GOP Takes Aim at 25 House Democrats with El Salvador 'Selfie' Ad Blitz

Buckle up, folks: The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) just launched a digital ad campaign with a not-so-subtle offer to 25 House Democrats—free plane tickets to El Salvador, with the cheeky catch that they "livestream the whole thing and snap plenty of selfies with their MS-13 buddies." Subtlety clearly left the building a while ago.

This latest political jab comes after several progressive Democrats traveled to El Salvador, protesting the Trump administration's deportation policies. The NRCC, never one to let a photo-op go to waste, announced they'd pick up the airfare if the lawmakers agreed to put it all on camera. Spokesman Mike Marinella quipped, "They just can’t forget to smile for the camera while they sell out their constituents." If you ever wondered what reality TV would look like in Congress, here’s your answer.

The 25 Democrats targeted in this blitz hail from all over—California, New York, Florida, Texas, and beyond. The list reads like a cross-country roll call: Josh Harder, Adam Gray, George Whitesides, Derek Tran, Dave Min, Darren Soto, Jared Moskowitz, Frank Mrvan, Jared Golden, Kristen McDonald Rivet, Don Davis, Nellie Pou, Gabe Vasquez, Dina Titus, Susie Lee, Steven Horsford, Tom Suozzi, Laura Gillen, Josh Riley, Marcy Kaptur, Emilia Sykes, Henry Cuellar, Vicente Gonzalez, Eugene Vindman, and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.

This ad campaign follows a series of recent trips by Democrats to El Salvador. Progressive Senator Chris Van Hollen’s visit to see Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a deported Venezuelan immigrant tied to gang activity, made headlines last week. Not to be outdone, Reps. Yassamin Ansari, Maxine Dexter, Maxwell Frost, and Robert Garcia soon followed, making the trek south as well.

Republicans have seized on these trips, eager to paint Democrats as cozying up to suspected criminals. The NRCC’s Senate counterpart, the NRSC, rolled out its own digital spot mocking Van Hollen’s meeting with Abrego Garcia, suggesting Democrats should make their journey a one-way trip—now that's one vacation suggestion you won't see in the travel guides.

The ad, with just a touch of sarcasm, welcomes Democrats to "El Salvador. Home to breathtaking sunsets, world class surf breaks and gang banger Kilmar Abrego Garcia." It continues, "El Salvador is the destination for Democrats seeking the thrill of bringing violent, criminal, illegal aliens back to America," and wraps up by calling it the perfect place to "witness Trump Derangement Syndrome in its purest form."

As election season heats up, one thing’s for sure: in 2025, campaign ads are taking "going viral" to a whole new level—and apparently, so are congressional travel plans.