Return to Transcripts main page
CNN News Central
Trump Orders Nuclear Weapons Tests; Schwarzenegger, Second Chances and Sweet Rides. Aired 9:30-10a ET
Aired October 30, 2025 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[09:30:00]
TOM CURTIS, PRESIDENT, BURGER KING U.S. AND CANADA: All right, thank you.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Sara.
SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: All right, thank you, John.
A major shift in U.S. policy. President Trump ordering the military to immediately start testing nuclear weapons for the first time in more than 30 years. But what exactly might that look like?
Also, a plane owned by Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil slamming into another jet that was parked. You can see the video there. Goodness. The urgent warning this morning from transportation officials.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:35:06]
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: In what could bring an end to decades old U.S. policy, President Trump says he wants the country to restart nuclear testing now. The president announcing this seemingly out of the blue, directing the Pentagon to begin testing, quote, "because of other countries." It comes just days after Russia did say it had successfully tested a nuclear -- nuclear capable missile. And this morning, a spokesperson for Vladimir Putin says that that was by no means a nuclear test, adding that Russia would then act accordingly if any country breaks the moratorium.
President Trump also announced this just minutes before walking into the high stakes meeting with China's president, Xi Jinping. China, even as it builds up its nuclear arsenal at lightning speed, now says it hopes that the U.S. will uphold treaty obligations.
So, what now? Joining us right now is CNN military analyst, retired Colonel Cedric Leighton.
It's good to see you,
President Trump saying that this move is in response to other countries and what other countries are doing. Do you see that as the case? Does this announcement surprise you? COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: It certainly does
surprise me, Kate. And good morning.
There are several different things that could have played into President Trump's idea that he needed to say this. One of them is the test that you mentioned. There were actually two tests that the Russians conducted. One of the so-called Burevestnik missile, which is also known as Skyfall. That was one that got a lot of attention a few days ago. And then there was another one of the Poseidon -- basically it's a super torpedo that is nuclear powered. So, both of these weapons are nuclear powered. They can be nuclear capable, but they, for the purposes of the tests that the Russians conducted, they were not nuclear capable. So, it's possible that the president mixed things up. And when you look at the -- the warhead count, you know, both Russia and the U.S. are far, far ahead of China.
Now, China is projected to have that 1,000 warhead total, possibly as late as 2030. But the key thing here is that the Russians and the Chinese may have conducted secret tests that we don't know about. So, that may be something that spurred the president to do this. We just don't have that information at the moment to determine whether or not they themselves have violated the basic test ban treaties that are basically in effect, but have not been ratified by many of the countries involved.
BOLDUAN: Look, there's a lot -- a lack of clarity around a lot of this on maybe the singular issue that requires the most clarity, because you're talking about nuclear here, but help us understand the difference in -- between nuclear powered weapons and nuclear armed weapons. It's likely to be kind of a critical distinction that does need clarifying.
LEIGHTON: Yes, absolutely. So, a nuclear-powered weapon is one where basically the fuel source is a nuclear reactor. So, that would be like having a, you know, Jetson-like device that powers you, you know, either through a backpack or in your car. That is what nuclear powered weapon system is. A nuclear warhead, which is basically the nuclear weapon, is distinct because what that is, is that is the actual weapon. If it explodes on something, it will result in a nuclear explosion with the attendant fallout. And that would then be, of course, the start of possible nuclear conflict if one of those were to be used in either a testing capacity or in actual combat.
BOLDUAN: Some of what I'm reading is that it could take at least three years to prep a nuclear weapons test. Does that make this announcement all the more confusing?
LEIGHTON: It does, because one of the other aspects of this, Kate, is that the agency that actually conducts nuclear testing in the United States is not the Department of Defense. It is the Department of Energy.
Now, they work with the Department of Defense to conduct nuclear tests. But the key element here is the NNSA, the National Nuclear Security Administration. And a lot of those people that work at the NNSA have actually been furloughed as part of the government shutdown. So, not only from an engineering perspective would it take about three years to get a test ready, it would also, basically because of the personnel and budgetary actions or inaction of the United States government at the moment, it might take even longer than that to actually prepare a real nuclear weapons test, like we saw before 1992, when the U.S. imposed its own moratorium on testing.
BOLDUAN: If he goes through, I mean I guess it matters what kind of testing we're talking about. But if he goes through with this testing, what could this trigger? What is your fear?
LEIGHTON: Well, my biggest fear is that it would cause a nuclear arms race. And so, you know, a lot of us weren't around when the nuclear arms race was a -- was a big deal.
[09:40:04]
But I remember it very well from, not only my childhood, but also from the first part of my military career. And what that basically did was it forced nations to throw a lot of their resources into the nuclear arena. So, that's why you see these incredibly high numbers of nuclear warheads in the U.S. and in Russia. And the Chinese are basically playing catch up with that. So, there is a bit of a nuclear arms race that's already going on. But this would accelerate that. And it would make it much more difficult to engage in true nuclear arms control. And that is a very dangerous situation to be in.
BOLDUAN: Yes.
Colonel Cedric Leighton, good to see you. Thank you.
John.
