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One World with Zain Asher
Trump Kickstarts New Term With A Slew Of Executive Orders; Trump Begins Harsh Crackdown On Immigration; Netanyahu: "Significant Operation" Launched In West Bank; Palestinians In Gaza Look To Rebuild From The Rubble; Trump Ends All Jan. 6 Cases With Pardons, Commutations; Putin, Russian T.V. Largely Praise Trump's Inauguration; Trial Against Murdoch's Tabloids Begins. Aired 12-1p ET
Aired January 21, 2025 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[12:00:36]
ZAIN ASHER, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: All right. Coming to you live from New York, I'm Zain Asher. This is ONE WORLD.
Donald Trump has had a busy 24 hours. Right now, he's at an interfaith service at the National Cathedral in Cleveland Park, along with Vice
President, you see there, J.D. Vance, their families. There's Melania Trump, there's Usha Vance as well.
Afterwards, he'll hit the ground running, meeting with House and Senate Republican leaders. And then, there will be more executive orders.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN ROBERTS, CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE UNITED STATES: So help me God.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: So help me God.
ROBERTS: Congratulations, Mr. President.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Basking in the afterglow of his inauguration on Monday, the U.S. president signed a slew of executive orders and pardons. They dealt with
everything from leaving the World Health Organization to pardoning those arrested in January 6th Capitol riots or as he calls them hostages.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: So this is January 6th. These are the hostages, approximately 1,500 for a pardon.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
TRUMP: Full pardon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Many of the executive orders dealt with immigration. One of Donald Trump's big campaign issues. He declared a state of emergency at the
southern border, which means U.S. troops could be deployed along that border.
President Trump's new U.S. border czar says mass deportation raids could begin this week.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM HOMAN, U.S. BORDER CZAR: The criminal cartel being designated terrorist organization is a game-changer. That's going to help secure the border.
Also, the Interior Enforcement Operation starts tomorrow. ICE agents, they're going to lose the handcuffs they've had to put on them by the Biden
administration. They're going to put the handcuffs on the bad guys.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Let's bring in Kevin Liptak who is at the White House for us.
So, Kevin, when we look at the types of executive orders that Donald Trump issued on day one, just from January 6 and those pardons that we saw there
to all of the sort of immigration executive orders, what does that tell us about the type of second term that Trump envisions for himself?
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, I think it shows us that Trump is ready and willing to test the bounds of his executive
authority. We saw him do that yesterday, almost immediately upon entering office now. This administration is exactly one day old.
We do have a good window into how President Trump will try and achieve the goals he promised as a candidate, including on immigration, but also on the
economy, on energy, on those January 6 pardons.
And I think it was very interesting just watching him go through the scope and breadth of these executive actions. There were some that were purely
symbolic, things like renaming the Gulf of Mexico, renaming Denali in Alaska.
But there were some highly consequential ones, starting with that blanket pardon for the January 6 rioters and his telling 1,500 pardons. It included
more than a dozen far-right activists. And based on appearances, these pardons apply not only to low-level offenders, but also those accused of
violence on January 6.
And it just goes to show how far President Trump is willing to go to fulfill some of these promises. We also saw him yesterday revoke almost 80
Biden era executive actions. He withdrew from the Paris Climate Accord. He withdrew from the World Health Organization.
And you really see him trying to reshape the federal government, both in policy and personnel, to his liking. So he instituted a hiring freeze, a
freeze on regulations, a call to workers to go back to office.
Now, a lot of this will be challenged in court. In fact, we're already seeing some of the immigration orders being challenged by activists for
immigration. And so this will be an uphill battle to keep all of these on the books. But it does goes to show that Trump is willing to really see how
far he can go with his presidential pen.
But, of course, for a number of the priorities, the more sweeping ones, he will need to work with Congress. And that is part of the reason why He has
invited Republican congressional leaders here to the White House for talks later today.
He will have to navigate the most thinnest of margins in the House and the Senate if he wants to institute things like more funding for immigration.
The debt ceiling is an issue that he will also have to confront. There are very complex issues of rewriting the tax code that will come due this year
as well. And so he will need to work with these congressional Republicans. Right now they're not necessarily all on the same page on how to do all of
that. And so that will be a matter of discussion when he meets with them later this afternoon.
