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U.S. And Russia Had Ukraine Ceasefire Talks In Riyadh; Israel Hits Gaza Hospital With Airstrike; Thousands Protest After Istanbul Mayor Jailed; Collinson Analysis: Trump's Assault On Elites Affecting Every Aspect Of American Life; Trump Administration Files New Accusations Against Mahmoud Khalil; 1,100-Plus Arrested In Protests After Istanbul Mayor Jailed. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired March 24, 2025 - 10:00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:00:33]
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Welcome to the second hour of the show from our Middle East programming headquarters. I'm Becky Anderson in
Abu Dhabi. The time here, just after 6:00 in the evening. And a high-stakes meeting is unfolding in Riyadh and Saudi Arabia as a U.S. delegation meets
with Kremlin negotiators to work towards a ceasefire in Ukraine at the top of the agenda, a possible maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea.
Israel hit Gaza's largest functioning hospital, saying it was targeting a Hamas operative there. We'll speak to an American doctor who was at the
medical complex when part of it went up in flames.
And we'll go live to Istanbul where protests are reaching a fever pitch after the jailing of the city's mayor who is also a top political rival of
the Turkish president, Erdogan.
We begin with a push for peace for Ukraine and indirect ceasefire talks underway in Saudi Arabia. Delegates from the Trump administration are
shuttling between teams from Kyiv and Moscow today. The U.S. started meetings with Russian representatives. The Kremlin tempering expectations
for a ceasefire and noting this is only the beginning of the process. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his evening video message making
it clear that Vladimir Putin brought the war on and must be the one to end it.
Well, the Trump administration at the center of all of this, let's get the view from Washington. CNN's Chief National Security Correspondent Alex
Marquardt joining me now. And Alex, what are you hearing coming out of today's talks?
ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're hearing from the Ukrainian side, from the defense minister in particular
saying that what is -- what has happened so far and the U.K.-Ukrainian sides meant yesterday, has been productive. He said that there will be
another meeting between the U.S. and Ukrainian sides after the Russian round.
I think that really paints a picture of what's going on here. These sort of indirect proximity talks, in which the U.S. will go between the two sides,
trying to bring them closer together. What these teams are doing and these are technical teams. So, it's just below the top-level officials who we've
seen meeting in the past. These officials are trying to iron out some of the specifics on the energy cease fire, which both sides have already
agreed to.
They're trying to broaden that out to include the fighting in the Black Sea and then try to eventually come to an all-encompassing ceasefire so that
they can then press forward on, specifically a peace deal to end this war. Now we did hear from Steve Witkoff who has become a principal mediator in
all this. He's Trump Special Envoy for the Middle East, but now he's had these two meetings with President Putin.
And Witkoff says the central issue here is the territory in the eastern and southern part of Ukraine that Russia wants to take over these four
provinces that have held referendums widely considered to be sham elections, but essentially Witkoff saying that those should go to Russia.
Here's a little bit of what he said to Tucker Carlson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE WITKOFF, U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY: I think the largest issue in that conflict are these, so called four regions, Donbas, Crimea, you know --
(CROSSTALK)
WITKOFF: Lugansk and there's two others. They're Russian speaking.
TUCKER CARLSON, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: Yes.
WITKOFF: There have been referendums where the overwhelming majority of the people have indicated that they want to be under Russian rule. I think
that's the key issue in the conflict.
The elephant in the room is there are constitutional issues within Ukraine as to what they can concede to with regard to giving up territory. The
Russians are de facto in control of these territories. The question is, will they be -- will the world acknowledge that those are Russian
territories?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUARDT: Becky, rather remarkable statement from Witkoff there that, of course, echoes Kremlin talking points like the people there speak Russian,
therefore this should be a part of Russia. Of course, there are many, many people all across Ukraine who speak Russian as well. These referenda took
place under duress when the areas were occupied by Russia. Many people, of course, might have felt compelled to vote a certain way.
Many people would not have voted at all, certainly not considered free and fair elections by much of the Western world. So that will certainly be a
concern to the Ukrainians to hear Witkoff saying that.
[10:05:03]
He also spoke in quite glowing terms about his meetings with President Putin, saying that he is not a bad guy that he trusted. What he was saying,
he told this story about how Putin had commissioned a painting of Donald Trump that was then given to the U.S. president as a gift. So a lot of
concerning points in there for the Ukrainians, and they're certainly going to be a lot of specifics that these two sides are going to be trying to
nail down to try to get this ceasefire broadened out so that they can eventually bring the two sides to a table to negotiate a final peace
settlement. But that is seemingly a long way off, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes. It's good to have you. Thank you very much indeed. There's a lot to discuss here. Shashank Joshi is the defense editor by The Economist.
