In a rare admission, the president acknowledged that part of his signature issue may have cost his party at the ballot box. Speaking days after Democrats swept to control of Congress, he offered a mixed review of his own immigration record.
President Donald Trump said his deportation policy may have been too tough for many voters and hurt Republicans in last week’s midterm elections, in an interview with CBS News’ 60 Minutes that aired Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026.
What did Trump say about his deportation policy?
Trump said his immigration policies both helped and hurt Republicans. He gave himself an A plus for closing the border and said he gets very high marks for removing people with criminal records. Border crossings fell sharply after he took office, a change the administration often highlights.
But he said he was hurt politically because the administration also deported people who had good jobs and whose only violation was entering the country illegally. Some of those people had lived in the U.S. for years and had families here.
Asked whether the deportation policy went too far, Trump said it might have been too tough. He said many people think it is great but many others think it is too tough, adding that he believes it ultimately hurt him.
How did Hispanic voters respond?
Hispanic support for Republican candidates fell by about 10% compared with the 2024 election, according to exit polls. The drop marked a sharp reversal from two years earlier.
Along the Texas border, where Trump won every district in 2024, Democrats won most of the races this year. Those communities are largely Hispanic and had swung toward Republicans in recent elections.
Hispanic voters had shifted toward Republicans in 2024, helping Trump win several states. The reversal was one of the clearest signs of the midterm backlash. Democrats also flipped a Senate seat in Texas, according to projections.
How has the deportation policy played out?
The administration has carried out large immigration enforcement operations across the country as part of a deportation policy aimed at removing millions of people.
In Texas alone, federal agents arrested more than 4,000 people over 10 days in late October. About 40% of those arrests involved people who were not the original targets of the operation, officials said. The operation was announced days before Election Day.
Supporters of the deportation policy say it makes communities safer and restores respect for the law. Critics say it has separated families, swept up workers with no criminal records and spread fear in immigrant communities.
Will Trump change course?
Trump did not say whether he plans to change the deportation policy, and the White House has continued to defend its enforcement efforts. Officials have said enforcement will continue nationwide.
With Democrats taking control of Congress in January, lawmakers are expected to scrutinize immigration enforcement and could seek limits through spending bills. Committee chairs will also gain subpoena power to investigate the administration.
Trump has said he will work with Democrats on some issues but not on the border. He has said the border is one area where he will not compromise.
What do the midterms mean for immigration?
Immigration was a winning issue for Trump in 2024, when voters ranked border security among their top concerns. The midterm results suggest voters may draw a line between securing the border and broad deportations. Exit polls showed the cost of living was also a major factor in voters’ decisions.
Analysts say the debate over the deportation policy will remain central heading into the 2028 presidential race. Both parties will be studying the results closely.
