Return to Transcripts main page
Isa Soares Tonight
Trump Facing Pushback on Some Sweeping Immigration Policy Changes; Trump Pardons January 6 Rioters; Snow in Southeastern U.S.; Trump Reverses Climate Policies. Aired 2:00-3p ET
Aired January 21, 2025 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:00:00]
OMAR JIMENEZ, HOST, ISA SOARES TONIGHT: Welcome to the show, everyone, I'm Omar Jimenez in for Isa Soares. Tonight, U.S. President Donald Trump kick-
starts his first day in what he calls the, quote, "golden age of America", dropping a lot of executive orders. We've got all the details.
Plus, Volodymyr Zelenskyy issues a challenge to NATO countries at Davos. Ukraine's President calling for European unity as President Trump takes
office. And an immigration crackdown as the new White House declares a border emergency. We're going to tell you about the legal fights already
being waged against the new administration.
We're a little more than 24 hours into the second Trump White House and America's 47th President is wasting no time flexing his presidential power.
At any moment now, he is supposed to be meeting with the House Speaker and Senate leader at the White House where they're expected to discuss how to
implement his sweeping agenda.
And it comes after Trump signed dozens of executive orders during his first hours on the job, many of them reversing Biden-era policies.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The next item here is the withdrawal from the Paris Climate Treaty --
(CHEERS)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Protecting women from radical gender ideologies.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two
genders, male and female.
They'll have a 100 percent tariff if they so much as even think about doing what they thought.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is actually an executive order designating the cartels and other organizations to be foreign terrorist organizations.
TRUMP: That's a big one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JIMENEZ: So, you can see those orders touching on a wide range of topics. Among the most notable of the moves, the President made just hours into his
new term, he pardoned nearly all of the January 6th rioters, including those convicted of violent felonies. He also commuted the sentences of some
far-right extremists.
Now, Trump, who attended an inter-faith prayer service at the National Cathedral earlier declared a national emergency at the southern border with
Mexico, along with plans to try to end birthright citizenship. A number of blue states are already pushing back on that.
Meanwhile, the first member of Trump's cabinet is officially on the job. That's Marco Rubio, who is now the new U.S. Secretary of State. Rubio was
sworn in today after the Senate overwhelmingly voted to confirm him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCO RUBIO, SECRETARY OF STATE, UNITED STATES: In our republic, the voters decide the course of our nation, both domestically and abroad, and
they have elected Donald J. Trump as our President when it comes to foreign policy on a very clear mission. And that mission is to ensure that our
foreign policy is centered on one thing, and that is the advancement of our national interest.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JIMENEZ: I want to bring in CNN Politics senior reporter Stephen Collinson. And you know, you recently wrote the new President set of
simultaneous political arms -- alarms in multiple foreign capitals with the off the cuff foreign policy making instantly turning the U.S. away from
internationalism embraced by every President apart from him since World War II. Where are you seeing the biggest impact from day one of the Trump
presidency?
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: I think internationally, it's just this sense that the United States, which for most of the time
since 1945 has been an organ of stability on the international stage, now is one of the prime forces of disruption. In a free-willing press
conference in the Oval Office shortly after he was sworn in, Trump almost seemed to be making up foreign policy on the hoof.
He was talking about potential tariffs on Canada and Mexico, saying that he would not rule out sending special forces into Mexico to go after the
cartels. He was talking about European defense spending, all of these issues that are forcing a great deal of foreign countries to react to what
he is saying in real time.
I think the most interesting part of that press conference, though, was when he started to build public pressure on Vladimir Putin to come to
some kind of agreement on Ukraine. There was a lot of speculation in the first term of Trump as to why he was so -- why he would genuflect so much
before Putin.
This was quite interesting because it was a slight change of tone, and he seemed to be trying to build leverage over Russia to force them to the
table with Ukraine for potential peace talks. So, I think that is moving, and I think that will be something worth watching.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Thank you very much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[14:05:00]
JIMENEZ: Stephen Collinson, really appreciate the reporting and perspective. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a
lengthy reminder to Europe to take hold of its own security as U.S. President Trump begins his second term. Now, earlier, President Zelenskyy
spoke at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland and he urged European countries to stand together against the threat from Russia.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT, UKRAINE: Europe must establish itself as a strong global player. As an indispensable player. Let's not forget, there
is no ocean separating European countries from Russia.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JIMENEZ: Trump says he plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin once talks are set up. Now before the election, it's worth reminding, then
candidate Trump said he could end Russia's war on Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office. That deadline has obviously now passed. I want to bring
in our chief international security correspondent Nick Paton Walsh, who joins us live from Kyiv.
