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Trump Presses New Tariffs Amid Growing Tensions on Greenland; Spain's High-speed Train Derailed, Crashed, and Killed Three-Dozen People; Patriots, Rams Complete Super Bowl's Final Four Cast. Aired 3- 4a ET

Aired January 19, 2026 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:00]

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ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States and all around the world, I'm Rosemary Church. Just ahead.

The U.S. and Europe are at odds over President Donald Trump's demand to take over Greenland. What this could do to the NATO alliance.

More than three dozen people are killed and many more injured as two trains derail and crash. We will have a live report from Spain.

And the Pentagon orders 1500 active duty soldiers to prepare for possible deployment as anti-ICE protesters and law enforcement clash in Minneapolis.

UNKNOWN (voice-over): Live from Atlanta, this is "CNN Newsroom" with Rosemary Church.

CHURCH: Thanks for joining us.

And we start with U.S. President Donald Trump's latest attempt to acquire Greenland. His threats to impose tariffs on key European allies who stand in his way have sparked a flurry of activity across the continent. E.U. ambassadors held an emergency meeting on Sunday to formulate a response to the 10 percent tariffs set to go into effect on February 1st.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he spoke to President Trump about the issue and will continue to work on it. The Prime Minister of Italy, who's often aligned with President Trump politically, also commented on the U.S. tariff pressure, calling it a mistake.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GIORGIA MELONI, ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER (through translator): I wanted to say that the prediction of an increase in tariffs against those nations that choose to contribute to the security of Greenland is, in my opinion, a mistake. And obviously I don't agree with it. I agree with the attention that the American presidency gives, as I've told you many times, to Greenland and in general to the Arctic, which is a strategic area.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: President Trump claims the U.S. needs Greenland for national security reasons. He posted on social media late Sunday, saying, quote, "NATO has been telling Denmark for 20 years that you have to get the

Russian threat away from Greenland. Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time and it will be done."

Joining me now with the latest live from Paris is CNN senior international correspondent Melissa Bell. Good to see you, Melissa. So what's been the overall reaction from Europe on President Trump's tariff threats to increase pressure for U.S. ownership of Greenland?

MELISSA BELL, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Look, Europeans have been watching with growing alarm, Rosemary, as this determination of President Trump seemed to grow day by day, ever more strident ambition of making Greenland part of the United States.

Now, the fact that those threats then followed made on Truth Social Saturday, of course, sent such shockwaves through Europe that you had this long meeting organized on Sunday as allies tried to figure out how to respond. Now, we're hoping to hear -- expecting rather to hear from the European Commission later today of the fruits of what was decided that meeting. But clearly the threat against those eight nations involved so far in the reinforcements of troops up there in Greenland, a huge shock and extremely worrying to Europeans.

You'll remember that they had said all along that they would stand firm behind Denmark, then adding those troop numbers over the course of the last week. Pretty symbolic in the end, the numbers. And yet the timing important as an important symbol of their determination not just to stand by Greenland as Europeans, but to support NATO.

You heard there you mentioned there Rosemary, Mark Rutte's tweet. He will, of course, be seeing President Trump in Davos. And we put to him just a couple of weeks ago what would happen should the United States go ahead with this military escalation.

He had continued to insist that he believed that negotiation, talking, working through the alliance to get President Trump to show reason when it came to Greenland, even negotiating whatever it was he was hoping to achieve there with his European allies in Denmark specifically, was still possible. Whether it is now after this ratcheting up of the pressure will be extremely interesting. It'll be very interesting also to see how the Europeans intend to resolve.

[03:04:58]

So far over the course of this much more muscular and offensive second term of President Trump, Europeans have by and large chosen to mince their words, to seek to assuage, to appease. Whether this latest escalation, and it is a serious one, a 10 percent tariff across the board from February 1st would be a catastrophic thing for Europe's economies, no doubt having a cost also on the United States economy as a result of the size of the trading partnership that exists. But we've seen this used time and time again by President Trump, who then backs down when he feels that he's been able to make progress.

