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Early Start with Rahel Solomon

Source: NYC Gunman Who Killed Four Had Grievances With NFL; Trump: Never Went To Epstein's Island; Owner Surrenders Increasing With Pet Expenses On The Rise. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired July 29, 2025 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:27]

MIN JUNG LEE, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning and welcome to our viewers, joining us from the United States and all around the world. So glad you're with us. Rahel Solomon is off. I'm MJ Lee.

It's Tuesday, July 29th, 5:00 a.m. here in Washington, D.C.

And straight ahead on EARLY START.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: For years, I wouldn't talk to Jeffrey Epstein. And by the way, I never went to the island. I never had the privilege of going to his island. And I did turn it down.

JESSICA TISCH, NEW YORK CITY POLICE COMMISSIONER: We believe this to be a lone shooter, and there is no longer an active threat to the public.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pure evil came to the heart of our city. We lost four people tonight in our hero brother who gave his life for this city.

TISCH: He put himself in harm's way. He made the ultimate sacrifice, shot in cold blood. He died as he lived, a hero.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC)

LEE: We begin this hour in New York, where new details are emerging about a possible motive for Monday's mass shooting at a skyscraper in busy Midtown Manhattan. Security footage shows the gunman walking into the building with an M4 assault style rifle in broad daylight, not far from some of New York's most iconic venues and tourist spots. Four people, including an off-duty police officer, were killed soon after.

Authorities say the gunman then took his own life.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TISCH: I want to be very clear. We believe this to be a lone shooter, and there is no longer an active threat to the public. The shooter is believed to be Shane Tamura, a 27-year-old male with a Las Vegas address. The vehicle he exited is registered in Nevada to Mr. Tamura.

According to our law enforcement partners in Las Vegas, Mr. Tamura has a documented mental health history. His motives are still under investigation and we are working to understand why he targeted this particular location.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEE: A law enforcement source tells CNN the gunman was carrying documents indicating he had grievances with the National Football League's handling of CTE, a brain disease linked to repeated head trauma. The building where this took place, 345 Park Avenue, is home to the NFL's corporate offices, among many other businesses.

We are told the shooter, a 27-year-old man from Las Vegas, played football years ago and apparently had a suicide note alleging he suffered from CTE and asked for his brain to be studied.

The New York police commissioner identified the officer who was killed as 36-year-old Didarul Islam, a three and a half year veteran of the department with a wife and two sons and another child on the way. We have much more on the shooting still ahead this hour, including an interview with a retired FBI special agent.

And happening now, President Trump is opening a new golf course near Aberdeen, Scotland, with a ribbon cutting scheduled for this hour. Even though he's had plenty on his agenda since arriving late Friday, he's also played a lot of golf. The new course will be named after his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born and raised on a Scottish Island before immigrating to the U.S.

The president is promising that the U.S. will do more to help alleviate the hunger crisis in Gaza. He says he plans to open food centers in the territory in conjunction with some very good people.

The president also notably broke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who claimed on Sunday that there was no starvation in Gaza.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We can save a lot of people. I mean, some of those kids are that's real starvation stuff. I see it. And you can't fake that. So we're going to be even more involved.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEE: President Trump also made a surprise announcement on the war in Ukraine. Instead of the 50 days he announced two weeks ago, Trump now says Vladimir Putin has 10 to 12 days to reach a ceasefire. And if that doesn't happen, the U.S. will target Moscow with harsher economic penalties.

Here's what Trump had to say about his Russian counterpart.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I'm disappointed in President Putin, very disappointed in him. So we're going to have to look and I'm going to reduce that 50 days that I gave him to a lesser number, because I think I already know the answer. What's going to happen?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[05:05:00]

LEE: The president also continues to try to distance himself from the late sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, as the fallout grows in Washington. He has argued that the renewed interest in Epstein's case is a hoax built up way beyond proportion.

Trump and Epstein had a well-documented friendship dating back to the 1980s. The president claims he cut ties with Epstein long before he faced criminal charges.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: For years, I wouldn't talk to Jeffrey Epstein. I wouldn't talk because he did something that was inappropriate. He hired help. And I said, don't ever do that again. He stole people that work for me. I said, don't ever do that again. He did it again. And I threw him out of the place. Persona non grata.

