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Trump First Address to Congress Tonight; U.S. Pauses Military Aid to Ukraine; Vance Comments on Ukraine Military Aid Pause; Israel and Hamas Yet to Agree to Next Steps in Ceasefire. Aired 10:30-11a ET

Aired March 04, 2025 - 10:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[10:30:00]

DANIELLE ALVAREZ, TRUMP CAMPAIGN ADVISER AND RNC SENIOR ADVISER: support shutting down the southern border, support ending waste, fraud, and abuse, support bringing peace between Israel and the Middle East, and bringing peace between Ukraine and Russia. These are very simple things that President Trump campaigned on, that he's delivering on.

And Democrats have just had an incredibly hard time figuring out their footing and figuring out what their messaging is. And that's why President Trump and his administration are having so much fun because they're being successful and delivering for the American people.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: As you know, Danielle, the president will be delivering his speech tonight just a few hours after enacting huge tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, America's three leading trade partners. The Wall Street Journal editorial board says, and I'm quoting now from the Wall Street Journal, "We've courted Mr. Trump's ire by calling the Mexico and Canada levies the dumbest in history, and we may have understated the point. Mr. Trump is whacking friends, not adversaries," close quote.

How does he explain these tariffs to Americans already suffering from inflation? Because prices of a lot of goods are going to start going up and up and up as a result of these tariffs.

ALVAREZ: It's a national security issue and it's a health issue. Certainly, it is an economic issue. But at the end of the day, President Trump has said that one life lost to fentanyl and to the illegal drugs and opioids pouring in from both the northern border and the southern border are too much. And if they are friends and allies, our friends and allies need to do more.

I always trust President Trump. I've seen him personally on the campaign trail as he has negotiated, it is impressive to see. Obviously, we hear what's being reported in the media, but what I can tell you is he is a fierce negotiator who will put America first, who will put the American people first. And that is what he's doing as he's putting tariffs on Canada, on Mexico, on China. to make sure that we stop these illegal and illicit drugs who are the number one killers of Americans ages 18 to 40, making sure that we put a stop to that.

He has a lot of issues that he is wrangling with all at the same time. Of course, he was handed a lot of problems from the previous administration. He's tackling them all at once. And we've already seen whether in negotiations again in the Middle East, whether in negotiations initially with Columbia, when they were returning the illegal immigrants, we were flying over, President Trump and the American people came out on top, and that is what I anticipate us to see.

BLITZER: We'll see what happens. We see the markets, though, going down and down, at least for now. Danielle Alvarez, thank you very much for joining us. Pamela.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. And we're expecting to hear from the prime minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, who is obviously talking about Canada's retaliation in response and says that less than 1 percent of fentanyl crosses the border.

Just ahead, Vice President J. D. Vance making new comments about Ukraine. That's next. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:35:00]

BLITZER: There's breaking news. Vice President J. D. Vance just told reporters that Ukraine must, quote, "come to the table" and start negotiating in order for U.S. military aid to be restored. I want to go live to our Chief Congressional Correspondent Manu Raju up on Capitol Hill. So, specifically, Manu, what did the vice president say?

MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, he was on Capitol Hill, Wolf, to introduce a nominee to be the third number three position at the Pentagon. That's Elbridge Colby. And after he gave those remarks at this confirmation hearing, he came out, he spoke to reporters and he was asked about that controversial and consequential decision by President Trump to halt military aid, suspend military aid to Ukraine and what it would take to release that aid.

And he said that if Zelenskyy -- President Zelenskyy of Ukraine comes to the negotiating table, then he said all options would be on the table.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

J. D. VANCE, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: Obviously, I'm here to talk about my friend Bridge Colby. I think he'll make a great, great policy lead at the Department of Defense. It's why the president nominated him. And I just wanted to be here to give a word of encouragement, a word of approval, and just lend my reputation to Bridge's confirmation because I think he's a really, really important person for us to have at the Department of Defense.

We have gone for too long letting our industrial base get degraded, allowing our troops to not even have the munitions that they need to fight the wars of the future. President Trump really believes in peace through strength, but a core part of peace through strength is ensuring that our troops have the weapons that they need in order to fight the next war, if, God forbid, it necessarily comes.

So, Bridge is an important part of that defense policy. I think the Senate will confirm them, and I'm glad to be here and speak on his behalf. Happy to take a few questions if you guys have them.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Does pausing aid for Ukraine leave Ukraine vulnerable right now and give Russian advantage?

VANCE: Look, what the president has said very clearly about our Ukraine policy is that he wants the Ukrainians to come to the negotiating table. We want the Ukrainians to have a sovereign and independent country. We think the Ukrainian troops have fought very bravely, but we're at a point here where neither Europe nor the United States nor the Ukrainians can continue this war indefinitely. So, it's important that everybody comes to the table.

And the president is trying to send a very explicit message, the Ukrainians have got to come to the table and start negotiating with President Trump.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you still have hope for the mineral deal? Do you believe that the mineral deal can still be reached with Ukraine?

