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U.S. Official: Witkoff, Kushner Head To Switzerland For Iran Talks; Gulf Course Flooding Continues As More Rain Moves In; President Trump Unveils New Presidential Plane; Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Is Being Interviewed About Iran Deal Being Stronger Than The JCPOA; President Trump Speaks On Unfreezing Iranian Assets; Chicago Students Have Surprise Storytime With The Obamas. Aired 7-8a ET

Aired June 20, 2026 - 07:00   ET

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

[07:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks for staying with CNN THIS MORNING WEEKEND. Here's what you need to know today. High-stakes talks between the U.S. and Iran may be back on track. U.S. and Iranian officials, they're expected to be in Switzerland for what could be a critical round of negotiations. We'll have a live report.

A Republican congresswoman calls the agreement a win-win, but it does not follow through with a key promise made at the start of the war. Plus.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: They roared their terrible roars. You guys have terrible roars?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: As the Obama Presidential Center opens this weekend, Former President Barack Obama and Former First Lady Michelle Obama made surprise appearances in Chicago. They read to the students, met with some families, and helped open the new public library branch inside the center. Inspired by the commitment to education.

ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And numerous flash flood warnings ongoing in a lot of these storms are going to continue to slide east. We'll take a look at the forecast coming up.

BLACKWELL: It is Saturday, June 20. Good to have you. Welcome to your Saturday. I'm Victor Blackwell.

We start this morning with the latest on the Middle East. A U.S. official says that special envoy Steve Witkoff is on his way to Switzerland for the next potential round of negotiations with Iran. President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is also expected to join Witkoff. According to the White House, Vice President JD Vance is prepared to fly there as well. Meanwhile, Lebanon's civil defense says that at least 16 people were killed by Israeli strikes. That's even though Israel and Hezbollah are operating under a renewed ceasefire agreement, renewed just yesterday. And at least 25 ships now have crossed the Strait of Hormuz.

That was on Thursday. That's the highest number that have crossed since April, according to AXSMarine. It follows the framework agreement signed by the U.S. and Iran to start discussions to end the war.

CNN's International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson is monitoring it all and joins us now. The question is, will these talks begin considering the prerequisite of the ceasefire in Lebanon and what continues there, despite it?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes. Look, I think -- are they going to -- are they going to begin? Most likely, probably. Is it going to be today? Incredibly unlikely. Will it be the next couple of days? Maybe. I think that's where we're at.

The question you know, I'm -- I was -- I'm asking myself -- I'm trying to ask sources as well. You know, Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, if when they get here on the ground, who are they going to meet with? We were up at the venue, the Birkenstock Hotel, up in the mountains here.

Very beautiful, very peaceful, very scenic, security around it. There's no Iranian delegation waiting for them there to meet them there. Yesterday, we know the Qataris met with Swiss delegation up there.

What we do know is happening today, and the person you would expect Steve Witkoff to meet with on the Iranian side is the foreign minister of Iran, Abbas Araghchi. He's in Tehran. And we know he's in Tehran because he is meeting with Pakistan's interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, who's there on a mediation role, to try to get the Iranians to agree to come to the talks here in Switzerland.

Now, how quickly can he make that happen? The Iranians have made it very, very clear right now, Lebanon is the issue. They're saying ceasefire must be in place there. That was point number one on the -- on the memorandum of understanding.

So, there's a ceasefire, or there was at least agreed between Israel and Hezbollah. Both sides said yesterday that they would cease-firing if the other side did the same. Today, you have a spike in strikes, death inside of -- inside of Lebanon. So, this is going to be a big lift for the Pakistani mediator in Tehran to convince the Iranians to come.

But I think we should understand it in this context as well. This mediation effort that's going on in Tehran right now would not be happening if the White House didn't want it to happen, or if the Iranians didn't want it to happen. So, there is a possible pathway here through this mediation effort -- through the mediation efforts of the Qataris to get the Iranians to come here to Switzerland. But undoubtedly, what's happening in Lebanon today is going to make that more difficult.

So, back to that question of who does Steve Witkoff meet when he's -- when he's here? I get the sense that he might have to wait a couple of days to have any Iranians to meet with. And let's not forget, as well, the Iranians do not like Steve Witkoff or Jared Kushner. They'd much rather be meeting with JD Vance. That, for me, would be the signal of when real talks perhaps can get underway when we hear that the vice president is on his way here as well.

