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Early Start with Rahel Solomon
Hungary Says It Will Quit ICC as Netanyahu Visits; U.S. Consumers Facing higher Automobile Prices; Trump Fires White House Officials After Laura Loomer Meeting; 7 Killed as Dozens of Tornadoes Hit Central U.S. Aired 5:30-6a ET
Aired April 04, 2025 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:30:00]
RAHEL SOLOMON, CNN ANCHOR: Vladimir Putin's top negotiator says that the Trump administration understands Russian concerns after his high- level talks with U.S. officials on Thursday. According to Russian state media, Kirill Dmitriev claims that a main topic now is restoring Russian-American ties, a relationship that was apparently interrupted during the Biden administration.
Earlier, he told CNN that there has been major progress regarding a ceasefire in Ukraine, and that's thanks to the Trump White House.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIRILL DMITRIEV, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN'S SPECIAL ENVOY: I think there is an understanding for how we can move to finalize the agreement, and there have been lots of discussion in that realm. Lots of differences still remain, but I think there are several passes to try to address all of the issues, and only a diplomatic solution can be possible.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOLOMON: Dmitriev has been highlighting Russia's absence from the list of global tariffs unveiled by President Trump on Wednesday and says that U.S. businesses would be welcome in Russia if punitive sanctions over its war in Ukraine were lifted.
Ukrainian officials say that three people were injured in a massive drone attack on the southeastern city of Dnipro Friday. The city's mayor says that no one was killed and there was minimal damage.
In Kharkiv, at least two people were killed and another 32 injured during a Russian drone attack on Thursday. Russia has targeted Ukraine's second-largest city almost nightly over the past week.
President Trump says that he expects to welcome Benjamin Netanyahu to the U.S. as soon as next week. The U.S. president says that he spoke with the Israeli prime minister on Thursday, as Israel has launched a major new expansion of its military operation in Gaza.
Meanwhile, a senior Hamas source tells CNN that the group has rejected Israel's latest proposal for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza.
[05:35:00]
The plan called for a 40-day pause in fighting in exchange for the release of 11 living hostages and half of the 35 deceased hostages.
Hungry, meantime, says that it will withdraw from the International Criminal Court, becoming the only country in the European Union to do so. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban says that the court is a, quote, political tool.
He welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Budapest on Thursday, ignoring the ICC's arrest warrant for the Israeli leader. Now, it's the first time that Mr. Netanyahu has traveled to Europe since the court called for his arrest last May. The ICC claims that Prime Minister Netanyahu bears criminal responsibility for war crimes in Gaza, including allegations of crimes against humanity and starvation as a method of warfare.
Now, let's bring in CNN's Nada Bashir, who joins us live from London. Nada, good morning to you. Talk to us about what impact this decision from Hungary will have.
NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well look, Rahel, this is clearly sending a message to the ICC, and it's a message that the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in particular has wanted to send in taking part in this visit to Budapest. The prime minister in Hungary, Viktor Orban, a longtime ally of the Israeli prime minister and of the state of Israel. We heard previously when that arrest warrant was first issued back in May of last year, vehement criticism from Viktor Orban with regards to the ICC's decision.
That was again echoed yesterday following that announcement by the Hungarian government that they would be withdrawing from the International Criminal Court, forgoing any sort of responsibility as a signatory to the Rome Statute to arrest the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who, of course, has an arrest warrant issued on him by the ICC and to transfer him to the Hague.
Now, as you mentioned, there are pretty serious allegations laid against the Israeli prime minister, including war crimes and crimes against humanity. The ICC says it has reasonable grounds to believe that the Israeli prime minister bears criminal responsibility for such crimes.
But again, this has drawn clear criticism, not only from the Israeli government, but also from the Hungarian government. And we heard yesterday from the Israeli prime minister reiterating that criticism and also thanking Hungary for its stance. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: You've just taken a bold and principled position on the ICC, and I thank you, Viktor. This is not only important for us, it's important for all democracies. It's important to stand up to this corrupt organization. (END VIDEO CLIP)
BASHIR: Now, Rahel, this is the first time we've seen the Israeli prime minister setting foot on European soil since that arrest warrant was issued. This decision taken by the Hungarian government makes it the first and only European nation to take a step back from the ICC. And that process is expected to begin today, according to Hungarian officials.
