Fox News "The Story with Martha MacCallum" - Transcript: Interview with Sen. Rick Scott

Interview

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

So, I think you probably could hear Geraldo Rivera. And I say, he is somewhat defending Iran. I want to get your reaction.

SEN. RICK SCOTT (R-FL): Well, first off, I just got back from Israel a couple of weeks ago. And I went to the Lebanese border. But Iran supporting Hezbollah. I went to the Gaza Strip, their supporting Hamas.

Hamas is shooting rockets off and putting up helium balloons with explosives to hurt children in Israel.

And so, and clearly, Iran is as they're constantly saying, they want to annihilate Israel. And then, we know that the missile that hit the facilities in Saudi was came from Iran -- there's no question about that.

I think their goal is, is to dramatically impact the oil markets. Now, who's going to get hurt? It's actually not going to be the United States, it's going to be Europe, it's going to be China.

But if Iran actually wanted to be part of the world community, stop being - - stop giving to all of these -- giving weapons to all these horrible individuals or groups that are trying to annihilate Israel and caused all this unrest in the Middle East.

Be -- try to be part of the world market. I mean, it's crazy what they're doing. So, we were just talking about -- and I -- again, I've got Geraldo Rivera sitting by as we've kind of been drawing it one another over the fact that he seems to support Iran in this process.

Senator, you're saying that you're fairly certain now that Iran did this.

Have you seen intelligence that maybe you can share anything about?

Because Democrats are saying, well, we have to wait and see.

SCOTT: Well, look, it's always good to do everything you can to make sure -- if there's no way offends up butts about it. But every bit of intelligence that I've been told about is that it came from Iran. I mean, they did this.

Now, is Geraldo right that we -- you know, we should be disgusted with Saudis did with Khashoggi. They -- that was absolutely the wrong thing.

But, rather than pecking Saudi Arabia, let's make sure let's hold Iran accountable.

Why are they doing what they're doing with Hezbollah? Why are they doing what they're doing with Hamas? Why do they call -- you know, they clearly have said, they want to annihilate Israel, our partner, our ally.

FAULKNER: So, Senator, you know, we have -- we have sold them weapons.

Saudi Arabia, can they not defend themselves? I mean, I think it's a legit --

(CROSSTALK)

RIVERA: Over $85 billion.

FAULKNER: OK, hold on. I think it's a legitimate question to be able to, at least, ask about what they can do for themselves.

SCOTT: Absolutely. I mean, here is what you should be impressed with.

Israel defends itself. While we sell them weapons, and we get -- and we provided a lot of resources to Israel, they're willing to defend their own freedom. And which so, you really have to admire their -- admire the Israeli defense force. You should expect that. We should expect that for all of our allies.

So, my focus though is Iran has got to change. If we -- I mean, you want somebody to have a nuclear weapon that says they want to annihilate your ally? And you can't do that. I mean, it's just --

(CROSSTALK)

FAULKNER: Well, they say, death to America, too.

SCOTT: I mean, I understand what Geraldo is saying. Why they chant, death to America? They want to annihilate Israel. They want to wipe them off the face of the earth. What do they say, there's not going to be enough gravesites or -- for all the people they're going to kill in Israel? I mean, come on.

(CROSSTALK)

RIVERA: It's an act of war.

SCOTT: That's not -- that's not somebody you want to do business with.

RIVERA: Senator, I loved you as a governor, I love you a senator, but if there was an act of war to attack the Saudi oil, then why isn't it an act of war to choke Iran, so they can't sell their oil? Isn't it the same thing? Shouldn't it be fairness?

I mean, they -- the president unilaterally said he wants to renegotiate the nuclear deal. So, let's renegotiate the nuclear deal.

FAULKNER: OK. Geraldo, you got to step in.

RIVERA: OK, thank you.

FAULKNER: Senator, you would like to respond.

SCOTT: Geraldo, Geraldo, I agree with you. You -- we ought to -- the first thing we ought to try to do, is sit down with people. But it's very difficult when somebody is saying, death to America, and they're saying they want -- they want a nuclear weapon to wipe Israel off the face of the earth.

(CROSSTALK)

FAULKNER: do you think that we might see that? If there is a place that may be outside the official UNGA, General Assembly meetings that the French president or anybody can facilitate that. President Trump, says he didn't need anybody's help because he's open to sitting down with anyone.

SCOTT: Well, President Trump, he doesn't -- his -- he doesn't want to go to war. He want -- he -- look, he talks to everybody. But, they've got -- they've got to be part of this.

I mean, what has Iran done to say they want to have a legitimate conversation?

FAULKNER: They haven't. They just want back on that deal. And, of course, Europe has got to be feeling conflicted too because --

(CROSSTALK)

SCOTT: Yes, and which is a bad deal. It didn't stop them -- from support them.

FAULKNER: More and more the coalition will have to come along. But they're still in that deal. Boy, it's complicated.

Senator Rick Scott of the great state of Florida, thank you for joining me tonight. And being patient as Geraldo's mike is still hot.

SCOTT: Nice seeing you.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source