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Isa Soares Tonight
Trump Agrees to Pause Tariffs on Mexico for One Month; USAID Workers at Washington Headquarters Told to Stay Home; Destruction in West Bank As Israel Pursues a Major Military Operation. FBI Braces for Potential Purge; Trump Agrees to Pause Tariffs on Mexico; E.U. Braces for Trade War; Deadly Israeli Offensive in Jenin; Uncertainty Over Next Phase of Gaza Ceasefire; Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired February 03, 2025 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:00:00]
ISA SOARES, HOST, ISA SOARES TONIGHT: A very warm welcome to the show, everyone, I'm Isa Soares. Tonight, U.S. President Donald Trump says he has
agreed to pause the tariffs he threatened to slap on Mexico as Canada and China are bracing for a midnight deadline for tariffs, of course, to go
into effect. We have the very latest for you.
Then, Washington's humanitarian agency is thrown into crisis with workers told to stay at home. We'll have more on the Trump administration's efforts
to dismantle USAID. Plus, escalating violence in the West Bank as Israel pursues a major military operation there. How that could impact the Gaza
ceasefire and hostage deal, that is just ahead this hour.
But first, tonight, from Canada to Europe to Africa, U.S. friends and foes alike from across the globe are scrambling to figure out how to react to
another flurry of controversial moves by the Trump administration. First, a temporary reprieve for Mexico just hours before planned U.S. tariffs were
set to go into effect that could have caused prices for American consumers to skyrocket and stall both countries' economies.
President Trump says he agreed to a one-month pause on those tariffs while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum promised to send 10,000 Mexican
soldiers to U.S. border. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM, PRESIDENT, MEXICO (through translator): At the end, he asked how long we could put the tariffs on hold, and I told him, let's put
them on hold permanently. He then asked, well, for how long? I responded, let's pause them for a month. And I'm confident that in a month, we will
deliver results for both his people and Mexico.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, after an early sell off on Wall Street, U.S. stocks market recovered a good deal after that announcement. They're still very much in
the red as China and then Canada, of course, face a new wave of U.S. tariffs scheduled to begin about ten hours from now.
You can see the Dow Industrial flat at this hour, the Nasdaq, tech heavy Nasdaq down almost 1 percent and the S&P 500 down just over half a percent.
We'll stay across those numbers for you. All this, of course, as the Trump administration tries to bend the federal government to its will with Trump
allies like Elon Musk pushing for a freeze on U.S. foreign aid.
We'll have much more on that in just a moment. But first, CNN's Kevin Liptak joins us now from the White House. And Kevin, what a day it has
been. I mean, tariffs seems to be used here as a negotiating tool. Worked for Mexico, at least for the next month. Where does that leave Canada?
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, we may be have some news on that in the next hour or so. President Trump planning to get on the phone
for the second time today with the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to do exactly what he did with Mexico, try and reach some kind of agreement that
would allow the illicit flow of migrants and drugs across the northern border into the U.S. to be curbed somewhat, and in the hopes of the
Canadians --
SOARES: Have we got Kevin with us? We don't seem to have Kevin, we're going to try and fix that. I did see that his shot was somewhat shaky, but
we'll try and reconnect with Kevin and try and get more on that on Canada as well as on Mexico. Let's leave Canada for just a second, we'll try to
reconnect with Kevin Liptak there.
I want to go to Mexico and focus on that side of the story. Valeria Leon, to this -- I want to bring her to this conversation, joins us now from
Mexico city. And Valeria, the U.S. President, I can only imagine, and Kevin will probably give me that when we go to him in just a moment, reconnect
with him, try to sell this at some point as a huge win.
How is President Sheinbaum framing this? And what has been the reaction there where you are to this one month pause?
VALERIA LEON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it was a surprising turn of events, the move to place tariffs on Mexican goods has been put on pause after the
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced this morning a deal to delay Trump's tariffs for one month. In return, Mexico has agreed to deploy
10,000 troops to its northern border, a measure that President Trump would help satisfy his demands that Mexico stop the flow of migrants and illegal
drugs across the U.S.-Mexico border.
[14:05:00]
So, this morning, rather than presenting Mexico's planned response to the Trump administration's tariffs, President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that
she had a conversation with President Trump, what she described as a long call of 45 minutes to talk about immigration issues and the interests that
both countries have in reducing fentanyl consumption and also secure the border.
According to this new plan, Mexico's Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard will be in charge of the negotiations to further extend the one month freeze on
tariffs. Talking to the press, Marcelo Ebrard has described the agreement as unusual and proudly thanked President Sheinbaum for that. However, Isa,
this is not the first time that the Mexico and -- Mexico and the U.S. have reached an agreement to cancel tariffs on Mexican products.
