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Trump Pauses Major Tariffs on Canada and Mexico for 30 Days; Toddler Evacuated From Gaza for Urgent Medical Care; NTSB Reviewing New Data from Wreckage of Deadly Cash; Super Bowl Week Kicks Off. Aired 4:30-5a ET
Aired February 04, 2025 - 04:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:30:00]
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Christina Macfarlane. If you're just joining us, here are some of the top stories we're following today.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet with Donald Trump at the White House today. He will be the first world leader to have a formal meeting with the U.S. President since his inauguration.
Meanwhile, two of Mr. Trump's cabinet nominations face a critical hurdle on Capitol Hill. The Finance Committee will vote on RFK Jr. as the next Health and Human Services Secretary, while the Intelligence Committee will decide if Tulsi Gabbard should lead the intelligence agencies. Even if the nominations make it out of committee, they won't be confirmed until the full Senate votes.
And Kensington Palace has released a new photo of the Princess of Wales in honor of World Cancer Day. The image was taken by her six- year-old son, Prince Louis, and it shows her in a woodland setting with her arms stretched wide. The caption reads, don't forget to nurture all that which lies beyond the disease.
Catherine unveiled last month that she is now in remission after completing chemotherapy treatment in September.
China has slapped the U.S. with retaliatory tariffs less than an hour after President Trump's 10 percent tariffs on Chinese goods. China's tariffs apply to certain American products like crude oil, liquefied natural gas and agricultural machinery. They come amid Monday's pause on tariffs on Canada and Mexico.
After calls with Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada and President Scheinbaum of Mexico, President Trump agreed to delay tariffs for 30 days. The U.S. President has previously vowed that nothing would stop the tariffs. CNN's Richard Quest counts the cost of the tariff tussle.
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RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS EDITOR-AT-LARGE: We now know the price that has been paid for transactional tariffs to be suspended, at least for 30 days. In the case of Mexico, it is 10,000 border troops. In the case of Canada, a variety, a mishmash of policies and border czars, all around fentanyl and immigration.
But nothing actually gets away from the core issue of the trade imbalance between the three partners. And that will now be revisited, probably in 30 days' time.
QUEST: The depths and deep unease that has come about from the last 48 hours is quite extraordinary, and it really must beg the question, was it necessary?
"The Wall Street Journal" had called these the dumbest tariffs in the world, because could we have got to the same position without the tariffs and without the threats?
If the answer is no, then yes. Donald Trump's strategy has worked and worked to his and everyone's advantage. If the answer is yes, you could have done it through negotiation. You didn't need to threaten and bully long-standing allies, then the damage is going to be long- held. Because you're talking about allies, partners and friends.
And that sort of hurt and offense won't be forgotten that easy.
Richard Quest, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: Well, let's take a look at the reaction from both countries now. Paula Newton is in Ontario, Canada. But first, here's Patrick Oppmann with the view from Mexico.
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PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says Mexico needs to keep a quote, cool head when dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump and his threats of punishing tariffs on goods manufactured in her country.
Sheinbaum's steeliness under pressure during a phone conversation with Trump Monday paid off, averting a tariff war at the last minute, at least for now.
CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM, MEXICAN PRESIDENT (through translator): I responded, let's pause them for a month, and I'm confident that in a month we will deliver results for both his people and Mexico.
OPPMANN (voice-over): Trump had threatened 25 percent tariffs on Mexican goods starting Tuesday, as he accused Mexico of not doing enough to impede the flow of illegal drugs including fentanyl, and undocumented immigrants across the border into the U.S.
Tariffs he agreed to postpone after Sheinbaum offered to send 10,000 Mexican National Guard troops to the border to crack down on the drugs flowing north.
[04:35:00]
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We had a great talk with Mexico.
OPPMANN (voice-over): However, Trump stressed the negotiations are not over.
TRUMP: We haven't agreed on tariffs yet, and maybe we will, maybe we won't. But we have a very good relationship.
