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Connect the World
Donald Trump Says Vladimir Putin "Has Gone Absolutely Crazy" In Post; Israeli Military Warns Of "Unprecedented Attack"; Crypto Investor Charged With Kidnapping And Assault; Doctor In Gaza Loses Nine Children In IDF Strike On Her Home; Man Charged With Plot To Attack United States Office In Israel; Macron Denies Drama In Video Of Apparent Push. Aired 10- 11a ET
Aired May 26, 2025 - 10:00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[10:00:30]
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi. This is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: And welcome to what is the second hour of the show. CONNECT THE WORLD from our Middle East programming
headquarters here in Abu Dhabi. I'm Becky Anderson. The time is just after 6:00 in the evening,
Russia launches its largest aerial attack on Ukraine yet. Will President Trump's rare rebuke of Vladimir Putin help ease tensions or more confusion
on tariffs? Trump says he will now give the European Union more time to negotiate a trade deal.
And a crypto investor is charged with kidnapping and assault in a plot to steal his victim's Bitcoin password.
Well, Russia's biggest aerial attack on Ukraine over more than three years of war is drawing an angry response from the U.S. president directed at his
Russian counterpart. Donald Trump posting that Vladimir Putin has, "Gone absolutely crazy." He also criticized Putin in comments to reporters, have
a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm not happy with what Putin is doing. He's killing a lot of people, and I don't know what the hell
happened to Putin. I've known him a long time. Always gotten along with him, but he's sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don't
like it at all, OK? We're in the middle of talking, and he's shooting rockets into Kyiv and other cities, I don't like it at all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, the Kremlin today downplaying President Trump's comments directed, of course, at Putin, calling them emotional reactions. Well, Mr.
Trump also criticizing the Ukrainian president for calling out what he says is silence from the U.S. and others over Russia's actions. President Trump
saying those comments from Zelenskyy are not doing Ukraine any favors.
So, will anything come of what is this blunt new criticism by Trump of his Russian counterparts?
CNN's senior military analyst and former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, Admiral James Stavridis says now is the time for Mr. Trump to take action.
Have a look -- listen to his perspective.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ADM. JAMES STAVRIDIS (RET.), CNN SENIOR MILITARY ANALYST: Putin continues to kind of bob and weave in the boxing ring. He is not coming to grips with
the fact that President Trump is, in fact, losing patience with him.
And you know what, when President Trump says that Vladimir Putin is absolutely crazy. I can give you my reaction to that in two words,
Hallelujah Amen. Welcome to Team West, Team Democracy. It's really time we did more than just call out Vladimir Putin.
I think the three levers that President Trump has over Putin are number one, $300 billion in Russian assets that are frozen in western banks under
the control of Brussels.
Number two, let's give the Ukrainians more long range weapons so they can reach further into Russia itself and hold Russian infrastructure and
military targets at risk.
And I think number three, and probably most obvious and could be done tonight, would be sanctions. Secondary sanctions, anybody who does business
with Russia cannot do business with the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, joining me now live from London is Orysia Lutsevych she is the head of the Ukraine forum at the strategic Think Tank Chatham House.
So, I just wonder whether you believe President Trump may finally be coming around to the position of Team West, as that last guest described it.
ORYSIA LUTSEVYCH, HEAD OF THE UKRAINE FORUM, CHATHAM HOUSE: Becky, of course, it's encouraging to see that President Trump, at least
rhetorically, says that Putin has changed since he has known him.
But to be honest, Putin has changed more than two decades ago, he has been sending rockets at the cities from Chechnya to Georgia to annexing Crimea,
and this has been a clear pattern.
So, what General Stavridis says, the world, the king West would like to see action from President Trump. Would like to see what Zelenskyy said before
even Trump was elected, that there's only one pathway peace, and that is through strength.
[10:05:06]
ANDERSON: OK, I wonder then whether you would hope to hear more on the threat of sanctions from Donald Trump at this point, because we haven't had
any further detail on whether he would use further sanctions on Russia as a lever. Do you believe that he will, and do you expect that to have a
significant impact on Vladimir Putin at this point?
LUTSEVYCH: Well, let's also recall that before that round of diplomatic ping pong and faking of Russia elections, there was a decision between the
European Union and United States to impose what they call catastrophic sanctions on Putin does not agree to an unconditional cease fire. It is
clear that Putin is doing the opposite.
So, now, something has been prepared in the U.S., and that is a bipartisan bill that Lindsey Graham is championing and has more than 80 backers. This
could be put into place tomorrow. This would again target Russian oil sector, and that could have an effect simply by denying income to the
Russian state to finance the war. War is very expensive, and Russia is having a lot of pressure on its economy, and that could further strengthen
pressure on Putin's system and increase its fragility.
