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The Situation Room

U.S. World Cup Team Loses Match; Reports of Debris Falling From New York City Building; Trump Arrives at NATO Summit. Aired 10:30a-11a ET

Aired July 07, 2026 - 10:30   ET

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

[10:30:00]

DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Now I'm going to get in a little bit closer, get specific, into some local details, because this is just in a 24-hour period, since Monday.

And you can see over the western tip of Long Island, over four inches of rain. And the area where we saw the roof collapse, that's where we saw upwards of five inches of rain as well, so incredible totals. The good news is, those locations are out of flood alerts, but there's still millions of Americans across into Virginia into western and southern portions of Pennsylvania that have a slight risk of flooding today, thanks to excessive rain.

There's still some rain lingering across the Cape and into Boston this morning, so maybe some localized urban flooding as this system tries to exit the East Coast. But these slow-moving thunderstorms that could pop up through the afternoon could produce a quick one to two inches of rain in the saturated environment.

That's where we'll look for the potential of more flash flooding today -- Wolf.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: All right, Derek Van Dam, thank you very much. We'll continue to check in with you.

Just ahead: the state implementing a new law restricting minors' ability to download apps to their phones. We have new details. That's next.

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[10:35:28]

BLITZER: Happening now: A state investigation is now under way in Tennessee after National Guard soldiers shot and killed the 20-year- old man in Memphis on Sunday.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says Memphis police were chasing Tyrin Johnson, who was armed with a handgun, when soldiers joined in, and that the Guardsmen struck and killed Johnson when he turned toward them with his weapon.

Memphis is one of several Democratic-led cities where the president has deployed federal forces to further his immigration and anti-crime agendas. The soldiers involved are assigned to that crime fighting patrol.

Also, in Texas, the U.S. Supreme Court is allowing the state to restrict minors' access to app stores. The new law requires mobile app stores to verify the age of users and prohibits minors from downloading apps without their parents' consent. The law is still being litigated, and the High Court's emergency docket decision does not resolve the case.

But it will allow Texas to enforce the law while it's being challenged in court.

And look at this, stunning pictures from space. This video of an aurora dancing in the Earth's atmosphere was taken by a European Space Agency astronaut on board the International Space Station. She's been in space now for more than 140 days and said it's the most amazing one she has seen on her mission. Totally incredible.

Let's get to the breaking news right now. President Trump has arrived at the NATO summit in Turkey. He's been highly critical of several members of the alliance over their defense spending, telling them to step up. President Trump is also carrying a grudge after his requests for help with the Iran war were largely ignored by key NATO members.

Joining us now is Ivo Daalder, the former U.S. ambassador to NATO, and he's now a senior fellow at Harvard's Belfer Center. And retired U.S. Army General Wesley Clark, he's the former NATO Supreme Allied commander.

Ambassador Daalder, let me start with you.

Will NATO leaders be able to placate President Trump at this summit in Turkey this week?

IVO DAALDER, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO NATO: Well, they're certainly going to try, because, after all, U.S. commitment to Europe, European security is fundamental, not only to European security, but to American security.

And they will remind and will try to remind the president of two fundamental realities. Number one is that, in part because of his push, they are now spending significantly more on defense than they have for quite a while.

And as in doing so, they will be spending more to buy capabilities, both European, but also American. And this helps American jobs, but it also helps the defense of NATO by having equipment that is capable of working in concert with American forces.

And, secondly, I think they're going to remind him that having a strong and capable NATO is the best way to preserve peace, to deter war. And, after all, without -- with peace and deterring war, we are all far more secure than we would otherwise be.

It's going to be a hard sell because the president isn't convinced of either of those arguments, but I think they will try as hard as they can.

BLITZER: All right. General Clark, NATO, as you well know, is 77 years old, and, for most of that history, the United States certainly has wanted to lead the group and has led the group. Now, apparently, under President Trump, it doesn't.

Secretary-General Mark Rutte said in an op-ed in "The Washington Post" -- and I'm quoting him now -- "America's allies are making clear that their mind-set has shifted. Renewed collective strength, not unhealthy dependencies, will drive peace, security, and prosperity for the years ahead" -- end quote.

