President Donald Trump is standing behind Republican Rep. María Elvira Salazar of Florida even after she publicly criticized his administration’s immigration crackdown in a new campaign advertisement.
The disagreement puts Trump in an unusual political position. Salazar is challenging one of his signature policies just weeks before the November midterm elections, yet the president says he still supports her reelection campaign.
The dispute also comes as immigration remains a major issue in South Florida, particularly in Salazar’s heavily Hispanic Miami-area congressional district.
Trump Responds to Salazar’s Immigration Criticism
Trump addressed the controversy Friday after reporters asked him about Salazar’s campaign advertisement.
The president said the two Republicans have a clear disagreement over border policy.
“She obviously doesn’t have a very strong feeling about the border. I do,” Trump said.
Trump added that he considers Salazar a “nice person” and emphasized that he had supported her politically in the past.
Asked directly whether he still supports the Florida congresswoman after seeing her advertisement, Trump answered that he does.
That means Salazar’s public criticism has not, at least so far, caused Trump to withdraw his backing.
Salazar Says Immigration Enforcement Has Gone Too Far
Salazar launched the dispute with a campaign advertisement directly challenging Trump over his administration’s immigration policies.
Standing outside the White House, the Florida Republican argued that some federal immigration enforcement efforts had become too aggressive.
She also warned Trump that Hispanic voters who helped return him to the White House in 2024 could be unhappy with the administration’s approach.
Salazar said in the ad that she believes some of the president’s immigration enforcement measures have become too aggressive.
Salazar’s message is particularly notable because criticism this direct from a Republican member of Congress toward a Republican president remains relatively unusual during an election campaign.
Salazar Says She Is Not Calling for Amnesty
Salazar has stressed that her immigration position does not amount to support for blanket amnesty.
Instead, she has promoted legislation known as the Dignity Act, a bipartisan immigration proposal designed to combine stronger border enforcement with a process allowing some undocumented immigrants who meet specific requirements to obtain legal status.
Under the proposal, qualifying immigrants who have been in the United States for more than five years could work, pay restitution and eventually obtain legal status. The legislation would also contain restrictions on access to certain federal benefits.
Supporters describe the proposal as a compromise between enforcement and legal status, while some conservative critics have characterized parts of the measure as amnesty.
That debate is now becoming increasingly important in Salazar’s reelection campaign.
Why Immigration Is So Important in Salazar’s District
Salazar represents Florida’s 27th Congressional District, which includes a large portion of the Miami area.
The district is approximately 74 percent Hispanic, making immigration policy especially relevant to many voters and families there.
Salazar has represented the district since 2021 and is now seeking another term in Congress.
Her Democratic opponent is Eliott Rodriguez, a longtime former Miami television news anchor.
Salazar’s decision to publicly challenge Trump appears designed to emphasize her own position on an issue with enormous importance in her district.
Trump Previously Gave Salazar His Support
Despite their disagreement, Trump and Salazar have maintained a political alliance.
Trump previously endorsed the Florida Republican and has credited his support with helping her political career.
His decision to continue backing Salazar illustrates how disagreements over individual policies do not necessarily result in an immediate political break between Trump and Republican lawmakers.
That is particularly significant as GOP candidates across the country navigate their relationships with the White House ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Immigration Becoming a Bigger Midterm Issue
Salazar is not the only Republican raising concerns about immigration enforcement as the election approaches.
Reuters reported that several Republican lawmakers and candidates have begun drawing distinctions between their own positions and certain Trump administration immigration policies.
For Salazar, the issue carries additional weight because of South Florida’s large immigrant and Hispanic communities.
For Trump, however, border security and immigration enforcement remain central parts of his political agenda.
That creates a potentially difficult balancing act for Republicans who support Trump on many issues but disagree with elements of his immigration strategy.
Trump and Salazar Remain Allies — For Now
The most striking part of the dispute may be what has not happened.
Trump has not withdrawn his support for Salazar.
Instead, he publicly acknowledged their disagreement while continuing to back her campaign.
Whether the dispute remains limited to immigration or develops into a broader political disagreement could become an important storyline as voters head toward the November midterm elections.
For now, however, Trump appears willing to remain politically loyal to a Republican lawmaker even after she publicly challenged one of his administration’s most prominent policies.