[12:05:19]
And then we will see Trump again at 4:00 P.M. Eastern Time, according to the White House, making what they call a massive infrastructure
announcement.
You'll remember, Zain, in Trump's first administration, infrastructure became something of a punchline, often obscured by other topics and other
controversies.
Clearly, Trump wants to return to that issue in a more earnest way as his new administration begins.
ASHER: And, Kevin, another thing that Donald Trump promised is this idea of applying new tariffs on Canada and Mexico. It hasn't happened yet, but we
believe it could happen as soon as February 1st. Walk us through that.
LIPTAK: Yes. And that's what he told us yesterday in the Oval Office. What he has done is issued a memorandum on trade, ordering his economic advisors
to look into trade fairness and into trade deficits. But that was a day one promise of President Trump's, to apply these new tariffs on the United
States' North American neighbors in Canada and Mexico that didn't come to pass. In his telling, we may see them come into place on February 1st.
Whether that happens or not remains to be seen.
There is another day one promise that has actually just expired this hour, which is ending the war in Ukraine. He said, somewhat implausibly on the
campaign trail, that he would be able to resolve that conflict in 24 hours. We are now 24 hours into the Trump presidency. Of course, that war grinds
on.
When we talked to Trump in the Oval Office last night, he said he wanted to talk to Vladimir Putin, see if he's willing to come to an agreement.
We also heard from the new Secretary of State Marco Rubio this morning who said and acknowledged that both sides will have to make concessions if this
war is to come to an end. But so far, the contours of any kind of settlement remain very, very unclear.
ASHER: All right. Kevin Liptak, live for us there at the White House. Thank you so much.
And as we mentioned, it came as no surprise that one of the first things that Donald Trump did on being inaugurated was to sign a series of
executive orders on immigration. Immigration had perhaps been the biggest issue Donald Trump campaigned on. And he said the crackdown would begin
right away.
More details now from CNN's Priscilla Alvarez.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President Donald Trump started his first hours back in office by signing sweeping executive actions on
immigration. They included, for example, a national emergency on the U.S. border to essentially shore up Pentagon resources along the border, as well
as designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. That was a resurfaced idea from his first term that didn't come to fruition, as well
as kicking off negotiations for his signature border policy known as Remain in Mexico, which required migrants to stay in Mexico while they went
through their immigration court proceedings.
But while he talked about each of these executive actions, over the course of the day, it was something that he didn't talk about that had the fastest
implications for those migrants along the U.S. southern border. And that was the turning off of a border app known as CBP One that allowed migrants
to schedule appointments at legal ports of entry.
So thousands of migrants who were queued up for those appointments will now have those canceled. Raising concerns among some Homeland security
officials I spoke in with who say that some of them may be prompted to cross the border illegally.
Now, in addition to that, I'm also told that at the Justice Department, there was a purge of career public civil servants who had been serving in
key leadership roles at the immigration office within the Justice Department. That is an office that oversees the nation's immigration
courts. In other words, those immigration judges who choose who stays in the U.S. and who is deported.
Now, we have also started to see legal challenges come in. The ACLU, for example, suing on the executive order to end birthright citizenship. Of
course, that can't be taken as a unilateral action. It rather kicks off a process, but the ACLU already taking the Trump administration to court. And
we'll see if there are more legal challenges that follow.
But certainly, the Trump administration coming in trying to execute on President Trump's promises on the campaign trail to initiate an immigration
crackdown.
Priscilla Alvarez, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: All right. Let's dig a little bit deeper now into Trump's plans to change how America handles immigration. I'm joined live now by Berenice
Garcia, reporter for "The Texas Tribune," who covers the southern border. And Lynn Sweet, Washington bureau chief for "The Chicago Sun-Times."
Berenice, let me start with you, because what has garnered probably the most headlines since Donald Trump's executive actions is this attempt to
end birthright citizenship in the U.S., which, of course, is a constitutional guarantee. Just walk us through the legal pitfalls of that
attempt by Donald Trump.
[12:10:12]
LYNN SWEET, WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: There's --
BERENICE GARCIA, RIO GRANDE VALLEY REPORTER, TEXAS TRIBUNE: Well, I mean, there is --
ASHER: Let me start with Berenice first. And then we'll go to Lynn.
