Trump criticizes endorsed Republican Maria Elvira Salazar after immigration policy clash

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Saturday, September 26, escalated his criticism of Rep Maria Elvira Salazar, amplifying more than a dozen social media posts attacking the Republican lawmaker and calling for her replacement.

Trump issued his stern criticism after Salazar publicly challenged parts of his immigration enforcement agenda and warned that some Hispanic voters who supported him in 2024 would feel “betrayed.”

Trump has also backed Salazar multiple times in elections, giving her his “complete and total endorsement” for reelection as recently as August.

Trump escalates feud with Maria Elvira Salazar over immigration

Trump reposted several messages criticizing Salazar on Truth Social, including one that said, “so we need a new Republican to Replace Salazar.”

Other posts accused the three-term congresswoman of betraying Trump and repeated criticism from his supporters over her immigration positions.

The dispute began when Salazar released a campaign advertisement earlier this month in which she directly addressed Trump’s immigration policies.

In the ad, she argued that some of the administration’s enforcement efforts had gone too far and said Hispanic voters who supported Trump in 2024 now felt betrayed.

“Mr President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far,” Salazar said.

She also argued that immigration enforcement should distinguish between people involved in criminal activity and undocumented immigrants working in the United States. 

“The average American understands the difference between the narco and the nanny and the gangster and the gardener,” she said.

Trump immediately pushed back against Salazar’s criticism after the advertisement was released.

The president said he remained strongly committed to border enforcement and suggested that Salazar had moved away from his position. “I’m very strong on the borders, and she isn’t,” Trump said.

Trump also said Salazar had “got a little bit soft on the border,” while adding that he understood her position.

He separately claimed that Salazar had won her seat because of his endorsement in 2020.

Maria Elvira Salazar says Trump was receptive to immigration concerns

Earlier this week, Salazar also claimed that she had spoken directly with Trump about the disagreement and described their conversation as positive.

Speaking on CBS’ 'Face the Nation,' she said she urged the president to reconsider his approach to immigration and emphasized the importance of maintaining the Republican Party’s support among Hispanic voters.

“He was a gentleman, very courteous, very receptive,” Salazar said. She added that she told Trump, “you have this moment in history where you can keep the pot of gold that you brought to the GOP in 2024.”

Salazar represents a South Florida congressional district where more than 70% of the electorate is Hispanic.

Trump carried the district by nearly 15 percentage points in 2024. Salazar also won her primary with more than 80% of the vote.