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One World with Zain Asher
King Charles Opens Canada's 45th Parliament; King Charles: Constructive Debates are Key to Supporting Canadians; King Charles Delivers Speech to Open Canadian Parliament; King Charles: Government will be Guided by Fiscal Discipline; Trump Administration & Harvard in Court Over Foreign Student Ban; European Consumers Hitting the Breaks on Tesla. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired May 27, 2025 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN HOST, ONE WORLD: As President Trump eyes Canada as the 51st U.S. state, Britain's King Charles is set to speak of a very different
vision. "One World" starts right now.
We'll take you live to Ottawa this hour, where King Charles is expected to deliver an address to Canada's Parliament. Plus, a day that was supposed to
be full of joy turned into horror when a car rammed into a crowd at a parade in Liverpool. And President Donald Trump hits Harvard in the pocket
yet again, directing federal agencies to cancel contracts to the tune of some $100 million.
And we're live from Washington. I'm Alex Marquardt. This is "One World". Thank you so much for joining me. You are now looking at live pictures of
the Canadian Parliament buildings in Ottawa, Canada, where at any moment now, Britain's King Charles III will officially open the 45th Session of
Parliament.
Earlier, the King got a full military welcome, which included a 21-gun salute. The King was invited to speak by the newly elected Canadian Prime
Minister Mark Carney. The British Monarch is Head of State of Canada, which is a Commonwealth Country. King Charles will be just the second reigning
monarch after his mother, to open Canada's Parliament.
The King's visit comes during a particularly tense moment between Canada and its Southern neighbor, the United States. This trip being seen by many
as a show of support for Canada, as President Trump keeps bringing up his desire to make Canada the 51st American state, this despite the fact that
that would be deeply unpopular among Canadians.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Canada only works as a state. It doesn't. We don't need anything they have. As a state it
would be one of the great states anyway. This would be the most incredible country visually. If you look at a map, they drew an artificial line right
through it between Canada and the U.S., just a straight artificial line.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUARDT: And CNN's Paula Newton joins us now from Ottawa with a closer look at this upcoming speech by the King. So, Paula, this is a short visit,
but tell us more about its significance and about the speech that we're about to hear.
PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, hugely significant, Alex. It's a flex, something that you're used to hearing in terms of diplomatic
language. It will be polite, but it will be firm. And this was the idea of Prime Minister Mark Carney as he came into power just a few weeks ago.
And Alex, as you know, he is also hosting a G7 meeting in Alberta. And given all the rhetoric that Canadians heard more than once from Donald
Trump, the likes of some of which you just played, it was important for Canada, as it was leaning into a patriotism that, to be frank, Canadians do
not come by honestly.
This has really united the country, and Mark Carney thought it was a good time to unite behind what makes Canada so distinct and different. And one
of those things is the constitutional monarchy, the fact that King Charles is also the King of Canada.
Now look, this has been a picture-perfect ceremony, and show up to now we expect him to get up and speak in just a few minutes. Do not expect any
platitudes. There will be nothing blunt in this speech whatsoever. They are words written by the Government of Mark Carney, really lining out --
outlining, pardon me, his priorities in the months and years to come.
But it will contain a line about the fact that Canada and the United States will now negotiate a completely different relationship economically and
also on national security issues. And as I said, this is a flex, not just by Mark Carney, but also King Charles, who, of course, has been battling
health problems, most recently battling cancer.
And it is good branding for him as well, to really come here and get so much love and adoration. Alex, I've hardly heard it before that people in
this town spontaneously erupting into not just applause, but long live the King and singing, long live the King. God save our King. It's been
extraordinary to watch, and something that I do not think would have been possible had those threats from President Trump not been heard loud and
clear over the last several months.
MARQUARDT: King of Canada is not a title that we often hear when associated with King Charles, but he's certainly looking quite regal there. We're
looking at these live pictures of King Charles already on that throne with his row of military medals across his chest. You can see his mother's
initials on that throne.
[11:05:00]
Paula, King Charles, is only the third monarch, sorry, the second reigning monarch. But this is only the third time that a King or Queen has delivered
what is known as the throne speech. His mother went twice before him. As Canada and Prime Minister Carney in particular, really reinforced this idea
of Canadian Independence, certainly from the United States. How surprising is it that the new prime minister extended this invitation to King Charles?
