GOP congresswoman rips Trump in midterm ad: Hispanics 'feel betrayed' by president

National PoliticsFILE - Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., speaks at a Republican campaign rally in West Miami, Fla., Oct. 19, 2022. More than half of the residents in the slice of Miami that includes Little Havana were born abroad. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)APBy Howard Koplowitz | hkoplowitz@al.comA Republican congresswoman from Florida cut a midterm ad critical of Donald Trump, claiming Hispanics in her district “feel betrayed” by the president over immigration policy.“Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far,” Rep. María Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., says into the camera before footage of ICE arrests are shown.Citing ICE data, Salazar said half of ICE detainees in July had no criminal convictions or pending charges.The Florida congresswoman, who represents Miami and surrounding areas, suggested the blame for the immigration policies lies with those in Trump’s orbit and not the president himself.“Be careful what your advisors are telling you about immigration policy,” Salazar said.“The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today,” she said.In the ad, which is also being run in Spanish, the congresswoman then gave an attempt to appeal to Trump’s desire to be a noteworthy president. She said he can become synonymous with immigration policy the same ways Abraham Lincoln is remembered for freeing the slaves and Ronald Reagan is known for presiding over the defeat of communism.“I’m not talking about giving [undocumented immigrants] amnesty,” Salazar said, “I’m talking about giving them a dignified life in this promised land.”The ad from Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., led some prominent MAGA figures to deride her as a “RINO.”“Being Hispanic doesn’t make you illegal. Trump ran on ICE. He ran on deportations. He won. Now a Florida RINO Republican is running an ad saying Hispanics feel ‘betrayed’ because he kept the promise,” posted MAGA influencer Gunther Eagleman. “Legal immigrants didn’t vote for open borders. They voted for a country that enforces the law. That’s not a betrayal. That’s the job.”Republican strategist and attorney Mehek Cooke offered a similar criticism.“Last I checked, ‘Hispanic’ wasn’t an immigration status. Trump ran on border security, ICE and deportations. He won. Now @MaElviraSalazar says Hispanics feel ‘betrayed’ because he did it. Apparently campaign promises are only popular until they’re kept,” Cooke posted.Meanwhile, Democrats accused Salazar of being disingenuous about breaking from Trump.The Democratic Party’s X account posted a video of the congresswoman expressing support for funding ICE and border patrol during her appearance on “Meet the Press.”“Here is a video of @MaElviraSalazar urging Congress to give an additional $70,000,000,000 to Trump’s ICE. Don’t fall for her lies,” the account posted. “María Elvira Salazar has stood with ICE every step of the way.”“Don’t trust these people!” added activist Amy Siskind. “The minute they’re reelected, they’ll be back to kissing Trump’s a--, and doing what they’re told!”MAGA influencer says this Trump blunder is ‘biggest political swing and miss in my lifetime’Joe Rogan blasts Trump’s major campaign promise as total dud: ‘Not been ideal’Trump ‘kidding’ about withholding aid if GOP loses key Senate race as critics rip ‘sick’ threatFurious Trump melts down over Fed interest rate hike, makes 12-word all-caps demandJD Vance makes jaw-dropping confession about Trump’s second term with four-word gaffeHoward Koplowitz is AL.com's Breaking & Trending Reporter for afternoons and nights. He has been with AL.com since 2015 and has served in a variety of roles, ranging from coverage of Donald Trump's first...