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U.S. to Start Guiding Ships Through the Strait of Hormuz; U.S. Gas Prices Surge Again; Trump, Republicans Face Grim Polling as 2026 Midterms Approach; Three Dead in Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship; Trump: U.S. "Having Very Positive Discussions" With Iran; IDF Issues Evacuation Warnings In Lebanon Despite Ceasefire; Cuba Slams Trump's Threats To Take Over Island; New Exhibit Offers Look At Dior's Legendary Designs. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired May 04, 2026 - 02:00   ET

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

[02:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States and all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church. Just ahead on "CNN Newsroom," Donald Trump says the U.S. will help guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz. What we know about his plan and how Iran is reacting. Frustrated and fed up. The price of gasoline is surging again here in the U.S. Plus, we are just hours away from the Met Gala with attention on the fashion world. We'll check out the iconic looks from one of the world's biggest fashion houses.

UNKNOWN (voice-over): Live from Atlanta, this is "CNN Newsroom with Rosemary Church."

CHURCH: Good to have you with us. And we begin this hour with the war in Iran. President Donald Trump says the U.S. will start guiding so- called neutral ships through the Strait of Hormuz in a mission called Project Freedom. U.S. Central Command says it will provide military support for the mission. An American official tells CNN that the initiative is not an escort mission. But a senior Iranian official warns any plans to guide ships through the strait violates the ceasefire.

President Trump says his representatives are having what he describes as very positive discussions with Iran. This as the two countries review each other's peace proposals. The announcement comes after a U.K. maritime agency reported a tanker was hit by unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz.

CNN's Eleni Giokos joins us now live from Abu Dhabi. Good morning to you, Eleni. So, President Trump is saying the U.S. will begin guiding ships through the Strait of Hormuz as a humanitarian gesture. That's starting today. But Iran rejects the move, saying it violates the ceasefire. How is this going to work exactly?

ELENI GIOKOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Exactly. That's the big question everyone is asking. You know, how is this going to be implemented? And importantly, they say this is not a naval escort, this is guiding vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. And President Trump is positioning this as a humanitarian gesture and also says that anyone that interferes with this gesture will be dealt with by force.

So, let's go through some of the, you know, ins and outs in terms of what we understand. CENTCOM posting this. Admiral Brad Cooper says our support for this defensive mission is essential to regional security and the global economy as we also maintain the naval blockade.

And we also know the naval blockade has been a major sticking point from the Iranian side because they believe that they want to assert their strength in the Strait of Hormuz and they don't want to engage in any negotiations until the naval blockade is actually released.

I also want to just mention some of the resources that the United States has mentioned in terms of the guiding of these vessels. They talk about guided missile destroyers. They're talking about 100 land and sea-based aircraft that will be deployed and 15,000 plus service members. And, again, just really heading home. Again, this is not an escort mission.

What is interesting, Rosemary, at the beginning of this war, the United States had said that they'd be thinking about a naval escort. That never materialized. So really interesting here that we're seeing the wording around the assistance of these vessels. Now, the question becomes, who is going to test this? Which shippers are going to go for this in terms of taking the word from the United States?

The other thing is, how is Iran going to respond? The Iranian says that they believe that this is going to be a breach of the ceasefire. An Iranian politician posting this on X: Any American interference in the new maritime regime of the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a violation of the ceasefire.

That brings into question if we see an incident like we saw a few hours ago with a projectile towards a vessel. And, frankly, we've seen so many of these incidents over the past few weeks and, frankly, since the beginning of the war. How is the U.S. going to respond to that? Are they still going to be taking a defensive approach? So, a lot of questions remain.

Some of the experts say that it's one thing to announce a guided mission and a humanitarian gesture and another thing to truly remove what we see in terms of risk and danger for shippers.

[02:05:02]

In the meantime, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is seeing oil prices rising. We've seen a bit of softness today in Brent crude, which is around $107 a barrel. But if I, you know, zone in on U.S. gas prices incrementally, constantly taking up right now, Americans are paying around $4.45 cents a gallon for gas. And this number has consistently been increasing. It is a pressure point not only for the United States but for the global economy. And as we wait to see whether there is even going to be a second round of negotiations despite the fact that the U.S. says that negotiations and talks behind the scenes are going well, we're seeing potentially what could become a maritime confrontation in the seas around the Strait of Hormuz as Iran is just trying to keep on pushing its control over the strait.

