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U.S. Federal Court Blocks Most of Trump's Global Tariffs; Gaza Health Ministry Says 11 Killed since Aid Hubs Opened; UNRWA Chief Says Aid Delivery Is "Undignified" and "Unsafe"; Trump Administration Formally Stripping Harvard's Ability to Host International Students; Israel- Hezbollah War Deepens Economic Crisis; Interview with Lebanese Prime Minister on Rebuilding Lebanon; Stylist Returns to the Stand in Sean Combs Trial; Embassy in Syria Raises U.S. Flag for the First Time since 2012. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired May 29, 2025 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR AND U.S. CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Welcome to our second hour of CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Erica Hill in New York.
President Trump's sweeping global tariffs blocked. A U.S. court said the president overstepped his authority.
Plans in limbo for thousands, as Washington says it plans to revoke many Chinese student visas specifically.
And threats to leak sex tapes and new accusations of physical abuse. More disturbing testimony now from the Sean Diddy Combs trial. We are live in
New York.
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HILL: We do begin this hour with president Trump's global trade war, upended for now after a stunning ruling by a U.S. federal court, which
blocks most of those global tariffs.
The U.S. Court of International Trade, in a unanimous ruling, said the president overstepped his authority in declaring a national emergency to
impose the tariffs, noting that the constitutional authority to decide on tariffs rests, in fact, with Congress.
Well, the Trump administration immediately appealed the ruling. White House deputy chief of staff for policy, Stephen Miller, posting on X, "This
judicial coup is out of control."
One of the three judges on the panel that issued that ruling is a Trump appointee. The others were appointed by former presidents Barack Obama and
Ronald Reagan.
The U.S. financial markets reacting mostly positively, as you can see there, to the news. Early trading here just about a half an hour into the
trading day in New York. CNN senior White House reporter Kevin Liptak joins us with reaction from Washington.
Anna Stewart is in London.
Kevin, I want to begin with you. This was understandably not well received by the White House last night. It really, though, does put a damper and,
frankly, a pretty massive pause on almost all of these tariffs. And that will stay in place through this appeals process.
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, almost all of the tariffs, we should say that there are still some tariffs that the president
has applied, for example, on steel and aluminum that will still be allowed to go into effect.
But this does put a damper, one, on the president's tariff agenda, obviously putting on hold the reciprocal tariffs.
But two, his broader economic plan to try and reorient global trade because, when you look at all of the things that the president has done on
the economy, a great many of them really rely on revenue from the tariffs to make up what he's doing in other areas.
And so you really do see this palpable sense of concern at the White House that, if this particular tariff regime goes away, that the rest of their
economic agenda could be imperiled.
And I think that's part of why you saw this very rapid appeal this morning, the White House asking a federal court to put in hold -- on hold this
judge's ruling to allow these tariffs to go into effect.
I think the real question that you now have is, what is the state of all of these trade deals that the White House had hoped to negotiate, using the
threat of these tariffs as impetus to get these countries to come to the table and start these talks?
You know, just in the last week, you saw, for example, the European Union start these trade negotiations in earnest, in part, to try and stave off
the reciprocal tariffs that will go into effect on July 9th.
The question now is whether these countries will still feel the necessity to come and start negotiating these trade deals if the tariffs are no
longer on the table.
You already see this morning some examples of some countries still continuing to talk, for the Japanese prime minister was on the phone with
president Trump today, talking about trade and talking about tariffs.
And so you still see these discussions continuing in some areas. But I think there is a real question of whether some of these other countries
will feel quite the necessity to come to the White House and come to Washington to continue these negotiations.
But when you talk to White House officials, they are confident that this ruling will be overturned, that other courts will rule in their favor.
There is an expectation among the president's aides that this will eventually make it to the Supreme Court.
And they do feel confident about their chances there. But the White House, Kevin Hassett, the president's top economic adviser, out this morning,
suggesting that, one, there are other areas and other authorities that the president can use to apply these tariffs and, two, that the courts will
ultimately turn in their favor.
HILL: Yes. And those, you know, other options that are out there, that even made its way into a note to investors at Goldman Sachs. One of the
managing directors, noting that there are other authorities the administration can use to impose tariffs.
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So we'll see whether any of that comes into play.
And, of course, as Kevin was just touching on, this does bring into question what happens now to any negotiations that have been started and
just throws further uncertainty into what it looks like to do business with the United States.
ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Certainly, it may have weakened the position from the U.S. when it comes to the trade negotiations.
Although, a bit like investors, I suspect countries doing trade deals or trying to do trade deals with the U.S. will be looking at what the
alternatives are at this stage for president Trump and whether this really is some sort of death blow for tariffs.
Probably not. You're looking at markets there, U.S. markets not much higher. Now we saw some jubilation overnight actually in the Asian session.
