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What We Know with Max Foster

Trump: U.S. Must Respond After Iran Downs Attack Helicopter; Wartime Pinch In Iran: "Everything Has Become So Expensive"; Suspect Charged For Attempted Murder In Belfast Knife Attack; Somali Referee Denied Entry To U.S. For World Cup; Trump, Without Evidence, Claims Fraud In California Vote Count; DRC Races To Build Ebola Treatment Centers As Virus Spreads. Aired 3-4p ET

Aired June 09, 2026 - 15:00   ET

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

[15:00:36]

MAX FOSTER, CNN HOST: Donald Trump says the United States must respond to an Iranian attack.

This is WHAT WE KNOW.

The U.S. vowing it will answer after it says Iran shot down a U.S. Army chopper. President Donald Trump says Tehran was responsible for the

helicopter crash off the coast of Oman and the U.S. must respond.

Two American officials say the aircraft was brought down by an Iranian drone. The two crew aboard were rescued. They are safe.

Iran is yet to confirm or deny this claim.

We're joined by CNN senior national security reporter Haley Britzky.

Obviously, the key thing here is that they survived, but it was an attack. I guess it could have been much worse, but a very symbolic attack for the

White House.

HALEY BRITZKY, CNN SENIOR U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Yeah, that's right, Max. I mean, this is coming at a time when obviously the president

said just last night that the U.S. could be two or three days away from signing a deal with Iran. Obviously, we have heard that many times over the

last few months that the U.S. was very close to signing a deal. A deal was just around the corner. So, obviously, that is not yet materialized, but it

is a very sensitive time for these negotiations.

And as you mentioned, it could have been much worse. Thank God that the crew was safe. The U.S. military saying that they were rescued roughly two

hours after the Apache went down off the coast of Oman by another drone, actually. It's kind of a remarkable rescue story that the military shared.

The first kind of rescue of its kind of a surface vessel drone picking up these two crew members, taking them to another location where they were

then hoisted up into a helicopter. The military's saying that they're in stable condition.

But certainly, a particularly stressful situation for the president. President Trump saying the US has to respond amid this. But then Iran's

parliament speaker, top negotiator for Iran, saying that, you know, threatening that things could escalate if diplomatic talks fall apart right

now.

So, really coming at a tense time here with the White House and what that response will look like, what the U.S. military could do, very much still

yet to be seen. We know the military has, of course, been positioned in the region and ready to carry out any direction that the president gives it.

Could this be rather limited strikes, perhaps, that we've seen over the last few weeks as Iran has continued to fire one-offs at the U.S. in the

Strait of Hormuz? Could be something similar there, but certainly something we'll continue to keep an eye on to see what exactly this response looks

like, particularly as we know the president does want to see an end to this conflict and wants to get this deal signed, Max.

FOSTER: He also said the U.S. had air dominance, didn't he?

BRITZKY: That has happened a few times where the president and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have made comments about the sort of obliteration

of Iran's military, particularly in the strait. And obviously, we have seen that continue to -- that not really be the case, as Iran has continued to

fire off drones and missiles, and certainly in this instance, in fact, hitting a U.S. Apache helicopter.

FOSTER: Haley, appreciate it. Thank you.

What we don't know then is how exactly did Iran manage to bring down a U.S. helicopter.

Joining me now, our senior national security analyst Juliette Kayyem.

Thank you for joining us, Juliette. First of all, were you surprised that they were capable of this?

JULIETTE KAYYEM, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Surprised, not really. I thought things would be quieting down as it seemed like the

parties were all sort of coming to some resolution that gave everyone an out. The escalation is clearly because of, you know, the lack of an ability

for basically the United States to sort of close the deal.

Operationally, I'll be honest with you, I don't think we, the United States, has a good sense of Iran's capabilities, except for we know that

they are not denigrated. I mean, in other words, all the talk in the early days that we had sort of eviscerated their military, we simply know not to

be true, both the Israelis and the United States intelligence agencies will confirm that.

So this is an escalation. It's not great. And now Donald Trump has sort of forced himself into a corner by promising some action, which I have to

assume is going to happen.

