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Uniting For Peace; Russia's War On Ukraine; Israel-Hamas War; Hollywood's Biggest Night; Trump to Address Join Session of Congress Tuesday; U.S. Set to Impose Tariffs on Mexico and Canada Tuesday; Vatican: Pope Francis Stable and Received Visitors; Wildfires Scorch the Carolinas Prompting Evacuations. Aired 1-2a ET

Aired March 03, 2025 - 01:00   ET

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

[01:00:25]

BEN HUNTE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, wherever you are in the world, you are now in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Ben Hunte in Atlanta and it is so good to have you with me.

Coming up on the show, Europe vows to defend Ukraine in its pursuit of lasting peace, and urges the US to cooperate. President Trump prepares to address Congress as new polling reveals Americans are unhappy with his performance. We'll dive into the numbers ahead.

Plus, aid groups sounding the alarm. Israel is once again blocking aid into Gaza. Why they say they're doing it.

We're beginning with a major show of support in Europe for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as leaders move to take control of negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

At a key summit in London, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said European leaders were working to craft a plan to stop the fighting, while French President Emmanuel Macron told newspaper, "Le Figaro," that France and the UK have proposed a month long limited ceasefire in Ukraine. All of this coming just days after Zelenskyy's explosive meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House. The Ukrainian president said his country is ready to sign a rare minerals deal with the US, a deal that Zelenskyy had been expected to sign on Friday.

And despite the attentions, the Ukrainian leader said the relationship between the US and his country will continue and is open for more talks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translation): If the president of the United States of America will invite me for a constructive dialogue, I represent the interests of a country that heavily depends on support from partners. So, of course, if I am invited for a constructive dialogue, for solving real problems, for serious questions and real resolute actions and answers, I will be there, out of respect for America, the American people, the President and the two parties.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: When it comes to Europe, Zelenskyy says the unity is exceptionally high. The British prime minister said European leaders at Sunday's summit in London agreed to step up support for Ukraine and unite around a new plan for peace.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: First, we will keep the military aid flowing and keep increasing the economic pressure on Russia, to strengthen Ukraine now. Second, we agreed that any lasting peace must ensure Ukraine's sovereignty and security, and Ukraine must be at the table.

Third, in the event of a peace deal, we will keep boosting Ukraine's own defensive capabilities to deter any future invasion. Fourth, we will go further develop a coalition of the willing to defend a deal in Ukraine and to guarantee the peace.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: Following the summit, the Ukrainian president was welcomed by King Charles for a meeting that one royal source said lasted nearly an hour. CNN's Nic Robertson has more from London.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: So President Zelenskyy getting an important meeting with King Charles, one of the King's country residents about miles north of London, Sandringham. They spend an hour together and it's important symbolically because it embodies, if you will, the support that the UK is giving to the Ukrainian president.

But remembering as well, just a few days ago, when the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, was in the Oval Office with President Trump, he handed President Trump a letter, an unprecedented invitation to President Trump of a second state visit to the UK.

So here, Zelenskyy getting the royal treatment as well, embodying that support from the British government, the British people and the monarchy. Before he was there, he was at that gathering of European leaders as well as Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, being hosted by the British prime minister.

The British prime minister saying that this was an effort to make sure that Ukraine has the military and economic needs that it needs to fight the war today. He spoke about an additional $2 billion of funding going to Ukraine. Ukraine spending that on air defense missiles, 5,000 of them to be purchased in the UK, all of that very, very important.

[01:05:02] But they -- but some of the key details that we began to learn was that this was something of an historic moment. That's the way Keir Starmer saw it, that this was a crossroads in history where he was trying to build a coalition of the willing European nations forward leaning, able to step up and be part of the security guarantees. This is how he framed it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STARMER: Not every nation will feel able to contribute, but that can't mean that we sit back. Instead, those willing will intensify planning now with real urgency. The UK is prepared to back this with boots on the ground and planes in the air. Together with others, Europe must do the heavy listing. But to support peace in our continent and to succeed, this effort must have strong US backing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: And that very important point, that the need to have US support here. And he spoke about it in this way as well, that France, the UK and Ukraine would work on this plan with the European nations, and then bring it to the White House.