Jill Dougherty is CNN former Moscow bureau chief. Thank you both for being with us. And Shashank, let me just get you to respond to those comments
from Witkoff over the weekend. Very specifically, when he spoke about these Russian-occupied territories, some of which he actually couldn't name. But
be that as it may. What did you make of what you heard from him?
SHASHANK JOSHI, DEFENSE EDITOR, THE ECONOMIST: Well, I was shocked by the lack of familiarity with his brief he doesn't know the names of the regions
that he may be handing over to Russia. I was shocked by the cavalier attitude to the transfer of territory and his credulous approach to the
question of these referendums which can I remind everyone were held in 2022 under conditions of gunpoint.
They were not free and fair elections. They were held under conditions of torture, repression and the mass deportation of Ukrainian children. But
most of all, perhaps I was deeply concerned by the way in which Witkoff was not just eager to hand over Ukrainian territory to Russia but also framed
all of this as part of a broader rapprochement between Washington and Moscow involving schemes such as integrated energy policies in the Arctic.
Sharing sea lanes, cooperation on artificial intelligence. All I can say is that these are deeply disturbing ideas to hear for all NATO allies in
Europe who are really troubled by what we are seeing coming out of the person who appears to be Donald Trump's core Russia negotiator.
ANDERSON: And before I get your response, Jill, I just want our viewers to hear what Steve Witkoff said over the weekend to Fox regarding the
negotiations. Have a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WITKOFF: I just don't see that he wants to take all of Europe. This is a much different situation than it was in World War II. In World War II,
there was no NATO. So, I just -- you have countries that are armed there, I -- to me, it just -- it just, does -- I take him at his word in this sense.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Right. I want to get your response to the other comments that we had from Witkoff on Russian-occupied territory. But on this point, very
specifically, Jill. Is that a reasonable assessment? What do you think the strategy is from the Kremlin going into today's talks, given what we've
heard from officials over the weekend?
JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, the Kremlin hasn't really changed much of anything. So, their demands, President Putin's demands, going back
three years, more than three years really are the same. In fact, they have actually increased. But this idea, you know, I take him at his word. I do
think, is a problem, because in a negotiation, you can, you know, take somebody's word in and look at it decide whether it's correct.
But to say that the United States takes Putin at his word, puts the United States on the side of Vladimir Putin. And we know what has been happening
with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine, which is a lot of criticism and pressure. So, does the United States take Zelenskyy at his word? You know,
these are -- the problem, I think with Mr. Witkoff is he is obviously trying to get a deal.
But as you just heard from our other guest, he has no background in Russia. He is no -- it appears he has no really deep understanding of the history
of the region, et cetera. And the idea that, you know, Alex said, the idea that people speak Russian, ergo, they, you know, are Russians, is really
ridiculous. And I also would say we can talk about this more, but these personal comments about Putin, you know, sending a painting to Trump.
[10:10:00]
And, you know, praying for him, et cetera. President Putin, 25 years ago, did kind of the same thing with George W. Bush. This could be true or it
could be that is, he is as a former KGB officer, he is using the skills that he has, which is, put yourself on the side of the guy that you want to
get something from, and just play that role. So, you know, it feels very naive to me, and really exposing this your side to real problems going down
the road.
ANDERSON: Shashank, whether or not this is sort of naive talk from the man that Donald Trump has put in as the sort of deal maker for him, not just
with Ukraine, of course, but with Gaza as well. The talks are on. Parties are sitting around the table. They're back in Riyadh once again. So, I just
wonder how much you believe the needle is moved when it comes to the chance of a deal here, a peace deal here.
And whether or not you believe that there's a chance Donald Trump may actually start losing patience as achieving a deal is very likely to grow
more complicated and cumbersome and will take longer than the U.S. president might be hoping if at all.
JOSHI: Well, the suggestion is that the Trump administration may wish to make a deal by the end of April which would be an incredibly rapid deadline
and we know from our experience of Middle East diplomacy in the past year, how many ups and downs these talks can take. I myself believe that there is
a perfectly good prospect of a deal and I believe that principally because I feel the Trump administration is willing to give Russia a great deal of
what it seeks in exchange for this slightly fantastical view of U.S.-Russia normalization.
I think the Russians are very skeptical of a ceasefire without conditions. But I also believe the Trump administration may be willing to impose on
Ukraine many of the demands that Russia has long sought which include not just the recognition of the four annexed territories that Steve Witkoff
could not name. I couldn't name two of them, at least. But also, draconian terms, such as limits on the size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
If Trump is willing to force those on Ukraine, then it's entirely possible a deal can be done simply at Ukraine's -- to Ukraine's detriment.
