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One World with Zain Asher
Trump To Impose 25 Percent Tariff On Imported Vehicles, Auto Parts; National Secretary Adviser Waltz Blamed For Adding Journalist To Chat; Tufts University Student Detained BY Federal Agents; Anti-Hamas Rallies Held In Gaza For Second Straight Day; U.S. VP Vance And Wife Usha To Travel To Greenland; Military Chief Returns To Khartoum As Army Retakes Airport; Trump Family Plans To Sell New Crypto "Stable Coin". Aired 12-1p ET
Aired March 27, 2025 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[12:00:34]
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Live from New York, I'm Bianna Golodryga. Welcome back. This is the second hour of ONE WORLD.
Donald Trump is once again escalating his global trade war, this time, the president is pushing a 25 percent tariff on foreign-made vehicles and auto
parts. And most will take effect one week from today, that's April 2nd, and one day after U.S. tariffs are expected to hit a wide variety of other
goods produced by America's trading partners.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is the beginning of liberation day in America. This is very modest. And what we're going to be
doing is a 25 percent tariff on all cars that are not made in the United States. If they're made in the United States, there's absolutely no tariff.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: A number of countries are reacting negatively to the new vehicle tariffs, including America's longtime ally to the North, Canada.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK CARNEY, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: This is a direct attack, to be clear, a direct attack.
We will defend our workers. We will defend our companies. We will defend our country. And we will defend it together.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Now, industry experts warn that the price of cars in the U.S. will skyrocket in the coming weeks as a result of the tariffs, while
President Trump predicts prices will fall.
CNN's Alayna Treene joins us now from the White House, and Valeria Leon is in Mexico City reacting there as well.
Alayna, let me start with you. Some actually are viewing this announcement as a deflection from Signalgate, but let's take the president at his word
in wanting to focus on tariffs alone.
What is his response to economists after economists saying this will only raise prices and hurt Americans and American consumers?
TREENE: Well, the president, and it's no secret, Bianna, has long been fixated on tariffs. And, of course, not just for automakers. This is only
going to be kind of part one of a much broader package of tariffs that he's going to be announcing on April 2nd.
But there's a couple of reasons that he and others at the White House have been using to justify this 25 percent tariff on automakers. One is that
they argue it will boost manufacturing in the United States. We know that the president is one of his biggest priorities is, you know, American made,
America first. He believes that this will help bring more manufacturing to this country and really motivate different automakers to build, have their
plants in the United States and to build their cars in America.
The other part of this is they need it to raise revenue. We know that the president has other big priorities like his tax cuts, wanting to revive his
2017 tax cuts. They need a way to pay for that. They believe that this is going to bring in revenue to help with some of that and to also lower the
deficit. We heard the president yesterday in the Oval Office say that these new tariffs would bring in $100 billion in revenue. We'll see, you know, if
that ends up being the number.
And then the other part of this as well and we heard the White House press secretary say this today is that it'll undo what they argue as years of
unfair trade practices.
But look, this is a similar thing we've heard now from the president multiple times. One of his key lines, particularly when we've seen the
stock market drop, and are used to tariffs like this and others that he's implemented thus far, is that there is likely going to be pain in the near
term.
And one thing as well to keep in mind though is that there's no such thing, Bianna, as a true all-American made car.
We know that most automakers, even like a Ford or a Chevy, which we know are made in the United States, they still ship their parts, many of those
parts, from both Canada and Mexico.
We also know that last month, the big three automakers in the United States met with the president and personally lobbied him to try and give them an
exemption, particularly for parts coming in from Canada and Mexico that abide by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement, one, I should say, that the
president himself negotiated.
But really, it's clear that this president and administration are very much holding hard and true to what the president believes, again, is unfair
trade practices and something that he really wants to turn around and kind of change for America to have them rely more on again American made parts,
American made cards and not relying on chipping them in from other countries.
GOLODRYGA: Yes, but we are seeing the fallout so much uncertainty which businesses hate. And also you see the reaction to stock market, especially
the big three U.S. automakers, GM stock and others, Ford's tanking this morning on that news.
[12:05:02]
Alayna Treene, thank you.
Let's go to Valeria Leon. And, Valeria, we heard the president describe this 25 percent tariff on foreign-made cars as modest. That doesn't seem to
be the reaction we're hearing from our trading partners, though. What is the latest headline out of Mexico?
VALERIA LEON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Well, Mexican authorities have suggested that Mexico should receive a special treatment from the U.S. when
it comes to tariffs, given that Mexico exports more than three million vehicles annually to the United States.