Nick, look, you've covered this war both on the ground and at the diplomatic level. What sticks out to you from these comments? How do you
see them resonating?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Look, it's absolutely clear that Trump struck a very different tone about Vladimir
Putin, a man who he also said he gets on very well within the same comments, essentially trying to accentuate the economic problems that the
war is causing for Russia.
I think trying to suggest the financial benefit for the Kremlin head for striking some kind of deal. He said that he should make a deal. He said he
didn't know if Putin wanted one, I'm paraphrasing here, and he said that Putin was destroying Russia through this particular war, pointing out the
high inflation edging towards 10 percent.
Remember, interest rates for many Russians edged towards 20 percent because they're trying to keep that down. So much money being poured into the
Russian overheating economy through payouts for deaths, through recruitment bonuses for those who join the Russian armed services.
He also pointed out the frankly horrific wounded and death rate in Russia's forces about 700,000, according to some western officials. So, essentially
striking a very different tone from a man who many felt he was too deferential towards in his first tone. And I think comforting some
Ukrainians we've spoken to here who essentially feel though we're seeing a Trump who might strike clear position of peace through strength.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has long talked over the last weeks that he might potentially see from the new White House here. But it is clear that Trump
intends to meet Putin. The date was not clarified either, and it's also clear that he expects to see European members of NATO contribute
significantly more towards their defense.
He floated in that same press conference the idea of 5 percent of GDP by European NATO members being part of their defense spend. That's about
double that many currently see at the moment. And it's also important to see, Omar, how much of Trump's comments in the White House there were then
echoed by Volodymyr Zelenskyy hours later, speaking to the European elite in Switzerland.
He talked also about the need for a 5 percent contribution towards defense spending, saying European countries shouldn't be emotional about this. It's
simply the cost of their own security. And he indeed, as you played earlier on there, echoed the notion that while Donald Trump said that there was an
ocean between United States and Europe and Ukraine and the war there, he mentioned, Zelenskyy, that there was no ocean between Europe and Russia.
And I think it was remarkable to see Zelenskyy 24 hours after Trump took office, essentially echoing so much of what Trump has said about Europe's
need to step up, reminding European powers that this is a war on their own doorstep. In fact, at one point, suggesting that TikTok's algorithm owned
by China was in fact more powerful than some European governments, castigating Slovakia for continuing to try and take Russian gas, but also
depend on the United States for its security.
I think trying to push European NATO members into a place where Trump feels more comfortable supporting Ukraine, and indeed, echoing some of the words
we heard from Trump earlier. Look, you know, make no mistake, the idea of peace here in Ukraine, where Russia is on the ascendant still
incrementally, but continually in the eastern front lines is quite far off still, they have to go over significant hurdles to get the Kremlin on side,
frankly, for this idea entirely.
But it has been very interesting today to see Donald Trump deeply critical of Vladimir Putin, pointing out how badly his war is indeed going,
suggesting he could still make a deal and Putin should want one. And then also see Ukraine's President turn on the European allies who rhetorically
are so much more in favor of continual support of Kyiv, so much less capable of providing it because of their own finances, and essentially tell
Europe that they need to step up to the plate here in the time of Trump.
A lot moving very fast indeed. And the real question is, when do Trump and Putin meet? And what tone are those talks going to take, Omar?
[14:10:00]
JIMENEZ: And it comes as even before this point, we saw many Republican members, especially of Capitol Hill here in the United States, less willing
to support aid packages that we had seen come pretty consistently prior. Nick Paton Walsh, really appreciate the reporting. Stay safe. My next guest
is President of the Global Situation Room, an international consulting firm, and he served as director of Global Engagement in the Obama White
House.
Brett Bruen joins us now from Alexandria, Virginia. I want to pick up where we just left off. I mean, what do you make of Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy's comments? What do you make of him seeing -- seeming to question how committed Trump will be to Europe?
BRETT BRUEN, PRESIDENT, GLOBAL SITUATION ROOM: Well, I think Zelenskyy is trying to thread a very delicate balance here. On the one hand, he is
ingratiating himself to Trump. He's showing that Ukraine can be a test case for Trump's new strength and peace approach. But I think on the other hand,
look, Zelenskyy needs help and he needs it quickly.
