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Flash Floods Threaten 60M Plus People in Northeast; Trump Heads to Turkey for Critical NATO Summit; Hundreds of Thousands Flood Tehran for Slain Leader's Funeral; Trump: I Asked FIFA Chief to Review "Horrible" Red Card Call. Aired 11:30a-12p ET

Aired July 06, 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]

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We do not know yet. The Interior Department has not answered our questions about this.

Just a short time ago, I reached Eddie Wood, who is the owner of Atlantic Industrial Coatings, and he said he himself does not know when this work is going to start and he would not answer questions about the money part of this.

But the Interior Secretary did say that the big part of the cost was the labor, the materials, and the get-go. So, attempting to portray this next round of renovations is a very small cost, but of course we'll stay on it and watch where that is coming from.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Let's see what happens. All right. Sunlen Serfaty, thank you very much. Sunlen, being here in the Situation Room.

And just ahead, a monster storm is threatening major U.S. bases in the Pacific. What we know about the super typhoon, that's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:35:00]

BLITZER: Happening now, Belgium's Soccer Association is appealing FIFA's decision to let a suspended U.S. player play in tonight's match. Folarin Balogun was suspended for a game after getting a red card in the previous match. But FIFA now says it's reversing that decision so he can take the pitch and play tonight.

A massive typhoon moving across the Pacific Ocean is threatening U.S. military bases in the region. It's the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane. The storm is close to Guam and the several vital U.S. installations on that island as well as 7,000 American troops.

Thunderstorms, meanwhile, and high winds could complicate efforts to control a fast-moving wildfire underway right now in Colorado. The Aspen Acres fire has burned close to 90,000 acres already and hundreds of buildings, and it has forced thousands of people to evacuate the area. Officials are very worried the storms could cause flash flooding in burned areas. Also happening now, the dangerous heat is giving way to severe storms and now flash floods threaten tens of millions of Americans. And there could be more scenes like this one in central Pennsylvania, where up to two inches of intense rain drenched one town. Today, more than 60 million people in the northeast are under what's being described as a flood risk.

Let's get right to our meteorologist, Derek Van Dam. Update our viewers, Derek, because I'm very worried about all of this.

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, we're just getting information now of new flash flood warnings that are being issued for portions of Long Island to Queens, Brooklyn, Philadelphia. So, we've kind of stacked our show to give you a glimpse of what that looks like. This is now looking towards the Franklin Institution.

Look at the dark clouds. This is east of Philadelphia. So, we're looking east. This was a what was a flash flood warned storm that had a considerable tag on it. There was life-threatening flash flooding ongoing. It included Philadelphia, but it appears that the heaviest of rain is moving east of the city into places like Camden. This is a 60 million Americans under the flood alerts right now.

Notice how it stretches from southern New England to the shores of Lake Erie, for instance, all the way into Ohio. Let's focus right into the flash flood warnings that have the considerable tag on it. This is issued in Philadelphia until 2-15, but you can see the radar that moved through that cell produced one to three inches of rain in a very rapid amount of time. So, that's why we had that considerable tag. There was observed flooding. Now, the storm is moving into portions of New Jersey where we have heavy rain ongoing for Camden.

OK. So, let's move a little further to the north. This is southern New England. And as we look into this flash flood warning that was just issued while we were in commercial break, this is inclusive of Queens into Brooklyn. So, the potential here for flash flooding heightened as these storms move in across southern New England. There's a look at all the warnings across the area. I mean, a large area of showers and thunderstorms that are moving over the same locations and back building behind it. So, that's a threat we do not like to see.

This is a trend that has prompted the Weather Prediction Center to put its second highest alert level on for a large population density of the East Coast. So, we're going to see this evolve through the course of the day today. There is likely some locations that could pick up over a half a foot of rain before it's all said and done, Wolf. And that's a problem, of course, with this urban corridor with lots of pavement. There's nowhere for that water to go but up.

So, we're going to keep looking out for the potential of flooding. There's already been swift water rescues and all kinds of observed flooding underway across the East Coast. Wolf.

BLITZER: And people in these areas have to be very, very careful. All right. Derek Van Dam, thank you for that update. Thanks very much. Also happening now, President Trump is about to leave for the NATO summit in Turkey. He's been highly critical of member nations over the alliance's direction and how much each country will pay for going forward. Despite that, Trump said this morning he hopes the meeting in Turkey will yield a breakthrough for the war in Ukraine. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: I think we're getting much closer than people realize. And President Putin wants it to end. I will tell you that very strongly. What a good call. And President Zelensky actually wants it to end now. And we're going to be going to NATO and we're going to be talking about it. And I think we're going to get it. I think we're going to get it ended.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[11:40:00]

BLITZER: Sanam Vakil is joining me right now. Sanam is the Middle East and North Africa Program Director at Chatham House, also an adjunct lecturer at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, or SAIS as it's called. With the tensions, Sanam, between Trump and other NATO members, is there hope that something substantial can actually get done at this NATO meeting in Turkey this week?