And this morning, President Sheinbaum said, her government won't take any action in response to the tariffs until April 3rd. If the tariffs are
actually put in place by then. She said Mexico has prepared what she called a complete plan that will include a response to all the tariffs from those
on metals already in place to those some vehicles to come into effect next week.
And in a new round of negotiations to try to stem the impact of tariffs on cars and car parts in April and May, Mexico's economy secretary Marcelo
Ebrard met for the sixth time with his American counterpart Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick yesterday in Washington, D.C.
And this morning, in a video call during the Mexican president's daily press conference, economic secretary said that the most important thing for
the Mexican government is to prevent a rise in unemployment in the country due to the tariffs.
Ebrard went on to say that Mexico is the only country, with this level of close and intense communication with the U.S. government.
But with this new tariff set to enter into effect on April 3rd for completed vehicles, and no later than May 3rd for parts, the Mexican
government has argued that the most of the vehicles made in Mexico are built for American car companies and that these 25 percent tariffs will
have a negative impact on U.S. consumers.
So, Mexico's government has stated that it has done everything on its side of the border to meet Trump's demands and avoid tariffs, listing its
deployment of 10,000 trips to the northern border, but also the handover of 29 drug kingpins in a historic extradition.
GOLODRYGA: President Sheinbaum, as you note, saying that she will wait until April 3rd to announce any reciprocal tariffs in response.
Valeria Leon, thank you so much.
Well, now to the continued fallout from that intelligent leak regarding U.S. military operations against the Houthis in Yemen. Now even though the
Trump administration is calling criticism a witch-hunt and a hoax, Republicans in Congress say they need answers about what happened.
The Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Roger Wicker, is calling for an inspector general investigation into the leak. And some
of his Republican colleagues are saying it appears that the administration is lying about what happened here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. LISA MURKOWSKI (R-AK): I'm worried about everybody and how they have handled this single controversy.
Does it concern me? Hell, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We rarely hear anything as secret as the stuff that these guys were talking about.
And I know every single one of them understands that about this too, which is what makes it so agonizing.
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN HOST: So you believe they lied?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think they're just lying.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: As for President Trump, though, he has tried to downplay the scandal. And he is making it clear that he knows nothing about the leak.
He appeared to blame his national security advisor, Mike Waltz, for adding a journalist to the group chat.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I wasn't involved with it. I don't know. I wasn't there. But I can tell you, the result is unbelievable.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you still believe nothing classified was shared?
TRUMP: Well, that's what I've heard. I don't know. I'm not sure. You'll have to ask the various people involved. I really don't know.
Mike Waltz, I guess he said he claimed responsibility, I would imagine. Had nothing to do with anyone else. It was Mike, I guess, I don't know. I was
told it was Mike.
MIKE WALTZ, U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: Look, I take full responsibility. I built the -- I built the group.
LAURA INGRAHAM, FOX NEWS HOST: You've never talked to him before, so how's the number on your phone? I mean, I'm not an expert on any of this, but
it's just curious. How's the number on your phone?
WALTZ: Well, if you have somebody else's contact, and then it -- and then somehow it gets sucked in.
INGRAHAM: Oh, someone sent you that contact.
WALTZ: It gets sucked in.
INGRAHAM: Was there someone else supposed to be on the chat that wasn't on the chat that you thought was on the chat?
WALTZ: So the person that I thought was on there was never on there. It was --
INGRAHAM: Who was that person?
WALTZ: Well, I'm not -- look, Laura, I take -- I take responsibility. I built the -- I built the group.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Wow. We want to bring in our chief national security correspondent Alex Marquardt with more on this. You know, sometimes Occam's
razor is the most applicable response here, Alex. And it's clear that Mike Waltz just happened to add Jeffrey Goldberg to that chat. And we've all,
you know, found ourselves in similar situations, not when it comes to highly classified information or principles, groups, conversations like
this.
But in terms of accountability and whether somebody will actually be asked to resign, it's notable that "POLITICO" wrote today that a White House
ally, said that although Waltz had been on thin ice for a while, Signalgate may actually save him for now because, quote, they don't want to give
Goldberg a scalp.
[12:10:10]
What are you hearing in terms of consequences?
ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes. The Trump administration and President Trump himself, Bianna, do appear to be
circling the wagons. And it doesn't feel like anybody's on the chopping block right now.
But clearly, this story is not over. It certainly is notable that the president is singling out Mike Waltz. And it was Waltz who, as he says
himself, created this group and sucked in the contact of Jeffrey Goldberg somehow. And there are all kinds of theories about who Walz actually meant
to put in the group.
