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Thai and Cambodian Leaders Sign Peace Deal; Jamaica Braces for Hurricane Melissa; At Least One Dead in Lincoln University Shooting; U.S. Deploying USS Gerald Ford to Caribbean; Three Killed and Dozens Wounded in Russian Strikes; Israel Strikes Gaza After Rubio Wraps Trip; White House Warns Shutdown SNAP Benefits at Risk; Kamala Harris Hints at Another Presidential Run. Aired 4-5a ET

Aired October 26, 2025 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:00]

KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to all of you watching us here in the United States, Canada, and around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber. This is CNN Newsroom.

President Trump touts his credentials brokering peace during his trip to Asia, and talks are still set with China's Xi Jinping, and potentially North Korea's Kim Jong Un will have a live report coming up. At the same time, Trump is escalating his trade war with Canada. We'll have details on his latest move, targeting one of America's largest trading partners. And Jamaica is preparing for a powerful storm slowly churning in the Caribbean. We'll have the latest on Hurricane Melissa's strength and path.

ANNOUNCER: Live from Atlanta, this is CNN Newsroom with Kim Brunhuber.

BRUNHUBER: It is just after 4:00 p.m. in Malaysia, the first stop on President Trump's three-country visit to Asia. He arrived a short time ago in Kuala Lumpur for a summit with Southeast Asian leaders. From there, he heads to Japan on Monday for meetings with that country's emperor and new prime minister. And he wraps up his trip in South Korea, where he's scheduled to hold a highly anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Have a look. This was the scene a short time ago in Kuala Lumpur, where the president signed a new trade agreement with Malaysia's prime minister. Earlier, he attended a signing ceremony for a peace deal between Cambodia and Thailand. That ceasefire came after Trump spoke to the leaders of the two countries. Here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: They really like each other. I'm not used to that when I do these deals. Usually, there's a lot of hatred. They like each other. So, it made it a little bit easier. But millions of people are alive today because of this peace treaty.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BRUNHUBER: CNN's Ivan Watson is live in Kuala Lumpur with more on the president's trip. So, Ivan, already a few announcements on the president's first stop. Take us through what we've seen so far.

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I do need to correct the American president right there. This was not a peace treaty. In fact, it would be illegal, according to Thai law, unless you had all the cabinet ministers sign on to the document. This was a joint declaration. It's an extension of a ceasefire that President Trump did help to mediate at the end of five days of deadly fighting between Thailand and Cambodia back in July, fighting that killed at least 35 people and resulted in the displacement of more than 200,000 people.

The fighting has stopped since an initial ceasefire was agreed upon by the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia here in Kuala Lumpur at the end of July. And they've now signed a further document under the watchful eye of President Trump saying that they're going to try to commit to go further with this. Take a listen to what the Thai and Cambodian prime ministers had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HUN MANET, CAMBODIA PRIME MINISTER: Cambodia reaffirms a strong commitment to fully and faithfully implementing this joint declaration and to continuing to work closely with Thailand and all our partners to ensure that this peace endures and brings tangible benefit to our peoples.

ANUTIN CHARNVIRAKUL, THAILAND PRIME MINISTER: Thailand stands for peace. This declaration reflects our will to resolve differences peacefully in full respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON: The actual declaration calls for both sides to remove their heavy weapons from the border, for them to begin a process of demining the long and contested border, and for an observer team to be created from ASEAN, from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to verify that these steps in fact go forwards. There is a statement in the declaration saying that Thailand will -- if this does in fact begin, will try to release -- begin the process of releasing some 18 Cambodian prisoners of war, soldiers that were captured in those days of deadly fighting back in July.

This conflict between the two neighbors over the border does really go back more than a century and the big question about how to resolve the dispute over the border, that is a big one and will be very interesting to see if, from the ceasefire, the two countries can move in the direction of resolving that dispute.

BRUNHUBER: All right. And then Ivan, of course, the most important meeting still to come with Xi Jinping, what are we expecting?

[04:05:00] WATSON: Right. And I might just add, you know, there's been a quick pull aside here. There's a lot of diplomacy underway. President Trump did just meet with Brazil's president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. There have been some harsh words between these two leaders in past months, but seems to be an effort and tariffs imposed. The White House angry about the prosecution of the former Brazilian president in court. But now it does appear that there's some kind of a dialogue taking place between these two leaders.