And so, he has to worry that Trump may try to cut a deal, a quick one, one that is not in Ukraine's interest. And you know, the thing is coming in the
wake of the deal that we saw for a ceasefire in Gaza, you know, that was largely hammered out by Biden's team. The question that now looms large
over the White House is whether or not Trump's team is going to be able to do that kind of delicate, difficult diplomacy.
JIMENEZ: And Brett, you know, Trump said last night he thinks Vladimir Putin was destroying Russia by not making a deal, as he, of course, says he
wants to meet with Putin. Details still being worked out there. But -- and you touched on this a little bit. How do you believe a Trump administration
may treat this war differently than a Biden one?
BRUEN: Well, I think there is a deal to be had there, albeit not necessarily one that's advantageous for Ukraine. Ultimately, it will
involve some level of Ukrainian land going over formally to Russia. On the other hand, Zelenskyy has the advantage because he could not make that
compromise according to the Ukrainian constitution.
And yet, he can justify it, saying, look, Trump is threatening our aid. We simply will lose more ground if we don't make some sort of compromise.
Obviously, that was partially behind the incursion into Kursk and Russian territory by the Ukrainians. So, at the end of the day, I think we are
dancing around what is ultimately, you know, the makings of a deal.
JIMENEZ: Look, there's a -- there are a number of fronts that President Trump touched on his first day in office. I want to shift to Panama as
well, because, as you know, President Trump wants Panama to return the canal to the United States, and said he wouldn't rule out -- or at this
point, he has not ruled out using military force to reclaim it. Take a listen to Congressman Jim Himes of Connecticut. I believe we have the
sound.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JIM HIMES (D-CT): When you treat a country like Panama the way the President treated Panama yesterday, Colombia notices, Venezuela notices,
Brazil notices, Argentina notices. These are countries that we need economically. And there are countries that are absolutely essential to
working with us to stop the flow of fentanyl into this country.
So, I guess the short way of putting that is that, there's really nothing good about this new President deciding he's going to emphasize, you know,
taking back the Panama Canal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JIMENEZ: What message do you believe these efforts send to both American allies and adversaries?
BRUEN: Well, the mistake that Trump is making is, he believes that all of this brashness, this bulldozing over treaties and international norms
somehow will make America safer. But instability on our border does not make us safer.
And by saying that the U.S. is going to re-colonize Panamanian territory, we are, as the congressman was pointing out, making it more unstable for
not just Panama, but a whole range of countries, including across Central America, where a lot of those migrants are coming up to our border. So,
Trump is just doing dumb diplomacy with this.
JIMENEZ: And look, among the many executive orders sort of affecting the world stage, we know he pulled out of the -- he's pulling the United States
out of the Paris Climate Accords, but also pulling the United States out of the World Health Organization, which he also tried to do in the beginning
months of the pandemic before Biden reversed that effort.
But you wrote on social media how can we keep Americans safe if we are not sitting in on the most important health conversations? And so, just on that
point, does this leave a gap ripe for a country like China to fill in on the world stage? How do you see it?
BRUEN: Well, I think, Omar, that's precisely the point. One, our absence there is a win for China. And so, they're -- unfortunately, is a real
American disadvantage by not participating in some of these multilateral organizations. On the other hand, this is also an illustration of what
tripped Trump up in his first term.
[14:15:00]
He doesn't have a plan for replacing Obamacare; the healthcare insurance program here in the United States. He just wants to tear it down. He
doesn't have a plan for replacing the World Health Organization. So, by pulling the U.S. out of the main organizing body for protecting the health
and safety of Americans, we are endangering our people.
And quite frankly, at the end of the day, this is going to have to be reversed in some way, shape or form, but not without a cost. And I think
that's the problem, is Trump makes some of these bold declarations, the executive orders, but doesn't have anything to actually replace it with.
JIMENEZ: A number of fronts that we're touching here because I want to ask you about Israel and Gaza, because Trump has said he isn't confident the
Gaza ceasefire would last. His post last six weeks, starting a few days ago provide an opportunity to negotiate for a second phase where broader peace
could be considered.
But there's a lot of pressure internally in Israel from some politicians, especially to resume fighting. But what do you see as the U.S. role in
either helping maintain the ceasefire? And if it doesn't hold, where does that leave Trump?
BRUEN: Well, this is the thing, because Trump actually owns this deal. He and his team helped negotiate it. And yet, they are now charged with its
implementation. So, Trump can't just walk away with -- from it like he has with other engagements like the JCPOA with Iran. He's going to have to
figure out a solution.