So in a way that if you like, shielding President Zelenskyy to some degree from sort of getting in a one on one situation in the White House with President Trump again, that turned so fractious just a few days ago.

And an important message as well coming at this summit from Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, saying that in just a couple of days on the 6th of March this week, European leaders would gather and lay out a comprehensive plan on how to rearm Europe. That is something President Trump has been looking for Europeans to do, to step up their defencse spending.

So the Europeans appearing to come together on a plan for that as well. Nick Robertson, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: Officials in the Trump administration continue to offer praise for the US President following last week's tense exchange with his Ukrainian counterpart in the Oval Office, while at the same time criticizing Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Some are even indicating US support for new leadership in Ukraine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL WALTZ, US NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: We need a leader that can deal with us eventually deal with the Russians and end this war. And if it becomes apparent that President Zelenskyy's either personal motivations or political motivations are divergent from ending the fighting in his country, then I think we have a real issue on our hands.

MIKE JOHNSON, US HOUSE SPEAKER: We would have created an economic partnership with Ukraine at a time when it needs to be reemerging, and that would have been a great thing. And I don't understand why President Zelenskyy would not accept that gratefully.

And I think it's a big mistake. And I hope he changes his mind.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: Nick Paton Walsh is in Kyiv with Zelenskyy's takeaways on the European leaders' summit and his disastrous White House meeting.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, after the solidarity sort of the rehabilitation of President Zelenskyy, this significant meeting called in a hurry with European leaders pretty all of NATO apart from the United States, give or take a few countries. Zelenskyy sat down with the media in London and gave his sort of most wide ranging public comments since the incident in the Oval Office, and asked if he was ready to sign the rare earths mineral deal.

He said indeed, yes, even though we have heard from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that they do not believe the deal is currently at present on the table still. And he was also asked too if he felt that he could salvage the relationship with the United States. Here's what he said as regards.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENSKYY (through translation): As regards to salvaging the relationship that you asked about, I think that our relationship will continue because this is more than relationships. However, everyone can see how Ukraine is fighting for its independence and freedom, and we are grateful to the people of the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PATON WALSH: Now, many of Trump's inner circle have indeed begun to suggest on Sunday that it is Zelenskyyy that is the problem, who needs to step aside. And he gave an intriguing answer, sort of a riddle, frankly, suggesting how impossible that would be. We know election here in wartime would be a horrific idea, exceptionally complex and fraught. But here's his answer when asked exactly whether he was contemplating resigning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENSKYY (through translation: If I am to be changed and I'll hear, how can I put it, with what's happening, with the support, it will not be easy because it is not enough to simply hold elections. You would have to prevent me from participating in the elections, and it will be a bit more difficult.

You will have to negotiate with me. And I said that I am exchanging it for NATO membership, and then it means I have fulfilled my mission.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PATON WALSH: The reporter also asked him if he'd take the opportunity to apologize directly, like some of the Trump inner circle suggest he possibly should for what happened in the Oval Office. He didn't take that directly.

[01:10:03]

Instead, he responded, saying about the severe losses that Ukraine had endured, and also saying when it comes to people suggesting he doesn't want peace, that he wouldn't want to stop the war just today, he wouldn't stop the war from even happening in the first place. I paraphrased there.

And so, a conciliatory tone he struck, certainly speaking only in Ukrainian, not necessarily ceding to the immediate demands of some of Trump's inner circle, but certainly suggesting he's willing to sign the rare earth minerals deal. He would like to see the relationship with the United States continue.

But really it is that notion of the personal relationship between Trump and Zelenskyy that still hangs over Ukraine's most key pillar of support from the United States.

We are though, beginning to get a slight idea as to exactly what this European summit, which said it would get European militaries together and essentially work out how they might be able to assist or even provide a reassurance force to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.

French President Emmanuel Macron has been key in this getting on Monday. Trump, it seems, to agree to invite Zelenskyy to the White House to sign that rare earth deal for that ill-fated meeting. Macron speaking to Le Figaro newspaper, suggested the possibility of a month long partial ceasefire that would really involve air, sea and stopping attacks on energy infrastructure.