ANDERSON: Yes, and I'm sure any congressional movement then on this bill would have you know, keen support from both the Europeans and Ukraine,
although, of course it is -- it is for the U.S. to make those decisions in Congress.
The Kremlin downplaying Donald Trump's comments today, and very specifically calling them emotional reactions. Is that what you would
expect to hear from the Kremlin? I just wonder at this stage whether it is clear or not, whether Vladimir Putin, frankly, is taking Donald Trump
seriously here.
LUTSEVYCH: Of course, what else would you expect from the cold blooded operatives in the Kremlin than to call United States president for being
emotional?
I think Putin risks actually disrupting his own strategy of procrastinating negotiations while trying to tempt Trump into economic deals and the wider
geopolitical cooperation beyond Ukraine on issues such as Iran, Middle East and the nuclear Non-Proliferation, this is what's a Jeopardy. It's not just
Ukraine. It's the whole U.S.-Russian realignment.
And what is also striking, what maybe you reported on it, but we do see today, key suppliers for Ukraine's missiles lifting restrictions on the
range where they Ukraine is now able to hit deeper into the Russian territory to target logistics and military infrastructure. That is also a
new phase in war that is significant, and that puts pressure on Putin that the United States is not withdrawing its assistance, but actually makes
Ukrainian army more powerful.
ANDERSON: That's fascinating. Orysia, it's good to have you. Thank you.
I want to bring in Nic Robertson my colleague at this point to pick up on where we left off that conversation.
You know, the readiness or facility for Ukraine to actually hit back and you know, from its perspective, continue this war. How do you see Ukraine's
readiness and ability to continue at this point, Nic?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, it has relied very heavily and continues to rely very heavily on supplies of air defense
systems, and significantly on the United States and significantly Donald Trump. President Donald Trump hasn't authorized additional rounds of
defense equipment for Ukraine, and that's hanging very heavily over Kyiv at the moment.
And look, we say that in the context of this very, very heavy barrage of missiles and drones over the weekend, 250, Friday into Saturday, Saturday
into Sunday, 367 combined, the biggest ever. 355 drones Sunday into Monday, the biggest single drone attack yet from Russia.
So clearly, air defenses are what's going to keep the population safe at this point. And this is -- and this is very much what Ukraine looks towards
the United States to continue to provide.
Obviously, there are daily reports of Ukraine being able to target Russian weapons making facilities across the border inside of Russia. So, those
offensive weapons your last guest was speaking about will be very, very important for that.
But it's -- you know, the core of what President Trump seems to be saying is he doesn't want to see civilians being killed. He's calling out Putin
for targeting those civilians in the cities, not on the front line in the cities, which is very clear.
[10:10:11]
And you know Ukraine's point and its allies point would be, if you cannot end the war by persuading Putin to stop it, then there's an option to
defend those civilians, and that is continuing the supplies of military equipment, including the air defense supplies, which are vital.
ANDERSON: It's good to have you, Nic, thank you. Nick Robertson on Ukraine.
Well, the Israeli military is warning it will carry out an unprecedented attack on Gaza, it has issues evacuation orders for most of the southern
region of the enclave and much of the East. These orders come as an Israeli military source tells CNN, Israel plans to occupy 75 percent of the Gaza
enclave within the next two months.
Well, CNN's Oren Liebermann and Nada Bashir back with us this hour. Let me start with what we -- what we know from sources speaking to CNN about what
is happening in Gaza and very specifically, what happens next at this point, Oren?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Just a short time ago, probably a couple of hours ago, at this point, the Israeli military issued
a massive evacuation moment, covering most of southern Gaza, beginning at the Philadelphi Corridor, that's Egypt-Gaza border that Israel has occupied
for months, all through the city of Khan Yunis, one of the most densely packed areas in Gaza that has not only its own residents, but Palestinians
who have already been displaced there, and then covering Eastern Gaza and beyond at that point.
All of that now under a forced evacuation. As the Israeli military spokesperson says, there will be a, "Unprecedented attack on that area," an
area that has already been effectively a war zone for weeks, if not longer than that now, this comes out after three rockets were fired
ANDERSON: Liebermann, can I -- can I stop you? I'm really struggling to hear you with the crowd behind you. Yes, we're struggling to hear you with
the crowd behind you. And I'm going to get you to explain where you are and why it is so noisy momentarily. Let's see if we can fix your sound for the
time being.
I'll bring in Nada. What do we understand to be going on the ground, not least with the -- with the desperately needed aid at this point?