ANDERSON: Jill, before I let you guys go and there's never enough time to talk about everything here, but it's good to have you on regularly, both of
you, in order to sort of pick these pieces apart as it were. I do want to get your thoughts, Jill on a fascinating moment. CNN's Fred Pleitgen pulled
aside Viktor Bout just a couple of days ago. He asked him if he thinks Trump understands Russia better than Joe Biden did. Here is Victor Bout's
response.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VIKTOR BOUT, FORMER RUSSIAN ARMS DEALER: I don't think it's a mere factor of understanding. It's Trump representing the, you know, American people
who said enough is enough, who won't really change. That's why he was elected, you know, and the Biden administration was just, you know, in bed
with all these Narcos, warmongers and the global elites who just tried to stage a World War III.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Now, as rich as it may be, he of Viktor Bout calling other people warmongers. Does he have a point about what the American public wants at
this point?
DOUGHERTY: There may be, let's say, fatigue that the war. And there are people who actually think that, you know, Ukraine started the war. After
all, remember, President Trump, not too long ago, made that point, but I think the overwhelming majority of Americans still support Ukraine. And I
that, you know Viktor Bout, I'm not surprised. I talked to him years ago. He was in jail here in the United States and that is what I would expect
him to say.
But this is used by Russia, this idea that there's a party of war, as it's actually called, the party of war, which is the west. It could be NATO. It
could be the United States is out to entangle, you know, the world in war. It is similar to what President Trump says sometimes. So, it's very, very
similar. And again, I go back to that point that if you are going to be a negotiator who goes right down the middle and brings people together, a
mediator, then why take one side or the other?
[10:15:11]
And I too, as our other guest was saying, I too am worried that in the end, the Trump administration would force Ukraine to do this. You're already
laying kind of a legalistic basis. You know, these lands, the territory actually belongs to Russia, et cetera. They're already laying the
justification, let's say, for that. And that's -- that is concerning.
ANDERSON: Yes. To both of you, leading into your analysis and insight is, as ever, extremely important for us. Thank you both very much indeed for
joining us for the time being.
An Israeli air strike hit one of Gaza's only functioning hospitals. We're going to hear from one of the doctors working in Gaza at that hospital,
amid bombings and a blockade, of course. We'll be back after this short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: An Israeli air strike on Sunday hit Gaza's largest functioning medical facility, leaving NASA hospital damaged and with multiple
casualties. Well, Israel says it killed key Hamas figure who was operating inside the hospital they say was Israel's renewed bombing of Gaza intense
fires. The Palestinian health ministry now says more than 50,000 people have been killed in the enclave since the war began.
Well, I spoke to Feroze Sidhwa so. A trauma surgeon volunteering from MedGlobal. He was working at NASA hospital last night. One of his patients,
a 17-year-old was killed in that strike, and I asked him about what happened in the work he and other doctors are doing on the ground in Gaza.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
FEROZE SIDHWA, TRAUMA SURGEON AND MEDGLOBAL VOLUNTEER: The conditions that we're operating under, we still have anesthetics here. We still have the
basics of surgical equipment. We are -- we are running out of more advanced things like wood fax, for example, but,
but the, you know, we -- the mass casualty event we received on March 18. I ran the numbers on this the other day.
We saw as many people here at -- just at Nasser hospital. Forget the rest of Gaza. We saw as many people here on that day as the entire city of
Boston saw in the Boston Marathon bomb. That's, you know, just a huge -- there's like 50 hospitals in Boston who make it up. But who -- there's a
there's dozens of hospitals in Boston? And there's six level-one trauma centers which have a combined bed capacity of 4000.
You know, Nasser medical complex has, I think, 450 beds. It has eight surgeons. It has a small blood bank and it's in the middle of the Gaza
Strip. And we saw the same number of people that the entire city of Boston saw during that bombing. So, the differential that the strain on the system
is just enormous. It can't -- it can't be understood.
[10:20:03]
And yes, you know, we're not out of supplies yet. But if these -- if these kinds of events keep happening, or if the hospital keeps getting bombed
directly, then obviously that's going to be a big actually, on the if you can see over my right shoulder, there's a building with some burn marks.
That -- that's the old warehouse for the hospital. That's where they used to store things while the Israelis came through and burned it in March. So,
it's unusable now.
And so, this hospital can't even keep a strategic store of supplies anywhere, you know? So, if they are, if the oxygen generator fails, they
won't be oxygen. If the -- if the electrical generator fails, if the -- if the solar panels fail, they probably can't be repaired. And if we run out
of anesthetic gasses and if the Israelis keep the border closed with the U.S. approval, then we won't be resupplied, and that'll be -- the hospital
will be less functional.
