U.S. President Donald Trump tied his own midterm fortunes to the effects of immigration enforcement, saying border closures helped while deporting workers hurt him politically.
In an interview recorded at the White House Nov. 6 for CBS’ 60 Minutes, Trump credited closing the border and removing people he called “the bad ones.” He said deporting workers in landscaping and hotels had hurt him, and described the approach as possibly “too tough.” CBS News published the transcript Nov. 8.
Trump also said he wanted to work with Democrats on immigration for some people who had lived in the United States for 10 or 15 years. “I’d love to do something on immigration,” he said. He offered no eligibility rules, legislative proposal or timetable, and announced no change to enforcement policy in the interview.
CBS News reported that 58% of exit-poll respondents thought the administration’s immigration actions had gone too far.
EconoTimes previously covered Trump’s comments about a possible deal for long-term residents.
Al Jazeera opinion writer Tim Constantine said Democrats are due to take control of both chambers of Congress on Jan. 3, 2027. Constantine put Democratic gains at 40 or more House seats and seven in the Senate, while counts remained incomplete in dozens of House contests. Constantine also compared the Republican House losses with seven post-World War II midterms in which the party in power lost a comparable or larger number of seats.
The change in congressional control is the next scheduled milestone. Trump named no bill or date for negotiations on immigration.
