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Early Start with Rahel Solomon
China Slams Vance Over "Chinese Peasants" Comment; Ukraine: Two Chinese Nationals Fighting For Russia Captured; Prince Harry Makes Rare U.S. Visit Amid Legal Battle. Aired 5:30-6a ET
Aired April 09, 2025 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:30:00]
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J.D. VANCE, (R) VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: -- this manufacturing from Chinese peasants.
WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): Vance's "Chinese peasants" comment reaching Beijing within hours. The government's response swift and scathing.
LIN JIAN, SPOKESPERSON, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY (through translator): It's both astonishing and lamentable to hear this vice president make such ignorant and disrespectful remarks.
RIPLEY (voiceover): On China's tightly controlled internet government censors are allowing Vance's interview to go viral amplifying the outrage, igniting anger and sarcasm.
"Have you said thank you for the money we lent you?" -- a reference to China being the second-largest foreign holder of U.S. government debt, and that infamous Oval office exchange with Ukraine's president.
VANCE: You should be thanking the president.
RIPLEY (voiceover): One hashtag about the Chinese peasants remark shot to the top of China's Twitter-like platform Weibo with millions of views and counting. Many comments boasting of China's modern achievements.
"Look, this is their truth face, arrogant and rude as always. We may be peasants, but we have the world's best high-speed rail, the most powerful logistics, and leading AI and drone technologies. Aren't such peasants quite impressive?"
Former Global Times editor Hu Xijin posted on Weibo, "This true 'peasant' who came out of rural America seems to lack perspective. Many people are urging him to visit China and see reality with his own eyes."
Many in China are interpreting Vance's comments as describing all Chinese people, some even referencing Vance's memoir and movie.
(Clip from "HILLBILLY ELEGY"). RIPLEY (voiceover): As one social media post put it, "The author "HILLBILLY ELEGY" is calling Chinese peasants? Really?"
RIPLEY: Incidentally, "HILLBILLY ELEGY" was translated into Mandarin. It's actually a bestseller in China. But the vice president's sound bite has spiraled into yet another war
of words between the U.S. and China. Many Chinese are calling his remark proof of what they call American arrogance as if U.S.-China tensions weren't bad enough over things like tariffs, technology, Taiwan.
CNN has reached out to J.D. Vance's office for comment and so far, nothing.
Will Ripley, CNN, Taipei.
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RAHEL SOLOMON, CNN ANCHOR: Still to come for us, Ukraine claims that Russia staged massive drone attacks overnight injuring more than a dozen people. Coming up we'll have the latest on the conflict when we come back.
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[05:37:05]
SOLOMON: Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will be at a U.S.-Iran meeting in Oman on Saturday. Witkoff will lead what the U.S. State Department insists is only a meeting and not a negotiation.
On Monday, President Trump said that direct talks are underway between the two countries on Tehran's nuclear program. But Iranian officials say that the discussions will be indirect and mediated by Oman.
Whatever the case, the White House press secretary had this to say.
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KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: When it comes to Iran, the president has reimposed crippling sanctions on the Iranian regime, and he's made it very clear to Iran they have a choice to make. You can strike a deal with the president, you can negotiate, or there will be hell to pay.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOLOMON: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that two Chinese nationals fighting in the Russian army have been captured. He said that it happened in the Donetsk region in Eastern Ukraine. Now Zelenskyy is looking to international allies as well as Beijing for their response.
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VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): We really hope that after this situation the Americans will talk more with the Ukrainians and then the Russians. We really hope that the Chinese side will also react. I have instructed the minister of foreign affairs and the minister of defense to contact the Chinese counterparts so that they can give us an explanation for those actions.
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SOLOMON: Now let's get to Nic Robertson who joins me now from London. Nic, it seems like the conversations about a ceasefire here have diminished. I mean, as Russia is increasing its defensive on the front lines that's obviously not what the president wants. I mean, what's the latest here?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yeah. The reality is that President Trump really wanted to get a ceasefire deal going quickly. That he got the Ukrainians to sign up to this sort of without limits possibility of getting into ceasefire talks. And the Russians are prevaricating putting up -- you know, putting up roadblocks if you will -- things that they want to see happen. Restrictions taken off of certain banks. Those sorts of things.
And the front line, meanwhile, continues to -- you know, continues to get worse. In fact, the Ukrainians -- their military headquarters in Kyiv are saying that they are seeing Russians push against the front lines in a couple of areas in the east specifically. They're very concerned about what's happening there. They think that this doesn't contribute to Russia in any way and President Putin in any way being committed to these talks.
And that's the assessment of Western officials as well. They think there are many reasons that Vladimir Putin isn't committed to the talks, not least of which they assess that he still thinks that he can find a military victory.
