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The Situation Room

Trump to Meet with Netanyahu; Rescuers Searching for Missing People in Texas; At Least 82 People Killed in Texas Floods. Aired 10:30-11a ET

Aired July 07, 2025 - 10:30   ET

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

[10:30:00]

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: We'll have much more on the deadly and devastating flooding in Texas, but there's other important news we're following as well, including the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who is now set to meet with President Trump at the White House later today. This meeting comes as ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas restarted in Doha, Qatar. Hamas said it gave a, quote, "positive response" to a, quote, "potential deal." It appears to be the closest the two sides have been in many months.

Joining us now to discuss what's going on, the former Israeli ambassador of the United States, Michael Oren. Ambassador, thanks so much for joining us. As you know, President Trump has publicly said he thinks a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas can get done this week. How realistic do you think that is?

MICHAEL OREN, FORMER ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES AND FORMER MEMBER OF ISRAELI KNESSET: Well, always good to be with you, Wolf. We hope it's realistic. We desperately hope it's realistic. At the end of the day, Hamas has to decide whether it's going to go along with the deal in which the United States and Israel have agreed, which is for a prolonged ceasefire, release of some Palestinian prisoners from our jails, and of course, the release of hostages. The question is how many hostages, how many living hostages, how many hostages who are no longer living? This all becomes part of the bargaining.

But the big, big issue, Wolf, is always what happens after the ceasefire? Israel would like to retain the right to renew combat operations if Hamas continues to pose a threat. Hamas wants an end of the war and guarantees that Israel will not renew those operations. So, it really comes down to that one issue. And whether it can be, how should we say, fudged, but say that at the end of the two month or 60 days of hostage -- of ceasefire there will be further negotiations toward the ending the war entirely? And that's probably the best you could do. Whether this will be acceptable to Hamas remains to be seen.

BLITZER: As you know, Prime Minister Netanyahu says Israel won't budge on its demand that Hamas eventually relinquish control of Gaza. Could that end up being a deal breaker?

OREN: It could, and it has repeatedly in the past. But here, the prime minister's coming to this meeting now much strengthened, must strengthened by Israel's military victory over Iran. The president is coming into this meeting must strengthened by America's victory over Iran. And that could perhaps lend sort of -- go more to the fact that the both leaders can show a certain amount of flexibility.

Clearly, the president wants this deal. He wants the deal for many reasons, but moreover, because he wants peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and the Saudis will not negotiate with Israel as long as the Israeli army is fighting in Gaza. So, he wants to end that. The president, he sees openings also for possible peace arrangement between Israel and Lebanon, Israel and Syria, peace breaking out to the entire Middle East, if this agreement in -- with Hamas can be reached.

[10:35:00]

The president could put -- president put pressure on the prime minister but can also give enticements, the carrots, if you will. One of them would be keeping a military option on the table vis-a-vis Iran, if Iran tries to rebuild some of those destroyed or obliterated nuclear facilities, a very difficult decision given the depth of American opposition, of the public, to further American military involvement in Iran. And also, the possible sale, Wolf, of B-2 strategic bombers to Israel. There's an issue I've been working on for many years trying to convince multiple administrations to either sell us a B-2 or lease us a B-2. Have not made much headway there, but now it's being discussed in a bipartisan bill in Congress.

Now, that would be a tremendous incentive to the prime minister, enabled him to show toward the Israeli public much more flexibility on the ceasefire and Gaza issue.

BLITZER: Would that include those buster bunker bombs that so far have been denied to Israel?

OREN: Well, the plane itself is of little use without the equipment that comes with it. It's not exactly the equivalent to say, you know, leather seating. It is actually part and parcel of this weapon system. It's a system. It's the bomber and the bomb it carries. And certainly, and that would send an unequivocal message to the Iranians. But also give the Israeli public a tremendous amount of security, which we didn't have in the past, which is why I was seeking that deal for so many years.

And I think it would be a game changer. And I would certainly welcome such a move and applaud the Republican and Democratic congressman who are moving this bill forward.

