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CNN This Morning
Trump Delivers Speech to Joint Session of Congress; Trump Rejects Arab Countries' Proposal to Rebuild Gaza. Aired 6-6:30a ET
Aired March 05, 2025 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
AUDIE CORNISH, CNN ANCHOR: It is Wednesday, March 5. Here's what's happening right now on CNN THIS MORNING.
[06:00:36]
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DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: It has been nothing but swift and unrelenting action, and we are just getting started.
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CORNISH: President Trump touts his accomplishments and taunts his rivals in a big speech to Congress.
Plus, this --
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I thought it was very positive.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I did hate the speech.
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CORNISH: How did voters feel about the president's first major speech since returning to power?
And later --
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JUSTIN TRUDEAU, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: This is a very dumb thing to do.
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CORNISH: Canada and Mexico hit back with tariffs of their own. How long before the trade war starts hitting your wallet?
And blizzards, fires and blowing dust. A mammoth storm marching east right now, reaching from Florida to New York.
Six a.m. here on the East Coast. A live look at the Capitol where all the action was last night. Good morning, everyone. I'm Audie Cornish. I want to thank you for
waking up with me.
And we're going to start by talking about the president's address to Congress and the nation. So, looking out at a government dominated by Republicans, his speech was part victory lap, part campaign rally, and part roadmap for the next four years.
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TRUMP: We have accomplished more in 43 days than most administrations accomplished in four years or eight years. And we are just getting started.
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CORNISH: As he said, that was just the beginning of what actually turned out to be a marathon speech, which ended up being just under an hour and 40 minutes long. That broke the record for the longest annual address to Congress.
The president rattled off claims of slashing wasteful spending. He doubled down on threats to take Greenland and defended his tariffs, which have already started a trade war.
The reception from Democrats, less than welcoming.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get out.
REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA): The chair now directs the sergeant at arms to restore order. Remove this gentleman from the chamber.
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CORNISH: Congressman Al Green of Texas was removed from the House chamber at the beginning of the speech. Other protests included waving signs. There were Democrats turning their backs on the president, some walking out, a slight which did not go unnoticed.
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TRUMP: These people sitting right here will not clap, will not stand, and certainly will not cheer for these astronomical achievements. They won't do it, no matter what.
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CORNISH: Joining me now to discuss: Sabrina Rodriguez, national political reporter for "The Washington Post"; Chuck Rocha, former senior adviser to Bernie Sanders's presidential campaigns; and Kristen Soltis Anderson, CNN political commentator and Republican strategist.
So, I want to bring to the group chat the question, first, of what we learned last night. I'm going to start with you, Sabrina. Because people don't talk about this much, but this is also where a president is supposed to make requests to a Congress: Please pass this. Please pass that.
For a president who's done so much on his own, what are the kinds of things he wanted?
SABRINA RODRIGUEZ, NATIONAL POLITICAL REPORTER, "THE WASHINGTON POST": I mean, I think, Audie, one of the things that we saw very clearly is Trump was not talking too much to Congress here. Trump was not focused too much on asking and more -- it felt much more like a campaign rally.
It felt much more, for those of us who spent time reporting on, you know, his campaign last year, it felt much more like that, where he was touting all the things he wants to get done, all the things he already feels that he has gotten done. It was very much Donald Trump, the reality TV veteran.
CORNISH: Yes. Maybe taxes was the only thing we heard that was a straight like, please pass this.
RODRIGUEZ: It was -- taxes, and I would add, I think, one of the things that is going to be frustrating and will be a rub with Republicans, was that he talked about how he wants lawmakers to get rid of the bipartisan CHIPS Act. That was one of Joe Biden's biggest victories.
CORNISH: Which was an investigation [SIC]. Sorry. Investing into semiconductor --
RODRIGUEZ: Yes.
CORNISH: -- manufacturing in the U.S.
RODRIGUEZ: So, that was meant to increase U.S. production and increase our competitiveness against China. And again, bipartisan victory.
So, you can hear in the room, Republicans were not cheering as loudly for that.
CORNISH: I want to talk about the idea of disruption. Just kind of get -- tackle that a little bit. Al Green being the one to stand up, shaking the cane, and walking out.
That was really the extent of it. I thought that there was going to be, like, egg cartons waving around. That's not how it went down.
