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Kirk Shooting Suspect Make First Court Appearance; Trump Files $15 Billion Defamation Lawsuit Against The New York Times; Netanyahu Has Full Support Of U.S. Over Plans To Destroy Hamas; U.S. Military Kills 3 In Second Deadly Strike Against Narcoterrorists; Vance Hosts "The Charlie Kirk Show" after Activist's Killing; China and Trump Administration Agree on Framework for TikTok App in U.S.; Trump to Travel to U.K. for His Second State Visit; Russia-Belarus Military Drills; "Downton Abbey" Props and Costumes Auction at Bonhams. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired September 16, 2025 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[01:00:30]
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Ahead here on CNN Newsroom, the U.S. tells Israel that they have their full support for their military offensive. The former IDF chief warns of one in ten people have already been killed in Gaza.
The man accused of killing Charlie Kirk is said to make his first cross court appearance in Utah as investigators share more details about the suspect's background.
And the U.S. expands its war on drugs, striking another alleged smuggling voice and decertifying a number of countries they believe aren't doing enough to counter narcotics.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from Atlanta. This is CNN Newsroom with Lynda Kinkade.
KINKADE: We begin this hour in Utah where the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk is set to make his first court appearance in the coming hours.
One official says a lot more information on the investigation is expected to be released once the state officially files formal charges against the suspect, Tyler Robertson. More vigils are being held for Kirk, who was fatally shot last week.
U.S. President Trump says he plans to speak at Kirk's funeral in Arizona Sunday, calling him, quote, an amazing guy. CNN's Danny Freeman reports on the investigation into the shooting and what more we're learning about the suspect.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANNY FREEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Chilling new messages revealed by the Washington Post about the suspect in the Charlie Kirk assassination. 22-year-old Tyler Robinson reportedly writing, quote, hey guys, I have bad news for you all. Going on to say, quote, it was me at UVU yesterday. I'm sorry for all of this.
The Washington Post reporting the message appeared to be a confession to friends in the social and gaming app called Discord and sent Thursday night just hours before Robinson's arrest. The news coming as the New York Times reports that Robinson joked in Discord messages that a, quote, doppelganger was trying to get him in trouble when investigators released photos of the suspect.
Also today, FBI Director Kash Patel announced DNA evidence connects Robinson directly to the crime scene.
KASH PATEL, FBI DIRECTOR: I can report today that the DNA hits from the towel that was wrapped around the firearm and the DNA on the screwdriver are positively processed for the suspect in custody.
FREEMAN (voice-over): But law enforcement officials are still working to understand what may have driven this young man to allegedly open fire on Charlie Kirk.
PATEL: My job as FBI director is not to speak to motive, is to speak to the facts. And that's what I'm going to do.
FREEMAN (voice-over): Investigators are focusing in on a potential note that Robinson may have written prior to the shooting. Director Patel says it was destroyed.
PATEL: We have evidence to show what was in that note, which is, and I'm going to summarize, basically saying -- the suspect wrote a note saying, I have the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take it.
FREEMAN (voice-over): Another area of interest and help to authorities so far has been Robinson's roommate.
GOV. SPENCER COX (R) UTAH: The roommate was a romantic partner, a male transitioning to female. This partner has been incredibly cooperative, had no idea that this was happening, and is working with investigators right now.
FREEMAN (voice-over): Officials are still investigating whether the roommate relationship may factor into a potential motive. Robinson lived and grew up here in southwest Utah in a conservative family, acquaintances told CNN. According to the governor, Robinson moved very far left in recent years.
COX: These are the facts that are being presented to us. Family discussions, parents, this is what they're saying.
FREEMAN (voice-over): In Robinson's hometown Sunday night, his community mourned Kirk while processing that the suspected assassin was a neighbor.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's really hard. You just don't can't imagine someone from around here to do something like that.
FREEMAN (voice-over): Sherrie Tate's family has lived here for five generations and told us Robinson went to school with her daughter.
