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Vance Speaks In Greenland While Visiting U.S. Servicemembers At Pituffik Space Base; Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-NC) Discusses J.D. Vance's Controversial Trip To Greenland & Senators Wanting Probe of Signal Chat; Trump Targets Smithsonian Museums In New Executive Order. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired March 28, 2025 - 14:30   ET

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

[14:30:00]

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: What's your message for Americans that are going to see cost increase on auto manufacturing, new cars, that kind of thing? Is it Buy America or what's the message going forward there?

J.D. VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, let me say a couple of things. First of all, for the -- for the Canadians -- and we have many dear friends in Canada and, of course, we love the Canadian people.

But the Canadian leadership threatening retaliatory tariffs against the United States, as President Trump often says, they just don't have the cards. There is no way that Canada can win a trade war with the United States.

What President Trump has said is that he wants to level the playing field. For decades, Canadian leadership has forced American farmers and American manufacturers to play by an unfair set of rules.

All President Trump has said is that we're done playing by an unfair set of rules. If you're going to do something to our industries, then we're going to do something back to your industries.

That's how you protect American manufacturing, and that's how you protect American jobs.

Now, what I'd say to the American people is, is, look, the president ran on this, and he said very clearly that we're done being the piggy bank of the entire world.

For 40 years, in the same way that our European friends, I think, have neglected international security, for 40 years, a lot of our friends all over the world have used America as a piggy bank.

They have used us to absorb all of their excess economic production. And what has that meant for Americans? For Americans, that's meant manufacturing jobs, declining. That's meant middle-class wages going down.

That's meant whole towns that have been hollowed out by empty factories. And that means an America that is less safe because our manufacturing isn't as powerful now as it was 30 years ago.

I've got all these brave Americans in front of me and a few behind me, too. We want to send, if, God forbid, we have to send Americans to war, we want them to have weapons. The best weapons in the world that are manufactured in America and not in China.

The way you do that is to rebuild the American manufacturing sector. The days of America being the piggy bank of the world, the days of closed factories, the days of people not being able to get a middle- class job in this country, they are over.

And, yes, that means we're going to have to fight back, even against some of our friends and their unfair economic practices. But the long- term consequence of this is going to be higher wages, more manufacturing and more economic security for the American people.

We'll take a couple more questions.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: On Russia, has the U.S. agreed to those conditions that the Kremlin said were needed for that truce in the Black Sea? It included lifting sanctions imposed on Russian banks. Trump said this week that you were still looking at it.

VANCE: Well, there are a couple of different statements that are floating around out there, and some of them, I think, are mistranslations and some of them are not totally clear what is even being asked for.

But the president has said, and he's right, that I think we feel very good about where things are. We trust but verify. We make sure that what we're seeing from one party is met by the other party, and vice versa.

But I think that we've made an incredible amount of progress. We have to remember that this war started under Joe Biden's administration. It has led to an unbelievable amount of death and destruction.

And for the first time in almost four years, thanks to President Trump's leadership, we have an opportunity to really achieve a peaceful settlement. The president is going to fight every single day to make sure that happens.

And of course, we'll keep you guys updated as we continue to make progress.

I do think, if you look at what we've talked about, we've obviously got this energy infrastructure ceasefire, we've got a Black Sea commercial ceasefire that I think is almost done. And once we get there, we'll work on the next stage of the cease fire.

Yes?

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: The president has previously not ruled out military force when he's talking about taking over Greenland. But your rhetoric today is more about encouraging the Greenlandic people to vote for independence. Do you think the rhetoric has changed about that, or what's your

message there?

VANCE: No, I don't think it's changed at all.

Look, the president has said clearly he doesn't think that military force is going to be necessary, but he absolutely believes that Greenland is an important part of the security, not just of the United States, but of the world and, of course, the people of Greenland, too.

It's very simple. I think the president's been very consistent here from a State of the Union, from his inaugural address and every public statement that he's made, this territory, Greenland, really matters for the security of the United States.