NADA BASHIR, CNN REPORTER: Well, that right, there is continued pressure on Israeli authorities to allow more aid into the Gaza Strip. We know, of
course, that the Israeli authorities have said that they would allow a basic amount of food aid into Gaza to prevent a hunger crisis and for what
they've described as operational needs as the Israeli military continues to expand and deepen its ground and air assault on the Gaza Strip.
And according to COGAT, the Israeli agency which essentially oversees the shipment of aid into the Gaza Strip, 107 aid trucks were permitted to cross
the Kerem Shalom crossing on Sunday carrying humanitarian supplies, including food aid.
But of course, that is just a fraction of the total number of trucks that the U.N. says is needed on a daily basis to fulfill the needs in Gaza.
Of course, in a normal situation, before the war began, we were looking at around 300 to 500 trucks crossing into Gaza on a daily basis, the vast
majority of Gaza civilian population desperately dependent on that humanitarian aid.
But clearly, that is not what we are seeing. We've been hearing those warnings from U.N. agencies, from humanitarian organizations and, of
course, health professionals and authorities within the Gaza Strip, who have said, according to the health ministry in Gaza, that already 58 people
have died as a result of severe malnutrition, more than 200 as a result of shortages in food and medical supplies.
So, this is a desperately dire situation for civilians still waiting to get access to vital humanitarian supplies.
And of course, while we are seeing those trucks crossing into Gaza, it could take days, if not weeks, for that aid to be distributed to those most
in need. And this could be further complicated by these new evacuation orders that we have heard issued by the Israeli military ahead of what is
expected to be an unprecedented operation by the Israeli forces.
And of course, what is also happening in the background, as well as we've seen the resignation of a former U.S. veteran, Jake Wood who was set to be
heading up this U.S. and Israeli backed humanitarian Foundation, essentially named the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which was set to
oversee a mechanism for the distribution of aid, despite the fact that for decades now, the U.N. agencies have fulfilled that role.
And this has drawn fierce criticism, of course, from U.N. agencies, from humanitarian organizations. Now, the head of this foundation has said he is
stepping down. He has said that the plan did not adhere strictly to the humanitarian principle of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and
independence, which he said he would not abandon.
[10:15:04]
But clearly, there is more focus now on trying to facilitate the distribution of aid, either through this foundation, or, of course, those
U.N. agencies that have long fulfilled that role.
ANDERSON: Yes, it's good to have you. Thank you. I want to try and get back to Jerusalem. I know it's very, very crowded there and busy and noisy. It's
Flag Day, Oren Liebermann is on the ground. Oren, just describe what you're seeing and hearing, if you will.
LIEBERMANN: Becky, I've never been accused of being quiet, so hopefully you can hear me this time. We'll take a look here. Behind me, most of that
crowd you just heard, you can just see the tail end of them heading into the Damascus Gate of the Old City of Jerusalem right now, that's right into
the Muslim Quarter. That is part -- just a small part of what is provocative about the flag march on Jerusalem Day.
We heard chants saying Gaza is ours. A clear nationalist desire to resettle Gaza, to reoccupy Gaza. There was a big sign out here earlier that said
1967 Jerusalem in our hands, referring to the Six-Day War there, when Israel seized the Old City in East Jerusalem.
And then under that, it said, 2025 Gaza in our hands, expressing a clear desire from this crowd here, what is, frankly a nationalist crowd, again,
to reoccupy Gaza.
They now go into the Damascus Gate through the Muslim Quarter of the Old City. Much of that is shut down, and they make their way to the Western
Wall.
We have already seen a couple of arrests here. One of those was holding a flag from the far right organization Lehava. He was taken away. Another
person taken away had been inside the old city and spit on journalists there, including our producer, who was just inside to take a look around at
that time.
So, police have been trying to control this crowd here throughout the day here, but it is worth noting. This is very much just the beginning of this.
Normally, at this hour, it would already be underway. We would see thousands, perhaps more than 10,000 Israelis and Jews making their way
through here into the old city itself. We really haven't seen that, and that's largely because it's so hot outside, they have delayed it.
We have seen way in the distance crowds making their way here, so we'll see how this day goes at what is, frankly, just the beginning of the march
through the Old City itself.
ANDERSON: Yes. Good to have you. Thank you very much indeed to Oren and Nada in London today. Thank you.
A crypto investor now faces multiple charges, including kidnapping and abuse. Coming up, why he turned a luxury New York townhouse into a torture
cell and his victim's daring escape. Details on that are up next.
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ANDERSON: Cryptocurrency investor is in a New York jail today charged with kidnapping. A 28-year-old man keeping him locked up for weeks in an upscale
Manhattan townhouse. Investigators say John Woeltz tortured the victim, even dangling him over a ledge at one point in a desperate attempt to gain
access to his Bitcoin wallet.