ANDERSON: You have joined the global medical community in being very vocal about the targeting of Gaza's hospitals. Do you think that there will come
a time when there will be less people like you, less volunteers who will go to Gaza given the bombing of medical facilities?
SIDHWA: You know, I don't have -- I'm not married, I don't have children. So, I don't have to worry about such things. But if I did have children,
I'd be very hesitant to come here. I have, you know, like you said, I have been kind of vocal, and I've been kind of a public figure in a little bit,
especially in the medical community. And people reach out to me all the time and say, how do I volunteer? And I tell them, but I also make sure --
I also -- I insist on calling them on the phones, explaining, look, if you want to work in Ukraine or in Burkina Faso or in Ghana or in Mozambique,
any of these other places, the likelihood that you'll be killed is basically random.
You know, you could be killed. It's possible, but it's no more likely than anybody else. That's not the case in Gaza. That's not the case in the West
Bank even, if the Israelis want to kill you here, they will do it, and they will get away with it. The U.S. won't do anything about it even if you're
an American citizen, they won't. So, you just have to accept that risk if you're going to -- if you're going to come work here.
ANDERSON: How have things changed since last time you were there?
SIDHWA: So I was here about a year ago, and the 15 months of conflict, there -- the 12 months following the when I left and came back, had a very
obvious effect. Most of the city is leveled. I've walked between here and a mall Hospital, which is about a mile away and there literally is not an
undamaged building between here and there. Most of the -- let's say about a third of the buildings are completely destroyed.
Maybe a third are unusable and maybe one-third just have, you know, bad bullet marks or just one side of the building is destroyed and the other
side is doable or is usable. But there's no -- there are very few rooms that have four walls in the city. The malnutrition though, in terms of the
work I do, which is surgery and then putting people back together, they have to heal. And it is obvious that these people have been malnourished
for a very, very long time now.
There -- they have very poor protein stores. When I cut into a man's abdomen, I can see his rectus muscles and they're very thin compared to
what they should be the, you know, so it's -- and it's leading to the same types of infections that we saw last time we were here where it's just
impossible to actually -- to actually get people to heal properly or to fight infections properly.
And that's having a major effect and especially on kids because kids are trying to grow, so they need more, you know, they need more food and more
protein relative to adults. And they don't have it. They just don't have access to it. I haven't eaten -- I've eaten meat once since I've been here,
which is not to complain, it's just to point out, because I have money, I can eat whatever I want here. There just is no meter bill. That's the
situation.
ANDERSON: Will you go back?
SIDHWA: This is my second time here and I hope -- I hope I can come back. Actually, I'm supposed to work in the -- in the West Bank in August, doing
some educational work with the new a new hospital there for a month. Whether the Israelis will let me go or not. I don't know. I've lived in
Israel and I've lived in the West Bank for as well. But yes. No, I accept the risks that I mentioned and I actually find that being here, I like to
say it recharges my moral batteries.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, with renewed attacks, aid blockades and dwindling supplies, medics in Gaza are facing tough choices. They try and treat casualties, of
course. CNN's Jeremy Diamond speaks to a doctor in Gaza and a warning, this report contains images that some of you may find difficult to watch.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Four-year-old Janine drifts in and out of consciousness. An Israeli air strike hit her
home last week while she was sleeping, killing her mother and 25 other family members. Bleeding from her brain. She desperately needs surgery, but
her doctor says she won't survive that surgery in this Gaza hospital. They don't have the specialized equipment that's needed.
For over three weeks, Israel hasn't allowed anything into Gaza. No food, no fuel and no medical supplies.
[10:25:07]
A blockade that is pushing hospitals here to the brink once again, endangering their ability to treat patients like Janine.
MOHAMMAD MUSTAFA, AN AUSTRALIAN EMERGENCY DOCTOR VOLUNTEERING IN GAZ: So, this is the drugs that we have in the department.
DIAMOND (voice-over): Dr. Mohamed Mustafa, an Australian doctor volunteering at Al-Ahli hospital says they are quickly running out of basic
pain medications and anesthetics, and this is now the main hospital in northern Gaza. He says diagnostic equipment is also in short supply. The
E.R. has no ventilators, one working ECG machine and only one heart monitor can measure blood pressure.
MOSTAFA: When we have these drone attacks and these missile strikes, we could have up to about 100 patients in here and only one area that can do
blood pressure.
DIAMOND (voice-over): And so, when crisis hits, you can feel this already strained hospital buckling under the weight of it all. On the night Israel
breaks the cease fire with a massive aerial attack, every inch of this hospital is packed with casualties. In one corner, a relative pumps oxygen
to keep his loved one alive. In another a child screams out in pain.
