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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees

Republican Backlash Over Trump's $1.8 Billion Fund; Interview With Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT); Gabbard Resigning As DNI, Cites Husband's Cancer Diagnosis; Tributes Pour In After Sudden Death Of NASCAR Great Kyle Busch; Donald Trump Jr. And Bettina Anderson Are Married; Pentagon Releases Newly Declassified UFO Files. Aired 8-9p ET

Aired May 22, 2026 - 20:00   ET

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

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: (voice over): Merlin has already secured $100 million contract with the U.S. Air Force to eventually fly cargo planes without pilots on board at all. But convincing passengers may be the hardest part.

MIKE TANNENBAUM, PASSENGER: As long as it's safe and a more efficient, and test it out in advance, I'm for it.

MEG MCKNIGHT, PASSENGER: I don't know if I trust A.I. in the air, I don't trust it.

STEVE COLEMAN, PASSENGER: I like the idea of humans having control. I don't like the machines having control.

MUNTEAN (voice over): Pete Muntean, CNN, Quonset, Rhode Island.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ERIN BURNETT, CNN HOST: And thanks so much for joining us. AC360 begins now.

[20:00:40]

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: Good evening, from the Newsroom, keeping them honest tonight. The President is standing by his nearly $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund, so-called, which even the administration admits could give money to violent January 6th offenders. He's doing it despite a Republican revolt of sorts that has already derailed legislation he badly wants, and brought the kind of soundbites that no President ever welcomes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. THOM TILLIS (R-NC): The payout pot for punks. I mean, this is just stupid on stilts.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: That was North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis yesterday. Today, the President hit back online, calling him a quitter, his words and claiming he forced him out of his seat, quoting. now, "When I told him that I would not, under any circumstances endorse him for another run. Too much work and drama. He couldn't have one anyway. He immediately quit the race and publicly announced that he was going to retire. I said, wow, great news. That was easy."

That was the President, today, also said this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We knocked out a bad Senator from Louisiana. We knocked out Massie a horrible, one of the worst Republican congressmen out there. We knocked out somebody in Georgia, Raffensperger. We knocked him out. We knocked out everybody. We were 38 and zero. Think of that, 38 and zero.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Just to underscore, that is the Republican President of the United States who needs almost every Republican vote he can get in a narrowly divided Senate and House, boasting about all the Republicans he is destroying politically.

Now, that kind of talk is, of course, meant to scare lawmakers into line. It seems there are some limits, at least on this so-called anti weaponization fund, which many on Capitol Hill are calling a slush fund.

Last night, Senator Mitch McConnell, the former Republican leader, weighing in saying, "So the nation's top law enforcement official is asking for a slush fund to pay people who assault cops? Utterly stupid, morally wrong -- Take your pick."

Even Senator Ron Johnson, who supports the payments, spoke out against the administration's decision to roll it out when they did, saying, "Somebody described it as a galactic blunder and I think that's probably true."

Now, as you know, the dissension it unleashed was bad enough that yesterday the leaders yesterday called off a vote on legislation to fund immigration enforcement. Now, that said, sources tell us the administration has no plans to make any changes to this fund. And the President is also standing firm posting this online saying, "I gave up a lot of money in allowing the just announced anti-weaponization fund to go forward. I could have settled my case, including the illegal release of my tax returns and the equally illegal break in at Mar-a- Lago for an absolute fortune. Instead, I'm helping others who are so badly abused by an evil, corrupt and weaponized Biden administration receive at long last, justice."

Now, keeping them honest, the case he is mentioning the $10 billion lawsuit that he filed as President against the IRS, which he oversees, which is incredible itself a sitting President suing the IRS which if he won would mean taxpayers would be paying the President $10 billion of their money.

The suit stemmed from the leak of his tax returns. "The New York Times" and "ProPublica by an employee who worked at the IRS. You may wonder what happened to that employee. Well, the President calls the evil, corrupt and weaponized Biden administration investigated and charged the leaker.

The IRS contractor who leaked his returns pleaded guilty, and he wasn't pardoned by President Biden. He was sentenced to five years in prison, the maximum by a Biden appointed federal judge.

So at least as far as the criminal justice system is concerned, it would seem the President should have little to complain about in that case, or presumably sue over. And he didn't for two years until he was back in the white house with a lot more clout than he had as a disgraced at the time, former President.

