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Early Start with Rahel Solomon
Trump Airs Grievances, Claims Border & Economic Success; Health Care Subsidies Expiring; Brown University Shooting: Search For Person Of Interest Enters Sixth Day; Australian PM Announces Crackdown On Antisemitism; E.U. Leaders Holding A Meeting On Frozen Russian Assets. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired December 18, 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]
ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning and welcome to our viewers joining us in the United States and all around the world. I'm Erica Hill.
It is Thursday, December 18th, 5:00 a.m. here in Washington, D.C.
Straight ahead on EARLY START.
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ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN HOST: President Trump's address to the nation. It was tariffs and the economy where the president focused a lot of his energy, predicting that the best is yet to come.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're the hottest country anywhere in the world.
MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Millions of Americans who rely on the Affordable Care Act and subsidies will see those enhanced subsidies go away, because Congress is poised to leave town.
REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: Their version would cost taxpayers $350 billion. That is not the way to reduce the cost of health care.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Still no break in the manhunt for the gunman behind the deadly Brown University shooting.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If I'm being honest, this is probably the worst building for this to happen in.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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HILL: We begin this hour in Washington with President Trump's prime time address to the nation. The commander in chief looking to prove the pollsters and the American people wrong with a forceful, sometimes angry defense of his economic policies. He began with an attack on his predecessor, Joe Biden, then blamed Democrats for the rising cost of health care, home prices and inflation.
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TRUMP: Eleven months ago, I inherited a mess and I'm fixing it. I am bringing those high prices down and bringing them down very fast. Inflation has stopped, wages are up, prices are down. Our nation is strong.
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HILL: The president insisting the economy will get much better next year when provisions of his so-called Big, Beautiful Bill take effect. He also said his policies on the border and tariffs are helping to bring costs down.
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TRUMP: We have never been invaded. This is the worst thing that, frankly, in my opinion, the worst thing that the Biden administration did to our country is the invasion at the border. The last administration and their allies in Congress brought in millions and millions of migrants and gave them taxpayer-funded housing. While your rent and housing costs skyrocketed.
Starting on day one, I took immediate action to stop the invasion of our southern border. For the past seven months, zero illegal aliens have been allowed into our country, a feat which everyone said was absolutely impossible.
Do you remember when Joe Biden said that he needed Congress to pass legislation to help close the border? He was always blaming Congress and everyone else. As it turned out, we didn't need legislation. We just needed a new president
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HILL: CNN has a full fact check of the president's comments on our website. The president also in that address announcing a new financial bonus for U.S. service members over the holiday season.
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TRUMP: One million, four hundred and fifty thousand military service members will receive a special, we call warrior dividend before Christmas. A warrior dividend. In honor of our nation's founding in 1776, we are sending every soldier $1,776. Think of that. And the checks are already on the way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: We, of course, have been following what's happening with health care in the United States. Tens of millions of Americans are about to see their health insurance premiums skyrocket with those Obamacare subsidies expiring at years end. President Trump does not want the government giving money to insurers
under Obamacare, and has said, of course, that he would rather that money go directly to Americans. He has been light, however, on the specifics of specifics, rather of just how his plan would work.
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TRUMP: It was bad health care at much too high a cost. And you see that now in the steep increase in premiums being demanded by the Democrats. And they are demanding those increases and it's their fault. It is not the Republicans fault, it's the Democrats fault. It's the unaffordable care act. And everybody knew it.
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HILL: Now, a possible house vote on extending those subsidies for the Affordable Care Act is on hold at this point for the holidays. That's despite several swing district Republicans frustrated by the inaction, signing on to force a vote, they joined Democrats to try to push through a fix, but that did not succeed. The House did advance a narrow package meant to lower health care costs for some Americans, it falls far short, however, of what was covered by the ACA.
[05:05:00]
The Senate also will not vote on that measure before the holiday recess. The top House Republican is now defending his handling of the issue as the attacks pile up.
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JOHNSON: The bill we just passed impacts 100 percent of Americans. Their version would impact 7 percent of Americans, and it would cost taxpayers $350 billion. That is not the way to reduce the cost of health care. The Democrats do not want a solution they just demonstrated because they voted against this bill. They want an issue for the election. It is based on a false narrative.
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HILL: So all of this unfolding as the president's approval numbers are sinking to a new low. Some of the latest polling showing that rising prices are really hitting his popularity. The NPR/Marist poll just out finds 36 percent approve of how the president is handling the economy. That is his lowest number on that question. In the six years that the poll has been asking about it.
