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Early Start with Rahel Solomon

Trump Plans to Impose Sweeping New Tariffs This Week; Marine Le Pen Found Guilty in Embezzlement Trial; Rescuers Race to Find Quake Survivors in Myanmar; 1,700 Plus Dead; Hamas Agrees to Egyptian Ceasefire Proposal, Israel Counters; Astronauts to Hold News Conference After Extended Space Trip. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired March 31, 2025 - 05:00   ET

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

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[05:00:33]

RAHEL SOLOMON, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, and welcome to our viewers joining us from the U.S. and all around the world. I'm Rahel Solomon. It is Monday, March 31st, 5 a.m. here in New York, and straight ahead on Early Start.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), U.S. PRESIDENT: Tariffs, they will be kinder than those countries were to the United States of America over the decades. They ripped us off like no country's ever been ripped off in history.

ELON MUSK, SPECIAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE: I didn't think of myself as right, I thought of myself as a centrist, but then the left went all the other way in the other direction, and now everyone's a Nazi. The reason for the checks is that it's really just to get attention.

GOV. RON DESANTIS (R-FL): What's wrong with expecting our young people to be working part-time?

REP. JAY COLLINS (R-FL): We're not talking "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair. We're talking about them working at Publix, at Piggly Wiggly. This is a parental rights thing. Parents know their kids best.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: We begin this hour with global markets selling off as President Trump prepares to impose sweeping new tariffs on countries around the world. Looking at U.S. futures this morning, on a Monday morning, the DOW, NASDAQ, and S&P are all solidly lower, just hours before the opening bell on Wall Street.

President Trump gearing up for what he's calling Liberation Day on Wednesday, that's when he plans to impose a 25% tariff on imported cars and car parts, as well as reciprocal tariffs.

Now, earlier, the president told reporters on board Air Force One that those tariffs will target all countries. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: The tariffs will be far more generous than those countries were to us, meaning they will be kinder than those countries were to the United States of America over the decades. They ripped us off like no country's ever been ripped off in history. And it'd be much nicer than they were to us, but it's substantial money for the country, nevertheless.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: Peter Navarro, a top White House Economic Advisor, dismissing concerns that Trump's tariffs will lead to higher prices for consumers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETER NAVARRO, WHITE HOUSE SENIOR COUNSELOR ON TRADE AND MANUFACTURING. Trust in Trump, we have the example from the first term. We know that we imposed historically high tariffs on China. We imposed aluminum and steel tariffs. We imposed on washing machines, on solar. All we got out of that was prosperity and price stability. And the reason why we're not going to see inflation is because the foreigners are going to eat most of it. They have to.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: Now at least one Democratic congressman is slamming the move, saying that the new tariffs are targeting some of America's closest friends.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JAKE AUCHINCLOSS (D-MA): Nobody woke up in January and said, you know what our biggest problem is geopolitically? It's Canada. It's those Canadians. This president is picking a fight with our allies and appeasing our enemies. And it's undermining U.S. global leadership.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: Let's get to CNN's Marc Stewart, who joins us now from Beijing. Marc, good morning or good evening to you. What's the reaction in the Asian markets where you are?

MARC STEWART, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Rahel, let me just be blunt. It has been a very rough day. Some of the financial losses that we have seen so far today have been both severe and symbolic, as the world tries to grapple what things will look like with these additional tariffs looming, including the 25% tariff on cars imported into the United States.

Certainly, it would have an impact on the American economy, as well as the European economy, as well as economies here in Asia, where some of the most popular cars for American consumers are made. So it's not a surprise that we saw very deep declines, really sharp losses in the stock markets in both South Korea and Japan. This is where some of these top cars are made.

When we look at Japan, I'm talking about Honda, Mazda, Toyota, Subaru. If we look at South Korea, Kia, Hyundai, these are cars that are well regarded by American consumers. They find them to be affordable. They have a long, dependable track record. So this could be a big jolt on really both sides of the Pacific Ocean. And the impact could go far beyond sales. It could impact the way supply chains are handled.

[05:05:02]

With so much uncertainty, there really isn't a clear roadmap for the future. That's one reason why there is so much anxiety. Let's listen further to President Trump speaking over the weekend from Air Force One.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPORTER: How many countries will be in that initial tranche?

