Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Event/Special
CNN Headlines: Trump's Midterm Campaign Blitz Underway Across Seven Key States; Trump Criticizes Zelenskyy As U.K.-Ukraine Rift Deepens; Source: Gun Used To Kill 4 In Attack Was Purchased By Shooter's Mother. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired October 20, 2026 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:24]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He's not for us. He's not -- he doesn't have our views. He doesn't have our values.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRAD SMITH, CNN ANCHOR: President Trump is taking his midterm blitz to seven states in seven days. And he's trying to stop the Democrats from doing something that hasn't been done in almost a hundred years.
Plus, new details about that deadly school shooting in Oregon, including who may have purchased the gun. We've got that detail.
And --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH MACHCHHAR, INDIAN CAPTAIN: To be honest, I was not very sure that I make it out alive from this. Did I give up? No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMTTH: That's the pilot who was attacked in the cockpit by his fellow pilot. The one thing he says was the scariest thing that he faced. We've got that coming your way.
Good morning, everyone. I'm Brad Smith. This is CNN headline express glad that you're with us this morning.
Let's get started.
We begin with President Donald Trump's last minute campaign blitz, visiting seven states in seven days to rally his supporters to vote in the midterms. Now, later today, the president will make his next stop, this one in the Tar Heel state, North Carolina.
But last night, it was Kansas. No one thought the Senate race would be a dead heat. But polls show the incumbent Republican, Roger Marshall, in a tight race with Democrat Adam Hamilton. Kansas has not elected a Democratic senator in almost a century.
The president warned voters against what he called radical Democrats and extremists, threatening to hold America hostage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: He's not for us. He's not. He doesn't have our views. He doesn't have our values. And he happens to be other than being a pastor -- he's a pastor, I guess, but he doesn't act like a pastor because his views aren't of a pastor. Adam Hamilton wants to take away your guns.
So with Roger Marshall in the Senate and me as your president, we will always protect your Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Early voting is now underway in several more states, including Texas, where voters are showing tremendous enthusiasm as they cast their ballots in the Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico.
CNN's Sherrell Hubbard has more on how the vote is shaping up.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SHERRELL HUBBARD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Donald Trump is on the campaign trail again, still with the message of make America great again. But now he's asking his base to pretend his name is on the ballot in place of his Republican counterparts.
Republicans control the White House, the House and the Senate, and they'd like to keep it that way. That's why Vice President J.D. Vance and Trump are traveling the nation to support GOP candidates.
TRUMP: My rallies are having a huge impact and a positive impact on the Republican Party.
HUBBARD (voice-over): With midterms just two weeks away, Trump plans to visit a different state each day this week. Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Iowa, Georgia and Florida. It's been close to 100 years since a Democrat was elected to a senate seat in the Sunflower State of Kansas. That was in 1930.
But this year's Senate race has turned out to be surprisingly close. And Texas might just be a battleground state this midterm election, with Democrats hoping to break through in the Lone Star State for the first time in 32 years.
GOV. GREG ABBOTT (R), TEXAS: There's easy math in Texas politics. There's far more Republicans than there are Democrats.
HUBBARD (voice-over): That simple math may no longer be adding up for voters. A Republican National Committee official says the presidents rallies this month are aimed at getting Republican voters to the polls, even as his approval numbers have plunged to near record lows. And in several key states, Democrats make up a larger share of voters requesting ballots than they did at this point two years ago.
DAVID AXELROD, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: Democrats are in striking distance in enough states to have a really good day.
HUBBARD (voice-over): I'm Sherrell Hubbard, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: Thank you, Sherrell.
We turn now to the deepening rift between the Trump administration and Ukraine. As President Trump says that he's considering a trilateral meeting with the leaders of China and Russia, he is slamming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for not helping to end the war.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPORTER: Zelenskyy says you're on the wrong side of history on this one.
TRUMP: Zelenskyy said it?
REPORTER: Yes.
TRUMP: Zelenskyy doesn't know what he's talking about. Zelenskyy is a man that should have had this war settled a long time ago. I think its time for somebody else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: A U.S. official says President Trump believes a meeting with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping could advance efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
[05:05:00]
The official says the talks were proposed by Putin earlier this month and would not include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A bipartisan group of lawmakers hosted a video call with Zelenskyy on Monday, and are making it clear that their support is with Ukraine.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. THOM TILLIS (R-NC): I was in Kharkiv and in Kyiv about a month ago, and I saw the devastation. I saw what this murderer, Vladimir Putin, has ordered. Russians are lying. Putin is lying. Putin is playing President Trump like a fiddle. And history is not going to look good on an America that failed to rise up and defend the Western world if Putin actually gets his way.
