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Trump's State Of The Union; Wave Of Violence In Mexico; Russia's War On Ukraine, 4 Years On. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired February 24, 2026 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:22]

AUDIE CORNISH, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning and welcome to our viewers joining us from the U.S. and around the world. I'm Audie Cornish. It's Tuesday, February 24th. Its 5:00 a.m. here in Washington, D.C.

And straight ahead on EARLY START.

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KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: President Trump will deliver his State of the Union Address at a time when more and more Americans are growing wary of the president.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's going to be a long speech because we have so much to talk about.

VALERIA LEON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is a warlike scene left behind by the violence that erupted after the killing of El Mencho.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The more worrying type of violence is what we might see in the coming days, weeks and months, as the CJNG reorders itself.

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Ukraine is marking the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion and the start of full scale war.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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CORNISH: U.S. President Donald Trump set to deliver his State of the Union Address to both houses of Congress and the nation. That's happening later today. He's already indicating that his speech will be lengthy as he attempts to convince skeptical Americans that his policies are working and that the economy is heading in the right direction.

Here's the thing: U.S. stocks fell sharply yesterday amid uncertainty over the president's new tariffs. Those 10 percent global levies are actually now in effect, but this is after the Supreme Court struck down other emergency tariffs, saying that he didn't have the authority to issue them. Now, the new tariffs only last for 150 days before requiring congressional approval to continue. On Monday, Trump posted online saying in part, as president, I do not have to go back to Congress to get approval of tariffs. It has already been gotten.

The presidents also lashing out at recent polls that reflect his plunging approval ratings.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: And I had to go through and I still do -- fake stories, fake polls and polls for the election that showed I was going to get swamped and I won in a landslide. They were fake polls because polls are tough. You know, when you get a fake poll, I get them today. I saw one today that I'm at 40 percent, 40 percent. I'm not at 40 percent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: So new CNN polling shows 63 percent of Americans currently disapprove of Trump's job performance.

CNN's Kristen Holmes is at the White House with more on CNN's latest poll numbers.

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KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: President Trump will deliver his State of the Union Address on Tuesday, at a time when more and more Americans are growing wary of the president and his policies. A new CNN poll shows this that just 32 percent of Americans now say that Trump has had the right priorities while in his second term in office, 68 percent say that he hasn't paid enough attention to the country's most important problems.

Now, if you talk to those Americans, it shows that the most important problem they believe at this current time in the country is affordability, cost of living. And Americans are hoping President Trump takes to the stage, delivers this address and actually talks about the cost of living, talks about the economy, and does so in empathetic terms. And it's not just everyday Americans who are feeling this who want to hear that from president Trump. It's also Republicans who are up for the midterms in November, who will be on that ballot who know the issue of affordability is one that is really hurting a lot of Americans.

But whether or not President Trump can actually stay on message, that of course, is the big question. His team says that he understands the importance of this moment that he is ready for a reset. They want to view this as a way for him to start kind of getting into the midterm politics and focusing on the things the American people want him to be focused on. But we've heard that before, and President Trump has gone off message. We'll see what happens when he goes up to deliver that address on Tuesday.

Kristen Holmes, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE) CORNISH: And earlier, CNN senior political analyst Ron Brownstein explained why the economy should be the president's primary focus in this upcoming speech to the American public.

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RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: How can Trump get, you know, win some of those voters back? Some of them are probably gone because, I mean, you know, what he has done over his first 15 months is really govern at the farthest edge of the demands of his base. And I think there are voters who have been alienated and are probably not coming back.

[05:05:02]

But for the ones that he can get back, I think it is the economy, stupid, as James Carville would say. Ultimately, these are voters who had doubts about him in the first place, voted for him anyway because they thought he would make their living cost of living situation better. And now that he has failed to do that their original doubts, I think, are resurfacing and are becoming more salient. I think the only way back for him is to convince them he hasn't. He has answers on the economy, but doubling down on the tariffs which most Americans believe is compounding, not alleviating their cost of living problems, really isn't a first step toward doing that.

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CORNISH: Okay, so what's the president going to say? You can watch special coverage of the State of the Union Address right here on CNN. It begins tonight at 8:00 p.m in Washington and 9:00 a.m. Wednesday in Hong Kong.

