Trump names Miller chief of staff while acknowledging immigration policy cost GOP seats
The President told CBS his deportation enforcement may have been too aggressive for voters, yet he promoted the campaign's key architect to a top White House role.
By Andrew Kovalenko ·
President Donald Trump designated Stephen Miller as his new chief of staff on Friday, a decision made shortly after he taped a CBS "60 Minutes" interview in which he admitted his administration’s deportation enforcement might have been too aggressive for midterm voters. The interview aired on Sunday, following the Republican loss of both chambers of Congress.
The President’s shift in tone came after a period of intense enforcement operations that sent arrest numbers soaring across multiple cities. Two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were killed by federal officers during protests against these operations. Democrats in the new Congress have identified oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security as a top priority.
In the interview, Trump said he believes he can reach an immigration deal with the incoming Democratic majority. He described a potential agreement as "actually doable," suggesting the administration would deport those who are "killers" and "drug dealers" while allowing others to stay if they are "good people working in a landscaping company, or working in a hotel, or doing something, right? And in some cases, paying taxes." He did not provide specific terms for such a deal.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer responded on social media Sunday, criticizing the timing of the Miller appointment. "Apparently, his solution was to put the man responsible for it in charge of the White House," Schumer wrote. "That’s not a course correction. That’s a promotion."
The President also addressed the 2028 presidential race, hinting he may stay neutral to let the Republican field compete. When asked if he would endorse a successor, Trump said "probably, not necessarily." He praised Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a strong candidate but said he might prefer not to get involved in the process. "Maybe I’m better off not getting involved," Trump said.
During the midterms, Democrats pushed the President’s personal wealth as a campaign issue. An AP Voter Poll indicated that about half of voters nationally said government corruption was crucial to their vote. When asked about his net worth increasing by $3 billion since returning to the White House, Trump said his sons manage the family business. "I devote almost no time to my net worth. I don’t care," he said. "I make. I have a lotta money, and far more than I ever thought I’d have. And I guess it’s gone up. I don’t even know."
The interview concluded with Trump discussing his relationships with political opponents. He said it would be easy to say he could forgive his enemies, but added, "I probably cannot do that, no, because I do hate some of my enemies, and I always will."