FOSTER: We're not actually clear, though, whether the helicopter was intentionally targeted, because it was a Shahed drone, wasn't it?

[15:05:04]

And they have been moving through the air for various purposes in that region. It could have been a coincidence. It was intentionally targeted

because it was a Shia drone, wasn't it? And they have been moving through the air for various purposes in that region. It could have been a

coincidence. It might not have been targeted.

This is why we need to hear from the Iranians, right?

KAYYEM: That's exactly right. And I think -- I think that is such a good point that the error is crowded over the Strait for a variety of reasons.

One, you have intelligence agencies, military agencies, you have commercial capabilities that also want to see what's going on in terms of

navigational, you know, sort of ability to navigate.

So this is not technically a no fly zone. So everyone has a piece in the sky. And I think that's exactly right.

I think the fact that there seemed to have been no military action by the Iranians after nor a follow on attack suggests that it would be helpful to

know what the story is here in terms of was this a purposeful escalation or one of those things that happened unfortunately in war.

I will say the president's statement about, and our reporters have been covering this, about our dominance in the air is just not true. It's just,

it's a way that he sort of projects strength. If that were true, right? Then we wouldn't, you know, then this would be over. I mean, the truth is,

is that we have neither air dominance nor more importantly, maritime dominance in the area.

And once again, though, the president has now said what he's going to do, no one knows what it means. He could deescalate, which he often does, but

right now it's, he has definitely raised the response.

FOSTER: Yeah, and I mean, we were talking with Haley about, thankfully the two pilots are OK.

KAYYEM: Yes.

FOSTER: But if they weren't OK, that would have not only caused a military crisis, it would have caused a political crisis for the president, isn't

it? Because every time he gets casualties in this war, it's going to become more unpopular at home.

KAYYEM: That's exactly right. I mean, I think we are so far gone from what this war was supposed to be. I mean, you know, after the first weekend, all

of us were saying, well, they did what they needed to do. But the truth is, Iran is a rational actor as regards this war in the sense you can't simply

say, oh, you know, the U.S. has dominance in its strategy, the Iranians have a strategy, and that is simply draw this out and make sure that this

never happens again. That's a strategy of ensuring future deterrence.

And most people in the field had predicted this, that the straits would become part of that delay. Delay helps the Iranians because like what you

said, the more that the cost falls on Americans, let alone the Gulf States and the Europeans, the less popular it becomes for the president.

We'd be able to have a discussion about sort of how we see this unfolding if we knew what the White House's present strategy was in terms of ending

this war. It seems now they are settled on back to where it was before it began with just younger, more conservative leadership.

There's very little discussion about a real nuclear deal. There's very little discussion about terrorism or any of the other issues that the White

House had originally said drew them, justified the war. And I think because we don't understand what our strategy is, we understand what the military

does, our strategy as a nation, this thing is going to go on for a bit.

FOSTER: Okay. Juliette, as ever, thank you so much for joining us.

KAYYEM: Thanks.

FOSTER: Well, prior to the news that Iran may have downed the U.S. helicopter, President Trump again predicted an end to the war was imminent

in two or three days. If you think you've heard that forecast before, well, you have. At least 38 times by CNN's count.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We have points, major points of agreement. I would say almost all points of agreement.

They are negotiating, by the way, and they want to make a deal so badly, but they're afraid to say it.

They are begging to work out a deal.

Most of the points are already negotiated and agreed to.

We're very close to making a deal.

I mean, Iran is dying to make a deal.

And who wouldn't when your military is totally gone?

We're going to end that war very quickly.

I don't think there are any sticking points. We're very close to having a very, very good, strong, powerful deal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[15:10:02]

FOSTER: From Washington, we're joined by CNN senior White House correspondent Kristen Holmes.

I mean, you've heard all of these comments over time, haven't you? They haven't transpired into something. Obviously, it's a very complex matter,

but is he doing any harm to his messaging by constantly promising deadlines and not delivering?