So, if the ceasefire, if Israeli politicians start to raise questions on the extreme right of the political spectrum, Trump has got to figure out a
way to deal with that, because it is going to engulf, I think his diplomacy if Israel once again engages in an open conflict in Gaza, it's going to
disrupt his plans for an expansion of the Abraham Accords.
And, you know, it's just going to be a credibility issue if he can't get this initial deal, which he has trumpeted with such fanfare, including
yesterday at the Capital One Arena here in Washington. If it fails, it's on him.
JIMENEZ: Brett Bruen, really appreciate the time and perspective on a number of topics. Thanks for being here.
BRUEN: Sure thing.
JIMENEZ: All right, one of the most controversial moments of inauguration day wasn't what was said, but what was done by Elon Musk.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELON MUSK, FOUNDER, TESLA & SPACEX: Thank you. Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JIMENEZ: The billionaire's forceful hand gesture ignited speculation online, with some accusing him of giving a Nazi-like salute during a speech
celebrating President Trump in Washington. Now, Musk later appeared to dismiss the controversy with this post on his social media platform,
saying, quote, "the everyone is Hitler attack is so tired."
Still to come, President Donald Trump is now casting doubt that a Gaza ceasefire will hold even as he takes credit for brokering the fragile deal.
And a deadly fire rips through a popular ski resort hotel in Turkey, leaving dozens dead. We're going to have the latest on the investigation.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:20:00]
JIMENEZ: Welcome back, everyone. U.S. President Donald Trump's priorities on day one included lifting sanctions on extremist settlers in the West
Bank who are linked to violence against Palestinians. And it comes just as the U.N. Human Rights office warns of a new wave of attacks. It says scores
of settlers stormed several Palestinian towns in the West Bank over the weekend, setting fire to homes and cars, blocking roads and throwing
stones.
The U.N. also says Israeli security forces shot and killed a 14-year-old boy who appeared to be unarmed, and says Israel is increasingly restricting
Palestinians' freedom of movement across the West Bank. Now, the IDF hasn't responded to a CNN inquiry on these reports, but it is speaking out about a
new major military operation in Jenin, saying it's meant to eradicate, quote, "terrorism".
At least, nine Palestinians have been killed. Donald Trump's pick for U.N. Ambassador just raised eyebrows on Capitol Hill with comments about the
West Bank in her confirmation hearing. Listen to her exchange with Senator Chris Van Hollen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN (D-MD): I'm really surprised by answers in my office, but I did ask you whether you subscribed to the views of Finance
Minister Smotrich, who --
ELISE STEFANIK, TRUMP'S AMBASSADOR NOMINEE TO THE UNITED NATIONS: Of who? I'm sorry, finance --
VAN HOLLEN: Smotrich, this is the Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich and the former National Security Minister Ben-Gvir, who believe that Israel has
a biblical right to the entire West Bank. And in that conversation, you told me that, yes, you shared that view. Is that your view today?
STEFANIK: Yes.
VAN HOLLEN: OK, I think when it comes to this very difficult issue, if the President is going to succeed at bringing peace and stability to the Middle
East, we're going to have to look at the U.N. Security Council resolutions, not just the ones on Lebanon, which we should enforce, but other U.N.
Security Council resolutions.
And it's going to be very difficult to achieve that if you continue to hold the view that you just expressed, which is a view that was not held by the
founders of the state of Israel.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JIMENEZ: Now, the Israeli military says people in Gaza can return to the north next week if Hamas adheres to the ceasefire deal. While the agreement
has finally brought a moment of reprieve and is allowing them to return home, they are grieving for all they have lost over 15 months of war. Nada
Bashir has more on the situation on the ground in Gaza.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NADA BASHIR, CNN REPORTER (voice-over): This is what returning home looks like after 15 months of unrelenting war. There is little left to salvage
here in what once was Gaza's densely populated Al Bureij Refugee Camp, Israel's military onslaught leaving this small strip of land almost
entirely uninhabitable.
"This was our house, our garden", Amal(ph) says. "This was our whole life, all our memories." Her daughter clutches on to whatever toys they were able
to recover from their destroyed home. Like all families here, they will now try to carry on with life no matter what uncertainty lies ahead.
In Gaza city, the streets have already begun to fill in the absence of airstrikes and artillery. Little girls dressed in the traditional
Palestinian thawb, celebratory cakes being shared in the streets. For many, amid so much loss, the ceasefire is both a moment of long-awaited respite
and a moment of rare joy.