[07:05:28]

BLACKWELL: All right. Nic Robertson, thanks so much. Other headlines for you now. The justice department is pushing back in court after a federal judge asked officials to formally state that that anti- weaponization fund is not moving forward.

In a new filing, the DOJ called that request unnecessary and warned that it could raise separation of powers concerns. The filing points to prior testimony from acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who said the fund is not going forward, but the case could continue if that declaration is not filed.

President Trump's pick is acting director of national intelligence. Already has the intel community on edge. Sources tell CNN Bill Pulte showed up to work a day before the official handover, with plans of sweeping job cuts across the agency. There are also concerns among Democrats that he could go after Trump's political rivals.

President Trump appointed Pulte to take temporarily over Tulsi -- take over temporarily after Tulsi Gabbard stepped down. Pulte is a Trump loyalist with no experience in the intelligence community. He's also serving as the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

The Trump administration is backing down on plans to convert an Atlanta area warehouse into a detention center. The Department of Homeland Security paid almost $130 million for a warehouse in Social Circle, Georgia, four months ago. They originally planned to house up to 10,000 detainees there.

City leaders say they were notified. DHS is scrapping those plans, but they don't know what happens next with that facility. DHS is also abandoning plans for seven other facilities, from New Jersey to Utah.

More rain is on the way for parts of the Gulf Coast, where flooding has already forced evacuations and some rescues. At least three people have died since Sunday, as the storm system continues to impact the region. And with more rain in the forecast, the flood threat is not over. Marybel Gonzalez reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARYBEL GONZALEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Heavy rain forced a tree to collapse in Columbus, Georgia, on Thursday. It's part of a week-long weather event following the first named tropical storm of the season, Arthur. It's no longer a tropical system, but Arthur's ghost or lingering, moisture rich air is still fueling a deadly flood threat across the Gulf Coast and into the south. Video from Dallas, Texas, shows flash flooding across parts of the city Friday morning, with water covering roadways and creating hazardous travel conditions.

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: We know Dallas has a lot of pavement, very densely populated city. So, when you get that amount of rainfall, it overcomes the drainage system. And, of course, the water has nowhere to go but up. And we flood the city streets.

GONZALEZ (voice-over): Parts of Louisiana are dealing with catastrophic flooding.

GOV. JEFF LANDRY (R-LA): For the amount of water flow in such a short period of time, may get to 30 inches or more. I know that we've got about 200 houses at this time that we know of that have been impacted.

GONZALEZ (voice-over): Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry issued a state of emergency Thursday evening, responding to the storm damage. In Hancock County, Mississippi, roadways flooded with water seen spilling onto parked vehicles. The upcoming rain through Saturday isn't expected to be as extreme as Thursday's, yet the ground is already soaked, so the risk is being driven by how incapable it may be at absorbing it.

VAN DAM: Another six inches of rain on top of that means adding more misery to the flooding scenario on the ground.

GONZALEZ (voice-over): I'm Marybel Gonzalez, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: And those storms that Marybel just showed us are not letting up. CNN Meteorologist Allison Chinchar is tracking everything. What are you seeing now?

CHINCHAR: We've had roughly 10 to 12 flash flood warnings ongoing pretty much the last few hours, and those are likely going to continue throughout the day. They may shift to other areas, but we're likely going to continue to see that flooding threat, especially anywhere along the Gulf Coast region. Now, here you can see again where we have a lot of the storms ongoing this morning.

All of these red boxes that indicates the flash flood warnings that we have at the moment. Again, you can see states like Louisiana, Texas, and that's going to continue. The thing is, it's not going to take much for additional flash flood warnings. And that's because the ground is already so saturated in these areas.

What you are looking at here on this map? This is the rainfall just since Monday. So, we're not even talking a full week's worth. Just since Monday, you can see a lot of the pink area here, indicating at least ten inches and a few white pockets, kind of in portions of Mississippi and into Louisiana. Now, you're talking at least 20 inches of rain that they've had in just the last five to six days.

