Return to Transcripts main page
CNN This Morning
President Trump Holds Joint Interview With Elon Musk; Vatican: Pope Francis Diagnosed With Pneumonia In Both Lungs; Zelenskyy On U.S.-Russia Meeting: "We Were Not Invited." Aired 5:30-6a ET
Aired February 19, 2025 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL)
[05:32:05]
JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: Five thirty-one a.m. here on the East Coast. A live look at the beautiful Eiffel Tower this morning. Good morning, everyone. I'm Jim Sciutto in again for Kasie Hunt. Good to have you with us.
Call him tech support, as he likes to, or the world's richest man. Whatever his title, Elon Musk is putting himself squarely in the middle of the second Trump administration with enormous power.
In a new joint interview with Fox News, President Trump and Elon Musk heaped praise on each other looking to show they are on the same page as DOGE continues to slash and burn the federal workforce and federal agencies.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELON MUSK, SENIOR WHITE HOUSE ADVISER: Well, I love the president. I just want to be clear about that.
SEAN HANNITY, FOX NEWS HOST, "HANNITY": I don't care about that.
MUSK: I know. I love the --
HANNITY: You love the president.
MUSK: I think -- I think President Trump is a good man.
DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Elon called me, and he said you know they're trying to drive us apart. I said absolutely. You know, I wanted to find somebody smarter than him. I searched all over. I just couldn't do it. I couldn't. I couldn't.
HANNITY: You really tried hard.
TRUMP: I couldn't find anyone smarter, right?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: The interview comes as the president works to gain even tighter control over agencies that by design and legislation are independent. A newly issued executive order now gives the White House more direct control over the operations of the agencies, such as the FCC and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Trump says Musk is helping him with executive orders as well.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: He said that. He said, you know, when you sign these executive orders a lot of them don't get done --
MUSK: Yeah.
TRUMP: -- and maybe the most important ones. And he would take that executive order that I'd sign, and he would have those people go to whatever agency it was.
MUSK: Yeah.
TRUMP: When are you doing it? Get it done. Get it done. And some guy that maybe didn't want to do it -- all of a sudden, he's signing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: Joining me now to speak about these, Reese Gorman, politics reporter at NOTUS. Reese, good to have you.
And it is worth noting these agencies are independent for a reason. SEC, as an example, monitor the stock market so there's not fraud, and it's independent of any political influence. Trump is trying to upend that across the board.
What, if anything, is standing in the way?
REESE GORMAN, POLITICAL REPORTER, NOTUS: Yeah. I mean, a lot -- I mean, the courts are staying out of the way, for one. Not -- well, the Democrats wish the courts were staying out of the way, rather. I mean, what's standing in the way of kind of Elon Musk right now is nothing. He's -- he has the free rein to do really whatever he wants, but they're saying that he's not in charge of DOGE. But, I mean, you saw in the interview right there --
SCIUTTO: Yeah.
GORMAN: -- where Trump says that I sign executive orders, and Elon goes and does what he wants. And he kind of is telling these people what to do. And so really not much is standing in the way.
I mean, people are trying to, like, file these legal challenges and try to slow things up in the courts but ultimately those aren't really proving successful all the time.
And they really mean -- you saw what they did to USAID. They kind of just -- within a week they got it out and now they're moving on to other agencies.
SCIUTTO: Yeah.
GORMAN: So they're really going through this fast.
[05:35:00]
SCIUTTO: The president was asked about conflicts of interest given Musk has so much business before this government, including enormous contracts with the Defense Department. Both, perhaps predictably, brushed aside those concerns. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HANNITY: If it comes up, how will you handle it?
MUSK: Well --
TRUMP: He won't be involved.
MUSK: Yeah. I'll recuse myself if it is a conflict.
TRUMP: If there's a conflict he won't be involved.
MUSK: Yeah.
TRUMP: I mean, I wouldn't want that, and he won't want it.
MUSK: Right, and also, I'm getting a -- sort of a daily proctology exam here. You know, it's not like I'll be getting away from something in the dead of night.
HANNITY: Welcome to D.C. If you want a friend, get a dog.
MUSK: Well, I do have a dog, but I also have friends.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: What ensures that what they're saying there happens? What, if anything, ensures that?
GORMAN: Really, it's just -- it's just them. I mean, we -- the public does not have access to the kind of financial disclosure that Elon Musk filed. I mean, they're keeping it private. And so really, there's no kind of accountability onto whether or not that Elon Musk is actually recusing himself from stuff like this. I know Trump also said that Elon won't have a hand in space policy.
