Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Transcripts for May 21, 2025

Note: This page is continually updated as new transcripts become available. If you cannot find a specific segment, check back later.

Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees
• Trump Makes Unsubstantiated Claims of Genocide in South Africa; House GOP Leaders Push for Budget Bill Vote in Coming Hours; Interview with Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-NY); Expert Witness Testifies About Sexual Abuse, Trauma; Ex-assistant for Combs Testifies Under Immunity Agreement; Two Women Arrested in Connection With New Orleans Jailbreak, Accused of Aiding Prisoners After They Escaped; CNN Investigation Finds Air Traffic Control Outages Not Isolated to Newark; Oregon Man Quits Job and Sets Sail on a Life-changing Voyage With His Rescue Cat Phoenix. Aired 8-9p ET


Amanpour
• Interview with Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink; Interview with Son of David Frost and "David Frost VS" Producer and Creator Wilfred Frost. Aired 1:22-2p ET


CNN's The Arena with Kasie Hunt
• Now: Trump Meeting GOP Holdouts With Tax Bill In Peril; Trump Pushes Unsubstantiated Claims Of "White Genocide" During a Contentious Meeting With South African President; NJ Dem Rep. LaMonica McIver Makes Virtual Court Appearance On Charges Related To ICE Incident; Jury Dismissed, Combs' Former Assistant To Continue Testimony Tomorrow. Aired 4-5p ET


The Lead with Jake Tapper
• Trump Makes Unsubstantiated Claims Of South Africa "Genocide"; Trump Meets With GOP Holdouts Amid Tax Bill Impasse; White House: Meeting With Johnson & Tax Bill Holdouts "Productive"; Rep. Brandon Gill, (R-TX), Is Interviewed About Tax Bill Holdouts; Rep. Mike Quigley, (D-IL), Is Interviewed About Tax Bill, "Original Sin"; Forensic Psychologist Testifies About Domestic Violence; Answering Your Questions About Prostate Health. Aired 5-6p ET
• Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) Moves Ahead With Tax Bill Vote After Trump Meeting; New Book Details Cover-Up of Biden's Declining Health; Trump Makes Unsubstantiated Claims of South Africa Genocide. CNN Hero On New Film About Her Humanitarian Work In Nepal; NFL Owners Decide Not To Ban "Tush Push" Play. Aired 6-7p ET


CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip
• Trump Makes Unsubstantiated Claims of Genocide in South Africa; Judge Says U.S. Deportations to South Sudan Violate Court Order. House Republicans Release A Package Of Major Changes To President Trump's Big Beautiful Bill; The Pentagon Announces Acceptance of Boeing 747 From Qatar. Aired 10-11p ET


CNN News Central
• House Panel Still Debating Trump Agenda Bill After All-Night Session; Witness Says, Mile-Long Tornado Tears Through Alabama Neighborhood; Source Says, U.S. Negotiating Israel-Gaza Ceasefire Via American in Doha. Aired 7-7:30a ET
• Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) On House Debate Over Trump's Agenda Bill; DOJ Opens Investigation Into Former NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo; Availability Ends For Cheaper Versions of Popular Weight-Loss Drugs. Aired 7:30-8a ET
• Interview with Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY): House Panel Still Debating Trump Agenda Bill All-Night Session; Speaker Johnson: Trump Policy Bill May Head to Full Floor Vote Tonight; Testimony Resumes in Sean Combs Criminal Trial; Fifth Escaped New Orleans Inmate Captured, 5 Still on the Run. Aired 8-8:30a ET
• Rep. Gabe Amo (D-RI) is Interviewed about the Policy Bill; Musk Shifts Stance on Political Donations; Prostate Cancer Questions; Karen Read's Trial Update; Kermit the Frog to Address Graduates. Aired 8:30- 9a ET
• House Panel Still Debating Bill; Trump Struggles to Move GOP Holdouts; House Panel Still Debating Bill; Testimony Resumes in Combs Trial; Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) is Interviewed about Connolly. Aired 9-9:30a ET
• Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) is Interviewed about the Policy Bill; Israel Prepares for Strike on Iran; Jason Schwartzman is Interviewed about "Mountainhead." Aired 9:30-10a ET
• President Trump Repeats Unverified 'Genocide' Claims About South Africa. Aired 1-1:30p ET
• South African President Challenges Trump's Genocide Claims; Interview with Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL): Trump's Agenda Bill Hits Conservative Roadblock in the House; Pentagon Officially Accepts Luxury Jet From Qatar for Trump Use; Urgent Manhunt for 5 Louisiana Escapees, 5 Others Captured. Aired 1:30-2p ET
• South African President Challenges Trump's Genocide Claims During Tense Oval Office Exchange; Trump Meets With GOP Holdouts Amid Tax Bill Impasse; CBO Says Trump Bill Would Raise America's Debt $3.8 Trillion in a Decade; Major Airlines Call on Congress to Take Bold Action. Aired 2-2:30p ET
• Judge: Trump Administration Unquestionably Violated Court Order with Possible Deportation Flight to South Sudan; DOJ Halts Investigations into Several Major Police Departments; Answering Your Questions About Prostate Health. Aired 2:30-3p ET
• South African Pres. Challenges Trump's Genocide Claims During Tense Oval Office Exchange; Trump Plays Video for South African President Pushing Unsubstantiated Claims of Genocide; Soon: Trump Meets with GOP Holdouts Amid Tax Bill Impasse; Urgent Manhunt for 5 Louisiana Escapees; 5 Others Captured; DOJ Opens Criminal Inquiry into Andrew Cuomo. Aired 6:30-7p ET
• YouTube Star Ms. Rachel Sings with Double Amputee Toddler From Gaza; Rapper Kid Cudi May Testify This Week About Dating Combs' Ex- Girlfriend; Two Arrested for Assisting New Orleans Escaped Inmates. Aired 3:30-4p ET


