Tom Cotton: Biden Was ‘Paralyzed For Entire Week By A Balloon’ Because He’s Afraid Of ‘Chinese Communists’

Sen. Tom Cotton (Republican from Arkansas) lashed out at President Joe Biden Sunday over his poor handling of the Chinese spy ball that flew over several U.S. States last week.

Cotton made these remarks. “Fox News Sunday” Shannon Bream, host, when Shannon was asked to comment on the subject.

“What began as a spy balloon has become a trial balloon, testing President Biden’s strength and resolve. And unfortunately, the president failed that test. And that’s dangerous for the American people. The president was paralyzed for entire week by a balloon,” Cotton stated. “We should have shot this balloon down over the Aleutian Islands. We should have never allowed it to transit the entire continental United States. And I think there’s a lot of open questions that the administration needs to answer to Congress on behalf of the American people about why they didn’t.”

Cotton claimed that Biden was not willing to shoot down a spy balloon because he didn’t want any. “provocative or confrontational” Anti-Semitism “the Chinese communists.”

Cotton claimed that Biden would not have taken any action on the spy ballon if Montana residents had not taken photos and posted them on social networks.

Cotton was also added “Democratic presidents only take action like shooting down this balloon once their hand is forced. And I think on Thursday, when civilians in Montana identified this balloon, it — well, it forced the president’s hand.”

SHANNON BREAM FOX NEWS ANCHOR – Senator Tom Cotton is here now. He sits on Senate Intelligence Committee and is the author of “Only the Strong”.

Senator, you are most welcome to return. “FOX News Sunday”.

SEN. TOM COTTON (R-AR): Thank you, Shannon. It’s good to be back with you.

BREAM: OK. So, you’re in the Senate Intel Committee, maybe you can help us out a little more with this time line.

General Keane, familiar to our viewers, says it’s his belief that we knew about this when it left mainland China. It would have been possible to track it across the Pacific. He is questioning why we didn’t take it out them.

Here’s what “Bloomberg” said about why we didn’t more about it after it entered U.S. airspace January 28th. It says: With such high profile trip at stake — meaning the secretary of state going — keeping it on the down-low was key. The White House chose not to inform Americans. Events, however, soon forced Biden’s hand.

As Lucas has reported and folks I’ve talked to in the Pentagon say, there are these balloons that have gone over before. What point does it matter if you tell the American public?

COTTON: Well, Shannon, what began as spy balloon has become a trial balloon, testing President Biden’s strength and resolve. The president failed the test. And that’s dangerous for the American people. A balloon paralyzed the president for a whole week.

This balloon should not have been allowed to fly over the Aleutian Islands. It should not have been allowed to transit the entire United States. And I think there’s a lot of open questions that the administration needs to answer to Congress on behalf of the American people about why they didn’t.

I think part is the president’s reluctance to take any action that will be viewed as provocative or confrontational towards the Chinese communists. I would say what’s provocative and confrontation is sending spy balloon all across America.

But second, I do believe the administration wanted to salvage the secretary of state’s trip on Friday night and they got through Thursday afternoon. The balloon was eventually found by civilians in Montana. They blew the whistle and the administration finally admitted that they were responsible. It was another 12 hours until the secretary of State cancelled what was already an ill-advised travel.

So, I think there’s a lot of answers that the administration provide the American people.

BREAM

Former Vice President Mike Pence had a different view. He was adamant that the Chinese balloon should be shot down. He said that he would send Secretary of State to China next week. Secretary Blinken should look them in their eyes and say it must not happen again. That’s peace through strength.

Why not invite Blinken to confront him face-to-face?

COTTON: Well, if the president had chosen to shoot down the balloon when he should have over the Aleutians when — as soon as it entered our airspace, that might have been worth considering.

BREAM: Why do you think we didn’t?

COTTON: I believe President Biden intended to avoid any confrontation with the Chinese communist. He intends to maintain the momentum he described from his Bali meeting last November with Xi Jinping, even though China is still a threat.