Trump says immigration crackdown was 'too tough' and played part in midterms defeat
President Donald Trump acknowledged that his aggressive immigration crackdown was 'too tough' and may have negatively impacted Republican performance in the midterm elections. Despite this, he maintained that his border policies were successful in limiting illegal crossings.
Why it matters
This represents a significant shift in rhetoric from a major political figure regarding a core policy platform, highlighting the tension between hardline base-pleasing policies and broader electoral appeal.
Figure caption, 'I think it might be too tough' says Trump on immigration policy
US President Donald Trump has said his immigration crackdown was "too tough", marking one of his clearest public retreats from a defining plank of his political agenda, following his party's drubbing in the midterm elections.
In an interview with CBS' 60 Minutes programme, Trump said he believed he deserved an "A plus" for drastically limiting illegal border crossings, but he had been politically "hurt" by sweeping deportations.
His acknowledgement came despite his homeland security department insisting it was not backing away from the crackdown.
Election day polling indicated immigration was the third most important issue for midterm voters, after the economy and the state of democracy.
In historically conservative states like Texas, a swing of Latino voters towards Democrats helped seal the Democratic Party's landslide majorities in Congress.
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