The key facts
- After a conversation with Melania, Trump admitted that Stephen Miller may have gone too far
- Melania was outraged by the deportation of people she knew personally
- Republicans in Texas and Florida feared voter discontent in Hispanic districts
The US president revised his position after complaints from the first lady
US President Donald Trump has begun changing his attitude toward harsh measures against migrants after complaints from his wife Melania about the deportation of people she knew. This was reported by The Wall Street Journal citing conversations with the president's circle; Life.ru writes about the article. After a conversation with the first lady, Trump admitted in talks with aides that one of the main advocates of tightening immigration policy, Stephen Miller, may have gone too far.
What is known about Melania's and Miller's positions
According to the publication, Melania was outraged that people she knew personally were caught up in deportations, and her displeasure became one of the factors that influenced the president's position on the large-scale campaign to expel foreigners. Miller is considered one of the main architects of the administration's hard line on immigration: he is credited with intensified checks, detentions, and deportations of foreigners without legal grounds to remain in the US.
The president's shifting position and political pressure
WSJ notes that Trump's attitude toward immigration restrictions changed over the course of the year: in some situations he demanded more decisive action, while in private conversations he expressed concern about the consequences of overly harsh measures. Additional pressure on the White House came from the political consequences of the campaign: some Republicans in Texas and Florida feared voter discontent, especially in areas with a large Hispanic population.
Midterm election results
In the midterm congressional elections on November 3, Democrats received notable support in such districts. At the same time, as American journalists emphasize, immigration policy was only one of the issues in the election campaign, so the voting results cannot be linked directly and solely to deportations.
The first lady's absence on election night
Separately, Life.ru, citing NBC News, reports that Melania Trump did not come to the White House on the night of the vote count in the midterm elections, leaving her husband to watch the results alongside officials and administration staff. Other members of the president's family were also absent. Representatives of the first lady explained this by her being occupied with diplomatic contacts on Russia and Ukraine.
