Return to Transcripts main page

CNN News Central

Trump Calls His Supporters Upset About Epstein Probe "Weaklings"; Large-Scale Wave of Russian Attacks Hits Ukraine Amid U.S. Policy Shift; GHF: 20 People Killed in Crush at Israeli and U.S. Aid Site in Gaza; Hearing for Kilmar Abrego Garcia in Tennessee Criminal Case. Aired 3-3:30p ET

Aired July 16, 2025 - 15:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:00:30]

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: New Calls for Transparency: House Speaker Mike Johnson calling for all, quote, "credible information on Jeffrey Epstein to be publicly released." But on the same day the President is lashing out at his own supporters for what he says is buying a BS story.

And Russia intensifying its attacks on Ukraine. The Kremlin unleashing hundreds of long-range drones on key regions including the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Plus, first day on the - of testimony in the murder trial of a Colorado dentist accused of poisoning his wife's protein shakes. And the courtroom will feature something rarely seen on the stand a comfort dog.

We're following these major developing stories and many more all coming in right here to CNN News Central.

SANCHEZ: So much for letting the story die. President Donald Trump just unloading apparently frustrated over the response his administration is facing over their handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Earlier today, the President went on a social media tear against Democrats and also against some of the very people who campaigned and voted for him. Calling them, quote, "past supporters" and "weaklings" that got duped by a BS hoax.

Let's take you live to the White House with CNN's Kristen Holmes.

Kristen first came the post then came more comments at the White House during a bilateral meeting with the King of Bahrain.

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Boris. I mean, I just want to read you some of the things that President Trump said during this meeting with the King of Bahrain. He said it was stupid Republicans and stupid people who were still interested in this. He said foolish Republicans fell into the net of what he called a Democratic, quote, "Epstein hoax." He also at one point said that he had lost faith in certain people who continued to talk about the Epstein investigation.

And then, he basically said that he wanted this issue to be put to bed. Listen --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He's dead, he's gone and all it is, is the Republicans - certain Republicans got duped by the Democrats and they're following a Democrat playbook and no different when - than Russia, Russia, Russia and all the other hoaxes that started by the Democrats and some Republicans in this case I was surprised but they got duped.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: And Boris, one thing to keep in mind here is some of the people that, quote-unquote, "got duped." There are people that he put into top administration positions including Attorney General Pam Bondi, including the head of the FBI Kash Patel and the deputy director of the FBI Dan Bongino all people who had called for a release of the Epstein, quote-unquote, "files."

But whether or not this goes over, whether or not this blows over particularly with his MAGA base, it remains to be seen because there is a lot of anger among those people who are some of his top supporters and allies at how President Trump and the Attorney General have handled this.

SANCHEZ: And Kristen, President Trump also spoke about Fed Chair Jerome Powell. There was this reporting you heard from sources at the White House that the President yesterday was holding up a letter during a meeting with Republicans demanding Powell's resignation. The President sort of denied that today but he did say that he wouldn't rule out potentially firing the Fed Chair.

HOLMES: Yes, Boris, I mean it's a lot of whiplash right now. I mean, moments before President Trump said that he wouldn't rule it out but also wasn't even thinking about it and probably wouldn't fire him. A White House official was telling me that the day before he had been polling lawmakers in the Oval Office asking if he should fire him and indicating to those lawmakers that he would in fact take it upon himself to fire them.

Now, I was told by a White House official that this is just Trump being Trump. He obviously has made it clear he does not like the Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. And so, because of that, he has been asking everyone around him could he fire him, should he fire him.

But the thing to remember here that some of his top officials do not want him to attempt to fire Jerome Powell. They are very concerned about what that will do to the markets and what the optics of that are. So right now you see him as one White House official told me toying with the idea.

SANCHEZ: Kristen Holmes from the White House thank you so much. Let's dig deeper on this with our panel. We have former Republican

Congressman of Pennsylvania Charlie Dent with us and CNN Senior Political Commentator Scott Jennings.

[15:05:01]

Scott, that is a beautiful American flag waving behind you really appreciate the set design for our panel. I just want to get your thoughts on ...

SCOTT JENNINGS, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Hey, you guys are coming in here to - this is the set of a Scott Jennings radio show on the Salem network. It's amazing I'm just saying American flags never a bad thing to have around (INAUDIBLE) ...

SANCHEZ: Solid ...

KEILAR: Giving us a run for our money here.

SANCHEZ: ... solid plug as well Scott.