TRUMP: You'd start with all countries. So, let's see what happens. There are many countries. I haven't heard a rumor about 15 countries, 10 or 15 countries.

REPORTER: So, you're starting with all countries?

TRUMP: Well, essentially, all of the countries that we're talking about, we'd be talking about all countries. Not a cutoff.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEWART: It goes without saying, markets do well. Markets see growth when there is excitement, when investors see a potential for the future. But right now, at this particular moment, it just doesn't seem to be there.

Rahel, I imagine the anxiety and anticipation where you are in New York is palpable, especially as the markets open in, what, four and a half hours from now.

SOLOMON: Yeah, the anxiety continues. It has obviously started weeks ago and continues likely today. Marc Stewart in Beijing. Marc, thank you.

And this morning, the fallout continues from the Signal group chat debacle. "The Atlantic" Editor-in-Chief firing back at the National Security Advisor's claims that his number got, quote, "sucked into his phone."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEFFREY GOLDBERG, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, THE ATLANTIC: This isn't the Matrix. Phone numbers don't just get sucked into other phones. I don't know what he's talking about there. You know, very frequently in journalism, the most obvious explanation is the explanation. My phone number was in his phone because my phone number is in his phone. He's telling everyone that he's never met me or spoken to me. That's simply not true.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: Now, the chat revealed White House officials, including the Secretary of Defense and the Vice President, discussing highly sensitive military operation details in a group chat with Goldberg.

The President, for his part, has ignored calls to fire his top national security officials, instead reiterating his confidence in them amid the fallout.

All right, we want to get to some breaking news out of France, where far-right leader Marine Le Pen has just been found guilty of misappropriating E.U. funds in a closely watched embezzlement trial. Le Pen will soon learn if she will also be barred from running for office.

Now, it's a decision that could upend French politics. Le Pen denies any wrongdoing and says that the funds were used legitimately.

Let's get to CNN's Melissa Bell, who is outside the courthouse in Paris. Melissa, explain for us what this verdict means for Le Pen and for France.

MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, so far, what we've had is the verdict that she and several of the highest-ranking members of her party are guilty of embezzlement. This is a case that goes back to funds that were allegedly, say, the prosecution, should have been used in Europe from when she was an MEP and for European parliamentary assistance, and instead was used for party workers and party workers and assistants back here in France in the name of her party, rather than her parliamentary work in Europe. That's the heart of the case.

Now, when we heard that case wrap up back in November, this is, of course, the verdict and the sentencing, we had been, a lot of people had been pretty surprised to hear what the prosecution was requesting, not simply prison time and a sentence, but that she should actually be barred from standing for public office.

Now, this is crucial because, of course, the next presidential election here in France, Rahel, 2027, she is not only intending to stand, but actually leads in the polls. So if this tribunal behind me today finds in favor of the prosecution and decides to ban her from standing, that would be a political earthquake here in France.

So far, we haven't got to that sentencing part, that most crucial and controversial part of today's proceedings. What we have heard, though, is that she and several of her party members then found guilty on those embezzlement charges. It's taking a long time because there are 24 people in all who are accused on these charges, and the reading of the verdicts is taking a certain amount of time, Rahel, but clearly everyone waiting to find out how far these three judges who are presiding today will go in the direction of what the prosecution requested last November.

Rahel. SOLOMON: All right, Melissa Bell, certainly keep us posted. I mean, as you say, I mean, one of these scenarios could be quite earth- shattering, at least there in France, for the years to come. Melissa Bell in Paris. Melissa, thank you.

All right, still ahead, time is running out in Myanmar. Coming up next, the latest on the search for earthquake survivors.

Plus, why Republican lawmakers in the state of Florida want to dramatically reduce child labor protections in the state.

And later, the oldest tree on the grounds of the White House is coming down. Ahead, why a historic magnolia is scheduled to be removed.

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[05:14:22]

SOLOMON: Welcome back. Time is running out for rescuers to find more survivors. Three days after that catastrophic earthquake hit Myanmar, at least 1,700 people are confirmed dead. And it could be weeks before we know the true death toll. Dozens of people have been rescued across the region. But for the thousands of survivors who have lost their homes amid the devastation, the road to recovery will be a long one.

