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CNN Headlines: President Donald Trump Departs Beijing After Summit With Xi Jinping; Acting AG Todd Blanche Told Last Year To Recuse From DOJ Matters Involving Trump; Rubio Goes Viral For Fascination With Great Hall Ceiling In China. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired May 15, 2026 - 05:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL)

[05:30:40]

BRAD SMITH, CNN ANCHOR: It is half past the hour. Let's hit the refresh button on our top stories.

The high-stakes summit between President Donald Trump and China's leader Xi Jinping has concluded. Trump saying that a lot of different problems were settled but no major agreements announced yet. Trade, Taiwan, the war with Iran -- they loomed over the historic talks.

And under new Supreme Court ruling access to the abortion pill Mifepristone through telehealth and the mail will continue for now. The justices sent the case back to lower courts in Louisiana. That's where officials are pushing for in-person prescriptions. The case still could return to the high court.

And today is Jerome Powell's last day at the helm of the Federal Reserve. He is finishing his term after setting monetary policy during a turbulent time for the nation's economy. A global pandemic, supply chain shocks, the worst inflation in more than 40 years, trade wars. You list it, you've seen it these past several years.

Now earlier this week the Senate confirmed Kevin Warsh the new Trump- appointed Federal Reserve chair who officially takes over today. Powell plans to keep a seat as a Fed board governor.

Now back to our stop story this morning. A lot of big issues on the table at the U.S.-China summit this week in Beijing.

Mike Valerio is there live to walk us through it. What do we take away from this summit here, Mike?

MIKE VALERIO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, Brad, I think you laid it out perfectly in the beginning of the show that the details are still pretty scant at this hour as we're winding down Friday here on the other side of the world.

But the tone has certainly shifted, at least for now, and we stress at least for now -- the tone and relationship between these two superpowers. And, you know, Brad, I think that was on full display -- the change in the relationship, trying to shift the dynamics between the two superpowers when President Trump went to Zhongnanhai, which is the headquarters of the Communist Party -- the central secretive compound, which is kind of like the analog to the White House here in Beijing.

Let's listen to a quick sound bite of the president being toured around by Chinese leader Xi Jinping where if you can listen closely enough towards the end of the sound bite he says, "I think I could get used to this." Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: One hundred and fifty years old. That's getting pretty old for a tree. Nice, nice place. Nice place. I like it. I like this. I could get used to this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VALERIO: OK. So that was definitely one of the human defining moments of the day.

But for the war in Iran, where does this leave us? You know, the president told Sean Hannity on Fox last night that Iran -- that China has offered to help with the war in Iran in reopening the Strait of Hormuz. No clarity from Beijing on that matter as of yet.

And I think it's important to keep in mind as we're waiting for more details on whether or not China, in fact, ordered 200 Boeing planes and more agricultural deals from farmers in the heartland of the United States. You know, a lot of these deals have unraveled before. And also the first visit that the president had here in 2017, he launched his trade war, Brad, about two months later in January and March of the following year -- Brad.

SMITH: Perhaps more to come from these talks and perhaps --

VALERIO: Exactly.

SMITH: -- not over editorializing --

VALERIO: Yeah.

SMITH: -- by saying that we do have good trees back here in the U.S. as well, we've just got to protect our national parks along the way.

CNN's Mike Valerio. Thank you for joining us from Beijing. Thank you.

Now to exclusive new CNN reporting concerning Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Less than two weeks after becoming deputy AG last year, ethics officials advised him to recuse himself from cases where he previously represented President Trump as his personal attorney, but whether Blanche is actually doing so is still in question. And we do know that the ethics official who advised Blanche on those recusals was fired last year. They're suing the Justice Department.

CNN's Katelyn Polantz has more on what we've learned so far. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: President Donald Trump has made clear he wants the leader of the Justice Department to deliver on his agenda, but can that person be his former defense lawyer Todd Blanche, currently the acting attorney general?

Our reporting has found that Todd Blanche, when he first entered the job as the deputy attorney general at the Justice Department last March -- he was explicitly told by a career ethics official there that he would need to recuse for at least a year from overseeing or taking part in any investigations where he had previously represented Trump if those investigations might touch on Trump's interests in his personal capacity.

