President Trump on Friday said he continues to support Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) even as her reelection campaign launched a television ad attacking his administration's immigration enforcement tactics. The president's comments came a day after the ad's release, during an Oval Office exchange with reporters.
“She obviously doesn’t have a very strong feeling about the border. I do,” Trump said, adding that he is “very strong on the borders, and she isn’t.” He also credited himself with her political rise, saying, “I got her elected. Without me, she wouldn’t have gotten elected.”
The ad, which began airing Thursday in South Florida, features Salazar directly challenging the president. “The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today,” she says in the clip. She argues for a more measured approach to immigration, stating, “You can be for immigration what Lincoln was for slavery and Reagan was for communism. I’m not talking about giving them amnesty. I’m talking about giving them a dignified life in this promised land.”
Salazar, who has represented Florida’s 27th Congressional District since 2021, is running for reelection against Democratic challenger Eliott Rodriguez. The district, which includes parts of Miami, has one of the largest foreign-born populations of any House district in the country, making immigration a central issue for voters.
Trump’s endorsement of Salazar in February praised her “Wisdom and Courage” in confronting what he called “the Corrupt Fake News.” Despite the current policy rift, the president’s latest remarks suggest he is not withdrawing that support.
The disagreement highlights a broader tension within the Republican Party over immigration enforcement, as Trump has pushed for aggressive federal actions while some GOP lawmakers in immigrant-heavy districts seek a more nuanced stance. Democrats have warned that Trump’s second-term policies are reversing post-9/11 security reforms, and Salazar’s ad reflects a similar concern from a Republican perspective.
Salazar’s ad will run on television and online, targeting a district where immigration policy resonates deeply. Her message attempts to balance support for border security with empathy for immigrant communities, a position that has drawn both praise and criticism.
Trump’s comments also come amid pushback from Senate Republicans over his attacks on federal institutions, and as Democrats push for impeachment and curbs on executive power. The Salazar episode underscores the delicate political calculus for Republicans in competitive districts.
For now, Trump’s endorsement appears intact, but the public disagreement signals that even loyal allies are willing to break with the president on issues that hit close to home. As the November election approaches, Salazar’s ad may be an early test of how much political independence GOP incumbents can exercise without losing White House support.
