Politics

GOP Rep Maria Salazar Reveals ‘Very Good Conversation’ With Trump After Her Ad Claimed His Immigration Enforcement Went ‘Too Far’

Image not from story. [Screenshot/Rumble/CBS News]

Republican Florida Rep. Maria Salazar said Sunday she spoke with President Donald Trump about the risks of alienating Hispanic voters by maintaining a hardline stance on immigration enforcement.

Salazar, who has been endorsed by Trump, released a campaign ad Thursday in which she — standing in front of the White House — claimed some of Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts have “gone too far.” Trump said to reporters Friday that, while he disagreed with the three-term congresswoman, he “understands” her position.

“She’s a nice person,” he said. “I got her elected. Without me she wouldn’t have gotten elected.”

WATCH:

“You said, ‘The same Hispanics who helped [Trump] get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed.’ His enforcement efforts have ‘gone too far,’ and half of the 50,000 people detained in July ‘had no criminal record,'” Brennan said before asking Salazar, “Did he take any of your advice?”

“Listen, it was a very good conversation,” Salazar responded. “He was a gentleman, very courteous, very receptive. And I told him exactly what you just repeated: ‘Sir, you have this moment in history where you can keep the pot of gold that you brought to the GOP in 2024. No other president — and you know I covered for 35 years Spanish television — no other president was able to convince the Hispanics to vote 55 points for a GOP president. Please preserve that fortune that you have brought to the party.'”

Salazar represents Florida’s 27th Congressional District, of which 69.6% identify as Hispanic or Latino, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

“Why? Because we need to continue winning elections, because we have this very big threat called the socialists on the Democratic side. And if you want me, we can talk about that later,” Salazar continued. “I belong to the Miami community. I’m the daughter of political refugees. I’m first-generation American, and I want to preserve the American values that are entrenched in the GOP and that the Hispanics share. So, remember, sir, that you are the only guy who can do this.”

“And then we had a fantastic conversation,” Salazar added. “I certainly hope he listened to what I was saying, but he listened.”

“All I’m trying to do— I’m coming from a very good place. I am a proud Republican, and … I want the values of the American people to continue,” she also said in part. “And I think it’s my duty not to attack. There are no attacks here. I’m just forewarning him and advising him as a member of Congress from the South Florida area that some of his advisers are just not presenting the whole picture.”