In an interview with CBS News’ 60 Minutes on Sunday, Trump defended his border security record but admitted his immigration crackdown had created political challenges. President Donald Trump acknowledged that his administration’s deportation policies may have gone too far, days after Republicans suffered major losses in the midterm elections.
He said his policies helped secure the border but acknowledged that some voters opposed the removal of immigrants who had jobs, paid taxes and committed only immigration violations. “I think it was too tough,” Trump said when asked about his deportation policies.
The comments came after exit polling showed concerns over immigration policy among voters. However, he acknowledged that his administration faced criticism for deporting people who had built lives in the United States despite lacking legal status. The president’s comments followed a difficult election cycle for Republicans, who faced voter concerns over inflation, affordability and immigration.
58% of voters said the Trump administration’s immigration actions had gone too far, according to CBS News. The issue affected support among some Latino voters who had backed Trump in 2024 but shifted toward Democrats in key races.
During the interview with correspondent Ross Douthat, Trump said he deserved strong marks for reducing illegal border crossings. “I think I got an A+ for closing up the border,” Trump said. Trump said his administration had delivered on key promises but conceded that some messages had not reached voters effectively.
