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Trump Floats Idea of Making Gaza a Freedom Zone; Soon, Combs' Defense Team Cross-Examines Cassie Ventura; Zelenskyy Arrives in Turkey Ahead of Possible Russia Talks. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired May 15, 2025 - 07:00   ET

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


[07:00:00]

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Any moment now, President Trump's expected to land in Abu Dhabi, his final stop of his Mideast trip, this is after he visited troops in Qatar and had a whole lot to say.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. This morning, a major case before the Supreme Court, can President Trump overturn the right to birthright citizenship and can lower courts stand in his way?

We're standing by for the cross-examination of Cassie Ventura, the key witness in the federal sex trafficking trial of Sean Combs. How will the defense counter her emotional and very graphic testimony?

Sara is out. I'm John Berman with Kate Bolduan, and this is CNN News Central.

BOLDUAN: Right now, again, we're standing by for, as President Trump is set to depart four Abu Dhabi, the final stop on his four day three nation tour of the Middle East. Last hour, the president wrapped up a visit in Qatar by speaking to U.S. troops there at the largest American base in the Middle East and suggesting that he should be the person to end conflict around the world by any means necessary.

He also spoke to business leaders this morning where he reiterated threats to use force against Iran if nuclear talks stall. And he also focused on, again, the U.S. getting directly involved in peace talks between Israel and Hamas, saying the U.S. could get directly involved in Gaza, should take Gaza and make it, quote, a freedom zone.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: I have concepts for Gaza that I think are very good. Make it a freedom zone, let the United States get involved and make it just a freedom zone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: So, that was just this morning.

CNN's Jeff Zeleny standing by as the president basically just wrapped up his remarks at that air base in Qatar. What is the very latest, Jeff? JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Kate. It was a campaign style event by the commander-in-chief here at the largest air base in the Middle East. The president just wrapped his speech here a short time ago, and it felt very much like the campaign rallies that we have become very familiar with in the United States.

It rings a little bit differently here. The YMCA, Village people, the Lee Greenwood, God bless America, who's actually on hand to perform his anthem live here. But as entertainer Theo Vaughn warmed up the crowd, the troops listened with enthusiasm as the president delivered a message that he is rebuilding the military. He also said he supports his policy of peace through strength.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: As president, my priority is to end conflicts, not start them, but I will never hesitate to wield American power if it's necessary to defend the United States of America or our partners. And this is one of our great partners right here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: And wielding American power, that really is the challenge facing President Trump as he heads onto the final leg of his first overseas trip as president. Of course, so many geopolitical challenges are in the balance here, first and foremost, the unresolved conflict in Gaza, President Trump, not going to Israel, but this conflict very much on the minds, more bloodshed last evening.

But the president did talk about that so-called freedom zone, if you will. He is talked about that previously, about developing Gaza. He is not focused on it as much on this trip, but certainly that is a far- flung controversial view in many eyes, and also so long away because the peace talks simply have not reached fruition.

Speaking of peace talks, the president has teased throughout the week that he may play a personal role in trying to mediate the Ukraine- Russian peace talks in Turkey. White House officials dampening that saying, the president will not be going there, Vladimir Putin, of course, also not on hand for these peace talks. So, very much an open question, how much progress can be made there? All the while the president also extending a hand to Iran, even as he is trying to urge them to continue a nuclear discussions with the U.S. and offering a threat as well.

[07:05:08]

He said that they will never have a nuclear weapon.

So, even in this trip is filled with a lot of economic deals being discussed, some diplomacy as well, as the president heads into his final leg of his trip in Abu Dhabi. Kate?

BOLDUAN: And, Jeff, on Russia and Ukraine, is there word from the White House if this was a change for the president? Because he was teasing pretty heavily that he could go to Turkey, make a, quote/unquote, surprise visit to Turkey, telling reporters that, and now very clearly saying not. Is that a sign of some of talks not developing as they had hoped in Turkey or just a sign of the times?

ZELENY: A great question. I think it's a sign of the fact that President Trump wanted to be personally involved or be seen talking about sort of, you know, running to the rescue, if you will, having this photographic moment with Vladimir Putin and President Zelenskyy. But we know obviously at every turn of this peace process. It has been very slow, Russia often dragging its feet. So, this is classic Trump clearly wanting to talk about the idea of going, playing mediator.

