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CENTCOM: Iranian Missiles Targeted U.S. Forces In Kuwait; State Media: Iran Suspends Talks Over Israeli Strikes On Lebanon; People Relying on SNAP Benefits Brace For Trump Admin Changes. Aired 11- 11:30a ET

Aired June 01, 2026 - 11:00   ET

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

DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: -- fired officer for comment, the State Bureau of Investigations is conducting an independent review right now to determine if there is any kind of criminal violation that occurred.

[11:00:11]

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Dianne Gallagher reporting for us. Thank you very, very much.

And the next hour, The Situation Room starts right now.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, breaking news, trading attacks, new strikes overnight, including Iranian missiles targeting a U.S. base. And now, state T.V. says Iran is suspending fragile peace talks with the U.S.

BLITZER: And enter the Octagon, a massive new light setup dwarfing the White House right now, just ahead of a UFC fight on the South Lawn of the White House.

Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer with Pamela Brown, and you're in The Situation Room.

And we begin this hour with the breaking news. The U.S. now says Iran targeted American forces in the Middle East. According to the U.S. military central command, U.S. troops, "successfully intercepted two Iranian ballistic missiles targeting American forces based in Kuwait."

BROWN: And we're also learning this morning that Iran says it is suspending talks with the U.S. in protest of Israel's strikes in Lebanon. So let's go straight to CNN senior White House reporter Kevin Liptak. So, Kevin, U.S. Central Command says that Iran targeted U.S. troops in Kuwait. What more are you learning about this?

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes. And this is all kind of this tit-for-tat attack that we've been seeing really over the last week or so in the region. This is the second instance of Iran firing a ballistic missile towards Kuwait. Because remember, that happened again on Friday. And the way this most recent skirmish played out is the U.S. detected Iran trying to shoot down an American drone. The U.S. targeted some of the radar and command sites in Iran where they were firing those missiles. Iran responding by firing this ballistic missile towards the U.S. base that those attacks had originated from. So you can see how these back and forth attacks are really straining the ceasefire that's in place right now, but also, I think, threatening to upend these peace talks that are continuing to go on and on, despite what President Trump told us on Friday, which was that he was going to go to the Situation Room to make what he called a final determination on whether he would sign off on this deal.

Now, the way we understand it is in that meeting, the President actually asked for some changes to the text of the proposed plan. He wants to toughen some of the language around the nuclear program, around the Strait of Hormuz. But clearly, every time that these talks extend on for another day, every time they want to change a word or a sentence and they have to go back to the Iranians and then the Iranians have to sign off, something can come in and upend all of that, whether it's the skirmishes in the Strait of Hormuz or whether it's the conflict in Lebanon, which we now see Iran saying that they're going to cut off all talks because that conflict seems to be heating up.

And so where all of this is headed at this point doesn't seem clear. White House officials are still optimistic that this plan will get over the finish line at some point relatively quickly. But clearly, it is all very, very fragile, very, very tense.

BROWN: Very fragile, very murky right now. Kevin Liptak, thanks so much. Wolf?

BLITZER: I want to go to CNN's Jerusalem bureau chief Oren Liebermann right now. Oren, Iran says it's suspending talks with the U.S. to protest Israel strikes inside Lebanon. What more are you learning?

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Wolf, it was earlier this morning that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that Israel would begin striking the capital of Beirut, which they had largely refrained from striking because of U.S. pressure, because of Trump administration pressure since the ceasefire went into effect.

In fact, we've only seen two strikes on Beirut, one on May 6th, one on May 28th, targeting senior Hezbollah commanders. Other than that, Israel had held off at the request of the Trump administration. But now, according to an Israeli source who says this was coordinated with the U.S., we do expect to see renewed Israeli strikes specifically on the southern Dahieh neighborhood of Beirut, which is considered a Hezbollah stronghold.

Netanyahu said he will not accept the situation under which Hezbollah fires rockets on northern Israel and there isn't a strike on Hezbollah headquarters in the capital of Beirut. Within just several hours, Iran issued a statement through the semi-official news agency saying that talks with the U.S. had been suspended because of Israel's escalation in Lebanon and specifically in Beirut. So now, of course, leaves a question of where do the negotiations stand, because we believed just several days ago that they might be close to a finish line and that the sides were getting closer together. A few interesting points to make here. First, contrary to claims repeatedly by President Donald Trump, Iran is not acting like a country that's rushing to a ceasefire agreement or that needs a deal. Quite the contrary, they feel they're negotiating from a position of strength and this appears to be a way to try to get Trump to pressure Israel to back off of Lebanon.