BLITZER: The former Israeli ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren. Ambassador, thanks so much for joining us.

OREN: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: And right now, search and rescue efforts are underway big time in Texas. Our Pamela Brown is in Kerrville, Texas for us. Pamela, update our viewers.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Right, Wolf. I'm here in Kerrville covering the latest on the devastating and deadly flooding that happened here. Shortly, there will be a press conference with top Texas officials about the search and rescue efforts, and of course, we'll be pressing for answers on how did this happen with so many people caught off guard in an area that is so flood prone. We'll be back after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:40:00]

BROWN: I am Pamela Brown, live in Kerrville, Texas, where we are awaiting a press conference here shortly. And we are back with our breaking news. Here in the Texas Hill Country, a flood watch now hangs over this landscape decimated by flood waters and haunted by the grief of so many families. So, many families I've spoken to here on the ground. At least 82 people have been killed, 28 of them children.

This morning, Camp Mystic along the Guadalupe River confirms 27 of its campers and counselors died in the flooding. Minutes ago, a Camp Mystic employee tells me that the number one -- the number now includes the 10 campers and one counselor who have been missing.

Hundreds of first responders and volunteers, they are still out there. They are searching for survivors. It is really an all-hands-on deck effort. And as I said, I've been speaking to people on the ground, including Cassie Hyde. She's an employee at Camp Mystic. And it was just so heartbreaking speaking to her because she talked about all the people in her life close to her that she lost from this devastating flooding. Here's what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CASSIE HYDE, MEDIA COORDINATOR FOR CAMP MYSTIC: I've lost dear friends, best friends, my boss, my godchildren, my house, my car, you know, all those materialistic things. But it's those people that still haven't been found, some of them. And just praying for their recovery. And everyone else affected as well. I know it's not just us that live here, there's people that don't live here and don't know that they're missing or -- you know. So -- but this community and the outpour of people near far, it's been incredible. It's really been the only thing that's been helpful because it's hard to put one foot in front of the other.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: And that's the sentiment we're hearing from pretty much everyone here on the ground. It's hard to find someone who hasn't been directly impacted by the devastating floods. I want to bring in my colleague Leigh Waldman. Lee, you used to live nearby, you know a lot of people here on Hill Country, and you're hearing similar stories of heartbreak.

LEIGH WALDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Pam, exactly. So, we're still here in Hunt, Texas, but I have friends who live in Kerrville where you are and they haven't heard from loved ones for days now. They're waiting for updated information. Pam, we just wrapped up talking to a young man named Christian. He said he was here for the 4th of July. He's not from here. He's from the Fort Worth area. He was waiting on an electrical box up on his home as the flood water started to surge. And we asked him, did you get an alert that the flood was about to happen or that rain was coming? And he said no. He said he did not hear any kind of alert until the water was already rising. He waited there on that electric box for over three hours.

Pam, I also want to show you all, we're along the river's edge here. We just saw a team come through with cadaver dogs, searching through the debris that's left behind along the Guadalupe here, they're looking for any signs, any survivors, any victims, bodies so they can try and bring closure to those families who are desperately seeking it.

And we're just downstream from Camp Mystic. There's so many camps along here. And to show you the force of the water, you can see the debris that's just littering the riverbank next to us, Pam.

[10:45:00]

BROWN: Yes. I mean, just looking all around, there's debris and devastation everywhere, and that's a big reason why the people we do speak to there, where you are, are surprised that they even survive this with it happening so quickly in those overnight hours. Thank you so much, Leigh.

And right now, at this hour as we await this press conference here at the center in Kerrville, Texas, search crews, they're out there in the Guadalupe River. They are hoping to find those that are missing still alive. Families are still clinging on to hope. Other families have lost hope. We've confirmed at least 82 people have died. And Camp Mystic release a statement confirming 27 campers and counselors are now gone.