Meantime, a just released CNN poll of polls puts President Trump's overall job approval at 39 percent, 58 percent, as you can see there, disapprove.
Shortly before the president's speech on Wednesday, the U.S. military announced its latest strike on an alleged drug boat. The statement says, quote, narco terrorists were killed in this strike in the eastern Pacific on Wednesday. U.S. Southern Command says the vessel was operated by a designated terrorist group, and also said no U.S. troops were harmed. At least 99 people have been killed since the U.S. launched operation southern spear.
Democratic lawmakers say at least one of the strikes may have violated international law, potentially amounting to a war crime.
The manhunt for the person of interest in the Brown University shooting is now entering its sixth day. Police say the description of the gunman provided by witnesses matches the description of the person authorities are looking for, but they also want to speak with another person who may have crossed paths with this person of interest and may be able to provide some relevant information. Meantime, the school security measures are under growing scrutiny.
One student describing the harrowing moments when he and his fellow classmates hid from the shooter.
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ARJUN PURI, BROWN UNIVERSITY STUDENT: I think that my friends and I were all pretty scared at the beginning, just because at that point, it's out of your hands. It's just a question of, you know, what's going to happen? Is the person going to come up the stairs or the police going to find you first?
And then after a while, eventually we, you know, we heard some footsteps outside and we saw through one of the cracks in the curtain that they were police officers outside. And I think after that we all felt a little bit more calm just because we knew that the situation was getting a little bit more under control, like they had at least our area of the building secured by then.
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HILL: CNN's Brian Todd has more now on the manhunt. He joins us from Providence.
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COL. OSCAR L. PEREZ, JR., CHIEF OF POLICE, PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND: We still don't know what the person is or who he is.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Still no break in the manhunt for the gunman behind the deadly Brown University shooting. Five days after the shooting, police asking for the public's help finding a person who may have crossed paths with the person they're looking for, saying they don't believe the second person is necessarily involved in any type of criminal contact.
PEREZ: We have video footage of the -- of that determines to us and detectives that can tell that this person was in the vicinity where the subject of interest was that we wanted that we actually have an interest on close, close enough that we feel that we need to speak with them.
TODD (voice-over): Police also releasing this map today, showing the person of interest movements before and after the shooting, and the area police are focused on searching. Officials have been pressed as to why Brown University didn't have surveillance video of the building where the shooting took place.
REPORTER: How does a multimillion-dollar school not have a bunch of cameras in the hallway?
TODD (voice-over): Providence Mayor Brett Smiley telling CNN --
MAYOR BRETT SMILEY, PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND: This building is on the lateral edge of the campus, and the person of interest walked out the door that as soon as he stepped onto the sidewalk, was no longer on campus.
TODD (voice-over): We spoke to some students about how they felt about the lack of cameras.
Joseph McGonagle Jr. is a friend of the deceased student, Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov. He says Mukhammed Aziz sent him these two photos from the same room where the shooting occurred. Less than an hour before the shooting. The caption reads, quote, got dragged to an econ review. He wasn't even supposed to be there.
McGonagle says this is the only building without a security guard beyond the lobbies.
JOSEPH MCGONAGLE JR., BROWN UNIVERSITY STUDENT: Barus and Holley was one of the only buildings that didn't have something like that, where they didn't have, like, a security guard waiting there out, like checking you in at the lobby.
TODD (voice-over): He thinks there should be cameras.
MCGONAGLE: If I'm being honest, this is probably the worst building for this to happen in, specifically because of these -- these sorts of failures.
TODD (voice-over): Graduate student Ref Bari was just eight feet from the door where the gunman came in.
REF BARI, BROWN UNIVERSITY GRADUATE STUDENT: I mean, no question. Of course, there should be cameras in the physics side of the building. That's without a doubt, right? And, you know, cameras, security, lock doors, all of this is like on people's minds right now.
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TODD (on camera): The chief of the Brown University police, Rodney Chapman, did confirm the account from student Joseph McGonagle, Jr., that there was no security guard inside this building at the time the shooting occurred. We reached out to school officials to respond to McGonagle's assertion that the lack of a security guard in the lack of surveillance cameras in the old part of the building where the shooting occurred, constituted security failures.
[05:10:04]
They haven't gotten back to us.
Brian Todd, CNN, Providence, Rhode Island.
HILL: Australia is stepping up the fight against antisemitism in the wake of the Bondi Beach massacre. The prime minister says new laws will crack down on people who spread hate and division and radicalization, including preachers who promote violence.