Clearly, the symbolism here really reiterating those strong ties between the Hungarian government and the Israeli prime minister. And this decision taken by the Hungarian government and this visit that is taking place over four days by the Israeli prime minister comes at a time where the Israeli military is deepening and expanding its military operation in Gaza, aiming to seize more territory within the Gaza Strip. And, of course, as we continue to see the death toll mounting in Gaza as well -- Rahel.
SOLOMON: Nada Bashir, reporting for us in London. Nada, thank you.
Still to come for us, how U.S. auto dealers and consumers are trying to deal with the fears of higher prices linked to President Trump's tariffs.
Plus, the White House fired the director and deputy director of the National Security Agency. We'll have the latest details coming up straight ahead.
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SOLOMON: Welcome back. I'm Rahel Solomon. And here are some of the stories we are watching for you today.
South Korea's constitutional court ruling unanimously in favor of removing impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. This after months of political turmoil over the ousted president's decision to briefly impose martial law back in December.
One day into Donald Trump's new trade policy and global markets are plunging. Despite new predictions of a trade war and concerns of a recession, President Trump maintains that his new tariffs will be successful.
But there is broad condemnation and concern about the new tariffs, with some foreign leaders planning retaliatory tariffs of their own. Canada's prime minister called the current trade relationship with the U.S. a tragedy.
And the Trump tariffs are expected to push car prices significantly higher, and that has some American consumers looking to buy now instead of later. CNN's Omar Jimenez caught up with some of them in Michigan.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) GEORGE GLASSMAN, PRESIDENT, GLASSMAN AUTOMOTIVE GROUP: I've had my share of turmoil over the years, and so that's why I'm comfortable that this, too, will be something that we'll be able to deal with and overcome.
OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): But George Glassman knows it won't be easy. He runs Glassman Automotive Group in Southfield, Michigan, outside Detroit, the self-described auto capital of the world.
GLASSMAN: So my father started the business in 1969. We haven't seen anything, in my opinion, this disruptive as long as I've been in the business.
JIMENEZ (voice-over): His current inventory of cars is pre-tariff, unaffected. But that won't last.
JIMENEZ: Do you anticipate having to raise prices on your vehicles when we get to that point?
GLASSMAN: Well, we're not going to have a choice. Ultimately, a decision has to be made by the manufacturers. How much are they willing to absorb of the tariff?
JIMENEZ (voice-over): Which would affect prices for people like Laura Downing.
LAURA DOWNING, RECENTLY LEASED A CAR: I have huge concerns about the tariffs and all the different ways that prices are going to go up, not just as related to, you know, automobiles and auto parts, etc.
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JIMENEZ (voice-over): As she spoke with us, she had just leased a new car.
DOWNING: With auto parts going up, I just figured I might as well be in something that's newer that I'm not going to need a lot of maintenance on.
JIMENEZ (voice-over): The Trump administration also plans to put tariffs on car parts by May.
DOWNING: I don't know how much I can say, but I mean, you know, I think the entire thing is bad politics. It's not good for anybody, even much further outside of just auto parts. You know, it's going to hurt a lot of people.
JIMENEZ (voice-over): And she wasn't the only one thinking tariffs.
JIMENEZ: So that was on your mind when you came in.
ROBERT HOLIDAY, SOUTHVILLE, MICHIGAN RESIDENT: That was the main reason on my mind, the tariffs. Everybody's saying that the prices on automobiles are going to go up. We're kind of on fixed income. That was the main reason. DENISE HOLIDAY, SOUTHVILLE, MICHIGAN RESIDENT: Yes, we're retired.
R. HOLIDAY: We're retired.
D. HOLIDAY: We thought we better come now.
R. HOLIDAY: Yes.
D. HOLIDAY: Well, we still can. And we still have our Social Security.
JIMENEZ (voice-over): Both the Holidays and Downing are part of what Glassman described as somewhat of a dash of customers in recent weeks, trying to find something to drive before prices drive up.
