Return to Transcripts main page

CNN News Central

Trump's Sweeping 25 Percent Tariff on Steel, Aluminum Imports Takes Effect; All Eyes on Russia After Ukraine Agrees to 30-Day Ceasefire; Pacers Shock Bucks Late on Haliburton's Four-Point Play. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired March 12, 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: Breaking overnight, President Trump's tariff wars go worldwide with sweeping tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports going into effect as we're getting brand new poll numbers on Trump's handling of the economy.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: And the world is standing by for Russia to respond after Ukraine signs onto a 30-day ceasefire proposed by the U.S. and President Trump says he could talk to Vladimir Putin this week.

Also, we are getting new video in from overnight of the American student who went missing in the Dominican Republic, now almost a full week since she was last seen.

John is out today. I'm Kate Bolduan with Sara Sidner. This is CNN News Central.

SIDNER: Breaking overnight, stunning retaliation. That's President Trump enact sweeping new tariffs on steel and aluminum. And in doing so, sets everyday Americans on a collision course for higher prices on a range of goods. The number? 25 percent from any country, which means this morning, all of the anxiety surrounding Trump's trade war just kicked up a huge global notch.

The swiftest and so far harshest reaction coming from the European Union, slapping $28 billion dollars worth of tariffs on U.S. goods in direct retaliation. The word reverberating from allies this morning, unjustified. How will U.S. markets soon react after back to back yo-yo days ended way in the red? Investors on edge as brand new CNN polling now finds Americans not happy with Trump's economy moves. More on that in a bit.

But, first, let's go to CNN's Alayna Treene who was at the White House this morning. Alayna, we're hearing from world leaders and what they're saying is pretty stark. What are you learning this morning from the White House?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: That's right. And just to reiterate, Sara, I mean, we have now seen the president's trade war go global with these 25 percent tariffs on all imports of steel and aluminum to the United States, as you said, the European Union hitting back swiftly with $28 billion in tariffs on U.S. goods of their own.

But, look, the White House keeps arguing and really downplaying the impact that we've seen, particularly on the stock market. If you look at the last two days, we've really seen any gains that were made up ever since the president had been sworn in, or, excuse me, actually won the election last November essentially erased now and also seeing many Americans 401(k)s go on a sharp decline.

Now, one thing that did not happen was yesterday, the president warned that he wanted to put 50 percent of a tariff on Canada aluminum and steel coming into United States. He ended up not doing that. He ended up backing away from that threat, which we've seen him do in the past before. And now we know that his commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, as well as Dominic LeBlanc, the finance minister of Canada, and the premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, are set to meet tomorrow to renegotiate the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement, they said, of course, something that the president did during his first term.

But one thing that I found very interesting is what the president said and didn't say when speaking with business leaders yesterday at the business roundtable. He said that he actually anticipates that tariffs could go even higher despite all of the volatility that we're seeing. Take a listen to how he put it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: Look, the higher it goes, the more likely it is they're going to build. And ultimately, the biggest win is not the tariff. That's a big win. That's a lot of money. But the biggest win is if they move into our country and produce jobs. That's a bigger win than the tariffs themselves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TREENE: Now, Sarah, he is continuing there, obviously, to dig in even further to this tariffs strategy. But one thing that we've heard repeatedly now from people on Wall Street back on the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue on Capitol Hill, people concerned and questioning, is there a grand plan here? What is the president's overarching strategy? And people in the room last night who were in that meeting where the president was speaking told our CNN's Jeff Zeleny that he didn't offer any new details on that. They said, quote, there was no new clarity or certainty.

And so we're entering another day where a lot of people very concerned about what is happening in the markets and not essentially getting the answers from this administration that they were hoping for.

[07:05:01]

Sara?

SIDNER: We know what the markets don't like. They do not like uncertainty. We will see what happens this morning there.

Alayna Treene, thank you so much. I really appreciate your reporting from the White House this morning. Kate?

BOLDUAN: And just this morning, we have a new look on how Americans are feeling about those tariffs, about this trade war and about the president's handling of it all in his first six weeks of this second term. New CNN polling out just this morning showing that Americans are not happy with how President Trump is handling the economy right now, and that's even before the major market selloff that we've seen this week. But still, on some key issues, he is seeing some of his best numbers of his entire presidential career.

Joining us right now, CNN Washington Bureau Chief and Political Director David Chalian. Thanks for waking up early, David.

Let's start with the overall approval rating in this moment. Where does it stand for President Trump?

DAVID CHALIAN, CNN WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF: We have President Trump in our brand new poll at 45 percent approval. This is for his handling of his job overall. 54 percent disapproval, so upside down, obviously, underwater, Kate.

