Trump admits immigration enforcement may have been too 'tough' in first interview since midterms

President Donald Trump admitted in his first sit-down interview since the midterm elections that he may have been too 'tough' in his immigration enforcement, potentially contributing to Republican losses in last week's elections. The Democratic Party won overwhelmingly, including victories in Republican strongholds like Texas.

Mixed Results on Immigration

When asked by CBS News' Ross Douthat whether his strict immigration policies likely contributed to Republican losses, Trump responded: 'I think it both helped and hurt.' He claimed to have received 'an A-plus for closing up the border' and 'very high marks for getting the bad ones out,' citing that 25 million people entered the country during Biden's four-year term, many from prisons, as drug dealers, or mental institutions.

Policy Backlash

However, Trump acknowledged that his policies faced backlash because many illegal immigrants within the country were 'good' people with jobs who committed only the violation of entering the country illegally. He noted a divide in public opinion, with some believing all should be deported while others think those working and paying taxes should be allowed to stay.

Pressed on whether his deportation policy went too far, Trump conceded: 'I think it was — too tough…I think it might be too tough, yeah.' He added that this approach 'ultimately that hurt me' in the elections.

Potential Compromise

The president suggested an immigration deal with the incoming Democratic Congress could be 'doable,' excluding more extreme groups on either side of the deportation debate. Trump noted that many Democrats are willing to work with him on border enforcement, citing incoming Texas Sen.-elect James Talarico as an example.

Interestingly, immigration was the only issue that Republicans led Democrats on in a Fox News voter poll of more than 100,000 registered voters nationwide conducted from Oct. 19 to Nov. 3, 2026, suggesting the issue's complex role in the election outcomes.