Return to Transcripts main page

CNN News Central

Trump to Hold Cabinet Meeting Amid Iran War, GOP Revolt Over Blanche; Witness Who was in Van With Man Killed by ICE Breaks Silence; Today, Jury in Lindsay Clancy Triple Murder Trial to Tour Home. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired July 31, 2026 - 07:00   ET

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

[07:00:00]

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news, hours from now, President Trump heads to Camp David for a special cabinet meeting. As the pressure grows at home and overseas, he's facing an uphill battle with Republicans over his attorney general nominee, all while the war with Iran expands with no clear end in sight.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: A.I. giant Anthropic now says one of it's A.I. models escaped and hacked into three other companies. Why they're calling it a misunderstanding now this morning.

And a woman was found clinging to the underside of a rock, partially submerged in cold, raging rapids of a river. How she got there and how crews got her out.

John and Sara are off today. I'm Kate Bolduan with Fredricka Whitfield. This is CNN News Central.

WHITFIELD: Happening today, President Trump will hold a cabinet meeting at Camp David. And while these meetings are generally heavy on praise for the president, today's session comes as he is facing mounting troubles at home and abroad.

Two outgoing Republican senators, John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, are withholding support from Trump's pick for U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche. At the heart of it is the Trump administration's now scrapped $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund. It could have used taxpayer money to pay Trump supporters who claim that they have been wronged by the Justice Department, including January 6th defendants. Cornyn and Tillis want a written guarantee that it's dead and buried for good.

And now, Trump says he could temporarily withdraw Blanche's bid and re-nominate him after Cornyn and Tillis leave office in January. There's also this overseas. State media reports Iran struck an air base in Kuwait, and Egypt was attacked for the first time since the war began raising fears the conflict is widening.

CNN's Betsy Klein is live for us this morning at the White House. All right, Betsy, what can we expect from this cabinet meeting?

BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: That's right, Fredricka. President Trump convening his cabinet for a rare off-site retreat at Camp David, and it comes as this war with Iran has no clear end in sight, and a lot of uncertainty for the president's agenda here at home.

First up, Iran. There were no reports overnight of strikes by U.S. Central Command, but it comes as there are concerns that this conflict is widening throughout the region. We saw that as there were strikes on a Kuwait air base, as well as earlier this week, strikes on Egyptian infrastructure, and the U.S., in one new development, teaming up with Saudi Arabia earlier this week to launch joint strikes on Iranian proxies in Iraq.

All of this, this five-month conflict is also a very political problem for this president. It is deeply unpopular with the American people. And according to new CNN polling, just 28 percent of Americans approve of his handling of this conflict. There are also concerns from the American people about the more broader consequences of this war. That includes the economy. Just, his handling of inflation, just 25 percent approve, and gas prices, now up to $4.10 a gallon on average according to AAA, just 21 percent of Americans approve.

There's also going to be controversy around another person sitting around that cabinet table, and that is the acting attorney general, Todd Blanche. At issue here is these two Republican senators, again, members of the president's own party, that Trump has previously tangled with. That is Senator John Cornyn of Texas, who the president endorsed his primary opponent, and he ended up losing, as well as Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina. Tillis is retiring.

At issue here is this controversial $1.8 billion so-called anti- weaponization fund that would provide money to people who believe they were unfairly targeted by the Justice Department. Both of those senators want written assurances from the Trump administration that they will officially scrap it. However, President Trump also making clear yesterday that he was prepared to pull their nomination until January, when both Tillis and Cornyn are out of office.

So, it's unclear exactly how this is going to proceed.

[07:05:02]

It's also unclear if Blanche would ever have the votes if the Republicans hold the Senate here. But both Cornyn and Tillis met privately with Blanche. Three sources say there was some progress, but no deal yet, Frederica.

WHITFIELD: All right, Betsy Klein, thanks so much. Kate?

BOLDUAN: Joining us right now is White House Correspondent for USA Today Francesca Chambers. It's great to see you, Francesca. Where do you see this thing headed right now?

FRANCESCA CHAMBERS, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, USA TODAY: Well, even if, you know, they could try and pull this together in the next two weeks, I mean, the Senate is about to be out on recess, an extended recess, right, because we're in an election year. And so at this point, unless something very unexpected happens before next Friday, this is getting kicked down the road until at least the fall.

Now, it is notable that Blanche can stay in this position until at least the end of October and have the same title and all of the same powers. But even beyond that, because he was the deputy attorney general before this, while he might not have that same title after that point, he would still have all of the same authorities.

And there was a question at one point whether President Trump would even nominate him to be attorney general and not just leave him acting or in his former role because of that. And so as, as far as the White House and President Trump are concerned, they can keep doing this for a while.

BOLDUAN: Yes, they absolutely can. And the thing -- and you raised something that's important just to take everyone inside it a bit. In a midterm election year, well, in any election year, especially when it comes to the House, but in a midterm election year, what you're looking at is not just an August recess. You're looking at basically nothing happens after the August recess come the -- because you are in the literal final sprint before voters are voting, and all lawmakers are focused on their reelection efforts. Like that's just full stop kind of the vibe of what's going to be happening in Washington.

