'He wants to kill Americans': GOP senator backtracks after calling for violence against protestors

Tensions in the Middle East escalated during the April 13-14 weekend when Iran attacked Israel with drones and missiles, many of which were shot down by U.S. forces.

President Joe Biden has been critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Gaza policy as the death toll in Gaza continues to soar. However, Biden has also made it clear that the U.S. remains a major ally of Israel.

Protests against Netanyahu's policies have been plentiful in the United States. And Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) is drawing vehement criticism after promoting violence against protesters.

READ MORE: Michael Cohen warns of bombshell evidence during Trump trial: report

In an April 15 post on X, formerly Twitter, the GOP senator wrote, "I encourage people who get stuck behind the pro-Hamas mobs blocking traffic: take matters into your own hands. It's time to put an end to this nonsense."

Politico's Niall Stanage noted that Cotton edited his tweet, replacing "take matters into your own hands" with the longer "take matters into your own hands to get them out of the way."

New York Daily News columnist Brandon Friedman tweeted, "Cotton should be expelled from the Senate over this."

On X, journalist Brian Beutler commented, "Remember when people insisted that Cotton simply meant for troops to discern with perfect accuracy between protesters and rioters and intended no harm to the former?"

READ MORE: The Big Picture: Donald J. Trump's attempted coup

In response to Cotton, Princeton University professor Eddie Glaude Jr. — a frequent guest on MSNBC — tweeted, "What is wrong with you?"

Former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann said of Cotton, "What? He wants to kill Americans. That makes him a Republican."

Activist Charlotte Clymer, a former press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign, told Cotton, "Why is violence your answer to every problem? Why are you so weak?"

Wade Lentz, co-host of "The Patriot Pastor's Podcast," tweeted, "It's sad that an Arkansas Senator asks that American citizens put their lives in danger when he has done not one thing to address this in DC. Do something besides posting about it, and then show us how you have addressed it in Washington."

READ MORE: 'Laugh behind their backs': How 'performative' Republicans insult rural voters