And so it'll be interesting to see how the Europeans have read this as yet another escalatory threat that may not lead to much or something that could actually take effect on February 1st. Certainly the Europeans showing a great deal of resolve and unity in the great face of this latest threat. Rosemary.

CHURCH: Melissa Bell, joining us live from Paris for that report. Many thanks.

And CNN's international diplomatic editor, Nic Robertson, is in Greenland's capital with more on the growing tensions.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Nations within the European Union and the U.K. who've been affected by President Trump's threat of tariffs. That's the countries who have sent NATO troops here to Nuuk and elsewhere in Greenland as part of these ongoing military Arctic training exercises. That's Denmark, of course, along with Finland, along with France, along with Germany, along with the Netherlands, along with Norway, along with Sweden, along with the U.K.

Those are the countries that are being targeted by these tariffs. And the joint statement says that President Trump threatens to undermine the transatlantic security risks putting the relationship on a downward spiral. And they say they stand squarely behind Denmark and the people of Greenland in determining their future, that they will continue and are willing to continue as they have done in conversations about Greenland, but based on its sovereignty or based on the respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity, which very clearly they feel President Trump is not doing at the moment.

So that pushback from those countries is very clear. And that discussion with E.U. ambassadors was discussing some incredibly disruptive potential measures stopping potentially the E.U.-U.S. trade deal, which would leave tariffs in place on U.S. goods coming into Europe, would damage trade and the economies of both Europe and the United States.

But an even bigger mechanism tool that has never been used before, the sort of so-called nuclear option, the anti-coercion measures that Europe -- the European Union, all those nations could bring to bear on the United States that would potentially put costs on any Amazon transaction, on any Visa or MasterCard transaction, incredibly wide- ranging and economically damaging.

So the Europeans reaching, as they say, to their toolbox of what they can do to talk economics and economic power with President Trump. And this is the biggest division, if you will, that I think the E.U. has seen with the U.S. in recent history.

(END VIDEOTAPE) CHURCH: Joining us now is Rasmus Jarlov. He is a member of the Danish Parliament and former Danish Minister of Business Affairs. I appreciate you talking with us.

RASMUS JARLOV, DANISH MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, AND FORMER DANISH MINISTER OF BUSINESS AFFAIRS: Good morning.

CHURCH: So after threatening to increase tariffs on eight NATO allies to ramp up U.S. efforts to buy Greenland, President Trump posted on social media Sunday night that NATO has been telling Denmark for 20 years to remove the Russian threat to Greenland. And he said, quote, "Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it's time and it will be done," unquote.

So what is your response to what he said there?

JARLOV: We wake up every day to new accusations and new threats, and the situation is becoming very serious. It is not true that NATO has been telling Denmark for 20 years to remove the threat from Russia. And it is also not true that there is a big threat from Russia in Greenland.

Denmark has kept Russia and China completely out of Greenland. They don't do anything up there. They don't have any activities there, they don't have a consulate, they don't do any mining, they don't own anything.

We have kept them out, and we're fully capable of doing that. Greenland is well protected by NATO. We agree that we have to increase the presence and the ability to monitor what's going on in the Arctic because of melting ice and new sea lanes.

So there is a need for more activity up there. And we're also doing that. We have invested more than 13 billion euros in the past two years in the defense of Greenland.

So we are taking the situation very seriously. But you shouldn't exaggerate the threat from China and Russia and pretend that they're about to take over Greenland, because that is definitely not the case.

[03:10:04]

And if it were the case, we would call the Americans and ask them to come with more troops. And we don't want Greenland to fall into the hands of China and Russia either, but it's not going to.

CHURCH: And E.U. ambassadors held an emergency summit Sunday. So what do they plan to do next in response to Trump's threat of new 10 percent tariffs to be applied February 1st?

JARLOV: Well, that I cannot know. And that's up to the governments of Europe to decide how to respond to this. But the situation is getting very serious.

And we could be looking at madness in the coming months if this continues. We're hoping for the American people, we're hoping for Congress to realize that this is a very dangerous development that won't do any good for anyone except for Putin and China.