So if there's anybody who would take the fall for it, it probably would be Waltz. But again, right now, it doesn't appear that that is imminent. But
this is still very much being discussed. And I think there's little doubt that the most egregious information and content that was in that Signal
chat was what was put forward by Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense, who laid out in very clear terms what was going to happen in the strike
against the Houthis on March 15th.
And so essentially, the Trump administration has made two arguments. These were not war plans. They're quibbling with how "The Atlantic" and others
have characterized this. But no doubt, Bianna, of course, when you look at what was there, these are plans for an operation, there are plans for an
attack, there are plans for a strike, whatever you want to call it.
And then there's the more serious conversation over whether this is classified or not. And there are a lot of officials, former officials,
experts and lawmakers who have said very clearly what Hegseth put in that conversation despite their arguments very much was classified information.
I want to play a little bit of what Senator Mike Rounds, who was a Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, told our colleague Wolf
Blitzer just a short time ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. MIKE ROUNDS (R-SD): The bottom line we want as much information as we can get, and then we'll do our own assessment.
But right now, I think they screwed up. I think they know they screwed up. I think they also learned their lesson. And I think the president made it
very clear to them that this is a lesson they don't want to forget.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUARDT: So, Bianna, generally, there's outrage on the democratic side. They are saying in no uncertain terms, many senior democratic officials
that that these Trump officials in the group are lying about this.
But you can hear there both from Lisa Murkowski and Senator Rounds, there is a lot of frustration on the Republican side as well.
And so now we are seeing the Senate Armed Services Committee, which is led by a Republican, they are going to be launching an investigation rather
they have asked the inspector general at the Pentagon to launch an investigation to determine whether there was any classified information in
this chat to give them a classified briefing.
So that is the main lane of accountability. There's also going to be a hearing in federal court here in Washington, D.C. for a case that was
brought against the Trump administration by an advocacy group for essentially flouting the records laws because they were using Signal, which
in this conversation had disappearing messages put on there by Mike Waltz. Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: Thus far though, the DOJ has been mum on whether they are launching an investigation --
MARQUARDT: Correct. FBI as well.
GOLODRYGA: -- as well.
Alex Marquardt in Washington, always great to see you. Thank you.
Well, the Turkish government says that it is monitoring the detention of a Tufts University doctoral student in the U.S. And nearly 48 hours later, we
still don't know what Rumeysa Ozturk is being charged with.
The Fulbright Scholar was grabbed off the street in broad daylight on Tuesday and taken into custody by masked federal agents wearing hoods. Now
her lawyer says she has a valid student visa. The government is accusing Ozturk of engaging in activities in support of Hamas without offering any
specifics.
Now protesters flooded the streets of Massachusetts on Wednesday demanding her release with some of them calling Ozturk's detention a quote political
kidnapping.
She joins a growing list of international university students recently targeted and detained by U.S. immigration officers.
Gene Rossi is a former federal prosecutor and a former assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia. He joins me now live from
Washington. Gene, thanks so much for joining us.
Before we get into the legality of what went down, can I just ask you to respond to what we saw from the video of how the student was arrested,
detained by ICE workers who were covered -- covering their faces, masked. How common is that?
GENE ROSSI, FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: It's very uncommon. I was a prosecutor for almost three decades. And I did a lot of trials and
supervision of illegal reentry cases or undocumented aliens.
And when you arrest somebody, whether it's on a formal criminal charge or even administratively, they usually have identifying attire, if you will,
and they'll have a badge around their neck that shows that they're federal law enforcement. This is unusual.
[12:15:09]
What this appears to say to me is that DHS officials have determined that they don't want their agents, deportation officers to be put in harm's way
by showing their faces. So they obviously made a strategic decision on the attire.
But, Bianna, I want to just give you the three buckets that I think could be at play here. One bucket is what I used to do and file criminal charges.
And if she was arrested on criminal charges, it's Title 8, the immigration statute.
You have 48 hours to file those charges if there's what they call a no paper arrest. I don't think they have this here because they have to file
charges by this evening. I don't think that's going to happen.
GOLODRYGA: Right.
ROSSI: Second clue for me is, is that they brought her to Louisiana. You can't do that if you file charges.
But the other two buckets are interesting. This could be under the Alien Enemies Act, where you have summary proceedings with basically very little,
if any, due process because they're terrorists or they're gang members or they invaded the United States figuratively. That could be what we have
here.
The key issue for me here is that they violate a court order by a U.S. district judge in Massachusetts, if they got that order and then still sent
her to Louisiana, you have what they -- what I call the Chief Judge Boasberg problem that's on appeal to D.C. Circuit. They got the order and
they ignored it. That's a problem no matter what you feel about that statute that they invoked for summary proceedings.
