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Trump and Erdogan Meet ahead of NATO Summit; U.S.-Israel War with Iran; Damascus Diplomacy; Farage to Stand for Own Vacant Seat; World Cup Highlights; Democrats Call for Platner to End Maine Senate Campaign; Monaco Bombing Suspect Found Shot to Death in Ukraine. Aired 10-11a ET

Aired July 07, 2026 - 10:00   ET

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

[10:00:00]

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN, Abu Dhabi. This is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over): Well, welcome to the second hour of the show from our Middle East programming headquarters. I'm Becky Anderson

in Abu Dhabi where the time is just after 6:00 in the evening. We are following several breaking stories for you. It is a busy hour of news.

U.S. President Trump is in Ankara in Turkey for the NATO summit, lavishing praise on the Turkish president and venting frustration toward other

European allies. More on that coming up.

Reform U.K. party leader Nigel Farage has resigned as a member of Parliament amid scrutiny over his finances but he has not done with

politics.

And in France, a court has just opened the door for the leader of the far right party and Marine Le Pen to stand in next year's presidential

election, although she would likely be confined to her home. I will explain all coming up.

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ANDERSON: Right. U.S. President Donald Trump expected to hold tense negotiations and discussions with NATO allies at a high stakes summit in

Turkey.

Before that, though, displays of friendship seen between Mr. Trump and his hosts, the summit's host at least, the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip

Erdogan.

Mr. Trump again voicing his disappointment with the alliance over its failure to support the U.S. with a war with Iran, while seeming to back up

reports that he wouldn't have attended the summit if President Erdogan had not been the host. Have a listen

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: I was very disappointed with NATO and frankly, if it weren't held in Turkey, where my friend happens to be a very

strong leader, a very strong person, it's possible that I wouldn't have attended.

I felt I had to attend because of the fact that, you know, I know he's gone all out. It was a big thing to have NATO come to Turkey or anyplace else.

It's a big thing.

But we weren't treated well because we did something in Iran. We don't need anybody's help. I didn't even want their help. But before I asked, they

said they wouldn't be there

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, President Trump also calling Turkey a great ally as he floated the idea of selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey despite a

congressional ban.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We have a very good relationship. I would think that many people, I can tell you, many people, including the people sitting right here, thinks,

why wouldn't we do that?

We have a better relationship with Turkey, and Turkey has been in many ways much more loyal than other countries that we think would be loyal. So yes,

it's something certainly we would consider. It's a great plane. It's the best currently, the best plane by far. And it's certainly something we will

consider

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, I want to bring in bring back Brett Bruen who first joined us last hour. He was a National Security Council official in the Obama

White House.

Good to have you back. Look, I want to start on these F-35 jets because it's quite a demonstration of just how close the U.S. and Turkey have

become during this Trump administration. I just want you and our viewers to have a listen to my exchange with President Erdogan back in 2023. Have a

listen

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: During the Trump presidency, the U.S. had a wrong approach regarding the S-400s.

Why?

RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, PRESIDENT OF TURKEY (through translator): If we are a free democratic country taking part in a liberal global market, if I

cannot purchase the defense system from the U.S. then it's the U.S. that pushes us to buy a different system from a different country.

We couldn't purchase those systems from the United States. That's why I bought the equivalent from Russia. And when the F-35s were not delivered to

us, we were very upset because we are NATO allies.

Turkey is one of the most significant members of NATO. That's when we started looking at the alternatives, when we saw the attitude of the

Americans about the F-35s. We told them to at least provide U.S. F-16s and the necessary parts.

[10:05:00]

So we continue our relations in a determined manner. There are some positive developments in that regard. I hope that these positive

developments will continue.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: So I just wanted our viewers to hear that, because I think it's important, as I ask you to unpack for us the significance, then, of Donald

Trump going back on his own ban from his first term and why it is that you believe he has taken the position that he has now.

BRETT BRUEN, FORMER U.S. DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT: Well, the short answer, Becky, is he needs Erdogan now more than he did in the first term.

And yet those same concerns, the reason why we pulled back from selling F- 35s to Ankara was because Ankara was pursuing this Russian radar technology.

And it had the possibility of undermining the entire advantage that the F- 35 used across the NATO alliance had. It made us more vulnerable. There's no indication, Becky, that Erdogan has decided to give up those Russian

systems to forego any future similar purchases that could endanger the F-35 program.

So this is a major, major vulnerability, not just for the U.S. but for all of our NATO allies. It's a bizarre way to start a NATO summit by saying

that we're going to take one of the most significant military systems that we have and essentially hand the details over to Moscow.

ANDERSON: As Mr. Erdogan alluded to during this bilateral, Turkey has become a defense powerhouse. It's the second largest military in NATO after

the U.S. Of course, you can see its surge in investment, military spending.

I'm just putting up on the screen for our viewers to see, over the last decade, reaching nearly $30 billion last year. In years past, Turkey has

been considered by some members to be a problem ally.

But the tables do now seem to have turned as we, you know, begin to see, you know, the images coming out of this NATO meeting, this NATO leaders

meeting.

How important is Turkey to this alliance right now?

BRUEN: Well, you know, it is interesting to underline that before there was Make America Great Again, there was Erdogan's Make Turkey Great Again.

And, you know, as the investment in military -- but let's also note increased repression. And Erdogan very much has fancied himself that

strongman.

And perhaps this is why he gets on so well with Trump, because he shines in those qualities which are not necessarily the democratic principles.

And important to note here, Becky, that, you know, being a democracy respecting human rights is as well in the NATO charter. And this has always

been a point of tension with Turkey. It was in Madrid when I was at the NATO summit. There again last summer in The Hague.

So Turkey has had a strained relationship. And yet, because of the threats that we're facing, both from Russia as well as now Iran, Turkey has become

a more indispensable partner. And so it's given Erdogan more leverage.

But I come back to the point of the F-35. We're ceding this ground to him without necessarily getting very much in return. And as a recovering

diplomat, for me, that's just, you know, dumb diplomacy.

(LAUGHTER)

ANDERSON: I love that term recovering diplomat. I hope you're doing well there. You heard Trump float the idea of drawing down U.S. troops in

Europe. He's clearly still very frustrated at Europe, NATO's perceived lack of help with his Israel's war against Iran.

What did you make of those comments?

And I wonder how you think those comments bode for today and tomorrow's meetings.

What can the Europeans expect from him?

BRUEN: Well, let's start with Trump's presumption that any war he launches, NATO is obliged to follow him into that, which would include, you

know, by the way, because he's threatened not only to invade NATO with both Canada as well as Greenland.

[10:10:05]

But you know, he's also launched threats against the likes of Panama and obviously pursued that in Iran. And obviously, our European, our NATO

allies are very reluctant to get entangled. They have had the experience of both, as you know very well, Iraq, Afghanistan and lots of other military

quagmires.

So there is that reluctance. And I think the fact that Meloni, that other European leaders who are on the conservative side, stood up to Trump on

this is important. And, Becky, I think we'll see some of that, perhaps not grandstanding but a detached relationship with Trump on display during this

summit.

Because all of a sudden, Trump has become like political kryptonite and nobody wants to get too close. You try to, you know, keep that distance.

And yet obviously Trump is going to flail around and try to exert that influence across the summit and attract the attention.

ANDERSON: Well, the attention he certainly gets. It'll be interesting to see what does come out of this. He will continue to underscore his success

in getting NATO members to up their spend on defense of course. He wears that as a trophy.

Let's see what else comes out of this. I'm sure we'll be reminded of that win, by Donald Trump as we move through the next 48 hours. Thank you.

Well, Israel's prime minister says he will be watching closely as President Trump visits Turkey. The two nations are adversaries, of course, which have

recently escalated their rhetoric. Speaking ahead of President Trump's visit, Benjamin Netanyahu insisted Ankara should not have F-35 fighter

jets.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL: For a regime infected by the Muslim Brotherhood, an extreme movement that hates America and chants

"Death to America," from that side of the spectrum, I don't think they should be given F-35s or the engines for their fighter jets.

Because that will upset the power balance in the Middle East which is ultimately guaranteed by Israeli air superiority and also by, I think, by

America's posture in the Middle East.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, Jeremy Diamond, following the story from Tel Aviv.

That's Benjamin Netanyahu speaking to FOX News, Jeremy. Fill us in on the view from there vis-a-vis Turkey. And, of course, Israel's perspective on

any conversations about Iran

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Well, listen, tensions over the years have really escalated between Israel and Turkey. They once

had, you know, relatively steady, although always somewhat tense, diplomatic relations.

But now we really have reached the lowest point in relations between Israel and Turkey. And so it's no surprise to see the Israeli prime minister going

out so forcefully to try and publicly lobby President Trump against allowing Turkey to rejoin the F-35 program and sell them these F-35 jets.

It's for two key reasons, one of which it has to do with the kind of distrust that the Israelis have for Turkey, the role that Turkey has played

in the Middle East, including, for example, the fact that it hosts members of Hamas on its territory, Hamas officials who live and work out of Turkey.

But beyond that, really, it's also about maintaining Israel's own kind of air superiority in the Middle East. Israel has wanted to retain the kind of

unique access to top flight American technology that so many other countries would like to have but simply do not.

And this would further kind of dent that ability, especially at a time when we have heard the rhetoric from the Turkish president grow even more heated

as it relates to Israel calling for Israel's destruction, threatening Israel repeatedly, and also, of course, the role that he has played,

influencing events in the Middle East.

You know, in the last couple of years, looking at Syria, for example, as a major example of how Turkey has kind of helped to remake the map of the

Middle East, something that prime minister Netanyahu talks about. But he's clearly not the only one doing it.

That being said, it seems like President Trump is quite intent to allow this to go forward. And that also speaks to the breakdown in relations

between the Israeli prime minister and President Trump, once a very close, very honest relationship between the two men. That has really broken down

quite significantly.

[10:15:00]

And on the other side, you have President Trump very much admiring the kind of strongman that Erdogan represents in Turkey and on the world stage.

And so, you know, you can see the loss of influence that Benjamin Netanyahu has given up with President Trump. Instead, President Trump clearly valuing

his relationship with Erdogan a lot more, it seems, at least as it relates to this issue.

ANDERSON: It's good to have you. Thank you.

Well, French President Emmanuel Macron on his way to the NATO summit in Turkey after a landmark visit to Syria that signals a vote of confidence in

Damascus' leadership. President Macron met with his Syrian counterpart, becoming the first leader of a major Western nation to visit since the fall

of the Assad regime.

Now this trip was marked by a security scare when two blasts struck near his hotel, though officials say Macron was not there at the time and was

unharmed. Paula Hancocks' following the latest developments. She joins me here in Abu Dhabi.

And you've been keeping a keen eye on what's been going on there. And it does seem to illustrate the dual reality in Syria today, huge diplomatic

successes that we've seen over the past 16 months or so, alongside a persistent security threat that could, frankly, destabilize the country.

And in between, Syria's government with massive Western and Arab support, trying to rebuild the country from scratch.

What do we know about what unfolded today?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So what we know at this point is that there were two explosive devices. According to the interior minister, they

went off about eight minutes apart. They were very close to the Four Seasons hotel, which is where President Emmanuel Macron had been staying

the night before.

We understand from state media, though, he was about 10 kilometers away from the blast when it actually happened. And there was one near the

tourism ministry as well. So they're both very close by.

State media says that they were primitive devices, according to officials. They're not saying who they believe was behind it, that they actually

detonated as they were trying to disable and dismantle these devices; 18 people injured, including four police officers. There was one in a car, one

in a trash bin.

ANDERSON: So yes, those numbers aren't small, are they?

HANCOCKS: No. Exactly.

ANDERSON: And could have been a lot worse. Of course. Look, al-Sharaa, the president, is expected to meet Donald Trump in Ankara tomorrow. That will

be their third in-person meeting in just over a year. Donald Trump last hour marveling at their close relationship. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: You know, we have a very good relationship with the new leader of Syria. And he's done an amazing job. In 1.5 years, he's pulled the whole

country together. And I have a very good relationship with him.

Somebody said, well, he's pretty rough to put him there. I approved him along with the president. We were the two that really wanted him and he's

done a great job. He's done a great job. He's pulled it together. Not an easy job.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: And you will remember the cologne that Donald Trump gifted al- Sharaa a month ago. And that's just one dimension of the massive international backing for Syria. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and increasingly, the

UAE, of course, all closely involved as well.

So just remind us of why Syria has become such a -- or has it -- its geostrategic significance has become so important for Western and Middle

Eastern powers at present.

HANCOCKS: So it's the potential of what Syria could be compared to, to what it was. I mean, you look at it was only December 2024 when Bashar al-

Assad was toppled. He and his father ran this country for about 50 years or so. They were a destabilizing factor in the Middle East.

There is now this opportunity with President Ahmed al-Sharaa, as the U.S. president sees it, as many in this region see it, to be able to have this

stabilizing factor within the Middle East; a Syria that is stronger, that is stable, that isn't interfering in its neighbors' sovereignty, which we

certainly saw under Bashar al-Assad.

In fact, we even heard from the U.S. president. He was at one point saying that he thought Syria should try and deal with Hezbollah, the Iranian-

backed militia in Lebanon. If Israel wasn't able to do so.

Now Syria has backed away from that suggestion, given that the history between Syria and Lebanon. But it just shows the hope and that many of

these countries are putting in Syria, despite the fact it is economically very weak at this point.

[10:20:00]

But with the U.S. lifting sanctions, with others lifting sanctions, there is hope that it could become a stabilizing factor.

ANDERSON: It's good to have you. Important story. When we look around this region, it's been fascinating to see the tectonic shifts in Syria. You

know, very much part of that in the past couple of years. Thank you.

Right. Marine Le Pen's path to France's presidency remains open but with significant legal and political hurdles. Now this is what's going on.

Earlier today, a French appeals court upheld Le Pen's conviction for missing European Union funds while reducing her ban from holding public

office.

The decision clears the way for Le Pen to seek the presidency in France's 2027 election. But the court also ordered her to wear an electronic

monitoring device, which could complicate a potential presidential campaign. CNN's Melissa Bell following this for us.

Perhaps we should just step back for a moment and just talk about what led up to today's verdict and what this then means for Le Pen's political

future as far as you can see

MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Right. It was 16 months ago that a Paris court found not just her but several other party

members, members of the national rally, senior members of national rally party here in France, guilty of embezzlement.

They had been at the heart, said -- ruled the court of this scheme to use European funds to pay party political workers back in France.

Now it had been a controversial verdict at the time, not just because of the fine that she was handed and the suspended prison sentence and the fact

of a one-year home -- years spent under house arrest, wearing an electronic tag.

The most controversial part had been this ineligibility that they had announced. So essentially, a ban, a five-year ban placed on Marine Le Pen

with immediate effect, even before any appeals were heard that prevented her from standing in 2027.

Clearly, she appealed and it is that decision that was handed down today. Now everyone had expected that the ruling that came from the court behind

me would mark the unofficial start of the 2027 campaign since we were to find out whether either Marine Le Pen would be eligible to stand in 2027 or

not.

But this is where it gets slightly more complicated and where the suspense is likely to last a few more hours.

And in fact, the unofficial starting gun of that campaign for 2027 will begin only later today, when Marine Le Pen speaks in a French television

studio. Because we have yet to know what she plans to do, essentially, the ruling that was handed down keeps in place the initial verdict. It keeps in

place a suspended prison sentence.

It keeps in place the one year under house arrest, wearing an electronic tag. It does reduce the ineligibility part of the sentence so she can

technically now stand. But she had previously said that she would not be standing for French president. She would not be standing in the race if she

had to wear an electronic tag.

And we've just found out today that that is what she would have to do. So we're going to have to wait until tonight to hear what her plan is. But it

is very difficult to imagine that a woman who spent her entire life fighting to lead her party. This would be, if she does it, her fourth

presidential run.

And she has, of course, this stand-in in the shape of Jordan Bardella. All the polls suggest that he, too, would be leading the race if he stood in

her place. But it is very difficult to imagine this particular political animal, a real battleaxe on the French political scene, deciding when she's

been allowed to stand, that in fact, she will not.

We'll hear more on that officially later on. Becky.

ANDERSON: OK, that's French politics for you. Still to come -- thank you, Melissa -- the latest in British politics. The right wing leader of the

U.K.'s most popular political party resigns and immediately launches a campaign for his own vacant seat, all the while railing against the British

media. We'll have the details up next

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[10:25:00]

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ANDERSON: British right wing lawmaker Nigel Farage has resigned as a member of Parliament while simultaneously putting himself forward to stand

in the by-election or special election that his own resignation triggered.

In an angry tirade, the Reform U.K. leader said his decision was spurred by increasing press harassment of his family; in particular, his daughter.

Farage, who spearheaded the U.K.'s Brexit campaign, has been facing intense scrutiny over his finances concerning gifts and benefits he's received,

totaling in excess of about $30 million. He insists he hasn't broken any rules.

NIGEL FARAGE, LEADER, REFORM UK: It seems to me that the establishment have now decided that they can't beat us fairly, so they've chosen to use

foul means.

Let me be absolutely clear. After the furor and the media pile on, well, not just the media, the other political parties, too. Let me be absolutely

clear. I have done nothing wrong. I have not broken the law in any way at all. I have not misused public money.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, John Johnston is "Politico" Europe's London influence reporter.

Good to have you. Super title you got there. Explain that to us afterwards.

Meantime, let me put this first question to you. Let's just get into context for our viewers across the world just why Nigel Farage's

resignation today has the potential to shake up British politics.

JOHN JOHNSTON, LONDON INFLUENCE REPORTER, "POLITICO" EUROPE: Yes, I mean, it's a massive gamble he's taking. Essentially, Nigel Farage is being

investigated by Parliament's standards commissioner over these gifts that he received in the months before running as an MP.

There's questions over whether he should have declared those when he was elected. And the risk for him is that should the standards commissioner

find that he should have declared those, he could be forced to face a by- election.

So today he's decided to take the risk and call a by-election by resigning his seat, very much putting him into his comfort zone of campaigning. As

you heard in that clip, kind of railing against the establishment.

This is the ground he likes to be on. But what we do know is that, despite him resigning as an MP and running again, this doesn't put the standards

commissioner probe to bed. And now we're in this potentially very odd situation, where he runs in this by-election; wins.

The standards commissioner then finds he broke the rules. And there could be the possibility of yet another by-election being called in the seat. So

a pretty extraordinary development.

ANDERSON: Yes.

And the reason why -- look, I mean, let's be quite frank about it. The reason why we care about what Nigel Farage has to say and what this

announcement was today is that he is the leader of what is, by most polls, if not all polls in the U.K., The leader of the most popular party in the

country in Reform U.K. This is a populist party.

He's nothing if not the master or a master of the media.

Do you see this as his way of regaining control of the narrative after what is, you know, now, weeks of scrutiny of his finances?

As he said himself in his statement, he wants to galvanize a sort of, you know, a sort of, you know, support against the establishment, which is an

establishment, which he is currently investigating, of course.

[10:30:11]

JOHNSTON: Yes, I think so. I mean, Reform have been doing very well in the polls. But you know, they lost the Makerfield by-election, which was the

by-election that saw Andy Burnham, who is the presumptive PM in waiting, that he won.

And that was really seen as a blow to Reform. And now, you know, Andy Burnham is going to be stepping into office as prime minister and having to

face down Nigel Farage in a by-election. It's really going to be a clash of the two sides.

One of the big questions in Westminster this afternoon is, what do the other parties do?

There is precedent when someone has resigned on this kind of issue or on an issue of principle, that the major parties don't run because they don't

want to be engaged in the idea of political theater.

So, you know, we'll have to wait and see what happens there. But it's really going to be a media circus now as we wait to see how this by-

election plays out and whether there's a possibility of another by-election to come.

ANDERSON: And Reform is arguably a party based on one man's personality. I mean, there are others around. But when you think about Reform, you think

about Nigel Farage.

Playing with hypotheticals here, if he were to lose that seat, just what would that do to politics in the United Kingdom at this point?

JOHNSTON: Yes. I mean, as you said, Nigel Farage's previous parties, UKIP and the Brexit party, very much seen as a one-man band.

I think as Reform have been doing well in the polls, as there's been this growing expectation that they could be a serious player at the next general

election. they really have attempted to build more of that policy base. They've tried to get bigger figures in. So it's not just reliant on Nigel

Farage.

But it's really difficult to know what Reform or a Reform operation would look like without Nigel Farage. I mean, it's not something that anyone who

has really put a huge amount of thought into the party have, you know, often relied on it being the Nigel Farage show.

And should he lose this by-election or subsequent by-elections, it's really difficult to know what that would do to Reform's progress, in the wider

national context.

ANDERSON: Good to have you. Thank you very much indeed.

Well, staying in Britain, Prince Harry has lost his privacy case against one of the U.K.'s biggest newspapers. Together with other high profile

names, including, for example, Sir Elton John, Prince Harry had brought a lawsuit against the publishers of the "Daily Mail," claiming that they had

used unlawful methods to get information for their stories.

Now the newspaper denied the allegations and the high court has dismissed the claim. Well, up next, a devastating World Cup loss for Team USA. All

three host nations are now out of the tournament. We're going to talk about that match and look ahead to today's action after this.

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[10:35:00]

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ANDERSON (voice-over): Welcome back to CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. Here are your headlines.

And the U.S. and Turkish presidents have held bilateral talks displaying their friendship ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara. U.S. President Donald

Trump said he is considering selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, despite a congressional ban. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he has been

promised five jets.

There's growing pressure from within the Democratic Party for Graham Platner to end his U.S. Senate bid in Maine. Platner has been accused of

raping a woman five years ago, while he was heavily intoxicated, which he denies.

Democrat -- state -- Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has vowed to not spend any more money to beat the Republican incumbent unless Platner

withdraws.

Well, Team U.S.'s World Cup run is over after a 4-1 loss to a dominant Belgium, which now advances to face Spain in the quarterfinals. Spain

advanced after ending Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup run.

La Roja scored a dramatic stoppage time winner to eliminate Portugal 1-0.

Well, for more on the latest World Cup action, I'm joined by my old colleague Pedro Pinto, founder and CEO of Empower Sports, former comms

director at UEFA. He is in Lisbon in Portugal and former CNNer, of course.

Pedro, good to have you. Of course I want to talk about your home country but let's just start on what I think is the biggest talker of the day and

that's Team USAs decisive defeat after Belgium took out what was likely their fury with the red card decision on the pitch. Some will say poetic

justice.

What did you make of the game and did Trump's intervention get in Team U.S.'s head, do you think?

PEDRO PINTO, FOUNDER AND CEO, EMPOWER SPORTS: Becky, fantastic to be on your show. I wish it was in happier circumstances. As you mentioned, my

Portugal got knocked out last night. But we'll get to that in just a moment.

Whether it's poetic justice or karma, it was certainly served up quite quickly, wasn't it?, It was a disappointing defeat by the United States. I

think all the noise and speculation around the decision to suspend that ban of Folarin Balogun really backfired.

And the Belgian players following the match admitted that this whole situation, this whole scenario, fired them up for this game. So I think

they were conclusive winners. And there was not much doubt as far as the final result is concerned.

And they were riled up and they weren't going to allow what they considered to be a misrepresentation of justice to get in the way of them reaching the

quarterfinals. It was certainly an emotional day for the Belgians and they'll be celebrating this one quite iconically.

And you may have seen certain players from the Belgian national team after they scored their fourth goal, kind of dancing in the Trump manner. And on

social media, they also posted overturn this. So, no love lost between the Belgian national team and Team USA following that game.

ANDERSON: I love your little Trump dance there. I'm going to get you to do that again, if I see you in person at some -- at some point soon.

(LAUGHTER)

ANDERSON: Yes. And it's interesting, isn't it?

Because, you know, Belgium kind of, you know, they never quite turn up to these big international occasions. And I feel like that was this team

showing up. So let's see how far they go in the tournament.

Let's talk about Portugal, 1-0 loss to Spain. I'm reminding you of my conversation with Cristiano Ronaldo. I spoke to him last November at a

summit in Riyadh. When I asked him about retirement, he told me this World Cup would likely be his last. Let's just have a listen to what he said to

me then.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CRISTIANO RONALDO, PORTUGAL FOOTBALLER: Probably one two years. I'm still -- I'll still be at the game.

ANDERSON: So you expect this World Cup to be your last, do you?

RONALDO: Definitely, yes, because it's a -- I will be 41 years old.

[10:40:00]

And I think we'll be -- at the moments and in the big competition, that's to -- I don't know yet. As I told you before, I'm enjoying the moment.

That's what I mean. So it's really soon because I give everything for football. I'm in a game for the last 25 years.

I did everything. I have, many records in the different scenarios in the clubs and also in the national teams. I'm really proud. So let's enjoy the

moment, live the moment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: He has got the most remarkable record. A dream of delivering his country its first World Cup, though, a World Cup win denied. He says he

goes with a clear conscience.

What's going through your mind at this point?

PINTO: Disappointment and frustration because everybody in Portugal thought that this was a title contender and they didn't play like one.

Since the first game against the Congo, we just didn't see the kind of talent and magic and pizzazz that you would expect from Portugal,

considering that its top players are shining at the world's top football clubs.

And you just had four Portuguese players crowned UEFA Champions League winners at the end of May. So I think everybody's very, very disappointed

in the performances of the national team.

And last night, to be honest as well, I would think it would be fair to say that Portugal went out without a whimper. Not enough chances created. Not

enough possession, not enough dynamic play. And obviously all the attention is around Cristiano Ronaldo. You expect that.

You know, he's the world record holder for goals with the national team on 146. He's the most followed human being on the planet. Right. So, all the

attention is around him. But overall it just wasn't good enough.

And they were beaten and well beaten by Spain in the end in what was a close game. But Portugal just didn't create enough to go through.

ANDERSON: Yes. No, I agree with you. He's CR7 and we're just showing images of him here. He's pretty upset at the end of that game.,

Of course, today the Pharaohs, Egypt will take on reigning champions Argentina Mosalla versus Messi. This region where I am will be on pins and

needles as the Arab world rallies around Egypt.

Can they win this one, Pedro?

PINTO: Look, there's no doubt that Argentina are favorites but they were overwhelming favorites against Cape Verde. And, they had to go to extra

time to beat the minnows. So if we've seen something at this World Cup is we've seen underdogs overperform and create problems for some of the

juggernauts of the competition.

So no doubt Argentina are favorites. Leo Messi has been in stellar form; seven goals so far and he'll be looking to add to that tally. But as you

mentioned, the Pharaohs definitely are up there when it comes to the intensity of wanting to compete.

They're representing Africa, they're representing the Arab contingent as well. They've got the swan song of Mosalla as well to motivate them. So I

think this is going to be close.

On paper, you could think Argentina are going to walk this but they're not. I think Egypt are going to give everything they've got and more to make

this a competitive game. And I see this decided by one odd goal. Maybe Argentina will kind of edge it again. But it's certainly not going to be

simple. And the Pharaohs could pull out an upset.

ANDERSON: Nice. All right. Well, let's see. Always good to have you, sir. Thank you.

Pedro Pinto in the house for you folks. And I will be back with more news in just a moment.

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[10:45:00]

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ANDERSON: Democratic Party leaders pulling their support from progressive candidate Graham Platner in a race that could help tip the balance of power

in the U.S. Senate. Now a former acquaintance of Platner is accusing him of raping her years ago.

My colleague CNN's Jake Tapper spoke to the victim and a warning: this interview contains disturbing details. Here is part of it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENNY RACICOT, GRAHAM PLATNER ACCUSER: So he had kind of like jumped on top of me and indicated that he had intentions that were sexual in nature.

And I remember just at first being like, hey, I'm not into this. Like, don't. I'm not in the mood. Like, don't, whatever. And it got to the point

where I was like, OK, I feel like I have said this enough times. Like he's not listening to me or he's not hearing me and I looked at him.

And I remember this very specific look in his eyes. And I could smell alcohol.

And I was like, this is different.

I remember specifically him like grabbing at my chest and I like hit his hand and I said, don't touch me. And I remember that during the altercation

specifically.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: And then he kept going?

RACICOT: Yes. And it was this weird mix of like coming in and out of -- I don't think consciousness is the word -- but like coming to and kind of

falling back into that drunken "I don't know what I'm doing" state. And yes -- and he just -- he would apologize in those moments and then go back to

doing what he was doing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, in a video posted on social media, Platner did not say whether he would stay in the race.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GRAHAM PLATNER (D-ME), U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE: I wanted to directly address the troubling, serious, and false allegations against me. Any accusation of

nonconsensual behavior is categorically false, regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting.

But mindful of the political reality it will inflict, we are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward for the state that I love, the

people that I love, the movement I belong to and the goal of defeating Susan Collins.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, however, the Maine Democratic Party has said he should drop out as well as many of his prominent supporters, including senator

Elizabeth Warren. Well, my colleague, Jeff Zeleny, with more now from D.C.

Is Platner going to resign after these troubling allegations, do you think?

And who could replace him if he does in what is this must-win Senate seat for Democrats, correct?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: It certainly is. I mean, Democrats have so much hope holding on Maine. And even so, it's a

very uphill battle to regain control of the U.S. Senate.