SANAM VAKIL, ADJUNCT LECTURER, JOHNS HOPKINS SCHOOL OF ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL STUDIES AND MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA PROGRAM DIRECTOR, CHATHAM HOUSE: I think everyone is walking on eggshells going into this NATO meeting. There's hope that there will be productive, positive conversations.

NATO members have increased their defense spending, and they want to return President Trump's focus to the war in Ukraine, which is a huge priority in Europe. But they're very worried that ties will remain frosty. And so, NATO members are actually looking to the host, Turkey, Prime Minister Erdogan, in order to try and settle and calm the waters.

BLITZER: We heard the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, say this morning that no date has yet been set for a face-to-face meeting with President Trump. He also said his relationship with President Trump is fine. Why does Netanyahu want a meeting with the president so urgently?

VAKIL: Well, ties between the two leaders have become a bit frayed over the war in Iran. There's been a divergence over the Memorandum of Understanding, as well as tensions in Lebanon. And Prime Minister Netanyahu is clearly rushing to the White House. He's the leader of a foreign country that has visited the White House more than anyone to date. But he's trying to mend things in advance of Israeli elections because, of course, Israel and the United States have been strong allies for decades now.

It's unclear if he's going to be able to do so because the Middle Eastern issues, whether it's Israel and Lebanese talks or U.S.-Iranian talks, still remain very fragile, and there is still risk of conflict on the horizon. So, President Trump really has to referee and manage all of these relationships personally.

BLITZER: As you know, Sanam, hundreds of thousands of people turned up for the funeral procession of the supreme leader ayatollah, Ali Khamenei. He was killed in a strike on the first day of the war. His successor and son hasn't been seen at the funeral, hasn't been seen publicly indeed all these weeks. What does that tell us?

VAKIL: Well, it's not surprising that he hasn't been seen. He was in the building when his father was killed alongside members of his family. So, that's -- by all estimates, he's been injured, and we just don't know the severity. Although he is said to be now more involved in day-to-day decision-making, he also wouldn't be seen because there is still very much a fear that Israel will continue assassination attempts.

While the MOU has formally ended the war, it hasn't ceased the conflict altogether, and there is still risk against him, but also other Iranian leaders to bear in mind.

BLITZER: Sanam Vakil, thanks very much for your expertise. We always appreciate it.

And coming up, World Cup whiplash. One of Team USA's key players will, repeat, will, play against Belgium tonight after FIFA delayed his one- game suspension. But now Belgium is crying foul, and President Trump isn't being shy about the role he played. Stay tuned.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:45:00]

BLITZER: New this morning, President Trump weighing in on the controversy around FIFA's decision to lift the suspension of a U.S. soccer player. He says the red card foul against Folarin Balogun was a horrible, horrible call that should never have been made. Balogun was meant to sit out tonight's game against Belgium in Seattle because of it. But FIFA reversed its longstanding rule after Trump personally asked the head of FIFA to review the call. The president says the game will be better off for it. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I will tell you this. The people in Belgium, if they win the game, they can be very proud. If they would win the game with a player missing, it would have been a different feeling. You can't do that. And I'm very glad all I did was ask for a review. I didn't say you have to do this. This man is a smart, tough man. Gianni Infantino. He's a smart, tough man.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Gianni Infantino, the head of FIFA. Belgium is appealing the ruling, though, and I want to bring in Christine Brennan, CNN sports analyst and sports columnist for USA Today. How surprising, Christine, is this FIFA decision that was just announced?

CHRISTINE BRENNAN, CNN SPORTS ANALYST AND SPORTS COLUMNIST, USA TODAY: This is unprecedented. They have the president of the United States involved in a field of play decision. As you know, I've been around a while. I've covered the Olympic world and the international sports world, Wolf, since the mid-1980s.

As far as I can recall, of all the controversies, of all the nonsense, of all the funny business, of the ridiculousness, the shenanigans in the international sports world, and there's a ton of it, I have never seen a head of state get involved, certainly never covered that, get involved, a head of state, a leader like the president, getting involved in field of play decisions.

In terms of Olympic decisions, like what city? Tony Blair, Barack Obama, yes, they got involved. Jimmy Carter, the boycott in 1980. Of course, that happened. Huge controversy, really, to this day with so many athletes who didn't get the opportunity to play and have an Olympic experience.

[11:50:00]

But in terms of an actual decision on the field of play, the nitty- gritty of sport, never seen anything like this, which is why, well, the technical term is, this one's a doozy.

BLITZER: Trying to reverse a penalty that was called, which had enormous impact as well. President Trump says the red card decision was, in his words, a horrible call that should have never happened, describing the foul as two guys that happened to crash into each other. Do you agree? All of us watched the video of that so many times.

