism

Senator Jeff Merkley delivered a nearly 23-hour speech on the Senate floor to warn of President Donald Trump's authoritarian tendencies, accusing him of undermining democratic institutions, politicizing the Justice Department, and deploying the National Guard to suppress dissent. Merkley described Trump as believing himself to be "king of this country," controlling everything regardless of legal constraints, and highlighted Republican complicity and a conservative Supreme Court enabling presidential immunity. The speech, one of the longest in Senate history, was intended to raise awareness rather than block specific legislation. Senator Patty Murray joined Merkley in supporting the message, emphasizing the urgent need to speak out against Trump's expanding control over various aspects of American life. These concerns come amid ongoing political conflicts, including protests in Portland and debates over executive power, with Merkley situating Trump's overreach within a broader historical context of expanded presidential authority from both parties. The warnings reflect deepening fears over the erosion of constitutional checks and balances and the rise of authoritarian governance in the U.S.