Is there now a clear path ahead for where NATO is headed? And you know this subject well.

GEN. WESLEY CLARK (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: I don't think there's a clear path ahead.

I think the United States' participation and even leadership with critical military capabilities that the Europeans don't have is absolutely fundamental to the deterrent mission that the ambassador spoke of. So it's -- the problem, Wolf, is that we have given the impression to the Europeans that we're not going to be there if there's a crisis.

We have made it difficult for democratic leaders of these countries to go to their population and say, don't worry, the Americans will be there, because what they're seeing is the public statements of the president and the vice president and so forth.

[10:40:07]

And so it's confusing to them. And they're leaders of democracy. So, yes, they're going to try to do the best they can to put together something. But without the United States as the heart of this, it's not likely to work. It's our nuclear capability, our deterrence, our depth, our ability in air power, our intelligence and space, all of that.

The reliance is absolutely fundamental to successful deterrence for NATO, and there's no replacement for it yet.

BLITZER: Ambassador Daalder, President Trump implied that the only reason he even is attending the current NATO summit because that was a courtesy to Turkey's president, who is a close ally.

And now Trump says he is considering selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey. That's against the wishes of Congress, certainly against the wishes of Israel. Is there deep concern this could upset the balance of power in the region if it happens?

DAALDER: Well, the sale of F-35s was long ago concluded, and the only reason it was stopped is because Turkey bought S-400 air defense systems from the Russians, which posed a fundamental threat to NATO's integrated air defense system. If the president is now willing to sell F-35s, when he wasn't in 2018,

when he canceled the contract, then I hope we also have resolved the S-400 issue.

But there's a larger question here, which is that the president saying that he's going to this summit not because he believes fundamentally in the strength and importance of NATO, but because he wants to be a friend to a person who is locking up his opposition in terms of in Turkey, is a problem, of course.

As General Clark emphasized, the United States is critical for the defense of Europe, but it's also critical -- the defense of Europe is critical to the defense of the United States. And to go and say, I'm only coming because Erdogan is my friend, rather than to say, this is an important alliance that I want to contribute to and want to transform and continue to transform into one in which the Europeans are more able, more capable, working alongside us, is, I think, a lost opportunity.

BLITZER: You know, it's really significant, General Clark -- and you know the subject well -- sources telling CNN that President Trump actually considered slashing U.S. troops in Europe in the NATO alliance by about one-third.

Right now, there are, what, about 70,000 U.S. troops in the NATO alliance; 25,000 would be gone if in fact the president went ahead and slashed that number. What would that mean if the U.S. were to do that?

CLARK: It would mean that -- first, it would be a strong political signal to Vladimir Putin that the United States is not that strongly committed to NATO. So, it undercuts deterrence.

It would further increase the fears of our European allies. It would reduce their willingness to support us in other diplomatic and other efforts in Middle East or elsewhere. It's just a move that really doesn't make sense from the U.S.' overall strategic point of view.

If you're interested in the security of the United States, those 25,000 or 30,000 extra troops, it's insignificant to the United States' budget, but it's really significant diplomatically, strategically, militarily in Europe, and especially, Wolf, since the United States just warned Poland that Vladimir Putin is about to come in with some kind of a trick, some kind of game, some provocation against Poland.

It's the exact wrong time to announce any redisposition of American forces.

BLITZER: And most of those U.S. troops in the NATO alliance who are based in Europe are either in Britain, Italy, or Germany.

We will see what happens on that front.

Ambassador Ivo Daalder, General Wesley Clark, to both of you, thank you very much. And a quick programming note. Dana Bash will speak with the Israeli

prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, right after THE SITUATION ROOM, 12:00 p.m. Eastern, right here on CNN on "INSIDE POLITICS."

And there's other breaking news coming into CNN right now. New York City officials are evacuating, yes, evacuating several blocks in Midtown Manhattan after getting reports of debris falling off a 33- story building. Several of its floors are also sagging, we are told, and two of its columns have reportedly buckled.