In 2019, Trump similarly threatened a 5 percent tariff on all Mexican imports if Mexico declined to take action to reduce the number of
undocumented immigrants crossing the border with the United States. But after Mexican officials held a week of negotiations with their counterparts
in Washington, resulting in an agreement to reinstate the "Remain in Mexico" immigration policy, the tariffs were never implemented.
So, now Mexico's President said this is just the first in a series of expected negotiations between the two governments, and said she remains
hopeful that this grace period could be extended or even that tariffs would be canceled completely, Isa.
SOARES: Valeria, appreciate you laying it all out for us, thank you very much. I want to go back to Kevin Liptak, who was at the White House. Do we
have him with us? Hey, we've got you, Kevin. You were talking about -- Valeria was talking about the conversation that was had between Claudia,
President Claudia Sheinbaum in Mexico. You were talking on the Canadian side. A call was had. What came out of that call? Any promising signs here?
LIPTAK: Well, I think the most promising sign is that they agreed to talk again. They're scheduled to speak about an hour from now. As I was saying,
I was talking to Canadian officials this morning, they weren't necessarily all that optimistic after that first phone call that Canada would be able
to receive the same kind of reprieve that Mexico did.
But of course, we will see how that conversation results later today. You were mentioning in the intro the stock market. Of course, no one is more
attuned to the stock market than Donald Trump. I think it's probably likely that he was watching that, and this affected his decision to try and come
to an agreement with Mexico earlier today.
And I should note that we did just hear from Donald Trump directly in the Oval Office, and he said two interesting things I thought when it came to
these tariffs. One, he was asked who blinked when it came to Mexico or himself? He said no one blinked, that they were able to reach this
agreement, essentially saying that his direct conversation with President Sheinbaum was able to lead to a result that both of them were able to agree
to.
The other thing he said that it was interesting to me was that he expected to have talks with China within the next 24 hours. Of course, it was in
that vague way that Trump always speaks. It's not clear to me whether he will be speaking directly to President Xi Jinping. But you know, that's the
other country that is going to be significantly affected by these duties if they go into effect at midnight tonight.
SOARES: Kevin, appreciate it, thank you very much indeed. And those looming U.S. tariffs are still on the table as you heard there for Canada
for now. And the country's Prime Minister warns -- we didn't ask for this, but we will not back down. Justin Trudeau said he was finally able to get
President Trump on the phone earlier after trying to reach him since inauguration day, and they're expected to speak again later today.
They've already -- in fact, they spoke and perhaps they might speak again, we shall see. Our Paula Newton is in Oakville, Ontario, with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Well, Canada is certainly retaliating with tariffs of its own. It's brought out a list worth about
$30 billion Canadian already. Those are ready to go this week. More than 100 million more tariffs though ready to go in three weeks. Now, look,
Canada is saying we didn't want to do this. We've been trying to negotiate for weeks.
But think about this until Monday, Justin Trudeau did not know that he could even get the President on the phone. And so many of these details
have been met with really feeling of betrayal here in Canada, and that has led to many people saying that they're canceling America, they want to buy
Canadian, and they really understand that, sure, given a trade war with the United States, they absolutely cannot win it.
But they do want to stand up for what they say is an existential crisis especially to their way of living. Now I'm here in Oakville, Ontario, where
there is a Ford assembly plant.
[14:10:00]
There are so many communities like this all over Canada that are so profoundly linked to the American economy. And they're wondering now,
economically, that if the Trump administration goes through this, with this, really what the future will hold? Experts certainly have tried
modeling this. It will lead Canada likely into a recession, the loss of tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of jobs.
But perhaps, more crucially, they are looking at completely re-aligning their relationship with the United States. Paula Newton, CNN, Oakville,
Ontario.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: And those are the tariffs we will go back to in about 20 minutes, of course, because you could be next on Trump's radar. We'll bring you that
perspective in just a moment. But President Trump is also threatening to impose tariffs on the European Union, a subject that was top of mind with
EU leaders, some like Poland's Prime Minister, are vowing to push back. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TUSK, PRIME MINISTER, POLAND: I think that we have to do everything to avoid this totally unnecessary and stupid tariff wars or trade wars. But
at the same time, and this is my advice to all my colleagues here in Brussels, we have to -- during our possible talks with the American
friends, I think we cannot lose, of course, common sense.