United States and Europe at odds with each other, maybe even fighting each other. It's complete madness and it mustn't come to that.

CHURCH: And of course, we're talking tariffs right now. But how concerned are you that President Trump might resort to military action to take Greenland by force? And if he does that, how would NATO allies likely respond?

JARLOV: Yes, that is a concern. The rhetoric is very threatening. And Denmark, of course, has no choice but to try to defend our country.

We understand the Americans are much stronger than us and they can destroy our military. But people will die. There will be a war and it will be just a disastrous situation.

And the Western alliance will be burned down to the ground. We have the Western alliance to protect us from others taking our territory, not to allow Americans or anyone else within the alliance to take our territory.

And if that happens, that's not the actions of allies. That's the action of an enemy. And we are very concerned about the rhetoric that's going on right now.

CHURCH: And President Trump says that the U.S. needs Greenland for U.S. national security. So why do you think he wants to buy the territory at a cost of hundreds of billions of dollars instead of perhaps ramping up U.S. troops that are already based on the island?

JARLOV: Yes, that's a big mystery because even disregarding that it's completely unjustified and you can't just say that you want your neighbor's land because you think you need it.

There's also a complete lack of logic behind this because the United States already has full access to Greenland. We have this defense agreement. They can put as many troops up there as they want.

They decided to downscale their own presence by about 99 percent from about 15,000 to 150 troops in Greenland today. And they can move right back in if they want, the door is wide open.

Also, when it comes to murals, if they have concrete mining projects in mind, all they have to do is tell us and we'll work it out.

And so it wouldn't gain anything for the United States today. They have access free of charge and with no expiry date. And we're willing to talk to the Americans about what they want to do in Greenland, but we're not willing to give up the sovereignty and hand over 57,000 Danish citizens to become Americans against their will.

The Greenlanders are crystal clear. They don't want to be Americans. And Denmark is not going to hand Greenland over under any circumstances.

CHURCH: Rasmus Jarlov, thank you so much for talking with us. I appreciate it.

JARLOV: Thanks a lot. Good morning.

CHURCH: And we are following a developing story out of Spain where emergency crews are on the scene of a deadly high speed train crash. At least 39 people are dead and dozens more injured in one of the country's worst rail disasters in more than a decade. A train headed from Malaga to Madrid derailed and crashed into another train Sunday night.

And journalist Atika Shubert joins us now live from Spain. Atika, have officials discussed what caused that first train to derail at this point?

ATIKA SHUBERT, JOURNALIST: There is an investigation team looking into it, but at the moment it's a mystery. Spain's Minister of Transportation, Oscar Puente, put out a statement saying that the train, the Iryo train that apparently jumped the track and derailed was completely new, he said maybe not even four years old.

And he also said that the train track itself had been recently refurbished and millions of dollars and millions of euros put in to renew it. So it's a mystery as to what happened.

I should also point out this is a straight track. There were several kilometers of straight track. So there was no bend, no curve in the rail that would possibly have made the train jump.

[03:15:01]

So this is what investigators will be looking at. What made it worse, of course, was the fact that the Iryo train derailed. It was going north towards Madrid just as another Renfe train was coming south toward Huelva and they collided head on.

There was also an embankment of several hundred meters, which they tumbled off of. So all in all, a horrific crash, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Just horrifying and we'll wait to hear causes behind this. Atika Shubert brings us that live report, many thanks.

Still to come, Minnesota's National Guard says it's ready to protect the peace and protesters as the Pentagon orders hundreds of troops to prepare to deploy to the state. Back with that and more in just a moment.

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CHURCH: Welcome back.