Both sides have been hitting each other very hard across their energy grids over the past months, essentially a confidence building measure of sorts, one that Macron suggested could potentially be easier to monitor than a widespread ceasefire across the front lines. And so, we are beginning to get technical ideas floated now as to what a peace process might somehow look like.

We are so far off from that, and I'm sure there'll be many in Ukraine worrying about hearing that idea and whether the Russians will escalate their attacks on infrastructure as a result of it. So a lot moving as a result of this European meeting, clearly a lot of work still needs to be done to mend the relationship between Zelenskyyy and Trump. But also I think many more details emerging too what Europe is willing to do.

Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Kyiv, Ukraine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: Well, I spoke earlier with Terrell Jermaine Starr, the host of Black Diplomats Official on YouTube, about the London summit and Friday's showdown between Trump and Zelenskyy in the Oval Office.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TERRELL JERMAINE STARR, HOST, BLACK DIPLOMATS: People were in utter shock. But what we really saw was something of a Brexit moment. We really saw that the Trump administration is pulling the United States out of the transatlantic security apparatus. And I think it evoke fear not only in Ukraine but across Europe that they will have to -- Europeans have to be responsible for the architecture of their security, and Trump is not going to be the -- or the US is not going to be a part of maintaining that anymore.

HUNTE: Give me your thoughts on Sunday's European summit. Do you think that Ukraine will get what it needs to keep fighting in the future?

STARR: Do I feel that Ukraine will get everything that it needs right now, basically it sounds better than what was proposed some 30 years ago in the Budapest Agreement. You hear the French and the UK saying that we're going to send troops. And so, the sentiment here in Kyiv, I've been talking to people on the streets about this. Their attitude is a lot of -- they -- deep down inside they realize that some territory will be given away.

But what would be different in this go around is that, there will be troops on the ground to ensure that the land that is -- that they do have will be protected. They don't want a Budapest Memorandum 2.0 where no guarantees of security were assured. This cycle of conversations, the Ukrainians are smarter than they were in 1994 when they were pretty much a new country entering into democracy. And so, they know how to bargain for their security and their sovereignty better now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: There is outrage as Israel stops the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza and ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas break down. CNN's Larry Madowo has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LARRY MADOWO, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Egypt criticizing Israel for blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza, is especially significant because Egypt alongside Qatar mediated this ceasefire, the first phase of which expired Saturday. Now, Israel says it is doing this to try and force Hamas to this U S backed extension of this first phase of the ceasefire. But Egypt says this risks catastrophic consequences, especially given the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.

And coming during this holy month of Ramadan, this is what the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. It unequivocally rejects the politicization of humanitarian aid, and its exploitation as a tool of blackmail, a tactic that would only deepen the suffering of more than 2 million Palestinians who are already enduring immense hardship due to a campaign of devastation and forced displacement.

[01:15:01]

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says, Israel has agreed to this proposal by US Special Envoy Steve Whitkoff. Under this framework, on the first day, Hamas would release half of the hostages still in Gaza. And over the next seven weeks or so, ending on April 20th at the end of the Jewish holiday or Passover, the remaining hostages would be released. In exchange for that, they would continue to release Palestinian prisoners and surge aid into Gaza. But he had a warning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (THROUGH TRANSLATION): There will be no free launches. If Hamas thinks that the ceasefire can continue or that it can benefit from the terms of phase a without us receiving hostages, it is deeply mistaken.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MADOWO: During the 42 days of the first phase of the ceasefire, dozens of Israeli hostages were released, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners as well, and aid got into Gaza. The International Committee of the Red Cross that facilitated the transfers said it saved countless lives in Gaza, and warns that any unraveling of this agreement risks plunging people back into despair. People like these residents of Gaza.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I hope the truce lasts and that these wars finally end. Our children are terrified of the bombings. We want peace for ourselves and our kids. Enough destruction, we don't even have a place to live.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MADOWO: Hamas has rejected that US-backed proposal to extend this first phase of the ceasefire. Hamas has also called the Israeli decision to block aid to Gaza cheap blackmail and a war crime. What Hamas wants is for Israel to move on to phase two of the ceasefire negotiations that would involve the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and talk of a permanent ceasefire, an end to the war.

