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The Situation Room

Trump Criticized Over Rob Reiner Remarks; Key Aviation Safety Measure Rolled Back?; Controversy Grows Over Caribbean Boat Strikes. Aired 11:30a-12p ET

Aired December 16, 2025 - 11:30   ET

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

MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, there was a lot of controversy emerging from these -- classified briefing because of the decision by the secretaries not to show the full, unedited video of that September 2 boat strike, the multiple strikes that occurred that day, and very specifically that follow-up strike that occurred that killed survivors in the Caribbean.

[11:30:13]

That has been the source of enormous controversy over the last several weeks because of what some believe is that it could be a violation of the laws of war if defenseless survivors were killed there. Now, the administration has defended this and it's called it a lawful attack and said these are narco-terrorists trying to bring drugs into the country.

And they have shown that video in a separate briefing that have occurred on Capitol Hill to a smaller group of members on key committees. But in this all-senators briefing that just wrapped moments ago, the secretaries made the decision not to show it to the full Senate body, meaning all 100 senators were not able to see that video.

The argument was because they said that senators who sit on different levels of committees of jurisdiction have different classification levels, meaning some can see more super-sensitive and classified material than others. So they decided not to show that follow-up video strike.

That's caused a number of Democrats to come out of this closed-door briefing and demand seeing the full video, demanding more questions -- more answers to their many questions about what happened here.

And then Secretaries Hegseth and Rubio just talked to reporters. They said that -- Hegseth said that they would not release that video publicly. He did say that the committees of jurisdiction could see these videos. And then, when we tried to ask him, well, what about the full Congress, which is the demand of these members, they did not answer any of those questions.

But one key Trump administration ally here, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, just told me moments ago he does believe that that video should be released, at least to the full Congress. He also, Graham, going much further than the administration, said they should articulate a policy of regime change against the Maduro regime in Venezuela.

That was not, according to senators, articulated in this briefing that that, in fact, is their mission. But, of course, President Trump has said that Maduro's days are numbered, leading to many questions here on Capitol Hill and around the world about what exactly the president's goal is with this buildup in the Caribbean -- guys.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: Yes. Well, the lawmakers weren't happy after that, of course, across partisan lines.

Manu Raju, thank you so much -- Wolf.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: And just ahead here in THE SITUATION ROOM: growing concerns about a rise in antisemitism and now anti- Islamophobia after that Bondi Beach attack.

We're talking with the former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel about that and more when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:36:54]

BLITZER: Happening now, we're learning more about the perpetrators who targeted and killed Jewish people, including an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor celebrating Hanukkah at the Bondi Beach in Australia.

Police now say the suspects, a father and son, recently traveled to an island in the Philippines known for Islamist insurgency and that two Islamic State flags were actually found in their vehicle. Australia's Prime Minister says Sunday's attack appears to be -- and I'm quoting now -- "inspired by a terrorist organization, by ISIS" -- end quote.

Joining us now to discuss this and more, CNN senior political and global affairs commentator Rahm Emanuel. He is also the former mayor of Chicago. He served as the U.S. ambassador to Japan under President Biden.

Rahm, thanks very much for joining us.

RAHM EMANUEL, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS COMMENTATOR: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: According to the FBI, anti-Jewish hate crimes here in the United States, as you know, rose last year to their highest level since 1991. Antisemitic incidents documented by the ADL, the Anti- Defamation League, also spiked last year to their highest level since the ADL began keeping records back in 1979.

What can we do better to confront antisemitism both at home and abroad?

EMANUEL: Well, first, just as a data point, given your data, the Jewish population in America is 2 percent, yet, according to the FBI, represents 70 percent of all religious hate crimes, 2 percent, and 70 percent of all crimes.

But in each of those -- and I can tell you this firsthand when somebody painted Nazi insignia on our fence -- our neighbor the next day cleaned it up. And the best way to deal with this is to be public, confront it. It is not a Jewish problem. It is a society problem.

And there are good people who are not Jewish, but confront antisemitism and stand shoulder to shoulder. And as I think I was talking to you a little earlier, there is -- the imam from Australia last night posted his homily.

That could have been given by a rabbi, a priest, a clergyman of any faith across the globe. It was a powerful voice against bigotry, against antisemitism, against hatred and also in favor of our common humanity and the ability for people to celebrate and acknowledge their Jewish faith.

So the best way to confront antisemitism, don't deny it, acknowledge it, acknowledge where it comes from, and then confront it, not from a -- this is somehow only a Jewish person's problem, but from the fact that it is actually a cancer on society, because, as you know from history, it may be the Jewish individual first, but behind that is an LGBTQ person, is a Catholic person.

It doesn't end. It begins with hatred towards Jews.

BLITZER: Yes, good point.

