Trump concedes deportation policy cost GOP seats

President Donald Trump admitted in a Sunday interview that his administration likely pushed immigration enforcement too hard for voters.

The president spoke to CBS's 60 Minutes on the first major interview since the midterm elections. He acknowledged that the aggressive deportation policy contributed to Republican losses. The party lost control of both the House and the Senate in the recent vote.

When asked if the policy was too tough, Trump replied, "I think it might be too tough, yeah." He did not provide specific numbers on how many voters were swayed by the issue. He did, however, claim he can reach a deal with the incoming Democratic majority in Congress. "The deal would be we would work something out," he said. "And I think it's something, I think that's something that's actually doable."

The president offered no details on the potential agreement. Shortly after the interview was taped on Friday, he named Stephen Miller as his new chief of staff. Miller was the key architect of the hard-line immigration agenda. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer responded to the news with a social media post. "Trump says his immigration crackdown went too far," Schumer wrote. "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."

The deportation drive defined Trump's return to office. Major operations in multiple cities led to a sharp rise in arrests. Two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were killed by federal officers during protests against these operations. Democrats in the new Congress plan to prioritize oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security.

Trump indicated openness to allowing some non-citizens to remain in the country. He suggested protections for individuals who are "good people working in a landscaping company, or working in a hotel, or doing something, right? And in some cases, paying taxes." He maintained that he still wants to deport "killers" and "drug dealers."

The president also addressed his personal finances. About half of voters nationally said government corruption was crucial to their congressional vote, according to the AP Voter Poll. Trump said his net worth rose by $3 billion since returning to the White House. He stated he devotes almost no time to it. "I don't care," he said. When asked if foreign investors in his company might be buying influence, he replied, "I don't know. But that's true, look, every president has a problem."

Regarding the 2028 Republican primary, Trump hinted he may stay neutral. He said he would "probably, not necessarily" endorse a successor. He named Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a strong candidate. "I think Marco's great," Trump said. He also addressed his political rivals, noting that he "do hate some of my enemies, and I always will."