Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott refused to condemn the former president Donald Trump appears to be making death threats against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
On Friday, Mr. Trump criticized Mr. McConnell for voting with Democrats on the spending legislation.
“McConnell is passing all these trillion dollar bills sponsored by the Democrats without even the slightest negotiation, because he hates Donald Trump and knows I’m adamantly against them, or he’s doing it because he believes in the bogus and very destructive New Green Deal, and ready to destroy the country with him?” the former president wrote in Truth Social.
Mr Trump’s words came as the Senate voted to pass a continuing resolution to keep the government open until December 16, even though Mr McConnell opposes the new Green Deal. Mr. McConnell voted to sustain the resolution and Mr. Scott voted against it.
CNN’s Dana Bash asked Mr. Scott, an associate of the former president, about the remarks on Sunday.
“I can never answer why anybody says what they say, but the way I look at it is, I think what the president is saying, you know, a lot of money has been spent in the last two years “, he said. said. “We have to make sure we don’t give in to the Democrats. This caused unimaginable inflation.’
The former president also appeared to have made death threats against Mr McConnell and made racist remarks about Mr McConnell’s wife, Elaine Chao, who served as transport secretary before the January 6 riots.
“In any case, any reason is unacceptable. He has a DEATH WISH. We need to seek the help and advice of our China-loving wife, Coco Chow, immediately,” Mr. Trump said.
But Mr Scott dismissed the comments about Ms Chao, who was born in Taiwan.
“As you know, the president likes to give people nicknames,” he said. “I’m sure he has a nickname for me. But, you know, here’s what I know. We have to watch how we spend our money.”
When Ms Bash pressed him that the nickname was racist.
“You can never be racist. I think you always have to be careful when you’re in the public eye,” he said. “You want to make sure you’re inclusive.”