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JOHNSON: Remove this gentleman from the chamber.
Members are engaging in willful and continuing breach of decorum, and the chair is prepared to direct the sergeant at arms to restore order to the joint session. (END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: We saw in the inauguration, Chuck, there was not some big outpouring. There was no big walking out. What did you make of last night?
CHUCK ROCHA, FORMER SENIOR ADVISOR TO BERNIE SANDERS'S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS: Well, I wrote down here on my piece of paper, so I wouldn't forget, "auction paddle resistance." Maybe not the best form last night.
CORNISH: Referring to them holding up those little signs.
ROCHA: Right.
CORNISH: Yes.
ROCHA: It kind of threw off what people were saying, but I get the point. Like Democrats are desperate right now to see something as a pushback.
I think Al Green, good brother from Houston, Texas. I'd like to shout out Al Green from Houston, Texas, who have been around a long time.
But right now, Democrats are trying to find their footing. And what's wrong with Democrats -- and Sabrina will laugh at me, because she's been on the campaign trail with me -- is that a lot of times, my resistance looks different than Democrats, because Democrats are good about sending strongly worded memos when we want activists out there right now, really fighting back.
CORNISH: So you were not convinced by the paddles.
ROCHA: I was not.
CORNISH: They were trying to lean in your direction.
ROCHA: Because last night in the speech, it was more what Sabrina said. It's just grievance politics.
CORNISH: Yes.
ROCHA: We've seen this before.
CORNISH: Kristen, I want to talk to you, because you are a pollster. So, you know kind of what voters are thinking about.
What did you make of what he focused on last night? Extended riffs on Social Security, extended riffs on tariffs, extended riffs on trans athletes?
KRISTEN SOLTIS ANDERSON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes, he was really understanding that these speeches are largely watched by people who like the person who is in power.
CORNISH: I should say that you're not just saying that. The ratings bear that out. It's usually people who politically lean towards the party.
ANDERSON: Very much so. And that's why whenever we do these polls afterwards, and we say people who watched the speech, did you like the speech? They usually do.
CORNISH: Yes.
ANDERSON: It's usually people who are inclined to like that president.
What I did think was notable, and what surprised me in the speech was he used two words that he even acknowledged haven't been used a long time, and that's "balanced budget."
Think about how difficult it is going to be for Congress to keep the government open, much less trying to balance a budget. And this is something where, if you're talking about things you're going to ask Congress to do. He said, we haven't done this in 24 years.
Right now, the Republican Party is made up of fiscal conservatives who would love nothing more than to make deep cuts, even to mandatory spending programs.
CORNISH: Yes. You weren't listening to a speech that was talking about deep cuts, right?
ANDERSON: No, it was not.
CORNISH: It was really a speech sort of saying like, we're going after fraud. We're going after these other things. There was no, like, let me level with you, Paul Ryan era. Like, we're going to cut things you like.
ANDERSON: Right? And you also have on something like tariffs, this coalition where, on the one hand, there's new people he's brought to the party that are like, yes to tariffs.
But if you look at the after-polling, post-speech, there are a lot of people that liked the speech overall, but were a little more wary of the things he had to say on things like tariffs.
CORNISH: Let me play a clip of that, because he spoke directly to farmers as he referenced tariffs. Obviously, a nod to the rural states where he's quite popular.
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TRUMP: The tariffs will go on agricultural products coming into America. And our -- our farmers starting on April 2, it may be a little bit of an adjustment period. We had that before when I made the deal with China, $50 billion of purchases. And I said, just bear with me. And they did. They did.
Probably have to bear with me again. And this will be even better.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: OK. Jump ball on "little disturbance." What does that mean? We've been through this before.
ROCHA: In the stock market, it meant like 650 points drop is a little disturbance. And there's one thing that gets his attention, because he's surrounded by 13 billionaires in this administration, that when you lose that much money in the stock market, it does get his attention.
RODRIGUEZ: I mean, I think for Trump, again, we're going back to what the style of the speech was. There was a lot of speculation yesterday about how much was he going to actually defend the tariffs. I don't, frankly, think that was a huge defense of tariffs. I think --
CORNISH: Like, we'll ride it out, basically.