[07:10:05] When we go forward, you're going to see additional storms firing up across areas of the southeast. But also keep an eye on the portions of the Central U.S., especially nearing the Mississippi Valley, as well as the Midwest, because we're also looking at the chance for some strong to severe thunderstorms to develop in that region as we go through the rest of the afternoon and evening hours. But again, even along the Gulf Coast, you're still seeing more of that moisture consistently, not just today, but even into Sunday as well.

Now, when we talk about severe storms, this is going to be the main target. The main threat itself is really going to be damaging winds. But we can't rule out some very large hail. I'm talking tennis balls, baseball-size, and even an isolated tornado or so in a couple of those areas late this afternoon and into the evening hours.

The other concern is also flooding. Yes, we talked about the Gulf Coast region, but there's even a higher risk for flooding across areas of the Midwest, especially where you see that red bullseye location. That's where you're going to see a lot of those training storms, meaning they're hitting the same areas over and over and over again. Some of them dropping two to three inches just in an hour before the systems finally exit.

So, again, two completely different systems here. The one that's really going to bring the main threat of severe thunderstorms, as we talked about with the potential for hail and tornadoes, and then the flooding really going to be persistent down here along the Gulf Coast region. Now, some of that earlier moisture coming from the remnants of that tropical system. But now, Victor, we're going to get these frontal boundaries that just kind of keep consistently showing up across the southeast, keeping that flood potential there.

BLACKWELL: Rough couple of days. Allison, thank you. New allegations surrounding the renovation of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. President Trump now claims damage spotted at the landmark is the result of vandalism.

Also, we're getting a look at the new presidential plane coming up, when it could go into service. And the Italian prime minister says she did not beg President Trump for a photo. Coming up. Reaction to Trump's comments that has now sparked a fresh diplomatic incident.

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[07:16:47]

BLACKWELL: Italy's foreign minister has canceled a trip to the U.S. after a comment made by President Trump about Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. In an interview with an Italian media outlet, President Trump said that Meloni "Begged me to take a picture with her. She wanted a picture with me so badly. I wouldn't have taken it, but I felt sorry for her."

Prime Minister Meloni replied. And she said that Trump completely fabricated their conversation. She posted a video on social media to further deny those claims. Watch. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GIORGIA MELONI, ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER (through a translator): Well, some things deserve an immediate response. Donald Trump's statements are completely made up. I am frankly astonished.

I don't know why the president of the United States behaves like this toward his allies. It's not the first time, moreover. I can only say it is disappointing that he does not show the same determination with the enemies of the West and of the United States, whose leaders he instead treats with far greater indulgence. There is one thing he should remember. Neither I nor Italy ever beg.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: In Maryland yesterday, the president bragged about his new presidential plane, soon to take off as the next Air Force One. Now, the president unveiled this luxury Boeing jet at Joint Base Andrews. Now, Kevin Liptak has more on what it looks like inside and the questions surrounding it, when it is expected to take flight.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: President Trump says the new presidential aircraft is the most luxurious plane in the world. And based on descriptions that we've gotten from reporters who saw the inside of it, that sounds like it's true. They described leather seats, plush carpeting, tan walls, and seat belts adorned with the presidential seal.

Now, this aircraft is described as a bridge between the older Boeing 747s that currently act as Air Force One and newer models that are still being retrofitted by the Air Force and by Boeing. Those models aren't expected to be ready, potentially until the end of President Trump's term. And he had grown frustrated with the delays.

And that is where the Gulf state of Qatar came in. Qatar donated this $400 million plane to the Pentagon. The White House brushed aside the ethical, legal, and national security questions and spent the last several months turning it into the presidential aircraft. Now, the president has described this as essentially a mirror of his own tastes. Listen to what he said.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: So, we had it all painted up. And these are the new colors: red, white, and blue. And we like the baby blue. But it was time for a change.

And this is the sleekest line. Everything was designed good. It was my taste. I will say I like -- they said what color do you like? I said, I like the color of the American flag, right?

That makes sense. So, we have that. And all of the planes in the fleet are being changed into this look, which is a much better look and a more appropriate look.

LIPTAK: Now, the plane does away with the Robin's egg blue color scheme that was designed by Jacqueline Kennedy, so many decades ago. Instead, it's a red, white, and blue aircraft that looks remarkably similar to the personal plane that President Trump flies around in when he's not in office. The president says that this aircraft will be used on major foreign trips.

