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Early Start with Rahel Solomon
Trump: All Trade Negotiations With Canada Terminated; Trump Vows To Keep Striking Alleged Drug Traffickers; NBA Star, Coach Arrested In Mafia-Linked Gambling Schemes; Putin Brushes Off U.S. Sanctions On Top Russian Oil Companies; Rubio: Next Steps In Gaza Remain Top Priority For Trump. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired October 24, 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]
BRIAN ABEL, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning and welcome to our viewers, joining us from the United States and all around the world. I'm Brian Abel.
Thank you so much for being with us on this Friday, October 24th, 5:00 a.m. here in Washington, D.C.
Straight ahead on EARLY START.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: President Trump again reiterating that the administration might start to strike inside of countries like Venezuela.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't think we're going to necessarily ask for a declaration of war. I think we're just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country.
BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A takedown of an alleged gambling criminal enterprise linking four New York City mafia families and NBA stars.
JOSEPH NOCELLA JR., U.S. ATTORNEY, EASTERN NEW YORK: Your winning streak has ended.
TRUMP: I'm very good at building ballrooms. I build beautiful ballrooms.
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Trump is in charge. The gold rush is coming, and his ballroom blitz is finally on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
ABEL: Those stories in a moment, but we begin with a surprise announcement from Donald Trump. The U.S. president says he is ending all trade negotiations with Canada, all over a TV commercial. Here's part of it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RONALD REAGAN, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: Someone says, let's impose tariffs on foreign imports. It looks like they're doing the patriotic thing by protecting American products and jobs. And sometimes for a short while, it works, but only for a short time. But over --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: The ad comes from the government of Ontario. And as you hear, it features former President Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about tariffs. Mr. Trump says the ad is fake, fraudulent and egregious behavior. After the ad aired, the Ronald Reagan Foundation claimed it misrepresents the speech and that the Ontario government had not asked permission to use the clip.
The decision to end trade talks comes as Canadian prime minister Mark Carney plans to double exports to countries other than the U.S. Canada's economy is struggling under Trump's tariffs on key exports to the U.S., from cars to steel, aluminum and softwood lumber.
And we are watching financial markets for reaction. The Dow has been in and out of positive territory. The S&P 500 is up around a quarter of a percent and the Nasdaq up more than a third of a percent.
The U.S. president says he will keep ordering strikes against suspected drug traffickers without first asking Congress to pass a declaration of war. He is insisting that we are going to, quote, kill people that are bringing drugs into our country. The U.S. has recently carried out at least nine known strikes against alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean and most recently, the eastern Pacific.
This appears to mark an expansion in the military campaign. Officials say at least 37 people have been killed. Donald Trump has also suggested that his administration would start going after alleged cartel members within countries like Venezuela, adding that he would notify Congress before beginning any operations on land, but that he doesn't expect any real opposition.
President Trump went on to deny that the U.S. sent a B-1 bomber like this one to fly near the coast of Venezuela on Thursday. Flight trackers clocked it at about 50 miles, or roughly 80km from the mainland. Its not clear if the aircraft entered Venezuelan airspace, but the show of force and soaring tensions have Venezuela on edge. Its government has been launching military drills as President Nicolas Maduro issued this message in English.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICOLAS MADURO, VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT: Not war, not war, not war. Just peace, just peace, just peace. Forever. Forever. Forever. Peace forever. No crazy war.
(END VIDEO CLIP) ABEL: The deadly U.S. strikes in international waters have unnerved many, given how little evidence has been released about the targets.
We have more now from CNN's Kristen Holmes at the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: President Trump again on Thursday, reiterating that the administration might start to strike inside of countries like Venezuela, targeting these alleged cartel members. He also reiterated that he didn't believe that he needed to go to Congress for a declaration of war to continue the strikes abroad.
TRUMP: I don't think we're going to necessarily ask for a declaration of war. I think we're just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country. Okay? We're going to kill them. You know? They're going to be like, dead.
HOLMES: Now, President Trump did say they would go to Congress before they launched any of these strikes on land, but noted that he would likely not have any pushback. And of course, given what we've seen since President Trump has took office or taken office, it certainly appears that Republican lawmakers on the Hill will be unlikely to push back on him.
