President Donald Trump admitted last week that his administration’s immigration enforcement policies may have gone too far, suggesting that his mass deportation campaign may have contributed to the Republicans’ disastrous performance in the midterm elections — even though the polls show it was actually the war with Iran and inflation.
The president made the admission during a candid interview with CBS’ 60 Minutes.
President Donald J. Trump participates in a courtesy call with Taoiseach Michael Martin at Farmleigh House, the official Irish state guest house, Saturday, September 12, 2026, in Dublin. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)
President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend a ceremony at the Pentagon in observance of the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, Friday, September 11, 2026. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)
During the discussion, which aired Sunday, November 8, the president also said he was willing to negotiate a new immigration deal with the Democrats.
The comments constitute a significant change in tone from the president, who spent much of his 2024 presidential campaign promising to deport millions of illegal immigrants.
President Trump now, however, seems to believe that the administration’s enforcement policies went too far and have alienated some voters, using the 60 Minutes interview to offer an olive branch to the Democrats to work on a new immigration deal.
However, the comments also come just days after the president appointed Stephen Miller, one of the architects of the administration’s aggressive immigration policies, as White House chief of staff.
The appointment is curious, as it’s now unclear whether the president is genuinely willing to scale back his immigration agenda, or if Stephen Miller will be forced to scale back his own ambitions.
What Trump Said
During the 60 Minutes interview, which was recorded on Friday, November 6, CBS correspondent Ross Douthat asked the president whether his immigration policies had contributed to the Republicans’ losses in the November 3 elections.
Trump acknowledged that his approach had produced mixed results politically, and argued that his administration had proven successful in securing the southern border and removing dangerous criminals.
“I think it was too tough,” Trump said. “I think it might be too tough, yeah. And a lot of people would say that it’s great. But a lot of people think it’s too tough.”
An Immigration Deal With Democrats?
Perhaps the most surprising part of the interview was President Trump’s suggestion that he expects to make deals with Democrats, including on immigration reform.
When Douthat asked what he would like to accomplish with Democrats during the final two years of his presidency, Trump identified immigration as a likely area of possible agreement.
Trump said that lawmakers could make a compromise agreement that allows some illegal aliens to remain in the country — particularly those who abide by the law, pay taxes, and have contributed to their communities.
Trump did not explain how he believes such an agreement would work, nor did he commit to suspending deportations for the kind of workers he described.
Any proposal involving legal status, however, is likely to face significant opposition from immigration hardliners within the Republican Party, who make up a large proportion of the modern GOP.
Many Republicans already staunchly oppose the idea of amnesty.
What Will Stephen Miller Say?
Despite President Trump’s apparent willingness to reconsider parts of his immigration agenda, his decision to move Stephen Miller into the chief of staff position suggests that his administration isn’t about to moderate — it’s preparing to fight back.
Miller is one of the most hardline conservatives in the Trump administration and has long been one of the loudest immigration hawks in the Trump campaign, going back to 2016.
Miller, who replaced Susie Wiles on Monday, has been among Trump’s most influential advisers for a decade.
He previously served as deputy chief of staff for policy and helped design the Trump administration’s now-controversial mass deportation program.
Reuters reports that Miller pushed immigration authorities to pursue as many as 3,000 arrests per day, targeting illegal immigrants who had lived in the United States for years.
Miller’s appointment therefore appears inconsistent with the president’s newly expressed reservations about mass deportations.
Have Americans Turned Against Mass Deportations, Really?
Polling suggests that Americans generally oppose President Trump’s enforcement tactics but still support deportations in principle.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 60% of respondents believe that immigration enforcement has gone too far, even as 61% said that they support deporting illegal immigrants.
A Marquette Law School poll also found that 56% of Americans support deportations, with support falling to 44% when respondents were asked about removing longtime residents with no criminal records and jobs.
But immigration wasn’t the biggest problem for Republicans in November, and, curiously, the president would address it rather than the rising cost of living and the Iran war.
A Reuters/Ipsos survey found 48% of registered voters identified the cost of living as their main concern in the election, compared with just 13% who said immigration. 55% of respondents also said that the Iran war was not worth the cost.
Trump may be reconsidering the wrong policy. Voters appear more concerned about economic conditions and the war than about deportations.
About the Author: Jack Buckby
Jack Buckby is a British researcher and analyst specializing in defense and national security, based in New York. His work focuses on military capability, procurement, and strategic competition, and he produces and edits analysis for policy and defense audiences. He brings extensive editorial experience, with a career output spanning over 1,000 articles at National Security Journal, and has previously authored books and papers on extremism and deradicalization.