The U.S. wants to squeeze out any economic profitability on the Iranian side by stopping any tanker, any vessel that is linked to Iran from crossing its naval blockade and, frankly, enforcing that in all the seas. The dangers and the risks fundamentally remain.

The president of the United States says that this, you know, freedom -- Project Freedom is going to be enforced Monday morning, Middle East time. We haven't seen any movement as yet, but we're monitoring the seized, Rosemary.

CHURCH: We will be. Eleni Giokos bringing us that live report, many thanks. Well, CNN's Gloria Pazmino has more now on how everyday Americans are coping with the mounting price hikes at the gas pump.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we've been speaking with drivers throughout this entire week. And here in Queens where we are right now, we've encountered a lot of taxi drivers, Uber drivers. They told me they especially feel like they don't have a choice, right? They have to fill up the tank in order to go to work.

Many of them told us that even if they're making their usual income, they're spending a lot more money on everything else, right? Food has gone up. Gas is going up. So, they're just trying to stay afloat. I spoke to a man who told me that sometimes, filling up the gas all the way up to full might mean that he doesn't get to have lunch one day. Another person told us they work a six or a seven day during the week in order to try and stay afloat.

So, a lot of frustration among drivers. People directing their frustration at the administration, worried that the conflict in the Middle East is continuing to drag out, and that prices may not come down any time soon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNKNOWN: Oh, yes, that's the reason why we have to work now the seven day because when you think -- when you think about the gas price, you go to the store, you want to buy the food, the grocery, forget it (ph).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNKNOWN: The gas getting involved in a stupid war. I think that had direct -- obviously, a direct effect on the cost of everything here. You know, we're only like putting small amounts of gas in at a time in hopes that the prices are going to come down again soon.

GIOKOS (voice-over): Yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNKNOWN: Really sucks. Gas is going up every single day now from $3.16. Now, it's $4.45. Ain't the same price. So, it has freaked out everyone, not only me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GIOKOS: Now, let's break down the numbers. The national average is trending right around $4.45 for the gallon, and that is an increase of 35 cents in just the past week and an increase of almost a dollar and 50 cents since the war in Iran started back in February.

New York is seeing some of the highest numbers. Here at this gas station, we're seeing $4.45. So, right on trend with the national average and $5.43 if you get the premium option. If you're in California, you're paying some of the highest prices, $6.10 a gallon.

And experts warn that even if the conflict in the Middle East ends soon, even if the Strait of Hormuz were to open soon, it would likely take months for prices to come down and for the oil market to stabilize again.

Gloria Pazmino, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: A new poll has worrying data for President Trump and the Republican Party less than six months ahead of critical elections. Republicans will be defending their slim majorities in both the House and the Senate in the midterm elections this November.

But a new survey shows only 37 percent of Americans approve of the way Mr. Trump is handling his job as president. Sixty-two percent, nearly two-thirds, disapprove. That's about the same percentage of Americans who are unhappy with the war in Iran. Sixty-one percent say it was a mistake. Thirty-six percent think it was the right decision. The polling was conducted in late April by "The Washington Post," ABC News, and Ipsos.

[02:10:00]

Larry Sabato is the director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. He is also the co-author of "Campaign of Chaos: Trump, Biden, Harris, and the 2024 American Election." Always good to have you with us.

LARRY SABATO, DIRECTOR OF CENTER FOR POLITICS AT THE UNIVERSITYH OF VIRGINIA, AUTHOR: Thank you so much, Rosemary.

CHURCH: So, Larry, new polling shows Donald Trump's disapproval rating as president at its highest level ever with a new Washington Post, ABC News, Ipsos poll revealing a disapproval rating of 62 percent with just 37 percent of Americans approving of the job he's doing. What might this signal for the midterms?

