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Early Start with Rahel Solomon

Trump Accuses China Of Violating Trade Agreement; Eight Injured In Colorado Attack At Event For Israeli Hostages; Polish Conservative Karol Nawrocki Wins Election. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired June 02, 2025 - 05:30   ET

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

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[05:30:13]

RAHEL SOLOMON, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is warning that tariffs are not going away. His comments come as President Trump faces a legal battle over his authority to impose tariffs using emergency powers.

At least one Republican senator is criticizing the president's trade agenda. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. RAND PAUL (R-KY): But when I come home to Kentucky, I talk to the Farm Bureau, which is opposed to the tariffs. I talk to the bourbon industry, which is opposed to the tariffs. I talk to the cargo companies -- UPS, DHL. All of their pilots are opposed to it. I talk to the hardwood floor people. I talk to the people selling houses, building houses. I have no organized business interest in Kentucky for the tariffs. So I think it's worth the discussion and it's worth people remembering that the Republicans used to be for lower taxes. Tariffs are a tax.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: CNN's Betsy Klein has more now from the White House.

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BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Now despite all of the legal whiplash of the past week top Trump economic officials say that the president's tariff policies are going to continue. Last Wednesday a federal court blocked the president's global tariffs. An appeals court shortly thereafter reinstated those tariffs temporarily as this appeals process plays out through the judicial system.

But Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says the administration has a number of other tools the president can use to enact these tariffs, and tariffs are not going away.

And now we saw a sign of that last Friday as President Trump announced a doubling of tariffs on foreign-made steel from 25 to 50 percent. Now, administration officials defended that move on Sunday as a matter of national security. But experts have warned that this could lead to rising prices for the manufacturing and construction industries. It could also lead to rising prices for cars.

All of this comes as the Trump administration appears to be escalating tensions with China. Top Trump officials have said that China is not holding up its end of the economic deal that was reached in Geneva just a few weeks ago. And Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said over the weekend that China poses a real and imminent threat to Taiwan.

All of this setting up what will likely be a critical and high-stakes call between President Trump and China's President Xi in the coming days -- listen.

KEVIN HASSETT, DIRECTOR, WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL: President Trump, we expect, is going to have a wonderful conversation about the trade negotiations this week with President Xi. That's our expectation.

But the bottom line is that we've got to be ready in case things don't happen the way we want because if we have cannons but not cannonballs then we can't fight a war. And if we don't have steel then the U.S. isn't ready and we're not preparing ourselves for something. And if we're not strong then that's when bad things happen. So we have to show strength. We have to have a steel industry that's ready for American defense.

KLEIN: All of these recent moves taken together threaten to destabilize what has been a relatively successful period for the U.S. economy. A key inflation report out last week showed signs of cooling inflation and GDP numbers set to be released this week are expected to show signs of growth.

So Trump and his team taking a risk here by keeping their tariff policies in place and potentially expanding them.

Betsy Klein, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOLOMON: President Trump's tariff whiplash and the uncertainty surrounding global trade continue to weigh on markets around the world.

Let's take a look and see how the Asia-Pacific markets closed. All lower across the board between the NIKKEI, Hang Seng, and Shanghai. All lower between, let's call it half a percent for the Shanghai to 1.3 percent for the NIKKEI.

Taking a look at the markets in Europe, also -- well, the FTSE just fractionally in the green there -- barely -- but trading near the flat line. CAC 40 in France off about half a percent, and the DAX off about four-tenths of a percent.

And taking a look at where the U.S. futures stand ahead of the opening bell on Wall Street, you can see all the major averages look set to close at least right now -- or are set to open, rather, off between half a percent for the Dow rounding up to about seven-tenths of a percent for the Nasdaq.

A few things to watch, at least on the U.S. economy front, this week. We have quite a few data releases. A little bit later today we'll hear from Fed chair Jay Powell. Tomorrow, we get the JOLTS stat on the labor front. And later this week we will get the all-important May jobs report. So perhaps a few catalysts in the market this week so watch this space.

Still ahead for us more on our breaking news out of Colorado. And authorities investigate an attack as an act of terrorism. We'll have the latest straight ahead.

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[05:39:33]

SOLOMON: Back now to our breaking news out of Boulder, Colorado. The FBI is investigating an attack there as an act of terrorism after eight people were injured by a man using a "makeshift flamethrower" against a group gathered in support of Israeli hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemning the attack and saying that he is praying for the full recovery of the victims.

The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Mohamed Soliman, was seen carrying two bottles and was reported to have yelled "Free Palestine." Jail records show that he has been booked on multiple felony charges.

[05:40:10]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL DOUGHERTY, BOULDER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: I will emphasize that we're in the very early stages here but the response by federal, state, and local officials is underway.