SHERRIE STAHELI TATE, SOUTHERN UTAH RESIDENT: I said, well, how would you describe him? And she said, I would describe him as, you know, those kids that are, they're kind of too smart. They're not common sense smart.
FREEMAN (voice-over): Here, Sherrie and the community praying both for Kirk and the Robinson family.
TATE: I just felt it in my heart because that's just not what happens here. It's naive of me, but it's not what happens here.
FREEMAN: Now all eyes are going to be on this part of Utah on Tuesday.
[01:05:00]
That's because we're finally going to hear some more details from prosecutors and also we're going to see Robinson make his first court appearance and Utah officials are promising that we're going to also hear a lot more information regarding this case that's going to come when Utah officials formally announce those charges. Danny Freeman, CNN, Orem, Utah.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: For more, I want to welcome CNN law enforcement contributor Steve Moore. He's also a retired FBI supervisory special agent. Good to have you with us, Steve.
STEVE MOORE, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTRIBUTOR: Thank you.
KINKADE: So investigators say witness interviews with both the FBI and local police suggest the suspect admitted to the shooting after the fact. In your experience, how significant is that kind of admission in court and what are the legal hurdles when it comes to using post crime confessions to secure a conviction?
MOORE: Well, it's a very significant statement. These things can be used against you. I mean, just like you always hear in the TV shows, this can be used against you in a court of law. This will be used and it will be very effective because the jury will be told and they will probably believe that he had no motive to lie about this, that anything he said about his own guilt would only work to his own detriment. Therefore there's no reason to lie about that.
KINKADE: We're also hearing about the text messages in which the suspect allegedly expressed an intent to kill Charlie Kirk, even referencing hatred for what he stood for. How strong is that kind of premeditation evidence when prosecutors are building a case?
MOORE: It's going to be extremely valuable to them because, and you know what's going to happen here is this trial is really not going to be about guilt. This is going to be about the death penalty. Guilt is a slam dunk on this one. There's too much evidence, too many bits of evidence, too much circumstantial and too much message evidence.
What they're going to be fighting for is the prosecution is going to want the death penalty and the defense for the shooter is going to be trying to avoid the death penalty. And when you get into this premeditation, as yourself just said, this indicates a premeditation and a planning. This is going to work very much against him in any kind of defense against the death penalty.
KINKADE: Steve, we also heard from the FBI director who spoke publicly about witness interviews, text messages, even possible motives, all this before formal charges are officially filed. I just want to play some sound.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PATEL: His family has collectively told investigators that he subscribed to left wing ideology and even more so in these last couple of years. And he had a text message exchange, he the suspect with another individual in which he claimed that he had an opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and he was going to do it because of his hatred for what Charlie stood for.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: As someone who's worked cases at the field level, does that kind of public commentary raise concerns for you?
MOORE: Yes. And what I would like to do is say is tell Director Kash Patel something that his agents in the street can't tell him or won't tell him because it would hurt their careers. Mr. Patel, don't give away case information that should be heard first by a jury and not the court of public opinion. This is going to be tried in a courthouse, not in a newspaper.
So regardless of any feelings I have about who's the director or what they're doing, the FBI has always known that if you talk about the case beforehand, you are playing into the hands of the defense attorney. Not only are you giving them away your case so that they can start defending on it months earlier, but you are possibly making the case for the defense that this is a political trial rather than a criminal trial.
And so I would suggest that Mr. Patel follow the lead of almost all the directors. I work for seven directors and acting directors. I don't think any of them would have come forward and given case information to the press.
KINKADE: Wow. Interesting perspective from you. And just finally, Steve, I want to ask you about the DNA evidence recovered at the scene from what we know,
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Can you walk us through how crucial that is in solidifying a case and what standards it needs to meet in court? MOORE: It's going to -- DNA evidence is very conclusive if the DNA
itself is properly collected and analyzed. So, yes, it can be a devastating piece of evidence. The thing is, anymore, after watching CSI and years of crime shows, believe it or not, juries come in there and they want to see DNA.