NEWTON: I think it was quite surprising, but again, so many different issues and things came together for him. Remember the surprise there was
that this man, the Head of the Liberal Party, party that was basically called out for dead just a few months ago, actually had a resurrection at
his hand, but not just because of him and the politician and his certainly his credentials and his resume, but the fact that this threat was coming so
bluntly from the United States.
And that certainly rallied Canadians, not just around Mark Carney, but also Mark Carney making a point here that he wanted to prove that Canada will
stand on its own. And what does Canada's sovereignty stand for? It stands for, in his opinion, as a part of the Commonwealth, as that constitutional
monarchy.
But it's also ignited something else here, Alex that I have rarely seen. I mean, as you pointed out, look, it's been almost half a century since the
sovereign actually opened Parliament here. And of course, it was King Charles's mother, Queen Elizabeth. But the fact that people who are very
ambivalent about the monarchy, Alex, it is not uncommon to hear people in Canada say, what do we need it for?
A waste of taxpayers' dollars. I have no idea why we should have this anymore? We should stand on our own. And yet people, even in the Province
of Quebec, I was there last week, really appreciate this gesture, not just the invitation that Mark Carney extended. They give him credit for that,
but the fact that the King would actually accept the invitation and stand in Canada's Parliament.
It's actually the Senate right now, and deliver the speech, deliver the words as the government as it is going into so many important meetings
upcoming, starting with the G7. Again, I don't have to remind you, Alex, Canada has been hurt. Its economy hurt quite severely by those tariffs from
Donald Trump.
Mark Carney has called this an existential threat to Canada in terms of what Donald Trump is talking about. This speech will be much more
diplomatic, but the undertones very strong, and King Charles here to make it loud and clear that he remains sovereign in Canada, and many in Canada
appreciate that.
MARQUARDT: When Carney came to the White House a couple weeks ago, he praised Donald Trump for his leadership and also called him a
transformational president, which I don't think you can deny. He certainly transformed the liberal party's fortunes at the ballot box, and it sounds
from what you're saying, that he's also helping transform this perception of the monarchy.
So here is King Charles there, not only as the Monarch, but at the invitation of the prime minister. So, how much of the scripting of this
speech is being dictated Paula by what the King would like to say versus what the prime minister would like him to say?
NEWTON: Yeah, almost nothing about what the King would like to say. Obviously, there will be pleasantries at the beginning and at the end, and
those will be heartfelt and likely very personal, as both Prince and King, Charles, has had a long-standing relationship with Canada, and in fact, he
remains well. He has now as King, he is also the Commander of the Canadian Armed Forces, another role he takes quite seriously.
But he's traveled here often, I believe, 20 times. So, you'll hear those personal notes throughout. But I think in terms of the choreography of
this, just him standing there delivering this speech, given all of the political context, and again, reminding everyone that the president will be
in Canada in the middle of June for that G7 meeting. It does send a strong symbol.
I also noted, as I'm sure you did as well, Alex, that when Mark Carney was in the Oval Office, that in terms of the president continuing to say that
he wanted Canada to be the 51st state that Mark Carney shot back while some places aren't for sale, kind of like the White House or Buckingham Palace.
He, Mark Carney definitely understanding that it is undeniable that President Trump has a deep and abiding respect for the Royal Family in
Britain, and for that reason, certainly it is also sending another message to the president. Look, there won't be anything overt in this speech.
As I said, will be absolutely diplomatic, but just standing there in the Senate delivering this speech, King Charles will have done enough in less
than 24 hours, he has certainly sent a message loud and clear, even to the Oval Office, something that --
MARQUARDT: All right, Paula, it looks like the King is -- it looks like the King's speech is getting underway. So, let's listen in.
[11:10:00]
KING CHARLES III, KING OF UNITED KINGDOM: Senators, members of the House of Commons. It is with a deep sense of pride and pleasure that my wife and I
join you here today as we witness Canadians coming together in a renewed sense of national pride, unity and hope.
I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the unceded territory of the Algonquin and the Shinobi people. This land acknowledgement is a
recognition of shared history as a nation, while continuing to deepen my own understanding. It is my great hope that in each of your communities and
collectively as a country, a path is found toward truth and reconciliation in both word and deed.