And by the way, I never went to the island. And Bill Clinton went there, supposedly, 28 times. I never had the privilege of going to his island. And I did turn it down. But a lot of people in Palm Beach were invited to his island.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEE: Live now to CNN's chief U.S. national affairs correspondent, Jeff Zeleny, in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Jeff, this was in no small part a golf focused trip, but the president has been making news on a number of fronts. You've been with him on the ground in Scotland. What's been standing out to you?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF U.S. NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, MJ.

Definitely a lot of golf. Like most normal weekends. That President Trump enjoys, certainly in the summertime. But it was just here in Scotland that he was doing it.

But along the way, significant deals, the -- on Sunday, reaching that trade deal with the European Union, very significant, arguably the biggest trade deal of the Trump presidency so far as part of his effort to sort of reshape the global trading order. A lot of fine print still needs to be read, a lot of details still need to be worked out, but without a doubt, it is a significant deal. But I was struck yesterday by the comments that President Trump made

alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer about Gaza. As you just played, there, very significant that President Trump contradicted and essentially went against Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu by saying yes, indeed, there is starvation. Israel must do more.

It sounds obvious. Obviously, looking at the at the gruesome images that we have seen of the starvation in Gaza, but having the U.S. president say that here in Europe is significant. Now, what comes next in terms of policy? We shall see. But that, of course, was the objective of the British prime minister to effectively get Donald Trump on the record to talk significantly more and do more about this crisis.

LEE: And, Jeff, the president is going to be returning back to Washington later today. In terms of just the most urgent issues that will be sitting on his desk when he returns, I mean, what will they be? Certainly, these global conflicts are not going to be dying down anytime soon.

ZELENY: MJ, I was struck by the change in timeline on the Russia- Ukraine war, particularly for Vladimir Putin. So that is what all of us will certainly have our eyes on going from 50 days giving Vladimir Putin 50 days to effectively end the war, to now 10 to 12 days. The clock is running on that. So that is just in less than two weeks' time.

Is President Trump actually going to follow through on his threats yesterday, not only sanctions, but secondary sanctions as well. And that is very important because secondary sanctions would be on an ally like India, and adversary like China that do business with Moscow effectively are funding the war.

So I think one of the biggest challenges on a foreign policy matter, when the president returns to Washington is the Russia Ukraine war. Now he is all in on this. Is it a time frame that that he does not follow through on, or will he follow through? So that is the one thing.

But on a domestic matter, the Jeffrey Epstein crisis and scandal is still brewing. And the president probably raised more questions yesterday than he answered by talking specifically about not being invited to the island, but also giving some more detail into the breakup of his long friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, but also saying that, you know, even if his name happens to be in the files, it's a hoax. Someone else put it in there.

That's the first time he has sort of suggested that. So, I think on a domestic matter, Epstein certainly, but on a broader sense, the Russia threat, this could be a monumental in terms of his just evolving relationship with Vladimir Putin.

LEE: Jeff Zeleny in Edinburgh, Scotland, thank you so much.

And Savannah Behrmann is the Senate correspondent for the "National Journal". She joins me live from Alexandria, Virginia. Savannah, a couple of headlines from the president's trip to Scotland

so far that I want to talk through with you. Let's start with the conflict in Ukraine and the president's growing impatience with Vladimir Putin.

[05:10:03]

He abruptly shortened his previous 50-day deadline for Putin to agree to a peace deal, and that deadline is now, he says, in 10 to 12 days. What did you make of that shift?

SAVANNAH BEHRMANN, SENATE CORRESPONDENT, NATIONAL JOURNAL: I think it's really notable, MJ, and thank you so much for having me on that. The president has been begun making some of these shifts in terms of Ukraine and as well as Gaza, as he's in front of tv cameras with some other international leaders, the U.N. commission president, as well as now the prime minister from England. And I think that its a pretty significant reversal, in particular in regards to shortening of the days that he has given Russian President Vladimir Putin to come to a ceasefire deal.

And I would say that it's a notable reversal here, just given his relationship with Putin in the past. But it's obviously something that's become a lot more tense. As well as his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on what's going on in Gaza.