[10:20:09]
Now, that victim was eventually able to escape. A lot to unpack here.
Let's bring in CNN's Gloria Pazmino in New York, just walk us through exactly what we know about what sounds like a very, very frightening
experience for this victim.
GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not only that, Becky, but really a disturbing and bizarre set of details. John Woeltz is the suspect that is
accused of luring a man into this luxury Manhattan apartment in the SoHo neighborhood over the last several weeks and holding him hostage there,
torturing him all over an alleged plot to get him to give up his Bitcoin password.
The man you're seeing there on your screen is John Woeltz. He is 37 years old, originally from Kentucky, and prosecutors say that he lured this man
into this apartment and for several days, tortured him by tying him up with wire, at one point, shocking him with a taser while his feet were on water,
dangling him over a railing and threatening to kill his family if he did not give up this password.
Now, one thing that's not yet clear to us, Becky, is how these two men knew each other. We don't know if they had a personal or a business relationship
and exactly how much money this whole -- this whole scheme was over.
But we are told by prosecutors and police that at one point last Friday, the victim, who has not been identified, 28 years old, finally, he thought
that he was about to be killed, he gave up the password, which then made the suspect go into another room to get a computer, and that gave him a
brief window of time that allowed him to escape the apartment, run out to the street and flag down a traffic cop. That's how he was able to get the
attention of law enforcement here in the city. He was able to go to a hospital where he received treatment, and police moved into that apartment
and arrested this suspect, John Woeltz.
Upon arriving to that residence, which, by the way, happens to be in a very ritzy Manhattan neighborhood, police found a treasure trove of evidence. We
are told that they found ammunition, cocaine, an electric saw, which the victim said he was threatened with, the chicken wire that he was tied up
with, body armor, night vision goggles. And they also found Polaroid photos of the victim tied up with a gun pointed to his head.
Now prosecutors have asked that John Woeltz is held without bail. He was ordered to surrender his passport. Prosecutors telling the court on
Saturday that they believed he had the means, including a private helicopter and a private jet to make escape, and that is why they were
requiring him to be held without bail.
He has not yet entered a plea and is expected back in court, Becky, I think, several other outstanding questions in this case, including how
these two men knew each other, and whether or not you know what kind of business they were doing together, if at all. And this whole Bitcoin angle,
which we have seen similar incidents in recent weeks with cryptocurrency investors being targeted in violent attacks, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, not least in France, and I'm going to do a little bit on that now, but for the time being, Gloria, thank you for that.
France has also been hit with a string of crypto related crimes, including abductions and attempted kidnappings.
Earlier this month, the daughter and young grandson of a crypto tycoon barely escaped being kidnapped by several mass bandits in broad daylight in
Paris. Her father is the CEO of the crypto firm Paymium.
Also this month, the father of a crypto currency executive in Paris, was abducted and later rescued but lost a finger during the ordeal. Well, let's
welcome our next guest.
Carol Alexander is a finance professor at the University of Sussex and a crypto expert. She joins me now from southern France, my alumni, it's good
to have you on. Thank you.
We are seeing a wave of violent crime targeting the so called crypto rich. You know, we've just been reporting on that home invasion in the U.S.,
kidnappings in France. Why these digital -- those with digital wealth so vulnerable to watch what feels like, you know, these very analog threads?
Can you just explain what's going on here?
CAROL ALEXANDER, CRYPTO EXPERT: Well, it's not entirely new. I mean, this type of kidnapping has been going on for, actually, a decade, and in 12
countries so far, but you're right.
You know, the recent ones in Paris were particularly upsetting. And of course, this is even worse.
[10:25:06]
I mean, it shows that the type -- there's so much crime in crypto. What we see a lot of are these computer geeks, you know, hacking the exchange by
bit lost 1.5 billion, you know, the biggest attack in history.
But we also see money laundering and this sort of thing. But this violent crime, I think, is linked to the price of Bitcoin and other crypto. You
know, it's become -- you know, the last year, it's grown 50 percent in the year before and year before. So, there is the incentive as well.
And then we're also seeing more of it, because it's easier to trace the actual when it happens, it's easier to find the perpetrators than it used
to be.
ANDERSON: Yes, let's talk about that. Because you've argued that many of these kidnappers aren't especially sophisticated. Law enforcement can now
trace crypto transactions with remarkable speed. Yet attacks aren't stopping.
ALEXANDER: Exactly.
ANDERSON: In fact, they seem to be rising. Why is that? If the currency -- and I talk to people you know, again and again in the industry, say, look,
you know the securities, their currency, can be traced. It can be retrieved. So, it does seem odd that these heists, as it were, of
individuals, continue.
