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CNN This Morning

Elon Musk Sends E-mail to Federal Employees Asking Them to Detail Their Work or Face Consequences; Ukraine Marks 3 Years Since Russia's Full-Scale Invasion; Pope Francis in Critical Condition with Mild Kidney Failure. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired February 24, 2025 - 05:00   ET

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

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KAYLA TAUSCHE, ANCHOR, CNN THIS MORNING: It's Monday, February 24th, right now on CNN THIS MORNING.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What we are witnessing are illegal actions by Elon Musk.

SEN. MARKWAYNE MULLIN (R-OK): The majority of the American people want to make sure that their taxpayers are being used correctly.

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TAUSCHE: Respond or resign. It is deadline day for millions of federal workers scrambling to answer an ominous e-mail from Elon Musk that may determine the future of their employment. Plus, after three years of war, questions mount about Ukraine's future and the security of an entire continent. Why Ukraine's President says he's ready to step down under certain conditions.

And Pope Francis in critical condition. We'll have the latest Vatican update on the new health issue facing the 88-year-old pontiff. It is 5:00 a.m. here on the east coast. You are looking at a live picture of the Capitol dome here in Washington D.C. Good early morning everyone, I'm Kayla Tausche in for Kasie Hunt. It's wonderful to have you with us.

Already reeling from firing threats, layoffs and funding freezes, the federal workforce now faces a new deadline to justify their jobs by e- mail or be let go. The deadline comes as 2,000 USAID workers were laid off Sunday night, and the vast majority of remaining full-time staffers were told they are now being placed on administrative leave.

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ELON MUSK, FOUNDER & CEO, TESLA & SPACEX: This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy.

(END VIDEO CLIP) TAUSCHE: And Elon Musk isn't done with his chainsaw, setting off

another moment of panic for the federal workforce. Over the weekend, the world's richest man firing off a post saying all federal employees must respond to an e-mail detailing what they got done last week. Failing to respond by midnight tonight will be taken, Musk says, as a resignation.

The effort seemingly getting the full support of President Trump, who sent out this meme starring SpongeBob SquarePants, where he implied the responses from workers might include things about crying -- like crying about Trump or reading some e-mails. But not every agency is playing along with Musk's latest attempt to slice the federal workforce.

Senior leadership at several agencies, leaders that were in many cases appointed by President Trump himself, are telling employees not to respond, including the FBI, the State Department and the National Security Agency. Republican senators are also pushing back. Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski calling out Musk on social media, saying he should, quote, "learn about the jobs he's trying to cut", adding, quote, "our public workforce deserves to be treated with dignity and respect for the jobs they perform. The absurd weekend e-mail to justify their existence wasn't it."

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SEN. JOHN CURTIS (R-UT): If I could say one thing to Elon Musk, it's like, please put a dose of compassion in this. These are real people. These are real lives. These are mortgages. We -- it's a false narrative to say we have to cut, and you have to be cruel to do it as well. We can do both.

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TAUSCHE: Joining me now is Kevin Frey; Washington correspondent for "Spectrum News New York 1". Kevin, good to see you, thank you for being here.

KEVIN FREY, WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT, SPECTRUM NEWS NEW YORK 1: Good morning --

TAUSCHE: So, what did you make of this latest missive from Musk after what appeared to be several deep cuts and wide cuts across several agencies, probationary employees, now they're going after non- essential workers. And now, it appears the entire federal workforce.

FREY: Right, I mean it's just another moment of chaos for a lot of these federal workers. I was texting with one last night and she said that this is incredibly stressful, and that her anxiety is at quote, "a different level" because of this. And she was already concerned based on the various e-mails and orders they were getting. And this just adds another element to that.

The thing that's rather remarkable that you just kind of touched on was the fact that this is now creating this sort of -- the potential for internal fighting within the administration where you have different fiefdoms basically pushing back on Elon Musk. So, you have various factions of the Trump loyalists, essentially, that are running these various agencies, basically saying, you know what?

