Trump Highlights Report on Republican Discontent with María Elvira Salazar

On Saturday, Donald Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to share a report from The Washington Post. The piece highlights the dwindling support for Republican Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar among her electorate, following the controversy sparked by her video criticizing the president's immigration policies.

Trump's decision to spotlight an article showing Salazar losing support comes shortly after he publicly reminded her, “María won because of me.”

Authored by Mariana Alfaro and published on September 23, the article features opinions from Latino voters in Florida's District 27. These voters feel Salazar has misread their sentiment: while their backing for Trump remains steadfast, their support for her has waned.

Salazar's Misstep and Its Repercussions

A Key Biscayne resident and Republican voter who previously supported Salazar in her last three campaigns remarked, “She stepped out of line,” adding that Trump “is doing what he can, and could do even more.”

After sharing the article, Trump also highlighted reactions from his followers questioning Salazar's actions.

The Video That Sparked Debate

The controversy originated from a bilingual video Salazar posted on September 17, filmed in front of the White House. In it, she directly addresses the president: “Mr. President, your immigration policies have gone too far. In July, your administration detained 50,000 people, half of whom had no criminal background. Be wary of what your advisors tell you.”

The response was swift. The Department of Homeland Security fired back, stating, “Whether Congresswoman Salazar likes it or not, the men and women of ICE are enforcing the laws passed by Congress. There will be no amnesty for illegal immigrants. Not now, not ever.”

Trump, while maintaining his support, made his disagreement clear: “Yes, I support her, and yes, I’ve seen it. I disagree with her,” he stated on September 18, adding that Salazar “has become a bit softer on the border.”

Political Ramifications and Future Prospects

Three days later, Salazar revealed on CBS's “Face the Nation” that she had a private conversation with the president, describing it as “fantastic” and noting that Trump was “very receptive”: “I hope he paid attention to what I was saying. But he listened,” she stated.

Nevertheless, the political damage seems tangible. Analyst Ana Navarro, who resides in the same district, summarized the situation: “This announcement indicates she’s desperate. This was a rather dull race, and suddenly this ad emerges. And then you look at the polls and realize they’re tied.”

An internal poll by Bendixen & Amandi International, commissioned by Democratic rival Eliott Rodríguez’s campaign, shows both candidates tied at 45% among likely voters, with Trump experiencing a 54% disapproval rate in the district.

Rodríguez, also Cuban-American and the son of island refugees, served as a CBS Miami anchor for 25 years. His campaign raised approximately $120,000 the week of the video, doubling the previous week's total, although Salazar still leads in funding with nearly $2 million compared to his $661,000, according to Federal Election Commission data.

District 27 boasts a Hispanic population of 73.5%, including many Venezuelans, Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans who lost their immigration protections under the Trump administration's measures. While the Cook Political Report still classifies the race as “likely Republican,” several analysts have shifted its status from “solid” to “likely.”