But look at that 45 percent number over time for Donald Trump. In his entire first term, that was his high watermark that we had in CNN polling. It appeared eight years ago, March, 2017, around this time in his first time around. And towards the end of his presidency at the beginning of COVID would rally around the president moment in May of 2020, that's when he hit 45 percent. He left office with a 34 percent approval rating in 2021. So, this 45 percent that he's at right now, that was his actual high watermark last time around.

BOLDUAN: Yes. I mean, it's like underwater, but better than he's done. The economy, of course, remains an issue top of mind and of concern for most Americans, likely only getting more top of mind and more of concern. What are Americans saying in this poll about how they think the president is handling all of this with a relevant note that this poll was conducted, began and ended before the massive stock market selloff that we've seen this week?

CHALIAN: Yes, but not before the chaos we've seen over the last three weeks, and I think that is reflected in the numbers here. You are right. The economy is issue number one by far for Americans, as indicated in this poll. His approval rating on this issue is 44 percent. Trump's disapproval rating, 56 percent of Americans disapprove of his handling of the economy. We've never seen him that far underwater and upside down in terms of approval and disapproval on this issue in his entire presidential career.

Look here, it's usually a strong suit for him. You see, we've had him at 44 percent approval before but never with 56 percent disapproval. So, that 12-point, you know, minus 12-point spread, if you will, that's the largest on issue number one for Americans we've ever had him in our poll.

BOLDUAN: So, how are people feeling more broadly than not just about the president his hand -- more broadly about the Trump administration so far?

CHALIAN: Take a look. You noted at the top some of his scores on some issues are the best he's ever had. Immigration, he's a majority approval 51 percent of Americans approve of what Donald Trump is doing on immigration. He's close to half on managing the federal government and the federal budget. But you see there's his overall job approval 45 percent we were talking about, the economy right there, 44 percent, healthcare policy, foreign affairs and tariffs, only 39 percent approve of the way Donald Trump is handling tariffs.

We also asked how are things going in the country today. And take a look, Kate, 35 percent say well, 65 percent say badly, but good news for this White House potentially, in January, that 35 percent number was 29 percent. So, a little bit of an uptick in the last month in the perception of people saying how things are going in the country.

BOLDUAN: It really is a lot in this poll to consider and a lot of nuance in how Americans are feeling about their federal government and how they're interacting with it right now and Trump's handling. It'd be very interesting how President Trump himself interprets this, which I'm sure we will see.

It's great to see you, David. Thank you so much.

CHALIAN: You too, Kate.

BOLDUAN: Sara?

SIDNER: All right. Breaking overnight, in the midst of peace talks, new Russian airstrikes killed at least 14 people in Ukraine as Russian foreign minister weighs in on a possible ceasefire deal.

And scary moments at Chicago's O'Hare Airport this morning after multiple shots were fired outside a terminal. What police say led up to what happened there.

And an incredible reunion, a cat who was missing for two months after the Palisades fire in L.A. just made it home to her 82-year-old owner. How did that all come about? We'll talk about it ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:10:00]

SIDNER: All eyes are on Russia this morning after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to a 30-day ceasefire proposed by the United States. Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying the ball is now in Russia's court. And President Trump expressing hope that Vladimir Putin will agree to it. The U.S. also lifting its pause on intelligence sharing and military assistance to Ukraine following a marathon meeting in Saudi Arabia.

But overnight, Ukrainian officials say a fresh round of Russian attacks killed at least 14 people across Ukraine.

CNN's Jennifer Hansler is joining me now from the State Department. What are the next steps here? The ball clearly in Russia's court.

[07:15:00]

JENNIFER HANSLER, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT REPORTER: Well, that's right, Sara. And, clearly, the key next first step is for the U.S. to brief Russia on this proposal. We heard from the Kremlin just a bit ago saying they are not going to comment on the proposed temporary ceasefire until they talk to the U.S. Officials.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said yesterday that the proposal would be communicated directly to the Russians through a variety of channels, diplomatic and other methods. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said he expected to speak with his Russian counterpart in the coming days. And we heard from President Trump signaling he could speak with Putin as well.

Now, the U.S. will also be briefing their allies on what was discussed and agreed upon in Jeddah. Right now, Secretary Rubio is on his way to the G7 foreign ministers' meeting in Canada. The discussions yesterday are expected to be a key topic of conversation, as Rubio briefs his key allies there. The NATO secretary general is also expected to be at the White House tomorrow.

Now, the big question here, Sara, is whether Russia will say yes to this 30-day truce. Now, we heard the prevailing message yesterday from U.S. officials was that this is Russia's decision to make that they hoped that Russia would say yes to this key first step. And if they said no, Rubio said that it would be clear that they are the impediment to peace in this process.

And zooming out more broadly, of course, even if they do say yes, there are a lot of questions of whether they will adhere to that truce. We saw overnight, of course, that barrage of attacks on Ukraine, whether they will actually adhere to a stalling of the guns, a stopping of the fighting and beyond that, the security guarantees and the concessions needed to be made in order for this to become a longstanding peace. Sara?

