Colombia's President Endorses Rep. Salazar
On Oct. 12, 2026, Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) posted a Spanish-language video in which Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella called her Colombia's "best friend" in the U.S. Congress and backed her re-election in Florida's 27th District, a race Democrats have added to their target list after Salazar broke publicly with President Trump over immigration enforcement. De la Espriella, who took office this year after an election in which Trump openly backed him, is also a U.S. citizen who owns property in Salazar's district; NBC News reported that he and his wife have given Salazar's campaigns nearly $90,000. Salazar and Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) had endorsed him before his election. On Oct. 15, Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said a foreign leader interfering in American elections "is unacceptable," warned that it put decades of bipartisan support for the U.S.-Colombia alliance in jeopardy, and told de la Espriella to stop: "Congress will be watching." De la Espriella responded hours later defending his bipartisan relationship with the United States.
“[Statement as ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee:] A foreign leader interfering in American elections is unacceptable. The people of the United States and Colombia share two centuries of friendship and partnership … I value the U.S.-Colombia alliance deeply, and I am concerned by any action that could erode the bipartisan support … President de la Espriella's decision to involve himself in an American election while serving as the leader of Colombia [puts that support in jeopardy]. … The American people decide who represents them in the House, not foreign leaders. … Congress will be watching.”