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Early Start with Rahel Solomon
Trump Heads To Davos; Justice Department Takes On Minnesota Officials; Mexico Sends Carter Members To U.S. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired January 21, 2026 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:21]
RAHEL SOLOMON, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning and welcome to our viewers joining us from the U.S. and all around the world. I'm Rahel Solomon. It is Wednesday, January 21st, 5:00 a.m. here in New York.
And straight ahead on EARLY START.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: President Trump is headed to Davos, where he is expected to meet with at least some of these world leaders to talk about Greenland.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This will be an interesting trip. I have no idea what's going to happen, but you are well represented.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: The Justice Department is ramping up its investigation into state and local leaders in Minnesota.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think what we're seeing is blatant intimidation by the federal government in real time.
VALERIA LEON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: On the first anniversary of President Trump's second term, Mexico announced the transfer of 37 inmates to the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
SOLOMON: U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to arrive in Davos, Switzerland, soon, as tensions continue to simmer over his plans to take control of Greenland. The president's trip was delayed when Air Force One had to return to the U.S. shortly after takeoff Tuesday night. The White House called it a minor electrical issue. Trump boarded another plane and left Joint Base Andrews for the second time just after midnight.
As for Greenland, the world's largest trading partnership between the U.S. and Europe and the future of the NATO military alliance -- well, that all hangs in the balance. Sources tell CNN that European leaders are considering their options, hoping to provide something of an off ramp for Trump. Those potentials include an expanded U.S. military presence in Greenland, commercial and economic agreements, and barring Chinese investment in the territory.
The NATO secretary general, talking about his outlook for the region just a short time ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK RUTTE, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: We need to defend Arctic. We know that these sea lanes are opening up. We know that China and Russia are increasingly active in the Arctic. President Trump and other leaders are right. We have to do more there. We have to protect the Arctic against Russian and Chinese influence. And that's exactly what NATO ambassadors decided to do in September. We are working on that, making sure that collectively, will we defend the Arctic region.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOLOMON: Other world leaders, though, appear united in the face of these geopolitical tensions, even as president Trump warns, there is no turning back on his plans for Greenland.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
URSULA VON DER LEYEN, EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT: The threat of additional tariffs for security reasons is simply wrong. If we are now plunging into a dangerous downward spiral between allies, this would only embolden the very adversaries we are both so committed to keeping out of the strategic landscape.
EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT: It's a shift towards a world without rules where international law is trampled underfoot and where the only law that seems to matter is that of the strongest and imperial ambitions are resurfacing.
MARK CARNEY, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: It seems that every day were reminded that we live in an era of great power rivalry, that the rules based order is fading, that the strong can do what they can, and the weak must suffer what they must. The middle powers must act together, because if we're not at the table, we're on the menu.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOLOMON: Okay, we'll get to in just a moment for a look at how markets are reacting to all of this. But first, let's welcome in Melissa Bell in Paris on how European leaders are pushing back against President Trump -- Melissa.
MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Standing firm, showing unity, showing solidarity and a determination, to continue protecting the sovereignty of Greenland and Denmark's position. What the French are now proposing is some kind of NATO exercise in the Arctic islands. Sort of reminder, even as Davos expects President Trump of the fact that this is an alliance that binds everyone, including in Greenland, never mind the escalation of the threats over its control. Still, what we've seen is a hardening of the positions on either side,
even as the leaders involved in the protection of Denmark and those recent military exercises outside of NATO framework will be meeting with President Trump later today after he's made his big speech at Davos to try and find solutions. We know that even as you heard those European, but also the Canadian prime minister stand up yesterday at Davos to make plain their determination to push back.
[05:05:02]
And again, this morning, we've been hearing from European officials in front of the European parliament of the fact that the European Union has the tools that it believes it needs to fight any resumption of the trade war and those threatened tariffs on February 1st. Everyone wants to avoid that, of course. So even as they're trying to show their determination to stand up to President Trump, these desperate negotiations going on behind the scenes to try and find that offramp that would satisfy both the territorial integrity, the sovereignty of Greenland and Denmark's claim to it, and President Trump's need to show to need to have gained something from this ratchet up escalation of the rhetoric that we've seen from the White House over the last couple of weeks.
One of the suggestions, as you said, Rahel, the idea that the military bases the treaties that allow American military bases to exist in Greenland might be expanded to include some kind of commercial incentive to the United States, something that President Trump could claim as a victory, even as Greenland would continue to protect its sovereignty.
So, this is likely to be in the center of discussions today. And all eyes very much on what progress can be made on getting over what has been a hardening position on both sides and this threatened resumption of the trade war in the next few days, Rahel.
SOLOMON: Yeah, it makes for potentially some really awkward private meetings. Melissa Bell in Paris for us, Melissa, thank you.
And the president's pursuit of Greenland has rattled not only political leaders but also business leaders and financial markets.
Let's get to CNN's Anna Cooban, who is live in London, with more on that.