GARCIA: Well, I mean, there's just the issue of constitutionality, right? I mean, there's already legal challenges by the ACLU on whether this can even
go into effect. And really, it's really up to how that's going to turn out. If it were to be implemented, it would affect, I mean, I can only imagine
the thousands of people that would be affected.
But, yes, I mean, it's very -- there's a lot of skepticism about whether this would ever be able to be implemented. So, I mean, right now, it's
still wait and see approach.
ASHER: Lynn let me bring you in also, because another sort of major headline that we got is this idea of ICE officials perhaps trying to round
up immigrants who are in and around the Chicago area, immigrants who perhaps have been living, possibly illegally, but for, you know, 10, 20, 30
years, who might now get deported. What do we know on that front?
And just walk us through what Chicago City leaders have perhaps been told about these plans, if anything at all.
SWEET: Well, neither the mayor of Chicago nor the governor of Illinois have been briefed by the new Trump White House about what is to happen. The city
is braced for raids either on a small or large area -- of the city and the area.
Now, there are routine raids that happen all the time here and there. And there have been a few immigration enforcement actions in the city this
morning. Nothing yet on a large scale.
There's been a massive education project going on from all the community groups to have people know their rights and what to do if you're
approached.
But one thing that is clear is that the immigration push that Trump has put forward and with the signing of his executive orders has put the city's
immigration community on edge.
ASHER: And just explain to us, Lynn, just to sort of follow up on that point. Yes, it's put the communities that have a lot of immigrants.
They're, of course, on edge. But just explain to us how, if several thousand undocumented workers in and around Chicago are deported, how does
that affect the local economy in the area?
SWEET: Well, Chicago is a sanctuary city, a welcoming city. And the area around it, Illinois, has many, many immigrant workers, some documented,
some not, who are the lifeblood of the local economy.
If you go to restaurants, to different factories, you know, these are people who aren't fully employed. In fact, one thing that has united the
democratic and Republican elements in the city through this last year or so is a united effort to explain the need for immigrant labor in the Chicago
area.
And for a while, this was even led by a prominent Republican business executive. So there has been acknowledgement that the immigrant community
makes a really big economic contribution to the area.
ASHER: And, Berenice, just going back to birthright citizenship. Even though there are a lot of legal hurdles before, you know, Trump camp sort
of end birthright citizenship in the U.S., we know that Donald Trump has instructed federal agencies in the U.S. to stop giving documentation to
children who are born to undocumented immigrants or immigrants who are in the country on temporary visas.
What are the -- what are the consequences of that? And what could be the possible fallout of that, Berenice?
GARCIA: Well, I mean, one thing to be clear, right? It wouldn't take it -- and it wouldn't go into effect until 30 days after the implementation of
the executive order. So, I think that's one thing to talk about. I know a lot of questions about whether it'd be retroactive.
But so, no, it would be -- it would affect, you know, anybody who is born in the U.S. to immigrant parents who, you know, who were -- was born in the
United States after the implementation of it.
And so I think one thing that we need to -- I mean, we need to think about is that, you know, just the -- you know, people who are living here, you
know, they wouldn't have the ability to travel, right? They wouldn't be -- they wouldn't have the ability to have the rights and the benefits that are
entrained to citizens, typically, even though they're going to be -- even if they're born here, most likely that means that they're going to grow up,
they'll live here and they wouldn't have the ability to really -- to enjoy the benefits that normally would go to people like that. And so those are
the kinds of things that you'll likely see.
[12:15:15]
And, of course, I think what the ultimate goal, I believe with the Trump administration, right, is to -- is to discourage people from traveling to
the United States and having children here, right? I think that's a lot of the big reasons why people do come, is to -- and do come in and decide to
give birth to children here is because they want their children to grow up and to have a better life than they did. That possibility would dim, right,
if that executive order would go into effect.
ASHER: Lynn, final question to you as we talk about what could happen around the Chicago area with these pending raids. I mean, obviously, there
are some legal hurdles, as I understand it. ICE would need some kind of judicial warrants signed in order to be able to carry out these kinds of
raids. Just explain to us how quickly that could happen.
SWEET: Well, Chicago is a sanctuary city. Well, they have a welcoming city ordinance. And Illinois is a sanctuary state, has orders to the law
enforcement personnel to not cooperate with federal immigration agents, not to stop them.