BERMAN: Fear a nuclear arms race. How about some bread? Get ready for an all new episode of the CNN original series "Tony Shalhoub Breaking Bread" from grilled cheese at Lambeau Field to Tony's family kitchen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY SHALHOUB, HOST, "TONY SHALHOUB BREAKING BREAD": Look at. Wow.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yum. It's dandelion greens.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Yes, look at her go.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I love dandelion greens.
SHALHOUB: We're leaving the ladies to graze on their salad bar and beelining straight for the creamery.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you're going to make cheese, you got to have a cool hat.
SHALHOUB: Oh, God, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Fashion.
SHALHOUB: Cheese me.
What is happening here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What we have here is what Miss Muffet had, curds and whey.
SHALHOUB: Well, it has that feel of earth and grass. Hard to get out.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my God. Don't drop the baby.
SHALHOUB: It's very warm. It's almost hot, rubbery.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dad, your pants are covered in whey.
SHALHOUB: No way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: If I had a nickel for every time.
A new episode of "Tony Shalhoub Breaking Bread" premieres Sunday at 9:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific only on CNN.
The new official hype man for the 2026 bobsled and skeleton teams. Naturally, I'm talking about Flavor Flav.
And for $20,000 a robot that cleans and dances and allegedly wont subjugate you before an emerging race of hyper sentient beings.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:46:51]
SIDNER: On our radar, Hurricane Melissa just blitzed past the Bahamas and is now a category two storm. But this morning, its' Jamaicans waking up to devastation. Melissa was the strongest storm on record to ever hit the island. The category five hurricane killed four people there and left much of the island without power.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yesterday was horrible, horrific, terrifying, the worst day of my entire life. The worst experience of my entire life. To see my place being flooded out. It's -- it was terrifying for me and my child. The water level reached me to my waist. I was stuck in my house. They had to break into my home to save me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SIDNER: Devastation in St. Elizabeth Parish is catastrophic, where she is. Melissa now is in the history books as one of the worst recorded storms on record ever in the Atlantic. Crews, you see them there, working to clear blocked roads, getting those ambulances in, to try and help save people.
All right, this morning, an urgent recommendation from the NTSB. It wants all Learjet owners to make sure their planes landing gear is firmly attached. Look at what happened there. This is after the landing gear of a Learjet owned by Motley Crues Vince Neil detached and, bam, it smashes into a parked aircraft. It was landing at an Arizona airport. This happened in February. The jet slid across a gravel safety area and slammed into that parked jet. The Learjet's captain was killed, and the first officer and the rock star's girlfriend and family members were injured.
A father and daughter walking on a beach in Australia found a bottle with a message inside written more than 100 years ago by two Australian soldiers in 1916, on their way to fight in World War I. One of them was a 27-year-old private who addressed the letter to his mother, telling her he was having a good time and that the food was pretty good. The other letter read, quote, "may the finder be as well as we are at present." The family who found the messages learned one of the men was eventually killed in action and the other died 20 years later.
All right, it is a scene out of "The Jetsons." A new robot that can be your housekeeper and perhaps your buddy, your roomie, your friend.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't seem to find my glasses. Is this paprika?
ROBOT: No, that's cayenne pepper. Also, your glasses are on your shirt.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SIDNER: I need that guy. The glasses thing, they're always on my head. It would have told me that. That's Neo. And it cleans your house, does your laundry, water your plants. Did I mention Neo can also dance? Hey. It weighs 66 pounds and stands five feet six inches tall and can be yours for just $20,000. OK, that's a little steep. Don't worry, though. The company that makes Neo says there are lots of security features as well, so this doesn't turn into "The Terminator," Kate.
[09:50:01]
BERMAN: I like the way it's dressed, right? Wouldn't you say it's appropriately dressed there? Because there's nothing worse than a naked $20,000 robot.
BOLDUAN: Well, yes, I mean, you -- you have to be respectful.
BERMAN: You have to be respectful of all the circuits.
BOLDUAN: Yes. Yes, exactly. That's part of the contract that you have to sign.
SIDNER: Clothes are sold separately. It's just like a doll, clothes sold separately. Just, you know.
BOLDUAN: Clothes sold separately because $20,000 does -- it won't get you pants. SIDNER: It's not enough.
BOLDUAN: We are going to continue talking about a pantsless or pants robot, because we may be having our next guest join us and reconnecting right now.
Here we go.
SIDNER: Hey, he can do the robot.
BOLDUAN: Sara, get over here. "Cool Runnings," the Flavor Flav edition. The rapper known for his distinctive voice, vibe, of course, and, of course, his blinged out clocks is joining the U.S. bobsled and skeleton team as a sponsor and hype man for the winter Olympics in Italy next year. He became one of the more unexpected but total blowout stars of the summer games in Paris when he hyped for the U.S. water polo teams. And now he's trading in the ice around his neck for the ice in the bobsled track, promoting the games on the socials and taking a run of the course himself.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FLAVOR FLAV: Whoo-hoo-hoo!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah!
FLAVOR FLAV: Yeah!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).
FLAVOR FLAV: Yeah!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) boy.