And we saw yesterday the so-called sell America trade as investors dumped U.S. stocks, bonds. What -- walk us through the reaction on the European side of things. What are you seeing?
ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINESS & ECONOMCS REPORTER: Well, it's not been positive. There have been selloffs in European markets all this week. Of course, we've had an extra day of trade in Europe compared to the U.S. because there was a holiday on Monday. But you're right, we've seen huge selloffs in the U.S. both the Nasdaq and the S&P down over 2 percent yesterday, posting their worst day since October. But interestingly, we do have record highs being hit in the market in places. And that's with gold and silver, which are so-called safe haven
assets. Basically, investors tend to rush into them when they're feeling particularly uneasy about the state of the world. And it's quite clear that they have many reasons to believe that the world economic forum does this global risk survey, it comes out every year, and they published it today.
It's a survey of over 1,000 business leaders, leaders in government, and 1 percent of them apparently think the next two years are going to bring calm. Half believe it's going to be turbulent. And the top issue, you know, they worry about is something that they're calling geoeconomic risk. And I think tariffs most definitely fit within that bucket, Rahel.
SOLOMON: And give us a sense -- I know our Richard Quest is on the ground there. He's been speaking with stakeholders, business leaders who stand to actually be impacted from some of these tariffs. If they were in fact, to go into effect.
What is he hearing? What are we hearing on the ground there from business leaders?
COOBAN: Well, he spoke to the CEO of Schneider Electric a couple of days ago, and the CEO was basically talking about the fact that tariffs are creating massive uncertainty, but particularly for businesses like his, a manufacturer and exporter. Tariffs are a much bigger deal. And so we're going to see if these tariffs do come into effect from February 1st and then maybe June 1st. With that 25 percent.
We do expect to see manufacturers, exporters in Germany, for example, an economy that's very big on exporting, particularly cars, for example, we the impact to be felt unevenly and harder on a country like Germany.
Richard Quest also spoke with Christine Lagarde, the head of the ECB, and she was talking about how the European union really needs to start focusing more on itself. So, it's got a massive market, 400 million people. And she really talked up the idea of Europe can't rely on the U.S. anymore in the way that it used to. So, they really should be focusing more in Europe on importing and exporting with each other.
SOLOMON: Okay. Anna Cooban for us in London -- Anna, thank you. NATO defense ministers are meeting today in Brussels. Not clear though if they will be discussing President Trump's plans to take control of Greenland. The alliance says that topics will include deterring common security challenges, military innovation and the war in Ukraine.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has now accepted Donald Trump's invitation to join the U.S. presidents so-called board of peace. The committee is meant to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza. Israel was one of dozens of countries to receive an invitation in recent days. Russia and China were also asked to participate.
Sources say that President Trump is expected to host a signing ceremony in Davos this week. Still ahead this hour, Trump's first year back in office is being met with protests across the country. More on what they're saying when we come back.
Plus, the Trump administration is accusing Minnesota's Democratic leaders of blocking their attempts to carry out immigration enforcement. Details on the state official's response straight ahead.
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And Mexico sending inmates to face trial in the U.S. as the Trump administration ramps up pressure to end drug trafficking.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOLOMON: Across the U.S., protests marked the one year anniversary of President Trump's second term. In the nation's capital, hundreds walked off the job in protest of his domestic, foreign and immigration policies.
And in New York, demonstrators gathered across the street from Trump Tower. They could be seen holding signs saying "impeach Trump", with several calling for his removal from office. One protester said that the protest was part of a broader walkout.
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DEEANNE GORMAN, NEW YORK CITY RESIDENT: Playbook to undermine the courts, to undermine real news and distance us from our allies in Europe and basically attacked citizens who are either here or looking for a better life, or who are here legally as Americans standing up for their rights.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOLOMON: U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi made an unannounced visit to Minnesota Tuesday, and she's sending this warning to the state's top leaders.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAM BONDI, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: Whether it's a public official, whether its a law enforcement officer, no one is above the law in this state or in this country, and people will be held accountable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOLOMON: Her visit comes the same day that at least five top Minnesota officials, all of them Democrats, received Justice Department subpoenas. Sources say that the agency is investigating whether they obstructed federal immigration enforcement efforts in the state. Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey say they will not
be intimidated into silence.
