Trump proposes immigration deal after calling crackdown too tough

Donald Trump acknowledged that his administration's deportation enforcement was excessive and proposed a legislative compromise with Democrats in an interview aired on 60 Minutes on Sunday. The comments came one day after the Republican midterm defeat and followed a decision to promote Stephen Miller, the architect of the immigration strategy, to White House chief of staff.

During the broadcast, correspondent Ross Douthat asked if the policy had gone too far. Trump responded, “I think it was too tough.” He noted that while some supporters praised the crackdown, many viewed it as overly aggressive. The president stated that the policy helped by securing the border but hurt by removing individuals with good jobs who had committed minor violations.

Trump outlined a plan to allow long-term undocumented residents to remain in the United States if they negotiate a deal. He suggested targeting individuals convicted of serious crimes, specifically killers, rapists, and drug dealers, while providing a path for those who have lived in the country for 10 or 15 years. “Let the people that are here, and in some cases here for 10 and 15 years, work a deal for them,” he said. He characterized the proposal as achievable and noted that some Democrats had already reached out to discuss terms.

The president blamed the war with Iran and rising petrol prices for a portion of the GOP’s midterms loss. He agreed with Vice President JD Vance that the conflict was a major factor in the election results. Trump maintained that the military campaign was justified to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. “My answer is an emphatic yes because you can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” he said. He predicted Tehran would eventually negotiate a peace deal but acknowledged the campaign might not be popular in the short term.

On the economic front, Trump conceded that his team failed to communicate its achievements effectively. He stated, “I think it was bad messaging, maybe by me,” despite earlier claims that employment and stock market figures were at record levels. He also signaled openness to regulations for artificial intelligence, stating, “I don’t mind guardrails,” while cautioning against placing the US in a subordinate position relative to competitors.

Douthat raised the issue of Trump’s personal wealth, citing a Forbes estimate that his net worth increased by $3 billion from the autumn of 2024 to the autumn of 2025. Trump initially attributed the rise to general stock market performance and said his son managed his finances. He defended his involvement in the cryptocurrency firm World Liberty Financial by saying, “I know nothing about it.”

Dan Alexander, a senior editor at Forbes, challenged that explanation in a thread on X. Alexander argued that market gains alone did not account for the increase. He cited cryptocurrency ventures that generated over $1 billion in proceeds, the appreciation of tokens held by Trump, expanded overseas licensing agreements, and the removal of a $500 million financial penalty in a New York civil fraud case.

The interview also touched on the 2028 presidential election. Trump said he might endorse a candidate but had not decided whether to intervene. He described the Republican field as strong and praised Secretary of State Marco Rubio without ruling out other contenders. He suggested he might be better off staying out of the contest but expressed confidence that the “Make America great again” movement could survive without him.

In the final segment, Trump was asked if he could forgive political opponents such as former FBI director James Comey and former House speaker Nancy Pelosi. He replied, “The answer is no. I want to be honest, no.” When Douthat pressed him on the question, Trump insisted, “I probably cannot do that, no, because I do hate some of my enemies and I always will.”

Douthat asked how Trump wished to be remembered, noting that many presidents are defined by a single achievement. Trump responded simply: “That I made America great again.”