This is my 20th visit to Canada, spread over the course of more than half a century, and my first as sovereign. As I have said before, every time I
come to Canada, a little more of Canada seeps into my bloodstream, and from there straight to my heart. I've always had the greatest admiration for
Canada's unique identity, which is recognized across the world, for bravery and sacrifice in defense of national values and for the diversity and
kindness of Canadians.
To the First Nations Inuit and METIS people, you have welcomed my family and myself to your traditional lands with great warmth and hospitality, for
which I am humbly grateful. This year we mark the 80th Anniversary of V Day and VJ Day on Juno Beach at Dieppe, on the Somme at Bomo AMLat Ypres, and
on Vini Ridge at those places and many others forever etched into our memories, Canadians fought and died alongside our closest allies.
Today, I see representatives from every part of Canada, from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador to Victoria, British Columbia and Arviat in
Nunavut, I see the guardians of the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed in the Canadian Charter. And as King, I thank you for your
service to your fellow Canadians across the length and breadth of this vast and great nation.
You speak for your communities, representing an incredible richness of cultures, languages and perspectives. We owe it to this generation and
those who succeed us to think and act for the greater good of all. While the world faces unprecedented challenges, generating uncertainties across
the continents, with regards to peace and stability, economics and climate change, your communities have the skills and determination to bring a
wealth of solutions.
By fostering collaboration and engaging in respectful, constructive debates, you will ensure this government is capable of bold and fair action
to support Canadians. It has been nearly 70 years since the sovereign first opened parliament.
In the time since Canada has dramatically changed, repatriating its constitution, achieving full independence and witnessing immense growth.
Canada has embraced its British, French and indigenous moves and become a bold, ambitious, innovative country that is bilingual, truly multicultural
and committed to reconciliation.
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The Crown has for so long been a symbol of unity for Canada. It also represents stability and continuity from the past to the present, as it
should it stands proudly as a symbol of Canada today, in all her richness and dynamism. When my dear late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, opened a new
Canadian Parliament in 1957 the Second World War, remained a fresh, painful memory.
The Cold War was intensifying freedom and democracy were under threat. Canada was emerging as a growing economic power and a force for peace in
the world. In the decades since, history has been punctuated by epoch making events, the Vietnam War, fall of the Berlin Wall and the start of
the war on terror.
Today, Canada faces another critical moment, democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination and freedom are values which Canadians hold dear
and ones which the government is determined to protect. The system of open global trade that, while not perfect, has helped to deliver prosperity for
Canadians for decades, is changing.
Canada's relationships with partners are also changing. We must be clear eyed. The world is more dangerous and uncertain place than at any point
since the Second World War. Canada is facing challenges that are unprecedented in our lifetimes.
Many Canadians are feeling anxious and worried about the drastically changing world around them. Fundamental change is always unsettling, yet
this moment is also an incredible opportunity, an opportunity for renewal, an opportunity to think big and to act bigger, an opportunity for Canada to
embark on the largest transformation of its economy since the Second World War.
A confident Canada, which has welcomed new Canadians, including from some of the most tragic global conflict zones, can seize this opportunity by
recognizing that all Canadians can give themselves far more than any foreign power on any continent can ever take away, and that by staying true
to Canadian values, Canada can build new alliances and a new economy that serves all Canadians.
The Prime Minister and the President of the United States, for example, have begun defining a new economic and security relationship between Canada
and the United States, rooted in mutual respect and founded on common interests to deliver transformational benefits for both sovereign nations.
In parallel, the government is working to strengthen its relationships with reliable trading partners and allies around the world, recognizing that
Canada has what the world needs and the values the world respects. Canada is ready to build a coalition of like-minded countries that share its
values, that believe in international cooperation and the free and open exchange of goods, services and ideas.
In this new, fast evolving world, Canada is ready to lead. This will be demonstrated in June, when Canada convenes the G7 Summit.
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The government is guided by its conviction that the economy is only truly strong when it serves everyone. Many Canadians are struggling to get ahead.
The government is responding, reducing middle class taxes and saving two income families up to $840 a year. It will cut the GST on homes at or under
$1 million for first time homebuyers.
Delivering savings of up to $50,000. And it will lower the GST on homes between $1 million and $1.5 million. The government will protect the
programs that are already saving families thousands of dollars every year. These include Childcare and Pharmacare. In addition to these, the
government has recently expanded the Canadian dental care plan to cover about 8 million Canadians, saving the average person more than $800
annually.