New York City's Mayor Zohran Mamdani just gave an update on the evacuations.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZOHRAN MAMDANI (D), MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY: At about 8:00 a.m., FDNY received reports that bricks were falling from a building under construction on East 42nd Street between Second and Third Avenue.

[10:45:03]

And first responders have found structural issues on the 21st floor. So this is where two structural columns have buckled at this time. Additionally, multiple cracks and sagging floors were found on the 21st floor.

Now, luckily, there have been no injuries to report at this time. All workers are accounted for. The building has been evacuated. A number of tall buildings in the area are also being evacuated at this time. A school with about 400 children has also been evacuated.

And as a result of all of this, most of 42nd Street and 43rd Street between First and Third Avenues have been shut down to pedestrians and to vehicles. And all of this is a reflection of the fact that our top priority right now is the safety of those who live in this area, the safety of those who work in this area, and DOB inspectors and engineers are on site working quickly to secure the site, as well as that surrounding area.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Let's go live right now to CNN's Danny Freeman, who's covering the story for us.

So, Danny, what else do we know about this incident? Very worrisome.

DANNY FREEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, very worrisome indeed, Wolf.

But I just want to set the stage for our viewers in terms of where this building that is getting so much attention now and that is worrying FDNY folks and investigators is exactly in comparison to the rest of the city. So this is, again, east 42nd Street between Second and Third Avenue that we're talking about.

That's only about a block away from the United Nations and only a few blocks away from Grand Central Station. So this is really in the heart, yet on the East Side of Manhattan, of New York City. So, again, just to recap what you heard the mayor say right there, 8:00 a.m., the FDNY, they got reports of bricks falling off of that building.

First responders went there. They found structural issues on the 21st floor, and then you heard that alarming note that Mayor Mamdani said that two structural columns have buckled, and, as a result, they found multiple cracks and slagging -- sagging floors actually found as well.

The good news here for the moment, Wolf, is that the building has been evacuated, there's been no injuries. All of the workers, Wolf, have been accounted for, because, again, this was a building that was under construction.

But, clearly, New York City officials are taking no chances. They have evacuated not only the building, but a lot of the high-rises also around that area. You heard the mayor mentioning that a school itself was also evacuated.

Now, I can tell you, Wolf, we are expecting a press conference on this specific issue coming up at 11:00 a.m., so in just a few moments, to give an update exactly on what the situation is on the ground there. We also at CNN have a crew that is on their way to the scene.

So, an alarming situation right here, but, for the moment, that building still standing and no injuries reported, but, again, officials in New York City taking this incredibly seriously, as they have found structural issues on the 21st floor of a high-rise really in the eastern-central part of Manhattan, Wolf.

BLITZER: And we will stand by for that news conference right at the top of the hour in about 13 minutes or so from now.

Danny Freeman, thank you very, very much.

And coming up here in this SITUATION ROOM: The USA men's World Cup run comes to an end.

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[10:52:40]

BLITZER: Look at this. That was the lone goal scored by the U.S. men's national team in their World Cup game against Belgium last night. Belgium clearly dominated, scoring twice in the first half, and then exploiting a series of defensive mistakes, ultimately pulling away from a -- for a 4-1 win over the U.S. team.

And that loss comes amid controversy over FIFA's decision to delay a red card suspension for one of Team USA's star players.

Let's go live right now to CNN's Coy Wire. He's still in Seattle.

Truly a heartbreaking night for the United States, Coy.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes, what a roller-coaster day, Wolf, all day long. And just like that. America's World Cup dream is over, and within just days, all three host nations, U.S., Canada, and Mexico, all knocked out, but what a ride for the U.S.

The fans in that stadium had it rocking from the opening whistle. It was pure pandemonium. Breakout star Flo Balogun returning after FIFA overturned his suspension. The U.S. is hyped, but Belgium struck first through Charles De Ketelaere in just the ninth minute.