And I believe that a summit with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, two countries who want to overwhelm the world is absurd.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: President Trump has sparked bipartisan backlash after reaching a deal with Russia to allow diesel -- diesel exports and waiving Russia related sanctions. And on Monday, he spoke highly of Russia.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine. They haven't been doing much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Those comments by the president come in stark contrast to what Ukraine is reporting on the ground. Ukrainian officials say a Russian drone attacked on Monday, killing six people, including three children, in a park in the Kharkiv region.
An investigation is underway in Bend, Oregon, trying to find out how the 16 year old shooter gained access to the guns that he used in the attack on silver rail elementary. A senior law enforcement official tells CNN the gun had been purchased by the boy's mother, Oregon law prohibits minors from buying shotguns, but allows them to possess he weapons for hunting, target practice or shooting sports.
While parents of other school shootings in Georgia and Michigan have faced charges, its unclear if that will happen in this case. Meanwhile, students at Silver Rail Elementary have not yet returned to school as the community continues to mourn the four victims. The shooter opened fire in a special needs classroom Thursday, killing three students and a teacher. Authorities say the teenager previously attended the school but have not confirmed whether he had been a student in that particular classroom.
The Justice Department has charged more than two dozen foreign nationals in California for alleged election crimes dating back to the early 2000s. At a news conference in L.A. yesterday, DOJ officials said the 28 people charged are lawful permanent residents, but not U.S. citizens eligible to vote. None of them are undocumented immigrants. Most are accused of illegally casting ballots in multiple elections for decades. If convicted, they face a maximum of five years in federal prison.
We've got lots more to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS. Curfews now in place around Paris and other cities in France, as the nation grapples with the worst protests in years. The latest on the unrest later in the hour.
Plus, why the Mississippi attorney general says police were justified in a shooting that left a one year old dead, and how that child's family is responding. We've got that tragic story still to come.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:12:51]
SMITH: Vice President J.D. Vance declined to say whether he is endorsing Benjamin Netanyahu for reelection, in an apparent break with President Trump, who recently threw his support behind the Israeli prime minister.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
J.D. VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I endorse American candidates, and that's where I'm focused on is the midterms. So I'm not getting involved in the Israeli elections.
INTERVIEWER: So -- so you're not -- you don't want to say one way or the other whether you support --
VANCE: I'm not anti-endorsing it. I'm not pro-endorsing him. I'm not getting involved in Israeli elections.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: While on the campaign trail in North Carolina, Vance announced more than $850 million of additional disaster relief is heading to parts of the state slammed by Hurricane Helene. That announcement, coming about a month after president Trump said that he would withhold it unless GOP Senate candidate Michael Whatley wins in November.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VANCE: We're going to rebuild eight major corridors destroyed by Hurricane Helene, including, of course, the I-40 in Pigeon River Gorge. But, ladies and gentlemen, that highlights the contrast in this election, because when Democrats were in power, they were doing nothing for western North Carolina. And now that we have Republicans in power and people like Michael Whatley and Jennifer advocating for you, we are making sure that this state gets the money it deserves to rebuild the lives of our fellow citizens every single day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Trump insisted that he was only kidding when he said that he would not send the money to North Carolina.
On today's weather, a storm off the East Coast is getting stronger, bringing gusty winds to parts of the mid-Atlantic and the Carolinas.
CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam has more on that. And the rest of your forecast
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: All in all, this is a really nice looking Tuesday forecast across the country, from Chicago to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Atlanta, Georgia. Northward into Albany. This area of high pressure is going to be firmly in control of the weather. It's also going to help block a storm system or a coastal low that is sitting just off of the mid-Atlantic. It is going to be impactful, but really for the immediate coastline here across the Delmarva and into the outer banks. More on that in just a second.
We have mild and sunny weather across the interior. The west coast, though bracing for a storm system that will bring us some rain and cooler temperatures as we head into Wednesday and beyond. But here's the east coast system. Notice how it evolves over the next 48 hours or so, stays just offshore.
But due to the nature of where it's forming and the amount of wind that's associated with it, this will be an impactful story for the I- 95 corridor and towards the coastline. We could have gusty winds throughout the next couple of days, but its also going to help push up the Atlantic Ocean into some of those vulnerable coastlines. We do have the potential for some coastal flooding across the Chesapeake into the outer banks.
