US President Donald Trump (AP photo)
US President Donald Trump has acknowledged that the war with Iran contributed to the Republican Party’s losses in the midterm elections, while conceding that his administration’s deportation drive may have been too harsh and expressing willingness to work with Democrats on immigration reform. In an interview with CBS News on Friday, with a full transcript published on Sunday, Trump offered his assessment of the Republicans’ setbacks, saying voters were unhappy with the war, rising petrol prices and what he described as growing dislike of Israel.
Because of me,” Trump said, and the only reason it’s gonna end is.
Asked about vice-president JD Vance’s assertion that the Iran war was the reason for the party’s defeat, Trump said: “I don’t disagree with it. “My answer is an emphatic yes because you can’t let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” he said, adding that he believed the decision would be viewed favourably in the long run. Trump said his administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration had both helped and hurt Republicans electorally. “I think that’s something that’s actually doable,” he said, adding that several Democrats had already approached him about working together on immigration. Trump also said he would be willing to avoid insulting Democratic lawmakers for six months if that helped secure an agreement. “Very easily,” he said when asked whether he could do so. The president maintained that the US had prevented Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and said he was not looking to escalate the conflict further. Asked about the remaining nuclear material in Iran, Trump said: “They have nothing. Trump said countries protected by Washington during the conflict would eventually reimburse the US for the costs of the war. Trump said he believed a deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war was close and claimed the conflict would not have begun had he been president at the time. On the terms of a possible settlement, he said Ukraine would emerge with “a little bit different shape”. Trump indicated that changes could be made to his administration following the Republican losses, although he said he remained satisfied with his Cabinet. But I’ll do– be doin’ maybe a few changes,” he said. “Whoever wins that race wins,” he said, adding that the risks associated with AI were not as serious as some industry figures suggested and could be managed. He said he was open to safeguards on the technology but warned against regulations that could leave the US at a disadvantage. “I don’t mind guardrails,” Trump said, while arguing that China had fewer restrictions.
He nevertheless defended his decision to confront Tehran, saying he could not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. he acknowledged that the removal of people who had established lives and jobs in the US had caused concern While he believed he had received strong support for securing the border and deporting criminals. Asked whether the deportation policy had gone too far, Trump replied: “I think it might be too tough, yeah. He suggested that a compromise with Democrats could allow some immigrants who had lived in the country for years and were working in sectors such as hospitality and landscaping to remain in the US legally, while continuing to remove people involved in serious crimes and drug dealing. It’s buried under thousands of tons of rock. He also insisted that the Strait of Hormuz was open, saying ships were moving through it, while defending the continued presence of US forces in the region. He rejected the suggestion that the US had to make concessions to reopen the waterway, maintaining that American military involvement had been decisive in protecting its allies. Asked about the biggest obstacle to a settlement, he cited the hostility between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “I believe that that war is going to end, and it’s gonna end soon. He declined to say whom he trusted more between Putin and Zelenskyy, but rejected the suggestion that the Russian president was delaying negotiations. Trump also defended his record on Moscow, saying he had been tougher on Russia than any other US president through trade measures and sanctions. “I love my Cabinet. I think they’re good. He also expressed confidence in defence secretary Pete Hegseth, whose position has faced calls for scrutiny over his handling of the Iran conflict. Trump described artificial intelligence as a crucial area of competition with China, arguing that the US could not afford to fall behind Beijing. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.