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Trump Touts New Plans For Alcatraz, Tariff On Foreign-Made Movies; Newark Airport Hit With Flight Delays, Cancellations For 8th Day; Trump: Stephen Miller Possible Contender For National Security Adviser; Curry, Hield Spark Warriors Over Rockets In Game 7. Aired 7- 7:30a ET
Aired May 05, 2025 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking overnight, three months after he swore an oath to uphold the Constitution, President Trump now says he does not know if it is his job to do so.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Also new this morning, one of the nation's busiest airports, facing an unprecedented eighth day of cancellations and major delays. The warning now from the CEO of United Airlines and the domino effect this is having on airports across the country.
SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: And for the last seven months, embattled music mogul Sean Combs has been in a Brooklyn jail. Next hour, jury selection will begin in the federal criminal trial against him. We are live outside court.
I'm Sara Sidner with Kate Bolduan and John Berman. This is CNN NEWS CENTRAL.
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BERMAN: All right. Developing this morning, yes on Alcatraz, yes on upending the film industry, maybe on the Constitution. Even for a president for whom distraction can be destiny, the last 12 hours have been a doozy.
President Trump says he wants to reopen Alcatraz, which has been closed for 60 years, to make it a symbol of law, order and justice. He says he wants to issue sweeping new tariffs on films made overseas because they are a national security threat. Many of the biggest blockbusters, including superhero movies, are shot overseas.
As for the Constitution, when asked if he needs to uphold it, he responded, "I don't know." A reminder, the presidential oath of office is 35 words, 18 of them, more than half are specifically about the Constitution -- the whole preserve, protect and defend part.
Let's get right to CNN's Betsy Klein at the White House for the latest on this, this morning.
Good morning, Betsy. BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE PRODUCER: Good morning, John.
Well, we have seen the president really reimagine and transform the use of executive authority in his first few months in office. And we're seeing that play out in a variety of ways, including this aggressive crackdown on illegal immigrants and criminals. But pressed by NBC on whether he needs to uphold the Constitution, President Trump said he does not know and left any questions about due process to the courts and to his lawyers.
Of course, we should note that the Supreme Court has specifically ruled that due process rights in the fifth amendment extend to everyone, including undocumented immigrants. The president also announcing last night in a post to social media that he wants to reopen Alcatraz, that is that notorious prison off the coast of San Francisco. He said in a post to social media quote today I am directing the Bureau of Prisons together with the Department of Justice, FBI and Homeland Security, to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt Alcatraz to house America's most ruthless and violent offenders.
Now, Alcatraz was closed back in 1963 because, according to the Bureau of Prisons, it was too expensive to operate, and now it is a museum that generates $60 million a year, according to the National Park Service. But clearly, a symbolic move here. Listen to the president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's a symbol of law and order. And, you know, it's got quite a history, frankly. So, I think we're going to do that. And were looking at it right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KLEIN: Of course, it's unclear how the president plans to do this, how much it's going to cost, but it is almost certain to draw legal challenges.
And then, as we have seen, the president wield tariffs as a negotiating tool. He announced a new set of tariffs on the film industry, 100 percent tariffs on movies filmed outside the U.S., saying in a post, I am authorizing the Department of Commerce and the United States trade representative to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100 percent tariff on any and all movies coming into our country that are produced in foreign lands. Hsaid, we want movies made in America again. Of course, this begs the question of how that can be imposed because tariffs are intellectual property, not goods -- John.
KLEIN: That's exactly right. And if there is going to be a trade war on services, that could be a whole new huge front in this trade war.
Betsy Klein at the White House, thank you very much.
Kate?
BOLDUAN: Something else we're watching really closely today, one of the nation's busiest airports has an absolute mess on its hands. For the eighth consecutive day now, Newark Airport in New Jersey is seeing massive delays, with dozens of cancellations already reported this morning.
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There are a few reasons why this is happening. For starters, last week, air traffic controllers walked off the job at Newark, and that's on top of an already nationwide -- already horrible nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers. Plus, one of Newark's runways was closed for renovations. And then there have also been technical failures.
It's gotten to the point that United Airlines has announced that its unilaterally canceling near -- nearly three dozen flights into and out of Newark in the interest of the safety of their passengers.
Joining us right now, CNNs safety analyst, former FAA safety inspector, David Soucie.
David, it's good to see you. Thanks for jumping on.
I mean, we heard from -- we heard from the Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, about this. I mean, there is a lot of concern. The governor of New Jersey calling this completely unacceptable.
What do you make of what's happening in Newark?
DAVID SOUCIE, CNN SAFETY ANALYST: Well, it's just like the pinnacle right now. What's happening is that everything that's been pushed and pushed and pushed with the air traffic controllers is now reaching this point where it can't take anymore. The air traffic controllers can't take anymore. They've been working 60-hour weeks for years and years. Six days a week.
