Callers rang Sen. Tom Cotton's (R-AR) cellphone Saturday after President Donald Trump posted what he said was the senator's number on Truth Social.
Trump shared the number in a long post urging Arkansas residents to pressure Cotton to stop blocking the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent.
"Everybody in Arkansas, Tom Cotton, a friend of mine, is holding up a very important Bill," Trump wrote. "For some reason, Tom is stopping the Bill and, in the Senate, it's very easy to do, it only takes one!"
Political commentators quickly reported trying the number for themselves.
"Just tried him," posted Sam Stein, a reporter for The Bulwark, on X. "The mailbox is, shockingly, full and there is not enough space to leave a message. Got to it too late."
Journalist Aaron Parnas reported similar results, writing, "Just tried to call Senator Tom Cotton to get his thoughts on this, phone went straight to voicemail and the mailbox is full."
Former GOP strategist Tim Miller shared that he "texted @TomCottonAR to see if he'd like to have a discussion about this" on Miller's podcast.
Progressive political strategist Drew Savicki posted a screenshot of him texting Cotton, "Do you have a favorite Ninja Turtle?"
Afghanistan refugee advocate Shawn VanDiver wrote on X, "We never miss an opportunity to advocate," and posted a screenshot of texts to Cotton advocating for Afghans.
"Hey Senator...I'd really like to talk to you about our Allies. Do you have time this weekend?" VanDiver's message read. "I know you've been a big advocate for Afghans...but Stephen Miller won't let any of them come through."
Others had a more straightforward criticism of Trump's move.
"For Trump, loyalty goes one way," warned political scientist Norman Ornstein. "Always. Lickspittles like Cotton will never learn that lesson."
Catherine Rampell, an economy columnist for The Bulwark, noted, "Trump's masked vigilante gangs can't show their faces because that would be an invasion of privacy, and yet."
