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Senior Adviser: Trump To "Lean Into" Tariffs In Speech To Congress; Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA) Discusses Trump's Major Speech To Congress, Trade Wars Erupting, Trump's Mass Firings, Protests Against DOGE; Significant Storm Damage Reported In Texas And Oklahoma; YouTube Cracking Down On Gambling Videos. Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired March 04, 2025 - 13:30   ET

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

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[13:32:36]

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: President Trump will deliver his formal address to Congress, with polling showing that just six weeks after his inauguration, the public may be souring on him.

A new CNN poll shows 52 percent of Americans now disapprove of Trump's performance in office, 48 percent approve.

A senior adviser says the president plans to lean into tariffs during tonight's address.

CNN's Harry Enten is here with more on the new polling.

Harry, what are the numbers show regarding his long promised tariffs and also the overall economy?

HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Yes, I don't know why. Trump would be wanting to do that tonight. I also say I think I did pretty good in that tease a few moments ago.

But let's take a look here at the economic approval rating for Donald Trump. And it's terrible. It's awful.

I mean, we'll look at the overall approval first and well get into tariffs.

Look, the bottom line is this, he is at this particular point when you are looking at his overall on the average is plus one points. That is the second worst.

The only person he beats is actually himself, is actually himself who is at minus eight. The average president at this point going into their first address is at plus 27 points.

And the question is, OK, can Trump actually solve this problem, this hole that he is in compared to the average president, by looking at where he would be on tariffs.

And what we see on tariffs? Americans oppose tariffs on Canada. Look at this 64 percent. That's nearly two-thirds of the nation who oppose it. How about on Mexico? 59 percent of Americans oppose it.

And his economic approval rating on average -- I'm going to do a little math for you right here -- is minus four points. Minus four points. He is at the lowest of any president going into his first address before Congress on history.

So the tariffs will only sink him further, in my opinion. The economic approval, already low. And it could drag his overall approval rating even further down and quite low from a historical perspective.

KEILAR: So his -- I think the mandate that he really got in the election was to fix the economy. Americans making it clear they wanted him to do that. Do they think he's working on that?

ENTEN: Yes, I think this is the real question. Right? Is he prioritizing the economy? And 82 percent of Americans say that's what he should prioritize.

Look at the number who say he is. I mean, 36 percent. You don't have to be a mathematical genius to know that 36 is far less than 82 percent.

This is a massive problem, because if he was put in charge to fix the economy, just 36 percent say he's -- he's prioritizing it.

[13:35:01]

His net approval rating on the economy is already at minus four. And his overall approval rating is going down. His net approval negative in our CNN poll, right around zero overall.

This is this is no bueno. This is not good. And so we'll see if tonight he's able to turn it around at all. But consider me a little doubtful.

KEILAR: I've been doing a lot of third-grade math lately or helping with it, I should say. And you're right, that is less than 82.

So what do those who don't support Trump think that he's focused on?

ENTEN: Yes. If he's not focusing in on the economy, what is he focused in on? The top worst things Trump has done. It's those cuts. It's Musk. It's DOGE. It's the funding freezes.

Look at this, 24 percent, 24 percent. That is the top answer. That is the top answer. He's focused on completely the wrong thing.

Immigration policy, which, of course, was the number-one thing that folks thought he was focused on, who didn't like him in his first term, comes in at just 10 percent.

This 24 percent is number one. And that to me is completely not in the priority camp of where Americans want him to be.

KEILAR: No, it certainly isn't.

And you did kill that live tease, Harry.

ENTEN: Yes.

KEILAR: I just want you to know you did.

ENTEN: Thank you.

KEILAR: And I requested you do it. I just want you to know. I want more live teases, especially from people like Harry Enten. And you didn't let me down.

ENTEN: Thank you.

KEILAR: So thank you.

ENTEN: I'm -- Thank you. Give me the A-plus third-grade math A-plus 100 percent.

KEILAR: Check plus. Isn't that the highest? I think that's the highest.

ENTEN: I think -- I think -- I think, for that that grade level, that's right.

KEILAR: Thanks, Harry.

Boris?

ENTEN: Thanks.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: I do appreciate the help with the math homework, Brianna. Thank you so much.

SANCHEZ: Let's discuss the president's speech tonight, tariffs and Ukraine with Republican Congressman Dan Meuser of Pennsylvania.

Congressman, thank you so much for joining us.

You've seen the markets. They're sending a clear message about these tariffs. Consumer spending is also down. Jobless claims are up. Do you think these tariffs against U.S. allies are necessary right now?

REP. DAN MEUSER, (R-PA): Hi, Boris. Very nice being with you.

Look, the president came in with a campaign pledge and a plan. And the plan was to improve and strengthen our national security via the border, which he's corrected 96 percent better than it was last, last February.

