Return to Transcripts main page
Early Start with Rahel Solomon
Survivors To Trump And Congress: Release The Files; Trump To Speak With Zelenskyy, European Leaders Today; Funicular Railway Crash Kills At Least 17 In Lisbon. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired September 04, 2025 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:22]
BRIAN ABEL, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, and welcome to our viewers joining us from the United States and all around the world. Thank you so much for being with us. I'm Brian Abel. Rahel Solomon is off.
It is Thursday, September 4th, 5:00 a.m. here in Washington.
And straight ahead on EARLY START.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANOUSKA DE GEORGIOU, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: President Trump, you have so much influence and power. Please use that to help us.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: So this is a Democrat hoax that never ends.
HALEY ROBSON, JEFFREY EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: This is not a hoax. We are real human beings. This is real trauma.
MARCO RUBIO, SECRETARY OF STATE: If you're on a boat full of cocaine or fentanyl or whatever headed to the United States, you're an immediate threat to the United States. What will stop them is when you blow them up, when you get rid of them.
DR. JOSEPH LADAPO, FLORIDA SURGEON GENERAL: The Florida Department of Health is going to be working to end all vaccine mandates. Every last one of them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
ABEL: With the U.S. Congress back from its August recess, pressure is building once again in Washington for more transparency in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, including calls to release all documents related to the late sex offender. Survivors of Epstein and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, gathered in the nation's capitol Wednesday to share their stories and pleaded for President Trump to use his influence for good.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DE GEORGIOU: President Trump, you have so much influence and power in this situation. Please use that influence and power to help us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: Officials say Epstein harmed more than 1,000 people, and some of the victims who shared their experiences and trauma were just teenagers when the abuse occurred.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARINA LACERDA, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: From 14 to 17 years old, I went and worked for Jeffrey.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was 16 years old.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was only 14 years old.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was a 16 year old.
COURTNEY WILD, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: I was only 14 years old when I was introduced to Jeffrey Epstein by a 13-year-old friend of mine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: But those powerful testimonies from Epstein's victims were overshadowed just moments later by President Trump, who again dismissed the uproar over Epstein files as a hoax.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: From what I understand, I could check, but from what I understand, thousands of pages of documents have been given. But it's really a Democrat hoax because they're trying to get people to talk about something that's totally irrelevant to the success that we've had as a nation since I've been president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: The survivors, though, say they won't be deterred, and they've even discussed creating their own confidential list of known abusers if all the information in the Epstein case isn't released.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LISA PHILLIPS, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: I would like to announce here today, us Epstein survivors have been discussing creating our own list. We know the names. Many of us were abused by them.
Now, together as survivors, we will confidentially compile the names we all know who regularly and who were regularly in the Epstein world. And it will be done by survivors and for survivors. No one else is involved.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: More now from CNN's Arlette Saenz.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein delivered an emotional plea as they asked President Trump and lawmakers on Capitol Hill to be more transparent about the release of files relating to that alleged trafficking ring. Nearly a dozen women detailed their abuse at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein, going into detail about the trauma that they experienced as they also pushed back on President Donald Trump, who had called the matter a hoax that was promoted by Democrats.
Here is a bit of what the survivors had to say on Wednesday.
HALEY ROBSON, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: Mr. President, Donald J. Trump. I am a registered Republican. Not that that matters, because this is not political. However, I cordially invite you to the capitol to meet me in person so you can understand this is not a hoax. We are real human beings. This is real trauma.
SAENZ: The survivors spoke at a press conference hosted by Congressman Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna. That is the bipartisan duo trying to push forward with a House floor vote on releasing the full Epstein files. But that's run into resistance from the White House and GOP leadership on the Hill.
A White House official said anyone siding with Khanna and Massie would be committing a hostile act against the administration, and House Speaker Mike Johnson has remained opposed to that measure, even as he's heard from these victims, arguing that the proposal that they put forth has not done enough to protect these victims.
[05:05:04]
But this is clearly an issue that continues to drive a wedge between President Trump and some members of his party, as more are pushing for greater transparency, including those victims of Epstein.
