GOP Sen. Rick Scott (Fla.) hammered Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersOutrage erupts over Breonna Taylor grand jury ruling Dimon: Wealth tax 'almost impossible to do' Grand jury charges no officers in Breonna Taylor death MORE (I-Vt.) on Wednesday, comparing the Democratic presidential hopeful's policies to those of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and asking if Sanders's supporters would move to Venezuela.

“I’m going to the Venezuelan border next week. I’m going to Colombia. I’ll be at the Venezuelan border. If you like Bernie Sanders, why don’t you go ahead and move to Caracas?” Scott said during an appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”

The Florida senator appeared to roll his eyes when a co-host sought to distinguish socialist policies as advocated by Maduro's government with democratic socialism, a label that Sanders has used to describe his beliefs for years.

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"It's a choice, do we want a free market ... or do you want the government to dictate exactly what everybody is going to do?" Scott asked later.

Scott, who represents a state with more than 100,000 Venezuelans and Venezuelan Americans, has emerged as one of Maduro’s most vociferous detractors in the U.S. as the leader clings to power amid a protracted political battle in Venezuela.

Republicans have repeatedly pointed to Maduro’s socialist policies as the country experiences a severe food and medicine shortage. The Trump administration has called for Maduro to step down and has recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the country's interim president.

The GOP is hoping to make socialism a central theme of the 2020 election cycle as several candidates, including Sanders, promote progressive policies including “Medicare for All” and the "Green New Deal," which seeks to combat climate change by investing in environmentally friendly jobs.

“Here in the United States, we are alarmed by new calls to adopt socialism in our country. America was founded on liberty and independence — not government coercion, domination and control,” President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE said during his State of the Union Address in February.

Sanders, who brought many progressive platforms into the mainstream with his 2016 presidential run, is currently a front-runner in the 2020 primary pack, out-fundraising all other declared candidates and consistently polling in the top tier in crucial states like Iowa and New Hampshire.