Migration Policy: Trump admits deportations were too harsh
The president told CBS that removing non-criminal immigrants hurt Republican prospects in the recent midterm elections.
By Harper Foster ·
President Donald Trump acknowledged on a CBS broadcast that his administration's immigration enforcement measures were excessively severe. Speaking in an interview with 60 Minutes that aired on Sunday, he stated that the policy of removing non-criminal immigrants from the country damaged the Republican Party's performance in the midterms held the previous week.
Trump described the removal of individuals who had not committed crimes as a mistake. He noted that many of those deported held stable jobs and had only one minor legal violation, which was entering the country without authorization. He expressed that this specific group of workers contributed to the economy and paid taxes, yet they were still subject to removal orders.
The president identified immigration as a primary area for cooperation with Democrats. He confirmed that a potential deal could involve creating a legal status for undocumented workers. He argued that a large portion of the public believes these workers, who are employed in sectors like landscaping and hospitality, should be permitted to remain in the United States.
Trump contrasted this view with the stance of what he called the far-right faction within his own government. He said this group wanted to remove everyone, regardless of their background. This internal tension was visible earlier in the week when Trump promoted Stephen Miller, the architect of the mass deportation strategy, to White House Chief of Staff. Miller replaced Susie Wiles in that role.
The president attributed the Republican losses in the midterms to a failure in communication. He claimed he had been speaking about the issues constantly but that the media did not cover the positive aspects of his administration. When pressed by CBS News reporter Ross Douthat to define the bad communication, Trump replied that the administration failed to deliver the message to the public.
The White House has operated without a permanent press secretary since late August. Karoline Leavitt left the position, and Katie Zacharia served as the interim replacement for only five days before resigning. This staffing gap occurred while the administration faced scrutiny over its messaging strategy during the election cycle.
During the interview, Trump also addressed questions regarding his personal financial interests. Douthat pointed out that Trump's net worth has increased by nearly $3 billion since he returned to office. According to Forbes, his net worth now stands at $7 billion, a rise of $2.7 billion since his 2024 reelection. His financial disclosures indicate he has earned $1.4 billion in cryptocurrency profits.
Trump's sons founded World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency company, two years ago. Trump is a co-owner, and the investor list includes Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family. When Douthat asked if Trump understood why foreign investors might be buying influence, Trump responded that he did not know much about the company's operations.