[05:05:09]
Now, we also heard from the secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, who insisted that every vote that they had struck or every vessel that they had struck, they had confirmed through the military, were carrying narcotics, but no details further than that.
Kristen Holmes, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ABEL: In her daily press conference, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says she disagrees with the recent U.S. attacks on boats allegedly transporting illegal drugs. Take a listen to what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM, MEXICAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Well, obviously we do not agree. There are international laws on how to operate when dealing with the alleged illegal transfer of drugs or guns on international waters, and we have expressed this publicly to the government of the United States.
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ABEL: Meanwhile, the NBA season is less than a week old, but its already being rocked by scandal. A Hall of Fame coach accused of luring unsuspecting victims to rigged poker games, hidden cameras, x- ray tables and special contact lenses that could read marked cards. A star player charged with fixing basketball games, tipping off others who could bet and win big.
CNN's Brynn Gingras has the jaw-dropping details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOSEPH NOCELLA JR., U.S. ATTORNEY, EASTERN NEW YORK: Your winning streak has ended.
BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A takedown of an alleged gambling criminal enterprise linking four New York City mafia families and NBA stars.
Portland Trailblazers head coach and Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat star Terry Rozier and Cleveland Cavaliers alum Damon Jones, among more than 30 people arrested for their alleged involvement in one of two elaborate schemes involving illegal betting on NBA games or rigged poker games.
KASH PATEL, FBI DIRECTOR: That's not, you know, mince words. This is the insider trading saga for the NBA.
GINGRAS (voice-over): One document describing Rozier and Jones sending insider tips on players and teams, such as whether a player, including Rozier himself, was going to be sidelined or sick, placing bets to favor their odds and maximize profits and then allegedly laundering their winnings, totaling millions of dollars.
JESSICA TISCH, NEW YORK CITY POLICE COMMISSIONER: They placed wagers on unders, on players to score less, rebound less, assist less, using information that was not yet public. In some instances, players altered their performance or took themselves out of games to make sure that those bets paid out.
GINGRAS (voice-over): In a second scheme, Billups and Jones allegedly teaming up with members of La Cosa Nostra crime families in underground poker games.
NOCELLA: The scheme targeted victims known as, quote, "fish," who were often lured to participate in these rigged games by the chance to play alongside former professional athletes who were known as, quote, "face cards." What the victims, the fish, didn't know is that everybody else at the poker game, from the dealer to the players, including the face cards, were in on the scam.
GINGRAS (voice-over): They allegedly also used high tech equipment to rig a play like this X-ray machine, which authorities say could read cards that were faced down on the table, also used hidden cameras and altered shuffling machines, which--
NOCELLA: -- read the cards in the deck, predict which player at the table had the best poker hand and relay that information to an off- site operator.
GINGRAS (voice-over): And then authorities say some defendants would resort to old school mafia tactics to collect their earnings, such as robbery and extortion. "I'm going to wait outside poker games and pistol whip five winners a week." One text message read in court documents.
Brynn Gingras, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ABEL: New York Attorney General Letitia James is due to be arraigned today in Virginia. The Trump foe was indicted on two felony charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution. Her legal team will ask for the indictment to be dismissed. They're objecting to what they call the unlawful appointment of Donald Trump's hand-picked prosecutor.
Lindsey Halligan had previously served as his personal attorney and has no criminal trial experience. But president Trump installed her as the U.S. attorney in Virginia. Halligan spoke with a reporter about the James case two days before persuading a federal grand jury to indict her.
James asked the judge on Thursday to bar prosecutors like Halligan from talking with the media to ensure she gets a fair trial.
Hungary reportedly trying to get around new U.S. sanctions against Russia. "Reuters" says Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced he's looking for ways to circumvent the sanctions. They targeted Russia's top two oil companies as the U.S. pushes Moscow to accept an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine.
[05:10:02]
Russian President Vladimir Putin says the sanctions won't hurt his country's economy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): They will have certain consequences, but they will not significantly affect our economic well-being. What we are talking about is, of course, an attempt to put pressure on Russia. But no self-respecting country and no self-respecting people ever make decisions under pressure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: Meanwhile, the European Union has agreed to bankroll Ukraine for two more years. The E.U. also approved new sanctions on Russia, which include a ban on buying Russian liquid natural gas.
