Rick Scott knocks McConnell, calls for new leadership to help Trump in second term

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who is running to head up a potential GOP majority in 2025, knocked Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) Friday, saying former President Trump is going to need new leadership to help support his agenda for a possible second term. 

“We have Republicans in the Senate that are caving to Democrats for all sorts of horrible bills. Now, remember this so-called infrastructure bill? … That required Republican votes. Guess who gave it to ‘em? Mitch McConnell,” Scott told a crowd at The People’s Convention in Detroit, organized by the conservative activist group Turning Point Action.

He argued McConnell, who announced earlier this year that he would step down from his leadership post, “teams up with a few Republicans and gives the Democrats the votes they need.”

“Donald Trump had four years. He’s gonna have another four years. What’s going to slow him down? Washington insiders. Cause he needs — he’s gonna need a House and a Senate that supports his agenda,” Scott continued. “If we don’t get new leadership we’ll get the same old stuff. More spending, more debt, higher interest rates.”

The Florida Republican announced last month that he’s joining the race to replace McConnell in his GOP leadership role, as the party hopes to take control of the upper chamber in November.

“This is not a time to make small adjustments, I believe we need a dramatic sea change to save our country and that’s why I’m running to be Republican leader,” Scott said in his announcement.

The Sunshine State senator tried to take the role from McConnell back in 2022 but lost in a 37-10 vote.

GOP Sens. John Thune (S.D.) and John Cornyn (Texas) are also vying for the role this time around, and the race has been heating up as the November election draws closer.

“We are changing the Senate. And I’m running again … There will be a leadership race, and we are going to win,” Scott said Friday.

The Florida senator was among several notable GOP names slated to speak to the Michigan crowd Friday, including former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R). 

Trump is set to headline the Detroit conference with an appearance on Saturday, just weeks after the former president was convicted in his Manhattan hush money trial.

Michigan is a critical battleground state as the presumptive GOP nominee heads into a November rematch with President Biden.