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Sources: Growing Concern Inside White House Over Trump's July 4 Celebration; Questions About Security After Two Climbers Scale Empire State Building; Tall Ships From Around The World Heading to NY Harbor For July 4. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired July 02, 2026 - 07:30   ET

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

[07:30:00]

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: So also, turning back here, in the big ramp- up to America's 250th anniversary CNN has learned there is growing concern in the White House about President Trump's Fourth of July speech and how many people will attend. The insanely hot temperatures in D.C. is one issue for sure but there are also new videos showing some sparse crowds showing up for the Great American State Fair set up on the National Mall, which is also sparking concern.

I want to play for you what the president said yesterday about his upcoming speech.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: On July Fourth it's going to be approximately 107 degrees out. And I'm going to go and I'm going to make a really long speech just to show that I can do anything. It's going to be 107.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: CNN's Adam Cancryn has much more reporting on this. What are you learning about all this?

ADAM CANCRYN, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yeah. Well the president is right. It's certainly going to be hot and that's just one of the challenges that we may see over the weekend.

Now we have seen over the past week and a half of this celebration across D.C. this was supposed to be really a marquee moment for President Trump, something he'd talked about since even before he was elected. He gets to preside over America's 250th birthday -- all of these celebrations, both here in D.C. and around the country. And instead, we've seen it just kind of become the latest series of challenges for this administration.

So take the Great American State Fair as an example. We've seen this on the Mall over the last week. And when CNN has been down there the crowds have been pretty sparse, owing to a few different reasons. One, the temperatures -- it's just hot out there. Secondly, there's not enough -- really a ton of shade. You can't bring chairs into the state fair. You can't bring bottled water or food. And the programming has been kind of inconsistent.

The state booths we've gone to -- some have been great. You know, Arizona as an example, has been really built out and attracted a lot of people. Others have been pretty lackluster. One of the complications that we saw this past -- yesterday was that the air conditioning in some of them broke. And when it's this hot out that's not -- just not something that people are going to be able to go to and enjoy.

Now, the one thing that is really kind of creating some issues and concerns in the White House is this upcoming speech on July Fourth for the president. If you remember, about a week ago he gave another speech on the Mall. This -- the crowd was not huge and when the president saw an aerial photo of it sources tell CNN that he became infuriated. That he was very upset about the size of the crowd.

And that has fed this kind of angst that has come into July Fourth weekend that again, the crowd for his really big July Fourth 250 speech is going to be underwhelming, owing to, you know, both the temperatures and also the late hour of the speech. We're expecting a full day of events leading up to Trump's speech and then fireworks afterward that could be pushing midnight.

One White House official told CNN, "I do not understand why we are doing this so late. I'm really not sure who thought this was a good idea."

Now, as for Trump, he has insisted that he's unbothered by all this. You heard that soundbite. He said, you know, "just to show I can do anything, I'm going to go really long." We'll see how this all plays out on Saturday, Kate.

BOLDUAN: That is for sure.

Thanks so much for your reporting. I appreciate it -- John.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, with us now, White House correspondent for USA Today, Francesca Chambers. Also with us this morning, Tia Mitchell, the Washington bureau chief for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

I'm glad to have you both here because I just have been dying to know what's going on with this because all the pictures I see on social media, it just doesn't look like there's a ton of people at this thing. And, you know, it's one of these things -- you've had, what, 250 years to plan for it so you would think that maybe you'd get some people in.

So, Tia, tell me what you've seen when you've been there.

TIA MITCHELL, WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF, THE ATLANTA JOURNAL- CONSTITUTION (via Webex by Cisco): Yeah. I went out there this week to check out Georgia's tent, check out the vibes. You're right -- there weren't a lot of people there. I think a signature kind of indicator of a state fair is the food lines and they were empty. And, I mean, think about any outdoor event, even in this heat, the food line is always packed. If nothing else, you would think people were flocking to get water or something to drink.

So I think it does go to show that it's difficult, you know. Trump, for better or for worse, his involvement, his administration's involvement in these America 250 celebrations has just by his involvement further politicized it. And then because he wrestled control away from that bipartisan commission set up by Congress, also further politicized it.

And also, just the execution I think was a little off just as a visitor. I was online trying to find out schedules or even where the entrance is and exits are. There are just -- there's very basic information online. And so I think what people are reading doesn't necessarily get them to come out.

BERMAN: And Francesca, the idea that the president is going to give a speech maybe after 11:00. I mean, super late Saturday night -- super hot and super late and maybe now super long. It's just unclear if that's what people want to hear.