And the third bucket could be just standard routine administrative detention because they have evidence that she violated her visa by making
false statements or engaged in conduct that violates the visa.
And that gets to the First Amendment, Bianna. Is going to a rally and writing an op-ed. And if that's all you have, is that a reason to get her
kicked out of the country under the act --
GOLODRYGA: So many --
ROSSI: -- I don't think so.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. So many unanswered questions. We should note that according to Ozturk's attorney, quote, no charges have been filed against her to date
that they're aware of.
In a statement attributed to a spokesperson from the Homeland Security Department said that Ozturk had, quote, engaged in activities in support of
Hamas. And they consider that grounds for visa issuance to be terminated.
Last year, they point to her writing an op-ed in the school's newspaper, criticizing how Tufts responded to a pro-Palestinian movement.
So what is at stake here? Is it the constitutionality that she has here as a student on a student visa? Or is it the question over timing as to
whether that federal judge in Massachusetts made her ruling in terms of when she was then transported to Louisiana?
Because there seem to be two different issues. I know you have three buckets, but those two stand out to me.
ROSSI: I'll focus on two buckets. One, you -- regardless of the constitutionality of their actions and the statute itself, regardless of
that, you cannot ignore a court order.
It's -- there's a famous case called Walker, Supreme Court involving the First Amendment. You can -- you can -- you can contest an executive action,
but when it's a court order, you have to comply or you go to jail, you're held in contempt. That's the issue number one. I'd like to know the timing.
The second issue would be, is this criminal charges, and they have until this evening, by the way, Bianna, to file charges. If it's criminal, they
could file charges by this evening. That's the 48-hour rule, Supreme Court case. And that would be visa fraud or some other Title VIII statute.
But if it's the summary proceeding, what I call the Chief Judge Boasberg issue, then you need to have a hearing to determine whether Ms. Ozturk, I
hope I pronounced her name right, has been provided due process, even if you legitimately invoke that act from 1798.
GOLODRYGA: Well, there seems to be a pattern here. I'm thinking of Mahmoud Khalil and now Ms. Ozturk as well. As you said, they have until tonight to
file. We will pay close attention to this story. Thanks for breaking it down for us legally, Gene Rossi. As you said, have never seen a --
ROSSI: Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: -- video quite like this. Appreciate the time.
[12:20:00]
We're also following breaking news out of Amsterdam for you. Police say five people have been injured in a stabbing incident near Dam Square in the
city's historical center. One suspect has been arrested. Police say the motive is unclear at this point. We will bring you updates to the story as
they become available.
And still ahead this hour.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't have anything polite to say, so I think I'd rather not say anything, to be honest. I wish the U.S. would stay away.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: The Vice President and his wife are heading to Greenland, but some Greenlanders aren't so excited. Just ahead, we find out how Americans
feel about the controversial topic.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GOLODRYGA: Large crowds held rallies in northern Gaza for a second straight day on Wednesday, protesting against both Hamas and Israel's war. Now the
demonstrations appear to be the largest against the militant group since the conflict began.
Some protesters told CNN their message to Hamas is enough is enough and it's time to give others a chance to rule, and to Israel's military to stop
the bloodshed. Hamas claims the protests don't reflect the general position of the Palestinian people.
Ghaith al-Omari is a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, as well as a former adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas. Ghaith, thank you so much for taking the time.
This is -- these are the largest rallies we have seen since the war began of Palestinians in Gaza protesting not just the war, but Hamas itself. And
we see their messages. The people want the fall of Hamas. Hamas does not represent us. Out, out, out. Hamas get out.
Is this a watershed moment in your view?
GHAITH AL-OMARI, SENIOR FELLOW, WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY: Thank you, Bianna. It's too early to tell. However, this does indicate a
number of things.
First of all, as you -- as you yourself mentioned, how people are just tired of the way that Hamas led them, what it brought upon them in the last
year and a half. But also indicates that people maybe have lost their fear of Hamas.
Yes, Hamas continues to be there, continues to be brutal. And I think there's a sense right now that maybe there is no enough stability for Hamas
staying in power. And this is what encouraging people to go to take to the streets.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. I mean, the fact that this has gone on for days and we know the brutality of Hamas not only as seen in their attacks on October 7th and
holding hostages, but the brutality they've inflicted on their own people for so long as well. And the fact that this has not been quashed two or
three days in tells you what about their hold on power right now.
[12:25:12]
AL-OMARI: I think it's interesting. Hamas has been really trying very hard to project that they are in charge. You saw it with the hostage races, et
cetera. The reality is Hamas is extremely weakened.
