Despite what Democratic critics claim, President Donald Trump has the right to prevent Iran from killing Americans, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said Sunday.
Speaking in a weekend television interview, Scott forcefully defended Trump's authority to take decisive military action against Iran, pushing back on Democratic accusations that the president is overstepping his powers amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
"Every president has said since Truman that they have the ability to use the military to protect Americans," Scott said.
"So this president has that right and he’s doing the right thing," he said.
Scott argued that Iran's decades-long hostility toward the United States leaves little room for hesitation, pointing to the regime’s history of supporting terrorist groups and targeting Americans.
"This is a regime that has been killing Americans for 47 years," Scott said, citing Iran's backing of groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis.
The Florida Republican also dismissed the idea that Tehran could be trusted in negotiations, saying Iran has consistently violated agreements and misled international inspectors.
He referenced findings that Iranian officials deceived nuclear watchdogs and falsified reports, reinforcing concerns about the country’s nuclear ambitions.
"They've never complied with anything," Scott said, adding that chants of "death to America" and "death to Israel" highlight the regime's true intentions.
Scott praised Trump's firm stance, saying the president is taking long-overdue steps to ensure Iran never obtains nuclear weapons or continues developing ballistic missile capabilities.
"This president finally is doing the right thing," Scott said. "He’s going to hold them accountable."
The remarks come as tensions escalate following Iran’s renewed threats in the Strait of Hormuz and concerns that a fragile ceasefire could collapse.
Trump administration officials have signaled that preventing Iran from disrupting global commerce and advancing its nuclear program remains a top priority.
Scott also took aim at Democrats in Congress who have introduced resolutions aimed at limiting Trump's war powers, calling their position inconsistent and dangerous.
"These Democrats that say we don’t want this president to protect American lives — it makes no sense," Scott said, linking their criticism to broader policy disagreements on border security and law enforcement.
Beyond foreign policy, Scott weighed in on domestic debates, including election integrity and surveillance reforms.
He reiterated support for requiring voter identification, arguing that widespread public backing for such measures underscores the need for action despite Democratic opposition.
"It's real simple: you should have to have an ID to vote," Scott said.
On intelligence gathering, Scott called for "common sense" reforms to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), warning of past abuses and stressing the importance of protecting Americans' civil liberties while maintaining tools to combat terrorism.
As geopolitical tensions rise and political divisions deepen at home, Scott made clear that Republicans are standing firmly behind Trump's leadership, particularly when it comes to confronting adversaries such as Iran and prioritizing national security.
Charlie McCarthy ✉
Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
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