Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), a presidential candidate who could regain the Republican majority in 2025, criticized Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Friday, saying former President Trump needs new leadership to back his policies for a possible second term.
“We have Republicans in the Senate who are bowing to Democrats on every awful bill. By the way, remember the so-called infrastructure bill? … This one needed Republican votes. And guess who gave them those? Mitch McConnell,” Scott told an audience at a people’s conference in Detroit hosted by conservative activist group Turning Point Action.
He argued that McConnell, who announced he was stepping down as party leader earlier this year, “has teamed up with some Republicans to give Democrats the votes they need.”
“Donald Trump has had four years in office. He has four more years to go. What’s going to hold him back? Washington insiders, because he needs a House and a Senate that will support his policies,” Scott continued. “Without new leadership, we’re going to see the same old patterns repeated: more spending, more debt, higher interest rates.”
The Florida Republican announced last month that he was entering the race to replace McConnell as party leader as Republicans seek to take control of the Senate in November.
“Now is not the time for small tweaks. I believe dramatic change is needed to save our country, which is why I am running for Republican leadership,” Scott said in a statement.
The Florida senator sought to take over the role from McConnell in 2022 but was defeated in a 37-10 vote.
Republican Sens. John Thune of South Dakota and John Cornyn of Texas are also vying for the post, with the race heating up as the November election approaches.
“We’re changing the Senate, and I’m running again, there will be a leadership contest, but we will win,” Scott said Friday.
The Florida senator is one of several prominent Republicans scheduled to address a Michigan audience on Friday, including former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R).
Trump Headlining the Detroit Conference The trial began Saturday, just weeks after the former president was convicted in a Manhattan hush-money trial.
Michigan has become a key battleground state as the presumptive Republican nominee faces President Biden in a rematch in November.