SABATO: Well, it doesn't signal anything good for the Republicans. They have to hope that big things change between now and the fall. That would have to be gas prices, which would mean that the war with Iran was either tapering off or truly ending. And those are big things, and I don't know if they can happen in time for the election. So, it's six months off. Democrats could still make some mistakes. Republicans could improve their situation. But right now, you would rather be in a chair with the Democrats than a chair with the Republicans.

CHURCH: And Republicans are generally sticking with Donald Trump. But independents who lean more Republican are not with a nearly 40-point drop in support since the 2024 election. How bad could that prove to be for Trump and any Republicans on the ballot for the midterms if conservative independents abandon him and his party?

SABATO: Well, it's stunning, really, because normally, those conservative independents will stick with the Republican Party come rain or shine. You know, you can get a few points off them, but you don't (inaudible) very much. This is a dramatic drop in support.

And those are precisely the floating voters that can make a big difference in a low turnout midterm election. They're one of the reasons why enthusiasm on the Democratic side, including not just Democratic votes but independents who are thinking about voting Democratic or will vote Democratic, when you combine them, you can see a greater enthusiasm for the election, which means greater turnout.

Republicans are not willing to vote Democratic. You're not going to have more than a handful of MAGA supporters switching their votes to Democrats. But they may not vote. They may be disillusioned. That will keep them home, and that's almost as good as voting for the Democrats.

CHURCH: And Larry, as you mentioned, the war with Iran, high gas prices, inflation, affordability, and the economy as a whole are all issues Americans are unhappy about, and they blame Trump, according to recent polls. What does he need to do to turn this around just six months from the midterms?

SABATO: It isn't just that he has to end the war with Iran, certainly getting the Strait of Hormuz reopened, but it's more than that because at most, we'll end up where we started before the war, which is not exactly a great victory. Yes, the military performed very well on the -- on the American side, but it's very difficult to sell that as a victory.

But what I think is even more dangerous for Trump is the gas prices, by all the experts, they're not going to drop like a rock. It takes a while for them to drop. The phrase is they can rise like a skyrocket and they drop like a feather. And if that happens, then you're not going to have prices anywhere near where gas prices started right before the war began. And that's going to continue to irritate voters. You see these voter surveys and you also see interviews with individual voters at the gas pump. And they're angry, whether they're Republican, Democratic or independent. And they're going to be angrier because it looks like these prices are going to rise until it hits $5 or more. Five dollars a gallon, that's pretty shocking to Americans. Not to many Europeans, but it is to Americans.

CHURCH: Yes. And Larry, with the redistricting fight continuing, which party will likely end up benefiting from these changes to the voting map, do you think, in the end?

SABATO: If I had to bet today, I bet the Republicans will gain at least a half a dozen seats, and that's because of the Supreme Court decision in Louisiana, which is basically going to eliminate six to 10 southern Democratic seats by breaking up Black majority districts. But most of this will occur between the end of this election cycle and the beginning of the 2028 election cycle.

I think that the Democrats will lose maybe three or four seats as it's looking right now. Democrats probably have to be worried most about the Florida seat gain for Republicans, which is currently at four.

[02:15:02]

And in Virginia, that's not the U.S. Supreme Court this time, it's a conservative Republican state Supreme Court that hasn't ruled yet on whether the four seats added in the recent referendum will be maintained. And right now, observers who know that court are telling me that it's no better than 50-50 that they'll approve it.

CHURCH: And Larry, when it comes to the Democrats, the most recent polls show that Americans think the Democrats are leaning too far to the left. What do they need to be doing to attract those voters come the midterms?

SABATO: Well, the midterm elections give Democrats a perfect playing field in that people look to the incumbent party and they judge thumbs up or thumbs down on the president who's serving. So, the fact that Democrats aren't well liked at all for a combination of reasons won't matter much in this November election, but it will matter enormously in 2028.

And Democrats also really have to get their act together. First of all, they have to pick a great nominee. And we'll see. They have a very mixed record on that.

CHURCH: Larry Sabato, appreciate having you with us as always. Thank you.