[07:35:10]

FRANCESCA CHAMBERS, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, USA TODAY (via Webex by Cisco): Well, it's also unclear if that will happen. I know that that's what the president said yesterday.

But as we're talking about the heat, right, that's one factor. It might not be that hot by the time he talks, especially that late at night -- while it will be hotter, you know, during the day. It could be, you know, high 70s, you know, low 80s at that point in the evening, so there's that.

But I was at his speech that he gave last week out on the Mall, and it was -- it was not that long. It was about, you know, 20 minutes-half an hour. So we'll see when the president actually gets out there, by the way, and after he's been sitting there for hours, you know, waiting for his speaking time to come whether or not, you know, he ends up giving one of the rally-like stem winders that, you know, goes late into the evening and keeps people from the fireworks.

BERMAN: So Francesca, I want to ask you quickly about House Speaker Mike Johnson because USA Today has got this big, big interview with him about how things are going. And this is as he had to send Congress home early because he basically couldn't get anything done. Couldn't get anything through his own party in the House Chamber.

MITCHELL: Yeah. I think that Francesca --

BERMAN: Sorry -- sorry, Tia. I was asking Francesca. What did you hear from Mike Johnson about how he explains --

CHAMBERS: So sorry.

BERMAN: -- this?

CHAMBERS: Yeah. So look, this happened on Monday evening. The interview took place on Monday evening before he couldn't wrestle control of the House and, you know, had to send everyone home early. And I think there are multiple things that are taking place there.

One, he has this relationship with Donald Trump that we talk about in the interview that he has to manage. And then he also has to manage his relationship with members of his caucus and that can be really difficult too because some members of his caucus have their own relationships with President Donald Trump. And they're -- I mean, separate conversations with the president.

At the same time, you know, Johnson has said that they work so closely together -- him and the president -- because they came into Washington at the same exact time and were both elected at the end of 2016 and came to Washington at the beginning of 2017. So that has allowed them to build this working relationship over, you know, nearly a decade that has allowed them, you know, to pass signature pieces of legislation for the president.

But again, as you are getting to and we talk about it in the interview, I mean, there has still been this tug-of-war between the executive and the legislative --

BERMAN: Um-hum.

CHAMBERS: -- branches and even Mike Johnson, who is very close to the president, is not immune from that.

BERMAN: And Tia, I didn't mean to cut you off, but while I have you, since you, you know, work for the AJC, Georgia -- a swing state, right? Georgia is still a swing state.

I am curious how the various financial disclosures from the White House -- how it may play and how it could play over the next few months in some of these key races around the country. People are concerned about their own wages and concerned about inflation, and they see the president raking in. How much -- raking it in. How much of a campaign issue do you see it becoming?

MITCHELL: Oh, I think it's definitely going to be campaign issue. You just have to look at U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff who is running for re- election. He's already made Trump a big part of his stump speech, tying Trump to his opponent, U.S. Rep. Mike Collins who Trump has endorsed and who has said he's running for Senate to help advance Trump's agenda.

So when you hear Sen. Ossoff speaking he says, you know, Trump is someone who is out to serve him. Out to enrich himself and his family and not to serve you given, you know, what's going on in the nation and problems with affordability and problems with access to health care, et cetera.

So this will definitely feed into Jon Ossoff's Trump stump speech. I expect whenever the next time he has a big rally or a big speech you'll hear more about the most recent financial disclosures. And again, he will tie it back to, you know --

BERMAN: Um-hum. MITCHELL: -- Trump and the people who support him are not the ones out to help the everyday person. And that's -- you know, that's why he's making the case for him to be re-elected.

BERMAN: It will be very interesting to hear how Democrats use this throughout the summer and if it begins to land.

Tia, Francesca, thank you both so much. Have a great holiday weekend. I really appreciate you coming in this morning -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: Also new this morning, this couple right here taken into police custody after they climbed to the top of the Empire State Building and apparently got engaged. They will now face a judge today, according to WABC. The big question is how were they able to pull this off?

This all played out yesterday. The climbed, unfurled a banner, and then he apparently proposed 1,400 feet in the air. Police say the couple accessed a restricted area not open to the public though it is still unclear how.

And the play-by-play from an NYPD helicopter to a LaGuardia air traffic controller -- it's pretty priceless.

[07:40:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Yeah, what's all the hoopla going on over there?

HELICOPTER PILOT: Two geniuses climbed to the top of the Empire State Building -- to the top of the spire. It's a male and female dressed in black. They had some flag they were waving when they were up at the top. And he just proposed to her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: The two are now facing charges -- burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal trespass.

Joining us right now is CNN senior national security analyst Juliette Kayyem for more on this.

