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China Defiant After Trump Threatens Additional 50 Percent Tariffs; RFK Jr. to Tell CDC to Stop Recommending Fluoride in Drinking Water; Florida Wins First Title Since 2007 in 65-63 Thriller. Aired 7- 7:30a ET

Aired April 08, 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]

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: This morning, China hitting back vowing to fight President Trump's tariffs to the end, accusing him of economic bullying and blackmail as Trump promises to hit China with another tariff of 50 percent more.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: The American Dental Association says it is the single most efficient way to prevent cavities. Now, Health Secretary Robert Kennedy wants fluoride out of drinking water. What the studies actually said.

And Gator Nation is on top of the world, a really impressive comeback to win the national championship. Sara Sidner was there. She was supposed to be on reading this headline.

BOLDUAN: Maybe sleepy.

BERMAN: But maybe a little sleepy, okay?

I'm John Berman with Kate Bolduan, Sara Sidner allegedly on the way. This is CNN News Central.

All right, developing this morning, a mistake upon a mistake. Overnight, China hurled these new accusations at President Trump as it took action bracing for a real trade slug fest. President Trump is now promising a new 50 percent tariff on China on top of the other new tariffs, which are on top of existing tariffs. Combined, this would make U.S. tariffs on imports from China a whopping 104 percent.

And yet, despite all this tough talk, the markets, they seem a little less agitated this morning. After days of these massive losses and trillions of dollars in value evaporated, U.S. stock futures are pointing up for now, at least. It comes, and it may be because of the fact that some members of his administration have relented on their no negotiation stance. Some members of the administration, the markets in Asia, you can see right there, most of them rebounded after their sharp selloffs.

This comes though as China accused the U.S. of blackmail and China is vowing to, quote, fight to the end if the president moves ahead with all of his threats. So, let's get right to CNN's Marc Stewart in Beijing here, because the rest of Asia's in a different place than China is right now. And China really seems to be gearing up for a serious fight.

MARC STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, John. Despite what the White House may want, China and Beijing is making it very clear that it's not going to budge. And once again today, we saw this shift from diplomatic language to something that's much more defiant. You brought up that phrase, mistake upon mistake. That is some of the language we heard today from China's Ministry of Commerce, and it's taking a very strong stance. In fact, it also went on to say that China will resolutely take countermeasures to safeguard its own rights and interests.

As far as what those countermeasures could be, we heard from a state media commentator who brought up the point that we could see more tariffs targeting agriculture, things like soybeans, which we know are so important to American farmers and the broader economy, even restricting or banning American films. We heard at a press brief just about four hours ago from a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the messaging there, very strong, very firm. Let's listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LIN JIAN, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON: Pressure, threats and blackmail are not the right ways to engage with China.

If the U.S. disregards the interest of both countries and the international community insists on launching a tariff or trade war, China will fight to the end.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEWART: Fight to the end. That spokesperson was also asked, would China sit down at the negotiating table with the United States? His response, China has not shown any kind of genuine willingness to have a substantive conversation. John, that's where things stand now, just past 7:00 in the evening here in Beijing.

BERMAN: Yes. No, I know, and it's been a long day there in China, taking some measures to prop up its own markets. This is what you do if you're gearing up for a fight, that may not end soon.

Marc Stewart in Beijing, great to see you. Thank you very much. Kate?

[07:05:01]

BOLDUAN: Creepily in the back of your shot right then. Sorry, J.B.

BERMAN: Always creepy. The only way you know.

BOLDUAN: It's the only way I operate around here.

Anyway, let's move to this. We're also learning new details about what's happening behind the scenes at the White House as this chaotic tariff rollout is about to kick into overdrive overnight, and what message some of the people around the president think he should and should not be pushing with the American public.

CNN's Alayna Treene at the White House for us. Alayna, this is going to be quite the day. What are you learning?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: You're exactly right. It will be. Look, we actually had some new reporting come out about how as all of this is, of course, all of these tariffs, people are trying to figure out what exactly is the way out of this. And, you know, markets are responding by being scattered. 401(k)s are shrinking.

We learned that over the weekend, the president's treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, actually flew to Mar-a-Lago and to deliver a message to the president. Essentially, that message, Kate, was that they need to get his team on the same page, but also more clearly explain to the American people what the endgame with these tariffs are. And, of course, that is trying to get better trade deals with other countries.

Now, we did actually hear the president yesterday say that he's open to negotiation. He said he had talked to the Japanese prime minister, he talked to other world leaders as well, and said that he's willing to deal. However, when I have talked to many different White House officials, Trump administration officials about this, they tell me really in the president's eyes, he wants to try and milk these other countries for everything they can get. And his ultimate priority is really to try and erase some of the deficits that America has with these other countries. We've heard the president say as much.

