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Early Start with Rahel Solomon

Trump: "Entire" Iran Could Be Taken Out If No Deal Reached; Sponsors Pull Out Of Major U.K. Music Festival; Vance Visits Hungary Ahead Of Country's Key Election. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired April 07, 2026 - 05:30   ET

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

[05:30:00]

BADER AL-SAIF, PROFESSOR, KUWAIT UNIVERSITY: Becky, this was a cinematic portrayal of the rescue operation. The amount of imagery, the amount of numbers, statistics -- even at one point divulging too much information was just quite clear that they're going to continue selling the operation not only to the American public but even beyond this.

And this, if you put it into conversation with Trump's previous appearances where if you remember from the first day of the war when you and I spoke and he gave us a history lesson of the 47-year history between Iran and the U.S. and the different tension points to a few weeks later if you remember he began pointing out the different days and the amount of duration of each war that the U.S. went into and how that contrasts with the Iran war that's ongoing and that's lower than those numbers.

So you're seeing a lot of conflation as well with Venezuela and certainly that parallel is beyond this. I mean, this is nowhere near the Venezuela operation. But I think still in the mind of President Trump he wants to see an easy exit and that's why he --

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Right.

AL-SAIF: -- keeps bringing that option forward.

ANDERSON: And that's what I want to speak to you about. You're speaking, of course, to Donald Trump's sort of rundown of how the rescue of the U.S. airman in Iran over the weekend was carried out, and that was advertised as being the point of that press conference. But we also heard more from him about what happens next within this self-imposed deadline that he has set of 8:00 p.m. Eastern time today, Tuesday.

With offers and counteroffers during the rounds back and forth on what Iran wants, what the U.S. wants at this point and the Pakistanis playing mediator it seems, at least in passing, you know, what is on the table around at this point, what do you see as emerging as a possible deal structure or structures, and which would make most sense for this Gulf region and very specifically for Kuwait at this point?

AL-SAIF: Becky, we could be arriving at an inflection point at this stage. This is a war that allowed each party to the conflict to flex its muscles and showcase its recklessness.

Now, we're between two extremes as you rightly note -- the final showdown and a negotiated settlement. Whether that unfolds later today in 15 hours or we get yet another extension is yet to be seen. But let me tell you, razing bridges and power plants will further weaken Iran, yes, but it won't deter it and it would further compromise the Gulf.

That's why I think working hard on the other end of the spectrum -- a deal -- would be the best way forward. And here, many are fixated, rightly so, on content -- on the content of the deal but let me comment on the structure because I think this is also telling of what content follows.

The ideal scenario, Becky, is to have a comprehensive, all-inclusive plan and a deal in where all the different parties in the region come through and where we see the other for what they see themselves in -- the ability to empathize. And let me tell you, this is the least achievable today and I don't think we're there yet.

So what are we left with? We're left with a pseudo deal. And here I'm commenting on the alternative reality this administration has been presenting and I'm thinking of the Reza peace plan model where you have alternative structures, you have a Board of Peace, you have commissioned committees. But at the end of the day what's happening on the ground? So far, not much. And the fear from the Gulf States' side, I would side, is that such a model of a pseudo deal is also transplanted to the Gulf in relation to Iran.

A third model could be a crippled deal. Here I'm thinking of a JCPOA 2.0 where the Gulf States were not involved. Their interests were not taken into account. And we could see something along those lines being struck between Iran and the U.S., unfortunately.

We saw some of that, by the way, Becky, last year with the Houthis when President Trump upended an operation suddenly --

ANDERSON: Right.

AL-SAIF: -- and went ahead with a deal that continues to maintain itself right now.

And finally, let me end on this.

ANDERSON: I do think it's --

AL-SAIF: There could also be --

ANDERSON: Yeah, go ahead.

AL-SAIF: -- a dropdown menu where they end up fixating on one issue, whether it's Hormuz or the nuclear issue that kept resurfacing by Mr. Trump, and forgetting the many other very difficult tendencies from Iran when it comes to its proxy networks, when it comes to its meddling in the affairs of its neighbors because that needs to be taken into account as well. ANDERSON: The Gulf leverage with this Trump administration I would argue, and many will argue is very different than that with the Obama administration back in 2015.

What would you suggest is the Gulf region's leverage -- very specifically for those countries who are heavily invested these days, like the UAE is in the states and many invested in, sort of, Donald Trump's family businesses as well?

So where do you see the strength at this point in ensuring for the Gulf region that its needs are met by any agreement that we see -- whichever one of those sort of foreign -- I think you lay out, you know, a decent sort of, you know, rundown of what we could or might see. What do you think would best serve the purposes of this region?

AL-SAIF: Look, there is high leverage indeed from the Gulf States and we saw it demonstrated when they were able to win Mr. Trump over on the Syria card where sanctions were lifted rapidly, relations were restored, and we were able to bring Syria back to the Arab fold, which was a key failure for the Iranians. And this is something that we need to highlight.