SABATO: Thank you, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Former New York mayor, Rudy Giuliani, is in the hospital, in critical but stable condition. The news came Sunday evening in a statement from his spokesperson, but it did not say why the 81-year- old is hospitalized. Giuliani was dubbed America's mayor after the September 11, 2001 terror attack on New York's World Trade Center. But in later years, he became better known as a staunch ally and former personal lawyer of President Donald Trump. The president sent well- wishes to Giuliani late Sunday, calling him a -- quote -- "true warrior."

Still to come, a U.S. attorney now says a Secret Service agent was definitely shot by the suspected gunman at last week's White House Correspondents' Dinner. We'll have more on that next. And three passengers on a cruise ship are dead in what looks like a hantavirus outbreak. Still to come, we will have the latest on the World Health Organization's investigation. Back in just a moment.

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[02:20:00]

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CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, says that a Secret Service agent was -- quote -- "definitively shot by the suspected gunman at last week's White House Correspondents' Dinner." According to Pirro, the suspect, Cole Tomas Allen, allegedly opened fire with a shotgun while storming through security. A review of video and audio by CNN does not definitively conclude when or if Allen fired a shot, but statements from officers indicate that he did. When speaking to CNN's Jake Tapper on Sunday, Pirro explained how the agent was shot. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEANINE PIRRO, U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: We now can establish that a pellet that came from the buckshot from the defendant's Mossberg pump-action shotgun was intertwined with the fiber of the vest of the Secret Service officer.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN LEAD WASHINGTON ANCHOR (voice-over): Which is definitively his bullet.

PIRRO: It is definitively his bullet he hit at that Secret Service agent. He was -- had every intention to kill him and anyone who got in his way, on his way to the killing of president of the United States. This was a premeditated violent act calculated to take down the president and anyone who was in the line of fire.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And this comes as a federal judge called for a hearing with D.C. jail staff after citing -- quote -- "grave concerns over how the suspect is being treated." Allen was held in solitary confinement during the past week, including being put on suicide watch, which his attorney's claim was unwarranted. The hearing will be held at noon on Monday.

Three people are dead following what's believed to be an outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship. Several others are said to be seriously ill. The ship is Dutch in origin and reportedly traveling up the western coast of Africa. The World Health Organization says it's conducting investigation into the outbreak and that at least one case has been confirmed so far. One patient is in intensive care and the WHO is working to evacuate two other passengers experiencing symptoms. There is no treatment or cure for hantavirus, which is typically linked to exposure to infected rodents, but it can also spread amongst humans as a severe respiratory illness.

Well, for more, I want to bring in CNN's Larry Madowo, who is reporting live from Nairobi. Good to see you, Larry. So, what more are you learning about this suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship?

LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Rosemary, this ship is currently docked off Praia in Cape Verde, a small island nation off West Africa. Authorities have not allowed passengers and crew to disembark from there since it docked there, though health authorities have made two visits to the ship to attend to some of the people who are suspected cases of hantavirus and to assess as well.

We're waiting for more information from authorities in Cape Verde about the next course of action, but the World Health Organization says it is coordinating between member states and the ship's owner, Ocean Expeditions, about the next steps.

We also know the nationalities of some of those who have been killed. Two of them were Dutch nationals. One is said to have been killed in St. Helena, that is a British island nation, and another, his wife, apparently collapsed at the airport in Johannesburg while trying to fly back to the Netherlands and was killed as well. And we know one British national is currently undergoing treatment in South Africa. We're obviously looking for more information from South African authorities about what do they know.

[02:24:58]

So far, there are at least six suspected cases of hantavirus. Only one has been confirmed. Sequencing is still going on. There's a lot of stuff that the World Health Organization, that the countries involved do not know. But human-to-human transmission, though rare, is not impossible. Listen to one doctor explaining the possibilities here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. SCOTT MISCOVICH, PRESIDENT AND CEO, PREMIER MEDICAL GROUP USA: There's only really one of two possible ways this could have happened. Number one is something on the ship could have been infected, remember, with a -- typically it would be rat or mice feces or urine that would have become airborne. But number two, one of the things that is just going to potentially change the infectious disease world and travel medicine and wilderness medicine world is this may be the Andes variant of the hantavirus. There are 31 cases that I have researched and I can find in the world that have been spread through human to human transmission.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MADOWO: The disease is rare, but very deadly. About 38 percent of sufferers who develop respiratory symptoms will die, according to the CDC. We know that this ship, again owned by Oceanwide Expeditions, has 170 passengers and 71 crew on board.

