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Trump Jr's Investment Firm Soars During Trump Presidency; 39 Senators Demand Reforms After Deadly ICE Shootings; Troy Jackson Leads Race to Replace Platner as Maine Democratic Senate Nominee; Spain Edges Argentina 1-0 to Capture 2nd World Cup. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired July 20, 2026 - 14:30   ET

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

[14:30:00]

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Recent financial disclosures show the Trump family has made hundreds of millions of dollars since President Trump took office. Now a CNN investigation has found that an investment firm where Donald Trump Jr. is a partner has skyrocketed during his father's presidency. And there's also been a jump in federal contracts given to companies that the firm invests in.

CNN's investigative producer Curt Devine is with us now. So Kurt, tell us what you found.

CURT DEVINE, CNN INVESTIGATIVE PRODUCER: Yes, hi Brianna. So we understand that Trump Jr. announced he joined that firm, 1789 Capital, days after his father's reelection in 2024. Since that time, assets the firm manages have more than tripled, growing from less than a billion dollars to what its leaders say is more than three billion today. And my colleagues and I found that 10 businesses the firm has invested in have been awarded more than 1.6 billion with the B dollars from federal contracts and grants. In under two years, they got more than during President Joe Biden's full term.

And that's not counting more than a billion dollars in federal money that may go to other startups the firm invested in.

KEILAR: And how has Trump Jr. talked about the firm?

DEVINE: When asked why people should invest with 1789 Capital, this is what Trump Jr. said at a business forum last year.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP JR.: We understand what the administration wants to do because we help craft some of that messaging, so we can be on the outside but still have that understanding of what they plan to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: So is there any connection between the president's son and those contracts?

DEVINE: I want to be clear. We have seen nothing that shows 1789 has tried to influence federal contracts and other funds like 1789 Capital, the funds that invest in these companies, have put money into some of these same businesses.

But government watchdogs still say this trend raises questions because taxpayer dollars are boosting companies the firm has invested in. I asked Donald Trump Jr. spokesman about all of this, and he sent a statement saying, "Don does not interface with the federal government as part of his role with any company that he invests in or advises."

An attorney for 1789 Capital also gave us a statement. It said that the firm has done nothing with respect to these private companies other than making the same smart investments as other well-respected funds and investors. And the White House said, "There are no conflicts of interest."

KEILAR: All right, Curt, thank you so much for that reporting. We do appreciate it.

Still to come, more than three dozen senators are now calling for major reforms after two deadly ICE-involved shootings. What they say needs to happen by the end of the month.

[14:35:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: New today, more than three dozen U.S. senators are demanding significant reforms in the wake of deadly ICE shootings in Houston and Maine. In a letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, the senators called for equipping all ICE agents with body cameras by the end of this month. They also want to know how new ICE recruits are being vetted.

Both fatal ICE shootings happened during traffic stops earlier this month, and the agents involved were not wearing body cameras. Border Czar Tom Homan talked about that last hour.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM HOMAN, BORDER CZAR: I'm a supporter of body cameras, you know. I know that body cameras exonerate officers almost 90 percent of the time. I want the American people to see what that ICE agent sees.

You can have cell phone cameras from across the street or cameras from the side or city cameras. I want the American people to see what that ICE officer sees when he takes action.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: We're joined now by Deborah Fleischaker. She served as acting chief of staff of ICE and executive secretary for the Department of Homeland Security. Deborah, thanks for being with us.

Before we get to the reforms that these senators are demanding, I want to ask you about the incident that happened at 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan, a building that houses offices not only for the FBI but for immigration and customs enforcement as well. One source says the person in custody was carrying a pellet gun and anti-ICE material. What's your reaction to hearing that?

What questions do you have right now?

DEBORAH FLEISCHAKER, FORMER ICE ACTING CHIEF OF STAFF: Look, my reaction is that people have a First Amendment right to protest. That doesn't mean that they have the right to carry a pellet gun or to conduct violent activity, right? So there is a difference between protesting and conducting violence.

And it sounds like he may have crossed the line. I don't know enough to know for sure. But the fact that he was carrying anti-ICE paper isn't meaningful to the discussion.

He's allowed to do that. The question is what else he did. And if he set off fireworks or, you know, did other things that were illegal, then he should face the consequences.

It's not helpful to his cause. And it's against the law.

[14:40:00]

SANCHEZ: Yes, we are expecting to hear from law enforcement in a half an hour or so. So we will bring you those details as we get them.