Again, the Delmarva Peninsula, perhaps into the cape as well. Behind it, it's ushered in dry weather, but we're going to see temperatures slowly starting to moderate across the central and eastern half. As we head through the second part of the workweek, while we cool things down over the west. While that system moves onshore.
So speaking of temperatures, we're talking 77 for your Tuesday in Los Angeles, 75 and sunny in Atlanta. Beautiful weather, 66 for New York City. Again, breezy weather for the east coast, 69 for Chicago, 70 degrees for Minneapolis. Get outdoors. Enjoy this prime fall weather if you can.
Back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SMITH: All right. Thank you, Derek.
A celebration is underway in Tampa as the Tampa Bay Rays are headed to the World Series. They beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in game six of the American League Championship Series. This will be the Rays' third trip to the World Series. Game one against the Brewers is set for Friday in Milwaukee.
All right. Still to come on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, blow up in court over the president's plans to remake a public Washington, D.C., golf course, the latest in the dispute coming your way.
Plus, there's this --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)(
MACHCHHAR: To be honest, I was not very sure that I make it out alive from this. Did I give up? No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: The pilots of that FlyDubai flight, who was attacked by his copilot, is speaking out about the harrowing ordeal. His story coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:21:42] SMITH: There was a showdown in court between a federal judge and Justice Department lawyers. President Trump is determined to plow ahead with the renovation of a public D.C. golf course, despite a judge's order requiring notice before any construction.
Monday, the president posted they do not need an approval. Work is already scheduled to begin immediately, exclamation point. Adding the judge on the case is a crazed lunatic whose courthouse tapes will reveal may be insane, question mark. Monday's hearing turned tense when that judge grilled a DOJ attorney over what Trump said and the actions of government officials overseeing the golf course.
The judge said, quote, "I don't know what to do when I keep getting different stories."
CNN's senior legal analyst, Elie Honig explains how the showdown in court unfolded.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELIE HONIG, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Judge Reyes and other lawyers for the plaintiffs here grilled several high ranking officials from the interior department, from the Justice Department. And you're right, this started as just a dispute over trees and a golf course, but its really become a showdown of sorts between the courts and the executive branch, because Judge Reyes, who has this case, initially said, I'm not going to issue a formal order blocking the president or anyone else from undertaking plans at this golf course. I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt.
I'm not going to take extreme action. I'm just going to say to the government, if you're going to do something that's serious and irreversible here, you need to notify us first. Well, on Friday, October 9th, the Friday before the long Columbus Day weekend at 4:55 p.m., five minutes before the end of the day, the government said, judge, we might be doing something soon, and by the next day 400 trees had been removed.
And Judge Reyes said, essentially, I extended you this trust and you violated it. So that was another issue that was animating Judge Reyes today. She said, basically, I gave you a chance. I assumed you would act in good faith and you've not done that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: The renovation could cost up to $50 million, and it angered those who fear it may take away a public and affordable place to play golf. The judge is now considering whether to issue a longer term order limiting what the administration can do, including cutting down more trees.
The captain of the Flydubai plane that was almost hijacked by a copilot last month, is speaking out about the horrifying experience as his copilot attacked him and tried to take control. The plane plunged thousands of feet. But other pilots on board were able to make an emergency landing. The captain says his colleagues saved the day when they rushed into the cockpit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MACHCHHAR: The scariest thing that I heard and felt was the engines spooling down. When I say spooling down, it's the engine sound going from full blast to like, which is not what you want at that stage in the flight. And the second thing was I felt the aircraft nose steeply going down. To be honest, I was not very sure that I make it out alive from this. Did I give up? No, I can 100 percent tell you I did not give up. But was I sure I'm going to make it? No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[05:25:00]
SMITH: And that is why he is here today as well. The Flydubai flight was headed for Tel Aviv. UAE officials say that the copilot planned to crash the plane into Israel's Ben-Gurion Airport.
Well, President Trump made a major announcement on women's health with the first lady by his side. This was at the White House Rose Garden, where he signed a new executive order establishing a dedicated women's health arm of the National Institutes of Health. The goal is to boost research and fast track cures. Sources tell us the task force will hold its first meeting today, and its members include Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator. Dr. Mehmet Oz, and the director of National Institutes of Health.
We'll continue to keep you updated on any developments from that meeting.
Straight ahead on CNN HEADLINE EXPRESS, a U.S. citizen found bleeding and handcuffed after an altercation with federal agents. Details on this latest incident involving ICE, straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