He also expects to see it flying over the Capitol on July 4. The first time the president is expected to use it is when he's visiting Mount Rushmore in the days ahead of Independence Day. Kevin Liptak, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[07:20:29]

BLACKWELL: All right. Kevin, thank you very much. Still ahead. An investigation after a deadly fire ripped through a beachfront resort. Plus, Iran and the U.S. finally signed off on this memorandum of understanding. So, who won? Depends on who you ask. And we're asking Republican congresswoman, Representative Anna Paulina Luna, after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:25:17]

BLACKWELL: A U.S. official says that U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is headed to Switzerland for a potential new round of talks with Iran, but it's unclear this morning if any Iranian officials will actually be there when he arrives. President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is expected to join Witkoff. And Vice President JD Vance is standing by to join, too, if necessary.

But a commentary on an Iranian media outlet, seen as being close to Iran's hard line military leaders, could complicate things. It warned Iran's foreign minister against traveling to Europe to meet with Witkoff. It said the memorandum is already being violated. Here's what President Trump said about this next phase.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: And now we have an agreement that was signed last night, and it's 60 days. They have to make a deal. Otherwise, we will do things that won't make them happy.

But I don't think it's going to get to that. I think it's going to be very good. Remember, if we do that, then all of a sudden you're not going to have the oil flowing out of the Strait too quickly because people that own billion-dollar ships don't love missiles flying over them, don't love mines all over the water.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Meanwhile, according to Lebanon's civil defense, 16 people were killed in Israeli strikes. The IDF says Hezbollah fired more than 50 projectiles at the Israeli military. Israel and Hezbollah were supposed to be under a new, renewed ceasefire as of late yesterday. Joining me now, Republican Representative from Florida, Anna Paulina Luna. Congresswoman, good to have you. Let's start here with how do you hold this --

REP. ANNA PAULINA LUNA (R-FL): Good morning, Victor.

BLACKWELL: Good morning. How do you hold this together? How do you get the sides at the table if the ceasefire in Lebanon is central to bringing the Iranians, and then what we saw from the IDF overnight?

LUNA: Look, Victor, I think that that's a wonderful question. And I think, as you're seeing with comments from both the president and also vice president, that this really comes from the United States, really having these conversations with Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli government. At the end of the day, this peace deal is negotiated by the U.S. government, and it is going to be beneficial for all parties involved.

But it means that the Israeli government has to be good partners in this negotiation. And they cannot continue the strikes on Lebanon, as you're seeing them do, if they want to maintain support from the United States. That's something that President Trump and JD Vance have alluded to.

I realize that a lot of people might say, well, you know, are you talking about cutting off aid to Israel? What I'm saying is that if they are going to continue to ask for aid from the United States government, then they need to take a more diplomatic, peaceful approach and ensure that this peace deal is being adhered to.

BLACKWELL: Prime Minister Netanyahu says that Israel will continue to defend itself against these attacks from Hezbollah. We'll see if there's enough space here to get everybody at the table in Geneva. Let me ask you about your assessment of this agreement.

You called it a win-win for all. In the assessment of whether the U.S. won, we have to go back to the initial goals of this war. So, let me play here what Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the start of the war, and then what President Trump said just on Wednesday at the G7.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: The United States is conducting an operation to eliminate the threat of Iran's short-range ballistic missiles and the threat posed by their navy, particularly to naval assets. That is what it is focused on doing right now, and it's doing quite successfully. I'll leave it to the Pentagon and the Department of War to discuss the tactics behind that and the progress that's being made. That is the clear objective of this mission.

TRUMP: That if other countries have them, it's a little bit unfair for them not to have some. But if Saudi Arabia and Qatar and they all have some, I would say, in relative proportion, I think it's OK.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BLACKWELL: On the question of those missiles, at the start, it was clear, according to the Secretary of State, that was the goal. How is it a win at the end for the president to say it's OK to keep the missiles?

LUNA: Yes. So, at the beginning of the war, I was actually very involved in speaking directly to Secretary Rubio. And the former leadership was fully intending on using the ballistic missiles that they had against our U.S. military service members. And then also remember the number one objective as to why we did what we did is because of the fact that Iran was developing and basically going to obtain nuclear power in the sense that they were going to be able to develop a nuclear weapon.

