Return to Transcripts main page

CNN News Central

Danger Signs For Republicans in Midterms?; Interview With Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL); Immigration Crackdown in New Orleans; Pete Hegseth Investigation. Aired 1-1:30p ET

Aired December 03, 2025 - 13:00   ET

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

[13:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:00:51]

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: CNN obtains exclusive new details on the Pentagon watchdog's review of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his use of the Signal messaging app. The bottom line: The secretary risked endangering troops by sharing highly sensitive attack plans during a group chat.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: Plus: ramping up, Homeland Security launching a new immigration enforcement operation in and around the city of New Orleans. Meantime, in Minnesota, an operation targeting undocumented Somalis is under way after the president stepped up attacks against that community.

And an arctic blast across the country leading to dangerous conditions and daring rescues like this one. We have more on this dramatic video and the deep freeze now impacting millions of Americans.

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

KEILAR: We begin with breaking news involving Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

CNN is now exclusively learning from sources that an independent watchdog group has found Hegseth risked endangering American troops when he shared sensitive war plans during a group chat on the Signal messaging app last March.

The growing scrutiny comes less than 24 hours before senators will be talking with the admiral in charge of a follow-up strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean that killed survivors.

We begin with CNN's Zach Cohen, who has our exclusive reporting on this Signal chat.

Zach, what are you learning?

ZACHARY COHEN, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Yes, Brianna, some remarkable findings from the inspector general that is the watchdog for the Pentagon, specifically considering the fact that they are about the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth.

Sources telling me and our colleague Jake Tapper that the I.G. report, which is still classified at this time, concluded that Hegseth risked compromising sensitive military information which could have endangered American troops and also jeopardized mission objectives.

Now, that's something that is based on these messages that Pete Hegseth sent back in March about an ongoing military operation targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen. Of course, he sent those details to a group chat that contained several top Trump officials, but also a reporter, Jeffrey Goldberg from "The Atlantic."

And that's how we know what the substance of these messages were. And I just want to remind people too these messages were so specific that one of them read -- quote -- "This is the exact time the first bombs will drop."

These are step-by-step operational and tactical details that Hegseth was sending in real time before the operation itself was over. And that's something the inspector general seems to be echoing criticism from current and former U.S. officials that we have talked to in the past about why this was such a mistake and a misstep by Pete Hegseth, but one that he has tried to shrug off and insisted was maybe not as big of a deal as everybody is making it out to be.

Now, at the same time, it's notable too because we're told Hegseth refused to sit down for an interview with the inspector general over the course of this monthslong investigation, instead only submitting answers via writing.

So, if there was nothing to see there, Hegseth did not want to say that to the inspector general in person, it appears. And this investigation was very thorough and multifaceted. But this overarching conclusion that Hegseth's actions endangered American troops potentially is really striking, given where it's coming from.

KEILAR: And this isn't the first time that Hegseth has denied reporting, only for us to see it corroborated, Zach.

COHEN: No, and not the first time even in the last week or two.

We have seen Pete Hegseth and Pentagon officials vehemently insisting that reporting about this strike in the Caribbean on September 2, this so-called double strike on a boat to ensure that survivors were killed, they have insisted that that was fake news, but has since been corroborated and has really contributed to the pressure that Pete Hegseth is facing at this moment.

He's really grappling now with dueling controversies that are only going to increase the amount of tension and pressure that he's going to be facing. And I want to say too, this Signal report from the inspector general, coupled with the bombing -- the questions about the bombing campaign, are really going to revive questions about not only Pete Hegseth's judgment, but also about his future as defense secretary.

[13:05:06]

KEILAR: Yes.

Zach Cohen, thank you so much for the great reporting -- Boris.

SANCHEZ: Happening now: The Trump administration's immigration crackdown in New Orleans and the surrounding area is under way.

Operation Catahoula Crunch, named for the Louisiana state dog, began this morning. DHS officials say that Border Patrol agents are looking to make at least 5,000 arrests, targeting criminals they claim are in the U.S. illegally. City leaders, though, say that this crackdown has sparked mass chaos and confusion, and that the Trump administration is offering few details.

