English
President Donald Trump acknowledged in a CBS 60 Minutes interview that his immigration crackdown may have cost Republicans in the midterm elections. Trump admitted his deportation policies were “too tough,” saying the removal of undocumented immigrants who had not committed serious crimes hurt him politically.
Trump Signals Openness to Immigration Deal
Trump said he felt the impact of deporting people who held steady jobs and had only one legal violation — entering the country without authorization. “I get hurt because we also took people that had good jobs, that created one violation, or breaking of the law, and that was that they came into the country illegally,” he said. The interview aired Sunday but was recorded the previous Friday.
Stay connected to every major update — subscribe and follow us on the PhoenixQ website and across our social media platforms.
He also acknowledged that many Americans believe immigrants working in hotels, landscaping companies, and similar jobs — and in some cases paying taxes — should be allowed to remain. Trump said immigration was one area where he hoped to work with Democrats. He confirmed a potential deal could include creating legal status for undocumented workers.
However, Trump noted that some people on the far right within his own administration wanted all undocumented immigrants removed. On Friday, he promoted Stephen Miller — the architect of the administration’s mass deportation policy — to White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles.
Midterm Losses Blamed on Messaging
Beyond immigration, Trump also blamed “bad messaging” for Republicans’ heavy midterm losses. He argued the media failed to cover positive developments from his administration. “I think it was bad messaging, maybe by me, but I would talk about it all the time,” he said. When pressed by CBS News journalist Ross Douthat on what the bad message was, Trump replied, “We couldn’t get the word across.”
The White House has also operated largely without a press secretary since late August, after Karoline Leavitt departed. Her replacement, Katie Zacharia, left after only five days in the role.
Questions Over Trump’s Growing Net Worth
Douthat also questioned Trump about his personal finances. According to Forbes, Trump’s net worth stands at $7 billion — up $2.7 billion since his 2024 election victory. His financial disclosures show $1.4 billion in cryptocurrency earnings.
Trump initially responded to the increase by saying, “So did everyone’s.” He later added that he pays little attention to his finances and that one of his sons manages the family’s money. Trump said the two do not discuss financial matters.
Two years ago, Trump’s sons founded a cryptocurrency firm called World Liberty Financial. Trump is a co-owner of the company. Its investors include Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of Abu Dhabi’s royal family and the UAE’s national security adviser.
Douthat challenged Trump directly, suggesting that if a similar arrangement involved the Biden family and Middle Eastern investors, it would appear corrupt. Trump dismissed the comparison. “Because I know nothing about it,” he said. He also said he did not know whether foreign investors believed they were purchasing political influence through the company.
