United States President Donald Trump has acknowledged that his administration’s mass deportation policy was too harsh and contributed to his political setbacks during the midterm elections, admitting that the removal of undocumented immigrants who had committed no crimes beyond entering the country illegally had hurt him politically.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026-IDRI-Masterclass.png")
Trump made the admission during an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes,” which aired on Sunday, November 8, 2026, revealing that he was willing to negotiate an immigration agreement with Democrats that could provide legal status for some undocumented workers.
The president conceded that his administration’s immigration enforcement measures had gone beyond targeting criminals to include people who were gainfully employed and contributing to the American economy.
“I get hurt because we also took people that had good jobs, that created one violation, or breaking of the law, and that was that they came into the country illegally,” Trump said during the interview recorded on Friday.
He acknowledged that many Americans believed undocumented immigrants who were working, paying taxes and contributing to society should be permitted to remain in the United States.
According to him, “a large group of people” believe immigrants who are “good people, working in a landscaping company or working in a hotel or doing something … and, in some cases, paying taxes,” should be “allowed to stay.”
Trump identified immigration as one of the areas in which he hoped to work with Democrats, indicating his willingness to consider an agreement that could create a pathway to legal status for undocumented workers.
When asked whether such an agreement could include granting legal status to undocumented immigrants already working in the country, the president responded affirmatively.
However, he acknowledged that his position differed from that of some conservative figures within his administration who favoured the removal of all undocumented immigrants.
Trump said some people “on the sort of pretty far right … would like everybody taken out,” noting that individuals holding such views were also serving in his government.
His remarks came amid changes within his administration, including his decision on Friday to promote Stephen Miller to White House Chief of Staff, replacing Susie Wiles.
Miller was the architect of the mass deportation policy implemented after Trump returned to the White House for his second term.
Beyond immigration, the president also addressed the Republican Party’s losses in the midterm elections, attributing the outcome partly to poor communication of his administration’s policies and achievements.
Trump said the Republican Party had failed to effectively communicate what he considered the positive developments under his leadership.
“I think it was bad messaging, maybe by me, but I would talk about it all the time,” he said.
The president also complained that the media did not adequately report favourable developments concerning his administration.
According to him, the media did not cover “positive news for me. So I have to do it myself. I have to get it out there.”
When CBS News interviewer Ross Douthat pressed him to explain what had gone wrong with the Republican Party’s messaging, Trump responded, “We couldn’t get the word across.”
He also downplayed the impact of the war with Iran on the country’s economic difficulties, maintaining that communication failures contributed to the party’s electoral setbacks.
The president’s comments came as the White House continued to experience changes in its communications team.
The administration had largely operated without a press secretary since late August, following the departure of Karoline Leavitt.
Katie Zacharia briefly replaced Leavitt but left the position after five days.
The interview also addressed questions about Trump’s personal wealth and business interests, particularly the increase in his net worth since returning to office.
When Douthat pointed out that Trump’s net worth had risen by nearly $3 billion since the beginning of his second presidency, Trump initially responded, “So did everyone’s.”
According to Forbes, the president’s net worth stands at approximately $7 billion, representing an increase of $2.7 billion since his election in 2024.
His financial disclosure documents also indicated that he had earned approximately $1.4 billion from cryptocurrency-related activities.
However, Trump maintained that he devoted little attention to his personal finances and was largely uninvolved in managing his wealth.
“I devote almost no time to my net worth. I don’t care. I have a lot of 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.
The president explained that one of his sons oversaw his financial affairs, adding that they rarely discussed money.
Questions were also raised about World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency company established by Trump’s sons two years ago, in which the president is a co-owner.
Among the company’s investors is Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family and National Security Adviser of the United Arab Emirates.
Douthat questioned whether Trump’s ownership interest in a company receiving investments from the Middle East could create concerns about possible conflicts of interest.
“I think if I told you that story and it was about the Biden family, if I said Joe Biden is the part-owner of a company and it has all of these investments from the Middle East, you would say, ‘That sounds corrupt,’ right?” the interviewer asked.
Trump responded, “Because I know nothing about it.”
When further questioned about whether foreign investors might believe they were purchasing political influence through their investments in the company, the president said he did not know.
The interview brought together Trump’s acknowledgment of the political consequences of his immigration enforcement policies, his willingness to explore an agreement with Democrats and questions surrounding his administration’s electoral performance and personal business interests.
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation
______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
“A Comprehensive Guide To Evidence Law” — Releases Second Edition In Three Volumes, Covering 4,051 Cases
For enquiries and orders, contact: 08035526491 Email: jerryamadisilk@gmail.com
Prof. Jerry Amadi’s Evidence Law, Second Edition (2026), contains 3,314 pages in three volumes, covering the Evidence Act 2011, its 2023 amendment, and 4,051 Nigerian and English cases.
