cnn's jeff zeleny joins us from west palm beach, florida. go to jeff zeleny, i want to go to justin trudeau the prime minister of canada, is stepping down as the leader of his party. >> i have the privilege of serving in this office. that is why, since 2015, i have fought for this country. for you. to strengthen and grow the middle class. why we rallied to support each other through the pandemic. to advance reconciliation. to defend free trade on this continent. to stand strong with ukraine and our democracy. and to fight climate change and get our economy ready for the future. we are at a critical moment in the world. [speaking in a global language ] [speaking in a global language ] to defend free trade. and the unswerving support of canada for ukraine. as well as the fight against climate change. we are really going through a very critical period at the moment. >> you all know, i'm a fighter. every bone in my body has always told me to fight because i care deeply about canadians. i care deeply about this country. and i will always be motiv

jeff zeleny is here with me. ff, a symbolic journey for the late president today, mirroring his life from humble beginnings in southern georgia, here to the capitol, here in atlanta. >> victor, it's extraordinary, that improbable journey from a peanut farmer to the presidency. but it would not have happened, of course, without georgia and atlanta, where he served, as you said, as a state senator and as a governor. and it was his work as a governor also ahead of his time at that moment that led him to the presidency. and his life will be celebrated, i think, quite appropriately, through the chapters in which he lived. we will see him going obviously, from planes to his small town here to atlanta, where he began his rise. but i do think the carter center behind us here represents his largest work of all, the post-presidency, where he lived the longest living president, stretching over nearly five decades of time. but when he came back to georgia in his defeat, there was a choice facing him. he wasn't sure at first,

cnn's jeff zeleny joins me now. and as we see carter's casket going from where his life began in southwest georgia, coming here to atlanta, where its political life began. um, let's start with the journey, because i think a lot of what we'll talk about today is pre-white house and post-white house. >> they certainly made up the bulk of his century here on earth. but it is that improbable journey that he, quite literally now is tracing that is so important to his presidency, which was just four years. but his post-presidency here at the carter center, and i think it is that journey here back to georgia after losing the election, where he truly found his purpose as a citizen. and it is so extraordinary when you walk through the halls of the carter center, really, which is a living, uh, a museum, yes, but also a testimony to the work that he was still doing. but i was struck by thinking back to what he did with gerald ford, the president that he defeated to win the white house. he came together with gerald ford shortly

cnn's lauren fox and jeff zeleny are with us this morning. lauren, lay out exactly how this process will work today. >> reporter: yeah, we expect that this process will be finished in just under an hour, but really, this is an important moment, just to restore normalcy to what had previously, before january 6th four years ago, been a process that many americans may not have even paid attention to. this is just simply the counting of the votes that were already cast back in november by america's voters. we expect that the president of the senate, who will be vice president kamala harris, will begin opening state by state, each of these certifications. then she will hand them to four tellers. these are the top republicans and top democrats on the house and senate administration committees. once they receive each of the envelopes, they will count, record, and tally each of the votes. once that process is completed, which we expect will take just over 40 minutesish, then we expect that this process will end. lawmakers will go home for the day. th

cnn's jeff zeleny joins us now. what are we expecting to hear, jeff? >> well, pamela, we are going to hear for the first time from president-elect trump, really, as he begins to not only shape his administration. of course, those nominees are well known, and the confirmation hearings will begin next week. but also his agenda. and we know, of course, what he intends to do, but how he intends to do it, particularly getting things through the house and the senate, is something that you know is going to be discussed. we're told that the president elect is going to be going to washington tomorrow, actually, for the jimmy carter state funeral on thursday, but he will be meeting with senate republican leaders tomorrow. and then house republican leaders will actually be coming down here to florida over the weekend. so a reminder, in just less than two weeks time, republicans will be in charge of the entire branches of government, and they will have his agenda and try and work it through. but they are very narrow majority. so the questions are how exactly are t