What do you think of Trump calling some of his supporters weaklings?

CHARLIE DENT, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Greetings from the Aspen Security Forum.

SANCHEZ: Shout out to Charlie.

Scott, weaklings, I mean ...

JENNINGS: Not as exciting. Not as exciting by the way.

SANCHEZ: The President himself has called for the release of these files. His son has argued that there's a cover-up. I mean, this supposed conspiracy has touched just about every figure close to MAGA world but now these folks are past supporters and they're weaklings?

JENNINGS: Well, look, the President has said if it's credible and it can be released it should be released, so that's instruction number one. So obviously the President is signaling to the Department of Justice if something can go out, it can go out.

Now, I'm sure there are things that cannot go out and the people over at the Department of Justice from Bondi to Bongino to Patel, they know that and they're going to have to handle that appropriately. But I can understand the President's frustration. On the one hand he wants credible information out. On the other hand, he's on this incredible run whether it's on the economy or foreign affairs or other issues and I think what I'm intuiting from him as he's massively frustrated that this issue is sort of derailing momentum or taking attention away from what he thinks and rightfully thinks is a bunch of success.

So, I understand the political frustration. I also understand the frustration of people who want as much transparency as they can get. My advice, follow the President's lead. If you can get it out get it out. But whatever you're going to do, do it now and then explain to the American people why you can or why you can't on the rest of it.

KEILAR: Charlie, I wonder what you're hearing from House Republicans about how they're navigating this and just Republicans are talking to, do they think that Trump may be underestimating the political salience of this whole Epstein thing?

DENT: Well, I think House Republicans are trapped between the President and the President's MAGA base right now. And frankly, this whole mess is really it's a consequence of this administration hoisting itself on its own conspiracy theory petard, you know, for how many years have we listened to people in the Justice Department you mentioned them, Patel, and Bongino, and now Bondi all out there for years saying that there was an Epstein file. You know, they raised expectations here. Now, they're in positions of power and they're saying there's nothing there.

So, were they telling the truth back then, are they telling the truth now. And now, of course, the Democrats are piling on and saying hey we want more transparency. The Republican MAGA base is saying yes, we want transparency too then it just feels like the administration is maybe concealing something here. I don't know what that is, but they've - they completely mishandled this. But this is a - they're stewing in their own muck. It's a mess of their own making and they really aren't sure how to get out from under it. And I think a lot of House Republicans kind of feel like they're kind of trapped here between Trump and a lot of their own voter base now.

KEILAR: Yes, and Scott he's also - he's trying to say that this was spun up by Democrats, right? But really this was a Republican thing. His deputy FBI director was propagating Epstein conspiracy theories, what are seen as conspiracy theories for years, does that land him saying that?

JENNINGS: Well, I - you know, look, it's clear that Republicans and some of his supporters want answers and they've wanted them for years. That's absolutely true, number one. Number two, I think it's also true that Democrats today are being completely disingenuous about this whether you're Ro Khanna or Dick Durbin or whoever is out there making news and noise about this today.

Joe Biden had these files for four years, Democrats have been in Congress while these files have been sitting around and nobody seemed to care about it until they thought there was a political wedge to be used against Donald Trump. So, I think his frustration here is, is that Democrats since sense that this is the first time they've been able to get their footing really since he took office and he knows that, he has political instincts.

So, I do think Dems frankly are being disingenuous when, you know, look Joe Biden could release this at any point. He wanted to and they chose not to. Now, it's a national emergency. So, I think on the immediacy where Democrats are attacking him, Trump does have a point.

SANCHEZ: Charlie, I'm curious to get your reaction to Scott's point about there being credible information that could be released in part because it seems like the President himself is struggling with the messaging on this being credible given that it was his Department of Justice that prosecuted the case against Jeffrey Epstein, I mean James Comey who - he keeps blaming for this, was fired in 2017. Epstein was arrested in 2019. Ostensibly, all those files were gathered way after James Comey was gone, way after Barack Obama was in office well before Joe Biden was in office.

[15:09:59]

So, what do you make of the President's messaging on this and the idea that there is some credible information that the administration can put out.

DENT: Well, I think there's two issues here. There's the issue of the Epstein list and apparently there is not one and so that got the MAGA base stirred up. Then, there's the second issue. Well, what other information is there that we should be aware of. Were there people involved who should have been prosecuted or who were too close to Jeffrey Epstein not saying he did anything wrong but are they going to release information on these people who had relationships with Epstein, maybe were on the plane with him, but, you know, but really make - might not be able to be credibly accused of committing any crimes.