Israel does not want to do that and says there is no automatic transitions between phases. That appears to be the stumbling block here to these negotiations. In the meantime, the people of Gaza, 2 million plus people living in essentially an area that's become ruins, will continue to suffer. Larry Madowo, CNN, Paris.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: Next, Hollywood celebrated its biggest night with fabulous fashion and plenty of tears. Who won big at the Oscars when we come back. Plus, US tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports could soon go into effect. We'll have the response from Canada's prime minister.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [01:22:06]

HUNTE: Welcome back. It was Hollywood's biggest night with glitz and glamour on full display for the Oscars. "Wicked" stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande got the night started with a stunning performance of "Defying Gravity" from their blockbuster film.

But in the end, it was the low budget independent movie, "Anora," which took on Hollywood giants and won big. Mikey Madison claimed the award for best actress for the title role in the film. She could hardly believe what happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKEY MADISON, WINNER, BEST ACTRESS IN LEADING ROLE: : I grew up in Los Angeles, but Hollywood always felt so far away from me. So to be here, standing in this room today, is really incredible. This is a dream come true. I'm probably gonna wake up tomorrow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: "Anora" also claimed the biggest prize for the Best Picture and Best Director going to Sean Baker. Adrien Brody won Best Actor in a Leading Role for his work in "The Brutalist," in which he played a struggling immigrant architect in post-World War II America. And Zoe Saldana won Best Supporting Actress for "Emilia Perez." She recalled a real life immigrant story in accepting that award.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZOE SALDANA, WINNER, BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: My grandmother came to this country in 1961. I am a proud child of immigrant parents with dreams and dignity, and hard working hands. And I am the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award. And I know I will not be the last.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: Earlier I spoke with Sam Sanders and Zach Stafford, who co-host the Vibe Check Podcast. I started by asking them if they were surprised by Anora's big win.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZACH STAFFORD, CO-HOST, VIBE CHECK PODCAST: I was surprised. You know, I thought at the beginning of its run, when it came out, you know, four months ago, that it was a big contender for the Oscars. However, "The Brutalist" has been all anyone talks about in LA, which is hilarious since it is three and a half hours long, which is as long as the Oscars were tonight.

But, you know, it kind of came out of nowhere for me that "Anora" would be the belle of the ball tonight. I personally was really hoping that "Wicked" would be the surprise win. You know, I think that film is perfect for the moment. You know, it's a movie about a wizard who has no powers, who surprisingly becomes an authoritarian dictator, which I think is perfect for right now just to kind of talk about.

But, you know, "Anora" was our winner and she's a beautiful winner. It's a beautiful film and we're excited for her.

HUNTE: Love it. Well, let's keep talking about "Anora." Mikey Madison, the lead, won Best Actress, beating Demi Moore, Cynthia Erivo, a hugely competitive category. Sam, was that a shock for you?

SAM SANDERS, CO-HOST, VIBE CHECK PODCAST: It was a shock, I think after Demi won the Golden Globe and had such a great speech at that award show while dressed like an Oscar. Her dress was like, statuesque.

HUNTE: Yes.

SANDERS: We all expected her to get the Oscar. And she looked pretty surprised when she didn't win.

[01:25:00]

Though, I will say I don't understand a world in which this didn't go to Cynthia. When you see her sing "Defying Gravity" at the end of "Wicked" as she's like in the sky, I want to give her all the awards. So there wasn't justice in my opinion.

But I'm happy for Mikey. She's been doing great and that movie's phenomenal.

HUNTE: Okay, okay. Fair, fair. Well, my standout moment from this evening was the Quincy Jones tribute by Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg. Loved what they were wearing. The Queen Latifah performance, however, was interesting. I was chatting to my team about it as it aired and we were like, okay.

SANDERS: Where did it come from? Like, why is this happening?

HUNTE: Mm, mm.

SANDERS: Yeah.

HUNTE: La-la. Zach, what were your standout moments?

SANDERS: And the show is already too long, we had that.

