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Erin Burnett Outfront

Third U.S. Aircraft Carrier Deploys To Mideast; Swalwell Versus Patel; Judge Halts Trump Ballroom. Aired 7-8p ET

Aired March 31, 2026 - 19:00   ET

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

[19:00:24]

ERIN BURNETT, CNN HOST: OUTFRONT next:

Breaking news, a third U.S. aircraft carrier now on its way to the Middle East tonight, and an American journalist has been kidnapped in Iraq, as Trump claims the war is winding down.

Plus, cease and desist. Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell, who's running for California governor, facing off with FBI Director Kash Patel. Is this all personal? Swalwell is OUTFRONT.

And we have more breaking news this hour. A judge shutting Trump's ballroom down, telling him to stop construction right now. The president lashing out in a rant against the judge, a Bush-appointed judge.

Let's go OUTFRONT.

(MUSIC)

BURNETT: And good evening. I'm Erin Burnett.

And OUTFRONT tonight, the breaking news -- a third U.S. aircraft carrier is now on its way to the Middle East. The USS George H.W. Bush typically holds around 5,000 service members. It departed the U.S. today. So, yet more soldiers going in, marines, those on board will be joining 50,000 U.S. troops already in the region.

And it comes as Trump is putting yet another timeline on the end of this war tonight, saying that it will be over in two to three weeks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We'll be leaving very soon.

REPORTER: The U.S. will be gone or done with the war in two weeks?

TRUMP: I think with two or three weeks, yeah. We'll leave because there's no reason for us to do this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: Two to three weeks. Now, if you're confused, it's totally understandable because his timing has changed many times.

But remember, at the beginning of the war more than a month ago, Trump said that it would be ending essentially now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We're already substantially ahead of our time projections. But whatever the time is, it's okay. Whatever it takes, we will always and we have right from the beginning, we projected four to five weeks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: Okay. Well, if that was, you know, back on March 2nd, so if that timeline was he was sticking to it, that would mean the war would end in about 72 hours. But now, he's saying another two to three weeks, and he's saying this while lashing out at American allies like France for not helping secure the Strait of Hormuz.

It comes as an American journalist, we now have learned, Shelly Kittleson, has been kidnaped in Baghdad, Iraq, tonight, saying its security forces have launched an operation to secure her release.

Now, here's what we know from a source. The U.S. government recently warned Littleson of a plot to kidnap or kill her. That warning came when she was already reporting in Iraq.

And her kidnapping coincides with the State Department's warning that Americans in Saudi Arabia may be at risk of being attacked, with the United States saying it's now tracking reports of threats against locations where Americans gather, which includes in a place like Saudi Arabia, pretty obvious places, hotels, major U.S. institutional -- educational institutions and big American businesses, which is alarming because there are a number of U.S. companies that operate in Saudi Arabia.

Of course, not just including big oil companies, but some of the largest energy companies. But there are also big financial companies with major operational footprints there, like JPMorgan.

Trump also, by the way, has two towers there that are central to his close relationship with the ruling -- with the rulers of Saudi Arabia. Trump Tower Jeddah and Trump Plaza Jeddah.

Now, all of these apparently now at risk as the war enters its 33rd day.

And Pope Leo telling CNN that he hopes that Trump is now trying to end his deadly war.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

POPE LEO XIV, CATHOLIC CHURCH: Hopefully, he's looking for an off ramp. Hopefully, he's looking for a way to decrease the amount of violence, of bombing, which would be a significant contribution to removing the hatred that's being created. And it's increasing constantly in the Middle East and elsewhere. (END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: Obviously, important that the pope chose to speak on Holy Week about this, as he had already said, that God does not answer prayers of those who start wars, but also choosing to speak in English, his American English.

Kristen Holmes is live at the White House to begin our coverage.

And Kristen, you're also learning tonight more about Trump's plans or I guess it might be more appropriate to say lack thereof for the Strait of Hormuz.

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESEPONDENT: Yeah. That's right, Erin. We're learning that the Trump administration has really come to believe that they cannot promise to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as part of a prerequisite to end the war in Iran.

And to be very clear, they understand just how critical it is to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

[19:05:00]

This is a chokehold for oil. They know that 20 percent of the oil is going through the Strait of Hormuz. However, they don't believe that it lines up with Trump's self-imposed timeline.