But back to those reforms, body cameras on ICE agents by the end of the month. Is that realistic? Is there any reason you could think of that the agency couldn't accomplish that?

FLEISCHAKER: The agency has more money than it knows what to do with. The agency could have accomplished this months ago. The agency promised to do it months ago.

To be honest, ICE had a body-worn camera program that was being rolled out under the previous administration. And the Trump administration rolled that back. I don't think that they have the same commitment to body-worn cameras that they're saying now.

I appreciate the shift. I'm glad that they're now committed to getting body-worn cameras around the country by the end of the month. I think that's a good thing.

SANCHEZ: The senators also want personnel to wear gear that clearly identifies them as ICE. Notably, there were concerns in both of these shootings about unmarked vehicles. Does having a body-worn identification resolve that issue that when perhaps they're chasing someone, the person may not know that it's ICE?

FLEISCHAKER: Right. I think it's really unclear in the two incidents that we're talking about whether they did in fact know that it was ICE who was pursuing them or not. They have typically used unmarked cars.

They are supposed to use flashing lights. It's not clear if they used those either. If they didn't, that's a problem.

I think it is important for ICE agents to be unmasked and to be identifiable, right? That's what we expect of all of our law enforcement around the country, both federal, state, and local. There's no reason that ICE should be exempt from those requirements.

SANCHEZ: What are your thoughts on the issue of vetting? What changes would you want to see there?

FLEISCHAKER: I think that in the push to get as many deportations as possible, the administration has relaxed its vetting and training requirements for new ICE officers. I think we see the tragic consequences of that in Maine, where the evidence that's coming out shows possible violence, possible mental health problems for a newly hired agent. If we are going to entrust these people with a badge and a gun and the power of the federal government, they should be fully vetted and they should be fully trained.

SANCHEZ: Deborah Fleischaker, we have to leave the conversation there. Appreciate your perspective.

FLEISCHAKER: Thank you so much.

SANCHEZ: Of course.

Still to come, Democrats in Maine closing in on a replacement for Graham Platner on the ballot for Senate. We'll tell you who the clear frontrunner is now to try and unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins.

[14:45:00]

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KEILAR: Democrats in Maine appear to be closing in on their next Senate nominee following the exit of the controversial primary winner, Graham Platner. Troy Jackson is poised to lock in the nomination after securing an overwhelming share of the delegates ahead of this weekend's convention. Once official, the former state Senate president would take on longtime GOP Senator Susan Collins in a race that could determine the balance of power on Capitol Hill.

CNN's Patrick Svitek is here with us now. All right, Patrick, what happens from here?

PATRICK SVITEK, CNN REPORTER: So we have this nominating convention this Saturday in Bangor, Maine, but it could end up being more of a formality than anything else, given that Troy Jackson got so many of his supporters elected to these delegate positions over the weekend at county meetings across the state. There were 500 delegate slots up for grabs at these county meetings. He got his supporters elected to over 450 of them, nearly all of them.

And so he is closer than ever to locking down this very critical Senate nomination for Democrats.

KEILAR: The big question for whoever was going to step into this role was how do they channel this enthusiasm that Graham Platner was able to get and win the primary with? It seemed that the answer was no one could really do it the way he did. But I do wonder how Troy Jackson is poised to try to do that. SVITEK: Yes, I mean, he made no bones about appealing to former Graham Platner supporters in this current race. I mean, he reached out to them. He signed on to a petition endorsing a Platner like platform.

I mean, his platform was already very similar to the Platner's platform. But he's a little different from Graham Platner in some ways, too. I mean, he's been involved -- Troy Jackson's been involved in Maine politics for over two decades. So that's a little different than Graham Platner, who ran as a political outsider, who is fed up with the system.

But former Platner supporters that I've spoken to are thrilled that Troy Jackson emerged from this process -- or is emerging from this process currently with such an upper hand. They look at the two platforms between the two candidates, Graham Platner and Troy Jackson, and don't see much of a difference. They both support Medicare for All, abolishing immigration and customs enforcement.

They're both critics of the Israeli government. And so there's just a lot of ideological overlap there.

KEILAR: So the platforms are similar. What about the way in which he talks about it? I mean, the communication style, I think, is the thing that appeals so much to Mainers.

SVITEK: Yes. Platner and Jackson are different communication styles. Platner, you know, has this gravelly kind of voice. I mean, he gave these stirring, rousing stump speeches.

Troy Jackson has a little more of a halting speaking style, not as polished of a politician. He's been like that for a while. But his supporters like the message regardless.