OPPMANN (voice-over): A trade war, though likely, would have had devastating impacts on both countries and ultimately lead to an increase in the price of a wide range of items from beer to automobiles that are produced jointly by an increasingly interwoven economy. Mexican citizens living on the border say --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I consider it as mutual aggression to both the United States and Mexico because it will be the consumer who ultimately pays for these decisions that are being made.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think that Mexico doesn't have to yield. It has to do something. Something different to not receive this kind of blackmail from the United States.
OPPMANN (voice-over): In return for deploying troops, the Mexican president called on Trump to help reduce the flood of guns originating from the U.S. that help arm Mexican drug cartels.
SHEINBAUM (voice-over): These high-powered weapons empower criminal groups and give them firepower. We also ask the U.S. to help prevent arms trafficking from their country into ours. He agreed.
OPPMANN (voice-over): Sheinbaum said she is confident Mexico can deliver results over the next month, while hammering out a new trade, migration and security deal with the Trump administration.
In order for that to happen though, and to avoid a widening cross border trade war, cooler heads will have to continue to prevail.
Patrick Oppmann, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A 30-day reprieve is certainly a relief here in Canada, but officials are already looking to those 30 days and understanding that it is a reminder that the threat of tariffs is still on the table.
In terms of what's happening on the border, many Canadians support a stronger border. There will be a so-called North American strike force to help with this, really zoning in on immigration and fentanyl smuggling.
But what the president wants, what he's talking about is opening up and having a new economic deal, and he wants more concessions from Canada.
Canada already believes that the deal already on the table is set to expire next year, is a fair one. They will, of course, negotiate, but they need to understand exactly what the demands of the president are and try and really continue to bolster their own defenses here when it comes to preserving manufacturing jobs, preserving the agricultural sector. So many things that Canada fought for in that first deal.
What also happened, though, is that Canadians remain very clear-eyed about the fact that President Donald Trump does remain a threat to the economy here. And they're looking for ways to get a win for both countries, something they thought had already been done with the last trade deal.
Paula Newton, CNN, Oakville, Ontario.
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MACFARLANE: Now, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, rebel soldiers are calling for a ceasefire starting today amid a growing humanitarian crisis. It comes after rebels captured the eastern city of Goma last week, clashing with foreign peacekeepers and the region's military. The UN's humanitarian affairs office warns local health care facilities are overcrowded with a growing need for medical medicine and equipment.
The agency says at least 900 bodies have been recovered from the streets of Goma and is reporting nearly 2,900 injuries since the start -- since the end of January.
Now, the pain and suffering of war continues despite the ceasefire in Gaza. A Palestinian toddler forced to wait weeks for permission to leave the enclave for life-saving medical treatment is finally in Jordan, receiving critical medical care.
CNN's Jomana Karadsheh has her story and her journey out of Gaza, and a warning her report does contain some disturbing images.
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JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Rana's preparing her baby girl for the big day. Habiba is finally leaving Gaza for life- saving treatment. This is what the wait has done to the two-year-old.
The black and shriveled skin you see is gangrene that has worsened dramatically in a matter of days. We followed Habiba's fight for her life for weeks. After our CNN report, Jordan heard her cries for help and decided to evacuate her for treatment for a suspected rare genetic condition.
But it took nearly two weeks, time Habiba doesn't have to make it happen, the negotiations with Israel described as difficult by Jordanian officials. Israeli authorities did not respond to CNN's repeated requests for comment on the delay in Habiba's evacuation.
Over the past week, as her mother helplessly watched Habiba teeter between life and death in intensive care, Rana had to also go through a roller coaster of emotions.
[04:40:00]
As they prepared to leave for an evacuation that was later cancelled, Rana got crushing news, Israel would not let her leave Gaza with Habiba, forcing this mother to make an impossible choice, to let go of Habiba, to save her life.
Dear Lord, if this is your will, I'll accept it, she prayed.
But it was just too much to accept. Rana has to stay strong, she's Habiba's everything. On Monday, they woke up to good news, Jordan had secured approval for Rana to travel with Habiba, but this time, just as they got ready to go, they were told her son no longer had Israeli permission to leave.
You're a big boy, I know how hard this is for you, Rana says. God will take care of you better than I ever will.
No one can make Habiba smile and forget her pain like her only brother, Soheib. He even brings out her cheeky side.
