Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
CNN International: Trump: U.S. Prepared To Quit Peace Talks If Progress Not Made Soon; White House: Abrego Garcia "Never Coming Back" To U.S.; Two Dead, Five Wounded From Florida State Shooting; U.S. To Charge New Fees On Chinese Ships At American Ports; How Pope Francis Will Celebrate Easter Weekend. Aired 3-4p ET
Aired April 18, 2025 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[15:00:26]
MAX FOSTER, CNN HOST: Hello and welcome to our viewers all around the world. I'm Max Foster. This is CNN NEWSROOM.
We begin this hour with the very precarious nature of the talks to end the war in Ukraine. The U.S. is stepping up threats to walk away from negotiations if they don't produce any signs of progress soon. The White House today, President Trump backed up earlier comments made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said the United States may abandon those efforts within days unless the two sides begin to figure it out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we're just going to say you're foolish, you're fools, you're horrible people, and we're going to just take a pass. But hopefully, we won't have to do that. And Marco -- and Marco is right in saying it. We're getting -- we want to see it end.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: Rubio was part of an American delegation that presented the framework of a peace plan to Kyiv and its European allies on Thursday. He says patience is wearing thin amongst Trump administration officials.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: We came here yesterday to sort of begin to talk about more specific outlines of what it might take to end a war, to try to figure out very soon. And I'm talking about a matter of days, not a matter of weeks, whether or not this is a war that can be ended. If it can, we're prepared to do whatever we can to -- to facilitate that and make sure that it happens, that it ends in a durable and just way. If it's not possible, if we're so far apart that this is not going to happen, then I think the president is probably at a point where he's going to say, well, we're done.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: CNN senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman joins us now from Rome.
Downbeat remarks from Rubio, but also from the vice president, Ben.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, and I'll get to that in a moment. But certainly, this is ironic, given that Donald Trump is candidate, said repeatedly that he would be able to end -- negotiate an end to the war between Ukraine and Russia in one day. Here we are, day 88 of an administration, and it seems that the great dealmaker is throwing up his hands and seems to be ready to walk away from efforts to end this war. That until this administration came in, the United States, was a full-blown backer of Ukraine in its fight.
So, now, we're hearing from foreign -- rather Secretary of State Rubio that its maybe a matter of days before the United States walks away. Now, J.D. Vance, the vice president, was in Rome today meeting with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. He was somewhat more upbeat.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
J.D. VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I want to update the prime minister on some of the negotiations between Russia, Ukraine and also some of the things that have happened even in the past 24 hours. We think we have some interesting things to report on, of course, in private. So those negotiations, I won't prejudge them, but we do feel optimistic that we can hopefully bring this war, this very brutal war, to a close.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WEDEMAN: Well, if you're confused, you're not the only one, as far as the United States goes regarding these negotiations.
Now, we have heard President Trump in the past saying that the United States might impose secondary sanctions on Russia, that it might impose tariffs on Russia as punishment for not reaching an agreement. At the same time, the United States, particularly President Trump, has held out the possibility that the United States would simply stop backing Ukraine.
Now, certainly, it's perhaps easier for somebody sitting in Washington, D.C., to simply wash your hands of this conflict. But certainly in Europe, there's a completely different worry. Of course, many people, the closer you get to the border with Russia the anxiety increases. And what we've seen, for instance, is that the Europeans are starting to seriously consider independent defense strategies, independent of the United States that seems increasingly unpredictable on the world stage, and particularly when it comes to the war in Ukraine -- Max.
FOSTER: Some positive news for Europe, I guess. There was this extraordinary moment yesterday when Donald Trump was meeting with the Italian prime minister and talked about a possible deal, a trade deal between the E.U. and the U.S.
Did we hear anything more about that today? WEDEMAN: Yeah. Let's hope he's a little better at negotiating that
than he is at his deal making between Russia and Ukraine. Certainly, what we saw yesterday in the White House and a somewhat more low key version of it here at the at the Palazzo Chigi, when Prime Minister Meloni met with J.D. Vance is that they seem to be optimistic that somehow or other the differences on trade and tariffs between the United States and Europe will be able to be addressed.
