Colombian President Backs Florida Patriot: De la Espriella Endorses Salazar in Defense of Freedom

Politics

October 17, 2026

In a powerful display of international conservative solidarity, Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has thrown his full support behind Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) in her race to secure another term representing Florida's 27th Congressional District. The endorsement signals a deepening alliance between America-first Republicans and freedom-loving leaders across Latin America who are pushing back against the socialist tide that threatened to engulf the Western Hemisphere.

"The best friend Colombia has in the United States Congress is María Elvira Salazar," President de la Espriella declared in a Spanish-language video posted by the Congresswoman. His words carry significant weight—this is a leader who swept to power earlier this year with the strong backing of President Donald Trump, defeating leftist forces that had brought Colombia to the brink of becoming another Venezuela.

Salazar, a former Telemundo journalist who has represented South Florida's heavily Hispanic district since 2021, has been a stalwart defender of constitutional values and a fierce opponent of socialism in all its forms. Her district is home to thousands of Colombian-Americans who fled leftist violence and economic collapse in their homeland, seeking the American Dream that only freedom and limited government can provide.

The endorsement comes at a critical moment. Salazar faces Democrat Elliot Rodriguez in the November 3 general election, and the stakes couldn't be higher. South Florida has become ground zero in the national battle over the soul of America—will we embrace the prosperity and liberty that comes from conservative governance, or slide toward the authoritarian socialism that de la Espriella himself defeated in Colombia?

De la Espriella's journey to Colombia's presidency reads like a testament to the power of conservative ideas. The lawyer and businessman, who lived in Miami for nearly a decade and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2023, campaigned on an America First-inspired platform of law and order, economic freedom, and standing strong against the narco-terrorists and communist guerrillas who had plagued his nation. His narrow victory in June's runoff election marked a decisive rejection of the disastrous policies of his leftist predecessor, Gustavo Petro, whose administration brought Colombia to economic ruin while cozying up to dictators in Venezuela and Cuba.

The relationship between Salazar and de la Espriella runs deep. During his years in Miami, the Colombian leader contributed more than $25,000 to Salazar's campaigns, recognizing in her a kindred spirit who understands that freedom is not negotiable and that American leadership is essential to preserving liberty throughout the hemisphere. His wife, Ana Lucia Pineda, has contributed an additional $66,500 to the Florida congresswoman over the years.

Salazar has been unwavering in her support for policies that put American citizens first while standing as a beacon of hope for those fleeing tyranny. She co-authored the Dignity Act, comprehensive immigration reform that balances compassion with the rule of law—a sharp contrast to the open-borders chaos championed by her Democrat opponents. In Congress, she has been a consistent vote for election integrity measures, economic freedom, and a strong national defense.

The Colombian president's endorsement isn't just about one congressional race—it's a statement about the future of the Americas. As conservative leaders from Argentina to Colombia reject socialism and embrace free-market policies, they're looking to fighters like Salazar who never wavered in supporting their struggles for freedom. This is the kind of leadership that makes America great: standing firm on principle, supporting our allies, and never apologizing for believing that liberty and prosperity go hand in hand.

As voters in Florida's 27th District head to the polls on November 3, they have a clear choice: a proven conservative warrior who has earned the respect of freedom-loving leaders around the world, or another Democrat who would rubber-stamp the failed policies of the radical left. President de la Espriella has made his choice clear—now it's up to the American people to do the same.