Return to Transcripts main page

CNN News Central

Trump Tells Pentagon to Start Testing U.S. Nuclear Weapons; U.S., China Strike Agreement to Ease Crippling Trade War; Millions Set to Lose Food Benefits as Shutdown Drags on. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired October 30, 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]

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking overnight, a major policy pivot by the president, ordering the Pentagon to begin testing nuclear weapons.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: A major break in the Louvre of heist investigation, new suspects in custody, but where are the priceless crown jewels?

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: And great news if you hate cleaning, Berman, Sara, all of us, and happen to have $20,000, you're just itching to spend. A new house cleaning humanoid robot on the market, it cleans, does laundry, and yes, it can even dance, guys.

I'm Kate Bolduan with John Berman and Sara Sidner. This is CNN News Central.

SIDNER: Breaking overnight, major progress on a U.S.-China trade deal, but overshadowing it all, President Trump vowing to restart nuclear testing for the first time in more than 30 years.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: It had to do with others. They seem to all be nuclear testing. We have more nuclear weapons than anybody. We don't do testing and we've halted it years, many years ago. But with others doing testing, I think it's appropriate that we do also.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: Just minutes before his meeting with President Xi, the president posted this on Truth Social that he had instructed the Defense Department to start testing on an equal basis with Russia and China. So far, it is not clear if the president is referring to a nuclear weapons test or a test of a nuclear capable weapon system, but it would be a major break from U.S. policy amid growing tensions with world superpowers, Russia and China. All of it coming as Trump and Xi found some common ground on a number of issues, including rare earth minerals.

CNN's Kevin Liptak joining us now from the White House. Kevin, a lot to cover this morning. First, what do you know about this talk about nuclear testing by the president? KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, a lot of unanswered questions about this most provocative message that the president sent. You know, the U.S. hasn't tested a nuclear weapon since 1992. And just to sort of set the scene of how this all unfolded, the president was actually aboard Marine One flying toward the airport in South Korea where he was due to meet Xi Jinping for a summit that was intended in part to create a dialogue that avoids surprises and confrontations.

And so the president, in some ways, upending that objective even before it began. And even after we heard from the president on Air Force One, as he was flying back to the United States, plenty of questions remain about what the president is ex ordering up here, whether he's talking about the testing of an actual nuclear warhead, or if he's talking about testing the delivery systems. And, you know, China and Russia have not tested a nuclear warhead themselves in many decades.

What seems more likely to have caught the president's attention is Russia's test last week of a nuclear capable cruise missile and torpedo, that coming after his planned summit with Vladimir Putin in Budapest fell apart. And so that could potentially be what the president is talking about here.

Now, we should note, you know, this message that the president sent was directed towards the Pentagon. Ordinarily, it would be the Energy Department that historically has responsibility for maintaining the nuclear stockpile. What nuclear engineers have said is that more testing isn't necessary because they can sort of simulate all of this on a computer.

Now, President Trump, when he was flying back, said that he doesn't think that this will be creating a more risky nuclear environment and that, overall, he would like to see denuclearization.

SIDNER: All right. There was also big news after this meeting with the president and President Xi. What was the agreement that was made? Of course, it hasn't been made on paper, but it has been made verbally.

LIPTAK: Yes, this is essentially a one-year truce, sort of diffusing what had been this escalating trade war, mostly of the president's own making. And it was clear that this is a transactional agreement, both sides of this coming away with something to tout. On President Trump's side of the ledger, China has agreed to suspend for now those controls on the rare earth minerals. Those are the components of everything, from laptops to missiles that have been creating so much concern, the president also saying that China has agreed to buy in, quote, large quantities American soybeans.

[07:05:04]

You know, they had halted those purchases and it had created all kinds of political heat for the president among farmers.

And then on China's side of the ledger, the president has agreed to suspend new tariffs that were set to go into effect next week, but also reduce some of the existing tariffs that were in place for China's role in the fentanyl trade, and the president saying that China has agreed to cut back on some of its fentanyl precursor chemicals.

Now, the president did discuss this on Air Force One. Listen to a little bit of what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We have a deal. Now, every year, we'll renegotiate the deal, but I think the deal will go on for a long time. But overall, I guess on the scale of from zero to ten, with ten being the best, I would say the meeting was a 12.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIPTAK: Now, this meeting only lasted about 90 minutes, so relatively short. They did not talk about some of those volatile issues, including Taiwan. What they did agree on was to keep talking. President Trump has said that he will go to Beijing in April. President Xi will come to the United States at some point later next year, so essentially creating a framework for continued dialogue in this growing superpower rivalry.

SIDNER: Ye, the devil in the details. We'll see how it all shakes out.