An energy policy that's in the interest of the United States, a strong economy, world stability. And, via DOGE, reducing wasteful spending, which also will bring down the inflation.

He's been in office for six weeks. Part of his economic plan is to work tariffs to the benefit of the American economy, to the -- to the American family. And that's what he's trying to do. It looks a little -- little tough right now. But in order to get the

industrialization and the manufacturing that we want back here in the U.S., we can't be pushed around anymore.

Canada is our friend. I love Canada. I have family in Canada. Do business in Canada. Nevertheless, they've been taking advantage of the United States, not just the open borders and the fentanyl and some of the illegal immigration, but it was very similar to what where Mexico was.

So the president is sending a message. He's sending a substantive message that he wants these jobs and this manufacturing resource.

And, hey, by the way, just real quick, you know, Canada, 33 percent of their GDP is in sales to the United States. We are a very big customer to Canada, right?

A salesperson to a customer usually doesn't get antagonistic right -- right at the very end. And I think Trudeau could work this out quite a bit better, as Zelenskyy learned, by the way.

SANCHEZ: I mean, it's hard to do that when the president is suggesting that he's not a legitimate president or prime minister. He's calling him a governor. He says Canada should be the 51st state.

To -- to your point about securing the northern border, 0.03 pounds, 0.03 pounds of fentanyl we're seized crossing the northern border into the United States of fentanyl in January 2025.

I just wonder if inflation is stubborn and prices are already high, what putting a 25 percent tariff on goods is going to do to American consumers? How is that going to help inflation?

MEUSER: Well, I'll tell you, on the fentanyl end, it was -- it was higher. It wasn't -- it wasn't as bad as it was coming out of Mexico, but it was killing Americans. And frankly, the Canadian border wasn't doing anything about it until President Trump got elected.

Secondly, regarding the 25 percent, if you really look at the type of tariffs and fees and excise taxes and everything else that that is on American goods going into Canada, it's high.

It's not exactly 25 percent. The president's plan was reciprocity. But he needed to do this in order for them to get the message.

And frankly, once again, 33 percent of their sales are in the United States. They've got to figure out a way to not increase their prices on Americans, because if they do, then they're going to lose business for the short term and the long term.

Look, this can be worked out. It should be endeavored to be worked out. But now, already we've got Trudeau saying how he's going to do this and do that and how the president is making a dumb move.

[13:40:07] You know, that is really bad salesmanship, if you will, bad diplomacy. And it's certainly not going to, frankly, work with -- with Donald Trump as president.

SANCHEZ: I'm not sure how it's good diplomacy to say that a neighboring country should be the 51st state, that you're going to impose economic hardship to achieve that goal.

Also, to your point about fentanyl, It was higher than 0.03 pounds before. I believe the high was 10 pounds last year. So it's not as though it is a huge, massive problem.

Nevertheless, if your goal is to reduce the amount of Americans that are killed by fentanyl, I guess there are ways to do it. I don't know if adding 25 percent tariffs to goods that are already expensive because of inflation is the way to do it.

I do wonder if you think that somehow the companies that pay these tariffs are not going to pass the price on to consumers because, otherwise, it's consumers, it's Americans who are going to have to pay higher prices for these goods.

MEUSER: Yes, and I'm not sure either, Boris. I probably prefer it to be graduated, but he's got people looking at this and studying what the impacts would be and to avoid inflation.

Listen, if they come in and expect American companies that are their purchasers to pay that full amount, they're going to stop purchasing from them.

And that, frankly, is the president's plan to in-source this - these -- this manufacturing to bring those, those resources of investment to the United States.

And you have to admit, it is working to a large degree. You've got some big companies making some huge investment bets and investment plans within the United States. That's all happened in the last six weeks.

So results are what matter. And I think that the president will have to be nimble enough, be able to manage these tariffs well enough to eventually work with Trudeau and the Canadians on working this out to the to the betterment of all, I believe that.

SANCHEZ: Congressman, before we go, I do want to ask you about the joint address to Congress tonight. The president is expected to tout DOGE and its mission of remaking the federal government.

I do understand that many of your colleagues have held these town halls, where they've heard from a lot of folks that are very angry about these firings of federal workers.

In fact, the NRCC chair urged members, urged Republican congressmen to stop holding in-person town halls because of some of the events, some of the vitriol that some of your colleagues have heard.

Are you going to stop holding in-person town halls?

MEUSER: No. And you know what, I was in the meeting. That's really not what he said. He just said be careful to manage it.

We don't want our town halls being taken hostage and -- and run by those who come in from other parts of the district or other parts of the state, and just turning it -- turn it into a -- a scene of -- of havoc and -- and, you know a problem as opposed to something that's positive.

So -- but -- but anyway, look, we -- DOGE --

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SANCHEZ: You've not heard from any constituents who are upset about DOGE.

