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Trump and Zelenskyy Meet on Sidelines of NATO Summit; Trump Threatens Another Round of Strikes on Iran Tonight; Netanyahu Opposes U.S. Sale of F-35 Jets to Turkey; Designer Gabriela Hearst Brings Ranch Life to Luxury Fashion; Argentina and Messi Stun Egypt with 3-2 Comeback Victory; Reflecting Pool Being Drained Again for Repairs. Aired 9-10a ET
Aired July 08, 2026 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I talked to President Zelenskyy, and I think that's all I've done my whole life. I made
deals, that's, I guess, becoming president was making a deal, a lot of little individual things. In the end, it's making a deal, and that's what I
do, and I do it well.
And I know when people want to make a deal, I think he wants to make a deal. And I do feel that President Zelenskyy would like to get back to
rebuilding this country, as opposed to, you know, having all of this death and destruction, Ukraine has tremendous potential. He understands that.
We talk about that. He talks about that more than he talks about the war. To me, I think it's -- I think you might find that more exciting than the -
- what? This is brutal. The other is the beauty of it, you know. I think he'll build a great country. I think he's got to build it.
We have a little stake in that country now, because we have some land in that country, but we have minerals. It's among the wealthiest, it's among
the best land anywhere in the world for rare earth.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. President --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- Patriot missiles --
TRUMP: -- is one of my favorite soldiers. I see him, he's central casting you, right? You doing, OK?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
TRUMP: We see him at meetings, he's good, he's done a great job, great job -- great, great hero, actually.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. President, will you allow Europe to make Patriot interceptors in Europe? Are you comfortable with licensing that technology?
TRUMP: Patriot what?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Patriot interceptors to be made in Europe.
TRUMP: And your target with respect to Ukraine? Well, we're going to talk about that. Look, it's a defensive weapon, which I like better than an
offensive weapon. It's the best. So, I was saying, we have an aircraft carrier, which is one of the most beautiful in the world. It's one of the
biggest, the Abraham Lincoln.
And two months ago, we had 100 -- I told this story yesterday, we had 111 missiles shot by the Islamic Republic of Japan, they were shot at the
aircraft carrier over a period of about one hour. 111 missiles going to a very expensive ship, and every one of those missiles was knocked down,
pretty much most bypasses.
But by other means also, as you know, other less expensive means it's even better when you do that, but out of the 111 missiles, every one of them was
shot down. It didn't hit the ship, and you know bad things happen right, when that happens. So, think of that. Over a period of one hour, these
missiles are coming at you, and every one of them shot down.
So, I think one of the things we're going to be talking about is, as you know, the companies we have great power over the companies, those companies
that make the Patriot and make all of the great stuff, the Tomahawks, all of the great stuff, we have the best stuff, many things, the Patriots
group, but we have many, many great things, you see that with Venezuela, you see it with Iran, look, Iran has been wiped out.
Iran, their navy is gone, their air force is gone, everything is gone. But one of the things I think we're going to be talking about today, just a
Little Birdie told me this about the fact that we'll give them the right to make patriots.
[09:05:00]
We'll show them how to do it, it's very complex actually, but it's you'll figure out the complexity quickly. And we're talking about that, and will
the company that makes them, which is building now four plants, you know, all of our companies will be able to do this in two to three months.
If you order a Patriot, now you have to wait a long time for them. Same thing with Tom Hawks, we have a lot of certain equipment, but with they
call it the elite equipment, and you don't need elite equipment necessarily for a war, but so one of the things we're going to be talking about is,
you'll, we're going to give a license to you to make patriots, that's pretty cool.
This way, you can't complain that we're not giving them enough, it's a make them yourself, we haven't informed the company of that yet, but that'll
work out all right. Sure, they'll be thrilled, but you know they'll be able to do it. You'll be able to figure that out. Most, most countries couldn't
do that.
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE: Yeah.
TRUMP: If I said that to most countries, they would know what I'm talking about. But this is a very ingenious group, and what I like about that, it's
a defensive, it's a defensive situation, as opposed to an offensive, but I think one of the things you might want to be talking about is that's what I
heard Little Birdie told me that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- end of the ceasefire mean that we are back to a full-scale -- conflict?
TRUMP: -- they violate the agreement every day. They lie, they cheat, they kill people. They've been killing people for 47 years. They knocked out the
SS Cole. We lost what, on 200 people more. It was a long time ago. For 47 years, no president did anything about that.
Well, Obama actually gave them vast amounts of money. You'd like this. He gave them a plane load of money, $1.7 billion in green cash. They load up a
Boeing, they loaded up a Boeing 757 remember the old 750 It was a beautiful plane, loaded up with cash.
They took all the seats out, and they took all of the cash for Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. banks. They had no money. They took every ounce of cash,
put it in, flew it to Iran, and gave them -- And I wonder what these guys thought of when the door opened and cash fell out of this big plane,
beautiful plane.