jeff zeleny is out front, live in west palm beach, florida. and jeff, you know, you listen to all these things and and it all adds up to this is really happening. trump is making it extremely clear that he is extremely serious about the united states acquiring greenland and possibly more. >> erin, there is no question president elect donald trump is serious about talking about american expansionism. it has really become clear through a crescendo since his election through social media responses. but today at that news conference in mar-a-lago, he made clear repeatedly in question after question and answer after answer. this is something he is intent on doing. and for the first time, really cloaking it in a national security argument. as you said, this is not something we have heard the why necessarily until right now. now, he did often sound like the real estate magnate he's been his entire life. of course, now he's president elect. in 13 days, he will be the 47th president of the united states. so anything he says moves markets, concerns, alli

head to the carter center in atlanta, where a service will be held later on there today, cnn's jeff zeleny is at the carter center for us. jeff, set the scene for us. for the rest of today's tributes. >> it's in the afternoon. the hours. >> well, fredricka, each one of those stops is a touchstone of former president jimmy carter's life and indeed his legacy. as you said, his motorcade is making its way north up to atlanta. he will be pausing for a moment at the atlantic capitol. governor brian kemp, we are told, will be greeting the presidential motorcade there before making his way here to a service. and that is going to be the first of several services in this state funeral ceremony over the next several days here. and chip carter and jason carter, the late president's son and grandson, who were members of the carter center's board here, they will be speaking as well as the navy hymn, of course, recognizing the service of jimmy carter in the navy. of course, he left plains, georgia, to go be a naval engineer. that is a key part of his legacy as well, before returning to plains, georgia.

cnn's jeff zeleny and manu raju, you know, as we get into all things new here in washington, and that is, of course, the new congress, which is already underway. we are going to have new members of the trump cabinet have their confirmation hearings this week. and, of course, donald trump himself will take his oath a week from today. what swept them into office? republicans in charge. is frustration. anger. just a feeling of not feeling good about this country. this is something that officials cannot control. and yet it is no question going to add to that feeling and continue to make people in this country, particularly in california, feel incredibly unsettled. >> yeah. and look, it's a crisis. he's going to have to confront immediately, even if this fire is contained, hopefully it is contained over the next couple of days. we'll see. the rebuilding is going to take years. it's going to cost tens of billions of dollars to rebuild. it's going to require a significant federal partner. you've heard local officials over the last couple of days saying they need donald trump and his administ

cnn's jeff zeleny is at the carter center for us. , walk us through what we expect to happen later on. also. >> well, frederica, as you said, former president carter's motorcade is making its way to atlanta in about an hour or so. it is scheduled to go by the atlantic capitol and pause for a few moments. we're told that the carter's oldest son, jack carter, will step out of the motorcade and greet governor brian kemp, republican governor brian kemp, who will be there to pay his respects to jimmy carter. of course, the 39th president from here in georgia and then from the capital, he will make his way here to the carter center. the carter center, of course, has been a vibrant part of the post-presidency of jimmy and the late rosalynn carter. they founded this just about a year after they left the white house, unsure of what their next chapter would be. but boy, has it been a long one and a consequential one. really. you know, doing humanitarian work, peacekeeping missions around the globe. when you walk through the halls here of the ca

jeff zeleny is at the carter center.et's begin with eva mckend in carter's hometown of plains, georgia, where the motorcade made its way to a host of small towns, places where jimmy carter and family have made history and made special moments for so many regular residents. there. >> fred, when the motorcade came through, it was solemn. it was emotional. it was quite quick. and you saw people waving american flags saluting the former president. in many ways, it would have been just what president jimmy carter would have wanted. his hometown of plains to be in the spotlight. and all this week, we've been speaking with residents here, and it seems like just about everyone has a jimmy carter story about the way that he impacted their lives on a personal level, whether it was visiting a sick family member and praying over them, or being involved in food distribution and food pantries before he fell ill, they were someone that he was, someone that they could really rely on. he was their neighbor. he was their friend. but he al

cnn's jeff zeleny is here with me. jeff. it's a symbolic journey from southwest georgia here to atlanta. and that hallmark of common touch that is the signature of the carters. we'll see in the ceremony today. >> we definitely will, victor. and there's no question you talk about the people along the way. those people were so important to the carters. we're going to see even more of them at the service here. in a little over an hour, the employees of the carter center, who really work around the globe, have been called back, and they will be participating in the service here before official washington has its chance next week. and i think that is by design. the carters, of course, planned this service from beginning to end, marking out the chapters of the former president's life. but as you said, the people who have gathered behind us, there are more than we've seen throughout the day. but i was just up there a moment ago, and one sign said president jimmy carter, humanitarian justice seeker, selfless farmer. so i think those

