Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said Americans "have much to be grateful for," including a "special mission" bestowed upon them by God.
Cotton issued a statement Thursday that remembered the plight of the Pilgrims, and extending a happy Thanksgiving to all Americans.
"More than four centuries ago, our Pilgrim fathers joined with the Wampanoag tribe for the first Thanksgiving," Cotton tweeted Thursday morning. "The Pilgrims suffered many hardships and trials in the wilderness of the New World, but they bowed their heads and thanked God for giving them a special mission here on Earth.
"Today, the nation they helped to build stretches thousands of miles from Plymouth Rock to the shimmering shores of the Pacific. We have much to be grateful for as a nation. But most of all, we should be grateful that our special mission continues. From the Cotton family to yours, we wish you and your loved ones a happy Thanksgiving."
Cotton, in his second term as senator, said earlier this month he will not run for president in 2024, making him the first prominent Republican to step aside for President Donald Trump.