I mean, they'll want to see DNA in a drunk driving case. Juries are aware of DNA. And if you don't have DNA evidence, believe it or not, that can hurt the case, even if it's not a significant part of it.
KINKADE: Interesting. Great to get your perspective as always. Steve Moore, thanks so much.
MOORE: Thank you.
KINKADE: Well, President Trump is suing the New York Times for $15 billion. He announced the defamation and libel suit late Monday online and it's now being filed in Florida. In a lengthy post, the president accused the company of making false statements about him, his family and his businesses. CNN has reached out to the New York Times for comment.
The Israeli military is intensifying its bombardment of Gaza City ahead of a ground offensive. On Monday, the IDF launched an airstrike on the tallest building in the enclave. CNN has recorded the destruction of at least a dozen high rise buildings in central Gaza since early September. The U.S. Secretary of state is on his way now to Doha, Qatar, after meeting with the Israeli prime minister Monday.
Sources tell CNN that Marco Rubio told Netanyahu that Israel has the full support of the U.S. for the assault on Gaza City, but he stressed the operation should move quickly. U.S. President Trump is warning Hamas that all bets are off if they use hostages as human shields. But Hamas says the fate of the hostages lie in the hands of the Netanyahu government.
More than 10 percent of Gaza's population have been killed or injured since the war began. That's according to a former Israeli military chief who oversaw the first 17 months of the conflict. And that number is expected to rise when Israel launches its ground operation in Gaza City. CNN's Jeremy Diamond has more, but a warning. Some of the images in his report are disturbing.
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JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Gaza City trembles with each new blast. Lately, its residents have faced one strike after another. The reality on the ground is even more terrifying. Bloodied and shaken, the injured are rushed out amid swirls of smoke and ash.
Wounded children carried once again into hospitals ill equipped to handle the rising tide of casualties that accompanies Israel's intensifying bombardment of Gaza city. More than 140 were killed here over the weekend, according to local hospitals. A wave of attacks that shook many here into fleeing the city. Sleepy
children bundled into their parents, arms, essential belongings lugged by those forced to move once again.
At daybreak, their numbers multiply, a mass exodus on a scale not seen in Gaza in many months. More than 100,000 people were displaced this weekend alone, according to Israeli military estimates. I'm coming from death, indiscriminate bombardments, martyrs in the streets, Mohammed says. It is a miracle we survived.
Old and young press south towards an uncertain future. Those who can afford it pay to ride on top of trucks and trailers. For many here, this is not a first. They have been forced to pile their entire lives on top of cars and makeshift carts before. They have already lost so much, and they are exhausted.
This man says 25 of his relatives have already been killed. I left only for these children, but I wish a rocket would hit me and I die and find comfort because this is not life, he says, his frustration rising.
The hundreds of thousands who still remain in Gaza City will face much more destruction and loss as Israel prepares to send ground forces into the city in the coming days. Ahmed is inconsolable as he walks amid the rubble of another Israeli strike.
A military evacuation order allowed him to escape with his life, but little else.
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The house is gone. Where will we stay? He cries. But he won't find any answers here. And so many others are asking themselves the same question. Jeremy Diamond, CNN, Jerusalem.
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KINKADE: President Trump says the U.S. has conducted another strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug trafficking boat. The latest on that attack and the rising tensions with the Venezuelan, next.
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KINKADE: President Trump says the U.S. military killed three people international waters near South America.
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He shared video of the strike on Truth Social and claimed that those on board were quote, confirmed narcoterrorists, transporting illegal drugs from Venezuela. Stefano Pozzebon has the latest on the growing feud between the two nations.
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STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: The Trump administration's announcement that he conducted a new kinetic strike against an alleged drug trafficking speedboat in the Caribbean Sea on Monday marks a new escalation in the military strategy to put pressure on the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whom the White House accuses of personally being the leader of a drug cartel.
Maduro has been indicted since at least 2019. However, he has repeatedly denied this allegation. CNN has asked for a reaction to Caracas about these new incident and we're waiting to hear back.
However, earlier on Monday, Maduro has this to say about the U.S. Secretary, Marco Rubio, whom he accuses of being personally behind this military escalation.