This reminds people of what happened during the first outbreak of coronavirus where cruise ships that were in the high seas would dock at certain places and authorities in those countries would not allow passengers and crew to disembark for fear of essentially infecting the general population. That appears to be the same precaution that authorities in Cape Verde are doing here. It's a small island nation. The health system probably cannot deal with an upsurge of cases of hantavirus.

Again, all of this is speculative at this point. We're trying to look for more information from the foreign ministry and the health ministry in Cape Verde. But so far, a lot of concern about the likely spread of hantavirus on that ship. It's mostly seen in Asia and in Europe. And so, this one originally originated from Argentina has been in the high seas for seven weeks. But the province in Argentina where this ship originated from says it has no cases of hantavirus there, Rosemary.

CHURCH: We will continue to monitor this story, of course. Larry Madowo, many thanks for bringing us up-to-date there on all the details. Well, the Iran war is making humanitarian crises around the world worse. How the U.N. is working to get critical supplies to people who need them most despite blockades and soaring costs. Back with that and more in just a moment.

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[02:30:45]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everyone.

U.S. President Donald Trump appears to have changed his stance on Iran's latest proposal. President Trump says his representatives, quote, "are having very positive discussions with Tehran". And Iran says it's reviewing the U.S. response to its latest peace proposal.

CNN's Betsy Klein has the latest on the negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, there appears to be a major shift, at least in messaging for these peace talks between the U.S. and Iran. After somewhat of a stalemate, the back-and-forth exchange of peace proposals appears to be picking back up. But all of this is very fluid.

So let me take you through the last few days. It was back on Friday, President Trump told reporters at the White House that he was not happy with the latest proposal from Iran, and he said that the U.S. may be better off without even making a deal.

Then on Saturday, he said he had received a new proposal from Iran and would be reviewing it. But casting a lot of doubt. And just to give you a sense of where his head space was, he said in a post to social media that he couldn't imagine that it would be acceptable in that Iran, in his words, have not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to humanity.

Now, it's unclear what price the president is looking for Iran to pay. But then on Sunday, according to Iran's foreign minister, the U.S. submitted a revised proposal that Iran is reviewing. President Trump striking a much more optimistic tone in a very lengthy post to social media, he wrote, quote, "I am fully aware that my representatives are having very positive discussions with the country of Iran and that these discussions could lead to something very positive for all."

Now, President Trump spent hours on Sunday at his golf club here in Doral, including with his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who's been one of the lead negotiators in these talks with Iran. Witkoff telling our colleague Peter Morris, we are in conversation with Iran.

Now, another major development as President Trump announced on Sunday evening that the U.S. will begin guiding ships through the Strait of Hormuz. That is, that critical oil thoroughfare. He says that this is a humanitarian gesture. He is calling this Project Freedom and says that it will begin on Monday.

Now, the president says the U.S. will be helping guide these ships safely out of these waterways so that they can get on with their business. Now, we've asked the White House for more details on how this will work. But for months now, CNN has estimated that roughly 20,000 sailors, most of whom are from countries that are not involved with this conflict, have been stranded in this strait.

And this announcement comes as we are seeing major economic impacts from the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Gas prices up about 34 cents per gallon just in the past week, and about 50 percent higher than they were when this conflict began. The president weighing all of that as he begins his week back in Washington.

Betsy Klein, CNN, traveling with the president in Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: The Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz are not just affecting oil prices and global commerce. They're also hurting millions of refugees all around the world, people in dire need of life saving humanitarian aid. That is according to the U.N.'s refugee agency, which says it is having to quickly adapt to soaring food, fuel and freight costs. The agency says the conflict is causing delays of critical supplies to African nations, including war torn Sudan. The U.N. says the cost of transporting aid supplies from Dubai to Sudan and neighboring Chad has more than doubled in recent months.