We cannot lose our awareness of our interests. But at the same time, we cannot lose our self, our European self-respect and self-confidence.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Donald Tusk there. We'll have more on that European angle in roughly 20 minutes right here on CNN. Now, U.S. Secretary of State Marco
Rubio says he's now the acting director of U.S. Agency for International Development, the same agency that faces an uncertain future in the new
Trump administration. America's top diplomat spoke about the role a short time ago. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCO RUBIO, SECRETARY OF STATE, UNITED STATES: There are a lot of functions of USAID that are going to continue, that are going to be part of
American foreign policy, but it has to be aligned with American foreign policy. USAID has a history of sort of ignoring that and deciding that
there's somehow a global charity separate from the national interest. These are taxpayer dollars.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, in a conversation on X, tech billionaire Elon Musk says President Trump agrees with him that USAID needs to, quote, "shut down the
agency's main office in Washington". It's closed today. Multiple sources say employees were told via e-mail to remain at home. Take a listen to
Trump's remarks about USAID on Sunday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's been run by a bunch of radical lunatics, and we're getting them out. USAID run by radical lunatics
and we're getting them out and then we'll make a decision.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, you heard that from the U.S. President. CNN's Jennifer Hansler joins us now from Washington D.C. So, Jennifer, just bring -- take
a step back for us, how has all this escalated because this is all happening very quickly?
JENNIFER HANSLER, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT REPORTER: That's exactly right, Isa. It has been just this major snowballing of all of these different
events that have happened over the course of the past week and a half or so since Trump took office. First, we saw that foreign assistance freeze that
was signed into law or into effect by an executive order, and then that was put into effect by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that was already having
impacts on the U.S. Agency for International Development.
And when we started to hear more and more rumors that the President intended to fold the agency under the auspices of the U.S. State
Department, Secretary of State Marco Rubio seemed to confirm that de facto takeover when he said today that he is the acting administrator of that
agency.
Now, Democratic lawmakers say that this is not legal. They say the USAID is a federal independent agency established under U.S. law, and that the
President cannot unilaterally decide to just demolish it under executive authority. Now, the President said today, he does have this authority.
Some Democratic lawmakers have said they intend to challenge this in court. But the impact here on the ground is one of confusion and chaos, and a lot
of alarm from both people inside of USAID as well as humanitarian partners who are -- they rely on the funding that comes from ASD -- USAID and the
partnership that comes there.
They say they have not gotten any clear answers, thousands of people have been locked out of their e-mail systems, contractors are being laid off and
furloughed. So, there is a lot of confusion and a lot of fear about what comes next. And of course, Isa, I do want to point out the role of Elon
Musk here.
We have seen him have an outsized role in the administration's decisions on federal agencies. Over the weekend, there was an incident in which
officials from his DOGE department tried to enter USAID, maybe without proper authorization, they threatened to call U.S. marshals to be allowed
in.
And after that incident, two top security officials from USAID were put on leave because of that incident. We've seen dozens of others put on
administrative leave as all of these changes have come to pass. And this, again, has been such a fast-moving story, and we have yet to get any
official answers from USAID or the State Department on what comes next. Isa.
[14:15:00]
SOARES: Indeed, and in the last few minutes, because Jennifer, I'm just seeing that President Trump says he has power to scrap USAID, he says. He
says he doesn't need Congress to scrap it, pretty much suggesting he could then move forward with plans to reduce the agency, not when it comes to
fraud, I'm quoting him here.
"If there's fraud, these people are lunatics." This is what he said when questioned by our own Jeff Zeleny. Jennifer, I really appreciate it, I know
you'll stay across this story for us, Jennifer Hansler there for us. Well, a global organization that fights to end poverty has a new warning if USAID
is dismantled. The President of Oxfam America says getting rid of the agency, the U.S. agency would be, quote, "a callous, destructive political
power play that would have deadly consequences for millions of people living in dire humanitarian emergencies and extreme poverty."
And Abby Maxman joins me now. Abby, I really appreciate you being with us today. Just first of all, you talked of deadly consequences for millions.
Just what would this mean in real terms?
ABBY MAXMAN, PRESIDENT & CEO, OXFAM AMERICA: Well, what it means is that life-saving assistance already has been thrown into chaos. People are
depending on the support of programs that have provided food, water, sanitation for children, for women, for families around the world. It is a
cruel and upending set of actions that really are legally dubious in the first place, but they're also doing harm to innocent people around the
world.
SOARES: And Abby, I mean, this money, has already been approved, right? It has already been vetted. So, in the meantime, what do you do? How do you
make sense of this?
MAXMAN: Well, it's a very chaotic and confusing time. It's having far- reaching implications. Our partners and communities and people we serve and work side-by-side with are stunned. They feel dismayed, they -- and left
behind. It really is a cruel set of actions that is causing immediate harm and well into the future.
