Trump says deportation policy was 'too tough' after midterm losses

Donald Trump admitted his deportation policy was "too tough" in an interview on CBS’s 60 Minutes, according to the Guardian ^[1]. The concession came days after Republicans suffered significant midterm losses, which Trump partially blamed on his aggressive immigration crackdown and the war with Iran.

Speaking to correspondent Ross Douthat, the president acknowledged that while he received "an A+ for closing up the border," he also "got hurt because we also took people that had good jobs" who had committed no other crimes ^[1]. He expressed openness to striking a deal with Democrats to allow some long-term undocumented residents to stay, proposing accommodations for those who have been in the US for 10 to 15 years and pay taxes.

This admission contrasts sharply with his recent decision to elevate Stephen Miller, the architect of the hardline immigration strategy, to White House chief of staff ^[1]. According to CBS News, Miller was pushed by Trump to achieve 3,000 ICE arrests per day, leading to record detention levels and scrutiny over tactics like citywide crackdowns ^[2]. Trump defended the administration’s focus on removing "bad ones" while noting public opinion is split on whether working immigrants should remain.

Trump also addressed the war with Iran, agreeing with Vice President JD Vance that the conflict contributed to the party’s defeat ^[1]. He maintained the military campaign was justified to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons but conceded it may not have been popular in the short term. "Is it a good decision for today and tomorrow? Maybe not," Trump said, though he predicted Tehran would eventually negotiate.

On the economic front, Trump admitted his administration failed to communicate its achievements effectively, stating, "I think it was bad messaging, maybe by me" ^[1]. He also signaled openness to AI guardrails, shifting from his previous stance favoring self-regulation by tech companies.

The interview also touched on Trump’s growing fortune, with Forbes estimating a $3 billion increase since 2024 ^[1]. Trump attributed this to stock market performance, but Forbes senior editor Dan Alexander argued the gains stemmed from cryptocurrency ventures, branding expansion, and the removal of a $500 million penalty in his New York fraud case. Trump dismissed questions about his family’s crypto business, World Liberty Financial, by saying he "know[s] nothing about it".

Looking ahead to 2028, Trump hinted he might endorse a successor but had not yet decided whether to intervene in the Republican succession battle ^[1].