Meanwhile, President Trump is defending his administration's surge of federal agents in Minnesota.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: They're apprehending murderers and drug dealers and a lot of bad people. And these are just some of the more recent ones that we have. And I can show you some of the people, vicious, many of them murderers. These are all out of Minnesota, just Minnesota. Can I say, why don't' you talk about that more?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOLOMON: Federal border patrol officials say that protests are making their work in Minnesota difficult. Minnesota's governor has repeatedly urged protesters to demonstrate peacefully. The top border patrol official is blaming Governor Tim Walz and the mayor of Minneapolis for the demonstrations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GREG BOVINO, BORDER PATROL OFFICIAL: Leaders like Tim Walz or Mayor Frey have relied on heated rhetoric and accusations that distract -- that distract from the facts. And what we do is legal, ethical and moral. Everything we do every day is legal, ethical and moral, well- grounded in law.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOLOMON: State officials dispute the Trump administration's narrative that protesters are provoking violence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TINA SMITH, U.S. SENATE DEMOCRAT: What you see from the mayors and from the governor is just a very solid, calm response, saying we are focused on keeping our communities safe. We are focusing on standing up for Minnesota values, and that's what we're going to continue to be focused. And I really applaud that. I mean, people coming out of their homes to stand up for folks that are literally being drug out of their cars, it's really incredible to see that. And it makes me really proud.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOLOMON: Mexico's government has just sent dozens of inmates to the U.S. to stand trial. Mexican officials say that they are high impact criminals with alleged ties to some of the country's most powerful drug cartels. This comes as U.S. President Donald Trump pushes Mexico leaders to do more to stop drug trafficking.
CNN's Valeria Leon has the details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VALERIA LEON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: On the first anniversary of President Trump's second term, Mexico announced the transfer of 37 inmates to the United States. This is the third operation of its kind in just one year, something unprecedented in the relationship between the two countries. In total, Mexico has now sent 92 high risk criminals across the border. T
his latest transfer began at El Altiplano, one of Mexico's highest security prisons. Seven military aircraft flew the inmates into U.S. territory, sending them to six cities San Diego, San Antonio, Washington, D.C., Houston, New York and Pennsylvania. According to a post on X by Mexico's secretary of public security, Omar Garcia Harfoush, these 37 inmates were operators within major criminal organizations and were considered a real threat to national security.
The government emphasized that the operation respected Mexico's sovereignty and was carried out under the agreement that the death penalty would not be considered. The request for their transfer came from the U.S. Department of Justice, but this wasn't the first time.
Back in August, Mexico sent another 26 inmates to the U.S., a group that included figures like Juan Carlos Felix, the son in law of Sinaloa cartel co-founder Ismael El Mayo Zambada, and Servando Gomez La Tuta, a well-known leader of Los Caballeros Templarios.
That August operation had been preceded by the first transfer carried out early in February, when Mexico handed over Rafael Caro Quintero, one of the most wanted fugitives in the United States since 1985 after the kidnapping and murder of the DEA agent Kiki Camarena.
Here's the key point, none of these three historic transfers were formal extraditions. Mexico insists they're not extraditions at all, but rather transfers carried out under a cooperation framework between both countries.
Valeria Leon, CNN, Mexico City.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOLOMON: President Trump won't let up on his blockade of Venezuela's oil supplies. Details of the recent oil tanker seizure in the Caribbean straight ahead.
Plus, a Japanese court has delivered a verdict and sentence in the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. We'll bring you the latest from Tokyo right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:25:15]
SOLOMON: Welcome back.
The U.S. has seized another Venezuela linked oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea. U.S. southern command announced Tuesdays seizure of the tanker on social media with this video. The U.S. has now apprehended seven ships in President Trump's ongoing campaign to control Venezuela's oil production. Military officials say that the seizure demonstrates their resolve to make sure that any oil leaving Venezuela is done properly and lawfully.
Now to Spain, where the country is dealing with a second deadly train accident in just a matter of days. At least one person, the train operator, was killed and 37 others were hurt. Tuesday after a commuter passenger train derailed near Barcelona. Authorities say that the derailment happened after a retaining wall fell onto the tracks following heavy rain.
Now that incident comes two days after two high speed trains collided in southern Spain, killing at least 41 people.
We turn now to Japan, where the man who assassinated former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has learned his fate. Tetsuya Yamagami had already admitted to the killing, and earlier today, the court sentenced him to life in prison.
CNN's Hanako Montgomery has been covering this from Tokyo.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is the moment that changed Japan, when a former leader was assassinated in broad daylight with a homemade gun.
Ex-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was speaking at a political rally when Tetsuya Yamagami, pictured here, fired two shots and killed him. Today, more than three years later, Yamagami was sentenced to life in prison, a crime he admitted to in court.
He said he resented what used to be known as the Unification Church, after his mother's donations to the religious organization bankrupted his family.
Now, Yamagami originally targeted church leaders but chose Abe instead, reportedly because he believed Abe's influence helped legitimize the group. I remember covering Abe's funeral three years ago and seeing thousands of people, young and old, lining the streets to watch his hearse go by.
Since Abe's death, we've seen security for politicians overhauled and lawmakers publicly cut ties with the former Unification Church, exposing years of political links. And inside the ruling party, Abe's absence created a power vacuum and political uncertainty that we still feel today.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOLOMON: Our thanks to Hanako Montgomery there still ahead. Tariffs appear to be President Trump's preferred economic tool, despite warnings about U.S. consumers footing most of the bill. My next guest studies the impacts of tariffs on the U.S. economy, and he'll break down the latest data right after this break. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