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I mean, certainly that has been an issue and that's why we saw him almost for a while stop

offering any kind of a deadline. I'll remind you that originally it was supposed to be a two-week ceasefire and then the ceasefire was unending,

that he purposely didn't give a date because he continued to put them up against a deadline and then they would not meet it and then he would have

to extend the deadline. So clearly that it was impacting at least some of this.

Now, it's unclear whether or not this last deadline, he said last night, two to three days he was expecting a deal. What happens now, particularly

given what we've seen with this Apache helicopter being shot down by an Iranian drone?

The question, of course, is still whether or not there was intent behind this. Was this just a mistake? Was there any kind of indication that this

was going to happen? We just don't have enough details yet about how exactly this strike occurred and what was the thinking behind it, if there

was any at all.

But that, of course, will change the dynamics in any form of a negotiation. It didn't seem likely talking to U.S. officials that they were going to see

some kind of deal within two to three days. But I do have to tell you, Max, I mean, it's not just President Trump saying this out loud. Behind the

scenes, they are also cautiously optimistic.

Now, we're not seeing clearly what they are seeing. And it doesn't seem as though, at least to the outside perspective, that this is moving anywhere

in negotiations. Obviously now, especially given that we've seen, one, Iran strike Israel, Israel retaliate. Then we've seen now Iran shoot down an

American Apache helicopter. It doesn't seem like things are working towards a peace deal here.

But behind the scenes, I keep being told by U.S. officials that they feel good that something is on the precipice, that they're going to have a deal.

Again, though, we've heard that before. It continues to fall through, and it's just unclear where this is going to go from now.

A reminder that the last actual piece of solid evidence we have as to where these negotiations stand was roughly two weeks ago or a week and a half ago

with this memorandum of understanding that was going back and forth between Iran and the United States. Since then, we've had this break of this very

fragile ceasefire, only to go back to a ceasefire now having President Trump essentially really threatening retaliation.

Again, what that looks like, we don't know. President Trump has made it clear he doesn't want to resume military strikes. But now he is putting

this in writing, and he's going to have to follow through with some kind of response.

FOSTER: OK, Kristen, thank you so much. We'll see what he says.

Now, caught in the middle of the conflict, the Iranian people are struggling to afford the basics as costs soar.

Our Fred Pleitgen is in Tehran with this report. And as always, we have to note that CNN operates in Iran only with the permission of the government,

but maintains full editorial control of its reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: As the conflict between Iran and the United. States drag on, the U.S. blockade continues,

sanctions continue, of course, it makes things very difficult economically for a lot of folks here in Iran.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): I just spoke to a business owner, he sells and produces shoes and he also told me that business has been difficult for

quite some time now.

FARZAD MASHMOOL, SHOE MANUFACTURER (through translator): Purchases have decreased and so have our sales. Shoes have become more expensive and

premium materials have gone up as well. But it's not like sales have completely stopped. The war had its own effect but it has not brought our

sales down to zero. We are still selling and we are still trying to increase sales.

PLEITGEN: A war is always devastating for any economy and as you can imagine, a lot of folks here in Iran have lost their jobs. Inflation is

also a big problem as well.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): The markets really collapsed now. Previously, I could buy more easily but now everything has become so

expensive.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): Inflation has made prices increase 100 times more.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely, it's difficult because it's after war, we have such a problem, like -- and after sanctions we have problems here but

it's the consequences of war. We cannot do anything.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I personally do not have much hope. What we see on the surface is that neither side will step back from

their positions at least for the next couple of years and the situation has been like this for 30 or 40 years.

PLEITGEN: But one of the other things that the shop owner told me has been a real issue was the fact that the internet here was shut down for an

extended period of time, because he also has an online shop where he not only sells his shoes but he also buys some of the material as well.

MASHMOOL (through translator): For about a month or 40 days, we were really struggling and right now, as you've witnessed yourselves, it's

difficult to move from one page to another.

[15:15:05]

I hope this matter could be resolved soon, so that our business can flourish again. We will welcome anything that puts an end to the war.

PLEITGEN: And, of course, that's something a lot of folks here in Iran think about, is the U.S. and the Iranian side try to come to some end to

this armed conflict. A lot of people here are just hoping for sanctions relief and for the economy to improve.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Now, we've got an update for you on an incredible story of survival, a triumph of life over devastating loss. A Palestinian girl is

thriving in her new home in Jordan, a year after being medically evacuated from Gaza.