Western officials are saying they don't see a specifically heavy buildup of Russian forces in any specific areas but absolutely, they say that they are seeing an uptick in the fighting along the front line in certain areas.
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Also, what President Zelenskyy here is talking about -- these two Chinese people that were captured -- these two Chinese fighters that were captured along the front line is potentially very, very big. The U.S. State Department describes it as disturbing and points out that China supplies 80 percent of the dual use military equipment that Russia is using to fight the war in Ukraine.
So the fact that Chinese nationals -- two of them -- have been captured by Ukraine -- and President Zelenskyy says there are plenty more fighting on the other side -- is a worrying development. And that's why the foreign minister in Kyiv yesterday called in the Chinese charge d'affaires to ask what they were doing there. Chinese officials say that they are clarifying the situation with the Ukrainians at the moment and point out that the Chinese government guidance to Chinese citizens is not to go to places of conflict, and specifically not to engage in fighting in those areas.
Western officials are assessing at the moment, but they cannot say that these two Chinese individuals who were picked up by the Ukrainian military are part of a Chinese state-sponsored effort to support Russia military close to the battlefield. But already, President Putin is using forces from -- is using forces from North Korea. In fact, Western officials assess that so far already 5,000 North Korean nationals have been injured or killed in the fighting in and around Ukraine.
So Putin is relying increasingly on others. And if he were relying on Chinese nationals in that fight that would be a significant escalation of the Chinese position supporting Russia in the war in Ukraine, and that, in essence, is what President Zelenskyy is trying to draw to President Trump's attention that Putin is not committed to these talks and is, in fact, going in the opposite direction.
SOLOMON: Um-hum, yeah. It would be a significant development this far into the war, and as you point out, sort of just on the cusp of these conversations that were purportedly for a ceasefire.
Nic Robertson in London. Nic, thank you.
All right, boys will be boys. That's how the White House is describing the spat between two of President Trump's top advisers. How that angry back-and-forth is unfolding coming up next.
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[05:46:57]
SOLOMON: Welcome back. I'm Rahel Solomon. And here are some of the stories we are watching today.
President Trump is now leveling new tariffs of up to 50 percent on dozens of countries. China has been hit the hardest with a 104 percent tariff on all of its exports. Beijing promising to take what it calls resolute and effective measures to counter the United States' "domineering and bullying behavior."
Sheriff's deputies are searching for one or more suspects in a mass shooting that killed three people and hurt three others. This happened in northeastern Virginia on Tuesday evening. The Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office says that dozens of officers are actively involved in the search.
The Associated Press now reports that the death toll has climb to at least 98 in the Dominican Republic where the roof of a nightclub collapsed in the early hours of Tuesday. It happened as a popular merengue artist was performing to a huge crowd. More than 220 people were hurt.
President Trump addressing a group of Republican lawmakers on Tuesday just hours before the latest round of tariffs were set to take hold. He described foreign leaders, essentially groveling to avoid his administration's tariffs. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I know what the hell I'm doing. I know what I'm doing. These countries are calling us up kissing my ass. They are -- they are dying to make a deal. Please, please, sir, make a deal. I'll do anything. I'll do anything, sir.
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SOLOMON: Now let's take a look at how global markets are responding to this tariff war.
Stocks across Asia-Pacific markets closed mixed. You can see the NIKKEI off about four percent. South Korea, 1.7 percent. Hang Seng and Shanghai Composite, however, up between seven-tenths of a percent and 1.3 percent.
Taking a look at European markets, which opened lower and are still solidly lower, the FTSE off 2.4 percent. The Dax almost three percent. And in Paris in France, 2.8 percent let's call it.
Meanwhile, taking a look at U.S. futures a mixed picture here. Nasdaq futures are marginally up but green is green certainly in this market. S&P futures off slightly. Dow off about half a percent at 5.45 before markets open, obviously.
Consumers, meantime, in China are now bracing for the impact on their wallets with the trade war expected to drive up the cost of everyday items.
CNN's Marc Stewart has this report from Beijing.
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MARC STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): At this Apple store in Beijing it's all business as usual despite the growing trade tension between the United States and China.
This young woman named Lucy didn't hesitate to drop big bucks for one of the latest iPhones.
LUCY, CHINESE CONSUMER (through translator): I bought an iPhone 16. The staff is still helping me install a new system in there.
STEWART: Sixteen?
LUCY: Yes.
STEWART (voiceover): But as the trade war between the world's two biggest economies escalates further there's a shared concern between the two nations, rising prices and a slowing economy on both sides of the Pacific.
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LUCY (through translator): The businesses -- the cost will be higher for them to make stuff, and we will end up paying more for their products. It's a vicious cycle.
