Three influential political figures from Latin America have recently lent their support to Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-Florida), sparking a debate on foreign involvement in American elections. Salazar, campaigning for reelection in a district that favored President Donald Trump in 2024, has been criticized for her views on the government’s immigration policies. She argues they are excessively stringent.
In her effort to garner Latino votes in South Florida, Salazar has highlighted endorsements from right-wing Latin American leaders. These include Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, who expressed her backing publicly. Salazar also shared support from Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella in a video he appeared in, praising her as a strong ally of Colombia in the U.S. Congress. Additionally, Argentina’s libertarian president, Javier Milei, endorsed her in a message directed at Miami, asserting her ability to challenge “socialist leftists.”
The endorsements have met with disapproval on social media and from some Democrats. Gregory Meeks (D-New York), the ranking Democratic member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, condemned foreign electoral involvement, emphasizing that U.S. elections should be free from external influence. Meeks stated, “American elections are decided by American voters, not foreign heads of state.”
In response, Salazar branded Meeks’ criticism as a validation of her campaign’s agenda, suggesting that it underscores the socialist tendencies she believes her opponent would advance if elected.