Of course, he said four to six weeks. Now, it seems it's longer because he added another two to three weeks. But even with that, they don't believe they could get the strait of Hormuz open and achieve their military objectives.

The intelligence community has repeatedly said they do not think that the Strait of Hormuz is going to be open in a matter of weeks. It's going to be lengthier than that. It could be even months until that strait is open.

And the White House, the administration believes they can't focus on that. They have to focus on these other military objectives. And one interesting point about tonight, we heard President Trump talking about Iran and really trying to double down on this idea that we -- America has won this war, saying that there's been regime change, saying that the people that they're talking to are different. They're less radical, more rational.

Of course, as we discussed even just last night, the people that they're talking to in back channeling through the reason they believe that they have some kind of authority is because of their relationship to the now supreme leader, the son of the previous supreme leader. All of that to say, a very similar regime. But clearly, they are trying to put out there this perception of winning the war and having the regime change, getting what they accomplished, accomplished, so they can look for an off ramp here.

BURNETT: All right. Kristen Holmes, thank you very much. I appreciate you. And Kristen is at the White House, of course. And everyone's here with me tonight.

General Manner, I guess I am just -- I get a little confused, you know, obviously Trump chose to initiate this war, right? And I know the reasons for it, whether it's regime change or getting the highly enriched uranium or no nuclear weapons has maybe shifted over time and been unclear. He's now saying securing the strait of Hormuz is, quote/unquote, "not for us". And then he went further, general, he said, quote, "Iran doesn't have to make a deal," end quote, before he chooses to end his military operations in Iran.

So, I'm confused. Can Trump actually just say the war is over with the Strait of Hormuz closed and Iran not agreeing to end it?

MAJ. GEN. RANDY MANNER, U.S. ARMY (RET.): You are not alone in being confused. The president has never clarified what the objectives are of this particular war that he and Israel started together. And it is true, though, that the president could say, we're done and then allow things to de-escalate naturally without any kind of an agreement.

There are already oil tankers going through the strait that were permitted by Iran carrying its oil, and they can obviously, they can either hold it open or they can keep it shut to those kind of tanks -- those tankers of countries they do not want to deal with.

So, this is something that could be rather easy to de-escalate. I am just very concerned with the ever continuing saber-rattling of moving additional military members into the -- into the area. And also, all the viewers have to understand that there are between 40,000 and 50,000 American military in the Middle East before the war started.

So, the numbers that the -- that the Defense Department are throwing around sounds like they're really building up. That is not the case. Those 40,000 to 50,000 already were on the ground. They're all spread out throughout the Middle East.

BURNETT: So, Karim, you know, I guess -- will Iran just let the United States walk away and declare this over if they don't get a deal? I mean, it would seem that in a sense, they now have actually, you know, formal, clear control over the Strait of Hormuz, whereas that was just implied before the war.

KARIM SADJADPOUR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Erin, I do think there is a danger that the more time that Tehran is in controlling the strait, that they're essentially going -- they're thinking now about normalizing and formalizing their official control over the strait. There's not an international waterway, but an Iranian waterway, turning it into their version of the Panama Canal and essentially charging ships tolls to get through. And that's something that I don't think the president can simply declare victory and end the war, if that's the context in which we're talking about.

BURNETT: And, Jim, you say that if Trump does this, if he ends the war and essentially without -- without a deal or without securing the strait, it could end in economic catastrophe.

JIM BIANCO, ECONOMIC ANALYST, BIANCO RESEARCH PRESIDENT: Actually disaster, but the same thing. You're right. Right now, the most important oil exporter in the world is Iran. They're controlling 20 percent of the world's exports. Four percent of it is what they produce. The other 16 percent is what they control, the Strait of Hormuz.

If we leave and what is their incentive to reopen the strait? They have effectively become a superpower at this point, by holding control over that, and they will dictate who gets out, who gets in at what price and when.

[19:10:03]

And that could have enormous ramifications for the world economy, not just for oil and gas, but also for fertilizer. And probably in the long term, helium. It's a critical element to be used in the production of semiconductors.

We want to win the war or the race in A.I. against China. This will put us on the back foot. If we don't get that helium.

BURNETT: Yeah. And MRIs too. I mean, helium, you know, it's incredible. The more I learn about how crucial it is to life.

