cnn's jeff zeleny is at the white house. so what are you hearing there this morning, jeff? >> well. >> pamela. >> a day after the president. >> made that. >> really stunning. statement in the east room of the white house, his administration is scrambling to essentially explain and keep up with what he said. we just heard speaker johnson on the house call this a bold move. there's no doubt it's that. but there are more questions about this than anything else. how would something like this go? what effect would it have on the second phase oceasfi, which, of course was the entire heart of the discussion yesterday when president trump welcomed benjamin netanyahu here to the white house. but the administration, as we saw in the previous trump administration, is scrambling to essentially find a policy to fit his statement from yesterday. we have been told that this is something that's been on his mind for quite some time. he sort of built up to it yesterday throughout the day, not necessarily calling for the the forced removal of the palestinians from gaza. some 1.8 million peopl

jeff zeleny is outfront live outside the white house tonight. so, jeff, what is the thinking on musk right now inside the white house? >> well. >> erin, the thinking quite simply, is that elon musk is carrying out the president's broader wishes to rein in the size of the government. but the details they often are learning here at the white house, somewhat after the fact, there certainly are not asking permission to go into every single agency. the president told us earlier this week that he has given mr. musk and his group the authority to do this, but specifically a question hanging over all of this is, what about those conflicts of interest that elon musk, of course, says billions of dollars worth of contracts with the federal government. the press secretary today at the briefing was asked this question directly. listen to what she said. >> the president was already asked and answered this question this week. and he said, if elon musk comes across a conflict of interest with the contracts and the funding that doge is overseeing, then elon will

cnn's jeff zeleny, jasmine, right of notice. and cnn's priscilla. priscilla alvarez, um, let's talk about some of what senator cassidy said, because it's so important and so critical, not the least of which is you have a well respected doctor, a republican who's certainly gone sideways with maga world, like, i don't know, he voted for one of i think it was the second trump impeachment because of january 6th. but still, when it comes to his credentials, as a doctor, i would say they're unimpeachable. when you look at the republicans, what he said was vaccine. does the vaccines do not cause autism? he said that without hesitation, without qualification. he said, that is based on several studies that he has seen. he says the science is good and that it is safe. and that is what led him to get the promise from rfk jr. that he would, as manu said, not take that statement off of the cdc website and and other measures to make sure that the oversight of rfk, jr. and hhs is real. so now the onus is on senator cassidy. >> it is. and it would be extraordinary

jeff zeleny, thanks so much. let's bring in cnn's phil mattingly here in studio. and vanessa yurkevich is in new york for us. so, phil, i know that the president wants tougher borders, and i know he wants the flow of fentanyl to stop from mexico and canada. is there anything else he's seeking here? >> that's the actual legal. >> predicate for. >> the authorization. the emergency authorization they're utilizing for these tariffs that are supposed to go into place at midnight. the fascinating thing about this, jake, is you look at the agreement, or at least the willingness to pause for a month based on conversations between the u.s. and mexico, both presidents trump was asked explicitly in the oval office today, what does canada need to offer? what do they need to put on the table? what would get them the same pause that you did with mexico? his response had nothing to do with fentanyl. the border or immigration at all. a minute and a half response to it didn't use any of those words. one time he talked about canada being the 51st state. he talked about a trade defi

we have cnn chief national affairs correspondent jeff zeleny joining us live now. jeff, tell us what you're hearing. >> well, brianna, we know that president trump again today is in the oval office, as we've become familiar with seeing this pattern really holding court as he signs executive orders, the education executive order that renee was just talking about. would you not believe is on today's agenda, but that certainly will be coming. but today, at least so far, that the president has signed a very tough executive. order on iran. he said that iran should not have a nuclear weapon and very tough language. we will hear from him directly once that video is released from the oval office, but also on un funding. uh, again, wanting to review the funding that the united nations gets. so a series of of a foreign relations type executive orders on the day, really an hour before the president is scheduled to meet with israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu right here at the white house. you can see the the color guard assembling here, and mr. netanyahu will be coming

cnn's jeff zeleny joins us now live from the white house. jeff, what are you hearing as this deadline comes closer well, it's certainly one of the central questions being asked among federal workers here in washington, but also in all corners of the country where they work. >> is are they going to accept the layoff offer, the the buyout offer that would technically pay them until september? they have to make a decision by tomorrow. now, this is all part of a very accelerated process of trying to reshape the workforce. but right now there's about 24 hours left in that. and a few details of this we can put on screen here and show you how federal workers have until tomorrow to make that decision. there has been some questions. if this is actually a legal deal, most workers are being advised that yes, it is any government employee can accept this is viewed as an off ramp, if you will, for federal workers who do not want to come back to the office full time. it varies agency by agency, by agency. but underscoring all of this, boris is just this id