The Pentagon has ordered about 1500 active duty soldiers to prepare for a possible deployment to Minnesota. Demonstrations have continued through the weekend against the presence of thousands of federal officers who have been conducting immigration raids and arresting people throughout Minneapolis. But the Pentagon's decision is raising tensions even higher. [03:20:01]

In a statement, Minnesota's National Guard said it is staged and ready to support local law enforcement in protecting life property and, quote, "the right of all Minnesotans to assemble peacefully." Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is condemning the possible deployment of active duty soldiers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR JACOB FREY, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: We've got many mechanisms to achieve safety, and the best way to get safety is not to have an influx of even more agents, and in this case, military. This is, well, it's ridiculous, but we will not be intimidated by the actions of this federal government.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CNN's Julia Vargas-Jones is in Minneapolis and filed this report as darkness was settling in.

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JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The chilling temperatures are not deterring protesters from coming here to outside the Whipple Federal Building. We're still seeing people showing up as the night begins to fall. Now, I just recently spoke to a protester who said he was about to go buy a tent and some heaters for people who were planning to spend the night here.

Some changes have taken place here. I just want to show you what these barricades look like. This is new, this wasn't here before this weekend, it appeared on Sunday.

These barricades are seeming to be able to keep protesters on the sidewalk, which has been a main concern of the federal agents inside the Whipple Federal Building.

They had, at times, been clashing with protesters as they were trying to clear the street and keep them clear for their vehicles, but now being aided by the sheriff's department, the Hennepin Sheriff's Department here. Quite a few vehicles, some of them controlling traffic and keeping things in order here.

Now, on Friday, a federal judge had determined that these federal agents can no longer use pepper spray, tear gas and other chemical agents to disperse a peaceful crowd.

They also determined that they could not make arrests during a peaceful protest or stop cars without a reasonable suspicion. Now, those restrictions will not apply to the sheriff's deputies that are present here. So that is an important distinction to make.

As we go into Monday, the frigid temperature is very clearly not deterring Minnesotans. Some of them are telling us that they're here because they don't want -- they simply do not want ICE in Minneapolis. They don't want ICE in Minnesota and definitely do not want more troops being sent to their state.

But echoing also the words of local leaders like Democratic Mayor of Minneapolis Jacob Frey and the governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, saying that bringing those troops here would only lead to an escalation of tensions in an already volatile place.

Julia Vargas Jones, CNN, Minneapolis.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Earlier, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander General Wesley Clark spoke to CNN. He explained what U.S. troops would have to do to prepare for a possible deployment against U.S. citizens and whether they would be armed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. WESLEY CLARK, FORMER NATO SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER: They would have to be trained for this and they would have to be equipped. So they would should be equipped with the kinds of shields that you see so that the rocks can't be thrown against them. They should have facial shields as well, they should have gas masks with them.

And of course, they'll be in heavy winter clothing.

Will they be armed? Yes. I mean, soldiers are always should be armed. Should they have bullets loaded and ready to shoot? I should hope not.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Still to come, Iran warns the U.S. that any aggression toward its supreme leader will be taken as a sign of all out war. We'll have the latest on the escalating tensions after the break.

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CHURCH: Welcome back to "CNN Newsroom." I'm Rosemary Church. I want to check today's top stories for you.

European allies are uniting in the face of President Trump's latest tariff threats. NATO's Secretary General and the British Prime Minister both held calls with the U.S. President over his escalating pursuit of Greenland. And E.U. ambassadors held an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss how to respond to Trump's new 10 percent levies set to take effect February 1st.

The Pentagon has ordered some 1500 active-duty soldiers to stand by for a possible deployment to Minnesota. State leaders are condemning the move, saying it is clearly designed to intimidate Minnesotans amid anti-ICE protests. They've mobilized Minnesota National Guard troops to support local law enforcement and to, quote, "protect Minnesotans' right to peacefully protest." At least 39 people are dead and dozens more injured after a high-speed train crash in Spain. Authorities say a train traveling from Malaga to Madrid derailed, crossing onto an adjacent track where it crashed into the second train. The cause of the incident remains unknown.

Iran's President warns the U.S. that any aggression directed towards its supreme leader will be seen as a declaration of, quote, all-out war against Iran. That warning comes after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested Iran look for new leadership different from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The supreme leader called Mr. Trump a criminal over his support of recent anti-government protests in Iran. One human rights group reports that more than 3600 demonstrators have been killed in the last three weeks.

