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CNN Live Event/Special

President Trump Attends Congressional Luncheon; Trump Shutdown App That Allowed Migrants To Legally Enter U.S.; Elon Musk Speaks To Trump Supporters At D.C. Arena. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired January 20, 2025 - 14:30   ET

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

[14:30:00]

ERIN BURNETT, CNN HOST: So anticipate President Trump, along with Melania Trump, will be behind them momentarily.

KASIE HOST, CNN HOST: We should see her momentarily.

BURNETT: To be clear, as you pointed out, Kasie, just because of -- he took that opportunity to speak for 20 times longer than they had anticipated to speak.

(LAUGHTER)

BURNETT: That's just off of my head. I'm not --

(CROSSTALK)

BURNETT: -- I don't believe. But this is all a bit delayed.

But you can still see many of the individuals who were there, Lauren Sanchez, the fiance of Jeff Bezos, is still there, all still at the luncheon, as they were, of course, at the ceremony this morning.

HUNT: And this is usually the coveted invitation in Washington, right? In an outdoor inauguration, there's a lot more people on the platform. There's a lot more people in the crowd.

They had to cut down that guest list to get everybody inside the Rotunda in this case. So the Rotunda ticket was the hot one today. Usually, this lunch is the place that officials really want to be.

And I can tell you, if you are inside the capitol in the wake of an inauguration, wandering around those halls, you might bump into a former president here and a former --

BURNETT: And there he comes there.

HUNT: Melania there.

BURNETT: The first lady, Melania Trump.

And it is worth noting the other former presidents declined, the Democratic former presidents declined to attend this lunch, even though they we're invited. Barack Obama is not there. Bill Clinton is not there. He told all Manu Raju earlier today that, huh, they had something else to do.

BURNETT: Yes, he said he thought the speech inaugural address spoke for itself, and he was leaving, Bill Clinton, that is, the former president.

Defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, is there. As you can see, the vice president and his wife, Usha Vance.

So this is the Capitol Hill luncheon.

(CROSSTALK)

HUNT: This takes place in Statuary Hall --

BURNETT: Right.

HUNT: -- which is right next door to the Capitol Rotunda, just a few feet away. Again, this is considered -- this is a chance to actually socialize with the new president for all the members of Congress as they all want to get close to them to catch a word.

It is usually the best opportunity to do that. We have seen a little bit of a different setting because of the indoor inaugurations.

BURNETT: You know, as we're sitting here, and I know a lot of the ambient noise is going out here to everyone watching as we're watching this luncheon across town.

When the president comes here, there were some who said, oh, well, he's sacrificing, maybe it might be 100,000-plus, whatever the numbers is -- those are always a question with them - but whatever the crowds, the massive crowds along the parade route were much smaller at the Capitol One Arena.

(CROSSTALK)

BURNETT: This place is going to give him the most rousing welcome that he has ever had and when he gets here.

HUNT: Yes, that's actually one of the interesting things here. As much as the open setting on the mall gives you that imagine industry, right, that grandeur, this kind of arena, in many ways, plays better for the things that -- the way that Donald Trump interacts with crowds, the noise, like immediate reaction.

BURNETT: It's a lot more like the

(CROSSTALK)

BURNETT: -- electric energy that the close quarters provide, right?

HUNT: Right. It is a wrestling match instead of HBO for PressTV (ph). And he really feeds off of that energy. And I think you are absolutely right. I mean, when he walks into this arena, the people here are going to be just out of their minds in many ways. BURNETT: Yes. No, it's going to be exuberant. And it's going to be --

it's going to be something to experience. And I think it will even translate through the television if you could even hear this.

And they're talking about these executive orders, right?

(CROSSTALK)

BURNETT: So they're talking about the executive orders and actions, as we've been hearing -- look here, just behind -- yes, inflation, drilling, all of those things, all going to happen at the desk behind me. And I think -- can you see it right there? I'm trying to point it.

(CROSSTALK)

HUNT: Yes, they got it.

BURNETT: And do you hear them there, when they get to the two genders, Kasie --

HUNT: Yes.

BURNETT: -- this is exactly what we heard earlier. You would get a rounding applause and a lot of applause.

HUNT: You know, Erin, one of the most interesting things too about this inauguration of Trump is that -- and we are seeing the split- screen play out, right? This very staid elite lunch, right? Pomp and circumstance.

And then this crowd. OK, this crowd is not wearing suits. Some of them are. But for the most part, they're wearing camouflage jackets and red hats, right?

This is the working-class coalition that brought Trump to the White House. These are the people who are probably not invited to the inaugural ball, who did not have a seat at the Rotunda. They're here.

(CROSSTALK)

BURNETT: All right, let's listen to Senator Klobuchar, the co-chair of the Inaugural Committee speaking at the lunch.

SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN): -- and that the horizon endures. The enduring horizon is especially meaningful for us today as we mark our enduring democracy as we approach its 250th anniversary.

It's a reminder of what's over the horizon is our next chapter. And it is my prayer that the people in this room can write that chapter together.

I would now like to ask U.S. Senate chaplain, Dr. Barry Black -- and we thank God he's back with us and in good health -- to deliver the invocation after which lunch will be served.

Thank you. [14:35:08]

REAR ADM. BARRY BLACK (RET.), U.S. SENATE CHAPLAIN: Let us pray.

King of Kings and Lord of Lords, whose kingdom is above all earthly kingdoms, and who judges all lesser sovereignties, look with favor upon President Donald John Trump and Vice President James David Vance.

Empower them with the wisdom and courage needed for our times. Protect them from the vicissitudes and challenges that obstruct the making of a world of justice, peace and righteousness.

Lord, give them a deep desire to do their best for our country and world, and a determination to act in ways pleasing to you. Preserve their families in health and strength by your grace and power.

Bless now this luncheon as each of us finds your grace sufficient for every need. We pray in your sovereign name, amen.

(MUSIC)

BURNETT: The capitol luncheon just finished, the prayer at the capitol luncheon. And now the president, the vice president, the inaugural chief, Sen. Klobuchar there, they are going to have lunch.

And then they are going to come here. And that is going to be perhaps the main event when it will come to the energy for Trump supporters in Washington today.

So much more for him to do at the capitol. He's going to review the troops after his lunch that he's having there.

He has also then anticipated to come here, 20,000 people, and they are waiting and they're anticipating, as we just heard, his signing about 200 executive orders here on the red desk behind where Kasie and I are sitting.

Next, we're going to look at some of the president's first controversial action on immigration already starting. Big changes coming in the United States, so fast and furious on this Inauguration Day. It's all coming up live after a brief break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:41:39]

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: And we are back with our live coverage of the inauguration of Donald Trump. The newly sworn-in president is at lunch with lawmakers on Capitol Hill as he's making news of his unscripted comments, his plan for pardons, and on his action on immigration.

We're going to come to CNN's Priscilla Alvarez with new details on President Trump's day-one crackdown on immigration.

What are you learning, Priscilla? PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, we heard from the

president himself previewing immigration actions. And minutes after he was sworn in, we are already seeing the impact for thousands of migrants along the U.S. southern border.

So here's what I'm talking about. It's a border app. It's called CBP One It was launched under the Biden administration.

And it's important because there are asylum restrictions along the U.S. southern border. And the only way for migrants to get asylum was to apply for appointments to then come to the port of entry.

Well, those appointments have now been canceled. In fact, here on their CBP's Web site, you'll see that, effective January 20th, so today, CBP One, which they had previously allowed migrants to schedule those appointments, those appointments have been canceled.

One thing about the language here, Anderson. It says, "undocumented aliens." So even the smallest details are changing here. But the impact is extraordinary. This is unprecedented in the U.S. for there to really not be asylum access along the U.S. southern border.

So this is just a small action by turning something off that is already going to have wide implications.

Now, let's give some context to the viewers here about what is happening along the U.S. southern border. Well, the numbers are low. Despite what you may have heard from President Trump there, the numbers are even lower than when he left office.

In fact, in December, the last month of the Biden administration, it was around 43,700 people crossing the U.S. southern border illegally.

Now, the sources I've spoken with said, well, they still want to double down on the U.S.-Mexico border. And White House officials have already previewed to reporters on action on a national emergency declaration to shore up resources from the Pentagon along the U.S. southern border.

And also bringing back one of their key policies known as Remain in Mexico. Now that is the executive action we expect to see later today that would kick off the process, potentially sending migrants back to Mexico while they wait their U.S. immigration court hearings.

So all of this, in some way, as some officials told me, what's old is new. But I'll say one thing that is new and is a resurfaced idea from the first term that didn't happen, ending birthright citizenship.

That will be kicking off the process and teeing up a legal fight, which is really the outcome that the Trump officials tell me that they want as they try to end something that has been, in their circles, debated, and that many in Trump's orbit have been able to benefit from -- Anderson?

COOPER: Pricilla Alvarez, appreciate it. Thanks very much.

Back to the panel here in the D.C. bureau.

David Chalian, let's start with you.

We heard a lot. It is fascinating to have seen the president's official inauguration address and then his impromptu remarks afterward, which were sort of the remarks, it seemed like he wanted to give as part of official remarks?

DAVID CHALIAN, CNN WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF & POLITICAL DIRECTOR: He said as much. There is no doubt about that.

You know, remember in the Trump administration we talk about the teleprompter Trump versus non-teleprompter Trump? I mean, that was on full display today.

I mean, the speech in the Rotunda was a two-fold speech, right? It was a total denunciation of Biden's presidency with Biden sitting right there.