The city's mayor-elect, the first Latina to lead City Hall, tells CNN she fears DHS tactics will target people of color.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HELENA MORENO (D), MAYOR-ELECT OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA: What they're seeing on TV and reports that they're seeing is not that Border Patrol is going after the most violent criminals. It's not -- that's not what they're seeing.

What they're seeing is what appears to be racial profiling of brown people, and then going after these individuals and treating them like they are these significantly violent offenders.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: CNN senior national correspondent Ryan Young is on the ground for us in New Orleans.

Ryan, what are you learning about the operation?

RYAN YOUNG, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I talked to the mayor-elect yesterday, Boris, and you can hear in her words the concerns that she has.

We have talked to several people in the community today, and they're worried about the current leadership and wondering why the mayor who's currently in office hasn't been more vocal about this.

But I want to show you, there are outpouring signs to the community here. You see this right here: "ICE, immigrants rebuilt our city, churches and homes."

You got to remember, after Katrina, a lot of immigration, a lot of immigrants flooded into this city and helped rebuild this city. And so now we have been in this community all day long, as people have been terrified about dark SUVs, They're scared of people with masks jumping out of cars. We have been told by law enforcement sources that several meetings

have been happening throughout the city, but the large sort of enforcement hasn't really started off just yet. There have been rumors about folks being at the Lowe's or their Home Depot and sort of people getting picked up, but we haven't seen those videos so far.

But take a listen to the gentleman that we talked to today, who was at the park, he was running, and he saw some officers in the distance. He became terrified. Even though he has his immigration papers, he didn't have them on him while he was running. Take a listen, Boris.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

"GABRIEL," NEW ORLEANS RESIDENT: I'm not feeling safety, because you know, when you go to make exercise, you don't carry your driver license. You don't carry no -- nothing can prove you're a citizen, but that because what I can hear in social media and everything, these people are just looking at your color.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YOUNG: Boris, he was hyperventilating at one point during our interview. He started shedding tears. He said he was worried, called his wife. He was driving home. He was upset because he didn't have his immigration paperwork on him at the time.

He says he's a legal U.S. citizen, but he was so terrified that he'd be picked up and not make it home. He says he's trying to figure out whether or not he can still work at his business and whether or not this will impact that.

There has been a lot of restaurants that have also felt the impact of this. I'm actually holding this whistle here that's been handed out at some restaurants. The goal of this is to make sure they put it in as many hands as possible. And when the ICE agents show up, people will start blowing the whistle.

There have been organizations that are helping to educate people to make sure they know exactly what they should do to help folks, but not also violate the law, because federal agents have made it clear, if you block federal agents during the arrest, you could face prosecution yourself.

Boris, it's going to be a very interesting week as this starts to kick off.

SANCHEZ: Yes, no doubt.

Ryan Young, thank you so much for staying on top of that for us in New Orleans.

Still to come, we're going to speak with a Republican member of the Armed Services Committee about this stunning watchdog report on the defense secretary's use of Signal, as well as that deadly follow-up strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean.

Plus, Democrats just lost an election in Tennessee, so why are they celebrating? We will explain.

And, later, we're getting reaction from Minneapolis after Trump calls the city's Somali population garbage he doesn't want in the country.

That and much more coming your way on CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:13:27]

SANCHEZ: Back to our breaking news on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

CNN has exclusively learned that the Pentagon inspector general's independent investigation determined that Hegseth risked endangering American troops when he shared highly sensitive war plans on a Signal group chat. This is according to four sources who have seen it.

Remember, this happened back in March, when he shared real-time updates about forthcoming strikes targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Let's discuss with Republican Congressman Carlos Gimenez of Florida. He sits on the House Armed Services Committee.

Congressman, thank you so much for sharing your afternoon with us.

I know that this report was delivered to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees for review. I'm wondering if you have seen it, if you can share your impressions.

REP. CARLOS GIMENEZ (R-FL): No, I have not seen it. I'm sure it went to leadership and probably the ranking member first before it's shared with the rest of the committee. So I have not seen it.

SANCHEZ: I wonder if it concerns you that the secretary refused to sit for an interview with the inspector general and whether you think this will conclusively determine that he didn't follow or did follow DOD guidelines?

GIMENEZ: Well, look, I mean, whenever something like that happens, yes, the secretary of war should sit down with the inspector general and give his side of the story, and because that's what the inspector general is there, to investigate and investigate for us here in Congress and give us a report on what they found.

