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Mark Carney to Replace Trudeau as Prime Minister; Russia Advances, Seeking to Push Ukraine Out of Kursk; Greenland to Hold Vote on Tuesday Amid U.S. Interest; Chinese Tariffs on U.S. Agricultural Goods Now in Effect. Aired 12-12:45a ET

Aired March 10, 2025 - 00:00   ET

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

BEN HUNTE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello. Wherever you are in the world, you are now in the CNN NEWSROOM with me, Ben Hunte, in Atlanta. It is so good to have you with me.

[00:00:35]

Coming up on the show, Canada's next prime minister is vowing to play hardball with the U.S. until they receive respect.

After very public disagreements, Ukraine meets with the U.S. to discuss all things peace plans and mineral deals.

Plus, elections in Greenland, the arctic island where many residents say they want independence.

Canada's Liberal Party has chosen former central banker Mark Carney as its new leader and the country's next prime minister at a time of growing tensions between Canada and the U.S.

Those souring relations will be among the biggest issues he'll face when he takes over from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Carney will also lead the party into federal elections, where he'll likely face strong competition from the Conservative Party.

On Sunday, Carney said his government would create new trading relationships with reliable trading partners and vowed to keep retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. until, quote, "the Americans show us respect."

He also had this pledge.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK CARNEY, LIBERAL PARTY LEADER: I -- I pledge to you and to all Canadians that I will follow their example. I will work day and night with one purpose: which is to build a stronger Canada for everyone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: Trudeau, who led the Liberal Party for over a decade, will remain Canada's prime minister for now during a transition period. On Sunday, he had this warning about relations with the U.S.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUSTIN TRUDEAU, CNN PRIME MINISTER: As Canadians face, from our neighbor, an existential challenge, an economic crisis, Canadians are showing exactly what we are made of.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: That comment said in reference to U.S. President Donald Trump's ramped-up tariff threats and calls to make Canada a 51st state.

CNN's Paula Newton is following developments from Ottawa.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR/CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Mark Carney's win was overwhelming.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In first place, the next prime minister of Canada, Mark Carney.

NEWTON (voice-over): But all eyes are now on the contest to come. As Canada's prime minister designate, Carney will be sworn in within days and will likely call for a national election within weeks.

Carney is calling for national unity to better face the challenge of the Trump administration and its threat to the Canadian economy.

CARNEY: Right now, all Canadians are being asked to serve in their own ways. We're all being called to stand up for each other and for the Canadian way of life. So, let me ask you: who's ready?

NEWTON (voice-over): Carney is a political novice, a former central bank governor in both Canada and England, a former investment banker with Goldman Sachs, an economist with a hockey goalie pedigree from his days at Harvard.

But in the election, he will face conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, a career politician backed by a trending social media presence and the praise of MAGA allies after cutting attacks like this.

PIERRE POILIEVRE, CONSERVATIVE PARTY LEADER: Working for Trudeau, Carney made Canada weaker and poorer. Working for himself, Carney made the United States richer and stronger.

NEWTON (voice-over): President Donald Trump's tariff and annexation threats have reframed the Canadian election in just a matter of weeks, with a rising nationalism and rising popularity for the Liberal Party.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was forced to announce his resignation in January, as he grew ever more unpopular, but his Liberal Party has since been reborn with new purpose.

TRUDEAU: This is a nation-defining moment. Democracy is not a given. Freedom is not a given. Even Canada is not a given.

NEWTON (voice-over): Those are some of Trudeau's final words as prime minister. His successor promises to take on that fight.

[00:05:02]

CARNEY: Donald Trump thinks -- thinks -- he can weaken us with his plan to divide and conquer. Pierre Poilievre's plan will leave us divided and ready to be conquered.

Because a person who worships at the altar of Donald Trump will kneel before him, not stand up to him.

NEWTON (voice-over): But for weeks already, the conservatives have been portraying Carney as weak in the face of the American threat.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Trump wants our jobs.

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: We are going to take other countries' jobs.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And Mark Carney is just the man to help him.

NEWTON: Canadians will now take the measure of Carney's vast economic experience, both in Canada and abroad, and will weigh which leader and party is best able to stand up to the American threat.

