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Death Toll Rises to 6 After Earthquake Rocks Myanmar, Thailand; Bangkok Tower Collapses After Quake, Three Dead, Dozens Hurt; VP Vance, Second Lady Usha on High-Stakes Trip to Greenland; Stefanik Nomination Pulled Over Concern of Narrow House Majority; Rubio Defends Revoking Visas of Students Over Campus Protests. Aired 8-8:30a ET

Aired March 28, 2025 - 08:00   ET

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

[08:00:00]

SILVIA SERNA ROMAN, REGIONAL LITIGATOR FOR MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA: ... They might be, like involuntarily be taken back to their countries. And that's our concern.

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: If you went back to your country, do you think you would be killed?

"SALAM", MIGRANT FROM ETHIOPIA: Yes.

ARTEMIS GHASEMZADEH, MIGRANT FROM IRAN: If I come back to my country, my government kill me.

JIMENEZ: Ambo still dreams of America but has no idea how this nightmare will end.

"AMBO", MIGRANT FROM CAMEROON: I don't think I can stay in Panama. But now the point is, where am I going to go to?

JIMENEZ (voice-over): Omar Jimenez, CNN, Panama City, Panama.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking overnight, widespread destruction and a rising death toll after a major earthquake hit Southeast Asia, skyscrapers collapsing, and first responders now believe dozens of people are trapped in the rubble. It is unfolding as we speak.

And the vice president and the second lady, they are going on a trip en route to Greenland. The last-minute change to the schedule and the anger that they are facing from Greenland's leaders and beyond.

And the Trump administration calls it a top threat. It has been a major focus for the president, the fentanyl crisis in America. The head of the DEA is our guest to talk about how they are tackling it.

Sara Sidner is out today. I'm Kate Bolduan with John Berman. This is CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: And the breaking news this morning, the death toll is rising in Southeast Asia after a devastating earthquake. The 7.7 magnitude quake hit central Myanmar, followed by large tremors and a wave of destruction in neighboring Thailand. That's where the pictures you're looking at right now. They are from Bangkok. So far, there have been six confirmed deaths, but that number is almost definitely going to rise and rise substantially over the coming hours as more information comes in.

Here, you're looking at search and rescue crews. They're searching the rubble of a high-rise building that collapsed in Bangkok. There is fear there could be dozens of people trapped underneath.

Three people at least are now confirmed dead from that collapse alone. Dozens more injured and again, there is concern there are people trapped in the rubble itself.

With us now is someone who saw that all happen. Jack Brown in Bangkok, thank you so much for being with us. Just tell us what you experienced Jack

JACK BROWN, WITNESSED BUILDING COLLAPSE: Hi, John. Yes. So I left my office on the way to a client visit around about 2 p.m. And we were on the elevated expressway heading into central Bangkok. And around about 1:30, I thought perhaps one of the tires on my car had a leak or something burst because the car was sort of driving strangely. And I started to notice everyone around me on the expressway, even though it's a four-lane expressway, people slowing down, driving haphazardly through different lanes, pulling into the left, onto the hard shoulder, of which I did as well.

And I only realized when the car was actually stationary that, hang on a minute, this isn't a burst tire. This is an earthquake. And I noticed people getting out of their cars, everybody was looking around, bewildered. Couldn't quite make sense of it because earthquakes don't really happen in Bangkok.

And since I've been living here for ten and a half years, I haven't experienced an earthquake here before or anything similar. So I think largely people didn't know what to do. And as we tried to make our way out of the congestion, the building that you'd seen in the video clip there had just collapsed, just came down right in front of us on the left-hand side.

And my immediate thought process was that that's an active construction site. It's a big building, probably at least 30 stories. And it just came down within seconds.

And I knew that there would be people in there working on it. And, of course, it's tragic. I mean, latest reports, I think there are still people unaccounted for. Numerous people have died already. No doubt there will be more fatalities. Very tragic.

BERMAN: On that building collapse, that video is extraordinary and there is great concern there. There's still people trapped underneath the rubble. I know that it's been very difficult to move about town since this earthquake. Have you seen other destruction, other things, other search areas into the city? BROWN: I mean, ever since that happened at half past one, it's now four minutes past 7 p.m. local time. We've just been in horrendous traffic, stuck in the city. Only in the past half an hour have we sort of been able to get out onto the roads, getting out of Bangkok and break away free from the congestion.

