Tom Cotton

Tom Cotton
Born	(1977-05-13) May 13, 1977 Dardanelle, Arkansas, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Politician, military veteran, lawyer
Years active	2013–present
Known for	Junior United States senator from Arkansas since 2015; former U.S. Representative for Arkansas's 4th congressional district (2013–2015)

Thomas Bryant Cotton (born May 13, 1977) is an American politician and military veteran who has served as the junior United States senator from Arkansas since 2015. Affiliated with the Republican Party, he holds the position of chairman of the Senate Republican Conference and ranks as the third-highest Republican in the Senate. Additionally, he leads the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Between 2013 and 2015, Cotton was the representative for Arkansas's 4th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. He secured his Senate seat in the 2014 election by defeating Mark Pryor, a Democratic incumbent serving his second term. Recognized for his strong conservative stance, Cotton is particularly noted for his aggressive foreign policy positions regarding China, Iran, and Palestine, as well as his resistance to police reform initiatives within the United States.

Early life and education

Born on May 13, 1977, in Dardanelle, Arkansas, Thomas Bryant Cotton grew up on his family’s cattle farm, which had been established in rural Arkansas for seven generations. His father, Thomas Leonard "Len" Cotton, served as a district supervisor at the Arkansas Department of Health, while his mother, Avis (Bryant) Cotton, was initially a schoolteacher before advancing to become a middle school principal. During his time at Dardanelle High School, Cotton played center on both local and regional basketball squads.

Upon graduating from high school in 1995, Cotton matriculated at Harvard College, where he pursued a government major. He contributed to The Harvard Crimson editorial board, frequently critiquing liberal perspectives such as affirmative action policies. Completing his studies in three years, he graduated magna cum laude in 1998 with a senior thesis focused on The Federalist Papers.

Cotton briefly enrolled in a master’s program at Claremont Graduate University but departed in 1999 due to finding academic study insufficiently active. Subsequently, he entered Harvard Law School, obtaining his Juris Doctor degree in 2002.

Career

Following law school graduation, Cotton served as a clerk for Judge Jerry Edwin Smith on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He then practiced law as an associate at the firms Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and Cooper & Kirk in Washington, D.C.. In 2005, he chose to enlist in the U.S. Army.

Military service

Cotton joined the United States Army on January 11, 2005. After completing Officer Candidate School, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in June of that year. He graduated from Ranger School and earned the Ranger tab, followed by completion of Airborne School, where he received the Parachutist Badge.

In May 2006, Cotton was deployed to Baghdad with the 101st Airborne Division, serving as a platoon leader for a 41-man air assault infantry platoon within the 506th Infantry Regiment, conducting daily combat patrols. He was promoted to first lieutenant in December 2006 and subsequently assigned to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) at Fort Myer in Arlington, Virginia.

Between October 2008 and July 2009, Cotton was stationed in eastern Afghanistan as an operations officer for a Provincial Reconstruction Team attached to Train Advise Assist Command – East at FOB Gamberi in Laghman Province. His responsibilities included coordinating counter-insurgency efforts alongside reconstruction projects.

After completing two combat deployments, Cotton received an honorable discharge in September 2009. His military decorations include a Bronze Star Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, a Combat Infantryman Badge, and campaign medals recognizing service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Post-active duty, Cotton joined management consulting firm McKinsey & Company. He reentered military service with the United States Army Reserve in July 2010 and was discharged from reserve duty in May 2013.

2006 letter to The New York Times

In June 2006, while stationed in Iraq, Cotton attracted attention by drafting an open letter addressed to The New York Times. In it, he accused three reporters of breaching "espionage laws" after they revealed information about a secret government initiative tracking terrorist financial activities. Although the Times chose not to publish the letter, it was featured on the conservative blog Power Line. Cotton urged that the journalists be prosecuted "to the fullest extent of the law," arguing that their article put both military personnel and civilians at risk. The letter gained significant online traction and was reproduced by various outlets. Journalism expert Jay Rosen pointed out that the Espionage Act of 1917 has historically never been applied to journalists and described Cotton's claims as harsh tactics rooted in cultural conflict.

