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Trump Slides to 41 Percent Approval as 100-Day Mark Nears; Next Hour, Trump's Border Czar Speaks at White House; Mayor Says, Suspect Has Significant History of Mental Health Issues. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired April 28, 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]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Developing this morning poll after poll shows President Trump's approval rating plunging, historically low numbers at this point in his term. And now we know how the administration plans to try to turn it around. We are standing by for a news conference at the White House scheduled to begin shortly.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: And in a new interview with The Atlantic out just this morning, President Trump's take on his second term, how it's different from the first, I run the country and the world.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: And overnight police were investigating after one person was killed and several others injured after a recreational boat collided with a packed ferry. Police say one boat fled that scene. That story and more ahead.

I'm Sara Sidner with Kate Bolduan and John Berman. This is CNN News Central.

BERMAN: This morning, what a difference 100 days can make. President Trump closing in on that critical benchmark, and this is what he has to show for it, historically, low poll numbers, a trade war that has wreaked havoc on the global economy and no peace deal to end the actual war in Ukraine. The latest CNN poll shows the president's approval rating is at 41 percent. That is the lowest for any president at this point in his term in seven decades.

He's sinking even on issues where he is been considered strongest, like immigration. Perhaps it's no coincidence where standing body here from his border czar at the White House this morning. His numbers are falling on foreign policy. Is it possible there has been a recalibration there as well. After meeting with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, at the funeral of Pope Francis, he had a new message the president did for Russia, quote, stop shooting, sit down and sign a deal. This after expressing surprise at the possibility that Vladimir Putin had been, quote, tapping him along on negotiations, an idea that foreign policy experts have been noting for months.

Let's get right to CNN's Betsy Klein at the White House. An unusual morning at the White House, Betsy. BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE PRODUCER: That's right, John. I mean, we have seen President Trump move aggressively to enact his agenda in this first 100 days. He has transformed the size and scope of the federal government. He has re-imagined the use of executive authority. He has overhauled the U.S. and world economic system. He's also re-imagined the role of the US in the world. And as you mentioned, we are starting to get a sense of how the public feels about that.

In this brand new CNN polling, 41 percent approval for President Trump. That's the lowest a hundred day approval rating in seven decades since the Eisenhower administration. And it is notably down four points since March.

Another interesting number from this CNN poll, the when asked if they have confidence that Trump will use his presidential powers responsibly, in December of 2024, 46 percent of voters had no confidence he would use those powers responsibly, then in April, just this week, 54 percent, no confidence.

We're also seeing declining polling on the issue of immigration, the White House clearly trying to change the narrative here, highlighting a different area, each of these 100 days. Today is immigration and securing the border. We're going to be hearing from the borders are Tom Homan and Karoline Leavitt in the next hour. And you can see this signage behind me as they highlight some of these arrests of illegal immigrants. Of course, it also comes as we've learned that two U.S. citizens, a seven-year-old and a four-year-old suffering from metastatic cancer were deported to Honduras with their mother over the weekend.

And in an Atlantic interview out just moments ago, the president was asked what would happen if his administration accidentally got the wrong person, a legal resident, or even an American citizen, as has just happened? He said, quote, let me tell you that nothing will ever be perfect in this world. He also told them that he is not involved with the individual legal challenges to some of these immigration moves that we are starting to see.

In that same interview, he was asked about his embattled Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. He said he thinks he's going to get it together. He said he had a talk with him, a positive talk, but I had a talk with him.

[07:05:03]

And asked what the president had told his staff about that controversy around the use of Signal to share very sensitive details about an operation in Yemen, the president said, maybe don't use Signal, okay? John?

BERMAN: That's one thing, for sure. All right, Betsy at the White House this morning, thanks so much. Kate?

BOLDUAN: All right. Let's bring in right now CNN Washington Bureau Chief and Political Director David Chalian. There is a lot. That is said, there's a lot that has changed. When you look at these poll numbers for this president, it is a different landscape that he's looking at 100 days in. David, what are you looking at in this?

DAVID CHALIAN, CNN WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF: Yes, there's no doubt about that. Kate. I mean, just take a look at the trajectory of his approval rating over the course of these first 100 days. In mid- February or so, our poll showed him at 47 percent approval. You saw late February 48 percent approval. Those were some of his highest approval ratings of his career. He is now down at the 100 day mark at 41 percent approval, and we'll show you the historic nature of that low.