CNN's Nada Bashir is following the story for us from London, she joins us now. Good morning to you, Nada. So what is the latest on these deadly protests in Iran?

NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we've been getting updates throughout the weekend from human rights organizations reaching their contacts on the ground in Iran. That death toll, of course, rising again now. More than 3600 people believed to have been killed since protests began according to a U.S.-based human rights organization.

They've also reported that more than 24,000 people have been detained. And there has been some question, of course, around the death toll. We're unable to independently verify this death toll given the restrictions on access to Iran and the ongoing restrictions on internet access in Iran.

But, of course, we have also heard from Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, speaking over the weekend for the first time acknowledging this death toll, acknowledging that thousands have been killed since protests began.

[03:30:02]

But don't mention the brutal tactics used by Iran's security forces in an attempt to suppress this protest movement. The supreme leader characterized protesters, in his words, as rioters. He blamed the U.S. and Israel for influencing and instigating this protest, he also said many young people had been influenced by the U.S. President's suggestion or promise of U.S. military support if protests continued and has placed the blame squarely on the United States and the U.S. President.

But, of course, there is some concern over, still, the restrictions on access. It is making it very difficult to really get a full grasp on the continued scale of the protest. What we do know is there has, of course, been a deadly and brutal crackdown by the security forces, which does appear to have waned the protest somewhat in the sense that less people are taking to the streets, of course, in fear of the repercussions by the security forces. There have also continued to be heavy restrictions. And while there has been some return to connectivity in terms of communications and Internet, despite this blackout that we have seen over previous days, the restrictions on Internet access remain heavily controlled by the Iranian regime.

Of course, there has also been ongoing discussions and remarks between both Iran's leadership and the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump, as you mentioned, has said in his latest remarks that he believes it is time for new leadership in Iran. We've heard from the Iranian President describing any potential threat against the Iranian leader as tantamount to all-out war, in his words.

But, of course, there has been growing calls internationally for tougher action to be taken in order to hold the Iranian regime accountable for the killings that we have seen, including tougher sanctions and still potentially some calling for military action. Rosemary.

CHURCH: All right. Our thanks to Nada Bashir, bringing us that live report from London.

Well, members of Donald Trump's so-called Board of Peace for Rebuilding Gaza will get permanent membership if they pay a billion dollars. That's according to a U.S. official who says all money raised will go towards the reconstruction. We're told there's no requirement to contribute funds to the board and members who don't make the billion-dollar payment will have three-year terms.

President Trump will chair the board and other members include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Still to come, the World Economic Forum is set to bring together the best minds in business and politics. But we'll look at how U.S. President Trump's tariff threats are already ruffling feathers. That's next.

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[03:35:00]

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CHURCH: All right. I want to take a look at the U.S. futures. The Dow is down more than 300 points, the S&P also down more than 50 points, and the Nasdaq has lost more than one percent.

Turning to European markets now, and you can see all in negative territory. The DAX down nearly one percent there, similar story for the FTSE.

Welcome back.

We want to look at the business headlines now and President Trump's tariff threats are sending shockwaves across Europe as the U.S. seeks full control of Greenland, the E.U. is weighing possible retaliation using its so-called anti-coercion instrument known as a trade bazooka. The countermeasures could include blocking U.S. access to E.U. markets and imposing export controls among other restrictions.

China's National Bureau of Statistics revealed the country's birth rate hit a new record low. Its population has shrunk for the fourth year in a row. The new data released also shows China met its economic growth target for 2025 despite a trade war with the United States.

Well members of Donald Trump's so-called Board of Peace for Rebuilding Gaza will get permanent membership on that board if they pay a billion dollars. That's according to a U.S. official who says all money raised will go towards the reconstruction. We're told there's no requirement to contribute funds to the board and members who don't make the billion-dollar payment will have three-year terms.

