From Vox · Cameron Peters · · 1m 30s
Trump's immigration message splits in two
The president says his policies were too tough. His new chief of staff says they weren't tough enough.
In brief
The president says his policies were too tough. His new chief of staff says they weren't tough enough. Trump told 60 Minutes some immigration policies hurt his party, but appointed hardliner Stephen Miller as chief of staff, signalling conflicting directions on enforcement. Originally reported by Vox.
Miller becomes Trump's chief of staff
Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner from Trump's first term, took the role on Monday. He is the force behind many of Trump's harshest immigration policies.
Trump says policies were too tough
In a 60 Minutes interview with Ross Douthat that aired Sunday, Trump conceded that some immigration policies might be too tough and had hurt his party at the polls.
“might be too tough”
Trump floats bipartisan immigration deal
Trump told Douthat a bipartisan immigration deal could be actually doable. He noted many believe workers in landscaping, hotels and other sectors should be allowed to stay.
“actually doable”
Miller's appointment signals harder line
Miller's elevation as chief of staff forebodes an even darker and more aggressive final two years of Trump's presidency, contradicting the president's recent softer comments on immigration.
Democrats reject working with Miller
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the likely next speaker, said Miller is a stone-cold racist and expressed zero interest in working with him on any immigration deal.
“is a stone-cold racist. … I've got zero interest in working with that kind of individual.”
Bipartisan deal remains unlikely
With Miller in the chief of staff's office and powerful parts of Trump's own party opposing any deal, a bipartisan immigration agreement remains unlikely despite the president's recent comments.
The key point
Trump told 60 Minutes some immigration policies hurt his party, but appointed hardliner Stephen Miller as chief of staff, signalling conflicting directions on enforcement.