CNN's Jomana Karadsheh first brought us Habiba al-Askari's story. She's recently visited the little girl, also reuniting with her mother and her

big brother. He's putting on a brave face despite suffering a major trauma of his own. A warning, Habiba has overcome a lot. Some video in her story

is disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The little girl that captivated the hearts of so many on her journey to the brink of death and

back. A journey that we brought you a year ago that began in Gaza's hospitals where doctors had nothing left to save Habiba al-Askari, the

Palestinian toddler was suffering from a rare medical condition, with gangrene spreading in her body.

Her mother, through CNN, appealed for help.

Following our report, Jordan's King Abdullah ordered Habiba's evacuation for urgent life-saving treatment.

We're now back in Amman to visit Habiba. Seeing Suhaib, her only brother, and their mother, Rana, again is an emotional reunion for me and producer

Abeer Salman. We found a totally different Habiba, a happy and chatty child.

HABIBA AL-ASKARI, EVACUATED FROM GAZA (translated): Matchy, matchy.

KARADSHEH (translated): Habiba, how old are you?

KARADSHEH: Three and a half. That's how old Habiba is now.

HABIBA (translated): Come here!

KARADSEH (voice-over): Her spirit and smile almost makes you forget what she has been through, a life-altering triple amputation.

RANA YOUSIF, HABIBA'S MOTHER (translated): If she arrived earlier, they wouldn't have to amputate her arms, neither her leg. They delay her

arrival, delayed everything and caused everything that happened to Habiba. May God not forgive those who were responsible, I do not forgive them.

KARADSEH (voice-over): Israeli authorities never gave a reason for repeatedly delaying Habiba's evacuation last year. As soon as she got here,

doctors told us, to save her life, they had to amputate both her arms and right leg.

YOUSIF (translated): Habiba couldn't stop asking me: "Mom, where are my arms?" "Mom, where are my fingers?" "Mom, where is my leg?" So I told her,

your hands are in heaven. So we had two options, Habiba, either, God forbid, you die. And I explained her what death means. Or we amputate them

so you stay alive. So I asked what would be her choice? She said, "I don't want to die."

KARADSEH (voice-over): Habiba is excited to take us around this compound that's now home, the SOS Children's Village, a refuge for Jordanian orphans

that's now also hosting families from Gaza receiving treatment in Amman.

Rana is a mother on a mission, making sure nothing feels out of reach for her baby girl. The other rock in Habiba's life has been Suhaib. His sister

is his whole world, and he is hers. But beneath that brave face and warm smile is a 12-year-old boy's trauma that has in many ways been overshadowed

by his sister's ordeal.

As we sit down for a chat, it doesn't take long to see that Suhaib, too, carries the hidden scars of Gaza.

SUHAIB AL-ASKARI, HABIBA'S BROTHER (translated): What I went through cannot be forgotten. A child's mind can not comprehend these things.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (translated): What are these things?

SUHAIB (translated): Bombardment, hunger, destruction, martyrs, bodies strewn in front of me. When we were displaced, I would have to skip over

bodies.

KARADSEH (voice-over): But it's remembering how Habiba once was that breaks him.

SUHAIB (translated): I remember how she used to run, to come to me. When I was carrying the water -- when I was carrying the water, she would run to

me wanting to help.

[15:20:00]

KARADSEH (voice-over): He notices Habiba is looking at him. It seems he has to hold it all in.

After running around all day, Habiba has had enough of her prosthetic leg. She wants to show us her ouchie.

KARADSHEH: She feels pain. That's why she asked to take her prosthetic off.

KARADSEH (voice-over): To try and get her mind off the pain. I ask what she enjoys doing.

HABIBA (translated): I like to sing.

KARADSHEH (translated): Sing me a song!

KARADSHEH: Habiba enjoys singing.

(HABIBA SINGING)

KARADSEH (voice-over): For Rana, being separated from her husband and her children from their father is incredibly hard. But returning to a Gaza in

ruins would be a death sentence for Habiba, she says.

Habiba has found a new chance at life. She's starting nursery now. The road ahead will not be easy, but nothing seems impossible for this determined

little warrior who is ready to fight the odds.

Jomana Karadsheh, CNN, Amman.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Coming up, what could become another anti-immigration flashpoint here in the U.K. as police investigate a horrific knife attack in Belfast.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOSTER: A suspect has been charged with attempted murder after a knife attack in Northern Ireland. Police said earlier they arrested a Sudanese

man after Monday's stabbing was captured on video in Belfast. The victim was stabbed in the face, neck and back, authorities said. He's

hospitalized, he's in a serious condition and today appeals for calm after a recent spate of anti-immigration protests in the UK.

[15:25:08]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RYAN HENDERSON, N. IRELAND ASST. CHIEF CONSTABLE: I understand that last night's attempted murder will leave people feeling a range of emotions from

fear to anger. Our officers have a role to facilitate and accommodate peaceful protest. Everyone in Northern Ireland will, however, sadly

remember the disorder which took place over the last two years. No one needs to see a repeat of this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Nada Bashir joins us now.

Obviously, anyone that's seen the video will realize how horrifying this is, and we wouldn't advise anyone does, but just explain what this has

triggered and the concerns about tonight.

NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There is certainly widespread concern given the fact that this distressing and graphic video filmed by a witness

to this horrific attack spread so quickly on social media and has drawn a widespread outcry across not only the country but internationally as well

over the severity of this attack. And it was gruesomely captured in this video showing the attacker who has now been identified by police officials

as a 30-year-old Somalian man kneeling on the victim attacking him with a knife.

And of course, as you mentioned, Max, the victim is said to be in a serious condition in hospital. The attacker himself now charged by police in

Northern Ireland with attempted murder and is set to appear in court at Belfast Magistrate Court tomorrow.

But of course, there is concern over the ripple effect that this will have within the community as well. Now, at this stage, police say they are not

linking the attack to terrorism. However, of course, there will be questions around the motive behind this attack, the state and condition of

the attacker himself. And we have already heard many officials, several officials, rather linking this to anti-immigration rhetoric. We've heard

that from the leader of the center-right Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, which has linked this attack to anti-immigration rhetoric without any

evidence. It's important to know.

We've also heard similar remarks on the hard right Reform Party leader Nigel Farage. And now, of course, we've been hearing calls on social media

for anti-immigration protests to take place. And there is concern that this could become a sort of riot if indeed these protests escalate.

So police officials are on high alert. They have called for calm at this current stage. But, of course, this really comes at a time where we are

seeing the far right movement gaining momentum, anti-immigration rhetoric gaining popularity within the mainstream political framework and there is a

huge amount of concern that this latest attack will only add fuel to the fire. Of course, police are concerned but are also stressing that this

attack is still under investigation, that this is still under the early stages of investigation.

Of course, the priority for them at this stage is justice and of course the health and condition of the victim now in a critical condition in hospital.

FOSTER: Nada, thank you. We'll keep watching it.

Now, a longtime aide, Jeffrey Epstein, told U.S. lawmakers today that she didn't know about his crimes, describing him as a master manipulator.

Lesley Groff was a key member of the late sex offenders' inner circle and appears countless times in the Epstein files. She helped manage every

aspect of his life, booking appointments and arranging meetings as his executive assistant.

According to sources, Groff told a House committee that she believed the massage appointments she made for Epstein with young women and girls were

with massage therapists.

Coming up, just two days until one of the biggest sporting events on the planet gets going -- can you guess what it is? We look at the excitement

and the controversy surrounding the World Cup.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOSTER: There are just two days before the World Cup kicks off in North America, but U.S. officials are denying entry to some. Somali referee Omar

Abdulkadir Artan has been denied entry after screening in Miami following a flight from Istanbul. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol says the denial was

due to vetting concerns after he went through an additional inspection.

Artan was named Africa's top male referee in 2025. FIFA confirmed the news on Monday and said it's not involved in the immigration process for any

host country.