Paula Newton, CNN, Ottawa.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: Stewart Prestz is a political science lecturer at the University of British Columbia, and he joins me now from Vancouver. Thank you so much for being with me.

So, Mark Carney has won the race to become Canada's next leader. What can you tell us about him and his journey to get to the top job?

STEWART PRESTZ, POLITICAL SCIENCE LECTURER, UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA: Well, it is, in some ways, an unusual path to the top job, given that he has never held an elected position, but he has ample experience in the arenas of governance. As leader of the Bank of Canada and leader of the Bank of England, as well. And a substantial business experience and executive roles.

And so, it's -- it's an unusual portfolio -- portfolio, but it is a substantial one.

HUNTE: Carney really came out swinging against President Trump, even trolling him by saying in trade, as in hockey, Canada will win.

That may play well with the home crowd. But does it complicate those efforts to reset relations with the U.S.?

PRESTZ: It's a good question, and we do see politicians -- and this is true around the world -- constantly speaking to two audiences, one at home and another in Washington, and particularly to -- to the president.

And it seems like, in a moment like this, the -- the need to -- to bring together the -- the home team and to -- to put together that stern and uncompromising opposition is going to take precedence over any kind of strategy of trying to placate the president.

I think there's an overwhelming sense in -- among Canadians that that strong opposition is going to do more than trying to flatter and cajole and placate.

HUNTE: Support for Trudeau and Carney's Liberal Party has absolutely skyrocketed recently, even though it seemed like they were in decline. Can you talk me through why you think that is?

PRESTZ: It's -- again, it's a good question, and it seems like it has a couple of different features.

One is that we're not talking about Justin Trudeau anymore. He was a -- a politician, like any politician, had accumulated more a fair share of baggage, you could call it during his time in office. And it was clear that Canadians were ready to turn the page on him.

And -- and Mr. Carney not being in government at the moment, offers a chance to reset things for -- for the liberals.

But I think, even more than that, there is a sense that in -- in 2024, when the conservatives were riding high, Canadians were anxious about things like affordability and -- and looking to -- to blame liberals for that.

But in 2025, the ballot box question is different. It is Canadians looking ahead, feeling anxious about the tariff wars and the other threats coming out of Washington. And so, it's a different question: who is best suited to -- to confront those threats. And it seems like Mr. Carney is standing himself in good stead so far.

HUNTE: And then, of course, there's a national election is coming soon, and Carney may actually turn out to be a short term prime minister. What can you tell us about his likely conservative opponent?

PRESTZ: Well, you're right: there is an election that could happen in the next couple of weeks. And Mr. Poilievre -- Pierre Poilievre is an attack dog, if ever there was one in Canadian politics.

He is one who is always most comfortable attacking his opponent, even attacking media for asking questions that he doesn't care for.

And so, he has had to, in some ways, find a different tone in this new era. Not to simply attack the liberals, but also to - to attack the -- the Americans, to attack Donald Trump with his threats to Canada.

And that is something that clearly makes him a little uncomfortable, not least because many of his supporters actually see some degree of common cause with the conservative movement and the Republicans and Donald Trump in Canada.

And so, he has to walk a fine line between being strong for Canada but also keeping his own base together.

So, it's a complicated game for the conservatives in ways that it is not for the liberals.

HUNTE: Well, his journey is only just beginning. So, let's see what happens next. Until then, Stewart Prestz in Vancouver, thank you so much for joining me.

PRESTZ: It's always a pleasure. Thank you.

HUNTE: Thank you.

[00:10:05]

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is on his way to Saudi Arabia right now, where he'll meet with Ukrainian officials. A source says top Trump administration officials will also meet separately with Russian officials.

President Trump says that very big things will come from the talks between the U.S. and Ukraine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Let's see what happens with the whole Russia-Ukraine thing. I think you're going to have, eventually, and maybe not in the distant future, you're going to have some pretty good results coming out of Saudi Arabia this week.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you going to resume aid to Ukraine if they sign the minerals deal?

TRUMP: Well, I think they will sign the minerals deal, but we want them to -- I want them to want peace.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: Keep in mind that Ukraine is fighting off a Russian invasion that began in 2022.

