Florida Sen. Senator Rick Scott Says Maduro Could Relinquish Power In Venezuela By Christmas: 'Could Leave Today'

U.S. Sen. Rick Scott said Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro could leave power "today," predicting his departure will occur before Christmas.

"I think clearly he has time to leave today," Scott said in an interview with NTN24, adding that as the timeline for a potential arrest draws closer, "it will be more difficult for them to allow him to leave, but he could leave today and get to one of those countries."

Scott, a close ally of President Donald Trump in the Senate, added that the Venezuelan leader's future will only become more limited if he waits. "My hope is that he leaves, and if he is not gone by Christmas, it would be a great Christmas," he told NTN24. "He is a narco-terrorist, the leader of a cartel and not the legitimate president of Venezuela. He stole the election so I think his days are numbered."

Scott also said the U.S. president has "no patience left," stating, "Trump is tired of being lied to. Maduro lied to Biden saying he would hold free and democratic elections, but Trump will not be taken for a fool."

Speaking separately on Fox & Friends on Monday, Scott reiterated his view that Maduro's removal is imminent. "His days are numbered, and everyone knows it," he said, calling Maduro an "indicted drug trafficker" who should not receive immunity.

Scott added that he does not care whether Maduro ends up in "Turkey or Russia or China," but insisted that the Venezuelan leader should face consequences comparable to former Panamanian president Manuel Noriega, who was imprisoned in the United States.

The senator argued that human rights violations and restrictions on medicine and resources in Venezuela negate any justification for leniency, adding that the country should return to democratic rule and described opposition figure Edmundo González as the rightful leader. "They have every reason to be hopeful for the future, but it's going to have to start with getting rid of Maduro."

Scott warned that refusing to negotiate would complicate Maduro's exit. "The closer the date of his arrest gets," he said, the fewer options Maduro will have to leave on his own terms.