U.S. foreign assistance represents less than 1 percent of the U.S. budget, but it underpins a huge amount of the international humanitarian aid and
development work around the world. So, it's having really seismic implications on what everyone is doing collaboratively together to save
lives and to help people.
SOARES: And just for -- and Abby, just for our viewers around -- right around the world, you talk of far-reaching implications. Just, you know,
just break it down for us. What communities, what countries? Who are you helping here? Where is this money going to?
MAXMAN: Well, I would say it's everywhere. From the Democratic Republic of Congo, water, sanitation, hygiene, Sudan, people in countries in the Middle
East, in Yemen, everywhere who relies on life-saving assistance and support are having it completely. The rug has been pulled out and people who relied
on basic food and support from the United States government is being really shattered with a wrecking ball at this juncture.
SOARES: A wrecking ball. Well, look, we've heard Musk say, you know, USAID is beyond repair. We don't have an apple with a worm in it. We have a bowl
of worms. This is what he said. We've also heard him say, Musk say USAID is a criminal organization. When you hear that, I mean, what do you think? I
mean, how do you even go about preparing?
What are you looking to push this in terms of from Congress, from -- I'm -- there's deafening silence from Democrats at this point. What are you
looking for right here?
MAXMAN: Well, Congress needs to take swift action --
SOARES: Yes --
MAXMAN: This needs to be looked at in the courts. And it's just terrible language that is inappropriate and unjust to -- there are people who have
committed their life's work to helping people live better lives. And it -- the loss of expertise and experience cannot be overstated. It is really a
rash set of decisions that are causing incredible amounts of harm to innocent people around the world and professionals who have committed their
life's work to helping people live better lives.
SOARES: I mean, do you worry, then, about the way that the U.S. position, the way that the U.S. has presented itself around the world and what it
sees as a priority here, as one of the biggest developing -- develop -- developed country in the world?
MAXMAN: Oh, it's deeply worrying. It sends messages that really run contrary to U.S. interests. That we are a country that cares about people
around the world, that believes in the rights and dignity of people to have access to clean water, to food, to safety, to shelter.
[14:20:00]
These are things that USAID and those who have worked in the international humanitarian and development system have worked and committed their life's
work to. And it really is a cruel set of actions that is doing incredible amounts of harm at this juncture. And it does not serve U.S. interests as a
trusted and supportive country in the world at this moment. It's very worrying and undermining all humanitarian and development action as we know
it.
SOARES: Abby, really appreciate you taking the time to speak to us. Abby Maxman there. Thank you, Abby.
MAXMAN: Thank you --
SOARES: We are going to take a short break, we'll be back on the other side.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Now, to Washington D.C., where we could soon learn more about the critical moments before military helicopter collided with a commercial
airliner last week. The National Transportation Safety Board is set to release black box data retrieved from the Blackhawk helicopter in
Wednesday's deadly collision.
And it comes as crews are beginning to remove large sections of the wreckage, reaching the remains of the victims has been, as you've seen,
incredibly difficult. Among those victims were 28 members of the U.S. figure skating community. The organization shared this tribute to the
athletes, coaches and family members who died in the crash.
Fifty five of the 67 victims have been recovered from the American Airlines jet and military helicopter. Let's get more now from Reagan National
Airport and Gabe Cohen. And Gabe, that black box is what so many people have been waiting for. And I'm guessing one of the things they'll be
looking for, I remember at the time when we reported on it was the altitude, right? Of the -- of the Blackhawk helicopter. Give us a sense of
what authorities will be looking for here.
GABE COHEN, CNN REPORTER: Yes, Isa, that's right. If they are able to obtain that flight data and voice recordings from the helicopter, it could
paint a much clearer picture of what was going on inside that Blackhawk in the seconds, even minutes leading up to the crash. And it could answer some
of those outstanding questions.
For example, the one you brought up, early data from the black boxes on board the plane indicate that at the time of the crash, the jet was flying
at an altitude of about 325 feet. That is well above the 200 foot limit for helicopters along that route on the Potomac River. So, if the black box
data from the helicopter lines up with that, it is going to beg the question, why would a helicopter be flying that high around Reagan Airport?
[14:25:00]
And perhaps voice recordings from a black box may give an answer, though we don't know if it will. We also know that on-air-traffic audio from the
night of the collision, you can hear controllers ask the pilots of the Blackhawk for confirmation that they can see the American Airlines flight
because they need to pass behind it, and they do get that verbal confirmation from personnel on the helicopter.
Which begs the question, was the team on board that Blackhawk looking at a different aircraft? What exactly was the source of that confusion? We don't
know that the black box will answer that question, but it's an important piece of the puzzle. You also mentioned the salvage operation that's
happening behind me in the Potomac River.
