Fox News reported earlier this week that Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton was "hesitant" about supporting Elbridge "Bridge" Colby's nomination for an important Defense Department role.

Yet after serious public pressure from supporters of President Donald Trump, the senator has since agreed to meet with Colby. 

Concerns over Colby stance on Iran

According to Fox News, a source said to be familiar with the matter indicated that Cotton's meeting with Colby is expected to take place within the coming days.

The source further explained that Cotton had been approached by other members of the Senate Armed Services Committee who expressed concerns over Colby's stance regarding Iran.

Fox News recalled how in a 2010 op-ed piece, Colby suggested that Iran's development of nuclear weapons may be inevitable, meaning the United States should focus on developing a containment strategy.

Nevertheless, Colby did acknowledge that "preventing an Iranian nuclear capability should be the objective of Washington and the international community."

"Senator Cotton is focused on ensuring all defense nominees commit to supporting President Trump’s position that Iran must not have a nuclear weapon, and Cotton will be addressing this in meetings and hearings with the nominees," the source told Fox News.

Cotton called out by Charlie Kirk in social media post

Fox News pointed out that Cotton faced an intense backlash over Colby, including from Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.

"The effort to undermine President Trump continues in the U.S. Senate [Sen. Tom Cotton] is working behind the scenes to stop Trump’s pick, Elbridge Colby, from getting confirmed at DOD," Kirk wrote in a social media post this past weekend.

The effort to undermine President Trump continues in the US Senate @SenTomCotton is working behind the scenes to stop Trump’s pick, Elbridge Colby, from getting confirmed at DOD

Colby is one of the most important pieces to stop the Bush/Cheney cabal at DOD

Why is Tom Cotton… pic.twitter.com/6pAXZkKZTw

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) February 16, 2025

"Colby is one of the most important pieces to stop the Bush/Cheney cabal at DOD. Why is Tom Cotton doing this?" the activist demanded.

Kirk "very happy" that Cotton will meet with Colby

Kirk later told Fox News he is "very happy to hear that Sen. Cotton is willing to meet with Bridge" before praising Colby's "thoughtful" approach.

When asked whether he played a role in securing a meeting between Cotton and Colby, Kirk replied, "Both public and private pressure are important. Ideally, these debates don't play out in public, but sometimes it's necessary."

"What has become very clear to me in recent days is that the base is paying close attention to this confirmation, and there will be political consequences for any senator who stands in the way of the personnel President Trump wants," he added.