NICOLAS MADURO, VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Who? Marco Rubio. They now call him the lord of death and war. Wherever he goes, there is death, there are bombs, there are murdered children. Marco Rubio, the lord of death, war and hatred.
POZZEBON: The Secretary of State is yet to respond to this latest attack from the Venezuelan leader. Caracas has repeatedly accused Rubio in particular of trying to build a case for an open confrontation, an open warfare between Washington and Venezuela.
In recent weeks, Maduro has given signals to the White House that he is ready for negotiations with Trump, perhaps even considering a meeting in person with the U.S. President while at the same time singling out Rubio.
And Rubio is worth noting that it comes from a constituency in South Florida where a lot of several Venezuelan conservatives expatriates have moved in recent weeks. So that's the reason why there is the singling out against the Secretary of State.
It's yet to be seen whether the strategy from Caracas will be successful in trying to reduce this tension, but it's definitely interesting noting that at the same time Trump has not ruled out an even further escalation and actions directly on Venezuelan soil in the weeks to come. For CNN, this is Stefano Pozzebon, Bogota.
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KINKADE: The Trump administration says Colombia has failed in its obligation to fight drug trafficking. It blames President Gustavo Petro for what it says are all time records in cocaine production. President Petro is an outspoken critic of President Trump. The U.S. will continue to provide funding for Colombia.
The Trump administration says it will consider changing the decertification if Colombia works to reduce cocaine production and trafficking and holds criminal organizations accountable. My colleague Isa Soares asked Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez what impact funding cuts would have.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) PEDRO SANCHEZ, COLOMBIAN DEFENSE MINISTER: I believe this year's results show that Colombia is absolutely determined to bring down drug trafficking. We consider that we have successfully delivered, Colombians have even paid with their lives to stop those drugs from reaching other countries. We can also see that drug flow has become stagnant on its route to the U.S. and has instead tried to reach other regions of the globe, such as Europe.
However, every member of the police or military forces that dies fighting against drug trafficking in Colombia, dies not only for our country but also for the rest of the world. They should be seen as not only national but global heroes.
I believe the country that has sacrificed the most lives combating drug trafficking is Colombia. In terms of certification, which means recognizing that Colombia is cooperating, what higher sacrifice than offering your life? What higher cooperation that tackling the problem of drug trafficking with complete commitment?
However this is a systematic problem. In Colombia were to be decertified, drug trafficking would be the winners and nations would lose, because that also means we would no longer have the capacity to contain those drugs and they would arrive to other shores.
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KINKADE: President Trump has also decertified Afghanistan, Bolivia, Myanmar and Venezuela for failing to fight drug trafficking.
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Years on dispute could soon come to an end. The Trump administration in China closer than ever to reaching a deal over tick tock. Right ahead of a key deadline.
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LYNDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Lynda Kinkade.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance blamed the death of Charlie Kirk on what he called a growing and powerful minority on the far left. That comment coming as Vance hosted the late conservative activist's podcast.
Vance called Kirk a good guy and a good friend.
CNN's Tom Foreman reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JD VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: When you see someone celebrating Charlie's murder, call them out and hell, call their employer. We don't believe in political violence, but we do believe in civility.
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Vice President JD Vance bristled as he filled in on the late Charlie Kirk's podcast. And he acknowledged what many D.C. insiders already knew.
VANCE: I, James David Vance --
FOREMAN: Kirk was key to putting Vance in the White House.
CHARLIE KIRK, SLAIN CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST: Join me in welcoming the next vice president of the United States, JD Vance.
FOREMAN: Indeed, since the two met in 2017, they had forged a nearly perfect political friendship, ginning up opportunities and support for each other at every turn.
KIRK: This state is actually becoming more Republican, not more Democrat.
FOREMAN: They had much in common. Both had young families. Both relied on a religious base. Both were once sharp skeptics of Donald Trump.
KIRK: I'm a Never Trump guy. I never liked him.