So as he's on this international stage with some of these leaders, it's very clear that a lot of the headlines are outside these trade talks. And in fact, what's going on in Ukraine and what's going on in Gaza.

LEE: Yeah. And let's talk about that a little bit more. You know, the president told reporters that there is no denying that there is starvation in Gaza. He said, I see it and you can't fake that. Of course, that directly contradicts Netanyahu's claim over the weekend that there is no starvation inside the enclave.

What do you make of the president publicly taking on the prime minister like this?

BEHRMANN: I think that President Trump is having a little bit of frustration here when it comes to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Now, we should remember that Netanyahu was in D.C. less than a month ago, meeting with senators, meeting with President Trump on what's going on in Israel and Gaza.

So, I think that President Trump kind of taking a direct stand against the Israeli prime minister here is very notable, just given also the fact that Netanyahu, over the weekend kind of went back on these claims that there is mass starvation going on in Gaza. So, it is one of the strongest stances that we've seen from President Trump take on this issue. And it's something that he continues to receive a lot of pushback on here at home from lawmakers on Capitol Hill to leaders abroad.

So, I imagine that this is a topic that will continue to follow him on his travels this week. And as he comes back home this week, as well.

LEE: And, Savannah, Jeff Zeleny just mentioned the controversy that the president had hoped to leave back at home. That's the Jeffrey Epstein files that clearly followed him across the pond. You know, he had this really fascinating exchange with reporters yesterday where he offered some rare details about his past relationship with him, including the alleged reason for their falling out.

What do Trump allies in Washington think need to happen for this whole saga to die down?

BEHRMANN: Yeah, I think that for congressional Republicans on Capitol Hill who are Trump allies, they are wanting not only more details to be released about what's going on here. So that's something that they can kind of leave in the past. But we've seen it bring the House of Representatives to a standstill. It's the reason why they left early last week for their month-long August recess.

It's something that has also been a problem in the Senate with some warring resolutions from Senator Markwayne Mullin and Senator Gallego here. So even though this is something that President Trump's allies are wanting him to move on from, it's something that's going to continue to follow him in the weeks, even as Congress goes on their August long recess. And I think it's something that constituents in particular are going to kind of nail lawmakers on as they're back home and going to these town halls and going to their constituent events.

So even though his closest allies on Capitol Hill are wanting some more transparency for this to kind of get behind him, it's very clear that the longer the administration continues to kind of let this play out, the longer it will continue to follow him.

LEE: Yeah. Interesting point about what members are hearing from constituents back home.

So finally, the U.S. China trade talks are taking place with the August 12th deadline just around the corner. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested that an extension is likely. What is, Savannah, the Trump administration's top priority here? You know, of all the trade deals that they're trying to strike, this one is obviously one of the most consequential.

BEHRMANN: Absolutely. So, what we know is coming out of these trade talks this week is hopefully an alleviation of the truce that they reached earlier this summer. And in hopes that the Chinese president and President Trump can meet later this year to kind of finalize details on a final trade talk. And we know that some of the main sticking points remain about some of these rare earth minerals, which China and Beijing have such a hold on internationally.

So, a lot of details continue to be kind of refined this week, and there is a possibility for a later meeting between these two world leaders, which is where we could see a lot of these details be hashed out.

[05:15:06]

But we know that one of the main sticking points here remains about an agreement for rare earth minerals.

LEE: Savannah Behrmann, thank you so much for joining us this morning.

BEHRMANN: Thank you for having me.

LEE: And we have more to come on what may have driven a gunman to commit a mass shooting at a New York skyscraper right in the heart of Manhattan.

And who could resist those eyes? The sad truth is, animal shelters across the country are filling up to capacity. We'll look at why.

And plus, famed football coach Deion Sanders is urging people to stay on top of their health after surviving a cancer diagnosis he says has changed his entire life.

Details ahead on CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:20:15]

LEE: Welcome back.

More now on our top story, an apparent motive for Monday's mass shooting at a Manhattan high-rise, which is now considered the deadliest gun attack in New York City in 25 years. According to a source briefed on the investigation, the 27-year-old shooter was carrying documents outlining his frustration with the National Football League, specifically with the NFL's handling of CTE. That's a brain disease linked to repeated head trauma.

