Trump Says Deportation Policy Might Have Been Too Tough After Midterm Loss

Days after the Republican Party lost control of the House and Senate in midterm elections, US President Donald Trump said that his mass deportation policy might have been too tough for his voters. In a CBS "60 Minutes" interview aired on Sunday, Trump stated that working with Democrats to finalize an immigration deal is doable, though he did not share details of what the deal would involve. Shortly after recording the interview on Friday, Trump named Stephen Miller as his new chief of staff. Miller has been the key architect of Trump's hard-line immigration agenda. Criticizing the move, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said the appointment is a promotion rather than a course correction. Democrats have stated that the oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security is a priority for the new Congress.

## Background

The immigration crackdown involved major operations and a rising number of arrests in multiple cities. According to Reuters, Miller had set a goal of 3,000 arrests a day, with masked immigration officers combing towns across the country. Arrests of people with no criminal record and long years in the US rose during the drive. During protests against the operations, two US citizens named Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed by federal officers.

## Future Plans

When asked if he would endorse a potential successor, Trump said he probably would, but not necessarily. While mentioning Vice President JD Vance as a possible figure, Trump specifically named Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a 2028 contender, calling him great, while adding that there are many excellent senators.

## Context

Midterm elections in the United States take place halfway through a president's four-year term and often result in the ruling party losing seats in Congress. Changes in congressional control directly impact the president's ability to pass legislation and confirm appointments.