The Cuban-American Republican congresswoman María Elvira Salazar published a bilingual video—in Spanish and English—on her personal X account this Thursday, recorded in front of the White House, where she directly confronts President Trump about his mass deportation policies and warns that the Hispanic voters who brought him to power "now feel betrayed."
The message is the first of several campaign announcements that Salazar plans to launch in anticipation of the general elections on November 3, 2026, in which he seeks his fourth consecutive term in Florida's 27th District (CD-27).
Florida Politics reported that the ad is actually aimed specifically at the electorate of a district where 73.5% of the residents are Hispanic and more than half were born outside the United States.
"Mr. President, your immigration policies have gone too far. In July, your government arrested fifty thousand people, and half of them had no criminal records. Be careful what your advisors tell you," says Salazar in the video.
Then he adds: "I'm not talking about amnesty, I'm talking about giving them a dignified life in the promised land, and only you can do that."
Las políticas de deportación masiva y sus efectos en la comunidad hispana siguen generando debate. Mantente informado sobre todos los desarrollos en nuestra sección de
Warns Trump, but does not take a stand against him
In the English version, the congresswoman goes further and compares Trump's potential legacy on immigration to that of Abraham Lincoln regarding slavery and Ronald Reagan regarding communism.
However, this is not the first time that Salazar has clashed with the hardline stance of her own party on immigration issues. In December 2025, she described the immigration pause imposed by Trump on citizens from Cuba and 18 other countries as "anti-American," labeling it a "collective punishment" for those who followed every step of the legal process.
In March of that same year, she defended immigrants without criminal records with the phrase "the righteous should not pay for the sinners" and intervened on behalf of Cubans with I-220A and beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status.
In June, she distanced herself from President Donald Trump's position by that upholds birthright citizenship for children of parents without legal status in the United States.
María Elvira Salazar is also the main advocate of the Dignity Act, which she reintroduced in July 2025 alongside the Democrat Veronica Escobar. The bipartisan proposal does not provide amnesty or a direct path to citizenship, but instead offers renewable seven-year periods of protection against deportation for those who work or study and pay restitution.
A survey shows a close race
The rival of Salazar in November is Eliott Rodríguez, former presenter of CBS Miami and also Cuban-American, who has made immigration his main campaign issue against the congresswoman.
An internal survey conducted by Bendixen & Amandi International for Rodriguez's campaign shows them tied at 45% among likely voters, with Trump registering a 54% disapproval rating in the district. Multiple analysts have reclassified the seat from "solidly Republican" to "likely Republican."
Salazar has a financial advantage —2 million dollars in cash compared to Rodríguez's 661,000— but has declined three invitations to televised debates that his opponent has accepted.
Debate over María Elvira's video with Trump
The reactions to the video on social media were largely skeptical. Among the most well-known voices is the activist and communicator Carlos Eduardo Espina.
"Don't delete this video, María Elvira, because we know what you're like. You're very scared, but it's too late now. You're leaving in November," said the influencer in the comments on the post.
Several users questioned the timing chosen by the congresswoman to confront Trump. "We appreciate your words, but we must acknowledge what is wrong, and I believe you are recognizing it very close to the elections," wrote one person.
Another user pointed out: "If they take down this video, we already know they've called her again."
The general elections in Florida will be held on November 3, and CD-27 is among the six seats in the state that the Democratic Congressional Committee considers competitive.
Filed under: