President Donald Trump unleashed a string of attacks on Truth Social late Saturday targeting Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), amplifying calls for her removal from Congress after she released a viral ad accusing him of betraying Hispanic voters.
Trump boosted several posts from other users piling on the Florida congresswoman. We need a NEW Republican to replace Salazar,” one shared post read. “I guess she misread the tea leaves,” said another. A third Trump-amplified post added, “I should have voted for the guy who primaried her.”
Salazar Said Trump Was Courteous, But Posts Tell a Different Story
Salazar had downplayed any tension with the White House just days earlier. Appearing on CBS’s Face the Nation last Sunday, she said the two had spoken and that the exchange went smoothly. “He was a gentleman, very courteous, very receptive,” Salazar said.
The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday, however, that Trump was privately frustrated with Salazar over the ad. According to Trump’s attacks on Salazar, Saturday night’s social media barrage appears to confirm that behind-the-scenes friction, directly contradicting her public account of their conversation.
A Tight Reelection Race Now Made More Complicated
The public feud puts Salazar in a difficult position heading into a competitive reelection fight. She is locked in a close contest with Democrat Elliot Rodriguez for a district Trump carried by roughly 15 points in 2024.
Polling in the race is limited, but both major surveys conducted show the contest well within the margin of error. Trump’s public criticism of a sitting Republican in such a district could further scramble an already unpredictable race, with national attention now focused on the outcome.