Kevin Liptak, thank you so much. John?

BERMAN: All right. New this morning, millions of Americans preparing to lose access to a crucial food assistance program. SNAP benefits begin to run out as soon as Saturday as the result of the government shutdown. This is what's at stake.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KASEY MCBLAIS, SNAP RECIPIENT: I won't let my children go hungry. They're going to be fed. So, for me, it will be a matter of picking and choosing which bill I can go a month without paying.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Now as people suffer, tempers are flaring on Capitol Hill.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN THUNE (R-SD): SNAP recipients shouldn't go without food. People should be getting paid in this country. And we've tried to do that 13 times. You voted no 13 times. This isn't a political game. These are real people's lives that we're talking about. And you all have just figured out 29 days in that, oh, there might be some consequences?

(END VIDEO CLIP) BERMAN: With us now is Stef Kight, politics reporter for Axios. I just finished reading the Axios morning note this morning. Stef, you do get the sense -- if you sort of squint a little bit, there seems to be this sense coming out of Washington that maybe there is the beginning of the slightest chance to find a way out of this. What are you hearing?

STEF KIGHT, POLITICS REPORTER, AXIOS: I think that's the right characterization. It does feel like this week it's hard to put your finger on it exactly, but it seems that there's a little bit more optimism that the end of the shutdown is at least in sight. Even if it's not this week, it's likely to go into next week. We're likely to reach that mile marker of the longest shutdown on record.

People are talking a lot more across the aisle and there's also just more of a sense of urgency. We've been saying for weeks now, and in talking to staffers and senators on the Hill, it's not even really felt like a shutdown. There hasn't been that sense of urgency. But the thing about shutdowns is the longer they last, the more pain you feel, the more people in this country start feeling the consequences of that. And that is what's forcing senators to start trying to figure out a way out.

It's still not clear what that way out is but we are seeing momentum, for example, with bipartisan negotiations on full-year spending bills. This is a separate issue from the short-term C.R., which would reopen the government in the short-term. But that bipartisan conversation about bills that would fund agencies more long-term shows at least some sign that people are willing to work on this issue and could help sweeten some kind of a deal that would involve, you know, some kind of agreement along ACA extension of enhanced subsidies that are expiring at the end of the year.

BERMAN: Yes. The key word there you used was pain. And there are people out there, real people who were beginning to feel the real pain from the government shutdown, but you get the sense that maybe both parties are feeling some political pain well. And the common, you know, sense wisdom right now is that Democrats are beginning to feel the political pain on SNAP, on the food benefits, Republicans may be feeling some political pain on healthcare and the Obamacare subsidies.

KIGHT: Exactly. And, you know, the snap issue is an issue that both sides are very concerned about. When you have, you know, an estimated 42 million people who are going to be going without this needed food assistance starting over the weekend, you do have people who want to solve that. Of course, there's finger pointing with Democrats accusing Republicans of, you know, using hunger as a negotiating tool. Meanwhile, Republicans saying Democrats could vote to, you know, refund the program any day.

[07:10:00]

BERMAN: Stef Kight, great to speak with you. We'll let you get back to your reporting. Thanks so much. Kate?

BOLDUAN: So, breaking overnight, five new suspects arrested in connection with the jewelry heist at the Louvre. What police are saying this morning about any new clues in the hunt for the actual crown jewels.

And there's new video in showing the moments just after a six-year-old boy shot his first grade teacher and the explosive courtroom testimony now over that terrifying incident.

And YouTube is announcing big layoffs, setting the stage for a major pivot to A.I.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: Breaking this morning, five new suspects are under arrest in connection with that wild jewelry heist at the Louvre. One of the suspects is believed to be -- to have been part of that four-person team that robbed the museum in broad daylight stealing more than a hundred million dollars worth of jewels. What about those jewels? Still MIA, but there's a lot going on here.

CNN's Melissa Bell is live outside the world famous museum for us this morning.

[07:15:02]

Melissa, what are you learning?

MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Kate, so seven people now in custody there were the two you'll remember who'd been arrested on Saturday. They'd been linked to the scene of the crime here at the Louvre by DNA evidence.

Yesterday evening, they were placed under formal investigation, two men in their 30s. The manhunt continues, it's now in its 11th day since that heist, and what we've learned is these five extra people have now been taken into custody, as you say, one of them who was part of the commando (ph) unit that took on the Louvre that was actually here on the day of the heist, again, tied to the scene of the crime by DNA.

Remember that there were 150 different pieces of DNA that were left behind by the thieves at the scene of the crime. And, really, that's what's allowed the police to get their hands on these people and with relative certainty that it may have been them involved.