Now, keeping them honest, there's also this from that social media post. "I gave up a lot of money in allowing the just announced anti weaponization fund to go forward. Then on Monday, when news of the fund broke and the outrage over it erupted, he was talking like he had still nothing to do with it at all.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: It's been very well received. I have to tell you, I know very little about it. I wasn't involved in the whole creation of it and the negotiation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: By the way, in the President's remarks today, defending the fund and talking about the Republicans, he's defeated, he also had a whole lot of other meandering roads. He went down. He bragged about the dementia test, he claims he aced. He checked out an athlete and gave a quick English lesson.

[20:05:03]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: You have a bear, a snake, an elephant, and a horse, name the horse. I'm the smartest guy you're ever going to meet.

I'm looking at the legs. He's this beautiful, guy. He's got legs like tree trunks. A lot of people A lot of people don't know. Dumb has to be in it, actually.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: So, a lot to get to tonight. I want to start with CNN's Kevin Liptak, who is at the White House tonight. So, is the White House concerned about the Republicans who have pushed back over this fund?

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: You do hear a measure of concern, Anderson, not just about the fate of this immigration bill, which this fund is now completely tied up with, but also about what this portends for President Trump's relationship with the Republicans in the Senate at all. You know, this is really the first time since the President became

President, you know, in 2016 that you have seen this sort of open rebellion among his own party. And it has caught, I think, a lot of officials here by surprise. They really did not anticipate it. I think that was in evidence yesterday when the acting Attorney General, Todd Blanche, went up to Capitol Hill to try and explain this to some Senate Republicans and had virtually no answers for their questions in the meeting, sort of backfired spectacularly for him.

You know, this is, at the end of the day, kind of a numbers game for President Trump. There are 53 Republicans in the Senate. The more Republicans that the President openly criticized or openly undermines by endorsing their challengers, the fewer who are going to feel obligated to sort of play along in his loyalty game. And I think that's a reality that is setting in here at the White House.

COOPER: Is anyone in the administration open to changing the fund in any way, prohibiting the compensation of January 6th rioters who actually assaulted police?

LIPTAK: Yes, I mean, what officials are saying tonight is that they don't expect any imminent changes to this fund. They're not ruling it out altogether what the White House said earlier today was that we look forward to having additional conversations as needed. To be clear, they will be needed if this bill is ever to get passed.

You know, it's interesting to hear the Vice President, J.D. Vance asked very specifically earlier this week why taxpayer money should go to, for example, rioters who assaulted police officers. And he repeatedly would not rule out that money ending up in their hands.

And so, the administration does seem as if it is intent on allowing this fund to go forward. It's worth noting, Anderson, though, that this fund is not the only issue that is dividing the President and his colleagues on Capitol Hill.

You have the Iran war that's growing more and more unpopular. You have the President's ballroom that he's now asking for $1 billion to boost its security, despite saying at one point that no taxpayer money would go towards it.

Both of those issues not being, well stomached among some of the Republicans on the Hill. So, this is all, I think, creating a lot of pressure for the President. It's a new place for him in a lot of ways, and it will be interesting to see just how he tries and gets out of this bind.

COOPER: Yes, Kevin Liptak, appreciate it. Thank you at the White House.

Joining me now, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. Are you surprised by some of the Republicans pushing back on this fund?

SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D-CT): Not really, Anderson, because this kind of graft and it really is graft, is on a scale that is unprecedented in our history. We had scandals with Harding and Grant and Nixon, but none of them involved the scale and scope, the audacity and arrogance of this graft and --

COOPER: You see this fund as part of graft, as part of corruption.

BLUMENTHAL: It is part of a through line of corruption, but it is also a kind of ignorance and utter disregard for what is affecting average Americans who are struggling to make ends meet. They are scrimping to put food on the table. They are paying gasoline prices that are multiples of what they did before, all because of a war that they think is misguided.

And think about what could be supported if we were using this $1.8 billion for health care, or a measure that I've championed, The Major Richard Star Act, which basically provides veterans, combat injured veterans with the full measure of disability benefits and retirement benefits that they need.

So, there are so many needs in this country, and Americans see them. And the President is proving to be, in effect, the grifter in chief.

COOPER: I mean, with this particular thing, I mean, giving money to the people who assaulted police officers and we might not even know if that money is given to them because it would be up to seems like Todd Blanche if he becomes the full time attorney general to decide whether anything is disclosed about what this commission, which he appoints, which ultimately the President could fire as well. But do you think, I mean, is the objective to kind of send a message to others who just the President will back you up no matter what, as long as you support him?

