Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., was confronted by activists from CodePink during a hallway encounter on Capitol Hill, where protesters challenged his support for Israel and U.S. foreign policy positions on Iran and Cuba.
The confrontation escalated as both sides repeatedly interrupted one another while Scott pushed back against the group's criticisms rather than simply walking away from the exchange.
What the Right Is Saying
Scott did not retreat from the confrontation but instead challenged the protesters' framing of the issues.
"How about the Palestinians? Does it bother you what Hamas did?" Scott responded when accused by a protester of supporting genocide.
When Benjamin questioned U.S. strikes on Iran, Scott offered a sharp reply: "Oh, you're back to wanting to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon. That's where you are."
The senator defended Israel's right to act against threats, saying "Absolutely" when asked whether Israel was acting in the name of freedom.
What the Left Is Saying
Madea Benjamin, a co-founder of CodePink who was present during the encounter, argued that U.S. policy decisions were making Americans less safe. She challenged Scott on recent U.S. military actions and his support for Israel.
"You are making us less safe with this war in Iran, with the support for Israel," Benjamin told Scott.
Benjamin also pressed the senator on Cuba, accusing him of supporting sanctions that she said were harming civilians.
"You are killing children in Cuba," Benjamin said to Scott. "You are killing Cuban citizens with the blockade, not allowing any oil to get there."
Protesters followed Scott through hallways as they shouted questions about U.S. strikes on Iran and conditions in Gaza and Cuba, arguing that American policies were contributing to civilian harm.
What the Numbers Show
CodePink is one of several left-wing activist groups that have drawn scrutiny over funding from Neville Roy Singham, an American tech entrepreneur whose ties to the Chinese Communist Party are under investigation by Congress.
According to a House Select Committee on the CCP report, Singham's network has distributed approximately $278 million to various organizations and media outlets in the United States that spread pro-CCP messaging.
CodePink co-founder Jodie Evans is married to Singham. The group has organized protests targeting Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill and hosted events critical of U.S. foreign policy.
The committee report identified CodePink as part of a network of groups that amplify Chinese government positions on issues including Taiwan, Hong Kong, and COVID-19 origin theories.
The Bottom Line
The exchange illustrates ongoing tensions between progressive activists and Republican lawmakers over foreign policy priorities, particularly regarding the Middle East and U.S. relations with Cuba.
CodePink's funding connections to Singham have drawn bipartisan criticism from lawmakers who argue foreign-linked propaganda networks are exploiting American activist groups for strategic influence.
Benjamin and other CodePink founders have defended their organization's independence, though congressional scrutiny of its funding sources continues.