The war, yes, it took a huge toll on civilians but it's also weakened Hamas. No one knows this more than the people in Gaza itself. And this is,
to my mind, one of the most important policy indications of what's happening that Hamas' grip is really slipping.
GOLODRYGA: So, what is the most effective way that the United States, that Arab leaders around the region there, that Israel could respond to this?
Because we have the defense minister of Israel putting out a statement speaking to the people of Gaza saying, soon the IDF will operate forcefully
in other areas of Gaza and you will be required to evacuate and lose more and more territory that will be added to the Israeli Defense Forces,
basically saying pushing them to demand more and protest more against Hamas.
I mean, are these the most effective methods that Israel and other -- and other neighboring countries can have?
AL-OMARI: Actually, these are the least effective methods that they can have. When the Israeli -- when the Israeli Defense Minister comes out and
endorses these demonstrations, it leaves these demonstrators vulnerable to accusations that they are collaborators with Israel.
And by the way, Hamas is already pushing this narrative. From Israel, it has just to back off, let these demonstrations take their course.
From the rest of the world, I think what is most important right now is exactly what you're doing, to highlight that these things exist. I remember
back in 2019 there was a wave of demonstrations. I spoke to some of the demonstrators after that and they all told me they felt abandoned.
Right now, the highlighting that you do that Western media is doing, but also as important to some Arab media, especially in the Gulf States is
doing, gives these people a sense that they are not abandoned. They are not alone, gives them a degree of support.
In the longer term, though, I think we should look at who these people are and start really trying to put -- to support them politically, et cetera,
because this is a new voice, we're hearing about Palestinians. And it's definitely worth investing in this.
GOLODRYGA: And the fact that this is going on, as we noted, for two days on end. Many of them knowing the brutality that they could be facing at the
hands of Hamas and still risking this, as you note, it is very important to show the world what is transpiring.
Ghaith al-Omari, thank you so much for joining us.
AL-OMARI: Thank you, Bianna. Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: And we'll be right back with more.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:30:21]
GOLODRYGA: Welcome back to ONE WORLD. I'm Bianna Golodryga.
President Trump is doubling down on his vow to acquire Greenland as his vice president prepares for a trip to the arctic island. J.D. Vance says
he'll accompany his wife to Greenland this week. The White House, however, scaled back activities for Second Lady Usha Vance. She will no longer
attend public events like Greenland's dog sled race. Instead, she and her husband are only expected to visit a U.S. military facility.
Trump has continued to express his interest in annexing the Arctic island, an interest Greenland wants no part of.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We need Greenland for national security and international security. So we'll -- I think we'll go as far as we have to go. We need Greenland.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Our friend, CNN's Harry Enten, is following the story. Harry, we've had breaking news that has not allowed for you to join us earlier
this week, but in wanting to talk to you about this all week long.
At first, Greenland may have been viewed as sort of a dismissive joke that the president was interested in acquiring. He clearly does not view this as
a joke. He's taking it seriously. How do Americans feel about it at this point?
HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Yes. I just want to know. We tried to get on Tuesday. Then we tried to get on Wednesday. Then today until about
five minutes until this hit the magic wall behind me wasn't working, I became almost like tech support for myself.
Of course, we had the great folks behind the scenes like John Murphy working with me, but we got it here. So we're going to go through the
numbers. All right.
How do Americans feel about this idea? Well, let's take a look here. I mean, hello. It's pretty obvious. Favor U.S. taking over Greenland. Look at
this, among Americans, 70 percent say no. That's more than two-thirds of the country. You can rarely get two thirds of the country to agree on
anything. Only 26 percent of Americans say, yes, they favor the U.S. taking over Greenland. And it's only like 50 percent of Republicans.
Of course, there's another part of this equation, right? It's not just about Americans. It's about Greenlanders. And how do they feel about this
particular issue? Ah, well, look at this. Favor U.S. taking over Greenland among Greenlanders? Eighty-five percent say no. Just six percent of
Greenlanders say yes to this idea.
You know, there are more Americans who believe we fake the moon landing than Greenlanders who favor the U.S. taking over Greenland. That is how low
we're going. You can get 10 percent of folks degree upon anything, except Greenlanders agreeing that the U.S. should take over Greenland. That is how
low the support is.
Now, here's the interesting thing, right? When I first heard about this topic with Donald Trump, I was like, where did he come up with this? Have
we ever discussed this before, the U.S. taking over Greenland?
As it turns out, there was in fact a historical precedent for this. There was this whole talk right after WW2, the U.S. going in to take over
Greenland, though the idea was essentially that you could fly planes over to Moscow faster from Greenland. You can go over the polar region faster.
And so there was this idea, hey, should we buy Greenland for $1 billion?
