Political Quotes

Tom Cotton

The Public Record

Tom Cotton is an American politician and attorney serving as the junior United States senator from Arkansas since January 2015. A member of the Republican Party, he has been a prominent voice on various national security and foreign policy issues. Cotton is known for his strong stance on military matters and has advocated for a robust U.S. presence abroad, particularly in relation to China and Russia. He has also focused on immigration reform and economic policies aimed at supporting American workers.

Quotes by year · 20132026926 total · peak 2015 (147)
2013: 27 quotes2014: 11 quotes2015: 147 quotes2016: 130 quotes2017: 140 quotes2018: 93 quotes2019: 5 quotes2020: 4 quotes2021: 34 quotes2022: 47 quotes2023: 10 quotes2024: 58 quotes2025: 74 quotes2026: 146 quotes

Most widely reported

by number of sources
  1. Jay Clayton is a highly qualified nominee with a deep experience combatting a wide range of national security threats.4 sources2026cbsnews.com
  2. It's regrettable that the president has directed Jay Clayton not to appear at his confirmation hearing today. Mr. Clayton is a patriot and a highly qualified nominee, as the president has said repeatedly.2 sources2026cbsnews.com
  3. Vessels that support and protect China’s illegal, unregulated fishing fleet threaten our maritime security and American’s livelihoods.2 sources2026cruz.senate.gov
Sep 4, 2026

These numbers are not small, nor are they incidental. They represent a systemic exposure of our National Labs, including the American scientists who work there and topics they are working on, to an adversary determined to defeat the United…

cotton.senate.gov
Sep 3, 2026

Those who carry the greatest risk are least able to manage it. Arkansas has roughly 670 community water systems primarily serving small rural populations. Most cannot employ even one security engineer.

cotton.senate.gov
Sep 1, 2026

I was proud to vote to create this program and look forward to seeing how this historic investment will benefit Arkansas families for years to come.

cotton.senate.gov
Sep 1, 2026

The Republican-led Rural Health Transformation Program will expand access to high-quality healthcare for rural communities across Arkansas.

cotton.senate.gov
Aug 25, 2026

I have advised the President against this ill-advised action in the past and I now urge him to reconsider.

foxnews.com
Aug 25, 2026

Imported beef below market prices will only put more pressure on our cattlemen.

foxnews.com
Aug 20, 2026

I write concerning federal tax guidance that discourages the investment needed to defend it.

cotton.senate.gov
Aug 19, 2026

Joe Biden’s reckless open border policies allowed illegal aliens to exploit our immigration system. Our bill would close loopholes that incentivize illegal border crossings, endanger children and families, and undermine our asylum system.

cruz.senate.gov
Aug 18, 2026

Violent illegal aliens are criminals who should be deported, not released from detention centers. Our bill will ensure illegal aliens stay in detention centers until their deportation date to keep Arkansans safe.

cruz.senate.gov
Aug 18, 2026

Today, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of common sense—women’s sports are for women, not for men. Arkansas was one of the first states to push back on this madness and I’m glad the Supreme Court agrees. This decision benefits women across…

cotton.senate.gov
Aug 10, 2026

American businesses must understand that the U.S. government will not accept the risks of Chinese AI, and such a prohibition also sends an unmistakable demand signal for American alternatives.

cotton.senate.gov
Aug 8, 2026

Today, with the passage of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act, we honor his legacy and send a clear message to our allies and enemies alike: the United States will defend freedom around the world.

cotton.senate.gov
Aug 8, 2026

Lindsey knew that strength produces peace and prosperity, and he believed the United States is the greatest force for freedom that mankind has ever known.

cotton.senate.gov
Aug 7, 2026

Such a change would fundamentally alter the purpose and protections of permanent [Fish and Wildlife] wetland easements.

dailycaller.com
Aug 7, 2026

Attacks on civilian infrastructure have become a routine instrument of modern warfare, and American operational technology is a target.

cotton.senate.gov
Aug 6, 2026

Attacks on civilian infrastructure have become a routine instrument of modern warfare, and American operational technology is a target. I write concerning federal tax guidance that discourages the investment needed to defend it.

cotton.senate.gov
Aug 4, 2026

These investments allow China to advance their interests, while undermining American innovation and our national security.

cotton.senate.gov
Aug 4, 2026

I commend the administration’s current efforts and believe that if you take prompt action, America can keep the frontier advantage and unleash a diffusion strategy that ensures U.S. AI dominance, both domestically and globally.

cotton.senate.gov
Aug 2, 2026

I’m pleased that my colleagues voted to confirm Mr. Clayton as Director of National Intelligence and look forward to working with him to keep Americans safe.

cotton.senate.gov
Aug 1, 2026

These facts reflect severe vulnerabilities at our nation’s premier and most sensitive scientific environments.

cotton.senate.gov
Jul 31, 2026

I propose we extend these prohibitions to additional Chinese models and enact a government-wide ban on contractor use.

cotton.senate.gov
Jul 31, 2026

America wins the AI race when we offer models that provide optionality, from the state-of-the-art frontier for high-assurance, mission-critical applications in defense, critical infrastructure, and advanced scientific research, to cheaper…

cotton.senate.gov
Jul 31, 2026

I encourage you to pursue a proactive strategy to address these issues, with a coordinated, multi-pronged approach.

cotton.senate.gov
Jul 31, 2026

American companies, particularly those that do business with the U.S. government, should never jeopardize our security for higher profits.

cotton.senate.gov

Politicians like Tom Cotton