President Donald Trump admitted in a recent interview that his immigration policies were overly harsh, acknowledging that mass deportations damaged his standing during the midterm elections. Speaking on CBS' “60 Minutes” in an episode that aired Sunday and was recorded Friday, Trump explained that his administration removed individuals who had stable jobs and had only violated the law by entering the country illegally.
Immigration Policies and Midterm Fallout
Trump pointed to immigration as a primary factor in his political struggles during the midterms, noting that the removal of undocumented workers who were otherwise productive members of society created a political backlash. He stated that a substantial group of people believe that immigrants who are working in landscaping, hotels, or other jobs—and in some cases paying taxes—should be permitted to remain in the country.
When asked about potential compromises, Trump expressed openness to working with Democrats on immigration. He answered affirmatively when questioned if a legislative deal could involve establishing a legal status for undocumented workers. However, he noted internal political divisions, explaining that individuals on the far right would prefer to see everyone removed, and mentioned that some of those figures were within his own administration.
White House Staffing and Messaging Challenges
Beyond immigration, Donald Trump attributed recent Republican election losses to poor communication and messaging. When pressed by CBS News’ Ross Douthat regarding what went wrong with the messaging, Trump stated that they simply could not get the word across effectively and claimed the media failed to cover positive news for him.
Administrative updates discussed during the period included:
- Trump promoted Stephen Miller, who conceived of the mass deportation policy, to White House chief of staff.
- Stephen Miller replaced Susie Wiles in the chief of staff role.
- The White House has largely operated without a press secretary since Karoline Leavitt departed the administration in late August.
- Katie Zacharia briefly stepped in to replace Leavitt but left after only five days.
Cryptocurrency Holdings and Net Worth
The interview also touched upon personal finances following reports regarding his growing wealth. According to Forbes, Trump’s net worth has increased by $2.7 billion since he won a second term in 2024, bringing his total net worth to $7 billion. Financial disclosure documents show he has generated $1.4 billion in cryptocurrency earnings.
Trump maintained that he spends virtually no time focusing on his net worth and leaves financial oversight to one of his sons. His sons previously founded a cryptocurrency firm called World Liberty Financial, in which Trump is a co-owner alongside investors that include Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family and national security adviser for the United Arab Emirates. When questioned about potential conflicts of interest regarding foreign investments, Trump maintained that he knows nothing about the company's operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Donald Trump say about deportations on 60 Minutes?
Trump conceded that his immigration policies were too tough and stated that mass deportations hurt him during the midterm elections because the government removed people with good jobs who only committed the violation of entering the country illegally.
How much has Donald Trump's net worth increased?
According to Forbes, Trump's net worth has increased by $2.7 billion since his 2024 election victory, bringing his total net worth to $7 billion, which includes $1.4 billion in cryptocurrency earnings.
Who is Stephen Miller in the Trump administration?
Stephen Miller is the architect of the mass deportation policy enacted since Trump returned to office, and he was promoted to White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles.