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Connect the World
Two Planes Shot Down in 1996 Carried Anti-Castro Group; Xi & Putin Hold Talks, Sign Agreements During Beijing Meeting; DOJ Settlement Bars IRS From Investigating Trump & His Family; Fans Celebrated as Arsenal Crowned Premier League Champions; Trump to Give Commencement Speech at Coast Guard Academy; Mango Founder's Son Arrested in Connection to Father's Death. Aired 9-10a ET
Aired May 20, 2026 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[09:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Well, this is the scene in the Cuban capital, Havana. Sources tell CNN the U.S. Justice Department is
expected to indict Former President Raul Castro. It's 09:00 a.m. in Havana. It is 05:00 p.m. here in Abu Dhabi.
From our Middle East programming headquarters, I'm Becky Anderson. You're watching "Connect the World". Also coming up, his name wasn't on the
ballot, but some crucial U.S. primary results show that President Donald Trump's grip on the Republican Party is very real.
We're live in the U.S. State of Kentucky this hour. Plus, Russian President Vladimir Putin gets a red-carpet welcome from the Chinese leader in
Beijing. The stock market in New York opens about 30 minutes from now. And futures indicating a relatively decent start.
The trading day arrows pointing higher for the three main indices. Will be live for the bell at 09:30 a.m. New York time. We start with a looming
criminal prosecution against a former world leader more than three decades in the making, just hours from now. The U.S. Justice Department is expected
to announce an indictment against Former Cuban President Raul Castro.
Sources familiar with the matter say the charges will focus on Castro's alleged role in ordering the shooting down of two civilian aircraft in
1996, when he served as Cuba's Defense Minister. Well, the attack by two Cuban fighter jets killed four people three of them Americans.
Patrick Oppmann is connecting us this hour from Havana. And Patrick it's good to have you. A very basic question to kick this off. Why is this
happening now? Is it clear?
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, this is all part of a pressure campaign, of course, to bring the Cuban government to the negotiating table
and make major concessions. It's an indictment that is 30 years in the making. It has been debated by various administrations.
And there may be new evidence to connect Raul Castro, the shoot down. But you know he was, of course, as you mentioned, the defense minister when
these planes being piloted by Cuban American pilots, sometimes coming into Cuban airspace to drop anti-government leaflets.
They were shot down in international waters over 30 years ago. And so, it's never been a secret that he would have been involved in ordering these MiGs
to go out and shoot down unarmed planes, you know, something that has had an impact on Cuban-U.S. relations back then.
It led to tighter economic sanctions. Only Congress, following a shoot down, can lift the U.S. embargo on this island, and we still continue to
feel the reverberations up until today. So, this is perhaps setting the scene, of course, for what happened to Nicolas Maduro. He was also under
U.S. indictment when U.S. troops came and seized him.
So that is certainly going to be in Cuban officials' minds going forward. Now that apparently Raul Castro also faces an indictment for this episode
that took place more than 30 years ago.
ANDERSON: So, Patrick, Raul Castro is now no longer President of Cuba, of course. He's 94 years old. Where is he? And realistically, what will happen
next after this indictment is unsealed?
OPPMANN: So, you're very right. Raul Castro is 94. We saw him on May Day. He makes less and less public appearances, but he did come out on May Day,
and he needed help to walk. He's a man of his age. He's still the most powerful figure on this island. All major decisions are run through Raul
Castro.
I recently spoke with his daughter, and she said he's very much involved in the negotiations with the U.S. So, despite his age, despite his announced
retirement, you know, he is in charge of the Cuban military. He has picked himself every major political and military official that wields power on
this island.
He's considered to be the leader of the Cuban Revolution. That's still a title that he -- that is used, so it's not like some former president who's
gone off to retire. Raul Castro is the ultimate authority on this island. The idea that Cuban officials would entertain, that he would be handed over
to the U.S.'s preposterous.
[09:05:00]
Officials here said they will fight to the death if the U.S. comes for him. And that is something, a threat they take very, very seriously at this
moment.
ANDERSON: It's good to have you, Patrick. Thank you very much indeed. Patrick Oppmann is in Havana, in Cuba. Well, China says its relationship
with Russia is entering a quote, new stage, the red carpet was out, and there was plenty of applause in the room as China's Leader hosted Russian
President Vladimir Putin in Beijing today, just days after U.S. President Donald Trump's state visit to China.
Of course, President Xi calling ties with Russia a force of calm amid chaos, his words. President Putin meantime says Russia's relationship with
Beijing has reached what he calls an unprecedented high level.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VLADIMIR PUTIN, PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA: It is based on the principles of equality and consideration of each other's interests, mutual support,
friendship, and genuine good neighborliness. Our goal is the well-being and prosperity of the Russian and Chinese peoples.
These unshakeable foundations have enabled our relations to successfully withstand repeated tests of strength and resilience.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, let's get you to Beijing and to CNN's Mike Valerio. Let's just start in a relatively narrow sort of frame, and then we'll pull out.
What agreements have been signed today in Beijing. This certainly sort of being feels like it's been plugged as the world's latest sort of special
relationship, Mike.
MIKE VALERIO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, and I think that's exactly the kind of framing that they want to put forward, and that both China and Russia
would say that they were successful at tonight and throughout the past 25 years. So, the deals, so far 20 plus documents, Becky, have been signed.
But unfortunately, I come to the table, we don't know what the specifics are yet. They're both at tea right now, a late-night tea before Vladimir
Putin goes back to Moscow. So, we think that we'll know the specifics of those deals, ranging from AI to energy cooperation, more economic
cooperation, as this thing wraps up, but you know, again, why they are here.
This is to celebrate the 25th anniversary of really the friendship treaty between Russia and China. If you're a student of history, if you live
through it, you know that relations between China and the then Soviet Union in the 60s, especially, were at an idea, and they decided in 2001 to
venture through this new partnership together.
And what we see, the imagery in the pageantry, these are both nations saying to anyone in the global south or throughout the global community, if
you are not satisfied with American and Western leadership, these are Russia and China trying to protect an alternative counterweight to American
leadership.
So, what we've been able to discern so far through the joint statements really speak to that. Chinese and Russian economic goals, for example,
continue to expand settlements when we're talking about trade through their own national currencies, the U.N. and the ruble, with less dependence on
the American dollar, deepening banking cooperation in order to build economic systems able to withstand Western pressure and sanctions over the
long term.
So again, two giants of global international relations, saying that they are going to spend the next 25 years trying to break away from the American
system, the Western international order, as they see it. China and Russia also planning, pledging expanded economic cooperation, specifically with
artificial intelligence, an arena that the Americans lead in right now.
Oil, gas, coal, nuclear energy, and renewable energy also expected to see deals on that front, and military exercises, that comes as no surprise to
us in this newsroom. More deep in military exercises. But certainly, worth knowing given the geopolitical tensions in this part of the neighborhood in
East Asia.
So again, their meeting is wrapping up right now, but you know, so much commentary this compared to Trump's visit only a week ago. You know, I
think how we would see it is we saw the truce on display, but this is now trust, truce versus trust, and when you see Vladimir Putin talking to Xi
Jinping, in language such as one day apart feels like three autumns.
Again, the Russian Leader saying that to his Chinese counterpart, that is language reserved only for one person, that we did not see Xi Jinping
deliver to Donald Trump in Zhongnanhai when they were observing the trees and walking around the middle of the Chinese government compound that very
few people get to see.
So, it's clear that this relationship, both of these world leaders are trying to position it again as a new special relationship that other
nations, especially in the global south, can follow, Becky.
[09:10:00]
ANDERSON: And Mike, Vladimir Putin is not an infrequent visitor to Beijing, he was there back in September. You could argue that he is in a weaker
position during this trip than he was back end of last year.
VALERIO: Yes.
ANDERSON: I just wonder if President Xi, in a sort of from 10,000 feet, is looking to position himself as a sort of global power broker. You know,
what sort of conversations do we do we believe they might have had, leaving aside the sort of bilateral trade deals?
What sort of conversations do we believe they may have had on, for example, Ukraine, Iran, and indeed the United States?
VALERIO: Well, I think the trade plays a big part in it, because I mean the Chinese economy is really giving a lifeline to Russia in their moment of
war. And you're exactly right. I'm so glad you brought that up. Our CNN reporting from our colleagues in Kyiv, and especially Moscow, really
conveying, since the earlier part of the week, that drone strike with more than 500 drones going into the Moscow region, showing that this certainly
is a new chapter for the war in Ukraine, where Ukraine, right now, is gaining more territory than Russia is amassing.
So, it remains to be seen, China is walking a very careful line. They're trying, as I'm sure you've been able to, into it from what they say at the
United Nations, what they say from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs up the street, that they, in this conflict, are ostensibly a neutral party,
walking a very tight, careful line, trying to say that they respect the sovereignty of all nations.
But Ukraine would certainly take issue with that, saying that, you know, paraphrasing for the sake of our conversation, you can't bankroll Russia's
economy and say that you're standing up for our sovereignty. So, stand by. I'm not going to speculate on what conversations are especially happening
with Ukraine.
Iran, though, could be interesting because China is looking to stabilize its energy supply. And could they be asking for more liquefied natural gas
and gas supplies from Iran? When you know not everybody here drives an electric car, when factories need to be refining jet fuel, when factories
need petroleum imported through the Strait of Hormuz to operate.
So, stand by for more answers on that. Hopefully, by the time everything is said and done, we should have a little bit more clarity.
ANDERSON: Yeah, it's fascinating, isn't it? Good to have you there in Beijing. Mike, thank you very much indeed. Well, U.S. President Donald
Trump back in the U.S., of course, and strengthening his grip on the Republican party, after one of his most vocal party critics lost his
reelection bid on Tuesday.
Thomas Massie, on the left, was defeated in Kentucky by the Trump-recruited challenger at Ed Gallrein a result that marks another victory in Trump's
campaign to punish Republican dissent. These were primaries by the way. Listen to Gallrein and thank the president for his endorsement.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ED GALLREIN, U.S. HOUSE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE: I want to thank President Trump for his support, his endorsement and his counsel as I navigated this
campaign, which is a journey of unto itself, and for his courageous leadership of our nation at this critical time. I want to emphasize that
this critical time and juncture in history. Thank you, Mr. President.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that primary season continues to set the stage now for November's midterm elections that could ultimately shift the balance of
power in Washington. CNN's Jeff Zeleny, following election results for us from Covington in Kentucky. Massie's defeat there, Jeff, follows previous
election losses for other Trump dissenters, including, as I understand it, five lawmakers in Indiana and Louisiana, including Senator Bill Cassidy.
What kind of message does this, what's being dubbed Trump revenge plan send?
JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF U.S. NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, basically it is simple, if you defy Trump, if you do not, you know, have
100 percent a feeling of loyalty, he will come after you, and he will defeat you. And that is what Thomas Massie, who's been in Congress for 14
years, saw last night.
It was the most expensive House primary contest in U.S. history. More than $32 million spent in advertising on a race that will not determine the
balance of power, because this seat will be a Republican seat in deeply conservative Kentucky, but it was a chance for the president to exact some
revenge on Thomas Massie.
[09:15:00]
Now an interesting point is Thomas Massie and Bill Cassidy, for that matter, are going nowhere for the rest of the year, so they will still be
in Washington in their congressional seats, perhaps being a thorn in the side of the president, but listen to what Congressman Massie said in his
concession speech last night that sounded like anything else.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. THOMAS MASSIE (R-KY): While gas is almost $5 and diesel is almost 6. They're talking about this big ballroom they're going to build, and it
looks like the Roman Empire architecture from the Roman Empire. I see a few analogies there, and people are just trying to make ends meet.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZELENY: So, Congressman Massie, perhaps stating the point that really is on the mind of many voters, that costs are so high because of the Iran war,
because of the rising oil prices, the price of diesel and gasoline is a central issue for voters. So, yes, a bit of revenge was exacted, but the
question is, what does that mean for the broader point of Republicans and the president holding on to their power in November? It may mean very
little, actually.
ANDERSON: Yeah, there are some key primary elections still to go that we should be watching. They can also play a critical role, of course, in
shifting that balance of power in Washington. So, as we close this out, what -- you know for the international viewer, what's the key message here?
ZELENY: Well, the key message is Texas next Tuesday, obviously the largest state here in the U.S., that Texas primary on Tuesday? President Trump
yesterday defied the wish of Republicans and endorsed a man named Ken Paxton against a longtime incumbent Senator John Cornyn.
So, what that likely means is Texas is going to be a competitive race for the next six months. We talked earlier this year about this Democrat, this
rising star named James Talarico. Could a Democrat actually win in the State of Texas? We'll find out. I mean, that's certainly no guarantee.
It may even be a long shot. But what President Trump is doing by filling that revenge list, if you will, could be making it much harder for his
party come November, Becky.
ANDERSON: It was good to have you, Jeff. Thank you. Jeff is in Kentucky, where the time is quarter past nine in the morning, quarter past five here
in Abu Dhabi from our Middle East programming headquarters.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard is threatened that war will extend beyond the region if it is attacked by the U.S. again. Now, that warning follows
comments from U.S. President Trump that he was just an hour away from launching new strikes on Iran. He says he postponed the attack at the
request of allies in the Middle East, including here in the UAE.
Vice President JD Vance told reporters that the administration is working hard to conclude a deal with the Iranian government, but that its
negotiating position, he says, is unclear. That being the Iranians. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JD VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: What I think is that the Iranians want to make a deal. What I think is that the Iranians
recognize that a nuclear weapon is the red line for the United States of America, that they've internalized that, but we're not going to know until
we're actually putting pen to paper on signing a deal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Vance, who led the U.S. delegation in talks last month, of course, in Pakistan, insisted that the conflict would not become a forever
war. Right, when we come back, as the DRC and Uganda grapple with Ebola, global health officials say they are only now starting to realize the true
scale of that outbreak. We're going to have the very latest on that after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:20:00]
ANDERSON: World Health Organization says that the Ebola outbreak has likely been spreading unchecked for a couple of months in the DRC and in Uganda.
The U.N. chief says there are hundreds more suspected cases, on top of more than 130 deaths.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS, W.H.O. DIRECTOR-GENERAL: There are several factors that warrant serious concern about the potential for further spread
and further deaths, first beyond the confirmed cases, there are almost 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths.
We expect those numbers to keep increasing, given the amount of time the virus was circulating before the outbreak was detected.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, he clarified that, while the outbreak presents a high national and regional risk, it is not an international pandemic. The W.H.O.
noted there could be a potential vaccine against the strain driving the spread, but that it could take six to nine months to develop.
-- organization also says an investigation is now underway to determine when and where the outbreak began. Let's get Larry Madowo on this for you.
He's across the very latest. Let's start with the story on the ground. What do we know about the worst hit areas, and what precautionary measures are
being put in place to stop the spread, Larry?
LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, the Congolese government, with its partners, have set up several treatment centers, and they're scaling up the
community sensitization and risk communication, so that anybody who might exhibit symptoms, who might come, have come into contact with somebody
who's infected, can show up for treatment.
That is the only way they can contain the spread, so they're currently doing that, while they've sent in about 17 tons of lab equipment and
personnel from the World Health Organization, from the Africa CDC, from the Congolese government, all converging in Bunia, in Ituri Province, in the
northeast of DRC, where this outbreak is.
But there are still some concerns, because this is a very remote part of the country where they don't have a lot of medical infrastructure in the
best of times. I want you to listen to one doctor explaining what they're dealing with right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ISAAC MUGENI, MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF RWAMPARA GENERAL HOSPITAL: Although we keep receiving cases, we don't have enough space to admit and hospitalize
them. We have set up a tent right here already, and perhaps we will need another one to try to isolate patients in the immediate future.
There aren't enough medications, protective equipment, or even staff. We will also need support to try and increase the number of staff who can
actually take care of these patients.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MADOWO: It is critically important that people like him, medical workers on the front lines of dealing with this outbreak, get out all the equipment,
all the PPE, all the lab material they need to make sure this does not spread any further, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yeah understood. Larry, good to have you. Thank you. Well, the victims of a deadly shooting at a San Diego Mosque are being hailed as
heroes for preventing the attackers from moving deeper into the building, and for helping save lives.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAWAA ABDULLAH, DAUGHTER OF SECURITY GUARD KILLED IN MOSQUE SHOOTING: My dad was the number one advocate for safety and keeping our community safe.
He stood against any form of hate. He took his job seriously to protect everyone here.
He would want our community to stand together as one. That's exactly what he would want. And I hope this moment we can all come together and to be
kind to one another and to remember who he truly was.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, an emotional tribute there from the daughter of the security guard who died as he defended the Islamic Center of San Diego
during the attack on Monday. He was one of three people killed. The FBI says two teen suspects who died of apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds
appear to have been radicalized online where they met, and their manifesto has been recovered by law enforcement.
[09:25:00]
The shooting is being investigated as a hate crime. I want to get you up to speed on some of the other stories that are on our radar right now. And the
final two bodies of the Italian scuba divers who died in the Maldives last week have now been recovered. They were among five who died after entering
a deep-water cave.
Efforts to retrieve their remains were briefly suspended following the death of a diver involved in the recovery operation. Well, the U.S.
Internal Revenue Service, the IRS, is now barred from prosecuting or pursuing claims against President Trump, his family, and companies for past
tax issues.
It's part of a settlement to resolve his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over alleged mishandling of his tax records. Congressional Democrats
call it outright corruption. Well celebrations in North London, where Arsenal have been crowned the English Premier League champions for the
first time in 22 years.
Manchester City failed to beat Bournemouth on Tuesday, and that result put an end to what might have been Pep Guardiola's final title challenge with
City, who are now second in the league. Well, we are minutes from the opening bell on Wall Street. Well, U.S. stocks continue their pullback from
record highs after the bond market flashed a real warning sign this week for the state of the U.S. economy, that is just ahead. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back. I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi. You're watching "Connect the World". Your headlines this hour, the U.S. Justice Department
is expected to announce an indictment against Former Cuban President Raul Castro in the coming hours.
Sources familiar with the matter say the charges will focus on Castro's alleged role in ordering the shooting down of two civilian aircraft in
1996, when he served as Cuba's Defense Minister. Four people on board those planes were killed. Well U.S. President Trump has succeeded in ousting
another Republican party rival on Tuesday.
Congressman Thomas Massie lost the primary for Kentucky's fourth House district to tie Trump recruited challenger Ed Gallrein. The election viewed
as a key test of Trump's grip on the Republican Party. Well China's Leader has been hosting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing just days
after U.S. President Donald Trump was also welcomed there.
President Xi says Beijing's relationship with Russia is entering a quote, new stage.
[09:30:00]
Well, the World Health Organization has said the deadly Ebola outbreak spreading across the DRC in Uganda likely started a couple of months ago.
The organization noted an investigation is underway to determine when and where the spread began. So far, 139 deaths are thought to be linked to the
outbreak.
Let's get you to New York. The bell is about to ring, or has just rung. There you go. CEO of investment bank Lincoln International doing the honors
today, and his team there have been very excited about the whole thing, and we will see how stocks are getting on. Certainly, we expected, given what
was going on the futures market to see a better start to the trading day.
And we've got that about a quarter of 1 percent higher. And we'll keep an eye on those other markets for you as they settle down. We are also
watching how the 30-year U.S. bond markets are doing, 30 years, sorry, the bond markets in general, the 30-year bond hit a 19 year high this week.
A 19 year high that comes amid fears of inflation and high interest rates. CNN's David Goldman filed this report on Tuesday when U.S. markets were
down. He explains what it could mean for the global economy and for your wallet.
DAVID GOLDMAN, CNN BUSINESS SENIOR REPORTER: So there's a market that you don't think about all the time that's more important than the stock market
right now, and it is sending a worrying signal about the economy, and that's the bond market, which you can think of like a scale, and when
prices go down, the yield or the interest rate that it pays goes up.
And that is happening big time right now, as bond prices are falling like a rock, and yields are going higher, and the reason that's happening is all
of that negative stuff that's happening in the economy right now, and you can think about it like the cost of inflation, or the amount that we need
to finance the debt, all of those war costs.
We also have potential rate hikes, and all the money that we're paying for AI. And then, of course, all the consumer spending that fuels all of this,
and so the prices are falling, and yields are rising. Actually, the 30-year yield just hit a 19-year high, and the benchmark 10-year yield, well,
that's at its highest since 2025 and that's a problem, because all of those consumer loans that are pegged to the 10-year yield, well, those are rising
too.
Think credit card loan rates and mortgage rates, auto loans, all of that has to do with the yield of those bonds. It's not just consumers, it's also
businesses, and they have to pay more money, and that means that their stock prices might start to fall. In fact, the stock market is falling
today, and also the government needs to pay a lot more to finance its debt.
So, when you think about why the bond market matters so much, the problems with the economy mean problems for your wallet.
ANDERSON: Let's discuss this with Art Hogan. He's Chief Market Strategist with B. Riley Financial. What is it specifically that you see as spooking
bond investors in the U.S. and globally at this point and why?
ART HOGAN, CHIEF MARKET STRATEGIST WITH B. RILEY FINANCIAL: Well, a couple things. I think first and foremost, last week we got two inflation reports,
while very much in line with consensus, very, very hot, right? So, PPI with a 6 percent handle, again something we haven't seen going all the way back
20-some-odd years.
CPI again a hotter number. Now a lot of that driven by higher energy prices. And I think that while we went through the earnings reporting
season, investors were able to kind of ignore the macro, but after last week with the two hot inflation prints, that's become impossible, and the
treasury market is telling us exactly what we should be thinking about.
I think the setup for this was perfect, talking about what that means to investors, but what it also means to consumers. So, the 10-year yield,
which had been in a 4 to 4.4 percent range for the last four months is now flirting with 4.7 percent and --
ANDERSON: All right, I'm going to have to stop you there. Art, apologies, we're competing with Donald Trump, who is speaking on the tarmac in
Washington. So, I'm just going to -- forgive me. Let's just listen in to what he's saying. The shot is a little unstable, I have to tell you at the
moment, folks, but let's just listen in.
We don't have any audio from there at present. He's clearly speaking to some reporters. It's been a successful night for Donald Trump in the U.S.
primaries in a number of states.
[09:35:00]
So, we have to assume that he will either address that or certainly take questions on the U.S. primaries. People still very enthusiastic to find out
what's going on in Iran, of course, as well with Iran. I think we've got his sound now. Let's have a listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: -- I think he'll win. I think probably he'll win very substantially, and I think he'll go on
to defeat a very defective candidate, a candidate that believes in six genders, and he takes hits at Jesus Christ.
And he's wearing a mask six months ago, wears a guy, anybody wearing a mask six months ago doesn't get it, and he's a vegan, he's a vegan in Texas, and
you can't get elected as a vegan in Texas.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You talked to Senate leadership on the Republican side about enforcing against an incumbent.
TRUMP: I did. I did. They'll be all right with it. They want to win. I know how to win. Some of them don't know how to win. I know how to win. I think
I've proven that, haven't I?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you worried about the ballroom funding, Mr. President?
TRUMP: No. I'm not worried.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's speculation --
TRUMP: The ballrooms are being built. I'm building the ballroom. You saw it yesterday, right?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah.
TRUMP: We're building a great ballroom. It's been needed. It's a very military complex. The roof is actually a drone port. The roof of the
ballroom is a drone port, and it gives great safety to everything below. We're building a really great ballroom, but it's also a military, a strong
military position for our people.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- better in the press briefing route, sir?
TRUMP: Do I think who?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Vance or Rubico did better in the press briefing?
TRUMP: I think they both did great. What do you want me to say? Right, I think they both do. You like that? That's pretty good, though, right? I
think they both did good. I watched both of them, both very good men, really.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did you -- Prime Minister Netanyahu.
TRUMP: But her husband votes against me all the time -- I don't know what's with him. You better ask him what's with him. Her husband, she's married to
a certain congressman. He votes. He likes voting against Trump. You know what happens with that doesn't work out well. I don't know why he does.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. President, are you going to want? Do you have any plans to call President Lai before you make your decision on the arms deal?
TRUMP: Yeah.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you have any plans to call President Lai of Taiwan before you make a decision on the weapons package?
TRUMP: Well, I'll speak to him. I speak to everybody. We have that situation very well in hand. We had a great meeting with President Xi. It
was amazing. Actually, it was amazing. Many of you were there. We'll work on that Taiwan problem.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What have you said to Prime Minister Netanyahu about Iran, and how long to hold off on strike?
TRUMP: -- he'll do whatever I want him to do. He is very good man. He'll do whatever I want him to do, and he said he's a great guy. To me, he's a
great guy. Don't forget, he was a wartime prime minister, and he's not treated right in Israel, in my opinion. I'm right now at 99 percent in
Israel.
I could run for prime minister, so maybe after I do this, I'll go to Israel, run for prime minister. At a poll this morning, I'm 99 percent, so
that's good. But now, he's a wartime prime minister. I just don't think they treat him well.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. President --
TRUMP: I think they have a president over there that treats him very poorly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- understand -- with Iran?
TRUMP: Yeah.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. President -- anyone about replacing Lauren Boebert --
TRUMP: If somebody comes along, I'd look. It's a little late in the race, but if somebody comes along, I'd look, certainly.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- and true, sir. Do you see yourself in him at all? A former reality TV star.
TRUMP: I'd like to see him do well. He's a character. I don't know. I don't know him. I assume he probably supports me. Does he support me? Yeah, I
heard he does. I heard he's a big MAGA person. He's doing well. I don't know if you have a rigged vote out there, that's the problem.
The votes are rigged. You have a really rigged vote in California. You have all the mail-in ballots, everything else. Very hard to win, because the
elections are very dishonest. If we had Jesus Christ come down and count the votes, I would have won California, because I do great with Hispanics,
but it's a rigged vote.
They said that 38 million votes. Nobody knows where they're going, of course. The Democrats disproportionately, Democrats get many more votes.
Some get eight votes, they get eight cards, and Republicans have to call in, where's my card? It's a rigged system. One of the most, not the worst.
I'll give you a list, maybe I'll do my list, but it's California's one of the most dishonest states for learning.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's your message to the cadets today?
TRUMP: Just enjoy your life, you know, enjoy it. Great guys, it's my second time at the Coast Guard Academy.
[09:40:00]
They're great guys, we like them, you know, you don't really realize how important Coast Guard is until you have a hurricane. I remember the big
hurricane in Texas, where these kids go on boats and they go into the waves that are 20 times higher than the boat, and I say, can they really make it?
I'm watching this. And they say they find a way, but they were going into waves, these massive waves, to save people that were inside, and you don't
realize it, but boy, they are good, they are good seamen, they are unbelievable. I wouldn't want to do it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. President --
TRUMP: I'm a very brave person. I wouldn't want to do it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What you -- President Xi meeting with Putin this week?
TRUMP: Well, he told me he was going to, I think it's good. I get along with both of them, but I think it's good. I don't know if the ceremony is
quite as brilliant as mine. I watched. I think we topped him. I think we topped him, good team, but no, I like, I get along with Putin, I get along
with, I get along with everybody, but your husband and a few others.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: On the Iran deal would you be open to a limited deal that just covered the Strait of Hormuz?
TRUMP: What does that mean?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: On Iran, it's a limited deal, just for a longer ceasefire.
TRUMP: We'd have to open the strait, that would open immediately. So, we're going to give this one shot. I'm in no hurry. You never think, oh, the
midterms, I'm in a hurry. I'm in no hurry. I just ideally, I'd like to see few people killed, as opposed to a lot. We can do it either way, but I'd
like to see few people killed.
I just wonder whether or not they have the good of the people, because some of the things they're doing to me means they don't have the good of the
people, and they have to have the good of the people. There's a lot of anger now in Iran because people are living so badly, there's a lot of
foment that we haven't seen before so much, and we'll see what happens.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- longer than you expected it would to make a deal with Iran.
TRUMP: Well, let's put it this way, you were in Vietnam 19 years, you were in Afghanistan and these other places, 10 years, you were in Iraq. How long
were you in Iraq? 12, 12 years. You were in Korea for seven years. World War Two is different. That was four years. I'm in for three months, and
much of it's been ceasefire so.
And you know what, you lost hundreds of thousands of soldiers in these various wars, in two wars, Venezuela, where we lost nobody, and here we
lost 13 people. Now, 13 people is 13 too much, but we lost 13 people. In other words, you lost hundreds of thousands of people.
So, people don't like it when you say, oh, do you know you've lost 13. We lost in two major wars. We took over Venezuela. We essentially took over
Iran, and we've lost so far 13 people. Some other somebody else would have lost 100,000 people. OK. But I get a kick when I look at somebody on
television, he's lost 13 people.
I lost 13 people, they lost 13 people leaving an airport, Obama, 13 very good people that I got to know, their family. So, what we've done is
amazing, and we have them decimated, Iran is decimated. And I mean, you're going to see things that are amazing. You're going to see a lot of amazing
things over the next three years for our country.
And I'd like to talk more about the economics. We have $18 trillion being spent, and no country has ever had anything like that. We have car plants
pouring in from Mexico, Canada. They don't want to be there. There's no reason to be there, because they want to sell to our market.
We have car companies and plants coming in from Germany, from South Korea, from Japan, coming in by the billions, and they're being built now. You're
going to see things that nobody thought was possible.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. President --
TRUMP: He's the greatest president that ever lived. Goodbye, everybody.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- Mr. President, you suggested that there's still people in your DOJ and FBI that are waiting you out. They're waiting until
your administration is over to get back to work. Do you think those people are still in the DOJ and FBI?
TRUMP: I hope not. Well, we're going to seek them out. We'll seek him out. We'll get rid of them, OK, because you have in every agency you have scum.
And certainly, they did in the FBI and DOJ, but Todd Blanche is doing a fantastic job, Kash is doing a very good job, so well we will prevail.
I've been standing here a long time with you, many years, right, and they've been saying, I think it's it, I think he's trouble here I am, you
know, it's a very constant situation, but I think you're going to find that we have great people in the FBI and we have great people in DOJ.
Todd Blanche has really been doing a great job, and a lot of things to come. We have a lot of things that are coming right now, going to be great.
[09:45:00]
Right, our country is doing well. Thank you very much.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, Mr. President.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: All right, President Trump, there at Joint Base Andrews speaking on the target -- on the tarmac about myriads of things, not least the fact
that he's in no hurry on Iran says that the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, will do whatever he says with regard to what happens
next with Iran and various other things.
We'll pick up the threads of that press conference, or impromptu press conference, as it were, speaking to the press there on the tarmac after
this quick break. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, this week, all this week, we are exploring the global rise of Korean food as part of our K-Everything series, CNN original series with
Daniel Dae Kim. Alcohol in South Korea isn't just a pastime. OK. We -- I was thinking that we were going to that, but we're not going to go to that.
Let me do something else for you, and perhaps we'll come back to that. Drivers across the world are already dealing with rising gas prices ahead
of the busy summer travel season, and they are about to get hit in another way. The war with Iran may have created conditions for a motor oil supply
crunch. Well, now some industry experts are warning of shortages. CNN's Matt Egan has more.
MATT EGAN, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: Yeah, this is just the latest shoe to drop in the supply chain turmoil caused by the war in the Middle East. Wholesale
prices for motor oil are surging, and some industry executives are warning of an imminent shortage. Here's the problem.
Manufacturers are struggling to get their hands on the key raw material used to make motor oil. We're talking about something called Group Three
base oil. Normally, it's imported from the Middle East, but that's not happening right now, because the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.
Not only that, but a key facility producing those base oils was damaged during the war. And some of the backup options, like turning to refineries
in South Korea, that's not an option right now either, because those refineries in Asia, they're focused on making as much jet fuel and diesel
as they can.
They're not focused on base oil. So, look, this is a perfect storm for a small but critical part of the global oil market. And I talked to the CEO
of the trade group representing independent motor oil and lubricant manufacturers, and she told me it's just a big mess. She said, quote, we're
looking at shortages.
I have no doubt in my mind now. The main concern is those low viscosity motor oils that are very common in cars on the road today. In particular,
the industry is warning of a potential shortage of 0W-8, 16 and 20.
[09:50:00]
And that last one is the most important motor oil on the market. It is the go-to oil for newer vehicles, and this supply chain crunch it's already
lifting prices. Wholesale prices for some motor oils are going up six times faster than on a normal year, six times faster, that's according to Tom
Glenn.
He's the publisher of an industry publication called Jobbers World. And Glenn told me he's been in the industry since 1979. He said he's never seen
anything like this. He said that the magnitude and the frequency of the price increase today are quote, stunning and unheard of.