[11:05:14]

Iran has made clear that a ceasefire in Lebanon is part of a broader ceasefire agreement, and this is at least part of their way of trying to make that happen. Second, the U.S. had also said that Iran is not able to make decisions quickly because a lot of their senior officers and senior officials are not connected and they're not online for their own security.

Yet this decision, this announcement that talks would be suspended, was made within a few hours of Israel announcing that it would carry out strikes in Beirut. So there is at least some capacity for quick decision making. The question, of course, is where does this actually leave negotiations? It is Trump, who is probably the only person on the planet who can force de-escalation on the Israeli side in Lebanon.

There's an open question about what can force Hezbollah to de- escalate, but it all puts the bigger picture of U.S.-Iran negotiations under serious question.

BLITZER: As long as Hezbollah, the Iranian proxy in Lebanon, continues firing rockets and missiles at various Israeli targets, including civilian targets in northern Israel, the chances of the Israeli government not trying to retaliate against Hezbollah are what, nil?

LIEBERMANN: Effectively nil, and Netanyahu has been under tremendous domestic pressure to escalate in Lebanon, to strike Beirut, and you're seeing the results of that now. Despite all of this, there are still supposed to be, at least, a fourth round of talks between ambassadors from Israel and Lebanon in D.C. in the next few days.

The Trump administration is trying to keep that diplomatic track alive, and the Lebanese president said on social media that he still believes in negotiations. They're not a sign of failure, they're not a sign of surrender, but they will take time, and that time is under serious pressure, as what is supposed to be a U.S.-brokered ceasefire is very difficult to see.

BLITZER: And based on everything we know, Oren, the Israelis are striking Hezbollah targets inside Lebanon. They're not targeting Lebanese military targets.

LIEBERMANN: That's correct. There is supposed to be a growing level of cooperation, or at least a growing plan for cooperation between Israel and the Lebanese armed forces. The attacks are targeted at Hezbollah with the goal of moving Hezbollah back and trying to secure the communities in northern Israel. So far, though, Israel's military, which vastly outnumbers Lebanon and Hezbollah in terms of power and technology, hasn't been effective at doing that, and Lebanon, or rather Hezbollah, has very effectively used explosive first-person drones against Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon and has used its rocket arsenal, though vastly diminished, to strike a bit, we're seeing those strikes go a bit farther into Israel now. So very similar to Iran's asymmetric capabilities, Hezbollah has shown its own that have proven very effective against the Israeli military's defenses.

BLITZER: Oren Lieberman in Jerusalem for us. Oren, thank you very, very much. Pamela?

BROWN: All right. Wolf, still ahead here on the domestic front, major changes to SNAP benefits go into effect today. How they could boot millions of people from the food assistance program.

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BLITZER: And later, Decoding AI. Our new Situation Room series takes us inside the emerging technology and its growing impact on politics and beyond. Much more coming up right here in The Situation Room.

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BROWN: Happening now, changes to SNAP are going into effect in the nation's capital and beyond, and could have sweeping impacts for lower-income Americans who rely on the program for food. The federal government will now require certain people who get SNAP benefits to prove they are either working or volunteering, and that's because of new rules in President Trump's so-called One Big Beautiful Bill. Now here in Washington, D.C. alone, city officials say about 18,000 people could lose the benefits.

Joining us now to discuss is Radha Muthiah. She is the president and CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank. Thank you so much for coming on to talk about this really important issue. What are you hearing from people about these changes to SNAP? Are there a lot of questions about it, and who might be eligible or not, and who has to work or not work?

RADHA MUTHIAH, PRESIDENT & CEO, CAPITAL AREA FOOD BANK: Just in your question as well, there's a lot of confusion right now in terms of what it will take to remain eligible or to become eligible for SNAP benefits. And this is layered on top of the fact that one in three people across the greater Washington area are struggling to put food on the table and need a little bit of extra help.

BROWN: One in three?

MUTHIAH: One in three. And so these requirements that take effect in the District of Columbia today and are taking effect across the country over these next few months or so are really questioning and causing doubt in terms of individuals who rely on these food stamps as a critical source of nutritional support on a monthly basis.

BROWN: And so from my understanding, it begins today, but there's a little bit of a cushion, right? Some time for people to sort it out. MUTHIAH: That's right. There's about three months for people to be able to, as you say, sort it out. And so we're doing a few things as a food bank. We're creating access to information so people are aware that they shouldn't just automatically assume that their benefits will continue. We're directing them to individuals and groups that can help them through the application process.