VANCE: Are you a racist? Do you hate Mexicans? The media calls us racist for wanting to build Trump's wall.
FOREMAN: And both through hard elbows in the culture wars.
KIRK: Happening all the time in urban America, prowling blacks go around for fun to go target white people. That's a fact.
FOREMAN: On immigration, so-called wokeness, parental rights and more, the two moved in lockstep, culminating in Kirk connecting Vance to his friend Donald Trump Jr., just as Team Trump was seeking a 2024 running mate.
DONALD TRUMP JR., SON OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I think it's an incredible pick. I think he's an incredible guy with an amazing story both in business and in life. And I think he's just going to be an incredible person to help unify this country.
FOREMAN: Perhaps it is no wonder, then, that before she thanked President Trump --
ERIKA KIRK: I want to thank my husband's dear friend, Vice President Vance --
FOREMAN: -- the slain pundit's widow, Erika Kirk, praised Vance and his wife Usha for escorting her husband's body back to Arizona.
E. KIRK: You guys honored my husband so well, bringing him home. You both are tremendous.
FOREMAN: Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Negotiators from China and the U.S. say they've reached a framework deal that would allow TikTok to keep operating in the United States. The Chinese social media giant was facing a Wednesday deadline to sell at least part of its U.S. business to an American-backed owner. Little information has been made public about the pending agreement or possible buyer.
President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are poised to seal the deal during a call this Friday that could pave the way for a face-to-face meeting in Asia next month.
For more on this, I'm joined by Abrar Al-Heeti, a senior technology reporter for CNET. Great to have you with us.
ABRAR AL-HEETI, SENIOR TECHNOLOGY REPORTER FOR CNET: Thank you for having me. I appreciate it.
KINKADE: So TikTok's parent company, Bytedance, was told to sell here in the U.S. or face a ban. And now, just a couple of days from the deadline, we're hearing there is a deal in the works but the details are very vague. What do we know?
AL-HEETI: Well, we really don't know much. And the key word here is a "framework for a deal", right.
So every few months it seems we hear about how there's going to be a TikTok ban and then it gets delayed. Now it looks like there could be a deal that keeps TikTok in the U.S. It's not clear how involved China will be. It's not clear how involved the U.S. government would be. And it's not clear who the buyers would be.
We've heard a lot of back and forth on that. So on Friday, President Trump says he's going to meet with the Chinese president and perhaps discuss TikTok. and maybe then we'll get some more solid facts about it.
K1: Yes. And of course, this started over national security concerns, fears about data access and algorithm control. If a U.S. company takes over, at least the U.S. arm of this business, does that actually solve the problem and how will it be enforced?
AL-HEETI: That's the big question, right? That the concern and the reason why this TikTok ban was presented in the first place is that there were concerns that the Chinese government could access people's personal data, sway what they see on their algorithm.
But something that a lot of privacy experts have flagged is that TikTok isn't alone, right? Even U.S.-based companies like Meta, for example, have a lot of the same practices as TikTok. They also know what Web sites you're visiting and what links you're clicking on, and your location.
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AL-HEETI: So what this really ends up being about is are there any more comprehensive privacy laws that will protect users no matter what platform they're using and no matter where that company is based?
KINKADE: And of course, here in the U.S., there's over 170 million users of TikTok. Many rely on it for an income. If a ban did go through, what would be the real economic impact, especially for small businesses?
AL-HEETI: Yes, if we go back to January, where the TikTok ban seemed very real and was very real, at least for a few hours, TikTok said that there are more than 7 million U.S. accounts that use the platform for business. And then it also added that U.S. small businesses would lose more than $1 billion in revenue, that's "b" -- billion.
And so there could be a really big effect there. And not only that, but it's, you know, the community that's been built on TikTok. It's a place where people haven't found anything like that. The algorithm is special. It's that secret sauce.
So if this deal goes through, hopefully that algorithm is part of it. And hopefully TikTok doesn't go dark because there will be a lot of people who are flustered like they were back in January.
