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Early Start with Rahel Solomon

Trump Addresses Golf Cooperation Council in Riyadh; NVIDIA Partners with Saudi Arabia for AI Investment; Ex-Girlfriend Cassie Ventura to Resume Testimony; Kardashian Thought Robbers Would Kill Her in Paris Heist. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired May 14, 2025 - 04:30   ET

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

[04:30:00]

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR, CONNECT THE WORLD: Welcome back, I'm Becky Anderson in Doha in Qatar for you just off the flight from Riyadh where Donald Trump has just been speaking at a U.S. Gulf Summit.

Joining me now is Bader Al-Saif, a professor at Kuwait University and fellow at Chatham House, expert in this region. We've been talking about how the U.S. government, Trump's administration has been positioning this trip, this three-nation trip to the region as about economic interests.

Those of course, as far as Donald Trump is concerned, are tied to U.S. national interests and what this region wants to see is a reciprocal relationship with the U.S. They want to ensure Donald Trump's trip here and his policy on the Middle East is reciprocal and that means de-escalation and security across this region. You've just heard the speech from Donald Trump.

Badar, what did you make of it?

BADER AL-SAIF, PROFESSOR, KUWAIT UNIVERSITY: Becky, it's good to be back. I make good of it a lot of things really. I mean look, the speeches that Trump has been given yesterday and today are really consequential and they speak to a major shift in U.S. foreign policy and we are practically seeing a Trump doctrine in the making.

Isn't he only rebuking nation-building and the neocons but he's also doing the same to the extreme left with liberal interventionism and such a worldview is something that the Gulf states have been putting out there for years trying to message things through that we can control our region from within and that we need to be listened to as we navigate into the future. A future where we would like to see de- escalation, stability, speaking to one another and certainly a quid pro quo in which we are seeing eye-to-eye. We're managing as we are equal partners. We're delivering as much as we're getting from the relationship so this is really welcome.

We see a pragmatism that we've been practicing in the Gulf. We see a realist approach. And let me tell you, the anti-war component that came out very clearly was a clear nod to what the Gulf is all about.

There was a nod to the Palestinians asking for a better life for them, there was a nod to the Iranians to try and push for a peaceful resolution to the negotiations underway and not to escalate into something else. We saw direct negotiations with the Houthis, with Hamas to release the last American, living American hostage and now finally the lifting of sanctions on Syria. What a breath of fresh air.

We haven't seen the U.S. deliver such unconventional policy making in decades and this is the type of activity that we relate to in the Gulf and this is the language. Let me tell you that the global South has been talking about for decades so for it to come at this juncture during a visit to the Gulf is quite big.

And let me tell you, with all these unconventional steps, if I were Israel I'd feel a FOMO, fear of missing out kind of feel. Because A, practically they haven't been consulted since many of these decisions, if not all of them with those different typical U.S. adversaries have been shifting to ways that are not typical in the U.S. calculus. And this is welcome because we need to see something different.

And there is no mention of the Israeli doctrine in which war and aggression takes you forward. We need to try something different and this is the difference that this trip and Trump's messaging comes through. And mind you, I talked about the security component, I didn't touch on the pomp and circumstance or the deals, those were expected, Becky, but to see that kind of worldview through, now we hope that follows with concrete actions.

ANDERSON: Bader, Donald Trump just described this region as, and I quote him, the geographic center of the world. In yesterday's speech, I was struck by this -- these words. Before our eyes, he said, a new generation of leaders is transcending the ancient conflicts of tired divisions of the past and forging a future where the Middle East is defined by commerce, not chaos, where it exports technology, not terrorism.

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I live in this region and I have heard for years now the effort to ensure that these economic visions are -- these ambitious economic visions for this region are possible. You often hear and you will hear this too, you know, we are navigating a new Middle East, that cannot happen without de-escalation, without economic integration and without U.S. involvement, as you describe it, with a new policy for the Middle East.

For some years now, there has been real concern in this region that the U.S. has sort of pivoted away from interest in this region's safety and security and that it had pivoted towards the East, as it were, that's where its focus was.

You see this as a U.S. President, do you if I understand you right, who is squarely focused and providing at least in principle, some commitments to ensuring that there is some peace and stability here going forward so that everybody, the Gulf regions and the wider Middle East can cascade a future for prosperity, of prosperity for a new generation? AL-SAIF: What we saw in effect was a perception in previous years from the Gulf states and the U.S. alike that there is a move towards the East. But let me tell you, I think we've come a long way in which we've mended our own expectations. And we've re-shifted our own approach to dealing with the U.S. as is the case with other major powers.