VANCE: Yes, I certainly do. And I think the president is still committed to the mineral deal. I think we've heard some positive things but not yet, of course, a signature from our friends in Ukraine. But look, the mineral deal is a really important part of the president's policy. Number one, the American people have got to get some payback for the incredible financial investment we've made in this country. A lot of the aid that the Europeans have sent has come in the form of money that is getting repaid to them.

Well, it's really ridiculous and frankly, an insult to the American people that the Europeans are getting a better deal than the American people. The president is just trying to assure that the American people get a fair deal while simultaneously incurring we have access to some minerals and resources that are very important for the economy of the future.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[10:40:00]

RAJU: And, Wolf, there is a lot of pushback on Capitol Hill from that decision by the Trump administration to hold back on that military aid. Republicans and Democrats alike, people like Senator Susan Collins of Maine, who chairs the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, objecting to that move, other Ukraine supporters as well, including one Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, who just told me moments ago, he believes that is an illegal move by the president to halt that aid.

So, expect some more pushback if that is not ultimately released. And, Wolf, J. D. Vance also was asked about the issue of those tariffs. So, 25 percent tariffs going into effect against Canada and Mexico. Another issue that has caused a lot of concern among Democrats and Republicans members alike. He was referring -- when he was asked specifically about the issue of the Canada tariffs, Wolf, he suggested that the issue of fentanyl. He said, we need to see real engagement on the fentanyl issue, on the drug issue. This is fundamentally the underlying element of these tariffs. He says that we think the Canadians have not been serious about stopping the drug trade.

So, you can see the red line from the administration on that issue. The Canadians, of course, have a different view than the vice president of the United States. But that is what -- where the administration stands as these tariffs have gone into effect and is this halting this military aid has as well.

BLITZER: Certainly has. All right. Manu Raju up on Capitol Hill. Manu, thank you very much. Pamela.

BROWN: All right. Let's discuss these Vance comments and more now with Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island. He is also a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senator, thank you so much for being here.

What is your reaction to what we just heard from the vice president saying that the withholding of this aid to Ukraine is to send an explicit message? And we should note, you voted in favor of sending that aid to Ukraine previously.

SEN. SHELDON WHITEHOUSE (D-RI), JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Well, what it looks like is extortion by Trump of Ukraine for Russia. All of the pressure in this so-called negotiation is on the Ukrainian side. And I see the vice president or the president acting very directly as agents of Putin and Russia in these so-called negotiations.

Imagine if Franklin Delano Roosevelt had told Winston Churchill, we're cutting off Lend Lease, you have to negotiate with Hitler, and be prepared to give up some of your territory and put no pressure on Hitler. That's a pretty good analogy for where we are, and that's why I think people are so concerned.

BROWN: Those are some strong words to say that this president and his officials are agents of Putin and Russia. Do you believe that the -- at this point, the United States is firmly aligned with Russia? Russia came out just yesterday and said, it's looking that way.

WHITEHOUSE: Russia has said so itself, using exactly those words. So, I don't have to use them. Let Russia use them. They did.

BROWN: The administration has said this is all part of the negotiating technique, that this is what it needs to do to get Putin to the table, that what was happening under the Biden administration using tough words against Putin wasn't working. This is a new tactic. Do you think it potentially could be successful to get Putin to the table?

WHITEHOUSE: You don't get a thug and a tyrant like Putin to the table by giving him everything that he wants and trying to crush the freedom fighters of Ukraine under Putin's heel. I just don't see how this ends any place. And the notion that the Ukrainians are going to stop fighting while there's still Russian occupation of their territory.

Could you imagine if Americans were occupied by Russia, if they'd taken over our Northeastern states? Do you think we would stop fighting because some foreign president wanted a peace deal? Of course, we wouldn't. And the Ukrainians are going to fight on as best they can with whatever weapons they have.

BROWN: Why should every American care about this right now?

WHITEHOUSE: Well, same reason every American should have cared when Germany went into Poland back in the 1930s and '40s. This is the frontier of freedom. The Ukrainians are defending all of us with their lives. And all we have to do is provide munitions to them. And yet, we're stabbing them in the back, undercutting them, all for whatever this strange relationship is between Trump and Putin.

BROWN: Those are some very strong words, Senator Whitehouse. We will have to wait and see how this plays out. I want to ask you, because we're expecting to hear from the president tonight in front of a joint session of Congress. What do you want to hear from the President?

WHITEHOUSE: That the -- Musk is being sent packing. That he will work with Congress to pass a serious appropriations bill. That he will follow court orders and not hide behind a fog bank of calculated contempt. I think there's a lot we need to hear from him to put things back on the rails again. But at the moment, I don't see that happening.

[10:45:00]

BROWN: But the bottom line is he's going to be giving this speech because he was elected by the American people to become president. They put him in this position of power. And what he is doing right now, a lot of what he is doing is what he talked about on the campaign trail. And it raises questions about the future of your own party. Your Democratic colleague Mark Warner recently told Politico that Democrats failed in this election to connect to Americans on a cultural basis and that Democrats brand is really bad. How are you going to course correct before the midterms?