Arlette Saenz, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ABEL: Arlette, thank you.
Republican Congressman Massie tells CNN the holdouts in his party who oppose the full Epstein files release need to realize that support for the effort is overwhelming. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. THOMAS MASSIE (R-KY): Politically, it's really bad for Republicans. They should just have this vote and put it behind them. Eighty percent of Republicans, its not just independents and Democrats who want these files released, 80 percent of Republicans support releasing these files.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: And Democrat Ro Khanna says the Epstein saga has nothing to do with politics.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. RO KHANNA (D-CA): I was standing a few feet away from them while they were speaking out. Almost half of them were in tears. They were talking about being raped at the age of 13 or 14. They were talking about being forced to get other high school and junior high school friends of theirs, knowing that they were going to face sexual assault.
It was heartbreaking. And frankly, they are bringing this country together. They are bringing people, whether they're progressive, independents, moderates, MAGA supporters together to say, we need to release these files. We need justice for the rich and powerful men who abused them. And this is not about politics. This is about morality.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: Now, President Trump has had a drastic shift in opinion since starting his second term in office.
Here's what he said about the Epstein files before he won the 2024 election. Along with what some of his top officials said right up to when the Justice Department announced that there was no client list.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
INTERVIEWER: Would you declassify the Epstein files?
TRUMP: Yeah, yeah, I would. I'd be inclined to do the Epstein. I'd have no problem with it.
J.D. VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Seriously, we need to release the Epstein list. That is an important thing.
INTERVIEWER: Why is the FBI protecting the greatest pederasts, the largest scale pederasts in human history.
KASH PATEL, FBI DIRECTOR: Simple, because of who's on that list. Put on your big boy pants and let us know who the pedophiles are.
PAM BONDI, ATTORNEY GENERAL: I think tomorrow, Jesse, breaking news right now, you're going to see some Epstein information being released by my office.
It's sitting on my desk right now to review.
A truckload of evidence arrived. It's now in the possession of the FBI. It's a new day. It's a new administration, and everything is going to come out to the public.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: Now, it's a change that hasn't gone unnoticed by lawmakers who aren't willing to forgive or forget.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MASSIE: Why the 180 degree turn here from the administration? I think there are rich and powerful people who have always been beyond the reach of the law, or thought that they were, who want to remain there and their donors. They are donors to Republicans and Democrats, and we need to tell them -- I'm sorry, you are going to be accountable to the law.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: Donald Trump is set to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders in the hours ahead, following a meeting in Paris of the so-called Coalition of the Willing.
It comes as Ukraine seeks further support in the face of intensifying Russian attacks. The White House says President Trump currently has no calls set with Vladimir Putin. But Trump offered a subtle warning when asked if he has a message for the Russian leader.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I have no message to president Putin. He knows where I stand and he'll make a decision one way or the other. Whatever his decision is, well either be happy about it or unhappy. And if were unhappy about it, you'll see things happen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: While momentum to end the war in Ukraine has stalled, today's meeting in Paris should give the Ukrainian president some idea of what kinds of security guarantees his European allies are considering. French President Emmanuel Macron says the coalition is ready to provide those guarantees, assuming a ceasefire with Russia can eventually be reached.
CNN's Melissa Bell is in Paris for us and joins us now live with the latest -- Melissa.
MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Brian, that meeting now underway, some of the leaders of the Coalition of the Willing are here in Paris, greeted by the French president. There was a lot of warmth there as they sat down around that table alongside President Zelenskyy, many other leaders. And you're talking about 30 or so that are involved in this coalition, looking at what security guarantees they can provide to Ukraine. Many of them joining also by video conference.
The big moment, though, will come, of course, as you mentioned, when they have their phone call with President Trump, because what Europeans and were talking mainly about European leaders within this coalition trying to support Ukraine, what a lot of them have said, when they look ahead to beyond a ceasefire and the possibility of troops being sent to Ukraine to try and shore up its defenses, a lot of them have said that they will only do so and provide these security guarantees if the United States provides what's being called the backstop.