The World Economic Forum kicks off today in Davos, Switzerland. World leaders, including Donald Trump and the top names in business, are set to meet and discuss major global issues. Among those issues, Ukraine, Gaza and Venezuela.

And ahead of those talks, climate activists march in Davos Sunday, slamming the forum and the U.S. President. Security is tight in Davos. More than 3000 delegates from more than 130 countries are expected, including the largest U.S. delegation ever to attend.

And CNN's Anna Cooban is following developments for us from London. So, Anna, how have European countries responded to Trump's tariff threat? Because that's, of course, been the big story for the day, hasn't it?

ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS REPORTER: Well, Rosemary, they're not very happy. In fact, they are really looking at this forum as being a pretty consequential week. We've only been in two weeks into 2026 and already this forum, which was really all going to be about A.I., that was the expectation, is now really all about geopolitics and that's because of President Trump.

You have the expectation or the hope at least that Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine and Trump will be meeting on the sidelines of the forum to potentially sign a negotiated peace deal between the U.S. and Ukraine or negotiations between the Ukrainians and Americans over the weekend.

But then, as you mentioned, you've got this renewed tariff threat against European nations, 10 percent on February the 1st, rising to 25 percent by June the 1st if Trump does not get some sort of an agreement to acquire Greenland and markets are not reacting particularly well to this, you see U.S. futures are down, it's a public holiday today, so we'll see how the markets really do on Tuesday.

But then in Europe, in France and Germany and the Eurostox 600, the pan-European benchmark, that is also down as well. We've seen gold, a safe haven asset, rise today. Investors clearly running to areas they think are safer bets for them. But the kind of response from European leaders has been one of strong

condemnation but also one of exhaustion, Rosemary. Let's remember that they dealt last year with a back and forth of Trump's tariff threats, finally negotiating that temporary truce last summer of having a 15 percent cap. But now with a renewed threat that it could go to 25 percent, this is just some place that these European leaders just don't want to be yet again.

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CHURCH: Our thanks to Anna Cooban, bring us that live report from London. I appreciate it.

Well, in just a few hours, Prince Harry's high-stakes privacy trial will begin. The British royal is expected at London's High Court, joined by six others, including musician Elton John.

They're accusing "Daily Mail" publisher Associated Newspapers of unlawful information gathering. The case includes phone hacking and using deception to obtain personal records. The newspaper group has denied all accusations.

Wildfires in southern Chile have killed at least 18 people and forced more than 20,000 from their homes. Chile's president has declared a state of catastrophe in two regions where the largest fires are burning. About two dozen active fires were burning across the country as of Sunday morning.

Authorities say strong winds and hot temperatures are fueling the flames with highs expected to reach up to 38 degrees Celsius, that's 100 Fahrenheit today.

Well, for our international viewers, "World Sport" is next, and for those in the U.S. and Canada, I'll be back in just a moment with more "CNN Newsroom." Do stay with us.

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[03:45:00]

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CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone.

As President Trump continues to ratchet up his threats to acquire Greenland, U.S. lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are voicing their thoughts on the issue and opinions are largely split along party lines.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TIM KAINE (D-VA): These discussions, they're not helpful because they're pushing allies away from us rather than forging the stronger relationships with allies that we need.

SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R-TX): I think the President rightly understands that this is a strategically important piece of real estate. But Greenland and the Danes have been our allies for a long time now. The President is a consummate dealmaker, and I think he's looking for a deal.

Sometimes he believes in strategic ambiguity and talks in terms that get people's attention. But ultimately, I think there's a deal to be made, and I'm glad that Secretary Rubio and the Vice President have been engaging the Danes because this is something we should be able to do in the best interests of both countries.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: With us now is Natasha Lindsteadt, she is a professor of government at the University of Essex in Colchester, England. I appreciate you joining us.

NATASHA LINDSTAEDT, PROF. OF GOVERNMENT, UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX: Thanks for having me.

CHURCH: So let's start with U.S. political reaction to President Trump ramping up pressure to buy Greenland by threatening punishing tariffs on eight NATO allies. What's been the response to this in the U.S., not only with the politicians but also the people of America?