[20:10:05]

BLUMENTHAL: My Republican colleagues know as Mitch McConnell said that this thug fund is what I call it, not a slush fund is utterly stupid, morally wrong. it is both. You don't have to take your pick. It is also politically toxic.

And remember, as part of this whole agreement, there is the immunity for Trump and his entire family from any kind of audit or prosecution or action on taxes worth to him at least $100 million, it is estimated.

COOPER: He is saying he is giving up a lot of potentially money that he could have made. I mean, $100 million in tax savings is a lot.

BLUMENTHAL: Well, he brought a lawsuit against himself. He said, well, I will probably have to settle it by myself. And that is exactly what he has done. He is taking taxpayer money in a way that's never been done before under any judgments, and he is using it to enrich his allies and friends.

But it is part of a pattern, you know, today, Anderson, Donald Trump is worth $6.1 billion, according to Forbes on Wednesday. That's a billion dollars more than this time last year. And it is almost three times the billions of dollars, $2.3 billion he was worth in 2024. COOPER: If there had been any other president, Republican or Democrat

in modern history who had done what this President has done, people would have -- I mean, it was a different time. I guess it was a pre- Trump time, but it seems like they are -- the rules, I don't know, it just seems like this is unprecedented and yet it seems normal to a lot of people.

BLUMENTHAL: He has dumbed down deviance, so to speak, and disobeying the laws. But remember also he has a Supreme Court that is on his side. It has given him immunity while he is in office from any prosecution, and he controls the House. He controls the Senate, in effect, Republicans have all three branches of government.

And that is why I think we need the Legislative Branch to re-energize itself. My Republican colleagues have been wringing their hands for so long. I've watched them. I have no great confidence they are going to do the right thing, but they should support our efforts to say no to this thug fund through legislation and the appropriations process, we have the power of the purse. It is constitutionally not only our opportunity, it is our obligation.

COOPER: Senator Blumenthal, appreciate it. Thanks very much.

BLUMENTHAL: Thank you.

COOPER: A lot more ahead. We are taking a look at another act of political payback with what could be serious implications. The President's endorsement of Republican challenger, Ken Paxton over incumbent Republican Senator John Cornyn in Tuesday's Texas primary runoff, a move that could backfire in November, perhaps even turning the seat and the Senate blue.

Also, what could be a key moment in the war with Iran. What to make of today's sudden resignation of the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:17:37]

COOPER: Another high profile departure from President Trump's Cabinet, Tulsi Gabbard announced today she is resigning as Director of National Intelligence at the end of June.

In a letter to the President, she reveals her husband, Abraham has recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer. She says he will face major challenges in the coming weeks and months, and she adds, she must, "... step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle."

President Trump sharing on social media this afternoon that Gabbard had, "... done an incredible job and will be missed." And he announced when she leaves, her Deputy, Aaron Lukas will be named Acting Director of National Intelligence.

Joining me now, CNN national security analyst, Beth Sanner, who served as a deputy DNI director during part of the president's first term and start of President Biden's time in office.

So, Beth, obviously nobody could fault Gabbard for wanting to spend more time with her husband during his illness. Separate from that, it is no secret her tenure as DNI was not the smoothest. What kind of an impact do you think her resignation is going to have on national security, specifically the Iran War?

BETH SANNER, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Yes, I mean, my heart goes out to Tulsi Gabbard and her husband, absolutely. But, I mean, I think that the sad thing is that in terms of national security and the Iran War, Tulsi Gabbard's departure will have zero effect, like really nothing because she has been sidelined and really is a sideshow and has turned her attention to things that are really, in my view, outside of her authority, you know, in part because of that.

COOPER: Can you just remind people why the job of DNI was created after 9/11 and how its evolved? I mean, what is the DNI supposed to be doing.?

SANNER: Right.

COOPER: She showed up at FBI raids on you know, on ballots.

SANNER: Yes, yes right. Like okay, well not that. That's why it was -- it was not set up. It has absolutely no domestic authorities. And I think that like, you know, we can think back in the history of the United States and, you know, take us back to the Nixon era and the Church Commission and all of these things where the Foreign Intelligence Service is really supposed to be focused -- laser focused, and is prohibited from looking at domestic -- anything inside the United States. Right?

[20:20:08]

And there are some weaknesses there, but the ODNI was set up after 9/11, and it took some time to actually set it up, but it was to make sure that those dots that were not connected, that led us to have this Intelligence failure over 9/11, that that wouldn't happen again.

