Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas discusses his conversations with former President Trump and his team, his potential role as Trump's running mate, and the possibility of running for the White House in the future.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., has emerged as a potential running mate for former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. The Army veteran and rising star in Republican politics has been viewed as a contender since endorsing Trump in early 2020.
Cotton's stock rose recently following reports that he was moving up on Trump's short list for the vice presidential nomination. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Cotton confirmed that he speaks regularly with Trump and his team, but emphasized that discussions about the vice presidency have not yet occurred.
Sen. Tom Cotton: Trump's Potential Running Mate, Possible 2028 Presidential Candidate
"I suspect there's only one person who knows who's genuinely on his short list and who he's going to choose, and that's President Trump," Cotton said. "I'm confident that with a great roster of Republicans, he's going to make a good choice at the right time."
Cotton declined to say whether he would accept the running mate slot if offered, but acknowledged that it would be a difficult decision. "I do love my job in the United States Senate," he said. "But of course, any patriot if asked by the President of the United States to serve in another capacity, would have to seriously entertain it."
Sen. Tom Cotton: Trump's Potential Running Mate, Possible 2028 Presidential Candidate
Cotton, 47, has established a reputation as a conservative hardliner and small-government Republican. His supporters praise his intelligence, articulation, and commitment to the party's platform.
"He's articulate. He's smart," said longtime Republican strategist David Koch. "I feel like he's right in the heart of what the party is and wants right now."
Sen. Tom Cotton: Trump's Potential Running Mate, Possible 2028 Presidential Candidate
Koch also highlighted Cotton's military service and position on the Senate Armed Services Committee, noting his credibility on foreign policy.
However, some potential drawbacks to Cotton's candidacy include his lack of diversity and the fact that he hails from a reliably red state. As a white male from Arkansas, Cotton would not add significant diversity to the Republican national ticket.
Sen. Tom Cotton: Trump's Potential Running Mate, Possible 2028 Presidential Candidate
Prior to the 2024 election, Cotton had expressed interest in running for president. He made two stops in New Hampshire in 2020 and frequently campaigned for Republicans in the 2021 and 2022 midterm elections.
However, in October 2022, Cotton announced that he would not seek the presidency. He cited family obligations, particularly his young sons, as the reason for his decision.
"My boys are ages 7 and 5," Cotton said at the time. "They're old enough to know that dad's gone and be sad about it, but not old enough to understand the purpose and why it all matters and why the sacrifice is worth it."
Despite his decision not to run in 2024, Cotton has not ruled out a White House bid in the future. In a recent interview, he stated that he had "closed the chapter on national race at the time but my wife and I didn’t necessarily close the book" on a presidential campaign in 2028 or beyond.