It's extremely vulnerable right now. And if the people of Greenland were willing to partner with the United States. And I think that they ultimately will partner with the United States.

We could make them much more secure. We could do a lot more protection. And I think they'd fare a lot better economically as well.

This has to happen. And the reason it has to happen, I hate to say it, is because our friends in Denmark have not done their job in keeping this area safe. They just haven't done it.

It's very simple for -- for all of our friends in the American media who attack the administration for pointing out the obvious, what is the alternative?

To give up the North Atlantic, to give up the Arctic to China, to Russia, and to other regimes that don't have the best interests of the American people at heart?

[14:35:06]

We have no other option. We need to take a significant position in Greenland to keep the people here safe, but to keep our own country safe, too.

We'll do one or two more.

Yes?

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Trump said this week the U.S. would go as far as we have to go to acquire Greenland. In that same vein, on that question, are there plans that have been drafted to use military force to take over Greenland?

VANCE: Well, what the president has said, like, is that we need to have more of a position in Greenland. We need it, again, for the safety of the American people.

And what we think is going to happen is that the Greenlanders are going to choose, through self-determination, to become independent of Denmark, and then we're going to have conversations with the people of Greenland from there.

So I think that talking about anything too far in the future is way too premature. We do not think that military force is ever going to be necessary. We think this makes sense.

And because we think the people of Greenland are rational and good, we think we're going to be able to cut a deal, Donald Trump style, to ensure the security of this territory, but also the United States of America.

I'll do one more question.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: You spoke about economic interests, how the U.S. could develop Greenland more economically. Could you speak a little bit more about that?

I know Secretary Wright is here. Have you guys spoken about energy? Senator Lee is here as well. Just wondering what those discussions have been.

VANCE: My -- my point, actually, is that other countries have explicitly gone after Greenland and I think with a mind towards economic exploitation.

Sometimes asking Greenland to get itself into terrible economic debt traps that would make the people of Greenland not self-determined and sovereign, but to mortgage their future to hostile foreign countries that don't have their best interests at heart.

That is not what the United States of America wants to do. What we want to do is to protect the security of this territory, because it matters for us, and it matters for the people who live here.

All right, guys, thank you all.

And let me just say one more final word to the guardsmen, the airmen, the other servicemembers gathered here. Thank you.

From the bottom of my heart, it is incredible to be a vice president who has served just as our NSA, Mike Waltz, has served to know the sacrifice that comes along with it, and to see that there is still incredible young Americans willing to put on the uniform and serve this country.

You make America a better place, and you make it an honor to serve as your vice president.

God bless you guys. Thanks for having me.

(APPLAUSE)

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN HOST: All right. We've been watching Vice President J.D. Vance take questions there from members of the press as he's visiting space force -- with space force soldiers and at a military base in Greenland, as well.

A few interesting nuggets there, specifically on the -- on the topic of Greenland.

I want to read one quote, saying, "What we think is going to happen is that the Greenlanders are going to choose, through self-determination, to become independent of Denmark, and then we're going to have conversations with the people of Greenland from there."

It seemed that, over the course of this -- and you said it earlier -- that he was almost pitching the people of Greenland to be under the United States security umbrella versus Denmark's security umbrella.

Citing, to use his words, "increased pressures from nations like China and Russia in the Arctic Circle."

Now, to the degree that those countries are applying pressure, we do not know at this moment. But in recent years, we definitely have seen increased presence from -- from countries like China, for example.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Yes, certainly.

And also just proof that the vice president can go all the way to Pituffik Space Base in Greenland --

(CROSSTALK)

JIMENEZ: -- pronunciation, by the way.

KEILAR: I tried to do my best there.

And still he couldn't get away from the Signal gate scandal. He, of course, was accompanied there by the national security advisor, Michael Waltz.

But he was asked about, specifically -- and I'm going to read from what he said in the article, "I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is," meaning this strike on the Houthis to open up shipping lanes, "how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now."

What's interesting is he was asked about that, and he said that this group was basically deliberating so that they could then help President Trump make a decision.