And then on top of that, they gave them billions and billions of dollars. And by the way, they gave it to the wrong, the wrong country, frankly. You
want to know the truth, and it began. That was pretty much the Obama nuclear, the Obama deal, the -- that was one of the worst tragedies that
happened.
That's what happened in the Middle East. That deal set back that whole situation. They went with, frankly, they picked the wrong country. They
picked the wrong country, JCPOA, what a terrible, what a terrible deal. I call it the Obama nuclear waste deal, because what he did with that deal is
he caused tremendous hardship in the Middle East.
It was a terrible, terrible thing to do, and we've been just the opposite. Our deal is a wall to a nuclear weapon. His deal was a road to a nuclear
weapon. We could -- they'll never build a nuclear weapon under our deal, but I don't know if we're going to have a deal.
We may just do it without a deal, because you know what, it's easier, because these people, they lie and they cheat, and you have an agreement,
and they'll go outside. For instance, they agreed, well, we'll never have a nuclear weapon. They agreed, then they go outside, they have a news
conference, or they leak that we never discussed the subject.
Now, who would believe we never discussed the subject? Because for me, that's 99.9 percent of what we're doing. It's denuclearization of Iran, OK?
So, when you ask our guys, can continue, you know, Steve is great, and Jared, all the guys, they know him very well.
Yeah, actually they're working on your stuff too. I wonder, which I picked two beauties. You know what, we settled eight wars. I got a couple of
beauties here, but Steve's great, and Jared is great. You know, they're the right guys. We'll see what happens, but I will say this, Iran, they've
misbehaved for 47 years.
They've killed our soldiers, they've killed our people, and they've killed a lot of people all over the Middle East and elsewhere, and the roadside
bomb was their preferred, you know, the preferred weapon was by Soleimani, the roadside bomb, where it would explode under a truck.
We actually built trucks with floors, steel this thick, and then all they did was they made bigger bombs.
[09:10:00]
We have young guys around, not walking around, because they have no legs. But their legs were blown off, their arms were blown off, their face was
blown off, and they lived because of modern medicine. You can do anything, but they're living like in hell. Their whole life changed because of Iran,
and that was 96 percent of the people that used that night.
They were made in Iran, and so we have a score to settle, too.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. President, you say that President Putin is ready to finish this war. What if he doesn't? Do you -- are you ready to put
pressure on Russia? Are you ready to --
TRUMP: -- We have a lot of pressure on President Putin. You know, I don't think he likes what's going on. I don't think he likes, I don't think he's
thrilled with what's happening. There's a lot of pressure on President Putin to get it done. I think there's pressure on everybody to get that one
done. A lot of pressure.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. President -- what's your security guarantee for Ukraine?
TRUMP: The guarantee?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, security guarantee --
TRUMP: The security guarantee?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah --
TRUMP: I mean, not that we want to do it, we'll do it to save lives. Look, Ukraine is very far away, we have an ocean separating us. What I'm doing is
I'm trying to save lives. A lot of lives are being lost. I also think that it's a country with great potential. I think if this kind of brain power
can go toward rebuilding the country instead of fighting a war, I think it's going to do.
I think that country is going to do fantastically well, and likewise, Russia, you know, look, they're devoting a lot of energy, a lot of energy.
You have a question for President Putin -- You have a question for president. What would you like to ask him? Because I'm going to ask him
that question.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- question, you called Russia a paper tiger, referring that they're not doing --
TRUMP: Who did I call?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- Ukrainian media.
TRUMP: Give us a question, not for Zelenskyy, give us a question for Putin, because I'm speaking -- today.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah -- when will he, end this war? That's -- question.
TRUMP: That's a good question. I don't think I've ever asked him that question.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please do -- president -- what's the --
TRUMP: I will tell you, though, he's going to tell you that he wants it ended as soon as he can end it. He wants it ended, he wants to end it soon,
and I ask him, and we talk. I talk to him a lot. I talk to him a little bit less, but the relationship is very good. But I talked to President Putin a
lot.
He wants to end the war. A lot of people don't believe that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- What are President Putin's conditions for ending the war, you know what --
TRUMP: Well, they were certain conditions that were a little bit different. I think they're changing. I think they're probably getting a little bit
better toward some of the things that you'd like. It's been tough on Russia. It's been a lot tougher than it was supposed to be.
I mean, all fairness, this was supposed to be this is a war that would have never happened if I were president, would have never happened. You'd have a
full country, you know? I mean, just a shame that it happened. But no, this is something that I think Zelenskyy wants to do, and Putin wants to do.
