Donald Trump Calls Mass Deportation Policies Too Tough

President Donald Trump admitted in a CBS 60 Minutes interview that his administration's mass deportation policies may have been too tough, potentially contributing to historic Republican losses in the recent midterm elections. While Trump claimed success in securing the southern border and removing criminals, he acknowledged that deporting long-term workers without criminal records—such as hotel and landscaping employees—alienated a large part of the country. This shift was particularly evident among Latino voters in battleground states like Texas.

Trump expressed openness to negotiating a deal with the now Democratic-controlled Congress to create a pathway for these individuals. However, he maintained a hardline stance against drug dealers and killers, noting that some members of his own administration hold far-right views and advocate for the deportation of all undocumented immigrants.

Despite these admissions, Trump appointed Stephen Miller, a chief architect of the administration's hardline immigration policies, as his chief of staff on Friday. The appointment is viewed as a signal of a bare-knuckle fightback following the election results. Senator Thom Tillis criticized the move, calling the appointment of Miller a colossal mistake coming only 72 hours after the Republican losses.