GLASSMAN: You've got high interest rates. You've got food costs that are high. And now their second largest purchase next to a home is also in play.
R. HOLIDAY: At least two of our friends that we know of are out as we speak.
D. HOLIDAY: Another one, she called. She was on her way to the dealership when she called us.
JIMENEZ (voice-over): But after this window of opportunity for customers comes reality.
GLASSMAN: Regardless of the make, the model, every single manufacturer will be affected by the tariffs.
JIMENEZ (voice-over): Even with the roadblocks, Glassman sees a way through.
GLASSMAN: Detroit has been through so much over the years. There have been ups and downs, and the automobile business and its dealers have been resilient. The thought of building plants and having more manufacturing jobs here in the States is admirable, but it doesn't happen overnight.
JIMENEZ: And that last point is part of why the United Auto Workers Union actually endorsed these tariffs, hoping it would bring more auto production back to U.S. plants. But even then, it would take some time.
And then for buyers, you can still see people are coming in trying to take advantage of the prices and the moment we're in now before these tariffs really take deep root.
But there's also another market to keep an eye on. That's the used car markets. Because as prices go up on new cars, people might start considering used cars more. Well, as more people start considering used cars, prices could then go up because of demand. So people like those in charge of these dealers, keeping an eye on a number of variables in the opening hours of these tariffs.
Omar Jimenez, CNN, Southfield, Michigan. (END VIDEOTAPE)
SOLOMON: U.S. lawmakers on both sides acknowledge that the short-term fallout from tariffs is likely to impact the midterm elections next year. But despite deep concerns, here's what some Republicans have to say about the policy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX): Tariffs are a tax on consumers, and I'm not a fan of jacking up taxes on American consumers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sometimes in business, you have to have short-term pain to have long-term gain.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's very damaging. Steel and aluminum is also a significant component of what we manufacture, including ag equipment in Kansas. And so the prices go up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's always short-term blowback, but we're looking at the long haul here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Anyone who says there may be a little bit of pain before we get things right, need to talk about farmers who are one crop away from bankruptcy. They don't have time.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOLOMON: Meantime, the Senate is set to begin a series of marathon votes in the coming hours. At the end of the so-called vote-a-rama, the Senate is expected to adopt its budget blueprint containing much of President Trump's agenda. The blueprint then heads to the House.
And the standoff between Anna Paulina Luna and Mike Johnson may be almost over. Luna is pushing to allow new parents in Congress to vote remotely. The congresswoman posted on social media that the House speaker called her to discuss a compromise. That's after President Trump said that he supports her plan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm not going to let the speaker make the decision, but I like the idea of being able to -- if you're having a baby, I think you should be able to call in and vote. I'm in favor of that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOLOMON: A major shakeup of the U.S. intelligence community. We have learned that the Trump administration has fired the director and deputy director of the National Security Agency. Now, it wasn't immediately clear why General Timothy Haugh, also his second in command, Wendy Noble, were let go.
But according to sources, their removal comes after a meeting Wednesday between President Trump and Laura Loomer, a far-right conspiracy theorist who once claimed that 9-11 was an inside job. Loomer apparently urged the president to remove a number of officials on the National Security Council for disloyalty. President Trump defended the firings earlier Thursday and said that Loomer was not involved.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
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DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Laura Loomer is a very good patriot. She is a very strong person, and I saw her yesterday for a little while and she makes recommendations of things and people and sometimes I listen to those recommendations like I do with everybody, I listen to everybody and then I make a decision.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOLOMON: Loomer was an influential voice around President Trump during the 2024 campaign, even though several of his advisers did try to keep her at a distance.
All right, picking up the pieces still ahead, a series of deadly storms leaves a trail of devastation across the central U.S. We'll be right back.