But certainly, we're not hearing anything concrete. We do know that Prime Minister Meloni did debrief or rather, give a briefing to Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, on her talks with president Trump and other American officials on trying to head off the possibility of the United States reimposing those additional 20 percent tariffs that President Trump announced on the 2nd of April on his so-called "Independence Day".
But at this point, of course, the clock is ticking. And the concern is that if time runs out and the United States does impose those tariffs, Europe could be facing a serious economic downturn. So, it really comes down to the whims of one man, and perhaps the diplomatic abilities of Prime Minister Meloni to soften his somewhat sharper instincts -- Max.
FOSTER: Okay, Ben in Rome, thank you.
My next guest chairs the parliamentary committee of Ukraine's integration into the European Union. Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze joins us from Kyiv.
Thank you so much for joining us.
IVANNA KLYMPUSH-TSINTSADZE, MEMBER OF VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE: Thank you.
FOSTER: I mean, the idea of America pulling out of these negotiations would be a worst case scenario, wouldn't it, right now?
KYLMPUSH-TSINTSADZE: It's definitely very, very worrisome. You know, we did not. expect that the war can be finished in 24 hours or even in 100 days. But we were hoping that the U.S. would impose and use the pressure against the Russian Federation and not try to just talk Russian Federation into -- into peace by some sweeteners.
So, yes, it is worrisome that at this point the United States administration is actually going to demonstrate some weakness to the Russian federation that its, its run out of arguments and ability to pressure the aggressor and terrorist state into observing the international law.
FOSTER: In terms of the peace plan, the framework presented by the Americans for a peace plan. What are the issues with that? Why couldn't the E.U., for example, sign up to it straight away?
KYLMPUSH-TSINTSADZE: Well, if we are talking about something that we saw through Bloomberg today, then it seems very strange that basically we are being suggested that Ukraine should give up its territory to Russian Federation, so not receive any security guarantees, thus give -- give away its intentions and plans to join NATO, and Russia will be rewarded for all the tortures, all the killings and all the destruction that it has been making over Ukrainian territory by sanctions being lifted. If this is the peace plan, I don't think that that's something that will be ensuring anything close to a just and sustainable peace.
FOSTER: If it's unacceptable, then presumably Ukraine won't sign this mineral deals with the U.S. because that's the leverage it's got right now. But we're expecting to have that sign next week, aren't we, according to the White House.
KYLMPUSH-TSINTSADZE: Well, next week the negotiations will have to be continued. I don't think that the agreement is ready at this moment for signature and then for consequent ratification of the Ukrainian parliament. And therefore, it will depend on what format that final document will be -- you know, will be agreed upon.
Unfortunately, you know, the initial suggestion from the American side, even, was felt like -- like something violating the infamous Budapest memorandum where the Americans also used not only to assure our security after we gave up the nuclear weapons, but also never use any economic coercion against Ukraine.
FOSTER: The great problem for Europe and, you know, including Ukraine, is that without America, the war will be lost anyway, won't it?
[15:10:08]
A lot of Americans say, you know, Europe has no choice but to sign this.
KYLMPUSH-TSINTSADZE: We really would expect and hope that the arguments will be taken by the American administration why it is important and why this is critical for the national interest of the United States to ensure that Russia experiences a strategic defeat in this war.
It's not that there is no American skin in this game. And so therefore, I think that at this particular moment, it is about very intensive communication and very intensive work with different layers of the American stakeholders to ensure that the White House is taking the right decisions.
FOSTER: It could be, couldn't it that this threat to pull out of the talks is just a negotiating tactic? If you look back at how the White House has operated on similar issues, it might not follow through. It's just a way of putting pressure on the European Union and Ukraine.
KYLMPUSH-TSINTSADZE: Well, I think it is Russian federation that has to be put pressure on. And I think that both the European union and Ukraine are not the ones that would have to be pressured in this case. They have to be helped. And that is our common interest. And we see that the European Union and the wider European states are ready to take much higher responsibility, are ready to invest more, are ready to deliver more, and, and take concrete steps to, to ensure how to secure peace after it is reached.
But at this particular moment, it seems that the victim is being pressured and victim is being pressured to not only give up, but not only to follow whatever the aggressor, wants to achieve, but also the victim is pressured to pay the, I don't know, something that that was destroyed and was ruined by, by the aggressor.