That massive crane that today has been lifting huge pieces of the wreckage of that airplane out of the water. They are still trying to recover and
identify 12 of those 67 victims. You mentioned, 28 of them are from the U.S. figure skating community. Several of them are children, incredibly
talented young skaters whose lives were cut short along with the others who make up that 67-victim list.
People who have incredible stories, who touched family members, touched their communities and their lives sadly, Isa, cut far too short in this
tragedy.
SOARES: Gabe, indeed, it's just so -- it's heartening, really -- it's disheartening really to listen to them and to see that little video they
put out. Appreciate it, Gabe Cohen there for us with the very latest. I want to stay in the United States because five people remain hospitalized
following Friday's deadly Medevac plane crash in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
Three of those in the hospital are in critical condition, 22 people on the ground were injured in the Philadelphia crash. The investigators have the
cockpit voice recorder and hope it will help them understand their -- even there, what happened? Seven people, including six Mexicans on board the air
ambulance were killed.
The flight operators confirmed the identities of the four deceased crew members pictured here. A young patient and her mother who were returning to
Tijuana in Mexico also died. And as we reported at the top of the hour, it's not just USAID that President Donald Trump is targeting. The FBI is
now bracing for what could be a massive purge of those considered disloyal to the new White House.
A questionnaire sent to thousands of agents and officials who worked on the January 6th Capitol riot case is due in less than an hour. Meanwhile, we
are learning there is some resistance from leaders in the bureau's nationwide field offices. The potential mass firing comes just days after
the Justice Department abruptly terminated more than two dozen prosecutors who took part in criminal cases against the U.S. President.
Security correspondent and former FBI agent Josh Campbell joins me now. And Josh, I mean, this must be incredibly scary and nerve-wracking for so many
of the employees. What more do we know about this questionnaire first of all?
JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you know, I've talked to numerous people inside the FBI, Isa, and they are in a state of alarm
because they fear that this massive purge could be on the horizon for them. And we're not talking about political appointees. These are rank-and-file
line level FBI agents, analysts and professional staff members.
Now, as you were mentioning, that questionnaire that was sent to thousands of FBI employees has really had a chilling effect because this is
unprecedented. What the Justice Department is asking is for all of these employees to explain what was your role in investigating the January 6th
insurrection? And obviously, cases that Donald Trump himself has taken issue with.
And so, there is this great concern that maybe that could be leading to some kind of mass firing. Now, the FBI Agents Association, this is a group
that represents thousands of FBI employees, I'll read you an e-mail that they sent to their members. They're saying don't voluntarily leave. In this
e-mail, they say do not resign or offer to resign.
"While we would never advocate for physical noncompliance, you need to be clear your removal is not voluntary. Employees carrying out their duties to
investigate allegations of criminal activity with integrity and within the rule of law should never be treated as those who have engaged in actual
misconduct."
Now, one thing that is so interesting as this is already taking place here, we know that at least seven FBI executives have been told to depart the
agency, but this runs completely counter to what Kash Patel, who is the President's new nominee to run the FBI, counter to what he told Congress
when he said that this type of action would not happen. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KASH PATEL, TRUMP'S NOMINEE TO HEAD FBI: Every FBI employee will be held to the absolute same standard, and no one will be terminated for case
assignment. All FBI employees will be protected against political retribution --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They deserve.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CAMPBELL: The question, Isa, at this hour whether they are trying to rush this through before Patel and the new attorney general take over to perhaps
give them some type of clean slate and distance them from these actions by the Trump administration. But as I mentioned, it's very concerning.
And of course, finally, this is coming as the U.S. itself is in this heightened terrorism threat environment, officials continue to tell us they
worry that the -- you know, last thing that the nation needs right now is to start dismissing thousands of FBI employees who are charged with
covering those threats. So, certainly, a very tense time inside the bureau right now.
SOARES: Indeed, tense time across D.C., it seems. Appreciate it. Josh, thank you very much.
CAMPBELL: You bet.
SOARES: Thank you.
CAMPBELL: Thank you.
SOARES: And still to come tonight, European Union leaders meet as their biggest ally threatens a trade war. We'll take you to Brussels with all the
latest.
And then Israel is escalating its major offensive in the West Bank, blowing up entire buildings in a tactic more commonly seen in Gaza.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Welcome back, everyone. More now on our top story. An 11th hour agreement to delay U.S. tariffs on Mexico. U.S. President Donald Trump, who
ordered 25 percent tariffs on Saturday, says he agreed to put them on hold for one month after speaking today with Mexican President Claudia
Sheinbaum. He says she promised to send 10,000 Mexican troops to the U.S. border to help stop the flow of fentanyl and undocumented immigrants into
the United States.