Army Ranger controversy

In 2021, Salon revealed that Cotton had made false assertions in campaign advertisements from 2011 to 2014, claiming service in Iraq and Afghanistan and receipt of a Bronze Star as a U.S. Army Ranger, despite not having served with the Army's 75th Ranger Regiment. These allegations were verified by fact-checker Snopes. Democratic Representative Jason Crow, a veteran of the 75th Ranger Regiment, criticized Cotton for self-identifying as a Ranger. Cotton’s spokesperson clarified that he completed Ranger School, earned the Ranger Tab, and served with the 101st Airborne Division rather than the 75th Ranger Regiment. Retired Command Sergeant Major Rick Merritt defended Cotton, affirming he is "100% a Ranger."

Business Insider noted that among veterans there is often debate about the difference between being a "Ranger" and graduating from Ranger School; however, this distinction is seldom discussed outside military circles. Cotton dismissed these accusations as politically driven, stating: "I graduated from Ranger School, I wore the Ranger tab in combat with the 101st Airborne in Iraq. This is not about my military record. This is about my politics."

U.S. House of Representatives

Following his deployment in Afghanistan, Cotton established a connection with Chris Chocola, former congressman and head of the Republican political action committee Club for Growth, which became one of his primary campaign donors. He contemplated running against incumbent Democratic U.S. senator Blanche Lincoln in 2010 but ultimately decided against it due to insufficient donor backing and timing issues.

Cotton entered the race for Congress in Arkansas' 4th congressional district after Democratic incumbent Mike Ross declared his retirement in 2011.

2012

In September 2011, Max Brantley, editor of Arkansas Times, criticized Cotton over a 1998 article he wrote for Harvard Crimson that questioned the internet’s educational merits; Cotton later acknowledged how much it had changed.

During the Republican primary held on May 22, Cotton won the nomination with 57.6% of votes, defeating Beth Anne Rankin and John David Cowart. The Club for Growth endorsed him and contributed $315,000 toward his $2.2 million campaign budget, making them his largest financial supporters. Senator John McCain also backed his candidacy. Cotton received endorsements from both the Tea Party movement and established Republican figures.

In the November general election, Cotton defeated state senator Gene Jeffress, securing 59.5% of the vote. This victory made him only the second Republican since Reconstruction to represent Arkansas's 4th district—the first being Jay Dickey. He was sworn into office on January 3, 2013, by Speaker John Boehner.

Tenure

During his initial term, Cotton expressed opposition to both foreign and domestic policies under the Obama administration. He cast a vote against legislation that would have restored the 2013 federal employee pay adjustment, effectively preventing a 0.5% salary increase scheduled for February 2013. Cotton also stood against the 2013 Farm Bill and the 2014 Agricultural Act, highlighting issues related to inefficiencies and fraud within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, while resisting expanded crop insurance and price supports for rice producers.

Cotton was critical of President Obama’s handling of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), accusing him of framing a misleading choice between accepting the agreement or engaging in war. He maintained that any military strike on Iran would be limited in scope and duration, drawing parallels to President Clinton’s 1998 airstrikes targeting Iraq’s weapons facilities. On July 21, 2015, Cotton joined Mike Pompeo in asserting the existence of undisclosed side agreements between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) concerning nuclear inspections under the JCPOA. While the Obama administration confirmed agreements on inspecting sensitive locations, it refuted claims that these arrangements were secret, describing them as routine arms-control protocols fully disclosed to Congress.