SIDNER: Yes, but first, the ceasefire, if that's possible, would be a huge step. We will see how Russia responds to this.

Jennifer Hansler, thank you so much. I appreciate your reporting there from the State Department.

All right ahead, the NTSB makes flight path changes over Washington D.C. because of what they've learned after that deadly midair collision between a U.S. Army helicopter and a passenger jet.

And another major setback for Tiger Woods. We the soon be 50-year-old golf icon, will he be able to return to competition?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:20:00]

BOLDUAN: There are a few things that we can all agree on these days. Basically like nothing, especially if you work in this studio. One of those things though is that basketball is at its best in the month of March. Last night, the Indiana Pacers, the best team, took down the Milwaukee Bucks with a four-point buzzer beater that you simply must see to believe. So that means we must see Coy Wire, who is joining us now.

Wait a second. I'm sorry, you're a juxtaposition. Are we working or are we out hanging out? What is with the hoodie and the blazer? I digress.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: I just came back from the club. Kate. I was out in the late, late one.

BOLDUAN: That is one thing I would totally believe. I have seen you when you've been covering Super Bowls, okay?

WIRE: Yes, girl. Hey, listen, as you mentioned, death taxes and madness in March, we can just count on it. And Kate's Pacers, you had Tyrese Haliburton, they were down by three to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. Three seconds to go, here's how it sounded on our sister channel, TNT.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pacers down three. Haliburton's got the ball. Halliburton rises up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: Pacers pandemonium. Haliburton getting fouled by the Greek freak, let's it fly, inject that straight into your veins. He'd go to the line. He'd sink that, win the game. There's your shot of the year candidate. 115-114 is the final. Here's Haliburton on the play.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TYRESE HALIBURTON, INDIANA PACERS GUARD: That's kind of obviously like, you know, a football play. You know, it's like our version of like four verts, kind of. The first time we ever ran it in training camp, maybe two years ago, I'd made the shot same way and I haven't made it since. I haven't got the ball since or made it since.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: All right, college hoops now. Conference championships where teams can earn those automatic bids to March Madness, things got feisty in the NEC. Central Kinetics hits Darren Smith Jr. with St. Francis' Chris Moncrief's jersey clean off. They don't have a backup number zero, Kate. So, they had to switch jersey numbers for him, rocking the number 42 after this.

St. Francis, they woke up yesterday with a 15 and 17 record. But they go on a tear in this tournament and that shot by Damar Kelly with ten seconds to go took down the number one seed and sent for St. Francis dancing for the first time since 1991. 46-43 was the final. Another setback for Tiger Woods undergoing surgery yesterday after rupturing his left Achilles tendon about a month away from the Masters. Tiger said he was ramping up his training. Recovery for this, Kate, is typically four to six months. The 15 time major winner turns 50 this year. He will likely not be teeing it up at all on the PGA Tour this season.

Now, cuteness overload alert. In the Kings 4-1 win over the Islanders, Kings' Defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov scores of gold, just his fourth of the season, Kate. Well, it just so happened his daughter was there. And it was her birthday! Look at Mira, the king, pointing to his queen and his birthday princess wearing her paper crown. And this is the chef's kiss coming at you. Oh, it's so cute. You can't beat that, Kate.

BOLDUAN: So cute.

WIRE: I mean, that's the best of the best.

BOLDUAN: I love her little birthday crown. I mean, Coy, help me.

WIRE: There we go. Now we're talking. Yes, let's go.

SIDNER: You got a problem with this, Kate?

BOLDUAN: I do not.

[07:25:00]

I didn't say I had a problem. For the record, in the ring, I said, quick, wear a burlap sack, and I'd still be like, hello, Coy. I just don't see it with you. You could wear a burlap sack too.

SIDNER: Coy, I got you. We're right here, we're hoodies --

BOLDUAN: From fashions to football to everything. We love you, Coy Wire. Thank you so much.

WIRE: I love you too.

SIDNER: Hoodies and heels, that's where we're going.

BOLDUAN: Hoodies and heels?

SIDNER: Our executive producer is losing his mind right now. I'm ruining this segment.

BOLDUAN: Tim for me to wrap it up?

SIDNER: Yes.

BOLDUAN: Okay.

SIDNER: I'm going to leave you now.

BOLDUAN: I'm going to talk about something serious now. SIDNER: Let me go play basketball. Goodbye.

BOLDUAN: Sorry guys.

President Trump's tariffs have officially gone global. Overnight, 25 percent tariffs on all foreign steel and aluminum now in effect, the E.U. immediately responding and retaliating. We're going to find out how U.S. markets are feeling about it with this latest twist very soon.

And there is new video out now showing some of the last moments of the American college student who has now been missing for almost a week after vacationing in the Dominican Republic. The very latest on the expanding search effort.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:30:00]