Much more significant gains in equities.
And it's really fizzled out, as you've seen in the European session, which is looking pretty flat right now. And much of the gains you're seeing, for
instance, on the Nasdaq, is probably due to Nvidia's results last night after the bell.
And this is because investors are now looking, not just at the appeals process that will already begin -- I think there's 10 days for the tariffs
to be halted -- there's an appeals process underway.
But also, as you mentioned, notes from banks -- ING, Goldman Sachs -- there are alternative ways for the White House to implement tariffs. There
are four sections that are mentioned under U.S. trade legislation that could be used.
One of them already very familiar with, Section 232 is used for sector tariffs like aluminum, like steel. These have not been included in the in
the court's ruling today. So that could be used for other sectors.
And there are other sections that could be used more broadly going forward. So at this stage, it doesn't feel like, as it possibly did a few hours ago
or overnight, that perhaps these tariffs will come to a quick and sudden end.
It's just further complicated the picture and made a much more confusing outlook, I think, both for investors and all those countries looking to do
trade deals with the U.S.
HILL: Which is really saying something to be at this point now and be looking at this as even more confusing than perhaps it was yesterday.
Anna, Kevin, appreciate it. Thank you both.
The Palestinian health ministry says now 11 people have been killed in Gaza since the controversial aid hubs there opened earlier this week. Crowds of
desperate people converging at distribution sites in southern Gaza.
Now separately, the World Food Programme says at least two people were killed on Wednesday when crowds of hungry people broke into a U.N. food
warehouse. Video from that scene, as you can see, shows people grabbing whatever they could find.
The U.N. says humanitarian needs have spiraled out of control now, after an 80-day Israeli blockade of all food and aid into Gaza. CNN's Jeremy Diamond
has the very latest.
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JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: This hunger crisis that has gripped the Gaza Strip for weeks now, since Israel imposed a total blockade
of the Strip on March 2nd, it's clear that that crisis has not yet been alleviated.
We are witnessing scenes of desperation as crowds crowd these aid distribution sites of this controversial new U.S. and Israeli-backed Gaza
Humanitarian Foundation.
We've also seen reports and videos of Palestinians hungry for food looting a market in the northern part of the Strip, as well as a World Food
Programme warehouse in central Gaza.
In terms of these aid sites, these Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid sites, we are told that three of the four sites that were set to be opened at the
beginning of this process are now operational. Two of those are in the southern part of the Strip. One of them is in central Gaza.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says that it has distributed more than 17,000 boxes of food today, which they say amounts to nearly 1 million
meals. But it is also clear that the area around these distribution sites has been the site of some violence. And we don't know who is responsible.
But the Palestinian ministry of health has said that 11 people have been killed near these sites over the course of this week, including three
people who were killed just today.
One of our journalists saw one man's body and three people with injuries being taken from the scene near one of these aid distribution sites in the
area of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza.
Journalists on the ground also reported that two men had been shot and several people were injured as crowds converged on one of these Gaza
Humanitarian Foundation sites.
Now the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, for its part, has said that there have been no deaths at any of its sites. The question is, of course, what
they define as their site.
Is it just the secured area where Palestinians come in to collect aid?
Is it the surrounding area as well?
Some uncertainty about that. But it is clear that this new foundation has yet to alleviate this hunger crisis that is gripping the Gaza Strip. And
part of that stems from the fact that, in northern Gaza, there still are none of these sites that are operational as of yet.
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And the little aid that is still getting in through the humanitarian channels, which Israel has allowed for about a week now, almost none of
those trucks are also making it to the northern part of the Strip.
As the Israeli military is failing to provide safe routes to those humanitarian agencies to get that aid to the people who need it in the
northern part of Gaza.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HILL: Jeremy Diamond, reporting there from Tel Aviv.
UNRWA has pushed back against the new method of distribution.
Its communications director recently telling a U.K. broadcaster, quote, "We fundamentally oppose this new plan, which we understand is supported by
both the governments of Israel and the United States."
Saying, "There is a system in place that we can use, including through UNRWA.
"Why reinvent the wheel?"
Juliette Touma joins me now from Amman, Jordan.
Juliette, when we look at this, as Jeremy just laid out for us here, one of the major concerns is the limited number of sites here and it being safe
for not only aid trucks to get to where they need to be but also for civilians to get to where that aid is being distributed.
Have any of those concerns, in your view, really been received and are they being dealt with?
JULIETTE TOUMA, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, UNRWA: Thanks for having me.
I don't think so. This is one of several issues that this plan has. We understand three or four distribution sites, whereas the U.N. including
UNRWA and other humanitarian organizations, we ran around 400 distribution sites that were spread out the Gaza Strip.