KINKADE: Yes. And even as the government warns about the risks of TikTok, the White House recently launched its own account. If it is such a threat, why engage before a deal is finalized or any safeguards are in place?
AL-HEETI: That's a great question. You know, President Trump has been somebody who has gone very back and forth on TikTok. He was the one who first presented the idea of a TikTok ban. And then that didn't happen.
And then, you know, Congress signed off on it back in 2024 under President Joe Biden. And then when Trump was reelected, he noted that TikTok was a huge reason why he was able to connect with younger voters. He credited it as part of his reelection win.
So, you know, it's unclear. He definitely has gone very back and forth here. And that's what makes it so murky. And that's why a lot of users aren't quite sure what to believe anymore.
KINKADE: Yes, and you have to wonder what this means for future business here in the U.S. If TikTok is forced to sell or face a ban, could this become a blueprint for how the U.S. handles other foreign- owned platforms, especially those tied to China?
AL-HEETI: Absolutely. Back when TikTok was first, you know, went dark back in January, there was another Chinese platform called Red Note that a lot of people fled to. And they knew in the back of their heads that if TikTok could get banned, then that platform could get banned as well, right?
So it could definitely set a precedent. Neither of those platforms have been banned, right? But if this does happen, yes, it could definitely create a domino effect where other companies wonder what type of future they have in the U.S.
KINKADE: Yes, exactly.
Well, great to have an update from you on this. And I'm sure well be covering this again in the next couple of days.
Abrar Al-Heeti, thanks so much.
AL-HEETI: Thank you for having me. I appreciate it.
KINKADE: Well, Poland's foreign minister is calling on NATO to consider imposing a no-fly zone over parts of Ukraine, arguing that it could help protect alliance members from ongoing Russian drone incursions.
NATO is as already flying patrols over its eastern flank after up to 21 Russian drones were detected in Polish airspace just last week. And days later, Romania scrambled jets against a Russian drone in its airspace.
The U.K.'s Royal Air Force has announced it would join that NATO operation. Posting on social media that its Typhoon fighter jets will fly defense missions over Poland.
Well, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to pressure Donald Trump for tighter sanctions on Russia when they meet Thursday. A day of pomp and circumstance will be on display the day before, when the British Royal Family welcomes the U.S. President on Wednesday.
CNN's Kevin Liptak reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: The carriages are being prepared. The military bands are tuning up. The tiaras are being polished all in preparation for President Trump's big state visit to the United Kingdom that begins on Tuesday.
The Brits and the Prime Minister Keir Starmer really pulling all the stops out of their soft power to try and influence what they call the special relationship -- quite a sensitive, diplomatic moment.
Of course, no one does pomp and circumstance quite like the Brits. The president, when he arrives at Windsor Castle on Wednesday morning, will be greeted by the Prince and Princess of Wales, Will and Kate. From there he'll meet King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
He'll proceed in a carriage through the town of Windsor to the Castle, where he'll meet with the King and Queen. They'll view items from the royal collection. It all culminates on Wednesday evening with this grand state banquet.
And you know, this is all sort of a piece of trying to sort of bolster the U.S.-Britain relationship. It's President Trumps second state visit, and in fact, his visit back in 2019 was a highlight of his first term in office.
He's long been fascinated by the British royals. His mother was born in Scotland. One of his earliest memories, he said, is his mother sitting rapt in front of the television, watching the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
[01:39:44]
LIPTAK: Of course, it's not all ceremony. President Trump will meet with Keir Starmer at his country residence Chequers on Thursday. They're planning to announce a new agreement on nuclear civilian power. They're going to talk about new investments in tech.
And of course, there are some differences between these two men when it comes to Ukraine. The Europeans trying to convince President Trump to apply new sanctions on Russia. So all of that, a point of discussion between the two men on Thursday.
Of course, for Keir Starmer, who is somewhat beleaguered politically, it will also be a delicate balance with the president and major protests are expected in Britain while the president is there.
And in fact he's spending virtually no time in the capital of London, which is where these protests will be centered. Almost all of his time will be spent at Windsor or at the country residence at Chequers.