Larry Madowo has more on the denial of Omar Abdulkadir Artan into the United States.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Omar Abdulkadir Artan arrived in Miami with high hopes. He was excited to be the first Somali to referee the World

Cup, a crony moment for his career. Instead, U.S. Customs and Border Protection says he was brought in for further questioning, as sometimes

happens, and then they determined that he was inadmissible due to vetting concerns.

And that is the question many in Somali and across the continent have, what vetting concerns, because that has not been explained. The Somali embassy

here in Nairobi telling CNN that he was vetted by the U.S. embassy here in Nairobi before they gave him a three-month multiple entry visa so he could

travel easily between the three host nations, Mexico, the U.S., and Canada. He was even given a diplomatic passport just to ease his travel into the

U.S.

FIFA now confirming that he will not participate in the World Cup at all, and essentially saying they're not responsible. This is the FIFA statement,

"FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr. Artan's status

will not be changed at present. In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted

into their country."

So in this additional inspection that he underwent in the U.S., that seems to be where the immigration officials decided that he could not come into

the U.S., even though he is a referee who's well-regarded on the continent. He was named the male referee of the year 2025 by the Confederation of

African Football. That is the highest honor possible for a referee. He has officiated matches around the world.

This would have been a crowning achievement for a young man, just 34 years old from Somalia who has overcome so much adversity to officiate at this,

the highest level for soccer in the world. The Somali authorities saying that they unsuccessfully tried to negotiate with both FIFA and the U.S.

authorities to allow him to come in. That didn't work out. And so he will not be participating in this World Cup.

And people see this in context. Somalia is one of the 39 nations under President Trump's sweeping travel ban, but he would have qualified for an

exemption because it's participating in the World Cup. But also this referee's inadmissibility is taken into context with many other African

fans from Senegal and Morocco, other parts of the continent, DRC saying they had visas denied and comparing to how easy it was to go to the World

Cup in Qatar. I was there. It was very easy as soon as you had a ticket confirmed. Qatar allowed you to come into the country. You didn't even have

to speak to an immigration officer. Scan, you're in.

So that is why so many people are criticizing FIFA. Gianni Infantino, the FIFA boss, said last year that everyone would be welcome in this World Cup.

But for many Africans, it feels Africans not so much.

Larry Madowo, CNN, Nairobi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Other countries, including Iran, facing challenges getting to the US for the World Cup. That's despite FIFA's president promising fans last

year that everyone would be welcome, as Larry said.

This is what he said in a P.R. video.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GIANNI INFANTINO, FIFA PRESIDENT: I think it's important to clarify this because there is a lot of misconception out there. Everyone will be welcome

in Canada, Mexico, the United States for the World Cup next year. We are working exactly for that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: So what we want to know is, will American politics overshadow this World Cup?

Joining me now, James Dorsey. He's adjunct senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies and a regular blogger on world

football.

Thank you so much for joining us.

I mean, what do you make of the two stories here? You know, the referee and the Iranian fans being blocked and the connection between those two.

JAMES DORSEY, ADJUNCT SR. FELLOW, S. RAJARATNAM SCHOOL OF INTL. STUDIES: I think there are three issues here. One is an issue of lack of transparency.

As your correspondent in Kenya mentioned, it's unclear what vetting concerns mean.

Also, it's not just the Somali referee, it's also an Iraqi photographer who is a photographer attached to the Iraqi team who was barred entry, and of

course fans, particularly from Iran, but also from other nations. That's the first concern here.

The second concern here is that one cannot avoid, certainly in the case of Iran, the impression that there's an element of harassment here. This is

the first World Cup ever in which the host country is hosting a team from a country with which it is at war. And allowing, for example, the players

only to arrive in the United States on the day of their match and having to leave the country on the same day after the match is a form of harassment.

It also disadvantages them since they have to travel on the same day that they're supposed to perform.

The third issue is one would have wanted to see application of immigration laws. And let's be clear, the host country retains control of its borders,

does have the right to determine who enters and who doesn't. But nonetheless, one would have wanted to see the United States apply the same

sort of application of rules as it does with the United Nations where diplomats of enemy countries, countries with which the United States is in

conflict, are allowed to come to the United Nations even though there are restrictions on their movements within the United States. A similar

approach could have been applied to the World Cup.

