U.S. Representative María Elvira Salazar, a Miami Republican, criticized President Donald Trump’s immigration policies in a bilingial campaign ad released on September 17, 2026, prompting Trump to respond from the Oval Office that he disagrees with her stance while confirming he still backs her upcoming reelection bid ahead of the November 3 midterms.
Immigration Policy Clashes in South Florida
In her bilingial campaign advertisement, Salazar told President Trump that his administration’s immigration enforcement has gone “too far” and warned that Hispanic voters who helped place him in the White House in 2024 now feel “betrayed,” according to reporting by Syra Ortiz Blanes of el Nuevo Herald. Salazar also challenged the administration’s assertion that its enforcement sweep has targeted only criminals, pointing to a statistic indicating that 50% of individuals detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) possessed no criminal convictions or pending charges.
Trump confirmed during an Oval Office exchange on September 18, 2026, that he viewed the lawmaker’s video. “I disagree with her,” Trump told reporters, adding that border security remains a core pillar of his movement and his 2024 presidential victory.
Trump’s Response and Political Backing
While publicly distancing himself from Salazar’s moderate positioning, Trump maintained that he continues to support her congressional reelection campaign. However, he emphasized that her initial election victory in 2021 resulted entirely from his endorsement. “When I backed María, she ended up winning the biggest surprise in the entire Congress in that period. María won only because of me,” Trump stated from the Oval Office, as reported by el Nuevo Herald.
Trump remarked that Salazar “became a little bit softer on the border” issue over time. He noted that while he understands her perspective representing a heavily Hispanic district in Miami, his own stance on border control remains unyielding.
Did You Know? During her tenure in Congress, María Elvira Salazar introduced a bipartisan immigration reform proposal that requires immigrant participants to pay taxes and meet other specific requirements to gain a pathway to legalization, a measure that hardline Republicans have criticized as a mass amnesty.
Electoral Pressures and Local Fallout
Salazar represents a Miami-area district with a majority-Hispanic population, putting her in the position of balancing national party loyalty with the direct local impacts of immigration enforcement. According to el Nuevo Herald, constituents have criticized Salazar and other members of Miami’s congressional delegation over mass deportations, particularly the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) protections for Venezuelan and Haitian nationals.
Both el Nuevo Herald and elnacional.com note that these political tensions unfold with less than two months remaining before the November 3, 2026 midterm elections, as Democrats target the district as a competitive seat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did María Elvira Salazar say in her campaign ad?
Salazar stated that the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement has gone “too far” and that Hispanic voters who supported Trump in 2024 feel “betrayed.” She also questioned official claims that enforcement targets only serious criminals, noting that 50% of ICE detainees lack criminal convictions or pending charges.
How did President Donald Trump react to the criticism?
Trump stated from the Oval Office that he disagrees with Salazar’s position, asserting that he maintains a much firmer stance on border security. Nevertheless, he confirmed that he still supports her reelection bid, though he insisted she won her congressional seat solely due to his past endorsement.
When did these events take place?
Salazar released her campaign video on September 17, 2026, and President Trump responded publicly to the commercial during an Oval Office appearance on September 18, 2026, ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
How do local constituents view the situation?
According to reporting from el Nuevo Herald, Salazar and other Miami-area Republican lawmakers have faced direct criticism from their constituents over mass deportations and the removal of Estatus de Protección Temporal (TPS) protections for Venezuelans and Haitians.
What immigration legislation has Salazar proposed?
Salazar introduced a bipartisan immigration reform project that would allow certain immigrants a pathway to legal status provided they pay taxes and fulfill other mandatory requirements, a proposal that hardline conservatives have labeled an amnesty measure.
?How might this public disagreement influence voter turnout in Miami’s upcoming congressional race?
Keep reading