So, this, after August, after they head home, is -- I don't know what happens actually with this when it becomes as it is so controversial now, and there's so much involved in it. I mean, Cornyn, in response to Trump's social media post about the, the possible, you know, pulling it, I want to read it for you. Cornyn wrote very clearly, POTUS is mistaken if he believes concerns about the provisions in his tax lawsuit settlement are limited to me and Senator Tillis. Which -- you know, concern does not necessarily mean that senators are going to speak out and revolt, but how widespread do you think this is if this is a revolt?

CHAMBERS: Well, there is this notion that Senator John Thune could just put it on the floor this or some of these other this or some of these other things, like the SAVE Act, right? And just, you know, see where things are, see how it comes down.

It is important to note that Vice President J.D. Vance can act as a tiebreaker on both legislation and in nominations. We saw him do that earlier in President Donald Trump's term for some of these other cabinet members who got themselves into sticky situations. And so it is possible that, you know, you could just put this on the floor and then -- and the vice president could act as a tiebreaker and the votes would be there. But that's seen as, you know, a risky strategy for the president.

Now, the other notion that's being talked about here is that if the president pools it and just puts it on the floor next year, how many votes would he have, because the GOP could lose some Senate seats in the next election. But right now, the GOP has 53 Senate seats, and, again, the vice president acts as tiebreaker in like a 50/50 tie situation, I mean, we'll see what happens in the midterm elections. But the idea that the GOP would lose enough seats that he wouldn't be able to get nominated is something that's hanging out there, or rather confirmed is something that's hanging out there.

BOLDUAN: Yes, for sure. It's good to see you, Francesca. Thank you so much. Fred?

WHITFIELD: All right, Kate.

Straight ahead, breaking overnight, we're learning more about a coordinated cyberattack at more than 30 Minnesota water system facilities in one day. This raising major security concerns.

And a CNN exclusive, we speak with a witness who was inside the van when ICE agents shot and killed a Houston father. What he says happened.

And why HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is launching his own cooking show. What will be on the menu?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR., HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY: Welcome to The Real Food Show. Thanks to President Trump, we flipped the food pyramid and put real food back where it belongs, at the center of the American plate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:10:00]

BOLDUAN: A witness to the fatal ICE shooting in Houston is now speaking out for the first time, and speaking exclusively to CNN.

Jose Trinidad was a passenger inside the van when Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was shot and killed by a federal immigration agent this month. ICE claimed that Salgado rammed a law enforcement vehicle and refused their commands. Now, after being released from ICE custody, Trinidad says the government's account is wrong.

CNN's Ed Lavandera has this exclusive interview. He's joining us right now. Ed, tell us more. What is this man saying?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Kate. Remember, there were three men inside that van with Lorenzo Salgado. Two of the men remain in immigration custody, but Jose Trinidad was released by a judge's order just a couple of days ago.

[07:15:04]

He spoke with us yesterday, and he says that the government's description of what happened in the moments that led up to that shooting is a, quote, lie.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSE TRINIDAD ROJAS PLIEGO, KEY WITNESS IN TEXAS ICE SHOOTING: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE).

LAVANDERA (voice over): Jose Trinidad says things will never be the same, that he's traumatized by the shooting because he saw it all. The 52-year-old construction worker witnessed the final moments of Lorenzo Salgado's life from inside the van driven by the man he simply called El Patron, the Boss.

It was just before 7:00 AM on July 7th when ICE officers in unmarked cars started pursuing the four-man crew of construction workers in East Houston.

Trinidad says he was sitting a few feet behind Salgado in the van. Jose tells me during the pursuit, he heard the men up front say they were being chased by ICE officers. Videos show ICE officers pursuing Salgado's van in unmarked cars, at one point racing past the van on Canal Street. The last video shows ICE officers taking the three other men into custody, and Salgado on the ground, handcuffed, just after being shot.

When the ICE officer shot, where was he standing?

PLIEGO: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE).

LAVANDERA: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE).

PLIEGO: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE).

LAVANDERA: Trinidad says the ICE officer shot Salgado through the passenger window. The Department of Homeland Security says during the chase, Salgado attempted to evade arrest, then weaponized his vehicle and tried to run over an ICE officer, and that's when an agent opened fire in self-defense.

PLIEGO: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE).

LAVANDERA: Trinidad says the DHS statement is a lie. There are no known videos that captured the moment of the shooting. The ICE officers were not wearing body cameras.

PLIEGO: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE).

LAVANDERA: Trinidad says ICE agents were never in front of or behind the van, and that Lorenzo was about to turn himself over to the officers.

PLIEGO: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE).

LAVANDERA: The three men with Salgado inside the van have been in custody since the shooting, but this week, a judge ordered Trinidad's release, and this is the first time he's spoken publicly in detail about what happened.

