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Trump Warns Tariffs on Smart Phones, Electronics Coming Soon; Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) on Arson Attack, This Kind of Violence is Not Okay; Rory McIlroy Wins Masters, Coveted Career Grand Slam. Aired 7- 7:30a ET

Aired April 14, 2025 - 07:00   ET

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

[07:00:00]

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: The tariff exemptions that are not exemptions, but maybe they are, but maybe only for now. Your iPhone, your laptop, and so much more now caught in the middle with new insight on how Americans feel about this trade war now.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Stunning pictures of destruction after an arson attack on the home of the governor of Pennsylvania. Overnight, a suspect in custody, and we have the latest reporting on a possible motive.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: Tiger Woods' message to Rory McIlroy after his amazing masters wins. Welcome to the club. And what an exclusive club it is, McIlroy, in dramatic fashion, ending an 11-year major championship drought and accomplishing what only five others in history have done. Yes, he was in tears.

I'm Sara Sider with Kate Bolduan and John Berman. This is CNN News Central.

BOLDUAN: So, this week begins with the country and the global economy caught in the grip of uncertainty. If that sounds familiar, it is since that has clearly become the status quo over the past weeks, head-spinning, uncertainty stemming from President Trump's rollout of his tariff plan. U.S. stock futures, they are on the rise this morning now after the Trump administration carved out exemptions from the president's reciprocal tariffs on key consumer electronics, like smart phones and computers.

But that is where the latest round of uncertainty comes in. Exemptions announced Friday night were declared, not exemptions at all come Sunday morning. And then by Sunday night, the president himself declared the need for flexibility, saying more targeted tariffs on the semiconductor industry are coming.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: The tariffs will be in place in the not distant future because as you know, like we did with steel, like we did with automobiles, like we did with aluminum, which are now fully on, we'll be doing that with semiconductors, with chips and numerous other things. And that'll take place in the very near future. You have to show a certain flexibility. Nobody should be so rigid. We will have to have a certain flexibility.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: The president also indicating that new tariffs are coming on pharmaceuticals. Economists warning that that could raise well, one, the cost of prescription drugs for patients and also worsen what are already serious drug shortages.

This morning, we're getting some new insight, as I mentioned about how Americans are feeling about all of this right now. A new CBSU.gov poll finds that 56 percent, 56 percent now disapprove of how the president is handling the economy.

Also happening today, a not to miss meeting in Washington, the European Union's trade chief expected to sit down with his American counterparts after the United States and the E.U. paused the reciprocal tariffs on each other for 90 days. So, let the negotiations begin.

CNN's Alayna Treene joining us right now from the White House. Good morning, Alayna. Where did things go today?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: I mean, you put it exactly the way I'm framing it, Kate, which is just we are kicking off another week of economic uncertainty. That comes as, of course, President Trump announced last night that he will be imposing new tariffs on the semiconductor industry in the coming days, really kind of confirming that the so-called reprieve that we saw this White House give China and their electronics industry not really so much of a reprieve.

Now, just to get into this a little bit more, on Friday, the White House issued what they called a, quote, clarification of exemptions, which revealed that consumer electronics would be exempt from the tariffs that they imposed on Beijing.

Now, at first, this did look like another pleasing market calm down. But then yesterday, we really heard the president's top economic advisers kind of muddy the waters, kind of add more uncertainty and confusion to all of this when they did a tour of the Sunday shows. Listen to what they said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETER NAVARRO, TRUMP SENIOR COUNSELOR FOR TRADE AND MANUFACTURING: The policy is no exemptions, no exclusions. The policy is in effect. There were not exclusions.

HOWARD LUTNICK, COMMERCE SECRETARY: What he's doing is he's saying they're exempt from the reciprocal tariffs, but they're included in the semiconductor tariffs, which are coming in probably a month or two.

[07:05:07] JAMIESON GREER, U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE: What happened is it's not really an exception. That's not even the right word for it. What happened is this type of supply chain moved from the tariff regime for the global tariff, the reciprocal tariff, and it moved to the national security tariff regime.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TREENE: So, Kate, it is an exemption. It's not an exemption, it's a clarification, all to say they are continuing to muddy the waters here, just pushing more confusion around this broader tariff plan. And as we know what is true, one day is not necessarily true 24 hours later. We saw that happen last week.

But I think the bottom line here is that where a lot of people were kind of celebrating these exemptions or these pause on some of these electronic goods, we are now learning that is a temporary thing as these more sector-specific semiconductor tariffs are expected to come into play in the near future.

And also, just to take a broader step to mention that polling, I think this is pretty significant. The new CBSU.gov polling says that 56 percent of Americans disapprove of the president's handling of the economy. That is up from 52 percent on March 30th and 49 percent on March 2nd, all to say not the direction that this White House wants those numbers going.