But again, I mean, if he's going -- if DOGE is going to go into the DOD and try to -- and into NASA and kind of work on these contracts or work on these agencies that Elon has contracts with -- I mean, isn't that just the definition of kind of him kind of influencing himself in some agencies. And the public doesn't actually know what's going on because we don't have access to his reports.
SCIUTTO: Have we seen any limit from Republican lawmakers as to what they will swallow, right? I mean, we saw those limits pushed, for instance, during the Senate confirmation hearings. You had folks who had quite strong opinions against several of his nominees and they folded. They folded in the end.
I wonder, do you see the makings of any voice willing to stand up and say this goes too far for me?
GORMAN: I mean, you get kind of your normal kind of senator. Susan Collins, last night, said that she thinks -- she stopped short of saying this is terrible. I mean, she said they need to slow down. They made some mistakes --
SCIUTTO: Um-hum.
GORMAN: -- kind of referencing the -- what happened with the bird flu. The people that are investigating that. The people that were kind of the nuclear regulators. But she stopped short of saying any -- that they need to stop or anything more -- just that they need to slow down.
But those are the kind of -- that's the kind of voice you expect in the Senate is a Susan Collins-like person who is more moderate.
SCIUTTO: Right.
GORMAN: Who is willing to stand up to Trump.
At the same time -- I mean, she also kind of voiced disapproval of some of Trump's nominees and then in the end --
SCIUTTO: Right.
GORMAN: -- voted for some of them.
And so that's -- a lot of people do seem to be falling in line more this time than last time even though -- even if they are expressing some kind of concern.
SCIUTTO: Yeah. They might say concern and then line up --
GORMAN: Yeah.
SCIUTTO: -- when the vote that matters happens.
GORMAN: Right.
SCIUTTO: Reese Gorman, thanks so much.
GORMAN: Thanks for having me on.
SCIUTTO: Pope Francis, we're learning, now has pneumonia in both of his lungs. That's serious. The Vatican announced that diagnosis yesterday. A CT scan and other tests revealed what they called a complex picture of the Pope's health.
Tourists and members of the Catholic faith gathered outside the hospital where the Pope is now receiving treatment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I hope that he will get better.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I wish for him for a speedy recovery and that he will have many strong years left in him.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel very sorry for him. It's really -- yeah, we hope he will get better soon and recover.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: CNN's Barbie Nadeau joins us now live from Rome. Any updates on his condition this morning? And I just wonder given his age -- he's 88 years old -- pneumonia in both lungs is quite serious. How serious are doctors taking this?
BARBIE LATZA NADEAU, CNN REPORTER: Yeah. You know, I mean, we're getting a little bit of mixed messaging. Last night we heard this sort of devastating diagnosis that he had this bilateral pneumonia. And, of course, he has a compromised lung. He is missing part of his lung. It was removed when he was a young man.
Then this morning a Vatican source is telling us that he was able to get out of his hospital bed and sit in a chair. And so, of course, that makes people think OK -- well, he's maybe not in as difficult a situation as we'd first thought.
But we do understand that he had a peaceful night, that he ate breakfast, and that he's under this therapy. This is the second time they've changed his course of therapy since he's been here on Friday. And this new diagnosis last night should give them a clearer picture of how to go forward and how to treat it.
But we're not getting any indication that he's going to be getting out anytime soon. That he's going to be roaming around as he often does when he's in the hospital here visiting other wards. It seems a lot more serious than previous hospitalizations.
And, of course, everyone's hoping and, as you heard those people say, praying for a swift and speedy recovery keeping in mind an 88-year-old man with mobility problems -- you know, this is a difficult situation and a -- and a hard road ahead for sure, Jim.
SCIUTTO: No question.
Barbie Nadeau, thanks so much for the update outside the hospital there in Rome.
Ahead on CNN THIS MORNING who will have a seat at the table on talks to end Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine? The Trump administration's opening news to restart diplomatic relations with Russia raising concerns not just in Ukraine but all across Europe.
[05:40:00]
Plus, Tiger Woods made an emotional return to golf following the death of his mother. We're going to have that in our CNN sports update. (COMMERCIAL)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): We were not invited to this meeting -- the U.S.-Russia meeting in Saudi Arabia. It was a surprise for us as well as for many. I don't want any coincidences. That's why I'm not going to Saudi Arabia.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: Not invited to peace talks about ending the war on their own territory. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaking out on the reopening of diplomatic channels between the U.S. and Russia. Again, Ukraine not at the table.
[05:45:07]
This week's meeting in Saudi Arabia sparked concerns in Ukraine as well as across Europe that a deal to end Russia's invasion might not include the country that was invaded.
Zelenskyy postponed a visit to Saudi Arabia this week in response. He says he'll now travel there in March.