Let's go to CNN's Mike Valerio, who joins us live now from Seoul. Mike, we've obviously heard and seen some of these incredible stories already of survival after days of some people being trapped in the rubble. What's the latest now on the search and rescue efforts?

MIKE VALERIO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, Rahel, we're going to talk about Bangkok first, and then we're going to pivot to Myanmar, the two centers of emotional gravity.

[05:15:04]

So the biggest thing that you have to know, if you're just waking up and joining us, wherever you're watching is that we are now past the 72-hour golden window that rescue workers look to, to find people alive. It's the greatest chance that rescuers have of finding people alive under earthquake rubble if they haven't had food, water, or medical attention. So we're now a few hours past that.

So in Bangkok, Rahel, the last report that we have is 76 people who are presumed missing. That could possibly shift to 75 because the death toll there increased by 1 to 11 people confirmed dead at that site where that 33-storey skyscraper collapsed. But we have two sound bites from people related to workers who are missing, presumably in that rubble. Listen to what those two people told us.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KANNIKA NOOMMISR, WIFE OF TRAPPED THAI WORKER (through translator): He's the head of our family, the one who provides for us. He is our family's hope. Without him, I don't know what will happen to us. I just want him to be safe. DAODEE PARUA, RELATIVE OF TRAPPED CAMBODIAN WORKER (through translator): May a miracle happen. May the rescuers find them soon and find them easily without struggle. If they're still alive, I hope the team hears a heartbeat or pulse. And if they're gone, may there at least be a scent so they can be found quickly and given a proper religious farewell.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VALERIO: So as the day is drawing to a close here in Asia, there are still, Rahel, in Bangkok, heat machines or heat sensors that are going up and down that concrete pile to look for heat signatures to see if they can find any people who are trapped under that rubble.

But over to Myanmar, when we're talking about Mandalay and Sagaing, the real epicenter of the 7.7 magnitude quake, we do have remarkable stories. Thirty-six survivors pulled from rubble in that region since Sunday. There was a woman, Rahel, who was found underneath hotel rubble 60 hours after the quake.

I believe, actually, that is the video being pulled from that rubble. The problem here, though, is that in that region, adding to the catastrophe and the cruelty of this undertaking, trying to get help, is that this is a country that has been at war, civil war, for more than four years now.

So the big question is, when you have to stand up a huge effort to give food aid from the big airport into the jungles to the really hard corners of Myanmar that are, you know, difficult to reach, can that be done when you have different factions of the country fighting against each other?

The head of the World Food Program, before we go, spoke with us in our Rosemary Church a couple hours ago, and he said he is encouraged that the World Food Program will be able to access areas, whether they're controlled by the military government or resistance fighters. And another, you know, hopeful note to end on here is he was saying they had one World Food Program food distribution center yesterday. They're now at three, and they hope to exponentially increase that number.

So we're watching again. We're past that 72-hour mark, but still, you know, the generosity of the world is in motion. It might be very slow, though, Rahel.

SOLOMON: Yeah, I mean, certainly hoping for more rescues. I mean, we've seen it before with these massive earthquakes, just the real unthinkable happen, and, of course, that aid can get to the places where it is needed despite the tumult on the ground there.

Mike Valerio in Seoul.

VALERIO: Yeah.

SOLOMON: Mike, thank you.

And for information about how you can help Myanmar earthquake victims, go to CNN.com/impact.

And Muslims around the world gathered on Sunday to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan. In San Diego, California, thousands attended Eid al-Fitr prayers where the Imam called for peace in Gaza.

In Qatar, worshippers gathered on the pitch of a major football stadium to pray. Education City Stadium hosted eight matches during the 2022 World Cup.

And in Albania's capital, thousands filled the center of Eid for prayers. Around 60% of Albania's population are Muslims.

And in southern Gaza, it was a deadly start to the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. Israeli airstrikes killed at least 10 people, including five children on Sunday. The strikes are said to have hit a tent and a home, housing displaced people.

Meanwhile, Hamas says that it has agreed to a new Egyptian ceasefire proposal. A Hamas source tells CNN that under the agreement, the group would release five hostages. A senior Israeli official tells CNN that Israel wants more than that. It wants Hamas to release 11 living hostages and half of the deceased hostages.

In return, Israel would agree to a 40-day ceasefire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is saying that he plans to continue military action in Gaza until there is an agreement.