This is not the kind of job that you can do that with. The Air Traffic Controllers Association is recognizing that and supporting these people that are trying to get a life out of this career. It's not an easy job.
BOLDUAN: If the problem, as -- I mean, the problem with air traffic controllers, the shortage of air traffic controllers, this has been going on for years because it also takes a long time. Even when you get workers into the system, it takes a long time to have them meet the certification in order to be allowed to hold the job.
So, if the problem here is systemic, you're looking at the shortage. You're looking at an antiquated air traffic control system, as is Sean Duffy is talking about what is a quick fix then? Or is this just going to get worse?
SOUCIE: Well, the only quick fix is what they're doing right now, which is to cut back on the number of flights, but they can't schedule the flights and then fail them, which is what Scott Kirby's trying to say. The CEO of United, he's trying to say we can't continue to rely on the FAA, which is a huge thing to say. We're saying that the FAA cannot support the number of flights that they've already scheduled.
So, Scott Kirby is taking a real unprecedented move here by saying were not going to continue to do this. The FAA should be regulating how many flights they can handle and can't. It should not be up to the airlines to do that. So, this is really unprecedented, but we're going to see more and more of it as things go further, because the FAA is just simply not able to come up with a quick fix other than reducing the number of flights.
BOLDUAN: Yeah. I mean, just -- when I read Scott Kirby's statement from United Airlines, it was shocking when he said -- announcing that they're going to be canceling these 35 round trip flights per day from Newark starting this weekend. The way he puts it is it's disappointing to make further cuts to an already reduced schedule at Newark, but since there is no way to resolve the near-term structural FAA staffing issues, we feel like there is no other choice in order to protect our customers.
That's scary.
SOUCIE: It is very scary, that the role of the FAA is to do precisely that. We talk about the other day, Sean Duffy said I mean, not to change the subject, but we've got the DCA issue going on, and that relates to this exactly because of the fact that Sean Duffy is saying safety is number one, safety is number one, and it always is number one, but it's up to the FAA to take action to make it safe, not just to say make it safe. There has to be actionable things that the FAA has to do.
And he's got his hands full, because now he's going to have to try to get funding. And there's a lot of things that have to go into place to even start the move towards improving this.
BOLDUAN: Yeah. And some of the improvements that he says he's going to be, the transportation secretary is going to be rolling out this week.
I mean, they're important. They might be necessary, but they also take years to get into place. So, it's a -- you're right, saying that he's got a lot in his hands is maybe an understatement.
It's good to see you, David. Thank you very much.
We're going to keep tracking this very closely because we're already seeing delays and cancellations racking up at Newark for another day -- Sara.
SIDNER: Yep. I got caught up in it on Friday. It was a hot mess.
All right. Coming up for us, President Trump gives an inside look at who he sees as a frontrunner to replace Mike Waltz as national security adviser.
And breaking overnight, Israel says it has approved an expanded plan to occupy parts of Gaza. Hours after the military said it would mobilize tens of thousands more troops. And the father of a cryptocurrency entrepreneur kidnaped by masked men
and held hostage for days.
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We've got details on what happened there and how he escaped.
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SIDNER: After the ousting of National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, President Trump wasted little time throwing his support behind one of his closest advisors and most hardline supporters to take over the job permanently.
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TRUMP: Stephen Miller is at the top of the totem pole. I mean, I think he sort of indirectly already has that job. You understand, because he has a lot to say about a lot of things.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: As for the interim national security advisor, this morning, there is new CNN reporting that the White House is actively working to find a solution to balance the increased workload Secretary of State Marco Rubio will take on as he assumes that role, with some top Democrats sounding the alarm that juggling the two positions will be way too much to handle.
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CNN's Kylie Atwood is with me now.
Just out of I know he is a huge supporter of Donald Trump and has been involved in many things. Why is Donald Trump so hot on Stephen Miller for this role?
KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, you heard him there. He said he sort of indirectly has the job. He has a lot to say about a lot of different topics, indicating just how deep the influence is that Stephen Miller has on White House policies already. And we should note that typically, Stephen Miller is really focused on domestic issues, but that also is including immigration, which has foreign policy overlap. And the two have had a close relationship for a very long time now.
So classically, you would want someone as a national security adviser who really understands the president. Stephen Miller clearly has that now.
So, for the time being, however, Marco Rubio is going to be in the job and there are some concerns about how he's going to balance his current role as the secretary of state, as an interim national security advisor. First of all, because consolidating the number of opinions that the president is hearing when it comes to foreign policy is one of the concerns. Another one is just how he's going to physically do both of these jobs, which are inherently very different jobs.
Listen to a few Democratic lawmakers who spoke to these concerns over the weekend.
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SEN. MARK WARNER (D-VA): I don't know how anybody could do these two big jobs, and they're frankly very different.
