Donald Trump Admits Deportation Policy Was Too Tough
President Donald Trump conceded that his administration’s immigration deportation policy may have been too harsh during a CBS “60 Minutes” interview released late Sunday.
Aftenposten reported that the interview, conducted by journalist Ross Douthat and published ahead of broadcast, marks Trump’s first major one-on-one appearance since the Republican midterm defeat last week.
Voters handed Democrats control of both chambers of Congress in the midterms. Trump told CBS that the mass deportations contributed to the electoral losses.
– I think it was too tough, I think maybe it was too tough,
Trump said in the program.
Trump Acknowledges Collateral Damage from Border Enforcement
Trump defended securing the border and removing dangerous individuals, but acknowledged severe collateral damage. He cited hotel cleaning assistants and restaurant servers sent out of the country for a single unlawful entry.
– I get top marks for having closed the border. I get very high marks for getting bad people out. But it’s also hurt me, because we’ve sent out people who had good jobs, who had only committed one offense, namely that they came into the country illegally,
Trump said, according to Aftenposten.
TV 2 noted that immigration enforcement agency ICE faced massive criticism and that Human Rights Watch recorded 52 deaths in ICE custody during the first 500 days of Trump’s second term.
Despite the backlash over policies shaped by figures like Stephen Miller, Trump claimed several Democratic lawmakers have contacted him about reaching a bipartisan immigration agreement.
Ukraine War Peace Talks in Abu Dhabi
Turning to foreign policy, Trump predicted the war in Ukraine will end soon. He suggested the conflict will conclude with altered borders for the country.
– I think we’re going to get it done, and I think it’s going to happen, and they’re going to end up with a slightly differently shaped Ukraine,
Trump stated in the Aftenposten report.
The president mentioned that peace talks involving Ukraine, Russia, and European participants will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, with the United States acting as mediator.
UFC President White House Job Rumor
Trump addressed weekend reports that he offered UFC President Dana White the position of White House press secretary via Truth Social.
– I was just kidding,
Trump said on “60 Minutes,” adding that White loved the idea.
A CNN source reported that White turned down the unusual proposal, according to Aftenposten. The press secretary position remains vacant following departures by Katie Zacharia and Karoline Leavitt.
Vance and Trump Link Midterm Defeat to Iran War
JD Vance argued that the war against Iran caused the Republican midterm defeat, according to TV 2. Trump stated in the CBS interview that he agreed with Vance’s assessment.
– I think historically it will be a very good decision. Is it a good decision for today and tomorrow? Maybe not, but I have to do what’s right for the country,
Trump told Douthat, defending military actions to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons as noted by TV 2.
Trump also admitted communication regarding rising living costs and inflation was inadequate. – I think we had a bad message, maybe also from my side,
he told CBS.
Common Questions About Trump CBS Interview
Did Dana White become White House press secretary?
No. Trump stated on “60 Minutes” that his social media post offering Dana White the job was a joke, and a CNN source confirmed White declined the proposal.
When and where are the Ukraine peace talks scheduled?
Mediation talks between Ukraine and Russia are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, with participation from the United States and European nations.
What did Trump say about the midterm election losses?
Trump acknowledged that aggressive deportation tactics and poor economic messaging contributed to Republicans losing control of both chambers of Congress.
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