On Monday, Fox News’ chief political analyst, Brit Hume, weighed in on the push by President-elect Trump’s allies to position Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) into a leadership role within the GOP, suggesting that this effort may not succeed as they hope. Hume remarked on “Special Report” that he believed this support for Scott from Trump World could backfire.
Hume explained that senators are protective of their authority and power, noting that they don’t appreciate being told what to do. He predicted that Scott’s chances of securing the leadership role were slim, suggesting that the other two candidates in the race had a better chance of prevailing, although he was unsure which one would finally win.
Elon Musk, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Marco Rubio back Scott as Senate GOP leader
Recently, several high-profile figures, including Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), have endorsed Scott to replace Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), who announced his plan to step down from leadership. Despite this support, Hume remained skeptical about Scott’s prospects.
Hume highlighted Scott’s tenure as head of the Republican National Senatorial Committee during the 2021-2022 election cycle, pointing out that despite raising substantial funds, Republicans suffered disappointing losses in the midterms. He reminded viewers of the anticipated “red wave” that never materialized, casting doubt on Scott’s leadership potential.
Scott had predicted a GOP victory of around 55 seats in the 2020 midterm elections, but the party eventually lost a seat, leaving them with 49. This was a setback that prompted McConnell to voice concerns about “candidate quality.” Scott had previously challenged McConnell for leadership, but he only secured 10 votes to McConnell’s 37, further underscoring the challenges he faces in moving up the ranks within the party.
