Trump Signals Openness to Immigration Deal With Democrats After Midterms

President Donald Trump stated during a broadcast interview that he is open to working with congressional Democrats on a deal for undocumented immigrants who have lived in the United States for over a decade. The remarks followed significant Republican losses in the midterm elections, which will result in the party losing control of Congress in January.

Speaking with interviewer Ross Douthat, the president acknowledged that his deportation policies were sometimes perceived as too harsh regarding individuals who have integrated into society. While maintaining that severe criminals must be removed, Trump questioned the fairness of deporting productive workers such as hotel staff, landscaping employees, and waitresses who have built lives in the country and pay taxes.

"When you go into a hotel and you have a woman that's working there as a maid, as a cleaner... and all of a sudden they're being taken out of the country, it's tough," Trump said during the interview. He indicated a willingness to craft an agreement for individuals who have resided in the country illegally for ten to fifteen years without committing other offenses, though the White House later clarified that the president never explicitly used the word amnesty.

The comments immediately divided conservative figures and immigration restrictionists. Commentator Steve Cortes criticized the notion on social media, warning that an arrangement with a Democratic-controlled Congress would constitute a major betrayal of voters who expected mass deportations. Radio host Anthony Cumia similarly argued that legalizing undocumented residents would permanently alter political dynamics in states like Texas.

Conversely, the statements drew praise from proponents of immigration reform. Representative Maria Salazar of Florida celebrated the remarks on social media, comparing them to her Dignity Act, which proposes legal status for individuals who have resided continuously in the United States since 2020, subject to back taxes and restitution fees.

The broadcast also addressed broader political fallout from the midterm elections, in which Republicans lost numerous seats in the House and Senate. Trump attributed the losses partly to voter dissatisfaction with the ongoing conflict in Iran and high gasoline prices, while maintaining that his broader economic record has been exceptionally strong despite unfavorable public polling.

Shortly following the taping of the interview, the administration announced leadership changes, including the departure of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and her replacement by Stephen Miller, a prominent advocate of strict immigration enforcement. The White House declined to provide additional details regarding what a potential bipartisan legislative compromise on immigration might entail.