REP. JIM HIMES (D-CT): Both of those jobs are too big for one person to have. Both of those jobs, including a bunch of other jobs on the shoulders of Marco Rubio. You know, these are people who actually need sleep if we're going to stay out of wars and stuff. So, you know, I'm a little worried about the, you know, no national security advisor idea.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ATWOOD: And I will tell you that those are obviously Democratic lawmakers, but those are some concerns that were also hearing from current U.S. officials. But the president did say yesterday that his plan is to put someone into that role permanently within six months. So, it's clear that there is an active search underway to try and get someone in the role. Put the deputy, excuse me, the interim national security advisor back over at the State Department.
But while this is all happening, they really do have to figure out how Rubio is going to do both of those roles. And the logistics behind that are unfolding right now. Where is he going to spend his time? How is he going to split his time and the like? Sara?
SIDNER: Yeah, the staffing, everything is complicated.
Kylie Atwood, thank you so much for your great reporting this morning.
John?
BERMAN: All right. This morning, President Trump with his most definitive statement yet on the idea of running for a third term.
And then game seven, two of the most exciting words in all of sports, and we had a couple overnight. Who is going on and who is going home?
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BERMAN: So, this morning, the Golden State Warriors learned how crucial it is to have a good buddy, Buddy Hield, who carried them until Steph Curry got in the game.
CNN's Coy Wire is here with all the really pretty impressive game seven action, Coy.
COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: What's not to love, a couple of win or go home games. You like Curry, Buddy Berman, I know you do. The Rockets fans do not
like Steph Curry and Buddy Hield. They sent those Rockets packing straight up out of the playoffs. Game seven win or go home game between the Warriors and Rockets. And Golden State found themselves that unexpected hero off the bench straight out of the Bahamas.
Buddy Hield, he was unbelievable, 42-foot first quarter buzzer beater. He had 33 points on all, nine out of 11 from three point land, John, and Curry, he was held to just three points in the first half, but came to life in the fourth 14 of his 22 Golden State on Buddy Hield's nine three pointers, tied the NBA's all-time game seven high, helping the Warriors seal the deal 103 to 89. They'll face Minnesota next.
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STEPH CURRY, GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS GUARD: There's a lot of resilience. Everybody's stepping up. Everybody's been talking about our team the last two games. Buddy Hield unbelievable. Jimmy some big time shots. Draymond playing way bigger than his size.
Everybody stepped up. It was great. Great to see.
BUDDY HIELD, GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS GUARD: It's a childhood dream. You know we all talk about game seven. We all want to play in game seven. But actually playing in the game, game seven, and getting prepared for it is one of the hardest things ever.
Jimmy and Steph and Dre, those vets that have been in the fire before and they know what it's like and. And it's part of the elite.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WIRE: Over to the ICE for maybe the most bonkers game of the weekend, John. Game seven, Saint Louis Blues up 3 to 1 on Winnipeg with less than two minutes to go, but Vladislav Namestnikov sending Jets fans into a frenzy ready for liftoff. It's three two now, less than five seconds left.
Gotta hurry. Kyle, Connor, Cole Perfetti unreal. Perfetti with the redirect netting. The latest game tying goal in NHL game seven history. Less than three seconds left. Perfetti means perfect in Italian.
The game would go to double OT and Captain Adam Lowry scores the game winner off the redirect. Winnipeg survive and flying high to pull off the miraculous comeback in double overtime, a43 win with the stars. Up next in round two.
Finally, WNBA season just around the corner and Caitlin Clark was back doing Caitlin Clark things from way downtown, Berman. A 36-foot shot on her college court in Iowa for a preseason debut facing Brazil 16 points in just 19 minutes, a 108-44 blowout win. Regular season tips off 11 days from now.
I heart you, too, Caitlin. Bring it. Let's go. Also bring it tonight. We have a couple of game ones in conference
semifinals. John, I know you'll be all over it. You have the nuggets and thunder for the late game on TNT and Max.
But, first, it's your Boston Celtics tipping off against those Knicks. Let's go.
BERMAN: Game on.
All right. Coy Wire, thanks so much.
Caitlin Clark looks pretty comfortable by the way on that court at Iowa State.
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She knows how to play there. All right. Thanks, Coy.
SIDNER: Coy, that's what John asks me and Kate to do every day. Oh, come on, John, we love you.
It's really -- it's really a problem.
WIRE: I got you, John.
SIDNER: Yeah. Okay, Coy. Coy, he's got the love. Good times.
Am I wrong? It's like --
BERMAN: Someone had too much sleep this weekend. I mean, come on.
BOLDUAN: JB --
BERMAN: That's right.
SIDNER: You know it's true. See?
All right. Coming up, why President Trump says he is directing the Bureau of Prisons to rebuild and reopen the notorious Alcatraz prison, which has been a museum in the San Francisco Bay since 1973.
All right. How police foiled a plot to launch a coordinated bombing attack on a Lady Gaga concert with millions of fans attending.
Those stories and more coming up.
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