General Manner, Trump on this issue of the timeline, and I understand this is also something that has changed constantly and in fact has changed at his direction because of market reaction, right? So, when the markets are going down a lot, he may say it's about to end in order to sort of put a stopgap on that, right? But now we're saying two to three weeks.

But on this issue of troop buildup, I think your context was so crucial when you said they already had 40,000 to 50,000 troops, but yet they do also, they have multiple mas marine expeditionary units heading into the region that they're putting in there, right? So I understand your point about headcount, but they are still moving a lot of marines in that, that have a specialized set of, you know, abilities into the region. So, do you really think that that is all essentially saber rattling?

MANNER: I am hoping that it is saber rattling. And why do I say it? Because sending a ship through the straits with a MEU on it will be a high value target for the Iranians. And I mean, extremely high value. And then if they do move airborne troops to land on the island, on any islands, there, those C-17s will be a huge target.

Remember, just in the same way that Israel's Iron Dome, Unfortunately, one out of ten missiles there or more or less get through, the same thing will be will occur whenever they would. The Iranians would potentially swarm our defenses if we were to move aircraft and boots on the ground on Iranian soil.

They have a huge capability left. I do agree with the other two people that we must not allow the Iranians to dictate the terms of the street. That is absolutely unacceptable. It must be free trade, and it must be allowed to reopen the way that it once was. So again, I think that we need to have cooler heads prevail because

the unintended consequences on the United States citizens, as well as all the citizens of the world, are significant.

BURNETT: So, Karim, Kristen mentioned something else that Trump talked about, right? That one of the goals that had been out there was regime change. And obviously that was that is remains a hard and fast goal for the Israelis. But Trump has always been somewhat wishy washy on it.

However, he's now it sounds like trying to say that there's regime change whether there is or isn't, right? So he can sort of get the credit and check the box. So, he specifically said this about who's running Iran

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We had regime change already. We've knocked out one regime, that we knocked out the second regime. Now we have a group of people that's very -- that are very different. They're much more reasonable. I think much more -- much less radicalized.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: So, Karim, is this a new regime that's much more reasonable and less radicalized than the two prior regimes over the past four months or four weeks? I'm sorry.

SADJADPOUR: That's false, Erin. It's the same regime. It's new personnel. It's the same ideology. It's a 56-year-old Ayatollah Khamenei instead of an 86-year-old Ayatollah Khamenei. And their fundamental worldview hasn't shifted one iota. So I don't think there's any indication that its a new group of men with a different ideology.

BURNETT: So when you hear him say that, Karim, what do you hear him trying to say just to you know, he's trying to say it's one thing, even though they know it's another.

SADJADPOUR: Well, I think that my view is he didn't want this long. You know, he warned against getting into another quagmire in the Middle East. And he was hoping this could be a quick operation like Venezuela in which you decapitate the top person and do a deal with the successor. That hasn't happened in Iran. And I think he's looking for a way to exit.

BURNETT: So, Jim, on that front, he's under a lot of pressure from the markets. Okay. And primarily in the U.S. because of gas prices now $4 a gallon. And there are many places in this country where they are much higher than that. But here's what Trump said about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: All I have to do is leave Iran, and we'll be doing that very soon. And they'll become tumbling down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURENTT: Okay, Jim, I have two questions from that. Number one, are they going to come tumbling down? Okay. How fast will they come down? So that the word tumbling and the speed with that. And secondly, this whole idea that a lot of the pain that is to come, that is -- that is going to happen from the closing of the street and from the disruption has not yet happened and in fact, cannot at this time be prevented.

[19:15:03]

Where do you see that?

BIANCO: Well, your first question, it all really depends on what we've been talking about. If the assumption is we leave the Iranians say, okay, war is over, we'll let the street go back to normal, then yes, gas prices will be coming down. What's their incentive to do that? Because they've got all the power now by controlling the regime, controlling the strait.

On your second question, you're right. Remember that oil works like a circulatory system. And really, we are a month into this war, but we're still getting deliveries -- we being the entire world, are still getting deliveries of oil that were shipped before the war started. Now, it's, you know, soon what we're going to find is were going to see that there's going to be no tankers behind the last set of tankers that were going to probably be getting in the next couple of weeks, and then we're going to see a real shortage.