FOSTER: Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, thank you so much for joining us on a -- you know, what could be a very momentous set of negotiations? Thank you.
Well, later this hour, we expect to hear from the U.S. senator who spoke with the man wrongly deported to El Salvador. Meanwhile, on Thursday, Senator Chris Van Hollen sat down with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland father's legal battle has become a flashpoint in the fight over the Trump administrations hardline deportation push. The U.S. president wasted no time to attack Van Hollen's visit on social media. Donald Trump called the U.S. senator a, quote, fool and said he is begging for attention.
CNN's Priscilla Alvarez is tracking the legal showdown.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Senator Van Hollen meeting with Abrego Garcia on Thursday during his trip to El Salvador, a trip that began on Wednesday with the intention, according to the senator, to learn more about Abrego Garcia and his whereabouts in El Salvador, but also to speak with him.
Now, earlier in the day, it didn't appear that he would be able to do that because when he went to CECOT, that notorious mega prison in El Salvador where Abrego Garcia is being held, he was denied access. But then hours later, images posted on social media by both the senator and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele of that meeting. Now, we're still waiting to learn more details about the substance of that conversation, and also how the meeting came about.
But in the meantime, we have learned that he did speak with Abrego Garcia's wife. And in a statement, his wife said the following, quote, my children and my prayers have been answered. The efforts of my family and community in fighting for justice are being heard, because I now know that my husband is alive. God is listening and the community is standing strong.
Now, of course, his wife has not spoken to him since he was deported last month, let alone seen him since he was detained by immigration and customs enforcement last month. So, this was both remarkable, not because there was the photo of both the senator and Abrego Garcia, but also because Abrego Garcia has not been seen or heard of since he was deported to El Salvador, similar to the other migrants who were sent there from the United States.
Now, he was also dressed in casual attire, as well as had a baseball cap on. That is not the attire that prisoners have when they are in CECOT, so perhaps we'll learn more about that as well. When the senator does arrive back to the United States and shares his readout.
Now, the White House had a different take on this, saying in a statement that Van Hollen, quote, firmly established Democrats as the party whose top priority is the welfare of an illegal alien, MS-13 terrorist.
[15:15:04]
So, the White House continues to seize on this as a Democratic senator worried about someone that they say has ties to MS-13. They have not substantiated that evidence or provided more evidence in court about those ties. But certainly, this is a meeting that the senator had hoped to have when he was in El Salvador and will be sharing more about on Friday.
Back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: Well, a U.S. judge is pausing the Trump administrations mass firings at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Meanwhile, the administration had been in the middle of laying off nearly 1,500 out of 1,700 employees at the agency. In the emergency ruling, the judge set a hearing date of April the 28th to follow up the new head of the CFPB had been reviewing internal activities and staffing levels. He says the agency has been involved in, quote, intrusive and wasteful fishing expeditions.
Still to come, a community in mourning after two people were killed and five others injured. We'll have the latest on the suspect in the Florida State University shooting.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FOSTER: Now to a harrowing ordeal for a U.S. citizen who was jailed after Florida officials accused him of being an unauthorized alien. Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez was arrested for -- during a traffic stop under a new Florida law that penalizes illegal immigrants who enter the state. Problem is, he's not an illegal immigrant and had a birth certificate proving he was born in Georgia and that law had been temporarily blocked by a judge. Lopez Gomez spent the night in jail, on hold, requested by ICE, federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.
Now, this case raises so many questions.
Let's bring in CNN's Dianne Gallagher to help us understand what exactly happened here.
[15:20:01]
Just go through the detail of the event, Dianne.
DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, Max.
So, to begin with, just to let everybody know, he has since been released. He is with his family now and they are trying to process what comes next. His attorney says they are looking at civil liabilities.
But look, there are two separate issues that you highlighted here at play. The first one being the most obvious. He is not an undocumented immigrant. He's not an immigrant at all. He is a U.S. citizen. The 20- year-old was born in Cairo, Georgia. His mother came and actually produced his birth certificate, as well as other documents to the judge who validated them, said, I see that he's a U.S. citizen, but claimed that she did not have jurisdiction to remove the federal immigration hold.