After his release, Trinidad paid tribute to his friend at the memorial honoring Lorenzo Salgado on Canal Street, and then prayed at his friend's grave site. Jose Trinidad says he and the other men in the van were simply going to work, and that he's speaking out in hopes of getting Lorenzo Salgado and his family justice.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LAVANDERA (on camera): Kate, now Trinidad's lawyer does tell us that he still could face deportation. It's not clear when or if that might happen, but there are some conditions to his release. He has to check in with ICE regularly, he has to wear an electronic ankle monitor, and he's also not allowed to work legally in the United States anymore.

We have reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment on his allegations that their version of events was a lie. DHS simply referred us to the FBI here in Houston, which is investigating the shooting. Kate?

BOLDUAN: Yes, so important to hear from him. And, Ed, I know that we, you and I had discussed this kind of offline and previously, but when the D.A. came on, he was concerned about as well deportation of what are witnesses to the shooting. It's a very real concern of all of the authorities there after this.

It's great to see you, Ed. Thank you so much for your reporting.

Coming up for us, the latest in the trial of a mother accused of murdering her three young children. Jurors are set to visit the crime scene this morning.

And the newest in health trends, A.I. health influencers. Social media feeds being flooded with A.I.-generated content trying to sell you fake health advice.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:25:00]

WHITFIELD: All right. Today, jurors are set to visit the home where a Massachusetts mom, Lindsay Clancy, is charged with killing her three young children. Yesterday, first responders took the stand. One police officer says they heard screams coming from inside the home, and when they went inside, they were met with a very distraught Patrick Clancy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIAN JOSEPHINE, DUXBURY POLICE: Upon his observation of us myself and Officer Hall, he proceeded to head in our direction, leaving that room. And at that point, he looked up and he screamed, she killed the (BLEEP) kids.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And after he said that, where did you go?

JOSEPHINE: Once he cleared himself from the doorframe we were able to look inside the room where we observed what appeared to be a child laying motionless on the floor.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Firefighters and paramedics testified about their failed attempts to try to revive the three children. And, of course, today is going to be a very pivotal day with jurors going to the home.

Joining us right now, CNN Legal Analyst and Criminal Defense Attorney Joey Jackson. Great to see you, Joey. I mean, this is heart-wrenching, it really is. But with this trial thus far, so far, you know, conflicting narratives about what has happened here by the point of view of the prosecutors and the defense. Was this a calculated decision on Lindsay Clancy's part, or did the 35-year-old mother suffer from mental illness, perhaps postpartum psychosis?

Well, today, when the jurors go to the South Shore Massachusetts home where the strangulations of the three children happened, what are they going to be met with? How impactful might this be? How potentially pivotal?

[07:25:00]

JOEY JACKSON, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Yes, Fredricka, good morning to you. Good to be with you. Very tough trial, talking about three children, five, three, and eight months old, died at the hands of their mom. I mean, wow.

Having said that, the decision has been made that they are going to go to the home. In addition, they're going to go to the CVS where they went, where the husband went to get the medication- in addition to the restaurant. Why, and how impactful?

I think certainly in any trial, you talk about a picture being worth a thousand words. Well then, what would video be worth? More? Well, when you go to the actual scene, you're hearing descriptions, you're seeing things, but when you get there and visualize and now you get to put everything together. I think the concern, and there's a few spots I think they're going to focus on, number one, the basement. That's where the three children were found. They're going to look there. They have access to the whole home, can't touch anything, but can certainly view and evaluate everything.

Number two, the second floor window, 20-foot drop where she jumped out, she being the mom, sustaining those injuries. She's paralyzed now. There's a dispute as to whether or not the cut to her neck and her wrist, the self-inflicted, were superficial if you're the prosecution. If you're the defense, she was doing that to take her life. But I think it'll put everything sort of in perspective and context.

I think the defense is very concerned about the emotion that attaches to that, and that's the result of, you know, them not wanting them to even be there, okay, because that's a big concern when you're on trial. Do you stick to the facts, or do you go with emotion? And I think the defense is concerned about that.

Last point, Fredricka, you know, this is not a whodunit case. This is a case of why it was done. And why, as you pointed out, was it the psychosis and mental break, or was this planned and premeditated as the prosecutors would suggest?

WHITFIELD: All right. Joey Jackson, I mean, it's powerful. We'll be watching of course, and looking forward to more of your analysis later on this morning. All right, thanks so much, Joey.

JACKSON: Thanks, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, it has happened again. Now, A.I. tech giant Anthropic announcing that they too have had a security breach just one week after OpenAI said its artificial intelligence models went rogue. The new details and how this keeps happening.

Plus, a dramatic river rescue caught on video. I mean, it is just out of this world. A woman, you see her right there, swept into these dangerous rapids. Well, she was pulled to safety after a helicopter crew spotted her clinging to the rocks there in that raging river. You have got to see what happens next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:30:00]