In Mexico, the president and defense ministry claimed the country is getting back to normal after the killing of the drug kingpin El Mencho triggered an explosion of violence, but many people, tourists and locals alike are still alarmed by the unrest. Americans desperate to get out of Mexico have been told by the U.S. State Department to stay put and stay indoors, and some major airlines say they do expect to resume flights to and from Mexico today.

Cartel members have been clashing with security forces and police, imposing roadblocks and setting buildings on fire. And that's after their leader, the country's most wanted narcotrafficker, died in a shootout with the Mexican military. El Mencho was in charge of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which operates across most of the country you can see it has the most significant presence in this -- in this map, the darker blue areas. The cartel and its affiliates also operate in almost every U.S. state, according to federal authorities.

The Mexican City of Guadalajara serves as a base for many of the cartels operations.

CNN's David Culver traveled there, and he has this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DAVID CULVER, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We're about to touch down. This is one of the few commercial flights that's actually able to land in Guadalajara today this plane will be fully booked with a very long standby list of people eager to get out.

I mean, this is what you see as soon as you walk out of baggage claim, you've got crowds of folks who are sitting with their luggage. You've got people who have turned their luggage into furniture, propping their legs up. Some of them essentially camping out under blankets and many of them seem to be here without even anywhere to go.

They don't have flights. They don't have a confirmed ticket. They don't even know if they have a ticket, if the plane will take off.

How confident are you, you'll be flying out tonight?

MUSKAN DAVE, STRANDED TOURIST: Hopefully, it's a 50/50 for me.

CULVER: You don't feel internally at ease

DAVE: It feels like eerily quiet right now and then like you read online that okay maybe the cartels are regrouping and maybe it's going to get worse now.

CULVER: And you just want out of here.

DAVE: At this point, 100 percent. Yeah.

CULVER: You just want to go home.

DAVE: Yeah.

ANITA EGSDAL LUTTA, STRANDED TOURIST: Yeah. I'm five months pregnant.

CULVER: You're five months.

ANITA EGSDAL LUTTA: Yeah.

MARTIN EGSDAL LUTTA, STRANDED TOURIST: We cannot run if anything actually happens. And then also like, just to keep the baby healthy,

how are we going to get food? Are we going to be able to have clean water.

CULVER: So where will you sleep?

ANITA EGSDAL LUTTA: We don't know yet. We just take it. Yeah, take it as -- by the minute and see what happens.

CULVER: Is it possible you'll end up sleeping here tonight?

ANITA EGSDAL LUTTA: Possibly. Yeah.

CULVER: You've got army national guard, and then let's see. They're searching some of the vehicles it looks like there, too.

I mean, in the middle of the highway the car, burnt out. I mean, another very obvious sign of the narco-terrorism targeting a

popular convenience store. This Oxxo (ph), look at it, torched.

CULVER (voice-over): Chaos erupted Sunday after Mexican authorities launched an operation against the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The main target, the cartel boss himself, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, better known as El Mencho.

Mexican special forces raided his compound in the town of Tapalpa, led there officials say, through a romantic connection of El Mencho's. Video recorded by locals and geolocated by CNN showed the Mexican military swarming the area after confirming his location.

The cartel leader captured and injured during the operation. Officials say he died en route to Mexico City for treatment.

El Mencho was wanted on drug trafficking charges by both Mexico and the United States.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called him a top target for both countries and said the U.S. provided Mexico with intelligence support ahead of the operation.

His death sparking a wave of retaliatory violence across at least 20 Mexican states, but nowhere worse than in the cartel's stronghold of Jalisco, and especially in the coastal city and American tourist hotspot, Puerto Vallarta. Large plumes of smoke seen covering the city.

[05:10:01]

As tourists hunkered down inside one of the many hotels, the cartel set barricades on fire across the city. Many stranded after airlines suspended flights amidst the violence.

Here in the state capital, Guadalajara, set to host World Cup games in just a few months, fierce clashes between gangs and the police.

One video showing a man seemingly trying to set a truck on fire.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CULVER: And what you see over my shoulder is not normal. That's the Mexican army posted here at a gas station right next to the airport. And the reason they're here is because gas stations like you saw their convenience stores and even just vehicles in the highway have become targets. And so, they're hoping to at least show some force so as to deter any of that further violence.

As far as when things will get back to, quote/unquote, normal here. As of now, there's no indication that that will be anytime soon.