Look, I mean, this is kind of been captivating a lot of people in the last day because it's wild and goofy. OK, it's seen as that way, Juliette, because everything went OK. You know, they went up, they did their thing, and then they were taken into custody safely. But this could have gone a completely different direction when you're talking about a stunt like this in the middle of the busiest city in America.

JULIETTE KAYYEM, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST, FORMER ASSISTANT SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, SUBSTACK AUTHOR, "EARLY WARNING", HARVARD PROFESSOR (via Webex by Cisco): Yes. I mean, you know, I'm all for love, you know, but this was reckless to a lot of people. I was thinking yesterday just as an aside, wait until they find out that a lot of marriages -- who is picking up the paper towels, you know, at Target? Like, this is -- it's all downhill from here if this is their idea of an engagement. And the reason why is because is -- this was dangerous to them. I'm going to put them aside because they went to the risk.

It did two things. One is if anything had gone wrong, something falls, even like they had that camera with the Instagram they were holding for the live feed. If that had fallen, at the velocities that it would have fallen it could have flattened a car. So you're looking at a risk to the people below.

The other is, of course, the -- you know, the sort of distribution of resources that this required. You've got a New York looking at July Fourth, the World Cup games, as well as, of course, the Taylor Swift wedding. The pressure on the resources is -- it had to be diverted for -- I mean, you know, as the -- as the -- as the New York Police Department guy said, for these geniuses, right?

And um -- and so we need to look at it in terms of what could go wrong and they should be criminally charged. This is no joke.

BOLDUAN: It's absolutely no joke. And you can imagine what was going through the police commissioner's mind -- like, what? Are you serious? Like, this weekend? This week of all weeks and this is when someone tries to pull an idiotic stunt?

How -- what are the lessons learned here from -- I mean, one question is, like, also and a weekend where security is top -- you know, top, top, top of mind. How the heck did they access this in the first place? Like, what's the -- what are the questions you have?

KAYYEM: Yeah, that's the better question. That's a good question because I talked to some folks who were in sort of real estate management for the building -- so who knows. OK, so they got to the 103rd floor. OK, that's fine. My guess is they had to have done some reconnaissance. You can't just make this up. So there is going to -- they're probably looking back at video of how many times they visited.

There are locks, surveillance cameras, doors, prohibitions to access this part of -- essentially, the roof structure. The reason isn't only because it's dangerous and you don't want people out there; this is critical infrastructure. It is a telecoms antenna essentially. It keeps New Yorkers from -- it lets them continue to speak so you want to protect it.

So the -- this is not the police's fault. This is -- I mean, to extend in terms of the security breach. The police -- there's a -- the building itself and the building management has to figure out how were there so many layers of defenses breached by two people -- we don't know their background -- by two people who fortunately just wanted to show their love apparently. But it could have been worse.

So they're going to have to look back and see how this was breached. I'm surprised just given the layer of defenses to something like this. And I would not be surprised if we learn that they had done a lot of recon before for -- I guess they would say for love. I would say for danger.

BOLDUAN: Yeah. Definitely for Instagram followers all wrapped into one.

KAYYEM: Yes.

BOLDUAN: It's good to see you, Juliette. Thank you so very much -- John.

BERMAN: Yeah, flowers also perfectly romantic it turns out.

BOLDUAN: Oh, really?

BERMAN: All right. What a great win. What a bad call. What an incredible game.

Let's get to CNN's Patrick Snell. The U.S. Men's national team moving on in the World Cup and deservedly so.

PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: Hi there, John. Yeah, absolutely. I thought they were terrific. Despite facing adversity the United States to the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time in almost a quarter of a century after beating Bosnia and Herzegovina last night in California.

[07:45:00]

The USA taking the lead through Folarin Balogun who tucks away the opening goal of the match nicely indeed here. Good composure from the Monaco man. But just past the hour mark Balogun making headlines for the wrong reasons as he is red-carded for a stomp on the ankle of one of the Bosnia players. Now, it's accidental. It's harsh in my book on the American player, but VAR called the ref to look at it again. He did and brandished the red card.

But the U.S. dug deep and scored again nine minutes from time through Malik Tillman who sweetly struck free kick. Two-nil the final. America through to the last 16.

Belgium now lie in wait. Let's hear now from the softly spoken Tillman.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MALIK TILLMAN, SCORED GOAL TO PUT U.S. UP 2-0: For me, I'm a different type of person on the pitch. Of course, maybe you know it. You don't really see my emotions but if you score a goal, notice. I mean, I think also you guys saw my emotions. And it's a great feeling and, of course, a very proud moment for me.

