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Utah Governor Confirms Kirk's Alleged Shooter in a Romantic Relationship with Transitioning Roommate; Trump Blames the Left on Charlie Kirk's Killing; People Fired and Suspended for Comments on Charlie Kirk's Killing; Comedian Nate Bargatze Hosts 77th Emmy Awards, Pope's 70th Birthday Celebration; Bad Bunny Excludes U.S. from Concert Tour Due ICE Raids. Aired 7-8p ET

Aired September 14, 2025 - 19:00   ET

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

[19:00:14]

JESSICA DEAN, CNN ANCHOR: You're in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Jessica Dean in New York.

And right now a memorial for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk is happening at the Kennedy Center. You're looking inside there live. This comes as President Trump said just moments ago that he plans to attend Kirk's memorial in Arizona next weekend. That's happening next Sunday.

Right now, the suspect accused in the killing of Charlie Kirk is in a special jail unit under close watch pending a mental health evaluation. Utah County Sheriff's officials say the 22-year-old is expected to be there for a few days. His first court appearance is slated for Tuesday.

And take a look. This is newly obtained video from the AP showing a man who looks like the suspect walking the neighborhood about a half mile from the murder scene at Utah Valley University. You can see this person in the clip is wearing clothing and driving a Dodge that matches the description given by Utah's governor about the killer.

Let's bring in CNN's Danny Freeman, who is there in St. George, Utah, where the shooting suspect was living.

Danny, we got some -- a lot of new information about this suspect today from the state's governor, including who he was living with. Tell us more.

DANNY FREEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. That's right, Jessica. Listen, authorities are really trying to understand more about 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, the suspected killer of Charlie Kirk here, because they're trying to figure out what may have led this man who otherwise was living, as far as we understand, a fairly normal life to ultimately allegedly pull that trigger earlier this week.

Two new updates that are notable from the governor of Utah that we learned today. First, on the roommate of Tyler Robinson. Now the roommate, per the governor, was a romantic partner of Robinson, who was a male transitioning to female. But the governor emphasized that this roommate has been incredibly cooperative with authorities.

And I want you to take a listen to how the governor characterized really the roommate's reaction when the roommate learned that Robinson was the main suspect here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. SPENCER COX (R), UTAH: This person did not have any knowledge was shocked when they when they found out about it -- when he found out about it. The suspect has not been cooperating so far. And so we're getting all of this information from family members and people around the suspect.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FREEMAN: So again, interesting to note there, Jessica, that the roommate in question has been cooperating with authorities. But as far as we understand, Tyler Robinson himself has not been at this point. By the way, CNN asked Governor Cox during that interview if the roommate was at all a part or directly part of the motive for potentially Robinson opening fire at Kirk. And the governor said it's easy to draw conclusions, but he declined to speculate further.

Now, the other thing that we learned today, Jessica, was this possibility of a potential note left behind by Robinson. According to the social gaming platform Discord, a roommate and a friend of Robinson actually mentioned, quote, "contents of a note the suspect had left elsewhere."

Now, the governor said -- basically he appeared to confirm the existence of such a note, but the governor did not go as far as to detail what may have been inside any note that Robinson may have left behind. So that's going to be something that we're certainly going to be asking more questions about over the next few days.

The biggest thing that we're looking ahead towards, Jessica, though, is this coming Tuesday. That's when formal charges are expected to be announced here in Utah. And that's when we're expecting to see Robinson make his first court appearance again here in the state of Utah -- Jessica.

DEAN: All right, Danny Freeman with the latest. Thank you for that.

As I mentioned, we heard from President Trump just a few moments ago when he spoke about his close friend and those who are also celebrating his close friend Charlie Kirk's death. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We don't like that. That's not right. We wouldn't celebrate if something happened on their side. And we don't. These are sick people. These are really deranged people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: CNN's senior White House reporter Kevin Liptak is joining us now from the White House.

Kevin. this again coming from the president just a few moments ago as he was making his way to Marine One. What else did we hear from him?

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes. And you do hear the president continuing these very sharp denunciations of the left. He says that political violence in the United States is a problem exclusively on the left side of politics essentially saying that it is not an issue on the right side of politics.