House Committee assignments

• Committee on Financial Services
  • Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit
  • Subcommittee on Monetary Policy and Trade
• Committee on Foreign Affairs
  • Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa
  • Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade

Caucus memberships

• Senate Taiwan Caucus

2014

On August 6, 2013, Cotton declared his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democratic incumbent Mark Pryor. Seen as one of the most vulnerable senators running for reelection in 2014, Cotton secured backing from conservative organizations such as the Club for Growth PAC, Senator Marco Rubio, the National Federation of Independent Business, and former presidential contender Mitt Romney, who campaigned actively on his behalf. The Associated Press projected Cotton’s victory immediately after polls closed; he won with 56.5% of votes compared to Pryor's 39.4%. Cotton officially took office on January 6, 2015.

Throughout his tenure as a senator, Cotton has been subject to several death threats. In 2018, Adam Albrett from Fairfax County was apprehended for sending threatening faxes to President Donald Trump as well as members of Congress including Cotton.

In October 2019, Arkansas resident James Powell faced charges of first-degree terroristic threatening after making threats against Cotton and Representative Rick Crawford. This felony offense carries a potential sentence of up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

In January 2020, Henry Edward Goodloe was sentenced to two years’ probation following his delivery of a threatening letter to Cotton accompanied by white powder later identified as flour and starch.

2020

Cotton secured reelection by defeating Libertarian candidate Ricky Dale Harrington Jr. While Cotton surpassed President Trump's performance in the simultaneous presidential race by 4.1%, the Senate contest saw approximately 26,000 fewer votes cast than the presidential election. Harrington's 33.5% share established a new high for Libertarian Senate candidates in terms of vote percentage, breaking the previous record set in Alaska in 2016. Additionally, his total vote count of 399,390 exceeded the earlier record of 369,807 votes from Massachusetts in 2002. Exit polling revealed that this notable Libertarian support was primarily driven by Democrats, as no Democratic contender was on the ballot; 82% of Democratic voters reportedly backed Harrington.

Cassandra Butts nomination

In February 2015, President Obama renominated Cassandra Butts, a former White House attorney, for the position of U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas. However, her confirmation was obstructed by several senators: Ted Cruz imposed a broad hold on State Department nominees, and Cotton specifically blocked Butts’s nomination along with others following a Secret Service leak involving a congressman—although that incident was unrelated to those nominees. Cotton subsequently lifted holds on nominees to Sweden and Norway but continued to block Butts’s confirmation.

Butts shared with New York Times columnist Frank Bruni that Cotton acknowledged his opposition was intended to "inflict special pain on the president," citing their personal friendship. Cotton’s spokesperson did not deny this description. Butts passed away on May 26, 2016, still awaiting Senate approval.

First Trump administration

Throughout President Trump’s term, Cotton emerged as a prominent supporter. He regularly engaged with Trump's transition team and reportedly recommended John F. Kelly for Secretary of Homeland Security. Steve Bannon identified Cotton as the elected official most closely aligned with economic nationalist policies and supportive of their agenda from the beginning. Karl Rove observed that Cotton exhibited more consensus-building traits compared to figures like Bannon.

Following the 2016 election, Cotton defended waterboarding as an essential interrogation technique if deemed necessary by intelligence authorities, reflecting Trump’s campaign promise to reinstate its use.

In September 2020, Trump considered nominating Cotton to the Supreme Court but ultimately selected Amy Coney Barrett. With less than two months remaining before the presidential election, Cotton advocated for an immediate Senate confirmation vote on Barrett to fill Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat. This stance contrasted with his refusal in 2016 to consider President Obama’s nominee during an election year, citing the need for voters’ input.

In January 2021, Cotton declared he would not support attempts to challenge the certification of the 2020 presidential election results during Congress’s session on January 6.

Second Trump administration

In November 2024, Cotton was appointed as the leader of the Senate Republican Conference and took on the role of chair for the Senate Intelligence Committee. Additionally, he was considered a possible nominee for United States Secretary of Defense in the Second cabinet of Donald Trump.