But the ODNI also has lots of responsibility, right? It is responsible for the final President's daily brief, the kind of Intelligence that the President sees. It is responsible for analytic standards, to make sure that all analysts across the community adhere to certain standards that are specific. And it oversees and overlooks all the collection programs.

You know, like really expensive billions and billions of dollars in overhead imagery and satellites and it works out, how does that work? But I think most importantly, it does what no other agency can do, which is it looks across all the 17 other agencies in the Intelligence Community. Yes, 17 and it looks and sees are the priorities that those agencies are doing, do they conform to what the administration is focused on? And what gaps are there, and how do we fill those gaps?

If you leave it all up to the 17 others, they are not going to fill those gaps. They are going to do what each agency wants to do. And so I think it is important. But, Anderson, the weakness in ODNI that we have seen during this administration is just like we've seen the whole system be weak, that if you don't have a strong person who is qualified at the top, our systems, our institutions, our norms, our rules are at risk and that is what we have seen here, real diminution.

COOPER: Well, also, there is, you know, the question of the politicization of all aspects of the federal government. You know, certainly the Pentagon, with Hegseth at the top. You know, the CIA, the NSA, and obviously the Office of National Intelligence.

I mean, do you think whoever takes over, well, that obviously will be selected by the President, do you think that they will be aligned with the idea that the Intelligence Community can be used to investigate domestic opponents of the President?

Because, I mean, gabbard showing up in Fulton County seems inexplicable, other than a signal to the President.

SANNER: Yes, and it wasn't just that. It was also the interest in taking over counterintelligence operations, which would have given the ODNI access to databases that were about American citizens. And so I think that, you know, who comes next in ODNI is very, very important.

ODNI, you know under this administration, I don't know if it is because Tulsi Gabbard was excluded from the traditional role or whether it was what was meant to be. But in any case, it became a center for retribution and a focal point for retribution.

And so the next person that's chosen, this is going to be the determination. Will they return to this original role, which was to protect U.S. national security and prevent something like 9/11 from happening, or are they going to try to focus on domestic threats, you know, antifa and all of these things that really have nothing to do with the original plan and what I think is vital.

COOPER: Beth Sanner, appreciate your time. Thank you.

As some Republican senators are in open revolt against President Trump, one issue is adding fuel to the fire is the President's late endorsement of scandal-plagued Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

On Tuesday, Paxton is going to face off against four-term Senator John Cornyn in the primary runoff. The race is already the most expensive Senate primary campaign in U.S. history. Republicans fear they are going to need to spend more money to get potentially controversial candidates like Paxton elected if he wins the primary.

While Cornyn is well-liked among his colleagues in the Senate, Paxton is what one GOP senator called "ethically challenged."

Ed Lavandera has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Texas has a long history of big personalities dominating the political landscape. Then there is Ken Paxton, who has never been known for his commanding stage presence.

KEN PAXTON, TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL: I am so honored to have President Trump's endorsement.

LAVANDERA (voice over): Even when he is telling supporters he has received President Trump's endorsement.

PAXTON: When he endorses, it has a tremendous impact.

LAVANDERA (voice over): What Paxton might lack in charisma he makes up for with unwavering MAGA loyalty.

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: An Attorney General who has really led the way.

[20:25:01]

LAVANDERA (voice over): He was in Washington, D.C., with Trump on the day of the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Paxton filed more than a hundred lawsuits as Texas Attorney General against the Biden administration and led legal fights, pushing false claims about voter fraud in the 2020 election.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The next senator of the great state of Texas --

LAVANDERA (voice over): He has risen through the Republican ranks while dragging truckloads of scandal and controversy behind him.

But in the Trump era, Paxton carries it all as a badge of honor.

PAXTON: Just like Donald Trump got impeached, I got impeached.

LAVANDERA (voice over): In 2015, Paxton was indicted on felony securities and fraud charges for allegedly encouraging investors to buy stock in a company without disclosing he was being paid by that company. The case dragged on for years until he reached a settlement, and the felony charges were formally dismissed.

In 2020, several members of Paxton's most senior staff reported him to the FBI, alleging bribery, abuse of power and misusing the Attorney General's Office to help a political donor. The Justice Department reportedly dropped the case just before Trump took office for the second time.

In May 2023, the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature impeached Paxton over the whistleblower allegations. He was acquitted by the Texas Senate.