But, you know, the position of the governor and the mayor, and I've talked to both of them about this in the last few days. Let the federal officers
do their job and let local law enforcement do what they're supposed to do. And the job of local law enforcement is not to assist immigration
enforcement agents.
Now, the city and the state and the surrounding communities are ready and poised to go to court if necessary to challenge any federal attempt to
overwrite the local authority, not to have the local officials cooperate on any kind of raid.
So a lot of unknown, but that's where we're at a starting point. And the local officials do wonder if President Trump wants to make some kind of
example of Chicago, because his borders czar had promised, a few months ago, that Chicago will be ground zero when it comes to the mass
deportations. That's a big reason why everyone has been getting ready for this day, this week to come.
ASHER: All right. Lynn Sweet, Berenice Garcia, thank you both so much. We appreciate it.
SWEET: Thank you.
ASHER: All right. Still to come, a fragile ceasefire in Gaza is just three days old, but Israel has already launched a major military campaign in the
West Bank. We are live in the region after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:20:22]
ASHER: Israel has launched what it calls a large-scale and significant military operation in a city in the occupied West Bank. Palestinian
authorities say the offensive in Jenin has killed at least seven Palestinians and injured 35 others.
The timing is notable. It comes on the third day of a fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza and a day after the inauguration of the new U.S.
president.
Donald Trump, meantime, says he's not confident the ceasefire is going to be going to hold, despite claiming credit for brokering the deal. Here's
what he told reporters on Monday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I'm not confident. It's not our war, it's their war. But I'm not confident. But I think they're very weakened on the other side.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you support a two-state --
TRUMP: Gaza -- I looked at the picture of Gaza. Gaza is like a massive demolition site at crisis. It's really -- got to be rebuilt in a different
way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Israel's military chief of staff is resigning over the failure to prevent Hamas' October 7th terror attack. In a letter released by the
military, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi wrote, under my command, the IDF failed in its mission to protect the citizens of Israel. His resignation
marks the highest profile departure of an Israeli official linked to security failures on October 7th.
CNN's senior global affairs analyst and one world anchor, Bianna Golodryga, is in Hostage Square for us in Tel Aviv.
So, Bianna, just in terms of Israel's army chief, Herzi Halevi, saying he's going to be resigning on March 6 because of the security failures that took
place on October 7th. I mean, it's interesting because still no responsibility taken at the top of the food chain, just in terms of Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself.
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN SENIOR GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Yes. And you're not the only one to pick up on that, Zain. It's good to see you.
Herzi Halevi is scheduled, as you noted, to formally resign on March 6. That should be towards the end of the implementation of phase one that
would see the release of 33 hostages. Three have already been released. We're expecting four more this weekend.
It also would mean, however, that Israel is put in the position of whether or not they actually go back into fighting in Gaza, which is something that
far-right members of Prime Minister Netanyahu's coalition have been pressing him to do.
Itamar Ben-Gvir actually resigned because of that. And you have Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, who threatened to resign if Israel does not
go back into Gaza. So there is a lot of trepidation here.
Not that much surprise, I should say, at the resignation of Herzi Halevi. It was literally just a matter of time, as well as the chief of southern
command also resigning right after Halevi announced his resignation.
But it comes after we've seen the IDF chief of staff, former -- the IDF Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant. He was fired a few months ago. He also took
responsibility for the failure of preventing October 7th and the response to October 7th.
And, Zain, that leads to the question of where's the prime minister taking any responsibility? You have members of the opposition saying that if you
have the IDF chief of staff resigning, that the prime minister should be forced to resign as well, in addition to opening an inquiry into an
investigation into what led up to the failures of October 7th.
And there's so much concern that this fragile ceasefire could fall apart, not only because of pressure from those in this government pushing the
prime minister to resume fighting. Actually, that is what they are saying now. They are saying that whoever replaces Herzi Halevi should have the
mission of picking up the fighting and, quote-unquote, defeating Hamas, but you talk about the renewed fighting in the occupied West Bank as well.
Notable that Israel launched this new operation. They said it will be a multi-day operation in Jenin. And Bezalel Smotrich applauding this
decision. After the prime minister announcing this operation, Bezalel Smotrich followed up by saying, this should also be part of Israel's war
goals here.
And that raises a lot of question among family members as to whether or not this ceasefire deal can hold. We've seen increased violence over the past
two nights in the occupied West Bank where Jewish extremist settlers had actually raided several villages in the occupied West Bank.
