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Isa Soares Tonight
Netanyahu: Ceasefire Will End If Hamas Does Not Return Hostages By Saturday; Trump Claims U.S. Authority To Take Over Gaza; King Abdullah Declines To Reject Trump's Gaza Plan Outright; American Teacher Released from Russia; Zelenskyy Plans To Meet With Vance In Munich; Google Changes Maps; Greenland Reacts To Trump's Attempt To "Control" Island. Aired 2:15- 3p ET
Aired February 11, 2025 - 14:15 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:15:00]
ISA SOARES, HOST, ISA SOARES TONIGHT: Hello, and a very warm welcome, I'm Isa Soares. We begin this hour with breaking news on two fronts that really
could impact the Middle East for years to come. Israel is now taking up U.S. President Donald Trump's warning that Hamas must release hostages in
Gaza by this Saturday or quote, "all bets are off".
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke just a short time ago after meeting with his security cabinet. He says he has already ordered troops to gather
inside and around -- his words, Gaza, suggesting the war could resume soon. Hamas earlier announced it would delay the next hostage release, accusing
Israel of violating the ceasefire.
While in response, President Trump said all hell would break loose if hostages aren't released by Saturday. Now, let's have a listen to Mr.
Netanyahu.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, PRIME MINISTER, ISRAEL (through translator): If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end and
the IDF will return to intense fighting until Hamas is completely defeated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Meantime, President Trump isn't budging on his plan to take over Gaza and turn it into a lucrative real estate project involving office
buildings as well as resorts. He just met in the last hour or so with Jordan's King Abdullah II at the White House, trying to round up support.
President Trump now explicitly says Palestinians would not have the right to return -- would, pardon me, have the right to return if they leave --
rejecting their longstanding demand for a state that includes Gaza and the West Bank, Mr. Trump suggests Palestinians would instead be dispersed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I believe we'll have a parcel of land in Jordan. I believe we'll have a parcel of land in Egypt. We may
have some place else, but I think when we finish our talks, we'll have a place where they're going to live very happily and very safely.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: King Abdullah avoided saying directly whether he rejects Mr. Trump's call for Jordan taking Palestinians. But he did suggest that Egypt
and other Arab countries would introduce their own proposal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ABDULLAH I BIN AL-HUSSEIN, KIND OF JORDAN: I think the point is, is how do we make this work in a way that is good for everybody?
TRUMP: Right --
AL-HUSSEIN: And obviously, we have to look at the best interests of United States, of the people in the region, especially to my people of Jordan. And
we're going to have some interesting discussions today. I think one of the things that we can do right away is take 2,000 children that are either
cancer children or in very ill state to Jordan as quickly as possible, and then wait for, I think the Egyptians to present their plan on how we can
work with the President to work on the Gaza challenges.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, in a moment, I'll speak with Jordan's former Foreign Minister. Let's get first, though, more from our Kevin Liptak, is at the
White House and Jeremy Diamond for us in Tel Aviv. And Kevin, let me go to you first. The spray that we showed viewers and the little clip we just
showed them, there was -- it was somewhat awkward, I'm not going to deny that.
And then somewhat tense too with President Trump, you know, doubling down in front of the King of Jordan that the U.S. will have Gaza. We will take
it, he said, we will run it. Just talk us through the standout, the top lines there that we heard from both -- from both leaders.
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, and this meeting was always going to be somewhat awkward, just given the very divergent
positions of these two men. And I think for King Jordan coming into this meeting, one of the goals was kind of to ascertain exactly whether Trump's
position on Gaza and his plan on Gaza was a serious proposal that he was intent on following through on, or whether it was a negotiating position, a
place for him to start with these Arab nations and try and come up with an alternative plan for this trip.
But I think it was clear listening to President Trump that he very much believes this plan is a serious one. And certainly, there was some
discomfort there in the Oval Office. King Abdullah did come in, he had sort of, you know, read the room. He talked about Trump being a power for peace
in the region.