The government's overarching goal, its core mission is to build the strongest economy in the G7 that starts with creating one Canadian economy
out of 13 internal barriers to trade and labor mobility cost Canada as Much as $200 billion each year. The government will introduce legislation to
remove all remaining federal barriers to internal trade and labor mobility by Canada Day.
Numerous premiers have already taken vital steps to break down provincial and territorial barriers to trade. Together, we will build on that progress
to deliver free trade across the nation. This is critical to unlocking Canada's full economic potential, but it's not enough.
To build Canada strong the government is working closely with provinces, territories and indigenous peoples to identify and catalyze projects of
national significance. Projects that will connect Canada, that will deepen Canada's ties with the world, and that will create high paying jobs for
generations.
Given the pace of change and the scale of opportunities, speed is of the essence. Through the creation of a new major federal project office, the
time needed to approve a project will be reduced from five years to two, all while upholding Canada's world leading environmental standards and its
constitutional obligations to indigenous peoples.
The government will also strike co-operation agreements with every interested province and territory within six months to realize its goal of
one project, one review. When Canadians come together, Canada builds things that last.
By removing these barriers that have held back our economy, we will unleash a new era of growth that will ensure we don't just survive ongoing trade
wars, but emerge from them stronger than ever. It will enable Canada to become the world's leading energy superpower in both clean and conventional
energy.
[11:25:00]
To build hundreds of thousands of good careers in the skilled trades and to build Canada into the world's leading hub for science and innovation.
Critically, the government will undertake a series of measures to help double the rate of home building while creating an entirely new housing
industry using Canadian technology, Canadian skilled workers and Canadian lumber.
The government will introduce measures to deliver affordable homes by creating build Canada homes. This mission driven organization will act to
accelerate the development of new affordable housing. It will invest in the growth of the prefabricated and modular housing industry, and it will
provide significant financing to affordable home builders.
The government will make the housing market work better, including by cutting municipal development charges in half for all multi-unit housing.
The government will drive supply up to bring housing costs down. To be truly strong, Canada must be secure. To that end, the government will
introduce legislation to enhance security at Canada's borders.
Law enforcement and intelligence agencies will have new tools to stop the flow of fentanyl and its precursors. The Canada Border Services Agency will
be given new powers to examine goods destined for export to prevent the transport of Illegal and stolen products, including cars.
The government will protect Canada's sovereignty by rebuilding, rearming and reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces. It will boost Canada's
defense industry by joining Re-arm Europe to invest in Transatlantic security with Canada's European partners. And it will invest to strengthen
its presence in the North as this region, which is an integral part of Canada, faces new threats.
To protect Canadians and their sovereign rights from whatever challenges may come at home or abroad to keep communities safe, the government will
hire thousands more RCMP personnel. It will change firearms licensing and strengthen enforcement of yellow and red flag laws.
Weapons licenses for those convicted of intimate partner violence and those subject to protection orders will be revoked. Through the deployment of
scanners, drones and helicopters, additional personnel and canine (ph) teams the government will stem the tide of illegal guns and drugs across
the border.
It will take these steps while protecting the rights of law-abiding gun owners and indigenous peoples long standing hunting traditions. The
government will bring a renewed focus on car theft and home invasions by toughening the criminal code to make bail harder to get for repeat
offenders charged with committing these crimes, along with human trafficking and drug smuggling. During this time of great change, Canadians
are uniting behind what makes Canada unique.
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The French language and Quebec culture are at the heart of the Canadian identity. They define the country that Canadians and I love so much.
Canada is a country that respects and celebrates its official languages and indigenous languages. The government is determined to protect the
institutions that bring these cultures and this identity to the world, such as CBC, Radio Canada. It will protect the people who give us access to
fresh, healthy and quality food, agricultural producers, and it will protect supply management.
Nature is called to Canada's identity. In 2022 Canada convened COP-15 in Montreal, which concluded with 196 countries striking a historic agreement
to protect 30 percent of their lands and 30 percent of waters by 2030. To this end, the government will protect more of Canada's nature than ever
before through the creation of new national parks, national urban parks, marine protected areas and other conservation initiatives.
The government will always protect the rights and freedoms that the charter guarantees for every Canadian. The government will be a reliable partner to
indigenous peoples, upholding its fundamental commitment to advancing reconciliation. Central to this commitment is the creation of long-term
wealth and prosperity with indigenous peoples.
