President Donald Trump spent Saturday night lashing out at a Florida Republican he endorsed just last month, then fired off another post over reports that a candidate for governor had removed his name from parts of a campaign website.
The outbursts come as the midterm elections draw closer, with two Republicans in Trump’s home state 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 allegedly changed a website that had prominently displayed Trump’s endorsement.
Trump reposted more than a dozen attacks on Salazar on Truth Social. One called for “a NEW Republican to Replace Salazar.” Another said 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 turn against a congresswoman Trump gave 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 sharing calls to replace her.
Salazar started the fight 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 close 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 1.43 million votes.
Salazar has tried to downplay any 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 put the dispute in public view. Asked whether Trump had withdrawn his endorsement, a White House official did not answer. The official said Salazar’s position was not the president’s and argued 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 allow some immigrants who have lived in the United States for years and have no criminal record seek legal status. Critics call it “amnesty.” Salazar rejects that label, saying the bill offers no path to citizenship.
The fight reflects a wider split over immigration as Republicans prepare for November. Trump’s MAGA base wants 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 is warning that the administration’s treatment of immigrants could cost Republicans support from Hispanic voters.
Trump faced another uncomfortable Florida story this past week.
Reports said Donalds’ campaign had removed several prominent references to Trump from its website, including a top banner asking 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 called the reports “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 complaints about living costs and the U.S. military operations against Iran. For Trump, the reports struck at a claim he keeps making: that his name helps Republicans win.