And that is essentially a continuation of what we've heard from the president really in the hours since we learned that Charlie Kirk had died. The president put out that video from the Oval Office denouncing what he called left-wing radicals and continuing to really sort of go after his political opponents as people he says are exclusively responsible for political violence in the United States.

[19:05:06]

Listen to what the president said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Well, the problem is on the left. If you look at the problem, the problem is on the left. It's not on the right. Like some people like to say on the right. The problem we have is on the left. And when you look at the agitators, the - you look at the scum that speak so badly of our country, the American flag burnings all over the place. That's the left. That's not the right.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIPTAK: Now, in reality here, both Democrats and Republicans have been targets of political violence over the last several years, including those lawmakers in Minnesota, including the governor of Pennsylvania. There are a number of Republicans who have been targeted by political violence, including President Trump himself. So it's a problem across the political spectrum.

But clearly, President Trump very focused on his opponents here in the aftermath of this assassination. The other question that I think is unanswered from the president is what specifically he plans to do about it. We know we heard just last week from the chief of staff, Susie Wiles, who said that even before the Charlie Kirk assassination that the White House was working on a plan to combat violence and radicalization.

We don't have any details of that plan yet. But President Trump, I think, clearly not taking a particularly unifying approach here, but certainly very angry at some of those he is accusing of political violence in the aftermath of this event -- Jessica.

DEAN: All right. Kevin Liptak at the White House, thanks so much.

Let's bring in some CNN political commentators, David Urban and Maria Cardona. David is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign adviser, and Maria is a Democratic strategist.

I'm glad you guys are both here. We've had a hell of a week here in the United States, and I think as people kind of start to grapple with what has happened and what happens next.

David, we hear a lot from the Utah governor, Spencer Cox, who a lot of people have looked to because of his steady hand in all of this. And he posed this question this week that I think a lot of people are thinking about, which is, does this assassination mark the end of an era or does it mark the beginning of something else? What do you think?

DAVID URBAN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes. Jess, let's hope it marks the end and the beginning. Right? Let's hope that it marks the end of an era of political violence and the beginning of something new. Too many people think that pain, it's kind of notion that pain is a debt that must be repaid in the same currency. Right? So an eye for an eye. They seek revenge, and they won't be happy until that happens.

And you know, Governor Cox has been incredible. And echoing Charlie Kirk's own words that when we start talking, when we stop, you know, interacting with one another, that's when the problems become, that's when violence occurs. And so I think the best thing that can be done is to, you know, kind of play Charlie Kirk's tapes on a loop and let people see what the -- what the man stood for, what he believed in.

And I think that that would be, you know, an appeal to our better angels. Let Charlie speak from where he, you know, in the afterlife. Now is even more powerful to hear his own words, to say, look, we got to sit down. We've got to talk to one another. If we stop doing that bad things happen.

Listen, I liked -- Senator Curtis from Utah today said we need to remove the word -- we need to remove radical left, radical right, and just talk about radicals in general, because there are -- there are individuals on both sides that do these things. You know, my friend, Governor Shapiro was almost killed, his family almost burned to death in his own mansion. And so the president does those speak -- Jess, look, he has had two attempts on his life, so he's got a right to be angry and think that this comes from the left because he's speaking from his own personal experience.

So it's a tough, tough week as you said. We're going to have more tough weeks ahead and hope we do find the off ramp.

DEAN: Maria, what do you -- what do you think about all of that?

MARIA CARDONA, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I agree with David. It has been a horrendous week. And it is a time for all of us to look inward and then act outward to see what we can do to do better, to bring down the temperature, to throw water on the fire. And my concern with the words of President Trump is that he probably is the one that people are looking to most to be the unifier, to be someone that is going to bring everyone together at this really difficult moment in time.

Look, David is right. There were two attempts on his life. He has a right to be angry, but he also has a bigger responsibility than anyone else in this country because he is the president of the United States. He's not just some Joe Schmo.