FLAVOR FLAV: I did it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: And the one, and only, Flavor Flav joins us now and we're kidding because we're having more technical difficulties. This is so annoying.
SIDNER: I know.
BOLDUAN: We're going to take a break. We'll be right back. Just consider that a good tease.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:55:56]
BOLDUAN: Alas, the aforementioned Flavor Flav technical difficulties persist. We're going to work on trying to get Flav back for another day.
SIDNER: Yes (INAUDIBLE). BOLDUAN: Thank you, Sara.
Let's turn to this right now then. "The Terminator" and former California governor is now taking on a new challenge, trying to help former inmates make a comeback with a second chance. Arnold Schwarzenegger is now partnering with West Coast Customs, the car shop you may remember from MTV's "Pimp My Ride." CNN's Alex Michaelson has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, ACTOR, FORMER CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR: When you said, I'll be back, you meant it.
ALEX MICHAELSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Arnold Schwarzenegger is celebrating the crew that turned his car from this, to this.
SCHWARZENEGGER: Thanks very much. Thank you.
MICHAELSON (voice over): Many here served time behind bars before this life changing opportunity at West Coast Customs.
SCHWARZENEGGER: They get a second chance.
MICHAELSON (voice over): Letty Dominguez got involved with gangs and drugs at just 11 years old. She spent a decade behind bars before starting this job.
LETTY DOMINGUEZ, WEST COAST CUSTOMS ACADEMY: I have a reason why I wake up every morning that isn't negative.
MICHAELSON (voice over): She's also now a full-time college student.
DOMINGUEZ: I feel like I'm a good person today because I have a job.
RYAN FRIEDLINGHAUS, FOUNDER, WEST COAST CUSTOMS: I feel like I found my purpose, it's give back.
MICHAELSON (voice over): Ryan Friedlinghaus founded West Coast Customs in 1993.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How many cars have we done?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've done eight.
MICHAELSON (voice over): His work customizing cars, featured on all these TV shows, including MTV's "Pimp My Ride." His clients include Shaquille O'Neal, Justin Bieber, Bad Bunny and Paris Hilton.
FRIEDLINGHAUS: We build everything and anything people dream of.
MICHAELSON (voice over): Growing up with dyslexia, Ryan says he was good with his hands, but not with his textbooks. He started West Coast Customs Academy about three years ago for people like him.
FRIEDLINGHAUS: The industry is lacking good people to work with their hands.
MICHAELSON (voice over): They partnered with an L.A. County organization called JCOD, to start a free job training program for former prisoners.
MICHAELSON: You've got all this really expensive stuff around there. Do you trust all these people?
FRIEDLINGHAUS: That's something that -- that was a challenge for me. So, I gave it a chance.
MICHAELSON (voice over): Ryan says he's been blown away by the results. Ryan told his longtime client, Arnold Schwarzenegger, about the academy.
SCHWARZENEGGER: So, Alex, they do everything themselves here.
MICHAELSON (voice over): Schwarzenegger invited us for an exclusive tour of West Coast Customs' 60,000 square foot headquarters in Burbank, California. In 12 weeks the students here work on interior, fabrication, paint, wrap and audio, all in one place. On this day, they're doing the finishing touches on Schwarzenegger's Excalibur, which was first built in the 1970s.
SCHWARZENEGGER: Well, I'll tell you, that as soon as this is totally finished, you and I will be going on a ride through Beverly Hills with a stogie in our hands, right?
MICHAELSON: Let's do it, baby.
SCHWARZENEGGER: Exactly. Yes.
MICHAELSON: Arnold Schwarzenegger's focus on second chances started long before his first visit here.
MICHAELSON (voice over): This nearly 50-year-old video from Schwarzenegger's archive shows the former Mr. Olympia hosting a workout for inmates.
SCHWARZENEGGER: So, what do you guys want to see, some posing?
MICHAELSON (voice over): Schwarzenegger says he's visited nearly every jail and prison in California.
MICHAELSON: What did you learn from the inmates?
SCHWARZENEGGER: You know, how to be tough and how to endure. Because we don't learn from winning. We learn from mistakes that we make.
MICHAELSON: There are some people that are like, lock people up, throw away the key. Why is it important to go the opposite route?
SCHWARZENEGGER: I mean it's always easy to say, yes, lock them up. Let's be tough on crime and it always -- it always sounds good. But, I mean, when someone has served their time and has understood that they made a mistake, you must make sure that they have a chance to come back. That's why I said earlier, you know, they say, I'll be back. It's not just "The Terminator" that says it. You know, people want to come back.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BOLDUAN: Alex Michaelson, thank you so much.
BERMAN: Very tall.
SIDNER: Very, very tall.
BOLDUAN: It appears so. You know him.
SIDNER: Lovely. His mother bakes cookies, I know that much, that are amazing, that a lot of politicians have gotten because he was in L.A. for a long time and she would bring them to him.
[10:00:01]
BOLDUAN: Oh, that's cute.
SIDNER: But he is now doing a show for us, 9:00, West Coast Time, midnight our time.
BERMAN: And we should note, this is a big week for CNN. It's a big week for the