Now, all of this, though, of course, comes as a lot of people have been trying to kind of read between the lines of what different top economic advisers here at the White House are saying. You know, there was some mixed messaging over the past several days. Even just yesterday, we heard one of the president's trade advisers, Peter Navarro, say that these tariffs are not a negotiation. Then you've heard Bessent and others say they will be negotiating with some of these key trading partners. Listen to how the president responded to that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPORTER: There have been some mixed messages from your administration. You're talking about negotiations and yet others in your administration are saying that these tariffs are actually permanent. What is it actually?

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: I think it could be, they can both be true. There can be permanent tariffs and there can also be negotiations because there are things that we need beyond tariffs.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TREENE: Now, Kate, one key thing as well to keep in mind, and this is something I've been picking up from officials behind the scenes, is that some people in this White House and administration do believe that the president needs to get some wins on the board, that some deals need to be made in the near term to essentially show the American people that their patience is worth waiting for, to have them buy in to this tariff plan, and, again, as people are really worried about what is happening to the stock market, to their retirement accounts worried about what's going on with their wallets.

So, all of that as we see these tariffs expected to go into effect later tonight.

BOLDUAN: Okay. It seems we're also watching an evolving definition of negotiation and negotiating is what we seem to be seeing from the president right now. Alayna, thank you so much. John?

BERMAN: Not permanent, if they can be removed by negotiations shortly.

All right, the Supreme Court rules that judges can review deportations of alleged gang members, even as it lifts a block on those deportations. How this ruling might not be what the Trump administration claims it is.

New images out of Paris as a major fire just a few miles from the Eiffel Tower sends black smoke across the skyline.

And an eight-year-old is helping lonely students during recess. How his idea has come to change life at one elementary school.

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[07:10:00]

BERMAN: New this morning, the country's top health official, HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy, says he will tell the CDC to stop recommending fluoride in drinking water. Kennedy calls it a, quote, freedom of choice issue.

Let's get right to CNN Medical Correspondent Meg Tirrell for the latest on this. So, what's this mean, Meg?

MEG TIRRELL, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, John. A lot of movement about fluoride yesterday from a press conference in Salt Lake City, multiple ways that they're targeting fluoride here. In addition to RFK Jr. saying that he's going to direct the CDC to stop recommending it in community drinking water, we learned from the Department of Health and Human Services they also plan to reconvene a community preventive services task force to make a new recommendation around the issue. We also heard from the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin that they are going to review new science around this.

And this really follows up on a promise that RFK Jr. made even before the election, where he said that on day one in the White House, the Trump administration would advise community water systems to stop putting fluoride in the water, which, of course, has been done for decades to prevent tooth decay. RFK Jr. has claimed that it is related to a lot of health issues.

But it's really important to note that the recommended level of fluoride in drinking water is 0.7 milligrams per liter. And in terms of any of those health conditions or those health concerns, there was a national toxicology program report that came out last summer that the EPA is focusing on as part of this review that found at levels, at least twice, once in the U.S. drinking water are recommended.

[07:15:06]

There was moderate confidence that was associated with lower I.Q. in children. But that same study found that more studies are needed to fully understand the effects set lower exposure levels.

And so right now, guys, we're going to see this sort of reexamination of fluoride policy and water systems, and this has been a really local issue. Utah, of course, just banned fluoride in its water supply. That's going to take effect in May. That's why RFK Jr. made this announcement there. But we should note that counties -- some counties in Utah had actually voted to include fluoride in their water supply, including Salt Lake County in Utah. And their Health Department told us they support community water for fluorination has a safe, proven, and efficient way to improve oral health community-wide, regardless of income level or access to regular dental care.

And, John, that's the real concern here, is this was a way to make sure everybody can get the protection for their teeth, and now folks will have to buy fluoride products and that'll affect lower income kids more.

BERMAN: All right. Meg Tirrell, thank you for that update. Obviously, this is a move that would have a giant impact if fluoride does go away in drinking water in other places.

All right, let's get to the NCAA finals where the clocks are now apparently working. Sarah Sidner was there.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: I don't know if you've heard this, John, but the Florida Gators played the Houston Cougars last night and we chomped them up. I was here. I will be live for the first time ever. Me and Coy Wire together outside the Alamo, baby. We've got a lot of highlights to show you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:20:00]

BOLDUAN: So, March Madness was just that last night, absolute madness. The Florida Gators pulling off a nail-biter of a win in the NCAA men's championship game, mow taking home their third national Title.

CNN's Coy Wire, and CNN's numero uno Gators fan Sara Sidner. I don't know what -- I am excited and terrified to see you two humans together, especially after I know you got no sleep. Sara, how was it?

SIDNER: Zero. You don't even want to know what I have to say. I want you to see the highlights first, Kate, just in case you didn't stay up late. It was a late game. These highlights blow my mind, like honestly,

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes. And wait until you hear a story about this one right here and what almost happened to her during the game.