[05:35:15]

So potentially if he were a witness. If it was aftermath of an investigation that had been into Trump. So after Todd Blanche had represented Donald Trump in both his criminal cases in Washington, D.C. and in South Florida. There is the possibility now in this Justice Department that additional investigations are arising and prosecutions could as well.

Now, the Justice Department has not been explicitly clear on just how far Blanche has gone to remove himself from cases like these, including potentially some of those ongoing investigations. Although the acting attorney general Blanche -- he did say in a social media post on Thursday in response to this CNN story that the "Justice Department ethics rules around recusals are black and white, and rest assured, I'm fully compliant."

He did, indeed, sign an ethics pledge last March but this is still a question that will hang over his tenure as acting attorney general. And if he continues in this job, if there are cases that arise that have some sort of intersection with Donald Trump in his personal capacity, did Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, do anything to participate in them from the Justice Department's side given he was on the other side when he was Trump's defense attorney? Still a big question and one that we will continue asking.

There are also other concerns of this Justice Department and the way that they have approached ethics. Much of the ethics staff at the Justice Department who were career employees -- they are gone. Many have been fired. But the Department of Justice say they still are adhering to ethics, including in cases that might touch on Trump.

Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SMITH: Thank you, Katelyn.

We are waiting to learn details from the CIA about what their takeaways are from a U.S. meeting with Cuban government leaders. CIA Director John Ratcliffe led the U.S. delegation to Havana yesterday. Cuba says that Ratcliffe met with the country's interior minister. The meeting happened as conditions deteriorate in Cuba amid intensifying sanctions against the island nation. Cuba says in the meeting it denied posing a threat to U.S. national security.

CNN has reached out to the CIA for comment.

Investigators say that a man stabbed a deputy in Florida, but his bulletproof vest saved his life. The Marion County Sheriff's Office says that after the stabbing, the suspect took off into the woods. They eventually found him and we want to show you how that played out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get on your stomach! Get on your stomach!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Watch the knife.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Put your hands behind your back! Hands behind your back! Don't reach for --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't reach for anything.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't even move.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm going to kick that knife.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't even move. If you move, you're going to get shot. Do you understand me?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll kick the knife so I --

SUSPECT: I fell. I (INAUDIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you move, you're going to get tased. Do you understand?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SMITH: Right now that suspect is being held without bond.

In Oklahoma, a man who spent nearly 30 years on death row is now out on bond. Richard Glossip was convicted in 1998 in the murder of a motel owner. Now, he's been scheduled for execution nine times. And last year the U.S. Supreme Court overturned his conviction and ordered a new trial, finding that prosecutors in his first trial failed to correct false testimony that could have influenced the jury.

This is aerial video of Glossip's release yesterday. It is the first time that he's been out of prison since his conviction. And here is Glossip reacting to his release.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD GLOSSIP, RELEASED FROM DEATH ROW: I'm just thankful for my life and my attorneys, and just happy. Just really happy. It's so overwhelming but it's amazing at the same time. (END VIDEO CLIP)

SMITH: And now, as Glossip waits for a new trial, he's free on a $500,000 bond with a GPS monitoring device and cannot contact any witnesses in the case.

In today's Buzz Express, actor Harrison Ford's commencement speech at Arizona State University is getting a lot of attention online. Check this out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HARRISON FORD, ACTOR: Humanity is a part of nature, not above it. Your generation has far more power than you may realize and if you harness that power, if you find your leadership, your issues, your voice, the world will not be able to ignore you. You will have to be accommodated. Believe me, I know that's true.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[05:40:10]

SMITH: Ford also received an honorary Doctorate of Arts from ASU.

And the KPop Demon Hunters are hitting the road. Netflix announcing a global concert tour based on the hit film. The streaming giant says it's a live experience that will bring elements of the two-time Oscar- winning animated film to life in spectacular ways. The tour stops and dates haven't been announced yet, but fans can sign up for waitlists on Netflix's website.

And that is a perfect time for us to go to break so that I can get on that website.

Next on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, you've got to see this. A car drives wildly straight into the doors of a police station, but the suspect didn't stop there. More on this story later in the hour.

And the Artemis II crew making the rounds from the White House to late-night TV, and now to Canada. The surprise they got on their visit.

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[05:45:25]

SMITH: During the Trump administration's trip to Beijing, Secretary of State Marco Rubio went viral, particularly for how he reacted to the ceiling in the Great Hall of the People.

