One of the key platforms President Donald Trump campaigned on — in all three general elections he’s been involved with, for that matter — was a hardline stance against illegal immigration.
While he may have been a bit stymied on that front during his first term, Trump’s second term has seen the president put his money where his mouth is, with sweeping empowerment of agencies like the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security.
In fact, Trump’s second term has seen such sweeping immigration reform, it’s literally triggered entire sanctuary cities, like Los Angeles, which has been in the throes of anti-ICE riots.
Amid all of this chaos, however, is it possible the president has suddenly softened his stance — albeit every so slightly — on illegal immigration?
A recent Truth Social post from the president sure seemed to suggest that is the case:
Critics and supporters of Trump alike have pounced on this seeming change of heart.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom — who’s engaged in a war of words with the president over the L.A. riots — unsurprisingly took a victory lap (Newsom argues that Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and Marines escalated the tensions in California) after Trump’s post.
(There also appears to be a bit of embellishment from Newsom, as there’s no evidence the Trump administration is wantonly “snatching women and children off the streets.”)
Perhaps even less surprising than Newsom’s barb was the outpouring of fury from conservatives, who still maintain that aforementioned hardline stance on immigration.
The Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh is one such furious conservative:
Amnesty Don? pic.twitter.com/mgxjk7U3Ya
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) June 12, 2025