[19:10:02]

So the words that he speaks actually matter, and they impact the people that need most to hear that we are at a crossroads. And you know what, Jessica, and I think David would agree with me, I think, you know, what would honor Charlie Kirk best is if we all see this as a turning point in this country. A turning point where we all look at each other and say, we're not our enemies. We can speak out at the top of our lungs about the issues that we care about, and we advocate for.

And look, some of the things that Charlie Kirk said and advocated for, I abhor. And were offensive and were hurtful to so many people in many, many communities. That in no way means that he deserved what happened to him. Absolutely not. That is the definition of free speech that he can say those things and others who oppose him can say they oppose them at the top of their lungs.

That's America. And America is tough. But if we actually want free speech, if we actually want that kind of elevated citizenship, then we have to understand that the way to show how we oppose one another and frankly, hopefully where we find united ground is by talking and so in that David is right. In that Charlie Kirk is right. And we need to continue to talk to each other. And again I go back to the one who has the biggest responsibility in this, is Donald Trump.

But we have seen that he -- it's not in his DNA. He doesn't seem to be willing and able to bring people together. He just focuses on the left. But hey, maybe it is a turning point. Maybe hell surprise all of us.

DEAN: David, I know you speak with the president, with his advisers frequently. I don't know if you've had a chance to talk to them since all of this has happened, and I know clearly, as you very well point out, he's had two attempts on his life. That will give you a point of view. And this was an actual friend of his and a friend of his family's, his children as well. So that certainly colors this as well.

But I'm wondering if you've spoken to them at all or if you can kind of give people a window into their thinking about this. To Maria's point, people who maybe want a more consoler-in-chief right now, do you think that that -- like, what's their thinking around that?

URBAN: Yes. Listen, you know, Charlie -- I met Charlie during the 2016 campaign. Charlie Kirk, you know, was an Eagle Scout in high school, applied to go to West Point, was, you know, was a -- was an all- American, kind of was all-American kind of kid. And he's been around, you know, the Trump world for roughly a decade now. So people really, you know, you got to be close friends with that guy, he became part of the family.

So his death is a great loss. His assassination, his murder is a great loss. And it angers a great deal of people. You know, Jessica, it really does make people angry that here's Charlie Kirk doing it the right way. He was out there saying, look, if you don't agree with me, sit down and debate. And some of the best, you know, best moments he had and some of the most gentle and kind moments you'd see, you can -- you can kind of Google it and look it up now on -- you know, on the -- on the internet with people he, you know, really disagrees with.

That, you know, he has a, he a kind, gentle soul. And he'd get some heated arguments. But at the end of the day, he was doing it the right way. He was, you know, this is what democracy is about is disagreeing. But not being disagreeable. And he was struck down. And so right now there's still a great deal of anger. And the challenge for everybody who feels anger right now and rightfully so, is how to -- is how to channel that anger into something positive.

You know, you don't want to have revenge and retribution. You need to just turn it into some sort of renewal of spirit, renewal of civility. And getting there is not going to be easy. You know, Governor Cox today talked about conflict entrepreneurs, right? These people who benefit from conflict in America, who, you know, look at Mark Zuckerberg doesn't let his daughters have phones or have screen time because he's afraid of what might happen.

What does that tell us? You know, put down your phones as he said, touch grass, do things that get us, you know, get us to a place of more civility. Talk to people. Right? Whether they're in line with you at the, at the airport or the grocery store, get to know one another in your neighborhoods.

America has lost connectivity with one another. And I think that's a great deal. What's underlying this? And so channeling that anger into something positive is going to be difficult. It starts with things like tonight, this prayer vigil at the Kennedy Center, which is going on, thousands of people are lined up. There'll be a funeral coming up at the stadium this Sunday as you heard the president say.

So, you know, it's not going to be a thing that happens overnight, Jess. And the cards are, you know, really stacked against us in terms of how the algorithms reward people who are controversial, who are hateful. They don't reward people who get along.

[19:15:02]

DEAN: Yes. And we are looking at images coming out of the Kennedy Center where that -- where that tribute is going on right now that David was just talking about.

