United States: Trump admits his deportation policy "might be too harsh"

US President Donald Trump acknowledged that his mass deportation policy may have been too harsh, a few days after the Republicans' heavy defeat in the midterm elections on Tuesday, November 3.

"I think it was too harsh... I think it's maybe too harsh," he stated in a television interview that aired on Sunday, November 8, 2026.

Workers settled for years

Donald Trump suggested that his administration may have been too harsh toward immigrants who have lived in the United States for years, have jobs, and pay taxes. He claimed that immigration had "both helped and hurt" the Republicans, while still defending the deportation of individuals convicted of serious crimes.

He said he was ready to negotiate an immigration deal with the Democrats. When asked about the possibility of legal status for undocumented workers, he answered yes.

No changes announced

The president did not announce any changes to his deportation policy. The previous Friday, he had appointed Stephen Miller, one of the main architects of his administration's immigration policy, as White House Chief of Staff.