I want to stress here also, it's not just a low approval rating. Donald Trump, over the course of these first 100 days, Kate, has lost the middle of the country politically. Independents have really slid in their approval of Donald Trump. Again, if you look back mid- February, it was at 43 percent among independents. That is all the way down 12 points now to only 31 percent approval among independents. That becomes a political problem, if not necessarily for Donald Trump, perhaps for his party who has to face voters in the midterm elections a year-and-a-half from now.

But we were talking about the historic nature of that, and if you stack up his approval rating now to all of his modern day predecessors, you see that that 41 percent approval is at the bottom of the list, Kate. Just take a look at all those numbers there. Everyone else at this point in their presidency, including Donald Trump himself eight years ago had a higher mark than he has today,

BOLDUAN: David, and on the issues it send -- there's some strong signals being sent on important issues like the economy and like immigration as well.

CHALIAN: I mean, this is two issues that you just named. Not only are they important in voters' minds, Kate, but they were strong suits for Donald Trump and he is underwater on both of them now. Take a look. We show you here approval on issues and every issue we tested. He is below majority support. His numbers are upside down.

Now, immigration at the top there, he's now at 45 percent of approval of handling it. In March, it was 51 percent. He's lost six points. It's still one of his top issues, but he's now underwater. Managing the federal government is the only other issue where he performs better than his overall approval rating. But on foreign affairs, the economy, inflation, tariffs, he's well below his overall approval. In fact, the only issue we tested, and it's not on that list because we don't have trend on it, Kate, where he actually has majority support, 51 percent approve of his handling of gender identity issues. That is the only positive territory that we see the president in this poll.

BOLDUAN: The numbers are fascinating. The contexts that you provide around it always, David, is so important. Thank you so much. It's great to see you.

CHALIAN: Thanks a lot, Kate.

BOLDUAN: Sara?

SODMER: All right. The impact Donald Trump is having on Canada's elections as Canadians go to the polls today to choose their leader.

And breaking overnight a deadly boat collision in Florida, a private boat slamming into a packed ferry. What happened after the boat left the scene of that accident?

And this morning, the son of the Atlanta Falcons defense coordinator is apologizing after a prank to punk Dionne Sanders' son, Shedeur Sanders, during the NFL draft. What went down, that's ahead.

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[07:10:00]

SIDNER: This morning, police in Vancouver have charged a suspect after they say he rammed an SUV into a crowd killing 11 people during a Filipino heritage street festival. So far, he's been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder. Dozens of other people were injured as well. Vancouver's mayor says, though, there is no indication this incident was an act of terrorism.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEN SIM, VANCOUVER MAYOR: Here's what I can confirm at this time. Number one, the suspect has been arrested and is currently in VPD custody. Secondly, evidence points to this not being an act of terrorism. Thirdly, the individual in question has a significant history of mental health issues.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: The attack happened Saturday night, just two days before Canada's high stakes federal election today. This morning, people across the country are heading to the polls.

CNN's Paula Newton is in Ottawa for us. Wow. We saw this horrible attack. We now have charges that have been meted out on the suspect. How are the candidates dealing with all this and responding to all of this?

PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Sara, and good morning to you. I can't underscore enough how shattering this event was not just for Vancouver or the West Coast, but really felt right across the country. And that really was underscored on the campaign. There were some changes from all the leaders in terms of what they did, but they also showed uncommon emotion, understanding that it is just so senseless, Sara, and you heard from the mayor there saying that this involves someone who was clearly mentally ill and was known to police in that way, that those are the allegations that police are putting forward right now.

[07:15:10]

And, again, think about it, the people, 11 dead, police saying they range in age from 5, 5 to 65, and so many eyewitnesses talking about the terrible scenes that they saw in what was supposed to be a joyous and vibrant festival.

I want you to listen now to one of them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELIZABETH POTSKIN, WITNESS TO ATTACK: We have resilience, we have heart, and we have compassion for one another. And I think that's what's really important right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: You know, that really shown through yesterday when you saw all the comments from the leaders or even people that were attending the rallies. It is voting day, polls opening on the East Coast. This really was a dramatic turn in this election, Sara, from about January. Canada switched prime ministers and Mark Carney showed a lot of strength in the polls, and that was quite a turnaround. In fact, some pollsters are saying it is, in fact, a historic turnaround. That doesn't mean the poll that matters, the one that Canadians will be counting this evening. It doesn't mean that it's a fait accompli.