And I greatly appreciate the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation -- their many agents. We have the Colorado State Patrol here, Boulder County Sheriff's Office, and of course -- of course, the Boulder Police Department. They are working hand-in-hand to ensure that we secure all the evidence, all the information, and all the witness statements we need to hold the attacker fully accountable. That is my promise -- to hold the attacker fully accountable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: Authorities say that the victims in Sunday attack in Boulder range in age from 52 to 88.

The Colorado governor condemning what he called a "heinous and targeted act on the Jewish community."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOVERNOR JARED POLIS, (D) COLORADO: This has really inflicted a lot of fear in the Jewish community at-large -- the pro-Israel community. This was a very public place in Boulder. Every -- I've walked by.

By the way, these folks who most weeks are there reminding us that the hostages are still being held by Hamas. And to think they would be attacked viciously and targeted simply because of their political beliefs in this country and in this day and age is just completely hard to believe, frankly.

I think it's extremely clear that these peaceful protests are -- were targeted simply because of the message that they were conveying.

So again, it's hard to get in the mind of an evil doer -- of somebody who would commit such a heinous act of terror. But, you know, every indication is that this was entirely deliberate and I'm sure we'll find out more in the days to come.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: The attack shaking the community there in Boulder but also spreading fear to other cities far from Colorado.

Last hour I spoke with former U.S. ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro, and I asked him what the Jewish community needs now to feel safe.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DANIEL SHAPIRO, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL: We need more clarity and strong political and communal leadership that completely rejects antisemitism and political violence of any kind. Unfortunately, we need more security at our synagogues, our school. Our magnetometers in our schools. We need our Jewish students on campuses to feel that they have the backing of their administrations and that they will be safe.

We need law enforcement to really target those from the right, from the left -- maybe in this case an immigrant, illegal of otherwise, coming with these ideas. We're going to need funding to pay for those hardened security and increased law enforcement activities. We need education of the history and insidiousness of this persistent hatred, which has no place in American society.

And the Jewish community itself needs to, despite the fear, be strong, resilient, proud, and really double down on our own commitments and involvement in Jewish life and strengthen our ties with allies of all faith.

SOLOMON: Yeah.

Ambassador, you pointed out something that I thought was important to sort of point out here that it is legitimate to question and even disagree with the policies in Israel, but it's not legitimate to terrorize or harass people of the Jewish faith.

Why do you think that message is lost on some that the policies of the Israeli government do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of the Jewish community? SHAPIRO: Look, the war in Gaza, which has been cited by the last two attackers in these terrible events, it's terrible. It's terrible for everyone involved. It was terrible on October 7 when 1,200 Israelis were murdered and 250 were taken hostage. It's been terrible every day since, and Palestinian civilians are suffering. Wars are ugly that way.

And look, it's legitimate to raise questions and to peacefully protest Israeli policy or American policy. I personally disagree with the policies -- many policies of the current Israeli government and so do a lot of Israelis. But -- and I also support finding a pathway for a state for Palestinians.

But what's not legitimate and never legitimate is to use violence and terror against anyone who is Jewish or Israeli. To use slogans like "Globalize the Intifada," which is calling for violence against Jews anywhere. To hold any Jew or any Zionist, which is most Jews, responsible for the -- for the policies of Israel.

Peaceful protest is always acceptable but harassing, intimidating, and attacking Jews in the name of some cause related to Palestine is really never acceptable. And nothing does more to discredit that cause than to see it ties to antisemitism and violence.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOLOMON: All right. Still to come for us, Polish voters have chosen a new president. Coming up we'll take a look at what it means for the country's political future straight ahead.

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[05:49:15]

SOLOMON: Welcome back. I'm Rahel Solomon, and here are some of the stories we are watching for you this morning.

Eight people have been injured in what's being described as a targeted attack in Boulder, Colorado. Authorities say that a man used a makeshift flamethrower on a group gathered for an event in support of Israel hostages in Gaza. A 45-year-old suspect has been booked in the county jail on multiple felony charges. He is due in court later today.

In the capital of Lithuania, the Ukrainian president, along with leaders of Nordic countries in NATO's eastern flank met to discuss regional security issues and coordinate common policies ahead of the NATO summit in Hague. The summit comes as Russian and Ukrainian officials sat down in Istanbul for a second round of peace talks.

[05:50:00]

Polls are now closed in Mexico after the country held its first-ever judicial elections. Officials say that fewer than 20 percent of voters went to the polls. The vote has been controversial. Supporters say that it will bring democracy to the courts, but detractors warn that it could usher in corruption and violate the rule of law. Results are expected June 15.