So families here are gathering, they're hoping, they're praying, they'll be speaking behind me later, but all of this causes them great concerns, Zain.
ASHER: Yes. A lot of people saying that the raids that we're seeing in the West Bank only make the ceasefire between Israel and Gaza that much more
fragile.
[12:25:02]
Just in terms of Donald Trump, and obviously we saw in the inauguration yesterday. And a lot of people are hoping that with Trump now officially in
office, we will get much more clarity on the U.S. approach to the Middle East.
But we heard Donald Trump comment that even he is extremely skeptical about whether or not the ceasefire will actually end up holding.
What has been the reaction to Trump's comments there on the ground?
GOLODRYGA: Yes. Yes, Zain. I spoke to a number of family members of hostages that remain in Gaza, and they are hopeful. They had renewed
optimism. They told me, after hearing the president's comments last night and how highly he elevated this particular issue, bringing up family
members there in that arena yesterday, along with Steve Witkoff, his envoy to the region, saying that he would do everything they can. This was just
the beginning, getting the first three hostages out, and that he would see that the remainder come out as well.
But as you noted, even the president acknowledging that he can't confirm, he does not know if the ceasefire will hold.
He also, though, would like to see Saudi normalization deal come to fold. And, Zain, you can't square what the Saudis are requiring to make sure that
happens. And that is a resolution to the Palestinian issue and a day after plan in Gaza. And that is something that this government, as of right now,
is not prepared or willing to talk about.
ASHER: All right. Bianna Golodryga, live for us there in Tel Aviv. Always good to see you, my friend. Thank you.
The Israeli military says the people in Gaza can return to the north next week if Hamas adheres to the ceasefire deal. While the agreement has
finally brought a moment of reprieve and is allowing them to return home, they are still grieving for everything they have lost over the past 15
months.
Our Nada Bashir has more on the situation on the ground in Gaza.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NADA NASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is what returning home looks like after 15 months of unrelenting war. There is little left to
salvage here in what once was Gaza's densely populated Al Bureij refugee camp, Israel's military onslaught leaving this small strip of land almost
entirely uninhabitable.
This was our house, our garden, Amal (ph) says. This was our whole life. All our memories.
Her daughter clutches on to whatever toys they were able to recover from their destroyed home. Like all families here, they will now try to carry on
with life, no matter what uncertainty lies ahead.
In Gaza City, the streets have already begun to fill in the absence of airstrikes and artillery. Little girls dressed in the traditional
Palestinian thobe. Celebratory cakes being shared in the streets.
For many, amid so much loss, the ceasefire is both a moment of long- awaited respite and a moment of rare joy.
Even though we are heading into a difficult and uncertain phase, the thought of no longer losing the people you love, of being able to sleep one
night without the fear of losing someone dear to you, is truly a relief, this woman says.
For over a year now, Palestinians in Gaza have spent each night hoping to survive just one more day.
Gaza is small, but it's survived against the world. The whole world was defeated, and we endured. To persevere is, in itself, a victory.
But even under a ceasefire, the war has made survival, at its most basic level, a persistent challenge for Palestinians in Gaza.
In Rafah, an area once designated a safe zone, the remains of decomposing bodies are a reminder of the kind of brutality Gaza's people have survived.
Buildings stand hollowed beside mountains of rubble, some returning to their now destroyed homes, but this time alone, their loved ones killed
over the course of the war.
We are defeated. We have no life left. We will live in the streets, Mohammed (ph) says. I came here hoping to see my house still standing, but
I found it destroyed.
With so much lost in Gaza, the road ahead will be long and difficult. But despite the incomprehensible suffering this small enclave has faced, there
remains an unwavering sense of hope.
Nada Bashir, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: A huge fire at a ski resort in Turkey has killed at least 66 people and injured another 51, officials say. It happened in Bolu province, which
is west of Ankara. The fire broke out overnight in a hotel restaurant. Flames tore through the roof and the top floors of the hotel as well.
Investigators say that some people tied together bed sheets to try to escape. Officials say two of the victims died after jumping out of the
building in a panic. The cause of this fire is not yet known.