Mr. Trump also said that a pause on sharing intelligence with Ukraine is all but lifted. But he didn't promise to lift the pause on military aid if Ukraine signs the agreement, giving the U.S. access to minerals in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the fighting there rages on. Our Melissa Bell has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MELISSA BELL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: All eyes in Ukraine very much on what's been happening in Kursk --

BELL (voice-over): -- where the Ukrainian position in this key Russian territory appears to have weakened over the last few days. The latest imagery showing not just Russian attacks on Ukrainian

troops in the region, but also the planting of a Russian flag on a settlement that Russians claim to have recaptured.

Ukrainian forces very much under pressure, we're told by Ukrainian officials, from the 12,000 North Korean troops they say have come in to reinforce Russian firepower.

BELL: Now, this, of course, an important setback for Ukrainians who had hoped this might be a key bargaining chip in the forthcoming negotiations due to take place in Saudi Arabia.

Ukrainians now lacking both American military aid, which has been paused, American intelligence sharing, and now facing this weakened position in this key Russian territory.

Still --

BELL (voice-over): -- President Zelenskyy, in his nightly address on Sunday, said he would do all he could this coming week, as well as his delegation, to pursue and safeguard Ukrainian interests.

The Ukrainian president also speaking to the terrible events in Dobropillia, that Eastern Ukrainian town where a missile hit on Saturday.

What we understand from President Zelenskyy is that this was the scene of an infamous Russian double tap, where a second missile comes in once emergency services on the ground. Of the 11 killed, we hear one was an emergency service worker.

BELL: Still, President Zelenskyy says he will do all he can this week in Saudi Arabia, referencing also what he said was proof in Dobropillia this weekend that Russia is not after peace, but rather capturing and destroying as much Ukrainian territory as it can.

Melissa Bell, CNN, Paris.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: Lana Prudyvus is a Ukrainian living in L.A., and she's joining us live now.

Thank you so much for being here.

This is a crucial time for Ukraine with support from the U.S., its biggest ally, flagging. How are you feeling about living in the U.S. while all of this U.S. hostility is happening?

LANA PRUDYVUS, UKRAINIAN LIVING IN LOS ANGELES: It is definitely concerning. It's seeing these big battles happening on TV. You forget that these are real people that we're talking about, real lives that have been lost over the last three years.

I'm hoping that Ukraine and U.S. can reach an agreement that can be beneficial for both parties. And U.S. will continue to be our ally, as they've been for the last three years.

HUNTE: Maybe you could just break down for me. Tell me about your journey and how you've got to where you are now in L.A.

PRUDYVUS: Yes. I moved to the States back in 2013 when I was just 16 years old, and I played tennis for an American school in Tennessee, where I had a full scholarship.

And then I met my husband -- now husband -- at school, as well. And he's from Torrance, California. So, after we both graduated, ended up moving here.

And now I work as a tennis coach, and he's an architect. And we've been living in California since 2019 now.

HUNTE: OK. And you've got family and friends living in Ukraine, right? I'm just wondering if you can tell me what their life is like right now. What are they going through on the ground?

PRUDYVUS: I spoke to my parents today, actually, and it's very hard for me to talk to them and hear what they're saying and their side of the story that we don't really see here much.

It's almost like this big cloud hanging over the whole country, and there's just no telling when it's going to start storming.

Of course, I'm concerned over my family. My parents are there, my grandparents. All of my family are still back in Ukraine. And I don't see them that often, as well.

And now, with all these talks and U.S. changing their minds, it's hard to tell what's going to happen in the future.

[00:15:01]

HUNTE: How do you feel about countries like the U.S. potentially rolling back on asylum claims for Ukrainian people? And is it too soon to expect people to go back with what's happening on the ground?

PRUDYVUS: I have hope. I will always have hope. I feel like the situation is pretty black and white, and I'm hoping that we can see that.

But, end of the day, it's important to remember how it all started and what we're fighting for. And we need to reach a peaceful agreement with everybody involved.

U.S. is obviously a big source and a big ally that we would like to keep on our side. But what's happening right now is a bit of a setback, but I'll always be hopeful. So, we will see what happens next week.

HUNTE: And before I let you go, can you just tell me what would your message be to the Ukrainian politicians and the diplomats, big, important people, as they begin discussions to protect the future of Ukraine this week? PRUDYVUS: Just to keep fighting, to keep remembering what we're

fighting for, who we're fighting for. Just remember our history and how much our country has been through.

