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President Donald Trump sat for a wide-ranging interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes” that aired Sunday evening, where he discussed the 2026 midterms and what his administration will look like going forward, the global artificial intelligence race, and whether or not he thinks he can forgive his enemies to be granted admission to heaven.
It was the president’s first sit-down interview following Democrats’ historic wins in the midterm election, flipping control of both the House and Senate, and winning several gubernatorial seats.
The president previously told the media that the GOP failed because he wasn’t on the ballot and also projected confidence that he’d be able to work with Democrats for his final two years in office.
In conversation with CBS News correspondent Ross Douthat, Trump was questioned about corruption in politics, why the president didn’t divest from his family’s organizations, and more.
Here’s what you need to know:
Trump says deportations impacted midterms
The president told Douthat that he “campaigned hard” for some candidates and he believed that if he was on the ballot, the Republican Party would have done better.
He also acknowledged that the war with Iran impacted the midterm outcomes because people “didn’t like the war” and “didn’t like the fact that gasoline went up.” Trump reiterated that he felt the war was necessary, even if it cost him popularity in the short term.
“I think it was bad messaging,” Trump said, adding, “We couldn’t get the word across.
Douthat asked about Vice President JD Vance’s post-midterm message that said Republicans lost because of the war with Iran. Trump said he didn’t “disagree with it” but would have added that he’d do it again if he had to in order to keep Americans safe.
He later addressed his new reality: having to work with Democrats who have control of both chambers in Congress. Trump said he believes that he will be able to work with Democrats, particularly on immigration, which was one of his key agenda items in both of his terms as president.
“I’d love to do something on immigration,” he said.
Douthat questioned if Trump’s immigration crackdown in his second term hurt him in the midterms. The president replied that he thinks it “both helped and hurt.”
Trump discussed how some in the country don’t want any immigration into the U.S., how some want deportations for criminals and others people believe can say if they are good people who are working in jobs that benefit the economy.
“I think it was too tough,” Trump said of his deportation policy.
“I think it might be too tough,” he continued. “And I think ultimately that hurt me.”
Addressing corruption allegations, stocks
Douthat pressed Trump on his family businesses, including in crypto currency, and how he’s drawn criticism about corruption from Democrats.
Trump said his sons manage his companies and most of his money is given to Wall Street’s “biggest firms” to invest. The president, however, has earned more than $1 billion from various crypto businesses that his sons launched shortly before he was sworn in in early 2025.
Douthat questioned Trump over a report from Forbes that found the president’s net worth grew by $3 billion since his 2024 election win. Trump said that Douthat’s net worth didn’t go up because he “should have had stock.”
“How did it go up by $3 billion?” Douthat said.
“I devote almost no time to my net worth. I don’t care,” Trump replied. “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 pointed out that as president he doesn’t take a salary. Douthat pressed Trump about being a co-owner in his son’s World Liberty Financial, which received an investment from the government of the United Arab Emirates.
“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?” Douthat pressed. “Why is it different?”
“Because I know nothing about it,” Trump responded.
The president noted that before becoming president he had already “made a lot of money,” to which the correspondent wondered why Trump needed the money and why he wouldn’t divest himself from World Liberty Financial before retaking the White House.
Foreign policy: Wars and the AI race
The interview moved on to some of the president’s most pressing foreign policy issues. He stated before his second term that he could end the Russia-Ukraine war quickly, but the European conflict between Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelenskyy is nearing the five-year mark come February.
Douthat questioned what the biggest obstacle to peace is between the two countries. Trump argued that it was “hatred” between the two leaders and reiterated a point he’s made in the past that if he was in office in Feb. 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine, it would have never started.
Trump said he’d “rather not say” which leader he trusts more, but said he gets along with both Putin and Zelenskyy. He pointed to ongoing negotiations and “very important” meetings taking place.
“I believe that that war is going to end and it’s going to end soon, and the only reason it’s going to end is because of me,” he said.
Douthat questioned Trump’s motives for ending the war, noting that he’s been friendly with Putin and he’s gone “back and forth” in doing things that benefit either side.
As for the U.S. economy, the two discussed the domestic success of artificial intelligence and the race against China to be dominant in the emerging technological field.
Trump confirmed that he is an “AI bull” and said it’s because of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who recently met with the president at the White House.
“The level of power of winning that race is very important,” Trump said.
Douthat noted that there is real fear among American people and some AI creators about the speed and capabilities of the emerging technology. Trump argued that if the United States doesn’t have the top technology, then China will have it.
“That would put us at an unbelievable disadvantage. It’s all between us and China,” he said.
GOP after Trump: Successors, Cabinet replacements and forgiving enemies in death
Since Trump is term limited and cannot run for president again, conversation has shifted into whether or not the MAGA movement will live on. The results of last week’s election further complicated the question as voters largely rebuked the Trump administration.
Asked about his successor and the next Republican nominee for president, Trump said he “probably” but “not necessarily” will endorse whoever that ends up being.
He said he has “so many” great relationships with people who could be on the short list for the GOP come 2028. Douthat questioned who would be on the list besides Vance.
Trump replied that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is “great” and doing a “fantastic job” in his Cabinet position.
“There are many others, I’d rather not mention their names. There’s some senators that are excellent, I know them all, I like them a lot,” he continued. “I may or may not get involved. Maybe I’m better off not getting involved. I think it would play a big role if I did because my endorsement capacity has been very strong.”
As for the time until a successor is named, Trump confirmed that he does expect some changeups in his administration after the midterms. He said he loves his Cabinet but would be making “a few changes.” After filming the interview, it was revealed that White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was being replaced by Stephen Miller.
When it comes time to leave office in early 2028, Trump said that he expects to issue “a lot” of pardons. He said he didn’t expect to pardon himself, but said he wants to issue a “tremendous” number of pardons to people who are “within 1,000 miles of the Oval Office” because he doesn’t want people living in fear amid some Democrats, including California Rep. Robert Garcia, who will likely run the House Oversight Committee, saying Republican officials should “lawyer up.”
The president was also asked to address the way he views mortality. After being subject to multiple assassination attempts over the last few years, Trump has uniquely faced death several times and survived.
Douthat asked Trump what he thinks happens when he dies. Trump replied that he hopes he’s “missed.” In terms of where he goes, Trump said he’s a religious person so he hopes he goes to heaven because he doesn’t want to go to hell.
Douthat recalled a moment at conservative influencer Charlie Kirk’s memorial where his widow, Erika Kirk, forgave the shooter that ended her husband’s life. She spoke about how Christians must forgive their enemies and when Trump took the stage, he joked about hating his opponents.
“Let’s say you pass away, you’re entering the next life, and all you have to do to enter paradise is feel love and forgiveness for James Comey, Nancy Pelosi, anyone who you have expressed hate for over the years, do you think you can do it?” Douthat questioned.
Trump replied that the “easy” answer would be to say “sure” and “yes, I could forgive.”
“The answer is no,” he admitted. “I want to be honest.”
Douthat pressed him on his wealth and accomplishments, saying Trump has lived the “most charmed and remarkable life of any American in my entire lifetime” and wondered if he was confirming that he could not find it in his heart to forgive his enemies.
“Can I be honest? I probably cannot do that now because I do hate some of my enemies, and I always will,” the president replied.
