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European Allies Unite Amid Trump's New Tariff Threats; Noem Says, the Mayor and the Governor Have Allowed This Kind of Violence; High-Speed Train Crash Kills At Least 39 in Spain, Injures Dozens. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired January 19, 2026 - 07:00   ET

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

[07:00:00]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking this morning, is Greenland really about a grudge? President Trump writes an extraordinary letter linking his threats to take over Greenland to his snub for the Nobel Peace Prize.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: And more breaking news this morning, 39 people are dead after a high speed train derails and crashes into another. A search now for what caused this disaster.

And the countdown is on. The rocket that will take several astronauts on a mission to the far side of the moon is now the launch pad. We have new details of what will be an unprecedented mission.

Sara's out today. I'm Kate Bolduan with John Berman. This is CNN News Central.

BERMAN: And breaking overnight, he wants Greenland in part because he lost out on the Nobel Peace Prize, a remarkable new development in President Trump's quest to take over Greenland with European leaders meeting to seek an emergency response.

Now, in the midst of this, the president sent a letter to Norway's prime minister, according to a diplomat who has seen the note he wrote, in part, dear Jonas, considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped eight wars-plus, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.

Norway is one of eight countries President Trump is targeting with new tariffs on all goods beginning February 1st unless a deal is reached for the U.S. to acquire Greenland. Those countries warned that could lead to a, quote, dangerous downward spiral.

Thousands have been protesting in Greenland and Denmark, the NATO ally that controls the island, and France has reportedly called for activating the E.U.s, trade bazooka, which could block U.S. access to E.U. markets and impose export controls.

This morning, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the president's tariffs threats against the NATO allies.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Alliances endure because they're built on respect and partnership, not pressure. That is why I said the use of tariffs against allies is completely wrong. It is not the right way to resolve differences within an alliance.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Let's get right to CNN's Melissa Bell in Paris this morning. European officials have a meeting over the weekend trying to figure out how to handle these new threats from the United States amid this remarkable news of this tie between the Peace Prize and Greenland.

MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, quite an extraordinary letter. Its tone, its substance really very surprising to European ears this Monday morning. And you're right, a great deal of consternation over the course of the weekend at those renewed threats of tariffs.

So, European leaders consulted on Sunday, John, we've just had the official response from the European Commission explaining that they would be seeking to engage with the United States rather than escalate this route.

Still, behind those words are also what we understand Europeans are now discussing, and several of them have been speaking to this morning across the continent, the fact that should these threats remain, Europe is preparing to respond by a number of different measures, including, we understand, the freezing, the pausing of the current trade deal that exists between the United States and Europe, which would involve and lead to rather the fact of the resumption of the retaliated measures that the European Union had been planning, you'll remember last time, in the middle of these trade disagreements when terrorists were lost imposed on Europe over the summer.

There are 93 billion euros worth of retaliatory European tariffs that could be unfrozen. These would come into effect in February. And then there is that bazooka option that you mentioned. This is to do with the E.U.'s anti-coercion tool, which would go even further in blocking American access to European markets.

So, on one hand you have these words of seeking consensus and trying to appease and looking for negotiation, but behind it, a European Union that is extremely prepared or preparing, rather, to act very forcefully, such as the outrage that these threats of tariffs should be used in this growing row over an island.

[07:05:14]

Remember that should be protected by nature's Article 5 to begin with. John?

BERMAN: Yes. In a sense that maybe this has moved into territory where they just simply have not been before, as many of these leaders will be in Switzerland at Davos over the next few days.

Melissa Bell for us this morning keeping track of this for us, thank you very much. Kate?

BOLDUAN: And there's lots to keep track of. There's going to be a lot going on just this morning on that.

There's also this, the Pentagon has ordered 1,500 active duty soldiers to prepare for possible deployment to Minneapolis. And also Governor Tim Walz has now mobilized the state's National Guard to stand ready to assist the Minnesota State Patrol, though as of now they have not been deployed, so a lot on standby.

This, as protests continue there over ICE operations and more and more people we are seeing getting caught in the middle of it. One family trying to get home from their son's basketball game found themselves -- just look at this video -- found themselves in the middle, in that very position. They -- eventually, they were tear gassed in their car, the mom having then to administer CPR to her infant child. I want to play for you how the DHS secretary, Kristi Noem, reacted to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KRISTI NOEM, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: The family was caught up in that situation because of violent protestors that were impeding law enforcement operations. And that family would have never been in that situation if those protesters had been acting peacefully, and law enforcement was able to do their job without being threatened.

