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Temporary Shoring and Beams Installed to Stabilize NYC High- Rise; Trump Says He Doesn't Think Iran War is Going to Start Again; Defensive Missions on U.S. Carrier as Trump Says Iran Ceasefire Over; Houston Family Demands Answers After Loved One Shot Dead by ICE Agents; Trump Wants New Air Force One in His Presidential Library. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired July 08, 2026 - 14:30   ET

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

[14:30:00]

MATTHEW ROBLEZ, STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Well, it could be any number of things. It could be at the beginning back in 1960, these columns had a weak zone during construction and it wasn't until they started doing the addition and the conversion that it became aware and manifested itself in that. It could have also been people put too much construction materials over that area.

We don't know. Again, the key is to figure that out so that the problem won't happen again elsewhere in the building.

KEILAR: So one of the things that New York is trying to do and we heard the mayor talking about this is there is a lot of office space that people may not be using and they really do need there to be more housing. This was a conversion project where they were taking an office building and converting to apartments and he was saying that he supports that. That does need to happen.

We're talking about in this particular case stories being added, right? So even more apartments, which is you would think a good thing here. When you're looking at this, I do wonder, Matthew, is this a cautionary tale for other projects like this?

What's the takeaway on a bigger level?

ROBLEZ: I don't think this is a cautionary tale on like doing renovations because I mean, when you think about it, the building -- what is going on right now and reservations -- renovations are done thousands and thousands every year. When something unusual like this has happened, it's important not to assume that every renovation carries risk. The reason why it's big news, the reason why you're talking to me is it is so unusual.

I really believe that this is unusual and this should be looked at as a success. Nobody died. The beams buckled and gave warning.

They monitored it and they shorted up and the problem will be fixed. And the alternate load paths that we all design into our buildings worked. So this should be looked at as a success, not a cautionary tale. But if something happened, like someone made a mistake and put loading where they shouldn't, there needs to be more caution put towards that.

KEILAR: Yes, no, that's a very good point. Matthew, great to have you and to have your expertise on this. We appreciate it.

ROBLEZ: Anytime. Thank you very much.

KEILAR: Still ahead, how leaders in Iran are responding to President Trump's latest threats against the nation's critical infrastructure.

[08:05:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: Now back to the latest on the U.S. and Israel's war with Iran and President Trump's mixed messages on whether the ceasefire is still intact. A short time ago, he said he does not think the war is, quote, going to start again, despite saying earlier that as he sees that the ceasefire is over.

Let's get right to CNN's Jerusalem bureau chief, Oren Liebermann. Oren, how's the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacting to the breakdown of the U.S. ceasefire or, you know, whatever it is at this point with Iran?

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: The whatever it is, is the key question here, because President Donald Trump on one side said the ceasefire is over. The MOU is no more. Who knows where that leaves the 60 days of negotiations.

And then one of the clearest statements he made a couple of times, actually, in that press conference was that the escalation we've seen over the last 24, 48 hours between the U.S. and Iran will end quickly and that it's effectively already over. And that suggests that it's back to the ceasefire and back to negotiations, even if there's no specific date. So there's certainly a bit of mixed messaging here coming from Trump.

He seems to have indicated he doesn't want to resume the war at full scale and that this escalation here will be over quickly here. That being said, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials are being very careful in how they respond to this. We haven't seen any overt statements.

We know Netanyahu has long been skeptical of Iran's intentions behind these negotiations and doesn't see them as acting in good faith here. He'd very much like to see a resumption of the U.S. and Israeli war on Iran, a resumption of strikes here and an attempt to weaken the regime. But it doesn't seem right now, and we'll see if Trump changes his mind, but it doesn't look like that's where he's going here.

So it seems the position right now for the Israeli government is to take a step back, to be quiet and not be seen trying to push Trump in any direction. Trump also talked about Lebanon. That's another key agreement here, and that has its own confusion because we've seen a number of agreements just last month that relate to Lebanon, and it's one of the key stumbling blocks in the bigger U.S.-Iran negotiation, with Iran demanding a full Israeli withdrawal as part of any final agreement. Well, Trump was asked, does he see Israel withdrawing from southern Lebanon? And here's what he had to say on that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I talked to Bibi about that. Yes, I think they're going to. I think they want to.

I don't think it's a question of me. I think it's a question of they want to. And they're getting along with Lebanon.