But White House officials always privately, Kate, were pouring some cold water on that idea, one telling me it would be very dangerous and challenging for the president to simply be attending a meeting like this. These take a lot of preparation, diplomatically speaking and otherwise. So, I think in a perfect world, he thought, oh, yes, sure, we'll fly to a Turkey. But it was much more complicated than that. So, at the end of the day not only logistics won out, but just the whole idea if Vladimir Putin was not coming, which he is not coming, that certainly would've been an embarrassing moment for President Trump. Kate?

BOLDUAN: Great reporting as always, Jeff, great to see you. Thank you so much. John?

BERMAN: All right. This morning after two days on the stand detailing the extent of the abuse she says she suffered while dating Sean Combs, Cassie Ventura will return to court. She will be cross-examined by the defense. Ventura described in disturbing detail, the violent outbursts from Sean Combs, physical abuse and how she felt trapped.

Ventura testified that a 2016 attack caught on surveillance video in a hotel hallway happened two days before a movie premiere she attended with Combs. She said she had a black eye and swollen lip, that she hid by wearing large black sunglasses and makeup.

Ventura said she felt locked in a life of physical abuse because, in part, Combs repeatedly threatened to release videos of her participating in his drug-fueled sex parties known as freak-offs. She says it was not safe. I didn't have just the resources I need to get out and move and not have anybody stop me. I understood Sean's capabilities, his access to guns, and the threats that he made prior to that.

The defense has acknowledged Combs was violent with Ventura and other former girlfriends, but they argue the women consented to all sexual encounters and that domestic violence is not racketeering or sex trafficking, which is what Sean Combs is charged with.

All right, quote, the NSC, as we know it, is done. We are standing by for a major shakeup expected at the National Security Council.

Then Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. grilled on whether he would vaccinate his own child for measles. He says his opinions on vaccines are irrelevant. A new video of the moment, a man managed to rescue two women from a fully submerged car trapped in rushing flood waters.

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[07:10:00]

BERMAN: All right. Breaking this morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Turkey ahead of what could be the first direct talks with Russia in more than three years. Officials in Turkey say there is no scheduled meeting yet, and, honestly, there's a lot of uncertainty around whether this will happen at all.

A source says Zelenskyy will decide on the talks after meeting with the Turkish president. The Kremlin has made it clear that Vladimir Putin will not attend. Instead, they sent a senior aide for their delegation, President Trump also now saying he won't be there either.

Let's get right to CNN Chief National Security Correspondent Alex Marquardt. Alex, like I said, a lot of confusion over what is happening, whether it's happening.

ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes, John it's really not clear what is going to unfold today. Remember, these talks were the idea of Vladimir Putin. He proposed these first direct talks between Russia and Ukraine essentially since the war began several days ago. So, if they do go forward, that is going to be notable. But the Russians not sending their most senior officials. This is really a much more junior, mid-level delegation while the Ukrainians have sent their top officials, President Zelenskyy currently meeting with the Turkish president. He has said that they will decide what to do following that meeting.

John, the Ukrainians essentially calling the Russians bluff and showing that the Russians are really not being honest and continue to play for time and not really negotiating in good faith. On the U.S. side, of course, the U.S. is hoping these talks do go forward. The Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, is there in Istanbul, Steve Witkoff, who's been dealing with the Russians. He's expected to go as well. Marco Rubio's in the country at a NATO meeting.

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And Trump has said that he is also willing to go, if needed. But right now, we do not believe that Trump is going to be heading to Istanbul and joining these talks.

So, we will have to see how this unfolds. Of course, if they do go ahead, again, notable that the Russians and Ukrainians sitting across from each other, but far less significant than if Zelenskyy and Putin had met in person. John?

BERMAN: Alex, I also understand you have new reporting on a shakeup at the National Security Council. I'm not even sure a shakeup is the right way to characterize it. MARQUARDT: We are expecting, John, in the near future, significant changes to the National Security Council. One administration official telling me that the NSC, as we know it, is done. Remember, there have already been significant changes. We know that the national security adviser, Mike Waltz, he's been pushed aside. Marco Rubio, secretary of state, taking over on an interim basis. He's expected to be there at least for several more months.