[14:20:00]
But there's no question that as Trump sort of doubled down on this idea to raze Gaza, to move the Palestinians out and to build a premium housing
development, that this was not necessarily an idea that he could go along with. And he sort of repeated this idea that the Arab nations led by Egypt
and Saudi Arabia were coming up with their own alternative plans that would eventually be presented to Trump.
But when he says that this plan has to work for everybody, I think it's clear, he's saying that it's not in its current form going to be working
for Jordan in no small part, because it would require Jordan to take in potentially millions of new Palestinian refugees, which is a major, even
existential problem for King Abdullah.
That is a country, his country that is already managing this delicate demographic balance between native Jordanians and Palestinians. And I think
it's clear that if he were to accept more Palestinians into the country, it could potentially destabilize things going forward. I do think for King
Abdullah, as he walks out of this meeting, and I should note, he left the White House about five minutes ago.
One silver-lining was when President Trump was asked specifically whether he would withhold American assistance to Jordan in as leverage for Jordan
accepting more Palestinians, and he stopped short of saying that he would do that. He said that, quote, "we are above holding money", which I think
is good news for King Abdullah, just given how reliant his country is on American assistance, about a billion and a half dollars per year, which
really helps bolster that country's budget.
And so, I think in this meeting, at least, the part of it that we saw in public, no necessarily agreements between these two men about how to move
forward. In fact, I think their divergent opinions only made it more apparent there in the Oval Office.
SOARES: Yes, what a fine line that King Abdullah has to walk there, as we heard. Let me go to Jeremy -- thank you very much. Let me go to Jeremy. In
the meantime, Jeremy, as we just recapped and told our viewers, this ceasefire seems to be quite literally hanging by a thread at this moment.
What do you know more? What do we know about what we heard from Prime Minister Netanyahu?
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's no question, Isa, that this is perhaps the most precarious moment for this ceasefire
agreement in its entire three weeks that we have seen so far. And as we are at the half-way mark, we are now getting into a back-and-forth between
Israel and Hamas that risks collapsing the deal altogether.
The Israeli Prime Minister tonight saying that, quote, "if Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end." He says that
the Israeli military will return to the fight in Gaza if that is the case, and we know that the Israeli military is already bolstering its presence
along the Gaza border, sending in additional reserve troops to be prepared for that possible combat scenario.
Now, we need to be clear, though, that there are some caveats here, and that is that the Israeli Prime Minister did not go as far as President
Trump with his ultimatum that we heard yesterday. He didn't say all the hostages must be returned Saturday. And in fact, an Israeli official is
telling us that the Israeli government expects -- is demanding from Hamas that nine hostages, the nine living hostages set to be released during this
phase one agreement, be released in the coming days.
And that appears to be what the ultimatum actually is here. We know, of course, that there are still another eight bodies of hostages that were set
to be released during phase one, and altogether, there are 76 hostages still being held in Gaza by Hamas. And so, what this tells us is that the
Israeli Prime Minister is certainly making a very serious threat here, but also perhaps giving himself a little bit of wiggle room here in terms of
what this threat actually looks like and what would actually trigger ending the ceasefire on Saturday.
Hamas meanwhile, we know has accused Israel of a series of ceasefire violations, not only carrying out attacks in Gaza, and indeed today, the
Palestinian Ministry of Health says that 92 people have been killed by Israeli fire or Israeli shelling since the start of this ceasefire. But
Hamas also says that Israel has restricted the entry of certain shelter equipment, not just reducing the number of tents that should have been
allowed in so far, but saying that none of the mobile homes that should have reached Gaza have been allowed in by the Israeli government.
We should note that COGAT, which is the Israeli agency that manages humanitarian aid going into Gaza, is rejecting these claims by Hamas.