So, number eight in the agreement, remember -- memorandum of understanding with the Iranian government is full denuclearization. So, that would be the biggest win. But also to -- you know, as far as them maintaining ballistic missiles, I don't think that they're going to need ballistic missiles. As you see, also part of this agreement would be them accessing a fund that would be put together by their regional partners.

[07:30:07]

BLACKWELL: But wait a minute, why wouldn't -- why wouldn't they need ballistic missiles?

LUNA: Well, I think that they're not going to need to have to engage in war activities as they did previously. You are seeing that their leadership is new, and they are focusing. If this agreement holds up, which I think it will, on developing in Iran that can really integrate with the entire world government. --

(CROSSTALK)

BLACKWELL: What, what's that based on?

LUNA: Say again.

BLACKWELL: What do you base that on? They are not needing to their ballistic missiles. If they didn't need them, then, why allow them to keep them?

LUNA: Well, I think that these are all things that are really going to be discussed and formalized. Right?

We have a memorandum of understanding, but you are also seeing that there is a massive incentive for them to really kind of integrate into a world environment where, instead of focusing on war and constantly fighting, they are going to be trying to open up and maybe establishing better relationships with countries that they typically wouldn't have had -- have had access to, according to their former leadership.

So, it's my hopes that they wouldn't need them. I don't think that I'm to the point where I would support them fully having this.

But again, you know, these conversations that are taking place, everything from how we are going to go get the nuclear materials, which they are saying that the Iranian government is going to open up to an American inspector, as well as the IAEA. All of these things are still being finalized, but this agreement, as of right now, is signed and will be codified underneath the United Nations.

And so, it's a step forward in the right direction, but in order to maintain it, we can no longer allow for these strikes in Lebanon to take place, and so, that's why you are seeing a very strong position, and I think a right one with the administration.

BLACKWELL: Yes. You also said that this agreement is "way better than the JCPOA". How so?

LUNA: Well, for starters, we are not paying the Iranians to mothball and their nuclear program. They have agreed fully and in writing, and signed it, that they will not ever have a nuclear weapon, and I think that that's the biggest thing. Again, you are seeing a total change in leadership, but when you had --

(CROSSTALK)

BLACKWELL: But there was also part of the JCPOA though.

LUNA: Well, it wasn't signed, and it wasn't in writing, and it wasn't codified by the United Nations. And I think when you have, you know, other allies --

(CROSSTALK)

BLACKWELL: The IAEA conducted the inspections to determine up until the point that President Trump withdrew the U.S. that they were in compliance with the elements of the JCPOA.

LUNA: Well, that's what they were saying, but according to what our Intel was saying, is that they were not in compliance, but I think, the biggest thing is that you have their allies of Iran.

(CROSSTALK)

BLACKWELL: And the IDF?

LUNA: And both China and Russia also backing this agreement at the table with the United Nations. And so, I think that with this specifically, we shouldn't be paying Iran to mothball a program. Period. I don't want any of our taxpayer dollars going over there.

(CROSSTALK)

BLACKWELL: OK, but they weren't taxpayer dollars going to Iran under the JCPOA.

LUNA: And that will be the fundamental difference. And then also a full -- There was under Barack Obama. We were paying them.

(CROSSTALK)

BLACKWELL: But also, in the -- in the discussion -- well, the $1.7 billion was their money that was returned to them with interest.

LUNA: We should not be paying Iran, sending pallets of cash, nothing over their period.

(CROSSTALK)

BLACKWELL: OK. Well, on that point --

LUNA: And under this agreement, not only have they agreed to completely shut down the program, but they have agreed to not have any nuclear weapons.

(CROSSTALK)

BLACKWELL: So, which was also part of the JCPOA.

LUNA: Barack Obama has agree. We do not have that.

BLACKWELL: But on the discussion of giving them their money -- but in the discussion of giving them their money back, here is what President Trump said about the money that the U.S. has frozen, and what he feels about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We have taken a lot of their money, and we have their money. We have taken them. It's not our money, it's their money, and we froze it at a certain point in time, I guess we are going to have to give it back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: And so, what's the difference between the JCPOA returning the $1.7 billion that was Iran's money and the president, President Trump there, saying that, at some point, the U.S. will have to give back their money?