Now, the shortage, the good news is it won't come in the United States, at least initially, because we've got a lot of energy that we produce ourselves. It's coming in the rest of the world. You see it in Australia, you see it in Indonesia, you see it in India where there's running out of petrol and there's actually fights at gas stations right now to get gas, and it's going to get worse there. But we're going to suffer from the same high prices that they're going to suffer from, unless his assumption is they're going to just stop, let the straight return back to normal and let the oil start to flow again.

BURNETT: Yeah, it just -- it's hard to see what the logic for that would be. If it all just stops right now when they now have a new base case, right? Which is control of it.

Thank you all three very much. I appreciate you.

And next, breaking news, Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell telling the FBI Director Kash Patel to cease and desist. We're going to explain what is behind this face off and whether it has anything to do with the fact that Swalwell is running for governor of California. Swalwell will be OUTFRONT.

Plus, photos emerging of Kristi Noem's husband. They show him wearing fake breasts, and these images are now raising meaningful security concerns.

And breaking news, Tiger Woods just announcing he's stepping away from golf after his arrest following last week's crash. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:21:29]

BURNETT: Tonight, cease and desist. Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell's lawyer, sending a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel demanding he not release decade old files related to an investigation that did not result in Swalwell either being charged with a crime or accused of any wrongdoing.

Now, this would be a highly unusual move by Patel, to say the least, at a questionable time. It is two months before the California governor primary election, where Swalwell is a leading candidate in a crowded field, which includes a Republican who is a former Fox News host.

This all comes after "The Washington Post" reported that Patel ordered agents to review and redact files involving Swalwell's interaction with a suspected Chinese intelligence operative. "The Post" reporting that FBI leaders even discussed sending agents to China to talk with the suspected Chinese operative, potentially offering her an American visa in exchange for her cooperation.

A lot of levels to this. OUTFRONT now, Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell.

And, Congressman, I appreciate your time.

So, the FBI and a congressional committee both investigated this case. They found no wrongdoing on your part. Your lawyers now have given the FBI three days to agree to not release the files. Do you have any indication that the bureau is going to stand down?

REP. ERIC SWALWELL (D-CA): I don't. I've reached out to them also myself directly, and have been directed to the office of congressional affairs. And so, the folks in charge of the office here in San Francisco, just over my shoulder, don't want to talk about this, but we knew this was coming. And we saw just a couple of months ago, Bill Pulte referred me for investigation for the same mortgage fraud nonsense that he's tried on Adam Schiff and Tish James and Lisa Cook from the federal board, the Federal Reserve board. And so, we expect more will come. Other nonsense from the administration.

But we don't trust them one bit. And it's also absurd, just absolutely absurd. As somebody who was on the intelligence committee oversaw the CIA for eight years, that they're so out to interfere in the California gubernatorial race where were leading, that they would work with the Chinese. I mean, it's just absurd. And probably the worst abuse that we've seen since the J. Edgar Hoover days.

BURNETT: I mean, which is obviously a significant statement, as you say, given your background of what you oversaw, you know, in multiple roles that you've had in Congress. But it sounds like this is very clear to you how you see this, right? That this is about the California gubernatorial primary. Obviously, you're a leading contender there. Fox News host is also leading contender. I mean, how much do you think this is about that? That election?

SWALWELL: I see it as entirely about that. We have a governor right now, Governor Newsom, who's been a fighter protector. He does what I call show, not tell leadership. When Texas took five seats in their redistricting process, we went to the voters within 90 days. And he's taken the president to court.

And as we have so many immigrants being deported in California, Californians are looking for who's going to continue that fighter protector spirit against this president. And the president knows, and his FBI director know that that's what I've done, being a part of the Russia investigation, being a part of the impeachment.

I have the only lawsuit that survived the January 6th that -- the only -- the only lawsuit that survived this new presidency. It's me and the January 6th officers. And so, the president and his FBI director, it appears to us, are certainly threatened by the prospect of me being governor.

The good news, though, is Donald Trump doesn't get to decide who the next governor is. Californians do.

BURNETT: So, the FBI, you know, responded to "The Washington Post's" initial report. And, you know, that report detailed Patel's efforts to release these files that I talked about, about the Chinese operative. Now, spokesperson tells "The Post", quote, the contentions in this story are incorrect. This FBI being the most transparent in history, prepares documents for numerous different reasons, including for release to different agencies and departments to further review investigations that may have been opened under previous administrations.