All right, still to come, rewriting the history of the January 6th insurrection. Donald Trump grants sweeping clemency to the rioters, but is
there a broader message to his supporters as well? That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:30:53]
ASHER: All right. Welcome back to ONE WORLD. I'm Zain Asher.
It was an unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy that led to the largest criminal probe in U.S. history. And it's often been
described as one of the nation's darkest days.
But on Monday, in one of his first official acts, President Donald Trump, who watched the insurrection unfold from the White House, four years ago,
issued a sweeping grant of clemency to every single rioter who stormed the Capitol on January 6 and tried to overturn a free and fair election.
Pardons and commutations were granted to those found guilty of violent attacks on police officers, as well as far-right extremist leaders who were
sentenced for seditious conspiracy.
President Trump also directed the Justice Department to dismiss all pending indictments.
A short time ago, one Republican senator told CNN he couldn't agree with the president's decision and said, it raises a legitimate safety issue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. THOM TILLIS (R-NC): That police officers could potentially be assaulted, and there's no consequence. I mean, it's pretty straightforward
to me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Senator, can I ask you?
TILLIS: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have you talked to any Capitol Police officers this morning? What is their reaction?
TILLIS: Well, I haven't talked to them. I wouldn't expect them to react because they're professionals. And if they're not happy about it, they will
probably say that outside of this building. I wouldn't expect a single police officer to say a word about it.
[12:35:08]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you have concerns about the message it sends?
TILLIS: Well, it's like I said, I think that it raises -- I think a legitimate safety question here on Capitol Hill.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, sir.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Donald Trump's blanket January 6 pardons include men who viciously attacked former police officer Michael Fanone. Fanone, who is highlighted
in this video, was beaten with a flagpole and repeatedly tased in the neck during the seven-hour siege. He spoke to CNN Monday night and responded to
the news that his attackers now walk free.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL FANONE, FORMER D.C. METROPOLITAN POLICE OFFICER: So I have been betrayed by my country. Rest assured, I have been betrayed by my country.
And I have been betrayed by those that supported Donald Trump.
Tonight, six individuals who assaulted me, as I did my job on January 6th, as did hundreds of other law enforcement officers, will now walk free.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: It's time now for The Exchange and my conversation with Alexis Coe. She's a presidential historian and the author of "You Never Forget Your
First," a biography of George Washington. Welcome, Alexis.
So you heard Michael Fanone there basically saying, listen, I've been betrayed by my country.
It's interesting because the GOP has long branded itself as the party of police. But on January 6, 2021, 140 police officers were injured that day.
And now Donald Trump is pardoning January 6 offenders, not just the nonviolent ones, but including those who physically assaulted police
officers.
Just explain to us, you know, your reaction and also what message this sends to Capitol Police in particular.
ALEXIS COE, PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: I think it's also really important to remember that they have already, many of them, gone through the judicial
process. So not only is Trump sending a message to his supporters that shares that there can be, you know, one can be rewarded for their vote, but
also that the judicial system cannot be trusted.
And that is an extremely divisive message where pardons in the minds of the framers and the founders were meant to be a unifying power used sparingly.
ASHER: It's interesting because, you know, I often think about the sort of about face we've seen from Donald Trump over the past four years, because
immediately after the January 6th attack, Trump initially -- I mean, obviously there was a lot of political pressure on him, right?
But initially, he did try to sort of distance himself from the rioters. He talked about the fact that those who broke the rule of law should be held
accountable. And, again, we understand that there was a lot of pressure on him to say those things.
But now we've seen a compete 18-degree about face just in terms of now going so far as not just not saying anything, but actually going as far as
to pardon them, including not just, as I said before, the nonviolent offenders, but also the violent ones as well.
What's happened over the past four years?
COE: What's happened is that much like Grover Cleveland, although I do think that these are limited comparisons, Trump has spent the last four
years pressuring his party and largely succeeding. We could probably count on one hand how many times he hasn't. And so he's encouraged to act in this
manner.
I think it also sends a message about the America who he will govern for. And it's exclusive to those who do his bidding and who voted for him.
ASHER: So, how does he justify the slew of 1,500 pardons to -- I mean, it's not just his supporters, but it's also to moderate Republicans? I mean, it
was not very long ago that J.D. Vance had initially come out and said, you know, there probably will be pardons for nonviolent offenders, but, of
course, the violent offenders should face consequences. And obviously Donald Trump ignored that advice.