STEWART (voiceover): Some people say they have faith in China's strength.
STEWART: Do you worry that these trade issues will hurt the lives of everyday people living in China?
PAUL, BEIJING RESIDENT: No, no, no, no, no.
PAUL (through translator): Those American goods that have been tariffed -- we can always replace them with Chinese-made goods.
STEWART: This is all happening as China deals with economic struggles of its own. A trade war with the U.S. could be another big blow.
STEWART (voiceover): But China is not backing down from its defiant stance.
JIAN (through translator): Pressure, threats, and blackmail are not the right ways to engage with China. If the U.S. insists on launching a tariff for trade war China will fight to the end.
STEWART (voiceover): As President Trump adds another 50 percent tariff on Chinese goods, China's commerce ministry calls the move "a mistake on top of a mistake."
On Chinese social media users rally around the government's reactions. One person posting "Fight to the end. Never compromise." Another saying, "We do not fear any unreasonable threats." But some others have a more sober view.
MR. WU, BEIJING RESIDENT (through translator): Whether for the U.S. or China, once the tariffs get raised it will be the people of both countries who end paying.
STEWART (voiceover): Chinese leader Xi Jinping and the U.S. president fought over trade during Trump's first term. And this time around Beijing again hitting back at Washington where it will sting, vowing to turn pressure into motivation as officials here try to rewire China's economy and trade ties.
Marc Stewart, CNN, Beijing.
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SOLOMON: And the tariff war has caused fear and chaos on Wall Street and among investors and CEOs around the world. It's also causing a break in Trump's own team. Billionaire adviser Elon Musk is now all in on a public fight with Trump's top trade adviser Peter Navarro. That's after Navarro said this.
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PETER NAVARRO, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SENIOR TRADE ADVISER: We all understand in the White House and the American people understand that Elon's a car manufacturer. But he's not a car manufacturer; he's a car assembler in many cases.
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SOLOMON: Now, Musk responded by writing, in part, "Navarro is 'dumber than a sack of bricks.'" Then he went even further posting that he'd "like to apologize to bricks for calling Navarro 'dumber than a sack of bricks.' That was so unfair to bricks," it says.
But the White House is downplaying the public spat. Here is the press secretary.
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LEAVITT: These are obviously two individuals who have very different views on trade and on tariffs. Boys will be boys, and we will let their public sparring continue.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOLOMON: Coming up next, Charles and Camilla do a little sightseeing on their first state visit of the year. Stay with us. We'll be right back.
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[05:57:25]
SOLOMON: Prince Harry making a rare appearance in the U.K. amid a legal battle with the British government. The Duke of Sussex has been fighting a decision to downgrade the security that his family receives when in the U.K.
CNN's Salma Abdelaziz has the story.
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SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We weren't sure if we were going to see him today, but Prince Harry made a surprise appearance. Now, he very rarely shows up in the U.K. and that's because Prince Harry says he fears for his safety. That's exactly why he's shown up at the Royal Courts of Justice in London today for the next stage in a legal battle that has drawn out for nearly 3 1/2 years now. He's seeking more security and protection for his family.
Now, all of this started in 2020 when Prince Harry and his wife Meghan stepped down from their roles as full-time working royals. At that point his taxpayer-funded protection was downgraded from the highest level of security to a case-by-case basis. His lawyer in court today is arguing that decision was unfair, and that Prince Harry was singled out, in her words, for inferior treatment.
Now, the appeal will mostly be held in open sessions, much of it livestreamed for the public to see.
This is a deeply personal case for Prince Harry who says his family can't visit the U.K. because of his fears around their safety. Now, a judge is expected to issue a decision in writing at a later
date.
Salma Abdelaziz, CNN, London.
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SOLOMON: Meanwhile, Harry's father, King Charles and his wife Queen Camilla are on a four-day state visit to Italy. The royal couple's trip also coincides with their 20th wedding anniversary and is King Charles' first overseas trip this year as he continues to undergo cancer treatment.
In Rome, on Tuesday, they were greeted by crowds as they went to see the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
King Charles is scheduled to address the Italian Parliament today. He will be come the first British monarch in history to address the country's joint parliamentary session.
Meanwhile, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was seen ruffling some feathers, literally, at a drive-thru safari park in Texas.
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BORIS JOHNSON, FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Oh, cripe! (Ostrich pecking Johnson).
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SOLOMON: Video of the feisty interaction shows an ostrich poking its head into Johnson's car and pecking him on the arm. That viral moment was caught on camera by his wife and has been picked up since by numerous British media outlets. I'm glad everybody was OK there.
Thanks for joining us here on EARLY START. I'm Rahel Solomon in New York. "CNN THIS MORNING" starts right now.
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