And that's what I'm referring to when I spoke about the Trump doctrine. We were long stuck with the Carter doctrine that was oil for security, reaffirming that historic meeting, which we celebrate 80 years of between Roosevelt and King Abdulaziz and how it implicated the region into that tight lens. I think we've gone beyond this.

There is an understanding that this is more than oil, that the partnership requires looking into the future. And that look into the future means the ambitious national visions that the Gulf states are pushing forward are uncontainable within their borders, they need that spread across the region. And for that spread to go through, you need that de-escalation.

And that's why I think we have now a new approach to policymaking and to foreign policy from the U.S. towards the region. I just hope that it sticks and that it gets dressed down in specific policies. Because as you know, President Trump is unpredictable, things can shift around. But I truly hope that this is moving forward. And I see this is a step in the right path. And we just want more of that in the future.

ANDERSON: But it's good to have you -- your perspective from this region is hugely important. Bader, I'll say thank you. We will be back after this quick break.

And just a reminder, Donald Trump wrapping up his Riyadh leg of this three nation tour of the Gulf. Next stop here in a couple of hours, Doha, Qatar.

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RAHEL SOLOMON, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. I'm Rahel Solomon. And here's some of the stories we're watching for you this morning.

Donald Trump has met informally with the new president of Syria. That came ahead of a meeting with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Saudi capital.

the U.S. president on Tuesday also announced plans to lift sanctions on Syria in a major change in U.S. foreign policy.

Republicans in the House of Representatives are holding marathon overnight budget hearings as they try to push through President Trump's signature legislative package that he calls his quote big, beautiful bill. It would extend and enhance tax cuts approved in 2017 and provide $350 billion for Trump's mass deportation plans. After spending 35 years in prison for killing their parents, Erik and Lyle Menendez are now eligible for parole. The brothers were convicted for the 1989 murders of Kitty and Jose Menendez and were originally sentenced to life without parole. But on Tuesday, a California judge resentenced the brothers to 50 years to life in prison, which makes them immediately eligible for parole.

Israeli strikes in northern Gaza killed at least 56 people overnight. That is according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. And a warning that the images you are about to see are graphic. Video obtained by CNN shows body bags lining the corridors of a local hospital. A nurse at one of the hospitals receiving the bodies told CNN that the majority of those killed were women and children from the Jabalia refugee camp.

The trade deal between the U.S. and China is now in effect, with both sides temporarily slashing their mutual tariffs. U.S. President told Fox News that it's possible that he might personally get involved in negotiations over a longer term deal with China. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you foresee yourself dealing directly with President Xi on the final details of this deal?

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Yes, I could see that. I mean, I'm not sure that will be necessary.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: Now, both countries agreed to lower tariffs for 90 days following marathon talks in Geneva over the weekend. Beijing's tariffs on U.S. imports have now been reduced to 10 percent and U.S. levees on the vast majority of Chinese products are down 30 percent -- or down to 30 percent at least for now.

And businesses are trying to navigate Donald Trump's fluctuating trade war.

[04:45:00]

Tech leaders met with the U.S. president and Saudi Crown Prince in Riyadh on Tuesday. We brought you those images right here in the 4:00 a.m. hour, in the 5:00 a.m. hour.

Chipmaker Nvidia also announcing a partnership with the Saudi government for a major investment in AI infrastructure. Analyst Dan Ives says that the deals coming out of this summit could have a huge impact on global trade and small businesses in the U.S.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN IVES, GLOBAL HEAD OF TECH RESEARCH, WEDBUSH SECURITIES: In Beijing, you know they're not happy here in that, right, because the reality is like there's one ship in the world fueling the AI revolution and that's NVIDIA. And that's of course, Jensen Huang. If you look what's here, it's a queer tone change, right? When it

comes to Saudi Arabia, it's doubling down. I mean, they're looking to really create an AI revolution in Saudi in the Middle East, but you can't do that without the chips and they know that. And that's why the NVIDIA deal that was sort of the headline from from I think, you know, from today and probably from even from this trip.

But it's also shot across the bow of China, basically showing like, look, we'll sell these chips, you got to play ball. Small businesses are vulnerable.

And I think that's why, like they almost had to sort of deescalate when it comes to China. But this is very tricky because what the Trump administration is trying to do, it's a tight wire act.