MOSTAFA: It didn't stop for about four or five hours. We were getting bodies continually coming in.
DIAMOND (voice-over): Dr. Mostafa is two weeks into his second volunteer tour in Gaza, where the lack of resources is forcing him to make impossible
choices.
MOSTAFA: I remember I was putting in a chest drain into a man who had quite a collapsed lung, and I felt someone grab my ankle and it was -- because
there were so many bodies there was a woman underneath the bed that had half a leg missing who was holding onto my ankle and she was asking me to
help her. And I'm already halfway through the procedure with him that will save his life and I've not even assessed. I don't know if he's got other
injuries as well.
So, I continued putting the chest drain in him and she bled out on the floor, holding my ankle. And, you know, that's been very difficult for me
to process.
DIAMOND (on camera): Where do you think things will be in two weeks? Will your hospital? Will the health care system be able to survive?
MOSTAFA: Unfortunately, I think if there isn't a resolution in the next few days with regards to food, water, electricity and medicine and the ramp up
of medical personnel, a lot of people are going to die.
DIAMOND (voice-over): Gaza's health care system crumbling once again, just as the situation had begun to improve after six weeks of ceasefire that saw
a surge of humanitarian aid.
MAHMOUD SHALABI, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS, MEDICAL AID FOR PALESTINIANS: We were able to bring in many medications and many medical disposal bills
during the six weeks. It is true, it has improved. The situation has drastically worsened. Unfortunately, in the last two weeks, due to the fact
that the cuisines are closed. You are talking about fuel for the movement of ambulances. It doesn't exist, and people are operating on whatever
scarce resources are left from the six weeks of the ceasefire.
DIAMOND (voice-over): As hospitals begin limiting ambulance transfers due to a lack of fuel, casualties now arriving at hospitals on horse-drawn
carts. Patients needing specialized care are left in limbo, facing sky high risks of infection and an uncertain future as Israel ramps up its attacks.
Yesterday's survivors risk becoming tomorrow's dead. Jeremy Diamond, CNN, Tel Aviv.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: CNN reached out to COGAT, the Israeli agency which coordinates humanitarian efforts in Gaza about Israel's blockade of medical supplies
and medicine. The agency referred questions to the Israeli Prime Minister's Office which has not responded to CNN's questions. Well, you're watching
CONNECT THE WORLD.
Still ahead, The White House says it is sending officials to Greenland to celebrate Icelandic culture and unity. The island's Prime Minister sees the
trip, though, very differently.
And why the Trump administration is lodging new accusations against detained Columbia University protest leader Mahmoud Khalil. More on that
coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:31:34]
ANDERSON: Welcome back. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. It is just after half 6:00 in evening. Here are your headlines?
Well, the U.S. delegation has begun talks with Kremlin negotiators in Saudi Arabia, Trump administration is pushing for a ceasefire in Ukraine and met
with Ukrainian defense minister on Sunday. Russia said a main topic of today's discussions would be reviving the Black Sea grain deal.
Multiple casualties are reported after an Israeli air strike hit Nasser hospital, the largest functioning medical complex in Gaza. Israel says it
targeted a Hamas figure operating inside the hospital. Hamas affiliated media report he was killed, but was in the hospital as a patient.
Well, the prime minister of Greenland is calling a planned trip there by U.S. officials, "highly aggressive". Delegation includes Second Lady Ucha
Vance. The White House says Vance and the other U.S. officials plan to attend Greenland's national dog sled race and visit heritage sites.
Well, of course, the trip comes under the cloud of Donald Trump's claims that the U.S. should take over the Arctic Island and a recent election
there that make Greenland's feelings about that loud and clear.
Stephen Collinson, joining me now live.
So, the -- Ucha Vance, going to attend a dog sled competition, Stephen, that is the official reason for this visit. But we talk about this sort of
cloud hanging over Greenland at the moment. How serious is Donald Trump about taking over Greenland? What's the end game here?
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: I think we have to assume it's very serious, considering he keeps talking about it. I think there are
real strategic reasons for the United States to be concerned about Greenland. There are a lot of rare earth minerals there. We've seen how
they've tried to get them out of Ukraine. The melting polar ice is opening up all sorts of new sea routes. So, it is a geopolitical question.
Just the way that Trump is going about it, however, a lot of what he wants to achieve could presumably be achieved, and talking to the Greenlanders
instead of threatening to annex their territory, which of course, is under the sovereignty of Denmark, a NATO member.
