President Donald Trump stated this Friday that he continues to support Republican Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar, but made it clear that he disagrees with her criticisms of the immigration policy of his administration.
Trump responded to a journalist's question about the video that Salazar recorded in front of the White House, in which she claimed that some of the President's immigration policies "have gone too far" and warned that Hispanic voters who supported him in 2024 "now feel betrayed."
A reporter asked Trump if he had seen the message and if he still supported Salazar's candidacy.
"Yes, I support her, and yes, I have seen it. I do not agree with her," Trump responded.
The president then defended his stance on the border and stated that immigration was one of the issues that drove his political movement and contributed to his electoral victory.
Trump stated that before his return to the White House, the United States had "the most insecure border perhaps of anywhere in the world, perhaps in history," and claimed that during Joe Biden's administration, 25 million people entered the country.
He also stated that among them were individuals from prisons and psychiatric institutions, in addition to drug traffickers and murderers.
"I have a very firm stance. She, obviously, does not have a very firm stance on the border, but I do," he stated about Salazar.
Trump said he understands the congresswoman's position, although he insisted that he does not share her views.
"I understand what you are saying, but I have a very firm stance. I won because of my position on the border," he noted.
The president also stated that, according to figures he claimed to have recently learned, no one had illegally crossed the southern border in the past 16 months, although he acknowledged that he personally found it hard to believe that the number was literally zero.
In another part of his response, Trump directly referenced Salazar's political career and stated that his support was crucial for her to reach Congress.
"It is a good person. I made sure they were elected. Without me, they would not have been elected," he stated.
Trump recalled that Salazar faced a candidate years ago whose defeat seemed unlikely and asserted that his own support changed the outcome of that contest.
"When I supported María, she ended up winning. And it was the biggest surprise of the entire Congress during that period," he said.
Finally, he insisted: "María won only thanks to me".
Trump attributed the current differences between the two to his assessment that, Salazar has become less strict on immigration matters.
It became a little softer with the border. I understand, I understand. But I'm just not there, he concluded.
Before Trump responded personally, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had already addressed Salazar's criticism with a particularly harsh message.
Whether Congresswoman Salazar likes it or not, the men and women of ICE are enforcing the laws enacted by Congress,” stated a spokesperson for the agency, who also emphasized that “there will be no amnesty” and reaffirmed the deportation policy promoted by the Trump administration.
The confrontation was also analyzed from an electoral standpoint.
Sean Foreman, a professor of Political Science at Barry University, described Salazar's decision to publicly criticize a president of her own party as "very unusual" and noted that the strategy might be aimed at attracting independents and moderates dissatisfied with immigration policy, although it also carries risks for a congresswoman who has the support of Trump for her reelection.
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