And so certainly, I think for President Trump, the lasting images from this trip will be of the pomp and the grandeur, all sort of epitomizing the special relationship between the U.S. and the United Kingdom.
Kevin Liptak, CNN -- the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, still to come, Russia and Belarus accused NATO of being too panicky about their military capabilities as they perform war games along NATO's eastern border.
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KINKADE: We have some breaking news into us this hour.
Gaza City apparently is under a ground incursion right now. Israeli officials telling CNN that Israel has launched its ground incursion. The officials say it is going to be phased and gradual at the beginning.
It was supposed to proceed only after the Israeli military had forced the evacuation of the densely populated urban area. But so far, only a fraction of the population has left.
As NATO members ramp up defenses against Russian drone incursions, Russia and Belarus are holding major military exercises right along the alliance's eastern border.
Today's the last day of the Zapad-2025 drills with Russian and Belarusian forces showing off their latest military hardware to a global audience.
CNN's Frederik Pleitgen reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A massive show of force right on NATO's doorstep. Russia and its ally Belarus in live fire drills.
As tensions between NATO and Russia are extremely high, in fact, the Russians have placed nuclear weapons here in Belarus over the past couple of months. And as part of these drills, they've showcased some of their most modern nuclear-capable weapons, missiles that are fired from boats, from submarines, but also, of course, from aircraft and from land as well.
Extremely concerning for the U.S. allies with Belarus bordering several eastern European NATO member states.
And coming just days after Russian combat drones breached NATO member Poland's airspace even though the Russians claim they didn't fly them there intentionally.
The U.S.'s allies are on edge. Poland sending additional troops to the border with Belarus. As President Donald Trump's efforts to broker a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine have stalled, the U.S.'s NATO allies are waiting for a more forceful response from the White House.
President Trump saying he still considering tougher sanctions against Moscow. The Kremlin blaming the U.S.'s allies for holding up the process.
"The Europeans are obstructing progress," the Kremlin spokesman says. "They refuse to acknowledge the fundamental origins of this crisis, thereby blocking any path to addressing the very causes. Nonetheless, Russia remains open and prepared for dialog."
Prepared for dialog, but showing off their military muscle.
The Russians, showcasing their modern nuclear-capable weapons like the Zircon hypersonic missile and Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles, which can carry nuclear warheads.
"We managed to systematically plan the issues of using weapons of more powerful destruction in this exercise," Belarus' defense minister says. Despite the firepower on display here, a senior Belarusian general accuses NATO of panicking when I asked him about western concerns.
"It's a big mistake from NATO," he says. "Look at the numbers. 6,800 people, compared to 40,000 on the territory of Poland. Where do you think there are more personnel? Probably there."
Several U.S. Military observers were on hand to witness the drills Russia and Belarus put on, seeing a military force that says it's ready for major combat against any foe at any time.
Fred Pleitgen, CNN -- Borisov, Belarus.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Still to come, there's one last chance to get a piece of television history from the set of "Downton Abbey". We'll show you some of the items up for grabs, next.
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KINKADE: Well, scientists say they've found the oldest known evidence of human mummification, not in Egypt or Peru, but in Asia. The study analyzed more than 50 ancient burials across China, Vietnam and Indonesia.
Some remains dating back 14,000 years were found in tight squatter (ph) positions and dried with smoke, a method still found in Papua New Guinea today.
Experts say the discovery pushes the origins of mummification back by thousands of years.
There's just a few hours left to bid on pieces of television history. Bonhams is hosting an auction featuring props and costumes used in the hit period drama "Downton Abbey". "Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale" hit theaters last week.
And CNN's Richard Quest takes a look at what is on the auction block for fans who want to keep a piece of the show forever.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Families like ours must keep moving to go on.
RICHARD QUEST, CNN HOST: As the world prepares to say goodbye to the Grantham family and their beloved "Downton Abbey", a select few will get the chance to take home a piece of the series forever.
Going back the last 20 years.
This auction at Bonhams in London includes 266 pieces.
Does it work?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It does work. We drove it in here.