CNN Newsroom
• Israel Under Pressure To End Gaza Siege; Intelligence Suggests Israel Preparing To Strike Iranian Nuclear Facilities; Gunmen Kill Mexico City Mayor's Secretary And Adviser; South African President To Meet With Trump At The White House; Top Images Chosen for World Food Photography Awards. Aired 12-12:45a ET
• Israel Under Pressure To Let Aid Into Gaza; Elon Musk Says He Will Step Back From Politics And Government; Israel Preparing For Possible Strike On Iran Nuclear Sites; Trump Details Plan To Build Golden Dome Missile Shield By End Of Term; Pope Leo Steps Into Ukraine War With Offer To Host Talks; Lawyers Accuse Trump Admin Of Deporting Migrants To South Sudan, Violating Court Order; Romania's Far-Right Leader Challenges Election Results, Alleges Foreign Interference; WHO Adopts Pact To Better Prepare For Future Pandemics; Trump's Cuts Could Mean More Vulnerability To Natural Disasters; Study: World's Ice Sheets On Track For Runaway Melting; Elon Musk To Spend "A Lot Less" Money On Politics; Interview With Deep Vellum CEO Will Evans. Aired 1- 2a ET
• Benjamin Netanyahu Under Pressure To End Gaza Siege, New Operation; Israel Allows Limited Aid Into Gaza After 11-Week Blockade; Video Appears To Show Killing Of Surrendering Ukrainian Troops; South African President To Meet With Donald Trump At The White House; South African President to Meet With Trump at White House; Elon Musk to Spend a Lot Less Money on Politics; Study Shows World's Ice Sheets on Track for Runaway Melting; Top Images Chosen for World Food Photography Awards. Aired 2-2:45a ET
• Limited Aid Allowed in Gaza as Fears of Famine Continues in Gaza; Baby Boy Treated With a First Personalized Gene-Editing Drug; Pope Leo Delivers His First-Ever General Audience. Aired 3-3:45a ET


CNN This Morning
• House Rules Committee Holds All-Nighter on Trump Agenda Bill; College vs. Trades: Is a Four-Year Degree Still Worth It? Aired 6- 6:30a ET
• Pres. Trump Unveils Plan for Golden Dome; New Intel on Israeli Strike; Sec. Noem Incorrectly Defines Habeas Corpus; Alyse Adamson is Interviewed about the Fmr. Gov. Cuomo Investigation. Aired 6:30-7a ET


Connect the World
• UNICEF To CNN: Gaza at "Point of Absolute Catastrophe"; U.S. House Speaker: Plans is to Vote Later Today on Trump Agenda; Study: World's Ice Sheets on Track for Runway Melting; "Genius Act" Initially Blocked Amid Trump Crypto Deals, Lack of Consumer Safeguards; U.S. Senate Advances Major Crypto Bill in Bipartisan Vote; Fans Trek to Spain for All-English Europa League Final. Aired 9-10a ET
• UNICEF Says Gaza at "Point of Absolute Catastrophe"; U.S. Talking to Hamas via American in Doha; Interview with Former French Prime Minister on Sanctions against Israel; South African President to Meet with Trump at White House; Video Appears to Show Killing of Surrendering Ukrainian Troops; IDEALS Charity Surgeon Says Gaza "Has Reached the Point of Utter Inhumanity"; Jordan Evacuates Six Child Cancer Patients from Gaza; Israeli Military Fires Toward Diplomats in West Bank; Elon Musk Reducing Spending on Politics; U.S. Lawmakers Still Debating Trump Agenda after All-Night Session. Aired 10-11a ET


Erin Burnett Outfront
• Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" Tanks Markets, House Vote Tonight; Trump Ambushes South African President In Oval Tense Office Meeting; Target Sales Slump, Partly Blames Backlash To DEI Rollback. Aired 7-8p ET


