Representative Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) discussed President Donald Trump's trade tariffs, the ongoing reconciliation bill talks, and cutting USAID recently on Fox and Friends First, saying his policies are "why the American people put us there" in Washington.
President Trump recently announced a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports and will enter talks with Taiwan about semiconductor imports, which Rep. Salazar was his way of "trying to make things right."
"Trading with the United States is a privilege, not a right," Rep. Salazar explained, "so if you do not play by our rules, we just do not play with you."
More to the point, the Florida Congresswoman suggested China was engaging in "bioterrorism" by exporting fentanyl chemicals to be manufactured in Mexico and then sent to the U.S., which is part of why Trump is engaging in aggressive trade tactics.
The conversation then shifted to the reconciliation bill, which may be split into two parts. Fiscal conservatives do not want to engage in extra spending.
Salazar reiterated, "Nobody wants to spend too much money; we want to lower the deficit. The President said we owe $33 trillion. That is a lot of money, and the last four years were a splurge."
"So now we have to pull back. And I do believe that there is no doubt that we are going to have a bill, we are going to have a budget, and we are going to have reconciliation," the Florida Congresswoman continued, adding that Republicans are united.
"Because we know very well, starting with [Speaker] Mike Johnson (R-LA), who tells us all the time that this is the opportunity, that we have the next two years because the President promised it, the people voted for us, and that is why we are there, and we will get it done whether it is one bill or two bills, it does not matter. We are going to get it done, and we are going to reduce the budget," said Salazar.
USAID was the final topic of discussion. Salazar said it "was a program that was formed in order to use what you call soft diplomacy just to bring American values into Latin America specifically, [and] has been very useful, but it lost its course," referring to various programs promoting LGBT issues in Latin America funded by USAID.
As a result, she echoed State Secretary Marco Rubio's pledge to cut programs that "do not promote the safety, the security, and the prosperity of the United States."
Compared to a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) member, Salazar replied, "I am part of common sense, like the President is saying, in bringing back the country, not only the values but the fiscal responsibility that we need to have. That is what the American people need, and that is why they put us there."