Senate Committee assignments

Current

• Committee on Armed Services
  • Subcommittee on Airland
  • Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
  • Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
  • Subcommittee on Cybersecurity
• Select Committee on Intelligence (Chair)
• Joint Economic Committee
• Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

Caucuses

• Senate Republican Conference
• Rare Disease Caucus

Political positions

Cotton identifies with conservative politics, holding a lifetime score of 86.06 from the American Conservative Union's Center for Legislative Accountability.

2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill

Among 18 Republican senators, Cotton supported the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending package, which faced criticism from former President Donald Trump. This legislation included an extra $45 billion to aid Ukraine’s defense against Russia but excluded funding for new U.S. immigration barriers and did not raise border enforcement budgets beyond inflation adjustments.

Race relations

Cotton attracted attention for his The Harvard Crimson opinion pieces addressing race relations, where he described Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton as "race-hustling charlatans" and argued that reducing focus on race in public discourse would improve racial dynamics.

In 2016, Cotton dismissed assertions that the U.S. suffers from excessive incarceration rates, highlighting that law enforcement solves only 19% of property crimes and 47% of violent crimes, implying that incarceration levels may actually be insufficient. He cautioned that cutting sentences for felons could threaten national stability, drawing from his observations in Baghdad and Afghanistan.

In November 2018, Cotton incorrectly stated that no hearings had been held regarding the bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation known as the FIRST STEP Act. However, PolitiFact documented numerous congressional discussions and hearings. Cotton opposed this bill, contending it would permit early release for certain sex offenders—a claim disputed by other legislators. The act passed with an 87–12 vote; Cotton voted against it.

Following George Floyd’s death, Cotton denied the existence of systemic racism within the U.S. criminal justice system. During ensuing protests, he urged military intervention to assist law enforcement with a stance of "no quarter for insurrectionists, anarchists, rioters, and looters," later clarifying that his phrasing was intended colloquially.

Cotton authored an op-ed in The New York Times titled "Send in the Troops," advocating for federal troop deployment to manage civil unrest. This article triggered internal dissent among Times staff who viewed it as hazardous. The newspaper acknowledged a "rushed editorial process," resulting in a review and the resignation of editorial page editor James Bennet. Cotton criticized the Times for succumbing to what he described as a "woke child mob" within its newsroom.

Comments on slavery

In July 2020, Cotton proposed the Saving American History Act of 2020, legislation designed to block federal funding from being used to teach The 1619 Project, a New York Times initiative. During an interview with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Cotton referred to slavery as "the necessary evil upon which the union was built," referencing the views of the Founding Fathers and Abraham Lincoln, who he said believed slavery was on a path toward extinction. However, Joshua D. Rothman, a history professor at the University of Alabama, contested this claim, arguing that slavery was neither essential nor diminishing at the nation's founding, noting it actually expanded significantly up until the Civil War.

Nikole Hannah-Jones, director of the 1619 Project, criticized Cotton’s portrayal by highlighting the harsh realities of chattel slavery. In response, Cotton dismissed the project as "debunked" and clarified that he was expressing the perspective held by the Founders rather than endorsing slavery itself. Georgetown historian Adam Rothman characterized Cotton’s statement as an oversimplification that failed to capture the complexities of historical attitudes toward slavery. Later, Cotton reiterated on Fox News that "slavery is an evil institution in all its forms," reaffirming his opposition to it.

COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act

Cotton was among six Republican senators who voted against moving forward with the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, legislation intended to empower the U.S. Justice Department to investigate hate crimes linked to COVID-19 and establish an online database tracking such incidents.

Firearm legislation

In January 2019, Cotton cosponsored the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which would allow individuals holding concealed carry permits in their home state to carry firearms in other states permitting concealed carry, subject to local regulations.

Cotton holds an A rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA), which endorsed him during his 2014 campaign. The NRA commended his advocacy for gun owners and sportsmen in Arkansas. After the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, Cotton initially described the firearm used as a belt-fed machine gun and expressed skepticism that new gun control measures would have prevented the tragedy. Following revelations that semi-automatic rifles equipped with bump stocks were used, he indicated openness to considering regulations on bump stocks.