CHRIS RICHARDS, U.S. DEFENDER: I think it's a proud moment and it's a moment that we can get a lot of confidence from. We've kept two clean sheets in the last four games, and I think before then we didn't quite have the best record when it came to clean sheets. Again, it gives us a lot of confidence going into the next round.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNELL: Hmm.

All right, in today's "What A Shot" we have to give another shoutout to Tillman for that free kick. Just about 10 minutes to go and he puts it away nicely for the Americans. Great strike to seal a 2-nil victory.

Here in Atlanta I was lucky enough to be at the game for England- Congo. I'd barely taken my seat though when Congo taking the lead before even the 10-minute mark. Brian Cipenga with a very nice finish there. How would England respond? I will say this -- they are a very different team when Harry Kane is leading the line. And the three lions skipper here with a nice header there. It probably should have been saved but into the net for one all.

Now if that goal was savable his winning goal with four minutes to go absolutely wasn't. Brilliant work to create the angle and then a blistering finish. Absolutely unsavable.

England through to the Round of 16. They'll face Mexico in Mexico City. And that will not be easy because that match will be at altitude as well.

But a really nice moment for me personally, John, to see my country there through to the Round of 16. England haven't won the World Cup since 1966 for the record.

BERMAN: All right, just level with me, Patrick. How nervous were you? How nervous were you before Harry Kane literally saved your entire nation?

SNELL: John, I feared the worst. I was nibbling away at my fingernails. I was fearing the worst. But, you know, I should have had more faith in Kane because when he steps up England are a different team. And that second goal was one of the best goals I've ever witnessed personally live at a stadium. A stunning finish.

BERMAN: I -- the top of it. Like, going up and hitting the back of the net. I think it's still rising -- that shot he hit so hard.

SNELL: Yeah.

BERMAN: Absolutely incredible and it's so great that you were there.

Patrick Snell, congratulations to you. Good luck at the Aztec. You're going to need it.

All right, a volcanic eruption. This is Kate's kind of favorite picture here. Look at that volcano erupting in that lake doing God knows what to all the water and all the land around it. It really is a bonkers picture. We'll give you all the facts behind it, which I'm sure are quite interesting.

And then new details about Sen. Mitch McConnell's hospitalization. Reports that emergency officials were called to respond to an unconscious person.

(COMMERCIAL)

[07:52:05]

BOLDUAN: This morning it has now been more than a week since those devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, but emergency crews -- they are still not giving up hope of pulling more people from the rubble alive.

One of the more delicate rescues that has been going on for days now is for this 44-year-old man. He worked as a mall security guard and has been trapped in the debris ever since -- ever since the earthquakes of what used to be the mall's parking garage. Now, international rescue teams -- they've been able to get him food and fluids while they try to figure out how to actually get him freed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RESCUER: Buenos tardes.

HERNAN GIL, TRAPPED IN RUBBLE: Buenos tardes.

RESCUER: (Speaking foreign language).

TEXT: Can you move towards the light?

GIL: (Speaking foreign language).

TEXT: I'm lying down but I can move that way.

RESCUER: (Speaking foreign language).

TEXT: But not yet, OK? Stay there, OK?

GIL: OK.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: The death toll in Venezuela has gone up once again. Now almost 2,300 people killed and there are thousands still missing. And tens of thousands of people living on the streets and in tents as we have now seen as so many have simply lost everything in an instant -- John.

BERMAN: The struggle there very much ongoing.

All right. Happening now, dozens of tall ships from around the world heading to New York Harbor to celebrate the Fourth of July. Leading the way, the Coast Guard's flagship, The Eagle.

Now, CNN's Leigh Waldman is aboard The Eagle. She's been on the ship all week. I hope you've been eating lives to fend off the scurvy, Leigh. Tell us -- tell us what's been going on out there?

LEIGH WALDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No scurvy here, John. They are taking very good care of us. And the food here, it's pretty incredible.

This is the Coast Guard barque Eagle. Take a look at it in all its glory. This ship has been in service with the Coast Guard for 80 years now and it has a few different roles -- a training role and a soft diplomacy role to spread America's history but also to allow people to come aboard and see what it's like to live here.

All of these lines that you see connected to these different masts. There are six miles worth of lines onboard here. Twenty-three sails. We can show you the bow of the ship as well where you can really see those sails flying high. The wind has picked up. We are cruising along through the North Atlantic right now.

We had the opportunity to climb some of this rigging with these cadets and with some of the permanent crew who is on board. We went up to the second-highest point on the main mast -- 120 feet in the air. Let me tell you, John, I was terrified. We help furl some of those sails and roll them back up. We were there trying to secure things.