But this visit, and apparently a visit by the National Security Adviser Mike Waltz this week, seems to up the pressure on Greenland, and that seems
to be what Trump wants to do. I would say it's rather bad news for Ukraine, I think, because it shows that Trump believes that a large country with all
the power should have the right to take over a smaller, less powerful country, even though Greenland is vast in terms of land size.
That is exactly the argument that Vladimir Putin made when he invaded Ukraine, and it's one that seems to be accepted, if you judge the recent
remarks of Steve Witkoff, his envoy to the talks.
ANDERSON: Steve Witkoff, of course, envoy to the Ukraine talks, to the Gaza talks, not involved in the immigration file, but many others are. The first
flight carrying Venezuelan migrants deported from the US, arriving in Venezuela today, Steven, as a major showdown between the Trump
administration and the courts is set to start in a few hours' time.
[10:35:00]
And this is over whether Trump can actually deport migrants without due process.
Just walk us through the case here and the bigger question that this all raises about presidential power, if you will.
COLLINSON: So, this concerns 250 Venezuelans, who the administration claims were members of a notorious gang. They were deported to El Salvador, to a
very draconian prison the U.S. is paying 6 million a year for them to be housed there.
The administration started these deportations, and then a district judge in Washington, D.C. tried to halt them, because he wanted to look into the
implications of using 1798 legislation, the Alien Enemies Act to get rid of these migrants on the grounds that the United States was subject to an
invasion, as Donald Trump calls it, of undocumented migrants.
Very controversial use of this law. It's only been used three times before in U.S. history, all of them in wartime, and despite what Trump says, The
United States is not at war with Venezuela.
The judge is trying to find out whether the administration deliberately ignored his instructions to stop the deportations and continued sending the
flights to El Salvador. So, this has become a big question, a constitutional issue of whether the administration is refusing to accept
the orders of the judiciary, another branch of government, and this has become a massive constitutional showdown.
ANDERSON: And this is, it seems, part of what you have written an analysis piece on today entitled, "Trump's assault on elites encompasses almost
every aspect of American life." Where you say Trump, and I quote you here, "is escalating his multi-front assault on what supporters see as an elite
establishment, using raw presidential power to bend the government, law, media, public health, foreign policy, education, and even the arts," it has
to be said, "to his will."
Talk about us -- to us about the idea of him going over -- going after what appears to be every facet of American life. What's the end game here?
COLLINSON: I think what the conservative dream has always been that you could replace what they view as an elite liberal establishment in all of
these areas with conservative cultural interests, influences, and governments. So, look at what happened, for example, over the last few
days.
Columbia University, one of the key elite colleges in the United States, bowed to pressure from the administration, which threatened federal funding
to introduce new rules against protests and various other measures, including stiffing their internal law enforcement.
The administration was responding to those demonstrations last year against the Israel war against Hamas in Gaza.
In another instance, a top law firm in New York, bowed to pressure from the Trump administration because a former employee once took part in one of the
prosecutions against Trump. It agreed to do $40 million worth of pro bono work after Trump issued an executive order suspending security clearances,
which are vital for its lawyers when they are doing business on government cases.
Even the Kennedy Center, the National Art Center in Washington, D.C., Trump has taken over the board, put two Fox News anchors on the board, and is
vowing to get rid of highbrow arts and performances and introduce more mainstream populist theater and dance, et cetera.
So, he is trying to influence every area of American life. A lot of people see very dark parallels, in many ways, with some autocratic leaders, for
example, Viktor Orban of Hungary. They seem to be playing out of the same playbook here as Trump tries to exert massive presidential power.
ANDERSON: Certainly, echoing what a lot of his critics have said. Let's take a look ahead to the rest of the week while I've got you here. What do
you -- what are you watching for this week's Stephen?
COLLINSON: Two things, I think, the messaging from the administration on the tariffs that the reciprocal tariffs that are due to come in to play
next Tuesday. The administration has been very up and down on tariffs in the past. Some days saying they are coming in, some days saying they'll be
narrow. The markets are up today on the expectation that the tariffs won't be as severe as some thought, but things seem to come up in Trump's mind
from day to day. So, we can't be sure.
[10:40:00]
The other thing is, the outcome of these talks in Saudi Arabia with Russia and Ukraine. I think there was lots of reasons to be skeptical, not least,
as I was saying, because of the remarks of Steve Witkoff, the U.S. envoy, in recent days, that seem to completely parallel Russia's rhetoric on
eastern regions that it took in the war and wants to keep. But there are delegations from Russia and Ukraine at these talks, and the U.S. is
shuttling between them. So, I think this is another step forward for diplomacy, even though I think there are real reasons to doubt that we
could see meaningful progress.
ANDERSON: Two key issues that Stephen is watching this week. Good to have you on, Stephen. Thank you.