Our Will Ripley has more from Taiwan.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): Before the talks in Beijing even began, this became one of the most talked about moments of the summit. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio seemingly mesmerized by the massive chandeliers and ornate ceiling decorations inside Beijing's Great Hall of the People.

Right away a flood of memes mocking Rubio for comparing decorating ideas with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

"Is he getting inspiration for Trump's White House ballroom?" "Rubio knowing he'll have do the White House ceilings when they get back."

And this. "Marco Rubio finding out he has to become the new president of Venezuela" -- a nod to Rubio's now viral gray Nike tracksuit aboard Air Force One, the same style many online users compare to the track suit worn by Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro after his arrest earlier this year.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's the context for that?

MARCO RUBIO, SECRETARY OF STATE: There's no context. It's a nice suit. I mean, I like it. It's comfortable.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was the same one Maduro was wearing.

RUBIO: It is. But you know what? He copied me because I had it before.

RIPLEY (voiceover): President Trump keeps handing Rubio more jobs -- Secretary of State, national security adviser, acting USAID chief, temporary archivist, which has helped turn Rubio into an online punchline.

"The secretary of everything." "Marco Rubio finding out he is now the DJ at your wedding." "DJ Marco on the 1s and 2s on AF1." Poking fun at this viral video posted by White House adviser Dan Scavino -- Rubio deejaying a family wedding.

And Rubio riffing on Cypress Hill lyrics will talking about Iran's leadership.

RUBIO: The top people on that government are, to say the least -- you know, they're insane in the brain.

They should check themselves before the wreck themselves.

RIPLEY (voiceover): More memes.

"Rubio, after finding out he needs to be the supreme leader of Iran in 72 hours. #WorldWarIII." And on a much lighter note, Rubio as the Easter Bunny.

TRUMP: Who likes Marco Rubio? All right.

RIPLEY (voiceover): At the Rose Garden, even President Trump making jokes about a future dream team ticket with Vice President JD Vance and Rubio.

With the VP back in D.C., Rubio is breaking the internet from Beijing, which is especially awkward because technically, China still has him sanctioned.

RIPLEY: Beijing sanctioned Rubio in 2020 as a U.S. senator for criticizing China's human rights record. There is viral speculation online China changed the Chinese spelling of Rubio's name by one character to quietly let the Secretary of State into the country. But CNN Beijing bureau chief Steven Jiang says Chinese officials have used different translations of Rubio's name for year and Beijing has already been signaling these sanctions apply to Rubio the senator, not Rubio the diplomat.

Will Ripley, CNN Taipei.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SMITH: All right. Thank you, Will.

Let's stay international and go around the globe.

We begin in Ukraine. That's where President Zelenskyy says that his country is preparing for a response after an onslaught of Russian strikes on Wednesday and Thursday. Moscow launched its largest two-day barrage since the war began, killing eight people and leaving more than 40 injured across Ukraine. Today is a day of mourning in Kyiv where most of the fatalities happened.

The Artemis II crew just made another trip. This time they went to Ottawa in Canada. They went to visit the country's Prime Minister Mark Carney. One of the crew members, Jeremy Hansen, is Canadian and he gave the prime minister a framed Canadian flag patch that was in the Orion capsule during the crew's historic moon mission.

And take a look at this. Authorities say that this surveillance video shows someone stealing and 800-year-old medieval saint's skull from a church in the Czech Republic. The video is a little fuzzy here, but you can see the person dressed in all black running between benches of the church -- the pews -- carrying the skull. Police say that they have detained a suspect.

And a man in Australia now has a few fans online after unknowingly crashing a fashion show. The videos have been circulating and even the paparazzi took notice.

[05:50:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This man was going for a stroll to the beach when he accidentally crashed a fashion show by the menswear brand COMMAS during Australian Fashion Week. The videos have blown up on social media with users calling the man a legend and icon. One user stating, "Only in Australia."

The man even caught the eye of paparazzi, making him an overnight unintentional celebrity and a show guests will never forget.

(END VIDEO CLIP) SMITH: Don't mind me. I'm just trying to get to the ocean down there.

Still to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, a teething toy sold on Amazon being recalled after posing a chocking hazard. We've got those details that you need to know at home.