let's go to cnn's jeff zeleny at the white house. and, jeff, you were in the white house briefing room today as the press secretary tried to defend and tried to explain mr. trump's proposal to take over gaza. tell us more. what did you have to ask her? >> jake, so much for the white house to explain. in fact, the administration has been scrambling really throughout the day to catch up to what the president said last evening. administration officials have been on capitol hill answering questions from some skeptical republicans, to say the least. but one question hanging over all of this is the president's really about face, about the idea of sending u.s. forces to the region. he has campaigned against never ending wars. in his view, he has talked about it repeatedly. of course, one of the reasons he rose to power in the first place was he was the strongest voice of criticism against the bush plan more than a decade ago, of course. but we asked the white house press secretary today about why he is not ruling out sending u.s. troops. >>

cnn's jeff zeleny is live for us at the white house. nd, jeff, is this a signal of larger layoffs coming? and what do we know about the legality of these moves? >> of course, that really is one of. >> the central questions. >> hanging over all of this. certainly among many federal workers who have been offered this buyout, if you will. >> to be paid. >> until september, if they do. >> not want to comply to the return. >> to office. >> policies. but there are some questions about whether it is indeed legal and whether the payouts would happen. actually, one of the the largest unions of federal workers is warning its employees now, 24 hours before that deadline, in a very explicit message. let's take a look at that. this message says there is not yet any evidence the administration can or will uphold its end of the bargain, that congress will go along with this unilateral, massive restructuring or that appropriated funds can be used this way, among other issues that have been raised. that's from the american federation of government employ

cnn's jeff zeleny is at the white house. jeff, we heard the president's comments quite publicly last night on camera. repeat multiple times that the u.s. would take over gaza, push the palestinians out. they would be on pieces of land donated, he claimed, by jordan and egypt. how does the administration claim now? he didn't say that. >> jim, he certainly talked about the permanent resettlement. and what we heard today was the white house softening its tone somewhat as really the administration was scrambling to devise policy around what the president had said just last evening here. of course, those stunning comments. so now talking about a temporary relocation, if you will. but listen to the sound here from secretary of state marco rubio, as well as white house press secretary karoline leavitt, again softening their language compared to the president. >> i can confirm that the president is committed to rebuilding gaza and to temporarily relocating those who are there because, as i've showed you repeatedly, it is a demolition

let's start right now with cnn chief national affairs correspondent jeff zeleny, who is at the white house. and jeff, as president trump and prime minister netanyahu head into this meeting, where are there areas of agreement on this war and ceasefire, and where are the trouble spots? >> well, jake, this, of course, is the first meeting with a foreign leader that president trump has had since taking office. and even as we stand here on the north lawn of the white house, the protests surrounding the white house are ringing out in the air as prime minister netanyahu is just moments away from arriving here. the the color guard is just a few steps behind me here, slightly out of view, but there is no doubt that this fragile second phase of a potential peace agreement is front and center in these discussions. also, more hostages must be released. but the president was just talking a short time ago in the oval office about what he would like to see going forward in gaza. so certainly that is also front and center in these conversations. but you talked about that partnership that the presiden

jeff zeleny live from the north lawn. thanks so much. now to canada. and cnn's paula newton. paula, what are canadian officials saying right now about this kind of roller coaster process? they've been going through the last few days. >> well, of course. >> there is relief. >> but they're. >> actually quite. >> sober minded, i would say, about what's ahead. they are already thinking about this negotiation over the next 30 days. >> and you. >> heard from. jeff's report. >> there exactly. >> the kind of framing the president has. and let's be. >> clear. >> when the president goes. >> to. >> the table to try and negotiate any new deal with canada, he's. >> playing with a lot. >> of cards in his hands. now, when we talk about what just was. agreed upon on the border, look, he's. >> going not. >> going to get many arguments from canadians. a lot of canadians are in support of having a stronger border as well. but fill those, you know, specifications, the. 10,000 personnel, the drones. >> the helicopters, all of that was already on. >> the table. canadians, the canadian government k

jeff zeleny live outside the white house. jeff. look, trump says a lot of things. he doesn't necessarily always follow through on what he says. in this case, though, this is a pretty incredibly this is a significant thing, right? this is it's not as if he misspoke or he said it once. he said it again and again and again. the united states will take over the gaza strip, we'll own it. >> aaron. >> it's extraordinary to hear. >> a sitting american president. >> say such words. >> never mind. >> the history here that. >> really flies. >> in the face. >> of so much. >> of what he said. >> but let's just. >> focus on the. >> president himself for one moment. he also. >> said did not back. >> away from the. >> idea of. >> sending. >> u.s. troops. >> to the region. donald trump rose. >> in his. >> political prominence. >> because of his. opposition to america's longest. wars in the middle. >> east. >> of course, iraq. >> and afghanistan. >> and there we heard. president trump saying. >> you know, not ruling. >> out the. >> idea of. >> sending a u.s. >> troops to the region

