Trump: Deportation Effort Too Tough for Midterm Voters
The president admitted to CBS that aggressive immigration enforcement contributed to Republican losses, while signaling openness to negotiate with Democrats on worker pathways.
By Pedro Tanaka ·
President Donald Trump conceded that his administration’s immigration strategy may have cost his party ground in recent elections. He made the assessment during an interview with CBS' '60 Minutes' that aired on Sunday night.
The president stated that the enforcement actions were excessive in their reach. "I think it was too tough," Trump said. "And I think ultimately, that hurt me," he added. He identified the removal of immigrants with stable employment as the specific factor that drew voter disapproval.
Trump distinguished between his support for border security and his view of interior enforcement. He claimed high approval ratings for closing the border and removing those he deemed problematic. "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 roles to illustrate the types of workers affected by the policy. He mentioned cleaners, waitresses, and landscapers. "When you go into a hotel and you have a woman that's worked there as a, you know, as a maid, as a cleaner .. as a waitress, a lot of good things, great jobs," Trump said. "And all of a sudden they're being taken out of the country. It's tough. It's a tough thing."
Despite the admission of electoral damage, the president moved forward with leadership changes within his inner circle. On Monday, he elevated Stephen Miller, a key architect of the strict enforcement policies, to replace former Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
Trump indicated a willingness to find common ground with the opposition on immigration reform. He said he would like to create pathways for certain groups of workers. "Let the people that are here and in some cases here for 10 and 15 years, work a deal for them," he said. He noted that the administration is prepared to negotiate, stating, "I'd love to do something on immigration."
When asked about the logistics of a bipartisan agreement, Trump said he could manage his public remarks toward the opposition for a set period. He said he could refrain from insulting Democrats for six months to help strike a deal. He also noted that other political figures have already reached out to him regarding the issue, though he did not name them.