Something similar needs to happen with Iran, Becky. We have to assemble all of our resources. And unity is key here and this is not happening at the moment in the forcefulness that is necessary because we have different Gulf opinions on the matter. I think we need to pool our resources.

We need to put it in the world of numbers -- a world that Mr. Trump knows best. And he even declared in his press conference that he is a businessman at heart, so we need to speak to that impulse. And we need to take it then to specific asks when it comes to presenting the Gulf into this negotiation table because we also agree with Iran, by the way, with a comprehensive solution because we're not willing to go back to doing this over and over again.

And by the way, to the different points raised there needs to be clear definitions of what we're talking about. Hormuz, for example, is an international waterway. We're not going to accept tolls being imposed by Iran, by the U.S., by any other party. And we need to stick to the norms that have shaped state-to-state behavior in the past few decades. They have worked for the most part and we can develop them further. That's what we need to focus on.

ANDERSON: Bader, good to have you -- your thoughts. Much appreciate it this Tuesday morning as we watch the clock tick down. I know that sounds like a terrible cliche and a pretty hackneyed phrase, isn't it, but that is what we are faced with at this point with some, sort of, 14 1/2 hours to go. We await to see whether that deadline is extended by Donald Trump or indeed if he comes good on his promise to blow the country apart -- the country of Iran. That is effectively what he has threatened.

Let's get you back to Erica in New York -- Erica.

ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: Yeah, it may sound cliche but, Becky, you're 100 percent right. That is exactly what we are waiting to see is what happens and also whether perhaps there could be a push from this president to move a deadline once again.

As we watch for that we're also keeping a close eye on some of the other headlines.

Some major brands now cutting ties to a popular U.K. music festival over the announcement that Kanye West will be headlining. We'll dive into that controversy and backlash ahead.

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[05:42:45]

HILL: Welcome back to EARLY START. This is your business breakout.

Here's a look at where U.S. futures stand ahead of the opening bell on Wall Street. As you can see, in the green there. We'll see how that rolls out throughout the day.

Taking a look at some of today's business headlines, JPMorgan Chase's CEO Jamie Dimon is warning the war with Iran could bring an economic "skunk" to the party. In an annual letter to stockholders Dimon highlighted the sturdiness of the U.S. economy while also warning the conflict may lead to persistent inflation and higher interest rates that could sink the U.S. economy into a recession.

Trump administration officials say U.S. taxpayers may receive bigger refunds this filing season thanks to new tax measures in the so-called big, beautiful bill. According to the IRS, refunds on average have been running about 11 percent higher than last year. That's as of the end of March. It's important to note not all taxpayers, of course, are eligible due to income limits and other restrictions.

As Stephen Colbert prepares for his final "LATE SHOW" next month, CBS says Byron Allen will take over the slot with "COMICS UNLEASHED." Two episodes of the half-hour comedy talk show will air back-to-back to fill that hour. The network had blamed financial pressures for the demise of Colbert's "LATE SHOW." There has, of course, though been pretty widespread speculation it was canceled for political reasons.

Presale tickets for this summer's U.K. Wireless Music Festival release just a little over an hour from now. Several of its big-name sponsors, however, are pulling out of the event after a controversial headlining performer was announced.

CNN business and economics reporter Anna Cooban reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS REPORTER: Kanye West is set to headline a major music festival in London and now sponsors are backing out. The rapper, who goes by the name of Ye, is set to headline all three days of the Wireless Festival in London this summer. The announcement prompted outrage over Ye's repeated antisemitic remarks, including a song he released last year called "Heil Hitler." U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the booking of Ye "deeply

concerning" in a statement shared with CNN, noting "his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism."

The criticism also comes amid broader concerns about rising antisemitism in the U.K.

While Pepsi did not give a reason for pulling out of the festival the decision came just days after Ye was announced as the headliner. Pepsi was the main sponsor of the event, which was advertised as "Pepsi Presents Wireless."

[05:45:05]

Diageo told CNN, "We have informed the organizers of our concerns and as it stands Diageo will not sponsor the 2026 Wireless Festival."

Ye apologized for his antisemitic remarks earlier this year and said his bipolar disorder contributed to a manic episode.

CNN has reached out to Wireless and other partners for comment.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: Ahead here, the U.S. vice president visiting Hungary. Why many believe the trip is meant to give Prime Minister Viktor Orban a boost ahead of Sunday's election.

(COMMERCIAL)

HILL: Welcome back. I'm Erica Hill. Here are some stories we are watching today.

[05:50:00]

President Trump says the entire country of Iran could be taken out if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by tonight at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time. Trump doubling down on his threats to hit Iran's bridges and power plants, saying he's not worried about potentially committing a war crime in Iran. Tehran has warned the consequences of those attacks will be felt far beyond the region.

