Rick Scott continues to split the difference between Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell

Rick Scott. Image via AP.

Sen. Rick Scott on Thursday addressed the split between Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and former President Donald Trump in a television interview.

Scott, as chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), has tried to maintain a good relationship with both men, an increasingly challenging assignment.

McConnell has rebuked Trump over facilitating the Jan. 6 Capitol riots. Amid the war between the two, Scott continues to maintain the 2022 election won’t be predicated on rehashing the aftermath of 2020, but will be about “issues.”

“It’s not going to be about what different party officials are saying,” Scott told Fox Business host Stuart Varney.

“My position, I’m chair of the NRSC. I want everybody to help us. So I try to make sure that all Republicans are unified,” Scott said, with the “focus on winning, winning, winning.”

Varney asked a follow-up, noting the split between Trump and McConnell precludes the unity Scott wants.

“My experience in talking to people is that this is not what people are talking about,” Scott deflected, again trying to steer the discourse back to reliable talking points rather than the chasm between two of the leading figures in the GOP.

“Most people are not talking about the party issues that go on year after year,” Scott continued.

Indeed, Scott continues to leverage friendly ties with Trump for the Senate re-election effort. Last year, Scott invented a “Champions for Freedom” award for Trump, despite the violence and destruction Trump spurred Jan. 6. This year, Scott kicked off the NRSC podcast with a friendly interview of Trump.

The appearance continued what has been an interesting dynamic between the two men. Back in August, Trump took credit in a written statement for Republican fundraising writ large, including that of Scott’s NRSC.