President Donald Trump acknowledged his administration’s aggressive deportation policies went too far and damaged Republican prospects in the midterm elections, while signaling openness to negotiate an immigration compromise with Democrats.
Trump Reverses Course on Hardline Stance
In a CBS 60 Minutes interview that aired Sunday night, Trump admitted his deportation agenda proved politically costly. “I think it was too tough. And I think ultimately, that hurt me,” the president stated. The acknowledgment comes despite Trump elevating Stephen Miller, a chief architect of the hardline immigration policies, to replace former Chief of Staff Susie Wiles on Monday. Trump maintained he deserved high marks for border security and removing dangerous criminals, but said removing employed immigrants created backlash.
“I think I got an A+ for closing up the border. I get very high marks for getting the bad ones out, but I get hurt because we also took people that had good jobs,” Trump explained. The president specifically referenced hotel maids, waitresses, and landscapers who faced deportation despite working legitimately for years. “When you go into a hotel and you have a woman that’s worked there as a cleaner, as a waitress, a lot of good things, great jobs. And all of a sudden they’re being taken out of the country. It’s tough,” Trump said.
He says he would like to work with Democrats to make a deal that would allow select working immigrants to stay in the country.
Door Opens for Immigration Compromise
Trump expressed willingness to work with Democrats on immigration reform following the Republican midterm losses. “I’d love to do something on immigration,” he said when asked about potential bipartisan cooperation. The president suggested creating pathways for immigrants who have lived in America for extended periods. “Let the people that are here and in some cases here for 10 and 15 years, work a deal for them,” Trump proposed. He claimed potential negotiating partners have already contacted him, though he declined to identify who reached out.
What This Means
The president’s comments represent a significant shift in rhetoric on immigration enforcement. Trump stood behind border security measures and removing criminals, but recognized the political and human costs of deporting long-term residents with stable employment. When asked if he could refrain from insulting Democrats for six months to reach a deal, Trump responded affirmatively. Whether this opening leads to substantive immigration reform remains uncertain, but Trump’s public acknowledgment of policy overreach and willingness to negotiate marks a notable departure from his previous uncompromising position on deportations.