Don't comply with what Elon Musk is doing, and does that set up potential fights down the road is something I would be keeping an eye on. The other component about this that is quite interesting is the fact that this is -- well, it's sending kind of a message to these workers that look, your job should be very simply a list of five bullet points.

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And what are you doing to comply with that? And it's just not clear that they're --

TAUSCHE: You need to have an elevator pitch for your last week's --

FREY: Exactly --

TAUSCHE: Of work. What's interesting is veteran pollster and communications strategist Frank Luntz also talked about some of these cuts and the risk that the Trump administration is facing from the public, as some of these attacks on the federal workforce seem to mount daily. I want to play what he said and get your response to it.

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FRANK LUNTZ, POLLSTER & COMMUNICATION STRATEGIST: The overall objectives and the goals and the general policies behind what's been happening is approved of. The way it's being communicated to the American people -- no, they don't want a chainsaw drop -- brought to the government. They don't want this seeming meanness as part of public policy.

They do want the objectives. They do want less waste, less fraud, and most importantly, less corruption. And so, they back the President and his administration generically on what he's trying to do. But the language and the communication, the messaging is over the top.

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TAUSCHE: Is over the top. I mean, what essentially do you think is the mandate from the American people based on your reporting? And how does that potentially jive with the way that Musk is going about this?

FREY: Well, I mean, that's the thing, like this is where the rubber meets the road, right? I mean, like you talk in conceptual, you campaign on conceptual that there's all this waste, fraud and abuse.

But when you start actually like impacting people's lives and cutting services and reducing, you know, the workforce and putting people in this kind of traumatizing position, that creates the potential for political backlash, which is what we're seeing at some of these town halls over the last few days where people -- members of the American public, now, whether or not this becomes replicated and it actually is kind of a tea party sort of response, or if this is just a few select cases remains to be seen.

But this creates the environment where you can see pushback from the American public. And Democrats, I should say, are also kind of latching on to this. Luntz just kind of hit on something that Senator Schumer has been making, one of his main pitches, which is that rather than going with a scalpel, they're coming with a meat cleaver. And that creates the possibility of people getting hurt in the process. And you can see Democrats kind of ramping up that messaging.

TAUSCHE: And ultimately, the decision-maker might end up being the judicial system with many of these actions in the courts, and even one Republican lawmaker telling his constituents over the weekend, look, the courts are going to decide this in the end.

FREY: And that got a lot of pushback because they're like, aren't you one of the three branches of government? Shouldn't you be providing some of the backlash here?

TAUSCHE: Exactly, not over yet, Kevin Frey, we appreciate it. Thank you so much.

FREY: You're welcome --

TAUSCHE: Coming up on CNN THIS MORNING, Pope Francis in critical condition and asking for prayers after a worrying new diagnosis by his medical team. Plus, a new direction for Germany. Conservatives coming out on top in Sunday's election. And on the three-year anniversary of Russia's invasion, Ukraine prepares for a possible future without the U.S. support.

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VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT, UKRAINE (through translator): If it's about peace in Ukraine and you really want me to leave my position, I am ready to do that. Secondly, I can exchange it for NATO if there is such an opportunity.

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TAUSCHE: Three years ago today, Russia invaded Ukraine. Now, President Trump is trying to negotiate an end to the war with Russia without inviting Ukraine to the table. He's also falsely claiming President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a dictator, leaving Ukraine's security and future in a precarious place at best. And now, Zelenskyy says he's ready to step down if it means peace or NATO membership.

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ZELENSKYY: If it's about peace in Ukraine, and you really want me to leave my position, I am ready to do that. Secondly, I can exchange it for NATO if there is such an opportunity, I'll do it immediately without a long conversation about it. I am focused on Ukraine's security today and not in 20 years. I don't plan to be in power for decades. Therefore, that's my aim and my dream.

