Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) endorsed former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election on Wednesday.
In a post to X, the Arkansas Republican argued that the economy, border security, and national security were in a stronger position during Trump’s first term in the White House than they are under President Joe Biden.
“When Donald Trump was president, America was safe, strong, and prosperous. The economy was booming, working-class wages were growing, our border was secure, and our enemies feared us,” Cotton said. “With Joe Biden as president, everything has gone to hell: families can’t afford groceries, our border is wide open to a full-blown invasion, and our enemies are starting wars everywhere.”
He added, “I endorse President Trump and I look forward to working with him to win back the White House and the Senate so we can help hardworking Arkansans suffering from Joe Biden’s disastrous policies. It’s time to get our country back on track.”
Trump had accrued 18 Senate endorsements as of the end of last year, according to The Hill’s tracker. His other backers in the upper chamber include Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike Braun (R-IN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Steve Daines (R-MT), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Josh Hawley (R-MO), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Eric Schmidt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), JD Vance (R-OH), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).
Cotton’s support for Trump dates back to the 2016 election, but the senator has shown a willingness to break with the former president in recent years. For instance, Cotton spoke out against the GOP effort opposing the certification of Biden’s 2020 victory, prompting a Twitter swipe by Trump. In November 2022, Cotton dismissed the notion that Trump was the “single leader” of the GOP. And Cotton attended a gathering hosted by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as DeSantis weighed a run for the presidency in February of last year.
Trump is running for a second presidential term, potentially setting up a 2020 general election rematch against Biden, as he faces a slew of criminal cases and ballot access issues. National polls also show Trump as the clear frontrunner in a wide but shrinking GOP field that includes DeSantis. In addition to the Senate endorsements, close to 100 members of the GOP-Led House have rallied behind Trump and at least seven governors. The numbers put Trump well ahead of his remaining Republican rivals less than two weeks before the Iowa caucuses.