PAXTON: And it is by the Grace of God, He absolutely delivered me, and He used the people of Texas to deliver me.

LAVANDERA (voice over): Paxton then turned his political gaze on John Cornyn's Senate seat.

PAXTON: The fake John Cornyn is going back -- going away in about seven days.

LAVANDERA (voice over): Cornyn has made Paxton's character a focal point, raising allegations of infidelity and spotlighting Paxton's wife, divorcing him on biblical grounds.

VOICE OVER: Cheating on his wife with multiple women, tearing apart his family and the family of a married woman he was involved with.

LAVANDERA (voice over): Paxton has largely avoided talking about his marriage issues, but his daughter defended him in a campaign ad.

MATTIE, KEN PAXTON'S DAUGHTER: My dad is a really good guy, he loves God. He loves his family, and he loves this country.

LAVANDERA (voice over): Some republicans worry that he will lose to Democrat James Talarico in November.

SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R-TX): I refuse to allow a flawed, self-centered, and shameless candidate like Ken Paxton risk everything we have worked so hard to build.

Judgment day is coming for Ken Paxton.

LAVANDERA (voice over): Paxton is headed into that voter judgment day, having survived scandal after scandal and carrying President Trump's support as a MAGA warrior.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, Dallas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: Well, just ahead, tonight, the Pentagon releases a new batch of declassified files on unidentified objects in the sky. We will show you some of the videos that we are getting, some dating back to the 1940s are in these files. Will there be anything more convincing than in the last bunch? I will talk to Adam Frank, the author of "The Little Book of Aliens."

And next, the latest on the shocking sudden death of NASCAR driver, Kyle Busch. Busch who was just 41 years old. What we are learning about the illness in the last hours of his life and the events surrounding it when we continue.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:32:49]

COOPER: Tonight the racing world is mourning the sudden death of two- time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch. To fans, he was known as Rowdy, the brash, hard-charging driver who racked up 234 wins across NASCAR's top three series. NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell addressed Busch's death today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVE O'DONNELL, NASCAR CEO: To me, Kyle Busch just defines what it means to be a racer in NASCAR. Everything about it, the fire, the greatness, the heart that sometimes you rarely saw. The sport was truly lucky to have him. We're going to do our damn best to continue his legacy and support his family.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: We're also learning new details about Busch's final hours. A new 911 call obtained by CNN reveals he was experiencing shortness of breath and coughing up blood the day before his death. He was just 41 years old. CNN's Dianne Gallagher is in Charlotte where Busch was set to race tonight.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think about his kids. That's hard to think about.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My prayers go out to the family.

DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The sudden death of Kyle Busch at just 41 years old shattering the racing world.

The two time NASCAR Cup Series champions family announced just hours before his death Thursday that he'd been hospitalized with a severe illness and would not be racing this weekend.

The AP, citing several sources, reports that on Wednesday Busch became unresponsive while testing a racing simulator. CNN has obtained a 911 call made from a motorsports training center in Concord, North Carolina, Wednesday at 5:30 pm.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've got an individual that shortness of breath, very hot, thinks he's going to pass out and is, he's producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood.

GALLAGHER (voice-over): NASCAR announced Busch is passing just 24 hours later. No cause of death has been released at this time. Less than two weeks ago during a race, Busch radioed for medical assistance.

The broadcast noted he'd been battling a severe sinus infection.

[20:35:00]

O'DONNELL: To me, Kyle Busch just defines what it means to be a racer in NASCAR. Everything about it, the fire, the greatness, the heart that sometimes you rarely saw. The sport was truly lucky to have him.

GALLAGHER (voice-over): Winningest driver in NASCAR history with 234 victories across the top three series. Busch was a polarizing figure nicknamed Rowdy or KFB. He often relished in being the villain.

Fans either fiercely loved or hated Busch, but everyone had an opinion. The Las Vegas native won the Cup Series title in 2019 and in 2015, famously after breaking bones in both legs in a crash the first week of that season. Tributes pouring in from all over the sports world and beyond. Athletes, former teammates, rivals, and others remembering Rowdy.

This emotional post from teammate Austin Dillon, who wrote on Facebook, I can't thank you enough, KB. You're the ultimate racer and my favorite teammate and driver of all time. I always felt like I had your back and you had mine. I love you brother.

But Busch's enduring off track legacy? Family. His wife Samantha and two children, Brexton and Lennox, were his world. The couple struggled with infertility for years. In 2015, they started the Bundle of Joy Fund to increase awareness and help others offset the financial burden of fertility treatments, they told the Cameron Hall Show.

