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Early Start with Rahel Solomon

Outrage Over White House Renovations; Trump Hits Russian Oil Companies With Sanctions; Vance To Meet Top Israeli Officials, Rubio On His Way To Israel; New York City Mayoral Candidates Trade Blows As Early Voting Starts Saturday. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired October 23, 2025 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:23]

DANNY FREEMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning and welcome to our viewers joining us from the United States and all around the world. Thank you so much for being with us.

I'm Danny Freeman. It is Thursday, October 23rd, just after 5:00 a.m. here in New York. And straight ahead on early start.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: As the historic east wing of the White House is ripped down, outrage is piling up.

DOUG BRINKLEY, PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: That's not restoration. That's demolition. I mean, what more can you do? Put kegs of dynamite there and blow it up into the night sky.

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: The Trump administration, seemingly reversing course when it comes to Russia issuing sanctions on two of Russia's top oil companies.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think that they'll certainly have an impact. They're massive sanctions.

DAVID CULVER, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: After surviving the latest U.S. strike on a suspected drug vessel in the Caribbean, Andres Tufino Chila (ph) is believed to be back in Ecuador.

President Trump says your brother is a terrorist.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC)

FREEMAN: A lot to get to you this morning, but we begin with U.S. President Donald Trump's fast-moving plans to build a huge new ballroom at the White House. Bulldozers have already demolished very much of the east wing. Now, the project has sparked criticism and many questions over whether the president has the legal authority to tear down sections of the historic executive mansion. Sources say the ballroom is now expected to be larger than initially planned, and the cost has soared from $200 million to $300 million.

Now, the president says the whole thing will be paid for by private donors. The White House releasing a list of those donors on Wednesday, which includes Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Comcast, Meta and Lockheed Martin.

And the president is also pushing back against those who say he was not transparent about the renovation. But remember, back in July, he said the East Wing would not be affected.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: It won't interfere with the current building. It won't be. It will be a near it, but not touching it. And pays total respect to the existing building, which I'm the biggest fan of.

Well, certain areas are being -- yeah. Certain areas are being left. We determined that after really a tremendous amount of study with some of the best architects in the world, we determined that really knocking it down, trying to use a little section, you know, the East Wing was not much. It was not much left from the original. So, over the years, many presidents have made changes. This obviously would be the biggest change.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FREEMAN: We'll get more now from CNN's Tom Foreman.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As the historic East Wing of the White House is ripped down, outrage is piling up, with preservationists saying they are deeply concerned new construction will overwhelm the White House itself. And former First Lady Hillary Clinton posting, it's not his house, it's your house, and he's destroying it.

SHAWN MCCREESH, W.H. REPORTER, NEW YORK TIMES: The reader response has been overwhelming. I mean, people are e-mailing me every five minutes. There's something about these images that have really upset people.

FOREMAN (voice-over): The White House communications director is dismissing the worries as pearl clutching by losers. And President Trump has not even blinked.

TRUMP: You probably hear the beautiful sound of construction to the back. You hear that sound? Oh, that's music to my ears. I love that sound. Other people don't like it. I think when I hear that sound, it reminds me of money.

FOREMAN (voice-over): After planting massive flag poles outside the White House, slathering the Oval Office in gold trim, and paving over the legendary Rose Garden, Trump is relocating the office of the first lady and more, and demolishing the space to fulfill his longtime dream of installing a vast ballroom, bigger than a football field, able to hold about 1,000 people.

In an architectural rendering, the $200 million add on looks like something from the French palace of Versailles, or, as many critics have noted, a salute to Trump's Florida home, Mar-a-Lago.

Trump's allies seem fine with that. And on Capitol Hill, they echo the president's claim that the cost will be covered by private donors.

REP. STEVE SCALISE (R-LA), HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER: It's not even taxpayer money. It's going to be a permanent renovation that'll enhance the White House for all future presidents.

FOREMAN (voice-over): Parts of the White House have been extensively renovated before, with the input of presidential families. But this time, the apparent lack of significant outside oversight, the shifting details, and Trump's open disdain for government itself is plaguing author Robert Arnold, who captured the feelings of many on threads.

ROBERT L. ARNOLD, AUTHOR "DEFIANCE TIL DEATH": It feels like the whole story of his goddamn term.

[05:05:01]

Break it, sell it, lie about it, blame the press, move on before the dust settles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOREMAN: And that seems to be the chief complaint of so many critics. They say this really is the people's house, and Donald Trump is just a renter, but they can't seem to stop him now.

Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.

FREEMAN: Meanwhile, one of the nation's premier historic preservation organizations is calling for an immediate halt to the destruction of the East Wing. Roughly half, though, has been destroyed. And officials say the rest of the structure is likely to be demolished by the end of the week.

Here's how presidential historian Douglas Brinkley described the situation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOUGLAS BRINKLEY, PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: That's not restoration. That's demolition. I mean, what more can you do? Put kegs of dynamite there and blow it up into the night sky.

And it's all about President Trump's self-aggrandizement. It's connected to wanting to build a Trump -- this Arc of Triomphe because he saw one in Paris. He wants gold because he saw it in in the Kremlin with Putin. How about caring about the American traditions? How about thinking

about how intricate the building of the White House and the expansions have been, and the grace touches of a Rose Garden of Jackie Kennedy?

And incidentally, the East Wing is the women's part of the White House. This is like a slap in the face of women's history, what they're doing that it doesn't matter what Nancy Reagan was there. It doesn't matter that Barbara Bush is, you know, offices. It doesn't matter there was Michelle Obama because it's a men only club to not only knock down the east wing, but to put yellow umbrellas that looks like Panera and the great White House property, which is one of the true heirlooms of our country.

I find it a savage behavior that has gone on. That's not fixing or renovating. That's complete decimation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FREEMAN: Staying in D.C. Meantime, on Capitol Hill, lawmakers may be shifting focus after a 12th failed attempt to pass a Republican bill to temporarily fund the government. The Senate could vote as early as today on this Republican bill to pay essential federal workers, with Democrats expected to counter with their own plan to also include furloughed workers. Well, so far, Republicans can't seem to pull in enough Democratic support to pass anything amid the shutdown. Democrats have made it a sticking point to try and preserve certain health care subsidies.

House Speaker Mike Johnson says they have proposals ready on that for discussion, but insists that including it in a bill to fund the government is not appropriate.

After months of threats and delays, U.S. president Donald Trump is now hitting Russia with significant new sanctions as his administration calls on Moscow to agree to an immediate cease fire in the war with Ukraine. President Trump, also announcing his expected meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin is off for now.

Now those sanctions will target Russia's two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, and almost three dozen of their subsidiaries. E.U. leaders are meeting in Brussels today, where Ukraine, meanwhile, is top of the agenda.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, who was also in attendance, was asked about the prospect of a ceasefire.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: Ceasefire is possible, of course. And I think all of us need ceasefire, but we need more pressure on Russia for ceasefire. We are ready to support ceasefire. We are ready to support any kind of negotiations. I mean, for months.

But meanings of negotiations are very important. We need a fair discussion. We need lasting peace.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FREEMAN: CNN's Clare Sebastian joins us now from London.

Clare, tell us what's the latest on the situation?

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. Good morning, Danny.

I think, look, before we get into the potential economic impact of these sanctions on Russia, how likely they are to bring Putin to the table. I think in terms of the political signal this sends, and certainly you saw that reflected in Zelenskyy's comments there. This is a major turnaround. This is the first direct sanctions by the Trump administration on Russia. Of course, excluding the secondary sanctions that we've seen on India for buying Russian oil exports. And it is very big.

They've gone even further than the Biden administration did, sanctioning the two biggest oil exporters together. They account for about half of Russian oil exports Rosneft and Lukoil.

And I think some of the comments that were getting out from analysts this morning are really reflecting that. Helima Croft, who's the head of commodities at RBC, said this is the most material move to date by the United States to shutter the Russian war ATM. The most material move to date, she says, by the United States, not just the Trump administration. So that is significant.

I think it's significant as well, as you noted there, that this is coming on the same day that the E.U. has unanimously approved its 19th package of sanctions. We've seen the E.U. and the U.S. sort of move on different tracks. Of course, since Trump took office. So, this brings them back together, gives us the sense of unity and coordination among Ukraine's allies.

[05:10:04]

As for Russia, though, they are really trying to shrug this off, while of course making clear that they think it won't work. Take a listen to the foreign ministry spokeswoman this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARIA ZAKHAROVA, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON (through translator): We view this move as entirely counterproductive, including in terms of signaling support for achieving meaningful negotiated solutions to the Ukrainian conflict.

If the current U.S. administration follows the example of its predecessors, who attempted to coerce or force Russia to compromise its national interests through unlawful sanctions, the result will be exactly the same -- failing from a domestic political perspective and detrimental to the stability of the peacetime economy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SEBASTIAN: So, she is trying to send a clear signal there to the Trump administration that this will essentially work against their efforts so far to bring Russia to the table.

