Trump concedes immigration tactics hurt GOP in midterms
The president called his deportation policy too aggressive and suggested a deal with the new Democratic Congress is possible.
By Lauren Foster ·
President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that his administration's enforcement of deportation laws may have been too strict for voters during the midterm elections.
In an interview with CBS's 60 Minutes that aired on Sunday, Trump acknowledged that the hard line on immigration contributed to the Republican losses in Tuesday's election. He said, "I think it might be too tough, yeah." This marked his first major media appearance since his party lost control of both the House and Senate.
Trump indicated that he believes a legislative agreement with the new Democratic majority is feasible. "The deal would be we would work something out. And I think it's something that's actually doable," he told the network. However, he did not outline the specific terms of such a proposal.
The president made these remarks shortly after naming Stephen Miller, a key architect of the administration's strict immigration agenda, as the new White House chief of staff on Friday. Trump also addressed a lighthearted announcement from Saturday in which he said he had offered the White House press secretary role to UFC boss Dana White. On Sunday, Trump clarified the offer was "just a little fun" and noted that White is scheduled to visit the White House on Monday.
The administration is adopting a defensive posture as Democrats prepare for a new session of Congress. On social media, Trump described existing investigative requests from Democrats as "extortion at the highest level, and they should be held accountable." Attorney General Todd Blanche echoed this stance on Sunday news programs, stating that criminal investigations of Democrats are possible if they threaten administration members or companies.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the administration's foreign policy decisions during a stop in Florida before traveling to Paris for a Group of 7 meeting. He said the war against Iran was necessary to stop the country's nuclear ambitions, even if it was not "necessarily popular." Rubio noted that the unpopularity of the conflict and its effect on gasoline prices helped Democrats seize control of Congress. Vice President JD Vance had previously posted on social media that the war largely caused the Republican defeat.
Rep. Robert Garcia, who is expected to chair the House Oversight Committee in the next Congress, said Democrats are preparing to investigate what he called the "Trump crime family." He stated that his committee will not be intimidated by the administration's aggressive responses. Democrats have also indicated that impeachment remains a viable option for the coming year.
