Trump Blames Deportation Policy for Midterm Loss

President Donald Trump stated that his administration’s deportation policy may have been too aggressive for voters, a concession he made in his first major interview since Republicans lost control of both the House and Senate in the midterm elections.

Speaking to CBS’s “60 Minutes” in an interview that aired on Sunday, November 8, 2026, Trump offered a direct assessment of the political fallout. “I think it might be too tough, yeah,” he said regarding the enforcement strategy that characterized his return to office.

The administration’s immigration crackdown featured major operations in multiple cities, causing arrest numbers to soar. During these operations, two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were killed by federal officers while protesting against the enforcement actions.

Democrats immediately identified oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security as a top priority for the new Congress. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer responded to the interview on social media on Sunday, November 8, 2026, criticizing the president’s approach.

“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 comment referenced a decision made by Trump shortly after taping the interview on Friday, November 6, 2026. The president named Stephen Miller, the key architect of the hard-line immigration agenda, as his new chief of staff.

Despite the personnel change, Trump expressed confidence in reaching an agreement with the new Democratic majority. “The deal would be we would work something out. And I think it’s something that’s actually doable,” he said.

Trump did not provide specific details on the terms of such a deal. He indicated that he believes “killers” and “drug dealers” in the country illegally should be deported, but suggested openness to allowing others to stay if they are “good people working in a landscaping company, or working in a hotel, or doing something, right? And in some cases, paying taxes.”

On the topic of the 2028 presidential race, Trump hinted at staying neutral among his Republican successors. Asked whether he would endorse a potential candidate, he said, “probably, not necessarily.”

“We have a tremendous bench. I have so many people that I have great relationships with,” Trump said. He named Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a possible contender, stating, “I think Marco’s great,” but added that he would rather not mention other names. “So I may or may not get involved. I don’t know. Maybe I’m better off not getting involved,” he concluded.