[08:05:00]

But what I've seen during the only in the past half an hour have we sort of been able to get out onto the the roads getting out of Bangkok and break away free from the congestion.

But what I've seen during this time -- I'm a passenger in the car, I'm not driving at the moment by the way -- but looking through social media a lot of people in damaged buildings, condominiums, apartments, hotels, I've seen a lot of damaged cracks and things like this, people sharing their personal experiences. But what I noticed downtown Bangkok was everyone obviously vacated the high-rise buildings, shopping malls, hotels, offices and apartments in a hurry.

People weren't prepared, weren't planned, you know, an earthquake was announced, everyone just came downstairs into the blazing heat which is over 39 degrees centigrade and I could tell people weren't prepared for it because some people weren't properly clothed or wearing footwear. You know, I don't think people brought handbags, phones and anything like this down, it was just sort of get down from those high- rise buildings as quickly as possible and it stayed that way for the hours that we were congested in central Bangkok.

People were just sat outside waiting, not knowing when will it be safe to return, does the building need to be checked for structural integrity and things like this? So it's only now I think they're telling people they can return to the buildings that have been checked, a lot of bridges and structures also need to be checked for any structural issue and most paramount for people's safety.

BERMAN: And if this is happening in Bangkok where there's obviously more secure infrastructure, what are your concerns about Myanmar which doesn't nearly have that level of infrastructure?

BROWN: I mean I'm already seeing a lot of the news, which is immediately in Thailand, I haven't managed to get onto social media much because I've been sort of sharing and driving and stuff. But I think given the fact the epicenter was in Myanmar that the damage must be absolutely devastating and I'm sure it's affected so many people's lives.

You know I'm just wishing everyone pulls through, minimize fatalities, if anyone can support anybody that requires help, you know, I hope everyone can come together and help that and I hope that there is enough light shed on Myanmar.

Sadly Thailand is a big tourist destination, it might get more limelight than it does, more spotlight sorry than it does Myanmar but I hope people are looking in and seeing how people are getting on there too. BERMAN: All right listen, Jack Brown please you and yours stay safe,

thank you so much for giving us this eyewitness account, this update from the ground of what's happening after this 7.7 magnitude earthquake. All the best -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: Yes they are right still in the middle of it, there's still a lot, lot to learn of how things are going. We're going to stay on top of that.

Also we're watching this today. Happening right now, Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife Usha Vance are on their way to Greenland. They're leading a U.S. delegation on a one-day trip to visit the U.S. Space Force installation there. They could also be in for a chilly reception from people in Greenland. The leader of Greenland called the original plans for Usha Vance to visit solo highly aggressive and President Trump continues of course his unrelenting quest to buy the island saying this yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We need Greenland for national security and international security so we'll -- I think we'll go as far as we have to go. And we need Greenland.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: In a recent opinion poll 85 percent of Greenlanders said they were opposed to being annexed by the United States.

One Danish lawmaker also tells CNN that the damage could -- that the push could do permanent damage.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RASMUS JARLOV, DANISH MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT: This is a hostile attempt of taking over, annexing people, subjugating people that do not want to become part of the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: CNN's Jim Sciutto joining me right now from Washington. And Jim you spoke -- that was your interview -- you spoke with that Danish lawmaker that we just heard from. What else did he tell you?

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: He's the chairman of their defense committee the equivalent here say of being chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

When I speak to both Danish lawmakers and officials but also lawmakers and officials from Greenland they say a number of things. One, they say there is no public support either in Denmark or in Greenland for being taken over by the U.S.

So when you hear Donald Trump say they're speaking to people in Greenland who want this, it's just not supported by the facts. In fact the public facts show that public support support is very much against this.

The second thing they say, as this lawmaker made clear, is that they will resist U.S. pressure. They're not going to give in to economic pressure or even military pressure. They're making a stand.

And the third thing -- and this stood out to me speaking to this Danish lawmaker -- is he said that this is doing broad damage to the NATO alliance. Because remember of course NATO is a -- Denmark is a treaty ally of the United States.