I'm going to go and leave you, Habiba says. But the thought of being left all alone is just terrifying for the 11-year-old.
I don't know what I'll do without them. Where do I go now, Soheib cries. It's time to go, the ambulance is here. Soheib puts on a brave face for their goodbyes. But soon after they head out, another twist, Soheib is cleared to join them. Jordan tried to spare Habiba this harsh long journey by land, but Israel wouldn't approve a Jordanian airlift.
Across the border in Jordan, there's no time to waste. The military medevac chopper King Abdullah ordered is here for Habiba, ready for when she crosses into Jordan. With nightfall, the moment they've been waiting for, medics move fast to get the toddler. Habiba peeks out quietly from under her blanket, too young to understand what this is all about. As they head to the chopper, she wants mama. They need to get her fast to the hospital, but they do it gently.
KARADSHEH: It's a quick trip to the hospital. The medical team is here and ready. They're going to be monitoring Habiba every second of this trip.
KARADSHEH (voice-over): Habiba's stable, but she's just arrived from an exhausting journey out of intensive care. For a shattered Rana, it's too early to feel relief. As we get ready to take off, the team comforts Habiba.
It's the first time this family is flying, their first time seeing the world outside of besieged Gaza. Habiba's story is one out of thousands of children who have become another faceless statistic of this war, trapped in Gaza and deprived of life-saving medical treatment.
On Monday, Israeli authorities said they approved Habiba's evacuation as a, quote, exceptional humanitarian gesture. As soon as she arrives at the hospital, medical staff begin what doctors in Gaza couldn't do, a full clinical diagnosis over the next 24 hours. Doctors here hope they'll be able to save Habiba's right leg and her arms, but they also fear it may be too late. Her journey out of Gaza may be over, but another difficult battle now begins for little Habiba.
Jomana Karadsheh, CNN, Amman.
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MACFARLANE: What a terrible rollercoaster for little Habiba there and her family. CNN has been following this story, and we hope and we pray that she will now survive this ordeal in Jordan. But as Jomana says, thousands of other toddlers are in dire need as well. We will continue to follow this, and we'll be right back after this short break. Stay with us.
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MACFARLANE: The Greek island of Santorini continues to be hit by dozens of tremors, with authorities closing schools and airlines scheduling additional flights to help people leave. The popular tourist destination has recorded over 200 earthquakes over the past four days, reaching magnitudes of up to 4.6. Many are now trying to leave the island, including by ferry, although the mayor of Santorini denies there is a mass exodus.
A female swimmer has died in a shark attack at a popular tourist spot in north of Brisbane, Australia. As emergency crews were called to the scene, people already there were left in horror and disbelief.
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ROSE HARRISON, WITNESSED THE SHARK ATTACK: I could hear screaming next minute, all hell broke loose. There was choppers in the air, the ambos, and the police were running, and it was just, and I just couldn't believe it.
And yes, and one of the ladies that was down here comforting one of the locals, I've been here 10 years, this has never happened, and it's going to devastate the community.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Well, police have not disclosed the age of the victim, but Australian media is widely reporting the swimmer was a 17-year-old girl.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says it's unclear how long the removal of wreckage will take after the deadly midair collision over Washington last week. 55 of the 67 victims have been identified, but officials say wreckage removal will pause if any additional remains are found. CNN's Pete Muntean has this report.
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PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): New images from the site of the worst air disaster in decades show the power of the collision over the Potomac River as the National Transportation Safety Board begins the painstaking work of figuring out exactly what went wrong.
JENNIFER HOMENDY, NTSB CHAIR: It's a major accident, a major event.
MUNTEAN (voice-over): NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy tells me she has launched 100 investigators to this crash. Their latest focus, downloading data from the black box recorder on the Army Black Hawk helicopter and lining it up with what investigators already recovered from American Flight 5342. That data shows the pilots tried to climb one second before the crash.
HOMENDY: Every piece of information is critical to the investigation. So when we can provide that, I think that'll be helpful to provide some additional context and what we're looking at in this investigation.