David Culver, CNN, Guadalajara, Mexico.

CORNISH: Now earlier on, Mexican drug cartels -- an expert on Mexican drug cartels actually weighed in on the violence that erupted after El Mencho's killing. And so, we asked, what is the cartel's ultimate objective? Or are we just watching retaliation?

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CHRIS DALBY, SENIOR ANALYST, DYAMI SECURITY INTELLIGENCE: We have to distinguish between two types of response. This type of response is what we call narco bloqueo in Spanish, or narco blockades. And it's quite a common tactic that we see after major cartel leaders are killed arrested or extradited. It's a way for a cartel to make a show of strength to signify that were still here, that the removal of El Mencho in this case doesn't mean the removal of the CJNG.

That type of violence will probably be quite short lived. Claudia Sheinbaum has already said they're bringing order back to Jalisco, to Guadalajara, to Puerto Vallarta. Mexico is going to be very keen to show that they can control those cities because their major business and tourism hubs, the more worrying type of violence is what we might see in the coming days, weeks and months, as the CJNG reorders itself, whether there's a civil war within it, as different lieutenants seek to take over from El Mencho. And that's a much more permanent structural kind of violence that could spread across Mexico.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: Ukraine's president is tying his country's future together with Europe's. Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed European parliament remotely from Kyiv on the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He thanked them and the U.S. for their steadfast support.

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VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: Unfortunately, this is not the first time Ukraine has to defend itself from a Russian invasion, but it is the first time we have such a large coalition supporting Ukraine. And this is one of our shared achievements of everyone who was not afraid on February 24th, 2022, and of everyone who is not afraid today. And today we must be just as determined and strong as we were when the invasion began.

The threat hasn't become smaller. Yes, we are holding Russia back, but we have not yet guaranteed security and only together can we do this together in Europe. Yes, together with America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: Earlier, Ukraine's capital city of Kyiv and every other city in the country held a moment of silence earlier for those killed in the war.

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CORNISH: This is now a daily event, as Ukrainians remember their lost loved ones.

We're going to go now to CNN's Clare Sebastian live in London.

And, Clare, here we are, four years after at least the onset of this war. And I know European leaders were also speaking. What did they have to say?

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. Look, I think, Audie, we're seeing efforts this morning to sort of push for this anniversary not only to be a way to build up Ukraine's resolve and to tout its successes, but also to push for greater action. We're seeing really open discussions now about how everything that has been provided so far, albeit unprecedented in its generosity, has not been enough. A promise of help does not end the war. With the words of the NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte this morning.

And President Zelensky himself has sort of led the way with these appeals, appealing to peoples consciences. He also said in another section of that address to the European parliament, anyone who supports Putin cannot fail to understand that they are choosing war. Perhaps a nod to the outliers in Europe who still maintain ties with the Kremlin.

And he has also had clear demands.

[05:15:00]

He's calling for much greater sanctions, he said. There's no -- there's no place in the free world for Russian oil, Russian tankers Russian banks, the list goes on. He's calling for a clear timeline for E.U. membership for Ukraine, warning that otherwise Putin will attempt to block that as part of negotiations.

Now we are seeing some action from European countries this morning. The U.K. has come forward, according to Prime Minister Starmer, and announced the biggest sanctions package since 2022, he said, which includes some 300 Russian energy companies, though that may be small comfort after the E.U. failed to adopt its 20th package of sanctions on Monday. But take a listen to some of what Keir Starmer said at the top of a cabinet meeting this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: It's four years later. The Ukrainians are holding out against that aggression holding out on the front line where the circumstances are extremely challenging, but also holding out in the civilian life, where every day Ukrainians get up and go to work as a sign of resilience and defiance of the aggression. And we must defeat the falsehood that Russia is winning, because if you take the last year alone, Russia took 0.8 percent of land in Ukraine at a terrible cost to themselves of half a million losses.

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SEBASTIAN: We must defeat the falsehood that Russia is winning I think is an important point, because certainly we've seen Russia try to create that impression, certainly in dealings with the United States, to try and convince President Trump that the quickest way to end this is to give Russia what it wants. And that is a critical part of the narrative that Europe is trying to fight here but look, I think the question for Ukrainians this morning is okay with these expressions of solidarity, but what next? How do we move beyond simply efforts to keep Ukraine in the fight and bring this war to an end.

