In a candid "60 Minutes" interview, President Donald Trump attributed the Republican Party’s resounding midterm defeat to voter dissatisfaction with the Iran war and rising gasoline prices. He also cited an "incredibly" high level of dislike for Israel as a contributing factor to the electoral loss. While he admitted his mass deportation policy was "too tough," he immediately elevated immigration hardliner Stephen Miller to chief of staff shortly after the Friday broadcast. This rapid personnel change signals no major shift in course despite the political setback.
Blaming external forces and enemies
Trump told correspondent Ross Douthat that he would conduct the Iran war all over again without hesitation. He argued that Israel must "pay us back" for the costs incurred during the conflict, claiming, "Without us, Israel wouldn’t exist." When Douthat asked if he could forgive enemies like James Comey and Nancy Pelosi to enter heaven, Trump called them "very bad people" and "very dishonest." He stated, "I probably cannot do that, no, because I do hate some of my enemies, and I always will." The president described himself as a "religious person" who hopes to go to heaven, yet he refused to feign forgiveness for those he considers dishonest.
Wealth, death, and future cooperation
Despite the defeat, Trump claimed he has had the best two years in the history of the presidency. He deflected questions about his massive wealth increase by saying his son runs his company and he is unaware of his net worth, adding, "I guess it’s gone up." When asked what happens when you die, he replied, "I hope I’m missed." Although he appeared open to working with Democrats on an immigration bill next year, his actions contradict this openness. The elevation of Miller suggests the administration remains committed to punitive enforcement rather than legislative compromise.