KYLE BUSCH, NASCAR DRIVER: When we were starting to go through it, we were trying to research and look about it and find out some information and well, what does this mean? Where do we go? And there wasn't a whole lot out there.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And a bow in front of the fans.

GALLAGHER (voice-over): Just one week ago, Busch took his signature victory bow after winning the truck race and reflected on his career.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why do these moments never get old, Kyle?

BUSCH: Because you never know when the last one is.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: What's the reaction been to Busch's death? I mean, he has so many fans out there.

GALLAGHER: Anderson, honestly, I think everyone's still just kind of stunned here. It almost feels like there's this sort of big cloud of grief hanging over Charlotte right now. The governor of North Carolina requested that flags be flown at half-staff tomorrow and Sunday in his honor. You know, their fund, the Bundle of Joy Fund, says that more than 100 babies are here on this earth because of their help, that kind of those sort of funds that they give, those grants.

And, you know, I will say in full transparency, have donated to and attended fundraisers for that organization. Kyle and Samantha were incredibly kind to my husband and I as we navigated recurrent pregnancy loss. We have watched since Kyle's death was announced, donations just flood the Bundle of Joy Fund.

And most of them are in some combination of denominations of 8, 18, or 51. Kyle Busch's numbers, Richard Childress Racing announced today that they are going to suspend the use of Kyle Busch's number eight and they said that they will keep it reserved and ready though for his 11 year old son Brexton who is already a formidable driver himself when he is ready to drive in NASCAR.

COOPER: Dianne Gallagher, thanks so much. I appreciate it. Still ahead tonight, the Pentagon releases a new batch of UFO files, what some of them show and are we any closer to finding out what these are? Plus, what we've discovered about the wedding, president's oldest son

Donald Trump Jr. and his fiancee Bettina Anderson after the president said this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: I said, you know, this is not good timing for me. I have a thing called the rad and other things.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:43:17]

COOPER: There is officially a new Mr. and Mrs. Donald Trump Jr. public records show the president's eldest son married for a second time. He and socialite Bettina Anderson tied the knot in Palm Beach County in Florida yesterday. The couple is expected to hold a wedding celebration this weekend in the Bahamas. So far though, the headlines have been less about the nuptials and more about who won't be in attendance, namely the groom's father. Randi Kaye has more.

So Randi, what are you learning about the wedding?

RANDI KAYE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right Anderson. Donald Trump Jr. -- he will be celebrating in the Bahamas this weekend with his new bride, Bettina Anderson. But this is going to be a very small gathering, according to sources who are familiar with the plan. It's supposed to be just immediate family and close friends. But, of course, we now know that Donald Trump Jr.'s father, President Donald Trump, will not be in attendance.

He said on Truth Social earlier today, well, I very much want to be with my son Don Jr. and the newest member of the Trump member, his soon to be wife, Bettina, circumstances pertaining to government and my love for the United States of America, do not allow me to do so, adding, I feel it's important for me to remain in Washington, D.C., at the White House during this important period of time. Congratulations to Don and Bettina.

Now, in the Oval Office just a day earlier, President Donald Trump was asked about his plan as to whether or not he would be attending this wedding celebration. He was pretty vague in his answer. Here's more of what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: He'd like me to go, but it's going to be just a small little private affair and I'm going to try and make it. I have a thing called the rand and other things. That's one I can't win on. If I do attend, I get killed. If I don't attend, I get killed. By the fake news, of course, I'm talking about now. But he's got a very, a person who I've known for a long time and hopefully they're going to have a great marriage.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[20:45:08]

KAYE: And Anderson, Trump Jr.'s siblings are supposed to attend this wedding celebration. And according to one source, it has been long expected that Donald Trump, President Donald Trump would not be attending this because the couple really did want a private ceremony, Anderson.

COOPER: And what more is known about the newest member of the Trump family?

KAYE: Well, she is considered a considered a socialite and a model here in Palm Beach circle, certainly. But on her Instagram, she has a description for herself. writes, uh typical stay at home mom, only I don't do household chores or have a husband or have kids. Well, now she does have a husband.

She also has a LinkedIn page. And on there, she said that she's an executive director for a conservation group. She's also lists herself as a board member for a group that makes films about conservation efforts and protecting the environment. But Anderson, just a quick little bit of history here.