In June 2022, Cotton introduced legislation titled the "Stop Gun Criminals Act," aiming to increase mandatory minimum sentences for existing offenses without imposing new regulatory measures. In May 2022, People.com identified him as one of the U.S. lawmakers receiving some of the highest financial support from the NRA.

Immigration

During his 2012 campaign, Cotton’s website opposed offering amnesty or an "earned path to citizenship" for undocumented immigrants.

Following the Senate's bipartisan passage of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act by the Gang of Eight in July 2013, House Republicans debated whether to bring it up for a vote. While Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan supported advancing the bill, Cotton opposed it; ultimately, it was not considered by the House. Cotton backed President Trump’s 2017 Executive Order 13769 restricting immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries.

On February 7, 2017, Cotton and Senator David Perdue introduced the RAISE Act, which sought to reduce family-based immigration (often called chain migration), limit refugee admissions to 50,000 annually, and eliminate the Diversity Immigrant Visa program. Senators Lindsey Graham and John McCain opposed this legislation.

Cotton supported Trump’s immigration agenda and attended a January 2018 White House meeting where Trump was reported to have used offensive language about Haiti and African nations. Both Cotton and Perdue stated they did not recall those specific remarks. Although the White House did not deny these comments at first, Trump later refuted them via tweet. Cotton challenged Senator Durbin’s version of events during an interview on CBS's Face The Nation.

In December 2018, Cotton placed a senatorial hold on H.R.7164—a bipartisan bill adding Ireland to the E-3 Non-immigrant Visa Program—which had passed in the House and received support from the Trump administration. The legislation allowed Irish graduates access to unused Australian E-3 visas but did not create new visa categories; Cotton’s hold prevented Senate consideration.

Cotton’s immigration policies have prompted protests outside his Washington office; in January 2018, five demonstrators were arrested for blocking access while protesting his stance on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

At CPAC in February 2021, Cotton criticized Democrats and President Biden over immigration policy changes, claiming deportations of criminals had ceased—a statement PolitiFact rated as "False," clarifying that Biden’s 100-day deportation pause excluded individuals convicted of crimes.

In September 2021, the Senate rejected an amendment proposed by Cotton intended to restrict aid to Afghan refugees following the Taliban's resurgence and limit their ability to obtain federally recognized identification without verified identity documentation.

Health and social concerns

Cotton opposed the Affordable Care Act, asserting in 2012 that repealing the legislation was vital to preserving a free society. In April 2019, he characterized the Southern Poverty Law Center as a "political hate group" and called on the IRS to reassess its tax-exempt designation.

In 2012, Cotton advocated for traditional marriage defined as a union between one man and one woman, supporting the Defense of Marriage Act. He voted against renewing the Violence Against Women Act in 2013, contending that its federal authority was overly expansive.

Abortion and related topics

Cotton voted in favor of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act in June 2013, which prohibits abortion after 20 weeks post-fertilization. He has described Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey as "constitutionally flawed decisions" and believes that the legality of abortion should be left to individual states. Cotton co-sponsored the 2013 Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act. Following the June 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade, he referred to it as a "tragic mistake" that has now been "corrected," commending those who contributed to this result.

He opposes the destruction of human embryos for stem-cell research as well as any form of human cloning.

Student loans

In August 2013, Cotton opposed the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act of 2013, which tied student loan interest rates to the 10-year Treasury note plus an additional margin for undergraduates and graduates. He supported ending the "federal-government monopoly on student lending," criticizing alterations under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that affected federal student loan issuance.

January 6

Cotton condemned the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, demanding full legal accountability for those involved in the "insurrection." He reiterated this position in later remarks, underscoring the need for justice against the Capitol assailants.