FOSTER: I mean, there's been some shock here, obviously, and it's disappointing for so many fans who are trying to stay out of the politics

here. Less shock about know the American government's response to some of these people trying to get in the country but more about FIFA's, you know,

lack of resistance if I can call it that, some saying it's complicity and allowing -- you know, allowing people to be blocked particularly after what

we heard from the boss last year, earlier on.

DORSEY: I don't know if that's legitimate criticism in the sense of what is it that FIFA can do beyond talking to the administration and trying to

persuade the administration to adopt a different standard or different policy.

I think the problem more here is twofold. One is that FIFA hasn't negotiated these arrangements. And the United States, you obviously have

that FIFA hasn't negotiated these arrangements.

[15:40:07]

And the United States, you obviously have an administration which is not migrant friendly and also not visitor friendly. And in the case of the

Somali referee, you have a situation where the president and other US officials have disparaged, if not racially described, the Somali community

in the United States and their representative in Congress.

FOSTER: And it's the issue with the tickets, though, isn't it, for the Iranian fans in particular that people are concerned about? Presumably,

FIFA is in charge of the ticket allocations.

What do you understand happened there? They took them away or what happened?

DORSEY: I'm not clear on what happened exactly, but what it seems to be is that they have withdrawn tickets from Iranian fans. Now, I think we need to

be clear on the definition of Iranian fans. There are those fans who are traveling from overseas from Iran to the United States to attend matches,

particularly those played by the Iranian team.

But there's also a very large Iranian diaspora community and the Iranian American community in the United States and particularly in Los Angeles,

where the Iranian team is playing two of its three group games. And those - - well, obviously those are segmented communities and pluralistic communities.

The community in the United States has a significant segment that it favors Reza Pahlavi, the former or the son of the ousted shah of Iran. Whereas

many of the Iranian fans, certainly those coming from Iran, are not likely to be fans of Reza Pahlavi. And it may very well be that FIFA, given

Infantino's relationship with President Trump, is playing into that.

FOSTER: Okay, James Dorsey, thank you so much. We'll see what else happens.

But a lot of disappointment amongst football fans, I know, as a result of these decisions. Thank you.

It is the final moments of trade on Wall Street. Meanwhile, stocks are struggling a bit. The Dow may have pulled back some of its earlier losses,

but it's a lot worse for the Nasdaq.

This is your Business Breakout.

It's been another tough day then for tech stocks. The Nasdaq has fallen more than 3 percent as investors continue to fret about the chip sector.

Broadcom's bad guidance last week has led to a sustained slump for the semiconductor companies. The S&P 500 also fell as much as 2 percent.

OpenAI, though, is going public. The company confidentially filed for an initial public offering after the market closed on Monday. There's no

timing yet on when the IPO will take place. It comes as its biggest rival, Anthropic, also announced an IPO and just before SpaceX's market debut on

Friday.

The European Commission is ordering Meta to let other companies use their A.I. assistance on WhatsApp. The E.U. says Meta has been abusing its

dominant position by denying other companies access to some WhatsApp platforms. It's giving Meta five working days to comply while an antitrust

investigation into the company is ongoing.

Still to come, from reality star to government hopeful, what's next for the unlikely player Spencer Pratt in the Los Angeles mayoral race?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:46:46]

FOSTER: Former reality TV star, Spencer Pratt is out of the race for Los Angeles mayor. Pratt, a Republican, initially drew attention with his focus

on homelessness and the city's response to the devastating Palisades fire. The city council member Nithya Rahman, running as a progressive, defeated

Pratt by more than 20,000 votes. Rahman now advances to face incumbent mayor Karen Bass in November.

And in the race for the Golden State's governor, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, has moved forward to the

general election. Former Fox News host Steve Hilton, a Republican and Democrat, Tom Steyer, remain in the running for the chance to face Becerra

in the race to replace California Governor Gavin Newsom.