Polish voters, meantime, have elected a new president. Nationalist candidate Karol Nawrocki defeated his liberal opponent by a razor-thin margin. Nawrocki is aligned with Poland's right-wing populist Law and Justice party and his victory means that the party will continue its 10 years and counting spot in the Presidential Palace.

Let's get to CNN's Fred Pleitgen who joins us live this morning from Berlin.

Tell us a bit more about this candidate. Nawrocki is a supporter of President Trump. He's visited the White House in the weeks before the election. Fred, what impact do you think this win will have on the war in Ukraine and Poland's relations with Russia? What more can you tell us about this new candidate -- or this new politician?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, first of all, I think it's several things about the electorate in Poland -- what's going on in Poland. And certainly, this will have a big impact on Polish politics as well.

Karol Nawrocki, as you said, is a conservative, although I would say the man running against him, Rafal Trzaskowski, is a conservative as well but a much more moderate conservative. And there's certain things about Nawrocki that certainly stick out and that certainly are very interesting.

First of all, he is obviously very much a supporter of Donald Trump and also supported by President Trump as well. He did, of course, have a meeting with President Trump in the Oval Office and that may have given him a boost in the polls as well.

So one of the things about the Polish presidency Rahel is that Poland is very much a parliamentary democracy. The president though has veto power and that is very important. And that's why all of this could have a big impact on Polish politics, on European politics, but on international politics, and for Ukraine that you were mentioning as well.

Now, one of the things that Nawrocki has said is he's very anti- European Union. That does not mean that he wants Poland to go out of the European Union, but he wants to stop what he calls interference by the European Union into the affairs of the national states that are within Europe.

And, of course, one of the things that's been going on in Poland over the past 10-15 years since some of the conservatives have been in power is that they have done certain things within Poland that the European Union has said is counter to the values of the European Union. For instance, as far as the Polish constitutional court is concerned, weakening that. As far as the free press is concerned, weakening that as well.

And Donald Tusk, who is the prime minister of Poland -- a moderate conservative aligned with Rafal Trzaskowski who was running against Nawrocki -- he wanted to change that. And now with the ultraconservatives having the presidency or about to have the presidency once again, they can put a veto on that. So all of that could make it more difficult for the legislative agenda that Donald Tusk wanted to put forward.

As far as Ukraine is concerned, Karol Nawrocki has said that he does not want Ukraine to be within NATO. Very similar policies towards Ukraine as, for instance, President Donald Trump. He feels that Europe and Russia could get into a standoff if, for instance, Ukraine were to be put into NATO. So he certainly wants a little bit less support there.

But one of the things about the ultraconservatives in Poland is that they are very anti-Russian. They are very -- and descendants to Russia and they very much fear that there could be an invasion by Russia against Poland in the not too distance future.

And if we look at the two candidates that were up against one another now within the Polish election there are some things where they certainly did see eye-to-eye. And one of them was definitely defense spending. Both of them want to spend and continue to spend big on defense in Poland -- around five percent. Both of them also very tough on migration as well.

And so with this new president in office it will definitely make it more difficult for the prime minister -- for Donald Tusk to put through his legislative agenda. But at the same time you will most probably see very good relations between the United States and Poland continue, Rahel.

SOLOMON: OK. We'll watch this space.

Fred Pleitgen live for us there in Berlin. Fred, thank you.

Forest fires have forced thousands of people from their homes in central Canada. Smoke is lowering air quality in three provinces and now that smoke is blowing into the north central U.S. also having an impact there.

Manitoba has declared a state of emergency. Officials say that it will remain in effect until later this month as crews are deployed to fight the fires.

Although some rain is expected this week the forecast says that it might not be enough to stop the flames.

All right. Still ahead for us how the American side is making their mark on the clay ahead of the French Open quarter finals.

We'll be right back.

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[05:59:15]

SOLOMON: Welcome back. Yankees pitcher Ryan Yarbrough returned to L.A. to silence his former side, giving up just four hits in New York's 7-3 win over the Dodgers. Yarbrough's teammate Ben Rice also playing a pivotal role in the World Series rematch. His home run at the top of the third helping the Yankees establish a 6-1 lead. The early advantage was enough to hold off a late rally from the reigning champs and ensure that the Yanks avoided a three-game sweep.

Excitement is brewing at the French Open as the fourth round wraps up later today. For the first time in more than 20 years an American has reached the men's quarterfinals. Tommy Paul became the first since Andre Agassi in 2003 to advance that far at Roland Garos with his victory over Australian Alexei Popyrin on Sunday. Shortly afterwards Paul was joined by fellow American Frances Tiafoe after his win over Daniel Altmaier.

[06:00:08]

All right, that's going to do it for us here today. Thanks for being with us here on EARLY START. I'm Rahel Solomon live in New York. "CNN THIS MORNING" starts right now.