Trump: Deportation Drive Was 'Too Tough' and Cost Republicans Midterm Wins
The president cited bad messaging and aggressive enforcement as reasons for GOP losses, while also addressing his growing wealth and a new White House hierarchy.
By Lucas Navarro ·
President Donald Trump admitted his immigration enforcement strategy was excessive.
He made the concession during an interview with CBS News' Ross Douthat. The segment aired on Sunday evening on the show 60 Minutes. The conversation was recorded on Friday.
Trump stated that mass removals hurt the Republican Party during the recent midterm elections. He argued that the administration removed many undocumented immigrants who had not committed serious crimes. "I get hurt because we also took people that had good jobs, that created one violation, or breaking of the law, and that was that they came into the country illegally," he said. He noted that a large group of voters believes working immigrants who pay taxes should be allowed to remain in the United States.
Trump identified immigration as a primary area for potential cooperation with Democrats. He agreed that a deal could involve creating legal status for undocumented workers. However, he warned that individuals on the far right of his administration prefer to remove everyone. This friction led to a leadership change on Friday. The president promoted Stephen Miller, the architect of the mass deportation policy, to White House chief of staff. Miller replaced Susie Wiles in the role.
The president also attributed the Republican midterm losses to poor communication. "I think it was bad messaging, maybe by me, but I would talk about it all the time," he said. He claimed the media failed to cover positive news about him, forcing him to manage the narrative personally. When Douthat asked for the specific message that failed, Trump replied, "We couldn't get the word across." The White House has operated without a permanent press secretary since late August. Karoline Leavitt left the administration at that time. Katie Zacharia served for only five days before departing.
Trump addressed his personal finances when asked about his net worth. According to Forbes, his net worth is $7 billion. The publication reported that this figure increased by $2.7 billion since his election in 2024. His financial disclosure forms indicate he has earned $1.4 billion from cryptocurrency investments. "I devote almost no time to my net worth. I don't care. I have a lot of money, and far more than I ever thought I'd have. And I guess it's gone up. I don't even know," Trump stated. He said one of his sons manages the family money and that they rarely discuss finances.
His sons founded the cryptocurrency company World Liberty Financial two years ago. Trump is a co-owner of the firm. Investors include Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family and the national security adviser for the United Arab Emirates. Douthat compared the arrangement to the Biden family, asking if foreign investment in the company suggests influence buying. Trump answered that he knows nothing about the company. He stated he did not know if foreign investors believe they are purchasing influence when he was pressed on the matter.
Trump downplayed the impact of the Iran war on the current economic climate. He maintained that economic woes were not primarily driven by the conflict. The interview offers a rare look at the internal dynamics of his second term. The president acknowledged friction between his base and his policy outcomes. He positioned himself as a broker between hardline immigration advocates and Democratic legislators. The promotion of Stephen Miller signals a continued focus on enforcement despite recent political setbacks.
The midterm results showed a significant shift in the balance of power. Republicans lost control of key legislative seats. Trump blamed the media environment for amplifying negative stories about his administration. He cited the lack of a press secretary for several months as a factor in the communication breakdown. The new leadership structure aims to streamline messaging and policy execution. The focus on cryptocurrency and foreign investment remains a point of scrutiny for opponents. Trump maintained that his detachment from day-to-day financial decisions protects him from criticism.