Of course, we know that that hasn't happened as of yet. And that is why Trump, of course, canceled, as he said the Budapest summit. Obviously, there are big questions going forward about the economic impact. Enforcement is a big one. Will Russia find workarounds? And of course, is this just a knee jerk reaction for Trump, or is it a strategic shift? And could the U.S. go further -- Danny.

FREEMAN: Yeah, that's a great question and hard to say, especially as summits are planned and then canceled and tariffs come and et cetera, et cetera. Restrictions like that. Appreciate you, Clare Sebastian, though keeping track of all of it this morning in London. Thank you.

All right. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance is expected to meet with top Israeli defense officials in Tel Aviv. This comes as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives in Jerusalem today.

Now, it's all part of an effort to ensure Israel remains committed to the Gaza ceasefire agreement. Rubio says he's not worried about the ceasefire falling apart.

For more on this, let's bring in CNN's Salma Abdelaziz live for us in London.

Good morning, Salma. What can you tell us?

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Danny.

It is being called baby sitting by some Bibi. Of course, being the nickname for Prime Minister Netanyahu. And it's clear now on the ground that the U.S. has moved from a mediation role to directly overseeing the implementation of this deal. An extraordinary amount of political capital has been spent in holding this ceasefire together. I mean, currently on the ground, as you mentioned, Vice President J.D. Vance, we're expecting Secretary of State Marco Rubio to land today as well. You also have two top level envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, also on the ground.

And their role has not just been, of course, to mediate any conflicts that come up, but to directly get involved in things like the spat of violence that occurred on Sunday in bringing Prime Minister Netanyahu back to the table. When it comes to sending aid into Gaza in facilitating the finding of more of those hostage bodies on the ground.

But yesterday, Vice President J.D. Vance laughed off this idea that the United States was setting the game in. Israel was just playing by its rules. Take a listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

J.D. VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's not easy. I never said it was easy, but what I am is optimistic that the cease fire is going to hold and that we can actually build a better future in the entire Middle East. But that requires some work. So, it's not about monitoring in the sense of, you know, you monitor a toddler, it's about monitoring in the sense that there's a lot of work, a lot of good people who are doing that work. And it's important for the principals and the administration to keep on ensuring that our people are doing what we need them to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABDELAZIZ: But, of course, it is not just about maintaining the peace now, Danny. It is about pushing this deal into what is called phase two, which is extremely complicated. That requires an international stabilization force on the ground to potentially have that transition where Hamas disarms something again, that they have not agreed to yet. Neither has Israel agreed to foreign troops on the ground without their approval.

So you're now entering the most complicated phase of this deal, perhaps with all of these U.S. officials on the ground trying to push the warring factions towards taking that truce, that very fragile peace that we have right now, and turning it into a more sustainable agreement.

FREEMAN: A lot of moving parts in the Middle East today.

Salma Abdelaziz, always great to see you in London. Thank you for breaking it all down.

And staying abroad, we're now learning U.S. and Chinese officials are set to kick off a new round of trade talks tomorrow in Malaysia. That word coming from China's commerce ministry, which says the latest discussions are set to last through the weekend. The U.S. delegation will be led in part by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. This all comes ahead of Donald Trump's trip to Asia next week, where he's set to meet with Chinese Leader Xi Jinping. We'll keep an eye on that.

All right. Coming up in just a moment, GOP senators are hardly volunteering answers about President Trump's alleged push for a payout from his own Justice Department, but you'll hear from one Republican who is critical of the move.

Plus, the gloves come off at the final New York City mayoral debate.

[05:15:06]

But there was one issue the candidates agreed on.

It's all coming up later this hour on CNN EARLY START.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FREEMAN: Republican reaction has been largely subdued following a report that President Trump is seeking a $230 million payment from his own Justice Department.

Now, "The New York Times" reported that he wants it as compensation for previous federal investigations into him.

Well, when pressed by CNN, some Republican senators dodged the question or said they needed more details. Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville dismissed concerns that taxpayers could potentially be on the hook for the payout.

But at least one Republican who is not running for reelection said the presidents demand is not good P.R.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. THOM TILLIS (R-NC): I think it's terrible optics, particularly right now. We're talking about a quarter of a billion transferring maybe to the president when we're in a shutdown posture. So, it's at very best, bad timing, but I think it's horrible optics.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FREEMAN: Of course, we'll be keeping an eye on that story.