[05:10:15]
That means not troops on the ground, but some kind of guarantees that that the United States will have the backs of Europeans going into this defense of Ukraine longer term. So things like, for instance, Brian, helping with intelligence, continued support for Ukraine's air defenses. So a lot will hang on what President Trump has to tell them in that phone call later on.
Essentially, the point of this meeting, many months after this group was created, is to say a lot of the technical work has gone into creating these security guarantees. It involves things like continued support to Ukraine's armed forces while the war continues. But as I say, this reassurance force being placed on the ground, not peacekeeping reassurance force, they're calling it. So you're talking about foreign troops that would be in some of the no contact areas to try and provide some kind of confidence to Ukraine in its ability to withstand any future Russian assaults on its territorial integrity.
So those are some of the security guarantees, the technical guarantees that they've been working on for months. Were going to hear more precisely about what those are later today, Brian.
ABEL: And we see the vested interests in Macron when he was back at the White House advocating for a seat at the table if Putin, Zelenskyy and Trump would eventually meet. We'll see what happens moving forward. Melissa Bell in Paris for us, Melissa, thank you.
Scuffles breaking out in Israel as antiwar protesters shifted their tactics on Wednesday. They took their rallies from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, protesting outside the residences of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other key leaders. Those rallies kicked off four days of protests, calling for a cease and hostage deal in Gaza. It's happening as Israel prepares to launch an all out assault to take over Gaza City, a senior Israeli official says 70,000 residents have left the city so far out of about a million. That's despite Israeli drones reportedly dropping leaflets and urging people to move south.
Portugal is waking up to a day of mourning after a cable car crash killed 15 people in the country's capital. What we know about the disaster still ahead.
And New York Mayor Eric Adams says he has no plans to drop his reelection bid. The reason why coming up.
Some good and maybe some bad news for Powerball players. No grand prize winner again this time. But that means the jackpot is soaring for Saturday's drawing. Find out how much you could win, ahead on EARLY START.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:17:24]
ABEL: Hurricane Kiko is now a category four storm and is heading towards Hawaii. This stunning satellite imagery you are seeing here shows the clouds swirling around the eye of the storm. Forecasters say the storm will gradually increase in speed over the weekend as it approaches Hawaii from the east.
At least 17 people are dead, 21 injured after a cable car popular with tourists derailed in Portugal. The crash happened Wednesday in Lisbon, and authorities say foreign nationals are among the dead.
CNN Portugal's Joao Povoa Marinheiro has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOAO POVOA MARINHEIRO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's one of Lisbon's worst ever transit tragedies and what the city's mayor described as a tragic day for the Portuguese capital, when the Gloria funicular, a historic 19th century cable car and the tourist hotspot, derailed and crashed into a building.
All of this happened in broad daylight in the busy city center right after 6:00 p.m. during rush hour, which means that the incident was explicitly witnessed by many passersby. Many of them actually attended the scene to help victims before the arrival of first responders, that nonetheless were quick to get there.
Now, questions arise as to the funicular's maintenance. Preliminary analysis from experts consulted by CNN Portugal point to the rupture of the cable that upholds the carriage that crashed. The company responsible for managing Lisbon's traditional funiculars has stated that all safety protocols have been met. However, recent and repeated warnings from the city's cable car workers related with maintenance issues have resurfaced.
A series of inquiries from several authorities have now begun. Lisbon's mayor suspended all public access to the Portuguese capital's other historic funiculars as a precautionary measure.
Joao Povoa Marinheiro, CNN Portugal, Lisbon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ABEL: President Trump is giving drug traffickers in the Caribbean an unmistakable warning after Tuesday's military strike on a boat allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela. He said, quote, a lot of other people won't be doing it again. The U.S. has offered no evidence about who or what was on that boat.
But Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested the military took the most effective action.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCO RUBIO, SECRETARY OF STATE: If you're on a boat full of cocaine or fentanyl or whatever, headed to the United States, you're an immediate threat to the United States. And the president, under his authority as commander in chief, has a right under exigent circumstances to eliminate imminent threats to the United States. [05:20:01]
And that's what he did yesterday in international waters. And that's what he intends to do.
