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Trump to Welcome Zelenskyy to White House for High-Stakes Talks; Official Investigate Suspicious Deaths of Gene Hackman and Wife; CFPB Quits Cases Against Firms Accused of Ripping Off Americans. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired February 28, 2025 - 07:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[07:00:00]

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: After weeks of high tension, demands and insults, President Trump set to meet with President Zelenskyy at the White House this morning. Will there be a deal over Ukraine's rare minerals?

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And breaking overnight, a judge halts some of President Trump's mass firings of federal workers. We're going to tell you what this means for Doge's sweeping and aggressive actions across the country.

And a school bus full of middle schoolers engulfed in flames. We're going to tell you how a hero bus driver managed to save the day.

I'm Omar Jimenez with Sara Sidner. Kate and John are off. It's CNN News Central.

SIDNER: A live look now at the White House there behind me this morning. High-stakes talks began with President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. President Trump aiming to secure and sign a rare earth minerals deal, he calls a repayment to the United States. Not exactly how Zelenskyy, see it. Zelenskyy is trying to get security guarantees against Russia in return. There are also questions being raised over just how lucrative Ukraine's rare earth minerals and materials would be.

As for U.S. military support, Trump has so far downplayed it, saying just yesterday he trusts Russia will keep their word.

CNN's Nick Paton Walsh is live for us in Kyiv, but first let's go to Kevin Liptak, who is at the White House where this meeting will happen just shortly. Kevin, what is the White House saying about this meeting as they go into what could be a tense meeting?

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes. The White House is framing this meeting is sort of narrowly around that minerals deal. But the consequences certainly extend well beyond that one piece of paper. I don't think it's overstating it to say that Zelenskyy will be here at the White House to argue for his country's entire future with a counterpart who at best has viewed him skeptically and at worst has viewed him hostily. So, the stakes really could not be higher. This minerals deal, I think, is really meant when you listen to White House officials to sort of rewrite the U.S.-Ukraine relationship. According to President Trump, it would act essentially as back payment for previous U.S. support for Ukraine. But what it doesn't contain is any future guarantees for financial assistance or security guarantees.

Now, when you listen to what American officials say, they say that this could provide its own type of security guarantee, that if the U.S. and Ukraine are so intertwined financially, that, essentially, that will be incentive enough for Russia not to go back in.

But, certainly, that's not the type of security guarantee that Zelenskyy is looking for. He's looking for military support, so are the Europeans. You know, if they are to send their own peacekeeping troops into Ukraine, they will require some U.S. backing.

And so the stakes of this are really enormous. Yesterday, what we heard from President Trump, it was kind of interesting. He essentially backed off some of his harshest criticism of Zelenskyy. He did not repeat his claim that Zelenskyy was a dictator. He sort of made light of it, said, oh, did I say that? What I think was most interesting was how he talked about Vladimir Putin, essentially taking somewhat of a credulous assessment of the Russian leader. Listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: I think he'll keep his word. I think he's -- I've spoken to him. I've known him for a long time now, you know? We had to go through the Russian hoax together. That was not a good thing. It's not fair. That was a rigged deal and had nothing to do with Russia. I don't believe he's going to violate his word. I don't think he'll be back. When we make a deal, I think the deal's going to hold.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIPTAK: So, later, Trump said that his attitude was trust and verify, but it is that trusting attitude that does cause so much concern among the Europeans, certainly, but also the Ukrainians. Each of the European leaders that was here at the White House this week was trying to argue to the president that Putin cannot be trusted, that he has violated these peace agreements in the past, but so far, that message hasn't seemed to penetrate.

[07:05:00]

SIDNER: Trusting Putin would have been laughable for any other president prior to Mr. Trump. It is sort of a shocking thing to hear from a U.S. president.

All right, Kevin Liptak, thank you so much.

Let's go now to Nick Paton Walsh, who is in Ukraine for us this morning. I know you've been out to Irshans'k, where you watched some of the digging up of these materials. What's at stake in order to see this minerals deal go forward today? NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Look, I think it's pretty likely we will see this deal actually signed. I mean, Trump made it clear, the White House made it clear that that was the reason for the Zelenskyy visit. And it's important to bear in mind the deal itself isn't particularly toothy. I mean, it talks about the need for relevant resources to be addressed in it but they'll specify the further details of that in a later fund agreement.

