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White House Tours Resume; Testimony Resumes in Walshe Murder Trial; Witkoff and Kushner to Meet with Putin in Russia; Costco Sues Trump Administration; Trump to Hold Cabinet Meeting. Aired 10:30-11a ET

Aired December 02, 2025 - 10:30   ET

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

[10:30:00]

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: The White House will reopen its doors for public tours today, after they were put on hold during the teardown, the destruction of the East Wing of the White House, in order to build a new ballroom there. The massive overhaul is one of many marks that President Trump is leaving on the nation's capital in defiance of an independent review. Back in late October, President Trump canned the federal agency established by Congress that would have assessed his building projects.

CNN Correspondent Brian Todd is here with us in the Situation Room. Right now, Brian, walk our viewers through these changes and what critics are now saying about all this.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, Wolf, hardly any of this is not controversial, and some of this is really going to change the way the nation's capital looks fundamentally.

Let's take you through it a little by little here. First, we're going to show you a map of how this is going to play out. The map we're going to put up here is going to -- I'll take you from basically west to east here, left to right. First, you've got the Triumphal Arch. That's going to be on the Virginia side of the river there. The Kennedy Center is going to undergo a makeover very soon. That's just across the river on the D.C. side.

Again, we're going west to east here. Then you've got the Eisenhower Executive Office building, which was a proposed makeover. That's a little bit on hold. Then you've got the White House Rose Garden and the new White House Ballroom on the White House grounds. And then farther to the east, you've got the new stadium.

All right. Let's begin with the most controversial project of them all, and that is the White House Ballroom. The demolition began in October. It's about 90,000 total square feet. Donald Trump has said it's going to cost about $300 million to build. It's going to feature Corinthian columns, crystal chandeliers, and a black-and-white tile floor, very similar to Donald Trump's Ballroom at Mar-a-Lago. And as, Wolf, you know, this has been kind of the most controversial project of them all. You see the pictures.

They started demolition in October. And, look, they've torn down basically the entire east wing of the White House, and it's been a real eyesore. But, again, you know, some people argue that the White House actually does need a ballroom, so there are people who are in favor of this project.

Now, let's go to what they call the Triumphal Arch. That's going to be across the river. Now, this could really be more visible, maybe be the most visible change to just normal people who are not going to go to the White House. They're going to see this as a real change. This is very similar to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It is being designed to commemorate the nation's 250th anniversary next year. It's going to be built on the opposite side of the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial. You see the renderings there. This is going to be as you approach Arlington National Cemetery.

Again, this could be maybe the most visible change that will come to most of the tourists who will be around the Lincoln Memorial and then go across the river to Arlington National Cemetery. Then you've got the White House Rose Garden, which is pretty much done. Now, as soon as Donald Trump came into the White House for a second term, he targeted the Rose Garden for a makeover. He felt that the grass made the space impractical for events, and he envisioned a patio like the one at Mar-a-Lago.

This was finished in August. Trump ordered it paved over with white stone. It features cafe tables and chairs with white and yellow striped umbrellas to host lawmakers and friends of the president. It's very similar to the hardtop patio at Mar-a-Lago where the president dines down there. The new name of this place? The Rose Garden Club. It also replaces a rose garden designed by Jacqueline Kennedy. All of this, Trump -- all of this, Wolf, excuse me, is controversial.

Now, some people do argue that the White House does need a ballroom. When you hear President Trump's arguments for that, it kind of makes sense. They've been using temporary tents. When the weather's bad, a lot of people who are dressed up get really kind of messed up when they try to go from the White House outside to the tents. So, the need for a ballroom was there, it's just kind of the way they're doing it that has upset a lot of people.

BLITZER: Well, there are other ballrooms in the vicinity of the White House, in the Department of Commerce, the Department of Labor, big ballrooms, and I've gone to a huge event at these various locations that they could use if they wanted to.

TODD: That's right, that's right. And, you know, that's what makes this so controversial. They could use those ballrooms, but they're going to construct this one.

Let's talk about some of the other changes that, you know, maybe people are not necessarily aware of. You've got the change to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Now, Trump wants to paint that building a bright white color. It's kind of this hulking gray structure there right next to the White House. But the plans, he's agreed to freeze those plans for now because preservationists have sued to stop the project.

[10:35:00]

Now, the old Executive Office Building, it's called, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, took 17 years to build. It was completed in 1888. You see a good picture of it there. It's a big gray structure. It's kind of a complex architectural design with a lot of complex, you know, columns, window wells, gables. Look how big it is. And to paint that entire thing a bright white, you know, again, preservationists have sued to stop this project. We're going to see if that is able to go to completion.