BOLDUAN: That is exactly right, Alayna. It's good to see you. There's a lot that's going to be happening at the White House today. We'll be checking back in. John?

BERMAN: All right. As of now, it seems that investors are taking the White House word for it, at least the word, like 2.5 times ago when they said there are exemptions to the tariffs on technology. You can see stock futures are up slightly a couple hours before the opening bell.

Let's get right to Early Start Anchor and Business Correspondent Rahel Solomon for the latest on what's going to happen now, Rahel.

RAHEL SOLOMON, CNN BUSINESS ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Hey, John. Yes, good morning. So, imagine all of the volatility that we've seen with the tariff news in the last few weeks, sort of all happening within 48 hours. That was this weekend for Silicon Valley. That was this weekend for the tech industry.

And so we've already sort of gone through what happened Friday night, then the sort of walk back Sunday that, no, no, no, no, this wasn't an exemption, this wasn't a carve out. This was just a temporary delay. That said, as you pointed out, John, U.S. futures are pretty high. I mean, they're higher. They're green, which we will certainly take on a Monday morning heading into the week. Asian markets closed higher. European markets are all up. Last, I checked about 2 percent.

So, when I spoke earlier to Scott Devitt, who's a research analyst at Wedbush, who covers these companies closer than most, and I said, despite the confusion that we just got from the administration over the last 24 hours about what these tariffs will mean, how high they will ultimately be, when will they ultimately go in effect, markets are higher around the world. How do you explain that? And he said, look, they're up, but they would be higher if not for the last 24 hours.

And when I asked, okay, so what's an Apple, what's a company to do in this environment with so much uncertainty, how are they planning? What are you hearing? And here's what he told me.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT DEVITT, MANAGING DIRECTOR, CONSUMER INTERNET AT WEBUSH SECURITIES: Well, apple supposedly flew five planes of iPhones in you know, prior to this. And so that gives you some indication of what some companies may be doing. I think it's just a -- it's a highly uncertain time to run a business. And so companies are doing scenario analysis around various outcomes, but it's very difficult, particularly for public companies, large multinationals, the ones that are most impacted by this, to be able to forward forecast a business in an environment like this. And I think that's what you hear from the executives, and that's what you hear during earnings season coming up over the next month.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: So, really quickly, here are three things to watch this week. The administration has already said, we're going to get some news on tariffs, so watch that. We expect to hear from Jay Powell on Wednesday. Obviously watch that. And then also on Wednesday, we get retail sales, which will tell us are consumers already starting to pull back in the midst of this environment or are they actually pulling forward? Are they trying to sort of get in front of the tariff news and trying to maybe make some big purchases?

John, I don't know about you, but in my online shopping, I have already seen retailers start to sort of advertise, buy now before tariff prices go into effect. So, we'll have a better sense on Wednesday on what exactly U.S. consumers are doing.

BERMAN: Sure. I mean there's absolutely this push to get you to buy now because they are concerned the prices are going to go up and they want any hook they can get.

Rahel Solomon, thanks for explaining it so well. I appreciate it. Sara?

SIDNER: All right, thank you, John. A man is arrested for breaking into Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's home and setting it on fire while he and his family were inside sleeping.

Plus, the White House defies a judge's order to return a man mistakenly deported to a notorious El Salvadorian prison.

And an out of this world mission, the all-American space crew prepares for takeoff for the first time in 60 years. Look who's on that plane. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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SIDNER: This morning, a man is charged in connection with an arson at the Pennsylvania governor's residence while Governor Shapiro and his family slept inside. Pennsylvania State Police said that Shapiro and his family were evacuated around 2:00 Sunday after the home was set on fire. No one was injured, but as you can see, the fire caused significant damage to the home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JOSH SHAPIRO (D-PA): We do know that this attack was targeted. We don't know the person's specific motive yet, but we do know a few truths. First, this type of violence is not okay.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: Joining me now, CNN's, Jean Casarez. Wow. This is, you know, Josh Shapiro. They were sleeping in the home. They had just celebrated Passover and someone set their home on fire. What can you tell us?

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we've got the criminal complaint now, and, in fact, we have got a lot of information. First of all, the charges, the top charge is attempted homicide, that this person tried to kill the people inside with these homemade incendiary devices. Next, aggravated arson, we also have burglary of a home, and then we have as the fifth count, terrorism.

Cody Bomber is the name of the suspect who has been arrested. He actually had a friend of his, a female, call police to tell them he wanted to turn himself in. He turned himself in. He was given his Miranda rights, but he started to talk.

Here's what we know. He said that he walked about a mile to get to the house, and that's when he threw the -- he jumped the fence through the first incendiary device into a room. Police tell us that was the piano room. And then it took off. And then he went to the second window he saw and threw a second incendiary device in. That would be the dining room. It took off. He said it was Heineken beer bottles that he had put gasoline in. He jumped through the second window. He was actually in the mansion at that point, and then finished his business and left.

