The following is the transcript of the interview with Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, Republican of Florida, that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Sept. 20, 2026.
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And we turn now to Florida Republican congresswoman María Elvira Salazar who joins us from Miami.
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I want to talk to--
REP. SALAZAR:
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We're glad to have you.
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I want to talk to you about a number of issues but let me just start up front.
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Because you are a former journalist, I'm sure you saw yesterday journalists from CNN, Politico, and MS NOW were blocked from entering the White House after the president objected to the content of their organization's reporting.
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Do you agree with the president's order to do that?
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Well, I think that the president has a different type of style, but at the same time, I think that he is the most accessible president in the later years that has been- that has been talking to the media.
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You know, he talks to everybody.
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So, he may not be allowing for some journalists to go into one place, but I'm sure that he's going- he's going be talking to everybody at some point.
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No, I- I understand that point, but when it comes to saying you can't attend press briefings because I don't like what you said, doesn't that premise violate the spirit of the First Amendment?
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premise → understand → Amendment
Well, I think that he has his own style, and that he will determine who he wants to talk to.
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But with social media, and with all the different outlets out there for people to receive information, I am sure that those journalists are going to be able to cover the president the way that you- free speech, the way you determine.
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Because you know, you- the media--
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.
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REP. SALAZAR: --has a way of- of showing up right now, and you know that the American school of journalism is not so vigorous as it was during the time that we started this career.
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So, I have my- my different opinions as to what's happening on television--
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, I- I don't--
REP. SALAZAR: --and the coverage of this presidency.
MARGARET BRENNAN:
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Well, I understand your views, but I don't think proximity is going to stop these journalists from doing their jobs.
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Let me ask you about something you put out there this week.
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You have been speaking for months about your concerns regarding President Trump's immigration policies, but in this ad you put out, you're more direct.
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You said, "The same Hispanics who helped Trump get to the White House in 2024, feel betrayed.
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His enforcement efforts have gone too far, and half of the 50,000 people detained in July had no criminal record."
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You spoke to the president after this.
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Did he take any of your--
REP.
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Yes I did.
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MARGARET BRENNAN: Did he take any of your advice?
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He was a gentleman, very courteous, very receptive, and I told him exactly what you just repeated.
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"Sir, you have this- this moment in history where you can keep the pot of gold that you brought to the GOP in 2024."
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No other president- and you know I covered for 35 years Spanish television.
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"No other president was able to convince the- the Hispanics to vote 55 points for a GOP president.
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Please preserve that fortune that you have brought to the party."
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Because we need to continue winning elections because we have this very big threat called the socialists on the Democratic side, and if you want me, we can talk about that later.
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I belong to the Miami community, I'm the daughter of political refugees, I'm first generation American, and I want to preserve the American values that are entrenched in the GOP--
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.
REP.
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--and that the Hispanics share.
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"So remember, sir, that you are the only guy who can do this."
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And that- and then we had a fantastic conversation.
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I certainly hope he listened to what I was saying, but he listened.
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But he seems to have a different definition of criminality than- than you do, right?
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Because the administration argues anyone who entered this country undocumented should be deported.
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You're saying no.
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Well and- and- and- and well, you know, and you know very well, immigration is a very toxic topic.
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…and 44 more, not listed.
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