<p>President Donald Trump criticized Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) on Saturday after initially supporting her following the release of an advertisement that criticized the Trump administration’s immigration policies.</p>
<p>Salazar's race has become more competitive this week, and she previously released an advertisement filmed outside the White House, stating that Trump’s enforcement of immigration law had “gone too far” and that Hispanic voters, who were crucial to his 2024 presidential election victory, were becoming critical of his presidency.</p>
<p>After the advertisement aired, Trump expressed support for Salazar during a press briefing in the Oval Office, stating that his endorsement had helped her win and referred to her as “very nice.” He acknowledged that she had “gone a little soft on the border” but maintained his backing. Salazar later described her conversation with Trump as “very good” and noted that he was “very receptive” to her concerns.</p>
<p>However, Trump’s support appeared to wane when he shared a screenshot on social media of a <em>Washington Post</em> report featuring interviews with Hispanic voters in Salazar's district, who claimed she had “misread their sentiment” and still supported Trump. One voter stated that Trump is “doing what he can, and he could do even more,” while another mentioned that one reason for Trump’s victory was the desire to remove illegal immigrants.</p>
<p>Trump shared 13 screenshots of social media posts from users expressing negative opinions about Salazar. Some suggested that Trump should endorse a primary challenger against her in two years if she retains her seat in the upcoming election. Others accused her of being pro-amnesty and suggested that her advertisement was aimed at appeasing donors opposed to strict immigration laws. One user remarked, “Trump should remove his endorsement for her,” while another called for a “new” Republican to replace her.</p>
<p>“I am one of those voters in her district,” one user commented. “I should have voted for the guy that primaried her.”</p>
<p>Salazar is not the only Republican seeking reelection who has distanced themselves from a Trump administration policy recently. Voters have expressed frustration with Trump’s second term, citing persistent inflation, which they attribute to the Trump administration’s tariff policies and the ongoing conflict in Iran, as key reasons for their dissatisfaction. Other Republican candidates, including Mike Rogers and Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA), have also publicly called for an end to tensions in the Middle East.</p>
<p>Salazar, a former television anchor and child of Cuban immigrants, represents a district where nearly 75% of residents are Hispanic, spanning from affluent areas like Key Biscayne to more working-class neighborhoods.</p>
<p>Trump won Salazar’s district by a margin of 14 percentage points in 2024. On Tuesday, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, a non-partisan race rating organization, shifted the classification of the seat from “likely Republican” to “leaning Republican.”</p>