Then you've got the new Commanders Stadium for the Washington Commanders, which is planned by the team. That was just approved. Sources have told CNN that Donald Trump wants to name that new stadium after himself because he did play a part in getting the city, the approval for that stadium. But that stadium, Wolf, is not likely going to be finished until 2030 at the earliest. So, we'll see.

Josh Harris is the owner of the Washington Commanders is being kind of sheepishly silent about the idea of naming this after Donald Trump. Maybe Josh Harris wants to ride this out a little bit and see the way things are when the stadium is completed. Again, won't be completed until 2030, probably at the earliest.

BLITZER: And the Washington Commanders, for people who don't know, that's the NFL football team. They used to be the Washington Redskins.

TODD: Redskins.

BLITZER: Now, they're the Washington Commanders.

TODD: They've been playing at what was FedEx Field, now it's Northwest Field in Landover, Maryland. A lot of people have complained about that stadium for years.

BLITZER: All right. We'll see what happens. Thanks very much, Brian Todd. Excellent reporting as usual. And just ahead, testimony is back underway in the Brian Walshe murder trial. The man accused of killing and dismembering his wife. The explanation of the defense is now floating about how she may have died. We'll be right back.

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[10:40:00]

BLITZER: Happening now, testimony resumes in the criminal trial of Brian Walshe, the man accused of murdering his wife back in 2023. Jurors are hearing two very different stories about what happened yesterday. The defense, for the first time, offered an explanation for Ana Walshe's death, claiming she died suddenly in their bedroom. Prosecutors have not offered a cause of death, but say they'll prove Walshe had the motive and plan to kill his wife.

Let's go live right now to CNN correspondent Jean Cazares, who's closely following this case for us. Jean, the prosecution is presenting its case. Talk a little bit about what they are now alleging. JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is the first witness is still on the stand. This is an extensive witness because he was the lead investigator, Harrison Schmitt, of the missing person's case. And there were four different audio-taped interviews that Brian Walshe voluntarily gave to Harrison Schmitt and other law enforcement. The final one was played this morning, and he is actually confronted on January 8, 2023, with the searches that were done on the iPad and his cell phone about mutilating a body, dismembering a body, and he said, I don't know anything about it. Later that day, he was arrested.

And following that, they got search warrants because they used his phones and saw he had placed trash bags in dumpsters all around town. We have a picture of the contents shown to the jury just minutes ago from one of those trash bags. Now, that right there is the initial shot of when they emptied the trash bag. But I think you're going to see in a minute belongings of Ana Walshe. And there were her boots, her purse, a jacket. There you have right there. You're going to see hunter boots. You see a Prada purse. You see a black jacket. You see her COVID card. It's very -- it's right next to the purse. But one issue is with the defense saying that she basically died in her sleep. Why was this thrown out?

The prosecution, in their opening statements, focused in on that this is first-degree, premeditated murder. Listen to the prosecution as they delivered part of that opening.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GREG CONNOR, ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY: They'll also have access to financial records that will show that Ana Walshe had approximately $200,000 in accounts at Fidelity and that there was over a million dollars in life insurance in Ana Walshe and that Brian Walshe was the beneficiary of those policies.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CASAREZ: The importance of this motive for murder. Now, the defense goes the other direction saying this was a terrible, terrible death because it was unexplained and it was sudden death. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LARRY TIPTON, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Sudden, unexplained death is known within the medical community. You will hear evidence. Brian Walshe never imagined somebody would suddenly die. One hour he's with her, he cleans the kitchen, he comes back up, and she is dead.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CASAREZ: All right. And the defense went on to say that he realized when he got back up after cleaning the kitchen that she was gone and he panicked and it became very dark. I think we have another picture that just came up minutes ago in that courtroom showing Brian Walshe's finger and that would have been after the dismemberment that he has already pleaded guilty to. So, that finger right there showing that he was pretty bruised up. Law enforcement saw that when they arrested him.

BLITZER: Jean Casarez reporting the latest developments. Jean, thank you very much. And this note to our viewers, you don't necessarily need to miss a moment in court, live coverage of the Brian Walshe trial is streaming right now on the CNN app.

And coming up, Costco is taking the Trump administration to court. Yes, Costco. Why the retail giant says it's owned a refund.

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[10:45:00]

BLITZER: Happening now, the White House Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, and President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are in Moscow right now. They're planning to meet shortly with the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, to get over some major hurdles that remain on the peace proposal to try to end the war in Ukraine. Moscow is standing firmly that its core requirements must be met before it signs on.