Explain to us how he justifies this to moderate Republicans.
COE: I'm not sure how he'll justify it, but I do know in our history that even the confederacy did not receive such welcome, as far as a pardon with
no strings attached. Lincoln handed out a little over 60 and Johnson thousands, thousands per day. But there was a requirement in exchange. And
I think this is a really important point that I haven't been hearing discussed.
President Lincoln and then subsequently President Johnson required that any confederates who wanted to be pardoned take an oath and they pledge to
honor the constitution to abide by it and basically say that they acknowledge the thing that they did not, which is that black people can
vote. And in this case, it would have been that there was no big lie that Biden won the election. But, of course, Trump didn't want to do that. And
that, to me, is vexing. So there really isn't a precedent for this.
[12:40:17]
ASHER: Yes. That is a really interesting comparison. So going forward, I mean, what does that tell you about Trump's perspective on the rule of law,
the fact that this was his very first -- one of his very first acts upon becoming president? What does that tell you about the next four years and
the perspective of this new administration on the rule of law in this country?
COE: It's frightening because it means that Donald Trump considers his authority, which the Supreme Court has, more or less, agreed upon, to be
greater than that of the Constitution.
But in this case, he might not be wrong. It seems like some of his executive orders will be challenged, but it will be difficult with the
pardon, which was meant to be at the discretion of the president, but it was meant to address wrong.
So if there had been an unjust trial, which we haven't heard about, that would have been a reason. It was meant to inspire unity. This does not
inspire unity. It was meant to show that the president could be empathetic towards an out group, and that's not what's happening either.
This is a direct way in which Trump benefited and then he paid it forward by keeping his promise. This was a campaign promise that he is keeping.
ASHER: All right, Alexis Coe, thank you so much. Appreciate it.
COE: Thank you.
ASHER: The World Health Organization has suffered a major setback. Find out why Donald Trump pulled U.S. support from the agency in one of his first
actions this term. We'll have details for you coming up after the short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: All right. Just in to CNN, the legal challenges to U.S. President Donald Trump's executive orders have now begun. More than a dozen states
have filed a lawsuit challenging Mr. Trump's order to end birthright citizenship. The challenge says his orders violate the Constitution.
Moments ago, CNN's Dana Bash spoke to the new border czar, Tom Homan. He wouldn't say when or where any raids against undocumented immigrants would
begin. And he refused to comment on what the administration would do with Afghans who applied for refugee status after the Taliban took over their
country, saying they would be handled on a case by case basis.
[12:45:04]
HOMAN: Right now, we're going to shut that border down and get a hold of this problem. What's happening on our border is the biggest national
security vulnerability I've seen in my career. And I've got over 35 years doing this.
We need to take action to secure the border. And we'll discuss the other policies down the road. But right now, it's all about securing the border
and saving lives.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: The World Health Organization says it regrets Donald Trump's decision to cut ties with the group. Trump has long been a critic of the
U.N.'s public health agency, saying it mishandled the COVID-19 pandemic, not making needed reforms and bowing to the influence of its member states.
The spokesperson for the WHO says the organization plays a crucial role in battling infectious diseases.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TARIK JASAREVIC, SPOKESMAN, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: The World Health Organization regrets the announcement that the United States of America, it
tends to withdraw from the organization.
We hope the United States will reconsider and we look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue to maintain the partnership between the United
States of America and WHO for the benefit of the health and well-being of millions of people around the globe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: And just a reminder that Donald Trump pulled out of the WHO at the end of his first term, but Joe Biden ended up reversing that move.
And Trump was certainly on the minds of world leaders and dignitaries gathered in Davos for the World Economic Forum. Ukrainian President
Vladimir Zelenskyy said, he's working on arranging a meeting with Mrs. Trump to discuss the war in his country.
President Zelenskyy seemed frustrated at times as he questioned America's commitment to helping Europe.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: When we in Europe look at the United States as our ally, it's clear they are an indispensable ally. In
times of war, everyone worries, will the United States stay with them? And every ally worry about that.
But does anyone in the United States worry that Europe might abandon them someday, might stop being their ally? The answer is no.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Donald Trump has vowed to end the war between Russia and Ukraine on day one without explaining how exactly that's going to happen. In Russia,
there was mostly praise for the U.S. president's inauguration.