Those U.S. tariffs are still set to go into effect in just a few hours for Canada, 25 percent, 10 percent for China. And a possible trade war was a
focus for E.U. leaders meeting in Brussels today. Germany's chancellor had this to say, have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OLAF SCHOLZ, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (through translator): We will of course also talk intensively about cooperation with the United States of America.
Both the USA and Europe benefit from the exchange of goods and services. If customs policy now makes this difficult, it will be bad for the USA and bad
for Europe.
[14:35:00]
It is clear that as a strong economic area, we can organize things ourselves and can also react to customs policy with customs policy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Let's get more on this. Jeanna Smialek is the Brussels Bureau chief for the New York Times who covers the European Union. Jeanna, really
appreciate you being with us. It does seem like Europe might be next on Trump's radar. How does the E.U., from your point there, your vantage point
there in Brussels, you know, how does it make sense of what's happening and why it's being targeted? Is it simply trade surplus here?
JEANNA SMIALEK, BRUSSELS BUREAU CHIEF, NEW YORK TIMES: Yes, you know, I think it is pretty obvious that President Trump is eager to use tariffs as
a tool sort of across the board. He's left them on quite a few, obviously, American allies and trading partners, including Canada. And so, I think the
question is less about, you know, why would he do this and more about what will it practically look like?
He specifically cited things like trade surplus with automobiles and with farm products, you know, food as being big motivations here. But I think
the question is, is the -- do the tariffs go beyond those products? Are they across the board? How high are they? And what exactly do they look
like?
SOARES: So, what are you hearing then? As E.U. leaders prepare, what would that look like? Where would -- what would Trump focus on -- President Trump
focus on here?
SMIALEK: Yes. So, this is the big question, right? They don't know what President Trump will focus on. They don't know exactly what it's going to
look like. And so, it's hard for them to say exactly how they're going to respond.
What we know from our own reporting is that the E.U. at the commission level, which is the executive branch, has had a Trump task force operating
behind the scenes over the past year, basically trying to think through scenarios and think through how they might react in various different
situations.
But at this point, they're really waiting to make it clear what those responses would look like until they know exactly what's about to hit them.
SOARES: And, Jeanna, I'm just looking at comments that were made by the prime minister of Denmark, who says, but of course, if the U.S. puts tough
tariffs on Europe, we need a collective and robust response. How do you interpret that? What would that look like?
SMIALEK: Yes. So, I think that this is the sort of the big message we've been hearing from all of the E.U. leaders gathered here in Brussels today
that, A, they hope that this doesn't happen. B, that if it did happen, it would be very bad for everybody involved. C, that if it happens, that
retribution will be coming your way. And that D, you know, we're going to be organized and we're going to stay together as we do this. So, you're not
just going to parcel off Europe into a bunch of different countries, that E.U. will react as a whole.
And so, I think that's the big message coming out of today's meetings. I think the question is, you know, exactly what does that look like when the
rubber hits the road?
SOARES: And, you know, exactly, E.U. will react as a whole. I mean, E.U. struggles to react, you know, as a whole in many key substances, you know,
in many key areas of policy. Can they agree to this? And especially when you have, one -- the biggest ally right here in the United States, who
clearly is treating the E.U., Canada, Mexico more as an enemy than a friend. So, how do they frame this as the European Union here, I'm thinking
here, rather than the challenge, trying to agree on this?
SMIALEK: Yes. So, I think there are two big points here. The first is that I think that's what meetings like this are about. Today purportedly is
about defense, but I think it's been obviously the trade -- potential trade wars have been a big topic of conversation here in Brussels today and trade
ministers are actually meeting in Warsaw today. And so, there are these conversations happening now, to sort of make sure there's an agreed upon
framework that everybody can get behind to respond.
I think the second thing that's important to point out is, if there's a place where the E.U. does have sort of an ability to react and a track
record of knowing what it's doing, it's trade. You know, trade is their most basic competency. This is what they were built for. And so, I think
there is this idea that, you know, this is directly in their wheelhouse, and they probably are organized in a way that would help them be able to
respond effectively if they do feel a trade war coming their way.
SOARES: And look, it's interesting what we heard today from the E.U.'s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, who said -- and I want to get your reaction to this,
how President Trump may react. He said there are no winners in trade wars, but she said the one -- and if the United States European Union were to get
into one, the one laughing on the side is China.
How would that sort of comment -- you know, how would that be viewed by President Trump, you think?
SMIALEK: Yes. So, I think this is a really interesting question, because I think that there may be some difference between Trump 1.0 and Trump 2.0 in
this regard.