On Thursday, reporters asked Vladimir Zelenskyy to assess the results of his recent meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Here's what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: So, the result of this meeting, we have sanctions on Russian energy. We don't have meeting in Hungary without Ukraine, and we have not are yet Tomahawks. That's it. This is the result. I think not bad.
(LAUGHTER)
REPORTER: Did you expect --
ZELENSKYY: We'll see. I don't know really. Each day brings something.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: Mr. Zelenskyy is set to meet with Ukraine's allies in London in the coming hours. They are hoping to put more pressure on Russia.
And Nic Robertson is monitoring those developments and joins us now from 10 Downing Street in London with the latest
Hi, Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yeah. Good morning.
I think one of the sort of takeaways, if you will, from what President Zelenskyy said there, that quote, we have not got the, the long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles yet. And I think the yet is the word there. Thats something he'll be coming here to this coalition of the willing meeting -- meeting with the British prime minister, Danish prime minister, Dutch prime minister, expected to be here, as well as the NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
There will be perhaps as many as 20 other leaders from those sort of coalition countries supporting Ukraine, joining -- joining this meeting virtually. But that real sense here, that Ukraine requires longer range missiles to inflict damage on Russia's war fighting ability at the front in Ukraine, where Ukraine is incrementally on some parts of the front line, losing ground.
But of course, this does come after a week of what had been perhaps President Trump appearing to lean in the direction of President Putin, then canceling that meeting in Budapest in Hungary, and then coming down on the side of sanctions on those two major Russian oil companies, which already having ripple effects around the world. The Europeans as well, putting additional sanctions on Russia at their meeting yesterday.
And a part of the focus here at this meeting will be, from what we've heard from the prime minister's office here, at least, trying to find ways to improve that economic support for Ukraine, taking the Russian frozen assets and using them as a guarantee for a European Union type loan towards Ukraine -- a complicated, banking mechanism is envisaged for that. It's not there yet. The prime minister and others around the table today will likely talk about that.
And of course, then protecting Ukraine's energy infrastructure, which has really been part of the target of Russia. And that means air defense systems as well. Precisely what may be announced here isn't clear, but that's where the focus is going to be. Of course, these are all details we've heard many times before. But in
essence, what this meeting today does is reassure and re-support Ukraine and the way that it needs to be supported and perhaps lacks some you know, some of the sort of financial military support that had come from the last U.S. administration, the coalition, the willingness, the groups that have stepped in to take up the slack there.
ABEL: All right. Nic Robertson, for us in London, Nic, thank you.
For the first time in his second term, President Trump will meet China's President Xi Jinping. Mr. Trump leaving for a trip to Asia today. He'll visit Malaysia and Japan before attending the APEC summit in South Korea, where he'll meet President Xi there.
The meeting comes amid growing trade tensions between the U.S. and China. American and Chinese officials are holding trade talks in Malaysia on Friday that continue through the weekend.
Top U.S. officials are revealing new details about the plans for Gaza's future as they visit the region. We'll get a live report after the break.
Plus, as Americans digest images of the rubble that was once the East Wing of the White House, President Trump says he has enough money now to pay for his huge new ballroom.
[05:15:02]
Stay with CNN.
And actress Suzanne Somers, was married to her husband for more than 50 years before she died two years ago. Just ahead, how he and her family are using A.I. to navigate their grief. It's all after the break.
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ABEL: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Israel at this hour. He joins a parade of high-level American officials who traveled to Israel this week, in part to make sure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sticks to the U.S. brokered ceasefire deal with Hamas. Rubio says reaching the next phase of the agreement remains a top priority for President Trump.
[05:20:01]
He landed in Israel just hours after Vice President J.D. Vance wrapped up his trip to the country.
Here's what Rubio told reporters Thursday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: We feel confident and positive about the progress that's being made. We're clear-eyed about the challenges to and, but the president has made this a top priority, I think, as evidenced by the fact that both Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were here for much of the week. I know you spent time with them and the vice president just left. We crossed on the way and then I'm here now today because this is a priority. It's a very important achievement. But there's more work to be done and bigger achievements that lie ahead.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: And joining me live now from London with more on this meeting is CNN's Salma Abdelaziz -- Salma.