ALEXANDER: Yes, well, a lot of them are both -- I mean, criminals both side. You know, there's somebody with 100 million worth of crypto and
another person with 30 million worth of crypto, and so, you know, maybe there's an incentive for the kidnappers to think, well, you know, maybe
their victim will not go to the authorities.
It's only if they go to the authorities that you can get the ransom back, like the first case in January in France, and then the French authorities,
and particularly the Italian and obviously the U.S. You know, the whole Bitcoin reserve is 18 point -- it's 23 billion worth now, of Bitcoin was
all in seized and forfeited things.
But it's only really recently that that's been happening. So, maybe they're just, you know, a little bit behind the curve.
And, yes, I mean this scale 100 million or 30 million, you'd understand it if it was just a small scale hack of, you know, somebody stealing their
friend's crypto worth, I don't know, 500,000 or something. But this is -- this is something unprecedented.
ANDERSON: Yes, these numbers are huge. I mean, when you say if it's -- if it was just, you know, somebody nicking their mates, 500 grand. I mean, you
know, the scale of these numbers just seems absolutely remarkable to me.
Look, crypto owners are watching, and there may be many of them out there, you know, small holders, many of whom will have never thought themselves as
targets. What are the steps that they should be taking to protect both their digital wealth wallets and their physical safety?
ALEXANDER: Yes. Well, I mean, there's been a lot of hacks. The Coinbase exchange has lost a lot of customer details, and I mean, that's the main
U.S. exchange, so you definitely need to protect your wallet on the Coinbase exchange.
I actually was scammed, and I lost my Coinbase portfolio through such a thing, so, but it's better now.
And the other type of thing you can do is to have what we call a cold wallet. So don't keep your Metamask wallet, which is the Ethereum, main
Ethereum wallet, which are other types of Bitcoin wallets that you have connected to the internet, put them on a USB, and then hold them aside.
But you know, if you have an account on an exchange, you are always vulnerable to your -- you know, maybe the exchange goes bust, like FTX.
That was another thing that I lost. You know, the FTX went bust. They have custody. It's not like normal exchanges.
If you've got -- you know, they you have the credit risk of the exchange, the small exchanges hacks, and you're using some not very well, totally
unregulated exchange, then it's your own risk.
ANDERSON: It's good to have you. Thank you very much indeed for joining us, and we will continue to report on the comings and goings of the crypto
world as the show continues. Thank you.
Coming up, Israel's bombing campaign takes a devastating toll on one of -- one family in Gaza. Their story is just ahead.
Plus, more tariff whiplashes. The U.S. president walks back threat to the European Union. We'll explain what's been going on there after this.
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[10:32:26]
ANDERSON: Welcome back. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson. Here are your headlines. And U.S. President Donald Trump,
criticizing the Russian president, Vladimir Putin in a social media post, calling him absolutely crazy, after a weekend of massive Russian attacks in
Ukraine.
Nearly 30 people were killed in those attacks. The Kremlin downplaying President Trump's comments, calling them emotional reactions.
Well, President Trump says he wants the names of every international student at Harvard. Donald Trump says he may revoke billions of dollars
more from the school, complaining, it has yet to provide the list so the administration can vet them. Harvard sued after the administration's recent
ban on these students attending there. A judge temporarily halting that ban. Well, Israel struck a school where people were sheltering overnight in
Gaza City, at least 20 people, mostly women and children were killed, according to a local health official. Survivors of the strike say the
bodies were so charred and mutilated, they were difficult to identify.
Well, doctors in Gaza are painfully familiar with these stories and with the bodies of children showing up in their wards. But on Friday, we
received news that Israel killed nine children in a single strike. Their mother is a doctor, and she was working at the hospital when their bodies,
the bodies of her own children arrived.
CNN's Paula Hancocks has what is this heartbreaking story. But we have to warn you that some of you may find this report disturbing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Dr. Alaa al-Najjar is used to seeing the horrors of war in Gaza. She is an emergency room doctor in
Khan Yunis. But the charred bodies that arrived at her hospital on Friday were of her own children.
She'd left them at home just hours earlier to go to work. Nine of her ten children were killed in an Israeli airstrike. One son and her husband cling
to life, according to Nasser Hospital.
Her brother-in-law describes the moment she found out.
One of the civil defense workers was handing me one of the bodies, he says. She was standing next to me and recognized it. She said, this is Reval
(PH), give her to me. Her instinct as a mother, as if her daughter was still alive, she asked, to hold her in her arms.
Rescuers searched the smoking debris of the house to recover seven of the nine bodies, and say the children were aged from 7 months to 12 years.
[10:35:01]
Family says the 10 children were at home when Dr. Najjar's husband, Hamdi, dropped her off at work, then went to find food for them all.
