Rick Scott says he gave Trump a 'Champion for Freedom' award after the Capitol insurrection because he 'worked hard'

• Sen. Rick Scott said he gave Trump a "Champion for Freedom" award because he "worked hard."
• Scott was asked why he'd awarded Trump as he spread lies about the election and the insurrection.
• "I gave him the award for the right reasons," Scott said, adding, "He worked hard."

GOP Sen. Rick Scott of Florida defended his decision to give Donald Trump a "Champion for Freedom" award, saying the former president deserved it because he "worked hard."

Scott presented the award to Trump earlier in April on behalf of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. An NRSC press release praised Trump for "appointing three pro-Constitution judges to the Supreme Court, cutting taxes for middle-class families and job creators, and securing the border."

On Sunday, George Stephanopoulos, the host of ABC's "This Week," asked Scott whether giving Trump the award endorsed his false claims about widespread election fraud.

"You did that despite the fact that the former president continues to spread lies about the election, about Mike Pence, and the Capitol siege on January 6," Stephanopoulos said.

"Doesn't giving the president an award like that endorse that kind of behavior?" he added.

"I gave him the award for the right reasons," Scott said, adding: "He worked hard. Every president I know would like to get more things accomplished, but he did some things that prior presidents have not gotten done."

Scott, who is widely expected to run for president in 2024, was one of several Republicans who voted in January to object to Pennsylvania's electoral votes as Trump sought to overturn the election.