Several Jewish leaders, as you know, from the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, have argued that this attack in Australia targeting Sydney's Jewish community on Bondi Beach isn't surprising, isn't surprising.

Do you agree?

[11:40:00]

EMANUEL: Well, listen, the prime minister was trying to politicize something that in my view should not have been politicized.

Look, we're very supportive here in the United States of the state of Israel. Obviously, Australia has a different view as it relates to Palestinian statehood. But we have had antisemitic attacks at synagogues, in the Tree of Life in -- outside of Pittsburgh, in Boulder, Colorado, two individuals outside the Israeli Embassy.

So I don't think that's the notion here. And I think if I was the prime minister and I have said this -- as you know, at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, there is the walk of the righteous, those who are not Jewish who have literally sacrificed their lives to protect Jewish lives.

I see Ahmed, the fruit seller in Australia of Syrian descent, who literally risked his life to save other lives, he is a righteous person. And that should have been an opportunity for -- given all the isolation of Israel, all the antisemitism, for the prime minister to speak to something larger and bigger than trying to score a political point with the prime minister of Australia.

And, to me, that was a missed opportunity in this effort.

BLITZER: Yes, good point.

So, another sensitive issue after the deaths of the legendary actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, President Trump posted on TRUTH Social, blaming -- and I'm quoting him now -- "Trump derangement syndrome" -- end quote. He later doubled down, saying this. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ... person, Trump derangement syndrome, so I was not a fan of Rob Reiner at all. So I was not a fan of Rob Reiner at all in any way, shape, or form. I thought he was very bad for our country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: How do you respond to that, Rahm?

EMANUEL: Well, the person with Trump derangement syndrome is Donald Trump.

I think this is really, really a sad moment for the president and a sad moment for the United States. At the funeral of Charlie Kirk, at a eulogy, he spoke about hating his enemies. Here, a person is murdered in a very tragic situation who brought life and joy to the rest of us Americans, and the president makes it about himself.

I have got to tell you something. I'm not one -- I disagree with the president a lot. I have a lot of empathy for the sadness in which it expresses how demented his mind is, how narcissistic he is and that -- how off-kilter. Anybody, whether you agree or disagree, could express some empathy. And he's devoid of that.

And I think anybody that's devoid of empathy is devoid of the humanity, and I do think the president maybe should seek help for this, because that is really more than just pathetic. It's sick. There's something wrong. That's what I think.

BLITZER: Yes, he should have expressed his deepest, deepest condolences to the family, in fact, Reiner, for all the great work he did on camera and movies and TV shows and everything else that brought, as you correctly point out, so much joy to the public.

EMANUEL: Two weeks ago, I mean, over the last three or four months, I have been talking to Rob Reiner about stuff he wants to do on politics.

Look, you may disagree with him. You don't have to hate him. I mean, look, as you talked about the other segment on antisemitism, there's enough hatred. You don't have to crowd that field. Go to the other side of the swimming pool. Try to show some empathy. Try to show some humanity.

There's a tragic life. If anything about Donald Trump, he understands addiction. Here, you have a son that's addicted, that has clearly mental and substance abuse problems, murders his father, who brought joy and life and humor and smiles to all of us and tears of joy. He has murdered.

And then what do you have? The president of the United States making it about Donald Trump. I'm telling you, I think -- I really do. I look at this. I hear what he says. I saw what he said at Charlie Kirk's funeral. I think there's something fundamentally, mentally, psychologically off with the president.

And I think that's very dangerous. It's sad for him and dangerous for us, because nobody should be devoid of any sense of human empathy. Well, and let me say this to you, Wolf. You have been to hundreds of eulogies, hundreds of funerals. Anybody ever stand up and say I hate somebody at a eulogy?

BLITZER: No.

EMANUEL: Ever?

BLITZER: No.

EMANUEL: OK.

Anybody ever see somebody murdered, didn't even know him, and didn't feel some sadness? No. So we got a person, president of the United States, who clearly is off-kilter. I don't know. There's no other conclusion to draw from this.

BLITZER: Yes. And as I have said already, and I will say it again, as far as the Reiner family is concerned, may they rest in peace and may their memories be a blessing.

EMANUEL: Yes.

BLITZER: Rahm Emanuel, thank you very much for joining us -- Pamela.

EMANUEL: Happy...

(CROSSTALK)

BROWN: All right, Wolf, coming up here in THE SITUATION ROOM -- and happy holidays there to Rahm. I think he was wishing us that.

Nearly a year after a midair crash near Washington, D.C., killed 67 people, the families of those victims and some lawmakers are now fighting against a spending bill that they say could put more people in danger.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:49:18]

BROWN: Happening now, senators are working to close a loophole in the defense spending bill that rolls back safety measures put in place after a deadly midair collision over the Potomac River earlier this year; 67 people died when an Army helicopter on a training mission collided with an American Airlines flight on January 29.