HILL: As you noted, you have said, why reinvent the wheel here, right?
Why not at least engage aid organizations and specifically on -- in terms of laying out a new system if this is what -- if this is what is wanted?
There has not been any engagement with you, as far as I know, unless something has changed in the last several hours.
What do you believe that could have changed in terms of aid distribution, had there been coordination with aid groups who are familiar with working
on the ground?
TOUMA: Look, this plan that's put in place by the governments of Israel and the United States is a distraction from the atrocities that are
happening right now to the people of Gaza, to the women, to the children, to the older people.
There is a system in place. "Why reinvent the wheel" means, very simply, the United Nations has been able to bring in between 500 to 600 trucks
every single day; not only of food, by the way, but also other basic supplies like medicines and hygiene kits.
Right. So let's go back to that which we were able to implement and deliver during the ceasefire just at the beginning of this year.
HILL: And as I know you're well aware, Juliette, Israel has said they want to ensure that the aid itself is only getting to civilians, that it will
not reach Hamas. And they believe that UNRWA can, in fact, guarantee that, that the aid will end up in the right hands.
What's your response to that?
TOUMA: OK, we heard these statements, these claims several times. And in the U.N., including in India, we have mechanisms in place to monitor where
the aid goes. We deliver assistance directly from United Nations civil servants to people in need.
A few days ago, we had David Satterfield, who was a U.S. envoy, here on CNN, saying himself that this was not happening. And so I think, again,
it's a distraction. It's a -- it's a diversion from the atrocities.
There's a system in place. It's very capable. We don't do this, by the way, only in Gaza. We do this everywhere around the world when there is
humanitarian needs. We can do this in Gaza, too, as we have been.
HILL: What do you believe would change where things stand?
And when I say that, I mean in terms of there being an appetite for cooperation, if you will, and an appetite to -- or a desire even to allow
more aid in.
What do you think could tip the scales in the favor of more aid being allowed in and at broader distribution sites?
Would it be pressure from the U.S.?
Would it be pressure from other governments?
We had some very strong words, of course, from the chancellor of Germany earlier this week.
Do you believe any of that would have an impact?
TOUMA: We have to go back at the very minimum to where we were in January this year. For a couple of months, we were able, first of all, to have a
ceasefire. So finally, respite for the people of Gaza. And then a huge flow of humanitarian supplies managed by the U.N., including UNRWA, and the
release of the hostages.
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We got to go back to some sort of a deal that is -- that is going to lay the ground for improvement, improving the lives of people today and, most
importantly, to stop the bombardment and stop the airstrikes.
HILL: Are you hopeful that there will be a ceasefire that can be agreed to?
TOUMA: I'm always hopeful. We thrive on hope in the work that that we do.
Are we close?
I don't know. I think it's long overdue. This must come to an end. There must be a release of all the hostages so that they reunite with their
families. There must be a final, final respite to stop the bombardment on the people of Gaza.
And there must be a flow of very, very basic humanitarian supplies at the scale we had at the beginning of the year. It's not too much to ask. We
were there. We could do it. So let's go back to that at least.
HILL: Juliette Touma, appreciate you joining us. Thank you.
TOUMA: Thanks.
HILL: President Donald Trump's White House is now battling America's colleges and universities on multiple fronts. The Trump administration has
begun now the formal process of stripping Harvard of its ability to host international students.
In just the last hour, though, the administration reversed course, now giving the school 30 days to challenge that order. Still, though, it's
important to note the move could potentially upend a court hearing set to begin later this hour.
All of this coming after another major escalation on Wednesday. Secretary of state Marco Rubio announcing the U.S. would aggressively revoke visas
for Chinese students, a move being slammed by Beijing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAO NING, SPOKESPERSON, CHINESE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (through translator): The U.S. decides to unjustly revoke the visas of Chinese
students under the pretext of ideology and national security.
Which severely damages the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese students and disrupts normal people-to-people exchanges between the two
countries. China firmly opposes this and has made demarches with the U.S. side.
This politically motivated and discriminatory action exposes the lie of the so-called freedom and openness that the U.S. has long claimed and will only
further harm the U.S. international image and national credibility.
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HILL: David Weinstein is a former state and federal prosecutor, joining us this hour from Florida.
So you know, as each -- as each order is announced and then we see a flurry of activity in the courts. And, of course, we are waiting for this hearing
to begin in Boston just any moment now.
In relation to Harvard, there is a question about the legal recourse, right?
The legal recourse, not just in terms of the schools here but also in terms of students. At the end of the day, the federal government gets to decide
who's in and who's out.
Do students have any legal recourse in this case?
DAVID WEINSTEIN, FORMER STATE AND FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: Well, as long as there's due process in play -- and we keep talking about that; I've talked
more about due process over the course of the last several months than I think I have since law school.