"Even though we are heading into a difficult and uncertain phase, the thought of no longer losing the people you love, of being able to sleep one
night without the fear of losing someone dear to you is truly a relief", this woman says. For over a year now, Palestinians in Gaza have spent each
night hoping to survive just one more day.
"Gaza is small, but it survived against the world. The whole world was defeated and we endured. To persevere is in itself a victory."
[14:25:00]
But even under a ceasefire, the war has made survival at its most basic level, a persistent challenge for Palestinians in Gaza. In Rafah, an area
once designated a safe zone, the remains of decomposing bodies are a reminder of the kind of brutality Gaza's people have survived. Buildings
stand hollowed beside mountains of rubble, some returning to their now destroyed homes, but this time, alone.
Their loved ones killed over the course of the war. "We are defeated. We have no life left. We will live in the streets", Mohammed says. "I came
here hoping to see my house still standing, but I found it destroyed." With so much lost in Gaza, the road ahead will be long and difficult.
But despite the incomprehensible suffering this small enclave has faced, there remains an unwavering sense of hope. Nada Bashir, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JIMENEZ: Nada, thank you. We want to get you updated on a few other headlines we're following including a huge fire that broke out at a 12-
story ski resort hotel in Turkey overnight. Officials say at least 66 people were killed and more than 50 were injured. It happened in the Bolu
Province in northwestern Turkey, west of Ankara.
As flames raced through the building, you can see the billowing smoke on top of it there. Two people reportedly died after jumping out of hotel
windows. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Four people have been detained. South Korea's detained President Yoon Suk Yeol attended a
constitutional court-hearing for his impeachment trial in his first public appearance since his arrest.
He's accused of leading an insurrection with his short-lived attempt to impose martial law in December. Now, the court will ultimately decide
whether he will be reinstated or removed from office permanently. Yoon told the court he is committed to a, quote, "free democracy in South Korea."
However, he's refused to answer questions in a separate criminal investigation. Still to come tonight, President Trump's crackdown on
immigration has begun. The impact his moves are already having from Washington to the U.S.-Mexico border. Plus, nearly all of the January 6th
rioters have now been pardoned. We're going to have reaction from one former police officer who defended the Capitol during the 2021 attack. Stay
with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:30:00]
OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. President Trump is already facing pushback for some of his sweeping immigration policy changes. More than a
dozen Democratic state attorneys general are challenging his bid to end birthright citizenship to anyone born in the United States.
Now, under an unprecedented executive order he signed Monday, federal agencies would be prohibited from issuing citizenship documents to children
whose parents are not U.S. citizens.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: We're the only country in the world that does this with birthright, as you know, and it's just absolutely
ridiculous. But, you know, we'll see. We think it -- we have very good grounds. People have wanted to do this for decades.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JIMENEZ: It's the beginning of a fight that could end up before the Supreme Court. CNN's Priscilla Alvarez, now with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President Donald Trump started his first hours back in office by signing sweeping executive actions on
immigration. They included, for example, a national emergency on the U.S. southern border to essentially shore up Pentagon resources along the border
as well as designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, that was a resurfaced idea from his first term that didn't come to fruition, as well
as kicking off negotiations for his signature border policy known as remain in Mexico, which required migrants stay in Mexico while they went through
their immigration court proceedings.
But while he talked about each of these executive actions, over the course of the day, it was something that he didn't talk about that had the fastest
implications for those migrants along the U.S. southern border, and that was the turning off of a border app known as CBP One that allowed migrants
to schedule appointments at legal ports of entry.
So, thousands of migrants who were queued up for those appointments will now have those canceled, raising concerns among some Homeland Security
officials I've spoken with who say that some of them may be prompted to cross the border illegally.
Now, in addition to that, I'm also told that at the Justice Department there was a purge of career public civil servants who had been serving in
key leadership roles at the Immigration Office within the Justice Department. That is an office that oversees the nation's immigration
courts. In other words, those immigration judges who choose who stays in the U.S. and who is deported.
Now, we have also started to see legal challenges come in, the ACLU, for example, suing on the executive order to end birthright citizenship. Of
course, that can't be taken as a unilateral action. It rather kicks off a process, but the ACLU already taking the Trump administration to court and
we'll see if there are more legal challenges that follow. But certainly, the Trump administration coming in, trying to execute on President Trump's
promises on the campaign trail to initiate an immigration crackdown.
Priscilla Alvarez, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JIMENEZ: Priscilla, thank you. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has pardoned nearly every single convicted January 6th rioter. The move
completely upends the Justice Department's four-year effort to arrest, prosecute, and punish the people who attacked the U.S. Capitol in 2021.