MUNTEAN (voice-over): Crews armed with cranes made more grim discoveries Monday, spending hours removing a jagged portion of fuselage from the water. Slow salvage work that could take more than a week to complete.
COL. FRANK PERA, U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS BALTIMORE DISTRICT: Tomorrow our goal is going to be the cockpit. That goal may be impacted tomorrow by a couple of environmental conditions, notably the wind.
MUNTEAN (voice-over): The NTSB says parts from the Potomac will be brought to a hangar here and laid out to evaluate the angle of the collision. Investigators are also looking at whether air traffic controllers were able to accurately see the altitude of the helicopter on radar. They have now pulled radar tracks from another air traffic control facility and have interviewed those in the tower at the time of the collision.
HOMENDY: They have been very cooperative and we really appreciate their support on this. I'm sure it's very difficult.
MUNTEAN (voice-over): Still, the major question, how collision could occur at 325 feet above the 200 foot altitude restriction for helicopters here? The FAA has closed helicopter corridors near National Airport temporarily but has not said whether the move will be permanent. In a new company-wide memo, American Airlines executives called the change welcome news and said the airline will work tirelessly with the administration and leaders in Congress to make our aviation system safer. HOMENDY: At any time, the NTSB can issue an urgent safety recommendation. We don't have to wait till the end and if we see there's a need, we'll do it.
MUNTEAN: Investigators now say they have the logbooks for the pilots of each aircraft. That includes a record of their flights and their training. Now a team is building a history for each pilot. That includes a look back of a few days leading up to the tragedy here.
Pete Muntean, CNN, Reagan National Airport.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: Now Super Bowl 59 is just around the corner. Coming up, we'll have the latest on a wild opening night in New Orleans as the NFL kicks off the week with a spectacle.
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MACFARLANE: Well, there's a lot of anticipation brewing as we look ahead to Super Bowl 59 on Sunday. Fans packed into the Superdome as the NFL hosted its opening night media event last night, and in the midst of it was our Coy Wire.
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COY WIRE, CNN WORLD SPORT: Welcome to opening night for Super Bowl 59 here in New Orleans, a rematch from the Super Bowl two seasons ago between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. Can the Eagles be the team to finally take down the two-time defending champs?
JALEN HURTS, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES QUARTERBACK: You know, you sacrifice a lot, you put a lot in work. Work really hard to have this opportunity and so to do it and be back, two times out of four years starting is very special. It's something, you know, the goal is to finish.
SAQUON BARKLEY, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES RUNNING BACK: You just got to take it all in. This is part of it. You got to enjoy it. So I'm happy to be here, happy to have conversations with you guys. At the same time, you know, it's a business and you stay locked in. But today, you enjoy.
WIRE: Or will Kansas City become the first team ever to win three Super Bowl titles in a row?
CHRIS JONES, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Kansas City, we're back in the Super Bowl, baby.
TRAVIS KELCE, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS TIGHT END: The biggest lesson I've learned is don't let the hype get you. Don't let the magnitude of the game around you get you. At the end of the day, this is a -- you know, you got here for a reason, that your team got here for a reason. So lean on them and don't let the moment be too big for you. PATRICK MAHOMES, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS QUARTERBACK: It kind of brings you closer together, when people are rooting against you. You just kind of -- and you become a tighter brotherhood in the locker room and you know that we're doing it the right way and we can bring it -- bring ourselves together, have Chief's Kingdom with us, and go out there and try to win the game against everybody.
WIRE: Super Bowl week has officially kicked off. We'll be here all week long, bringing you the best sights and sound.
Coy Wire, CNN, New Orleans.
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MACFARLANE: Well, ticket prices for the big game have fallen in recent days. New Orleans is still reeling, of course, from the New Year's terror attack on Bourbon Street, and the seating capacity for the Superdome is larger than last year's venue in Las Vegas. The cheapest tickets right now are just under $4,000.
Not totally cheap. While the cost of tickets may have dipped, viewership is expected to remain high. Many are tuning in for Kendrick Lamar's half-time performance, and Taylor Swift sightings, of course.
That's it for me here on CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Christina Macfarlane. Stay with us, CNN "THIS MORNING" is up after this quick break.
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