Joining us now, CNN's Senior Military Analyst, retired U.S. Navy Admiral James Stavridis. He's a former NATO Supreme Allied Commander and a partner of the Carlyle Group here in Washington. Admiral, thanks so much for joining us.

What do you think Putin's strategy is here? Is he going to stand his ground on these key issues from his perspective, but also make some overtures to Trump and the U.S. that he wants to repair their relationship?

[10:50:00]

ADM. JAMES STAVRIDIS (RET.), CNN SENIOR MILITARY ANALYST, FORMER NATO SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER AND PARTNER, THE CARLYLE GROUP: I think that's a good summary. We heard that from Jill Dougherty, our mutual friend who is an exceptional observer of all of this. I think that's a good, quick analysis. Meaning Putin's maximalist demands are another chunk of territory in Donbas so he can consolidate his power in Ukraine. of that region and no security guarantees that are really meaningful for our Ukrainian friends. That's what he wants.

But off to the side, what he's dangling out there, working through this fellow Dmitriev, who's the head of their sovereign investment fund, Dmitriev. And so, he'll dangle this idea of mutual trade, and he's put up a video of a train that runs under the water between Alaska and Russia. I don't see that working. So, I am absolutely for what Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner are doing. I think they're doing everything they can to try and close the distance between now the U.S.-Ukrainian side of this and the Russian side.

Final thought, Wolf, we talk constantly, we should, about Ukraine- Russia positions. How's the U.S. influencing? There's a fourth big actor here, and that would be the European Union, who ultimately is going to foot the majority of this bill for Ukraine. So, I'm listening closely to what the Europeans are saying. BLITZER: And the Europeans are directly involved, as we all know, as well. What may be the biggest hurdle right now, Admiral? In my opinion, it's that Russia still wants Ukrainian territory, it claims, but doesn't even militarily control right now. How do you resolve that issue?

STAVRIDIS: I don't think there's a quick resolution to it. You could do some creative things, as were done in Korea at the end of the Korean War, creating, if you will, a demilitarized zone, where neither side is allowed to have significant military force, perhaps patrolled by a neutral third-party country. You can think of some creative solutions like that.

But I think you're right, Wolf. The major sticking point is the demand by Putin that he simply be handed another tranche of territory. I don't see the Ukrainians going along with that.

BLITZER: And I'm going to ask you this question. You're the former NATO Supreme Allied Commander. Is future NATO membership something that Ukraine can give up as its main concession to Russia right now? The Russians don't want Ukraine to be a member of NATO. If they have good enough international security guarantees, not just from the U.S., but from the Europeans as well, does that offset the security, potential security offered by NATO membership?

STAVRIDIS: I think it does. And it's all about time and distance. And if you think back to Finland in 1939, they gave up a chunk of territory. They swore they would remain neutral forever. Well, last time I looked, Finland is now a member of NATO. So, my advice to the Ukrainians is grab a security guarantee. Don't obsess about NATO membership this minute. We can get back to that.

And final thought, well, people ask me a lot, gee, does NATO really want Ukraine as a member? I would argue eventually we do. Breadbasket of Europe, huge country, 40 million population, and they'll come out of this war with the most highly blooded and innovative land forces in Europe. Yes, we want them in the alliance eventually.

BLITZER: Eventually, key word. The Ukrainian president, Zelenskyy, said -- he said today, in fact, that the document they worked on in Geneva has been refined further following the weekend talks down in Florida. What do you think?

STAVRIDIS: I think it's down to exactly what you and I have been talking about, the territorial giveaway. That really sticks in the craw of the Ukrainians. I think everything else has probably been worked over to include the level of security guarantees.

So, what I think Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are going to do are go into Putin and say, look, we've got a very close to a final agreement here. What can you give that would get us over the top? I think, unfortunately, what we're going to discover is that Putin is no friend to the United States, no friend to the Ukrainians, certainly no friend to Europe. I think he will, where we started this conversation, look for economic concessions to go alongside the military once he's demanded.

BLITZER: Admiral James Stavridis, the former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, thanks very much for joining us.

[10:55:00]

STAVRIDIS: Thanks, Wolf.

BLITZER: And coming up right after the break, President Trump is preparing to convene his cabinet. We're going to bring you live coverage. Stay with us. You're in The Situation Room.

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BLITZER: Happening now, demanding answers. Lawmakers up on Capitol Hill are expected to get a briefing on the controversial second strike targeting a suspected drug --

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