So, I guess the implication here is as well. They say they're the most transparent in history and that somehow they're saying, because this was under the Biden administration, that that's why they're doing this.

I mean, what do you have to say to this response?

SWALWELL: Yeah, actually, for four years, Donald Trump was president from 2017 to 2021, and in this case, had long lapsed after that. And if there was such a concern, why didn't they do anything then? It's because I wasn't a candidate for governor then.

And so, it's so obvious what they're trying to do. And again, we expect something new next month and the following month as we get closer and closer to the election.

But I'm not hiding under the bed. I'm not going to flinch. And that's what's so inspiring about others who have faced this as well, like Adam Schiff, like Tish James, they keep doing their job, and if the -- if the motivation is to try and have me or others back down, it hasn't worked. And our strength in numbers.

And by the way, the FBI agents who animated this and spoke out about it, I hope there are more now who come forward because we need them more than ever.

BURNETT: You know, Kash Patel has been in the news for, you know, lots of things recently. And I know that you and he have had a history when it comes even to, you know, congressional testimony. He has singled you out as one of Trump's main adversaries. He did that in his book, "Government Gangsters".

And I want to play a particularly contentious exchange between you two. This was about the Epstein files during a congressional hearing just a few months ago, was last fall. Here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SWALWELL: So, Director, you played this cute shell game where you say you can't release everything because the court has said that it legally is not allowed to be released. But the court calls bullshit.

KASH PATEL, FBI DIRECTOR: I'm going to borrow your terminology and call bullshit on your entire career in Congress. It's a disgrace to the American people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: I know you've explained how you see this as about the governors race, but do you also believe that somehow it is personal? It is personal for him when it comes to you?

SWALWELL: Certainly, in his book, as you noted, he made a list of essentially his enemies of the state. And I'm not on the list. I'm actually in the prelude with Adam Schiff. That's why we suspected that this was coming. As soon as I got in to the governor's race is that we've always been on his radar.

And the threat here, Erin, to set it in a greater context, we're at war. Gas prices are soaring. Iran has capability to strike us anywhere in the homeland. They do that worldwide. And this is what the FBI director is focused on? And they're coming to Congress in the next couple of weeks asking -- asking for additional surveillance authorities to be extended?

And my Democratic colleagues are saying and some Republicans are also starting to question whether they should be given more authorities. And if you're only going to use them to try and smear your opponents and not focus on protecting the homeland, that only makes and puts all of us at greater risk.

BURNETT: Congressman Eric Swalwell, I appreciate your time, and thank you so much for being with us tonight.

SWALWELL: My pleasure.

BURNETT: And next, OUTFRONT, new photos emerging of former homeland security Secretary Kristi Noem's husband wearing fake breasts, which raises concerns about potential blackmail attempts, and the White House's vetting process for crucial members of its cabinet. Plus, the breaking news. Tiger Woods making a major announcement just

moments ago, saying he is now stepping away from golf after pleading not guilty to charges related to last week's crash.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:33:51]

BURNETT: Tonight, the personal life of a top Trump administration official is under scrutiny. Photos obtained by "The Daily Mail" show the husband of former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, wearing fake breasts, raising questions and concerns about potential blackmail attempts and the vetting procedures by the White House and Congress to prevent things like blackmail in the homeland security secretary.

Tom Foreman is OUTFRONT.

And, Tom, what are you learning?

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this news about Bryon Noem is ricocheting all over D.C., Erin, and so are the pictures as they appeared in "The Daily Mail", which show him dressed in costumes with extremely large breasts. This is the husband of Kristi Noem, who less than a month ago was fired from her job as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security for President Donald Trump.

She is now a special envoy appointed by Trump as part of a security initiative aimed at combating drug cartels. "The New York Post" says a representative for the Noem's said Kristi Noem is, quote, "devastated" by this news and her family was blindsided by it. There is no indication that this had anything to do with her dismissal from Homeland Security, and "The Mail" says Trump told them he is surprised by the family's statement about Bryon's behavior.

[19:35:04]

They confirmed it, he said. "The Mail" says Trump said, "Wow. Well, I feel badly for the family. If that's the case, that's too bad. I haven't seen anything. I don't know anything about it. That's too bad. But I just know nothing about it."