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. You hear him there, Secretary of State Marco rubio talking about crossing paths with Vice President J.D. Vance. Vance. I mean, this is extraordinary. There has been a senior U.S. official, essentially in Israel to monitor or Bibi- sitting, as some are calling it, the cease fire deal since it went into effect.
And it's the tone that you're hearing from U.S. officials. I want you to take a listen to what J.D. Vance said about a vote to annex the West Bank as he was departing Israel yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
J.D. VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If it was a political stunt, it was a very stupid political stunt. And I personally take some insult to it. The West Bank is not going to be annexed by Israel. The policy of the Trump administration is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABDELAZIZ: You hear there a sort of scolding tone, if you will, at times saying this is not going to happen, and it's that directness that it leads many to believe that it's the U.S. which is calling the shots now on the ground.
Today, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is going to be visiting, visiting the center of where those shots are, essentially being called the civil military coordination center. This is set up by CENTCOM to move the United States from a mediation role to essentially managing and overseeing the implementation of this deal.
But it's not just about keeping the truce and the peace in place anymore. It is now about the most difficult aspect of this, which is moving this deal into phase two. Despite reluctance, despite pushback, of course, from the right wing in Israel.
What does that mean? Phase two of the deal is really centered right now around one very specific thing that can be explained by showing you a map of what's taking place on the ground right now, and that is that more than 50 percent of the Gaza strip is still occupied by Israeli forces. And of course, on the other side, you still have an armed Hamas that is in control. And U.S. officials essentially believe as long as that is the reality on the ground, as long as you have Israeli forces occupying a portion of the enclave and Hamas that is armed, there will continue to be clashes. There will continue to be friction.
And indeed, we have heard reports of civilians approaching that red line. Palestinian civilians approaching that yellow line, and the IDF responding with fire. So, the goal now is going to be for U.S. officials to replace that Israeli military force occupying half of the west bank with what is called an international stabilization force, essentially an Arab-led force that would train and vet Palestinian policemen on the ground. Now, this is, of course, a lengthy process, but the idea is that Palestinians would then migrate into that portion of the Gaza strip, and Hamas would be forced to disarm.
There are very little details, though, around how that would take place. It is an ambitious deal. Best, and it needs a lot more support and a lot more handholding. So the question is, is the Bibi-sitting going to continue for many more months or however long it requires for those changes for that phase two to take place?
ABEL: All right. Salma Abdelaziz for us in London -- Salma, thank you.
President Trump claims he's very good at building ballrooms. Now he's on a fast track to build the biggest, most expensive one yet at the White House. We'll have a report from Washington.
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[05:28:18]
ABEL: President Trump has completely demolished the entire East Wing of the White House, and is pushing ahead with plans to build a massive multimillion dollar new ballroom in its place. Take a look at this satellite image of the White House, taken on Thursday. It shows just how much Trump has dramatically altered the historic structure. Piles of debris have temporarily replaced the building, which traditionally served as the office of the first lady.
And President Trump says there's more than enough money to build the massive ballroom. The president said he has raised $350 million from private donors to pay for construction of the ballroom. The White House press secretary insists that the administration has been transparent about its plans.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: With any construction project changes come and we have informed all of you. We've been keeping you apprised of this project. We've shown you the renderings.
And if you look at the renderings, it's very clear. The East Wing was going to be modernized.
REPORTER: But modernized and tearing down are two different things.
LEAVITT: Well, again, the president -- the plans changed when the president heard counsel from the architects and the construction companies who said that in order for this East Wing to be modern and beautiful for many, many years to come, for it to be a truly strong and stable structure, this phase one that we're now in was necessary.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: Trump's team is launching a major effort to defend the East Wing demolition after worldwide outrage. The White House website was updated to show a timeline with past White House construction projects, all part of its defense for a ballroom that Trump has been dreaming about for years.
We have more now from CNN's Tom Foreman.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TRUMP: I'm very good at building ballrooms. I build beautiful ballrooms.
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In and out of office, President Donald Trump has long gushed over sprawling, splashy ballrooms.
TRUMP: This is a ballroom, brand new.
FOREMAN (voice-over): Claiming a certain expertise through his years in construction and the ballrooms he's added elsewhere.