Let's get more now from CNN's Clare Sebastian.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From peace talks, to culture wars, and even the weather.
SEBASTIAN: This is how the Russian media covered Trump's inauguration. All of it taking their cue from the top.
(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
SEBASTIAN (voice-over): President Putin offered some positive words Monday about Trump as an individual and about his policies.
(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
SEBASTIAN: And that evening's talk show's, well, they got the hint.
(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
SEBASTIAN (voice-over): While unable to resist a dig or two about a decision to move the inauguration ceremony indoors because of cold weather
--
(Speaking In Foreign Language)
SEBASTIAN (voice-over): It was unqualified praise to Trump's traditional values which, of course, aligned with Putin's.
(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
SEBASTIAN (voice-over): Much more caution though when it comes to his promises on Ukraine.
And when one talk show guest got a little too excited.
(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
Bianca had to rein him in.
(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
SEBASTIAN: This was a revealing moment, because on the one hand Russia respects Trump's toughness, but it's also wary of it.
(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
SEBASTIAN: And so, instead of calling Trump on Tuesday, the Russian leader called China's President Xi Jinping. A clear signal that the Russian goal
of challenging U.S. dominance in the world is unchanged.
Clare Sebastian, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: All right. A prisoner swap years in the making between the U.S. and the Taliban was reached in the final hours of Joe Biden's presidency. Two
Americans held in Afghanistan were freed in exchange for a Taliban member serving life sentence in the U.S.
American Ryan Corbett, seen in this video on the left, with his wife, and William McKenty, are now on their way back home, though their destination
in the U.S. is not exactly clear at this point.
[12:50:04]
All right. A high stakes legal battle is brewing in a British court. Prince Harry is taking on the tabloids, but again, and one group in particular.
We'll have much more on this just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: Prince Harry's lawsuit against some parts of the British tabloid press begins in London today. A group of tabloids owned by Rupert Murdoch
is being accused of gathering information unlawfully. The prince claims it happened for well over a decade.
Max Foster has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From making the papers to suing them.
After reaching a legal settlement with the Mirror Group of newspapers, Prince Harry's now engaging in another legal battle. This time involving
Rupert Murdoch's tabloid newspapers, in a trial that could stretch on for months.
EMMA JONES, HACKED OFF CAMPAIGN GROUP: This is about newspaper wrongdoing that goes back a long time, but it's about finally bringing them to
account.
So really, it's more about the murky business of newspapers rather than Prince Harry himself. He just happens to be somebody who had the money and
the power to take it this far.
FOSTER (voice-over): That alleged murky business is said to go back years, with Harry's complaint claiming the group illegally obtained private
information about him and his family between 1996 and 2011, using it to write headlines and sell papers.
The group has robustly denied the allegations. And its lawyers have previously told the court that the new claims were a scurrilous and cynical
attack.
FOSTER: His mother, famously had a turbulent relationship with the press. She died in a car crash in 1997 whilst being chased by paparazzi. Twenty
years later, Harry publicly criticized them in an interview with the BBC.
FOSTER: He blames not just the photographers for his mother's death, but also the news desks that were driving the demand for those pictures.
JONES: Well, absolutely. You cannot separate the fact that, you know, news had a huge part to do with that and that drive for information about her.
It really was a moment of shock. And I think at the time, there was a great outpouring of anger towards the tabloid newspapers in this country.
FOSTER (voice-over): But the royals haven't been the only alleged targets of the tabloids. Ordinary civilians say they were subject to claimed
invasions of privacy, sometimes using very questionable tactics.
[12:55:01]
And in a criminal trial starting in 2013, one editor of the Murdoch-owned "News of the World" was found guilty of conspiracy to hack phones. He was
sentenced to 18 months.
JONES: We're talking about Rupert Murdoch's culture here and anybody who has worked --
FOSTER: Because he created the tabloid culture?
JONES: I think Rupert Murdoch certainly embraced the British tabloid culture and ran with it. And set it on fire, let's say, in a way that
nobody else has ever done.
FOSTER (voice-over): A number of high-profile names are set to take to the stand during the weeks' long trial. And many will be watching and hoping
the case will bring about change.
Max Foster, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: All right. That does it for this hour of ONE WORLD. I'm Zain Asher. Appreciate you watching. "AMANPOUR" is up next. You're watching CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