HUNTE: Yeah. What were your standout moments?

SANDERS: The show was too long. We had a James Bond tribute, we had "The Wiz" tribute, it didn't make sense to me.

HUNTE: I love it. I love it.

STAFFORD: I agree. But I love Queen Latifah, so I will say nothing bad about my Queen Latifah tonight. But, you know, another moment I loved. I love few things about tonight's Oscars. I love that Oprah and will be worth their similar to you then because Cynthia Erivo's career is in large part due to Oprah Winfrey casting her in the "Color Purple" on the West End and then on Broadway.

So for her to be up for Best Actress this evening and have Oprah there, I thought was just so beautiful and full circle, and magical. But besides that, I was really excited for "No Other Land," which won the Oscar for Best Documentary Film. It was made by an Israeli and a Palestinian journalist, and it's about their time in West Bank. And it was a very timely film.

And I was surprised that the Oscars gave it space on ABC to talk about the kind of conflict happening in West Bank and Gaza right now. So I was really excited to hear those words tonight. I thought I was very surprised by that. That was my big stand up moment.

HUNTE: That's real. That's real. Sam, any more standout members for you?

SANDERS: I think what I wanted to be a standout but wasn't was Conan's opening monologue. He was nice enough, funny enough, but he didn't land any heavy punches. And I was surprised by how apolitical he was the entire night.

We really only got politics from those international winners that Zach just spoke of. It was an extremely muted night politically, especially from a host who can be as biting as Conan.

HUNTE: OK. I want to talk about a controversial topic. Let's talk about "Emilia Perez." I don't think a single person I know liked it, but I thought it was very interesting. Zoe Saldana won the Best Supporting Actress Award even after so much controversy around the lead actress. Did either of you actually like the film? Sam, I'm going to start with you.

SANDERS: I hated it. I watched it and tried to make sense of it. I left the movies mad at it. I read everything piece I could and I got more mad at it. This is not a good movie. And even the fact that Zoe won an Oscar for it.

She did great, but it was category fraud. She had the most screen time in that movie. She should have been up for best Lead Actress, I think. Everything about that movie just hit me the wrong way. Good for Zoey but I hope that six months from now, no one is thinking about that film.

HUNTE: Zach, can you say the same?

STAFFORD: -- really, really. I mean, I don't hate it as much as Sam. Sam has a lot bigger feelings than I do about this film, which I respect and love for him. I mean, I had to -- I also didn't understand it. I work a lot with musicals. You know, I produce musicals. And when I went to theater and I saw it, I was like, what is happening here? Why are we singing in a gender clinic? Like, I do not understand this at all.

But, you know, I did go back. There is a film that everyone should watch. I told Sam to watch it tonight. It's called "Umbrellas of Cherbourg." It was made in, like, 1950-something by Jacques Demy. And it's what inspired "Emilia Perez." If you're confused at how that movie got made, go back to this French film. Watch it.

You're going to maybe hate it too. But you kind of understand why the French are so obsessed with sing talking all the time.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: Coming up, the numbers are in. A new CNN poll shows how Americans feel about President Trump's job performance. That's ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[01:33:33]

BEN HUNTE, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. President Donald Trump will face lawmakers on Tuesday addressing a joint session of Congress for the first time in his second presidential term. It's an opportunity for Mr. Trump to reassure voters about his leadership.

Since he took office, we've seen the president's indiscriminate firings of federal workers, threats of massive tariffs on U.S. allies, and his catastrophic White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

A CNN poll taken before that meeting shows that a majority of Americans are unhappy with how President Trump is currently doing his job. 52 percent disapprove of his performance; only 48 percent approve.

CNN senior White House reporter Kevin Liptak explains what President Trump's supporters hope his address will accomplish.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: The speech President Trump is planning to deliver on Tuesday to a joint session of Congress is typically one of the biggest audiences for any president in any given year.

The dynamics, of course, with Trump are somewhat different. He has completely dominated (ph) the nation's attention since taking office 41 days ago. But certainly this will still be a moment for him to deliver kind of a cogent explanation of everything he has been doing since taking office.