Maria, I'll give you the last word here, and just remind everyone out there that, look, people like you and David are -- you're apart right now physically. But you guys are in a green room together a lot. We, you know, a lot of our Republicans and Democrats that we have on CNN spend time together before they come on the show and after the show. And that happens. You guys all have relationships together and can find other things to agree on.

CARDONA: That's exactly right, Jessica. That's what I was going to point out. David and I are doing it right now. David and I exchange texts all the time. He asked me how I'm doing. I ask him how he's doing. We, you know, talk about what we're up to. We talk about how we like the segment, what we didn't like about a segment after we were on. So, yes, this happens. And if you all recall, our dear friend Alice Stewart and I did it every single time we were on together. That was our brand.

So it's not impossible. It's actually something that if you give it a chance, if you actually focus on the ideas and the arguments, and you are confident in what you are saying and why you believe you are right, then you should have the space and the confidence to hear an opposing view and maybe you learn something. Not necessarily that you're going to agree or suddenly change your mind.

But no, you know, one of the things that I learned a lot every time I hear David talk, I learned a lot every time I sat down with Alice. I learned why she believes what she believes. What is the background to that. David gives us insight all the time about why President Trump believes what he believes, and perhaps why he might act on those beliefs, why the MAGA faithful do what they do.

And all of that is important for all of us to know because the more that you know where your opponent is, the better it is -- the better you are going to be equipped to be able to make an argument for your side, but then also focus on civility and respect and decency. And that's what I think we all need to be doing better.

DEAN: All right. Well, David and Maria, thank you for being here again.

URBAN: Jess, thanks for having us.

DEAN: Yes. At the end of a long week for everyone. But thank you. We really, really appreciate it.

CARDONA: Thanks, Jessica.

DEAN: Still to come, a social media uproar. How online posts about Charlie Kirk's murder are now leading to people who are being fired from their jobs. We'll look into this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:22:18]

DEAN: The fallout from Charlie Kirk's killing has spread to the workplace. People are getting fired for comments that seem to celebrate or glorify the assassination of the MAGA activist and father of two young children. These companies and organizations have reported either terminating or suspending employees for posts about Kirk, and that includes Middle Tennessee State University firing a worker they say had, quote, "zero empathy" for Kirk's death.

Conservative activists, Republican lawmakers, and even a doxing Web site are flagging the comments in what critics say is a campaign to punish those posters.

Let's bring in Jessica Kriegel, the chief strategy officer of Culture Partners.

Jessica, thanks so much for being here with us. Look, there is, of course, the First Amendment and freedom to speech in this country, but there's also private companies who hire people. And it would seem to me, if it's a private company, they get to -- they get to decide who they want to hire and fire. What do you -- what do you think?

JESSICA KRIEGEL, CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER, CULTURE PARTNERS: Absolutely. They don't need a reason to fire you if you're an at will employee, which most workers in the U.S. are at will contracts. So they can fire you because you wore green instead of blue one day. It doesn't matter. Really what the leader's job at these private employers is to identify the workers who are aligned with the culture that they're trying to cultivate, the strategy that they have to achieve the results towards their purpose.

So with American Airlines, for example, they said that the person was suspended because it didn't align with their purpose which is to care for people on life's journeys. That's a perfectly legitimate and actually best practice for how you make decisions around hiring and firing.

DEAN: And what about a public sector worker? Are standards different there?

KRIEGEL: Yes, certainly. So with the government it's a little bit different, right? And so what they do -- with the government there is the Pickering Balancing Test, which looks essentially back from a 1968 Supreme Court case which asked the question, does this worker's freedom of speech disrupt the government agency's ability to perform its work? And if it does, such as, for example, creating disharmony in the workplace, then that freedom of speech isn't necessarily protected.

And so there is different standards. There's a higher bar. However, there still is the ability to if someone is, for example, inciting violence, that that is not protected speech, even for a government worker.

DEAN: And so how do you think? I mean, you've outlined all of this well, but, you know, look, in the world of social media where somebody can write something and it lives there for a while, or anybody can find anything, you know, how do you think companies are navigating this? How should they be navigating this?