Well, the Trump administration lodging new allegations against stomach Khalil, the Columbia University graduate student who has been a prominent
voice at pro-Palestinian protests.
Well, right now he is in federal custody, fighting deportation accused of being a Hamas sympathizer.
Well, the Justice Department is now arguing that he will -- that he willfully engaged in immigration fraud by failing to disclose several
details about his background during his green card application process.
This comes as Colombia agreed on Friday to overhaul its protest policies and Middle Eastern Studies program, in an apparent concession to the Trump
administration.
CNN's Gloria Pazmino, joining us now from New York.
Just walk us through these new accusations, firstly, against Khalil.
GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN NEWSOURCE NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Becky.
This is significant because it's the first time we are actually hearing detail alleged accusations from the government. This is the first time that
the Department of Justice has outlined reasons for their detention of Khalil, other than these alleged national security threats that Khalil
poses.
They are specifically saying that Khalil failed to disclose two important things during his green card application process. The first, his membership
to a United Nations agency that helps Palestinian refugees, and the second, that he failed to disclose previous work that he did for the Syria office
in the British of -- in the British Embassy in Beirut.
Now, here is what the Department of Justice wrote about those two -- the fact that he failed to disclose that information in their newest brief.
They wrote, "Regardless of his allegations concerning political speech, Khalil withheld membership in certain organizations. It is black-letter law
that misrepresentations in this context are not protected speech. Thus, Khalil's First Amendment allegations are a red herring, and there is an
independent basis to justify removal sufficient to foreclose Khalil's constitutional claim here."
So, what the department of justice saying here, for the first time, is put aside the First Amendment argument that Khalil is trying to make. We have
evidence that there was an attempt to do immigration fraud because he failed to disclose this information.
Now, I spoke to Khalil's lawyers last night, and they are calling these new allegations, weak and pretextual. And they are saying that if the
department of justice knew about this information, they should have brought it forward when they first detained Khalil. Instead, the Department of
Justice and the Trump administration, as you know, Becky, has been talking about the fact that Khalil is a Hamas sympathizer because he distributed
some flyers during these protests at Columbia University last year. All of that, they have yet to provide any real evidence to support those claims.
Now, the attorneys are expected to answer to these new accusations in a new motion, which we are expecting tomorrow, and in the meantime, we are also
hearing from Khalil's wife for the first time.
You'll remember, she is eight months pregnant. She was there during Khalil's arrest here in New York City more than three weeks ago. She is the
one that recorded that video, and she spoke about the Trump administration accusations against her husband. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NOOR ABDALLA, WIFE OF MAHMOUD KHALIL: These are accusations that the Trump administration keeps pushing on him.
ERIN MORIARTY, CORRESPONDENT, CBS NEWS: But what do you say to those?
ABDALLA: I think it's ridiculous. It's disgusting that that's what they're resorting to, that that's the tactic that they are using to make him look
like this person that he's not.
Literally, it's so simple. He just does not want his people to be murdered and killed. He doesn't want to see little kid's limbs being blown off.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PAZMINO: Becky, Khalil's immigration proceedings are playing out parallel to the proceedings in federal court, which are about his first amendment
and due process. Rights, something that his lawyers argue -- the two rights that have been violated. Becky?
[10:45:06]
ANDERSON: Good to have you. Thank you.
Ahead on CONNECT THE WORLD, no let up to the protests in Turkey over the jailing of Istanbul's mayor. What the mayor and his party are saying about
his arrest? We will be live for you in Istanbul. That's coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, Protests again in Turkey over the jailing of Istanbul's mayor, police have arrested more than 1100 people over the past day,
protesting Ekrem Imamoglu's detention. A court ordered him jailed on corruption charges, which he has denied. He is considered the most serious
political rival to the President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is overseeing what many say and see as an increasingly brutal crackdown on any form of
dissent in Turkey.
Well, state media report Imamoglu and some other 100 associates are accused of a host of charges, including belonging to a criminal group. The mayor's
party describes the charges against him as a coup attempt.
Well, Ruth Michaelson is a journalist covering Turkey in the Middle East for The Guardian. She joins me now from Istanbul. It's good to have you.
Thank you for joining us from there.
Ruth, we've seen some pretty dramatic images. I just want to show our viewers. This one a demonstrator in the traditional dress of dervish with a
gas mask. That alongside, of course, tear gas, water cannon, and 1100 arrests.
The government claiming many of those arrested are affiliated with terror organizations. What evidence do they have of that, if any?
RUTH MICHAELSON, JOURNALIST, THE GUARDIAN: Well, I mean, I think a lot of - - in their eyes, a lot of the evidence comes from the fact that these are technically banned protests. The governor of Istanbul, for example,
restricted movement into and out of the city, and has put a ban on gatherings.