When he returned, he saw an Israeli missile strike hit his home, they say, which failed to detonate. He rushed inside to rescue his children and was
injured when a second strike hit.
Hospital staff say despite the unimaginable loss, Dr. Najjar continues to work while also checking on her husband and her 11-year-old son, Adam.
Her brother-in-law says she's now caught between the dead, her only surviving child and her husband, who is between life and death. May God
grant her patience and grant us patience too.
The Israeli military, says its aircraft had, "struck a number of suspects who were identified operating from a structure adjacent to IDF troops in
the area of Khan Yunis".
It said it was reviewing the claims civilians had been killed.
Nine members of one family gone in an instant. As it has been since day one of this war, children bear the brunt of the never-ending violence.
Paula Hancocks, CNN, Abu Dhabi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, meantime, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, is in Jerusalem. She paid homage to the two Israeli embassy workers
who were killed as they left the capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. last week. She also met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and visited
and prayed at the Western Wall.
And today, a dual German U.S. citizen is in custody in New York, facing federal charges. He was allegedly plotting to bomb a branch of the U.S.
embassy in Israel.
Well, CNN's Katelyn Polantz tracking developments in Washington. She joins us now. What more do we know at this point?
KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN SENIOR CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Becky, so, Secretary Noem, she was in Jerusalem. We are talking about an incident that
happened a week ago outside of a branch office of the U.S. embassy in Israel -- in Tel Aviv, Israel.
A man named Joseph Neumeyer, he is a German citizen, as well as a U.S. citizen who had been living in the United States until this year. He was
outside of that Tel Aviv U.S. embassy location and had an encounter with a guard, where the guard approached him, he spat at the guard, he swore at
the guard. And then, the guard tried to restrain him in some way, keep him there. And Neumeyer took off and ran, and the guard was left holding his
backpack.
Well, that backpack, Becky, it smelled like alcohol, according to the court record. And when the guard looked at it, not only did it smell like
alcohol, but there was a bottle with a black cloth at the top of the backpack coming out of it, and when he looked inside that backpack,
allegedly had three Molotov cocktails. So, homemade explosive devices inside of them.
Neumeyer was apprehended at a hotel nearby, and Israeli officials sent him back to the United States. He has now appeared before a judge in federal
court in Brooklyn, and is awaiting further indication of charges.
Right now, there is a criminal complaint against him, not only has Neumeyer done this outside of the U.S. embassy, allegedly, in Tel Aviv, he also was
posting about burning down the embassy in Tel Aviv. And then, a few months ago, also made some posts on Facebook, allegedly, that he wanted to kill
Donald Trump and Trump's top adviser, Elon Musk.
We are going to wait and see exactly what else happens in court. But as of now, this man, Joseph, Neumeyer, he is in detention in the United States.
Becky?
ANDERSON: Katelyn Polantz, with the very latest on that. Thank you.
Well, Donald Trump says he is delaying a 50 percent tariff on European goods until July the 9th. This recently as Friday, President Trump said he
was, "not looking for a deal with the E.U."
Well, now, after what he described as, and I quote, he made a "very nice" call with the E.U. chief, it seems talks could begin soon. Let's check in
with CNN's Anna Stewart, see if Europe is getting a bit of a breather from the Trump administration.
Just remind us, you know, the scale and scope of sort of E.U.-U.S. trade, if you will. And where we believe the sort of negotiations are at this
point. Certainly, Donald Trump, it seems, enjoying or certainly, getting a decent call out of the E.U. chief.
ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's becoming a bit of a pattern Becky, isn't it? Where we're seeing, you know, big threats from the U.S. president
when it comes to tariffs. And then, a huge rollback. And actually, one F.T. journalist has described this as a TACO trade, which is an acronym for
Trump Always Chickens Out.
Now, this is clearly another situation where we saw a huge threat, 50 percent tariffs to be implemented very soon. And now, we're seeing the
deadline completely pushed back to exactly where it was in July, when the 90-day pause takes place.
The difference, of course, here is the threat for the E.U. if trade talks don't go well, it's no longer the 20 percent tariff level which was being
threatened earlier with the so-called Liberation Day, the reciprocal tariffs. It's now 50 percent.
[10:40:10]
Throughout this discussion, though, the E.U. has made very clear that if trade talks fail, they will also implement retaliatory tariffs. So, we're
really no further forwards. It's unclear what's really been gained as a result of this. We know that E.U.'s trade commissioner will be speaking
with U.S. commerce secretary later today.
We know there was a very nice call between President Trump and E.U. commission president.
ANDERSON: It's good to have you. Thank you.
Let's get you up to speed on some of the other stories that are on our radar right now.