They want to get it done. Ask the president that question. Ask him.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. President --
ZELENSKYY: I don't know what conditions Putin now or wants for this peace, so I think that they are changing in any way, because at the very beginning
of full-scale war he was stronger. And now I think he is losing initiative on the battle, I think his army, but that's why I think that, because of
technologies, because it's not the question now of number of people.
People -- our heroic people are very important, but now it's not the question of only number of people. First of all, people and technologies,
people with technologies. Now I think that we have better steps, technological steps, further than Russia, maybe quicker, because they also
-- they -- you know, that they produce a lot of different things, which are tough, strong against us, but we are quicker.
And that's why I think that now initiative moved to our hands, not totally, but moved.
[09:15:00]
We are trying to move this world to the sky from the battlefield, that's why we now began to control the battlefield. This is very important. It's
difficult when you have less people to move them back, but we found another way how to do it, to cut their logistic for the army. It's about weapon,
petrol, diesel without basic human losses, that is the difference between us, by the way. Russia is --
TRUMP: He's got a lot of support. I just left the room with, you know, where they have mostly European Canada, but mostly European countries, and
they have a great support for Ukraine.
ZELENSKYY: It's true.
TRUMP: And you know, really great support. One of the things you talk about questions for Putin, but one of the things that I talked to him about was,
where would you want to meet, and he said, ideally in Moscow. I said, you're not going to meet in Moscow, you know, it just doesn't work, you
can't do that.
But he'll meet and Zelenskyy is going to meet and something's going to happen that's going to be positive and I think I hope it's going to happen
soon because they have to number one lives, but number two building your country because it's got a tremendous future in my opinion. Yeah.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- and when would that happen?
TRUMP: I don't know.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President --
TRUMP: President Putin said, I would love to meet in Moscow, and I said, I don't think you know, I have to put myself in this position. I don't know
that he'd go to Moscow. Maybe he would. Would you go to Moscow?
ZELENSKYY: It's difficult. There are a lot of Ukrainian drones. They are -- nature is -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- Mr. President, how to -- Ukraine will not be attacked again by Russia?
TRUMP: What about?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How to make sure that Ukraine will not be attacked by Russia again?
TRUMP: Look, you mean in the future?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes --
TRUMP: If you mean after there's an agreement. Well, we're going to work on a security guarantee that, and Russia respects us a lot, and we're going to
work on some kind of a security, if we can make the right deal, we'll help Europe. I mean, Europe is going to be watching it, but we're going to be
helping them.
And we'll work on some kind of a security package that will make sure. I don't think that's going to happen. I think that if we make a deal, Russia
is going to be very happy, and they're going to get on with other things. They have -- by the way, as a country, too. They have tremendous potential,
they have tremendous land, valuable land that they can do things with, and they have tremendous potential.
But I don't think it's going to happen. I don't see that question is, oh, they're going to attack again. I don't see it at all. I think they've had
it. They've had this has been going on for five -- almost five years.
ZELENSKYY: Yeah.
TRUMP: Who would have thought? I mean, it's a tribute, because it's a bigger country, strong country, and it's an amazing tribute. Anything else?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President -- with the Patriot missiles, President Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine needs Patriot missiles now over 50
Ukrainians have died in recent airstrikes, just in the last few days. So, in addition to these production licenses, which will take time, would you
consider -- would you consider providing -- to Ukraine immediately?
TRUMP: We have patriots, but we don't have that many. We need them for ourselves too. Some, yeah, I mean some, but I think they can produce them
pretty quickly. Once we explain it, we'll bring the company here. They work with the company. They have a great ability to produce weapons, pretty
complex weapons.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- Will you go to Ukraine?
TRUMP: I would. Yeah.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- you --
TRUMP: I'd rather have the war be over.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah, do you --
TRUMP: -- Secret Service would be thrilled.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you --
TRUMP: I -- and I mean, like, you have it would be nice to get it before any more damage is done. To be honest, it's such a beautiful city, right?
And yeah, I would go to Ukraine at the right --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- deal between Ukraine and Russia. Do you have any deadline in that regard?
TRUMP: Yeah, I have a deadline. You can't have a deadline, it's, you know, it's too much going on, but I think you're going to have a deal. I think
you know, I've been very good. You know, we had certain deals, like Azerbaijan, and some of the deals that we made, and they've been going on
for 32 years, and they said it's an impossible thing to get himself, eight different deals, even in the Congo.
[09:20:00]
TRUMP: It was -- think of it, you have the Congo and Rwanda, that was 14 million people dead, a lot of them with machetes. It's a horrible -- we got
that one solved, or they go -- it flares up every once around, let's say. But we got deals done that weren't doable, but if you look at well, India
and Pakistan, they were at it.
We get that -- we get them done, and when we get them done, I find that people are not anxious to go back into it. I think we'll have you once
mentioned the word security guarantee in the Oval Office.
ZELENSKYY: Yeah.
