President Trump amplified social-media attacks on Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar after she criticized his immigration crackdown, resharing posts that urged her replacement fewer than 40 days before the election. Salazar, a Cuban-American who won her South Florida seat by 20+ points in 2022, is defending a heavily Latino district that Cook recently downgraded from "likely Republican" to "lean Republican." National polls show Latino voters shifting toward Democrats, and a New York Times/Siena poll puts Trump's approval among Hispanic voters at 26 percent.
Trump Reshares Attacks on Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar After She Criticized His Immigration Crackdown
Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar speaks with reporters as she departs a House Republican Conference meeting at the Capitol on September 1, 2026.(Francis Chung/POLITICO/AP)
President Donald Trump used his Truth Social account over the weekend to amplify attacks on Republican Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar after she publicly criticized his immigration policies, resharing posts that accused her of disloyalty and urged her replacement with fewer than 40 days until the election.
One of the reposts Trump amplified read,
"So we need a NEW Republican to replace Salazar."Another called her "nothing but a back stabber."
Salazar, the daughter of Cuban exiles who won her South Florida district by more than 20 points in 2022, is defending a heavily immigrant, heavily Latino seat that includes a large share of Cuban voters — a group that has historically leaned Republican. In a new campaign ad earlier this month, Salazar directly addressed Trump, saying many Latino voters who supported the GOP feel "betrayed."
National polling suggests Latino support has shifted markedly toward Democrats. A New York Times analysis of public-opinion polls finds Latino voters breaking 64–29 percent in favor of Democrats — a 35-point advantage over Republicans. Two years ago, Vice President Kamala Harris carried only a 7-point lead with Latino voters in similar analyses.
Other surveys underline the trend: a New York Times/Siena poll from early September found Trump's approval among Hispanic voters at 26 percent, compared with 38 percent among voters overall. When asked which party they trust to handle immigration and the cost of living, roughly three-quarters of Hispanic respondents said they trust Democrats.
The same poll shows a pronounced gender gap on immigration: 63 percent of women disapprove of Trump's handling of immigration compared with 47 percent of men — a wider divide than for overall Trump approval or midterm party preference.
Electoral analysts have taken note. Last week, The Cook Political Report downgraded Florida's 27th Congressional District from "likely Republican" to "lean Republican," reflecting reduced confidence that Republicans will hold the seat. Salazar has represented the district since 2021.
Some of the posts Trump reshared suggested Salazar had been paid by unnamed backers to criticize him or labeled her "pro-amnesty." The White House has not formally rescinded its endorsement of Salazar.
With Latino voters shifting and a Cook downgrade in place, the dispute between Trump and Salazar highlights tensions within the GOP and could have implications for competitive races in Florida and beyond as Election Day approaches.
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