Well, when Americans were asked that back in 1947, again you see, no was the winner with 38 percent. Yes was 33 percent.
But the bottom line is this has been pulled throughout the decades. And I couldn't find a single instance, Bianna, in which I could find that the
yeses outnumbered the noes in America. This is just universally, and through time, an unpopular idea.
But I don't think that's going to stop Donald Trump, just like I wasn't stopped from getting this segment on air with you today, even if I had to
become my own tech support along with our dear friends here at CNN.
GOLODRYGA: You did it. It was when I asked you to join my Signal chat about this segment.
ENTEN: I know.
GOLODRYGA: They finally broke through, Harry.
[12:35:01]
I do wonder how the American public feels about their taxpayer dollars sending the vice president and his wife and the national security adviser,
I think, is on his way there as well.
That's for next time. Not great. Yes, yes.
ENTEN: That is for next time. Probably not popular, but you are popular in my book.
GOLODRYGA: As are you, my friend. Harry Enten, I'm glad we got you on.
ENTEN: We did it.
GOLODRYGA: We did it.
Time now for The Exchange. And joining us is Kuno Fencker. He's a member of the Greenland Parliament and spokesperson for the Siumut Party. Kuno, thank
you so much for taking the time to join us.
I'm just curious your reaction to not only J.D. Vance now saying that he will be joining his wife on a trip to Greenland, but also releasing a
statement saying this, that he thinks that leaders in the United States and Denmark have ignored Greenland, quote, for far too long. And that we think
we can take things in a different direction, so he's going to check it out. Your response to that.
KUNO FENCKER, MEMBER, GREENLAND PARLIAMENT: Well, first of all, I'm with the party now because I, as many know that I went to the U.S. for the
inauguration of Donald Trump. And I went -- when I went back, I actually told my former party to activate our right to self-determination so that we
can start formal negotiations with Denmark in regards to gaining sovereignty of Greenland.
We are fully aware that we can't be fully independent, that's utopia. We need to have a cooperative partner in -- with Denmark and also United
States in regards to defense and security of the island and the North American continent.
And I know that the former prime -- the prime minister of Denmark, in 2019, promised the United States to up the ante in regards to security defense
and surveillance of Greenland, which hasn't happened.
And we know there's a lack of equipment here in Greenland in regards to doing that. There's a budget from the Kingdom of Denmark to up the ante in
Greenland, but I think that maybe the U.S. can't wait for that. So they need some form of control of the area, defense and security-wise, because
of the geopolitical situation and tensions between many countries in the world at the moment.
So it's fully understandable that J.D. Vance is going to the Pituffik base, which is an American base and he's in his full right to do so.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. And Denmark's foreign minister, we should note, stated today in addressing the changes to the vice president's schedule, just
going now to the base saying, I think it's very positive the Americans canceled their visit to Greenlandic society. Instead, they will visit their
own base, and we have nothing against it.
But, you know, many Greenlanders and many government officials there still view the president's approach and these types of trips as sheer
intimidation. Is that how you feel? Is that how citizens there feel?
FENCKER: I think many citizens feel that way because of the media and a lot of the miscommunication and fear mongering.
I think the right path is friendly dialogue, and let's say diplomacy and meet our allies with friendliness if there's an urgency in regards to the
defense and security of the area. And if there's an urgency that we can see intellectually here in Greenland, in regards to what's going on beneath our
waters, on the waters and in the air, and with the tensions we have in the world, the United States should absolutely have the right to have a direct
communication with the people of Greenland and also through the Kingdom of Denmark, which is the official channel at the moment.
But if Greenland should become independent, it will be a direct communication with us Greenlanders. We will certainly be very diplomatic
and friendly and polite in regards to meeting the delegation of the United States.
GOLODRYGA: Well, another country that describes itself as very friendly and polite is Canada. And you have seen, I'm sure, how President Trump has
approached the Canadians, calling them the 51st state and continuing that narrative and push to have Canada essentially join the United States as its
51st state. It has become the most pressing issue in their elections at home.
I'm wondering if that has any impact on or gives you pause as to how Greenlanders would be treated by the president.
FENCKER: Well, we can be very firm about what we don't accept. And I have told many times that our right to external self-determination, our right to
independence is non-negotiable.
[12:40:05]
Greenland wants to be a sovereign country. We have been annexed before and de facto annexed still under the territory of Denmark with a self-ruled
government. But we want to own our own country and be a part of the international community.
So it will be a decision of the Greenlandic people, not only one single politician as me that should decide that. But I will be open to
negotiations with initially with Denmark and then also be able to eventually make bilateral agreements in regards to defense security economy
and investments in Greenland with all the friendly countries, including the United States.