And so, if the reports are true that there was a Signal chat and some information was given that should not have gone out, I mean, we have all saw it. You learn from that and you move on from that and you make sure that that never happens again.

[13:15:11]

People make mistakes all the time. When I was mayor of Miami-Dade County, whenever I made a mistake, I always found the best medicine was admit it and tell the people you're not going to do it again and then move on. The American people have a real high tolerance. They're very generous

people and they will understand that not everybody's perfect and mistakes will be made and we're all human.

SANCHEZ: In light of this report, the controversy surrounding recent boat strikes as well and broadly what you have seen from him over the last year, and his insistence previously that the I.G. is somehow politically motivated and tainted, are you confident that Hegseth has learned that lesson? Are you confident in him as the Pentagon chief?

GIMENEZ: I'm confident with him as the Pentagon chief.

I mean, a lot of us have to grow thicker skin. And every once in a while, you will make a mistake. And I always found the best medicine, admit the mistake, move on. Yes, this shouldn't have been on Signal. Somebody made a huge mistake of putting somebody in the chat that should have never been in that chat, obviously.

And so Signal is not a very secure platform if these kind of mistakes are made. Make sure it never happens again. Tell the American people it's not going to happen again and then move on, OK? And, like I said, the American people have a great capacity for forgiveness as long as you admit it and then you move on.

SANCHEZ: Yes, I do want to ask you congressman about the follow-up strike in the Caribbean of this alleged drug-running boat.

It's been five days since the Senate and House Armed Services had promised that there would be oversight. Yesterday, you told CNN that you had not yet heard from Chairman Rogers. Has that changed? When do you expect you will be able to get video and audio of that strike?

GIMENEZ: We had a classified briefing today, but it was not on that issue. And so I'm waiting for that to come forward, hopefully some time next week.

I have already said that there are conflicting reports here. One source said that he knew something about these people were alive and he ordered the strike to kill them all. But there were five other sources from another newspaper saying that, no, he did not do that and make that order.

I find it more plausible with the other source. In my experience, as the secretary of war, he would probably give orders to strike the boat, give a mission to somebody underneath, in this case an admiral. And then the admiral -- it's up to the admiral to carry out that mission. And I am not going to second-guess a highly decorated admiral in how he determined he was going to finish that mission.

And so, again, I think that there's one source, unnamed source, versus five. I'm going to side with the secretary of war on this one.

SANCHEZ: Much of the basis for these strikes, though, Congressman, remain unknown. The administration hasn't actually presented evidence that fentanyl was on any of these boats.

Even Secretary Rubio...

GIMENEZ: That's not the issue.

SANCHEZ: Well, even Secretary Rubio acknowledged that some of the boats may not have been heading to the United States. He said they could have been going to Trinidad, possibly Europe.

GIMENEZ: That's...

SANCHEZ: So how does the administration then justify claiming that these ships posed an imminent threat to Americans?

GIMENEZ: They all posed an imminent threat to America.

And I tell you why, because all those drugs are the carrier drugs for fentanyl. And so the fentanyl -- they don't sell you fentanyl to have by itself. There's a carrier drug, and it's either cocaine or some other drug. These drugs are then shipped to probably Mexico, where they're laced with fentanyl, and that fentanyl has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans.

And so this is -- these people that are operating those boats, they are narco-terrorists. Narco-terrorists, they're responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans. They have declared war on us for years. We have done nothing about it. And the number one duty of any government is to protect its citizens.

Our previous administrations did nothing about it. And because of that, probably about a million Americans died. And so I'm glad that this president is taking that action. If you are transporting drugs in the Western Hemisphere and you're part of a narco-terrorist organization, your life is at risk.

You have been warned. If you continue to do it, then you will probably suffer the same fate as those other numerous ships that already suffered.

SANCHEZ: Congressman, at the same time the Trump administration is pausing immigration applications by Venezuelans, as well as reexamining all green cards issued to Venezuelans. They have also restricted travel by Venezuelans to the U.S. and they're ending temporary protected status. Do you support those moves?

GIMENEZ: Look, I always -- what I said is that it should be done on a case-by-case basis.