So, I think the administration now is perhaps worried about releasing information that could embarrass some people who may not have done anything criminal and I think they're just all bollocks stuff but the problem is we don't know, we haven't seen any information so it's hard for any of us to make judgments on what information is credible and what information is not credible.

And so, again, this is the information - this is the administration just you know playing with conspiracy theories and now they're - now, they don't know how to handle it because a lot of their own supporters weren't in on the joke that this was a conspiracy theory. They actually believe it and now they don't know how to release whatever information they have.

KEILAR: Yes, they - and they still believe it and are demanding that information. Charlie Dent, Scott Jennings thank you so much to both you. We really appreciate it.

SANCHEZ: Two fabulous backgrounds.

KEILAR: Yes, beautiful, both of you, evoking very different feelings ...

DENT: Aspen Security Forum (INAUDIBLE) ...

KEILAR: Both patriotic and very American and we love you for it.

All right. Still to come, Russia launches another major drone attack on Ukraine despite the 50-day peace ultimatum that President Trump gave to President Putin.

SANCHEZ: Plus, the controversial U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says at least 20 people were killed in a crowd crush at their aid distribution site. We'll take you live to Israel in just moments.

And later, testimony begins in the murder trial of the dentist accused of poisoning his wife's protein shakes. Why some witnesses are requesting support dogs during their testimony. That and much more coming your way in just a few minutes. Don't go anywhere.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:16:34]

SANCHEZ: We're keeping an eye on developments in Ukraine and Russia unleashing another massive drone attack overnight. The Ukrainian Air Force saying the Kremlin launched some 400 long-range drones and one missile on various parts of the country. While most were intercepted or disabled some made it through and at least two people were killed with several others wounded. Among the targets, the hometown of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suffering its worst attack since the war began. Joining us now to discuss his retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Cedric Leighton.

Col. Leighton, always great to have you.

I wonder what you make of the Russian response so far. The Kremlin saying that they're monitoring the delivery of any long-range weapons into Ukraine while also suggesting that this new plan for the U.S. to funnel weapons to Ukraine through NATO is simply a question of funding. What message is the Kremlin trying to send here?

COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Yes, basically, I think what the Kremlin is trying to say, Boris, is that nothing much has changed and they're going to hold the supply chain at risk. So, from a military standpoint what they want to do is they want to cut off the supply lines from let's say Poland or other parts of Europe Central and Western Europe into Ukraine.'

Now, they've tried to do this before, they haven't been very successful at doing it, but there's always a chance that they could succeed at least partially in cutting things off. From the funding standpoint, that really doesn't matter. You know, from their standpoint they're looking at this we're going to have weapons that are going to be facing us. From the Ukrainian standpoint, they also really don't care as long as they get the weapons.

But what is going to happen is if these weapons move it could change some of the tactical dynamics on the battlefield, it won't necessarily win the war for Ukraine, but it is going to make a difference in terms of some of the - some of the discrete engagements that we see nowadays.

SANCHEZ: there is a question of how far Ukraine could reach into Russia with some of these long-range weapons. We were speaking to Nick Paton Walsh, our correspondent in the last hour discussing how Russia pointed to this sort of will they - won't they in Berlin over whether they send Taurus long-range missiles. I wonder what you make of this will they won't they for Germany and also how that might bolster Ukraine at a time where that kind of weaponry could be useful perhaps dangerous in terms of escalation.

LEIGHTON: Yes. Certainly, the Taurus is one of the reasons that the previous German government under old Chancellor Scholz was not keen on putting the Taurus in there was because of the fear of escalation. The Taurus missile is a very effective missile and it could be used for longer-range fires, in other words attacking areas that are way behind the front lines.

Now, when they do that kind of thing - they're going to - you know, if the new German government under Chancellor Merz, actually goes ahead and authorizes the Taurus, they may do so in a way that's going to at least make the attempt of surprising the Russians. So, if they have a tactical surprise where they bring the Taurus in that could also alter the dynamic of the battlefield and perhaps the hope is if they do that kind of thing that they might score a tactical surprise which would force the Russians to the negotiating table at that point, but that's, you know, basically Germany's at a fork in the road maybe the Taurus yes, maybe Taurus no, and that's going to really be the way they determine I think the future course of German participation in this effort.

SANCHEZ: We know how President Trump feels about it when he was asked, he said that he would not support Ukrainian attacks with long-range missiles into Russian territory.