Carlotta Wolf is the U.N. Refugee Agency spokesperson, and she joins me now from Geneva, Switzerland.

Appreciate you talking with us

CARLOTTA WOLF, SPOKESPERSON, UNHCR: Thank you for having me. CHURCH: Of course.

So, you and your organization have been sounding the alarm about how the war with Iran is disrupting aid, getting to refugees as supply chain costs soar. How bad is the situation right now?

WOLF: Thank you so much.

[02:35:00]

The Middle East crisis and the disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, as you were saying, are having devastating and far-reaching ripple effects on global supply chains, but also on aid delivery, which is getting slower and more expensive. And every dollar extra that we spend on transportation of aid is actually dollar less. That goes directly to the people forced to flee that UNHCR, the un refugee agency, serves on the ground every day. And in the longer term, it can also mean less people. They were able to reach.

Our shipments, some of them from Dubai, where we have one of our global warehouses to Sudan, as you said, now reaching four years of, of devastating war with over 14 million people forced to flee, the largest displacement crisis in the world have doubled in price in terms of transportation. And that's only in the last couple of months, going from 927,000 to over 1.87 million.

This means a lot and a lot less reaching the people that we serve. People forced to flee, uprooted by conflict and persecution.

At the same time, just to give you another example, our global transportation providers have decreased their capacity to respond to our requests from 97 percent to 77 percent just from the beginning of the year. So, the situation is concerning.

CHURCH: And what are UNHCR teams in Lebanon saying as they try to help hundreds of thousands of displaced people since the start of the conflict with Iran?

WOLF: My colleagues in Lebanon, which is, as we know, one of the countries most affected by the current escalation, are telling me that the situation is really desperate. There are over 1 million people displaced within the country in Lebanon since the start of the escalation, and as UNHCR, we have been able to support just thanks to preposition relief items that we had in country, over 200,000 people forced to flee. This is just the beginning. We've also been restocking our supplies despite the challenges. Through three airlifts as well as over 40 trucks that have been going via land from Dubai to Beirut in Lebanon. But the needs are really mounting.

Even with the current cease fire. Some people are thinking about trying to return home, but many are returning to nothing. There is utter destruction and really they need sustained support and humanitarian assistance to be able to survive and live with dignity. And that's what our teams on the ground are trying to do every moment, really delivering assistance, rerouting via alternative sea and land routes. But the cost of delivering aid is getting higher, and it's having a real human cost on people forced to flee.

CHURCH: And, Carlotta, President Trump says that the U.S. will begin guiding ships through the Strait of Hormuz as a humanitarian gesture starting today, and also says the U.S. is having very positive discussions with Iran. But Iran rejects the U.S. naval mission as a violation of the ceasefire.

What is your reaction to this possible move in the coming hours, and how might it impact your operations?

WOLF: UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency, is a humanitarian agency and therefore at the very center of everything we do, there are the people that we serve, people forced to flee, uprooted by conflict and persecution. And of course, we welcome any initiative that could alleviate the suffering for people forced to flee and reduce the prospect for them to be further displaced.

What people need really, and they're telling our teams on the ground every day is peace and is also a possibility to return home, but they will be able to do so voluntarily in safety and dignity only with the lasting end of hostilities and end of disruption, so that aid can reach them when they most need it.

CHURCH: Carlotta Wolf, thank you so much for joining us and for all that your organization does appreciate it.

WOLF: Thank you.

CHURCH: Well, the Israeli military has issued an urgent evacuation warning to multiple towns in southern Lebanon. This comes despite the temporary U.S.-brokered ceasefire. The Israel defense forces has continued to strike what it says are Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and Hezbollah counters that its retaliating in response to those strikes.

CNN's Oren Liebermann has the latest now from Jerusalem.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Since the beginning of the war with Iran some two months ago, more than 2,600 people have now been killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon, according to the country's ministry of public health. There has been a ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese government for the past couple of weeks, but that has not affected in any serious way the ongoing fighting between Israel and Iran's proxy in Lebanon, Hezbollah.