But yes, I think the biggest event is what will happen between President Trump and the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, who may meet in -- are expected to possibly meet in Korea later during Trump's six-day tour through Asia. There have been trade delegations on the ground here in Kuala Lumpur between China and the U.S. The U.S. treasury secretary and trade representative meeting with the Chinese vice premier who've been conducting negotiations here. And we've gotten statements coming from Scott Bessent, the U.S. treasury secretary, saying that they effectively have a framework for the two leaders to look at to see if they can negotiate some kind of trade agreement.

Of course, President Trump has threatened to impose an additional 100 percent tariff on China starting November 1st. That, in response to China announcing it would impose export controls over its near monopoly of rare earths. Kim.

BRUNHUBER: Ivan Watson, appreciate you bringing us the latest live from Kuala Lumpur. Thanks so much.

President Trump says he's increasing tariffs on Canada by another 10 percent after the province of Ontario aired an anti-tariff ad during the World Series. This comes after Ontario said it would pause the ad campaign on U.S. TV by Monday. Trump claims the commercial misrepresented a speech by former U.S. President Ronald Reagan which the province has denied. CNN's Julia Benbrook has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President Donald Trump said he is ending trade negotiations with Canada. And now, he says he is increasing the tariff on Canada by 10 percent over and above what they're already paying.

Let's take a step back to look at what seemed to spark this frustration. Trump took issue with an ad released by the Ontario government that featured audio from a 1987 speech by then-President Ronald Reagan where he criticized tariffs on foreign goods.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RONALD REAGAN, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: High tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars. Then the worst happens. Markets shrink and collapse, businesses and industries shut down and millions of people lose their jobs.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BENBROOK: The Reagan Foundation put out a statement saying that the ad misrepresents what Reagan said. While it does lack context and was edited down, the overall theme of his speech was support for free and fair trade. So, it's not immediately clear which specifics the foundation took issue with. But Trump ramped up the stakes. He wrote on social media, The Ronald Reagan Foundation has just announced that Canada has fraudulently used an advertisement which is fake, featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about tariffs. Adding then in all caps, all trade negotiations with Canada are hereby terminated.

Trump was recently asked what Canada needs to do in order to get talks back on track. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What would they do to get it back on track?

TRUMP: I don't know. I'm satisfied with the deal we have. We have a deal right now that's very good for us. Any deal that would have been made that would have been better for them than the one they have right now, that's why I was surprise they did this. They did this to try and influence the Supreme Court. And many foreign countries aren't particularly happy, but they took advantage of us for years. For years and years, they took advantage. And presidents shouldn't have allowed that to happen, but they did. So, really, I don't think there's much they can do. I just don't believe it the way it is.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BENBROOK: The relationship between the United States and Canada has been tense in recent months, in part due to Trump's trade policies. Now, after Trump said that he had cancelled trade talks, Canada's prime minister, Mark Carney, while speaking with reporters, said that his country is focused on what it can control, which he says includes developing new partnerships and opportunities.

Julia Benbrook, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: Hurricane Melissa is now a major Category 3 storm, and forecasters warn it could intensify into a rare Category 5 hurricane in the coming days as it moves slowly over some of the world's hottest ocean water. The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Melissa could bring more than 40 inches of total rainfall to portions of Jamaica and Hispaniola. Hurricane warnings are already in effect for parts of Haiti and all of Jamaica, the likely epicenter for Melissa's heavy rain, flooding, high winds, and storm surge.

[04:10:00]

Now, preparations are underway on the island nation for what could be the strongest hurricane to ever make landfall, and residents say they're worried about what's to come.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DIANE THOMPSON, KINGSTON RESIDENT: When it moving slow it's not the

right thing. It's the worst because no one know what next. You understand? Me and my god have no problem. And I asked him this morning to see if he can turn back the storm. Because not matter what, we cannot manage it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: CNN Meteorologist Chris Warren has more on the powerful storm.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS WARREN, CNN METEOROLOGIST: There are multiple reasons why this is a disaster in the making. First, the steering winds, just not enough to pull this system away from land fast enough that the impacts will be limited. It is meandering around, caught between two areas of high pressure, and not going to see these steering winds until the middle of next week, as it eventually will pull it out into the Atlantic.