Because the mayor and the governor have allowed this kind of violence to be perpetuated across Minneapolis is why there's other innocent people that are impacted throughout the city, but throughout their state.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: CNN's Kevin Liptak is live at the White House for us with the very latest. Kevin, in terms of 1500 active duty troops now at the ready, what are you hearing from the White House about this right now?

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes. And the one thing that officials are pretty quick to point out is that the president has not actually yet decided whether to deploy active duty troops into Minneapolis. He has threatened to do that. He discussed it with advisers here at the White House last week, including Kristi Noem, saying that if Minnesota wasn't able to tamp down on some of these protests, that he would invoke the Insurrection Act. That's that 1807 law that allows the president to deploy active duty troops on domestic soil to quell a rebellion.

And what the Pentagon has said is that getting these troops at the ready is merely a precaution. They say that the Department of War is always prepared to execute the orders of the commander-in-chief if called upon.

Now, we should note that the president himself seemed to back away from this on Friday, saying that he did not think the Insurrection Act was needed at this point. If he did decide to do it, it would, of course, be an extraordinary move. You know, this act has been evoked very rarely. The last time was in the 90s during the Rodney King protest. You have to go back much further to find an instance of the president invoking the act over the objections of state officials. You have to go all the way back to the civil rights era.

Now, it's been pretty clear that leaders in Minneapolis think that this would be an escalatory move. Listen to what the mayor of Minneapolis said over the weekend.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR JACOB FREY (D-MINNEAPOLIS, MN): The best way to get safety is not to have an influx of even more agents, and in this case, military, in Minneapolis. Right now, we have about 600 police officers and they've got 3,000 or so ICE agents and border control, that they are now talking about deploying 1,500 military. This is -- well, it's ridiculous, but we will not be intimidated by the actions of this federal government.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIPTAK: Now, the president has threatened to use the Insurrection Act many times over the course of his two presidencies, but he is never followed through. Remember, he threatened to use it back in 2020 during the George Floyd protests also in Minneapolis. He was talked out of it at the time by his defense secretary, his attorney general, by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Of course, he has installed much more compliant officials in those posts this time around, and it doesn't appear as if there's much attempt to talk to president out of anything during this term.

BOLDUAN: Kevin, thank you so much, live at the White House for us this morning. Thank you.

So, at least 39 people are confirmed dead right now, and dozens more injured after a high-speed train crash. The investigators are now trying to pinpoint exactly what caused one of the trains to leave the tracks with one official calling it extremely strange.

Now, new CNN reporting is also coming in. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro says he was asked whether he was an Israeli agent by the Kamala Harris campaign, where this is coming from and much more on that.

[07:10:08]

And also happy birthday to an icon, Dolly Parton, the country music legend turns 80 years old today. How the industry is set to honor her.

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BERMAN: All right. New this morning, the death toll is rising after a train crash in Southern Spain.

[07:15:00]

Two trains traveling in opposite directions collided at high speed. At least 39 people are dead, dozens more injured. Again, that death toll could rise even more. Some passengers managed to climb out of windows. Others were rescued. One described the scene as total chaos and said they were thrown through the air.

CNN's Pau Mosquera is near the crash site in Spain. What is the latest this morning, Pau?

PAU MOSQUERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John. We are in Adamuz, just four kilometers away from this railway crash took place this Sunday afternoon. And from this point that we are right now, and the police won't let us to continue by car as they want to get the road clear for the emergency services. So, we are going to try later on to get to the ground zero of the crash by walk.

And right now, let me tell you, John, that we are here in front of this social center that you can see here behind me, because this is the place that, over the last hours, the authorities have enabled for those relative of the victims to get psychological support.

Over the last few minutes here, I have seen few families coming out from this building and in their faces, they were showing despair. And actually when I talked to some of them, Abdul Rahman (ph), for example, coming from Madrid, told me that he's looking for his sister- in-law for Amir (ph). She is 45 years old. She was in the eighth carriage of that train that derailed yesterday afternoon. And he seemed pretty desperate trying to get any information from her, because, so far, anywhere that he has gone, he has obtained no information at all. He doesn't know nothing about her.