And North Korea has arrested four people in connection to its failed warship launch last week, according to state-run media. Kim Jong-un called
the botch launch a criminal act after the accident left the country's newest 5,000-ton destroyer like this, toppled on its side and partially
submerged in a shipyard.
Well earlier today, Nicusor Dan was sworn in as president of Romania during a ceremony in the country's parliament. He defeated hard-right candidate
George Simion, a vocal supporter of Donald Trump, in elections held last week.
Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla are kicking off a royal visit to Canada with a two-day visit there. On Tuesday, Charles will open Canadian
Parliament with a Speech from the Throne, as it is called in the Senate Chamber.
The trip the scene is highly symbolic, showing his support for Canada, during what are these strained relations with the United States.
Well, President Donald Trump, voicing optimism about us negotiations with Iran. Tehran, offering a slightly different view on those talks.
CNN's interview with Iran's foreign ministry spokesman is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: U.S. President Donald Trump says U.S. negotiators have made real progress with nuclear talks with Iran, while Tehran appears to have a
slightly different view of this. The fifth round of what are these indirect talks over the weekend were mediated by Omani officials in Rome.
Well, Mr. Trump says he loved to reach a deal with Iran so that a military strike can be avoided. Here is more from the U.S. president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We had some very good talks with Iran yesterday and today, and let's see what happens. But I think we
could have some good news on the Iran front.
Having to do with nuclear, we've had some very, very good talks with Iran. And I don't know if I'll be telling you anything good or bad over the next
two days. But I have a feeling I might be telling you something good. We've had some real progress, serious progress.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, CNN's Frederik Pleitgen, spoke to Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson about the negotiations. Tehran does appear to be open to
continued talks, but acknowledges that major differences still exist. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[10:45:06]
ESMAIL BAGHAEI, SPOKESPERSON, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTERY (through translator): If the intention is to make sure that Iran's nuclear program
would not be weaponized. I think that's something that we could simply do it.
But if the intention is to deprive Iranians of their right to offer peaceful nuclear energy, I think that would be very problematic, to the
extent that I think it would really challenge the whole process.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Do you think the Trump administration and negotiator Witkoff have acknowledged that?
Understand that?
BAGHAEI: The fact that so far we have continued our talks, means that we understand there is certain level of understanding that Iran cannot, under
any circumstances, give up its right to peaceful nuclear energy, including enrichment thing.
PLEITGEN: How do you think a compromise can be reached?
BAGHAEI: I think, if really there is a way, there is ways. There is not only one way, there are so many ways to take care of that. As far as we are
concerned, because we know our nuclear program is absolutely peaceful, and we have committed ourselves to make sure that the program will remain
peaceful.
PLEITGEN: President Trump also seems to insinuate that the alternative to an agreement could be military action by the US and Israel. Do you feel
that pressure in the negotiations. And how does Iran feel about such threats?
BAGHAEI: That would be certainly not helpful. You know, Iranians would not be conducive to any sort of pressure. We have proved so many times for the
past century and beyond that, that Iranians would not respond positively to any sort of coercion on treasure.
So, when it comes to using that language, Iranians will come with one voice, and we will certainly defend our national security.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That was Fred Pleitgen with that interview from Tehran.
Well, Trump is escalating his attacks on Harvard University. He is now threatening to cut off $3 billion in federal funding and give it to trade
schools.
Mr. Trump demanding the names and countries of thousands of international students at the Ivy League college. He suggested that foreign countries
which -- some of which he says are hostile to the United States, should contribute funding to educate their students.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Part of the problem with Harvard is that, you know, there are about 31 percent -- almost 31 percent of foreigners coming to Harvard. We give
them billions of dollars, which is ridiculous. We do grants, which we are probably not going to be doing much grants anymore to Harvard, but there
are 31 percent. But they refuse to tell us who the people are.
We want to know who the people. Now, a lot of the foreign students, we wouldn't have a problem with. I'm not going to have a problem with foreign
students, but it shouldn't be 31 percent. It's too much, because we have Americans that want to go there and to other places, and they can't go
there because you have 31 percent foreign.
Now, no foreign government contributes money to Harvard. We do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, the Harvard notes on its website at least that foreign students are not eligible for any federal funding. The President's comments
come just days after a judge temporarily halted his administration from banning Harvard's international students.
More on this as we get it, of course, and more news after this short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:50:11]
ANDERSON: The French president is dismissing any claims of drama between he and his wife after cameras caught what appears to be a shove from Mr.
Macron wife after they touched down in Vietnam.
CNN's Saskya Vandoorne with the details.
SASKYA VANDOORNE, CNN FIELD PRODUCER: This short video of President Macron and his wife Brigitte, pushing his face as they land in Vietnam is going
viral, and has caught the attention of Russian trolls.