As you mentioned, this is Donald Trump Jr.'s second marriage. He was married to Vanessa Trump for 12 years, and they got divorced in 2018. And then he started dating Kimberly Guilfoyle, who is now the U.S. ambassador to Greece. She was given that role by the Trump administration when her relationship with Donald Trump Jr. was crumbling.

And there were also photos of him with Bonita Anderson holding hands. So we also know that that Kimberly Guilfoyle and Bonita Anderson were in the same VIP box at the Republican National Convention in 2024 when Donald Trump was running for president. So they have certainly crossed paths whether or not they know each other. We don't know, but he did end up marrying one of them, Anderson.

COOPER: Randi Kaye, thanks very much. Now, take a look at this. It's part of the second batch of the Pentagon's UFO files released today. That's an unidentified object zigzagging in the sky somewhere over Europe in August of 2022. Check this out as well. For the first time, we are seeing the moment an Air Force fighter jet crew shot down that Chinese weather balloon over lake on back in February 2023.

Joining me now is astrophysicist Adam Frank, author of "The Little Book of Aliens." Professor Frank, appreciate you being with us. Do you see anything in these new images that particularly interest you or in any of the images that have been released so far?

ADAM FRANK, PROFESSOR OF ASTROPHYSICS, UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER: Yes, Anderson, you know, as a scientist who spent a good chunk of my life really interested in the life in the universe. Sadly, I don't see anything in these that really isn't the kind of thing we've seen for 70 years really with UFOs. They are all fuzzy blob photos and unverifiable personal testimony, which is unfortunately the worst kind of um evidence that there is.

So, you know, if you really want some kind of scientific hold on whether or not we're being visited, these don't do anything in terms of that and it's really kind of more the same and I'm a little disappointed. I was kind of hoping given the testimony that we've heard in those congressional hearings that there was going to be something with a little more teeth in like maybe alien teeth.

COOPER: Given the -- given the, you know, number of cameras just that we all carry around, I mean does it surprise you that there's not some clearer images? It does seem like everything is very grainy. Obviously some of them are taking from, you know, from -- from flights, obviously, from aircraft, but would you expect there to be some sort of better images out there?

FRANK: Yes, mean, look, every one of us carries, you know, one of these, you know, high resolution digital cameras in our pockets. Why do these images look as blobby as the ones from 1960? And it's also really interesting that, you know, people will often say, oh, these are moving in ways that physics can't explain.

But, know, the government about five years ago formed the All Domain Anomaly Research Office to scientifically study these kinds of cases. And they have over 1,600 cases like these with images and personal testimony, and pretty much 95 percent of them, if not more, are explainable.

So, you know, these things are not moving in crazy ways. It's usually some kind of aberration in the atmosphere, something that can be explained once you look into it.

So, you know, unfortunately these things don't really point us to anything about life beyond the universe. And I think even more important for us to understand is those testimonies in Congress were saying that we have alien bodies in refrigerators and that there's alien spaceships in government garages and, you know, we need a lot more at least like how about some of the scientific tests that must have been done on alien bodies if we had them or alien spaceships.

There should be volumes of scientific tests at least show me that without it this is just more stories and more of the same that we've seen for 70 years.

COOPER: You know, for President Obama said he believes statistically there is likelihood of other life in the vast universe do you believe that as well?

FRANK: Well, you know, I have to say this is the most exciting time for the study of life in the universe, you know, in the entirety of human history. That question that you're asking is the most important one we could ask.

[20:50:04]

Are we the only place in the entire universe where life is formed? And now the discovery we've made, like knowing that every star we see in the sky when you look out has a family of planets orbiting it. We didn't know that when I was a graduate student. And many of those --

COOPER: That's so insane to me like it just boggles my mind.

FRANK: Yes, yes, it's a huge -- there are 10 billion, trillion planets in the right place for life to form in the visible.

COOPER: What does it even mean? 10 billion, trillion planets? Again, this is going to keep me up all night tonight. I don't even know what that means.

FRANK: Well, you know, everyone --

COOPER: Yes.

FRANK: Well, what it means is there's a lot of stories, you know, that the universe is full of stories. Every one of those planets is a place where you could stand, where maybe there's snow falling over mountain valleys, you know, and wind blowing over oceans. And some of them may have had life forming in it.

And now here's the amazing thing. In the next 10, 20 years, we will have the science that can see these alien planets and maybe tell us whether or not there's biospheres or even technospheres, technological civilizations there.

