Trump Defends ICE Raids in “60 Minutes” Interview
In a recent “60 Minutes” interview that aired on Sunday night, former President Trump stood by his administration’s ICE raids, asserting that, in his view, “they haven’t gone far enough.” This appearance marked his first response since a lawsuit involving CBS News.
Trump pushed back against criticism regarding his immigration policies, attributing obstacles to “liberal judges” after CBS host Norah O’Donnell prompted him about whether he felt the raids were excessive.
“No, I don’t think they’ve gone far enough, because we’ve been held back by liberal judges appointed by Biden and Obama,” he stated, as hinted in a preview of the interview.
O’Donnell highlighted disturbing scenes of ICE operations, noting instances like agents confronting a young mother and the use of tear gas in Chicago neighborhoods. “Are you okay with that tactic?” she inquired during a sit-down at Trump’s Florida residence.
“Yes, because we have to get people out,” Trump asserted firmly.
The administration is currently facing multiple legal challenges regarding its deportation strategies, including an incident in Illinois, where a Biden-appointed judge blocked Trump’s plan to send the National Guard to Chicago.
In a separate yet related discussion, Trump entered the New York City mayoral race again, criticizing “communist” candidate Zoran Mamdani.
“He’s much worse than a socialist,” Trump claimed.
Later, O’Donnell asked Trump about comparisons drawn between him and Mamdani, who has been described as a left-wing version of Trump—”charismatic, breaking old rules.” Trump quipped, “I think I’m a much better-looking guy than he is, right?”
This “60 Minutes” interview coincides with recent changes at CBS, where former Wall Street Journal and New York Times opinion editor Bari Weiss has taken the helm as editor-in-chief.
Additionally, Trump is pursuing legal action against CBS’s parent company, Paramount, over a segment from 2024’s “60 Minutes” featuring then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Back in July, Paramount settled a lawsuit with Trump for $16 million, which alleged that Harris’ interviews were edited in a misleading way during the campaign.
