Immigration Policy: Trump admits deportations were too harsh
In an interview aired Sunday, the president cited bad messaging and overly aggressive enforcement as key factors behind Republican losses in last week's midterm elections.
By Ryan Carter ·
President Donald Trump acknowledged on Sunday that his administration's immigration enforcement measures were too strict. Speaking on CBS' 60 Minutes, an interview that aired after being recorded on Friday, Trump stated that mass deportations negatively affected Republican candidates during last week's midterm elections.
The president explained that removing undocumented immigrants who had not committed serious crimes hurt his political standing. He noted that the administration took individuals who held good jobs and had only one violation, which was entering the country illegally. Trump said he felt the political pain of these decisions because they involved people who were contributing to the workforce.
He described a large group of people as good workers in sectors such as landscaping and hotels, some of whom pay taxes. Trump indicated that these individuals should be allowed to stay. He identified immigration as a priority area for working with Democrats and confirmed that a deal could involve creating legal status for undocumented workers.
Despite this openness to negotiation, Trump said that members of the far right within his administration preferred to remove everyone. He referenced the promotion of Stephen Miller to White House chief of staff on Friday, a role previously held by Susie Wiles. Miller is the architect of the mass deportation policy implemented since Trump returned to office.
Trump also attributed Republicans' crushing midterm losses to bad messaging. He suggested that he had been talking about positive news consistently, but the media did not cover it. He said he had to get the message out himself. When asked by CBS News' Ross Douthat what the specific bad message was, Trump replied that they could not get the word across.
The White House has operated largely without a press secretary since late August. Karoline Leavitt left the administration at that time, and Katie Zacharia served as her replacement for only five days before departing.
During the interview, Trump addressed his financial disclosures. He noted that his net worth increased by nearly $3 billion since returning to office. Forbes reported his net worth is $7 billion, up by $2.7 billion since his 2024 election. Trump's financial forms show $1.4 billion in cryptocurrency earnings. He said he devotes little time to his wealth and relies on one of his sons to manage it.
His sons founded the cryptocurrency company World Liberty Financial two years ago. Trump is a co-owner, and investors include Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family. Trump said he knows nothing about the company's operations and does not discuss finances with his son. He added that he does not know if foreign investors believe they are buying influence.