Nonetheless, we know that the mediators are working to try and resolve this dispute between Israel and Hamas, but we really don't know at this point
whether that can be done by Saturday and whether or not Israel and Hamas are in a place to want to preserve this ceasefire, or whether we're headed
again for war. Isa?
SOARES: Appreciate it, thank you very much, Jeron(ph) -- Jeremy and our Kevin Liptak there, thank you very much. I want to welcome in Marwan
Muasher, who served as Jordan's Foreign Minister.
[14:25:00]
He's currently the Vice President for Studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Foreign Minister, appreciate you being with us. A very
busy hour of breaking news. Let me just get your sense of what we heard just in the last hour or so. You probably saw President Trump in the White
House sitting alongside King Jordan, and what we heard numerous times and repeatedly was President Trump doubling down on his proposal to take over
Gaza.
He said, we won't buy it, we will take it, we will run it. How does King Abdullah -- I mean, we heard that he just finished in the last five minutes
or so, this meeting. How does King Abdullah counter this proposal, this narrative, without hindering U.S.-Jordan relations here?
MARWAN MUASHER, VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDIES, CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE: I think it's obvious that the king was trying to walk
a fine line between not appearing to be confrontational with the U.S. President, and at the same time not acquiescing to what the President is
proposing.
What the President is opposing -- is proposing serves as -- serves as no less than an existential threat to the country of Jordan. And therefore,
Jordan is not in any position to accept what the President is proposing. Remember, Jordan is a country of 8 million people. To take in one
additional million people is going to pose an economic threat, a security threat, an identity issue for the country.
Public opinion is solidly against it, solidly behind the king. So, for all these reasons, the king is not in a position to accept. He did not
obviously want to have a public confrontation with the President, but I assume that in their closed-meeting, the king is going to explain to the
President why Jordan is not in any position to accept what is being proposed.
Isa, this is -- this is, frankly, ethnic cleansing. This is asking the Palestinians to leave their home, asking them not to return, asking 2
million people to leave their homes and not return. I mean, I don't know what else to call it, but ethnic cleansing.
SOARES: And we heard President Trump claiming U.S. authority over Gaza just in the last hour. And we have also heard him say time and time again, they
will do -- they will do -- speaking of Jordan and Egypt, saying they will do it. He believes that he has the leverage. He said recently, if they
don't, I would conceivably, he said, what was it?
If they don't, I would conceivably withhold aid, yes. Who is kind of come - - backtracked on that somewhat. So, the question then becomes Foreign Minister, does he -- does the king -- does Jordan -- do Arab nations there?
Does Egypt -- do the Saudis -- do they present a counter offer, counter proposition, and what would that look like?
MUASHER: Whatever it looks like, it will have one element, which is Palestinians not leaving their home. If there is to be a reconstruction of
Gaza, it can be done while Palestinians stay on their land. But to suggest that they leave and not come back, I mean, frankly, by what right does the
U.S. President do this, suggest that people leave their home and not come back.
So, I'm positive. And there is an Arab Summit at the end of the month. I'm positive that the Arab response is going to insist on Palestinians staying
on the land.
SOARES: Let's speak then, about that Arab response, because there is an emergency Arab Summit coming up. So, what are you hearing, Foreign
Minister, about what ideas are being considered at this point?
MUASHER: I think it is likely. I mean, we just heard the President walk back from his suggestion to cut off aid to Egypt --
SOARES: Yes --
MUASHER: And Jordan, that is a positive development. But I think it is likely that in the event that he cuts off assistance, that it is going to
be picked up by Arab states at that summit to help not just the Palestinians, but to help countries like Jordan and Egypt. I fully expect
that to happen.
And then beyond that, you know, any reconstruction is going to insist on Palestinians staying. It is ironic that we are asking poor countries like
Jordan and Egypt to pick up reconstruction for something they did not do. After all, it was Israel that, you know, caused all these destruction, and
yet nothing is being asked of Israel as a result of its actions.