For that reason, the government will double the indigenous loan guarantee program from $5 billion to $10 billion enabling more indigenous communities
to become owners of major projects. As Canada moves forward with nation building projects, the government will always be firmly guided by the
principle of free, prior and informed consent.
Canada's immigration system has long been a source of pride for Canadians and of dynamism for the economy. The government is dedicated to rebuilding
the trust of Canadians in immigration by restoring balance to the system.
The government will cap the total number of temporary foreign workers and international students to less than -- to less than 5 percent of Canada's
population by 2027. By doing this, the government will attract the best talent in the world to build our economy, while sending a clear message to
Canadians working abroad that there is no better time to come home. In all its actions, the government will be guided by a new fiscal discipline,
spend less so Canadians can invest more.
Day to day government spending the government's operating budget has been growing by 9 percent every year. The government will introduce measures to
bring it below 2 percent. Transfers to provinces, territories or individuals will be maintained.
The government will balance its operating budget over the next three years by cutting waste, capping the public service, ending duplication, and
deploying technology to improve public sector productivity.
[11:35:00]
In parallel, the government will take a series of measures to catalyze new investment to create better jobs and higher incomes for Canadians. The
scale of the government's initiative will match the challenges of our times and the ambitions of Canadians.
Honorable Senators, members of the House of Commons when my dear late mother addressed your predecessors seven decades ago, she said that in that
age and against the backdrop of international affairs, no nation could live unto itself. It is a source of great pride that in the following decades,
Canada has continued to set an example to the world in her conduct and values as a force for good.
I wish to express to you and to the people of Canada, my heartfelt gratitude and that of my wife for the warmth of the welcome which we have
received. Some reminds us the true north is indeed strong and free.
The members of the House of Commons you will be asked to appropriate the funds to carry out the services and expenditures authorized by Parliament.
May you honor the profound trust bestowed upon you by Canadians, and may God bless and guide you in all your duties.
MARQUARDT: A standing ovation there in Canada's Parliament for King Charles III who just wrapped up his throne speech. He spoke almost 70 years after
the first time a British Monarch opened Canadian Parliament. That was his mother, King Elizabeth -- the Queen Elizabeth II. Excuse me, back in 1957.
During this speech of around 25 minutes, 27 minutes or so, the King alternated between English and French, of course, the two official
languages of Canada. In fact, he reserved some of his most pointed comments for the sections in French. He focused both on domestic issues like housing
prices in Canada as well, of course, as international issues like Transatlantic security.
I want to bring in Jeffrey Dvorkin. He is a longtime Journalist, a Senior fellow at Massey College and teaches at the University of Toronto. Jeffrey,
thank you so much for joining us. There were a couple lines that stood out to me, particularly when they could have been in reference to the
relationship with the United States. But what did you make of the King's speech?
JEFFREY DVORKIN, SENIOR FELLOW, MASSEY COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO: It was a delicate balancing act, and it for a Canadian listening to it. It
touched on all of the various tendencies and tensions in Canada, but what it also did, really quite deliberately, was send a message to the
administration of Donald Trump that the country is going to go in a somewhat different direction than it has in the past.
Geography has been the greatest uniting force, but now, under Prime Minister Carney, they're looking to -- Canadians are looking overseas to
for a different set of connections without necessarily separating from the connections -- the best connections that Canada has with the United States.
But it certainly was a message to the Trump Administration that those days of Canada accepting everything that the United States tries to do those
days are over.
[11:40:00]
MARQUARDT: Yeah, the -- I think the only applause line before the end was when King Charles talked about Canada remaining strong and free. And one of
those lines that did stand out was when he talked about Canadian self- determination, freedom, values he said that Canadians hold dear.
How much of this was Prime Minister Carney speaking through King Charles directly to the American President, or was it King Charles also infusing
some of his own views?
DVORKIN: Well, King Charles has learned when he was a younger man that to speak out in favor of some of his particular favorite issues, such as
modern architecture which he hates and vegetarianism which he loves. Those days are over. That speech was written by the prime minister.
Perhaps there was a little implication from the Monarch of his agreeing with many of the sentiments. But this was really a Speech from the Throne
that was addressed primarily to Canadians, to the various interest groups of in Canada, both provincial premiers, indigenous leaders, French speaking
Canadians and English-speaking Canadians.