Now, where exactly it goes in relationship to Jamaica could still be on the east side or the west side. Computer models show us that. But, still, right in the middle is Jamaica. And it's that rainfall, the amount of rain that's happening, and the extent of it.

Look at this footprint here, just with one forecast model, from here to here. So, you can imagine it's shifting this far or this far. Somewhere in Hispaniola, including Haiti and Jamaica, still going to end up potentially with feet of rain. So, that is landslides, catastrophic flooding, all on the table here. And then there's the warm waters. So, the warm waters is like the fuel for hurricanes. Upper 80s, plenty warm. You need around 80 degrees. Upper 80s, definitely there. Then, on top of that, the warmth is deep into the sea here.

So, what that means is these storms, when they kind of stall out and they're hanging out in the same spot for a while, it can help stir up the ocean, bring up that cooler water and weaken the storm. That's not going to be the case here because the heat is so deep in the water. Then there's the terrain, another huge component. The fact that there are mountains and big hills here, gets more lift out of that humid tropical air to getting up to where it cools, condenses, and turns into even more rain. So, the terrain is another factor.

And on top of all of that, strong damaging winds into the future. Satellite shows us an intense hurricane moving through the Caribbean.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: And joining us now from Kingston, Jamaica, is Michael Taylor, Professor of Climate Science and Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology at the University of the West Indies. Thank you so much for being here with us. So, just to start off, I mean, what are you seeing and feeling right there in Jamaica right now? MICHAEL TAYLOR, CLIMATE SCIENCE PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES AND DEAN OF THE FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, UWI: Well, I'm in Kingston, Jamaica, as you have said. And right now, things are what I would call eerily quiet. So, we have had some kind of intermittent rain on and off, sometimes light, sometimes heavy over the past couple of days. But things are very quiet as we await what, as you, as we expect to be a very, very strong storm.

BRUNHUBER: Yes, very strong. I mean, officials are calling this potentially the strongest hurricane to ever hit Jamaica. I mean, we heard earlier on the program from that one resident who said that they can't manage what's coming. I mean, folks there must be pretty anxious about all of this as this is barreling down on the island.

TAYLOR: Absolutely. For especially small islands, a slow-moving hurricane like this one is really more than a weather event. It's what I would call some kind of psychological marathon. Our country has really been on alert for this storm for nearly a week. So, schools have been closed, businesses have been half opened, families have been hunkered down and huddled. And all of this as a storm keeps changing course, stalling, moving really, really slowly. And that kind of uncertainty really is wearing people down. And so, every new forecast kind of resets the anxiety levels.

When this system finally hits, the population is already going to be emotionally exhausted. And afterwards, of course, we will have to deal with the kind of loss and trauma from the impact of a super storm. It's kind of teaching us some things that resilience has to really be about not just stronger buildings, but also supporting no kind of mental resilience of citizens before, during and after these kinds of prolonged crises.

BRUNHUBER: Yes. I mean, it's important to highlight that human lived experience of this storm. But, you know, to take advantage of your expertise, looking at this scientifically, what stands out to you about this storm? Why is it being watched so closely?

[04:15:00]

TAYLOR: Well, I think, you know, Melissa is now reflecting what we call a new character of storms in a warming era, in a global warming era. There are some things that stand out. Of course, the sea surface temperatures are one to two degrees above average. With this, it is feeding what we would call rapid intensification.

So, when I went to bed, you know, it was a storm and it has now gone in a day to a category three. And over the next day, it's expected to hit us as a category five. And then, of course, the storm has slowed to a crawl, which means heavy rain is going to sit over our country for days. And so, we're forecasting 35, 40 inches of rainfall, which is catastrophic rainfall. And that's even before talking about the wind strength.

So, all of these kinds of behaviors put together have been, you know, the kind of warning as scientists, we have been saying will be common as the region warms. And so, even before we see the full extent of Melissa, it is very much agreeing with what the science says a storm in the new climate era will look like.

BRUNHUBER: Yes, it seems in the last, you know, couple of years, especially I've been doing this here, we've been talking about every day, almost breaking records in terms of these extreme weather events. How do countries like Jamaica have to have to change and adapt if this is indeed the new normal?

