María Elvira Salazar's decision to publicly confront Donald Trump over his immigration policy sparked a strong reaction among conservative figures, with calls for the president to withdraw his support for the Cuban-American congresswoman's reelection in Florida.
The conservative commentator Tomi Lahren, co-host of a Fox News program, called on Trump this Thursday to withdraw his support for Salazar after the lawmaker released a campaign ad in which she claims that the administration's immigration measures "have gone too far."
"This is a complete betrayal of Trump and his 77 million voters. President Trump should immediately withdraw all support and backing for this woman," wrote Lahren on X while sharing the video.
The controversy erupted after Salazar released a 30-second ad, recorded in front of the White House in both English and Spanish, as part of her campaign to secure a fourth term in Florida's 27th District.
"Mr. President, some of your efforts to enforce immigration laws have gone too far," Salazar states in the video.
The congresswoman claims that in July around 50,000 people were detained, and half of them had no criminal record. "Be careful with what your advisors tell you about immigration policy. The same Hispanics who helped you reach the White House in 2024 now feel betrayed," she added.
The message represents an unusual confrontation with Trump for a Republican congresswoman who has the president's own backing. In February, Trump gave her his "Complete and Total Endorsement" for reelection, support that some members of her own base are now urging him to withdraw.
Tomi Lahren has not been the only conservative voice to question Salazar. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene had already labeled Trump’s support for the Cuban-American as an "insult to his base," while activist Laura Loomer has also criticized the Miami representative for her immigration positions.
Immigration has become one of the main points of friction between Salazar and the White House. In December 2025, Congresswoman described the immigration pause imposed on citizens of Cuba and 18 other countries as "anti-American."
Salazar is also the main proponent of the Dignity Act, a bipartisan immigration reform initiative that includes a mechanism for certain undocumented immigrants to remain and work in the United States, without providing them with a direct pathway to citizenship. The proposal has garnered support from lawmakers in both parties, but conservative sectors criticize it, viewing it as a form of amnesty, a characterization that Salazar rejects.
The confrontation occurs when the Republican faces a contested re-election campaign against Cuban-American Democrat Eliott Rodríguez, former host of CBS Miami. District 27, which encompasses part of Miami-Dade, has a population that is nearly 74% Hispanic, a factor that places immigration policy at the center of the contest.
An internal survey by Bendixen & Amandi published this week places Salazar and Rodríguez tied at 45% among probable voters.
Salazar's announcement has gained national attention precisely because it comes just weeks before the legislative elections on November 3, while other Republicans in competitive districts are also facing tensions surrounding the implementation of Trump's immigration policy.
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