Nonetheless, on May 28, 2021, Cotton voted against creating an independent commission to investigate the 2021 United States Capitol attack.

Ranked-choice voting

Following Democrat Mary Peltola’s victory in the 2022 Alaska's at-large congressional district special election, where she defeated former Alaska governor and Republican Sarah Palin, Cotton criticized Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system. He stated: "Although 60% of Alaska voters supported a Republican, due to a complicated process and ballot exhaustion—which disenfranchises voters—a Democrat prevailed."

Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023

Cotton was among 31 Senate Republicans opposing the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, objecting to a clause that capped defense spending increases below inflation. He maintained that the legislation "threatens our national security by reducing our defense budget," especially amid rising global challenges.

Whistleblowers and media

Cotton blocked the Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying Act, opposing federal shield laws designed to protect journalists.

Foreign policy perspectives

Cotton is commonly identified as a war hawk due to his forceful approach to international affairs. In 2015, he advocated for increasing the detainee capacity at Guantanamo Bay detention camp instead of shutting it down, asserting that detainees "can rot in Guantanamo Bay." That same year, he was among 21 Senate Republicans who opposed an amendment that sought to prohibit presidential authorization of torture.

In 2016, Cotton was one of 33 senators who urged Secretary of State John Kerry to prevent Russian airstrikes originating from an Iranian base in Syria, highlighting the need to enforce Security Council mandates. He also supported the 2017 Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, which imposed sanctions on Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

Following President Trump's 2018 decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Syria, Cotton joined five other senators in cautioning that this action would strengthen ISIS, Assad’s regime, Iran, and Russia. In 2019, he voted against lifting sanctions on Russian companies as proposed by Trump.

Reports indicate that in 2019 Cotton suggested the idea of acquiring Greenland to President Trump and the Danish ambassador. He advocates for U.S. withdrawal from the Treaty on Open Skies, describing it as obsolete and skewed in favor of Russian interests.

China

In 2018, Cotton cosponsored legislation known as the Countering the Chinese Government and Communist Party's Political Influence Operations Act, designed to empower U.S. officials to scrutinize Chinese influence campaigns within the United States and allied nations.

That August, he joined 16 fellow lawmakers in calling for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act against Chinese officials implicated in human rights violations in Xinjiang targeting Uyghur Muslims. They urged a robust international response to the detention of over a million Muslim minorities.

In February 2019, Cotton and other Senate Republicans requested that Speaker Nancy Pelosi extend an invitation to Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen to address Congress amid rising tensions between the U.S. and China.

By May 2019, Cotton acknowledged the hardships Arkansas farmers faced due to tariffs but stressed their readiness to back U.S. efforts to counter China’s global ambitions. He also cosponsored the South China Sea and East China Sea Sanctions Act aimed at challenging China’s territorial claims.

In July 2019, together with Senator Chris Van Hollen, Cotton introduced the Defending America's 5G Future Act. This legislation sought to maintain Huawei’s placement on the Commerce Department’s entity list and prevent waivers that would allow U.S. companies to engage with Huawei, thereby strengthening national security safeguards.

In April 2020, Cotton proposed limiting Chinese students’ studies in the U.S. exclusively to humanities disciplines, barring their participation in science-related fields to hinder technology transfer back to China.

On August 10, 2020, China imposed sanctions on Cotton along with ten other Americans over issues related to Hong Kong.

In February 2021, Cotton published Beat China: Targeted Decoupling and the Economic Long War, advocating for a significant reduction of economic ties with China. His recommendations included investing heavily in critical scientific and manufacturing sectors, enforcing tougher penalties against intellectual property theft, and restricting Chinese nationals' access to sensitive STEM programs in America. He argued that these economic sacrifices are minor compared with the dangers posed by failing to act.

In March 2023, Cotton and Senator Katie Britt introduced the Not One More Inch or Acre Act, which seeks to prohibit Chinese nationals or entities from owning land in the United States; this bill was reintroduced in January 2025.

In July 2023, Cotton publicly criticized President Joe Biden’s diplomatic approach toward China as ineffective and humiliating.

During a Senate hearing on social media safety in January 2024, Cotton questioned TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew about his alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party; despite Shou affirming his Singaporean citizenship, Cotton persisted with his line of questioning, which sparked criticism.

In February 2025, Cotton condemned Elon Musk for "pursuing Chinese dollars" and "shamefully kowtowing" to China’s Communist leadership in Musk’s book Seven Things You Can't Say About China.

COVID-19

On January 28, 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic began to unfold, Cotton urged the Trump administration to suspend commercial flights arriving from China to the United States. Subsequently, on January 31, influenced in part by Cotton's recommendations, the administration implemented a travel ban on most flights originating from China.

During a February 16, 2020 interview on Fox News, Cotton proposed that the coronavirus might have originated from the Wuhan biosafety level 4 laboratory. Although he admitted there was no conclusive proof, he stressed the importance of investigating this possibility given China's opaque handling of information. Numerous major news organizations reported that scientists largely rejected theories of intentional virus creation, noting its close resemblance to SARS viruses found in bats. Cotton criticized these narratives as propaganda efforts orchestrated by the Chinese Communist Party. Later, The Washington Post removed phrases such as "debunked" and "conspiracy theory" in reference to his statements, acknowledging that the virus’s precise origin remained undetermined. Molecular biologist Richard Ebright accused The Post of misrepresenting his endorsement of the lab leak theory.

Around March 2020, Cotton posted on Twitter that those responsible for the pandemic’s worldwide consequences must be held accountable, declaring that "China will pay for this." In April, he characterized China’s failure to contain the outbreak as a "deliberate" and "malevolent" action designed to protect its global influence.

In early 2023, an assessment by the U.S. Department of Energy expressed low confidence that COVID-19 emerged due to a laboratory incident, aligning with an FBI evaluation. Cotton responded by emphasizing that holding the Chinese Communist Party accountable is essential to prevent similar future occurrences.

Israeli–Palestinian conflict

In July 2017, Cotton was a co-sponsor of the bipartisan Israel Anti-Boycott Act (S.270), which amended federal legislation to ban support for foreign-led boycotts targeting Israel. This bill generated controversy over potential limitations on individual freedoms and constitutional protections. Advocates argued it served to clarify provisions within the Export Administration Act of 1979, particularly in response to 2016 United Nations Human Rights Council resolutions encouraging companies to reconsider business activities affecting Palestinian rights.

In October 2023, Cotton strongly condemned Hamas’s conduct during the Gaza war, affirming Israel’s right to defend itself and rejecting accusations of Israeli war crimes in Gaza. He maintained that Israel is justified in responding when Hamas utilizes civilian areas for military operations, stating, "Anything that happens in Gaza is the responsibility of Hamas." On November 9, 2023, he called on the Department of Justice to investigate whether international journalists had violated federal laws by providing support to Hamas terrorists.

Following the February 28, 2024 self-immolation of U.S. airman Aaron Bushnell outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington D.C., protesting American backing of Israel, Cotton condemned the act as "an act of horrific violence" endorsing Hamas and questioned military measures addressing extremism within its ranks.

In April 2024, Cotton threatened to withhold U.S. funding from the International Criminal Court (ICC), impose sanctions on ICC personnel, and deny them entry into the United States if arrest warrants were issued against Israeli officials including Benjamin Netanyahu. After the ICC issued such warrants on November 21, 2024, Cotton denounced it as a "kangaroo court" and labeled prosecutor Karim Khan a "deranged fanatic." He cautioned via Twitter that any enforcement attempts could provoke U.S. military intervention under the provisions of the Hague Invasion Act.

Iran

In 2013, Cotton introduced a bill aiming to ban commerce with relatives of individuals subject to U.S. sanctions against Iran, extending restrictions to spouses and relatives up to the third degree. However, he retracted the amendment following concerns about its constitutionality.