Well, President Trump had already made a decision. And actually, "S.M." in the text chat, which was Stephen Miller made that clear, quote, "As I heard it, the president was clear, green light."

So you had him doing a little bit of revisionist there. But clearly -- revisionist history, I should say.

Clearly, though -- and we heard this from the story -- the vice president is a little sensitive to this idea that he may have been speaking out of school or had daylight with the president.

He also stressed there that no one is getting fired from this, so.

JIMENEZ: And you know, he framed it as, sometimes we all agree, sometimes we all disagree. At least we're having an honest conversation in regard to the clear disconnect in the moments there.

I should also mention, they mentioned Canada, saying that Canadian leadership threatening retaliatory tariffs. Vice President Vance went to what we've heard from President Trump saying they don't have the cars and that there's no way Canada can win in a trade war with the United States.

[14:40:04]

And on Ukraine and Russia, that they feel very good about where things are right now in regard to peace negotiations.

More news coming up after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: Back to our breaking news right now. Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife, Usha, are in Greenland visiting a U.S. Space Force outpost there.

This is a controversial trip that has happened as President Trump digs in on his plan to control the Arctic island, which is a Danish territory.

Last hour, President Trump said he thinks Greenland understands that the U.S. needs to own it. Adding, quote, "And if they don't, we're going to have to explain it to them."

[14:45:08]

With us now to discuss is Republican Congressman Pat Harrigan of North Carolina. He is a combat decorated Green Beret who sits on the House Armed Services Committee.

Sir, great to have you back. Thanks for being with us.

And you've heard the president talk about this. He's been pretty consistent. Back in January, he would not rule out taking Greenland by force. Do you think that the U.S. should militarily pressure or invade Greenland if it comes to that?

REP. PAT HARRIGAN (R-NC): Certainly, I think we just heard from Vice President Vance himself that that's not on the table. There is no expectation that that would happen.

Simultaneously, I think he's been very clear and the president has been very clear that having an enhanced presence in Greenland is a strategic interest for the United States of America.

We face many broad based geopolitical challenges right now. There is an ongoing effort to expand influence into the Arctic by our adversaries. Both China and Russia are trying to become more powerful Arctic influencers.

And we need to counter that for our own national security and our security abroad. So I think they've been very clear from the very beginning. There is

no need for force.

And I think that when President Trump says that we might need to explain it to them, I think that that means that we're going to come to some sort of negotiated arrangement that we understand is in the best interest of both parties.

KEILAR: He was asked about military or economic pressure, and he said, "No, I can't assure you on either of those two."

HARRIGAN: Well, I think, of course, President Trump, from a negotiating perspective, would use everything that's within his toolbox.

But I think Vice President Vance made it very, very clear just 10 minutes ago --

(CROSSTALK)

KEILAR: -- to threaten military pressure. But you're just not -- you're not taking him at his word that he actually means that?

HARRIGAN: I just take what Vice President Vance just said, which is military force, is not on the table.

KEILAR: Does -- do you take what Trump says over what the vice president says, or do you feel like Vance is clarifying? I mean, how do you see it?

HARRIGAN: I think President Trump and Vice President Vance are in lockstep with one another. And I think we just heard it from the horse's mouth in Greenland, that it's not on the table.

KEILAR: OK. I mean, we've seen recent examples where they are not always in lockstep together.

I do want to ask you, though, speaking of that, on this Signal group chat, we have known for some time -- I know that you're tracking this -- of these Salt Typhoon hacks that are so concerning.

Chinese hackers targeting American telecom companies like Verizon and others as well, we should mention, targeting personal devices, including of 2024 presidential candidates.

They're trying to get into the devices of top officials in a very sophisticated attack. I don't think we're perhaps surprised by that. But learning certainly the level to which they have had some success is very concerning.

And the encryption of Signal messages isn't that helpful? If the device that Signal is on is compromised. The folks on this Signal chat, of late, they're prime targets for this kind of thing.

Steve Witkoff implied that Signal was installed on his personal phone. DNI Gabbard would not even answer when asked before Congress if it was on her personal phone.

