Cory Booker Praises ‘Groundbreaking’ Trump Provision In Signature Bill He Slammed As ‘Moral Obscenity’
New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker is effusively praising a provision of a Trump-backed law, despite calling the legislation a “moral obscenity” several months earlier.
Booker, a left-wing Democrat with presidential ambitions, on Tuesday applauded a multibillion-dollar contribution to a children’s investment program, known as Trump Accounts, enacted as part of Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The legislation passed Congress in July over the strong objections of Booker, who urged Democrats to do everything in their power to stop it.
“We must turn our disappointment and anger into action,” Booker wrote on social media after the bill passed the Senate on July 1. “We can still fight this bill in the House.”
On Tuesday, Booker publicly celebrated Michael and Susan Dell’s $6.25 billion contribution to the Trump Accounts Investment Program.
“I am excited about this new initiative allowing families, philanthropists and the business community to invest in the future of our country – our children,” Booker wrote on X.
Booker’s support for the Trump accounts is the latest example of Democrats supporting popular provisions of the “Big, Beautiful” bill, despite voting against the legislation when it passed Congress. (RELATED: House Democrats start taking credit for provisions of Trump-backed law they voted against)
The budget bill created a new tax-advantaged account for America’s children, which Republicans touted as an unprecedented investment in America’s youth.
The provision directs the Treasury Department to contribute $1,000 to the accounts for each child born between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2028. Beginning July 4, 2026, parents will be able to contribute up to $5,000 per year to the account until their child turns 18. Employers can also help cover the $5,000 amount without counting the money as taxable income.
The massive Dell contribution will allow children under the age of 18, who were not eligible for the initial investment, to also receive funds in a savings account. The tech mogul’s multibillion-dollar donation is expected to benefit 25 million American children aged 10 and under with a $250 deposit. The donation is intended for children living in ZIP codes with a median income of $150,000 or less.
Booker called children’s investment accounts “revolutionary” in a joint letter with Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz to Fortune 1000 CEOs on Monday.
“These accounts will launch a once-in-a-generation expansion of economic opportunity and prosperity for every American child, helping millions of families achieve the American dream through homeownership, education, or entrepreneurship,” the senators wrote.
Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell (L) and his wife Susan (2nd L) speak during the announcement of a $6.25 billion donation from the Dell family to “Trump Accounts” in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC, December 2, 2025. The donation will fund the investment accounts of at least 25 million American children. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images)
Asked if he was changing his mind about Trump’s signature legislative achievement, Booker doubled down on his opposition and reiterated his “moral obscenity” line of attack, in a brief interview with the Daily Caller News Foundation.
No Democrats voted for the budget bill, which dedicated more than $100 billion to border security and immigration enforcement efforts while expanding existing tax cuts and enacting new tax breaks. Democrats criticized legislation aimed at reforming welfare programs, which Republicans said was needed to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse.
However, Booker acknowledged that the Trump accounts were a “step in the right direction” and said the law’s provisions align with a baby bond program that he has long championed.
“This is the big step toward what I’m working on,” Booker told DCNF. “I’m going to encourage people to participate.”
Booker also touted his advocacy alongside Cruz to further promote Trump accounts.
“The lie from Washington is that there is no middle ground, and I will always stand firmly on middle ground when we can find it,” Booker said.
Booker’s expressed support for bipartisanship stands in stark contrast to the senator’s criticism of a handful of fellow Democrats for working with Republicans during a fiery speech on the Senate floor in July.
Amid this dramatic argument, Booker argued that bipartisanship makes Democrats “complicit” in Trump’s policy agenda.
“That to me is the current problem with American Democrats,” Booker said. “We are complicit with Donald Trump.”
“There are many of us in this caucus who want to fight,” added the Democrat.
Andi Shae Napier contributed to this report.
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