The people that entered the United States in the last four years, the millions of people that entered the United States in the last four years, should have been allowed in on a case-by-case basis, but they weren't. They were allowed in on a wholesale basis.

[13:20:03]

And along with those people, many of which were fine people, were here for the right reasons, came along, the drug dealers, the gang members -- gang members, criminals, OK, that have been creating havoc in American cities.

And so this is the consequences that we get for these policies of four years ago. The president is trying to fix that. Do I agree with everything the President Trump is doing in this case? No, I don't. I really don't. But I believe that, and I have said it from the get-go, we should be deporting gang members, criminals, those with active deportation orders.

And then everybody else should get a case-by-case hearing to determine their eligibility to stay in the United States. Is that happening right now? I'm not sure. That's what I'd like to see happen in the future. And I think that that would be the right policy.

SANCHEZ: You have recently said that you believe that the pendulum has swung too far on immigration, that folks who are law-abiding who have been here for decades without any serious crime are being targeted.

GIMENEZ: Yes.

SANCHEZ: When we spoke leading up to the campaign, you had said that you believed that President Trump and his promise of mass deportation would seek to deport criminals first, that anyone facing deportation would, just as you said, have their day in court.

And we have seen that hasn't been the case. Do you believe that you were misled about the president's intentions or perhaps misinterpreted them?

GIMENEZ: Well, it may be a combination of the two.

What I would like is what I have just said, OK? And so what I have been told by the administration is that 70 percent of the people that are being deported are -- have active deportation orders, they're criminals, they have a criminal record, et cetera. I think 95 percent of the American people are fine with that.

The problem is the other 30 percent. And we need to find a better way for the other 30 percent. I do believe that somebody who's been here for a long time, 20, 25 years, yes, technically, they're illegal. And, yes, you could deport them because they have been here illegally. I think that there has to be a better way of doing this, number one, for our economy, for -- they're part of our economy.

They have been part of our economy. They have had kids here. And so we have to find a middle ground here. And so the administration knows exactly where I am, where I have stood on this for a long time. And I hope, hope that we can get to that sooner, rather than later.

SANCHEZ: There are sources that contradict the proportion that you say the administration shared with you about 70 percent having criminal records.

But, nevertheless, Congressman, that is a conversation for another day. And we look forward to that.

Congressman Carlos Gimenez, thank you so much for the time.

GIMENEZ: Likewise. My pleasure.

SANCHEZ: Still to come: Republicans managed to avoid an upset in a special election in Tennessee, but Democrats say they're feeling good about their performance in a deep red district. We will explain why.

Plus, new data is out on the jobs market, the numbers, though, not very pretty. We will discuss in just moments.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:27:20]

KEILAR: Republicans have avoided an upset in Tennessee. Matt Van Epps has won the state's Seventh congressional seat, beating out Democrat Aftyn Behn.

But the margin was just nine points. And a year ago, President Trump won that district by 22.

CNN's Eva McKend is in Nashville.

Eva, how does this tee up momentum for the midterms next year?

EVA MCKEND, CNN NATIONAL POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: Boris and Brianna, both sides are framing the election results right here in Tennessee's Seventh Congressional District as a victory.

But, to be clear, it is only Republican Matt Van Epps that will head to Congress. But it came at a high cost. Republicans spent more than $3 million in this race. And Democrat Aftyn Behn says therein lies her victory, that she made this race competitive by focusing on an affordability message.

We saw Speaker Mike Johnson come here to campaign with Van Epps in the closing days of the contest, as well as the Republican candidate held several tele-rallies with President Donald Trump. Well, now the conversation shifts to the midterms. There is a spirited internal debate among Democrats about the best path forward.

Do they continue to elevate candidates like Behn in red and purple districts who can energize Democratic voters? She is a progressive organizer, a former social worker. There are some in the party that believe this is the right strategy, but others say that they should instead go back to the playbook and maintain the centrist and moderate candidates in competitive districts.

They believe that that is more of a safe bet -- Boris, Brianna.

KEILAR: Our thanks to Eva McKend.

We have all seen the videos, right, masked immigration officials launching tear gas, breaking car windows, tackling people to the ground. Sometimes, they're American citizens. Are they allowed to do this? And, if so, why? Next, CNN explains the Trump administration's aggressive immigration

tactics.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)