And indeed, the document itself doesn't contain any security guarantees for Ukraine at all. It does suggest that the people involved in these resources and minerals would have an interest in their protection. But it is essentially a symbolic statement in which both sides get over the enormous hurdle of this idea pretty quickly. The Ukrainians don't have to refer to this all as debt and don't have to make specific commitments to named elements. But at the same time, the Trump administration gets a point about the fact that they're going to get money back from Ukraine. The details will be the devil, but they're going to be decided at a later stage.

This is really today about making sure that Trump and Zelenskyy can heal that personal relationship. As Zelenskyy said to me in a press conference on Sunday, you know, it was never in the best way. But I think there's a clear effort by Macron and Starmer, the French and British leaders, to try and heal that. And you heard remarkably yesterday Donald Trump talking almost as those words without consequence, saying he can't believe he said that Zelenskyy was a dictator. That's a stark change, though, and it's reason for optimism, certainly here in Ukraine and indeed, too, is the fact that Zelenskyy will meet Trump before Vladimir Putin does.

But there are key details, really, that have to emerge after this meeting. And, essentially, even if they get on well, this is just Ukraine getting back to where it was about six weeks ago under the Biden administration. This is not some remarkable leap forwards. Zelenskyy needs to hear from Trump that the Trump administration will continue US aid. Without it, they are in a terrible mess. And the Europeans also need to get their plan for a reassurance force more clearly arranged.

But, frankly, even though the U.K. committed air forces to it yesterday, it is a further stage away. As Trump said, the deal is going to be the hardest part with Putin. And then he said, well, he thinks Putin will honor it. Most of the normal allies of the United States simply do not agree. Sara?

SIDNER: All right. Our Nick Paton Walsh there, thank you for all your reporting for us this week there in Ukraine. I appreciate it. Omar?

JIMENEZ: Well, breaking overnight, a federal judge has halted some mass firings of federal workers at some agencies. Now, the immediate impact of this decision could have on President Trump's plans to cut federal workers. We'll tell you about that.

And new details in the investigation into the death of legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife. Why police now are calling the circumstances suspicious. And how does a 19-year-old who can't write or read graduate with honors? It's happened in real life, and now she's suing her high school because of it. We'll tell you all about it, coming up.

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[07:10:00]

JIMENEZ: Welcome back. We want to bring you some new developments overnight in the deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife. Now, while police say there are no obvious signs of foul play, they now say the bodies were found in circumstances suspicious enough to demand a thorough investigation, with prescription pills scattered on the bathroom floor next to his wife's body.

CNN's Josh Campbell is in Santa Fe outside the sheriff's department headquarters. And, Josh, police revealed even more disturbing new details. I mean, what are you learning at this point?

JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we got a significant update yesterday from the sheriff's department. They say that autopsies have now been conducted on Gene Hackman as well as his wife, Betsy. And what they found initially is that there were no signs of any type of external trauma. They say that the medical examiner has ordered carbon monoxide as well as toxicology tests, which is pretty standard when they're trying to investigate deaths that happen under suspicious circumstances. And so we're waiting for that information to come through. That could take some time.

But, you know, this is obviously a tragedy, but it's also a mystery. What we're learning, I'll just kind of walk you through what we know right now, on Wednesday, a 911 call came in to the sheriff's department. This was from a caretaker at the residence of Gene Hackman, who discovered the two people there that were not moving. Authorities arrived. They found Betsy on the ground floor of a bathroom nearby. Her were several pills that were scattered in a nearby closet. There was a deceased German shepherd. Gene Hackman himself was found in a separate room, and so obviously this investigation now underway.

The authorities say they haven't ruled anything out yet. But what concerned them initially is that this could be some type of perhaps a gas leak or carbon monoxide. The fire department as well as the local utility responded. They say, initially, they didn't see any type of a gas leak there. Obviously, the investigation continues. They also didn't see any type of struggle, any signs of that, nor was there any type of theft. Interestingly, the door of the house was opened, but, again, there were no items that were taken.

[07:15:00]

So, it remains an investigation at this hour, but a lot of questions.

And, you know, Gene Hackman himself had retired many years ago from Hollywood and he hadn't really been seen in public. We did get a new video in, which shows him just about a year ago coming out of a shopping center here in the Santa Fe area, although he wasn't -- you know, no longer acting in Hollywood. He was obviously a revered member of the Santa Fe community.

And so a lot of people here, obviously, mourning the larger Hollywood community also grieving. And for sheriff's investigators, they're trying to get them answers, Omar.

JIMENEZ: And, Josh. Look, I know you know this, but in death investigations like this, sometimes it takes time. Obviously, we're waiting on the toxicology report. I mean, do we know at this point any estimate on cause of death report? I mean, when will people maybe get a little bit more clarity on some of these real questions right now?