LUNA: There is a $300 billion fund that will be funded by partners within the region that will help to and unlock as soon as Iran adheres to the agreement in different phases, to allow for their infrastructure and investment into their economy.

What I will tell you is Barack Obama, and there are many, many people that have agreed that what he did with his agreement did nothing but prolong Iran or Iran's goal of eventually maintaining a nuclear weapon. We should have never sent pallets of cash over there. We should never sent taxpayer dollars over there. Period.

(CROSSTALK)

BLACKWELL: Well, Congresswoman, I'm not here to defend the JCPOA.

LUNA: There's different ways of unfreezing assets. Yes.

BLACKWELL: You just said in your social media post that this is way better than JCPOA, and when I asked, how, you talked about the returning of pallets of cash.

(CROSSTALK)

LUNA: Less certainly. Yes. Specifically --

BLACKWELL: The Obama-era deal returned their money.

(CROSSTALK)

LUNA: Well, that's not the only thing I said.

BLACKWELL: The Obama deal returned their money. President Trump says they would. Let me ask you about this.

(CROSSTALK)

LUNA: What I would say is that in-writing. If I could just answer your question.

BLACKWELL: Let me ask you about this element.

(CROSSTALK)

LUNA: In writing, specifically, the number one thing is that they have agreed to not have ever a nuclear weapon.

BLACKWELL: Sure, that was also in the JCPOA.

LUNA: Barack Obama was not able to accomplished that.

[07:35:01]

I am not trying to trash the former president, but I'm just saying this deal is way better than the -- than the latter.

BLACKWELL: I hear that. Let me ask you -- let me ask you about the sanctions on oil. Allowing them to now, according to this memorandum, to sell oil on the market through the banking systems, which analysts say could be worth $60 to $70 billion.

When someone posted on social media, we wouldn't be in this mess if Obama didn't send that $1.7 billion on palliative cash to Iran, if Biden didn't unfreeze oil trade deals with Iran that funneled them $50 billion plus. You replied, he isn't wrong.

So, what mess, according to your assessment here, does this create? What do you think they are going to do with that $60 to $70 billion that they get from selling oil?

LUNA: Well, this is also in reference to the former regime that is no longer in place in regards to leadership trying to obtain and maintaining the ability to create a nuclear weapon.

As of right now, that is no longer and will never be on the table, because the new leadership has agreed to not do that. In addition to what you saw happen under President Obama and President Biden, they were not hard line in the sense that they were willing to hold Iran accountable for what they are doing.

And I want to remind people that Iran did indeed plan on launching on our troops with the nastier plan, you guys can look that up, that was something that the secretary of state had actually put out, and that would have caused mass casualties with our troops.

So, the whole reason for us going in was two things: a, their ballistic missiles capabilities were aimed directly at our service members, they were going to attack, it was an imminent threat, and then, in addition to that, they were undermining and not being good faith actors, the previous leadership of Iran was, in regards to fully denuclearizing and refusing to maintain a nuclear weapon.

BLACKWELL: Well, the president ended that deal, and he also allowed them to keep their missiles.

(CROSSTALK)

LUNA: With all that being said in that post seen below --

BLACKWELL: I mean, if those are the two elements, one, on the concerned about nuclear weapons --

(CROSSTALK)

LUNA: Well, that he is not -- he is not allowing them to keep nuclear missiles. Period.

BLACKWELL: But he allowed them -- I didn't say nuclear missiles, I said keep their missiles programs.

LUNA: You said missiles.

BLACKWELL: Missiles. If he allows them to keep their missiles, which he said it's OK for them to have them if their neighbors have them, and he is concerned about the nuclear program, and never having it, that was -- and not being good faith actors, he tore up the agreement to which they -- the IAEA said that they were not moving toward at least until it was ended in his first -- his first term.

LUNA: Oh Yes, according to our intelligence, they were maintaining a secret nuclear weapons program previous to what happened with the strikes, which is why in our assessment, and according to our intelligence, the decision was made to actually start strikes.

Now, what I will say is we don't fully know what is happening right now in these private meetings with now the active leadership of Iran and Mr. Witkoff, Kushner, and J.D.