But as long as they're getting due process, the government has a right to decide who can come into our country on a student visa and who can study.
And there are certain requirements that have to be met. There is certain vetting that has to be met to ensure that these people are coming here to
study.
They're not taking advantage of the schools, universities and then using that against the United States. So it's that vetting process that they need
to be given due process in and have a right to say, well, no, that's not correct. I am coming here to do this. That social media report you saw,
that's not me.
I'm not advocating anything that would cause the overthrow of the U.S. government or that would allow me to assist a foreign government. So in
terms of recourse, remember, it's a privilege. It's not a right. So it's ultimately up to the government to decide. But they're entitled to this
process.
HILL: And so, in terms of, you know, there have been concerns, not just for students who have been recently admitted, right, that CNN has spoken
with. They're saying now their plans are up in the air but there are also the students who are already here.
And now specifically, I'm thinking of Chinese students who are already in the country.
When you have the secretary of state say that the plan is to begin aggressively stripping them of their visas for someone who is already here
in the U.S., what are their rights, tied to the visa that they're currently on?
WEINSTEIN: Well, again, it's dependent upon the specific type of visa. If it's a student visa, you have to stay enrolled in a college or university.
And so for those students who are attending Harvard right now -- and things are changing by the minute, as you said just minutes ago -- the government
is now going to give them 30 days to comply.
So that hearing that may take place shortly is not really going to have much of an impact because they're going to get another 30 days. So they
have to stay in school. If they were kicked out of the school because the government said Harvard can't admit these students, so now they're in
violation of their visa.
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They also have to make sure that they comply with the requirements and the things that they've stated they would do and signed under oath. And that
would be not advocating for the overthrow of the government, not acting here under subterfuge, signing up to go to classes and learn things and
then use that against the U.S.
If the government could prove it, acting as a double agent here, so it becomes incumbent upon them to just continue to follow the rules that got
them here in the first place.
HILL: And in terms of the rules that got them here, the first place, we should point out, I mean, there is a vetting process. It's not like the
vetting process didn't exist prior to this moment in time.
It's just that it could now be perhaps longer, more intense; scrutinizing, really, that social media, as you've pointed out. There are also questions
about what these other cases do just for universities, I will say. And let's take Harvard as an example.
On a broader scale, in terms of the decisions that a private university is allowed to make, we know there have been threats to pull all contracts with
Harvard.
Also, the federal funding that has been pulled, funding, initially, what we were talking about, these were grants, right, that Harvard would have to
apply for, to get from the federal government.
How much traditionally have those funds been tied to a university being forced to follow the ideology of whomever the current administration is?
WEINSTEIN: Not very much at all. This is perhaps one of the first instances we've seen of that. Look, obviously there are specific rules and
regulations that govern the grants. You can only use it for what it's specified for in the grant. You have to apply for it at a certain time. You
have to take the funds and use them before they expire.
They have to be connected to the grant and its purpose and why you are given to them. But it's very rare that they're tied to the specific
ideology of a particular executive officer and their policies that have come in.
You know, otherwise you wouldn't have been able to apply to the grant to begin with. And so it is one of those continuing unique circumstances,
where we're seeing this for the first time and which is why these private universities are attacking it on the basis of a violation of their First
Amendment rights.
HILL: Yes, David Weinstein, really appreciate it. Thanks for being here this morning.
WEINSTEIN: You're welcome.
HILL: Just ahead, how Lebanon is looking to rebuild after being devastated by the war between Israel and Hezbollah.
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HILL: During president Trump's trip to the Gulf earlier this month, he said he believed Lebanon had a once-in-a-generation opportunity to achieve
peace and prosperity. In his view, the key to making that happen is disarming Hezbollah.
My colleague, Becky Anderson, sat down with the new Lebanese prime minister, Nawaf Salam, yesterday. He said he was focused on two top
priorities that go hand-in-hand, regaining sovereignty and fixing the country's broken economy.
Here's a reminder of the first part of Becky's conversation with Salam, where he explained how he planned to handle Hezbollah.
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NAWAF SALAM, LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER: The goal one more time is that the state should have exclusive monopoly over arms, over all its territory. Now
what has been achieved in the north of the Litani River, I think, is a lot. Over 500 military that were dismantled.
The army now is expanding its control and consolidating its control south of the Litani. North of the Litani, progress has been made on the border
with Syria. We have a much greater control.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: Forging beyond the Israel-Hezbollah conflict will be, of course, no small feat. The World Bank estimates the cost for reconstruction and
recovery needs is about $11 billion. In the second part of her interview, Becky asked about how he was trying to leverage relationships like those
with the UAE and Saudi Arabia in order to rebuild.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SALAM: We would like to be able to count on our Arab friends and the international community at large, I mean, to help us not resolve our
problem but as we are working to resolve our problems, to support us in the reconstruction needs in Lebanon.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: Are you looking for -- you're not looking for handouts at this point.
