A growing dispute between President Donald Trump and Republican Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar is drawing new attention inside the GOP as Republicans prepare for the final stretch of the 2026 midterm elections.
Trump escalated the disagreement Saturday evening by sharing numerous social media posts criticizing the Florida congresswoman, including one calling for Republicans to replace her.
The backlash followed a campaign advertisement from Salazar in which she publicly challenged Trump over his administration’s immigration enforcement policies and warned that some Hispanic voters who supported him in 2024 now feel “betrayed.”
The dispute has quickly become about more than one campaign commercial. It touches on immigration, Hispanic voters, Republican unity and control of a competitive South Florida congressional district.
Trump Shares Calls for a New Republican
Trump reposted more than a dozen messages criticizing Salazar on Truth Social on Saturday, according to multiple reports.
One message shared by the president declared, “So we need a NEW Republican to Replace Salazar.”
Other posts suggested that Salazar had misjudged Republican voters or expressed regret about supporting her in a previous GOP primary.
Trump did not write those messages himself. However, his decision to amplify them brought renewed attention to his disagreement with the Florida Republican.
The social media activity represented a notable escalation after Trump had previously taken a more measured public approach toward Salazar.
Salazar Challenged Trump on Immigration
The controversy began after Salazar released a bilingual campaign advertisement filmed near the White House.
In the ad, she told Trump that some immigration enforcement efforts had “gone too far” and warned him that Hispanic voters who helped return him to the White House in 2024 were becoming frustrated.
Immigration has been one of Trump’s signature political issues, and he has repeatedly defended tougher border and deportation policies as central promises to voters.
Trump responded to Salazar shortly after the advertisement appeared, saying he disagreed with her position and describing himself as considerably stronger on border enforcement. He also credited his endorsement with helping Salazar politically.
That disagreement placed Salazar in an unusual position: a Republican incumbent publicly challenging the leader of her party on one of his defining policy priorities.
Salazar Said Trump Was Receptive
Despite their disagreement, Salazar initially suggested that the dispute had not damaged her relationship with Trump.
Following a conversation with the president, she described him publicly as courteous and receptive to her concerns.
Trump’s subsequent Truth Social activity, however, made clear that criticism of Salazar remained active among his supporters and was significant enough for the president to amplify personally.
The episode illustrates the political challenge facing Republican lawmakers who agree with Trump on many issues but differ with his administration on specific policies.
Hispanic Voters Could Be Crucial
Salazar represents Florida’s 27th Congressional District, which includes a large Hispanic population in the Miami area.
Roughly three-quarters of the district’s residents are Hispanic, making questions involving immigration especially prominent in local politics.
Trump performed strongly in the district during the 2024 presidential election, carrying it by roughly 15 percentage points, according to reporting on the race.
Salazar’s advertisement appears designed to address voters who favor border security while harboring concerns about how certain immigration enforcement policies are being carried out.
Her approach, however, has also drawn criticism from some Republican voters who believe Trump should remain firm on immigration.
The Washington Post reported that several Hispanic voters interviewed in Salazar’s district disagreed with her criticism of the president and continued to support Trump’s immigration policies.
That divide could make immigration an especially important issue in the district heading into Election Day.
Salazar Faces a Competitive Reelection Battle
The disagreement is unfolding while Salazar campaigns for another term against Democratic challenger Eliott Rodriguez.
Both candidates are former television journalists with significant name recognition in South Florida.
Salazar won reelection comfortably in 2024, but Democrats see the district as more competitive this year. Public polling in the contest has been limited, adding uncertainty to the race.
Salazar nevertheless enters the final weeks with substantial campaign resources. Federal Election Commission figures cited by The Washington Post showed her with approximately $2 million available as of July.
The combination of a competitive congressional race and Trump’s continued influence among Republican voters raises the stakes of their disagreement.
Trump’s Immigration Record Remains Central to the GOP
The dispute also reflects a larger debate Republicans are confronting ahead of the midterms.
Trump has made immigration enforcement and border security central parts of his second-term agenda. Those positions remain popular among significant portions of the Republican base.
At the same time, lawmakers representing heavily Hispanic or politically competitive districts must consider how those policies are viewed by their own constituents.
Salazar’s strategy appears to be an attempt to occupy both positions: supporting stronger border security while questioning some aspects of immigration enforcement.
Whether Republican voters accept that distinction could become an important factor in her reelection campaign.
The Feud Adds Another Complication for Republicans
Trump’s decision to amplify calls for Salazar’s replacement ensures that what began as a disagreement over one campaign advertisement is unlikely to disappear immediately.
For Republicans, the timing is noteworthy.
The party is attempting to protect its congressional seats while keeping its coalition unified heading into the November midterms. Public disagreements between Trump and Republican incumbents can complicate that effort, particularly in districts receiving increased attention from Democrats.
For Salazar, the political calculation is equally delicate.
She must appeal to the large Hispanic electorate in her Miami-area district while maintaining support among Republicans who strongly approve of Trump’s immigration agenda.
With Election Day approaching, the Trump-Salazar dispute has turned Florida’s 27th Congressional District into another race worth watching closely.
The larger question is whether the disagreement remains a temporary clash over immigration policy — or develops into a deeper fight over Salazar’s standing within the Republican Party.