We've seen these protesters completely defy those bans, turn out in tens of thousands, the largest protests in over a decade, in Turkey. And so, the
government's allegations that you know, many of those thousand -- over 1000 people that they have arrested since last week have some affiliation to
terror groups is something that, you know, they didn't exactly provide a lot of evidence for that claim in the interior minister's statement.
ANDERSON: Right. Any sense that these protests are going to move the needle in any way will have any impact on Erdogan's government. We've seen, you
know, a dearth of response, a real, you know, vacuum of response -- a lack of response from the international community, for example, on this. There
seems to be very little pressure, certainly from the outside on Erdogan's government at this point.
[10:50:07]
MICHAELSON: Well, you're totally right. I mean, it certainly appears that Erdogan is allowing this to happen because he feels very comfortable on an
international level. We're certainly seeing that he has pretty good relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, some rather bizarre
statements coming from the U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who said that, you know, there are some positive developments coming out of Turkey
right now.
So, it's clear that Erdogan, on an international level, feels pretty comfortable. I think the question is whether these protests push the
government to make some small concessions that it might not otherwise have made.
So, for example, while they the Interior Ministry officially removed Imamoglu as the mayor of Istanbul, we haven't seen them try to appoint a
caretaker to the city to rule instead of him.
And so, we're seeing these very small concessions, but overall, obviously, these are huge political developments that are trying to vastly reshape the
country.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Right.
MICHAELSON: And also, the main response we've seen is also from the markets, right? There is reports that, you know, the Turkish central bank
has spent something like $25 billion.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Yes.
MICHAELSON: -- propping up the currency since last week.
ANDERSON: It's good to have you. We'll have you back, and we continue to watch what is going on in the streets as we run these images of today's
protests. Ruth, thank you.
Ahead on CONNECT THE WORLD. We'll going to tell you about the Netflix show that is making real waves with parents and with policy makers alike. That
is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: The Illegal saga surrounding the Tate brothers continues to unfold in Romania. The online influences Andrew and Tristan Tate seen here
arriving at a police station in Bucharest earlier today for their second police check in, as it's known, in as many days.
It comes after the pair returned to Romania from Florida after a travel ban was recently lifted. Now, the self-proclaimed misogynists face charges of
human trafficking and organized crime in Romania and deny all wrongdoing. Their U.S. visits also sparked an investigation stateside.
Well, new Netflix series has struck a chord with viewers worldwide. The British drama "Adolescence", delves into a deeply, deeply troubling issue
online radicalization of teenage boys.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've been doing anything. You are a good dad, a great dad.
STEPHEN GRAHAM, ACTOR AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "ADOLESCENCE": He hasn't been found guilty. He is been accused.
What are you doing?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, this series follows 13-year-old Jamie's descent into a dark world after he is accused of murdering a female classmate. What is
particularly chilling is how this tragedy unfolds, all stemming from an online interaction where he is labeled an incel.
Well, British actor Stephen Graham, also an executive producer on the series, spoke to my colleague Christiane Amanpour about what he wants
parents to take away from the show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[10:55:06]
GRAHAM: My wife said, what she feels our program has achieved, is for parents to be able to open that bedroom door now and talk to their
children.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Yes.
GRAHAM: Be their male or female, and ask them what's going on.
AMANPOUR: Yes.
GRAHAM: Let's just -- you know, we -- you know yourself when you go to a restaurant sometimes, and not disrespect, they understand it.
(CROSSTALK)
AMANPOUR: Yes/
GRAHAM: But kids are sat there with on --
(CROSSTALK)
AMANPOUR: Yes.
GRAHAM: You know, the talk is --
(CROSSTALK)
AMANPOUR: Yes.
GRAHAM: Talk to each other, ask each other what's going on. That's the only way we can understand what's happening.
(CROSSTALK)
AMANPOUR: Yes.
GRAHAM: Adolescents --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That has sparked conversation. Even in the Houses of Parliament in the U.K., here is Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEIR STARMER, BRITISH LABOUR PARTY LEADER: This violence carried out by young men influenced by what they see online is a real problem. It's
abhorrent, and we have to tackle it. We are putting in specialist, rape and sexual offenses teams in every police force doing work on the 999, calls.
But this is also a matter of culture, that I think it's important that across the whole house, we tackle this emerging and growing problem.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, the show raising the question, how can we protect youngsters? We plan to keep that conversation going right here on CONNECT
THE WORLD. So, you know where to find us on our social platforms. So, please do let us know what you think.
That is it for CONNECT THE WORLD. Stay with CNN. "ONE WORLD" is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