What are you looking for from the international community?
SALAM: We are committed to IMF program.
Why?
Because I think the -- this will ensure that depositors have justice, I mean. And this has been long overdue. This will help restore confidence in
the banking sector and in our financial system.
What -- people have a real problem with in Lebanon, it's corruption. And it seems that very little, certainly on the face of it, is being done to deal
with corruption.
So can you just explain very specifically what's going on?
SALAM: One, I think that the new law on bank secrecy, the waiver of bank secrecy will help us better address the question of corruption.
And two, I mean, also giving greater independence to the judiciary will not only send a signal of confidence, trust to investors and to the
international community. It should also help us better deal with corruption problems.
Unfortunately, corruption has been an endemic problem in Lebanon. But now we are seriously committed, I mean, to fight corruption.
ANDERSON: I mean, when you look at -- when you look at the agriculture industry, obviously there is massive opportunity there as, clearly, you
know, it needs huge investment. Cannabis has been suggested as one of those opportunities.
Is it?
SALAM: Of course.
(CROSSTALK)
SALAM: It's a big opportunity. Not any opportunity at all (ph) was passed to regularize -- I mean, the develop (ph) of cannabis for medicinal and
scientific purposes. And now we are in the process of passing the necessary decrees that will allow, I mean, this to become a reality.
ANDERSON: The Beirut port explosion.
Where does that investigation stand?
And can you promise Lebanese families that there will be accountability on that?
SALAM: OK, first of all, I mean the investigation has been stalled. I mean, for some time. Now investigations has resumed and, I mean, what I can
promise is that we are not going to intervene in the judicial process. And, I mean, like all victims hope that justice will come sooner than later.
People are entitled, I mean, to have justice.
ANDERSON: And so how long will that take?
Is it -- is it clear to you at this point?
SALAM: I mean, I cannot, I mean, commit whether it's going to be a matter of months or weeks or months, because this will be intervening in the
judicial process, which I don't want to do.
[10:30:04]
ANDERSON: On the issue of Syria there is an effort to return refugees.
What are you doing to ensure that that's done in a fair and transparent manner and that these refugees aren't forced back?
SALAM: Of course we are committed to return what I call in safety and dignity. And we are now discussing with the UNHCR and with the Syrian
authorities on a phased plan that would ensure the return of refugees to Syria and with the lifting of sanctions on Syria. This will help
reconstruction in Syria.
ANDERSON: Do you applaud the lifting of those sanctions by the Americans and the E.U.?
And are you sufficiently confident about this new government?
SALAM: I think that under Assad, nothing was possible. Now Assad is gone. Everything has become possible in Syria. I'm personally hopeful.
ANDERSON: So how closely are you watching the U.S.-Iran talks?
And with -- how do they relate to the disarming of Hezbollah as far as you are concerned?
Is there -- is there a direct line?
SALAM: Well, I mean, we are not sitting in the room with the U.S. and the Iranians. We don't know exactly what's going on. But we are watching very
closely. We have indirect feedback.
And we believe that any agreement that could be reached with the -- between the Americans and the Iranians can only have positive effect in the region.
Lebanon would definitely benefit from it.
ANDERSON: So if you had one message to the Lebanese people at this stage, it would be what?
SALAM: OK. I mean, since we are in the Emirates now, so my message I would like to be to Lebanese in the Emirate. And they are numerous. That, I mean,
Lebanon needs their expertise. Lebanon need their ideas
They should trust that Lebanon is now on a new path. And with the appropriate reforms and with our commitment to restore Lebanon's
sovereignty, better days are ahead.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HILL: And our thanks to Becky for that important interview there.
Still to come this hour, commencement ceremonies underway at this moment at Harvard. And a short distance from campus, attorneys for America's oldest
university are battling the Trump administration in court. We'll take you there live after this quick break.
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HILL (voice-over): Welcome back to CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Erica Hill. Here's a look at your headlines now, 34 minutes past the hour.
The White House is appealing a U.S. federal court ruling that blocks most of president Donald Trump's global tariffs. The court ruled the president
exceeded his authority when he declared a national emergency to impose those tariffs.
It acted on lawsuits brought by a dozen states and a number of small U.S. businesses, that claimed the tariffs caused them severe harm.
The ministry of health in Gaza says 11 people have been killed since aid hubs opened earlier this week. Desperate Palestinians rushing to receive
food supplies at distribution sites.
Separately, the World Food Programme says at least two people were killed on Wednesday as crowds of hungry people broke into a U.N. food warehouse.