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TAUSCHE: CNN's Clare Sebastian joins us live from London. Clare, those comments yesterday come as G7 leaders are arriving in Kyiv. There is a call this morning which French President Emmanuel Macron will participate in from here in Washington, where he and the U.K.'s Prime Minister are making this mad dash of shuttle diplomacy with President-elect Trump. What is on the table for that alliance?

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, I think we can safely say, Kayla, as you alluded to the diplomacy, is in overdrive, matching the pace, I think set by the Trump administration which, of course, held its first direct talks with Russia last week. We see on the one hand, as you say, Macron is in Washington today set to meet with Trump.

Keir Starmer, the U.K. Prime Minister is heading there later in the week as well. We see this G7 call happening this morning, we also see eight European leaders along with the Prime Minister of Canada and EU top officials in Kyiv today holding a summit. I think, for Ukraine, the key points are number one, to make sure that its voice is heard.

This is also crucial for Europe. This is why you see these leaders heading to Washington this week. And secondly, the issue of security guarantees. How to make sure that a ceasefire is lasting. Now, Zelenskyy has been very clear that he doesn't think security guarantees will be effective without the U.S., but he is still calling on his European allies to step up.

And he continues to make the point, and I think that's why that comment on, you know, stepping down in favor of NATO was so telling that NATO is the best and the cheapest way, he said, to ensure Ukraine's security going forward.

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And he said in this summit happening in Kyiv today, that if NATO membership remains closed to Ukraine, we will have no choice but to build NATO in Ukraine. So, he's talking, of course, about potential boots on the ground from European countries, a contingent, as he calls it, that will guarantee Ukraine's security going forward.

So, it's about keeping their voices on the table both Europe and Ukraine, and trying to make sure that their agenda is heard, as the Trump administration, of course, tries to accelerate the path towards peace talks.

TAUSCHE: And the U.S. Defense Secretary said in recent weeks that NATO membership for Ukraine is off the table, that it wouldn't support that. So, clearly, there's a lot for them to discuss. When it comes to Trump generally, CNN's Nick Paton Walsh asked Zelenskyy yesterday at a press conference about his personal relationship with Trump. Here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ZELENSKYY: My relationship with President Trump, it's never was in such best way.

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAUSCHE: Clearly, struggling to find the most diplomatic words to describe that, Clare. But what do you think President Zelenskyy's approach now to President Trump needs to be?

SEBASTIAN: Well, I mean, I think this is going to call on all of his skills, his leadership skills, his rhetorical skills, his diplomatic skills that he has shown over the past three years. That comment that you played initially when he said, you know, he would himself step down if it meant NATO membership, I think that along with various other things he said, show that he is trying to rise above these personal attacks that we've seen from the Trump administration.

Those two leaders have beef dating back to the first Trump administration. I think it's clear that some of this is personal even now. But Zelenskyy, you know, he is facing escalating Russian attacks not only on the frontlines, but in terms of drone attacks on cities. They hit a record in terms of the daily number over the weekend. So, he has to rise above this.

He has to continue to try to salvage as he hopes, the Trans-Atlantic alliance between the U.S. and Europe, and try to push European leaders to step up in the event that he doesn't manage to negotiate a deal with the U.S. to continue military aid, perhaps in return for access to Ukrainian critical minerals. There's just so much at stake, several fights at once for the Ukrainian President at the moment.

TAUSCHE: And that will be no small task. We will wait and see how those talks go this week. Clare, we appreciate your time. Clare Sebastian from London. Straight ahead on CNN THIS MORNING, an update on the condition of the pope. Francis now dealing with a serious new health concern while battling double pneumonia.

Plus, why an American Airlines flight was diverted and escorted to Rome when it was supposed to land in India.