The pledge comes as mourners, including emergency workers, have been laying flowers at the Bondi memorial and as grieving community comes together to honor the lives lost, including the youngest victim of the shooting, 10-year-old Matilda was enjoying the Hanukkah festivities with her family when the gunman opened fire on Sunday.
Another victim we're learning recently woke up from a coma. Liebel Lazaroff's father says his son suffered several abdominal and leg injuries after risking his life to help a critically injured police officer, adding he still has a multitude of shrapnel in his body.
CNN's Angus Watson is live for us in Sydney at this hour with more information on where things stand. And, of course, the mourning that continues as more victims are laid to rest.
ANGUS WATSON, CNN PRODUCER: Erica, as we know, antisemitic hatred incidents have skyrocketed in this country since Hamas attacked Israel on the 7th of October, 2023. Jewish groups here have logged thousands of incidents of antisemitism described from verbal abuse to the burning of synagogues. And now this horrific massacre. Throughout that time, Jews here and the wider community has called on the Australian government to do more about it.
Today, it's strengthening its hate laws, as you say, making new laws to criminalize hate preaching. It's also going to exercise its right to deny visas to people that it thinks might come to this country. And then preach hate and division in the community.
Speaking today, Anthony Albanese took some blame for the events of last Sunday, in which 15 people were killed and over 40 people injured, saying of course more could have been done. Our government isn't perfect. I'm not perfect.
So they're the government saying it needs to do more and it will do more with these new laws. Right here is where the crime scene was up until this morning. It's just been opened back up to the public. And as you can see on the bridge behind me, members of the public are able to go up there where the two assailants fired down into this Hanukkah festival on the first night of Hanukkah last Sunday, where families and the elderly were gathering.
To my left is a tree where the detective who actually took down the two suspects hid before firing and taking cover behind this tree. A really extraordinary crime scene that were eating here. Very delicate place. One that the community is coming together to take a moment in now to try to process this horrific incident that happened Sunday, a terrorist attack against the Jewish population here -- Erica.
HILL: Yeah. And as you point out, important notes when it comes to battling antisemitism there, which has risen significantly. Angus, appreciate it. Thank you.
The Los Angeles County medical examiner has now determined Rob and Michele Reiner died from multiple sharp force injuries. Those records confirmed that they died on Sunday, the day their bodies were discovered by their daughter, Romy. It was just one day after the famed director was seen having an argument with his son, Nick, at a holiday party. He had attended the party with his parents.
The L.A. district attorney claims Nick stabbed his parents to death with a knife. Nick Reiner's attorney is urging people not to jump to conclusions about the case.
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ALAN JACKSON, NICK REINER'S ATTORNEY: We ask that during this process, you allow the system to move forward in the way that it was designed to move forward, not with the rush to judgment, not with jumping to conclusions, but with restraint and with dignity, and with the respect that this system and this process deserves, and that the family deserves.
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HILL: On Wednesday, Nick Reiner briefly appeared in court where his arraignment was set for January 7th.
European leaders are trying to make a big decision at this hour, with more than $200 billion in Russian assets on the line, we have a live report.
Plus, one of the largest ever arms sales from the U.S. to Taiwan. What is in that package? And also the response from China. Plus, more on President Trump's address to the nation, including his plans to lower the costs of both health care and prescription drugs.
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[05:18:56]
HILL: European leaders are meeting right now in Brussels to make what some officials are calling an unprecedented decision. They'll be looking at whether to use more than $200 billion in Russian assets currently frozen in Europe to support Ukraine for the next two years. It is not clear what the Europeans will decide, but the decision could trigger some legal issues and also, of course, risks retaliation by Moscow. Russia is not hiding its depleasure -- displeasure, rather, one official calling the move a robbery.
For more, Clare Sebastian is standing by in the Belgian capital for us at this hour.
So, as we noted, we don't know what the decision will be. Is there any sense of which way things are leaning at this hour, Clare?
CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, Erica, I think it's still on a knife edge at this point. The E.U.'s top diplomat coming in suggested that its basically 50/50, and we know that the major holdup here is Belgium. Belgium is, of course, the country where most of those frozen assets within Europe are held at the Belgian depositary Euroclear almost more than $250 billion worth at this point, which is between sort of a third and a quarter of Belgian annual GDP.
[05:20:02]
So, this is not an insignificant amount of money.
