Senator Rick Scott held a press conference in Doral, Florida, following the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. The arrest was attributed to actions by the Trump administration aimed at supporting freedom and democracy in Venezuela. Senator Scott has long supported efforts against Maduro’s regime.
Scott stated, “It’s incredible to see the community come together with such excitement for the future of Venezuela. For years now, I have been fighting alongside the people of Venezuela as they fought for freedom and this is a new day, a new opportunity to achieve that. I’d like to thank President Trump, Secretary Rubio, Secretary Hegseth for their incredible feat to finally arrest Nicolás Maduro and ensure he can face justice here in the United States. This is a clear example of Trump’s peace through strength agenda in action.
“Nicolás Maduro is an evil drug trafficker and cartel leader who was sending drugs into our nation and killing hundreds of thousands of Americans, and stolen freedom and resources from the people of Venezuela for years. Now, the people of Venezuela are closer than ever to peace and freedom thanks to the actions of President Trump and incredible fighters like María Corina Machado and Edmundo González. From day one, President Trump has held Maduro accountable — cutting off his resources, reversing Biden’s appeasement policies and oil license, designating violent cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, and initiating targeted strikes to stop the flow of drugs across our border. The world will be better off now that Maduro is out of power. I am proud to stand with the Venezuelan people and all of Latin America in celebrating this momentous occasion.”
Scott has taken steps both as Governor and Senator to oppose Maduro’s government. As Governor, he worked on measures preventing state pension investments in companies linked to Maduro’s regime and advocated for further restrictions on state business with entities connected to it. He also met regularly with exiled Venezuelan leaders and advocacy groups.
In his role as U.S. Senator representing Florida since January 2019 [source], Scott has introduced legislation related to Venezuela including acts focused on liberty, sanctions against regime officials, banning operations with certain Venezuelan authorities, and defending human rights. He welcomed Edmundo González as his guest at President Trump’s inauguration ceremony.
Scott also addressed issues affecting Florida’s Venezuelan community by introducing resolutions recognizing opposition figures such as María Corina Machado and advocating for her after receiving international recognition. He contacted federal officials regarding American hostages in Venezuela and joined other senators urging formal designation of criminal organizations linked to the regime.
Senator Scott currently serves on several Senate committees such as Aging (as chairman), Budget, Armed Services, Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs, and Foreign Relations [source]. His offices are located throughout Florida [source] where he assists constituents with federal matters.
More information about Senator Scott’s legislative work can be found on his official website [source].