CAMPBELL: Yes, it's a great question. That's what everyone wants to know. What authorities are saying, they're trying to manage expectations because there are essentially two investigations that are going on right now. You have the medical examiner that's trying to determine what the cause of death is. But interestingly, when sheriff's officials arrived at that residence on Wednesday, they were so concerned about what they saw.

They actually went to a judge to get the authority to search the residents, to look for any types of clues, any evidence to determine what might have happened, so very much a sheriff's investigation that's ongoing as well. But for the medical examiner, you know, they often have to send out laboratory tests, which could take some time. So, we're talking probably weeks or months before we get answers. But, again, these investigations ongoing.

JIMENEZ: Josh Campbell, Santa Fe, New Mexico, I really appreciate the reporting, as always.

And coming up brand new reporting as well this morning on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. That's the organization that is supposed to protect consumers from fraud and abuse. Well, it's now dismissing several lawsuits against companies accused of taking advantage of customers.

And a bus driver is being called a hero after rescuing a bus full of middle school students that suddenly burst into flames. We'll tell you that story coming up.

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[07:20:00]

JIMENEZ: An economic boycott protesting the power of corporations and their policies began at midnight. The social media-driven movement calls for a 24 hour pause on spending at Amazon, Walmart, Target and many other major retailers, restaurants and gas stations.

Now, the idea was proposed by John Schwarz in early February. That post was viewed by millions and promoted by celebrities, which propelled the boycott even further. And many say they have joined in to protest corporate rollbacks of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives as well. Sara? SIDNER: All right. New this morning, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is now dropping several lawsuits against companies accused of taking advantage of American consumers. One of the cases dropped accused Capital One of cheating millions of consumers out of $2 billion dollars in interest payments they were owed. The move comes on the same day President Trump's new pick to lead the agency, Jonathan McKernan, faced questions from a panel of senators during a confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill.

CNN's Matt Egan with us now. Tell us about these cases that are impacted. That is quite a big one, the one with Capital One, $2 billion dollars worth of interest payments that people were owed.

MATT EGAN, CNN REPORTER: Yes, Sara. Consumer advocates are dismayed by these dismissals because the CFPB is supposed to be the cop on the beat, right? And now they're walking away from at least four cases yesterday alone, likely more to come.

Here's what we know about the four just from yesterday. You mentioned Capital One. So, just a few days before President Biden left the White House, the CFPB accused Capital One of cheating millions of consumers out of these interest rate payments. Back in December, the Biden-led CFPB accused Rocket Mortgage of an illegal kickback scheme to steer borrowers to its mortgages.

Speaking of mortgages, Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, this is a unit of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, and it had been accused by the CFPB of knowingly trapping borrowers in predatory loans, also a student loan servicer, American Education Services. The CFPB said that that company allegedly failed to recognize that some student loans are discharged in a bankruptcy. So, you had a situation where borrowers were paying thousands or tens of thousands of dollars that they didn't actually owe.

Now, I should note that all four companies have denied wrongdoing and all four cases have now gone away. You mentioned timing. This came up actually during the confirmation hearing yesterday for the new CFPB nominee. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (D-MA): Literally, while you've been sitting here and you've been talking about the importance of following the law, we get the news that the CFPB is dropping lawsuits against companies that are cheating American families or alleged to be cheating American families. They will not go forward in court. It seems to me the timing of that announcement is designed to embarrass you and to show exactly who is in charge of this agency right now, Elon Musk and his little band of hackers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

EGAN: Well, listen, it's been a hellish February for the CFPB and its employees ever since Elon Musk sent out that tweet saying, rest in peace CFPB. We've seen the regulator basically get sidelined. A policy analyst, Ed Mills, he said, look, the CFPB may not be -- it may not be a complete RIP for the CFPB, but it's continued existence will likely only be a shell of its former self. And I think we're seeing that play out in real time as case after case gets dismissed.

SIDNER: This is one of those things where it would then be up to consumers themselves to try to figure this out, not knowing that it's happening to many, many, many other people.

EGAN: Yes, that's right. And any relief that those consumers who were allegedly hurt in those four cases that they might have been getting from the CFPB investigation, that's not going to happen.

SIDNER: All right. We will have to see how this shakes out. Thank you so much, Matt Egan, I appreciate it.

All right, they were called operatives under thin cover. But now is Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin negotiate, will Russian diplomats be allowed back into the United States?

And breaking overnight, a federal judge says the mass firings of federal employees likely illegal.

[07:25:01]

Does that mean that some workers might get their jobs back? We're going to discuss, next.

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