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Trump To Deliver Remarks At Mt. Rushmore Tonight; Federal Officials Launch Plan To Keep Reflecting Pool Clean; Funeral For Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei Begins. Aired 11-11:30a ET

Aired July 03, 2026 - 11:00   ET

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

CAROLYN MANNO, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: You've got Argentina, the defending champs facing Cape Verde, the tiny country of debutants who have surprised everybody as a Cinderella. So a little bit more action today before we head to the round of 16. Back to you.

[11:00:12]

PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Love pulling for the underdog taper.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: We'll be watching.

BROWN: Carolyn, thanks so much.

BLITZER: And the next hour of The Situation Room starts right now.

BROWN: Happening now, a milestone American birthday, the celebrations and the reflections from Mount Rushmore to the nation's capital.

BLITZER: And married in Manhattan, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding celebration is in full swing with the big event expected tonight. We have all the details on what's become the city's worst kept secret. 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.

Happening now at the White House, the President is preparing for his trip to Mount Rushmore. He will be speaking at the South Dakota landmark just ahead of tomorrow's nationwide celebration of Independence Day.

BROWN: The president is also due to headline tomorrow's 4th of July celebrations on the National Mall in Washington. But a dangerous heat wave is pushing temperatures into the triple digits along the East Coast. And organizers are having to add water stations and cooling tents to battle the brutal heat.

So let's bring in CNN's Alayna Treene at the White House for us. Alayna, what do we expect the president to say tonight and tomorrow?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, look, Pamela and Wolf, the President is returning to Mount Rushmore. I remind you, he actually went back in 2020, but he's returning today to really kick off the events of this Independence Day weekend. And of course, mark the seminal 250th birthday of the United States.

I don't know if you can hear that actually behind me, this loud noise from some fighter jets, just to give you a little sense. I know you can't see it on our screen, but some of the fighter jets are actually practicing here. We're watching them nosedive and fly over the White House as they prepare for his speech tomorrow night on the National Mall.

But to start again, back to what we're going to see from him today, the President really is expected to, I'm told, talk a lot about how important America is, tout his record and try to bring, you know, a big moment to this moment in history of America's 250th birthday. A White House aide did share, Wolf and Pamela, on social media day a little bit of what you can expect from his remarks.

She said to stand standing before the iconic monument, noting Mount Rushmore, of course, of America's most consequential leaders. He will deliver a major address, making clear what the world already knows. The United States is the greatest, strongest and most exceptional nation in history.

One thing I'm looking for, though, Wolf and Pam, is we have heard the president in the past muse about how he thinks he should have his face on that iconic mountain in Rushmore. He's joked about this before. I actually remember the former secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, once did an interview saying that she laughed when she heard this saying, you know, he was totally serious.

He said, come, let's pick a mountain. So we'll see if perhaps he tries to bring up, you know, the possibility of moving mountains today when he makes that visit to South Dakota. And then tomorrow, of course, we're going to see him. There'll be flyovers here on the National Mall. You're going to see what the White House is arguing will be the biggest fireworks show in the in the Capitol's history to celebrate July 4th.

Trump is expected to give what he's arguing is going to be a very long speech, despite the incredible high temperatures, very dangerous temperatures really here in Washington. We obviously saw him try to open kind of this big month long events to mark this seminal moment for the United States with his speech at the State Fair on the National Mall last week. We're going to see something similar, I'm told, tomorrow night to mark it all.

BROWN: All right. Alayna Treene, thanks so much. Wolf?

BLITZER: And fireworks are set to launch from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, the site of a lot of controversy in recent days and weeks. It was repainted earlier this year, but has been plagued by problems from peeling paint to an algae bloom.

Federal officials have launched a new plan to try to keep the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool clean. CNN Washington correspondent Sunlen Serfaty is here with us in The Situation Room. What are you learning about this new plan, Sunlen? SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Wolf, this is a very extensive plan, which really outlines real daily maintenance that needs to happen on the Reflecting Pool. Now, this is a plan for after they repair and restore from the second round of problems that the pool had. So this is a plan that will go into place after that happens after the July 4th holiday.