Now, there is some concern about that from attorneys as well. On whether or not that was the right call from the judge. But look, the other issue at hand is the law that he was arrested for breaking. Now, to be clear, he couldn't break it because he is a U.S. citizen. But it's effectively this new Florida law that went into effect initially earlier this year that says that any undocumented immigrant who comes into either enters or reenters the state of Florida is breaking state law. That was placed on pause earlier this month. Theres a temporary restraining order that has since also been withheld that upheld.
And so, look, it was not in effect. So, it's not clear at this point why anyone was being charged with this -- breaking this law. He was in a vehicle with two other men. They were going to a construction work site, Max, in Tallahassee, Florida, when they were pulled over for speeding.
According to the arrest affidavit, the driver stated he didn't have a driver's license and he was not in the country legally. According to the trooper, he says that all three of the men said that they were in the country illegally. The attorney for Gomez -- for Lopez Gomez, disputes that.
He says that his -- his client never would have said that because he was born in the United States, but also says that its possible there was a communication breakdown because his predominant language is an indigenous language, a Mayan language, and he is not fluent in neither English nor in Spanish. And so, it's possible there was a situation there.
We've also spoken with a community advocate who's been helping the family, and she stated that there is maybe some sort of issue with paperwork because he filled out some customs documents when he was a teenager. He lived in Mexico from the age of 2 to 16 years old. But none of this refutes the fact that he's a U.S.-born citizen.
And so, there are many questions about how he got tied up in an immigration system right now, but also, again, why he was charged in the first place. His attorney says that this is just an example of the ramped-up rhetoric in the United States right now when it comes to immigration and people's rush to try and profile people. He believes that his client was profiled.
The authorities in Florida say they are going to continue to work with their immigration, their federal immigration partners, and that they were simply pursuing that in that moment. We do know the Department of Homeland Security, Max, says that they are looking into exactly how this happened.
FOSTER: Dianne, thank you.
Investigators are trying to figure out why a man went on a shooting spree at a Florida State University or the Florida State University on Thursday. The shooting, excuse me, left two people dead and five others wounded.
Investigators believe the suspect, 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, used a gun belonging to his mother, a local sheriff's deputy. The five who were injured remain in hospital. Students at Florida State were finally allowed back into the Student Union to get their belongings.
One student describes the confusion on campus when the shooting began.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The shots rang out and we were like, is that construction going on? Or what was what was happening? And so, he got up, looked out the window, and I remember looking outside and -- and hearing five more shots go off. And I was like, what's going on? So, I saw kids running away from the Student Union, and I walked away from the window, and I walked back to the window and heard six or seven more shots ring out. And at that point we were like, okay, there's a shooting going on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: Joining us now, John Miller, he is CNN's chief law enforcement and intelligence analyst.
Thank you so much for joining us.
I mean, it was a very effective operation in the end, wasn't it? We know that there were, you know, there had been trained all the students in an active shooter situation. So, it did work relatively effectively, but a tragedy nevertheless.
JOHN MILLER, CNN CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: You know, Max, one of the strangest things that came up in all the interviews that were done by our CNN people yesterday were students who say when we heard the gunfire and we heard the alert, we knew what to do about locking down the room, pulling the shades, turning the lights off. We knew it because we learned it in high school. You know, you have kids who grew up in an era in the United States of school shootings and school shooting drills in school, the way we used to have fire drills. So, they reacted immediately and it's unfortunately a part of the culture.
FOSTER: In terms of this, you know, this very odd twist. I mean, it must be extremely traumatic for the police there right now, considering the suspect.
MILLER: You know, his mother is an 18-year veteran of the sheriff's department, a deputy sheriff who served as a school resource officer, literally assigned to schools to protect children from something just like this, to have your son behind it, having access to your own weapon. And this is a kid who wasn't just the son of a sheriff's deputy. This is a child who grew up in and around the sheriff's department.
