Senator Booker Clashes With Democrats Over Police Funding, Accuses Party of Trump Complicity

Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey publicly criticized his Democratic colleagues on the Senate floor for what he perceives as their insufficient resistance to President Donald Trump's administration, particularly regarding the withholding of law enforcement funds from Democratic-leaning states. Booker accused the Democratic Party of lacking backbone and complicity with an authoritarian leader, urging them to fight and draw clear lines against Trump’s policies. His fiery remarks included claims that businesses and universities are 'bending the knee' to Trump and that late-night talk shows are being censored for criticizing the president, though some of these assertions have been disputed. Booker’s frustration culminated in him blocking bipartisan police funding bills and storming out of the chamber after an intense confrontation with fellow Democrats. This episode highlights the deep divisions within the Democratic Party over how to approach legislative cooperation and opposition in the Trump era. Critics have characterized Booker's behavior as theatrical and self-serving, suggesting it reflects ongoing struggles for leadership and unity within the party.