MEUSER: I have many constituents that have questions about DOGE, probably some that are -- that are asked questions that they're not that are opposed to it.

But you know, what, that are for it. And I'll tell you why. Because we're spending $2 trillion more a year than our country brings in. There's an unbelievable level of wasteful spending.

Come on. He's already found that he -- they, the group, the committee have found $105 billion of some wasteful spending.

And, Boris, it's all over. Every committee that I'm associated with, I see where some of the wasteful spending is taking place.

So -- so, look, we don't want to preserve bureaucracy. We want to preserve democracy, if you will. And -- and that's what that's what the goal is.

If -- you know, nobody was really crying when President Biden came in and canceled 10,000 jobs on the Keystone Pipeline.

And what about all the layoffs in my -- in my, my district, within the energy industry? Nobody was crying about that or going to town halls and disrupting -- disrupting there. That's from the private sector.

Why they want to keep these public-sector jobs and just keep growing our government when, meanwhile, 80 percent of people aren't even showing up for work. Come on, you can make a -- you can make an argument that -- that DOGE is can right-size our government and that is the intent.

And once again, I go back to President Trump. Results will speak for themselves. I think those will be the results.

SANCHEZ: Congressman Dan Meuser, we have to leave the conversation there. I do have some questions about that $105 billion figure that you cited that DOGE has cut in waste. I think they've rectified that now a number of times.

Nevertheless, thank you so much for the time. I appreciate you sharing your perspective.

MEUSER: I appreciate you, Boris. Thanks.

[13:44:58]

SANCHEZ: We're following a line of severe storms roaring through parts of Texas and Oklahoma. They've spawned at least one tornado. We have the latest after a quick break.

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KEILAR: There is a line of severe storms that are just roaring through parts of Texas and Oklahoma.

Let's go to CNN Meteorologist Derek Van Dam.

Derek, what are you tracking?

DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, Brianna, we are watching this line of storms that has already created destruction. You're looking at it directly behind me here.

This is a moving and storage company coming out of Lewisville, Texas. This is a suburb of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. They, by the way, had hurricane-force wind gusts earlier this morning.

This is all part of a larger storm system that is wreaking havoc on the country. And unfortunately, there's more havoc to come.

So right now, we have a newly issued tornado watch that includes New Orleans. And we're thinking about the hundreds of thousands of people that are outdoors to celebrate Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras.

[13:50:06]

Well, we have the potential, according to the Storm Prediction Center of EF2 or greater tornadoes within this hatched area. That does include New Orleans. That's winds or tornadoes with winds in excess of 111 miles per hour.

That's not to say it will happen, but we're monitoring this line very closely. And it has already sparked tornadoes and straight-line winds in its wake.

So we do currently have these severe thunderstorm warnings. It's knocked-out power for, at one stage, over 400,000 customers across the state of Texas. It will march eastward.

The most intense time of thunderstorm development across the New Orleans region will be about 6:00 p.m. this evening, local time. So we want to keep a close eye to the sky.

Have those emergency notifications ready and your safe shelter in place just in case something does form in and around New Orleans.

And then that severe weather threat moves to the east coast tomorrow, keeping us all very busy -- Brianna?

KEILAR: All right, Derek, thank you for that fancy new digs. We appreciate seeing that for the first time.

VAN DAM: You like it, huh?

KEILAR: I do.

And next, YouTube cracks down on gambling videos. The big step is just to prevent users from being lured to risky sites.

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[13:55:40]

KEILAR: YouTube is cracking down on gambling videos that are just exploding across its site.

SANCHEZ: And online sports betting has become a huge business since the Supreme Court allowed states to legalize sports gambling back in 2018.

CNN's Clare Duffy has the details for us.

What is behind this crackdown?

CLARE DUFFY, CNN BUSINESS WRITER: Yes, Boris, Brianna, online betting in general has really blown up. You can now bet, not just on sports, but on everything from election outcomes to Oscar winners.

But along with that growth has come real concerns about addiction and people losing money. Regulation on this area also varies from place to place. And so that's really the context in which YouTube has made this decision.

The platform is strengthening its policies, saying that it "will prohibit content that promotes or directs users to unapproved gambling sites, sites that don't meet local laws and haven't been reviewed by google or YouTube."

Users must now also be 18 to view content mentioning gambling sites. And any videos promising guaranteed returns, even from those approved sites, will now be removed.

So that hopefully users are better protected from those kinds of sensational get-rich-quick kind of claims.

KEILAR: All right, Clare Duffy, thank you so much.

And tonight, of course, President Trump, addressing Congress, addressing the nation after escalating a trade war with Canada, Mexico and China while also pausing military aid to Ukraine.

These are major moves and a major speech justifying what he's done since taking office. We'll have that next.

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