[01:34:50]

LIPTAK: This slash-and-burn attitude towards the federal government, gutting certain agencies, laying off tens of thousands of federal workers.

What you hear from Republicans is this hope that the president will be able to explain what he's been doing to an audience that has been growing somewhat skeptical.

And certainly in a new CNN poll, you do see for President Trump the negatives now outweighing the positives. On the question of how Americans approve of the president: 48 percent say that they approve compared to 52 percent who say they disapprove, which is about the same as a CNN poll in mid-February.

And I'll note that this was taken before that fracas in the Oval Office with President Zelenskyy on Friday, but still represents an underwater approval rating for a president only about a month and a few weeks into his term.

The second metric that we pulled when asked whether Trump had the right priorities: 40 percent said yes, he did; 52 percent no said no, he didn't. And what's interesting there is that the doubts about the president's priorities extended to a small but notable share of those who still express support for the president on other measures. So 12 percent who said that they approved of the president overall said that his priorities haven't been in the right place.

And so the speech will be an opportunity for the president to kind of demonstrate exactly how the actions he's taken in office can affect every day Americans and, in his view, improve the lives of people who are living across the country.

The other audience that he'll want to be speaking to in this speech are the lawmakers who are sitting in the room as they prepare to pass the president's agenda, whether it's cutting federal spending, whether it's rewriting the tax code, who want to lay out some specific priorities for them as they plan to move forward.

Now, President Trump's advisers say this speech is meant to try and connect directly with Americans. But of course, how the president's speeches are previewed versus how they actually materialize are sometimes two very different things.

And it has been interesting to go back and watch the president's addresses from his first time in office. His speech in 2017 was relatively by the book. It struck some bipartisan themes, and it was relatively well-received.

Four years later was a completely different story, much more combative. The president had just been impeached. And when he finished his speech, the then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, ripped up a copy of it in full view of the cameras.

But certainly the political landscape has now shifted dramatically. The Republicans in that room are almost entirely on the president's side. They control both Houses of Congress. And you can expect a valedictory tone from the president.

But if he hopes for his approval ratings to change from this speech, he will not necessarily be bolstered by his experience from four years ago. All four years, his speech didn't necessarily have a major effect on his approval rating, at least according to our CNN polling.

Kevin Liptak, CNN -- the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: To discuss all of this, I am joined by CNN senior political analyst Ron Brownstein. Ron, how are you doing?

RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Good, Ben. Good to be with you.

HUNTE: Thanks for being back with me.

First, let's start with the fallout from that tense Oval Office meeting between President Trump and Zelenskyy. It didn't go over well with America's allies.

But what about here at home? Do you think that Trump's tough treatment of Zelenskyy and his position on Ukraine is helping or hurting him here?

BROWNSTEIN: You know, I think it's just going to sharpen the partisan divide. I think on balance it will hurt him because I think most Americans believe that we should be supporting Ukraine even though that number has fallen among Republicans.

Still in polling, close to half -- 45 percent of Republicans even say we should be supporting Ukraine. And it is a majority of Americans overall.

And even more emphatic, majority of Americans believe that Vladimir Putin is a threat.

And you know, in every possible way, Trump since taking office has signaled that he's, you know, he's essentially (ph) more concerned about placating Putin than maintaining good relations with our traditional allies.

The Republican Party, largely cowed. I mean, you're hearing from almost no one on this other than Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

But I think with the public overall, this is a reminder that Trump unbound is not an unmitigated blessing for him or the GOP because it leads him in directions that I think much of the public is going to be reluctant to follow.

HUNTE: Well, let's talk about the public, because a new CNN poll shows President Trump with a 48 percent approval rating. That is roughly where it's always been for him. Even after all that's happened -- all that's happened over the past six weeks.

Do you see anything changing with those numbers? Could they be going up or down dramatically anytime soon?

[01:39:53]

BROWNSTEIN: Yes. It's interesting. I mean, you know, his approval rating in most polls, including our CNN poll, is slightly better than it was at this point in his first term, but weaker than at this point for any other president in the history of modern polling going back to the early 1950s, which was when Gallup started doing this.

Trump has, as we just said, an absolute lock on Republican voters, which gives him a substantial floor. I mean his approval rating among Republican voters is 90 percent.