As to the other four, what we're hearing is that police aren't saying it exactly what their role might have been other than they believe they might be able to provide answers as to the organization of this most extraordinary heist. But you're quite right, Kate. For now, the jewels themselves, all $102 million worth of them, untraceable, the police have yet to get their hands on them. And, of course, with every day that passes, the fears grow that they will have been dismantled and sold by now, or certainly moved on beyond the reach of investigators here in France.

Meanwhile, as you can see, the Louvre itself is open. As for the rest of the crown jewels, those that hadn't been stolen, we understand they've been moved to France's central bank, the Bank of France, for safe keeping until better security arrangements can be made here. Kate?

BOLDUAN: Yes, definitely one of the many lessons learned from what has, what happened there.

Melissa, thank you so much for the update. Sara?

SIDNER: All right. Ahead, the recall from Aldi that could have you changing your dinner plans.

And World Series whiplash, the Blue Jays retake the series lead and are just a win away from the history books.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:20:00]

SIDNER: And just like that, our neighbors to the north are just a game away from winning the World Series. The Dodgers just couldn't dodge Blue Jays' rookie pitcher, Trey Yesavage.

CNN's Andy Scholes is here with a look. I just have to say this, our producer in L.A., Jason Kravarik, says he wants this to go nine innings because he's just enjoying watching the game so much. He doesn't want baseball to end.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes, we wanted to go seven games as well. That would certainly be fun. But I tell you what, Sara, these Blue Jays, they're just such a resilient bunch. I mean, they kind of really have that team of destiny feel to them. And they're going to go back to Toronto now, a win away from their first World Series title since '93.

And the Jays, they jumped on the Dodgers star, Blake Snell, immediately last night. First pitch of the game, Davis Schneider hits this one deep to left. Jays go up one to nothing on the leadoff home run. Well, just two pitches later, Vladimir Jr. connects. This was the first time in World Series history a game started with back-to-back home run.

And that's all Jays' rookie starter, Trey Yesavage would need, the 22- year-old striking out 12 Dodgers. That broke a rookie record for a starter in the World Series that was set way back in 1949. Yesavage, who was a first round pick last year, went seven innings, giving up just one run. Toronto wins game five 6-1 and Yesavage, who had only three regular season starts, now has five of this amazing postseason run for the Jays.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TREY YESAVAGE, TORONTO BLUE JAYS PITCHER: It's a crazy world, a crazy world. Hollywood couldn't have made it this good. So, just being a part of this, I'm just very blessed. I'm waiting for life to slow down in this off season and just be able to collect my thoughts and my feelings on this crazy year. (END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: All right. Game six is going to be tomorrow night in Toronto with the Jays with a chance to win the World Series.

All right, meanwhile, in the NBA, the Lakers were down one to the T- Wolves with just six seconds left. Austin Reaves gets it. He's going to split the defenders, get in the lane and knock down the floater at the buzzer to win it. His teammates mob him. Lakers win 116-115. What a start to the season for Reaves. He's averaging 34 points a game so far for the Lakers.

All right, and, finally, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, well, he says Athletic Director Scott Woodward will not be involved in selecting their next head football coach.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JEFF LANDRY (R-LA): Maybe we'll let President Trump pick. He loves winners, you know? I'm not going to be picking the next coach, but I can promise you we're going to pick a coach and we are going to make sure that coach is successful. I'm tired of rewarding failure in this country and then leaving the taxpayers on the foot -- you know, to foot the bill.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Yes. So, LSU fired Brian Kelly this week, owing him $54 million. Now, Woodward was also the athletic director at Texas A&M when they hired Jimbo Fisher, and he was eventually fired being owed the largest buyout ever, $76 million. So, a lot of fans, including Governor Landry, not wanting him to pick the next head football coach, Sara.

But, you know, fired head football -- college football coach, buyout life is, you know, one of the best gigs if you can get it.

SIDNER: I mean, $54 million to not do anything sounds like a deal that most people would take. But, you know, when you're talking about a public school education and you're looking at those numbers, it doesn't add up.

SCHOLES: Yes.

SIDNER: Andy Scholes, thank you so much. John?

BERMAN: That's what I want to be when I grow up, a fired college football coach making millions.

[07:25:00]

SIDNER: Goodness.

BERMAN: All right. A major policy announcement rattles the world, President Trump says the U.S. will restart nuclear testing. Does this mean the U.S. is going to start exploding warheads? And how do Americans really feel about the East Wing of the White House being demolished? A brand new poll was surprising with some surprising and strongly felt results.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: Breaking overnight, test the nukes. That is the message this morning from President Trump announcing a major shift in U.S. policy and announcing it on social media, directing the Defense Department now to restart nuclear weapons testing, something the United States has avoided for more than 40 years.