[14:45:07]

And then he would turn to his own programmatic of what he planned to do now that he was becoming president.

What happened in Emancipation Hall later when he was off the cuff -- and I think that was originally scheduled to be like a 10-minute unscripted check in with his supporters who couldn't make it into the Rotunda due to the changes there.

Began with a 36-minute of what I think is a stream of consciousness of Trump that you would have heard at the patio at Mar-a-Lago. This is just the stuff that rolls around in his head. And that's the grievance-filled Trump.

So --

COOPER: And it was all about the 2020 election, which he was still saying it was rigged --

CHALIAN: Yes --

COOPER: -- which it was not.

CHALIAN: -- which it was not, yes.

COOPER: Relitigating January 6th in a way that was not actually what occurred.

CHALIAN: Exactly. So it's not unfamiliar territory, but it reminds us, with all the talk that he feels emboldened by his mandate or that the popular win is giving him a sense of maybe approaching this job differently, also now that he knows his way around the store and he knows.

Maybe some of that will happen, but we shouldn't forget that some of what we have come to understand about Donald Trump is also going to be a part of this second term.

MICHAEL SMERCONISH, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: In his second speech when he said --

COOPER: In the second inaugural address.

SMERCONISH: In the second inaugural address, right.

(CROSSTALK)

COOPER: By the way, there's going to be a third --

(LAUGHTER)

COOPER: It's the rally.

SMERCONISH: I got a kick out of the fact that they told the crowd that they toned things down when he was upstairs. It occurred to me that if we had transcripts of the initial inaugural address and spread them out and read them without watching the context, it would read no different than a campaign rally.

COOPER: Yes.

SMERCONISH: I mean, I thought all the points were exactly the same. So to me, it was the same Trump just said in a more-stately environment.

Let me give him his props because it occurs to me that four years ago today, many of us were here. Two weeks removed from January 6th, I would never have believed that we would be back at this position today as they were headed back to Florida, not having attended Joe Biden's inaugural.

And I don't think you could have attributed that solely to issues like the economy and immigration. There is something about him. Probably the word "charisma." And it is attributable to him being elected again.

AUDIE CORNISH, CNN HOST, "THE ASSIGNMENT WITH AUDI CORNISH PODCAST": I think it is interesting that if you watched the rally last night, you would get one version, then the sort of pseudo state of the union inaugural, and the sort of review afterwards.

In the era of the split screen, of which most of the people in the room would control through their algorithms, you could get different versions of this reality.

And the other thing is talking about January 6th the way he did in a way, to me, underscored Biden's point in doing preemptive pardons for certain people because it show that the president is still preoccupied with these vendettas.

COOPER: He was -- he was attacking them really again.

CORNISH: Exactly.

(CROSSTALK)

CORNISH: And so, to me, it sort of undermined the argument that like Biden should have done this all this. It is still on his mind.

And finally, we are all focused on this when the pile of executive orders that is on the way has been drafted in such a way to really, I think, be more fireproof against the legal challenges that they expect. That's what they learned from Trump 45.

COOPER: David Chalian, I have just been told that a portrait of General Milley, which was unveiled at the Pentagon, I think, just --

(CROSSTALK)

COOPER: -- I just saw it days ago -- has now been removed.

DAVID URBAN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes, it's taken down. It's pretty remarkable stuff, you know.

And what isn't surprising though is -- to David and to Michael's point, is this is what he got elected for. This is why the list of things, the punch-list so to speak, right, of things that he talked about is why people elected him, and they want to see it accomplished.

He's going to go to that arena and he's going to sign executive orders and people are going to cheer. He's going to hold them up, people are going to cheer. Because that's what -- that's why they put him there.

The challenge is, you know, he's fixing the Woke stuff today. The broke stuff that people want, that is still yet to come, right?

So we could fix the Woke today by executive order. But the broke stuff, can he fix the economy? Can he make people's pocketbooks feel differently in the next 100 days? That's the big challenge.

Reduce energy costs, make people feel at home. When they go to the grocery store or they go to the pump, are they going to notice a difference? Does the price go down? That is also going to affect -- that's why he was elected as well. So those are two components.

ASHLEY ALLISON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, look, the second inaugural address really was Donald Trump. But I don't want to be distracted by that because -- Priscilla just reported that now the process for asylum in this country has stopped.

And so I think what Donald Trump has been extremely gifted at, and he was on the campaign trail, is that there is some magic over here and under the table is where the real stuff is happening.

And Democrats, progressives, we need to be smart on what we are paying attention to. And he's going to sign executive orders. But he did not sign an executive order about ending asylum, and he has canceled 4,000 migrant appointments.

[14:50:01] URBAN: But -- but asylum, you've still got to go to the port of entry and seek asylum under the lights. Still have to go to a regular port of entry, under the law and still seek asylum.