GOLODRYGA: Kuno Fencker, thank you so much for the time.
FENCKER: Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: It's nice to meet you.
FENCKER: Thank you. Nice to meet you.
GOLODRYGA: And up next for us, Sudan's army claims a major breakthrough in the capital after almost two years of civil war.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GOLODRYGA: The U.N. is warning that South Sudan could be on the verge of widespread conflict, after the country's vice president was placed under
house arrest. Riek Machar's party says South Sudan's defense minister and head of national security forcefully entered his home on Wednesday evening
to deliver an arrest warrant.
Machar is accused of supporting the White Army militia, which recently clashed with the military. Machar's party denies those links and says his
arrest effectively collapses a peace deal that ended the five-year civil war in 2018.
In a neighboring Sudan, the army says that it has recaptured Khartoum's main airport, allowing the head of the military to return to the city for
the first time in two years. It brings the army closer to regaining full control of the Sudanese capital, which was seized by a paramilitary group
in the country's brutal civil war.
Salma Abdelaziz has more. And we warn you, some of these images are disturbing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hours after Sudan's military celebrated recapturing Khartoum's airport from the militia they've
been battling for almost two years, Sudan's army chief kissing the ground as he landed Wednesday.
Sudan's capital was where fighting first broke out in April of 2023 before escalating into a brutal civil war that is estimated to have killed at
least 28,000 people.
General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan was reportedly heard telling cheering troops Khartoum is now free. It's over. Khartoum is free. At the presidential
palace, Sudan's pre-war seat of power, touring the damaged building after his troops reclaimed it from the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces,
or RSF, on Friday.
[12:45:02]
Sudanese armed forces now say they have freed the capital. Residents of the battered city also telling Reuters the RSF have been driven out of most of
Khartoum.
The army said this video, geolocated by CNN, shows RSF soldiers retreating across the River Nile, south of Khartoum on Wednesday. CNN was not able to
verify who the people are.
As children in neighborhoods under siege for much of the last two years poured into the streets in celebration.
Meanwhile, soldiers shared videos after retaking key positions including this air base south of the city. It is a huge victory in Sudan's brutal
civil war, though it is far from over.
The RSF still controls the country's western, southern, and central regions, including Darfur. Tens of thousands of people have died in the
conflict and the U.N. says that more than 12.5 million people have been displaced.
It is the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The conflict is deep-rooted, fueled by the rivalry of two generals, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the
head of Sudan's army, and his one-time deputy, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, who leads the RSF. Both worked to overthrow
dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019 and then led a military coup which derailed Sudan's path to democracy. Both sides have been accused of war crimes.
The U.S., recently accusing the RSF of committing genocide. The RSF called the accusation inaccurate.
And the U.N.'s human rights chief saying this week he was quote deeply shocked by reports of hundreds of civilians killed in Sudanese armed forces
airstrikes on a busy market in North Darfur. Charred bodies and scorched earth were all that remained in this video from the scene.
Despite the military's apparent victory in Khartoum, the war and the suffering is far from over.
Salma Abdelaziz, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GOLODRYGA: At one time, President Trump was not backing cryptocurrency and even called it a scam. But now he's done a 180, getting behind crypto
promoters who gave his presidential campaign millions of dollars. Trump even has some crypto investors as his presidential advisers.
[12:50:04]
Tom Foreman has more on this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DONALD TRUMP JR., AMERICAN BUSINESSMAN: I think it's the future of our financial systems. And I want to make sure that's domiciled in America done
by Americans.
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There was Donald Trump Jr. crowing about Trump family plans to sell a new crypto coin called a Stable
Coin for its steady value linked to another currency like the U.S. dollar.
It will be offered by World Liberty Financial, a company which was started by the Trumps last September and is also linked to Steve Witkoff, a close
Trump advisor whose most recent overseas trip included a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Here is Witkoff's son, Zach, co-founder of World Liberty Financial.
ZACH WITKOFF, WORLD LIBERTY FINANCIAL: We view Stable Coins as an integral part of not only crypto, but the entire financial ecosystem.
FOREMAN (voice-over): Crypto backers pushed tens of millions into Donald Trump's reelection, amid his promises to aggressively help their industry.
TRUMP: We will ensure that the future of crypto and the future of Bitcoin will be made in America.
FOREMAN (voice-over): Jeff John Roberts covers crypto for Fortune.
JEFF JOHN ROBERTS, FINANCE AND CRYPTO EDITOR, FORTUNE: It's a chance for the industry to put its best foot forward and show some technology that can
be useful, that can help people.
TRUMP: Bitcoin, it just seems like a scam.