But what we see in the CNN poll is what we've been seeing now, rather remarkably, given how, you know, how recently he took office for a month, which is that among Independent voters, his approval rating is already negative and usually by double digits, somewhere between 10 and 20 points.

And you have a growing number of Independent voters. And this is what I think is the biggest threat to Trump, basically saying that he's not focusing on the right issues.

You know, there's been a lot of drama and dust kicked up in a lot of different directions, from Greenland to Panama to DOGE to Musk. But Trump got elected, above all, to help people get their cost of living under control. And people don't really see much positive happening on that front.

We've seen a variety of polls, a lot of concern about Americans, about inflation getting worse, not better. And Trump's talk of tariffs, I think is not really, you know, helping that in any way.

HUNTE: This week, President Trump will deliver his first address to Congress since taking office again. What are you expecting to see?

BROWNSTEIN: A new golden age. You know, I mean, look, Trump, you know, Trump is always quick to trumpet his accomplishments, I mean, that he is a great marketer. He's been a great marketer his whole life. And I'm sure he will be presenting this first five weeks as a period of unprecedented action.

And in many ways, you know, it is just enormous activity, but it's enormous activity that is polarizing the country and the electorate. I think you'll see a lot of applause from Republicans, partially because they support much of what he is doing, but also because very clearly, we've seen him defanging any potential critics. No one really has much stomach to go against him.

I think you'll see intense, you know, kind of silence or even -- we'll see whether we get the kind of booing we saw under Obama from Republicans, this time from Democrats.

But I suspect it will be a speech that will almost be a victory lap six weeks into the presidency. And, you know, for his base, he has pushed really hard in a lot of directions. He's broken a lot of glass.

But I do continue to wonder is -- has he taken his eye off the ball of the principal issue that most voters wanted him to address? They don't see getting better. I mean, you look at the polling, people do not see this getting better, and they also do not see him focusing on it. And in the long run, that's a bad combination.

HUNTE: Ron Brownstein, it's been real. I've learned so much from that. Thank you so much. Appreciate it.

BROWNSTEIN: Thanks for having me. HUNTE: The Trump administration is set to impose tariffs on two of its

biggest trading partners on Tuesday. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says he expects the levies against Canada and Mexico will take effect as planned, but that the situation is fluid and ultimately up to Donald Trump.

The president has said he will impose a 25 percent duty on all imports from Mexico and most from Canada. Economists expect the tariffs in addition to those already imposed on China, will make the goods more expensive in the U.S.

Canada's prime minister says his country is ready for whatever the Trump administration does.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUSTIN TRUDEAU, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: We all know the American administration will make its own choices in terms of tariffs. We will continue to work to ensure, to do everything we can to make sure that there are no tariffs on Tuesday. But if ever there were tariffs on Tuesday, as we have all seen, as we were ready to do last time, we will have a strong, unequivocal and proportional response as Canadians expect.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is telling civilian employees at the Pentagon to respond to an email asking them to share five job accomplishments from last week. The request is expected to come on Monday from the Office of Personnel Management.

After a similar email last month, Elon Musk warned federal civilians that not responding would be taken as a resignation.

In a video posted on X, Hegseth described civilian Pentagon employees as patriots who dedicate themselves to defending this nation. He said most Pentagon employees are critical to the nation's security, but that it's a, quote, "really big workforce".

The Vatican says Pope Francis is now stable, and he even had visitors in hospital. But he's not out of the woods just yet. We'll have the latest from Rome on his condition.

[01:44:50]

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HUNTE: Pope Francis is now in a stable condition with no fever according to the Vatican. But sources say there's still a risk of crisis for the 88-year-old pontiff.

His condition continues to be watched closely after he suffered what was called a sudden respiratory episode on Friday.

CNN's Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb has the latest from Rome. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN'S VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, for the second night running, some encouraging news about Pope Franciss condition.

[01:49:45]

LAMB: The Vatican on Sunday saying he remains in a stable condition and that we're told he received visitors at the Gemelli Hospital today.