WHITEHOUSE: Well, I think, frankly, we have to show that we've got the fight in us to go after the corruption that is going on around here. The Trump narrative machine enabled him to brand everybody else is corrupt when all the corruption it seems right now is emanating from the White House and from the cabinet and from the self-dealing of Elon Musk.

BROWN: Can you give more specific on that?

WHITEHOUSE: So, I think we have a very powerful message.

BROWN: I just want to be more specific on that, saying there's corruption. I need you to be -- to tell me exactly what you mean by that and what evidence you're pointing to on that.

WHITEHOUSE: Well, an example would be an FAA contract being steered to a Musk company and away from Verizon. That's just one.

BROWN: All right. Senator Whitehouse, there are certainly concerns about potential conflicts of interest with the billions of dollars Elon Musk's companies have before the government and the fact that he is in these agencies doing work there. Thank you very much for your time. We appreciate it.

WHITEHOUSE: Thank you. Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. Pamela, coming up, he's the only Israeli-American hostage in Gaza thought to still be alive. Up next, I'll speak to the parents of Edan Alexander as negotiations for the next phase of a hostage deal remain very stalled.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:50:00]

BLITZER: New this morning. Talks to extend the Gaza ceasefire have entered a, quote, "crucial 48 to 72 hours," that according to an Israeli official who tells CNN, a return war could be on the table if Hamas does not agree to Israel's conditions.

Now, family members of the remaining hostages can only wait and hope. And that includes Adi and Yael Alexander, the parents of 21-year-old Edan Alexander. The only remaining Israeli-American hostage in Gaza thought to still be alive. And Adi and Alexander are joining us live. They're here in the Situation Room with us. Thanks so much for joining us. Yael, how are you both doing?

YAEL ALEXANDER, MOTHER OF HOSTAGE EDAN ALEXANDER: Good morning. Thank you for having us. We just witnessed what is the 42 days of the first phase. We saw release hostages.

BLITZER: First phase of the ceasefire.

Y. ALEXANDER: Yes. And also, the release of hostages. I've been in Israel. I just came from there two days ago, and I witnessed hostages after 500 and more days in captivity. They're still alive. They're walking. They're hugging their family. And I just pray and hope that this day will come also to us, that Edan will come back home.

BLITZER: I hope so, too. Adi, how are you doing?

ADI ALEXANDER, FATHER OF HOSTAGE EDAN ALEXANDER: It's really, you know, out of body experience when you are kind of floating and see yourself doing stuff that no parents should be doing. It took too long. But we finally there. And just looking forward for the second phase too.

BLITZER: How concerned are you, Adi, that this hostage-ceasefire deal supposedly going into a second phase could unravel?

A. ALEXANDER: It's really fragile, no doubt about it. But I think the current administration should reshuffle the cards and start over. The deal wasn't perfect and it was left blurry for the second phase on purpose. So, it's just about time to start over.

BLITZER: Tell us a little bit about your son.

Y. ALEXANDER: Wow. Edan is our oldest son. And he's so such American kid full of life. Very funny, very friendly. Love to have -- like to host parties just to have fun, you know. And we miss him so much. And I'm crying these days a lot because I miss him. I just -- you know, I'm a mom. I just want to hold him again and to say Edan, you're safe. You're home.

BLITZER: So, are you hoping that the president in his speech tonight addresses this issue?

A. ALEXANDER: Yes, absolutely. I mean, we heard that more than once that the president doesn't want to restart the old wars, ultimately releasing everybody and -- without leaving anybody behind.

BLITZER: And what's your message to the prime minister of Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu's government?

Y. ALEXANDER: I just hope that they will and to do the phase two negotiations and just to seal the deal. You know, to bring home all the young men. They're still there. They're still alive. We have a lot of proof of life from all the people that just released from Gaza. They also came to me to say like stories about Edan from the tunnels. You know, it was -- it's unbelievable when people that you never knew before come to you and tell, you, Yael Alexander, you had a cake business, and this and that, and then I'm asking, who told you that? And he's saying to me, Edan told me that. It's like, it's unreal.

BLITZER: Do you have any hard evidence that Edan is, we hope, still alive?

A. ALEXANDER: Yes. First of all, we have this hostage video that was released three months ago, and we have additional evidence from the released hostages in this deal and the previous deal a year ago. So, we have a lot of seeing of Edan in those tunnels. Yes.

BLITZER: So, you're hoping that soon he'll be coming home?

A. ALEXANDER: Yes, sure.

BLITZER: And all of us are hoping that all the hostages come home very, very soon. Thanks to both of you very much.

[10:55:00]

Y. ALEXANDER: Thank you.

BLITZER: And good luck.

A. ALEXANDER: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: Appreciate it very much. Yael and Adi Alexander, appreciate it. And we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROWN: Prices will go up. That warning from Target's CEO as President Trump escalates his trade war.

I'm Pamela Brown.

BLITZER: And we want to welcome our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer. And you're in the Situation Room.

[11:00:00]