Listen to Sheriff Walt McNeil describe that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERIFF WALTER MCNEIL, LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA: The alleged shooter was also a longstanding member of the Leon County sheriff's office citizen advisory or youth advisory council. So, he has been steeped in the Leon County sheriff's office family, engaged in a number of training programs that we have. So, it's not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MILLER: Still going through those weapons, Max, we are told that there was a weapon found in the car that he came in, that it was the weapon that belonged to his mom that was used in the shooting, and a shotgun that he waved around and may have fired early in the incident before he was encountered by police.
And, Max, you know, we have to add in here, as the son of a law enforcement officer, as somebody who went through some of the training at the sheriff's department and the youth academy, he had to know that if he confronted law enforcement people with a weapon on that campus, if he didn't throw down that weapon and surrender, he was going to get shot. And he was -- he's in serious condition, but he's expected to survive. But perhaps that was also part of his calculus.
FOSTER: Okay, John, on another school shooting, thank you so much for joining us.
Up next, they are the minerals that keep your favorite devices going. And it's China who's got the biggest stockpile.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:30:54]
FOSTER: The United States is piling more costs on doing trade with China. The Trump administration is now planning to charge new fees on Chinese ships that dock at American ports. Starting in mid-October, Chinese ships will be charged $50 per ton, according to reports. The U.S. trade representative says that will help revive the American shipbuilding industry. Chinas foreign ministry said the plan will just raise costs and will ultimately fail.
As the United States tries to turn the screws on Beijing, China does have one Trump card, as it were, up its sleeve when it comes to trade rare earth minerals.
CNN's Ivan Watson explains. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is a computer mall in Hong Kong. It sells everything from security cameras to desktop computers and phones. And almost all of this technology is made with critically important elements called rare earths.
THOMAS KRUEMMER, EDITOR, RARE EARTH OBSERVER: Everything I can switch on and off would not really work without rare earths.
WATSON (voice-over): Take a smartphone, for example.
Rare earths are part of essential components in a standard iPhone. They're in the microphone, which is this tiny piece here. They're also in the motor that vibrates the phone when you get a phone call.
And guess which country has cornered the market on rare earths? China.
According to the International Energy Agency, China refines more than 90 percent of the world's rare earths. On April 4th, after the Trump administration began piling tariffs on Chinese goods, Beijing announced export controls on seven of 17 rare earth materials, saying the measures are needed to safeguard national security and interests and fulfill international obligations such as nonproliferation.
GRACELIN BASKARAN, DIRECTOR, OFFICIAL MINERALS SECURITY PROGRAM, CSIS: China's export controls on April 4th were retaliation at one of America's greatest vulnerabilities.
WATSON: Rare earths aren't just used in consumer technology. The Pentagon says around 900 pounds of the stuff are used in the F-35 Lightning II Stealth fighter. In 2010, the U.S. Government Accountability Office warned Chinese rare earths were being used in Abrams tanks and U.S. Navy ships.
BASKARAN: So we are entirely beholden to China. I mean, they are weaponizing it in a trade war is what is happening, right? So we're using tariffs. They are using minerals.
WATSON: In this executive order this week, President Trump wrote U.S. dependence on China for rare earths and other critical materials raises the potential for risks to national security, defense readiness, price stability, and economic prosperity, and resilience.
The U.S. has only one rare earth mine operating in California. Since 2020 the Pentagon invested more than $400 million trying to establish domestic rare earth supply chains. But experts say it will take years and huge investment for the U.S. to catch up with China's rare earth monopoly. In the meantime --
JIM KENNEDY, PRESIDENT, THREE CONSULTING: If China literally cuts you off, you got six months of inventory and you just turn the lights out and go home.
WATSON: Ivan Watson, CNN, Hong Kong.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: U.S. and Iranian negotiators are heading to Rome for a second round of nuclear talks, which is on Saturday. Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, will travel there from Paris. He's appeared to flip-flop in recent days about whether the U.S. position allows for Iran to have any kind of nuclear program, but Iran's foreign minister is optimistic a deal can be reached.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ABBAS ARAGHCHI, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): We have seen a certain level of seriousness in the first round of talks, and if they are ready to discuss the nuclear issue and only the nuclear issue in a serious set of discussions without involving other matters, then we can progress further towards a constructive dialogue.
[15:35:04]
So, as I say, if the demands are not made that are impossible to act upon, then it could be feasible to reach an agreement.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: Our chief national security correspondent, Alex Marquardt, is in Washington.