FOREMAN (voice-over): But Trump's position is a big flip-flop. For a long time, he dismissed this electronic way to invest, collect, and exchange
virtual money as too risky, echoing concerns about criminal organizations using it to secretly move and launder money all around the world.
He posted, unregulated crypto assets can facilitate unlawful behavior, including drug trade and other illegal activity. But now he's all in with
meme coins issued in his name and that of First Lady Melania Trump, with crypto investors as advisors, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick
and a crypto summit at the White House.
Trump's administration has eased off investigating and regulating the business, and he's ordered the government to start a crypto stash, similar
to the nation's gold reserve.
Democratic lawmakers call it a naked attempt to line Trump's pockets. Such a reserve, one wrote to the Treasury, provides no discernible benefit to
the American people, but would significantly enrich the president and his donors.
Even some crypto fans are squirming at the potential for a conflict of interest that could be worth billions to the incumbent president.
ROBERTS: They're very happy Trump came in and they want sort of, you know, a fair playing field for crypto, but the optics of some of this just don't
look very good.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: That was Tom Forman reporting there.
Well, take me out to the ball game. Yes, the new season of Major League Baseball starts today. And all eyes will be on Los Angeles where the
Dodgers are trying to be the first team to repeat as World Series champs in 25 years.
So let's bring in CNN's Sports Coy Wire with more. So that's it? We're skipping a whole season just calling it now, Dodgers win again? Is that
where you are, Coy?
COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Buckle up, Bianna. Oh, no, that's not what we're saying. A lot of people are saying that, not us.
MLB opening day, 14 games starting a new season of World Series dreams. Fans cheering their favorite teams, and yes, most of them will be chasing
those defending champion, Dodgers. They are heavy favorites, Bianna, to win it all.
Superstars like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and this dude, Showtime Shohei Ohtani, the generational talent Japanese sensation. Nobody can hit
and pitch like him. And he is expected to get back on the mound at some point this season.
His manager, Bianna, Dave Roberts, recently revealed that as surreal as Shohei may seem, he is indeed human after all. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVE ROBERTS, LOS ANGELES DODGERS MANAGER: I know Shohei puts his pants on just like we all do, one leg at a time. But if there's ever a superhero, I
think Shohei just seems like a superhero. In the biggest of games or the biggest of moments, he seems to always deliver.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WIRE: All right, Bianna. One of the best parts of catching the game at a ballpark or the ballpark foods. And we have some doozies this year. I need
your help to help break these down.
The Yankees have these tiramisu helmets, espresso, mascarpone cream, lady finger cookies, cocoa powder. But check this out. This behemoth of a burger
for the Orioles is two burgers, queso fundido, fried onions and pickle, pico de gallo with a pretzel bun. Oh, how do you even attack that?
After an historically bad losing season, the White Sox, they're hoping to win some fans back with this in stadium experience, part of which is the
unicorn, a batter dipped corn dog, marshmallow base drizzled with sweet condensed milk and Fruity Pebbles. Yes, those are Fruity Pebbles sprinkled
on top.
Which one of those would you love to eat? Which one would you loathe eating?
[12:55:01]
GOLODRYGA: What's wrong with a simple pretzel or a simple hot dog or an ice cream bar? I mean, it's too much. Too much.
WIRE: As a friend and I were talking earlier, this is America at its best, right? Just go way over the top.
GOLODRYGA: Except the athletes are not going to be eating that, I can tell you that.
OK. Let's talk March Madness, quickly.
WIRE: Yes. Dust off those brackets or pick up all the pieces if you tore them up to shreds because they were busted. Men's March Madness tipping
back off today with a Sweet 16, two to four games on our sister channel, TBS. BYU, and Bama, Maryland and number one, Florida, Arizona and one seed
Duke, and Arkansas, Texas Tech for the night cap.
One player to root for, Bianna, BYU's Richie Saunders voted his conference most improved player. He's the descendant of the man who invented tater
tots and he has aptly nicknamed the Tater Tot King. He's landed him endorsement deals. Ore-Ida is giving away free tots nationwide from tip-off
to the final buzzer of BYU's Sweet 16 game.
You can follow all the action on the go with live analysis on our March Madness live story, launching at 6:00 P.M. Eastern at cnn.com.
GOLODRYGA: You had me at tater tots, Coy.
WIRE: You got it, girl.
GOLODRYGA: You made me hungry, too.
CNN World Sports, Coy Wire, thank you.
WIRE: You got it.
GOLODRYGA: And that does it for this hour of ONE WORLD. Thanks so much for watching. I'm Bianna Golodryga. "AMANPOUR" is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