SOARES: And you know, we're talking about reconstruction, you know, post- war Gaza. But yet it seems, as you probably heard from my correspondent in Tel Aviv, from our correspondent, that this ceasefire deal seems to be
hanging by a thread with this deadline now from Prime Minister Netanyahu for Saturday, for all hostages to be released by Saturday. What do you make
of what we've heard?
MUASHER: Look, I think that Prime Minister Netanyahu has never been serious about the second phase of the ceasefire. The second phase is going to mean
that his own government will fall, and that is not something that he is interested. And therefore, all this talk about a Saturday deadline, I
think, just ignores the point that it is frankly Israel that does not want to go beyond their space.
[14:30:21]
And it has made that very clear. The hostage families are all clear on this point. They are blaming not the Palestinians, they are blaming Prime
Minister Netanyahu for not moving ahead seriously with phase two.
SOARES: Can I ask you, Foreign Minister, as well, as we wait to see what happens, of course, in the negotiations with, you know, with Hamas in the
meantime. The pressure at home, because I have seen -- I don't know if it was last week or the week before, protests across Jordan over President
Trump's comments, over what's been happening in Gaza for months on end, just speak to the mood and to these proposals, how they're being received
and what pressure that puts on King Abdullah and whether people in Jordan will be pleased with the king's position today and what he said.
MUASHER: I think public opinion is actually -- in Jordan is actually working to support King Abdullah's position. Public opinion has probably
never been as unified in solidly being behind the king and in opposition to President Trump's statements. I would also go further, the Arab position
also, which in recent times has not been unified on almost any issue.
The Arab position on this particular issue is extremely unified. There is very strong opposition in the region and frankly, in the International
Community, about what amounts to ethnic cleansing. President Trump seems to ignore all of this and says that everybody is happy with his plan. But I'm
yet to see one country, one Palestinian who is happy with ethnic cleansing.
SOARES: And we have played a lot of that sound from Palestinians on this show. I too have yet to hear with one -- hear one person say they would
like to leave. As we've shown our viewers here several clips of people inside Gaza saying much rather eat the dirt on the ground than leave Gaza.
Foreign Minister, I appreciate your time, very importantly to get your perspective. Thank you very much, sir.
MUASHER: Thank you.
SOARES: And still to come tonight, Marc Fogel, a teacher who the U.S. says was wrongfully detained is released from Russia. We have the very latest.
We go live to Moscow next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:35:00]
SOARES: And some breaking news we want to bring you. Just a short time ago, the White House announced that American Marc Fogel held in Russian -- in
Russia on drug charges since 2021 is now free. Fogel, a teacher was serving a 14-year sentence. The U.S. State Department last year said he was being
wrongfully detained in Russia.
U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz says an exchange was made with Russia but did not give more details. I want to go to our Fred Pleitgen in
Moscow. And, Fred, very good news indeed for his family and for himself of course. What more do we know about this exchange?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, first of all, you're absolutely right. It is obviously really great news for Marc
Fogel's family and all those who have supported him. Of course, there was a huge outpouring for support of Marc Fogel. And one of the things that we
have to keep in mind, Isa, of course, there was a big prisoner exchange between the U.S., Russia, and Germany as well in the summer of last year.
And Marc Fogel was not part of that. Evan Gershkovich was, of course, for the Russian side. Vadim Krasikov was. Marc Fogel wasn't. And his family
certainly was very disappointed in that.
But however, as far as this exchange, as the Trump administration calls it, is concerned, it was something that, where the writing seemed to be on the
wall, if you will, throughout the entire day. One of the things that we had heard, that we had seen, is that apparently a plane belonging to Steve
Witkoff had landed here in Moscow, coming directly from the United States. It was unclear why that plane all of a sudden was here on the ground in
Russia.
And the Russian -- the Kremlin was asked about all this, the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, coming out and saying that he had nothing further
to add to that. Nevertheless, it was clear that this plane was on the ground. It wasn't clear, however, whether or not Steve Witkoff himself was
on the ground as well.