TAYLOR: The truth is, we now have to begin to talk about resilience and resilience now has to evolve in different ways. It's no longer just about how high we can build the seawall or how strong a roof we can put on. What we are seeing in this kind of new normal is that it has to now be about how long our societies can function under uncertainty and stress conditions.

We now need to put disaster plans that account for so many other things. And with this particular storm, especially things like mental health, we have to put in infrastructure that can cope with multi-day rainfall, multi-day pummeling of high winds, power outages. We need know faster and smarter communication systems. We have to put in place economic buffers that are going to allow us to recover without crippling debt.

So, most of all, it's telling us that, you know, we now need to design for a climate that is continuously changing, not the climate that we used to know. If nothing else, this storm is telling us that the window for preparation is getting shorter, but the impact period is getting longer and manifesting the consequences are manifesting themselves in varied ways. And now, resilience has to cover all of that.

BRUNHUBER: Yes, absolutely. Listen, as you wait in the proverbial calm before the storm, we wish you and everyone there in Jamaica the best. Michael Taylor in Kingston, Jamaica. Thank you so much for speaking with us. Appreciate it.

At least one person was killed and six others injured in a shooting at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania on Saturday night. The historically black college was celebrating its homecoming weekend when gunfire started. Officials didn't detail the condition of the injured and they haven't released any information on a suspect or suspects. But they say that one person who is carrying a gun has been detained. A state police spokesperson said the situation remains very active.

All right. Still to come, the U.S. is ramping up its firepower in the Caribbean and now the Navy's most advanced carrier strike group is on its way to the region. We'll have the latest on the growing tensions with Venezuela. That's coming up next. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:20:00]

BRUNHUBER: The Trump administration is ramping up its military presence in the Caribbean as the president weighs launching military strikes within Venezuela. The U.S. Navy ordered its most advanced carrier strike group, the USS Gerald Ford, to head from Europe to the region. Its deployment marks a major escalation, as Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro claims the U.S. is trying to drive him from power. The U.S. has also been carrying out strikes on alleged drug trafficking vessels. CNN's Stefano Pozzebon has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Tension in the Caribbean continues to build up. On Friday, three sources within the Donald Trump administration told CNN the president is considering authorizing operations against cocaine facilities and drug trafficking routes within Venezuelan territory, which would mark a dramatic escalation in the standoff that has lasted well over two months.

However, according to the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime, Venezuela is not a major cocaine-producing country. And those sources have also said that Donald Trump has not ruled out a diplomatic approach to the matter. The United States has so far conducted at least 10 strikes, killing at least 40 people, claiming that these people were drug traffickers. However, the White House is yet to present any conclusive proof to justify their action. The campaign is widely seen across the region as an effort to oust the Venezuelan leader, Nicolas Maduro.

On Friday, Maduro almost seemed to reference, to make a reference to the MAGA base, to the has long been a promise from the U.S. president.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICOLAS MADURAO, VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT (through translator): They're inventing a new forever war. They promise to never again get involved in a war, and they're inventing a war that we will avoid.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

POZZEBON: But those calls from Maduro appear to have fallen on deaf ears in Washington. On Friday, the U.S. Department of Defense announced it was moving the U.S. Gerald Ford aircraft carrier and its strike group from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean to add even more firepower to the situation. And CNN has learned the carrier should be in the position next week.

For CNN, this is Stefano Pozzebon, Caracas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: Now, earlier, CNN spoke to retired U.S. General Wesley Clark about the rising tensions in the Caribbean, and we asked him how Venezuelan President Maduro could respond if the U.S. conducts military strikes on Venezuelan land. Here he is.

[04:25:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. WESLEY CLARK (RET.), FORMER NATO SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER AND FOUNDER, RENEW AMERICA TOGETHER: He does have naval vessels. He has Air Force. He has a lot of armed people, a militia. He's given out AK- 47s everywhere. He's got diplomatic support and presence from China and Russia. There's a lot of Iranian influence there. And if you're going after drug sites and so forth, it's -- you're really playing a sort of whack-a-mole game in Venezuela.

First of all, Venezuela is not the major drug source in the United States. If you were going to do that, you'd go after Peru. You'd go after Colombia. You'd go after Mexico. So, maybe this is the first step in that. We don't know. But it's going to be hard to attain decisive results against Venezuela on this issue.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: Ukraine says overnight Russian attacks on Kyiv have left at least three people dead and dozens wounded, including six children. Drones struck several high-rises across the capital. One strike ignited a fire at a nine-story residential building where 13 people were rescued from the upper floors.