TRUMP: And you know, I think they're going to need some kind of a security guarantee, but we're going to work with them. It's important. I think, he
thinks that's a very important thing.
ZELENSKYY: Yeah -- security guarantees are very important, and --
TRUMP: And they'll live by it.
ZELENSKYY: Partially, president said about patriots and licenses. The veteran system is the best, you know, in the world for today, the best
anti-ballistic system. So, we used a lot of -- TRUMP: That's the best.
ZELENSKYY: Yeah, that's the best one, and which was, I mean, checked everything during the war. So, this is true. So, with all respect to other
partners, we are thankful for all the systems. Patriots --
TRUMP: Well, they had different systems in Venezuela. So, Venezuela had systems that didn't work. We didn't have one plane shot down. We didn't
have one -- we had one helicopter operator who was incredible. He landed perfectly, and his leg was almost blown off, and we gave him the
Congressional Medal of Honor, because very few people could have landed that dinner.
You landed with your feet, really more than anything else, and he landed, and he was really in bad shape. And at the State of the Union, we gave him
a handsome guy, big handsome guy, but we gave him the Congressional Medal of Honor at the State of the Union. So, look, he wants to get it done, and
we're going to get it done.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- deal between Ukraine and the U.S.
TRUMP: And what's that?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What's the status of drone deal between Ukraine and the U.S.?
TRUMP: Well, we would buy their drones, and we make drones. We make great drones, but they have an ability to make a lot of them, which is right,
Marco. Amazing, that in a war situation they make them.
They make them in basements, they make them wherever the hell you have a little shelter, even if you don't have shelter. I think I suspect it's an
amazing ability. Very few -- well, that's why I say, with the, with the patriots -- they would be able to do it. Most countries would not be able.
They don't have the talent. You have very talented people. So, yeah, I think we're going to make that deal.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- part of security --
TRUMP: We made that deal. We'd have great protection. I love the protection. Think of you had a lot of patriots, you wouldn't -- you'd never
be hit.
ZELENSKYY: Yeah.
TRUMP: And, as an example, in Kyiv, where they get hit with missiles, those missiles, like what I said about the Abraham Lincoln, the missiles would be
shut down. Yeah, and I think you'd start making it pretty quickly, right? You like the idea?
ZELENSKYY: No, no. It's a great --
TRUMP: I think everybody likes that one.
ZELENSKYY: We need it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- part of security guarantees -- Are you ready to close the skies in case Russia attacks again?
TRUMP: For what?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To close the skies over Ukraine in case Russia -- the part of security guarantees, are you ready to --
TRUMP: If it's necessary. Yeah, I mean, look, I tell you, when we have a deal, we're going to have a deal, security guarantee or no security
guarantee. If we have a deal, we're going to have a deal, we're not going to have to worry about what you're saying, we're going to have a deal.
I think, if we come to a solution, which I think we will, we're going to have a deal. Now, we want to make sure the deal sticks. Some people don't
think it will. I think it will. I think if I'm sure it will. I'm not sure it will with Iran. If we make a deal with Iran, I'm not sure that will
stick.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: May ask you what does you --
TRUMP: -- because I found them to be very dishonorable people. Yeah.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- reimpose the navy blockade?
TRUMP: -- with him, and I mean, I don't want to upset him, but everything I've done with President Putin has been OK. It's been good. He's going to
say, but I would expect you to say that's good. I don't think anything's going to be broken, and we're going to do a security guarantee in case it
is.
But with Iran, 47 years, this should have been done by another president a long time ago, or somebody else, another country, but they got stronger and
stronger, and now they're weak.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you going to reimpose --
TRUMP: -- 159 ships in one week, that's good, even for you. 159 their tired navy is at the bottom of the sea, and now they have little boats, little
tiny boats that go around. We knocked about 28 of them out last night with the same weapon we use for the drug people.
[09:25:00]
You know, drugs are down, by the way, drugs by sea are down 97 percent, meaning nobody wants to get into those boats and take drugs into they're
down 97 percent and we're using the same thing for the mine boats, you know, they have -- they like to drop mines in, and we hit a lot of them
last night, like 28.
We knocked out 28 boats last night, little ones, that's all they have is little ones.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you going to try to take out more tonight?
TRUMP: Will we go tonight? You know, normally wouldn't tell you. I wouldn't tell you, but you know what, there's not a thing they can do about it. So,
the answer is probably.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: President --
TRUMP: -- he just said he's going to the -- yeah -- deserve it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: President Trump, what is the effectiveness of last night's attack? What message does that send to what's left of the Iran.
TRUMP: Which attack you're talking?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The attack that you guys had on Iran last night, the strikes last night?
TRUMP: I think it has a tremendous impact. Well, first of all, we took out additional, you know, they were trying to rebuild their radar, and they had
about 60 percent built. Now they have to have to start all over again. Look, we're not attacking at the highest level. The highest level, the
bridges there, which we can knock down.