You just can't --

ALLISON: We'll see.

URBAN: You can't do it along the border where there's no -- where there's no port of entry.

COOPER: We're going to take a quick break. As we stand by for the next moves by President Trump on his inauguration day.

We are getting reaction from a former member of the January 6th House Select Committee who just got a pardon from outgoing President Biden, who just got attacked by President Trump. Adam Kinzinger joins us next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BURNETT: You're look at the United States capitol. President Donald Trump celebrating his return to power at a luncheon with members of Congress and other officials.

That is where he is as we are speaking. Soon, he will review the truth as this rare indoor inauguration moves into the next phase.

(CHEERING)

BURNETT: OK, so I don't know if everyone can hear this and look at this. I'm at the capital arena where the president will be coming.

But right now, the biggest reaction that we have had so far. You see everybody standing up, standing ovation, all the phones are out. That is Elon Musk, who is speaking here. There he is.

(CROSSTALK)

[14:55:00]

ELON MUSK, DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY & BUSINESSMAN: (INAUDIBLE)

(CHEERING)

MUSK: (INAUDIBLE). This is what victory feels like. Yes!

(CHEERING)

MUSK: And this was no ordinary victory. This was a fork in the road of human civilization. OK.

(CHEERING)

MUSK: This -- this -- you know, there are elections -- elections that come and go, some elections are, you know, important, some are not. But this one -- this one --

(LAUGHTER)

MUSK: This one really matters.

(CHEERING)

MUSK: And I just want to say thank you for making it happen. Thank you.

(CHEERING)

MUSK: My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured.

(CHEERING)

MUSK: Thanks to you we're going to have safe cities, finally, safe cities, secure borders, sensible spending, basic stuff. And we're going to take DOGE to Mars!

(CHEERING)

MUSK: I mean, can you imagine how awesome it would be to have American astronauts plant the flag on another planet for the first time? Yes! Yes!

(CHEERING)

MUSK: Yes! How inspiring would that be? You know, there's always problems -- there's always a problem from --

BURNETT: All right, Elon Musk is speaking behind me in this room.

Kasie, and you have everyone standing. Everyone here is still standing. Standing ovation for Elon Musk. By far, the biggest reception of the day.

You saw him come out with that odd looking salute.

HUNT: Yes.

BURNETT: It was odd looking. We're going to show a screen grab of it.

As he said, to him, the future of civilization is assured now that Trump won. One of his rousing lines for this crowd.

HUNT: One of his rousing lines, indeed. Yes, that salute was the most provocative things that we have seen through history.

And of course, we do want to bring it up to be able to take a little bit of a closer look.

But I think it's worth noting that Elon Musk has started to play in politics, not just here in the United States, but across Europe as well, including a far-right party in Germany that he has pushed. He's pressured Keir Starmer, the prime minister in the United Kingdom.

This is something -- there are some themes here for him. As we heard here, his ambitions are sweeping. He came in and said this is what winning feels like. He also says we're going to take DOGE to Mars. That, of course, an ambition of his entire life.

I do find it interesting that he's touting government spending on the one hand. What got us to the moon and what's going to get us to Mars is going to be government money. We should be clear.

BURNETT: It -- it absolutely will be.

So just to look at this again, this crowd, every single person here is paying attention, and they're fully engaged. He is a hero. He is a hero to them.

I just want to look at that salute that he gave again. If anybody missed it, we'll show it again.

He just wrapped up here. You can hear it. He -- there. All right, so we just showed that. We just showed that salute.

HUNT: It was quick. I think our viewers are smart, and they can take a look at that. But it certainly was -- it's not something you typically see at American rallies. Let's put it that way.

BURNETT: No, no, it is not something you would usually see.

And it was quick, as you point out. It was very quick. But it was -- it was in a moment of intensity for him as he came out dancing, and then he did that. He is a hero here.

In this speech, when President Trump mentioned going to Mars -- that was also a standing ovation -- and when Elon Musk was mentioned. He is a hero for every single person in this room.

And we're inside the arena, as you can see. That's the outside.

HUNT: Yes.

BURNETT: But inside here, this is the -- this is the atmosphere and this is the tone.

HUNT: And you know, I have to say, too, Erin, you know, I'm just struck -- and we were talking about this earlier.

BURNETT: Yes.

HUNT: These billionaires, right, the role they are playing. I know you've covered business for years and years.

I have never seen, as a political and campaign reporter, a Capitol Hill reporter, billionaires, businesspeople play the kind of public role that we have seen them play today, both in the ceremony and to have one of them come here and essentially function as someone rallying the crowd from a political perspective. [14:59:57]

I think it's -- it's worth stopping and dwelling on it for a moment, especially because this is, again, the working-class coalition that got Donald Trump elected.

There is a big difference between how many of Donald Trump's supporters live and how --