Rick Scott on Maduro

Senator Rick Scott has maintained a consistently strong opposition to Nicolás Maduro, labeling him an illegitimate dictator and a narco-terrorist responsible for sending drugs into the United States. He celebrated the purported arrest of Maduro in early 2026, calling it a "new day of freedom for Venezuela" and thanking the administration responsible for the action. Scott has consistently urged the federal government to hold Maduro accountable, often criticizing previous administrations for what he characterized as appeasement policies that only emboldened the regime while enriching it at the expense of the Venezuelan people.

Scott’s efforts to pressure the regime have spanned his time as both Governor and Senator, including legislative action and public advocacy. As Governor, he banned state pension systems from doing business with entities connected to the Maduro regime and consistently met with exiled Venezuelan leaders. As Senator, he has introduced multiple bills aimed at increasing pressure, such as legislation to raise the reward for Maduro’s arrest and conviction to $100 million, to be paid from seized assets rather than taxpayer funds. He has also championed the recognition of opposition leaders, such as María Corina Machado and Edmundo González, as the rightful representatives of Venezuela.