Later, Macron appears to offer his arm, but France's first lady opts to hold the railing instead.
The Elysee Palace initially denied anything unusual had happened, calling it a moment of togetherness and playful teasing. In a statement, Macron,
later told journalists he was surprised by the attempts to twist the moment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EMMANUEL MACRON, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE (through translator): There is a video now which opens we're in the middle of bickering and rather joking with my
wife, and I'm surprised by how this becomes a kind of geo-planetary catastrophe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VANDOORNE: French officials say the moment will likely feed the mills of conspiracy theorists and Russian trolls.
It's already become a target for pro-Russian accounts and Russian state media who viewed it as a possible opportunity to spread misinformation.
And this isn't the first time. Earlier this month, prominent Kremlin officials claimed Macron was using cocaine on a train trip to Kiev with
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Metz.
French officials say a crumpled tissue was mistaken for a bag of drugs. Macron's office debunked the rumor with humor. Tweeting, "This is a tissue
for blowing your nose."
Officials say, these efforts are part of a wider Kremlin campaign to undermine Europe's steadfast support for Ukraine in the war against Russia.
Saskya Vandoorne, CNN, Paris.
ANDERSON: When it comes to dangerous sports, you may think the fun of skydiving, mountain climbing, or maybe whitewater rafting. But how about
cheese rolling? Cheese rolling. That's right.
Each year, thousands of spectators and competitors from around the world head to a hill in the hot -- cots worlds, which is west of London, and
chase a Double Gloucester cheese wheel down a hill.
My colleague sports -- "WORLD SPORT" colleague, Don Riddell, managed to catch up with 23-time winner, Chris Anderson, and asked him how to win and
stay in one piece.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DON RIDDELL, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR (voice over): It's one of the most dangerous races in the world, and certainly one of the most ridiculous.
A 200-yard dash down a steep English hillside in pursuit of a wheel of Double Gloucester. The cheese is the prize, but just finishing in one piece
should also be considered a triumph.
CHRIS ANDERSON, 23-TIME WINNER (through translator): There is potential for, like, some serious injury. Basically, you enter at your own risk. I
think, the worst injuries we've sort of had have been like legs and ankles being broken.
RIDDELL (voice over): Nobody has been more successful on Cooper's Hill than Chris Anderson. He is won a world record, 23 cheeses. But even he has felt
some pain. He broke his ankle, celebrating his first win, and a couple of years later, when he won again, he crossed the finish line unconscious.
RIDDELL: For anybody that's maybe going to try it for the first time, can you just tell them how to win the world's craziest race? How do you do it?
C. ANDERSON (through translator): You've just got to have a disregard for your own safety. The initial first 10 meters, like, near vertical. So,
you've literally, just got to, like, almost dive into it, just try and run. Stay on your feet, and if you fall, get up as quick as you can.
RIDDELL (voice over): Given the obvious peril, it's no surprise that the runners might want a splash of alcohol for some Dutch courage.
But Anderson says he would never drink more than a single can of lager.
C. ANDERSON (through translator): I always saw that if you were drunk and you break something, there is not a great deal they can give you for the
pain. So, I just always try to do it sober as possible.
RIDDELL: They have been chasing cheese here since the 1800s if not earlier, and with the advent of the Internet age, it has become world famous.
Thousands of people attend every year, and the winners have come from as far afield as New Zealand, Egypt, and the United States.
ABBY LAMPE, TWO-TIME WINNER: My face took a lot of hits down the hill, so did my body, but at -- that's the cost that it takes to win the cheese
rolling.
RIDDELL: American Abby Lampe is a two-time champion. She is running again and hoping for a third title this year.
At the age of 37, Anderson is recovering from a hip injury and says he's retired,
[10:55:02]
Although he could be tempted to run again one day, if his son decides to follow in his footsteps down the hill,
C. ANDERSON (through translator): I'd be happy for him to run it, but I'd like him run down it at a good sort of speed, because the most dangerous
going slow and get hit by somebody from behind. So, I'd like him to be quick enough to get away from the carnage.
RIDDELL (voice over): But if he does run again, Anderson says it won't be for the cheese. Believe it or not, he doesn't like the taste. Don Riddell,
CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: No relation as far -- as far as I know, he's been crazy, isn't he?
Finally, our "PARTING SHOTS", one of the world's most active volcanoes erupting as we speak. Take a look at Kilauea volcano, erupting on the Big
Island of Hawaii. Some of the lava fountains rose more than 300 meters in the air. And as sea, lava rose higher, the USGS says seismic tremors
increase.
This eruption is happening in a closed part of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Look at that.
That's it for CONNECT THE WORLD. Stay with CNN. "ONE WORLD" is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
