Maria Elvira Salazar released a 30-second bilingual ad accusing Donald Trump of betraying Hispanic voters and warning that his mass deportation programme has "gone too far." The ad, filmed in front of the White House, will air across South Florida as Democrats close in on her competitive district. Recent polling shows Democrats leading among Latino voters, and fallout from aggressive enforcement—including deaths and international complaints—has intensified GOP concerns ahead of the midterms.
Republican Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar Says Trump 'Betrayed' Hispanic Voters in New Bilingual Ad
Maria Elvira Salazar tells Donald Trump in a new advert that Hispanic voters feel betrayed by him as a result of his immigration agenda
Republican congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar has publicly accused former President Donald Trump of betraying Hispanic voters, saying his mass deportation programme has "gone too far." Ms Salazar released a 30-second bilingual (English/Spanish) advertisement filmed in front of the White House and announced it will air across South Florida, where she represents a Republican-leaning district becoming increasingly competitive.
What the Ad Says
In the advertisement, Ms Salazar directly addresses the president:
"Mr President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far. The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today."Her campaign framed the spot as a warning that aggressive immigration policies are alienating the coalition that helped deliver Mr Trump the White House in 2024.
Political Context
The ad underscores growing strains within the racially diverse Republican coalition and the unease among GOP lawmakers in competitive districts. Several Republicans from swing districts, including Ms Salazar, skipped Mr Trump's recent two-day midterm event in Dallas—an event nicknamed "Trumpapalooza." Party strategists are reportedly worried about low presidential approval ratings and the impact on key midterm contests, with JD Vance campaigning in Kansas and concerns mounting about races in Georgia.
One of the statistics presented in the new advert by Ms Salazar
Polling And Public Reaction
Recent polling of House battleground seats by Hart Research and TelevisaUnivision (reported by Axios) found Democrats leading Republicans among Latino voters by 58% to 35%. In the surveyed sample of 1,500 registered voters, 65% disapproved of the president's handling of prices and affordability, while 62% disapproved of his immigration crackdown—figures that highlight political risks for Republicans in Hispanic communities.
Controversy Over Deportation Enforcement
Mr Trump's deportation programme drew public backlash earlier in the year after two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were shot and killed by immigration officers during enforcement actions. Mexico has requested criminal investigations into the deaths of at least 17 Mexican immigrants in the broader Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) crackdown, and critics have accused ICE of ignoring legal safeguards and detaining people in inadequate conditions.
Ms Salazar visited the controversial detention facility known as "Alligator Alcatraz" in July 2025 and described it as meeting "the highest standards." Her public criticism of the administration on this issue marks a notable break from one of her party's most prominent leaders and signals how immigration policy is reshaping some local races.
What Comes Next
With the midterms approaching, Republicans are balancing allegiance to the former president with the practical politics of defending competitive districts. Ms Salazar's ad seeks to distance her from divisive aspects of the administration's immigration policy while appealing to Hispanic voters in South Florida—an early test of how Trump's influence will play out in down-ballot races.
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