The Israeli government has approved 22 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Authority and Britain's government
quickly condemning that decision. Most governments do consider those settlements to be illegal under international law.
HILL: Right now, attorneys representing Harvard University are facing off with the White House in federal court over the administration's ban on
foreign students attending the university. That hearing just getting underway moments ago.
Meantime, just a few miles, few kilometers down the street, commencement is underway for the class of 2025, a time of unprecedented uncertainty on
campus amid clashes, of course, with the Trump administration over academic freedom, federal funding and international student visas.
And for international students currently enrolled at Harvard, they say they are well aware just how far reaching this battle is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ABDULLAH SHAHID SIAL, CO-PRESIDENT, HARVARD UNDERGRADUATE ASSOCIATION: It's a war on higher education at large and, in the end, the victims will
not just be students; it will be almost everyone associated with higher education.
Right now, it's at Harvard and we'll soon see it expand over to other universities. And then it will go on to researchers and then professors.
And we've already seen it expand beyond students now (ph).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: CNN's Danny Freeman is live this hour in Cambridge, of course.
What are you hearing from graduates from their families?
What is the mood there?
Right. This is commencement, supposed to be a really joyous moment.
Is it being overshadowed by all of this activity?
DANNY FREEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Erica, that's a really hard question. Listen, I think the easiest way to answer that is, frankly, there are a lot
of mixed emotions here. We've seen everything that you're talking about.
The families, dressed in their best attire, so happy and thrilled for their graduates. Here at Harvard, we've seen the cap and gowns, people selling
flowers. A lot of joy. Make no mistake.
But there definitely is that cloud of this ongoing battle with the Trump administration that cannot be avoided here. And really, you can feel it on
campus and in around the Harvard community, as I have the entire week, speaking with researchers, speaking with students as well.
But before I get into some of the specifics of those conversations with students, I'll bring some of that to you, Erica.
Commencement just started a little while ago and I want to draw your attention to what we've been watching and what we've been seeing. President
Alan Garber, the president of Harvard University, he's been really the face of this battle with the Trump administration.
He got up on stage a little while ago. And while he did not directly address this battle with the Trump administration in his remarks, first,
when he got up on the stage, he got, as we understand, a minute-long, rousing standing ovation and applause just for coming up onto the stage.
But the other thing, Erica, is he said something in his remarks right off the top. He said members of the class of 2025, from down the street, across
the country and around the world.
And he noted, around the world, just as it should be.
That remark right there got another round of tremendous applause. And again, clearly a nod to this ongoing battle, specifically when it comes to
international students. Right. The Trump administration last week made this announcement that they were going to try and ban Harvard from accepting
international students in the future.
That's currently tied up in the courts right now as you well know. But I just want you to listen to a conversation that I had with an international
student from Sweden yesterday. He's graduating, so this isn't a problem necessarily for him. He's getting his diploma in a matter of moments.
But he's really concerned about his fellow international students in that community on campus. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEO GERDEN, SWEDISH GRADUATE STUDENT, HARVARD: People are truly panicking because they don't know whether they will be able to come back next
semester, whether campus is going to look the same.
I think that it's really hanging over all of this commencement week, because we're about to leave a place that might not look the same next
semester. Because, without international students, Harvard is not Harvard.
Harvard thrives on the fact that it can bring together the best and the brightest from all around the world, put us in the same dining halls, in
the same classrooms.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FREEMAN: And, Erica, I'll just note.
[10:40:00]
This has really become even more of a theme as commencement has gone on. Today, we actually just heard from a student graduating, someone who's
graduating with a master's degree.
Luana Jiang (ph), she's from China and she described in her speech just moments ago, Erica, how impactful it has been for her educational
experience to learn from other international students from all over the world.
She noted, "The countries I knew only as colorful shapes on the map turned into real people here at Harvard."
So again, this is really the theme. And I'll note this, Erica, this is happening at the same time where, across town, in Boston proper, this court
case is ongoing and getting ready to kick off over the question of international students, Erica.
HILL: Yes, it is it is really remarkable. And, of course, as this is all playing out, so many other universities are watching to see what happens
because they, too, rely on international students and what they contribute to their communities as well. Danny Freeman, great to have you there on the
ground. Thank you.
For a closer look at how this could eventually shake out and, frankly, how Americans are reacting to it all, I want to bring in my colleague, Harry
Enten.
So Harry, I know you've been looking at some of the broader themes that we're seeing here. Specifically, let's start with trust in higher
education. There has been a real pushback and we've heard a lot of it from the president himself, who is a graduate of an Ivy League school, the
University of Pennsylvania.
But we've heard a real pushback from conservatives, especially against institutions of higher education. Right.
Has that permeated throughout the country?
Where does America stand when it comes to trust in higher education?
