Trump attacks Tom Cotton for declining to object to Electoral College certification
President Trump at the White House with Tom Cotton in 2017. Photo: Zach Gibson via Pool/Getty Images
President Trump turned on Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on Monday after the Republican senator warned that the GOP effort to oppose certifying Joe Biden's victory could "establish unwise precedents" and "take away the power to choose the president from the people."
Why it matters: Cotton, a close ally of Trump's who praised the president at the Republican National Convention, is one of a growing number of Republicans who have denounced plans by colleagues to object to certifying Biden's Electoral College win.
- Cotton is widely viewed as a potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate.
- Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who are also rumored to be considering 2024 bids, are leading the efforts to oppose certification.
What he's saying: On Twitter, Trump repeated his unfounded claim that the election was rigged and said "the real numbers" would be revealed during his speech on Monday night.
Go deeper: GOP battle lines drawn by Trump and McConnell will shape the next four years