President Trump has expressed discontent with Florida House Republican Maria Salazar, sharing 13 critical posts about her on his Truth Social platform. This action follows Salazar’s release of a campaign ad filmed outside the White House, where she remarked, “Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far.” The posts illustrate Trump’s anger over Salazar’s comments, despite tightening polls between her and Democratic challenger Eliott Rodriguez in the race for Florida’s 27th congressional district this November.
Trump’s criticism of Salazar comes amid potential consequences for him if Democrats take control of the House, which would limit his legislative freedom in his final term years. On Sunday, Newsweek reached out to Representative Salazar for comment via email outside regular office hours.
Backlash from Salazar’s Immigration Comments
On Saturday, Trump shared a Washington Post article discussing Salazar’s criticism titled: “A Miami Republican faces backlash after publicly giving Trump immigration advice.” The article included comments from local Florida Republicans criticizing her stance and from a former GOP strategist who believes the move backfired.
Furthermore, Trump shared 13 posts from various X users criticizing Salazar. A user named John Hodnett remarked, “She tried a stunt and it back fired!” Meanwhile, James Vinson called Salazar a “back stabber,” and Juan Pablo commented, “Trump must remove his endorsement of her.” Other anonymous users suggested finding a new Republican to replace Salazar and proposed she face a primary challenge in two years.
Salazar’s Immigration Criticism
The controversy ignited when Salazar, a child of Cuban exiles, released an ad on September 17 outside the White House. In the video, she stated, “Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far. In July, 50 percent of the 50,000 detained had no criminal record. Be careful what your advisers are telling you about immigration policy.”
Salazar further suggested aligning immigration policies with historical precedents, not by offering amnesty, but by providing a dignified life. During a CBS News’ Face The Nation appearance, Salazar highlighted appealing to Hispanic voters, urging Trump to preserve the party’s successful engagement with this demographic.
Salazar’s Election Odds
Salazar’s chances of beating Rodriguez to keep her seat have diminished significantly, according to Polymarket and Kalshi, top online financial exchanges. On September 1, Polymarket assessed her chances of victory at 82 percent versus Rodriguez’s 16 percent. As of Sunday, her odds dropped to 64 percent, with Rodriguez rising to 37 percent.
Kalshi reported similar shifts in odds, with Salazar falling from 78 percent to 64 percent, and Rodriguez’s chances increasing from 22 percent to 37 percent. A poll by Tulchin Research, backed by the House Majority PAC, surveyed 600 likely voters between September 8 and 13. Salazar led by 1 percentage point, with 47 percent against Rodriguez’s 46 percent. Another poll by Bendixen & Amandi International, sponsored by Rodriguez, showed a tie at 45 percent each, conducted between August 25 and 30.
Salazar secured the GOP primary nomination in August and remains the party’s candidate for the district. Although Trump cannot replace her with another Republican, he may support a primary challenger if she seeks re-election in 2028.
Contact Newsweek contributors Ben Kelly and Cristina Diciu for more information on this story.