QUEST: From the Grantham family's 1925 Sunbeam Saloon.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You can speak on your mobile connector through to Tom, the chauffeur. So enjoy your ride.
QUEST: To the house telephone that was installed in Season 1.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello. This is "Downton Abbey". Carson, the butler speaking.
QUEST: And dresses -- lots and lots of period dresses worn by everyone from the Dowager Countess, the late Dame Maggie Smith, of course, to Lady Mary played by Michelle Dockery, and Jessica Brown Findlay, who is, of course, Lady Sybil.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This unforgettable, harem pants that Lady Sybil wore and no one can forget that scene when she comes into the drawing room. Everyone's rather shocked when she's wearing it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good evening everyone.
QUEST: What is it about Downton that appeals to us so much?
HARVEY CAMMELL, HEAD AUCTIONEER, BONHAMS: I think it's the story. It's a beautiful story. It's a story of a family. And we lived with that family for a generation.
And we watched the drama unfold -- the lives, deaths, births, marriages unfold. And it's also the glamor. It's the fashion and the clothes. It's that spark.
QUEST: The sort of thing I would love to buy, the toast rack from Downton just to have that. Again, it's within reach. It has a very low estimate.
So why am I interested in a toaster from Downton -- a toaster rack?
CAMMELL: I'm delighted to hear you are, Richard. And it's the fact that you're drawn -- you love the series. You -- perhaps you've seen it in that particular scene that you loved. Or it could be that you just want something, a token piece, a keepsake from the series.
And it could be a talking point in your life for the rest of your days.
QUEST: It's patheticness (ph) of that. I want to be able to say to you, you know, that toast rack came from "Downton Abbey"?
CAMMELL: Well, I think it's pathetic at all. I think it's the stuff of life. It's the stories and it's stories upon stories, and it's the -- it's what makes the world go round.
QUEST: Bidders have until the 16th of September to make their offers.
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QUEST: Carnival Films, the producers of "Downton Abbey", will donate the proceeds of the auction to the U.K. charity Together for Short Lives, which supports children with life-threatening conditions and their families.
CAMMELL: Currently at 16,000 on the bidding.
QUEST: One of the star lots of this auction, the bell wall from the servants hall. So these are all the bedrooms?
CAMMELL: Yes.
QUEST: All the suites. And these are all in the dining room, the morning room, the library, the small library, the saloon, the front door, the back door, the study, the drawing room.
Oh, this is wonderful.
CAMMELL: There are four great designers who created the series, the last one being Anna Robbins, who also worked on the films.
And it's that mix. It's the design from the Edwardian period through to the Roaring 20s -- those wonderful flapper dresses. It's the level of detail that went into it. And that's the craft.
But that's the part also people have come and flocked to see here at Bonhams.
QUEST: Bonhams estimates the entire auction will bring in more than a quarter of $1 million. But the hope is that might even double or triple when the final bids are made.
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KINKADE: Well, finally tonight, a real-life "Sister Act" in Austria. These three elderly nuns who are in their 80s, have gone on the run from a church-run nursing home, determined to return to the convent and girls school where they spent most of their lives.
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SISTER RITA, AUSTRIAN NUN: I am filled with immense joy and gratitude in my heart that I can be back again, in our familiar buildings and our so-called cloister and all around it. That I can go back to the children again if we are allowed to.
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KINKADE: Well, like a scene from "The Sound of Music", the sisters quietly made their getaway, no mountain climbing required, and returned to the historic convent in Salzburg.
Even though it has no electricity or running water. And like "Sister Act", they found an unexpected support system. Former students and community members have rallied around them, delivering water generators and even medical care.
Church officials, however, aren't singing quite to the same tune. They say the sisters must return to the nursing home, citing health concerns.
But the nuns insist they're not going back, proving that even in their 80s, the spirit of rebellion is alive and well and wearing a habit.
Thanks so much for joining us. I'm Lynda Kinkade. That was CNN NEWSROOM.
Stick around, there's plenty more news in just a moment with Rosemary Church.
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