From NBC News · The Politics Desk · · 2m
Trump punishes Salazar for breaking ranks
As Trump's approval falls before midterms, most Republicans quietly distance themselves. One Florida congresswoman paid a price for doing it on camera.
In brief
As Trump's approval falls before midterms, most Republicans quietly distance themselves. One Florida congresswoman paid a price for doing it on camera. Rep. María Elvira Salazar faced Trump's public wrath after running an ad criticizing his immigration agenda, signalling to other Republicans the cost of open dissent…
Trump's approval craters before midterms
President Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen to thirty-nine percent, down from fifty percent when his second term began. Latino voters disapprove of him two to one.
Republicans quietly distance themselves
With midterms five weeks away, Republican candidates have scrubbed Trump from websites, voted against his Iran war, and criticized his policies on gas prices.
Salazar breaks ranks on camera
Rep. María Elvira Salazar, a three-term Florida Republican, ran a straight-to-camera ad outside the White House condemning Trump's immigration enforcement efforts.
Salazar's district is seventy-four percent Hispanic
Salazar won her last two elections by double digits and Trump carried her Miami-area district in twenty twenty-four. But Trump's Latino support has collapsed since then.
Salazar's direct message to Trump
In the ad, Salazar points at the camera and says: "Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far."
“Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far.”
Trump retaliates on Truth Social
Over the weekend, Trump reposted more than a dozen social media posts slamming Salazar, calling her pro-amnesty, a backstabber, and demanding he remove his endorsement.
“She is nothing but a back stabber.”
The line between acceptable and forbidden
Trump downplayed distancing by Byron Donalds and Iowa representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Ashley Hinson. Salazar's public TV confrontation crossed the line.
Trump rewards Iowa allies at the White House
On Monday, Trump hosted Miller-Meeks and Hinson in the Oval Office to announce a fifteen billion dollar steel plant in Iowa, signalling forgiveness.
Europe's far right faces Kremlin scrutiny
As far-right parties rise across Europe, they face questions about past ties to Russia and how they might approach Moscow. Marine Le Pen recently condemned Russian intimidation.
Le Pen's pivot from Putin admiration
Le Pen, who once admired Vladimir Putin and received a nine point four million euro loan from a Russian bank, now says she will never tolerate Russian pressure on France.
Warning shot to Republicans
Salazar's public rebuke serves as a warning to other Republicans: cross Trump on camera and face his base's wrath. The cost of dissent is now clear.
The one thing
Rep. María Elvira Salazar faced Trump's public wrath after running an ad criticizing his immigration agenda, signalling to other Republicans the cost of open dissent.