But what I will say is that when you have a government like Iran that has previously been known to oppress its people and basically threaten to nuke the rest of the world if they -- if they have a nuclear weapon, have it -- have a change of heart, and say that they are not only going to no longer -- or they will no longer pursue nuclear weapons, and that they are going to work towards these goals and objectives, so that they can develop infrastructure and investment into their economy, and be good partners on the world stage, I would go with that. This is going to be a better deal in the long run, for everyone involved.

BLACKWELL: All right. We'll see if they keep their word. Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, thank you so much.

(CROSSTALK)

LUNA: Let's hope that they do. Thank you.

BLACKWELL: Thousands were in Chicago for the opening of the Obama Presidential Center. But a group of students, they got a special treat from the former first couple.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AUGUST DUBOIS, MET PRESIDENT OBAMA AS AN INFANT: Last time I saw him when I was 1, I pinched his nose. But I think I had a more pleasant experience with him this time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: And if you are heading out, I want to go. You can stream our show from anywhere in the U.S. right from the CNN app. You can also go to cnn.com/watch.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:43:31]

BLACKWELL: President Trump says vandals are responsible and an investigation is underway during these new problems for his makeover of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The president made the claim without proof after blue material from the pool's bottom started to peel off this week.

Meanwhile, that green algae is still blooming in the pool, sparking a massive cleanup by the National Park Service.

The president's renovation has cost nearly $15 million.

In Chicago, a group of elementary school students had some special guests at story time: former president and first lady Barack and Michelle Obama.

It all happened at the public library branch inside the Obama Presidential Center on Friday. Just moments before, the public was allowed to enter the facility for the first time.

Leah Hope with CNN affiliate WLS has more. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LEAH HOPE, REPORTER AND ANCHOR, WLS (voice over): Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama surprised some students, staff, and parents of Ray Elementary School.

BARACK OBAMA, 44TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is your library, all right? And I -- when I was your age, I loved books, and I loved coming to libraries, even though sometimes the librarian would tell me to go -- because I was kind of loud.

HOPE (voice over): 25 kids got a special reading of "Where the Wild Things Are?" at the Obama branch of the Chicago Public Library.

Michelle Obama started off, in one section, she got help from the students about why the character got in trouble and had no dinner for talking back to his mom.

[07:45:05]

Barack Obama laughed, acknowledging he hadn't had the same insight.

MICHELLE OBAMA, FORMER FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: He talked back very rudely to his mother.

B. OBAMA: Oh, that is --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He shouldn't do that.

M. OBAMA: Yes. That's why he was said, then, you don't understand that.

HOPE (voice over): Then, he took over reading.

B. OBAMA: The action is picking up here, people.

HOPE (voice over): Eliciting the kids to roar like a wild thing with claws out.

B. OBAMA: They roared their terrible roars. You guys have terrible roars?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Roar!

HOPE (voice over): After the interactive reading, the former president's parting message was encouraging the students to come back.

B. OBAMA: When you read, just like Max, you bring the whole world to you. So, you can travel anywhere, and you can see everything, and you can learn everything.

I want you guys to keep reading, and a library is a great place to do it.

HOPE (voice over): Some Ray parents volunteered for this special field trip. DAUNTE HENDERSON, PARENT: But I was really excited just to see my President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama. It was a great experience. They were everything and more than I ever wished for.

BENJAMIN WALKER, PARENT: I am so pleased that we got to see Michelle and Barack Obama. What a gift to us and our children, and something that I will certainly cherish for a long time.

HOPE (voice over): Among the kids here today, now, 10-year-old August DuBois, who infamously met the former president while he was still in office as a baby.

DUBOIS: Last time I saw him, when I was 1, I pinched his nose. But I think, I had a more pleasant experience of him this time.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOPE (on camera): The kids from Ray Elementary went to the playground after their reading event. Then, the public was allowed in for the official opening of the newest Chicago Public Library. There was actually a line to get into the library and a line to check out books and to get their official Obama branch Chicago Public Library card.

BLACKWELL: After the break, we'll dive into the latest World Cup results. Team USA scores another win. Fans are thrilled that they have secured their spot on the upcoming knockout stage.

And this week, Craig Ferguson explores the idea of the rugged American individual with help from another former late-night host, Jay Leno.