cnn's jeff zeleny is live outside the carter center. and, jeff, you were there as mourners. mourners paid their respects yesterday. walk us through what stood out to you and also what we can expect in the week ahead. >> good morning. manu. it was the distinct chapters of jimmy carter's improbable rise from the peanut farm to the presidency that played out yesterday. really, verse by verse, through every stop that the motorcade made, stopping at the hospital where he was treated, but also at the boyhood home and hearing the bell toll 39 times for the 39th president of the united states, was so remarkable that now is a national park service site. and then seeing the long motorcade go from plains, georgia, to here in atlanta over more than a 2.5 hour drive, people lining the roads at overpasses and then stopping at the state capitol. that, of course, is where he had his first elected rise at the state level, a state senator and then, of course, ran for governor. he lost the first time. and then he won, of course. and that was the really turning point. and we learned so much yes

we're joined now by jeff zeleny, cnn's chief national affairs correspondent. and, jeff, i know you've been there at the carter center in atlanta all day. help set the scene from today's somber and emotional tributes to president carter. >> well, jessica, through scripture and song, there was a very somber tribute. the beginning of what is going to be several days of paying respects and honor to the 39th president of the united states, jimmy carter, whose body is lying in repose right now. you can see that picture here at the carter center at 7 p.m. tonight. it will open to the public. so people for the next 36 hours or so can gather here and pay their tributes to jimmy carter. but this was a long day, really sort of tracing the improbable and remarkable journey of jimmy carter from plains about 2.5 hours southwest of atlanta, all the way through, really, the arc of his life. he his motorcade passed by the state capitol. of course, he served as a state senator. he ran for governor. once he lost, he ran again. he won, of course, served one term and then, of cours

jeff zeleny has more. >> in scripture and song.n saturday, georgians paid their solemn tributes to jimmy carter, one of their own, who rose from being a peanut farmer, to the presidency. >> a daylong series of tributes started in plains, georgia, and literally tracked the remarkable journey that he had from his home outside of the tiny town of plains to more than a 2.5 hour journey to atlanta. the motorcade passing the atlanta capital, of course, where he served as a state senator and one term as governor before making the run for president back in the 1976 campaign. that was an improbable journey, one of many throughout his life. but certainly once the motorcade reached the carter center on saturday evening for a private family service. chip carter spoke about how both of his parents. jimmy carter and rosalynn carter, and the work that they did for the world. >> he was an amazing man, and he was held up and propped up and soothed by an amazing woman. and the two of them together. changed the world because it was an amazing thing t

and for more on that, we're joined now by jeff zeleny, cnn's chief national affairs correspondent. d, jeff, you're at the carter center, where you have been for most of the day, watching and observing all of this play out. walk us through what we saw today and what stood out to you. >> jessica? >> certainly the tapestry and the remarkable chapters of jimmy carter's life were playing out really, as he went from plains, georgia, to here in atlanta. >> and of course, that will continue next week in washington. >> but it was remarkable to see just each of these triumphs, uh, sort of a moment of reflection and remembrance. >> and along the route, the motorcade route from southern georgia here to atlanta. >> chip carter, the late president's son, said it was extraordinary to be inside the motorcade to be watching georgians pay tribute along the route. he said at virtually every overpass for more than 150 miles. but certainly that was felt here at the carter center, where the family arrived late this afternoon for a private family service. now, politics was rarely discussed today. in fact,

i want to bring in jeff zeleny, who is live for us now in west palm beach, florida, right near trump's mar-a-lago resort. you know, i think as a reporter listening to this, jeff, it certainly stood out to me that donald trump would not rule out military force to take control of the panama canal and greenland, but also, when it comes to canada, you know, he had sort of what we thought was seemingly joking before trying to belittle justin trudeau, saying canada is the 51st state. but he seemed pretty serious in wanting to annex it and make it part of the u.s. >> he definitely is serious about that. pamela. certainly a long list of headlines mixed in with some familiar grievances and greatest hits as well. but you mentioned renaming the gulf of mexico. he proposed renaming it to the gulf of america on another specific issue, on the pardoning of january 6th. the defendants. he did not rule out pardoning violent offenders. he had a long list of grievances against what the biden administration is doing on executive orders. but it was greenland, something that the president elect has been tal

