Republican Florida Rep. Maria Salazar revealed Sunday she spoke directly with President Donald Trump about immigration enforcement — days after releasing a campaign ad standing in front of the White House claiming some of Trump’s border actions have “gone too far.”
The three-term congresswoman, who represents a district that is nearly 70% Hispanic, told CBS’s “Face the Nation” the conversation went well and Trump was “very receptive.”
The direct communication between Salazar and Trump highlights the delicate political balancing act facing Republicans in heavily Hispanic districts, particularly in South Florida where immigration enforcement has become an increasingly contentious issue. Republican lawmakers have traditionally backed Trump’s border security agenda, but some representing diverse constituencies are now expressing concern about the implementation and scope of recent enforcement actions.
“It was a very good conversation,” Salazar said. “He was a gentleman, very courteous, very receptive.”
Salazar — who has Trump’s endorsement — released the campaign ad Thursday. In it, she warned that Hispanic voters who helped deliver Trump’s 2024 victory now “feel betrayed” by enforcement efforts she says have swept up people with no criminal records.
The ad represents a politically risky move for Salazar, who must balance her loyalty to Trump with the concerns of her constituents. Her decision to publicly challenge the president on immigration policy underscores the growing tension within the Republican Party over how aggressively to pursue enforcement in communities that have increasingly voted Republican in recent election cycles.
“Sir, you have this moment in history where you can keep the pot of gold that you brought to the GOP in 2024. No other president was able to convince the Hispanics to vote 55 points for a GOP president. Please preserve that fortune that you have brought to the party.”
Trump responded to reporters Friday, saying he disagreed with Salazar but “understands” her position. “She’s a nice person,” he said. “I got her elected. Without me she wouldn’t have gotten elected.”
The president’s comments acknowledged the political relationship between the two while also asserting his influence over her electoral success. Trump’s response suggested he views Salazar’s criticism as manageable dissent from an otherwise loyal ally, rather than a significant political threat to his immigration agenda.
Salazar represents Florida’s 27th Congressional District, where 69.6% of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The district includes heavily Cuban-American parts of South Florida.
The demographic makeup of her district makes Salazar uniquely positioned to speak on behalf of Hispanic voters who supported Trump but are now concerned about the direction of immigration enforcement. South Florida’s Cuban-American community has historically been more conservative than other Hispanic populations, but even within this traditionally Republican-leaning constituency, questions are emerging about current enforcement priorities and methods.
Host Margaret Brennan pressed Salazar on whether Trump took any of her advice. Salazar said she warned the president that his advisers “are just not presenting the whole picture” when it comes to the political risks of hardline enforcement in Hispanic communities.
Her suggestion that Trump’s advisers may be providing incomplete information reflects broader concerns among some Republicans that the administration may not fully understand the potential electoral consequences of aggressive enforcement actions in communities that helped deliver key victories in 2024. The comment also positions Salazar as someone offering Trump political intelligence from the ground level that he may not be receiving from his inner circle.
“I certainly hope he listened to what I was saying, but he listened,” Salazar said.
The congresswoman framed her remarks as coming from “a very good place” — not as an attack on the president, but as a warning from someone who knows the Miami community.
“I belong to the Miami community. I’m the daughter of political refugees. I’m first-generation American, and I want to preserve the American values that are entrenched in the GOP and that the Hispanics share,” Salazar continued.
Her personal background as the daughter of political refugees gives her a unique perspective on immigration issues that differs from many of her Republican colleagues. By emphasizing her own family’s immigrant story, Salazar is attempting to bridge the gap between Trump’s enforcement priorities and the concerns of Hispanic Americans who see themselves reflected in those being targeted by current policies.
She closed by telling Trump: “Remember, sir, that you are the only guy who can do this.”
Trump has not publicly responded to the Sunday interview. Salazar’s district is rated as a competitive race heading into 2026.
The competitive rating of her district adds urgency to Salazar’s public stance on immigration enforcement. Her willingness to challenge Trump on this issue may be calculated to protect her electoral prospects in a district where voter sentiment on immigration could determine the outcome of the next election. How Trump ultimately responds to her concerns could have implications not just for Salazar’s race, but for Republican candidates in similar districts across the country.