The Kremlin now coming out with a statement -- not the Kremlin, sorry, the White House now coming out with a statement. You mentioned it a little bit.
I want to read one sentence, which I think is absolutely key in all of this, saying, quote, "President Trump, Steve Witkoff, and the president's
advisers negotiated an exchange that serves as a show of good faith from the Russians and a sign we are moving in the right direction to end the
brutal and terrible war in Ukraine."
So, on the one hand, the Trump administration calling this an exchange, it's unclear what exactly the U.S. would have offered the Russians for this
so-called exchange. Also saying that negotiations took place, but the Trump administration, Isa, apparently also saying that they believe that this is
part of their larger effort that they have been talking about on trying to end the war in Ukraine.
Of course, we've heard the Russians be very coy about all this, whether or not there have been direct phone conversations between President Trump and
Russian President Vladimir Putin, but the Russians have said that contacts between the two administrations had been intensifying over the past couple
of weeks.
Obviously, the Trump administration trying to get an end to the Ukraine war. The Trump administration also saying that it wants Americans who are
in jails abroad, overseas, it wants them to come home. Isa.
SOARES: Frederik Pleitgen this hour with the breaking news. Thanks very much, Fred. Very good news indeed. We're going to take a short break. We're
back on the other side.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:40:00]
SOARES: Welcome back. Moscow says it's on the same page as Donald Trump after the U.S. president suggested that Ukraine, quote, "may be Russian
someday." Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, says a significant part of Ukraine already wants to become part of Russia. His comments come three
years into a conflict that has devastated both Russians and Ukrainians.
Mr. Trump told Fox News his administration is laying the groundwork for potential peace talks. U.S. Vice President J. D. Vance is planning to meet
with Ukrainian president Vladimir Zelenskyy on Friday at the Munich Security Conference.
Let's turn now to Tymofiy Mylovanov, president of the Keith School of Economics and associate professor of economics at the University of
Pittsburgh. He's the former minister of economic development, trade and agriculture of Ukraine. A well-known face here on the show. Tymofiy, great
to see you. Great to have you back on the show.
Let me just really pick up on those comments that we heard from President Trump, the Ukraine, quote, "may be Russian or may not be Russian." How do
you interpret that and do you see that as a direct threat at all to Ukraine?
TYMOFIY MYLOVANOV, PRESIDENT, KYIV SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS: No, I think it's typical Trump, because what he said is, you know, Ukraine might be Russian,
not even Russian, Russia one day, may not be Russia one day. And that, of course, provoked an outrage here in Ukraine and a lot of apprehension and
anticipation.
It's really difficult for us. I mean, I think it -- you know, OK, in the U.S. might feel different, but here hundreds of thousands of people died
because Russia believes the Ukrainians are Russians. Obviously not because Ukrainians are willing to fight for its freedom.
You know, Poles are not Russians. Lithuanians are not Russians. And even Belarusians believe they are not Russians. So, you know, people have a
right for self-determination. And it's not for the top politicians of any country to decide on that. But yes, it is a problem. This rhetoric is
hurtful.
SOARES: Given how that comment, that one line was received in Ukraine, how do Ukrainians view President Trump's proposals? Because he continues, as
you well know, to dabble down on Ukraine's critical mineral deposits. I just want to play a little clip, in fact, from Mike Waltz, who said this
just two days ago. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIKE WALTZ, U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: We need to recoup those costs. And that is going to be a partnership with the Ukrainians in terms of their
rare earths, their natural resources and their oil and gas, and also buying ours. Those conversations are going to happen this week.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: And as you know, President Trump has made this clearly very transactional. Does he and President Zelenskyy -- I mean, does he have
Ukraine and President Zelenskyy, I should say, over a barrel? I mean, how is this being received in Ukraine?