And remember all the people that have lost their lives. They lost their families, their jobs, their careers, their homes over the last three years.

I understand that sacrifices need to be made, but at the same time, we have sacrificed a lot at this point. And it's important to remember what we're fighting for.

HUNTE: Love that. Lana Prudyvus, thank you so much for joining me. I appreciate it.

PRUDYVUS: Thank you for having me.

HUNTE: So welcome.

Still to come, what Greenlanders are saying ahead of Tuesday's elections on U.S. interest in the territory and their future ties with Denmark.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:21:16]

HUNTE: Welcome back. With Friday's deadline fast approaching, U.S. President Donald Trump is warning a government shutdown could happen. But he says the Democrats would be to blame.

The Republican-led House is expected to vote on Tuesday on a Trump- backed funding package that would keep the U.S. government running until September.

This would give Republicans more time to push key pieces of Mr. Trump's agenda through Congress over the summer.

Top Democrats are blasting the plan, but the U.S. president believes the bill will ultimately pass.

In last week's address to Congress, President Trump doubled down on his goal of acquiring Greenland from Denmark. The strategically significant island is set to hold parliamentary elections on Tuesday, which could very well decide its future direction.

CNN's Frederik Pleitgen has more on what Greenlanders are saying.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): It's an unlikely place for a geopolitical tug of war. Greenland, with a population of about 57,000, known for its fishing, natural resources and glaciers, goes to the polls on Tuesday, something that in the past probably wouldn't have attracted a lot of global attention. But that was before Greenland caught the eye of U.S. President Donald

Trump.

TRUMP: We will keep you safe. We will make you rich, and together we will take Greenland to heights like you have never thought possible before.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): It's a bold offer, especially since Greenland is a territory of Denmark, though it's semi-autonomous with its own parliament. But it does rely on Denmark for about half its annual budget.

The U.S. already has a military base in Greenland, which plays a key role in missile defense and satellite communication. And Greenland is also the gateway to the arctic, lying on the shortest route from North America to Europe, so, its location is strategic.

But if forced to choose between the U.S. and Denmark, many Greenlanders say they prefer another option.

MUTE EGEDE, GREENLANDIC PRIME MINISTER (through translator): We don't want to be Danes. We don't want to be Americans. We want to be Greenlandic.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): It's a question of identity that many Greenlanders feel is at the heart of this election.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We need to be independent. We need that identity for our people in the arctic.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I hope Greenland to get more out of -- in the world picture. Right now, it's just dependent on Denmark and the money that we're getting from there.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): Most of Greenland's main political parties support independence for Greenland, which can be declared if a referendum passes, and the Danish Parliament approves.

But they differ on how soon that should happen, with one party saying Greenland should cut ties immediately.

PELE BROBERG, NALERAQ PARTY: Let's hope for a quick process, but as soon as we start that process, we have several other things that will start. One of them will be defense negotiations with the United States about the defense of Greenland when we are independent.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): Trump's comments are also reverberating in Denmark itself, which recently said it will spend more than $2 billion to boost arctic security and admitted it had neglected Greenland's defense for years.

It's a relationship that could soon change if Greenland steps up its pursuit of independence or uses its leverage to negotiate a better deal with Denmark.

NOA REDINGTON, POLITICAL ANALYST: There will be a new government, and it will put a tremendous pressure on the Danish government to have a position, a real position in terms of if Greenland wants independence, what will the cost be?

PLEITGEN (voice-over): Independence isn't on Tuesday's ballot, but the results could reconfigure Greenland's future, something the U.S. and many others will be closely watching.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUNTE: Still to come, President Trump is ready to take on the world with tariffs. But now China is retaliating with some of its own. We'll have the latest on the trade war that is all heating up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:29:53]

HUNTE: Welcome back. As the trade war between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico continues to heat up, President Donald Trump is sidestepping questions over whether his tariffs will lead to a recession in the U.S. In fact, he apparently sees nothing but prosperity.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Well, I think the tariffs are going to be the greatest thing we've ever done as a country. It's going to make our country rich again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTE: As for President Trump's tariffs on China, Beijing remains defiant, promising steady economic growth for the year ahead and imposing its own tariffs on many U.S. agricultural products, which are now in effect.