[19:25:02]

KRIEGEL: The great leaders are pausing. There is public pressure sometimes to act quickly, and then we get spun into this endless activity trap of trying to react. And we call that the action trap. But great CEOs are taking a moment. They're pausing. They're looking at what experience do I want to create for the workers who are employed here? What beliefs do I want them to hold about me as an employee and myself, the CEO? What do I want them to hold? What beliefs do I want them to hold about the company? And then they're making decisions accordingly. A lot of the CEOs are getting headlines right now because they're

firing or suspending people, but there are probably ten times as many CEOs who are having conversations with employees. They've seen something they call the person up. They have a conversation what's going on, and then they're acting appropriately after having more understanding.

DEAN: All right, Jessica Kriegel, thanks for your time. We really appreciate it.

KRIEGEL: Thanks so much for having me.

DEAN: Yes. Still to come, we are live on the red carpet for television's biggest night. A look at the shows dominating this year's Emmy nominations.

You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:30:30]

JESSICA DEAN, CNN HOST: Happening right now, you're looking live at the Emmy's red carpet as the stars get ready for T.V.'s biggest night and we're going to find out who's going to win top honors. There's Seth Rogen, I believe he's nominated for "The Studio" this year at the 77th Emmy Awards. Elizabeth Wagmeister is on the red carpet in Los Angeles.

Elizabeth, it's not just a big night for the actors. We also have a first time host, Nate Bargatze. You got to talk to him one-on-one What did he tell you?

ELIZABETH WAGMEISTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Yes, so I sat down with Nate Bargatze and he told me that he doesn't want to be mean to anyone. He really wants to keep it with his brand of clean comedy and he also has a little plan to make sure that acceptance speeches don't run too long. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WAGMEISTER (on camera): Have you watched all the shows?

NATE BARGATZE, EMMY HOST, AMERICAN COMEDIAN AND ACTOR: I've seen a lot of commercials of the shows.

WAGMEISTER (voice over): If you're like Emmy host, Nate Bargatze and haven't seen all the nominated shows, well, you might still watch the Emmy Awards for this.

WAGMEISTER (on camera): You're making a $100,000.00 donation to the Boys and Girls Club of America, which is amazing that you're doing that. But there's a catch.

BARGATZE: Yes, there's a catch.

WAGMEISTER (voice over): Bargatze says for every Emmy winner's acceptance speech that exceeds the allotted 45 seconds --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And perfect choice of music.

WAGMEISTER (voice over): --the donation shrinks by $1,000.00 per second.

BARGATZE: Ouch! The opposite, too, if they go under, we will put money on top of it.

WAGMEISTER (on camera): Okay.

BARGATZE: So I would prefer them not all go that under because that can get pretty expensive. The amount of money I give the Boys and Girls Club is totally up to all of Hollywood.

WAGMEISTER (voice over): Either way, Bargatze can afford it. He's currently Billboard's number one selling stand-up comic in America. His tour grossed more than $80 million last year alone. For his first Hollywood hosting gig, he's getting advice from veterans like Nikki Glaser, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon and Conan O'Brien.

BARGATZE: They're all just kind of like, you've just got to be you and trust that you know what you're doing. Fortunately, learned that in other settings and so, I don't have to hopefully not learn it, you know, in front of Harrison Ford.

WAGMEISTER (on camera): Right.

WAGMEISTER (voice over): Bargatze says, sure, he'll joke about Hollywood, but in his trademark polite style, like the cancellation of nominee Stephen Colbert's "Late Night Show."

WAGMEISTER (on camera): Is that off limits or are you going to address it?

BARGATZE: I think we'll say something, but it will be done in a fun, playful way.

WAGMEISTER (voice over): That family friendly comedic style has helped the Tennessee native gain wide appeal in an era where comedy often divides audiences. Bargatze, met his wife while working at Applebee's.

HARPER BLAIR BARGATZE, NATE BARGATZE'S DAUGHTER: Welcome my Daddy, Nate Bargatze.

WAGMEISTER (voice over): And his daughter introduces him at many of his shows. His father was a magician and a clown.