[05:20:09]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): Military pressure is working. It works because it operates simultaneously. On one hand, it crushes the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas. And on the other hand, it creates the conditions for the release of our hostages. This is exactly what we are doing. Last night, the Cabinet convened and decided to intensify the pressure, which was already high, in order to further crush Hamas and create the best possible conditions for the release of our hostages.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: Netanyahu will head to Hungary on Wednesday, where there, he will meet with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The trip comes despite the ICC's outstanding warrant for Netanyahu's arrest on war crime charges. Orban has made it clear that he would not honor that warrant.

All right, so to come for us, two astronauts who spent more than nine months in space are set to address the public for the first time since getting back to Earth.

Coming up, I will speak to someone who knows both of them about their unique experience, as well as his own time in space. That's in a few minutes. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:25:36]

SOLOMON: Welcome back, a private SpaceX flight will try to make history today. It will be the first crewed mission to orbit Earth's north and south poles. It launches in the coming hours with a crew that's never been to space. The team is planning to spend three to five days in orbit. Cryptocurrency billionaire Chun Wang is leading the mission. He also funded it.

And in the coming hours, the two NASA astronauts who unexpectedly spent more than nine months in space will give their first news conference after returning home. Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore traveled to the International Space Station in June. It was the first crewed flight of the Boeing Starliner, but a number of spacecraft malfunctions meant that they had to wait to return home.

Well, that finally took place nearly two weeks ago on a scheduled flight with a crew from the ISS. Here's the moment they finally made it back to Earth.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And splashdown, Crew 9 back on Earth. Butch, Suni, on behalf of SpaceX, welcome home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: And joining me now is David Wolf, a former NASA Astronaut and Mission Specialist. He is a Chief Technology Officer at Voxel Systems and joins me live this morning from Houston, Texas.

Great to have you this morning, David. Butch and Suni, as we just saw there, they've been back on Earth for a little less than two weeks now. Have you been able to chat with either of them yet? Do you know how they're doing?

DAVID WOLF, FORMER NASA ASTRONAUT & MISSION SPECIALIST: I have not, but I hear they're doing quite well.

SOLOMON: OK, good to know. I know that they take issues just based on some of the reporting that we've seen with the phrase being stuck in space or stranded in space. But after an unexpected nine months in space, there's obviously a lot of anticipation to hear from them. What do you expect we'll hear and see in this press conference today?

WOLF: Well, I think unexpected is a better description than stranded or stuck. They had a way home almost the whole time. It may have been a little unconventional some of the time until a formal plan was finally created. But they did a good thing staying that whole time to keep the rest of the program on schedule and not perturbing thousands of workers.

SOLOMON: And you yourself have done long stints in space, and you have said it was bumpy, to say the least. It's part of the reason why, or is the reason why, you need a cane to this very day. Beyond the research that they were able to do there, the stories that they will forever be able to tell, there is, though, David, this physical aspect of spending so much time in space. Talk to us about the kind of things that they were checked for when they returned to Earth, some of the physical things.

WOLF: Well, blood pressure control is important. And since your body is never really standing up or lying down, the heart doesn't do its normal cardiovascular blood pressure control. And it takes a while for the body to bring back that control system. That's one of the first things. Vision is another. The longer-term issues are bone and mineral loss. For example, I lost 15% of my bone mineral in some of the bigger bones of my body in a five-month mission.

SOLOMON: Yeah, that's incredible. It's interesting. One thing I didn't realize, I think I heard Suni say it, is that there's a gym that they have access to, and so they're still exercising, they're still working out, which sort of blew my mind. You have said that an eight-day mission turning into an eight-month mission, for example, is an astronaut's dream. How so? Tell us more about that.

WOLF: Well, you know, it's unexpected, of course, and it comes with some overhead. But you don't get to go to space that often. And eight days turning into eight months, to me, is a welcome thing. Once you get past the sticker shock, you might say, and they, Butch and Suni, are both long-duration experienced, knew what to expect, and became immediately integrated into the crew.

SOLOMON: Yeah. And then one thing, it's interesting, even as we watch this video, both of them, but I think especially, I mean, maybe Butch, too, but Suni, as well, just had this really sunny disposition throughout their stay. In all of the interviews I've heard, they have been so positive and upbeat. Is that what they're like? Give us a sense of what they're like.