I would say, in one day, we knock down every single bridge in Iran. There's not a thing they can do about it. Their electric manufacturing facilities,
right? The electric plants, where they make their electricity in there. We will -- we have to -- we'll take them out. I don't want to do that, but if
we have to, we'll take them out.
They have desalinization plants. We'll take them out. If we have to, I hate to do that. That's probably the one I would like not to do least, we
attacked Kharg Island last night. We knocked out a piece. I said, don't touch the -- because maybe we'll take over Kharg Island.
We may take over Kharg Island. There's not a thing they can do about it, but I said, don't hit the pipes, just hit everything else, and they hit it.
They may hit it again tonight. So, you know, as for your question, normally I'm not that way, but they really deserve it, because they're saying they
want to make a deal, but they don't.
You know, they asked for a time out. They wanted to go to the funeral of Khamenei, and they said give it to him, and they start shooting missiles. I
mean, it's a crazy thing. Now we did kill him. So, I guess you have to look at it that way. But the funeral took place, and they wanted to have a
period of time.
And they also asked that we not kill them, and we said we're not going to kill you. They were worried we'd kill them during a funeral, if you can
believe it. What a crazy -- did you ever think I'd be doing this for a living -- Did anybody ever think I'm doing? Maybe Pete, but this was
supposed to be for me.
Pete loved this stuff from day one, but they said this, please don't kill us during the funeral. I said I won't, and we didn't do anything. In fact,
we made it safe for them, actually. And what happens, they try and knock out two ships, a Saudi and I guess Kuwait, Kuwaiti, oh no, Qatari.
In addition, really three, so you had three of them, and they're just -- I don't know, I just don't know with them. A lot of people say that they're
very dishonorable people, and they can't keep a deal, so we'll see now as to whether or not Steve Witkoff, Jared, and J.D., and everybody working,
and that will talk.
I guess I can talk, but I'm not seeing it with them, you know, with the people, my whole life is deals, I don't see it. I don't see it with them --
Maybe a big attack, and it'll knock out a lot of stuff. We don't knock out nothing. We knock out a lot. Pete, do you want to tell them about last
night?
PETE HEGSETH, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: Yes, sir. Last night, as you said, a lot of small craft that they were trying to harass shipping with, so that
was a big part of what we targeted, underground facilities where they were storing drones or missiles, coastal defense sites, radar sites,
surveillance sites, anything used to harass shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
So, anything they thought they had rebuilt or capability they were using was a target last night. And tonight, if we need to, on your order, Mr.
President, we will hit even more and even deeper, because that's the concept --
TRUMP: And we may put down the blockade. We may put it back, the blockade, and it'll only be a blockade for Iran. Anybody else can have whatever they
want. Now, of course, they'll drop some mines if they can, you know, if they can do it, but it's hard because we're taking out those little boats
now with the same weapon we used to take out the drug lords and the boats coming in by --
[09:30:00]
Think of it, 97 percent for years we had fentanyl and all the other drugs coming in from different countries, including Venezuela, and it was, you
know, they'd arrest him, it bring him to a court, they'd be released, and they'd be back on another boat, the next 97 percent that had what was done
in the past had no impact.
97 percent drugs down coming in by sea, and now we're going to start doing it by land. The land is easier when we had to do sea first, and nobody -- I
mean, I think the 3 percent of the people that still do that, I think they're the bravest people in the world. They maybe we should probably give
them a medal for bravery, because it's there.
And we're using the same exact missile to take out the mines, the mine drop, they call mine droppers, but we have mine sweepers, and one of the
things that came up today is that European nations, a NATO group, they're sending mine sweepers, we don't need them now.
We have pretty much the mindset cleared up, but they probably drop some more. They're evil people, they're sick people, they're really, they're
mentally disturbed people. And should have been done 47 years ago. Thank you, everybody --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: All right. U.S. President Donald Trump meeting with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on
the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey. Let me just go through a little bit of what we just heard there, because it was quite a long time, about 40
minutes or so, and sort of Donald Trump mostly sort of freewheeling in answer to the questions.
He didn't directly address the question on whether or not the ceasefire or MOU with Iran is over, to be clear. Earlier today, in a bilat with the NATO
leader, the NATO chief, he said, as far as he is concerned, it is over. But what he did say in this last 40 minutes is the following, we hit Iran hard
last night, which he said included taking out 28 boats, hitting Kharg Island, and he said he will probably hit Iran hard again tonight.
It could be a big attack tonight, he says. And he also said that the U.S. may reestablish the blockade. He also said if we do make a deal with Iran,
he said, I'm not sure that it would stick. He said, quote, they the Iranians that the U.S. is dealing with lie, they cheat, there is something
wrong with these people, he said, it's simple, they can't have a nuclear weapon.