He was asked by police, did you believe that somebody was going to be asleep in the house at that time? He said, yes, I knew that was a possibility. That's important, the state of mind that goes to intent to want to kill who was ever in that home. He said he hated the governor.

Now, motive is not in this description right here. He may have told them more, but they don't need motive. They need the elements. But here is what the governor had to say the family was doing the night before.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SHAPIRO: Hear me on this. We celebrated our faith last night proudly. And in a few hours, we will celebrate our second Seder of Passover again proudly. No one will deter me or my family, or any Pennsylvanian from celebrating their faith openly and proudly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CASAREZ: So, then the police also asked the defendant, what would you have done if the governor had confronted you in the mansion? He said, I would've taken my hammer and I would've start to hit him, and they found, Sara, a sledgehammer at his home.

SIDNER: That is terrifying. Jean, I know you've got this information just a few moments ago and you really sort of broke down why terrorism is one of the charges there. I'm sure we will be learning more. Thank you so much for that. It was great. Kate?

BOLDUAN: Still ahead for us, Russia's deadliest attack on Ukraine this year, 34 people killed during Palm Sunday celebrations. And now President Zelenskyy has a new warning to the world if Vladimir Putin is not stopped.

And Rory McIlroy victorious, that is a sigh of relief, pulling off his long sock career Grand Slam in a roller coaster of a finished Sunday at the Masters.

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[07:20:00]

BOLDUAN: It was a dramatic ending. For the Masters at Augusta National Sunday's sudden death playoff had everyone on the edge of their seats ending with Rory McIlroy not only winning his first green jacket, but also the coveted career Grand Slam.

And CNN's Andy Scholes continues with the best assignment in news in Augusta still for us this morning. And you have just been bringing the good weather over and over again. What a finish for McIlroy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Kate, start to finish, it was an amazing tournament. The weather could not have been better the entire time, but what a roller coaster it was yesterday for Rory McIlroy and all the fans here in Augusta.

You know, I was out on the course following Rory all day, and I can't tell you enough, the patrons wanted him to win so bad, and it looked like it was going to happen, that it looked like it wasn't going to happen. But in the end, Rory came through every time it looked like things were going to fall apart for him. He would just pull it together and execute an incredible shot, just like he did here on 17. He would get this one right towards the cuff. He would end up with a birdie to take a one shot lead into 18.

But then with the chance to win it, Rory misses the putt. Everybody gassed. So, we'd end up going to a playoff with Justin Rose who had six birdies on the back nine. And with the weight of the world and another meltdown potentially on his resume, Rory coming through with one of the best shots of his career from the fairway, and this time he would knock down the winning putt and afterwards he just drops to his knees.

Rory, the sixth golfer ever to complete the career Grand Slam. He joked with the media afterwards asking us what are we going to talk about now, referencing his more than decade long, major drought. So, here's what Rory had to say about what was going through his mind when he putted there to win.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RORY MCILROY, 2025 MASTERS CHAMPION: There wasn't much joy in that reaction. It was all relief. And then, you know, the joy came pretty soon after that. But I've been coming here 17 years and, you know, it was a good decade plus of emotion that came out of me there.

[07:25:06]

I'm not going to compare it to life moments like a marriage or having a child, but it's the best day of my golfing life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Yes. So, Rory joins Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tiger Woods as the only ones to win all four majors, the career Grand Slam, and he's the first to do it in 25 years.

And, Kate, you know, Rory said he was just nervous all day during yesterday's round. And, you know, I can't overstate just how wild it was on the course. You know, there's no phones. Everyone was just hanging on every single scoreboard, update. And it just kept going back and forth, back and forth. Rory, the first person ever to have four double bogies and win the Masters, and, hey, he's never going to have to hear again that, well, he can't win the big one anymore.

BOLDUAN: Yes, of course. Then everyone says, what happens next? What comes next for you, Rory? He is like, I need to be in this moment. I really did like how he answered that question though, not comparing it to other life moments, his best moment of his golf career. That is a smart man.

It's good to see, Andy. Thank you so much. John.

BERMAN: It's what I always tell my wife. It almost always goes marriage, Red Sox, almost always.

BOLDUAN: Almost.

BERMAN: Almost.

BOLDUAN: Boss, are you listening? Boss, are you listening?

BERMAN: So, first there were tariffs on cell phones, then there weren't. Now, the White House says there will be, so take it to the bank, or not. Wait until you see what the polling now says about how Americans feel about the president's handling of the economy.

And new details on the investigation and what caused a Taurus helicopter to crash in the Hudson River, killing everyone on board.

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