COOPER: Adam Frank, it's good talk, do want to have you back. Thank you so much.

Coming up, my conversation with Kalina Silverman, she founded the global movement known as "Big Talk" as a way to combat loneliness and the feeling of disconnect that so many experience. She found that by simply going up to people and asking deeper questions and I've become a big fan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What do you think is the meaning of life?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The meaning of life.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Helping people and just exploring.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Trying to be stewards.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:56:22]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What's been the darkest time of your life and how did you get through it?

COOPER: I really died when I was 21 and he killed himself in front of my mom. My dad died when I was 10. I got through it by not really allowing myself to feel that pain for a long time until more recently. And that's been a gift. You feel less alone in the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Well, that's part of a conversation I just had with Colleen's Instagram account, "Make Big Talk." She's been up to people doing just what you heard, asking big life questions. And so much can be found in the answers or sometimes just in the asking. She has a new book out. It's called "Big Talk: How to Skip the Small Talk, Make Meaningful Connections, and Enrich Your Life." I spoke to her earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: I first saw your Instagram around the L.A. fires, and I was so struck by just the humanness of it. Like you just take a camera and you're just talking to people and they're very human conversations. And I feel like in this age where people are yelling at each other and, you know, everything just seems so full of vitriol.

It really struck me. I sent you a fan like I don't really reach out to people on Instagram. I sent you a fan note, I think.

KALINA SILVERMAN, AUTHOR, "BIG TALK": What's going on. I'm the biggest fan of you. So I thought it was an accident or something.

COOPER: No. Yes. I send you a note just saying how great I thought it was and I could do. So I'm very thrilled that to actually meet you. It's really nice to meet you.

I want to show people, I guess, some of what I saw -- these are two interviews you did, just excerpts from them around the time of the L.A. fires. One is with Walt in Altadena and then Eric in the Pacific Palisades. I want to that.

SILVERMAN: What did you love and lose in the fire?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I lost everything. I'm a guy with everything to nothing. I spent my whole life helping people. I didn't think it would happen to me, but it did -- I have my health, and I my life.

SILVERMAN: What did you save in the fire?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I lost everything. It's out. Children from my wife, she passed away in 2022. I met her on a dance floor at age 17 in Germany. We danced for the rest of our lives. It has been such a beautiful little city to see Colossians, you know, just wish we could have said it.

COOPER: I remember Eric and I was so moved by that. I loved what he said. I met her on the dance floor at age 17 in Germany. We danced for the rest of our lives.

SILVERMAN: And that's all anyone would want.

COOPER: Yes. SILVERMAN: Yes.

COOPER: How do you do this? You just --

SILVERMAN: I just meet people where they're most comfortable, which is usually in front of their homes or where they're sheltering in place after a disaster. So I just meet, I go to people and I don't bring a camera crew or anything like that. I just shoot on my phone. Sometimes they don't even know it's there. I just kind of hold it here and chat with them and ask them questions about what they've lost. They always include the word love. What do you love that you lost.

And I always keep it optimistic too. I say despite all you've lost, what's given you hope?

COOPER: What you love that you've lost?

SILVERMAN: What do you love that you've lost? Yes. And I've done the same thing with the fires, the Texas floods, the recent Hawaii floods.

COOPER: You get a very different answer if you say what do you love that you've lost and if you just said what have you lost?

SILVERMAN: Right. One word can change everything. One question too.

COOPER: What is the thing that you like about doing this? Like what is the whole idea? Because you now have a book, "Big Talk." What is the idea behind it?

[21:00:00]

SILVERMAN: I like the idea that "Big Talk" can be a passport to pretty much anyone in the world. I ask the same questions to an eight-year- old, to a 98-year-old, to someone who's just come out of prison, to someone I've met on the street. I ask people questions like, are you proud of in life? Or, what's been

the darkest time of your life and how'd you get through it? What do you want to do before you die? Was the very first "Big Talk" question I ever asked. And these questions are really simple.

COOPER: What do you want to do before you die?

SILVERMAN: What do you want to do before you die? And the questions are really simple and open-ended, so people are able to reveal who they truly are and as much as they want to. And sometimes people are a little taken aback. But then you just almost you see their shoulders kind of drop and they get to just --

COOPER: Well congratulations on the book and I mean I'm a huge fan of what you're doing, Kalina.

SILVERMAN: I'm huge fan of you too, thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Well that's it for us. The news continues, The Source starts now.