That conflict is not only ongoing, but from what we see on the ground is very much escalating. Israel continuing to carry out strikes across southern Lebanon and issuing more evacuation orders, including evacuation warnings even north of the Litani River, outside of the area occupied by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

[02:40:10]

The Israeli military says they have destroyed more Hezbollah tunnel infrastructure and targeted dozens of Hezbollah military sites and facilities as they continue to try to go after Iran's proxy there. Hezbollah, meanwhile, has responded with its own levels of drones and rocket attacks. Some of those intercepted above southern Lebanon and northern Israel, according to the Israeli military.

But all of that ongoing conflict means the diplomacy that the U.S. was trying to get on track and trying to push forward is in a very difficult spot right now. The Trump administration is pushing for a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. But from where we sit right now, with an ongoing conflict, it's very difficult to see that happening. Israel has said in the past that it will not stop the war, stop its strikes in order to continue with negotiations. They say they will only do negotiations under fire, while Lebanon has said they will not negotiate under those circumstances.

And that makes diplomacy -- that makes a more permanent ceasefire and certainly any sort of peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon, a very difficult order from where we sit now.

Oren Liebermann, CNN, in Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Cuba is preparing for a potential U.S. invasion as President Trump escalates his rhetoric. When we return, the latest from Havana, as the island's government pushes back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: South Korea has successfully launched its next generation satellite system aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The earth observation satellite was sent into a north south orbit around both poles on Sunday from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

[02:45:03]

Korea Aerospace Industries built the system to support land management and disaster response. Officials say the mission reflects the strength of the U.S. and South Korea's partnership and space goals.

A rescue operation is underway in Morocco after two U.S. service members were reported missing during a key training exercise on Saturday. U.S. Africa Command says the service members went missing near the Moroccan city of Tan-Tan on May 2nd. The U.S. military says it's using ground, air and maritime assets to search for the missing personnel.

The joint exercise, known as Africa Lion 2026, is the largest U.S. military exercise in Africa and features participation of several North and West African nations. The situation is currently under investigation.

Well, tensions continue to escalate between the U.S. and Cuba as President Trump claims he could take over the island at any time.

CNN's Patrick Oppmann has the latest from Havana, as the Cuban government pushes back.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Rhetoric between the U.S. and Cuban governments grows more heated by the day, almost to the point where it would seem these two countries are on a wartime footing. Donald Trump is claiming that he is ready to take Cuba immediately, that he could send military assets. A U.S. navy aircraft carrier here, and that would cause the Cuban government to essentially raise the white flag and give up.

That is something that Cuban officials are angrily rejecting. We've seen Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel saying he's willing to give his life, that Cubans would fight back against any kind of military aggression by the United States against this island. He's also blasting the Trump administration for placing more economic sanctions on the island's government.

You're already dealing with a pressure campaign that's been really unprecedented in recent years between Cuba and U.S. governments, where almost all oil shipments have ceased and island is strangled and already failing economy. You see less cars on the road, blackouts that last longer and longer.

And while the Cuban and U.S. governments supposedly negotiating, and there's little progress to show for those negotiations. And you see, Cuban officials saying more and more regularly that they are preparing for a U.S. invasion, that they are willing to lay down their lives. And under no circumstances will the U.S. be able to take Cuba, of course, for Cubans caught in the middle of this war of words, the concern is that it could turn into an actual war.

Patrick Oppmann, CNN, Havana.

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CHURCH: The spotlight is on the fashion world with tonight's Met Gala. Coming up, a look inside the world of one of the biggest fashion houses and some of its museum, where the iconic looks.

Back with that in just a moment.

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CHURCH: Welcome back.

Well, this weekend, discount carrier Spirit Airlines abruptly shut down operations. Thousands of ticket holders and employees were left in limbo. One of them was Spirit Captain John Jackson. His retirement flight, planned for Saturday, was canceled, and he headed home on a Southwest plane. But the airline decided to do something special

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Gentlemen. Mr. John Jackson.

