Trump Admits Immigration Policies Were 'Too Tough' in Midterm Post-Mortem
The president blamed poor messaging and harsh enforcement for Republican losses, while also addressing his rising net worth and family business ties.
By Ana Castro ·
President Donald Trump acknowledged on Sunday that his administration's immigration enforcement measures were overly strict, a concession that directly addressed a key factor in the recent midterm election losses. Speaking in a CBS '60 Minutes' interview recorded on Friday, Trump stated that mass deportations hurt the Republican party's chances at the ballot box by targeting undocumented immigrants who had not committed crimes.
The president explained that the policy removed individuals who held good jobs and had only broken one law: entering the country illegally. He noted that a large segment of the public believes these workers, often employed in landscaping, hospitality, and other sectors, should be allowed to stay. Trump indicated a willingness to work with Democrats on immigration, affirming that a potential deal could include creating legal status for undocumented workers. However, he noted that some members of his administration on the 'pretty far right' prefer a more aggressive approach of removing everyone.
This sentiment stands in contrast to recent personnel changes in the White House. On Friday, Trump promoted Stephen Miller, the architect of the mass deportation policy, to the position of chief of staff. Miller replaced Susie Wiles, signaling a continued emphasis on the immigration agenda despite the president's new assessment of its electoral impact.
Beyond immigration, Trump attributed the Republican losses to 'bad messaging,' suggesting he himself may have been responsible. He claimed the media failed to cover positive news for him, forcing him to communicate directly. When pressed by CBS correspondent Ross Douthat on the specifics of this messaging failure, Trump replied that the administration simply could not get the word across. The White House has lacked a stable press secretary since Karoline Leavitt's departure in late August, a gap briefly filled by Katie Zacharia before her own exit after five days.
The interview also delved into Trump's financial status. Douthat pointed out that Trump's net worth increased by nearly $3 billion since he returned to office. Forbes estimates his current net worth at $7 billion, up $2.7 billion from his 2024 election. Trump's financial disclosures show $1.4 billion in cryptocurrency earnings. Trump initially responded to the question about his wealth by saying, 'So did everyone’s,' before adding that he devotes little time to monitoring his finances.
He stated that one of his sons oversees the money and that they do not frequently discuss it. Trump's sons co-founded the cryptocurrency company World Liberty Financial two years ago. Trump is a co-owner, and the firm includes investors such as Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family and a U.S. national security adviser for the United Arab Emirates. When Douthat compared this structure to the Biden family's business dealings, Trump asserted that his stake is different because he knows nothing about the company's operations.