Well, let's dig deeper into this. We're going to go live to Beijing, where CNN's Marc Stewart is standing by.

Marc, what else is China doing to fight back?

MARC STEWART, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Ben, it's not just the tariffs. It's through some very strongly worded statements that China's also making its view on all of this known.

In fact, it was just on Friday when reporters from all over the world, who are now here in China for the National People's Congress, which is the big political event.

We heard from Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and he openly questioned the U.S. about the effectiveness of these tariffs. Is it helping inflation? Is it making people's lives better?

Let me read to you one quote, in particular, that caught our attention. The foreign minister saying, "If you choose to cooperate, you will

achieve mutual benefit and win-win results. If you blindly exert pressure, China will resolutely counterattack."

Starting today, as you mentioned, we are seeing these new Chinese tariffs, either 10 percent or 15 percent depending on the product, on some key commodities that China imports from the United States, including soybeans, which are a very high-value import from the U.S. economy.

As far as Chinese citizens are concerned, we went to the streets over the last few days and talked to citizens. They are aware about how tariffs can really hurt people from an economic standpoint, no matter where you live in the world, whether it's the U.S. or in China. Let's listen to some of those remarks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): It may not have much impact on my life, because I am at the grassroots level, ordinary people. So, the impact on us may not be particularly large, but it will definitely have a great impact on the country.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Anyway, this is a trade war, and in the end, the U.S. may not gain. In the short term, China's exports might be somewhat affected, but ultimately, it's the consumers of both countries who will be hurt.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEWART: The consumers of both countries who will be hurt were the remarks from that man on the streets of Beijing.

So, the question is how long will this continue? What's next? Will there be a breaking point?

The one thing that we're really looking forward to is a call between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and President Trump. We heard the president say that this call would take place. It's now been several weeks since we -- we heard that from the president of the United States.

But once that call takes place, Ben, that may give us a little bit more direction. Is negotiation possible or is this going to be an ongoing fight?

HUNTE: Let's see. Marc Stewart in Beijing, thank you so much for joining me. Appreciate it.

We're learning that Hamas does not oppose releasing Edan Alexander, the only living American hostage believed remaining in Gaza.

It's part of the negotiations to end the war with Israel, according to Hamas-affiliated TV reports.

U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy for hostages says a ceasefire deal could come together within weeks. Putting pressure on Hamas to accept a deal, Israel says it completely

cut off all electricity to the Gaza Strip. The move will mainly affect a wastewater treatment facility, the last place in Gaza that was still receiving power from Israel.

We'll be right back with more news. You are watching CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:38:48]

HUNTE: Well, authorities in the Dominican Republic are sharing new details from surveillance footage of a University of Pittsburgh student who is now missing.

They say Indian national Sudiksha Konanki went to the beach around 4 a.m. local time on Thursday at the Riu Republica Hotel in Punta Cana.

Video showed her with seven other people. Most of them left almost two hours later. But Konanki stayed behind with a young man.

And police say they've interviewed him and are trying to determine exactly what happened when they were alone. They say he was seen on surveillance video leaving the beach around 10 a.m. that morning.

The U.S. marked the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, a pivotal moment in the fight for civil rights in the country. On Sunday, hundreds of people crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama.

They were retracing the steps of peaceful protesters in 1965, who were brutally beaten by authorities while marching for the voting rights of black Americans.

The Voting Rights Act was passed later that year, and some of the people who marched in the 2025 were there 60 years ago.

Some promising news from the Vatican. Pope Francis is showing a good response to treatment for the first time since he was admitted to hospital more than three weeks ago.

[00:40:10]

On Sunday, the pope used a video feed to take part in the Vatican's traditional spiritual exercises for Lent.

The 88-year-old continues to receive treatment for double pneumonia. Despite the slight improvement in his condition, a Vatican source tells CNN Pope Francis still faces a, quote, "complex overall picture."

Well, that's it. Thanks for joining me and the team. I'm Ben Hunte in Atlanta. And it has been so real. WORLD SPORT is up next. Then, I'll be back in 30 minutes with more CNN NEWSROOM. See you in a bit.

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[00:45:32]

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