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And we're also highlighting that we know that many may not requalify. And so they might need a little bit of extra assistance. And across the greater Washington area, that's about 50,000 individuals. Once all of the cumulative H.R.-1 implications of SNAP take effect, 50,000 will lose about $186 a month in SNAP benefits. And that, by the way, equates to about 40 fewer meals per month.

BROWN: Forty fewer meals per month. Wow. And as you pointed out, one in three in this area in particular are already struggling. And I'm wondering what you're hearing from them in terms of, you know, just the living day-to-day with the higher gas prices and food prices and everything going on just day-to-day.

MUTHIAH: It's so difficult for many of our clients. And that's what we call our neighbors in need. They've made it through COVID, where obviously there were lots of challenges, you know, for them. And then historic inflation for many years after that. And now, continued increase in food prices, and especially gas prices, over these last few months with geopolitical events that are taking place. And so for them, it's this layered effect of one thing after another that is just making it harder and harder for them to be able to really achieve their aspirations and to be able to be financially secure themselves.

And these new work requirements, they're expanded work requirements that now include older adults, ages 55 to 64, who now have to work. Includes veterans, homeless, former foster youth. So these are individuals who often have worked their whole lives. In the case of older adults, maybe taking care of a minor at home while their child, you know, is out working. And it just makes it hard, you know, for them to be able to reenter the workforce.

BROWN: If you're a caregiver, though, you're exempt, right?

MUTHIAH: Yes. And so this would be, for example, take an example of someone who might be 60 or 62 years old, but caring for a grandchild who's at home, you know, while their daughter or son might be out working. And so if it's a granddaughter that they're taking care of, then they may now need to be able to go back to work to maintain those measures.

BROWN: Is there confusion even among the food banks in terms of what to tell people?

MUTHIAH: There's -- it's pretty clear what the requirements now are. It's just it's expanded work requirements. So people might think that they didn't have to qualify and, you know, work before. But now there are just greater populations that are going to be subject to these work requirements as well.

BROWN: And just to go big picture here, there is this new analysis from the Nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. And it found that more than 3.5 million Americans lost their SNAP benefits between July, when President Trump's legislation became law, and in February. Does that track with what you've heard anecdotally from other food banks nationwide?

MUTHIAH: It tracks anecdotally, and that tracks with the data in the greater Washington area as well. So when we look at last February versus this February, there are 158,000 people who are no longer enrolled in SNAP because of a variety of issues, not just H.R.-1, but certainly being compounded by H.R.-1 as well.

BROWN: And, you know, as we pointed out, none of this is happening in a vacuum, right? There is higher gas prices, diesel prices. And I'm wondering how that's impacting the food banks, like your food bank.

MUTHIAH: It's a great question, and it's a challenge for us as well. You know, we used to spend about $14,000 a month on fuel for the fleet of trucks that go out to distribute food to those in need. And that's gone up another $10,000 per month. And so that's an almost doubling of what we spend on fuel to be able to get food out to those who need it.

BROWN: Wow, that's a lot of money.

MUTHIAH: It is, and that's money that could go to food.

BROWN: So what do you do then in that case? So instead of spending that money on food, you're spending it on gas?

MUTHIAH: Yes, I mean, that is money that could go to food, which now will have to go to gas. And so we are increasingly engaging with our community, as are food banks across the country, to be able to explain, you know, what is happening across the region. And we've always been supported by community members, and that's how we'll continue to be able to get food to those in need.

BROWN: Yes, so for those watching right now, how can they get more involved and help in this situation? And what is your message to those who might be worried right now about where they're going to get their next meal?

MUTHIAH: I think for those who are worried, they should absolutely, whether it's here in the greater Washington area, please reach out to the Capital Area Food Bank. That's CapitalAreaFoodBank.org. For those watching across the country, you have a food bank that is close to you who will be willing to extend their services and support you. So please don't stay away and just assume you have to skip meals or ration the meals across your family. We are here to help.

And -- but the gap that is left in this wake is one that will not be able to be closed completely through food banks and other social organizations alone. For every one meal that food banks provide, the SNAP program has historically provided nine. So any curtailment, as we're seeing now through the SNAP program, will leave significant gaps. But we do want people to be able to reach out to their local food bank. We are doing all that we can to be able to ensure that we're distributing more food to those in need.