WAGMEISTER (on camera): I have to ask, did you have a fear of clowns growing up? Because a lot of kids do.

BARGATZE: I had a joke about it like, because I would say, have you ever been yelled at by a clown? Because I have. And it's pretty confusing to get yelled at by a guy that's got a smile painted on his face.

WAGMEISTER (voice over): Bargatze doesn't fear the stage. In fact, this star can't wait to be starstruck.

WAGMEISTER (on camera): Who are you excited to see?

BARGATZE: Ben Stiller, I'm excited to see.

WAGMEISTER (on camera): Well, "Severance" has the most nominations so you will definitely meet Ben Stiller.

BARGATZE: We should cross paths.

WAGMEISTER (on camera): Yes.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WAGMEISTER: Now, some of the big winners tonight could be "Severance", which comes in with the most nominations at 27. Also, "The Studio," which is created by its own star Seth Rogen, that's an Apple T.V. show. They have 24 nominations. And I just spoke with Seth Rogen just minutes ago, and I asked him who he's going to thank if he wins, and he said, well, I should probably thank Tim Cook. So, we'll see what happens.

DEAN: What happens -- We're looking at Adam Brody from "Nobody Wants This" and his wife, Leighton Meester, while they were on the red carpet as well. So, like I said, a lot of stars getting there right now. Elizabeth, who's going to be the big winner tonight? Do you think there's going to be like a theme where you know how sometimes one show just keeps winning and winning and winning?

WAGMEISTER: You know, it could, but I think what's interesting tonight is there's a lot of new shows in the race. So, I just mentioned "The Studio" from Apple T.V., but there's also "The Pitt" which is on HBO Max, and these are new shows that are nominated for the first time, and they could really shake things up.

Also, "Adolescence", which is on Netflix, that is expected to potentially sweep the category in the Limited Series category. So, I think that we will actually see quite a bit of variety tonight -- Jessica.

DEAN: All right, that makes it fun. Elizabeth Wagmeister, on the red carpet for us, thank you so much.

Let's bring in CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter to talk about the Emmy's and a little bit more.

Brian, also, let's just say you just had the premiere of your Apple show, "The Morning Show," of which you're a the producer. So congrats on the new season. But it is a big year for Apple with "Severance" and the studio racking up a lot of nominations. And I was just talking to the editor of "Deadline" and he was saying, you know, streaming now and then it could even be YouTube shows getting nominated next year. We're just in a very interesting time. What's your take on the competition?

[19:35:41] BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST: That's a hundred percent

right. I was there at the Emmy's with Apple this time last year because of "The Morning Show," thank you for the mention. We didn't win last year, but this is really poised to be Apple's breakout year.

I was actually talking with some of the top executives from Apple Studio the other day, they are feeling the pressure going into tonight because "The Studio" and "Severance" are up for so many awards.

And as Elizabeth said, "The Studio" does look to be a lock for Best Comedy. But it's going to be an interesting race for Best Drama. I am obsessed with "The Pitt" on HBO Max, and one of the best things about "The Pitt" it's up against "Severance" tonight is that they're already in production for season two. They're not making you wait years for another season. They want to keep these new episodes going. So, I really appreciate that about "The Pitt" and it will be very interesting to see how that works out tonight.

You know, all told, the best thing about the Emmy's nowadays versus 10 or 20 years ago is you can go and watch all the shows that win on streaming right away. You don't have to wait for a new season or wait for the broadcast schedule. So, that is one of the best things about the Emmy's nowadays.

DEAN: Honestly, that's a great point. I didn't think about that, but that is very true. I also want to ask you, while we have you, about this deadline nearing for the sale of TikTok, that was the big thing when President Trump took office, then it kind of faded away, there is a deadline nearing. What are you hearing about that?

STELTER: The President just spoke about this moments ago and is on the way back to Washington from his resort in Bedminster. He said he is working toward an agreement with China about TikTok. But he also said, "We may let it die or we may, I don't know, it depends. It's up to China."