But Becky, as to the question of if he's going to step aside, I mean, it would be very difficult to see him not doing so. We don't often hear

candidates saying they're going to reconsider their path and then decide to stay on that path.

The reality here is that his support has collapsed all around him. Just a few moments ago, New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani also called on him to

step aside. They share many of the same Democratic strategists.

Virtually every one of his supporters, aside from senator Bernie Sanders, has called on him to step aside. I'm told that Sanders does not believe

that there's a path forward here but he's just trying to give him a bit of space.

So I think it's just a matter of when this will happen, not if it will happen. But as to the question of who will replace him, there's about a

week or so he has to make that decision by next Monday, July 13th.

And then Maine Democrats have two weeks to find another candidate to replace him. So in some respects, the timing actually is on their side to

find a new candidate. There are several people who have already raised their hands. There was a very competitive governor's race that ended just a

couple of weeks ago.

[10:50:00]

Some of the losing candidates from that would likely run.

So the bigger question, though, big picture is, is this going to make it easier for senator Susan Collins to win election to a sixth term in the

U.S. Senate?

Maine is the only state that Kamala Harris won so effectively, a blue state, that has a Republican senator, the only state in the entire U.S.

that has a Republican senator up for reelection in a Harris-won state. So Democrats saw a big opportunity. But it's been nothing short of a fiasco

recently.

ANDERSON: Yes, yes. Always good to have you, Jeff. Thank you very much indeed.

Jeff Zeleny, for you folks out of D.C. today. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson, from Abu Dhabi. We are back after this quick

break. Stay with us.

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ANDERSON: Well, a shocking twist in the investigation into a Monaco bombing attack that wounded a Ukrainian businessman. The woman identified

by Interpol as the suspect in that bombing has been found shot to death in Ukraine. And authorities say two men have been detained in connection with

her murder.

CNN's Nick Paton Walsh following the latest developments and filed this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: The startling, remarkable story of what seems to be an attempted assassination

on Ukrainian millionaire in the otherwise peaceful and luxurious territory of Monaco has taken yet another remarkable twist.

The woman sought by Interpol's red notice for being the prime suspect in this particular crime, Anastasia Berezovska, a 39-year old Ukrainian, well,

she herself has now been found dead in her native Ukraine.

Ukrainian investigators say that they noticed her return to the country on July the 1st, began looking at bank transfers, her general movements and

communications, so she was talking to her family but two other men as well.

One serving Ukrainian intelligence officer from the main intelligence directorate and one former law enforcement individual. They went to see the

Ukrainian intelligence officer and he had appears confessed about this involvement and indeed suggested to the involvement of former law

enforcement officer.

That man's house was then searched and officials say they found what they thought was some kind of torture chamber in his basement. They've released

a remarkable video of that particular place.

Now Ms. Berezovska's body was found, it says, according to Ukrainian investigators, with shell casings alongside of it and, indeed, the

Ukrainian intelligence officer confessed to being party to that particular murder. They are both under arrest.

But Ukrainian officials say they're still looking for who may have instigated this particular crime and continuing to investigate.

A reminder of how we got here in the first place. Ms. Berezovska was pointed out potentially as the prime suspect here by Monaco prosecutors,

who studied CCTV around the residence, where Mr. Iermolaiev was hit by a bomb carried in a shopping bag.

They noticed a man in the days ahead and then, just a day before the device went off, a woman, Ms. Berezovska, indeed, police say they traced her back

to Germany, where she was last resident and now it appears she fled to Ukraine.

A remarkable story here, one in which it seems that the apparent hit man was then killed by those who may well have contracted her to do the job.

[10:55:00]

Investigators are still looking for who may have been on high here. I think certainly an unwelcome embarrassment for Ukraine that their intelligence

officer, one of them, might be involved in something as high profile as this and assigned still, too.

The murkiness, the potential criminal underworld of a former Soviet Union still continues to exist despite the horrors being inflicted on Ukraine by

the war. Exactly why Mr. Iermolaiev was indeed targeted, still unclear but a remarkable moment still for what Monaco considers to be its luxury and

safety -- Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Amazing story.

Well, that is it for CONNECT THE WORLD. Stay with CNN. "ONE WORLD" is up next.

END