And fans of Nutella now have something else to sink their teeth into. We will tell you about their latest hazelnut cocoa indulgence, next.

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[05:55:08]

SMITH: Spirit Airlines now facing a lawsuit filed by former workers who are suing the shuttered airline for backpay and benefits. Six plaintiffs claim that Spirit did not give them advanced notice of layoffs in violation of the federal WARN Act, which requires 60 days of written notice for certain types of layoffs and closures. They also say that they are still owed money for hours worked and vacation days not taken.

The airline abruptly ceased all operations earlier this month. A Spirit spokesperson said that the company doesn't comment on litigation.

In today's Money Express the markets saw some gains yesterday. The Dow crossing above 50,000 again. It's been a minute.

Maribel Aber joins us from the Nasdaq MarketSite with that and the rest of your top Money Express headlines. Hey, Maribel.

MARIBEL ABER, CNN CORRESPONDENT, MONEY MATTERS: Brad, it's been a minute, indeed. So all three major indices posted gains on Thursday. The Dow gained 370 points and topped 50,000 for the first time since the Iran war began. The Nasdaq jumped 233 points. The S&P 500 rose 57, closing above 7,500 for the first time ever.

And no major inflation readings are due out today, but there are a number of expected Q1 earnings before the open. Investors will also be looking for more on reported trade commitments from the U.S.-China meeting. Right now futures lower. Dow futures down 350 points. Nasdaq futures down 483.

OK, more than 102,000 teething toys sold on Amazon are being recalled after several reports of choking incidents. The toy made by ZW Creations is disc-shaped with a red ball in the middle and multiple pulls strings in various colors. The Consumer Product Safety alert says the strings are long enough to potentially block a child's airway. The toys were sold between October 2022 and January of this year. Full recall and refund details are on CPSC's website.

Nutella is moving into the frozen food aisle as an ice cream. The new frozen treat is available at major retailers nationwide and it comes in 14-ounce containers and single-serve cones. The launch also includes a limited time giveaway through May on Nutella's social media channels. And along with the ice cream, Brad, Nutella debuted its first new

flavor in 60 years -- Nutella Peanut. It's on store shelves now.

Brad, it's never too early for Nutella.

SMITH: No, and I officially have weekend plans now.

Maribel Aber, thank you so much.

Let's get a check in on other stories making news across the country.

Hold on tight as we head to Wisconsin with video of a police pursuit that you just have to see. The high-speed chase -- it happened in Fond du Lac County after police officers saying that a man blew past the traffic stop. Keep your eyes focused on a white car on the right side of your screen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

POLICE OFFICER: Let's get him under control right away.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE).

POLICE OFFICER: (INAUDIBLE). Holy (bleep).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SMITH: OK. We all saw that, right? That white car went airborne what looked like over top of another car. That could have been catastrophic there.

This all happened last Saturday. The video shows the driver trying to exit a freeway before veering off of the road and then going airborne. Police say that the 44-year-old driver then got out of the car and took off running, but officers -- they caught him. He was not hurt and that driver now faces a string of charges. Police say at the time he was already out on bail for a different crime. That's adding up.

In New Mexico, four people aboard a medical transport plane are dead after it crashed and sparked a wildfire in the mountains. That's according to Lincoln County officials. Investigators -- they're saying that the plane was headed for Sierra Blanca Regional Airport Thursday when it went down. The NTSB and the FAA are looking into what went wrong there.

Let's take you to the north in Alaska. Surveillance video captures a shocking scene in Wasilla as a man drives his car straight through the front doors of a police station. Police say that he went around concrete barriers and across the lawn to get there. Officers say that yellow cloud that you see is bear mace that he sprayed at them.

The 41-year-old is accused of trying to hurt officers, and family members say that he has a history of mental health and substance abuse issues. He is now facing multiple charges, including making terroristic threats.

[06:00:00]

And in a gun-smuggling operation, investigators say more than 50 guns were bought in the U.S. and sent to people in Canada. Some of those weapons were later found at crime scenes, including kidnapping and attempted murder cases. Members of the trafficking network recruited individuals around New Hampshire and Vermont. Thirteen people are now charged or have pleaded guilty in the case.

That just about does it here for CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS. I am Brad Smith. "CNN THIS MORNING WITH AUDIE CORNISH" starts right now.