So, the President sounding agnostic about the future of the app, according to CNN's Kevin Liptak. But he did credit the app with helping him to win reelection in 2024. So, Trump is saying he would like to keep TikTok online, "for the kids." He knows he likes it -- he knows the kids like it, he said. So, he's recognizing the incredible popularity of TikTok, but he does seem somewhat agnostic about the future.

Now, Trump has already extended the deadline for TikTok three times in a row. This has been one of his starkest power grabs as President. In fact, his critics say it's one of the most egregious abuses of Presidential power, basically claiming that he has the ability to nullify laws.

We all agree, remember, a bipartisan majority in Congress wanted to see this TikTok App either sold, divested, or banned. And yet here it is still online, the better part of a year after that law was put into effect.

So, the President, as you said, facing another deadline on Wednesday and he's not being very clear on what's going to happen this time -- Jessica.

DEAN: Yes, it's a little murky. All right, Brian Stelter, good to see you, thanks so much.

And be sure to check out Brian's "Reliable Sources" newsletter examining the information, economy and chronicling the evolving, ever evolving media landscape. You can subscribe at CNN.com.

Coming up, the world celebrating America's first Pope on his 70th birthday, we're going to look at the Pontiff's divine festivities, you're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:43:10]

DEAN: Pope Leo is celebrating his 70th birthday. Thousands gathered in Saint Peter's Square today as the Pontiff marked the occasion with a special public address. CNN Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb has more now on how the Pope celebrated.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Pope Leo looked out at the crowd that had gathered in Saint Peter's on Sunday and said, it seems that, you know, it's my birthday. There were groups in the crowd holding up banners wishing Leo a happy birthday, including from Peru, the country, of course, that Leo served in for many years as a bishop and as a missionary.

Leo thanked everyone for their good wishes. A band played a happy birthday song for him. He thanked his parents and for everyone and to everyone who was praying for him on his birthday.

Now Leo is 70, which makes him young by papal standards. His two predecessors were several years older than him when they took up the post. It's not clear if Leo was celebrating on his birthday or having a party, but he did receive a cake on Saturday from the new U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Burch, who brought him a chocolate cake from Portillo's, the restaurant chain, which is headquartered in Chicago, of course, Leo's home City and where he grew up.

Now, Leo's birthday came just after a historic one of its kind Vatican concert, which was directed by Pharrell Williams and Andrea Bocelli. The concert took place in St. Peter's Square on Saturday night. There are performances from Jennifer Hudson, from John Legend, from Teddy Swims. A gathering that was very much a celebratory one. There was a drone show, which was spectacular above St. Peter's Basilica.

It was the culmination of a gathering in the Vatican for human fraternity, which focusing on a more humane and peaceful world, there were discussions and a whole range of topics, including artificial intelligence.

Now, Leo's birthday fell on a Sunday, that meant he couldn't a day off. And in the evening, he was due to celebrate mass at the Roman Basilica of St. Paul outside the walls, a mass to commemorate the witnesses and martyrs of the Christian faith in the 21st Century.

Christopher Lamb, CNN, Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[19:45:36]

DEAN: Christopher, thank you. U.S. and Chinese delegations led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and the Chinese Vice-Prime Minister have wrapped up their meeting in Madrid for the day. They talked about tariffs, their strained trade relations, the TikTok deadline likely being extended and the economy. It's the fourth time in the past few months the delegations have met in Europe to try and keep U.S.-China trade relations from collapsing. Bessent telling reporters they'll start again in the morning.

The federal criminal trial for the man accused of trying to assassinate then candidate Donald Trump last year is entering its second week. Prosecutors are expected to rest their case before the week is done. Ryan Routh is charged with trying to assassinate Trump near the sixth hole of Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. Routh is representing himself in the trial and will be calling his own witnesses. The 59-year-old faces life in prison if convicted.

And new tonight, New York's Governor, Kathy Hochul, has endorsed Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani. She is now the highest profile Democrat to back Mamdani's campaign. The Democratic socialist is competing with current Mayor Eric Adams, former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.

Still to come, Puerto Rico is getting a big boost from musician Bad Bunny, as the artist brings his entire concert tour back to his home country.

