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Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) has publicly rebuked President Donald Trump over his administration’s aggressive immigration tactics, declaring that Hispanic Americans feel “betrayed” by the president they helped elect. The criticism came in a hard-hitting television advertisement that underscores growing unease within the GOP over its approach to immigration. Salazar, a freshman congresswoman representing a Miami-area district with a large Hispanic population, accused Trump of abandoning the very community that showed up for him at the polls. “Hispanics feel betrayed by Trump,” she says in the ad, pointing to policies she describes as heavy-handed and out of step with American values. The ad highlights the political tightrope Salazar must walk: appealing to her diverse constituents while remaining loyal to a president who remains popular among many Republicans. Her decision to go public with such criticism suggests that the immigration debate is increasingly risky for the GOP, particularly in swing districts where Hispanic voters can tip the scales.
Salazar’s rebuke also reflects broader tensions within the party as it grapples with how to address immigration ahead of upcoming elections. While Trump has doubled down on hardline measures, some Republicans worry that alienating Hispanic voters could cost them crucial seats. Salazar’s ad may be a signal that at least some in the party are willing to break ranks. Whether her message resonates with voters—or backfires—remains to be seen. But her willingness to call out the president directly marks a notable moment in the ongoing Republican reckoning over immigration.