The match-up comes amid a GOP resurgence of claims of voter fraud led by President Trump, who claimed last week with no evidence that the election

in California is rigged. Hilton, backed by Trump, told CNN he hasn't seen any indication of wrongdoing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVE HILTON (R), CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR CANDIDATE: We've got teams standing by, lawyers standing by, and actually, it's the same answer that actually

I've been giving for a few days now. We've seen nothing that would give us cause to intervene in that way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: CNN's Jeff Zeleny joins me now.

There doesn't seem to be any evidence of voter fraud, but it is picking up as a narrative, isn't it, among some?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF U.S. NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: It certainly is once again. It seems that we've seen this movie before, Max. I mean,

President Trump is leading the charge, talking about a rigged California election. He's been doing it now for several days.

And there is no evidence to suggest that. And even Steve Hilton, of course, who's the -- was endorsed by the president, who's still in the running to

make the runoff race for governor, he said he has not seen it. But what is at issue here and what is going on here is something a little bit more than

that. Talking to a variety of Republicans and Democratic officials, they believe that the president is effectively revising and re-upping and

reviving this whole conversation about elections are not safe and just injecting into the bloodstream, if you will, the idea of voter fraud.

Why does this matter? Well, we are five months before a U.S. midterm election, a very big, important midterm election that will determine the

power of the House and the Senate, as well as many governors' races. And this is something that is a narrative that we saw how back in the 2020

election, when the president said the election was rigged, when he lost to Joe Biden, of course, there was no evidence of that. His own Justice

Department, his own attorney general said there was no evidence of that.

Well, we saw it take hold. So that is what seems to be happening again. And One of the issues here in California is it does take California a long time

to count their votes, days and days, sometimes weeks and weeks. Why is that? Because most Californians mail their ballots in, and they have until

the day of the election to mail them in.

But with California home to many congressional races that are important in a November, this is the beginning of what could be another narrative

setting about election fraud.

[15:50:00]

And of course, we see the consequences of this, at least back in a 2020, it led to the storming of the Capitol, and it led into the notion that

elections aren't safe, et cetera. So it seems like we're having a bit of deja vu here to 2020.

FOSTER: Yeah, it does feel like that. Jeff, appreciate it. Thank you.

ZELENY: Sure.

FOSTER: We'll be back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOSTER: Protesters in Kenya are venting their anger as fears spark over a proposal to open a U.S.-funded isolation ward there. Critics argue the

facility would expose Kenya to Ebola, a country that has never recorded a single case of the fatal disease. This comes as the DRC races to build

Ebola treatment centers as the spread continues.

CNN's Clarissa Ward reports on how construction works are going.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We're here at a brand-new U.S.-funded Ebola treatment center at Bunia's General Hospital,

which is just about to open. You can see people are working hard to get those first patients in.

WARD (voice-over): It is being built by American NGO International Medical Corps with funding from the U.S. government.

WARD: Everywhere you go, you see this, this is the new branding for the United States State Department, which has contributed more than $160

million to this Ebola crisis.

WARD (voice-over): Almost a year after dismantling USAID and slashing foreign aid across the board, the U.S. remains the single largest donor to

this outbreak.

DR. AHMED MAHAT, IMC COORDINATOR: It has been hectic, so we tried. We have been working day and night just to make sure that we realize this, and it

has taken us 10 days. It also involves a lot of hard work, so normally it takes 21 days to build, but because of the urgency, because of the high

number of cases that being admitted across it really requires this commitment to make sure that everything is ready in time.

WARD: So, each bed has a number and has already been designated a patient. Obviously, we can't show you that for patient privacy reasons, but what we

can say is that this tent is for men who are in stable condition, and that tent is for the women.

WARD (voice-over): The following afternoon, the first patients arrive one after another, they come. The wait is over, but the hard work has just

begun.

Clarissa Ward, CNN, Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Finally tonight, assault and battery by a dancing robot at a Chinese theme park.

A humanoid robot kicked a child directly in the stomach during a martial arts performance. According to state-linked media outlets, the child was

okay, but the amusement part paused the robot's dancing duties after the incident, as you'd expect.

I'm Max Foster. That's WHAT WE KNOW. Do stay with CNN.

END

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