Now President Trump is responding to criticism of the meeting by quite falsely blaming Ukraine for the invasion and saying, as well, that only he can bring about an end to the war there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I think I have the power to end this war, and I think it's going very well. But today I heard oh, well, we weren't invited. Well, you've been there for three years. You should have ended it three years. You should have never started it. You could have made a deal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: Been there for three years. We should say actually it has been invaded -- a full-scale invasion for three years.
The president was asked about a specific detail in a rumored peace plan which would force Ukraine to hold presidential elections before Russia agrees to any deal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPORTER: We're hearing that Russia wants to force Ukraine to hold new elections in order to sign any kind of a peace deal. Is that something that the U.S. would ever support?
TRUMP: Well, we have a situation where we haven't had elections in Ukraine. Where we have martial law -- essentially, martial law in Ukraine. The people of Ukraine have to say, like, you know, it's been a long time since we've had an election. That's not a Russia thing. That's something coming from me. (END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: Joining me now is Kira Rudik, a member of Ukraine's Parliament. Kira, good to have you back. Thanks so much for joining.
KIRA RUDIK, UKRAINIAN MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, LEADER OF UKRAINE'S "GOLOS" POLITICAL PARTY (via Webex by Cisco): Hello, Jim, and thank you so much for having me.
SCIUTTO: Before we get to the elections question, I want to ask your reaction to President Trump blaming Ukraine for Russia's invasion. As a Ukrainian who has suffered through this war and had your life threatened by ongoing Russian attacks, how do you respond to hearing an American president blame you, in effect, for Russia's invasion?
RUDIK: On behalf of Ukrainian people I think it is false accusation, and it is very painful that people of Ukraine have to witness that. We have done nothing wrong. We are fighting for our own freedom and for the ability to live in our own country and define our own future.
I think it's obvious to everyone who has participated in supporting Ukraine and we are grateful to the ones who are standing behind us.
SCIUTTO: When you hear President Trump say he wants Ukrainian elections, are you concerned that he has an issue with Volodymyr Zelenskyy specifically? That he wants him gone? Is that how you read that demand?
RUDIK: Um, yeah. It seems right now that President Zelenskyy was standing up against Vladimir Putin and he made the claims that are the best of our country. And this is why he is, of course, an uncomfortable part of the negotiation.
SCIUTTO: Yeah.
RUDIK: We understand that. But right now the whole country stands behind him.
And I'm wondering why does President Trump have nothing to say about how Putin was elected and how --
SCIUTTO: Yeah.
RUDIK: -- the elections in Russia were conducted before they were -- because they were obviously not acknowledged by many democratic states.
SCIUTTO: Is it possible that by targeting Zelenskyy in this way, as well as blaming Ukraine for Russia's invasion, that Trump might strengthen Zelenskyy?
RUDIK: That could be because, you know, today, even through parliamentarians when we were discussing it amongst themselves we were talking that yes, all of us -- we have many questions and perhaps criticism to the president and his party. But it is our internal matter and we are acting according to Ukrainian Constitution and it should not be questioned by anyone. And I would state it again -- anyone outside of our country.
You know, Ukraine is very good in telling our presidents if they are not welcomed or if they overstayed their welcome, or if they are doing something that is not suitable for Ukraine's nation. But right now we are standing united because we are fighting the external enemy. And, you know, Jim, this is the main and key quality that kept us fighting for so long -- an ability to stand united against the aggression.
SCIUTTO: Can Ukraine say no, in your view, if Trump negotiates with Putin a deal that is not in Ukraine's interest? Can you say we're not going to sign it? We're going to keep fighting.
[05:50:05]
RUDIK: Absolutely, yes.
You know, Jim, in 2022, when there were not too many people believing in us and the majority of the democratic world saying that we will go down in two or three days, we were in a worse position than we are right now. And we still decided that we are not going to capitulate, and we are going to keep fighting.
So right now when we hear -- have so many democratic states of Europe who are supporting us, who are standing with us, when we understand by what we have seen in Bucha, in Mariupol exactly what the peace deal with Russia means to us and what capitulating to Russia would mean to us. We will keep fighting. We understand what's at stake and we will not take the deal that is not in the interest of Ukrainian people.
SCIUTTO: Kira Rudik, as I always say to you, I wish you safety. I know that you were on the air recently and there was more incoming fire from Russia. So we hope you stay safe.
RUDIK: Thank you, Jim, and glory to Ukraine.
SCIUTTO: Well, time now for a look at sports. Tiger Woods paid an emotional tribute to his late mother as he returns to competitive golf.
Carolyn Manno has this morning's CNN sports update. Tell us about that moment.
