President Trump defended his handling of the economy and the Iran war after Republicans' midterm losses.
He acknowledged "bad messaging" on the economy and said his deportation policy was too tough at times.
He hinted at administration changes, then announced chief of staff Susie Wiles would be replaced by Stephen Miller.
Days after Republicans suffered heavy losses in the midterm elections, President Trump defended his record on the economy and the Iran war in his first extended interview since the vote, while conceding mistakes on messaging and immigration and signaling changes within his administration.
Trump on the Economy: "I think it was bad messaging, maybe by me, but I would talk about it all the time. So I don't know, how much can I talk about it?" — Donald Trump, US President, to 60 Minutes.
Trump on Deportations: "I think it was too tough." — Donald Trump.
Trump on Iran: "I'm not looking to. I don't think there's any reason to." — Donald Trump, asked whether he plans to escalate the war.
Focus Area: Trump's first extended reaction to the midterm defeat and the changes he signaled for the rest of his term.
In the interview with 60 Minutes correspondent Ross Douthat, Trump said the main reason Republicans lost was that he was not on the ballot, adding that supporters "didn't vote" and that some voters disliked the candidates.
He also conceded voters "didn't like the war" or the soaring gas prices it caused. Republicans lost more than 40 House seats and at least seven Senate seats, with some races uncalled.
CBS exit polling found about 63% of voters disapproved of Trump's performance, three-fourths rated the economy poor or not so good, and 58% said his immigration actions went too far.
Trump called the economy "phenomenal" and predicted Americans will notice improvements within months. He agreed with Vice President JD Vance that the Iran war cost Republicans, but said he would "emphatically" launch it again, arguing history will judge it favorably.
He said he believes Iran is close to a deal, with Qatar mediating. On immigration, he said he deserved an "A+" for securing the border but was hurt by deporting otherwise law-abiding workers, and said he would "love to do something on immigration" with Democrats.
Asked about firings, he said "a little bit" and that he would make "a few changes." An hour later, he announced Wiles's departure, with Miller, a hardliner seen as the architect of immigration enforcement, taking over.
He said he has confidence in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth despite Democratic calls for impeachment. On his wealth, he said he devotes "almost no time" to his net worth.
He said he will "probably" endorse a 2028 successor, plans "tremendous numbers of pardons," and, asked whether he could forgive his enemies, said, "I probably cannot do that, no, because I do hate some of my enemies and always will."
Both Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are widely seen as possible heirs to Trump's political movement ahead of 2028.
Earlier this year, Trump signed an order mandating the release of government files on unexplained aerial phenomena, and in the interview he said military pilots had "told me things that are very strange."
Since September, the US and Iran have largely held off from major attacks, though the US launched limited defensive strikes earlier this week.
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