And he was also taking questions on Russia's war with Ukraine. President Zelenskyy made a point of thanking Donald Trump at the outset of that sort
of open press event, thanking Donald Trump for his support ahead of a key meeting between the two, which will be happening now.
Donald Trump was asked if he would allow Patriot missiles to be made in Europe. He said the two leaders will talk about it. The U.S. made Patriots,
of course, the only air defense weapon capable of taking out Russian ballistic missiles, and there is a current shortage.
A note on what we heard on Ukraine, Russia, Trump deferred to Marco Rubio at one point, who said the following, I thought this is quite interesting.
He said Russians are finding it more difficult to defend their own airspace. And Rubio said that is a new dynamic in this war.
That was in answer to a question that was posed about what Donald Trump thought of Ukraine's offensive, its drone attacks on Russia, and very
specifically on Moscow. Nic Robertson is there, and we're going to get to Nic, momentarily. We're also joined this hour by Sina Azodi, who's the
Director of Middle East Studies Program at George Washington University, Author of the "Iran and the Bomb", The United States, Iran, and the Nuclear
Question.
And, Sina, we're going to come to you momentarily. Let me start with Nic. Yeah, that was quite a 40, 45 minutes or so of Donald Trump sort of
freewheeling a bit, and what did you make of what we heard?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yeah, this is something of a victory for President Zelenskyy, who stayed pretty much quiet
throughout the figure. President obviously asking the audience to ask him questions specifically about the possibility of, you know, some kind of
ceasefire, some kind of end to the war with Russia.
Zelenskyy joking when somebody asked him at the president's request, would you go to Moscow to have a meeting with Putin? Because apparently Putin, as
I said, that's the way he'll have a meeting, according to President Trump. President Zelenskyy joked and said, well, I've heard it's not very safe.
[09:35:00]
There are a lot of drones over Moscow. So, a tad light hearted but hard reality in there. President Zelenskyy has been pressing President Trump to
have Patriot missile defensive systems, particularly those sorts of the missiles that go in the defensive launches, have them made under license in
Ukraine.
And the indications we've been having until very recently, listening to a briefing just last week by the U.S. Ambassador to NATO, appearing to sort
of rule that out, and now President Trump saying, well, actually, a Little Birdie telling me that may come up. President Zelenskyy has been very, very
clear, the future of the battle of Ukraine is going to be won or lost in the skies, and without more missile defensive systems.
Yesterday said they must be made in Europe. We must have these if we're going to continue to win the battle. So, I think that was something very,
very big for President Zelenskyy to get that from President Trump. He's been pushing and wanting that for a long, long time.
And that will also be a signal to President Putin that President Zelenskyy can now manufacture his own patriot missile defensive systems. Then that's
going to put up a stronger dome over Ukraine, keep it safer. And it also sends a signal that if, and this is an important one again for Ukraine and
Europe.
That if there is an escalation in the conflict in the Middle East between the United States and Iran, whereby U.S. allies in the Gulf need more of
those same Patriot missile defensive systems, that there is now an increasing scope to make these munitions that have been in such short
supply Ukraine really running low on them and that's the big concern.
So, this is a pretty big step here if these missiles are going to be made under license for other locations. President Trump said this really ups the
game for NATO and its partners in the Gulf as well to keep ahead of the use of ballistic missiles against them. So quite a lot coming out of this long,
and as you say, at times incredibly rambling and very repetitive lines that we've heard from the president before on these two topics.
ANDERSON: Stand by, Nic. Let me bring in Sina, at this point. Look, NATO have tried their best to sort of you know, steer clear of the U.S.-Israel-
Iran conflict, but of course it has been front and center at the event, not least because Donald Trump pointing out that he hit Iran hard in his words
last night as this event began, and he says we'll probably do the same tonight.
Earlier he effectively said the ceasefire and MOU with Iran is over. He didn't directly address the question again at this event that we are just
still looking at that happened moments ago. What do you make of what we've heard over the last what 24 hours from Donald Trump?
And what we have seen both in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait again? Where are we at, at this point, Sina?
SINA AZODI, DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE EAST STUDIES PROGRAM, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: Well, Becky, last time I was with you, I did mention that, you
know, each side really tries to make it look like as if they're tough, they don't want to back down, and this is exactly what the president is doing,
both verbally and in action, we saw his rhetoric.
It was quite harsh. It was, you know, he called them liars, cheaters, just a week ago. He called them rational, good people. They're nice people. So,
he likes to do that. And in terms of actions, obviously, we saw what happened. Now he hasn't made it clear that he's going to strike Iran again,
but he is kind of, you know, keeping it opens for future action.
On the Iranian side, they also want to make sure that this strategic asset, that from their perspective they have, and that is, you know, the
controlling of the Strait of Hormuz, is not eroded in any way. This is why they try to strike ships that are not -- that are passing the Strait of
Hormuz without coordination with Iran.