And we heard from the Belgian prime minister in the parliament here this morning, saying that his concerns have still not been met by the European Union. He feels that Belgium would face disproportionate financial and legal risk if these funds were transferred to Ukraine as part of a reparations loan. He's looking for legally binding guarantees, and it's not clear at this point how much more the European union will be prepared to do, and at what point Belgium will back down, if it will on this.
We heard from the E.U. commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, coming in today, who suggested that she had listened and understood the Belgian concerns. Take a listen.
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URSULA VON DER LEYEN, EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT: I totally support Belgium that they insist on having their concerns and worries accommodated, and we are working day and night with Belgium and I want to thank the prime minister for his personal engagement here. It's absolutely understandable and I support that, that if we take the reparations loan, the risk has to be shared by all of us. This is a matter of solidarity, a core principle of the European Union.
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SEBASTIAN: So, I think what you see there are studious efforts to keep up the appearance of unity here in Europe. This is critical going forward is if Europe is to stand on its on its own. And the absence of direct U.S. support for Ukraine. And certainly, as we see these peace talks hitting a wall again of Russian intransigence when it comes to compromise. So that is one thing. European credibility, I think, is at stake with this decision. It's mark of whether they can pull together and support Ukraine going forward.
The frozen assets are not the only option on the table. Theres also a borrowing option, but they need unanimity for that. And at this point they don't think they're going to get it. And I think it's worth pointing out the stakes for Ukraine as well. The consensus really is that Ukraine is going to start to face serious and major choices when it comes to spending around the end of the first quarter of next year.
President Zelenskyy on his way to Brussels this morning, said that if a positive decision isn't made, it would be a serious problem for Ukraine. So, this is a huge balancing act for European leaders. They need to try to overcome these disagreements. They say that they're not going to leave this meeting without some kind of decision, and they need to do that while, of course, keeping up the appearance of unity -- Erica.
HILL: Yeah, all important. Clare, I really appreciate it. Thank you.
Well, the U.S. and Taiwan have announced an arms deal valued at more than $11 billion. That is one of Taiwan's largest ever weapons purchases from the U.S., and it includes howitzers, HIMARS rocket systems, anti-tank missiles, drones, software and other equipment. China's foreign ministry has condemned the deal.
Taiwan has been ramping up military purchases in recent years, as it does come under increasing pressure from Beijing. This latest package is the second arms deal with Taiwan, announced by the Trump administration. Washington is bound by law to sell arms to the island for its self-defense.
Israel's prime minister giving the go ahead to a major natural gas deal with Egypt. Sources, however, say the White House pulled some strings to make it happen for a reason. We'll explain.
And winter storms have now left thousands in Gaza without shelter as their tents flood and war-damaged buildings collapse
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[05:27:43]
HILL: Israel has approved a new natural gas deal with Egypt, but reportedly only after pressure from the United States.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announcing that $35 billion deal on Wednesday. The deal supplies fuel to Egypt.
Now, according to an Israeli source, the Netanyahu government has been slow walking the approval for months, but it finally caved after pressure from the White House. Another source says the announcement was actually part of the groundwork for a potential meeting between Israeli and Egyptian leaders. They have not met in almost a decade.
President Trump wants them to do that, though, as he pursues regional peace deals. Officials in Gaza say the torrential rain and flooding have now killed at least 17 people and left thousands without shelter. More people have died in building collapses. At least one body was recovered from this collapsed building in a refugee camp in Gaza. Officials do warn that the war damaged buildings could potentially -- more of them could potentially collapse. The ongoing storms, according to officials, have flooded some 90 percent of shelters for people already displaced from the war, destroying their clothing, their blankets, their food.
Paula Hancocks is joining me now from Abu Dhabi with more.
I mean, the situation just continues to get worse, Paula.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT : Absolutely, Erica, when you consider the storms that are going through Gaza, living in a tent is simply no protection from any of these elements. As you say, many tents have been completely flooded. Many have been swept away. And this is really the only kind of shelter for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians whose homes have been destroyed over the past two years of the war.
Now, we've also been hearing about loss of life, as you mentioned, the civil defense saying 17 killed in those storms. We also know from the ministry of health that a two-week-old baby died of hypothermia on Tuesday of this week, another, an eight-month-old, died again of hypothermia last week as well.
So, it is an increasingly desperate situation. We've been hearing from the civil defense saying that tents are simply not good enough for this kind of weather to be able to survive in this kind of weather. And they are calling on the international community to start the immediate reconstruction of Gaza.
Now, we've heard from the United Nations that some 1.3 million Palestinians are.