Now, this comes a day after Ukraine reported four deaths in a previous air assault. It prompted President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to renew calls for U.S.-made Patriot missile defense systems. U.S. President Donald Trump has been pressing for a peace deal between both sides, but there's been little progress so far. He says he doesn't plan to meet Russia's leader until a deal seems achievable.

Israel carried out a strike in Gaza just hours after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrapped up his trip to the region. The Israeli military says it was targeting a Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant who was planning an imminent attack. Health officials say four people were injured in the Saturday strike in central Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv to call for the return of the remaining deceased hostages. Among those in the crowd was Ruby Chen, father of hostage Itay Chen, whose body is still in Gaza.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUBY CHEN, FATHER OF ITAY CHEN, ISRAELI HOSTAGES IN GAZA: My family met Secretary Rubio again today. I think this is the fifth time that we met him since he entered office. We wanted to make sure that he and the team focused on the fact that there are still 13 hostages, including two U.S. citizens, one of them being my son. We got the reassurance that we were looking for from the secretary that they understand that the job is not done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: Trump is demanding that Hamas quickly hand over the remaining hostages, warning that he's watching very closely over the next 48 hours.

All right. Still to come, a once-loyal constituency for the U.S. president their back on him as he pursues a beef import deal while U.S. cattle ranchers are criticizing Trump next. Plus, many federal workers across the U.S. are struggling as they start to feel the impact of the government shutdown. That story and much more when we come back. Please stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:30:00]

BRUNHUBER: Welcome back to all of you watching us here in the United States, Canada and around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber. This is CNN Newsroom.

The U.S. government shutdown is extending at least into this week as Republicans and Democrats appear deadlocked over funding. The next Senate votes are expected tomorrow, which will be day 27 of the shutdown. It's causing disruptions at airports across the country. Saturday saw the largest number of staffing concerns among air traffic controllers since the shutdown began. The Federal Aviation Administration listed 21 official notices of understaffing at air traffic control facilities from New York to Oakland.

And more than a million federal workers are going unpaid during the shutdown, and now many of them are turning to food banks for help. Jenn Sullivan has more on how the shutdown is hurting workers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JENN SULLIVAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Federal workers waiting in long lines at this food bank in Southern Maryland.

DENISE BLAKE: I would have never thought in a million years that I would have been in this position to have to go to a food bank.

SULLIVAN (voice-over): Denise Blake says she drove over an hour to get here. When she finally arrived, they had run out of food.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a cart ready for you out front.

SULLIVAN (voice-over): Fortunately, she did not leave empty-handed, but she still faces the harsh reality of not knowing how she's going to feed her family while she's not getting paid during the government shutdown.

BLAKE: I don't want my daughter to see me crying.

SULLIVAN (voice-over): Blake's story is like so many others who are waiting to get paid as Congress stalls to pass a new spending plan.

SUMMER KERSICK, FEDERAL EMPLOYEE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE: I haven't gotten a paycheck this month, so the free groceries is very important, very helpful.

SULLIVAN (voice-over): More than a million federal workers are not receiving pay right now. Many miss their first full paycheck Friday, while others will feel the loss early next week, depending on the agency. DAVE SILBERT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER, SO WHAT ELSE: I feel nervous the longer the shutdown lasts that, you know, it could really affect food banks.

SULLIVAN (voice-over): But another big concern looms for these already busy food banks. Come November 1st, millions of Americans may not receive food stamps for the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, which helps feed more than 42 million low-income Americans each month. President Donald Trump, though, says his administration is working on a solution.

TRUMP: Everybody's going to be in good shape. Yes.

SULLIVAN (voice-over): As the gridlock on Capitol Hill stretches into a fourth week, the president is heading to Asia to focus on trade with key partners like China.

I'm Jenn Sullivan reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: U.S. cattle ranchers are speaking out against President Trump after he signaled support for lowering beef prices by importing cattle from Argentina. The cost of beef has soared in the U.S., which Trump claims justifies the needs for imports to bring down prices. But some farmers are calling the move a betrayal of the American rancher. CNN's Rafael Romo has more on the controversy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The price of beef has increased in the United States nearly 15 percent, according to year-to-year data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The price hike is fueled by multiple factors, including a recent multi-year drought that decreased the amount of grazing land for cattle and made feed grains significantly more expensive, resulting in a shortage of cattle, one agricultural economist told CNN.

