Flip-flop Sen. Scott praises Trump: “President Trump was elected to fix the mess that Democrats made of our nation”
Florida – Florida Senator Rick Scott, who just recently called President Trump’s enormous legislative program a “debt bomb” that was too risky, has changed his mind since the Senate passed what Trump called the “Big Beautiful Bill.” Scott hailed the former president in a statement following the vote, saying that working with him is necessary to fix the economy and make the country safer.
“President Trump was elected to fix the mess that Democrats made of our nation,” Scott declared. He blamed Democratic leadership for skyrocketing debt, surging inflation, and border failures, insisting that Trump’s policies—particularly extending the Trump-era tax cuts and boosting military funding—are what the country needs to regain its footing.
Scott pointed to provisions in the bill that he said would stop a huge tax increase by keeping Trump’s tax cuts in place. He said these cuts would save average Florida families hundreds of dollars a year. He additionally addressed how the plan will help make the border safer and give the U.S. military important resources.
“This bill delivers on our promise to secure the border and protect Americans from Biden’s open border crisis,” he said.
But Scott’s latest embrace of Trump’s plan marks a sharp departure from his earlier position. Scott went on Newsmax just days before the Senate vote to criticize the very same proposal. Scott said that the plan might add another $5 trillion to the national deficit, which would put the country further in debt. He echoed the fears of tech entrepreneur Elon Musk.
“He’s been clear. He’s in the same camp that I am that we’ve got to get a balanced budget,” U.S. Sen. Rick Scott said on Newsmax. “And so I agree with him that we’ve got to figure out how to get the spending under control.”
Scott’s first objection was that the House-passed package didn’t have a credible plan to cut spending. He said that Washington should to start making budgets based on what taxpayers give, not what politicians want to spend. He claimed that there will be a lot of “nice to haves” that you might not be able to afford. He compared the federal government’s overspending to those who don’t take care of their own finances.
The senator’s concerns were in line with what Elon Musk said on social media against the bill. Musk told his millions of followers to call their senators and tell them that uncontrolled government borrowing might bankrupt the country. The unusual alliance between the billionaire businessman and the Florida senator energized fiscal conservatives who want Congress to adopt stricter budget discipline.
Despite these strong objections, Scott’s tone shifted sharply following negotiations and the bill’s final passage in the Senate. His recent praise shows that he thinks the final version is at least a partial triumph for conservatives. He gives Trump credit for bringing the economy back to stability.
“I believe President Trump will be able to recreate and build upon the economic success of his first term,” Scott said.
Scott did say, though, that he was uncomfortable about some parts of the law. He said, “He called out “many spending projects you will be surprised to see” in a nation already more than $37 trillion in debt. He said that Congress needs to keep fighting for fiscal prudence since big deficits are still a threat.
Scott also expressed gratitude to his Senate colleagues who are similarly focused on sticking to the budget and urged them to keep working with Trump. He stated that senators need to keep working to help President Trump carry out the plans he made when he was elected, support American troops, balance the budget, and keep the safety net programs going.
Scott’s sudden pivot shows how hard it is for Republicans who want to support Trump’s program while also dealing with their own long-standing calls for spending reduction. This friction will undoubtedly define budgetary debates as the next election cycle approaches.