I think the fundamental problem here -- there are two fundamental problems. Well, one of them is the vague language of the MOU, the Memorandum of
Understanding. And second is that this MOU in itself is a very positive step, however, it's not enough. Both Iranians and Americans, I think,
should move more quickly with the Pakistanis and that it should move more quickly to find a comprehensive peace agreement that ends the war for good.
[09:40:00]
ANDERSON: I just wonder, Sina, given that we've just heard Donald Trump say the following, if we make a deal with Iran, I am not sure it will stick.
How will that sentiment do you think impact those negotiating in Tehran? How will they read into that? And, frankly, won't both sides see this as
pointless with that kind of rhetoric?
AZODI: Well, I think it will make it there is already a lot of distrust between Iranians and Americans, I mean we had the experience of the JCPOA,
it was a working agreement, it was working for everybody, the IAEA confirmed that Iran is abiding by it, and President Trump simply decided to
withdraw.
We saw what happened in the past year, that twice, when Iranians and Americans were negotiating, the U.S. decided to strike. So, there's already
a lot of distrust between them, and add to that the historical baggage of the hostage crisis. And there are so many, so many, you know, incidents
that both sides are angry at each other.
But I think the wars of the president here are adding more uncertainty and more distrust to the Iranian side, and whether negotiating with the United
States is even fruitful. I'm still cautiously optimistic. The president this morning said, as far as he's concerned, it's over, but he didn't say
that he's going to abrogate the MOU, or is going to withdraw from it.
I'm so hopeful that after these clashes, we are going to go back, with the help of the Qataris and the Pakistani mediators, and frankly, anybody go
back to full implementation of the MOU.
ANDERSON: I was struck by the words of Anwar Gargash, of course, his presidential adviser here in the UAE. In a post he wrote earlier, he said,
in part, Tehran remains incapable of committing to the requirements of de- escalation and turning the page on the war, that is a perspective that I've heard, sort of, you know, not just in the UAE, but sort of somewhat
prevailing around this region as we continue to see this back and forth.
We will see where this goes. Sina, I know I've got you back at the top of the next hour, which is important for us. Thank you. And Nic, very much
appreciate your reporting from there. And we will speak to you again at the top of the next hour. I'm going to be back with more news this hour in just
a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, want to turn to Israel. Not happy about a potential U.S. move to sell F-35 jets to Turkey. In an exclusive interview with my
colleague Dana Bash, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explained his reservations about the Turkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan. Have a listen.
[09:45:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: It's a regime that's infected with the Muslim brotherhood, which hates the United States. He harbors
Hamas, the Hamas terrorists. He supports them, he finances them. He's thrown his opponents in jail, all of them.
He throws more journalists in jail than anyone can understand. So, he's not exactly a model ally of the United States, but even worse than that, he
threatens Greece, a NATO ally? He occupies half of Cyprus, another NATO country. And the most important thing, and I put it right on the table, he
threatens to destroy my country, the one and only Jewish state.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that was just part of the interview. You'll have heard the entire interview, Jeremy Diamond, you're standing by in Tel Aviv for us.
What do you make of what we heard there was there anything new in what you heard from President -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, or was this more
of the same?
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think it was interesting to hear that he had privately lobbied, he said, President Trump
on multiple occasions as it relates to this F-35 issue. And the fact that he is now coming on CNN.
And he has also done a number of other American TV interviews this week signals that that private lobbying is not working and that he is turning to
a public lobbying campaign instead trying to get President Trump's attention that way. And ultimately, while Prime Minister Netanyahu tried to
make the case that Israel is a better ally for the United States, that Israel is a source of more stability, and that Turkey is a source of
instability in the region.
It is Israel that President Trump has been more critical of recently, and Prime Minister Netanyahu specifically over the course of recent weeks and
months. And it also seems like on this issue of the F-35s in particular, President Trump has chosen to prioritize his relationship with Erdogan, who
he views as this kind of strong man who he very much admires over the Israeli Prime Minister.
And that is really, quite a turning of the tables for Netanyahu, who has staked so much of his political career on being able to communicate
directly with the President of the United States and successfully at that, especially as it relates to his relationship with President Trump, but as
we know, there have been a number of tensions on that issue.
ANDERSON: I do just want to get your sense of what we have heard today from Donald Trump. Certainly, earlier he said he considered that the MOU and
ceasefire with Iran is over. He didn't directly address that specific question again in a later press conference, which you've just been
listening to.
But he also said he bombed Iran last night and will probably do the same again tonight. I just wonder, is there any sort of response perspective in
Israel about President Trump's remarks today on this MOU and ceasefire being over, and whether Tel Aviv may see that as a green light to resume
bombing Iran.
