Trump Calls Deportation Policy "Too Tough" After Midterm Losses, Floats Deal With Democrats
In a 60 Minutes interview with Ross Douthat broadcast Sunday, President Donald Trump said his deportation policy was "too tough" and "both helped and hurt" Republicans in the midterms, acknowledging that removing working, taxpaying undocumented immigrants alienated voters. He floated a possible deal with Democrats granting legal status to some long-term residents while continuing to remove people convicted of serious crimes, calling it "actually doable." The remarks came shortly before Trump named immigration hardliner Stephen Miller, architect of the family separation and Muslim ban policies, as White House chief of staff replacing Susie Wiles. MAGA figures including Tomi Lahren, Steve Cortes and Nick Sortor condemned the softened rhetoric.
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MAGA Allies Revolt After Trump Says He Was Too Tough on Immigration
In a 60 Minutes interview with Ross Douthat, President Donald Trump said his immigration crackdown 'both helped and hurt' Republicans in the midterms and suggested a possible legal status pathway for working, taxpaying undocumented immigrants. He also acknowledged that far-right figures who want all immigrants removed work in his administration. The interview aired an hour before news broke that Trump had named Stephen Miller, architect of hardline policies like family separation and the Muslim ban, as chief of staff replacing Susie Wiles. MAGA figures including Tomi Lahren, Steve Cortes, and Nick Sortor condemned the softened rhetoric, with Sortor calling it a 'HORRIBLE take' and demanding Miller clean house. The article notes Miller is unlikely to support such a shift and frames the duality as a way for Trump to deflect blame while still advancing the enforcement agenda.
Read sourceTrump Criticizes Own Deportation Policy After Midterm Losses
US President Donald Trump admitted in a CBS '60 Minutes' interview that his deportation policy was 'too tough' and hurt Republicans in the midterms. He acknowledged that removing migrants who held good jobs and contributed to the economy alienated voters. Trump signaled willingness to negotiate with Democrats on a deal, hinting at a legal status for some working immigrants who pay taxes. His comments may anger hardliners in his party, especially after he promoted Stephen Miller, architect of the hardline immigration policy, to chief of staff. Many Republicans blame Miller for midterm defeats, including losses among Hispanic voters in key districts. Trump did not provide specifics on a potential compromise but criticized Biden's border policy and noted divisions within the Republican Party on immigration.
Read sourceTrump tells 60 Minutes deportation policy was 'too tough' after midterm defeat
In a 60 Minutes interview with CBS's Ross Douthat broadcast Sunday, President Donald Trump acknowledged his deportation policy was 'too tough,' saying it 'both helped and hurt' him politically after Republicans' midterm defeat. He offered to work with Democrats on an immigration deal that would let some long-term undocumented residents stay while continuing to remove people convicted of serious crimes, calling it 'actually doable.' The comments came days after he elevated immigration hardliner Stephen Miller to White House chief of staff. Trump also blamed the Iran war and higher petrol prices for the midterms loss, defended the military campaign as justified, conceded 'bad messaging' on the economy, said he doesn't mind AI 'guardrails,' and addressed questions about his wealth increase and his family's cryptocurrency business.
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Trump Says Immigration Crackdown May Have Hurt Republicans in Midterms
In a 60 Minutes interview, President Trump acknowledged that his administration's immigration and deportation policies may have been 'too tough' and could have hurt Republicans in the midterms. Multiple outlets, including The New York Times, The Guardian, Al Jazeera, and CBS News, reported his remarks, with CBS framing them as takeaways on why the GOP lost the midterms and what went wrong on immigration. The coverage attributes the assessment directly to Trump, who characterized the deportation approach as potentially excessive for voters. The item also links to a CNN report on Trump defending Hegseth ahead of an expected impeachment vote, though that topic is separate from the immigration remarks.
Read sourceTrump Says He Was 'Too Tough' on Immigrants, Floats Amnesty Deal After Midterms
Former U.S. President Donald Trump said in a 60 Minutes interview that his administration's immigration enforcement was 'too tough' and acknowledged it played a part in the Republican Party's midterm election defeat. He also floated the idea of an amnesty deal for immigrants. The remarks, reported by the Financial Times, The Guardian, CBS News, and BBC, come despite Trump's continued promotion of hardline adviser Stephen Miller. In the same interview, Trump defended Pete Hegseth ahead of an expected impeachment vote. The statements mark a rare admission of overreach on immigration policy while signaling a possible shift toward a legislative compromise.
Read sourceTrump Says Immigration Crackdown 'Too Tough' and Blames Midterm Losses on Not Being on Ballot
In a 60 Minutes interview with Ross Douthat days after Republicans lost over 40 House seats and at least seven Senate seats, President Trump defended his economic record as 'phenomenal' but acknowledged 'bad messaging.' He attributed GOP losses primarily to not being on the ballot and to voter discontent over the Iran war and gas prices. Trump said his immigration crackdown was 'too tough' at times, particularly regarding deportations of otherwise law-abiding undocumented immigrants, and floated openness to an amnesty deal. He said he is 'not looking to' escalate the Iran war, though he stands by the decision to attack Iran. Shortly after the interview, Trump announced White House chief of staff Susie Wiles would depart and be replaced by immigration hardliner Stephen Miller.
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