SOARES: Yes.
SMIALEK: I think if you read Robert Lighthizer's book, which is Trump's former sort of head of trade policy, and he came out with a book in between
the two administrations. And I think if you read that book, you get this real takeaway that they see these tariffs as a potential strategic choice
that can achieve goals and be used is really a negotiating cudgel and get people to do things they want them to do.
SOARES: Yes.
[14:40:00]
SMIALEK: And so, I think in a world where you see these as really strategic, I think that you think you can parcel countries off against each
other in a way that can be effective for the United States, I think that makes this very complicated to read from a Trump perspective.
SOARES: Jeanna, really appreciate you taking the time to speak to us. Thank you very much indeed.
SMIALEK: Thank you.
SOARES: Now, staying in Europe, just hours ago, Senior International Correspondent Fred Pleitgen spoke with Germany's opposition leader,
Friedrich Merz. Merz is also the head of the Christian Democratic Union and a frontrunner in the race to become the country's next chancellor. Here's
what he said about the changes Germany is facing and how he would deal with President Trump. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRIEDRICH MERZ, LEADER, GERMANY'S CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION: Immediately after the formation of a new government, we have to take some decisions on
migration. My personal decision would be to control our orders and to return those who are coming without documents.
And the second thing is we have to do something on the economy. The economy in Germany is running pretty bad, and so we have to take decisions.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: If you become chancellor, you will be dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump, who's
already done a lot of wide-ranging decisions, but also threatened tariffs against European nations, of course Mexico and Canada as well. How would
you deal with Donald Trump as president?
MERZ: I remind you what happened when he was in his first term. He put in place tariffs against steel and aluminum in America. And the European
answer was tariffs against motorcycles, against jeans, and against American whiskey. And the former president of the E.U. Commission went to
Washington, had a deal with him, and after six weeks, they gave up all the tariffs. So, the answer has to come from the European level.
PLEITGEN: Defense is obviously another big key issue for Donald Trump and the 5 percent goal that he's put forward now. How would you deal with that?
I was also very interested in your speech. You also spoke very strongly on the subject of Ukraine as well, I saw.
MERZ: Absolutely, yes. I'm very strong in this position. We are on the Ukrainian side because the attack is against all of us. We have to achieve
the NATO goals. This is 2 percent of our GDP minimum. This is the lowest level. We are behind that. We have to do that.
But my second answer is, don't let us talk about money only. Standardization, simplification, and economies of scale have to be put in
place as well. So, we have to get more for the money and the best would be cooperating with the U.S. and with the U.S. government. We do not yet know
what they are really planning to do. I would like to see what they are planning to do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Friedrich Merz's there speaking to our Frederik Pleitgen. We're going to take a short break. See you on the other side.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:45:00]
SOARES: The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees says shocking scenes in the West Bank are putting the Gaza ceasefire at risk, threatening a new
escalation of violence. Have a look.
Israel's military detonated these mass explosions in the Jenin Refugee Camp. A Palestinian news agency says nearly 20 buildings were destroyed.
Israel launched a major offensive in Jenin just after the Gaza ceasefire, saying it's targeting, quote, "terrorist infrastructure." Jenin's mayor
says some 15,000 people have been displaced.
Israel has routinely blown-up entire buildings in Gaza. But rarely uses this tactic in the West Bank. It says troops will remain in Jenin once the
operation is over. Significant change in its policy. Jenin's mayor calls the statement worrying. Saying, it raises many questions about the West
Bank's future.
Well, dozens of Palestinians have been kill in Jenin since this major offensive begen, including a two-year-old girl who was shot inside her
home, as Jeremy Diamond now reports, her family is now demanding justice.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT (through translator): Tayma (ph) al-Khatib's world has been shattered, but she is trying to stay
strong. After all, that's what Layla would want.
TAYMA AL-KHATIB (through translator): Layla was always the source of my strength.
DIAMOND (voice-over): Layla was just two years old when she was killed by Israeli troops. One of at least 24 Palestinians killed by Israeli military
operations in and around the West Bank city of Jenin the last two weeks.
The little girl whose laughter once delighted her family now gone. The family were having dinner when Layla's grandfather heard a faint voice on a
loudspeaker that sounded like the Israeli military.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The voice was distant. So, we didn't pay attention to it. After a few moments, we heard gunfire very
close by, closer than the usual. So, I asked the girls to hide in their bedroom, and my wife and I head in our bedroom that faces the street so we
could try to see what was happening.
DIAMOND: And you laid down?
DIAMOND (voice-over): Inside that bedroom, Layla's mother, Tayma (ph), grabbed her daughter and cradled her on the ground.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): In that moment, shots were fired toward us. So, my wife and I ducked and fell to the ground, and then I
heard my girls screaming from inside the bedroom.