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[19:51:33]

DEAN: Global superstar Bad Bunny's two-month residency in San Juan, Puerto Rico ends tonight, and his appearance is expected to rake in an estimated $200 million for the U.S. territory. It's something the hurricane ravaged island has desperately needed, but there won't be a ticket windfall from the U.S. Mainland because the rapper intentionally excluded the U.S. from his concert tour over fears of ICE raids.

I want to bring in CNN's Isabel Rosales, who's joining us now from outside the concert venue in San Juan. What are you hearing from people? What's the mood there, Isabel?

ISABEL ROSALES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jessica, joy and excitement. I mean, you have more than 600,000 global fans who have shown up to this residency. This is the big moment that they've been waiting on and each one of these people, if they're coming from outside of Puerto Rico, this represents thousands of dollars that they're coming here spending on local food, local hotels, even Bad Bunny themed tours, Jessica, learning about Benito, whether that means going to his church, the hometown he grew up in, even the grocery store where he was a humble bagger before he became this massive star.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm here at Puerto Rico.

ROSALES (voice over): Bad Bunny mania has taken over the island of enchantment. The rapper, who has previously been critical of ICE operations, said in an interview with i-D Magazine he didn't include the U.S. in his concert tour because of fear that ICE would raid the concert venues.

In a normally slow time for tourism on the island, the Puerto Rican superstar's 30-concert residency is sold out.

ROSALES (on camera): Has Puerto Rico ever seen something of this scale?

JORGE PEREZ, DISCOVER PUERTO RICO, CEO AND CURRENT MAYOR OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF UTUADO, PUERTO RICO: Never in the 20 year history of Coliseo itself, or in the entertainment history of Puerto Rico, nothing of this magnitude. Not even close.

ROSALES (voice over): Tourism agency Discover Puerto Rico estimates the island will earn at least $196 million from the residency.

ROSALES (on camera): Do you think that this stimulus will last beyond his residency at all, or is this temporary?

PEREZ: I think it is one of the most valuable lessons that that will come out of the residency.

ROSALES (voice over): Even the merch around this historic residency has gone viral. The rappers version of Labubu, featuring the albums "Toad Mascot," "El Sapo Concho," sold out.

Working from a corner of his grandparents' living room in Ponce, the graphic designer Sebastian Muniz Morales is stunned by the hype.

ROSALES (on camera): Do you ever go, hey, that shirt you're wearing, I designed that.

SEBASTIAN MUNIZ MORALES, FREELANCE ILLUSTRATOR: When i feel like very confident to do it, I do it but I get a little shy telling people that I was the one who created it.

ROSALES (voice over): Bad Bunny's music has long reflected the struggles of life on the island.

MORALES: You see the La Residencia, but once you go out, you see the different problems that we fight for.

(SEBASTIAN MUNIZ MORALES speaking in foreign language.)

TRANSLATION: There are many things, and you don't have to spend too much time in the island to figure out there's something's wrong here.

ROSALES (voice over): A legacy of U.S. colonialism and gentrification confronted head on in his song what happened to Hawaii,

The island facing a crushing debt crisis, crumbling infrastructure and frequent power outages spotlighted in his song "The Blackout."

The reality has driven young Puerto Ricans to leave the island in search of a better opportunity, something, Muniz Morales, once considered.

MORALES: Some people, like don't see their future here.

(SEBASTIAN MUNIZ MORALES speaking in foreign language.)

TRANSLATION: They don't see a future if the island continues this way.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[19:55:18]

ROSALES: And you are looking at the coliseum right now where they're lined up. The show starts in half an hour. I mean, that's a 19,500 seat venue and it is full to the brim. Every single show of this 30- concert residency completely sold out.

So now, Bad Bunny kicks off his world tour, notably leaving out Mainland USA and that kicks off in the Dominican Republic.

The other thing that's been captivating to me, Jessica, here is how these fans are giving honor and justice to the name of the album, "DeBI TiRAR MaS FOToS", which means I should have taken more pictures -- Jessica.

DEAN: All right. Isabel Rosales, thanks so much. We'll be right back.

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