Trump concedes deportation strategy hurt GOP chances, promotes Miller
In his first major post-midterm interview, the president called his immigration tactics too aggressive while simultaneously elevating the architect of that agenda to White House chief of staff.
By Luana Sato ·
President Donald Trump said his administration was too aggressive on deportations, a factor he believes contributed to the Republican loss of both chambers of Congress.
Speaking in an interview with CBS’s “60 Minutes” that aired on Sunday, Trump offered his first major comments since his party ceded control of the House and Senate in the midterms. He acknowledged that his hard-line approach may have alienated voters, stating, “I think it might be too tough, yeah.”
Despite this admission, Trump expressed confidence that he can strike a legislative deal with the new Democratic majority. He described the potential compromise as “actually doable,” though he did not outline specific terms for the agreement during the taping session, which took place on Friday.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats who see the appointment of Stephen Miller as a contradiction to the president’s stated need for a course correction. Miller is the primary architect of the administration’s hard-line immigration agenda. Trump named Miller as his new chief of staff shortly after the interview was recorded.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer responded to the news on social media, mocking the timing of the promotion. “Apparently, his solution was to put the man responsible for it in charge of the White House. That’s not a course correction. That’s a promotion,” Schumer wrote.
The administration’s immigration crackdown featured prominently in the campaign, with major operations in multiple cities leading to a surge in arrests. The policy also sparked intense public controversy after two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were killed by federal officers during protests against these operations. Democrats have stated that oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security will be a priority for the incoming Congress.
Trump detailed his vision for a future deal by distinguishing between different categories of immigrants. He said he believes “killers” and “drug dealers” in the country illegally should be deported, but suggested openness to allowing others to remain if they are “good people” working in sectors like landscaping or hotels, or if they are paying taxes.
The president also addressed other major political issues during the interview. On the 2028 presidential race, Trump hinted at staying neutral, saying he has a “tremendous bench” of potential successors. He named Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a strong contender but said he might be “better off not getting involved” in the primary process. When asked about his personal wealth, which he said increased by $3 billion since returning to office, Trump said he devotes “almost no time” to it and that his sons manage the family business. He also admitted he likely cannot forgive all his political enemies, noting, “I do hate some of my enemies, and I always will.”
