Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton has made it clear to President-elect Donald Trump's team that he will not be joining the next administration and intends to continue serving in the Senate. Despite being considered for top intelligence or national security roles, Cotton has opted to remain in his current position.
Sources familiar with the discussions revealed that Cotton was among the candidates being looked at for the position of Secretary of Defense. Axios was the first to report on the conversations between Cotton and Trump's team.
A well-known conservative figure and a strong advocate on issues related to China and Iran, Cotton has expressed his intention to compete against Sen. Jonie Ernst for the Senate GOP conference chair position. He has assured Trump's team that he will actively support the former president's agenda while serving in Congress.