jeff zeleny is in west palm beach.hat do we know about his mindset on this day that holds so much significance for his political fate, past and present? >> we do know that president- elect donald trump is at mar-a-lago, as you said, and he's expected to be watching these events unfold. talking to one senior adviser, they characterize this as pure vindication, pointing out the number of electoral votes, 312, that he won to kamala harris' 226. that's the mindset going into the president- elect as he is just two weeks away in this hour from becoming the 47th president. he's already been working at a break- neck pace to fill his government, of course, the confirmation hearings will be forthcoming in the senate. but jake, it is a remarkable turnaround. what was a deep political liability, a deep political wound has become a strength and a political asset, largely through whitewashing of history. looking at a truth social post this morning that the president- elect posted, it was an image from four years ago of his supporter

. >> jeff zeleny, president- elect trump has been vocal on truth social, but has he addressed today'sertification? >> reporter: jake, only briefly. president-elect trump began the day on truth social posting a picture from four years ago. a crowd of his supporters on the national mall looking out from the ellipse. of course, where he gave his speech shortly before the mob moved to the capitol. then he spent the variety of the day -- the lion's share of the day talking about president biden in a negative term, saying he's made the transition more difficult, talking about justin trudeau in canada. a short time ago he did note the certification in all capital letters as saying this, congress certifies our great election victory today. a big moment in hifk, maga. the reality is this is a moment, i'm told, the president- elect was watching from here in mar-a-lago as he continues to establish his government. he's been moving very quickly to set up the appointees to the cabinet. they'll be facing confirmation hearings. he's been working on his enda for the first 100 days. i'm told by one adv

cnn's jeff zeleny is here with me. and as we watch live here, people who have been bused in to say their goodbyes. what stood out to you from the ceremony we just watched? >> there's no question the people we are seeing saying their goodbyes now initially, are people who followed in the dream of the carters and worked at the carter center, and i was struck by what chip carter said. he said the two of them together changed the world. it was amazing thing to watch. so truly we are seeing to a person there. these are carter center employees and people who who loved and dedicated their lives to the carters as well, from who had portfolios that spanned the globe from democracy to humanitarian issues. and as you said, this was not a farewell to a president that will come next week in washington. this was to jimmy carter, the man, the proud son of georgia. and what a remarkable life he had in scripture and song, sending him off as they planned several decades ago. and the choir from morehouse resonating there in the carter ce

and cnn's jeff zeleny is covering president-elect trump in west palm beach, florida. and, jeff, what are we hearing from trump about president carter on this solemn day? >> well, jake, president-elect trump seized upon one of jimmy carter's biggest and proudest accomplishments and achievements. that was the panama canal canal treaty that was signed in 1977. in recent weeks, the president elect has been talking about how he wants to reverse that and get back the panama canal. of course, this was one of the biggest legislative achievements that jimmy carter had. republicans at the time supported it as well. even john wayne supported it. he included all of these people to get support for this. but donald trump seized upon that, even as he called jimmy carter a good man. >> look, i liked him as a man. i disagreed with his policy. so he thought giving away the panama canal was a good thing. i think it cost him the election that in the hostages. i actually think that was a bigger factor, because that's the deal that just should not have been made. but again, this was a quest

cnn's jeff zeleny joins us now. what are we expecting to hear, jeff? >> well, pamela, we are going to hear for the first time from president-elect trump, really, as he begins to not only shape

prosecutor and cnn legal analyst elie honig, former federal prosecutor shan wu, and cnn's very own jeff zeleny. paula, i want to start with you with now that we have the details with the big picture here, because we sat at this table for months and months and months talking about not just this case, but the other cases that donald trump was being investigated on was being prosecuted for federal new york as he was running for president in the republican primary. then, of course, in the general election. and here we are, just a little more than a week before he is going to take the oath of office again. and we learned the answer to a question that we've been asking, which is what kind of impact is it going to be? and the answer is not only no politically, but legally. the answer is virtually nothing aside from today, which is not nothing. but there's no there's no penalty. >> you face a more significant punishment for speeding in manhattan than what trump got today. he faced four criminal cases, some real serious legal jeopardy, particularly in the federal cases. but as of now, this is the only

