Trump Admits Immigration Policy May Have Cost Support
Trump said his immigration enforcement policies may have hurt Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections, according to a 60 Minutes interview with Ross Douthat.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Immigration
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Democratic party members had a runaway success in the 2026 midterm elections, according to The View cohosts' discussion of President Donald Trump's reaction. Trump said Republicans lost en masse because he was not on the ballot and acknowledged his immigration enforcement may have cost him support.
Why it matters
Trump's acknowledgment that his immigration enforcement may have cost his party support points to a political vulnerability on one of his signature issues. The reaction also highlights how voters used the midterms to register dissatisfaction with Trump himself.
43% of people said they voted against the Republican Party to send a message to Trump, according to figures cited in the discussion. The source does not identify the survey's sample size or pollster.
The players
Donald Trump
Donald Trump is the current President of the United States, a Republican who has built a political career on hardline immigration enforcement and was the central figure in the 2026 midterm debate.
Ross Douthat
Ross Douthat is a New York Times columnist who conducted the 60 Minutes interview in which Trump discussed his immigration policies and election reaction.
Stephen Miller
Stephen Miller is a longtime Trump adviser and architect of the administration's immigration enforcement policy, recently promoted to chief of staff.
The details
Trump gave an interview with Ross Douthat that aired on 60 Minutes, in which he said he could never forgive his enemies and stated that many subjects of immigration enforcement were guilty only of being undocumented. Trump also promoted Stephen Miller to chief of staff and has amplified social media claims that the election was stolen.
Timeline
2026 midterm elections: Democratic party members had a runaway success.
Monday, November 9, 2026: The View cohosts reviewed clips from Trump's 60 Minutes interview.
Political Context
Trump's admission that his immigration enforcement may have cost his party support contrasts with the base-mobilizing appeal that drove his earlier campaigns on border security. The shift raises questions about whether enforcement-first politics remains a durable advantage for Republicans in general elections.
Voters tracking immigration policy should watch how the party's leadership adjusts enforcement messaging after acknowledging the political cost. Changes in enforcement priorities would directly affect communities and individuals subject to immigration actions.
The takeaway
Trump's own assessment that enforcement may have cost his party votes is a notable signal for how immigration politics may shape future campaigns. Readers following the issue should weigh how both voter motivations and policy outcomes evolve from here.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in the Immigration section for context on enforcement policy and its political effects.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TV Insider.
Live Poll
Do you think the federal government should be doing more on immigration enforcement?
