Trump Says Deportation Policy Was "Too Tough" Following Midterms

In an interview aired on CBS' 60 Minutes on Sunday evening, President Donald Trump delivered his most extensive public assessment yet of the Republican Party's recent midterm election losses, admitting that his administration's hardline immigration enforcement was "too tough".

The acknowledgement represents an unusual retreat for the president on a signature second-term policy. During the interview with correspondent Ross Douthat, Trump acknowledged that while he gave himself an "A plus" for border security efforts, the aggressive nature of federal deportations had damaged his party politically:

"I think I got an A plus for closing up the border…For getting people out, I get very high marks for getting the bad ones out. But 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…I think it was too tough."

The president signaled a willingness to work with incoming congressional Democratic majorities on a legislative compromise for long-term undocumented residents:

"Let the people that are here, and in some cases here for 10 and 15 years, work a deal for them."

When asked if he could avoid political name-calling for six months to facilitate negotiations, Trump responded:

"Very easily."

Despite the president's conciliatory tone on television, federal agency operations and White House staffing reflect an ongoing commitment to enforcement. Just days before the interview aired, Trump elevated immigration strategist Stephen Miller to White House chief of staff.

Meanwhile, officials at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) indicated that operations are not slowing down. A DHS spokesperson confirmed that "ICE is NOT backing away or slowing down."

Enforcement operations have spurred widespread protests earlier this year, particularly following incidents in Minneapolis where two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were fatally shot during federal immigration actions.

Vice President JD Vance also weighed in on post-election policy adjustments in a recent public post, offering a potential shift in strategy:

"I’m open to the idea that we should change enforcement - by focusing more on businesses that hire illegal labour, for instance."

During the interview, Trump also addressed the political impact of international conflicts and economic conditions, agreeing with Vance's assessment that the war with Iran and higher fuel prices hurt Republican candidates:

"I think historically, this will be a very good decision. Is it a good decision for today and tomorrow? Maybe not."

On domestic economic messaging, the president accepted personal responsibility for communication shortfalls:

"I think it was bad messaging, maybe by me."

Looking ahead to the 2028 presidential election, Trump expressed uncertainty about whether he would formally endorse a successor to lead the party:

"Probably. Not necessarily…Maybe I’m better off not getting involved."

While touting Secretary of State Marco Rubio as doing a "fantastic job," Trump stopped short of ruling out other potential contenders.

The interview grew contentious when Douthat questioned Trump regarding his family's business ventures, including World Liberty Financial, which is a cryptocurrency project that has drawn foreign investments, including from entities linked to the United Arab Emirates.

Trump maintained that his personal finances are managed independently by his family and Wall Street firms:

"How do you divest from cash? So, I took a lot of heat because I think they traded, like, 50,000 stocks, because that’s what they do. It’s all computer generated. I have no idea what the hell they’re buying."

Following the broadcast, Dan Alexander, a senior editor at Forbes, challenged the president's explanation on X, noting that increases in Trump's estimated net worth were driven by token sales, licensing deals, and public market entries rather than routine stock market growth.

Closing the interview, Douthat asked whether Trump could forgive his political opponents, referencing former FBI Director James Comey and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, before divine judgment. The president remained firm in his stance:

“The answer is no. I want to be honest, no….I probably cannot do that, no, because I do hate some of my enemies and I always will."

Asked how he believes his presidency will ultimately be remembered in history, Trump stated:

"That I made America great again."