Salazar picks up Colombian president’s endorsement after breaking with Trump on immigration

Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) is touting an endorsement from Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, amid a tight reelection contest where she has broken with President Trump over his hard-line immigration policies.

“I receive with immense pride the support of my friend, President Abelardo de la Espriella,” Salazar posted on the social platform X . The congresswoman shared a video of de la Espriella describing her as Colombia’s best friend in the U.S. Congress.

“Representing thousands of Colombians in South Florida has made Colombia a cause I carry with me every day to Congress,” Salazar wrote in her post.

De la Espriella is a dual Colombian and U.S. citizen, and he owns property in Salazar’s district, NBC News reported . He and his wife have donated nearly $90,000 to Salazar in the past, according to the report.

De la Espriella is also a close ally to Trump, who endorsed the Colombian leader ahead of that country’s election in June. In August, the State Department announced it intends to pledge $1 billion in assistance for security.

De la Espriella’s endorsement comes after Salazar publicly criticized Trump’s immigration policy as betraying Hispanic voters. Trump did not retract his endorsement for her reelection but criticized her as weak on border security.

“I’m very strong on the borders, and she isn’t. And she’s a nice person. I got her elected. Without me, she wouldn’t have gotten elected,” Trump said, responding to reporters’ questions last month.

The Cook Political Report rates Salazar’s race for Florida’s 27th District as “competitive,” even as Salazar has a significant fundraising advantage over her Democratic competitor, Eliott Rodriguez.

Decision Desk HQ, a partner of The Hill, predicts Salazar has a 76 percent chance of holding on to her seat.