But it was also directed to President Trump. The days of assuming that the American government might be able to assert its way with Canadian politics
really is over.
MARQUARDT: Yeah, a real declaration of self-determination there. It was a wide-ranging speech. It was layered, and it was, as you say Jeffrey
Dvorkin, quite diplomatic by King Charles III in the Canadian Parliament. Jeffrey, we have to leave it there. Thank you so much for your time and
your thoughts today.
DVORKIN: My pleasure, Alex.
MARQUARDT: And still to come on "One World", Donald Trump versus Harvard University, the battle escalating between the president and the Ivy League
powerhouse.
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MARQUARDT: Welcome back to "One World". I'm Alex Marquardt in Washington. Donald Trump's feud with Harvard University is headed to the courts. Trump
wants to revoke Harvard's ability to admit foreign students. A federal judge held a meeting with both sides today in preparation for a major
hearing on Thursday to determine whether she should continue to block Trump's action.
Separately, the Trump Administration is today ordering all federal agencies to cancel any contracts that they have with Harvard.
[11:45:00]
Joining us now is someone who is uniquely qualified to talk about Harvard's fight with Donald Trump. Richard Painter is a Former White House Counsel
during George W. Bush's Administration. He is also the Co-Author of the book "American Nero: The history of the destruction of the rule or law, and
why Trump is the worst offender" and he is, on top of all that, a graduate of Harvard, a member of the Class of 1984.
Richard, thank you so much for being with us. $3 billion potentially redirected to trade schools and now a new action taken, moving to cancel
all federal contracts. What do you make of this latest move from the president?
RICHARD PAINTER, FORMER WHITE HOUSE ETHICS LAWYER FOR GEORGE W. BUSH: Well, this is typical pattern of Donald Trump's behavior. He identifies a
problem, sometimes a legitimate problem, whether it's our trade deficit, immigration problems or here issues in higher education, dealing with
extreme concentrations of wealth and a few universities, and we don't spend enough on trade schools.
This is all true, but Donald Trump then uses a problem that he says he's going to solve simply for political gain and to wreak havoc. And that's
what he's done with the trade wars. That's what he's done with immigration policy, and that's what he's done with Harvard University.
He's singling out Harvard University, even though the problems he's identified arise in many, many universities in the country, and many, in
fact, are worse than what's going on at Harvard. But he has decided he wants to have a contest of the wills with Harvard to force Harvard into
submission.
Harvard is the wealthiest university in the United States, not necessarily the best. There are many, many great universities United States, but
they're the wealthiest, and Donald Trump wants to take them on and have a big showdown. And he's using every method he can.
I think he's going to lose in the courts on breach of contract claims in some of these cases. In other instances, he's clearly interfering with the
First Amendment Right of individuals to express their political opinions, whether at Harvard or other universities, and he's going to get in trouble
with the courts on that.
And also, he's interpreting statutes passed by Congress as he chooses, and the courts may not agree with what he's doing there. Harvard, of course,
has a $50 billion endowment, and they could hire very, very good lawyers. They've hired some of the best conservative lawyers in the country to fight
these cases, and I don't think it's going to come out very well for the Trump Administration.
Instead, he should focus on what we need to fix in higher education the United States to make it cheaper, more affordable, more accessible, and
also to support trade schools with taxpayer dollars. But this type of vindictive -- vendetta, this is not going to get anyone anywhere.
MARQUARDT: And we have now heard from the President of Harvard firing back at the Trump Administration. He spoke with NPR in an interview that was
released earlier today. Let's take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALAN GARBER, PRESIDENT, HARVARD UNIVERSITY: We think it's a real problem if, particularly at research universities, students don't feel free to
speak their minds. What is perplexing is the measures that they have taken to address these that don't even hit the same people that they believe are
causing the problems. Why cut off research funding? Sure, it hurts Harvard, but it hurts the country, because, after all, the research funding is not a
gift.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUARDT: Richard, the Harvard President, making the point there that they are doing this research for the greater good. What do you think the long-
term impact is going to be if this does continue?
PAINTER: Most of the federal funding for research in our universities, including here at the University of Minnesota and many other universities,
is for medical research to cure diseases, immunology, cancer research and other related fields, and cutting off that research money is going to put
the United States well behind the rest of the world in advancement of medical science.
