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The Situation Room

Interview With National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman; Proper Brushing; Foiled Mass Shooting in New Orleans?; Interview With Ontario, Canada, Premier Doug Ford. Aired 11:30a-12p ET

Aired April 23, 2026 - 11:30   ET

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

[11:30:00]

DOUG FORD, PREMIER OF ONTARIO, CANADA: It was Secretary Lutnick, followed by President Trump as well, that attacked our joint economies, because we're so integrated. And if it wasn't for Canada, the prices of oil would be going through the roof right now. You wouldn't have the uranium for your nuclear capabilities, because it all comes from Canada.

You wouldn't have the high-grade nickel that comes from Ontario for manufacturing; 70 percent comes from Ontario, along with the autos. As you see, the auto costs are going through the roof. There wouldn't be electricity to send, which we send down to New York, 1.5 million homes and businesses, to New York state, to Michigan, to Minnesota.

And I want to ship more energy down there because I know many states don't have enough energy to build their A.I. capabilities. The potash for your farmers comes from one place. It comes from Canada. And the list keeps going on and on and on.

And no country in the world buys more products and more goods off the U.S. than Canada does and vice versa. We're each other's number one customer, if you want to call it. That's the way it should be, because you see what's going on around the world. There's one country that stands shoulder to shoulder for the last 200 years with the U.S., and that's Canada.

We love the Americans. I love the Americans, and I know Americans love us. I was down in Texas a couple of weeks ago. They rolled out the red carpet, and they made us feel right at home. And any American who wants to come up to Canada, be it Toronto or other places, I will roll out the red carpet, welcome them with open arms, because we're like part of the family.

And when one family member, one in particular family member, be it President Trump, attacks our whole country, that's a problem. But we don't hold it against the American people. We have the two greatest countries on Earth.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Yes, I grew up on the border with Canada in Buffalo, New York, and Ontario was someplace I would go all the time, just cross the Peace Bridge with my family. So it's true. We all love Canada, and I know the Canadians love the United States.

As you know, Secretary Lutnick is not alone in criticizing Canada's trade policy towards the U.S. Let's watch how President Trump talked about your country in the beginning of his second term. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Canada is very -- we're not treated well by Canada. Canada is very tough. They're very, very tough to do business with. And we can't let them take advantage of the U.S.

What I'd like to see, Canada become our 51st state. If people wanted to play the game right, it would be 100 percent certain that they'd become a state.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Is there anything the Canadian government, including you in Ontario, can do right now or wants to do to try to improve the relationship with the Trump administration and in turn with the United States more broadly?

FORD: Well, we want to get to the table and again have a free and fair trade agreement with our closest friends and allies.

And as for tourism you mentioned before, the Americans are losing out on tens of billions of dollars, no matter if it's going down to Florida or going to Las Vegas or any other place that we go, because there's so many marriages that one side's Canadian, one side's American or vice versa.

It's unfortunate that Canadians are boycotting and boycotting spending tens of billions of dollars in the U.S. This can come to a quick end. Everyone can thrive and prosper.

I have a recommendation for President Trump. Take a page out of President Ronald Reagan, the greatest president the U.S. has ever seen. He was about making sure we open up trade not just to Canada, but everywhere in the world. And that stirs the economy. That creates more opportunities. It creates more jobs for the American people. That's what he needs to focus on.

I notice he has a big picture of Ronald Reagan beside him. Maybe he should have a conversation with him or pull up some of the conversations Ronald Reagan had with the American people. It wasn't about killing trade. It was about expanding trade.

And if he took a page out of Ronald Reagan's book, the whole world would be better, not to mention the relationship with Canada and the U.S.

BLITZER: Good point.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, always good to have your perspective. Thanks very much for joining us.

FORD: Thank you. Well, thank you so much.

BLITZER: Pamela.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: Just ahead -- thank you so much.

Just ahead, we have some brand-new details coming into the CNN about a foiled mass shooting in New Orleans. We have new reporting about the suspect in this case up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:39:27]

BROWN: Breaking news, an update on a story we brought you last hour. We're getting some new details about the man arrested in Florida for allegedly planning a mass shooting at a festival in New Orleans.

I want to go straight to CNN's Omar Jimenez.

