Rick Scott Accuses Maduro Of Genocide, Suggests U.S. Military ‘Help’ In Venezuela

Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) on Sunday again suggested that the U.S. military “help” in Venezuela, ostensibly to deliver aid to the country as the United States calls for its current leader to step aside.

In an interview on CNN, Scott twice accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of “genocide.”

“Maduro is intentially starving his citizens,” Scott said.

“We’ve got to really consider whether we do military… help getting this aid in to save the starving people of Venezuela,” he added.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) twice accuses Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of "genocide," suggests the U.S. military should "help" deliver aid. pic.twitter.com/HXhiWMh4fb

— Matt Shuham (@mattshuham) April 14, 2019

But in recent remarks to the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, Scott discussed the potential for U.S. military intervention in less humanitarian terms.

“We must not appear weak in the face of Chinese, Russian, and Cuban determination to prop up Maduro,” he said. “Our adversaries question our will and our determination.”

It’s been several months since President Donald Trump recognized Juan Guaidó as the interim president of Venezuela, in January. Since then, dozens of nations joined the U.S. in recognizing Guaidó, but Maduro remains in power.

After two Russian planes carrying military personnel landed in the country late last month, Trump told Russia to “get out.”