DIAMOND: Yeah, I don't think we're quite there in terms of, you know, Israeli officials seeing this as a green light to resume the war against
Iran, but they are certainly watching what is happening, and the potential breakdown of these negotiations with great interest.
We know, of course, the Prime Minister Netanyahu has made no secret of you know, his belief that these negotiations are not going to lead anywhere
productive, that he believes that ultimately more military action against Iran is going to be necessary. He has talked about the job not being
finished, of course, publicly.
He has entertained this negotiation process because he really doesn't have any other choice. But there's no question that what we've seen in the last
24 hours, beyond President Trump's remarks, suggests that we are inching closer to the possibility of war resuming with the IRGC firing at some
firing drones and missiles at some 85 targets in Bahrain and Kuwait.
The United States hitting 80 plus targets, including coastal defense systems, explosions heard on that critical and strategic Kharg Island in
Iran. So, all of those points to an escalation of tensions. And now President Trump also suggesting that he is considering reimposing this U.S.
naval blockade on Iran.
None of that is a good sign for stability and peace in the region, but it does give the Israelis, who have wanted to see a return to war, a little
bit of a sense of optimism that their concerns will potentially be able to be addressed through military means, since again they don't have much
confidence in the diplomatic process.
ANDERSON: Good to have you, Jeremy. Thank you.
[09:50:00]
Well, up next the World Cup round of 16 wraps up in incredible fashion. Lionel Messi setting new records against Egypt, while Switzerland and
Colombia go all the way to penalties. More on that is after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: I want to get you to our series that explores trends shaping global culture now. "Seasons" and host Laura Jackson, who sits down with
the luxury designer between sorry behind Uruguay's World Cup team uniforms. Gabriela Hearst tells Laura that her upbringing in Uruguay inspired her to
create eco-friendly clothing. Have a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LAURA JACKSON, CNN HOST, SEASONS (voice-over): Luxury fashion is often associated with excess, but designer Gabriela Hearst has built her label
with craftsmanship, sustainability, and longevity in mind.
GABRIELA HEARST, FASHION DESIGNER: Anything that is hanging in this showroom should be worn 10 years from now, 20 years from now, should never
feel that it's out of place.
JACKSON: Tailoring is just --
HEARST: Yes.
JACKSON: Impeccable.
HEARST: Yeah, you only can have impeccable tailoring.
JACKSON (voice-over): Long before sustainability became a buzz word in fashion, it was a way of life for Gabriela. The designer grew up on a
remote ranch in Uruguay, where resourcefulness and quality weren't ideals, they were necessities. I learned you need to be surrounded by things of
quality, because they need to last.
There's nothing more circular than a farm or a ranch. You can't literally throw anything away. Those early lessons don't just inform Gabriella's
worldview. They are woven into the clothes she creates. Her latest collection features textiles made out of 97 percent dead stock materials
from previous seasons.
JACKSON: And this is Merino wool, like we were talking about super -- wow.
HEARST: They told my team we're not going to buy any new fabrics this season. We're going to use what we have, and our fabrics are some of the
bests in the world. So, if we are creative, we should be able to cook with the leftovers.
JACKSON: How do you see luxury evolving? Because I think so much is changing in the world. So, where do you think it's going to go?
HEARST: I think authenticity is more relevant now than ever. Craftsmanship is more relevant, and it's time, design, care.
JACKSON (voice-over): And that commitment to craft now extends beyond the runway and onto the pitch. Hearst was chosen to design Uruguay's official
World Cup tailoring.
JACKSON: What an honor.
HEARST: Thank you.
JACKSON: You are nervous?
HEARST: I know -- I am nervous, because it's like doing something big for your country, and it's nice because usually it's the bigger countries that
they'll have a big brand that's designing for them. That's pretty cool.
JACKSON: What do you think gives an item emotional longevity? Like, why do people keep things?
HEARST: It's the journey of that piece, how it was made. Who gave it to you? At the end of the day, I want clothes to feel like they're hugging
you, and like they're caring for you, that you're not like alone, like there's something there.
JACKSON: It's like a really, it's like a hug, expensive hug.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[09:55:00]
ANDERSON: Well fans celebrating in Buenos Aires as Argentina advanced the quarter finals in the FIFA Men's World Cup. The team pulling off a stunning
comeback against Egypt in the final day of the round of 16 after trailing the Ferros for most of the match. The defending champion scored three
unanswered goals, including the game winner in stoppage time.
And finally, for the second time in three months, crews are draining the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The move follows weeks of problems with
algae blooms, green water, and allegations of vandalism. U.S. Interior Department says it hired the same contractor that previously drained and
painted the pool blue for the latest repairs.
It is unclear how long that work will take. Well, it has been a busy hour of news, but we've got two hours for you. So, going to take a very short
break. Back after this with the second hour of "Connect the World".
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:00:00]
END