Authorities say the gunman took his own life after killing four people, including an off-duty police officer.

Amy Kiley has more on how the attack unfolded.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have gotten reports of gunfire.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pure evil came to the heart of our city.

AMY KILEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A New York City police officer and at least three other victims are dead after a shooting in a Manhattan office building yesterday evening. The police commissioner says 36-year-old fallen officer Didarul Islam was there working security.

TISCH: Officer Islam was married with two young boys. His wife is pregnant with their third child. MAYOR ERIC ADAMS (D), NEW YORK CITY: He was a true blue New Yorker.

Not only in uniform. He wore, but in his spirit and energy of loving this city.

KILEY: Park Avenue high-rise houses the offices of the NFL. It says one of its employees was seriously injured in the attack. An official with knowledge of the investigation says the suspect had a grievance with the football league. Officials say he walked into the building carrying an M4 assault rifle. They say he opened fire in the lobby and on the 33rd floor, and later died of an apparently self-inflicted wound.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He wasn't there looking to kill people at random. He could have done that right on the streets of Midtown Manhattan. With that rifle, and taken a lot more lives.

KILEY: Police identified the suspect as a 27-year-old from Las Vegas with a mental health history. They say he had a concealed carry license and no significant criminal record. Multiple agencies are investigating.

ANDREW MCCABE, FORMER FBI DEPUTY DIRECTOR: This is a guy who went into that building knowing, intending to kill someone and probably knowing he was not going to come out alive.

KILEY: I'm Amy Kiley, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEE: Police in Reno, Nevada, are searching for a motive after a gunman there opened fire at a casino resort, killing three people and wounding several others. A law enforcement source says the suspect was seen pacing the parking lot of the Grand Sierra resort for nearly an hour before the shooting. He then walked up to the hotel and began shooting, and police explained what came next.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRIS CRAWFORD, SPARKS, NEVADA POLICE CHIEF: Once that valet, the suspect, produced a handgun and pointed it at a group of victims, the suspect's firearm malfunctioned. However, he was able to make it operable once the suspect fired multiple times at the group of victims at valet. In total, five people in the valet area sustained gunshot wounds, and one victim was pronounced deceased on scene.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEE: After leaving the valet area, the gunman ran back outside where he shot and killed a person driving through the parking lot. Police exchanged gunfire with the suspect before taking him into custody. He's now hospitalized and in critical condition.

Still to come, a rising number of Americans can't afford to keep their pets. I'll speak with someone from New York's largest animal shelter about why they've hit critical capacity and are now turning surrenders away. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:28:08]

LEE: Animal shelters across the United States are reporting an increase in owners surrendering their pets due to financial hardships. One North Carolina shelter says this has happened in the past during times of economic uncertainty, debt, job loss, change in residence and more recently, inflation are all contributing factors to the trend.

Now, New York's biggest animal shelter has stopped taking in surrenders because they've hit critical capacity.

Joining me now is Katy Hansen, director of marketing and communications with animal care centers of New York City.

Katy, really appreciate you waking up early to join us.

You told "The New York Times" for their reporting on this issue that people are surrendering their pets nonstop these days, and you're basically not able to keep up. Tell us what you're seeing recently and why this is happening.

KATY HANSEN, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMS, ANIMAL CARE CENTERS FOR NEW YORK CITY: Sure. So, you know, we reached a critical point when we had 1,000 animals in our care at one time. And when we looked at the data, animals were coming in via surrender. And one out of every three surrenders were coming in because of housing insecurity.

So, this is really an affordability crisis. People can't afford their rent, let alone find a place in New York City that will allow pets. So, it's just -- it's been really -- it's been really tough.

LEE: A thousand pets at your shelter. I mean, what happens when a shelter gets overcrowded like that? That can't be ideal for the pets. Some of them are already going to be traumatized or in rough physical health. And also, when the pets are turned away from shelters like this and the owner really, really can't keep them, where do they typically end up?

HANSEN: Okay. Well, so just to be clear, we never turn away an animal, which is probably why were at 1,000 and we have crates set up in offices and hallways so we don't turn away any pets.

[05:30:00]