In March 2015, Cotton drafted a letter endorsed by 47 Senate Republicans that challenged the Obama administration’s authority in negotiating with Iran on nuclear matters, asserting that any agreement could be overturned by a subsequent president. The letter was published in English alongside a poorly translated Persian version, which attracted criticism. Some analysts argued it potentially breached the Logan Act and raised constitutional questions.

President Obama condemned the letter as an interference in active diplomatic efforts and described it as an "unusual coalition" with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Cotton defended the correspondence, highlighting the necessity of direct communication with Iran amid worries about its regional ambitions and hardline policies.

Cotton secured considerable financial support from pro-Israel organizations for his opposition to the Iran nuclear deal and his hawkish stance toward Iran, including nearly $1 million from contributors associated with William Kristol’s Emergency Committee for Israel.

In July 2018, Cotton introduced the Iran Hostage Taking Accountability Act, mandating presidential sanctions against Iranians responsible for politically motivated mistreatment of Americans and permitting sanctions against their family members. He also cautioned U.S. citizens about traveling to Iran due to safety risks.

By May 2019, Cotton asserted that in a potential conflict with Iran, the United States could achieve rapid victory with "two strikes," pledging a "furious response" to any Iranian provocations.

Russia

On March 13, 2018, during an appearance on conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt's radio program, Cotton anticipated that Russian officials would "lie and deny" involvement in the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, a former Russian spy in the United Kingdom. Following Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Theresa May’s ultimatum giving Russia 24 hours to respond, Cotton predicted a standard denial from Moscow and recommended retaliatory actions such as reinstating sanctions on Russian oil exports.

Reception

Ex-chief presidential strategist Steve Bannon lauded Cotton as a prominent advocate of economic nationalism and a crucial ally of their agenda, underscoring his opposition to the entrenched Washington establishment.

Cotton is acknowledged as one of the leading representatives of Trumpism.The Washington Post highlighted his emergence as a potential successor within the Trumpist faction of the Republican Party.

Personal life

Cotton wed attorney Anna Peckham in 2014; the couple has two children.

He lists authors including Walter Russell Mead, Robert D. Kaplan, Henry Kissinger, Daniel Silva, C. J. Box, and Jason Matthews among his preferred writers.

In 2019, Cotton authored a book focused on the role of the Old Guard at Arlington National Cemetery, drawing upon his service as an officer in that unit.

Electoral history

Year	Position	Political Party		Primary Election			General Election				Outcome	Swing
				Votes	Percentage	P.	Votes	Percentage	±%	P.
2012	U.S. Representative		Republican	20,899	57.55%	1st	154,149	59.53%	+19.38%	1st	Template:Yes2		Gain
2014	U.S. Senator		Republican				478,819	56.50%	N/A	1st	Template:Yes2		Gain
2020			Republican				793,871	66.53%	+10.03%	1st	Template:Yes2		Hold

Military awards

Among Cotton's military honors are:

Combat Infantryman Badge

Parachutist Badge

Air Assault Badge

Ranger Tab

Template:Ribbon devicesBronze Star Medal Template:Ribbon devicesArmy Commendation Medal (with one Oak leaf cluster) Template:Ribbon devicesArmy Achievement Medal Template:Ribbon devicesAir Force Achievement Medal Template:Ribbon devicesNational Defense Service Medal Template:Ribbon devicesAfghanistan Campaign Medal (featuring two campaign stars) Template:Ribbon devicesIraq Campaign Medal (with one campaign star) Template:Ribbon devicesGlobal War on Terrorism Service Medal Template:Ribbon devicesArmy Service Ribbon Template:Ribbon devicesOverseas Service Ribbon Template:Ribbon devicesNATO Medal

See also

• List of members of the American Legion
• Donald Trump Supreme Court candidates

External links

Official

Additional resources

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