Let's check out the highlights. Houston came out swinging in this one with that suffocating defense of theirs holding Florida Star Walter Clayton Jr. with zero points in the first half. They had led almost the entire game. But Walt Clayton getting shut down, that meant guard Will Richard could step up. He rises up for a team high 18 points, and in the second half trailing by 12 at one point, the Gators and Clayton come to life.

Clayton ends up making huge plays down the stretch. Eventually, they take a two-point lead. And then with three seconds left, this is the moment Houston's Emanuel Sharp, he goes for the win, but Walter Clayton came flying in, made Sharp, pull up his shot midair a turnover seals it, Florida's first national title in 18 years. They only led 63 seconds in this game, but they find a way to pull up to 65-63 win. And at 39 years old Coach Todd Golden becomes the youngest head coach to win the title in 42 years. I caught up with coach as he was walking off the court for the first time as a national champ. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WIRE: Coach, what does this win mean for you in Gator Nation?

TODD GOLDEN, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA HEAD COACH: Obviously, we're thrilled, man. It's a heck of a moment, an incredible opportunity to be here. And the fact that we've finished it up, it means everything in the world.

Come here.

WIRE: You got your family here. This is an incredible moment. You're the youngest coach since 1983 to get a title. How has this journey been to you?

GOLDEN: It's been great. You know, I've been fortunate to work with great people along the way. And I have great players. And in three short years we got the University of Florida's basketball program back where it belongs, which is winning national championships.

WIRE: Win it in the final seconds, tell us about the mental makeup of your team that enabled you to pull off this title?

GOLDEN: They've displayed it all year in adverse conditions and situations. They found a way to step up, hang on your guts and push through and finish and against one of the best teams in America. We did it again tonight. Our senior leaders have been a lead all year, and our younger front court players make sure they reach that level that's expected on every night and led us to 36 wins. They led us to 36 wins. Thank you. Led us to 36 wins and now we're getting national champions.

WIRE: And now you told me after a win you were maybe going to bust out the robot mosh pit with a team.

GOLDEN: I don't know. I don't know, man. I don't got it yet. I got to wait until the team gets in here.

WIRE: Congrats, coach.

GOLDEN: Thanks.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WIRE: Yes. Coach needs to work on his robot a little bit, but who needs to dance when you can mosh pit with your team.

Listen, Sara, did, as I mentioned, you all led for just 63 seconds in this game. What do you think was the turning point?

SIDNER: I think it was at about 12 minutes when Thomas Hall ended up stripping the ball from the Cougars and going down the court and getting a foul. I said, okay, we might win this. But we were still down. It was 41 45. And then about 7:30, thank the Lord for Clayton, Jr. Walter Clayton Jr. came in and tied up the game. I said, we are going to win this.

I thought it was it. I was like, okay, finally we were down the whole dang time almost.

WIRE: Yes, incredible. I'm getting goosebumps again, just thinking about 68,000-plus fans going berserk in there.

[07:25:00]

What were you feeling in those moments, if you remember any of that?

SIDNER: Oh, barely. My lips -- this has never happened to me before. My lips went numb and the lady next to me said, are you all right? And I started to black out. I had to sit down and hyperventilate. I was like, give me a paper bag. I was so stressed that I literally almost blacked out during the game. That has never happened before.

WIRE: Not good. You got to remember to breathe when you're screaming your lungs out.

SIDNER: I didn't have any breath left. It was amazing and terrible. At one point, I'd looked at Andy Scholes, who's poor Cougs lost. And I felt bad for him. And I said, this isn't fun anymore. I'm just stressed. Me too. So --

WIRE: Well, listen, Kate, you know, I brought Sara a coffee this morning. I actually brought her two coffees and this one's very special, because look what's inside. This is confetti from the court, for you and your Gators. Oh, let's go.

BOLDUAN: I mean, to you guys -- I mean, I am always jealous of Coy Wire and now I am extremely jealous of coy wire. You get party Sarah. I get ta-ta (ph), Sara, and set, and you get party animals, Sara, out in the field. I mean, guys, you -- WIRE: You were getting ta-ta because she didn't sleep at all last night.

BOLDUAN: Exactly. Well, it's a different ta-ta. You could have extended the invite, a little plus two. I was available yesterday to jump a flight, even though I saw Sara running through an airport to get there. All right, you two, stop having -- continue having fun.

SIDNER: (INAUDIBLE) throw me under the bus for not making the teams, but I don't care.

WIRE: Let's go.

BOLDUAN: Sour grapes or something like that. All right, team. Oh, Coy Wire as a cheerleader is maybe a dream come true. All right, team, we'll get right back to you. I love those two.

Coming up for us, California's attorney general's leading the way when one very clear way in Trump's first term, the state filed 123 lawsuits against the administration. It's now on pace to double that in this second term.

And the National Park Service facing new questions this morning after it appears to have restored a webpage featuring Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. So, what happened and why?

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[07:30:00]