But the Department of Interior is essentially seeking contractors to bid on this plan to take on daily maintenance of the Reflecting Pool, the operation of the water. And it's really quite revealing how extensive the daily focus is they outline they need to remove debris, animal dropping leaves in and around the pool on a daily basis, reporting any dead animals in the vicinity. They also outline they need to clean the filters, the skimmers, remove all the debris, pollen and sludge daily from the pool.

[11:05:23]

The contractor would also potentially have to manually disinfect the pool as needed. And this outlines that the pool will now be drained annually to happen in February and March of every year for two weeks for a period of cleaning and inspection. And the request for this bid notes several issues that potentially could come up when that pool is drained. They say the material at the bottom of the pool is slick and nasty and is a combination of wet leaves, duck and bird dropping.

So, again, all this underscores not only how much of a problem the Reflecting Pool has been. This has been a cleanliness problems for decades, but how much it will be going forward after they get the pool back up and running.

BLITZER: And Sunlen, as you know, the former Olympic canoeist David Hearn was indicted yesterday for allegedly damaging the Reflecting Pool. What more are you learning about that?

SERFATY: That's right. This is an incident back that happened back in mid-June. Hearn has been charged with one count of destruction of property with a value of more than $1,000. That's according to the indictment yesterday. Here's what the U.S. attorney said yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEANINE PIRRO, U.S. ATTORNEY, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: Our evidence further shows that the National Park Service employees observed Hearn actually forcefully and violently pulling up and removing the bottom liner with both hands. According to witnesses, Hearn damaged approximately two square feet of sealant from the bottom of the pool.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SERFATY: Now, Hearn has denied vandalizing the pool, Wolf. He says he was simply curious, he says that he described it into CNN immediately after the incident. He said, I took my left hand glove off, reached down into water and sort of felt the end and bent it around a little. And Hearn's attorneys calling this outrageous. They say that their client is innocent. "These charges should be alarming to every American. This indictment reflects the administration's effort to shift blame for their own failures." And notably, this felony charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years.

BLITZER: It was a statement from his attorney. All right. Thanks very much Sunlen Serfaty reporting for us. Pamela?

BROWN: All right. Still ahead here in The Situation Room, brand new CNN reporting about a U.S. warning to Iran as it holds a massive funeral for the supreme leader killed when the war began.

BLITZER: And later, Space Rescue. NASA just launched a daring first of its kind mission to try to keep some vital equipment from destroying itself. We'll give you details. You're in The Situation Room.

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[11:12:34]

BLITZER: Breaking news sources now telling CNN that U.S. officials tried to warn Iran, tried to warn Iran that they feared Israel would try to assassinate Iranian mediators during the negotiations in the spring. Two officials tell CNN that the U.S. worried Israel might try to kill the Iranian parliamentary speaker or the foreign minister of Iran. And those concerns were relayed to Tehran through intermediary intermediaries. "The New York Times" was first to report this development. A spokeswoman for the Israeli embassy in Washington declined to comment. CNN has also reached out to the White House for comment. No comment yet.

BROWN: All right, Wolf happening now, a weeklong funeral for the Iranian -- former Iranian supreme leader, who was killed when the war began, is getting underway with millions expected to attend. Ali Khamenei died in a U.S. Israeli airstrike back in February. Our CNN senior international correspondent Fred Pleitgen is in Tehran. We want to note, CNN operates in Iran only with the permission of the government, but maintains full editorial control of its reports.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This could possibly be the largest event in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the funeral ceremonies for Iran's slain supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Now, those are set to happen here at the gigantic Masala religious complex in the center of Tehran, where big events are often held.

And just to recap, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint U.S. Israeli airstrike in the early stages of the U.S. and Israel's attacks on Iran on February 28th. The burial and funeral ceremonies, however, were held up, first of all, because, of course, combat operations were still going on, but then also because the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran was so very fragile.

Millions of people are set to come here to Tehran. That's why the security here is extremely tight. There's a lot of posters of the supreme leader that have already been put up here throughout the city. And what's going to happen is that the body will lie here in state. But not just the supreme leader, also, other family members of the supreme leader who were also killed in that airstrike, including one of the granddaughters in a tiny casket.