[15:20:03]

And yet the crux of what you could call a disagreement there between the U.S. and what Ukraine's aspirations are is what will Putin respond to. We've spoken before, you seem skeptical that Putin might respond to this 50-day ultimatum. Is it going to be enough to change the calculus to get closer to peace?

LEIGHTON: I don't think the 50 - well, the 50-day ultimatum I think is too long first of all. And what it does is it give the - gives the Russians chances to move forward with their spring offensive on the - summer offensive on the ground. Now, having said that the basic idea of bringing in weapon systems from the West really depends on how fast those weapons arrive in Ukraine. If they can arrive within the next week or so, start to arrive at that point, that could make a big difference. And what you're seeing now is you're seeing incremental gains in certain sectors by the Russians in places like Pokrovsk, that area in eastern Ukraine.

Just a few minutes ago, Zelenskyy - President Zelenskyy of Ukraine said that there was a bomb that was dropped in the Donetsk region. So, that indicates that the Russians are escalating. And when the Russians escalate, they're trying to, in essence, you know change the dynamics of the battlefield and make it much, much harder for the Ukrainians to respond in kind and much, much harder for the Ukrainians to potentially lob longer-range weapons into places like Moscow or St. Petersburg.

SANCHEZ: Yes. That underscores how badly Ukraine needs help right now.

Col. Cedric Leighton, always good to get your perspective. Thanks for joining us.

LEIGHTON: Thank you so much, Boris.

SANCHEZ: Brianna.

KEILAR: At least 20 people have been killed in a crowd-crush at a Gaza aid distribution site that's according to the controversial Israeli and U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation that was distributing aid there. This work's the first time the group has acknowledged deaths at one of its distribution centers. The GHF claims that the quote chaotic and dangerous surge was instigated by individuals associated with Hamas. Hamas' government, media office denied this claim and is blaming the aid group for the incident. CNN's Jeremy Diamond is live for us from Jerusalem.

Jeremy, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights says that hundreds of people have been killed at these aid distribution sites run by the GHF. What are you learning?

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's no question that there have been hundreds of people who've been killed while on their way to these Gaza humanitarian foundation sites but what the incident that we saw today appears to be, you know, the first instance of people dying within the GHF sites themselves.

GHF is acknowledging that there was a quote chaotic and dangerous surge which they say led to 19 people being trampled on and one person who was stabbed in the crowd crush, that's according to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. They also alleged that there were individuals who were armed and affiliated with Hamas who were responsible for instigating the chaos although they didn't provide any evidence to support that claim.

We should note that the Palestinian Ministry of Health said that 21 people were killed in the incident, but they said that 15 died from suffocation after tear gas was fired at a crowd of people awaiting aid. And they said that another six people were shot in the upper body by Israeli forces. The Israeli military declined to comment on that incident and referred questions to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation instead.

We do know, of course, that there have been numerous, almost daily incidents of Israeli fire being directed at Palestinians who are making their way to these Gaza humanitarian foundation sites. In fact, just yesterday we saw a new video that emerged from an incident on Saturday where you can see heavy machine-gun fire being fired in the immediate direction and sometimes over the heads of Palestinians who were cowering on the ground as they were trying to make their way to this GHF site.

And, of course, a lot of this has to do with this model of distribution itself. Only a handful of sites, usually two or three per day that are operating instead of the hundreds of U.N. and NGO sites that would be open traditionally, which means these large crowds going to a very small number of places and of course the devastating and dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza still not improving. Brianna. KEILAR: Jeremy Diamond live for us from Jerusalem. Thank you.

And coming up, a hearing is underway for the man wrongfully deported to El Salvador. The judge could decide if Kilmar Abrego Garcia will remain in jail for - while awaiting trial for smuggling charges or not, which could open him up to being deported.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:29:22]

KEILAR: Right now, a Tennessee criminal court judge is hearing the case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia who is the undocumented Maryland man that the Trump administration wrongly sent to El Salvador. Last month, he was allowed to return to face human smuggling charges which is the case now before the judge. He could decide today to release Abrego Garcia. And the Trump administration says if that happens, the father of three will be deported again, but it's not clear where he will be sent. Joining us now is Benjamin Osorio, immigration attorney for Abrego Garcia. He is also a partner at the Murray Osorio law firm.

[15:30:00]

Thank you so much for being with us.

And there seem to be some indications here in recent court proceedings that there may not be reason to hold Mr. Abrego Garcia for pretrial detention ...