Be sure to watch a new episode of Craig Ferguson "AMERICAN ON PURPOSE". Air's tonight at 9:00 p.m. Eastern on CNN, and then, tomorrow on the CNN app.

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[07:52:00]

BLACKWELL: The U.S. men's soccer team is off to a historic start at this World Cup, winning their first two matches for the first time since the 1930s.

Don Riddell has more on their win over Australia. Now, I knew it would been a long time. But a century?

DON RIDDELL, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: You don't remember it.

BLACKWELL: No, I was not there. Was not there.

RIDDELL: That was the first World Cup, that was a very long time ago.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

RIDDELL: But yes, this is an incredible start for the American team. Victor. Two down, potentially, six games to go. Team USA's dream start to continue with the 2-0 win against the Aussies, meaning, they are now guaranteed first place in Group D. Another fast start for the Americans.

Folarin Balogun, storming run and pass induced an earned goal from Australia's defender, Cameron Burgess, in the 11th minute. And by halftime they had doubled their lead.

Alex Freeman, with a head of it, was initially ruled out for offside, but overturned on review. Here is a fun fact: Freeman's dad, Antonio, was a Super Bowl winner with The Packers. He once also had a banner day in Seattle in the 90s.

Safe passage to the round of 32 now guaranteed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FOLARIN BALOGUN, FORWARD, UNITED STATES SOCCER: I'm confident, you know -- you know, two games in the World Cup. You know, the fans are helping us to be confident as well, not just me, but the whole team. And, yes, you know, I'm delighted that I'm looking forward to each game, you know, just being in front of the fans.

ALEX FREEMAN, DEFENDER, UNITED STATES SOCCER: We should be very proud how we played, and to be able to get our first clean sheet, you know, in a while, especially our first one in the World Cup. I think, it just means so much to us, and I think, we are passionate about, you know, keep the team shifts in that situation. So, I think for us, we will be happy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIDDELL: So, next up for the U.S. will be Turkey, and the final Group D game. But Turkey have nothing but pride to play for after they were beaten by this early goal from Paraguay's Matias Galarza. Somehow, Turkey have had 62 shots in two games and failed to score. Paraguay ended the game with 10 men as Miguel Almiron became the first player to be sent off for covering his mouth.

FIFA's new rule is designed to prevent players from hiding racist, discriminatory, or abusive language during confrontations on the field.

In golf, Wyndham Clark is the man to beat at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills in New York. Thanks to this long birdie putt on 18, the former champion is seven under par for the tournament. He's got a four-stroke lead going into the weekend.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WYNDHAM CLARK, 2023 UNITED STATES: There was definitely a lot of uncertainty last year, even if I played good going to the weekend, just because I didn't really believe I could keep playing good, just because I hadn't seen it, versus now, regardless of where my games at, I feel like good things are going to happen, and I can continue to play good.

So, I -- it's definitely, you know, momentum is a huge thing in golf, and I feel like I have it right now, and just keep it going, keep pushing that momentum ball down the hill.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIDDELL: Seven under par is an insane score for this tournament at Shinnecock Hills. You know, 654 players have played the U.S. Open on this course. Only three of them have ever finished under par. So, things are a bit different this year, clearly.

BLACKWELL: Yes, doing well.

[07:55:00]

Now, listen, and we watch the Knicks parade this week, obviously. I cannot imagine if Team USA goes all the way, what that will look like.

RIDDELL: It will be something.

BLACKWELL: Yes. All right, Don, thanks so much.

RIDDELL: All right.

BLACKWELL: "FIRST OF ALL", is coming up at the top of the hour. How do Iranian Americans feel about the U.S. agreement with Iran?

With two Iranian Americans with different political views, but both supportive of the war, will join us, including the founder of a group called Iranians for Trump.

Plus, the story of one year old Kohen Wiley. His community in Mississippi is demanding answers after he was shot and killed by an officer responding to a shoplifting call.

Kohen's mother is speaking out, and her attorney is with us live.

And later, on this Father's Day weekend, I'm going to speak to the man behind a new children's album celebrating boyhood and what it takes to raise thriving black boys?

Those stories and conversations you will not see anywhere else, coming up after a short break on "FIRST OF ALL."

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