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TAUSCHE: This morning, Pope Francis remains hospitalized in critical condition. The Vatican sharing over the weekend that blood tests showed mild signs of kidney failure. The 88-year-old pontiff is also battling pneumonia in both lungs.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am very sad. I don't know how you can continue normally at this moment. I would just stay in prayer, all of us in prayer for him. For me, he is a special person. I truly have no words. (END VIDEO CLIP)

TAUSCHE: CNN's Barbie Latza Nadeau joins us live from Rome. Barbie, what more can you tell us about his current condition and the prognosis going forward?

BARBIE LATZA NADEAU, CNN REPORTER: You know, we really haven't heard anything about a prognosis going forward yet, but this is very concerning, these diagnosis. He came into the hospital here behind me in Rome on February 14th with a respiratory infection. Three days later, diagnosed with double pneumonia. Pneumonia in both lungs.

Of course, he's missing half of one of his lungs which was removed when he was a young man. Then we find out he had a critical respiratory issue on Saturday morning. And yesterday, we hear that he has the beginning or the slight signs of a -- of kidney failure, which the Vatican says is under control.

Of course, it's all very worrying for everyone. This week is -- begins the Lenten season, Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. You know, normally he would be out there leading the procession at a Church here in Rome. Obviously, he's going to still be in the hospital. We were told, at least through this week -- you know, we understand, though he's awake.

He was resting this morning, and that he is getting treatment, and that he has been in the days past working with his closest collaborators here. He has a suite of rooms up here on the 10th floor of the hospital Gemelli behind me, and that he's been very much still in charge of the business of the Church, making decisions, having conversations.

He didn't deliver his angelus prayer on Sunday, but he did write it. And he thanked those who are offering prayers for him, and that he thanked those medical staff who are treating him and trying so very hard to help him recover from this very difficult health crisis. Kayla.

TAUSCHE: How often are we expecting updates from the Vatican as his condition evolves?

NADEAU: Well, we get a sort of a short update every morning that comes on the Vatican's Telegram channel. And then late afternoon, we get more of a detailed medical report. That's when we found out yesterday that he'll -- that he had this slight kidney failure, and that it was under control. But still, we also learned that he had some blood transfusions related to anemia.

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Of course, he's under heavy medication, and under very critical care right now. So, we're expecting in the next couple of hours this afternoon to get another health report, another more detailed medical report, and then probably nothing until tomorrow morning. Kayla.

TAUSCHE: And we will await the news of that afternoon report. Barbie Nadeau in Rome. Barbie, thank you. It is 25 minutes past the hour, here is your morning roundup. Two Italian fighter jets escorted an American Airlines flight en route to New Delhi, but diverted it to Rome. Officials say it was due to a, quote, "security concern".

The plane was inspected and then allowed to leave for India. A death threat against several speakers critical of President Donald Trump forcing the evacuation of a political conference in Washington D.C. over the weekend. The conference is known as the Principles First Summit. It bills itself as a CPAC alternative.

Organizers of the event received a threatening e-mail on Sunday. Police say the threat was unfounded. Another shakeup to FBI leadership. Late last night, President Trump named Dan Bongino as deputy director at the bureau. Bongino is a former Secret Service agent-turned conservative media personality.

In a post celebrating Bongino's hiring, Trump said the podcaster is quote, "willing and prepared to give up his popular podcast and radio show to take the new job." And in this morning's weather across the Pacific northwest, heavy rainfall could bring 3 to 4 inches of rain, and some areas could receive up to 7 inches.

That rain may cause flash flooding, landslides, and even avalanches. More than 4 million people across the region in the Northern Rockies remain under flood alerts through this afternoon. Coming up on CNN THIS MORNING, angry voters speaking out against President Trump and Elon Musk. One congressman feeling the heat at a town hall. Plus, the far-right in Germany making substantial gains.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm very grateful for what J.D. Vance said, addressing that democracy is at stake and free speech in Germany is really under pressure. So, we're very thankful for everything J.D. Vance did and said and for Elon Musk as well.

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