Some of the video of that has already been shown on Iranian state T.V. As far as the timing and all of this is concerned. First of all, the body is going to lie in state here for several days. Then there's going to be a big funeral procession here in Tehran. But then the body will be taken to several holy sites, both in Iran, but also in Iraq. And then finally brought to its final resting place in one of Shia Islam's holiest sites in Mashhad.

[11:15:15]

BLITZER: And joining us now is the president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, Ambassador Richard Haass. He's also the author of the book entitled "The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens." There you see the cover right there. And Ambassador, we're going to discuss your book and America's 250th anniversary in just a few moments. But let's start with this news. In your view, just how significant is it that the U.S. would issue this indirect warning to Iran about Israel's plans?

AMB. RICHARD HAASS, PRESIDENT EMERITUS, COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS: Well, Wolf, assuming for a second that it's true, I can't corroborate it. It's a -- it's quite extraordinary, even in a war that's been extraordinary. It really highlights how divergent U.S. and Israeli interests are at this point. The U.S. wants nothing more than to negotiate an end to this war.

Many in Israel want the war to continue because so many of their war aims have not been accomplished. So it's quite fascinating. Then also, I think it shows that the Trump administration keeps trying to build up a degree of trust with this Iranian leadership. I don't see that it's working. I don't see that it's being reciprocated. But all in all, it's quite a revealing vignette. Let's just put it that way.

BLITZER: Revealing indeed. Iranians, meanwhile, as you heard, are gathering across Tehran to honor the late supreme leader of the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a weeklong funeral after he was killed in a U.S. and Israeli airstrike when the war began in February. What are you watching for at this funeral?

HAASS: Well, one is whether it goes off without attack, and I expect the administration, the Trump administration has leaned on the Israelis not to use this as an opportunity to take out any Iranian leaders. That's the first thing. The other is obviously the rhetoric. How defiant is it? To what extent is the language really anti-American as well as anti-Israeli? To what extent do they, for example, talk about nuclear issues and so forth?

Now, it's interesting, Wolf, as you know, that in many ways that Ayatollah Khamenei represented a slightly more cautious leadership than those who have succeeded him. So it'll be interesting to see exactly how he is portrayed and what, if any, signals we get about the new balance of power in Iran.

BLITZER: Good point. I want to turn to the 250th anniversary of our American independence. A major theme in your new book is that our democracy cannot thrive or even survive solely on individuals' rights. Instead, it requires citizens to work together to pursue shared values. What exactly does that look like, practically speaking, Ambassador Haass?

HAASS: Well, thanks, Wolf. Yes, there's got to be obligations to one another. There's got to be obligations to the government and this country of ours. If all we care about are rights, what happens when those rights come into conflict? One, someone's right to bear arms versus someone else's right for safety. We have, remember, all the conflicts during COVID about the right for health versus the right to say not to get immunized or wear a mask. So how do we balance this? Are the rights of the unborn versus the rights of the mother? How do we work these things out? It's got to be civilly. It's got to be nonviolently if this democracy is going to thrive.

And more broadly, I think here we are in the 250th. We've got to teach our history and our political culture better. Wolf, if I had my way, no young person would be able to get a diploma from high school or college without having a serious civics education. We wouldn't think of graduating a young person who couldn't read or write. Why do we think of graduating someone who's not prepared to be an involved, informed citizen of these United States? So this is a moment for us to really rededicate ourselves to this democracy of ours and not take it for granted.

BLITZER: You make a good point. And as you know, Ambassador, some of these celebrations that are going to be ongoing of the country's 250th birthday have now become pretty politicized and very partisan for that matter as well. Why, in your view, is that a mistake? And what can citizens do to better celebrate the United States?

HAASS: It's probably inevitable, just given how polarized, you know, the context in which the 250th is falling. You know, we've got extremely, what's the word, hyperactive executive branch of government. The Congress is missing in many cases. The court is deferential. So many of the checks and balances in our system are gone. We're seeing redistricting. We're seeing slight narrowing of voting rights.

There's a lot of things going on that ought to give us pause. So the idea that we could have this holiday and somehow not be affected by the context is probably unrealistic. What I'm hoping people take from this is democracy is not on autopilot. It's -- it can't be a spectator sport. Citizens have to get involved. They've got to get informed. They've got to get involved. They've got to practice it. They've got to vote. Why is it in so many of our elections, tens and tens of millions of eligible voters don't bother to vote?