[14:45:00]
MYLOVANOV: Well, people receive it differently, but among people who, you know, sort of I have talked to they believe this actually -- given the
environment, given the very transactional approach of President Trump, this is in Ukraine's interest. And I think it's very smart and strategic of
Zelenskyy, of President Zelenskyy from the very beginning to try to build a case that the United States can benefit economically from partnership with
Ukraine. In some sense, it's the right thing to do because business is an important vehicle to create incentives to protect Ukraine.
SOARES: Let's talk about the Munich Security Conference. Keith Kellogg -- General Keith Kellogg, I should say, the U.S. envoy to Ukraine and Russia
will be attending this conference. President Trump has been vocal about the need of ending this war but has not offered any details. What do you expect
to hear from the U.S. in terms of its vision for the end of the war? What does that look like, Tymofiy, to you?
MYLOVANOV: So, I actually more interested to learn what's going to happen tomorrow when the treasury secretary -- secretary of treasury is coming to
Ukraine. I think that's critical and that's where the real conversation between President Zelenskyy and the U.S. administration will happen.
I think at the Munich conference, based on the results of this conversation, possibly happening earlier, we will see some follow up
discussion about security. Maybe there'll be an initiative on when the negotiations will start or ceasefire, maybe there'll be a peace summit
announcement or something else. In order for any of this, peace deal or ceasefire to become real, President Zelenskyy, President Putin, they have
to start talking. So, the U.S. has to announce an initiative.
SOARES: Yes, and Tymofiy you were mentioning the treasury secretary, what are you expecting to come out of that meeting tomorrow then?
MYLOVANOV: I think it's actually going to be about the deal, you know, what could be specific structure of the critical minerals, rare earth materials,
oil, gas, what kind of investment deals could be, partnership could be possible. Yes, I think the government is preparing for that.
SOARES: Look, there are some within Trump administration that appear to be calling for new elections in Ukraine alongside a plan to broker potential
ceasefire deal with Russia. I mean, how do you interpret this? And it's just speculation at this point.
MYLOVANOV: Yes. So, that I think is a little bit of a pressure point Zelenskyy. That's typical, I think, of the new administration, both current
and state. But at the same time, I think it's also a Russian trap, and I think Putin has been talking about it way before the U.S. started talking
about it. And if that happens, if we run elections before there is a formal peace agreement, you know, all bets are off for everyone, including Europe.
SOARES: Tymofiy, really appreciate you taking the time to break this all down for us. Important few next few days ahead, of course, on Ukraine.
We'll keep our eyes peeled on that. Thanks very much, Tymofiy. Great to see you.
MYLOVANOV: Thank you.
SOARES: And coming up on the show tomorrow, I put these issues to one of Ukraine's staunchest allies on the show, that's Poland. Polish foreign
minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, will join me. He supports the idea of creating a rearmament bank to help Europe fund the huge defense investment it needs
because of Russia's, of course, invasion of Ukraine. So, we'll have that conversation with him.
I will also be speaking with the defense minister of the Netherlands, Ruben Brekelmans. The country has just delivered another batch of F-16 fighter
jets to Ukraine. So, do stay tuned for those conversations tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. right here on IST. Isa Soares Tonight, that's 7:00 p.m. if you are
watching us in London.
And still ahead on the show, Google is making changes to its maps after an executive order from President Trump. We'll tell you who will see the
changes and who won't.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:50:00]
SOARES: Welcome back everyone. Google is complying with an executive order from President Donald Trump, at least in the United States. The company's
map site has changed the name of the valley of waters, you can see there, between Mexico and the U.S. Look closely, you'll be able to see it.
Now, people using Google Maps in the U.S. will see it as Gulf of America. However, users in Mexico will continue to see it as Gulf of Mexico. Users
elsewhere will see both names. Not confusing at all. The company says the change is part of a long-standing practice of applying name changes when a
government makes updates.