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SOLOMON: Welcome back. A powerful storm slammed the central U.S. this week. And authorities are warning that it could trigger, quote, generational flooding in the days ahead. Houses were leveled as dozens of powerful tornadoes ripped through the region. At least seven people were killed. And Tennessee's governor says that that number could rise.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL LEE, (R) TENNESSEE GOVERNOR: We know that there are confirmations of death across the state. But we also know that there are potential other deaths that have not been confirmed. So it's too early to know what the confirmed loss of life is. But there are multiple, multiple deaths across the state.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOLOMON: Storms also brought heavy rain and flash flooding. More than a dozen water rescues took place in Nashville. And the severe weather is expected to continue in the days ahead.
CNN's Derek Van Dam has the forecast.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It has certainly been a devastating and very scary past couple of days from the Midwest to the Mid-South. Look at these tornadoes. This one coming out of Indiana. This one out of Missouri. This one out of Arkansas. So this is a multi-state tornado outbreak that is still going to produce the potential for more tornadoes today.
You can see this. Over several hundred severe weather reports over the past two days with several dozen reports of confirmed tornadoes, many of which have caused damage. And there's another round of severe storms possible today.
Moderate risk. This includes Little Rock, just to the north and east of Dallas, this area of red. Don't just focus on the greatest chances of severe weather.
We've got to focus on this entire area. St. Louis, Indianapolis, Paducah, all the way to Austin. This is the area where we could see tornadoes spawn at any time.
It's just this particular region across central Arkansas and extreme southeastern Oklahoma and portions of northeast Texas that have our greatest chances.
So what are the threats? Strong tornadoes, large hail, damaging winds. We know that these have been effective supercell thunderstorms that have produced a significant swath of damage across this region already.
Here's a look at the forecast radar going forward and you'll see storms lining up one after another after another as this multi-day severe weather event continues.
To make matters worse, we are producing significant amounts of rain over the same locations. We're talking about months of rain by the time this is all said and done. And this is rare. We have a level four of four of extreme rainfall that could lead to flash flooding not only for the overnight period but into the day today and then once again for the day on Saturday.
Remember, these are very rare high risks from the Weather Prediction Center. The last time we had three consecutive high risks in a row like this was back in September of 2024, Hurricane Helene, and we know how that unfolded.
So what is going to change the dynamics of the atmosphere?
Well, this ridge of high pressure, also known as a heat dome, that's keeping the southeast very warm, needs to break down and it will do so finally by the end of the weekend. But we need to be very patient because these storms are going to ride along the periphery of this heat dome and produce the excessive rainfall over those same locations.
Our computer models are really honing in on northern Arkansas for some of the heaviest rain, could produce over an additional foot of rain on top of what's already fallen from the sky. That will likely lead to what is called generational type flooding events. Some areas that some of the National Weather Service have warned have
never flooded before, may flood from this particular system as a fire hose of moisture sets up across the southeast.
Notice on Sunday, by late Sunday evening, the moisture finally moves on and heads towards the East Coast before exiting the coastal areas by the early parts of next week.
A long stretch of severe weather and flash flooding ahead of us still. Back to you.
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SOLOMON: Derek Van Dam, thank you.
Slovakia is planning to cull 350 bears after a rising number of bear attacks, the latest leaving one man dead. According to the government, there are almost 2,000 bear attacks were reported last year. Environmental groups have criticized the decision, saying that the cull is a violation of Slovakia's international obligations.
A rare and endangered Malayan tapir has been born at a zoo in Malaga, Spain. The mom, Rawa, delivered the cub last Saturday after 13 months of pregnancy. The special moment was captured on the zoo's cameras. Tapirs are large, plant-eating mammals similar to pigs, but with a short nose trunk. They're native to Southeast Asia. Both mother and calf are apparently healthy, but the little one's sex is not clear yet. They are in quarantine under close veterinary care.
And the most comprehensive collection of the works of Michelangelo in over 150 years can now be seen at the National Gallery of Denmark, but there's a catch. Many of his most famous works, like the Statue of David, have not been moved, but instead 3D printed for the exhibition. Michelangelo in perfect is made up of 40 reproductions from the Madrid-based studio Factum Arte. The studio uses new and traditional techniques to create copies that are visually identical to the
originals.
All right, that do it for us today and this week. Thanks for joining us here on EARLY START. I'm Rahel Solomon in New York. CNN "THIS MORNING" starts now.