HARRY ENTEN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Yes, I think it's so important to note that this is not occurring in a vacuum. Right. This is something that has
been building over the last decade, what is declining trust in higher education.
What are we talking about?
High confidence in higher education. You go back a decade ago, it was 57 percent. That's a clear majority. You rarely get clear majorities in this
day and age in American life.
But take a look where it is now. Last year it was down to 36 percent, dropped through the floor. Among Republicans, it had dropped from 56
percent all the way down to just 20 percent.
And get this, Erica; 68 percent of Americans believe that higher education is on the wrong track. So, yes, I think there might be some folks who
disagree with the tactics that Trump might be using.
But when it comes to the views toward higher education overall, I think there are a lot of Americans who believe that higher ed need to like --
need a nice kick in the rear behind.
HILL: Right to that. And those tend to be when we're talking about this confidence. This is not about the cost of school and what you can do with
that degree when you get out and the debt you may be in.
This is about whether they think, in general, they're confident that the education there is something solid. This is something that's come up with a
lot of conservatives. And there is a narrative out there that universities are too liberal, that they are unfriendly to conservative idea points.
Does that actually bear out?
ENTEN: It absolutely bears out, Erica. It absolutely bears out. In fact, that's one of the top reasons why that high confidence in higher education
has been declining. Take a look here, which is colleges have a liberal bias. The plurality of Americans agree with that, 45 percent. Just 24
percent disagree with that idea.
Look, among Republicans, that's sky high; 67 percent of Republicans agree with the idea that colleges have a liberal bias. Just 7 percent disagree
with that idea.
So absolutely, what Donald Trump is doing here -- again, I'm not necessarily talking about the tactics but the ideas behind them, the ideas
that colleges have a liberal bias, the idea that there's a declining trust in higher education, Donald Trump is trying to capitalize on that.
And that is why I think this is a fight he is more than happy to take on.
HILL: What about the fight going after foreign students?
Are we seeing an impact yet of that and how Americans feel about it?
ENTEN: What we're absolutely seeing is, yes, we are seeing it among Americans. But more than that, we're seeing it among international
students.
I mean, this sort of gives it away. Web page views for U.S. university courses, this is from potential students abroad. You compare January 5th to
the end of April, look at that. A 50 percent drop.
I really would not be surprised if we see far fewer international students applying to universities in the U.S. for the 2025-2026 and then beyond,
2026 to 2027, based upon the environment that Donald Trump has created.
We're already seeing in the numbers there is far less interest from international students. I know that there are some on the Right who might
think that that would be a pretty decent idea. But there are a lot of experts who very much disagree with that and believe that we need the
international students in this country.
HILL: And there are a lot of concerns, too, about this brain gain that is happening right. We've seen Europe, we've seen Canada, we've seen a number
of other countries and areas of the world look to actively recruit researchers, for example, from U.S. universities.
And hoping to sell them on the fact that they'll have more academic freedom in their research. Harry, glad you're following it. Thank you.
ENTEN: Thank you.
HILL: Just ahead here, celebrity stylist Deonte Nash making some deeply disturbing allegations in his first day of testimony in the Sean Combs
trial.
[10:45:07]
He is now back on the stand for day two. What we're learning on the other side of this break.
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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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HILL: Last hour, court resumed in the racketeering and sex trafficking trial of Sean Combs. Deonte Nash, a former stylist for Combs, just wrapping
up day two of testimony on the stand there.
He made several notable claims under questioning, including that he saw Combs assault Cassie Ventura and repeatedly heard him threaten her. He also
said Ventura told him she did not want to attend some of Combs' drug-fueled sex parties, known as freakoffs.
Imran Ansari is a trial attorney, a former prosecutor, joining us now from here in New York.
So the defense just wrapped up its cross. And I just want to -- I just want to note something that was said toward the end, that he was -- he
testified. So he stopped working with Sean Combs in 2018 but said they kept in touch.
And I believe it was on redirect, the prosecutor asked why he was always so concerned for Cassie Ventura, because there were times when she was clearly
happy with Sean Combs.
And he said it can go from happy to chaotic in a split second, clarifying that, by chaotic, he meant Combs acting violent.
Getting to the heart of the allegations of violence has been a real focal point of having this witness on the stand.
Why is that important for the prosecution?
IMRAN ANSARI, FORMER PROSECUTOR: Well, Nash's testimony has been extremely important and I think successful for the prosecution because it's
corroboration.
He corroborates what Cassie Ventura testified to about the cycle of violence, the many violent incidents that she was subjected to. He also
corroborates this notion that Diddy was threatening to release videos of Ventura and holding it over her head.
That goes to the heart of the prosecution's case regarding coercion and control and threatening behavior by Diddy. And what Nash's testimony does
is corroborate Ventura.