[08:10:00]

Denmark sent soldiers to Afghanistan to fight alongside the U.S. and in terms of percentage of the size of their force lost more than anybody. Here's how that lawmaker Rasmus Jarlov put it. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JARLOV: There is a lot at stake here because this is not only a matter of being reasonable to Denmark and Greenland. It is also a matter of the entire Western alliance. We think American foreign policy is going in a very bad direction and we're very, very sad that if we are going to lose the great relationship we have with the United States for so many decades. We think it has served both sides and we're very happy to continue to let the U.S. lead. But this is just -- this is too much.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: So like Canada, Kate, I mean you have again, a U.S. ally saying we may lose the relationship with the U.S. And I asked him a question -- this really stood out to me. I said can you imagine a scenario where the U.S. sends forces to Greenland to act on the president's orders to take the island. Would they come face to face with Danish forces? And he said to me that's up to the U.S. He didn't take that off the table. It's remarkable.

BOLDUAN: That is remarkable. Remarkable times. Jim great interview. Thanks for coming in. It's great to see you buddy -- John.

BERMAN: All right, with us now Bakari Sellers CNN political commentator a former Democratic state representative in South Carolina and Doug Heye Republican strategist. One of the things that strikes me here is that when this trip was first announced last weekend it was just Usha Vance the second lady.

Then the Signal scandal happens where J.D. Vance is, you know, texting on Signal. Now he's going too -- the vice president. Coincidence Bakari Sellers.

BAKARI SELLERS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I mean I don't think it's a coincidence by any stretch. But I also don't think this administration knows what it's doing. I think that, you know, one of the things that American voters are thirsting for right now, which is why you're seeing this administration's approval ratings just plummet, is they they want competence and they want credibility. And right now after that Signal scandal you're not seeing any of that. And so, it seems as if someone may probably in a Signal chat group was like, look, we're getting bad press. Let's go take Greenland. Which is not something that governments do. It's not the way that you operate. And I do believe that level of competence that people are thirsting for is something they're not getting.

BERMAN: Doug, talk about anything besides Signal. Is that a strategy?

DOUG HEYE, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Well sure. But also, you know, this this trip was planned with Usha Vance in advance. And this is part of a broader strategy where the administration is talking and doing things that rattle our allies as your interview with the mayor of Toronto previously just showed.

It's not really what Trump supporters, your real MAGA supporters who bought the red hat, who didn't just vote for Trump, but show up at the rallies. This isn't really what they signed up for. And there's a risk for Trump here.

As you know, we see Trump's approval on the issue of the economy which is so central to sort of his core brand, his being. There's a risk for Trump on that with these tariff threats not just with Canada. I'll give you an example John.

Just yesterday I was at a wine tasting where Christian Moreau, who's the king of Chablis, was pouring wines and he said to me, nobody wins in a trade war. And what he meant was if my prices go up that hurts me. But it's also American jobs. It's somebody who imports that wine. It's somebody who distributes it to restaurants and retailers. Those are American jobs as well.

I think the Trump administration while there's a lot of saber rattling here with Greenland, Canada certainly, other countries, they can come at a real cost not just for our allies but for American consumers as well.

BERMAN: Is the king of Chablis like Abe Froman the sausage king of Chicago?

HEYE: I'll tell you you have his -- you have his wines you'll say that absolutely. No doubt about it.

BERMAN: All right, one more reason I love both of you, besides your acquaintances with you know Chablis kings is your granule knowledge and participation in politics at the district level. Something extraordinary happened yesterday that I think we need to talk about. Which that Elise Stefanik, member of Congress in New York, a Republican, who had been nominated to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. President Trump pulled that nomination. Why? Because he's afraid of losing that heavily Republican district in a special election and maybe losing some power in Congress.

He wrote on Signal with a very tight majority. I don't want to take a chance in anyone else running for Elise's seat.

I mean it's a Truth Social post right there, I should note.

Bakari, hey, this is, you know, really tough for Elise Stefanik who I think wanted this job. Gave up her house leadership post, gave up subcommittee assignments for this and is now told sorry. Second thing is what does it tell you about Republicans think about their chances.

SELLERS: I mean it's embarrassing but this is what happens when you deal with someone like Donald Trump.

[08:15:00]

I mean if you -- if you believe that you're going to get this full faith and credit from Donald Trump then that joke is on you. And yes, Elise Stefanik is going to go back to work in Washington D.C. and be decently embarrassed.

And you know, I think one of the things that we're seeing is that if Democrats could just get their act together. If we could have a message -- if we could, you know, have a brand that is rebuilt, we could focus on expanding the middle class. I mean, if we could be kind of better responsive to the things that are going on in D.C. instead of looking like you know Barnum and Bailey, then we would have a chance to take back the majority. It's that close.