President Donald Trump's planned solution for high prices is importing more low-tariff beef from Argentina, quadrupling the current 20,000 metric ton quota to 80,000 per year. The move has angered cattle ranchers, who fear this is going to create chaos without affecting grocery prices, according to the National Cattleman's Beef Association.

[04:35:00]

But White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says the president can help consumers and protect ranchers at the same time.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president loves our ranchers and he also loves American consumers. And he wants to do right by both. So, the immediate solution to the problem of the rising cost of beef, president wants to bring that down, as we have to increase our supply. And so, that's what he's doing with respect to these imports.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMO: Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One last week, Trump dismissed claims that an influx of cheaper beef from Argentina is going to affect American cattle ranchers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: The only price we have that's high is beef, and we'll get that down. And one of the things we're thinking about doing is beef from Argentina.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. But my question is, what do you have to say to U.S. farmers who feel that the deal is benefiting Argentina more than it is them as they are --

TRUMP: Argentina is fighting for its life, young lady. You don't know anything about it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMO: But many cattle ranchers count on higher prices to help balance lean years and say the move is, quote, "a betrayal of the American rancher," as a cattle farmer from Illinois told us. It's a feeling echoed by a cattle sales manager in Montana.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TY THOMPSON, CATTLE SALE MANAGER, BILLINGS LIVESTOCK AND AUCTION YARDS: What is his problem with higher priced beef? Because consumers have a choice in proteins. There's chicken, there's pork, there's all different proteins. Consumers have chose to buy beef. President Trump ran on being a free market guy, so what he was saying last week goes totally against what he ran on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMO: In a statement to CNN, Montana Senator Tim Sheehy said that Montana ranchers have made clear they will oppose any plan to flood the American market with foreign beef, empowering hardworking ranchers who feed America and lowering prices for American families at the grocery store are not mutually exclusive. The Department of Agriculture recently unveiled a plan to help cattle ranchers that, among other things, would grant them access to more federal land for grazing.

Rafael Romo, CNN Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: President Trump is praising Japan's new hardline conservative prime minister. Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One earlier, Trump said he had a good phone call with Takaichi.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TRUMP: She's great, beautiful. We're going to be seeing her very soon. She's very friendly. She was very friendly with Abe, as you know, Prime Minister Abe.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What did you guys talk about on the call?

TRUMP: Just look forward to seeing you. I'm going to see her a couple of days. But she was a very, very close ally and friend of Prime Minister Abe, and you know, he was one of my favorites. He was a great man. Thank you very much, everybody.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: And President Trump is scheduled to travel to Tokyo and meet with Prime Minister Takaichi on Tuesday.

All right. When we come back, CNN's Elex Michaelson sits down with former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. We'll hear his views on President Trump's new ballroom project next. Please stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:40:00]

BRUNHUBER: Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris says she's considering a new bid for the White House. Her latest comments are the strongest indication yet that she might launch another presidential campaign after losing to Donald Trump last year. Here's what she told the BBC.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When are they going to see a woman in charge in the White House?

KAMALA HARRIS, FORMER U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: In their lifetime for sure.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Could it be you?

HARRIS: Possibly.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have you made a decision yet?

HARRIS: No, I have not.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But you say in your book, I'm not done.

HARRIS: That is correct. I am not done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: Harris also pushed back against polls that place her behind others for the Democratic ticket. She said if she listened to the polls, she wouldn't have run for her first office. U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries is now endorsing New York City mayoral front-runner and Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani. The endorsement came just about a week before the election and after resisting for months.

CNN Anchor Elex Michaelson just interviewed former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on a number of topics, including Mamdani, and here's part of their conversation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Would you vote for Zohran Mamdani if you were living in New York?

PETE BUTTIGIEG, FORMER U.S. TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY: I mean, I don't live in New York, but I think he has the capacity to be a great mayor. He, I think, right now has been taking a lot of steps that are not just about winning, but about trying to bring people together, which is something that I think a lot of people didn't see in him or expect from him earlier on in the campaign.