So if the jury was left with any doubts as to Ventura's testimony, now they have Nash coming in independently and corroborating some of her testimony,
which is always a positive for the prosecution.
HILL: The defense is obviously going to look to push, to poke holes in that.
How effective do you think the defense was in its cross?
ANSARI: It was a relatively short cross, given the length of his testimony on direct. They tried to get out some inconsistencies in some of his
testimony on the stand versus what he told investigators or prosecutors before he testified.
But what we learned from his testimony, again, is that corroboration, this, you know, image of violence from Diddy, control over Cassie Ventura and
then also this systematic and repeated cycle of violence. And you mentioned that that last testimony about it being chaotic on redirect.
[10:50:00]
And I think that's, again, corroboration and painting this picture to the jury that ultimately may go to the prosecution's charges and to their case
once they wrap up.
HILL: And just because this is happening in real time, so I just want to bring some of the updates, too, that we are getting now out of the
courtroom.
So now on the stand is another former assistant and alleged victim, who's testifying under a pseudonym, going by Mia. And you mentioned. Right. We
were talking about chaotic, Nash describing things as being chaotic.
She is also using that word, talking about the work environment with Sean Combs as being chaotic, toxic; it could be exciting. The highs were really
high, the lows were really low. And she went on to say it was Puff's move - - so mood, rather. So Sean Combs, who determined the atmosphere and that that shifted all the time.
The fact that it's his mood determining things, that it is Sean Combs making decisions, that is also important, obviously, as well, in this third
week, as the prosecution looks to set up this case and prove that all of this was coming from the top.
ANSARI: Exactly. And it's important, when you look at the structure of his organization or his company, the music entertainment company that he was
running, when the prosecution is going to try to liken it to a criminal enterprise.
And that's going to go to those racketeering charges and racketeering conspiracy charge. And if they're able to show this domineering, you know,
presence from Diddy, where he's controlling this organization or this company, not so much for the music or entertainment aspect of things but
more so in akin to a criminal enterprise.
That's going to go to that racketeering charge. And we're getting this testimony from multiple witnesses now about the chaotic nature, about the
controlling nature and violent nature.
And we see the building blocks that the prosecution is putting before this jury in order to prove those charges, because dysfunctionality is not a
legal -- in terms of into a workplace and not may not be ideal but it's not necessarily illegal.
But running something akin to a criminal enterprise and racketeering is illegal. So they're going to have to try to prove those charges.
HILL: Imran Ansari, great to have you here this morning. Thank you.
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HILL (voice-over): Let's get you up to speed on some of the other stories on our radar right now.
Elon Musk, exiting his role in DOGE and in politics, according to both Musk and the Trump administration. Musk says he will now be returning to his
duties at Tesla. The board there recently sent a letter, urging him to work a 40-hour week at the company, which saw a 70 percent drop in earnings for
its first quarter.
Ukrainian officials say Russia has been dramatically stepping up its drone and missile attacks this month and Kyiv is now scrambling to create
defensive corridors along key sections of the front line. There something that's being called a drone wall.
Russia says the next round of peace talks with Ukraine is set to take place on Monday in Turkiye.
A river of ice, rock and mud exploding down the Swiss Alps after a glacier collapsed on Wednesday, covering part of the tiny, picturesque village of
Blatten. Officials say one person is missing.
But the 300 residents who live in the village had been evacuated last week over fears of an avalanche.
Stay with us. More news to come after this short break.
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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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HILL: For the first time in over a decade, the American flag has been raised over the U.S. ambassador's residence in Syria. The embassy was shut
down in 2012 during the Arab Spring uprising.
The U.S. special envoy to Syria raising that flag, you see there, along with the Syrian foreign minister. Now it's important to note the embassy is
still not open.
[10:55:00]
And no ambassador has been assigned to the U.S. due to security concerns. But again, that flag being raised.
China has just begun a quest to explore two mysterious objects in our solar system. The Tianwen-2 mission was launched aboard a rocket in the early
hours of the morning. It aims to collect China's first-ever samples from an asteroid, as it studies a space rock that may have been chipped from the
moon.
And will then investigate a celestial object orbiting between Mars and Jupiter. The whole mission will take several years to complete.
And she is not yet 30 but she's already made her first billion-dollar sale. Model Hailey Bieber, selling her beauty brand Rhode to E.L.F. Cosmetics.
She is planning to stay on as chief creative officer and head of innovation.
E.L.F. dominates the skincare and makeup target for teens and younger consumers. Hailey is married to pop star Justin Bieber. She started the
makeup brand only three years ago. It's famous for its minimalist skincare line with only five products.
There you go.
That's going to do it for us here on CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Erica Hill in for Becky Anderson. Be sure to stay with CNN. "ONE WORLD" is up next. Have
a great day.
END