What are you learning, Omar?

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, so we're learning that this person is a former police officer in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and had been one for more than a decade.

Obviously, this is still an active sort of investigation in terms of the facts that are coming in. But you can see what we know there, police officer for -- at least until 2019, as we understand, and then resigned and then came back to work as an employee later on, as we understand.

[11:40:08]

Now, this was someone who police say was planning to carry out a mass shooting at a festival in New Orleans. But investigators were able to catch this person, obviously, before any of those actions. He was arrested without incident in Destin, Florida.

But when they searched his hotel room, they found a handgun and more than 200 rounds of ammunition, so, obviously, a very serious situation. Police at the very least now have him in custody, where we expect an extradition process to Louisiana, where he's wanted on -- for making terroristic threats.

Now, the New Orleans mayor sort of talked about the multistate effort as part of this. Obviously, this is someone with a North Carolina background, so authorities there, in conjunction with authorities in Florida as well, were able to make this happen.

But, also, the county sheriff and the county where this person was taken into custody credited a camera system that essentially allows law enforcement to use A.I. to better track vehicles. And it's something thousands of law enforcement agencies use.

So we're going to continue to look through more details, but that big one being a former police officer in North Carolina.

BROWN: Yes, very troubling.

Omar Jimenez, thank you so much -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Very troubling, indeed.

Coming up, the Buffalo Sabres -- I should say, my Buffalo Sabres are back in the NHL playoffs after a long drought. And, so far, they're holding their own against the Boston Bruins, 1-1 so far.

After the break, I'm going to have the trophy they're fighting for right here in THE SITUATION ROOM. Stand by. You're going to see the Stanley Cup in THE SITUATION ROOM. That's next.

BROWN: Very exciting stuff.

But, before we had to break, here CNN's chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta with today's "Chasing Life."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Dr. Sanjay Gupta, host of CNN's "Chasing Life" podcast.

Do you ever wonder if you're brushing, flossing and gargling at the right time and in the right order? Truth is, most people aren't doing it quite right, according to dentist Dr. Kami Hoss.

For starters, he says brushing your teeth before breakfast is best.

DR. KAMI HOSS, DENTIST: Every time you eat or drink, the pH of the saliva drops and mouth becomes very acidic. And that's why you want to about brushing your teeth at least for an hour after you eat or drink anything.

GUPTA: And here's his ideal morning routine: Start with an alcohol- free pH-balanced mouthwash. Next, clean your tongue, because, remember, most bad breath actually comes from bacteria on the tongue. And then brush your teeth.

Now, before you go to bed, basically reverse the order. Brush your teeth, clean your tongue, and then use mouthwash, since leaving it on your teeth overnight helps protect enamel as you sleep. Also, don't forget to floss at least once a day, morning or night, since most cavities form between the teeth.

Bottom line, it's not just what you do. It's how you do it and when you do it.

And you can hear more about how to optimize your health and chase life wherever you get your podcasts.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [11:47:57]

BLITZER: Happening now, my Buffalo Sabres are getting ready to face off against the Boston Bruins tonight for game three of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The series is tied 1-1.

It's the first time the Sabres have been in the playoffs in some 15 years, and they haven't won a playoff series in almost 20 years. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was in the building for Tuesday's game crushing a beer and hyping up the crowd.

Josh Allen, who I like to call my big beautiful Bill, is a huge Sabres fan, like me. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSH ALLEN, BUFFALO BILLS: I think, again, just for the city of Buffalo, I think it's a better place when the Sabres are playing well. And it being the first playoff game in 15 years, and to go in there and win the way that they did, that showed a lot of grit, showed a lot of heart. It's a team that, again, people I think kind of wrote off at the beginning part of the season.

They have come together rather quickly. And they're playing for each other. And you can see that. You can feel that. I think the buzz in the city right now is -- it's electric.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: And you can catch all the action on our sister networks TNT, TBS, truTV, and streaming on HBO Max. Coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

BLITZER: I will be watching.

And, today, we have a very, very special guest right here in THE SITUATION ROOM, the Stanley Cup handler, Howie Borrow, with the Stanley Cup. There it is right there.

Howie, first question everyone wants to ask about the Stanley Cup, how big, how heavy is this?