BRENNAN: Yes, Balogun -- I think it was a bad call, personally. I think it was the wrong call to make. The referee did not -- in the moment, did not even put up a yellow card. Then they go to replay, they look in slow motion, which is, again, a major point of contention, Wolf, as you know. Slow motion shows that his foot is on -- you know, is going up to the leg. Obviously, Balogun's foot has to land somewhere, and then the red card. Incredibly controversial in the moment, and for a day or so later.

But that is -- in some ways, Wolf, that is a different part of this conversation. Obviously, tons of Americans, very upset about that decision. And many people around the world. You can feel that way, and still be remarking about -- and feeling that it is remarkable that the president has entered the conversation. And I think that's the thing. And you'd be very concerned about the slippery slope. King Charles, does he want to weigh in on last night's red card for an English player?

And what's fascinating to me is we know what's next for -- and the president will still be president, of course, in 2028, when the United States, Los Angeles hosts the Summer Olympic Games. The president has already talked about how important that is to him. Will he intervene if there's a controversy in gymnastics? Will he not like a call and a turn on someone being disqualified in swimming, or in track and field?

The slippery slope here is so remarkable. It's fascinating, journalistically. But it's so troublesome for international sports bodies. Do you trust what you're watching? Do you believe what you're watching?

Now, again, FIFA is so corrupt. The Justice Department, of course, investigated. There were indictments, there were arrests. And a lot of FIFA officials never even felt they could come into the country. They were that worried about what would happen if they hit U.S. soil.

So, I'm not defending FIFA. But what I'm saying is what a can of worms has been opened because of Donald Trump's involvement in this case?

BLITZER: A source tells CNN, Christine, that the United States, quote, provided additional evidence to FIFA just ahead of the decision. What kind of evidence, potentially, could they possibly offer? And should this even be an option?

BRENNAN: Well, it would be one thing if it's U.S. soccer. And, you know, that happens all the time. For example, remember Jordan Chiles, the gymnast? I think you and I even talked about it. At the end of the Paris Olympics, the USA Gymnastics Federation was all over that. You want to protest that. It is within the realm of acceptable, and actually part of the job duty for a federation, a national governing body, or an international governing body to be involved in these kinds of decisions.

What could possibly have been the evidence, other than the fact that it was slow motion versus real-time video that was reviewed? They could go back over the facts, certainly. Also, this is such a rare thing. 1962, a Brazilian player was allowed to come back and play after, they didn't have red cards back then, but after he was ruled out. And then, of course, Cristiano Ronaldo was allowed to play in this tournament, the Portugal star, after getting a red card last year and qualifying, the same, but not quite the same.

So, it's so unprecedented, but I guess that would be another opportunity to show those two cases, which, of course, everyone knew about. They didn't need Donald Trump or the government to say it.

BLITZER: And we all know President Trump has a pretty close personal relationship with Gianni Infantino, the FIFA head, who gave him the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize last year. What questions does this personal relationship raise about the red card decision and FIFA's integrity?

BRENNAN: Yes, it's all there. And it raises tons of questions. As many red flags as you can hold up, that's for sure, that's what this is. And it's why the Europeans are so upset. Again, I know a lot of U.S. fans would say, well, so what, we don't care, we win this battle. But UEFA, which is the European Federation, the words that they -- I wrote them down, it was so remarkable, their statement, unprecedented, incomprehensible, unjustifiable, as they said that FIFA had crossed a red line. Again, it's far, be it from me, to defend the integrity of FIFA. FIFA has almost never had any integrity. The question is the U.S. president's involvement. And you know what, it's whatever happens in this game tonight, which of course now is even more important than it was, and it was already a huge, huge game.

The question about a tainted World Cup. Does this always put an asterisk by the U.S. team? These are the questions, obviously, we'll be following.

BLITZER: With Balogun playing tonight, who's favored?

BRENNAN: I think the U.S. will probably be favored at home. Belgium is good, but not as good as they used to be. The other great European teams are coming next after this game.

[11:55:00]

BLITZER: Millions of people will be watching here in the United States, and indeed around the world.

BRENNAN: Exactly.

BLITZER: Big game coming up tonight. All right. Thanks very much, Christine Brennan, helping us.

Before we go, I quickly want to mention my own star-struck experience of the weekend. I had the very exciting opportunity to meet the four members of the Artemis II astronaut crew while watching my Washington Nationals play the Pittsburgh Pirates.

You can see them here on the screen from left to right, and they were all so nice. Commander Reid Wiseman, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, and Pilot Victor Glover. You may recall that they completed the first lunar flyby in 50 years back in April, and it was such a great honor to meet these brave patriots and sweeten the sting of my Washington Nationals ultimately losing the game to Pittsburgh.

Thanks very much for joining us this morning, Inside Politics, with our friend and colleague, Dana Bash starts right after a quick break.

[12:00:00]