Trump named Stephen Miller chief of staff after the interview was taped
President Donald Trump told CBS’s “60 Minutes” in an interview aired Sunday that his administration’s deportation policy was part of the reason Republicans lost the House and Senate in the midterm elections. “I think it might be too tough, yeah,” he said. The appearance was Trump’s first major interview since his party lost control of both chambers.
Trump said he saw an opportunity to work with the Democratic majority in the new Congress. “The deal would be we would work something out. And I think it’s something — I think that’s something that’s actually doable,” he said. He did not give specifics about what an immigration agreement would contain.
Shortly after taping the interview on Friday, Trump named Stephen Miller as his new chief of staff.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on social media Sunday after the interview aired, “Trump says his immigration crackdown went too far.” He added, “Apparently, his solution was to put the man responsible for it in charge of the White House. That’s not a course correction. That’s a promotion.”
The administration’s immigration enforcement operations were a prominent feature of Trump’s return to office, with major operations in multiple cities sending arrests soaring. Two U.S. citizens — Renee Good and Alex Pretti — were killed by federal officers during protests against the operations. Democrats have said oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security is a priority for the new Congress.
Trump said he believes people in the country illegally who are “killers” or “drug dealers” should be deported. He suggested a deal might let other people remain “if they’re good people working in a landscaping company, or working in a hotel, or doing something, right? And in some cases, paying taxes.” He did not define eligibility criteria or say how an agreement would operate.
Trump also indicated he might remain on the sidelines in the 2028 race to succeed him. Asked whether he would endorse a potential successor, he said, “probably, not necessarily.” Trump said, “We have a tremendous bench. I have so many people that I have great relationships with.”
Asked about possible candidates other than Vice President JD Vance, Trump named only Secretary of State Marco Rubio. AP said Rubio was viewed as a possible 2028 contender. “I think Marco’s great,” Trump said. “But there are many others and I’d rather not mention their names. There’s some senators that are excellent. I know ’em all, I like ’em a lot. So I may or may not get involved. I don’t know. Maybe I’m better off not getting involved,” he said.
The interview also turned to Trump’s personal wealth, which Democrats sought to make a campaign issue during the midterms. About half of voters nationally said government corruption was “crucial” for their vote for Congress, according to the AP Voter Poll.
Asked how his net worth had gone up by $3 billion since returning to the White House, Trump said his sons look after the family business and that he pays little attention to his finances. “I devote almost no time to my net worth. I don’t care. I make — I have a lotta money, and far more than I ever thought I’d have. And I guess it’s gone up. I don’t even know,” he said.
Trump was also asked whether people from foreign countries investing in the company he co-owns with his sons were trying to buy influence. “I don’t know. But that’s true — look, every president has a problem,” he said.
Trump, who survived an assassination attempt while campaigning for reelection in 2024, was asked whether he could forgive his enemies. He said it would be easy to say yes. But he added: “I probably cannot do that, no, because I do hate some of my enemies, and I always will.”