cnn's jeff zeleny. jasmine, right from notice, jeff mason from reuters and the wall street journal's olivia beavers. good morning to you all. good morning. so this is all a busy last night about how this all came out. there's been obviously criticism and some support across the political aisle. we're going to break that all down. but what about where this goes from here. you know trump they said in that white house statement that they could escalate, that they could retaliate if canada or mexico or china respond in kind. mexico says it will retaliate. china says it's going to take it to the wto. the world trade organization. canada said 25% tariffs on billions of dollars, tens of billions of dollars of u.s. goods. jeff, what do you expect? where does this go? how does this end? because the white house is saying we've got to curb illegal migration, stop the flow of fentanyl, but didn't really specify anything other than that in order to prevent this trade war from escalating. >> yeah. >> and i think trade

jeff zeleny is at the white house. jeff, this is happening fast and furious, which i guess is just standard operating procedure from here on in for the next four years. >> well. >> dana, certainly that. >> trade war that. >> was looming, now it only appears. >> that. >> a partial. >> trade war is looming. >> let's start. >> with mexico first. >> in a phone. call earlier. >> today, a couple. >> of. >> hours or. >> so. >> ago, a rather lengthy. >> phone call, the president of the united states and mexican president. claudia sheinbaum reached. >> an. >> agreement at. >> least for a month. >> to delay the threat. >> of a tariff that donald trump has been talking about for a very. >> long time. we got. >> word of this through a truth social post, as well as a press conference that the mexican president had in mexico. the president offered a bit of detail, but not much detail. >> we're learning more. >> he said, i just spoke with president claudia sheinbaum of mexico. we further. >> agreed to immediately. >> pause the anticip

that's where jeff zeleny is. and nic robertson in london. jeff, let's start with you. >> well, jenna, just a few moments ago, the president told reporters in the oval office when asked about this again, he said, everyone loves it. of course, that flies in the face of the reality of this. this is a sent shockwaves throughout the arab world, of course, where it is not being well received. and palestinians, of course, view this simply as ethnic cleansing. but the white house right now is scrambling to catch up to the president, which is a familiar pattern that we have seen. now, advisers say this is something he has been talking about privately. this is something that did not take them by surprise. he was reading this from a statement last night in the east room. look at the smile right there on on the prime minister's face after the president said this. so it was clear that he was aware of this as well. now what happens? that is a central question here. of course, there's a white house briefing this afternoon. the president has a few other even

i want to bring in jeff zeleny, who is there. we heard him asking questions during this. jeff, tell us a little bit about what stood out to you. >> well, look, fernando, you and boris were talking about at the very end there where president trump said he doesn't look at the stock market. we asked that question if this was a decision he made with the mexican president this morning because of the global stock reaction. and he said no. and he said, i don't look at the market. what was it doing? we know, obviously, based on watching him for a very long time, that is not true. we do not know if that's why he reached a temporary agreement with mexican president claudia sheinbaum, but that was certainly interesting. but i think just overall, clearly the president is, you know, saying that he has a 3 p.m. phone call with the canadian president, but he put a lot of distance between and differentiated between mexico and canada. but you were absolutely right. the big picture here is that a lot of these supply chains, a lot of manufacturing is north american manufacturing, of course,

let's begin with jeff zeleny out front, live at the white house tonight. and, jeff, i know that you were able to question the president on a lot of this today. how much power is he willingly giving musk erin, it's really difficult to compare to anyone else in the government because elon musk has the broadest portfolio, certainly for an unelected official and for an unconfirmed official. >> i mean, we are seeing example after example, hearing story after story from really agencies across washington. but i was there in the oval office this afternoon asking the president questions, and i was struck by this answer. we asked the president, you know, is there anything that you would not allow? and he said if there was something that didn't have my okay, i'd let you know about that really fast. what would that possibly be? i mean, no examples really come to mind of what the president would not allow elon musk to do. also. what about all the government contracts he has? would there be a conflict of interest? and the president said, oh, sure, if there is a conflict

. >> yeah, he kind of dismissed the stock market when jeff zeleny was asking him there about it. but i mean, he does care and value the stock market a lot. it's one of the biggest indicators maybe to him. >> well, it's another example of it's always thanks to him every time it goes up. but it's not his fault. every time it goes down. >> isaac arnsdorf dasha burns. great to have you both here. thank you. up next, speaking of that trade war with canada and mexico, put on hold for now. >> how did trudeau go? how did the call with trudeau go? very good. are you still doing the tariffs? are you still doing the tariffs tonight? >> the answer to that is no. we'll tell you why. also the president's revenge campaign over january 6th seems to be ramping up as thousands of people at the fbi are bracing to potentially be fired. >> the boeing 747 has crashed in the lockerbie area. >> it was the largest act of terrorism on the united states before 9/11. >> there are a number of anomalies. >> trying to find out the why of it became everything. >> you could look at the iranians, the libyans. >>