cnn's jeff zeleny has more on the somber and emotional tributes. >> in scripture and song. on saturday, georgians paid their solemn tributes to jimmy carter, one of their own, who rose from being a peanut farmer, to the presidency. a daylong series of tributes started in plains, georgia, and literally tracked the remarkable journey that he had from his home outside of the tiny town of plains to more than a 2.5 hour journey to atlanta. the motorcade passing the atlanta capital, of course, where he served as a state senator and one term as governor before making the run for president back in the 1976 campaign. that was an improbable journey, one of many throughout his life. but certainly once the motorcade reached the carter center on saturday evening for a private family service. chip carter spoke about how both of his parents. jimmy carter and rosalynn carter, and the work that they did for the world. >> he was an amazing man, and he was held up and propped up and soothed by an amazing woman. and the two of them together changed the world. it was an amazing thing to watch f

courtroom developments, we have elliot williams, a cnn legal analyst and former federal prosecutor, and jeff zeleny, cnn's chief national affairs correspondent. sorry i stole your script. >> that's totally, totally stole it. obviously, this was essentially a formality, right? like, we we judge merchan telegraphed that no one was going to be sentenced to jail time, that there wasn't going to be really any surprises. i do wonder, though, jeff, politically, what does this mean for trump? he gets another shot to stand in court and argue that all of this was just a witch hunt. >> look, in ten days, he will be sworn into office. he'll take the oath of office regardless of this. but this will forever be one of the boldfaced descriptors of the 47th president, the convicted felon. so yes, it does matter to him. i think you could sort of hear that in the defiance in his voice. but beyond that, it doesn't. i mean, he won the election in november. this was all, well, sort of adjudicated and aired before the public. and you could argue, actually, that he has this to thank for winning the republican nomination,

cnn's jeff zeleny reports from west palm beach, florida. >> less than two weeks before taking office, president elect donald trump made clear he has his eye on a full agenda, both domestically and internationally. speaking at mar a lago, his resort, giving his first full throated news conference of the year, he made clear about the gaza hostages. he said if they are not released by the time he takes office, all hell will break loose in the middle east. he also did not rule out pardoning january 6th defendants. he said that he would still evaluate case by case, but made clear that he was sympathetic to the defendants. on january 6th over the police. but it was the international law that drew so much attention on tuesday here in florida, when president elect donald trump, for the first time said that economic security is the reason that he would like the u.s. to acquire greenland. >> people really don't even know if denmark has any legal right to it, but if they do, they should give it up because we need it for national security. that's for the free world. i'm talking about protecting t

cnn's jeff zeleny reports from west palm beach in florida. >> less than two weeks before taking office, president elect donald trump made clear he has his eye on a full agenda, both domestically and internationally. speaking at mar a lago, his resort, giving his first full throated news conference of the year, he made clear about the gaza hostages. he said if they are not released by the time he takes office, all hell will break loose in the middle east. he also did not rule out pardoning january 6th defendants. he said that he would still evaluate case by case, but made clear that he was sympathetic to the defendants. on january 6th over the police. but it was the international law that drew so much attention on tuesday here in florida, when president elect donald trump, for the first time said that economic security is the reason that he would like the u.s. to acquire greenland, people really don't even know if denmark has any legal right to it. >> but if they do, they should give it up because we need it for national security. that's for the free world. i'm talking about protecting

jeff zeleny, cnn, west palm beach, florida. >> not surprisingly, trump's remarks are not going over very well in places he claims to want to take over. panama's foreign minister, for example. he stressed that the country's crucial waterway is not up for grabs. >> yeah, the sovereignty of our canal is not negotiable. >> las opciones on trump donald trump's opinions that he has discussed are not true. >> no such offer was received during this government. let it be clear. no such offer, and also let it be clear the canal belongs to the panamanians and will remain that way. >> meanwhile, back in west palm, cnn's political and national security analyst david sanger attended that news conference on tuesday, and he pressed trump on his territorial ambitions. >> can you assure the world that as you try to get control of these areas, you are not going to use military or economic coercion? no. are you going to negotiate a new treaty? are you going to ask the canadians to hold a vote? what what is the strategy? >> i can assure you, you're talking about panama and greenland. no, i can't assure you o