And small businesses are the ones that are hurt. Consumers are the ones that are hurt. And they definitely need to make sure that you basically keep the U.S. out of recession. Because you don't want to burn the house down just to meet the firefighters.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOLOMON: All right, so ahead for us, returning to the stand, a key witness in the trial of music mogul Sean Diddy Combs gets ready to resume her explosive testimony.

We'll be right back.

[04:50:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SOLOMON: Welcome back. The ex-girlfriend of Sean Diddy Combs is expected to continue testifying today in his racketeering and sex trafficking trial in New York. Cassie Ventura gave emotional testimony for the prosecution on Tuesday, accusing the music mogul of physical and emotional abuse, as well as using violence, drugs, and other forms of intimidation to coerce her into group sex parties that he called freak-offs.

Ventura also testified that Combs beat and kicked her in a Los Angeles hotel in 2016 when she tried to leave a freak-off before it was over. That surveillance video, which you are seeing here, was shown to the jury. And here's what Ventura's attorney had to say about her testimony.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How do you feel after today?

DOUGLAS WIGDOR, ATTORNEY TO CASSIE VENTURA: It's not for me to decide how we feel. It's up to the jury. But we're very confident.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How's Cassie doing after it all? How is she feeling? I know it must have been a lot to kind of, you know, recount all the experiences. WIGDOR: It was a long day. I'm just super proud of her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: Defense attorneys acknowledge that Combs has been violent with romantic partners, but they argue that the women consented to the sexual arrangement, also arguing that domestic violence does not mean he committed racketeering or sex trafficking.

Meantime, reality TV star Kim Kardashian told the Paris court that she thought she would be killed when she was robbed at gunpoint in 2016. The billionaire testifying on Tuesday and the trial against 10 of her alleged attackers accused of stealing nearly $10 million in cash and jewelry.

CNN's Saskya Vandoorne has more on what happened in court.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SASKYA VANDOORNE, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER: It was a long and emotional day for Kim Kardashian, who testified for almost five hours. Most of that she did standing and it was only at the end when she was visibly drained that she asked to sit down. Kardashian broke down several times during her testimony as she recounted the details of that night nine years ago.

Kardashian said she believed she would be raped. She believed she would be killed. She also described a very violent heist, saying that she was handcuffed. She was duct-taped and placed in the bath.

Inside that courtroom with her, she was facing the 10 people on trial, nine men and one woman, nicknamed here the Grandpa Gang, as most of them are over 60. The alleged mastermind, Aomar Ait Khedache, had his letter read out in court by the judge, where he apologized.

Khedache has pleaded guilty to kidnapping and armed robbery. And Kim Kardashian responded to that letter, saying that she forgave him. Take a listen.

She said, I believe so much in second chances and I meet people who have done horrible crimes and I try to have empathy for them, but I do also fight for victims who have been through horrific crimes.

So two of the defendants are pleading guilty to some of the charges, but the remaining eight say that they had no part in the heist whatsoever. We expect a verdict on May 23rd.

Saskya Vandoorne, CNN, Paris.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOLOMON: After spending 35 years in prison for killing their parents, two brothers will now be eligible for parole. Erik and Lyle Menendez were convicted for the 1989 murders of Kitty and Jose Menendez and were originally sentenced to life without parole.

[04:55:00]

Last fall, a former Los Angeles County District Attorney recommended resentencing the brothers, but his successor was against it.

Listen to what he had to say earlier on Tuesday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NATHAN HOCHMAN, LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Our position is not no or it's not never, it's not yet. And the reason we said that is that the Menendez brothers have failed to come clean with the full extent of their criminal conduct, their cover-up, their lies and their deceit over the past 30 years.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: But the judge noted the work that the Menendez brothers have done while in prison. He resentenced them to 50 years to life with the possibility of parole.

ABC reports that Erik Menendez issued a statement after the ruling saying, My goal is to ensure that there are no more people spending 35 years in prison without hope. That possibility of having hope that rehabilitation works is more important than anything that happened to me today.

Now it's up to a California parole board and the governor whether the brothers will actually be released.

About 200 people, including 150 children, have been rescued from a Maryland elementary school after heavy rains resulted in flash floods like this.

The Emergency Services Department says that about 15 rescue boats were used in Tuesday's rescue operations as floodwaters began to reach the second floor. Officials say that everyone is safe and that there were no injuries reported.

All right, that's going to do it for us this hour. Thanks for joining us here on EARLY START. I'm Rahel Solomon in New York. I will be back with another hour of news after this short break.

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