More than 140 police officers were injured during the seven-hour siege, which also led directly or indirectly to the deaths of four Trump
supporters in the mob and five police officers.
Officer Michael Fanone defended the Capitol that day and is now speaking out on the pardons. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL FANONE, FORMER D.C. METROPOLITICAN POLICE OFFICER: Oh, I have been betrayed by my country. Rest assured I have been betrayed by my country.
And I've been betrayed by those that supported Donald Trump.
Tonight, six individuals who assaulted me as I did my job on January 6th, as did hundreds of other law enforcement officers, will now walk free.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JIMENEZ: Let's bring in CNN Senior Crime and Justice Correspondent Katelyn Polantz who is outside the Washington jail where some of these convicted
people are being let out. Katelyn, what are you seeing there? What has the scene been like the past 24 hours?
[14:35:00]
KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, what you can see right behind me is a group of people, they're talking to one of the
January 6th Capitol riot defendants who was sentenced previously, convicted, and now has been pardoned, was awaiting pre-sentencing in the
federal court here. Her name is Rachel Powell, a mother from Pennsylvania, who wearing a pink hat, had an ice axe and a battering ram to break down a
window to get -- or help people get inside the Capitol on January 6th of 2021.
She came out of this jail, the D.C. Jail. This is a holding facility. So, she was awaiting re-sentencing. She came out of here. Just a few minutes
ago, her -- she was received by her family. They had Trump branded clothes that she could put on, including another different pink hat. And she's now
talking to journalists about what it feels like. What I caught her say when she came out was fresh air. That was the very first thing that she said
when she was being surrounded by hugs by her family.
But a reminder now that there are people in this jail, maybe 10, 20 people who were in the detention facility here waiting additional proceedings from
the courthouse where they could be finally sentenced and are being released here. But there are people being released from the Bureau of Prisons across
the country who had been already sentenced, convicted, now pardoned by Donald Trump, who often if, they were violent during the January 6 riot,
some of them sentenced to many, many years in federal prison and will not have to finish serving that time because of a pardon or a commutation.
One of the people whose sentence was commuted is Stewart Rhodes, the chairman -- or the founder of the Oath Keepers who was released from the
federal prison in Maryland today. Also, Enrique Tarrio, the founder of the Proud Boys -- or the chairman of the Proud Boys, he also is being released
from federal prison. He was granted a full pardon by President Donald Trump.
And so, now the scene here at the courthouse is that these people, January 6th, rioter supporters, their family members, they are eagerly awaiting the
release of more people in this jail and cheering on the release of people across the country as well in the bureau prison system as those cases are
ended.
JIMENEZ: One of the more significant executive orders to come out of yesterday. Katelyn Polantz, thank you for being there and monitoring.
I want to go now to CNN Political and National Security Analyst David Sanger, the author of "New Cold Wars: China's Rise, Russia's Invasion, and
America's Struggle to Defend the West." Thanks for being here, David.
Now, look, you just wrote an article for The New York Times titled, "A Determined Trump Vows Not to be Thwarted at Home or Abroad," where you
write this, burst -- that this burst of executive orders was intended to send the message that this time the chaotic disruption that marked his
first term would be married to rapid and more disciplined execution. What message do you believe the Trump administration is sending to the world at
this point?
DAVID SANGER, CNN POLITICAL AND NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Well, it is a little bit of a shock and awe strategy, right? I mean, he signed scores of
executive orders yesterday, and I think there'll be probably more today, probably signed more than he needed. A lot of these could have been
combined, but they were trying to get to a high number executive orders for this inaugural day were to him what the crowd sizes were in 2017.
The second thing I think we have to think about here is the degree to which he now wants to demonstrate that he understands how the U.S. government
operates, can get in at the bureaucracy, can bend it to its -- his will. At the State Department, we saw a number of senior career officials who were
asked to leave on Friday. Sometimes there's always some transition, usually of political officials, but career diplomats, career ambassadors usually
fill out their time, not in this case.
We're seeing the same happen at the Coast Guard. We're seeing the removal, talk about petty moves here, of the recently hung portrait of General
Milley in the hallway of the Pentagon. So, this is all a way of saying that he is going to grab control as quickly as he can.
JIMENEZ: And you know, we're now hearing from the confirmed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said today U.S. policy will be defined by U.S.
interests first. And you know, as Trump's cabinet continues to take shape and, you know, get confirmed or not confirmed, are there relationships
globally that you worry could be frayed given the current posturing, or at the very least, relationships that should be watched closely?