(CHEERING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: He was met with cheers and a bottle of champagne after his son mentioned his retirement to Southwest personnel. The flight was also met with a traditional water cannon salute by the Baltimore airport fire and rescue team when it landed.

Congratulations to him.

Well, designers and celebrities are getting ready for one of fashion's biggest nights. The Met Gala returns to New York City tonight. This year's theme is costume art.

At the same time, a new exhibit in Atlanta is offering a rare glimpse at the legacy behind some iconic looks from the World of Dior.

CNN's Lynda Kinkade has our report

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LYNDA KINKADE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is the Dior exhibit at SCAD, one of the top fashion schools on the planet. And it brings together decades of design that continues to shape what we see on the red carpet today.

I'm joined by the creative director, Rafael Gomez.

Explain how this silhouette launched the Dior brand and why it was so controversial at the time.

RAFAEL GOMEZ, CREATIVE DIRECTOR, SCAD FASH MUSEUM OF FASHION AND FILM: Well, it was a revolutionary silhouette. It was the new look because it was just after World War Two. And it was such a time of austerity. There were barely any materials for civilians to be used.

This was fabric enough for more than 20 skirts. It was after this time of austerity, you could feel like a woman again. This is what everybody wanted.

KINKADE: Quite extravagant for that time.

GOMEZ: It was, it was. Yeah.

KINKADE: And that idea of pushing the boundaries continues to play out on the Met Gala steps.

And this, of course, was one of the most memorable Met Gala moments.

GOMEZ: Absolutely. This is the Revenge Dress. Originally it had a corset inside, and Princess Diana herself cut the corset out, really resembles a nightgown. And it was quite a sensation at the time.

KINKADE: I love this room and how it is inspired by the flowers where he grew up, the gardens of Normandy and you can see it throughout his designs, right? GOMEZ: Exactly. He was very inspired by flowers, by garden. In his house in Granville, he would, as a child, always sketch in the garden, learn the name of flowers. So, this was a great source of inspiration for Christian Dior himself. And so, it was also for the other designers that came after. They would take inspiration of flowers or gardens.

For example, here, we have a beautiful piece from Maria Grazia that is created with 3D silk flowers

KINKADE: So, Dior wanted to dress women head to toe, including the accessories.

GOMEZ: Absolutely. Yes. He would create everything that the heart would desire, from head to hosiery to bags to shoes.

[02:55:03]

And in this room, we have something very special. They are Lady Dior bags that were created in collaboration with artists. And it's fantastic because the House of Dior gave the artist carte blanche. Design whatever you want here you can see a lot of stitching.

KINKADE: Maybe I can borrow one for the weekend.

GOMEZ: We have a blue one here that will suit your dress.

KINKADE: Perfect.

(LAUGHTER)

KINKADE: So, Dior began his career selling artwork by the likes of Pablo Picasso, but ended up dressing some of the most famous celebrities in the world.

GOMEZ: Exactly. Here we can see amazing haute couture dresses worn by so many celebrities like Natalie Portman, Lady Gaga, Marilyn Monroe. We have Rihanna, Lupita, and we have an incredible last piece here that is Elle Fanning, also here from Georgia.

KINKADE: What sort of trends do you think we might see at the Met Gala this year?

GOMEZ: It will be all about art meeting fashion, and I can't wait.

KINKADE: Any insight as to what Dior will be presenting?

GOMEZ: Not really, because it's top secret.

KINKADE: Okay.

GOMEZ: Yeah.

KINKADE: You tell me off camera.

(LAUGHTER) GOMEZ: I don't know, really. They keep it top secret. They keep it top secret.

Here we have almost 80 years of fashion history, and it's a great instrumental tool to teach our students and visitors alike about fashion for the last 80 years.

KINKADE: Amazing. Thank you for the tour, Rafael Gomez.

GOMEZ: I thank you so much. Thank you.

KINKADE: So from the postwar revolution of fashion to the designs we see on red carpets around the world, Dior continues to make a splash.

Lynda Kinkade, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Beautiful.

Thank you so much for your company this hour. I'm Rosemary Church.

CNN NEWSROOM continues with Polo Sandoval after a short break. Stay with us.

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