RODRIGUEZ: -- he hit -- he hit at the point, and he moved through it. I mean, he's not going to admit it. It's something that --
CORNISH: Well, to Kristen's point that people actually care about that. Right? Like, that's where they start to feel like, wait a second, where is this going?
ANDERSON: Yes, this is where, you know, the speech had a number of moments where these are issues that Trump thinks he's got 80 -- 80/20 on his side. Right? Eighty percent of Americans are with me, 20 percent are against me.
Tariffs isn't one of those things. Tariffs is one that actually divides his own coalition more. That's why it's such an interesting line.
ROCHA: And I saw this --
RODRIGUEZ: Well, Trump, from the beginning, talked about -- from the beginning of his speech, he sort of scene set talking about the mandate that he believes he has.
So, right now, he's still in that grace period. I mean, we can talk plenty about what the impact of the tariffs are going to be, but it's going to take a little bit before it really hits home for folks.
CORNISH: Stick around for the group chat. It's nine minutes past the hour, so we're just getting started. And we've got a lot to dive into.
Coming up on CNN THIS MORNING, whatever they tariff us, we will tariff them. As President Trump, as we talked about, talks about more tariffs, today, we're going to have a call -- he'll have a call with Canada's prime minister, who's also not backing down.
[06:10:03]
Plus, Target customers stepping back. Why they plan to boycott the company, starting today.
And disruption in the chamber. One Democrat escorted out while others opted for silent displays of protest. Democratic Governor Matt Meyer of Delaware will be here to talk with us. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN COLBERT, HOST, CBS'S "THE LATE SHOW": The Democrats came ready to fight back with their little paddles. OK? That is how you save democracy.
I'm just kidding. That was very cool, Democrats. In fact, I made my own sign.
SIGN: Try doing something.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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[06:15:11]
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As we sat and got ready to fix some gumbo, it ripped our patio off the back. It was kind of nerve-wracking.
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CORNISH: The powerful storm system that spawned four tornadoes and killed at least two people is now moving East.
There's a tornado watch in effect right now for parts of Alabama, Florida and Georgia.
It's also brought blizzard conditions. Parts of the Midwest could see up to eight inches of snow today.
It's 15 minutes past the hour. And here is your morning roundup of some of the stories you need to know to get your day going.
One of the alleged masterminds behind the deadly 2021 bombing at Kabul's Airport, now in U.S. custody.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: He is right now on his way here to face the swift sword of American justice.
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CORNISH: Mohammad Sharifullah is accused of orchestrating the Abbey Gate bombing, which killed 13 U.S. service members during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.
And Pope Francis will miss today's Ash Wednesday activities. He's battling double pneumonia in the hospital. This morning, the Vatican said he's in stable condition and that he slept well overnight.
And retailer Target is getting targeted with a boycott. An Atlanta megachurch pastor is leading a 40-day spending freeze. He tells CNN it's in protest of the company scrapping its diversity,
equity and inclusion policies.
And how about this? Scientists have genetically modified mice to give them traits previously seen in the woolly mammoth. They call them woolly mice, and their hair can grow three times longer than that of a regular lab mouse.
The company behind the project hopes to use this technology to bring back mammoths and other extinct animals.
And you've got to see this one. If you thought last night's presidential speech was contentious, just wait. Opposition leaders in Serbia threw smoke grenades and used pepper spray inside Parliament there.
They were protesting against the government. Three lawmakers, including a pregnant woman, were injured.
Up next on CNN THIS MORNING, it's a no from the U.S. Why the Trump administration is rejecting a plan by Arab country leaders to rebuild Gaza.
Plus, the IRS makes plans to cut up to half of its workforce. What that means for your refund check.
And good morning to Buffalo, New York. Rainy start for you, 46 degrees.
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CORNISH: The Trump administration this morning rejecting a new plan by Arab country leaders for Gaza's reconstruction.
Now, the plan had called for Hamas to cede power to an interim administration until a reformed Palestinian Authority could take control from Hamas.
It would also allow 2 million Palestinians to remain in Gaza throughout that rebuilding process.
But it turns out that's a nonstarter for the Trump administration. A spokesman saying that the proposal, quote, "does not address the reality that Gaza is currently uninhabitable."
This, as Israel threatens to stop all humanitarian aid into Gaza following the expiration of Phase One of that ceasefire deal with Hamas that we've been hearing so much about.
