Trump Says Deportation Push 'Might Be Too Tough,' Open to Immigration Deal With Democrats
Photo: NBC NewsPresident Donald Trump said in a CBS "60 Minutes" interview that aired Sunday that his deportation policy "might be too tough" and that it hurt Republicans in the midterm elections held days earlier. The interview, conducted by correspondent Ross Douthat and recorded Friday, was his first since the midterms, in which Republicans lost control of the House and Senate. Trump said the crackdown "both helped and hurt" him, said he got an "A+" for closing the border, and said removing people with good jobs whose only offense was entering illegally cost him support. He said he would "love to do something on immigration" with congressional Democrats, including some form of legal status for workers such as landscapers and hotel maids. He said some people on the "pretty far right" want everyone removed, and that some are in his administration. On Friday Trump promoted Stephen Miller, described as the architect of the mass deportation policy, to White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles.
Right-leaning outlets lead with the deal. The Washington Examiner's headline stresses a bipartisan push offering legal status to "good" illegal immigrants. It adds that Trump still backed sealing the border and removing violent offenders, named Democratic incoming senators James Talarico and Annie Andrews as possible partners, and recalled his election-night floating of a deal. The Daily Wire frames it as an apparent backtrack, leads with Trump's admission that the policy hurt him, and notes Miller's role. Left-leaning outlets NBC News and CBS News also lead with the "too tough" admission and carry the same quotes. CBS adds that support for Republicans fell in South Texas and heavily Latino areas, which voters linked partly to the crackdown. NBC adds that Trump blamed "bad messaging" and downplayed the Iran war's economic impact. Both sides agree on the core quotes and the legal-status idea. ZeroHedge, an alternative outlet, stands apart by stressing that the Miller promotion came an hour after the interview and calling the remarks an endorsement of amnesty.
How the sides differ Right sources stress the proposed legal-status deal and Trump's border record; left sources add midterm losses in Latino areas; alternative sources stress the Miller appointment timing.
Headline, comparison and summary written by AI from the articles below. AI can make mistakes, so check the original articles before relying on a detail.
- The New York TimesPaywallOn ‘60 Minutes,’ Trump Says Immigration Crackdown May Have ‘Hurt’ Republicans in Elections
NBC News and CBS News lead with Trump's "too tough" admission, adding context on Republican midterm losses in Latino areas, his "bad messaging" remark, and the Miller promotion.
- France 24Trump admits deportation policy 'might have been too tough'
- APTrump says his deportation policy 'might have been too tough' for voters in the election
ZeroHedge and France 24 report the admission and Trump's openness to a deal; ZeroHedge stresses that Miller was named chief of staff an hour after the interview.
- BreitbartTrump Dangles Concessions, Says Deportation Policy ‘Too Tough’
- Just the NewsTrump says his deportation policies 'might be too tough,' open to deal with Democrats on immigration
The Washington Examiner stresses the proposed bipartisan legal-status deal, naming Democratic senators-elect; the Daily Wire calls it an apparent backtrack, quoting Trump on hotel workers and far-right hawks.