and cnn's jeff zeleny. priscilla, i want to start with you. you focus on immigration. you cover the border as well. better, i think, than anybody else out there. um, the president elect's attempts to tie this to the border. is there anything you see that actually makes that connection real here? well, the short answer is no. >> but if you look at where he gets his media from, then it starts to tie it all together because there had been an erroneous report by fox that there had been a connection to the border. this was in the very early hours when everyone was trying to understand who this suspect was. and there has been an ongoing narrative among republicans about suspected terrorists crossing the us-mexico border. there is truth to those numbers rising, although a suspected terrorist is not necessarily mean they are terrorists so much as they may raise flags and may require additional screening by authorities along the u.s. mexico border. so that has been pervasive over the last several years and has been linked to the biden administration and their handling of the us

cnn's jeff zeleny is with us now. he's got much more on this. let's start with this attack on biden and the transition, because what we're hearing from trump is not the same message we're hearing from those who are coming in to be on his staff. what's going on? >> hey, kate. good morning. you're right. in 13 days, donald trump will not have joe biden to kick around anymore. or will he? that is the question here, because in that series of posts yesterday, as you were saying, as the congress was certifying the victory of donald trump, he was still talking about joe biden, saying he's making the transition difficult. kate, you're getting the sense here that as the entire government becomes a republican one from the house to the senate, soon to be the white house, if donald trump is looking for a foil for someone, perhaps to still hold the blame if things do not go his way, and he is starting with these executive orders that joe biden that president biden is doing on his the waning days of his presidency, he was talking specifically about some of th

jeff zeleny is here now. nice to see you, jeff. let's talk about this moment that we're in. i mean, there are going to be reams and reams of of, of paper that go into books and books and books, assuming that people still read those, let's hope they do. about this moment in history, this, this historic transition between the biden administration and the trump administration and the way that they appear to be working together to have, as audrey said earlier, this common goal and the strategy that dovetails which doesn't happen very often, and it not only is happening now, but all sides understand that common goal without question. >> i mean, the first historical guide here, as we've talked about, is, of course, the 1980, 1981, the iranian hostages, which were finally released in the opening moments of the reagan administration. that is what, uh, some biden officials had been worried about. obviously, they they want a deal regardless of when it happens. but that is one of the extraordinary things. i was down in florida last week talking to trump officials and the president elec

jeff zeleny and kasie hunt are with me. and, jeff, you know, when president biden, who is going to to eulogize jimmy carter here in just a few hours from now, comes in? you know, when he first took office, one of his first trips, he was going down. he was in georgia. he made a side trip over to plains to visit with president carter and with rosalynn. >> he did, and that was back in 2021. and during that meeting, it was at that point we didn't know it at the time, but that is when president one moment, jeff, the casket is coming out. >> i wanted to take a second to listen in. cult center based. >> on three men who are. ready. bennie thompson. ready. this is it. i'm already in this as far as i can go. this is it. somebody should tell him. yeah ready? ready. step. ready. step. ready. step. ready. step. ready. step. ready. step. ready. step. ready. step. okay. ready. step. ready. step. ready. step ready and step. ready. step. ready. step. ready. step. ready. step. ready. step and step. and step. ready. step. and step ready. step

the standards ensuring readiness and meritocracy is front and center, but absolutely jeff zeleny this is, as elizabeth warren rightly said, a different not just tone and tenor, but point of view than he expressed not that long ago during the presidential campaign. >> and the fact that he is expressing this now, after he had those private meetings with joni ernst, a combat veteran herself, is, to me kind of the ball game without question. >> i think senator shaheen summed it up as an 11th hour conversion. i mean, that clearly is what it is. but this is one of the things that senator ernst has been waiting for. now, she has many other questions, but it's clear that this is what she chose to focus on. the hearing today. i've covered senators for a long time, as have you. this made it easier to support pete hegseth. we will see if anything else comes up, but as of now, people around senator ernst would be very surprised if she did not support him. she hasn't said that yet, but you could just see by the line of questioning she chose to ask today. she could have been. she had many concerns.