Should the nation's top intelligence and diplomatic officials know better?

HARRIGAN: Look, I think there's no question that our adversaries are going to do everything that they possibly can to exploit the electronic devices of our most senior leaders.

And as the president -- as the president's administration works incredibly hard to put out all the fires around the world that they inherited from the Biden administration -- they truly inherited a world that's on fire -- they're moving fast in trying to accomplish the presidents objectives that are in line with the strategic interests of the United States of America.

Sometimes in the process of that, mistakes are going to get made. I think, very clearly, a mistake was made here. But I think that the lesson has been learned. The protections are being put in place to prevent this from happening in the future.

But of course, Brianna, we should always be looking at our digital footprint from the lens of a counterintelligence perspective, particularly from our senior leadership.

I imagine that this instance will drive a lot of conversation on the Hill and within our defense and intelligence agencies on best practices moving forward.

KEILAR: And as I mentioned, you're on House -- House Foreign Affairs -- Armed Services, I'm sorry. We have new reporting --

(CROSSTALK)

HARRIGAN: -- technology.

[14:50:00]

KEILAR: Yes. Which is very important here.

And we do have some new reporting that current and former officials have told CNN that the texts that we're sent by the national security advisor and by the CIA director, specifically by those two individuals in Signal, that it may have damaged America's ongoing ability to gather intel on the Houthis.

Do you think that your committee should be looking at that, considering that there could be some fallout from this on some of these things going forward?

HARRIGAN: Well, I think everybody on the House Armed Services Committee takes anything that has anything to do with our operational interests or the lives of our servicemen and women very seriously.

Simultaneously, I also think we have to recognize that this was a completely successful operation and that no Americans were injured or killed during it. We did accomplish the mission. And we did destroy the terrorists we sought to destroy and have an influence on Iran that President Biden refused to have, that President Trump did have.

That being said, I -- I think very much we've got to take a look at our overall digital footprint.

But as -- as I read the texts, personally, as a former Green Beret, Special Operator and West Point graduate, I do not see the revelation of sources and methodologies that, would concur with the opinion of these folks that you're reporting is coming from. I don't see that long term damage there, Brianna.

KEILAR: Yes. And certainly that's your opinion. This is a reporting from a number of current and former officials.

I hear what you're saying. You do not see this. But they disagree vehemently with that assessment, although we certainly do take yours as well.

Congressman Pat Harrigan, thank you so much.

HARRIGAN: Thanks, Brianna.

KEILAR: Omar?

JIMENEZ: President Trump quietly signed an executive order yesterday that could change the face of the historic Smithsonian Institute. This latest directive threatens funding for programs he claims advance divisive narratives and improper ideology.

Now, the order, entitled Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History, states, "The Smithsonian has come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology that has promoted narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive."

He singles out four Smithsonian properties, the National Museum of African-American History and Culture, the American Women's History Museum, which is under development, the National Zoo and the American Art Museum.

Now the Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education and research complex, with 21 museums, including D.C.'s National Zoo.

I want to bring in Cornell William Brooks, the former president and CEO of the NAACP and a professor at Harvard's Kennedy School.

Thank you for being here.

Look, let's just start with the National Museum of African-American History and Culture. It's the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African-American life, history and culture.

I mean, what is your reaction to the presidents order? And why do you think the museum was singled out?

CORNEL WILLIAM BROOKS, PROFESSOR, HARVARD'S KENNEDY SCHOOL & FORMER PRESIDENT & CEO, NAACP: Well, I think it was singled out because we've seen a number of executive orders, which are legally suspect in the sense that they focus on a particular topic broadly, diversity broadly, but single out African-Americans with particularity.

So in this particular case, we have an executive order, which directs vice president of the United States to take it upon himself to be an amateur curator of these 21 museums, 14 research centers, the National Zoo, visited by 17 million people from around the world, including thousands upon thousands of children.

And so the vice president is directed to root out improper ideology. So the African-American museum, which contains exhibits related to the civil rights movement, related to slavery, related to some of America's darkest chapters, but brightest moments.