Early Start with Rahel Solomon
• House Rules Committee Discussing Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" Right Now; Elon Musk To Spend "A Lot Less" Money On Politics; Pope Leo Holds His First General Audience; Netanyahu Under Pressure To End Gaza Siege, New Operation; TASS: Putin Makes First Visit To Kursk Since Its Recapture. Aired 5-5:30a ET
• Video Appears To Show Killing Of Surrendering Ukrainian Troops; Jail Worker Accused Of Helping 10 Inmates Escape; Trump: "Golden Dome" Missile Defense System Will Cost $175 Billion, Be Completed Within Three Years. Aired 5:30-6a ET


Inside Politics
• Trump's Agenda Bill Hits Conservative Roadblock In The House; House Freedom Caucus Chair Says No Deal This Week; Speaker Johnson Aims For Floor Vote On Mega-Bill Tonight; Trump Hosts South Africa's President At White House; South African President Meets With Trump As Relations Sour. Aired 12-12:30p ET
• Pres. Trump, South African President Take Questions in Oval Office; Trump Defends Accepting White South Africans as Refugees; Trump Makes Unsubstantiated Claims of Genocide in South Africa. Aired 12:30-1p ET


Isa Soares Tonight
• South African President Meets with President Trump at the White House; Trump Makes Unsubstantiated Claims About Genocide and South Africa's Treatment of White Farmers; Israel Faces Backlash After Warning Shots Were Fired Over Diplomats. Aired 14-15:00p ET


Laura Coates Live
• Laura Coates and Guests Discuss the Latest in the Federal Trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs; Individuals Connected to Israeli Embassy Shot in D.C.; Officials Give an Update on Shooting of Israeli Embassy Staff. Aired 11p-12a ET


One World with Zain Asher
• Trump has Suspended Aid and Expelled South Africa's Ambassador to the U.S.; Video Appears to Show Killing of Surrendering Ukrainian Troops; U.N.: The Limited Aid Israel Allows hasn't been Released; IDF Fires Warning Shots as Diplomats in West Bank; South African President to Meet with Trump at White House; Top Images Chosen for World Food Photography Awards. Aired 11a-12p ET
• South African President To Meet With Trump At The White House; Trump Defends His Immigration Policies; Ramaphosa: We're here To Reset The U.S. Relationship; Trump And Ramaphosa Address White Genocide Claims; Trump Makes; Aired 12-1p ET


Quest Means Business
• Trump's Oval Office Meeting with Ramaphosa Turns Confrontational; Speaker Johnson Aims for Vote on Trump Agenda Bill Tonight; Iran Says it will Attend New Round of Nuclear Talks with U.S.; Radio Chatter and Drone Footage Appear to Show Russian Killing in Ukraine; OpenAI to Acquire AI Device Startup in Reported $6.5 Billion Deal; Target Cuts Full-Year Sales Outlook Amid Tariff Pressure. Aired 4-5p ET


The Situation Room
• Lawmakers Debate Trump Agenda Bill After All-Night Session; Special Agent in Charge of Search of Combs' Miami Home Testifies; Manhunt for Escaped New Orleans Inmates Now in Sixth Day. Aired 10- 10:30a ET
• Israel Preparing Possible Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Facilities; DOJ Opens Investigation for Andrew Cuomo; FDA Could Limit COVID-19 Boosters; Musk to Do a Lot Less Political Spending. Aired 10:30-11a ET
• Interview With Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI); Congressional Stall?. Aired 11-11:30a ET
• New Details on Biden Cancer Diagnosis Released; Interview With Pinterest CEO Bill Ready; Interview With Former U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen; Trump Announces Plan For Missile Shield. Aired 11:30a-12p ET


The Source with Kaitlan Collins
• Trump Ambushes South African President In Oval Office Meeting; House GOP Releases Changes To Trump Bill To Win Over Holdouts; New Book: Biden's Team Kept Residence Staff From Seeing Him. Aired 9-10p ET


The Brief with Jim Sciutto
• CNN International: Trump Ambushes President Ramaphosa; Trump's Unsubstantiated Claims of "White Genocide"; Hamas De Factor Leader Probably Killed Last Week; Aid Trucks Begin Deliveries in Gaza; Jury Dismissed for the Day in "Diddy" Trial; Two Mexico Mayor's Aid Killed in Broad Daylight; Tottenham Hotspur Wins First European Trophy. Aired 6-7p ET


What We Know with Max Foster
• Trump Makes Unsubstantiated Claims Of "White Genocide"; Israel Faces Backlash After Warning Shots Fired At Diplomats; State Media: Putin Makes First Visit To Kursk Since Russia Claimed To Have Recaptured The Region; Police: Aide To Former Ukrainian President Killed Near Madrid; Trump Agenda Bill Still Facing Roadblocks In The House. Aired 3-4p ET