Of course, this is precisely the kind of matter that security experts have long said must be ferreted out during the confirmation process for a cabinet member because it presents such an obvious target for bad actors who might want to blackmail or leverage that information against Kristi Noem. Undoubtedly, there will be a lot of questions from Congress now about why the White House seemingly knew nothing about this, or if it did know why it went ahead with Noem's confirmation in the first place.

CNN has reached out to Bryon Noem for comment. We've not heard back -- Erin.

BURNETT: All right. Tom, thank you very much.

And S.E. Cupp and former Congressman Max Rose are both OUTFRONT. And, S.E., you know, you hear Tom's reporting here. Kristi Noem was

President Trump's homeland security secretary, okay? It's an incredibly important job. It oversees, among many other things in the name Homeland Security, ICE and Secret Service. Okay?

And now, she is still part of the administration. Her title is special envoy for the Shield of the Americas. You know, but, S.E., I guess this is the crucial question here from a national security perspective. As Tom lays out, how troubling is all this?

S.E. CUPP, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Deeply. And, you know, this is embarrassing for Kristi and Bryon Noem, of course, but I'm deeply embarrassed for Congress. It is Congress's job to vet these cabinet secretaries. And one by one, they rubber-stamped people who either for reasons of competence or some of these kinds of skeletons, probably should not have been given these high level positions. I'm thinking about Pete Hegseth and some of the things that we know from his past. Maybe RFK Jr., but certainly Kristi Noem.

And not just this. We all know, you know, the rumors that were swirling about her and Corey Lewandowski for years, all of that stuff could have been and should have been vetted by Congress so that our country is safe, is safe. And these people are safe against those opportunities for blackmail.

But this was such a joke. Congress has decided to completely abdicate their responsibilities, either in holding the president accountable, being a check on him, demanding votes on things like going to war. They're just sitting there and blaming each other left and right for everything that we as American citizens have to deal with. And they're not doing the very, very important jobs like vetting cabinet secretaries.

BURNETT: I mean, and, Max, look, as to why this is something that if Kristi Noem knew about it, you know, or would have been something for blackmail when she was governor of South Dakota in 2023, she said, and I quote, "The Board of Regents should prohibit drag shows from taking place on university campuses." Right? She has had that clear point of view, and that is the clear point of view of many in this administration. Let's be clear, right? This is center to policy for them.

So, do you see hypocrisy here if Noem knew anything about this?

MAX ROSE, FORMER U.S. CONGRESSMAN: Yeah. Well, first of all, in a -- in a sense, this does represent progress. This being a Republican sex scandal that's not related to the Epstein files. So, kudos to the party on taking one step forward.

But, you know, with that being said, we see this throughout the country that Republicans are antagonizing, vilifying, whether it is the trans community, the LGBTQ community, whoever it might be, all the while suppressing their own identities within their family. It's what makes this stance, this discriminatory stance they have over and over again so deeply tragic. But I got to tell you, it is amidst the great scandals of this

Republican Party, the fact that Noem oversaw an ICE department that became a paramilitary force that executed American citizens -- American citizens on our streets, the way that her husband dresses in privacy is not even close to a big deal compared to those heinous acts.

BURNETT: So, S.E., let me ask you about something else here that just happened. And this is a federal judge has just ruled President Trump has to halt construction of the White House ballroom. Okay? And we know how important this is to him.

There was a scathing ruling. The judge's name is Richard Leon. He's an appointee of the former President George W. Bush.

He said, quote, "The president of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of first families. He is not, however, the owner.

[19:40:01]

Unless and until Congress blesses this project through statutory authorization, construction has to stop."

And then within moments of that ruling, S.E., President Trump posts a long rant against the group. I'm just scrolling through it because it's very, very long. He calls the group that brought the lawsuit, a bunch of radical lunatics, among many other things. But you say Trump's reaction here and in part just, you know, posting something like that, right? That much of a tome in the context of the world that we are living in the war right now says a lot about him and how much he cares about this.

CUPP: Yeah. And his priorities. He was asked earlier today about reopening the Strait of Hormuz and he said, I don't think about it. Okay. I guess he has that luxury, but the rest of us are thinking about it when we're paying $5 a gallon for gas and farmers can't afford fertilizer and the auto industry is reeling from more supply chain issues because of this war that he's prosecuting, but not really thinking about.

