Trump calls deportation policy 'too hard' after midterms
The president acknowledged his administration went too far with ICE raids following Democratic victories in both chambers, yet he appointed Stephen Miller as his new chief of staff.
By Julian Schulz ·
Donald Trump admitted on Sunday that his administration's deportation strategy was "too hard." The president made the comments during the first televised interview since Tuesday's midterm elections. He spoke with Ross Douthat of CBS's "60 Minutes," acknowledging that the policy may have gone too far.
The remarks follow a decisive election night in which Democrats captured majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Campaigns in these races centered heavily on opposition to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. Latino voters played a key role in shifting the balance of power in Congress.
Despite the electoral loss and the president's self-criticism, the White House moved forward with a significant staffing change on Friday. Trump named Stephen Miller as the new chief of staff. Miller is widely viewed as the primary architect of the government's strict anti-immigration agenda.
The administration signaled that enforcement will not stop despite the political shift. Markwayne Mullin, the Secretary of Homeland Security, posted on social media one day after the elections. He stated that deportations will continue.
The full interview with Trump airs later this week. The segment featuring his comments on the intensity of the deportation policy was released ahead of the broadcast. These developments set the stage for a new legislative session where the Democratic majority will oversee the executive branch's immigration actions.