Now, joining me now is Hagar Chemali, the former spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the United Nations.
So first, help us understand this plan from Arab countries. They're sort of scrambling in the aftermath of Trump saying, I want to turn this into, you know, a Middle East Riviera.
And what is it that they are trying to do that's different from what Trump's proposing?
HAGAR CHEMALI, FORMER SPOKESPERSON FOR U.S. MISSION TO THE U.N.: Sure. Well, so, what's fascinating is how Trump's maximalist performance style -- back a month ago when he said he wanted to, quote, "own Gaza" and turn it into this Riviera, what that has done to shake these Arab countries --
CORNISH: Right.
CHEMALI: -- to figure out a plan of their own, which, by the way --
CORNISH: Previously, they were just like, as long as you don't send refugees here.
CHEMALI: Right.
CORNISH: But also, the Palestinians have to stay there. Like, they weren't exactly helping move the process along.
CHEMALI: That's right. And not for decades.
CORNISH: Yes.
CHEMALI: I mean, for decades, they've had a very hands-off approach on this, on this topic, other than to call out support for their brethren in general.
But the reason Trump's approach shook things for them and forced them to try and be creative and come up with proposals, is because they don't want the permanent displacement of Palestinians.
And the reason is that they genuinely are concerned for instability. And the reason is because of history.
In 1970, you had the Palestinians and PLO in Jordan. The PLO tried to overthrow the king. They were pushed out. They went to Lebanon, which then in 1974, caused a 15-year civil war that was ignited by Palestinians.
CORNISH: Right. So, the idea that, if Palestinians are displaced and then they're in their countries, it becomes their own political problem.
CHEMALI: That's right.
CORNISH: And then historically, we know Palestinians do not want to leave Gaza, because they fear they won't be able to come back.
CHEMALI: Of course.
CORNISH: When you look at both these plans, the U.S. idea and the idea from Arab countries, how do they handle the problem of Hamas?
CHEMALI: This is the one -- well, this is the one that the U.S. Is going to be a stickler about. And Israel, by the way.
CORNISH: Yes.
CHEMALI: And that's why -- that's in part why --
CORNISH: It's a nonstarter to be living side by side with Hamas in control of Gaza.
CHEMALI: That's right. And you've had Hamas apparently imply that maybe they'd see a vision where they wouldn't be controlling Gaza, but where their military wing and their weapons are completely non- negotiable.
For Israel --
CORISH: You mean they don't want to be demilitarized?
CHEMALI: That's right.
CORNISH: OK.
CHEMALI: That's right. And that's just not going to work.
CORNISH: Yes.
CHEMALI: It didn't work back when they won elections back in 2006.
And for Israel, that's certainly not going to be -- that's not going to work.
And that's a big part, by the way, that's impeding ceasefire talks right now, where Israel wants to continue and extend the cease fire that you just had for the last six weeks. They want to extend the same situation for the next seven weeks to go through Ramadan and Passover, and to have a continued exchange of hostages for prisoners.
Because they don't want to negotiate Phase Two that was initially proposed by the Biden administration. That Phase Two requires the release of all hostages in exchange for a permanent end to the war and withdrawal of Israeli troops.
CORNISH: OK.
CHEMALI: They don't want that because of Hamas.
CORNISH: Let me jump in. One last thing. So, we've got a cease fire deal in a pause mode. We've got Arab countries coming up with their own thing. What are you going to be listening for over the next day or two?
CHEMALI: Well, more -- mostly with the talks about the cease fire. It's to see whether Israel and the United States can pressure Hamas in and -- and Qatar as well, pressuring Hamas into extending the cease fire. That's the only realistic movement I see at the moment.
And I see the Arabs having to go back to the table, because that's what Trump is doing with his negotiating style, is forcing them to come up with a different plan.
CORNISH: All right. Hagar Chemali, thank you so much for explaining this. Really appreciate your time.
Hagar Chemali, spokesperson to the U.S. mission in U.S. in the U.N.
Straight ahead on CNN THIS MORNING, expressing regret. Ukraine's president says he's ready to negotiate for peace. But is President Trump ready to accept him at the table?
Plus, how Republicans plan to take on sanctuary cities.
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