And it's extraordinary language, isn't it? But Donald Trump was very clear today that there is this very simple red line for him.
ALEXANDER MARQUARDT, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: There is.
The red line for him is that Iran can't have a nuclear weapon. The red line for the Iranians, which Foreign Minister Araghchi was referring to right there is whether they have a nuclear program at all. And this is where the sort of meandering position that we've seen from the U.S. this week has complicated things.
We did hear from Steve Witkoff, who, as you noted, is going to be leading the U.S. delegation tomorrow in Rome at this sit down, which will be mediated again by the Omanis. Witkoff had said earlier in the week that there's no reason that Iran can't enrich above a very low amount, 3.67 percent. Around 90 percent, Max, is needed for a nuclear weapon.
So that was taken to mean that Iran could have a civilian nuclear program. And then the next day he said that there should be no nuclear enrichment at all. That was much more of a maximalist position. Weve heard some frustration about that evolution, that contradictory message from Witkoff by the Iranians. So -- the Iranians, so certainly the Iranians are going to be looking for some clarification from Witkoff as they sit down tomorrow.
But as you noted, there's a very bright red line without much nuance when it comes to Donald Trump's position on the issue.
Here's a little bit of what he said earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I'm for stopping Iran very simply from having a nuclear weapon. They can't have a nuclear weapon. I want Iran to be great and prosperous and terrific.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUARDT: But, Max, can Iran have any nuclear program at all? That really is the big question. And there's another element that that got -- that inserted itself today. Witkoff also sat down with the Israelis in Paris before he went to Rome. A top aide to Prime Minister Netanyahu, Ron Dermer, and the head of the Mossad, David Barnea, and they were almost certainly urging Witkoff to not allow Iran to have any kind of nuclear program.
Remember, the Israelis have been trying to convince the Americans to join them on a military strike against Iran. But so far, the Trump administration has said they prefer the diplomatic route -- Max.
FOSTER: Where does this go from here? Presumably very, very slow progress. But I mean, this does seem to be an atmosphere between the two countries we haven't seen for a very long time.
MARQUARDT: Well, that's perhaps because of the fact that Donald Trump has threatened possible military action. As I just mentioned, the Israelis are very much eager to take out Iran's nuclear program militarily. So, on the one hand, yes, this is going to be a very complex process. You can't do a nuclear deal very fast because there's just such an extraordinary amount of detail involved and science involved.
And that also begs the question of to what extent Witkoff is going to do this by himself. When will he actually bring in more experts, technical teams, scientists, to actually nail down the specifics of a deal? But at the same time, we know that both the Iranians and the Americans want to strike a deal very quickly.
So out of the last meeting last Saturday, the Iranians said that they had almost gotten to the contours, the broad strokes of the framework of the negotiations. So that's what they're doing right now, Max, is they're essentially just setting the table. I imagine that will continue tomorrow.
But it is absolutely going to be an extensive process to get from here where there is no nuclear deal in place to reestablishing some kind of nuclear deal with that threat of a military strike hanging over the Iranians. Remember, Donald Trump said he wanted to get this done within two months -- Max.
FOSTER: Okay, Alex, thank you.
Three U.S. senators are visiting Taiwan as China ramps up tensions in the region. This is the first U.S. delegation to go to the island since President Trump took office back in January. CNN's Will Ripley sat down with Senator Chris Coons, who says the trip
is all about reassurance.
WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Three U.S. Senators are here in Taiwan, and they say it's a signal of continued bipartisan support for this island democracy in these uncertain times. The delegation includes Democrat Chris Coons and Republicans Pete Ricketts and Ted Budd.
They're meeting with top Taiwanese officials, this visit, following the first round of direct U.S. Taiwan tariff talks, impacting billions of dollars in crucial semiconductor trade, and it comes as China escalates military pressure in the region, something that I asked Senator Coons about.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RIPLEY: Do you feel like the temperature is higher now on this trip than in previous trips you've taken?
SEN. CHRIS COONS (D-DE): Yes.
RIPLEY: Why?
COONS: There are more PRC assets.