This what we're learning about those who have died include a father who bravely died, saving his family. Julian Ryan thrust his arm through a window as floodwaters engulfed his home. He got his fiance, his mom, and two young kids to safety. But the glass from the window ended up cutting an artery in his arm. He died in his mother's arms. And his last words were a simple, I love you.

Dr. Katheryn Eads was also killed in the flooding. She helped children in the foster care system and later worked as a psychologist and college professor. Eads' daughter describes her as an incredible wife, daughter, mother, and grandmother.

And dozens of children are also among the victims. So, many young souls lost. Several were attending Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp in Western Kerr County. It's a place I know well. I was a camper there some 30 years ago. Now, it's unrecognizable. Devastated by raging waters. The Texas governor describing the site as, quote, "horrendously ravaged."

Camp officials, as I said, they did confirm that 27 campers and counselors lost their lives, including nine-year-old Janie Hunt. Her mother Ann confirmed Saturday that her daughter passed away. Anna Margaret Bellows was also killed. She was only eight years old and lived in Houston. The family of Renee Smajstrla says they're devastated by her loss. She was also just eight years old. And the camp's owner, Dick Eastland. Is among the victims as well. According to his grandson, he died while trying to rescue campers from the flood waters.

And those we've been speaking to here on the ground say that Dick made his whole life about those campers, that he treated those campers like his daughters, and that it is no surprise that he died trying to save them from those flood waters. We'll be right back.

BLITZER: All right. Pamela, standby. I want to get back to you in a moment. I just want to update our viewers on some other major developments unfolding right now in connection with those horrendous floodings in Texas. There's renewed attention right now on the National Weather Service and its role in forecasting severe weather and sending out alerts in time. The agency has been hit hard by staffing cuts under the Trump administration.

CNN's Brian Todd is here with me in the Situation Room. Brian, I know you've been doing a lot of reporting on this. Take us through the timeline of warnings from the National Weather Service.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, there is a lot of attention being paid this morning to that timeline of the rainfall and the flooding and whether the warnings were in fact adequate or not. Four months of rain came down in just a matter of hours in that area. A wall of water surged down the Guadalupe River in the overnight hours Thursday into Friday, that limited the number of people who could get the warnings.

The National Weather Service began forecasting the threat of flooding in Kerr County as early as Thursday morning, July 3rd, with a hazardous flood outlook. At 1:18 p.m. Central time on Thursday, a flood watch was issued highlighting Kerrville among other locations as being at risk of flash flooding. But local officials have pointed out the forecast was for less rain than the amount that actually ended up falling.

There were several technical forecasts through Thursday afternoon and evening with increasingly heightened language about the magnitude of the potential flooding. Now, we move ahead to 1:14 a.m. Central time on Friday morning. The first warning for life-threatening flash floods for Kerrville came, and that was marked specifically to trigger the emergency alert system. Now, that would've sounded the alarm on cell phones in the warned area assuming those cell phones had service and their users hadn't turned off the alerts.

At 4:03 a.m. Central time on Friday, a flash flood emergency warning was issued for Kerr County. At 4:35 a.m. Central time, the Kerr County Sheriff's Office sent the first report of flooding at low water crossings. At around 5:00 a.m. Central time, this is a crucial moment here. on Friday, 5:00 Friday morning, the Guadalupe River burst from its banks, sweeping homes, cars, cabins, and people downstream. At 5:34 a.m. Central time, a flash flood emergency warning was issued for Kerrville.

Also, Alan Gerard, a former employee with the National Weather Services National Severe Storms Lab, he spoke with Pamela Brown this morning and talked about just how horrific this rain and that surge on the river really were.

[10:50:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALAN GERARD, RETIRED NWS NATIONAL SEVERE STORM LAB EMPLOYEE: This really was a worst-case scenario where you had six to nine inches of rain fall in just a few hours, right on top of that south fork of the river. And the unfortunate reality is all the soil and hills in that area just funnel all of that rainfall right into the river, and you can just get these tremendous flood waves that developed extremely quickly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TODD: It took about 90 minutes for a flood wave that measured about 20 feet to move down the Guadalupe River overnight on Thursday into Friday. And this was that river's second highest crest on record, Wolf. It was horrific.

