Trump told interviewer Ross Douthat that deporting undocumented immigrants who had not committed serious crimes had backfired politically. "I get hurt because we also took people that had good jobs, that created one violation, or breaking of the law, and that was that they came into the country illegally," Trump said in the interview, which was recorded Friday.

The president said "a large group of people" believe that immigrants who are "good people, working in a landscaping company or working in a hotel or doing something ... and, in some cases, paying taxes," should be "allowed to stay."

Trump indicated he would be open to working with Democrats on immigration, saying yes when asked whether a deal could include creating legal status for some undocumented workers. He noted, however, that people "on the sort of pretty far right ... would like everybody taken out," including some within his own administration.

On Friday, Trump promoted Stephen Miller, the architect of the mass deportation policy, to White House chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles. The move came as Democrats, fresh off their midterm victories, are preparing for a major fight over immigration.

Trump also blamed "bad messaging" for the Republicans' sweeping midterm losses. "I think it was bad messaging, maybe by me, but I would talk about it all the time," he said, adding that the media did not cover "positive news for me. So I have to do it myself. I have to get it out there." Pressed on what the bad message was, Trump said, "We couldn't get the word across."

The White House has operated largely without a press secretary since late August, after Karoline Leavitt departed. Katie Zacharia briefly filled the role but left after just five days.

During the interview, Trump also addressed his personal finances when Douthat asked about his net worth increasing by nearly $3 billion since he returned to office. Trump initially responded, "So did everyone's." According to Forbes, Trump's net worth is $7 billion, up $2.7 billion since he was elected in 2024. His financial disclosure forms show he has made $1.4 billion in cryptocurrency earnings.

"I devote almost no time to my net worth. I don't care. I have a lot of money, and far more than I ever thought I'd have. And I guess it's gone up. I don't even know," Trump said, adding that one of his sons "watches over money" and that the two do not discuss finances.

Trump's sons founded the cryptocurrency company World Liberty Financial two years ago. Trump is a co-owner, and investors include Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family and national security adviser for the United Arab Emirates.

Douthat pressed Trump on the parallels to Hunter Biden's business dealings: "I think if I told you that story and it was about the Biden family, if I said Joe Biden is the part-owner of a company and it has all of these investments from the Middle East, you would say, 'That sounds corrupt,' right?"

"Because I know nothing about it," Trump replied, adding that he did not know whether foreign investors in the company believe they are buying influence.

The interview comes as Democrats prepare to take control of both chambers of Congress in January, setting up potential investigations and legislative battles over immigration, ethics, and economic policy.