This is a great tragedy for United States, and furthermore, telling Harvard that they can't bring in students from other countries, international
students, students from Israel now are going to have to find another university to attend because of this vendetta against Harvard University.
President Gardner is absolutely correct. Trying to regulate the content of student speech is unacceptable. It's unconstitutional a public university.
In a private university, it would be unprofessional. And Donald Trump trying to pursue this path is really putting the administration in a
position where they're going to lose in the courts.
Undermine American medical research and undermine our higher education system, instead of focusing on the reforms we do badly need. We need to
fund our universities across the United States with better -- give them better funding so we can get tuition down.
[11:50:00]
Tuition is astronomical at many American universities. We need to support our trade schools, but Donald Trump is not going in the right direction
here.
MARQUARDT: Richard Painter, Former White House Counsel, we really appreciate your perspective today. Thank you for joining us. After several
years of solid growth, Tesla sales are slumping in Europe, even as the European Union's passion for electric vehicles is growing.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARQUARDT: Tesla has a problem in Europe. The electric car maker, sales across the European Union have plummeted by more than half in April. If you
include the broader region, sales are still down 49 percent and that's despite Europe's overall electric car market growing moving in the opposite
direction.
Two big reasons for Tesla's fall backlash over CEO Elon Musk's politics and of course, intensifying competition from Chinese electric vehicle makers.
Right now, Tesla's stock, as you can see right there, is up $18 5.37 percent on the day at midday. Anna Stewart is now joining us from London
with some of these details. So, Anna, why are Europeans turning against Tesla?
ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's been a slow and steady decline over the last four months. Four months now, of declining sales for Tesla.
And you mentioned the two key reasons. One is politics, and the other one really is competition.
In terms of politics, there's the fact that Elon Musk has had this very prominent role in the U.S. administration, and this is at a time when there
are quite clear tensions between the EU and the U.S., particularly when it comes to trade.
There's also the fact that Musk has really waded into politics in Germany and in the UK, in fact, backing far right candidates, also wading into sort
of domestic issues, giving opinions on all sorts of policies where perhaps they're not always that welcome in Europe.
So, there's that side of things. There's also the competition, and this has been really interesting, particularly in the last few weeks. The big
competition is coming from Chinese carmakers, and one, actually, in particular, BYD, is a Chinese Carmaker. They have a plant in Hungary so
they're able to really target the EU market.
There are a few stats I want to give you. So, while Tesla sales fell more than 50 percent last month, BYD sales were up 169 percent in April versus
the year before. They out sold Tesla according to JATO Dynamics, which is an automotive data company, and they're very competitive, both on price,
both on technology, and they're giving Tesla a run for money.
[11:55:00]
They're also actually making hybrid cars. And hybrid cars still make more of a market share in terms of car sales than electric so battery electric
vehicles. So, they're winning here on a few fronts.
Now, is this concerning for Tesla investors? Well, you can see the share price, they were rocketing higher on the election of President Trump. And
then you can see that they've had quite a fall from grace. They're up today. Perhaps investors are getting used to bad news on Tesla in Europe.
And of course, there is the expectation that Musk will take a step back from DOGE, and perhaps he can give this a bit more of his attention, and
perhaps he can stop wading into European politics. It may help.
MARQUARDT: I am looking at that chart as well. It is up in the last few months, despite having a precipitous fall following the inauguration of
Donald Trump. So how is -- what you're talking about in Europe going to impact the company overall?
STEWART: Well, you have to see this in the context of electric car sales in Europe, which have actually been really quite robust in the last few
months. I think battery electric vehicles are up about 26 percent for the EU since the beginning of the year, and they're having a much bigger market
share.
So, for Tesla to do badly in this environment is particularly bad. They're also not doing necessarily very well in other markets. Tesla don't give you
sales figures by breakdown, but some Chinese data suggests that Tesla sales were down 9 percent in China in April last month as well.
So, they are fair and competent. They are facing competition right across the globe. It's not good for Tesla. It is not good for Tesla investors. And
I think this is a big problem for Elon Musk.
MARQUARDT: Yeah, a very fluid market with lots of different factors. Anna Stewart in London, thank you so much for breaking that all down. And stay
with CNN. Bianna Golodryga has more "One World" right after this short break.
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