Trump Admits Deportation Push Hurt Midterm Results

President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that his administration's deportation policies were too aggressive, a factor he credited with hurting his party during the recent midterm elections. The comments were made in an interview with CBS' "60 Minutes," which aired the same evening.

"I think it was too tough," Trump said. "And I think. I think ultimately, that hurt me." This assessment followed the Republican Party's losses across the country during the midterms, where immigration enforcement emerged as a central campaign issue.

Despite conceding that the policy backlash affected electoral outcomes, Trump maintained that the administration's decisions regarding border security and removing illegal entrants were correct. He distinguished between those he described as "the bad ones" and immigrants who held stable employment. "I think I got an A+ for closing up the border," he said. "I get very high marks for getting the bad ones out, but I get hurt because we also took people that had good jobs."

The president cited specific professions, including cleaners, waitresses, and landscapers, as examples of workers who were removed despite their contributions. He described a scenario where a woman working as a hotel maid or waitress was taken out of the country, calling the situation difficult for those involved. He proposed allowing individuals who have resided in the United States for 10 to 15 years to work out a deal.

Trump expressed openness to negotiating an immigration deal with Democrats, suggesting that such an agreement is feasible. "I'd love to do something on immigration," he said. He claimed that members of the opposition have already contacted him regarding potential negotiations, though he did not identify who called. When asked if he could refrain from insulting Democrats for six months to facilitate a deal, Trump said he could do so.

The president's comments regarding policy adjustments come as he prepares to make personnel changes within his administration. On Monday, Trump will elevate Stephen Miller, a key architect of the immigration policy, to replace former Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. This move underscores the continued influence of the administration's hardline immigration team despite the president's recent concessions on enforcement intensity.