SANGER: Well, certainly some that should be watched closely and some that could be frayed. So, let's start with Secretary Rubio's statement. Of
course, American interests, that's what the State Department does. It's supposed to represent American interests around the world.
[14:40:00]
The question is, do you sometimes best represent American interests by allowing the interests of allies and partners to flourish as well or do you
do it by forcing the issue? So, start with the president's declaration yesterday that he was -- during the inaugural address that we were just
going to take the Panama Canal. I don't know whether we're supposed to take him literally, but maybe he's just trying to negotiate better passage rates
through the Canal. But it sure sounded like he had a plan to go take it. It's something I asked him about, you may remember two weeks ago in Mar-a-
Lago. Same thing with Greenland, which didn't come up yesterday.
And you're going to see this in his relationships with the allies as he demands that they -- particularly the NATO allies, that they spend far more
on defense, something every American president has urged, but he is going to try to lower the hammer to make sure they do it.
Other relationships to watch, Russia and China, the two biggest, the most important, and we have not yet heard much of a strategy from him on those.
JIMENEZ: And, David, I want to move to the domestic front as well, because as we were just talking about before we started this, you know, full
pardons, commutations of sentences for January 6th rioters, many of whom had been convicted and sentenced already.
You know, prior to this moment, there were many in the Republican world who said, you know what, maybe we could consider pardoning those who were
convicted of nonviolent offenses, but those who assaulted police officers, that is a different threshold. It seems that threshold was breached. I
mean, it was. How do you see this reverberating through Republican members of Congress and could that potentially affect governing power as, of
course, we get into Capitol Hill fights in the months to come?
SANGER: Well, it certainly affects the ability of the Republicans to say that they are the law-and-order party here. The reason that there was a
distinction being made was that you had many Republicans say they thought that a number of the people who were arrested and convicted for January 6th
had simply walked in and opened door, but that the people who had attacked police officers, we've all seen the video, were in a different category.
Well, not to President Trump.
And I think that the point he was making in in doing the pardons and commutations for all 1,500 was that there is nobody there now to go
restrain him in his second term. He never has to go face the voters again, and that he is going to do this just the way he wants to do it.
And of course, he's been busy rewriting the history of January 6th for the past four years. And now, he wants to expunge that history by wiping out,
with one signature, what has been the most complex, detailed set of prosecutions the Justice Department has ever done.
JIMENEZ: And very intentionally using the word hostages and describing some of the rioters and those convicted of violent offenses as well. David
Sanger --
SANGER: At the very moment, he was standing in front of families of the hostages in Gaza.
JIMENEZ: Exactly. Exactly. David Sanger, always appreciate the time perspective. Thanks for being here.
SANGER: Great to be with you.
JIMENEZ: All right. Still to come tonight, a rare snowstorm is hitting the southeastern United States. We're going to tell you how many people are
under this unusual winter weather warning.
Plus, a sharp reversal in climate policies. What President Trump has planned for clean energy and the Paris Climate Treaty just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:45:00]
JIMENEZ: Welcome back, everyone. A strong wind warning is expected to end today throughout Los Angeles, which should help firefighters as they work
to fully contain the Palisades and Eaton Fires. But there are two new fires burning south of Los Angeles in the San Diego area. The Lilac Fire in
Bonsall broke out overnight. Right now, about 80 acres have burned. The fire is 30 percent contained. And then just north of the Lilac Fire, the
Paula Fire has scorched about 17 acres of brush. That fire though is fully contained.
And then, when you go to the other side of the United States, a completely opposite situation where southern states are getting hit with rare
snowfall. Here's a look at Galveston Island off the coast of Texas. About 40 million people are under winter weather alerts. Those alerts stretch
from Texas, east through the Carolinas. The first ever blizzard warning was issued for Coastal Texas and Louisiana.
And in Louisiana, take a look at the French Quarter in New Orleans. This is courtesy of EarthCam. Bourbon Street dusted in snow. Joining us now from
the CNN Weather Center in Atlanta is Meteorologist Chad Myers. OK. Chad, we got a lot of -- we got hot and cold right now going on. Break it down for
us. What are we looking at?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Not a lot of hot. The hot is in China. I mean, there are hot places across the world, even up in the Yukon, 30 to 40
degrees above normal right now. All of that Yukon air is right here over the southern part of North America in the United States. Very, very cold
air. Now, the cold air interacting with just enough moisture to make snow.