The bill, in its current form, allows military aircraft to fly with critical collision avoidance technology turned off.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MARIA CANTWELL (D-WA): No one knows quite how it got into the in NDAA. Believe me, it's not what Senator Cruz and I asked for.

SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX): I can tell you, in the Senate, I have not found a single senator who defends this provision. When you look at it on the merits in light of what happens -- happened, it is indefensible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[11:50:08]

BROWN: Joining us now in THE SITUATION ROOM is Amy Hunter, who lost several family members in that midair crash.

Amy, we are so sorry for your loss. You lost four family members, which is just awful. And you flew here to Washington, D.C., from California because you were part of this effort, right, to get this out of the NDAA. What was your reaction when you first learned that this was in the bill?

AMY HUNTER, LOST FAMILY MEMBERS IN FLIGHT 5342 CRASH: Thank you.

Back on January 29, 67 universes were destroyed; 67 families were torn apart. And we never thought that we would be -- in less than a year be sitting here having to defend the safety measures that were put in place immediately after this tragic accident happened, put in place by Secretary Duffy and President Trump.

And it's shocking to us. So we flew back. Several of us are here to be at the aviation hearings that are happening this week and to try and encourage the senators to strike 373 from the NDAA. It has to happen. It has to happen.

BROWN: We were just showing pictures of your family members.

HUNTER: Yes.

BROWN: Your cousins and their daughters were out there for a figure skating competition, several of the victims were, of that plane crash.

HUNTER: Right.

BROWN: Tell us more about being here and talking to senators, particularly Cantwell and Cruz. What did they tell you and how hopeful are you that they can get this changed?

HUNTER: They are in lockstep with the families that this has to be struck, that the Senate has to strike this.

Both Senator Cantwell and Senator Cruz and many other legislators, bipartisan, this is a nonpartisan issue, they have been steadfast with us from this entire year. And their partnership is incredibly appreciated, as well as Secretary Duffy and the president.

So, they know and they have encouraged us to be here and to basically reinforce that 373 has to be struck.

BROWN: Yes. And people are wondering, this was critical collision avoidance technology, that it allows for it to be turned off, and people would wonder, why is that even in there after the collision that did happen at DCA?

HUNTER: Right. Right.

BROWN: What is your understanding?

HUNTER: So, basically, ADS-B out, it just says, I am here, I am here, I am here to everybody else that is in the airspace. And if it is not broadcasting in one of the most difficult and complicated airspaces in our nation, we know what happens, right?

We lost 67 people. And we knew that this was a tragedy unfortunately that was waiting to happen. And that is devastating for all of our families that lost their loved ones.

BROWN: And you think that, if this provision isn't taken out, that we could see something happen again like that?

HUNTER: Well, what is -- 100 percent.

And what is terrifying is, it appears that people are not listening to Chair Homendy from the NTSB. It is the Safety Board that is responsible to tell our nation what to do in transportation. And she is not being listened to and the families who lost their loved ones are not being listened to. We are relying on the Senate to do the right thing, strike 373.

And we are asking for President Trump to intervene.

BROWN: Let's listen to Chair Homendy and the warning she had.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENNIFER HOMENDY, CHAIR, NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD: This is a significant, significant safety setback. It represents an unacceptable risk to the flying public, to commercial and military aircraft, crews and to the residents in the region.

It is also an unthinkable dismissal of our investigation and of 67 families, 67 families who lost loved ones in a tragedy that was entirely preventable. (END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: That must be so difficult to hear. Why do you think it has been so difficult to this point to actually remove that provision, given that warning?

HUNTER: Well, I don't think many in the House even knew it was in there, and that's why it passed the House.

We hear -- the FAA administrator testified today that he didn't even know that this section was in here. The heads of the Commerce Committee, the heads of the Transportation Committee on both sides say they didn't know anything about it. Nobody talked to them about it.

[11:55:00]

So the only thing we can assume is that it -- that people didn't know, which is why it passed. But we know now, which means it cannot be allowed to get through the Senate. It can't. I mean, everybody's lives, your family -- obviously, my family...

BROWN: Yes, sadly.

HUNTER: ... flew through DCA. So...

BROWN: Well, Amy Hunter, thank you so much for coming on, for joining us. We really appreciate it.

HUNTER: Thank you.

BROWN: And best of luck to you.

HUNTER: Thank you.

BLITZER: And thanks from me as well.

HUNTER: Thank you.

BLITZER: And, to our viewers, thanks very much for joining us this morning.

BROWN: "INSIDE POLITICS" with our friend and colleague Dana Bash starts right after this.