And then, yeah, he posts a page long rant about the ballroom -- again, whether it's the ballroom or putting his name on money or the Arc to Trump, we know what his priorities are, and so do voters. Voters at home are frustrated. Why isn't he focused on the stuff that matters to them? The reasons they voted him in in the first place?

And lastly, I'll just say yet another, yet another example of Congress not doing their job, right? Congress knew that some of this could have been unlawful, could have demanded, you have to ask us first if you're going to spend taxpayer money on this or any money on this. Again, they just rubber-stamp all the stuff that he wants to do.

BURNETT: So, Max, now Trump has said he's insisting the judge is wrong. He says he's going to move forward with the ballroom and defy the judge, which, you know, obviously, this puts this front and center, right, onto the third branch of government, the judicial system and obeying court orders. So how do you think this plays out?

ROSE: Well, let's not forget why Trump has the ability to do this. It is because some of our nation's largest corporations greased this operation in the very first place, because this is not a presidential administration, this is a corrupt enterprise. And the ballroom is just an example of that.

So, if Congress, S.E. is 100 percent right, if Congress had actually -- Republican leadership had actually asserted their right and authority and obligation over the purse to actually be leaders in this country, this would not even be happening in the first place. And Donald Trump still pursuing it is a gigantic middle finger to his own Republican leadership in the House and the Senate, basically saying, you are all fully owned subsidiaries of me and MAGA Inc, and I know you're not going to say anything. And he's absolutely right.

BURNETT: It's reminding of Speaker Johnson giving him the award for the golden age. The golden plaque or statue of some sort -- statuette last week.

Thank you both very much. I appreciate you.

And next, breaking news, Tiger Woods with a shocking statement tonight announcing that's it. He's stepping away from golf after last week's crash.

Plus, an OUTFRONT producer correctly picking the final four. You know, it's an amazing group of people in a lot of ways, but this one really takes the cake. Congressman Ro Khanna talking about how rare it is, and Harry Enten is going to tell us something we don't know.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:48:16]

BURNETT: Breaking news, golf legend Tiger Woods just announcing he's stepping away from competitive golf indefinitely. So just a few moments ago, he posted this statement. It reads, "I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today. I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well- being and work toward lasting recovery. I'm committed to taking the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger, and more focused place, both personally and professionally."

A stunning statement coming from the golf giant. And it comes as we are learning new details about Woods' rollover accident last week and what police say they found in his pocket after his arrest.

Isabel Rosales is OUTFRONT

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ISABEL ROSALES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Golf legend Tiger Woods had prescription painkillers in his pocket, bloodshot eyes and was lethargic when he failed field sobriety tests, according to the arrest affidavit released today by the Martin County Sheriff's Office. The 50-year-old, 82-time PGA Tour winner was attempting another comeback after years of health setbacks before he rolled over his Land Rover near his Florida home on Jupiter Island last Friday afternoon.

SHERIFF JOHN BUDENSIEK, MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: Mr. Woods did a breathalyzer test, blew triple zeros, but when it came time for us to ask for a urinalysis test, he refused. And so he's been charged with DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.

ROSALES (voice-over): On Tuesday, Woods pleaded not guilty and demanded a jury trial. He's no stranger to high profile crashes, the latest one marking his fourth in a turbulent history.

[19:50:01]

In 2009, he wrecked right outside his driveway. In 2017, he pleaded guilty to reckless driving after police found him asleep at the wheel in a parked car, which he later blamed on a bad reaction to prescription medications.

And in 2021, his most serious crash in southern California. Another rollover that left him with a shattered leg that he said he almost had to have amputated. According to the police report, the arresting deputy wrote that Woods said he was looking down at his cell phone and changing radio stations, and didn't notice a truck in front of him had slowed down.

Officers found two white pills inside his pant pocket. Hydrocodone, the prescription opioid used to treat chronic pain.

"While speaking to Woods, I observed him sweating profusely," the sheriff's deputy wrote in the arrest affidavit. "I observed his pupils to be extremely dilated. I asked Woods if he consumed any prescription medication," to which he stated, "I take a few."

BUDENSIEK: He is cooperative, but he was not trying to incriminate himself.

ROSALES (voice-over): When deputies noticed Woods limping and stumbling, he told them he had seven back surgeries and more than 20 operations on his leg. Because of his physical limitations, his field sobriety tests were conducted while he was seated on the bumper of a sheriff's car. Woods made multiple errors, according to the affidavit, such as starting exercises before being instructed to do so and not counting steps correctly.

