On Saturday night, President Donald Trump directed a volley of attacks at a Florida Republican he had endorsed only last month, then sent another post after reports that a gubernatorial candidate had removed his name from portions of a campaign site.
The tirades come as the midterm elections draw nearer, with two Floridian Republicans appearing to question how much his support could help them in November.
Rep. María Elvira Salazar warned in a campaign ad that Hispanic voters felt betrayed by his immigration crackdown. Rep. Byron Donalds reportedly altered a website that had prominently displayed Trump’s endorsement.
Trump reposted more than a dozen criticisms of Salazar on Truth Social. One urged “a NEW Republican to Replace Salazar.” Another claimed she had “misread the tea leaves.” A third said its author should have voted for the candidate who challenged her in the Republican primary.
The posts marked a sharp reversal of support for a congresswoman Trump had given his “Complete and Total Endorsement” in August. He had praised Salazar for doing a “truly fantastic job.” Now, with her Miami seat among Democrats’ top targets, Trump was circulating calls to replace her.
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Salazar started the clash last week with an ad she filmed outside the White House. She said Trump’s immigration enforcement had “gone too far” and warned that Hispanic voters who helped elect him felt betrayed.
That warning carries weight in her district. More than 70% of its voters are Hispanic, and Trump carried it by roughly 15 points in 2024. Salazar easily won her Republican primary with more than 80% of the vote. But she now faces Democrat Eliott Rodriguez in November, and two recent polls show a tight contest.
Trump won Florida decisively in the last presidential election, receiving 56.1% of the vote to Kamala Harris’ 43.0%. He carried the state by about 1.43 million votes.
Salazar has tried to downplay the feud. She told CBS’ “Face the Nation” last Sunday that she and Trump had a “very good conversation” after the ad. “He was a gentleman, very courteous, very receptive,” she said. Earlier this week, she called their conversation “fantastic” and said Trump had listened.
Trump also told reporters he still supported her, though he made clear he disagreed with her. “I’m very strong on the borders — and she isn’t,” he said. He claimed his 2020 endorsement helped her defeat Democratic Rep. Donna Shalala.
But The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday that Trump was frustrated with Salazar behind the scenes. His reposts later that night brought the dispute into public view. When asked whether Trump had withdrawn his endorsement, a White House official did not respond. The official argued that Salazar’s position was not the president’s and contended that his promise of a strong border helped him win in 2024.
Trump’s supporters have long attacked Salazar over her bipartisan Dignity Act. The proposal would permit some immigrants who have lived in the United States for years and have no criminal record to seek legal status. Critics call it “amnesty.” Salazar rejects that label, saying the bill offers no path to citizenship.
The clash mirrors a broader split over immigration as Republicans gear up for November. Trump’s MAGA base desires tougher enforcement and mass deportations. A recent POLITICO poll found divisions within his 2024 coalition over how far to go. ICE operations from Minneapolis to Texas and Maine have also pushed Democrats to press Republicans on the issue in competitive races.
Recent public polling shows Trump’s approval among Latino voters has fallen.
Meanwhile, the White House has announced a Hispanic Heritage Month event after canceling its celebration in 2025. At the same time, Salazar warns that the administration’s handling of immigrants could cost Republicans support from Hispanic voters.
Trump faced another tricky Florida narrative this past week.
Reports indicated Donalds’ campaign had removed several prominent references to Trump from its website, including a top banner urging visitors to support “Trump Endorsed Byron Donalds.” The homepage now leads with “Fighting to defend the Florida dream.” Trump’s endorsement remains in a rotating list.
Trump dismissed the reports as “Another Fake Story.” He pointed to his three presidential wins in Florida and argued that Donalds would lose if voters believed he had dropped Trump.
Donalds said he was “proud to have” the president’s endorsement and posted a photo of them together behind the Resolute desk.
The website change comes as some Republicans in competitive races seek distance from the administration amid concerns about living costs and U.S. military operations against Iran. For Trump, the reports undermined a claim he has long made: that his name helps Republicans win.