DIAMOND (voice-over): The screams were Tayma's (ph), Layla had been shot in the head.
AL-KHATIB (through translator): My blouse, this whole area, was filled with blood. So, I started screaming, saying, Layla, something hit her and
she's bleeding. They came quickly and grabbed her from me so they could take her outside to call the ambulance.
DIAMOND (voice-over): Bassam (ph) rushed outside with Layla in his arms, where he found dozens of soldiers. They had surrounded his house. Some had
taken up positions on a neighboring roof.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I looked at one of the soldiers and asked him, why are you killing my daughter? He was a bit stunned and
saw the girl bleeding, and then said, I am sorry. He's saying he said, I'm sorry.
DIAMOND: He said, I am sorry.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I am sorry. I told him my child is bleeding. She needs help. What do you mean? I'm sorry.
AL-KHATIB (through translator): I wanted to hold the soldier and scream out to the world and say that he killed a young child and he burnt the
heart of a mother. Any mother like me who had to endure this and then have a soldier say, I'm sorry, it's as if nothing happened.
The man who fired at Layla for no reason has to be prosecuted and punished, and not just him, anyone who was involved, from the commanders, from the
army who encircled the house.
DIAMOND (voice-over): The Israeli military said it opened fire on the house after receiving intelligence about, quote, "barricaded armed
terrorists" and claim they called on people to leave the building multiple times.
Immediately after they opened fire, the soldiers identified injuries among uninvolved civilians who were present in the structure and coordinated the
rapid arrival of the Red Crescent to evacuate them. The IDF regrets any harm caused to uninvolved civilians and takes various measures to prevent
such incidents. The incident will be examined and lessons will be learned accordingly.
[14:50:00]
Gunfire didn't just strike Layla Khatib's home.
DIAMOND: These are bullet holes.
DIAMOND (voice-over): Bullets also tore through neighboring apartments, where Layla's extended family lives.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All kids here. Not just in this house. And up there and in my brother's house. Their kids, like this.
DIAMOND: They must have been really afraid.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course.
DIAMOND (voice-over): After the gunfire ended, multiple residents accuse Israeli forces of trying to cover up what happened, destroying several
security cameras in the area. This video obtained by CNN shows a soldier trying to knock down a security camera on the same street with the butt of
his rifle. The military did not respond to CNN's questions about the destruction of security cameras.
In a home riddled with bullets, all that is left now are the memories.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): She would hop on my shoulders and she would say, grandpa, I want to kiss your head, and she would hug me. I
used to love this.
DIAMOND (voice-over): And a mother's duty to speak out for her daughter.
AL-KHATIB (through translator): I want everybody to know Layla and her story and how they killed a young child who was so ambitious, so smart.
This is my duty to her.
DIAMOND (voice-over): Jeremy Diamond, CNN, Jenin, the West Bank.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Well, talks on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement was supposed to begin no later than today, but Israel is yet to unveil a
negotiating team, let alone send them to Qatar or Egypt, two key mediators, of course.
Instead, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Washington, as you can see, getting ready for his meeting tomorrow with President Donald Trump.
Mr. Netanyahu is the first foreign leader to be invited to the White House during the second Trump administration. Listen to what he told reporters
before leaving Israel.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: The decisions we made in the war have already changed the face of the Middle East. Our decisions and the
courage of our soldiers have redrawn the map. But I believe that working closely with President Trump, we can redraw it even further, and for the
better.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: And you may recall, of course, that the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant from Mr. Netanyahu in connection with
alleged war crimes in Gaza, but the U.S. is not a member of the court and Washington has condemned the arrest warrant for the Israeli leader.
We're going to take a short break. We'll see you in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:55:00]
SOARES: It wasn't her first rodeo, but it was fifth times the charm at the Grammys for Beyonce. After five nominations, she finally took home the
music industry's biggest prize-winning album of the year for "Cowboy Carter."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Grammy goes to "Cowboy Carter." Beyonce. Beyonce.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: She also became the first black woman to ever win the Grammy for Best Country Album. Her record 99 Grammy nominations are more than any
other artist in history.
But it wasn't just musicians being honored Sunday. You may have also noticed the firefighters announcing Album of the Year. The show went all
out honoring first responders battling this year's devastating, of course, L.A. wildfires. The Grammys say they also helped raise at least $7 million
to support fire victims. Congratulations to them. Very good cause indeed.
SOARES: That does it for tonight. Thanks very much for your company. Do stay right here. I'll be back at the top of the hour. See you in just a
moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:00:00]
END