[11:20:24]

So what I'm hoping is people take from this is a sense that almost what, Wolf, we, the people, that if this democracy is going to flourish, citizens have to essentially step up to their responsibilities and obligations and not simply assume that American democracy is going to be in good shape and available to them for time immemorial. BLITZER: Good advice on this July 4th celebration of our country's freedom. I don't have to tell you, Ambassador, you and I have known each other for many years when you served in government. I got to know you. You're often deeply steeped in foreign policy at the Council on Foreign Relations rather than domestic affairs. Why in this moment are you choosing to really emphasize American history? And how are you viewing our place as a leader on the international stage as we celebrate 250 years of America?

HAASS: Look, it's a fair question, but Wolf, you know, and I know the United States will not be effective abroad if we're divided at home, if we're at war politically or physically with one another. We're not going to have the bandwidth to be active in the world. If we can't come together and compromise, how are we going to put into place the policies we need to build the foundation of our economy or society? How are we going to have a smart, consistent foreign policy?

All this depends upon the vibrancy of American democracy. If we're going to encourage others to be democratic around the world, we've got to show that democracy works. Wolf, if it doesn't work here, why do we believe others are going to adopt it for their countries? So the linkage between foreign policy and domestic reality, I think, is profound. And that's why someone like me who spent his life working on foreign policy essentially has come around to the conclusion will only be as effective abroad as we are strong as home. And that's why what happens here is so central.

BLITZER: And that's why you wrote this important new book that's entitled "The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens." Thanks for writing this book. Thanks for all your service. And thanks for joining us, Ambassador Richard Haass.

HAASS: Thank you, Wolf. And have a wonderful and safe Fourth of July.

BLITZER: You, too. Pamela?

BROWN: All right. Up next here in The Situation Room, historic heatwave. Half the country is getting blasted with dangerous temperatures. The nation's capital is getting up to 103 degrees today, and the heat's already messing up big Fourth of July plans across the country. We'll be back.

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[11:27:31]

BROWN: Happening now, it is not even noon yet on the East Coast, but it already feels like triple digits outside in parts of the Northeast. Millions of Americans will celebrate the nation's 250th birthday outdoors with record heat, making the events not just miserable, but downright dangerous. Potentially, cities from Atlanta to Philadelphia and Detroit to D.C. are canceling or adjusting their events out of safety concerns.

So let's bring in CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam. He is on the National Mall in Washington. Tell us more about these high temps. How dangerous are they really?

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, Pamela, red, hot and blue. It is blistering out here. They are not only dangerous temperatures, but they are potentially lethal. And we've already seen, Pamela, people getting carted away by the D.C. Fire Department. I think there's one even behind me because you can hear the sirens in the background because of the excessive heat that is taking place on the National Mall, which could go down as the hottest Fourth of July ever recorded.

So we've been kind of just registering the temperatures as we've been out here, checking on the CNN weather app. If you don't have it, go download it immediately, because it gives you a really good indication of just how hot it is, not just the actual air temperature, but the feels like temperature, the heat indice. So our record temperature for today, July 3rd, 102 in D.C. Right now we are at 96 degrees and our feels like temperature is 109 and it continues to climb. And my goodness, you can feel it outside.

I mean, it is almost unbearable. Sweating through my T shirt. No shame. We're all in this together. We're all human, right. We're going to show people, demonstrate just how hot it is, but give you some tips on how you can best beat the heat if you're going to stand outside and celebrate the nation's 250th birthday. We've got this red, white and blue crayon experiment that we're going to show, hopefully indicating which colors are better to wear in intense sunlight just like this.

Of course, darker colors absorb more heat. Lighter colors are much more forgiving. So let's take you through, yeah, the national -- this arch here, right. And we're going to just show you this beautiful spectacle. If you hear some of the airplanes flying by, there was an air show going on with fighter jets. We just saw Air Force One fly over top of us. It gets very loud very quickly because it seems like they were almost like breaking the sound barrier.

[11:30:00]

But here's the famous Ferris wheel. Just heads up for the step below you.