[15:40:00]
They're more active. They're more aggressive. They're more assertive. And I think, you know, look, in the transition from the Biden Administration to the Trump Administration, there's been some concerns about changes in policy.
This is one area where there's no change, where it's important for there to be a bipartisan reassurance of our treaty ally, the Philippines, continued commitment to the security and stability of cross strait relations and to Taiwan and its prosperity and its success.
RIPLEY: Do you feel like this is a dangerous or challenging time for democracies at large?
COONS: There's a lot of pressure on democracies, mostly coming from the divisions within our own societies, but also coming from the increasing aggressiveness and capability of four countries, China, Russia, the DPRK and Iran.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIPLEY: The senators also visited the Philippines on this trip. Senator Coons says it was the first time for him flying over the South China Sea in a U.S. military plane, and seeing some of that activity first hand. He believes that stronger economic ties across Asia could help stabilize this region.
Senators leave Taiwan on Saturday, but questions about tariffs, security and U.S. reliability remain.
Will Ripley, CNN, Taipei.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: Still to come, the hip-hop battle between Drake and Kendrick Lamar escalating. We'll tell you what Drake is now accusing his rival of doing.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FOSTER: Now, the judge in the sex trafficking trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs has rejected a request to delay his trial. Lawyers of the disgraced entertainer said they need more time to prepare after new judges -- charges, rather, were added.
Earlier today, the judge said the trial will go on as scheduled next month. Combs is being accused of sexual assault in more than 40 civil lawsuits now. He's pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The battle between Canadian rapper Drake and Grammy winner Kendrick Lamar continues in the courtroom now.
[15:45:01]
Drake is expanding a lawsuit against Lamar for his own record label. In addition to his song, Kendrick Lamar is accused of defamation by performing "Not Like Us" at two high profile events.
Here's CNN's Lisa France with the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LISA RESPERS FRANCE, CNN ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: What we are doing is Drake is taking - he - Drake is taking it to the next level. So, what he has done is he's added on to his federal defamation lawsuit against UMG, Universal Music Group, which oversees the label that he's on, as well as the label that Kendrick Lamar is on.
So, what Drake is, in essence, is saying is that because Kendrick Lamar had -- the biggest halftime show the Super Bowl has ever seen, with over 133 million people tuning in, and "Not Like Us" was such a big deal when it came to that halftime show, it was the linchpin. And also with the Grammy's, where Kendrick Lamar won five Grammy's and more than 15 million people watched that and, of course, "Not Like Us" was played during that and it was a big deal then, too, that it exposed more people to the song, and it has further defamed him.
Now, UMG, of course, says that, you know, they disagree with this wholeheartedly. And they say that they think that Drake is getting some bad legal advice to be pursuing this. They say that they have not defamed him.
He, in essence, is saying that they defamed him by publishing and promoting "Not Like Us," which, you know, has been the biggest song ever for Kendrick Lamar. And everybody was talking about it. (END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: Now, the man accused of fatally shooting the CEO of UnitedHealthcare on a sidewalk in Manhattan has now been indicted on federal charges. Those include murder, stalking and a firearms offense. The federal charges on Luigi Mangione could be sentenced to death if convicted. And the U.S. attorney general has said the Justice Department will seek the death penalty. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to New York state charges.
The Menendez brothers will have to wait until next month for their next chance of freedom. Lyle and Erik Menendez was sentenced to life imprison for the 1989 murders of their parents. On Thursday, their long-awaited resentencing hearing was delayed for three weeks. California's attorney general opposes any new sentencing or new trial for the pair, and attorney for the family wants him removed from the case.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK GERAGOS, ATTORNEY FOR THE MENENDEZ FAMILY: This particular D.A. has decided that he's got some other interest to vindicate that has nothing to do with the victims. Why at the last minute just a Hail Mary, piling of emotion to continue and does not notify any of the victims or the victims' lawyer. Why? What is going on? Whose interest this is vindicating?
NATHAN HOCHMAN, LOS ANGELES DISTRICT ATTORNEY: With respect to defense attorneys, there's an old adage. If you don't have the facts, pound the law. And if you don't have the law, pound the facts. And if you don't have the law or the facts, pound the prosecutor.