And so it is singled out because the artifacts, the art, the items speak to the -- the culture, the history, the art of African- Americans.

And with the -- what the president is suggesting with this executive order is that if we had race invisibility, we would somehow have national unity.

Let us note this. To the degree that this museum speaks to the Civil War, a moment in our nation's history in which we were profoundly divided by race and region, the president has charged the vice president with essentially whitewashing history.

And so this is not only offensive as a matter of history, it is also an insult to the intelligence of Americans.

Omar, when last have you heard a president, an American president, suggest that we should have a proper ideology?

[14:55:06]

Americans aren't looking for a proper ideology. We want the opportunity to engage in -- in free expression and thought and art and history.

And so this is incredibly wrongheaded, legally suspect and constitutionally offensive.

JIMENEZ: And, you know, we haven't seen what changes may or may not go into effect specifically just yet. But -- but the Smithsonian and specifically the African-American History Museum, they haven't commented publicly.

And I think you touched on this a little bit here, describing, I believe, the president as an amateur curator of sorts in -- in sort of imposing executive power on some of these places.

What would this mean for institutions like that museum, like the American Women's History Museum? How might this outside influence or this outside directive impact the kinds of stories featured in some of these places?

BROOKS: Well, what this means is a collective historical theft from America.

So, in other words, to the degree that the women's museum, the African-American museum, the Native American museum, to the degree that their curator, their curatorial expertise is constrained, it means that our opportunities, the thousands upon thousands of children who come to Washington, D.C., to see Americas best, that -- that's limited.

Think about this. Omar, in the African-American museum, we have a shawl given to Harriet Tubman, the first woman to lead American troops into battle, who delivered 750 people to freedom.

What would happen if a child, coming from Iowa or coming from South Carolina, coming from Michigan, missed the opportunity to see something worn by an American who did so much for the country?

So, in other words, Trump is trying to punish black people, in particular, and he is punishing America categorically. And so this is offensive.

And the last point here, Omar. Know this. The president and the vice president are both graduates of Ivy League institutions. The president, University of Pennsylvania, the vice president, Yale Law School. They've had access to the best museums in the world.

Why is the president trying to deny our children and our neighbors and our fellow citizens to see the kinds of museums he has had access to all of his life?

JIMENEZ: Well, and this move, it comes after years of debate that has become an ideological debate over -- over what stories can be told and should be told in regard to American history.

Again, we're going to look for the specific changes that come as a result of this expected dynamic. But I've got to leave the conversation there.

Cornell William Brooks, really appreciate you being here.

BROOKS: No, thank you. It's good to be with you.

JIMENEZ: All right. Now, for the past two years, CNN Anchor Kate Bolduan has been documenting the fentanyl crisis across the country. And in this week's episode of "THE WHOLE STORY WITH ANDERSON COOPER," she shows us the front lines through the eyes of paramedics, dealers and active users.

KEILAR: And part of her reporting took Kate inside of a neonatal intensive care unit, where she spoke with doctors treating the youngest victims of this terrible addiction.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(CRYING)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She is having some tremors.

The fentanyl crisis has been very real. I mean, opiate use in general. Since the time I started practicing in pediatrics and neonatology, there's been an increase in over 300 percent of patients.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: My, gosh.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know.

What we found is that there's so many of these moms that are using that we're not comfortable with sharing that information.

(CRYING)

BOLDUAN: If a pregnant woman comes in and she holds this information back, how does that impact the care?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If they wouldn't have shared it with their provider, they wouldn't know that it's actually more dangerous to stop using if you're already pregnant.

So they would try to get themselves off of it and sometimes, cold turkey, stop using.

BOLDUAN: People are going to hear them. What?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The baby can die inside. So the baby will then also go through withdrawal, much like the mom will if she stops using. And it can cause the baby to actually die in utero.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Be sure to watch "FENTANYL IN AMERICA: A WAY OUT" on CNN's "THE WHOLE STORY WITH ANDERSON COOPER" this Sunday at 8:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)