HOWIE BORROW, STANLEY CUP HANDLER: It's about 38 pounds. It's made of sterling silver, and it's been around since 1893.

BLITZER: 1893.

BORROW: Yes, sir.

BLITZER: And all the winners' names are on the Stanley Cup. And you have got some space at the bottom for the Buffalo Sabres.

BORROW: Oh, absolutely.

(LAUGHTER)

BORROW: They're the next team that can fit right there, yes.

BLITZER: It'll easily fit right at the bottom there.

BORROW: Absolutely.

BROWN: What do you do once all that is filled up with other winners?

BORROW: So what they do is, every 13 years, when the bottom band is filled, the top one is removed and retired to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

BROWN: OK.

BORROW: Everything gets shifted up one, and a brand-new one is put on the bottom. The top half of the cup stays permanent because it shows the original history.

BROWN: Wow. How cool.

So we all know where the Stanley Cup -- during the championship. But it has a pretty busy schedule the rest of the year too, right? So tell us where it's been.

[11:50:06]

BORROW: Oh, geez, I haven't been to every place because I switch it up with some co-workers. But I just spent a week in New York and then I just came back from Atlanta yesterday, here today, and I'm probably going back home, and then it'll move on from there.

But it was in L.A. before that, probably New York again for another visit. It's been several places, but it's our media tour right now, so it's going to continue on and visit some of the teams that are in the playoffs right now.

BLITZER: If the Sabres, God willing, win the championship, what happens to that? Does it stay in Buffalo, the Stanley Cup?

BORROW: It'll stay in Buffalo for the summer. The players all have an opportunity to have one day with it in their hometowns. And the team can celebrate with it for the summer from mid-June, when they win it, until the home opener in October.

And then they're going to have to send it back to the league, so they can use it for their various events. And they will have to try to win it again.

BROWN: So how do you get the job to be the cup keeper?

BORROW: I was very fortunate. I started working at the Hall of Fame as a volunteer back in 2004. I worked the induction ceremonies that first year. Then I started working part-time hours in the museum, eventually traveling with other trophies and artifact displays.

And then my boss asked me in 2009 if I'd like to start traveling with the cup.

BROWN: All right, so stand by, because we have a surprise for our Wolf.

Joining us now is longtime NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

Hi, Commissioner.

(CROSSTALK)

BROWN: Buffalo is in the playoffs. We wanted to have you on to surprise Wolf, talk a little bit about that. So you have Buffalo ending this 14-season playoff drought, the longest in NHL history. How has it been watching this as an NHL commissioner?

GARY BETTMAN, COMMISSIONER, NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE: Our playoffs are generally sensational.

I mean, if you look at how our regular season played out, most of our teams, with the exception of maybe a handful, were basically in a play-in tournament for the last two months of the season. And while making the playoffs is really competitive, once our first round begins, anything can happen.

I was in Buffalo on Tuesday night. I was with Josh Allen briefly, who's a terrific person, not just a great quarterback. And, as he said, the buzz and the excitement and the enthusiasm for Wolf's Sabres is absolutely palatable everywhere you go. And it's fun to see.

I mean, the building was electric.

BLITZER: When I was a kid growing up in Buffalo, we would go to Buffalo Sabres games. My dad would take me. My uncle Mike would take me. My uncle Sam would take me. We'd all go to a Buffalo Sabres game.

And I remember vividly how exciting it was to see all of that. And at the beginning of every game, not only did they play the U.S. national anthem, but they also played "O Canada." And they still do that to this very day. And that's so powerful for me just to remember the music before the game.

BETTMAN: Well, for people who aren't familiar with the geography, Buffalo is very close to Canada. And a lot of fans come from Southern Ontario to the games.

But going back to the -- your other guest, the Stanley Cup, that is -- and I have been doing this for more than three decades. Presenting the Stanley Cup is the best thing I get to do. There's no better trophy in the world in sports than that trophy.

And with all of the characteristics and things that Howie talked about, the fact is, it also travels internationally. And if you're with the cup, it -- this will sound crazy -- it actually has a charisma. People get awestruck when they're in the presence of the cup.

BROWN: I get it.

BLITZER: I'm awestruck right now. BROWN: We are.