They're signing deals with Lebanon, first time ever.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIEBERMANN: The only problem is that Trump's comments are disconnected from what's happening on the ground. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the defense minister and others have indicated that they have no intention of withdrawing from southern Lebanon anytime soon. And it's not even clear they withdrew from two small areas along the front line that they were supposed to withdraw from under the latest ceasefire agreement.

So it seems Trump is trying to will or wish his ceasefire into existence, but the reality on the ground tells a very different story.

KEILAR: Yes, very important. Oren Liebermann, thank you so much for that report from Jerusalem.

[08:10:00]

CNN's Pamela Brown is getting a unique perspective on the developments with Iran. She is the first American journalist on board the USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier that is now in the Arabian Sea. Some crew members told her that they're unfazed by the latest developments, considering all that's happened since the war started. Another person said they're, quote, numb to the news of more attacks.

But that person added the potential end of the ceasefire brings more uncertainty, including the chance of a longer deployment. Here's more from Pamela on the carrier's flight deck.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR AND CHIEF INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: So here we are on the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln, and there's a lot of activity tonight, just as President Trump says there could be more strikes on Iran. This is one of two aircraft carriers in the region. And you see behind me what's called the bridge, the flight tower.

This is where all the shots are called. And you see the planes. Here they are on this deck. There's F-35s, F-18s, Growlers, E-2s. All of them play certain roles in the conflict. And they're for sure -- per a U.S. official I spoke to -- is that there will be defensive missions happening on the USS Abraham. And in fact, there has already been a shift in operational plans in the wake of the Iranian attacks on those vessels. This ship left port early yesterday so that it could be out here at sea and ready to go in case orders are given. So you can see some of that preparation happening right now.

There's some maintenance happening over here on this helicopter. And then if we pan over here, you can see they pulled out some armaments, some missiles to put on the flights. Now, I'm told that would be standard operating procedure because tomorrow is a flight day.

But of course, this takes on new meaning in the wake of the latest rhetoric from the president and the Iranians as well. So we'll have to wait and see. As one source said, it is a very dynamic situation here.

Pamela Brown, CNN, from the USS Abraham Lincoln.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: Our thanks to Pamela for that report.

The U.S. Navy has identified the sailor who went missing in the Arabian Sea during a helicopter emergency landing last week. He has been identified as Commander Gabriel Edwards, who was the commanding officer of the helicopter sea combat squadron there.

He spent nearly two decades with the Navy. Three members of the four- person crew were rescued at sea after the helicopter went down. The search for Edwards went on for four days.

It covered thousands of miles and involved ships and aircraft from two carrier strike groups. The Navy suspended search efforts on July 5th. The cause of the incident remains under investigation, and the Navy says there is no indication that the emergency was caused by a hostile action.

Edwards is survived by his wife, Rebecca, two children, and a large extended family. The Edwards family expressed their appreciation for the outpouring of prayers, messages, and support, saying, "We find comfort in knowing that Gabe lived a life of extraordinary purpose, devoted to his country, his squadron, and above all, the family that he loved so completely." We'll be right back.

[08:15:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: The family of a Mexican immigrant are demanding answers after he was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was on his way to a construction job with a crew of workers Tuesday morning when this shooting occurred, according to his family. DHS officials say he was living in the country illegally and trying to evade police during a traffic stop when he allegedly rammed his car into a law enforcement vehicle.

Local lawmakers, civil rights leaders, and Salgado's family are demanding a full independent investigation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAMON PALOMARES, PRESIDENT, LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS: We are not asking, we're not requesting, we are demanding the truth. It is unacceptable, it is un-American to use lethal force against a human being, then lock away the evidence, hide the video, silence the record, and expect his family, the people of Houston, and the American public to simply nod and say, we believe you, because we don't.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: CNN senior national correspondent Ed Lavandera is here with more on the family's demands. Ed, Salgado's son said his father had been in the U.S. for decades but was going through the legal process to obtain a work permit. What's the very latest?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, his son spoke emotionally this morning at a press conference with Latino civil rights leaders and several elected officials there in the Houston area, as a lot of questions continue to swirl around this shooting that took place just before 7 a.m. Salgado's family says that about 18 months ago, they started the process of getting a legal work permit for their father to continue working here in the U.S. The family says he had been here for more than 35 years, working in construction, getting up every day at 5 a.m. and going off to work, and picking up co-workers along the way.

In fact, one of the passengers, the family says, in that van where the shooting took place was Salgado's brother. He was part of one of four men that were in the truck at the time of the shooting yesterday morning.

But officials and the family says they do not have reason to believe the ICE version of what happened and what unfolded on the streets there in Houston early yesterday morning.

