'Stunning and brave': Dem senator mocked after hyping all-nighter stunt in protest of Trump nominee

"After taking the 2-5am shift on the Senate floor last night for our overnight protest, got 2 hours of crappy sleep on my office couch and right back at it today," Murphy posted on X. "We don't rest. Keep going. Democracy on the line."

Murphy, whose post was accompanied by a photo of a Red Bull energy drink and video explaining his cause, was on the Senate floor late Wednesday night attempting to block the confirmation of Office of Management and Budget nominee Russ Vought until the "crisis" of Musk's DOGE crackdown "passes."

Murphy's post on social media was widely mocked by conservatives who questioned Murphy's motives on the Senate floor. 

Despite efforts from Murphy and his fellow Democrats, Vought was confirmed as the new White House budget chief late Thursday night. 

In an Instagram live post, Murphy explained to his followers that he was not playing the hero.

"I'm not trying to plead hardship here, right?" Murphy said. "All I did was stay up late."

Murphy added, "So yeah, the USAID workers, the domestic violence workers, the teachers, those are my heroes. But you guys are my heroes too. Because I get paid to do this job, I asked. I raised my hand. I said, 'make me a United States Senator, I want to defend democracy.' So I volunteered for this job. I get a paycheck. But the people that are showing up at these protests, the people that are going to show up at these protests, you got other stuff going on in your life. You don't have to stand up and fight for democracy, but you are because you think the moment is important, and you are despite the fact that they are doing things to try to make you stay home, try to make you afraid of speaking up."

Murphy's Senate speech amid the Trump administration's targeting of USAID after Musk's DOGE efforts have resulted in the agency being effectively shut down over what the administration argues is wasteful spending.