Still, though, as I said, what the mayor is saying in Vancouver, when you talk about everything society has to deal with here in Canada and beyond, that is really preying on votes this evening and throughout the day, because people understand that there are issues, whether it is in the city of Vancouver or beyond. And it is a lot of those issues that voters will be thinking about as they go to the polls really in about an hour from now.

SIDNER: Yes, absolutely. And our hearts are with the Filipino community after they experienced such a deep tragedy in all of those families.

Paula Newton, thank you so much for all your reporting there. John?

BERMAN: All right. Breaking news, conclave on the calendar, we just learned the day the cardinals will gather in the Sistine Chapel to elect the next pope. Standby for that.

And NFL stunner, as if Shedeur Sanders was not having a bad enough weekend, slipping round after round in the draft, a prank call came in telling him he had been picked when he had not. Now, we know that call came from a pro-coach's son,

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[07:20:00]

BOLDUAN: So, this morning, it is the NFL draft story that really should never have happened. University of Colorado Quarterback Shedeur Sanders pranked as he waited and waited for his big call, and it now turns out it was the son of an Atlanta Falcons coach who is behind it all.

CNN's Coy Wire has the very latest on this. And, Coy, what are you learning?

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes. Speaking with some folks from the Falcons, they spent a lot of time trying to figure this out, Kate. 21- year-old Jax Ulbrich, son of Jeff Ulbrich, the defensive coordinator from the team, apologized for a prank call made to Shedeur Sanders on Friday. The Falcons released a statement saying he came across Sanders' number in an open iPad while visiting his parents' home and wrote down the number to later conduct a prank call.

Sanders received a call caught on video that you're seeing here allegedly from the G.M. of the New Orleans Saints saying they were picking him. Well, it was a hoax. Sanders was picked by the Browns almost 24 hours later in the fifth round. Ulbrich apologized to Sanders on social media saying, in part, quote, I made a tremendous mistake. What I did was completely inexcusable, embarrassing and shameful. Thank you for accepting my call earlier today. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me, unquote.

The NFL confirmed to CNN that the league is looking into additional prank calls made, Kate, and has been in contact with the Falcons and is reviewing the matter.

NBA playoffs, Pistons-Knicks game for it, Madison Square Garden. Did the Pistons get robbed? Tim Hardaway Jr. with a potential game-winning three with seconds left. It looks like he's foul by New York's Josh Hart, but no call. There would have been 0.3 seconds left. Hardaway getting three free throws. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff and Detroit are livid. Afterwards, the refs admitting, quote, a foul should have been called, unquote. Knicks win 94-93, taking a 3-1 series lead.

Lakers opened the second half on a 14-0 run against the Timberwolves, looking to even that series. LeBron scored 23, Luka Doncic, 38. But Minnesota Star Anthony Edwards went toe to toe with LeBron, as if to say you may call yourself king, but not on my court. Edwards erupting in this one, finishing with a game high 43 points.

And then we had a wild ending, Kate T-Wolves up one, James looking to steal the ball from Edwards, no foul called, but Edwards demanded a review and we get this drone-like shot for the review. The call is changed to a foul on the LeBron. Minnesota wins 116-113, taking a commanding 3-0 series lead.

Stanley Cup playoffs, Oilers scoring with 30 seconds left to send game four with the Kings into overtime. And in O.T., it's Edmonton star Leon Draisaitl rising up, becoming King slayer, his first ever playoff overtime goal. He had three assists as well. Oilers win 4-3 to even that series at two games a piece.

Woo, lots going on in this sports world this morning, Kate.

BOLDUAN: I mean, seriously, one I had, we had a sad household, because, obviously, I am married to a Pistons fan, so there was a lot of hurt feelings on that one. But there's always -- there's another game, right? There's another one. They've got another shot.

WIRE: At least one more shot to turn it all around. BOLDUAN: Plenty of time. You got to believe. You got to believe, Coy. Love you, buddy. Thank you. Sara?

WIRE: You too.

SIDNER: Just let's give some praise to the Knicks. I mean --

BOLDUAN: They get enough.

[07:25:00]

They've won three games or two games, or I don't know how many games they won.

SIDNER: All right. Ahead, why there is now a second arrest in the case of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's stolen purse.

And a packed ferry hit by a private boat. The boat leaves the scene. What police are saying about the mass casualty incident ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SIDNER: Happening this morning, President Trump's Border Czar Tom Homan is expected to speak shortly at a White House briefing as the administration is ramping up deportations of undocumented immigrants.

[07:30:08]