BLITZER: I know, Brian, there are some vacancies at the National Weather Service right now. What are you learning about that?

TODD: Well, according to our CNN reporting by our colleagues, Andrew Friedman, Emma Tucker and Mary Gilbert, there are two offices of the National Weather Service in Texas that are closely involved in forecasting and warning about flooding on the Guadalupe River. Those are the Austin San Antonio office of the National Weather Service and its office in San Angelo, Texas. They are missing some key staff members, but they still issued several watches and warnings about the flood danger.

Tom Fahy, he is the legislative director for the National Weather Services Employees Union. He told CNN that while he believes the offices had, quote, "adequate staffing and resources," the Austin San Antonio office is missing what it -- what they call a warning coordination meteorologist. That's a role that serves as a crucial direct link between forecasters and emergency managers.

We can also tell you that this morning, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said she is not aware of any breakdown in emergency warning systems that could have contributed to the high death toll. But Kerrville City manager, Dalton Rice, as officials there are committed to doing what he calls a full review of events and the systems in place after so many questions have been raised about emergency notifications and evacuation, guidance, Wolf, this has got to be a completely forensic review of this to figure out what may have broken down here.

BLITZER: Yes. They got to learn the lessons learned to make sure it never happens again. TODD: Right.

BLITZER: Brian Todd, good reporting. Thank you very, very much. And we'll be right back with more news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:55:00]

BLITZER: We'll have much more coming up on the breaking news out of Texas, catastrophic flooding there, killing at least 82 people, including 28 children.

There's other important news we're following at the same time. Elon Musk, for example, is making good on his threat to form a third party here in the United States. The world's richest man announcing the formation of a third political party. He's calling it the America Party. He's angry about the passage of the president's so-called big beautiful bill. It's unclear what steps, if any, Musk has taken to legally form the America Party. President Trump appearing unfazed -- excuse me, unfazed by the announcement.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: Third parties have never worked. So, he can have fun with it, but I think it's ridiculous.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: CNN Media Correspondent Hadas Gold to New York for us. Hadas, how viable is a third party and what will it look like?

HADAS GOLD, CNN MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it's not clear yet what level of organization Elon Musk has set out yet for this party, and we're still trying to figure out if any of the paperwork needed to actually create this organization has been filed with the relevant authorities.

But Musk has outlined sort of how he plans to do this. In a series of posts on X, which we can put up on screen for you, he says, backing a candidate for president is not out of the question, but the focus for the next 12 months is on the House and Senate. He went on to say that one way to execute this would be to be laser focused on just two or three Senate seats and eight to 10 House districts. Given the razor- thin legislative margins, that would be enough to serve as the deciding vote on contentious laws, ensuring that they serve the true will of the people.

So, it's pretty clear he does not plan to have sort of a major nationwide political party, and that's because there are several hurdles to do so. First of all, there are legal hurdles. There's limits on how much one person can donate to a political party. There's also hurdles in terms of getting on the ballots. Each state has their own rules and regulations about how you get on the ballot. It will be complex and also expensive. Then there's the political element of it. Some candidates may not want to run with Elon Musk's America Party, and some voters might not be willing to vote for a third party candidate because often it's seen as sort of throwing away your vote. So, what Musk is suggesting seems much more attainable.

And as you noted President Trump, for his part, seems to be brushing this off. He posted on Truth Social saying, I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely off the rails, essentially becoming a train wreck over the past five weeks. Musk responded on his own social media platform, X, sort of making fun of President Trump's social media platform, Truth Social, Elon Musk saying, what is Truth Social? Never heard of it. Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. Hadas Gold, thank you very, very much. Just ahead, at least 82 people are dead. Dozens more still missing in Central Texas. Our Pamela Brown is on the ground in Kerrville awaiting an update from officials there. We'll have live coverage.

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