CORNISH: That's Clare Sebastian. Clare, thank you so much.

And still ahead this hour, what were just now learning about these images from Nancy Guthrie's doorbell camera, specifically when they were recorded and why it could matter to the investigation into her disappearance.

Plus, the former British ambassador to the U.S. is free on bail after his arrest in London. What police are saying about Peter Mandelson?

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[05:21:42]

CORNISH: A new clue emerges in the Nancy Guthrie investigation. A source tells CNN. The last person seen on the doorbell camera footage on the morning Guthrie is believed to have been kidnapped was also there on another night. According to the source, the photos and video of the suspect were taken on two different dates, not just on February 1st, when officials believe Guthrie was abducted.

The masked person is seen wearing a backpack in the video but not in the photos. Guthrie, the mother of today show host Savannah Guthrie was last seen on January 31st. Investigators still have no leading theory about a motive or her whereabouts. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility that more than one person was involved.

And London police say the former British ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson, has been released on bail now. He was arrested Monday on suspicion of misconduct of misconduct in public office amid the growing Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Video from earlier shows him returning to his home in London after his release.

We've got CNN's international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson, live in London this hour.

And, Nic, it feels as though even though Keir Starmer is not in the Epstein files, his administration has been really rocked by them. Can you talk about what this latest move with Mandelson means for him?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yeah, for Keir Starmer, it's going to be -- he's in the spotlight again. It's going to put more pressure on him and the decisions that he took.

Mandelson was held by the police for about nine hours for questioning and the police say that they released the 72-year-old man on bail pending further inquiries. So the situation right now is following the questioning it will be determined by the crown prosecution service whether these charges that are alleged actually need to be faced by Mandelson, and these go back to his time in 2008, 2010 as the British business secretary, when, according to the allegations in documents released by the Department of Justice, appear to show that he has released sensitive government market related documents to or sent them on to Jeffrey Epstein.

For Keir Starmer, it really focuses more around his decision to appoint Mandelson as ambassador to the United States. And on that account, the prime minister has already said that he will release documents around the sort of decision-making process there. However, because Mandelson has been questioned by the police and this investigation is ongoing, that could also those documents could be delayed. And the same is absolutely the same situation.

It appears as developing for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, of course formally, Prince Andrew he was arrested on the same charge last week released on bail by the police pending further investigations and in parliament today what is known as a humble address is expected by to be placed by one of the opposition parties requesting information about why, and the vetting process around when Andrew Mountbatten- Windsor was appointed British trade envoy back in 2001, and of course, again, police investigation into him ongoing.

[05:25:12]

How many and how much are those documents can be released at this time is unclear.

Absolutely. The pressure, though, relating to Mandelson just grows on Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

CORNISH: Okay. That's Nic Robertson. Thank you so much for that update.

Meanwhile, here in the U.S., celebrity Dr. Peter Attia has resigned as a contributor at CBS News over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Newly released documents show Attia and the late sex offender exchanged lewd and personal messages with each other. The doctor was just named as a CBS contributor last month. Attia has not been accused of wrongdoing. A spokesperson says the doctor stepped back so he wouldn't become a distraction at CBS. Attia has said he was never on Epstein's private plane or island and never attended his parties and never witnessed any illegal behavior.

CNN has reached out to CBS News for comment.

And Nick Reiner has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his parents, Hollywood director Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner. The 32-year-old was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with his parent's stabbing deaths. Reiner waived his right to a speedy preliminary hearing he was not granted bail. The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison or the death penalty, a decision the L.A. district attorney says he is not taking lightly.

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NATHAN HOCHMAN, LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: This case is a death penalty eligible case. Along those lines, we take the process in which we determine whether or not the death penalty should be sought extremely seriously and it goes through a very rigorous process. We will be looking at all aggravating and mitigating circumstances, and we have invited defense counsel to present to us, both in writing and orally, in a meeting, any arguments that they would like to make in consideration for our going forward or not going forward with the death penalty.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: Rob and Michelle Reiner were found stabbed to death in their Los Angeles home late last year. Nick Reiner has been in police custody since his arrest in December. A preliminary hearing is set for April 29th.

Up next, digging out from a bomb cyclone, more than two feet of snow has fallen in parts of northeastern U.S. We'll look at the impact from this historic storm.

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