Trump Names Miller Chief of Staff After Admitting Deportation Policy May Have Cost Party Seats
The president said the administration was too aggressive on immigration but appointed the key architect of that agenda to his top White House post.
By Amit Chukwu ·
President Donald Trump named Stephen Miller, the primary architect of his hard-line immigration agenda, as White House chief of staff on Friday. He made the appointment shortly after taping an interview in which he conceded the administration's deportation efforts may have been too aggressive for voters. The timing drew immediate criticism from Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, who posted on social media Sunday that the move was a promotion rather than a course correction. Schumer noted that the man responsible for the crackdown was now in charge of the White House.
In an interview with CBS's 60 Minutes that aired Sunday, Trump offered his first major comments since his party lost control of both the House and Senate in the midterm elections. He stated that he believes the administration was too tough on deportations and suggested this was part of the reason Republicans lost seats. When asked directly if the policy might have been too tough, Trump replied, "I think it might be too tough, yeah."
The president indicated he is open to negotiating with the new Democratic majority in Congress. He described a potential deal as doable, saying, "The deal would be we would work something out. And I think it’s something. I think that’s something that’s actually doable." Trump did not provide specific details on what such an agreement would entail. He clarified that he believes "killers" and "drug dealers" in the country illegally should be deported. However, he suggested flexibility for others who are "good people" working in industries like landscaping or hospitality, and in some cases paying taxes.
The immigration crackdown was a central feature of Trump's return to office. Major operations in multiple cities led to a sharp rise in arrests. During these operations, two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were killed by federal officers while protesting. Democrats in the new Congress have identified oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security as a top priority.
On the topic of the 2028 presidential race, Trump hinted at staying neutral among Republican candidates. When asked if he would endorse a successor, he said, "probably, not necessarily." He praised the depth of the Republican bench and specifically named Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a contender. Trump called Rubio "great" but said he preferred not to mention other names, adding that there are many excellent senators. He mused that he might be better off not getting involved in the primary process.
Trump also addressed his personal wealth, which rose by $3 billion since he returned to the White House. He said he devotes little time to his net worth and relies on his sons to manage the family business. Regarding foreign investments in the company he co-owns with his sons, Trump acknowledged that every president faces problems with influence. He said, "I don't know. But that's true, look, every president has a problem."
The interview concluded with a question about whether he could forgive his political enemies. Trump said it would be easy to say yes, but he added that he probably cannot because he hates some of them and always will.
