U.S. Senator Rick Scott gathered with supporters and community leaders in Doral today to mark the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, calling the development a decisive victory for democracy in Latin America.
Speaking to a crowd energized by the news, Scott framed the arrest as the culmination of years of pressure on the Maduro regime and a direct result of the Trump administration’s foreign policy.
“It’s incredible to see the community come together with such excitement for the future of Venezuela,” Scott said. “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.”
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The Senator attributed the successful operation to what he described as President Donald Trump’s “peace through strength” agenda. Scott specifically thanked President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth for orchestrating the move to bring Maduro to face justice in the United States.
In his remarks, Scott condemned Maduro as a “cartel leader” and “evil drug trafficker,” accusing him of siphoning resources from the Venezuelan people and facilitating the flow of narcotics into the U.S.
“The world will be better off now that Maduro is out of power,” Scott stated, adding that the operation vindicates the hard work of Venezuelan opposition leaders like María Corina Machado and Edmundo González.
The Doral event highlighted Scott’s long-standing legislative focus on the region. His office pointed to a track record dating back to his tenure as Florida Governor, where he signed measures prohibiting state pension systems from investing in companies doing business with the Maduro regime.
As a U.S. Senator, Scott has introduced multiple pieces of legislation aimed at tightening the financial noose around the Venezuelan government, including the STOP MADURO Act and the BOLIVAR Act. He has also been a vocal advocate for recognizing opposition candidates, recently hosting Edmundo González as his guest at President Trump’s inauguration.
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Scott’s office noted that he has consistently pushed for designating groups like Tren de Aragua and the Cartel de los Soles as foreign terrorist organizations, arguing that removing Maduro is a critical step toward stabilizing the region and securing the U.S. border.
“I am proud to stand with the Venezuelan people and all of Latin America in celebrating this momentous occasion,” Scott concluded.
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