[08:20:00]

Salgado's son says that in that van was all of his father's work tools, and that he was approached and they were followed by unmarked vehicles that the father, he believes, the father believed that they were being targeted, perhaps being stolen, that if the father had known that those were ICE agents that were following him, he would have known what to do. He would have pulled over since he was in the process of getting permanent or legal status here in the U.S. This is what the son said just a few hours ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RONALDO SALGADO, LORENZO SALGADO ARAUJO'S SON: I saw a video posted on Facebook that he had been shot. I recognized him immediately. Not from his appearance, but from his voice, crying for help as he lay on the street, bleeding out.

He did not deserve to die. He did not deserve to be reduced to a headline of Mexican man shot and killed by ICE.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: In a statement, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials say that Salgado was trying to use the van as a weapon, targeting the ICE agents that were there on the ground and use them to drive toward those officers, and that the officers there on the scene fired at him in self-defense -- Brianna.

KEILAR: All right, Ed Lavandera, thank you for that report.

Another story that we have been following closely, Kentucky's Democratic governor wants an update on the status of Senator Mitch McConnell, who has been in the hospital for three weeks with no specific details on his condition.

Governor Andy Beshear sent a letter to McConnell's office. He's asking for information on the 84-year-old, and he goes on to say that public office holders have a commitment to their constituents who deserve transparency from their elected officials. McConnell's wife, former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, is away in China, but her spokesperson tells CNN that the senator's health does not warrant her immediate return to the U.S.

Can President Trump do something that no president has ever done and keep Air Force One after he leaves office? His plans for the new plane next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: President Trump is wheels up. He left the NATO summit in Turkey last hour, but not in his brand new Air Force One. Instead, look, he's actually flying in the old plane, and a journalist asked him about that shortly before he left.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: It's flying to Europe to one of the big bases, two or three of the big bases, where we can show it to the people. And we'll be going home by normal methods. But we have it going to Europe to a couple of bases, actually one in particular, but it's going to go to a couple of bases.

So the soldiers can see it because it's truly magnificent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: One source familiar with the matter, however, privately raised questions to CNN about the aircraft's defense capabilities in international settings. That alternate explanation comes as controversy brews over what happens to the plane once Trump leaves office. CNN's Randi Kaye has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When President Donald Trump's Presidential Library opens in Miami, inside the lobby, if Trump gets his way, will be Air Force One.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The concept could be office, but it's most likely going to be a hotel with a beautiful building underneath and a 747 Air Force One in the lobby, which is going to be a trick.

KAYE (voice-over): A trick indeed. But its size isn't the only obstacle. Members of Congress may also be standing in its way.

REP. JOE COURTNEY (D-CT): It's just barely begun its service life, and the notion that its now already being prepared to be a museum piece defies any logic or common sense.

KAYE (voice-over): Just last year, the Qatari government gifted the U.S. Government a Boeing 747-800 for Trump's use as Air Force One. Two new 747s Trump ordered in 2017 from Boeing still aren't ready.

TRUMP: I asked the emir if we could use the brand-new 747 that he got.

KAYE (voice-over): That move raised all kinds of questions about ethics and the possibility of political influence.

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): Donald Trump isn't just blurring the lines between public service and personal profit, he's erasing it. He is jeopardizing America's national security to line his own pockets.

KAYE (voice-over): The Qatari plane has since received $400 million or so in taxpayer-funded upgrades to help keep the president safe.

COURTNEY: Having invested all this money in a plane that the president himself has described as practically brand-new, it has less than 1,000 flight hours.

The notion that, in two years' time, it's going to be decommissioned and retired makes absolutely no sense.

KAYE (voice-over): Representative Joe Courtney, a Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, filed this amendment to the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act last month.

It would block the Qatari plane from being transferred or donated to any individual or entity outside the Department of the Air Force, the goal being to stop Trump from taking the plane for his Presidential Library.

COURTNEY: If we pass my amendment, there's just no question that it clearly states that such a transfer would be against the law.

KAYE (voice-over): Air Force One planes are known to stay in service for years, even after new ones come online. The Air Force One Pavilion wasn't added to President Ronald Reagan's library until 16 years after he left office. And by then, the plane had been retired for years. COURTNEY: It shouldn't even really require federal law to hopefully make sure that asset is not wasted or squandered.

KAYE (voice-over): The executive director of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies told CNN, quote, "There is standard protocol for retiring military aircraft. First and foremost there are no military requirements for it." Adding, "They are significant assets and the government wants to get its ..."

[15:00:00]