The golf star is dating the ex-wife of Donald Trump, Jr., Vanessa Trump, and President Trump told "The New York Post" today he spoke with Woods after his arrest, saying he lives a life of pain due to existing physical injuries but is doing great.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROSALES: And we're expecting the Martin County Sheriff's Office to release body camera footage of that DUI investigation, which presumably would show those failed field sobriety tests. Woods is charged with driving under the influence with property damage and also refusing to submit to a lawful test, although ultimately, it's going to be up to the district attorney to decide how to move forward with these charges.

BURNETT: All right. Isabel, thank you very much.

And next, an OUTFRONT producer correctly predicted the Final Four. Now, if you don't know how rare that is, it's incredibly rare. Harry Enten is about to tell you a lot more.

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[19:57:00]

BURNETT: Tonight, slam dunk. OUTFRONT's own producer Emily Bushy correctly predicted the Final Four of the men's NCAA tournament. Yes, she somehow anticipated UConn's stunning upset over Duke in the Elite Eight.

Congressman Ro Khanna stopped by the show last night. He heard about Emily's picks, gave her props. He tweeted Erin Burnett booker picked the correct Final Four. Never met someone who had done that before. I mean, picking UConn instead of Duke.

Harry Enten is OUTFRONT to tell us something we don't know.

Harry -- okay, this is rare, right? What Emily did is rare, but it is more than rare, right?

HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: It's more than rare. I could tell you, you know, I get paid to be a data journalist, and I've never done it. I mean, I did want UConn to win, but I would never have picked it.

And I would just say just take a look at -- I mean, that was a great victory, by the way. Holy smokes, Duke going down. It's an amazing thing for America.

But either way, pick men's Final Four correctly. Look at this in terms of the percentage of brackets, just 0.34 percent of all brackets actually picked a perfect Final Four. I went through the statistics and found that there is a less of a chance that you pick the Final Four than actually getting a straight in poker, and of course, a straight in poker is very, very difficult -- Erin.

BURNETT: I mean, okay, it's amazing. So, it is actually, by the way, you look at that point three, 4 percent, it was harder to get the Final Four bracket this year than it was last year. Right? I mean, again, let's put rare in context.

ENTEN: Yeah. I mean, let's put it into some context here. I mean, just take a look here. You mentioned that 0.34 percent. How about back in 2025? Look at this. It was 8 percent more than 20 times harder this year than last year.

You did it last year. I'd be like, hey, you know what? There are a lot of people who got it right. It was basically a chalk bracket, you know, in terms of just picking the top seeds. But this year it was so much more difficult.

I mean, even as of late on Sunday when UConn was down, you know, what was it by like 19 points? The idea, no one had it. No one had it but Emily Bushy -- Emily Bushy had it.

BURNETT: I mean, yeah. And then that moment, I think in my house, actually the TV turned on, I think probably about 30 seconds before the moment my husband started screaming and I'm thinking, what just happened here anyway? Little did I know, Emily Bushy became a queen.

Okay.

ENTEN: Yes.

BURNETT: Tell me something else I don't know here.

ENTEN: I'll tell you something else. You don't know Erin Burnett. I mean, just take a look at the experts. Final Four correct teams. We have Emily Bushy up here with four.

How about Sir Charles Barkley with just two? How about a former president of the United States, a huge fan of basketball, Barack Obama? Just two. How about fame sportscaster Hannah Storm, who of course hosted all of those NBA pregame shows, all those NBA finals back in the day, now at ESPN. Look at that. Just two.

So Emily Bushy crushing that field, doing something historic. I say bravo, Emily. My applause to you.

BURNETT: I mean, it's amazing. I think for, you know, for posterity, we have to save that chart. Emily Bushy, four, Charles Barkley, two, Barack Obama, two, Hannah Storm. I'm a huge fan of Hannah Storm, but she's at two, too.

Emily Bushy, top. I mean, it's incredible.

All right, so then, Harry, the question is what's going to happen from here? Because from the Final Four, Emily has UConn and Michigan facing off in the NCAA. UConn winning it all. She's all in on UConn. Championship game is on Monday.

There she is the queen.

All right. Thanks, Harry. Thanks, Emily.

Thanks to all of you.

Anderson's now.