And that's exactly what the defense strategy has been, because we don't fear the facts. All the facts. The facts that are favorable to a Menendez resentencing, the facts that are not favorable to a Menendez resentencing. Bring on the facts.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: The brothers claim that they were sexually abused by their father and killed their parents in self-defense, but a judge blocked most of that evidence from being presented to the jury that finally convicted them.
Still to come, you are watching live pictures now from Rome. Christians across the world starting to celebrate easter weekend. It is Good Friday. Our Vatican correspondent will tell us how Pope Francis will join them, even though he's not leading any services this time around.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:51:07]
FOSTER: Today is Good Friday, the holy day that has Christians gathering around the world. Many were at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City as Pope Francis continues to recover after leaving hospital from double pneumonia. With Holy Week underway, he has scaled back his appearances before the public, despite his improved health.
Let's head straight to Rome and bring in our Vatican correspondent, Christopher Lamb.
I mean, he's not well, is he? But he's really well, considering how he was a few weeks ago.
CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right, Max, the pope is still recovering from the double pneumonia that almost took his life. He was in hospital for 38 days. He's back in the Vatican now, recovering.
The Vatican say he's making slow improvements. And we have seen those improvements in recent days. The pope is able to speak for a bit longer than he has previously, but obviously, it's a long road to recovery, and the pope is not going to be leading the services of Holy Week and Easter as he normally would be doing. There's a large number of services, of course, this is the high point of the church's year.
But he is determined to make his presence felt. He is determined to participate where he can. And on Thursday yesterday, he went to a prison in Rome. He met with inmates there. He said he would have liked to have washed some of their feet as part of the foot washing ritual that takes place on Thursday evening.
He didn't take part in the Good Friday service behind me here in St. Peter's Basilica, but there is hope that he might appear on Easter Sunday and give his blessing to the city of Rome and the world, which is what happens on Easter.
The problem for Francis is he can't speak for long periods of time. He is still recovering from what was the most serious health crisis of his pontificate. Now, this weekend, Vice President J.D. Vance is in Rome. He was in St. Peter's for the service behind me. He may meet the pope for an impromptu meeting. It's not scheduled, but there's speculation he might meet Francis. He is going to be meeting Cardinal Parolin, the senior Vatican diplomat, tomorrow, on Saturday.
But it is a different easter for the pope as he seeks to recover from the double pneumonia. He's trying to adapt as best he can and trying to be present. Although given his health challenges, that is quite difficult -- Max.
FOSTER: Yeah, we're just looking at these remarkable images from the Colosseum. This is a Good Friday service, isn't it? Were just seeing the presenter now, but that what's happening there? Is that something that happens every year?
LAMB: Yes. So, the Colosseum each year or each good Friday hosts the Way of the Cross celebration, which is the commemoration of Christs suffering and death on the cross. And that takes place each year in the Colosseum.
Now, the pope has not attended that for the past couple of years. He has this year deputized a cardinal to lead it for him. It's a very poignant and moving service as those gathered remember Christs suffering step by step and his death.
The pope has, however, written the meditations for that Via Cruces, Way of the Cross service. So, he is trying to be part of that by writing the meditations that are being read out as people remember Christ's suffering and death on the cross on this Good Friday.
FOSTER: Okay. Christopher Lamb, thank you so much, indeed. A momentous weekend for Christians around the world.
And finally, this hour, it was just Ken in the Barbie movie. But now Ryan Gosling is about to be the main star in a galaxy far, far away.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)
[15:55:13]
FOSTER: Gosling in Japan surprising fans at a Star Wars celebration. He confirmed that he's starring in Lucasfilm's new Star Wars standalone movie. It's called "Star Wars: Starfighter". The audience at Friday's event was shown a photo of Gosling's childhood Star Wars bedding. Gosling said he was dreaming about the franchise before he ever saw the movies.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RYAN GOSLING, ACTOR: Is that this script is just so good. It has such a great story with great and original characters. It's filled with so much heart and adventure, and there just really is not a more perfect filmmaker for this particular story than Shawn.
SHAWN LEVY, DIRECTOR: Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: You'll have to wait a couple of years though to see it.
Thank you for watching. I'm Max Foster. I'll be back after the break.