So, he hasn't asked me for an endorsement. I don't think he needs me in order to win, but I think it's a really important and exciting race to watch.

MICHAELSON: So, you've been more impressed by him than by Andrew Cuomo?

BUTTIGIEG: I mean, Andrew Cuomo has disqualified himself in so many ways, including morally, and that's just one of many reasons why I think so many New Yorkers are going to vote for Mamdani.

MICHAELSON: There's a big fight in terms of how to fight. What should the Democratic Party do? Governor Newsom here in California has clearly taken a communication strategy of, I'm going to do A.I.- generated videos, I'm going to give insults back to him, I'm going to sort of be more Trumpy than Trump to try to mock him. You haven't done that. What do you make of his approach, and why do you not choose that yourself?

BUTTIGIEG: I think everybody should take an approach that works for them, and those are different than my style. But I'm doing everything I can to draw attention to the things that are affecting people's lives. I'm trying to pull us away from the drama, away from the personalities, away from the memes, and just down to what's actually happening in people's lives.

MICHAELSON: Is there an argument that that's from a different era, though, that some of that works, that Governor Newsom's poll numbers are up, his fundraising is up, if they go low, we go high is an old- school way of thinking? What do you say to that?

BUTTIGIEG: I believe in punching back hard. I just think that the terms that it should be done on -- well, the terms that I feel comfortable doing it on, are talking about everyday life. But honestly, I'm glad that Governor Newsom is doing what he's doing. I think that's part of the picture of how all of us in different ways create a kind of surround sound that offers a different picture, a different message, and a different story.

I just think in the end, it can't all be about Trump. Even if you're fighting him with everything you've got, that's just not enough, because there are a lot of Americans who have seen all the things he's done, and they've seen all the things he's done wrong, and for whatever set of reasons, to them, that's not disqualifying.

That means I don't think they could see anything else that would be disqualifying. A lot of them don't actually like him. They voted for him because they're willing to do anything that might make their everyday life a little better. We've got to show that we are the ones who are going to make everyday life better, starting with reversing Trump's increase to your health care premium.

MICHAELSON: And you've talked, I think, really interestingly about what the future of the country looks like post-Trump, and that it can't be going back to what it was because what it was is no longer going to exist. What does your vision of what is next look like?

[04:45:00]

BUTTIGIEG: Yes, I think this is really important. My criticism of the administration, among other things, is that there's no such thing as again in the real world, and they're trying to make it seem like America could somehow turn back the clock. My concern for my party is that we're also looking backwards, that we have this implied vision that basically says, give us a chance, put us back in, and we'll find all the broken pieces and shards of what Trump has smashed to bits, and we're going to tape it all back together and have something like what we used to have.

I think the answer is to show how we get that things need to be different, that institutions that have been demolished, that should never have been demolished, at the same time also shouldn't be put together just the way we inherited them. We should start over.

MICHAELSON: Speaking of demolishing, the White House right now, literally, the East Wing is being demolished. What do you make of that?

BUTTIGIEG: Well, my focus right now isn't about historic preservation. It's about what's going on in people's lives. And what's most wrong about what President Trump is doing to the White House grounds is it shows that his focus is on building a bigger venue for fancy dinners when because of his actual policies, Americans are opening those letters and finding out this week that they're not going to be able to afford their health care next year.

How in the world could you be focused on building a new ballroom, literally a gilded ballroom for fancy parties for your rich friends, at the exact moment when working Americans, actually disproportionately working Americans who voted for you, are getting screwed by your health care policy and you don't seem to be interested in helping them? MICHAELSON: I mean, he would say it's for the American people and it's the people's house and it's good to be able to have that sort of space.

BUTTIGIEG: Yes. And most of the people who are getting these letters about their health care premiums are never going to be invited to dinner at the White House. He's not there for them.

MICHAELSON: I did ask Pete Buttigieg, you're considering running for president, right? He said, yes, but he hasn't made up his mind yet. And a big factor this time around will be his two young kids.

Elex Michaelson, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: Elex's new show, "The Story Is," debuts this week on CNN. You can watch it at 9:00 p.m. Monday in Los Angeles or on Tuesday at 5:00 a.m. in London, noon in Hong Kong. His first guest is Governor Gavin Newsom.

All right. Still to come, a 92-year-old woman is defying her age competing as an elite sprinter. We'll look at how she's able to shatter world records next. Please stay with us.