I mean we're that close from having a speaker for King Jeffries. The problem is we -- we just -- I mean we kind of look like the Bad News Bears.

BERMAN: Who did lose by the way, it is worth noting in the end. When it came right down to it they didn't win that game.

Doug Heye this is a move pulling this nomination. It portrays weakness doesn't it? Or fear at a minimum.

HEYE: I think it betrays fear. And by the way the Bad News Bears lost to your favorite team, John, the Yankees. I'd point out very important as we've just had opening day.

Look there is nothing in Washington that is more over interpreted than a special election, especially when you're coming into into a new administration. The math for House Republicans we knew was always tight. It's why there was nervousness when Mike Waltz was picked. Obviously, a name we've been talking about lately.

Stefanik was going to get confirmed overwhelmingly so, there's there was no doubt about that. But the math is very difficult for Republicans even as I think Mike Johnson's been sort of underestimated as he's, you know, won some important votes. Yes, with very close margins. Losing a seat in New York, whether temporarily, because the seat goes away while there's no member serving or for a two year period if you lose that special election. That makes that math that much harder for Republicans.

But win the special election or lose the special election the result was going to be over interpreted by the NRCC, the Republican Congressional Committee and their Democratic counterparts at the DCCC. BERMAN: Doug Heye, Bakari Sellers appreciate your time this morning. Thank you both so much. Have a terrific weekend with your Chablis -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: Don't even start.

Coming up for us a new warning to international students coming from the Secretary of State. Essentially I'm putting you on notice.

And a man is now under arrest. Police say that he shot at Tesla vehicles and used Molotov cocktails to set them on fire. What more we're learning about that.

Plus, is inflation going down? A new important report on that is out this hour. As for the markets, stock futures pointed down.

[08:20:00]

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BOLDUAN: This morning, lawyers for Columbia University graduate student and pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, they're headed back to court. They're fighting to get him released from federal custody. Khalil, who helped lead pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia, is currently being held in Louisiana.

He is one of several students, all international students, to be detained by immigration authorities in recent weeks. The Trump administration is trying to deport them. The latest warning and threat coming from Secretary of State Marco Rubio talking about revoking their visas.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARCO RUBIO, SECRETARY OF STATE: They're visitors to the country and they're taking activities that are counter to our national interest to our foreign policy, we'll revoke that visa. We are not going to be importing activists into the United States. They're here to study. They're here to go to class. They're not here to lead activist movements that are disruptive and undermine our universities.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Gloria Pazmino is out front of the courthouse where Mahmoud Khalil's attorneys will be today. And what is expected to happen today, Gloria?

GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kate, before attorneys can even start to argue that Mahmoud Khalil should be released, they have to continue to argue this question of venue. That's what we expect today's hearing to be focused on.

Now, the Trump administration, the Department of Justice, continues to argue that this case should be heard in Louisiana, where Khalil is currently in custody at an ICE detention facility. Now, why is this so important? We're seeing a pattern by the government at this point, whereas they target international students for immigration enforcement, they are being transferred to Louisiana. We've seen a Georgetown University student, a Tufts University student, and a Columbia University student who were all detained in their home districts and then transferred to Louisiana.

And the lawyers I've been speaking to tell me that what's happening here is that the government is essentially venue shopping, pulling people away from their home districts, away from their legal resources and their support system, and hoping that a judge in that state will be more likely to side with their argument. And essentially forcing them to have to engage in these long out legal battles over venue and jurisdiction.

Most importantly, Khalil's attorneys have said that this issue has already been resolved. Two weeks ago, we were in a federal courtroom in New York City, and a judge there said that the case should be heard right here in New Jersey, because this is where Khalil was initially detained.

So we'll see what the judge here today says about this question of venue. It's possible that other questions may come up.

[08:25:00]

As you said, his attorneys are still fighting to have him released, or at the very least, brought back here to his home district.

But it's not clear just yet whether or not the judge is going to hear any arguments on those motions. Today, we expect him to be focused on this question of where the case should be heard -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: All right, there are likely to be some answers later this morning. Gloria Pazmino is there. Thank you so much.

Still ahead for us this hour, the vice president is on his way to Greenland and facing angry pushback because of it. A member of Greenland's parliament is our guest next.

And King Charles, he canceled his Friday appointments after experiencing complications with his cancer treatment. We have the latest on his recovery.

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