Meanwhile, early voting starts Saturday here in the New York City mayoral race. And the three candidates have wrapped up their second and final debate.

Democrats Zohran Mamdani, independent Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa all spoke out against the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, and Mamdani, who has been leading in the polls, took aim at Cuomo's time as New York's governor.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZOHRAN MAMDANI (D), NYC MAYORAL CANDIDATE: We just had a former governor say in his own words that the city has been getting screwed by the state. Who was leading the state? It was you --

ANDREW CUOMO (I), NYC MAYORAL CANDIDATE: Governor Hochul.

MAMDANI: -- leading the state.

CUOMO: Governor Hochul.

MAMDANI: Screwing this city.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FREEMAN: We have more now from CNN's Gloria Pazmino.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it was the candidates' last opportunity to make the case directly to voters before voting starts here in New York City. And without question, there were several attacks throughout the evening, including from the former governor, Andrew Cuomo, who appeared to bounce back a little bit from his performance in the last debate, at one point attacking Mamdani over his lack of experience, saying that he would be unprepared to lead a place like the city of New York in an emergency and accusing him of not having the right resume to be mayor.

Take a listen.

CUOMO: You never had a job. You've never accomplished anything. Theres no reason to believe you have any merit or qualification for 8- 1/2 million lives. You don't know how to run a government. You don't know how to handle an emergency. And you've literally never proposed a bill on anything that you're now talking about in your campaign.

You had the worst attendance record in the assembly, and you gave yourselves the highest raise in the United States of America. You went from $110,000 to $140,000, and then you never showed up for work, and you missed 80 percent of the votes. Shame on you. Shame on you.

PAZMINO: Now, Mamdani had his own string of attacks on Cuomo. He also referenced the fact that he was accused of sexual harassment while he was in office, and at one point, a reference to guests in the audience who were brought here by the Mamdani campaign, two Cuomo accusers were mentioned as he brought up the governor's past scandals.

Cuomo tried to pivot away from that during a discussion, but we saw a lot of sparring between Cuomo and Mamdani.

There was also the Republican Curtis Sliwa, who really had a big moment in last week's debate but was a little bit more subdued this time around. Curtis Sliwa has been under pressure to drop out of the race, but he has continued to say he plans on staying in this election until the end.

We heard from Curtis throughout the debate saying he believes there are millionaires who are trying to influence the outcome of the election. He has tried to cast himself as a different type of option, saying that he is not a real politician.

Early voting is expected to begin in New York city this upcoming weekend, so voters have just a few days to make up their mind.

Gloria Pazmino, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FREEMAN: Thank you for that, Gloria.

All right. Coming up, New York residents protest the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Well tell you just ahead what the acting ICE director says is coming next for the city.

Plus, CNN goes to Ecuador to find a man who survived one of those U.S. military strikes on an alleged drug trafficking vessel. He may be one of many locals who took up the dangerous work out of desperation.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:28:31]

FREEMAN: In a matter of hours, the Trump administration is expected to send dozens of federal agents into San Francisco. It's part of the presidents push to crack down on immigration and crime in primarily Democratic run cities.

Now, California Governor Gavin Newsom says his state will sue if troops enter the city.

President Trump is asking the Supreme Court to overturn a federal judge's order blocking the deployment of National Guard troops in Chicago. The judge has ordered an extension of her temporary ruling.

Meanwhile, in Oregon, the administration is asking appeals court not to reconsider whether guard troops can be sent into Portland. Thats after a three-judge panel this week rejected a judge's order barring soldiers from deploying in that city.

Meanwhile, New York City residents are protesting the Trump administrations crackdown on immigration. Several hundred demonstrators marched peacefully in Manhattan on Wednesday. Federal agents arrested nine people in a chaotic ICE raid on the city's Chinatown neighborhood a day earlier. The Department of Homeland Security says those detained were in the country illegally and had long criminal records, including robbery, assault and drug trafficking. The Trump administration is accelerating its crackdown across the city, warning that more arrests are coming.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TODD LYONS, ACTING I.C.E. DIRECTOR: You will see us making those criminal arrests to make New York safe again. But I will tell you that it's definitely intelligence-driven. It's not random. We're just not pulling people off the street doing a specific reason based on criminal intelligence and criminal activity that we showed up on Canal Street.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FREEMAN: Switching gears now, President Trump says he believes the U.S. has legal authority to launch strikes in international waters when targeting drug cartels.