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[04:50:00]

BRUNHUBER: The Los Angeles Dodgers exacted some revenge in Saturday's World Series showdown against the Toronto Blue Jays. So, after a devastating loss on Friday, they stifled Toronto's batters in game two in what became a dramatic pitcher's duel. L.A.'s Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched the whole game holding the Jays to just one run. Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman also sent many Dodgers uniforms back to the dugout throughout the game. But L.A. catcher Will Smith broke a low- scoring stalemate in the seventh inning, putting the Dodgers out front with a go-ahead home run. Final score, Dodgers win 5-1. The series is now tied, one each, and heads to California on Monday.

In college football, number three-ranked Texas A&M turned a tightly contested matchup into a blowout against number 20, Louisiana State University. The tides began to shift at the start of the second half when Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed reclaimed the lead with a five- yard touchdown run. Then, after stopping LSU's next possession, Texas wide receiver KC Concepcion went the distance, scoring this 79-yard punt return. Texas would add another three scoring drives to their stat sheet before the game was through. Breezing to a 49-25 win, the Aggies remain undefeated.

And it was a game to remember as Alabama and South Carolina faced off Saturday night with the number four-ranked Crimson Tide pulling off a stunning victory in the final seconds of the game. Alabama trailed their opponents much of the night, but the team was able to rally with less than a minute left. Germie Bernard scored a 25-yard touchdown, clinching the win. Final score, 29-22, Alabama. All right. Now to a 92-year-old Italian woman who isn't letting her advanced age slow her down. She's an elite sprinter with world records. As CNN's Antonia Mortensen tells us, experts are trying to understand how she does it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

EMMA MAZZENGA, 200 METER WORLD RECORD HOLDER, OVER 90S (through translator): I really feel the competition. Part from the fact that I like the competition, I just like the competition. And even now, maybe a little less than in the past I still feel tense before each race.

ANTONIA MORTENSEN, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER (voice-over): Emma Mazzenga is no ordinary 92-year-old. She's an Italian elite sprinter who has broken multiple world records.

MORTENSEN (through translator): What was your personal best, for the 200 meters?

MAZZENGA (through translator): The best time was last summer in June. I did 50 and 34.

MORTENSEN (VOICE-OVER): Born in 1933, Emma made headlines when she broke the indoor 200-meter world record in her age group in 2024 with a time of 54.47. She's a real testament that it's never too late to start again. Emma stopped training after college where she ran track. She became a high school teacher, got married, started a family, and then at the age of 53, after a 25-year hiatus, dusted off her running shoes.

MAZZENGA (through translator): I resumed training in 1986. I also had a coach, and I always trained three times a week, initially a couple of hours, now one hour a day.

This is my first European gold medal. Yes, this was the first world title.

[04:55:00]

MORTENSEN (through translator): And how was the feeling when you won, the first world title?

MAZZENGA (through translator): It is beautiful beause then you go to the podium they play the national anthem, and that is always a very emotional thing.

MORTENSEN (through translator): Tell me a little bit about your daily routine.

MAZZENGA (through translator): At 5:00 in the morning I'm awake. I have breakfast and generally have a ham sandwich or salami sandwich, and then do various things. I go outside, I go for a walk, I go shopping, I do some cleaning around the house. And generally, I have a snack. I have a fruit, a couple of cookies.

Then at 12:00 lunch of course, and I eat some pasta. 30, 40 grams of pasta and meat of fish and vegetables.

MORTENSEN (voice-over): The nanogenarian's uniqueness attracted the attention of a team of Italian and American scientists, and she's now part of an ongoing international study trying to understand how someone her age can not only run but so fast. So, far, they found that Mazzenga's cardiorespiratory fitness is similar to that of someone in their 50s, and her muscles' mitochondria function is as healthy as a 20-year-old's.

MORTENSEN (through translator): What would be your advice for others who want to be or stay fir like you?

MAZZENGA (through translator): I would say that first of all check the diet and then do constant physical activity. The physical activity in particular which is quite challenging, is not only for the body but also the spirit.

MORTENSEN (voice-over): Antonia Mortensen, CNN, Padua.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: Amazing. And that wraps this hour of CNN Newsroom. I'm Kim Brunhuber. I'll be back with more news in just a moment.

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