Trump Blames Harsh Deportations for Midterm Losses
The president admitted to CBS that removing non-criminal immigrants hurt his party, while his personal net worth grew by $2.7 billion since returning to office.
By Martin Reynolds ·
President Donald Trump told CBS News on Sunday that his administration’s deportation policies were too harsh and contributed to the Republican losses in the recent midterm elections. The comments mark a shift in how the White House frames its immigration strategy ahead of legislative negotiations.
In the interview, Trump stated that the government removed immigrants who had not committed crimes, a move he described as a communication failure. He said, "I hurt because we also deported people with good jobs, who committed only one infraction, or violation of the law, and that was that they entered the country illegally." He added that many Americans believe workers in landscaping or hotels who pay taxes should be allowed to stay.
The president suggested that a deal with Democrats could involve creating a legal status for undocumented workers. However, he noted that the "far right" in his government, including those advocating for mass expulsions, preferred a stricter approach. On Friday, Trump promoted Stephen Miller, the chief architect of the deportation campaign, to White House Chief of Staff, replacing Susie Wiles.
Trump attributed the midterm defeat to "bad communication" and downplayed the economic impact of the war with Iran. When asked by CBS News reporter Ross Douthat to define the communication gap, Trump replied, "We couldn't convey the message." The White House has operated without a permanent press secretary since late August, following the departures of Karoline Leavitt and brief stand-in Katie Zacharia.
The interview also focused on Trump’s financial interests. His net worth reached $7 billion, an increase of $2.7 billion since his 2024 re-election, according to Forbes. His financial disclosures show $1.4 billion in gains from cryptocurrencies.
Two years ago, Trump’s children founded World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency firm in which Trump is a co-owner. Investors include Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family and national security adviser of the United Arab Emirates. Douthat asked if foreign investors might believe they were buying influence, a question Trump compared to the Biden family’s Middle East business ties.
Trump responded, "Because I don't know anything about it," adding that he was unaware if the foreign investors perceived their investments as a path to influence.
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