BLITZER: I have never been this close to the Stanley Cup.

BROWN: Glistening and beautiful and big, and wow.

BLITZER: It's really amazing just to be very, very close to the Stanley Cup.

I know you recently said, commissioner, about the possibility of bringing an outdoor hockey game to Highmark Stadium in Buffalo. It's really just a question of when, you said.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: Any chance you want to tell us when that will be, because I'm getting ready to book a flight already.

BETTMAN: I know I'm in THE SITUATION ROOM, but I'm not ready to break news.

What we have said is and we have acknowledged is the first Winter Classic was in Buffalo. It was such an incredible success. We have now done, I don't know, 44 or 45 additional outdoor games since that one. And I know how passionate sports fans are in Buffalo.

And we know, if we come back, the game will be a huge success. And since there's a new football stadium being built, once we have a chance to work out the logistics and timing, we will make an announcement. But I know there's got to be another outdoor game in Buffalo's future, particularly in the new stadium.

BLITZER: Yes.

BROWN: All right.

BLITZER: He's making some news, by the way.

BROWN: He -- OK. I'm so...

(CROSSTALK)

BROWN: I'm glad that you recognized it, Wolf.

(LAUGHTER)

[11:55:02]

BLITZER: Good to have you.

BROWN: Good to have you, commissioner.

Stand by, because we also have some surprises, some more surprises. We have a custom Buffalo Sabres jersey just for you, Wolf, just for you.

BLITZER: Oh, wow. Oh, thank you. BORROW: Yes, sir.

BLITZER: Whoa.

BROWN: And it has "Blitzer" on the back. How special is that?

(LAUGHTER)

BLITZER: What do you think?

BROWN: I think it's going to look great on you, Wolf.

BLITZER: What do you think?

BORROW: Looks great on you, yes.

(LAUGHTER)

BLITZER: Could have been a dream of mine in high school.

BROWN: I know. Why didn't you pursue it, Wolf, you know?

BLITZER: Hockey -- it's a tough sport, hockey.

BORROW: Yes, it is, absolutely.

BLITZER: It's not easy. All that ice skating, it's not easy.

BORROW: No, it's not.

BROWN: Wow.

BLITZER: Look good. Hey, I love this jersey.

BORROW: Yes.

BROWN: And the number 26, is there a special...

BORROW: Yes.

BROWN: Oh, 2026.

BLITZER: I will cherish this jersey. Thank you very much.

BORROW: You're very welcome.

BLITZER: Thank you.

BROWN: You're welcome.

BLITZER: I don't know who's giving it to me, but thank you.

(LAUGHTER)

BLITZER: Any final thought you have before we let you go? BORROW: No, just thanks for having us here. Everybody, watch the

playoffs on TV on ESPN and TNT, and get ready for a brand-new champion this year.

BROWN: All right.

BLITZER: My Buffalo Sabres.

BORROW: Yes.

BLITZER: Let's go, Buffalo, as we always say.

And, remember, as we just noted, the Stanley Cup playoffs on our sister networks TNT, TBS, truTV, and streaming on HBO Max, and the coverage will begin at 6:30 p.m. Eastern. And I will be watching.

Will you be watching?

BROWN: I'm going to try, Wolf.

(LAUGHTER)

BROWN: I'm going to -- you are making me a Buffalo Bills and a Sabres fan.

BLITZER: She grew up in Kentucky.

BORROW: Oh, OK.

BLITZER: She's -- not necessarily grew up with hockey, like I did.

BROWN: Ice hockey wasn't a big thing in Kentucky.

BLITZER: All right.

BROWN: College basketball was. But he -- you're getting me into it, Wolf. And now, seeing the Stanley Cup, I'm going to have to watch.

BLITZER: It's a nice...

BROWN: And I'm going to be rooting for the Sabres.

BLITZER: It's a nice jersey. Thank you.

And, to our viewers, thanks very much for joining us this morning. You can always keep up with us on social media @WolfBlitzer and @PamelaBrownCNN.

BROWN: And we will see you back here tomorrow morning and every weekday morning at 10:00 Eastern.

"INSIDE POLITICS" with our friend and colleague Dana Bash starts after a quick break.