Trump’s 60 Minutes Interview: What He Said After the Midterms, November 9, 2026

Verified November 9, 2026, at 8:27 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (UTC−05:00).

President Donald Trump’s latest 60 Minutes interview is about the Republican Party’s midterm losses and what he might do next. In the conversation broadcast November 8, Trump said his deportation policy might have been too tough and expressed interest in working with Democrats on immigration, while offering no detailed agreement.

Correspondent Ross Douthat interviewed Trump at the White House on November 6, in the president’s first sit-down interview since the election. They also discussed the economy, the Iran and Ukraine wars, potential Republican successors, Trump’s business interests and artificial intelligence. The remarks give viewers a picture of his priorities after Democrats won control of Congress, but they do not themselves change immigration policy.

Destaques

• Trump said deportations may have hurt Republicans politically and suggested a deal with Democrats could be possible.
• He cited the Iran war, gasoline prices and difficulty transferring support to Republican candidates when discussing the election losses.
• The interview also covered foreign policy, potential successors, business conflicts and AI.
• CBS has posted the broadcast interview and a transcript online.

What is Trump’s 60 Minutes interview about?

The interview is a wide-ranging discussion of Trump’s response to the 2026 midterm elections. CBS said Democrats won control of both the House and Senate, changing the political setting for the remainder of his term. Douthat pressed Trump on why Republicans lost and whether he could govern with a Democratic majority.

Trump pointed to several possible factors, including the war with Iran, gasoline prices and candidates who, in his view, could not attract all of his supporters. Asked why voters were unhappy with the economy despite his positive assessment, he also blamed what he called bad messaging. These were his explanations for the result, not a definitive breakdown of every voter’s motives.

The CBS transcript lets readers see the questions and answers in context. CBS also published a video of the broadcast interview, which runs about 27 minutes.

What did Trump say about deportations and immigration?

One of the interview’s most consequential exchanges concerned the administration’s deportation policy. Trump said immigration enforcement had both helped and hurt him politically. He described the removal of some people with jobs, including hotel and landscaping workers, as a difficult issue and said his policy might have been too tough.

Asked what a deal with Democrats would look like, Trump said the sides could work something out. Douthat raised the possibility of legal status for some workers, and Trump discussed making a deal for people who had lived in the country for years. Trump did not lay out eligibility rules, legislation or a timetable. His answer should therefore be read as an expression of interest in negotiations, not an announced change to enforcement or a guarantee of legal status.

The staffing context also matters. After the interview was taped, Trump named Stephen Miller, an architect of his hard-line immigration agenda, as White House chief of staff. That appointment and the president’s interview remarks leave open how any potential negotiations would translate into policy.

What did Trump say about Iran, Ukraine and the economy?

Douthat questioned Trump about the Iran war and whether he would escalate it after the election. Trump said he was not looking to escalate and did not think there was a reason to do so. The exchange included competing descriptions of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the role of U.S. military forces. Trump’s statements in the interview are his assessment, not independent confirmation that the conflict or its risks have ended.

On Russia’s war in Ukraine, Douthat asked why peace had remained elusive and whether Russian President Vladimir Putin was stringing Trump along. Trump said he did not think so and predicted an agreement, while offering no verified timetable for one. A prediction of a settlement is not the same as a signed agreement.

On the economy, Douthat raised voters’ concerns about the cost of living and inflation. Trump defended the economy’s performance and pointed to the stock market, while arguing that his administration had failed to communicate its message effectively. The discussion explains the president’s account of the election; it does not establish that economic conditions affected every household in the same way.

Who interviewed Trump, and where can you watch?

Ross Douthat conducted the interview for 60 Minutes at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Friday, November 6. CBS scheduled the program for Sunday, November 8, at 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time in the eastern United States and 7 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on the West Coast. The Eastern broadcast time corresponds to November 9 at 00:00 UTC; the Pacific time corresponds to 03:00 UTC.

CBS’s video and transcript are useful starting points for anyone who wants to compare a short excerpt with the surrounding exchange. The full episode page identifies the November 8 program as including the Trump interview and a separate report, “France on Fire.” Availability may depend on the viewer’s location or service.

What happens next after the interview?

The practical questions are whether the White House and congressional Democrats put forward concrete immigration proposals, whether enforcement practices change, and how the new congressional majority uses its oversight powers. Any agreement would require negotiations, and an interview comment alone does not establish that those talks will succeed.

Other topics in the conversation may also continue to draw attention. Douthat asked about possible Republican successors, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio; Trump praised Rubio but said he might or might not endorse a candidate. The correspondent also questioned Trump about potential conflicts involving his business interests and foreign investors, and about balancing AI development with safety. These exchanges are part of the interview’s broader examination of the decisions facing the president.

FAQ

When did Trump’s 60 Minutes interview air?

It aired on Sunday, November 8, 2026. CBS scheduled it for 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and 7 p.m. Pacific Standard Time in their respective U.S. viewing regions.

Did Trump announce a new immigration deal?

No. He said he thought a deal with Democrats was possible, but did not provide a detailed agreement or announce a change in policy.

Is the interview available online?

Yes. CBS has posted a video of the broadcast interview and a transcript on its website.