Well, President Donald Trump has also suggested, as you know, acquiring Greenland. The proposal is actually expected to be the focus of a Senate
Committee hearing that's taking place on Wednesday, but Greenland says it is not for sale.
Donie O'Sullivan went to Greenland to ask the people what there -- what they think about the president's plans. Have listened to this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
QUPANUK OLSEN, GREENLAND ELECTION CANDIDATE: I really want this statue gone.
DONIE O'SULLIVAN, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Why?
OLSEN: Because why should he be up there? Why isn't it a Greenlander up there?
Trump wants to buy my country, Greenland.
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): This is Qupanuk Olsen.
OLSEN: Today, Miko (ph) and I are having whale skin.
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): She's known as Greenland's biggest influencer, and she's running in the island's upcoming elections. She's a native
Greenlander, and for her, this statue of an 18th century missionary is a daily reminder of Denmark's control of her country.
O'SULLIVAN: So, you'd like to be independent of Denmark?
OLSEN: Yes.
O'SULLIVAN: But that doesn't mean you want to be part of the USA?
OLSEN: No. I don't want to become a part of the USA. I definitely don't.
O'SULLIVAN: You don't want to be an American?
OLSEN: No.
O'SULLIVAN: Why not?
OLSEN: Why should I? Why should we just be taken by another colonizer?
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): Native Greenlanders, or Inuits, make up almost 90 percent of Greenland's population.
O'SULLIVAN: Is all this interest in Greenland because of Trump, is it a good thing or is it a bad thing?
OLSEN: In my opinion, it's a good thing. Because it's speeding up our independence process, so I see it as a good thing.
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): When the Nazis took over Denmark during World War II, the United States stepped in to protect Greenland.
TOM DANS, FORMER U.S. ARCTIC COMMISSIONER: Americans died for this country. In my own family, my grandfather watched his shipmates die.
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): Another sign of the U.S. here is Tom Dans, who was appointed to the U.S. Arctic Research Commission during Trump's first
presidency.
O'SULLIVAN: When Trump first brought up Greenland, people treated it like it was a joke. People thought, that's crazy. But you're saying it's not so
crazy.
DANS: It's not crazy at all. Greenland, due to its geographic position, is kind of the front door for North America.
O'SULLIVAN: And Greenlanders will go to the polls here next month in an election where Donald Trump and the United States is expected to loom
large. So, much so that just last week, the parliament here fast-tracked new legislation and new law banning foreign political donations, very much
seen as something in response to the renewed and intense interest in this island from the United States.
Donie O'Sullivan, CNN, Nuuk, Greenland.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Well, President Trump is also giving some clues to what his next executive orders will be earlier today. He said he would revert to all the
standards on light bulbs and water flows for toilets, showers, and other appliances. In a social media post, Trump said he was directing the EPA
secretary to go back to his environmental orders. And added that he looked forward to signing these orders.
[14:55:00]
On Monday, the president signed an executive order, if you remember, encouraging the elimination of paper drinking straws. I still have metal
ones at home and I'm rather proud of that.
And before we go, a brief follow-up on our top story that we brought you at the top of the hour, Jordan's King Abdullah is now posting. On social media
about his meeting with president trump, of course, he called it constructive. The king wrote this on X, if we bring it up for you, just
after discussing President Trump's plan to evict Palestinians from Gaza and turn it into a real estate project. This is what he said, achieving just
peace on the basis of the two-state solution is the way to ensure regional stability. This requires U.S. leadership. President Trump is a man of
peace. He was instrumental in securing the Gaza ceasefire. We look to U.S. and all stakeholders in ensuring that it holds.
A very long thread that you can see on X from the king. Of course, important to point out that what he said on X, he didn't make very clear as
he sat next to President Trump. Maybe it was a discussion that was had behind closed doors, all should know.
Thanks very much for your company. Do stay right here. Newsroom with Paula Newton is up next.
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