But this is a situation not only happening with Abdul Rahman. There are other families that still now they don't have information of where their relative may there be. They don't know if they are still trapped within the carriages that are there in the crash site. And, actually, if we get to describe a little bit, the image of the crash site, well, the images are actually shocking.

(INAUDIBLE) civil sent us some aerial footage of the site and you could see how those sturdy carriages were twisted, the masses of mangled metal, which actually surprised anyone that was in the area. And right now the authorities, what they are trying to do is to set the cranes, to move the carriages and try to see if there is still any victims under this pieces of train. John?

BERMAN: Yes. And one of the things, Pau, we can see from the aerial shots, this happened on a straightaway, which is unusual and one of the reasons why investigators just aren't sure yet what caused this crash.

Pau Mosquera for us in Spain this morning monitoring the situation, Pau, thank you very, very much.

An arctic blast targets millions of Americans, even hitting as far south as Florida. And more expensive than Taylor Swift tickets, the astronomical cost for a seat at tonight's college football championship. Even as this morning, everyone is still talking about the bonkers.

And to the Rams Bears game, what a throw.

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[70:20:00]

BOLDUAN: So, tonight is the big night with the college football national title game between Indiana Hoosiers and Miami Hurricanes. But even before that, there was some serious drama at the end of the NFL matchup last night between the Bears and the Rams.

CNN's Coy Wire is in Miami for that big national title game. But can we please still talk first about what happened in Chicago?

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Incredible, Kate, one of the most exciting post-seasons, 14 lead changes in the fourth quarter and overtime, most in league history. Chicago, they've been the comeback kids all season. Down 17-10 with 17 -- just seconds to go, fourth quarter, and they have -- or fourth down, they have to go for it. And Caleb Williams, he's off his back foot. He was at 45 yards. It's a goal commit for the touchdown, sending it to snowvertime.

But Williams, he would throw an interception in O.T. and the Rams would kick the game-winning field Goal 20-17. Three turnovers for Chicago, none for L.A. They will play at Seattle for the NFC Championship.

Now, Coach Mike Vrabel's Patriots, they'll be facing -- facing the Texans yesterday and they did it on defense, five turnovers, four interceptions, including Marcus Jones' for a touchdown. And on offense, Kayshon Boutte with the one handed surreal game seal grab. 28-16, John Berman goes crazy. Drake Maye had three touchdowns. They'll face the Broncos in Denver in the AFC title game.

Now, tonight, College Football National Championship Miami Hurricanes playing for their first national title in 24 years, playing on their home field. Head Coach Mario Cristobal played for the Hurricanes and they have shocked the world, 100 to 1 underdogs before the playoff selection, they faced the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers, Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. Coach Curt Cignetti says he's seen the media sensationalized how closely knit they are. They're hugging at practice. But he is tired of that narrative, Kate. He said it is about to be on. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CURT CIGNETTI, INDIANA HOOSIERS HEAD COACH: I think it's time to sharpen the saw now. Throw those warm fuzzies over out the door, that sentimentalism, you know, it's time to go play a game against a great opponent. We got to have a sharp edge going into this game. And, you know, you don't go to war with warm milk and cookies. (END VIDEO CLIP)

[07:25:00]

WIRE: Put that on a quote board, Kate.

Now tickets for this national championship game are going to cost a small fortune. They went from $3,000 for the worst seats in the house to $4,000 as it stands right now, Kate. It's crazy times down here. The whole city is lit up, all these buildings, green and orange for their hometown team. We'll see how it all goes down tonight here in Miami.

BOLDUAN: I mean, you don't take milk and cookies to war. I cannot wait to see that, if you're setting the tone like that, Coy Wire. I do have -- I mean, it's always warm and fuzzies when you're around, but, jeez, watch out for the Hoosiers. I'm completely unbiased in this conversation, for sure.

WIRE: That's right.

BOLDUAN: Love you, Coy. Pumped to see what happens tonight and that you're there, so awesome.

WIRE: Me too.

BOLDUAN: All right. So, here is a question for a job interview, quite the question. Have you ever been an agent of the Israeli government? New reporting about the Harris campaign's vetting process of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro for V.P. way back when.

And allegations of private investigators, listening devices planted, recorded phone calls. Today, Prince Harry gets his day in court in his fight against U.K. tabloids.

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