Now Francis is still on high-flow oxygen therapy, but he is not, the Vatican said, using oxygen through a machine ventilator. He was on that ventilator after the respiratory crisis of Friday, although that ventilation was not invasive.

Now, Francis received on Sunday two senior Vatican officials, Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra, at the hospital. The Pope has been at the Gemelli since February the 14th. It's his 17th day in hospital.

For the third Sunday running, he did not lead the Angelus prayer, but sent a text of his remarks from the hospital. And he said in them that war seems even more absurd to him from here. And he prayed for peace across the world, including Ukraine.

He also said that he was seeing his time of ill health as an opportunity to come close to those who are also suffering, and he saw his frailty as a blessing. And he thanked people for their prayers, saying he felt carried by them whilst in hospital.

Now prayers have been flooding in for the Pope, not just from Catholics but also from Muslim leaders. And on Sunday night, a prayer service was led by Cardinal Krajewski, the Pope's charitable officer, Papal Almoner at Saint Peter's Square.

Again, people gathering to pray for the Pope as he continues to battle pneumonia in both lungs. We are expecting further updates on the 88- year-old pontiff's condition on Monday.

Christopher Lamb, CNN -- Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: South Carolina's governor has issued a state of emergency as dozens of wildfires rage across the state. How weather conditions are impacting the crews battling the blazes ahead.

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HUNTE: The Carolinas are on fire. In South Carolina alone, more than 175 wildfires have torched 1,700 hectares. Several blazes have also been reported in North Carolina, and the fires are threatening a region that's still reeling from Hurricane Helene last fall as CNN's Rafael Romo reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency in his state on Sunday. In making the announcement, McMaster said the purpose is to further support wildfire response efforts across the state and ensure our first responders continue to have the resources they need.

A statewide outdoor burn ban remains in effect due to the dangerous wildfire conditions.

This is what it looked like from the air Saturday night, when a passenger in a commercial airline took this video while flying over Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

The areas affected by these dangerous conditions are eastern South Carolina and western North Carolina. The same region that was devastated in the fall by Hurricane Helene.

The fire threat has continued for the entire region. The National Weather Service says high risk areas are located in and around cities including Wilmington, North Carolina, and Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina.

[01:54:48]

ROMO: Two wildfires were confirmed in Buncombe County, North Carolina on Saturday. A local resident told CNN affiliate WLOS she rushed to help a friend evacuate her mother.

BECKY OLIVER, TRYON, NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENT: I mean, it's bad enough from Helene, but now we've got this and that. I mean, the forest it's just, it's going to be really bad.

JACKIE BURKE, NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENT: It made the sky such an odd color. I was going for a walk, and it turned this odd yellow color yellow and red in the woods where I was walking.

ROMO: Several factors are combining to increase the danger of wildfire in both Carolinas. There's dry vegetation due to lack of recent rainfall. There's also dry air being added to the mix. And if you combine these two factors with strong winds, you create the perfect conditions for wildfire to occur.

The good news is that winds in the region are expected to significantly weaken, and the temperatures will plummet to the freezing point in the next several hours. More humid air is expected to return to the region by Tuesday.

Rafael Romo, CNN -- Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: The figure skating world is paying tribute to those lost in January's tragic plane crash in Washington. Sunday's Legacy on Ice event featured some of skating's biggest names. But perhaps the most emotional moment, Maks Naumov, who lost both of his parents, collapsed to his knees after he skated to one of their favorite songs.

67 people were killed in a mid-air collision over the Potomac River that included 11 young skaters, their coaches and family members who were flying back from the U.S. figure skating championships in Kansas.

Some breathtaking images of our moon, courtesy of the Blue Ghost lunar lander. The uncrewed spacecraft successfully soft-landed on the moon's surface in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Firefly Aerospace, the Texas-based developer behind Blue Ghost, is now the second private company to score a moon landing. The lunar lander is part of a privately-owned fleet, helping NASA in its aims to return astronauts to the moon later this decade.

All right. Well, that's it. Thanks for joining us.

I'm Ben Hunte in Atlanta. It's been so real. Let's do it all again next weekend.

But for now, CNN NEWSROOM continues with Rosemary Church next. See you in a bit.

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