These are historic snow events for New Orleans, for Houston, for -- even for Mobile. Now, we're talking -- we're going to talk in inches and we're
going to talk in Fahrenheit here because that's how the maps are made, but you can do the conversion because I know you can do that.
Four inches of snow already in New Orleans. You have to go all the way back to the 1800s to get a time where there has been that much snow on the
ground. Nothing here in the modern history of New Orleans has been close to four inches, and it's still snowing, and it's snowing a lot. And there are
places that have picked up almost a foot of snow. So, yes, in the ballpark of 40 centimeters already on the ground, in places that wouldn't get 40
centimeters in a decade. I mean, this is just -- this is historic where we are here, how much snow has been across parts of the Deep South already,
and it's still coming down.
It's even snowing outside of the studios here in Atlanta, Georgia. And Atlanta, Georgia gets three millimeters worth of snow and the whole place
just shuts down, that just -- we don't have snowplows and ice and salt trucks and all that kind of stuff, but we'll see.
This is not the big part. The big part is this I-10 Corridor. There is so much shipping that comes from ports along the east coast that goes right
along this corridor and I-10 right now is shut down. There are no trucks, there's no transport getting across because for most of this, this road is
elevated from almost Mobile, almost all the way back to Texas, elevated because it goes over swamp land. So, you just have pilings in the swamp and
the road is on top. And when that happens, that ice is up as quickly as you can imagine.
[14:50:00]
There's no ground to be warm underneath of it. So, we have significant to severe disruptions all the way to Charleston, all the way to Savannah,
places that have no idea what this even looks like sometime. So on the beaches -- still on the beaches of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama,
all the way across Florida and even up to east coast. Every beach, all the way along the east coast will have some snow on it over the next couple of
hours.
There will be a lot of snow between four and six inches. So, you know, I mean, we're probably talking 24 centimeters at the most. But some spots
there when it blows around, you may see quite a bit of snow, even in some of the ditches in the places where it didn't snow earlier. Now, the wind is
blowing it back because the winds are very, very strong as well.
Temperatures are very cold. Obviously, this is Fahrenheit, but it feels like 21 degrees below zero right now in Chicago. And people love to walk
around Chicago like they like to walk around New York. That's tough to do at 21 below, Omar.
JIMENEZ: Yes, there's a lot of blue and purple on that map. And as someone who has walked around Chicago in those temperatures, I don't recommend it.
MYERS: Yes.
JIMENEZ: Chad Myers --
MYERS: Exactly.
JIMENEZ: -- really appreciate it.
MYERS: You bet.
JIMENEZ: All right. President Trump signed executive actions confirming his intent to double down on fossil fuels and reverse America's progress on
climate change and clean energy. That includes pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Agreement, first signed in 2015.
Now, the E.U.'s climate commissioner described the decision as, quote, "truly unfortunate." The International Climate Change Treaty has been
signed by almost 200 countries who agreed to work together to limit global warming. President Trump's day one actions follow on from 2024 officially
being the hottest year on record.
Still to come tonight, Trump says Americans split the aton, but who was it really? We're going to tell you after the break. Stay with us,
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JIMENEZ: Welcome back, everyone. As President Trump returns to the White House for a second term, there was one surprise that almost passed him by.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: President Trump, did President Biden leave you a letter?
TRUMP: He may have. Wait. Don't they leave it in the desk? I don't know. Oh.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's in there?
TRUMP: It could be here. It could have been years before we found it. Wow. Thank you.
[14:55:00]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can -- want to read on the outside?
TRUMP: Maybe we should all read it together.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's read it.
TRUMP: Well, maybe I'll read it first and then make that determination.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That sounds great.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JIMENEZ: Now, it is a modern tradition. He didn't read it in front of everyone, by the way. But it is a modern tradition that the outgoing
president leaves a letter for their successor. And it's one that Trump himself did four years ago when he left a letter for Joe Biden. Still, if
it wasn't for that reporter, Biden's words may have gone unread, at least for quite some time.
Now, during his inaugural address Monday, President Trump made a claim that is causing a rift with the mayor all the way in New Zealand. Trump claims
Americans had split the atom, but it was in fact this New Zealander, Sir Ernest Rutherford, who split the atom at a university in England in 1917.
In this Facebook post, the mayor of the city of Nelson said he'll be inviting the next ambassador to see New Zealand -- to New Zealand to see
Rutherford's memorial so they can set the record straight.
Thanks for watching tonight. Stay with CNN. I'm Omar Jimenez. Newsroom with Paula Newton is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:00:00]
END