Trump Concedes Deportation Tactics Hurt Midterm Results
The president admitted on CBS that removing undocumented workers without criminal records was overly harsh, citing the strategy as a factor in recent Republican losses.
By Elena Perry ·
President Donald Trump admitted on Sunday that his administration’s immigration enforcement was too aggressive and that the approach damaged the Republican ticket during the midterm elections. Speaking in an interview with CBS News’ 60 Minutes, which was recorded on Friday, the president stated that mass deportations hurt his party’s performance last week.
Trump explained that the policies were overly harsh in removing individuals who had not committed crimes. He noted that the administration removed people who held good jobs and had committed only one violation by entering the country illegally. He observed that a large group of people believe immigrants who work in fields such as landscaping or hospitality, and in some cases pay taxes, should be allowed to remain in the United States.
The president identified immigration as a key area where he intends to collaborate with Democrats. He confirmed that a potential deal could include creating legal status for undocumented workers. However, he acknowledged that members on the far right of his administration, including White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, preferred removing everyone. Miller, who conceived the mass deportation policy, replaced Susie Wiles in the chief of staff role on Friday.
Trump attributed the crushing midterm losses to bad messaging rather than policy substance. He suggested that he might have been responsible for the communication gap because he spoke about the issues constantly. He claimed the media did not cover positive news for him, forcing him to disseminate the information himself. When asked by CBS News’ Ross Douthat to define the bad message, Trump replied that the administration could not get the word across. The White House has largely lacked a press secretary since late August, following the departures of Karoline Leavitt and brief replacement Katie Zacharia.
During the interview, Trump also addressed questions regarding his personal finances. Douthat noted that Forbes reported a nearly $3 billion increase in the president’s net worth since he returned to office, bringing his total to $7 billion. Trump initially responded that everyone’s wealth had increased. He stated that he devotes almost no time to his net worth and does not know the exact figures. He added that one of his sons oversees the finances and that the two rarely discuss money.
The president’s financial disclosure forms indicate he has earned $1.4 billion in cryptocurrency. His sons founded World Liberty Financial two years ago, and Trump is a co-owner. Investors in the company include Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family and national security adviser for the United Arab Emirates. Douthat asked how Trump’s stake differed from a hypothetical scenario involving the Biden family. Trump said his involvement was different because he knows nothing about the company. He stated that he did not know whether foreign investors believed they were buying influence.
The interview aired Sunday on CBS. The president’s comments on immigration strategy and financial management came after the midterm elections concluded last week. The White House confirmed the staffing change for the chief of staff position on Friday. Trump’s net worth figures come from Forbes reporting and his official financial disclosure forms. The 60 Minutes segment was recorded on Friday and broadcast on Sunday.