LINDSTAEDT: Well, good question. I mean, I think at least with the Republicans in Congress, Trump is really testing their loyalty with this one because I don't think they want to get on board with this. This is a completely crazy idea of trying to increase consumer prices, which is what's going to happen with the tariffs, in order to threaten to take control over an ally.

And so we're seeing it mainly going along partisan lines with the Republicans not pushing back too much. There's just a handful of Republicans that have spoken out against this, including Senator Tom Tillis, who basically said this is just good for Putin and this is a crazy idea.

And you're not seeing much support amongst the American public, at least when polls have asked them about whether or not it's a good idea for the U.S. to take control over Greenland. The CNN poll revealed there's only 25 percent support, and it's even split 50-50 amongst Republicans or independents that lean Republican. And amongst Democrats, it's 94 percent that are against, and those that consider themselves independents, 80 percent are against this.

And you don't see really any support for Trump using military action. Other polls are basically saying there's only really single digit support for that.

So this is really unpopular. It's unpopular with the public, it's unpopular with a lot of, of course, U.S. lawmakers. I think behind closed doors, Republicans are probably worried about this and how this is going to impact the midterms if he keeps pushing things like tariffs on U.S. allies.

And of course, it's incredibly unpopular around the world as U.S. allies are scrambling to figure out what to do next.

CHURCH: Yes, unpopular, but he's digging in his heels, isn't he? So does the U.S. president have the power to apply tariffs on NATO allies without the support of Congress, given such action would jeopardize a treaty that Congress approved in the late 1940s?

LINDSTAEDT: So what we've seen with this President is he just keeps breaking norms and pushing the boundaries, and then Congress has to react by trying to create laws or legislation that prevents this. So at the moment, we have a senator -- a Democratic senator, Jeanne Shaheen, who is on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and she's trying to get past bipartisan legislation that would block the U.S. takeover from Greenland.

And regarding the tariffs, I mean, basically, Trump is trying to use tariffs as leverage. We know that the Supreme Court will look into whether or not he has the authority to use or impose these tariffs by using the emergency law, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

So that could constrain him. But thus far, I mean, he's used whatever powers that he thinks he has available to do whatever he sees fit. I mean, we saw this recently with the seizure of Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, I mean, he's really pushed the boundaries of what is legally acceptable.

[03:50:00]

CHURCH: And Natasha, on another big issue, the Pentagon has ordered 1500 active duty soldiers to prepare for possible deployment as anti- ICE protesters and law enforcement clash in Minneapolis. What are the political ramifications of this issue as the midterms loom this year?

LINDSTAEDT: I don't think this is a popular issue for Trump.

I know he does have support from his base on this. And there is, you know, always Republican support about law and order. And they think that he does a pretty good job with this.

But he can't win the midterms by only having Republican support. I mean, we find that in terms of the way he's dealt with immigration and just the way the American public thinks about ICE more generally, we've seen a disapproval rating for him above 50 percent, somewhere around 52 percent in his handling of immigration, which used to be his best issue.

If you would have said to me a year ago that the U.S. is going to deploy troops in Minnesota, one of the more safe states that doesn't have really many issues with crimes and possibly a NATO ally like Greenland. I mean, I wouldn't have believed you. But he has been really militarizing the police force and bringing the military on to civilians.

And these are things that you would never see in a democracy. And it's incredibly dangerous. And I think more and more Americans are seeing how dangerous it is. CHURCH: Natasha Linstaedt, thank you so much for joining us. I

appreciate your analysis.

LINDSTAEDT: Thanks for having me.

CHURCH: Of course.

Well, meanwhile, a rumored new ICE detention center is causing outrage in a small Georgia town. Some of the residents of Social Circle, Georgia, say the federal government is considering converting one of their town's warehouses into a massive ICE facility. As Rafael Romo reports, angry locals say they don't want ICE in their town.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Local people told me that no other issue in recent memory has united this town more than this one. Progressives in the town say a warehouse is not a place to hold human beings like cattle. And conservatives are concerned about public safety and the impact to their already strained water and sewer system.