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BROWN: And so really quickly, what can people do who might be watching right now do to help fill that gap that you just pointed out?

MUTHIAH: Sure. I think there are three things that people can do. For those who feel like their financial situations are strong, they can certainly donate to food banks. We're purchasing a lot more food, paying more for gas to get that food to us, and then to those who need it. So please contribute. For those who feel like they can volunteer, they've got time. That is also really helpful to us.

And thirdly, those who want to do something and to be able to advocate to help explain to their elected officials the impact that this is having in communities, that's an extremely important role to be played as well. So donate, volunteer, advocate.

BROWN: All right. Radha Muthiah, thank you so much. Really important conversation. We appreciate it.

BLITZER: And thanks for me as well. Thanks for all the truly important work that you and your team are doing.

BROWN: It's amazing.

MUTHIAH: Thank you.

BROWN: I've been there before and it's just really incredible what you all do.

BLITZER: It's really important.

Up next, Congress named it and only Congress can change it. The latest setback for the President's Kennedy Center plans. Stay with us. You're in The Situation Room.

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BLITZER: Happening now, a federal judge has blocked, blocked President Trump's plans to close the Kennedy Center for renovations and put his name on the building. The judge cited a law that says the center cannot be renamed without congressional approval. All signs with the President's name must be removed within two weeks.

CNN's Alayna Treene is over at the White House for us. Alayna, the President seems to be backing down right now on plans to try to revamp the Kennedy Center. What's the latest?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Wolf, I mean, this was a major blow to the President's plans to try and kind of reimagine the Kennedy Center. And because of this ruling from the U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, essentially, President Donald Trump threw up his hands and kind of said, look, I don't want anything to do this anymore. I'm going to try and transfer control to Congress.

He essentially said that he wants to control transfer the control of Kennedy Center's operations to Congress. He said their operations, maintenance, management, all of that he's hoping to put in the hands of Congress. But this could also be challenged.

And the reason I say that is because typically ever since its founding, the executive branch has had oversight over the Kennedy Center's boards. It's Congress really that has controlled the funding. So we're going to have to see exactly how this all plays out.

But you could see shortly after that ruling came in from the judge, the President, the president responded on social media, very exacerbated, arguing that he was only trying to, you know, make the center better, laying in on a number of things and really hitting back against critics. Namely, he said Democrats, who he argued had put up challenges to him at every turn.

I will note as well, though, under the President who was elected chairman of the Kennedy Center's board last year, they have seen a ton of different programming changes to the center. But also you've seen slumping sales in tickets. You've also seen major artists who have pulled out of a number of different planned appearances, citing, you know, their criticism against the controversy that has surrounded the President's efforts to kind of reimagine the Kennedy Center.

So we'll have to see where this leads. But definitely a major turn of events for someone who really wanted to put his mark on that very historic culture and arts center. Wolf?

BLITZER: And at the same time, President Trump is still pursuing efforts to remodel a lot of Washington, D.C., both visually and culturally, including with an upcoming UFC fight. What do we know about this cage taking shape behind the White House on the South Lawn?

TREENE: I mean, you cannot miss it, Wolf. I -- you know, you started to see some of the construction. People like me, other reporters, people who work here at the White House just walking in on the North Lawn. You can't miss that massive structure, which the UFC calls the claw that has been built and is continuing to be worked on the South Lawn.

You know, you heard Dana White. He recently did a media interview where he said that the lighting grid, that's kind of that structure over where the fighters will actually be, you know, challenging and fighting off in the ring, the lighting grid over at the claw. He said, Dana White, the CEO of UFC, that it looks almost like a spaceship or a rocket ship. To me, it kind of looks like something out of a "Transformer" movie.

But look, I think one of the key things that's been really interesting about all of this is the ticket sales. We know, and I know from my conversations with just people throughout D.C. people, throughout the Trump administration, it has been a heavy competitive fight trying to get tickets for this event. They're expecting around 90,000 people to be either part of this event at the White House or most of them. The majority will be on the South Lawn and throughout the trying to get a sight of what's going on.

They'll have projectors and whatnot as well. All of this is going to cost roughly $60 million, Wolf. But the UFC says that they are picking up that tap.

BLITZER: All right, Alayna Treene at the White House for us. Alayna, thank you very, very much. Pamela?

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BROWN: All right, just ahead here in The Situation Room, election denier Tina Peters is now out of prison, just weeks after Colorado's governor cut her sentence in half. And we'll be back.

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