Now I reached out to the White House, and a spokesperson says that the president and his team, they did anticipate short-term disruptions to the
global energy market, and they are in touch with the industry and the private sector around these concerns. And the Energy Department says that
they're ready to take additional action if needed to avoid supply chain disruptions.
Now, Tom Glenn, the industry veteran, he told me that he suspects that work-arounds will be found here, because it's not like America is going to
stop driving cars. For instance, automakers, they could change how often they recommend cars get their oil changed.
They could also recommend some suboptimal oils as well, for the time being, of course, there's cost to that as well, if it ends up damaging engines.
All of this is just another reminder of how fragile global supply chains are, and how the war in the Middle East is raising the cost of living here
in America. Back to you.
ANDERSON: Well, a major shake-up has hit the world of Spanish fashion. On Tuesday, authorities arrested Jonathan Andic, who is the vice chairman of
the fast fashion retailer Mango. Now this comes as the death of his father, the company's founder, is now being investigated as a homicide. CNN's Anna
Cooban with the details.
ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINESS & ECONOMICS REPORTER: Jonathan Andic, the son of Isak Andic, the late founder of Mango, the Spanish fashion giant, was
arrested in Barcelona on Tuesday in connection with his father's death, which happened in December 2024.
This was a high-profile death, not just because of who Isak Andic was. He was one of the world's richest people, according to Forbes. At the time of
his death, aged 71, he had a net wealth of around 4.5 billion dollars, but it was high profile because of the way that he died.
Isak Andic plunged down a 320-foot ravine in a popular tourist destination near Barcelona. His death was initially viewed as an accident, but a
spokesperson for the High Court Justice of Barcelona said in a statement on Tuesday that his case, that this case is now being viewed as a potential
homicide.
Andic, who currently serves as the Vice Chairman of Mango's board, was arrested, detained, and questioned in a court near Barcelona on Tuesday. He
paid a 1-million-euro bail, that's according to a spokesperson for the High Court. A judge ordered Andic to surrender his passport, barred him from
leaving the country, and also mandated that he attend weekly court sessions.
A spokesperson for the Andic family told Reuters that they are fully confident in his innocence, and that Jonathan Andic is cooperating fully
with the authorities. Mango is a giant in global retail and in the Spanish fashion industry, and it's also doing pretty well. Last year it posted
double-digit sales growth, hitting $4.4 billion.
And so, this will be a highly followed case over the next few months. Anna Cooban, CNN, London.
ANDERSON: And we're going to take a very quick break. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:55:00]
ANDERSON: This week, we are exploring the global rise of Korean food as part of K-Everything, a CNN original series with Daniel Dae Kim. Alcohol in
South Korea isn't just a pastime. It's a way to unwind in a society that's typically reserved and where hierarchy rules. Daniel Dae Kim gets a
refresher now on Korean drinking etiquette with three legendary chefs and restaurateurs. Have a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANIEL DAE KIM, HOST OF K-EVERYTHING (voice-over): Korea's drinking culture, I can honestly say, is unlike any other I've experienced on earth.
For starters.
KIM: Who's the oldest? Who's the youngest?
KIM (voice-over): There are rules.
KIM: I'm the oldest. I'm the oldest, I'm sure of it.
KIM (voice-over): One, respect your elders.
MINGOO KANG, CHEF: Usually, the youngest person would offer a drink to the oldest person first.
KIM: When the youngest pores --
KANG: Yeah.
KIM: If he pours with two hands to everyone as a show of respect.
KIM (voice-over): Two, respect your boss.
KIM: And then it gets more complicated if you're in a work situation, right, because you have to know the job titles of everybody.
KANG: Yeah.
KIM: Wow.
KANG: Like yogurt.
KIM: It's like yogurt.
KIM (voice-over): And three, come prepared to drink.
KANG: -- party.
LUCIA HK CHO, CEO OF HWAYO GROUP: Hi.
KIM: We're talking about drinking etiquette, right?
CHO: OK.
KIM: And who pours for whom, you know? So, we've determined that Chef Mingoo is the youngest, so he's been pouring.
CHO: So, he didn't teach you that it's a lady first --
KIM: Thank you for breaking up this boys' club. Cheers.
CHO: Cheers.
KIM (voice-over): The other thing you should know.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow, this looks good.
KIM (voice-over): Food and alcohol go together in Korea, even if you're full. Drinks come with Anju or snacks.
KIM: What is this? This is so good. Is this something?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Like dry product, dry cod.
CHO: Korean people have a huge respect for our heritage, but when it comes to globalizing it, we're still figuring it out beyond music and beyond
fashion, beyond beauty. How do we actually not just make this popular, make this something? How do we create a global culture for longevity?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: -- stream the full series in the U.S. on CNN app and globally on HBO Max. Look, I'm going to be back at the top of the hour with more
"Connect the World" with me Becky Anderson. Stay with us for that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