Meanwhile, the town's mayor has a message for ICE. Go away.

GARETH FENLEY, ORGANIZER, INVISIBLE BOLDLY BLUE: Social Circle is a very sweet, small town in Georgia. It's a very conventional, old fashioned, lovely little town.

ROMO (voice-over): But all that may be about to change in this town of 5000, located about 45 miles east of Atlanta.

ROMO: Is this a conversation that is being had?

FENLEY: Oh, Yes. People around the town are all talking about it.

ROMO (voice-over): Many people here, like Gareth Fenley, are convinced that the federal government wants to convert this warehouse in a detention center for as many as 10,000 immigrants, which would triple the town's population.

FENLEY: I myself am also against having ICE transform industrial warehouses into detention centers. I think that's a really bad idea from a human rights perspective.

ROMO (voice-over): Fenley, a human rights activist, says she organized a protest when she received a tip that people from out of town were going to survey the facility.

David Keener, who's starting his seventh year as mayor of Social Circle, is opposed as well.

MAYOR DAVID KEENER, SOCIAL CIRCLE, GEORGIA: Painful. I don't want that here. This is not the town for that.

If I had to sum it up in two words, go away. ROMO (voice-over): And so is the town leadership for reasons, they

say, that have nothing to do with politics or the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration.

ERIC TAYLOR, SOCIAL CIRCLE CITY MANAGER: It has nothing to do with what the political situation is. For us, it simply just comes down to the fact that we're a small town of 5000 people. We have a very limited water and sewer infrastructure, it's too close to elementary school.

ROMO (voice-over): Social Circle Elementary is located only 4000 feet from the warehouse.

John Miller, a businessman who owns horse stables across the street from the warehouse, says the entire town is united against this, even beyond political differences.

JOHN MILLER, ORGANIZER, ONE CIRCLE COMMUNITY COALITION: Regardless of your ideological bent, most people in Social Circle are about Social Circle first. We're about our lifestyle.

ROMO (voice-over): CNN asked the Department of Homeland Security about the issue, but so far, there has been no reply.

As CNN reported in October, DHS is funneling $10 billion through the Navy to help facilitate the construction of a sprawling network of migrant detention centers across the U.S.

KEENER: I don't know that it's a done deal. No one has contacted me from ICE, nor federal government, nor the property owner. And as of today, we've not received an application for a detention center in that location.

ROMO (voice-over): For Georgia's greatest little town, it's a battle residents say they can't afford to lose.

[03:55:01]

ROMO: As we reported in October, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is seeking to convert warehouses and other spaces around the country into massive detention facilities in several states, including Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Utah, and here in Georgia. Additional details about the facilities remain unclear, and local officials in Social Circle told me they believe there might be a non- disclosure agreement between the warehouse's owner and the federal government.

Rafael Romo, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Now to the NFL playoffs, and only four teams remain in the hunt for this year's Super Bowl title. Let's start with the NFC and an absolute thriller between the Rams and Bears in snowy Chicago on Sunday. The Bears have made a living of fourth quarter comebacks this season, and they almost did it again, trailing 17-10 with the game finishing. Quarterback Caleb Williams throws up a prayer and finds tight end Cole Kmet for this touchdown. The game went to overtime, but a costly Bears turnover gave Los Angeles the chance to drive for this game-winning field goal. Rams win 20-17, and they'll face the Seattle Seahawks next Sunday for the conference championship.

And in the AFC, the Texans and Patriots battled in some tough conditions in New England. Rain and snow may have taken a toll on Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud, who threw four interceptions in the game.

Houston's defense kept them in it for a while, but Patriots quarterback Drake May overcame three turnovers of his own, throwing three touchdown passes on the day. New England wins 28-16. They'll take on the Denver Broncos for the AFC crown next Sunday.

I want to thank you so much for your company, I'm Rosemary Church. Have yourselves a wonderful day. "Early Start" with Rahel Solomon is next.

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