The U.S. did answer back. You showed that Malik Tillman goal, hammering home another rocket, second straight match with a free kick goal for him, making it one all. The fans found life, but before they could even finish celebrating Wolf, Belgium punching back 60 seconds later, De Ketelaere again, two goals and an assist.

They played with a chip on their shoulders. Their social media team poked fun afterwards, saying: "Overturn this." This was the dagger, though, Wolf, Hans Vanaken capitalizing on a U.S. defensive fiasco, costly giveaway, putting Belgium in command. Final score is 4-1, Belgium marching on to the quarterfinals to face Spain.

America's run comes to an end. I caught up with the team's vocal leader afterwards, Tyler Adams, and asked what this World Cup journey has meant to him. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TYLER ADAMS, U.S. WORLD CUP PLAYER: I mean, the support was unbelievable. I think our initial reaction as a team was, in this moment, we let them down, but I think, altogether, people gravitated towards the team because we were relatable. We represented exactly what the U.S. was.

Today wasn't a good day. I think, from a performance, we can analyze the performance. You can analyze a lot of things. But the togetherness of the group, how we competed in large parts of the tournament, I think was really good.

[10:55:01]

So, yes, it's tough to judge right now the overall tournament obviously after a loss, but I think, overall, there were positives that we're going to take away from it. It just doesn't feel very good get right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: All right, Wolf, scoreboard says Belgium advances, the last four U.S. appearances at the World Cup knocked out in the Round of 16, but this tournament may still have done something bigger for the U.S., showing America how beautiful the game can be, bringing a nation together in divisive times.

And a nation that once hoped footie would matter now expects it to, based off all the fans we got to catch up over this journey, and that may be this team's greatest victory. The entire tournament, of course, Wolf doesn't make that loss hurt any less for the players we spoke to afterwards, Captain Tim Ream wiping tears from his eyes, but fully aware of the inspiration they've been to so -- to the next generation, so many young girls and boys across the country.

BLITZER: And so many of us learned a lot about soccer over these many, many days.

Coy Wire, thank you very, very much.

I want to bring in CNN sports analyst and columnist for "USA Today" Christine Brennan.

Christine, FIFA may have allowed the U.S.'s best attacker to play, delaying a red card suspension, as it's called for Balogun, but nothing could fix the USA's defense, could it? It wasn't very good.

CHRISTINE BRENNAN, CNN SPORTS ANALYST: No, they were out of sorts. It was ugly. It was messy. They looked like they were running with cement shoes or something.

And I don't mean to be so negative, but the truth is the truth. They looked terrible. And you -- the question, of course, Wolf, is, did all of the previous 36 hours, Donald Trump inserting himself into a field of play decision -- first time all my years of covering international sports I remember covering a story like this, where that happened with a head of state.

Did that impact them? And, right now, they're saying no. But something happened. The incredible vibes of this team, those around the team were talking about that. The vibes changed. Something happened, and it's hard to basically look at this team and take them out of the controversy in the sense that they're living it too.

What a shame to see that be the final performance, as Coy was talking about.

BLITZER: And there's still, as you well know, plenty of outrage over FIFA's decision to allow Balogun to actually play last night, a chorus of calls for FIFA's president to actually resign as a result of that. What do you make of that?

BRENNAN: Well, especially in Europe.

And now this tournament is over for the U.S. men's national team, and a lot of the players go back to Europe. And that's where they play. That's where they live. And so how -- the fallout there. I mean, the Belgians were livid. Then they were mocking the U.S, of course, afterwards. "Overturn this" is the social media post that Coy mentioned.

They were mocking the president, doing the Donald Trump dance afterwards in the locker room, as well as on the field. And the European Federation, as we know, was just absolutely calling it unjustifiable the decision by Gianni Infantino to allow Balogun to come back and play.

So this will carry on in their lives. We move on. And the next big thing in soccer is the women's World Cup next year in Brazil, and the U.S. women will be favored to win it. And -- but this story will continue and follow some of these players. That's unfortunate, frankly.

BLITZER: A lot of us are wondering whether it became a distraction for the U.S. players last night at the game.

All right, Christine, thank you very, very much.

And we will be right back.

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