CBS’s Margaret Brennan Gets Shut Down Trying to Call Out Tom Cotton’s Language [WATCH]

Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) appeared on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” Sunday to defend his recent Wall Street Journal op-ed calling for the deployment of federal troops in response to escalating riots in Los Angeles.

In a tense exchange with host Margaret Brennan, Cotton stood by his argument that a firm show of federal force is necessary when local governments fail to restore public order.

The op-ed, titled “Send in the Troops, for Real,” was published following widespread unrest in Los Angeles over the weekend, which included arson, looting, and assaults on law enforcement officers.

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Cotton’s commentary cited a lack of adequate local response and argued that the federal government has both the authority and responsibility to step in under such conditions.

“When local police can’t restore order, the federal government has a duty to do so with a show of force,” Cotton wrote in the piece.

“Violent insurrectionists turned areas of Los Angeles into lawless hellscapes over the weekend, with anarchists setting fire to vehicles, throwing scooters and debris at police, and looting businesses—all while waving foreign flags.”

Cotton directly criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for not taking stronger action, noting that Newsom’s office compared the chaos to a Philadelphia Eagles playoff celebration and that Bass refused to support the use of federal assistance.

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The senator also addressed how some media outlets, including The New York Times, referred to the events as “largely peaceful,” despite reports of fireworks being fired at police and over 150 arrests.

On Sunday, Brennan questioned Cotton’s language, suggesting it might inflame tensions.

“Given the amount of tension in the country right now, is that really the language to use?” she asked, referencing his description of the violence as a “threat from the radical left” and his support for sending in active-duty Marines and National Guard troops.

Cotton responded directly: “Yes, when you see left-wing street militias who are throwing bricks and frozen water bottles at police officers and shooting them with fireworks, and unfortunately, you have mayors and governors in some places that won’t allow police to maintain order, the next step is to call in the National Guard. And if the governor won’t call on the National Guard, then the President has to federalize them.”

Cotton emphasized that the ideal solution is for local law enforcement to maintain order, but when that fails or is obstructed by political leadership, the federal government must act to protect public safety.

“We always hope that the local police are allowed to do their job and have sufficient numbers to do their job to maintain order and protect innocent life and property,” he said.

“But if they can’t, or they’re not allowed to, the National Guard has to be on scene to restore civil order.”

When Brennan cited a statement from the Los Angeles Police Department claiming they had the situation under control, Cotton countered with remarks from the city’s own police leadership.

“The LA police chief said last weekend that his forces were overwhelmed, and they couldn’t manage the situation,” he said.

The segment ended with Brennan thanking the senator for his time and closing the interview.

WATCH: Sen. Tom Cotton SHUTS DOWN Margaret Brennan’s hectoring over the “language” of his WSJ op-ed pic.twitter.com/c33NUQkq1l

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Cotton’s op-ed continues to receive attention for its direct language and calls for decisive federal action.

In it, he warned that failing to enforce immigration laws or restore order sends a message that left-wing violence is tolerated: “The threat from the radical left is clear: Don’t enforce immigration laws. If you do, left-wing street militias will burn down cities, and Democratic politicians will back the rioters.”

He concluded, “At the risk of again sending liberals to their fainting couches, it may indeed be time to send in the troops.”

The exchange comes amid ongoing debate over how to respond to politically charged unrest in major cities and what role federal law enforcement and military resources should play when local governments struggle to maintain public order.

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