The four Artemis II crew members are now heading back to Earth after their historic flight around the moon. Earlier on Monday, the Orion spacecraft reached the furthest distance from Earth ever traveled. Its crew surveyed and photographed parts of the moon that humans have never seen before. The mission is expected to end Friday with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

Tens of thousands of additional Department of Homeland Security workers are now getting paid as this partial government shutdown continues in the U.S. A number of other DHS staffers will being receiving backpay as early as next week. Despite this temporary relief for some federal workers, DHS says it does remain in shutdown and that far too many employees remain furloughed. U.S. Vice President JD Vance is now in Hungary on a trip that comes

just days ahead of that country's critical election. Vance is expected to hold bilaterial meetings today with Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose grip on power is facing a big test in Sunday's vote.

CNN's Clare Sebastian following all these developments for us from London. It is impossible to ignore that timing, Clare.

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely impossible and certainly no one in Hungary is ignoring it, Erica. We have a post on X just a few moments ago from the international spokesperson for the Hungarian government saying that "Vance and his wife have arrived on an historic visit," he said, "expressing their support for Viktor Orban."

And meanwhile, on the flip side, his opponent in this every competitive elections coming up on Sunday, Peter Magyar from the Tisza Party, has put out a statement saying, "No foreign country may interfere in Hungarian elections. This is our country," he writes.

So I think, look, the timing is definitely not seen as coincidental in Hungary.

JD Vance, as you say, will be going into a bilateral meeting with Viktor Orban shortly. We then expect to see a joint press conference from the two of them. And later on, Vance will deliver remarks at an event for Hungarian American Friendship Day.

So look, I think clearly, the timing of this not only five days before the election but also in the middle of a war that the U.S. is fighting with Iran on the day of a deadline that President Trump has imposed for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face further escalation.

All of this really gives a sense of the outsized importance that the U.S. places in this country -- this landlocked European country of less than 10 million people -- given the ideology -- the shared ideology that Orban espouses. This sort of, you know, anti- immigration, this conservative Christian values that are so close to the MAGA movement.

And I think that's why we see JD Vance appearing there now. It's obviously a huge propaganda boost to Orban and we see it playing heavily across this campaign materials.

But, of course, as I said, this election is competitive. His opponent Peter Magyar has been leading in the polls. The polls, of course, do not show always the full story ahead of an election. But it comes at a potentially perilous moment for Viktor Orban after 16 years -- 16 consecutive years as the prime minister of Hungary, Erica.

HILL: Yeah, absolutely. We'll be closely watching all of that and, of course, Sunday's election as well.

Clare, appreciate it. Thank you.

Stay with us. More EARLY START ahead after a quick break. (COMMERCIAL)

[05:57:45]

HILL: Mighty Michigan managed to hold off UConn to win the first NCAA Men's Basketball Championship since 1989 for the school. The Wolverines climbed their way to a 69-63 victory over the Huskies coming out strong in the first half, led by Elliot Cadeau, the newly- minted most outstanding player of this year's Final Four.

Check out this shot from Michigan guard Trey McKenney who broke a lot of -- that shot broke a lot of hearts.

UConn did try to come back in the second half, closing some of that gap and even getting within four points inside the final minute, but not enough to secure what would have been their third national title in just four years.

The number one Wolverines -- again, it's their first championship in 37 years. And take a look. See that? Those are packed streets there in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: The Bruins have captured their very first NCAA National Championship.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: And, of course, over the weekend a remarkable moment for UCLA as the school won the women's NCAA title for the very first time. The Bruins dominating South Carolina 79-51 in Phoenix on Sunday, capping off a stellar season of 37-1. Every one of UCLA's starting players finished the game scoring double digits.

One of those starters, guard Kiki Rice, helped to lead the charge and spoke to CNN earlier talking about just how proud she was of this accomplishment for her team.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KIKI RICE, GUARD, UCLA BRUINS: Yeah, you know, this is an absolutely fantastic feeling. This is what I came to UCLA to do. I came to help this program get to Final Fours and win national championships. And to be able to go out on such an incredible note on my last game my senior year, it just felt so special. I mean, it's incredible to now be a part of the fantastic legacy that is UCLA sports and, you know, adding to the UCLA women's basketball legacy as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: Plenty of celebrating in L.A. Fans gathering on the campus Sunday night to greet the team with a hero's welcome for the new NCAA women's champs.

The rapper Offset hospitalized after being shot in Florida on Monday. We're told he is in stable condition. That's according to a spokesperson. Police say two people were detained. The shooting happened near the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida. The rapper's cousin Takeoff was shot dead in 2022. Offset was previously married to Cardi B. They have three children together.

[06:00:08]

Thanks so much for joining us here on EARLY START. I'm Erica Hill in New York. Stayed tuned. "CNN THIS MORNING" starts right now.