We're not going to sit back anymore and watch these people sail up and down the Caribbean like a cruise ship.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: Rubio landed in Ecuador just a few hours ago. It's his second stop on his trip after leaving Mexico Wednesday. A senior State Department official says the U.S. hopes to end illegal migration, dismantling drug cartels, and countering China's influence in the region.
Washington, Chicago, Baltimore -- now, President Trump has another city in mind for a possible deployment of federal troops. That story is ahead.
And what began as a scarcely attended birthday party for a 15-year-old girl turned into a mega bash in a stadium in Mexico. We'll have a report from Mexico on how it all unfolded.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:25:22]
ABEL: Powerball says there are no winners for the latest jackpot here in the U.S. The grand prize, it is now expected to hit upwards of $1.7 billion for Saturday's drawing. Wednesday's 1.4 was already the fourth largest in the lottery's history. A single winner on Saturday can claim a one time lump sum payment of about $770 million, or spread that larger amount over 30 years.
The odds of winning are not great. About 1 in 292,000,000.
Well, New York's mayoral election is two months away and the race is heating up. The incumbent, Eric Adams, he is denying rumors he would abandon his reelection campaign if offered a job with a Trump administration. Sources have said Donald Trump is considering hiring Adams and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa in an attempt to reduce competition for the November vote. A more narrow field would likely benefit former Governor Andrew Cuomo. He's running as an independent after losing the primary to Democratic socialist Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZOHRAN MAMDANI (D), NYC MAYORAL CANDIDATE: We have learned what New Yorkers have long suspected that Andrew Cuomo is Donald Trump's choice to be the next mayor of this city. Today's news that the White House is considering job offers for Eric Adams and Curtis Sliwa, it is not news that carries meaning because of any impact it will have on this race. We feel just as confident as we did yesterday that we will win this race in November. (END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: Another independent candidate, Jim Walden, said this week he was halting his campaign. He urged his fellow candidates to unite against Mamdani to prevent what he says would be a Trojan horse taking over city hall.
President Trump is suggesting a plan B after facing pushback over his idea to send the National Guard to Chicago. Now, he says he may deploy them in politically friendlier territory.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We're making a determination now, do we go to Chicago or do we go to a place like New Orleans, where we have a great governor, Jeff Landry, who wants us to come in? We're going to be going to maybe Louisiana. And you have New Orleans, which has a crime problem. We'll straighten that out in about two weeks. It will take us two weeks, easier than D.C.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: The Republican governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, quickly got behind that idea. He posted, we will take President Trump's help from New Orleans to Shreveport.
Earlier, the president had talked about sending federal troops to Chicago or Baltimore following their deployment in Washington. The governors of Illinois and Maryland, both Democrats, came out against that. But the Illinois governor said the troops themselves should not be blamed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. J.B. PRITZKER (D), ILLINOIS: They're really good people. They don't want to stand on the street corners of the city of Chicago. They don't want to invade an American city. The National Guardsmen and women, they don't want to do that. They're being ordered to do it. But if it happens, I am hopeful that the people of Chicago will understand that those National Guardsmen themselves are not at fault.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABEL: In Latin America, a quinceanera is a traditional coming of age celebration that marks a girl's 15th birthday. But one teen's milestone event nearly went unnoticed until a Facebook post turned into a viral sensation.
CNN's Ivan Rodriguez now with details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
IVAN RODRIGUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Isela Anahi Santiago Morales never dreamed of transforming into a princess for the night.
The daughter of humble garbage collectors living in a small central Mexico town, Isela's parents stretched their savings to throw her a 15th birthday party. It's a big year, marking a girl's traditional coming of age in Mexican culture known as a quinceanera. But Isella was crushed when hardly anyone showed up.
ISELA ANAHI SANTIAGO MORALES, CELEBRATING QUINCEANERA: My parents made a small meal at my house. I invited some friends and some didn't show up. And then my dad said that we would waste the food and post it on Facebook, that there was enough food left over for 40 people.
RODRIGUEZ: That simple post went viral.
MORALES: I didn't think it would be so big.
RODRIGUEZ: Roughly 2,000 people from Mexico and even the U.S. came to support Isela, according to "The Associated Press".