But under Rubio, my colleagues and I are told there's going to be a dramatic slimming down, that the decision-making process is going to be concentrated at the top with Trump and his senior aides, far less deliberation going on at the more junior levels.

Remember, the National Security Council is really the engine that drives American foreign policy. It coordinates across departments and agencies. But now that this shakeup is going to mean that this decision-making is really going to be taking place at the much more senior levels. We're told that these days there are far fewer meetings that current staffers are being asked to re-interview for their jobs.

There really is, we're told, a chill in the air because of departures like Mike Waltz and his deputy, Alex Wong, who's also expected to leave because of previous purges that have happened most recently. Laura Loomer, the president's supporter, calling on a number of NSC staffers to be fired. And that did indeed happen. And we're told that NSC staffers are interviewing elsewhere, looking for the exit.

So, this is expected, we're told, to happen after the president's trip to the Middle East. And this could dramatically reshape the way the U.S. government coordinates and engages in its foreign policy. John?

BERMAN: This is a big change, not just the personnel, but of the very structure itself. Alex Marquardt, great to see you, thank you very much.

This morning, a judge will appear in court as a defendant after being charged with helping a man evade ICE agents.

And a mother is accused of buying ammunition and tactical gear for her son, who police say was planning a mass shooting.

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[07:20:00]

BOLDUAN: Happening today, a Wisconsin judge will be in court, but in court after being charged herself for allegedly helping a man in the country illegally to evade U.S. immigration agents. According to prosecutors, Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan helped a man that ICE agents were looking for to exit the courtroom through a side jury door to avoid authorities. The agents did catch up with a man and arrest him outside court.

Her attorneys argue that she has legal immunity for official acts she performs as a judge. It's a very interesting situation.

CNN's Whitney Wilde is in Milwaukee ahead of today's court appearance. What's expected, Whitney?

WHITNEY WILD, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRESPONDENT: This is an arraignment case. She's going to be read the charges, which include obstruction, concealing an individual to prevent arrest. We expect that she is going to plead not guilty. This comes after an indictment by a grand jury earlier this week.

Kate, this case all started April 18th when a man named Eduardo Flores Ruiz was set to appear in front of her on battery charges. What the prosecutors say happened here is that Judge Dugan learned that there were federal agents outside of her courtroom intending to arrest Flore Ruiz. They say she became very upset. She actually had the chief judge of her court speak with the federal agents to discuss ensuring that they would only arrest Flores Ruiz in the public area of the court, not in her courtroom.

What they say happened next was that Judge Dugan went back into her courtroom, and then as Flores Ruiz and his attorney were set to leave through a door that would've led to a public area of the court effectively ensuring his arrest, she said, wait, come with me, and as you said, ushered them through a jury door, which it would've taken them to a private location of the court.

Later there was a foot chase. As you said, federal agents were able to eventually arrest him, but the Justice Department says that was an overt act, that it puts their agents and the public in danger because of this foot chase. However, her attorneys are arguing that she committed no crime here. And as you said, they're laying out in very plain detail what they believe is her judicial immunity because they say her actions amounted to effectively moving people around in her or in around her courtroom, which she's allowed to do as the judge of that court. She, you know, has basically complete control of the movements within and around her court.

This hearing set to take place at 9:00 A.M. Central, a case certainly we will hear more from her defense attorneys in court today. Back to you.

BOLDUAN: Absolutely. Whitney, thank you so much for being there. Very interested to see what happens today.

Also ahead for us, this hour, this morning, the Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in a historic case on birthright citizenship in this country, a case that has been rushed to the high court just months after President Trump returns to the White House.

And the nation's top health -- public health official, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now says that people should not be listening to his advice and that his opinions on vaccines are, quote, irrelevant, that is after years and years of doing that very thing, pushing his opinion on vaccines.

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BOLDUAN: All right. We do have some breaking news coming in. Walmart, the world's largest retailer, just now warning that it will have to raise prices due to President Trump's tariffs. Walmart's CEO will tell analysts on an earnings call today this, quote, we will do our best to keep our prices as low as possible, but given the magnitude of the tariffs, even at the reduced levels announced --