CAROLYN MANNO, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Jim.
Well, Tiger Woods withdrew from last week's Genesis Invitational where he's the tournament host, saying that it was just too soon to play after losing his mother. And last night the 15-time Major champion returned for the TGL event -- the indoor golf league that he helped to create.
Three weeks ago Kultida Woods was in the stands to watch her son play before her sudden passing at the age of 80.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIGER WOODS, 15-TIME MAJOR CHAMPION: And this was the last time she ever watched me play, so it's been emotional coming in here tonight. She was very direct about her feelings and her emotions, and she let you know either way. But she was always so supportive of me going out there and playing and it was incredible.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MANNO: We wish him the best.
Elsewhere in sports this morning hockey's 4 Nations Face-Off is now down to two as bitter rivals Team USA and Canada get ready for tomorrow's championship game.
The first game last Saturday night between the pair was must-see TV. Players scuffled three times in the first nine seconds of playing time, which ended a 3-1 win for the U.S. This time they'll square off on American ice in Boston.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACK EICHEL, FORWARD, TEAM USA: It's a game seven, right? Like, it's for everything. And yeah, I mean, I think it's a -- you know, it's -- you're doing to see desperate hockey. You're going to see everything we saw in the first game and more, I imagine.
NOAH HANIFIN, DEFENSEMAN, TEAM USA: When we started this tournament, this is the -- this is the game we wanted to be a part of. We wanted to be in this final game and to be able to do it against Canada makes it even more special. So last Saturday was probably the most fun I've ever had in a hockey game and I'm sure it'll repeat itself again here Thursday.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MANNO: Team USA defenseman Charlie McAvoy will miss the matchup after being admitted to the hospital for an upper body injury. The 27-year- old was injured during Team USA's game against Finland last Thursday. McAvoy was shoved into a goal post during the third period.
Head coach Mike Sullivan spoke about his star player who also happens to be his son-in-law.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE SULLIVAN, HEAD COACH, TEAM USA: I'm disappointed for him because first and foremost he's a -- he's a great kid. He's -- and he's a terrific hockey player, and I know this meant a lot to him. So under all the circumstances he's in good spirits. I know he's disappointed he won't have the opportunity to compete in the championship game.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MANNO: So hockey fans certainly not going to miss this highly anticipated showdown. The puck drops tomorrow night at 8:00 p.m. Eastern in Boston. It should be a raucous crowd.
And finally this morning, Jim, in college hoops TCU picking up a signature win after upsetting ninth-ranked Texas Tech. Noah Reynolds scoring 16 points, including the last seven for the Horned Frogs in the 69-66 win.
So as a group, TCU improves their tournament resume with a really impressive defensive effort. They ended the night with 15 offensive rebounds that led to 17 second-chance points.
And with the loss, Texas Tech missing a chance to regain a share of second place in the Big 12 standings. So the Red Raiders have lost each of their last five trips to Fort Worth. Everybody jockeying to get in position. March not too far away at this point.
I can't believe it. This season flew by.
SCIUTTO: You know, I was at that USA-Canada hockey game on Saturday night. The atmosphere was hot.
MANNO: Oh, were you?
SCIUTTO: It's going to --
MANNO: Oh, wow.
SCIUTTO: It's going to be hot on Thursday, too. I mean, just get ready -- all I've got to say.
MANNO: Yeah. I can't wait.
SCIUTTO: Carolyn, thanks so much.
Ahead on CNN THIS MORNING Eric Adams' future in New York City is danger as New York Gov. Kathy Hochul weighs the path forward for the embattled mayor.
Plus --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: He's a leader.
HANNITY: Yeah.
TRUMP: He really is. He gets it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: Best friends Donald Trump and Elon Musk insisting they're very much on the same page.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN C. REILLY, ACTOR, "STEP BROTHERS": On the count of three, name your favorite dinosaur. Don't even think about it. Just name it. Ready? One, two, three.
WILL FERRILL, ACTOR, "STEP BROTHERS": Velociraptor. [05:55:00]
REILLY: Velociraptor.
What?
FERRILL: Did we just become best friends?
REILLY: Yep.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL)
SCIUTTO: It's Wednesday, February 19. Right now on CNN THIS MORNING --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I wanted to find somebody smarter than him. I searched all over. I just couldn't do it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: A budding buddy bromance? President Trump's first joint interview of his second term not with his vice president but first buddy Elon Musk.
Plus --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Oh, well, we weren't invited. Well, you've been there for three years. You should've ended it three years. You should have never started it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: That's Trump speaking to Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia -- but Trump blaming Ukraine for the full-scale invasion of their own country.