It's a lot of work onboard this ship but this is what they're doing from dawn until dusk. One hundred fifty cadets, 60 permanent crew members.

[07:55:00]

We spoke with Captain Kris Ensley, and he says this ship is vital to the Coast Guard in order to train. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAPT. KRISTOPHER ENSLEY, USCGC EAGLE: Almost every single person who becomes an officer in the Coast Guard coming through the academy and officer candidate school comes and spends time here learning how to build -- become a leader, learning how to build technical and nautical skills they'll need in the maritime environment -- seamanship, damage control, engineering, navigation, and things like that. And we get them salty. We teach them what life at sea is.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALDMAN: Captain Ensley is trying to get us salty as well so we can get our land -- or our sea legs, rather. My producer Joel and I -- we're a little unsteady.

But we've seen this crew. They're conducting drills, learning how to put out a fire in the engine room. Preparing for any kind of scenario that these crew members and cadets could face for a life at sea, John.

BERMAN: Leigh Waldman, you win, man. I mean, you're going to have a long, terrific career. I'm not sure you'll ever have a live shot as cool as this one. It looks just amazing.

I have no idea when you're going to see land next but what's -- you know, give me what happens for this vessel after it sees New York Harbor on the Fourth. Does it just go back out to sea again and will you be on it? WALDMAN: We will not be on it unfortunately. We're getting off to head home once the ship lands their anchor in Sandy Hook before that massive maritime parade with dozens of tall ships from all across the country. This one leading that charge. But once they're reading to leave New York, they are racing to Boston.

And John, I mean a literal race. This is one of five sister ships. One has been turned into a museum but the other four are with different countries. So it's incredible to see how they're going to line up and how these captains are coordinating with each other. And they're racing for an actual Tiffany's trophy, so whoever gets to Boston first, they get to take home that prize. And Capt. Ensley -- he's determined to bring it home, John.

BERMAN: Getting to Boston alone is rewarding in and of itself.

Leigh, I have to say this is just the coolest thing ever. Um, please enjoy your time out there and enjoy the Dramamine also, which I'm sure is part of the adventure. Thank you very much. Oh, the shot for us right at the end.

BOLDUAN: Those are -- forgive me. It's one thing, like, Leigh is doing an amazing job but think about her photographer -- his name is Joel -- like, looking through a camera while you're on a boat. That could be sea-sickening.

BERMAN: I'm just thinking like if it's me, like the minute the live shot is over I'm racing to the side to throw up over the rails.

BOLDUAN: Well, think of it -- like think of racing. That boat is racing to Boston. They're going to be like tuck and roll, get out, we gotta go.

BERMAN: Yeah.

BOLDUAN: All right. That was some good stuff.

BERMAN: That was cool.

BOLDUAN: Good stuff. Good stuff.

All right, let's show you some other crazy video. This is my favorite video of the day. Just look at this. This is a volcano erupting -- a volcano called the Taal volcano erupting in the Philippines. It was earlier this week. The eruption unique as you could see it's sending plumes of ash and steam like 4,000 feet into the air. But it also created this, like, tsunami-like wave because it was Taal's -- it's called Main Crater Lake. Volcano and a lake all mashed into one.

Officials said the eruption was considered minor, which I have questions about what a major one would look like. The volcano is the second-most active volcano in the Philippines. Remarkable stuff.

In Colorado, a wildfire burning out of control right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh my God.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Yeah. This was taken by the Custer County Sheriff's Department in the south central part of the state. Massive flames were seen engulfing pine trees all over -- all as of this morning. The wildfire has scorched nearly 48,000 acres and is zero percent contained, and it is one of at least eight fires burning right now in Colorado -- J.B.

BERMAN: All right. New this morning, the FBI is clarifying a key detail in the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC "TODAY" show anchor Savannah Guthrie. The 84-year- old was taken from her Arizona home nearly five months ago and remains missing. Investigators say some of the ransom notes received had been deemed to be extortion attempts without legitimacy, but they did add that other ransom demands could be legitimate and are still being investigated.

With us now is CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter. At every twist and turn here all I think about is how painful it is to the family, Brian. But what is the status this morning? What are we learning about these notes?

BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST: Right. Will there ever be any resolution for the Guthrie family? Will the mystery of Nancy's disappearance ever be resolved? That's really what this is all about.

And until now the FBI has said very little about those purported ransom notes, so this statement is a big deal. They came out partly because it rebuts a report from Reuters earlier this week that apparently was wrong. Reuters cited an unnamed FBI official saying that "All three kidnapping-related messages tied to Nancy's disappearance have all been deemed fake or fraudulent."