KEILAR: Really interesting. Patrick, thank you so much. Obviously, a lot of eyes on this one.

SVITEK: Absolutely. Thank you.

KEILAR: Boris.

SANCHEZ: Now to some of the other headlines we're watching this hour. A new video shows the moment a man is rescued from a car just before it bursts into flames. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[14:50:00]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get out of the car! Get out, get out, get out, get out get out! Get out of the car!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: It wasn't before it burst into flames. The car is already in flames. Officials say during a traffic stop in South Lake, Texas, a nearby officer got word of a car with heavy smoke coming from it. When police arrived, flames started spreading from underneath the car. The officer ran and pulled the driver out through the window. Police say the officer was later given an award for these heroic actions.

Meantime, the FDA revising a key finding in the growing cyclospora outbreak investigation. The agency now says that a Taylor Farms lettuce sample that tested positive for the parasite was actually a false positive. It was discovered during a re-review of the result.

Taylor Farms says the FDA has since apologized. The company's voluntary recall of its iceberg lettuce remains in place, and health officials say they have very strong evidence that shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms is the likely source of the growing cases despite that false positive.

And a rare flash flood emergency warning, the highest level of flood warning there is, was issued Sunday in Beaver, Utah, after heavy rain fell on the burn scar of a historic wildfire. The downpours over the Cottonwood fire burn area triggered dangerous debris flows. The fire burned nearly 100,000 acres last month. It's now considered the most destructive in Utah history.

Still ahead, Spain taking home the trophy with other big winners at this year's World Cup. We have it all after a quick break.

[14:55:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: The World Cup comes to an end in epic fashion. Spain's extra goal, extra time goal, lifted La Roja to their second World Cup win, outlasting reigning champs Argentina in a dramatic finish. Today, team members arrived back in Madrid, posing with their new hardware.

Let's go live now to CNN sports anchor Coy Wire. Coy, an incredible ending to a historic World Cup.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: It was an awesome one, Boris. Good to see you, my bald brother. This was Spain's moment.

They've now won it all. They're the reigning World Olympic and European champs. First nation ever to hold the men's and women's World Cups at the same time.

The stage couldn't have been any more spectacular for the first ever meeting of Leo Messi against heir apparent Lamine Yamal. It was the grit and gravitas of the defending champs Argentina against the tactical precision of Spain. They had nearly 70 percent possession, 20 shots on goal.

After Enzo Fernandez was sent off for that wild challenge right there, it was ultimately Ferran Torres coming off of the bench and netting the game winner in extra time. 1-0 is the final, an unprecedented seven shutouts in a single World Cup. With no single standout performer throughout the entire tournament, this was just a swarm of red. One team, one heartbeat. Spain are the kings of football for just the second time in World Cup history. Now we wait to see what happens next for Lionel Messi and his future plan for Argentina.

The 39-year-old captain who cemented his place as the greatest of all time at this tournament had tears flowing down his face after the final whistle. More than 200 appearances for his country. He's yet to give any indication if there will be another.

Now check this out. 19-year-old Lamine Yamal just conquered the soccer world, right? Fans seeing him as a World Cup champ.

But the sweetest moment, this tiny little fella just sees him as big brother. He was sprinting onto the pitch to give one of the best hugs a big brother Lamine could ever ask for. And how about this, Boris?

Let's take a look at some live pictures here back in Madrid. Pure fandemonium as the team parades through the streets there recently after an unprecedented 48-team World Cup. Spain are the last ones standing, lifting the spirits of an entire nation.

And one fun thought for you, Boris. You wonder if Spain defender Marc Cucurella might have any regrets today realizing that he might have to get a tattoo of his coach, Luis de la Fuente. He said before the tournament that that's what he would do if Spain lifted that trophy.

Well, de la Fuente ramped up the pressure last night, Boris, saying that he knows his team are men of their word, adding, I'm not that ugly. So we'll see if Cucurella has to go on and get that fresh ink of his coach.

SANCHEZ: Look forward to seeing images of that as we watch these pictures from Madrid. Coy, I have to ask, what is the future of the U.S. men's team in upcoming World Cup tournaments? You followed them pretty closely during this tournament.

Obviously, a disappointing result when they lost in the opening of the knockout stage. But is there hope for Team USA going forward?

WIRE: You know, Boris, as we continue on, it could be another decade from now or more. But I think that as these young next generation players start seeing the allure of the World Cup and football in America, they have these stars to look to. The fans showed out, treated these guys like the rock stars you would see in the NFL and the NBA.

So you would think at some point, Boris, you're going to have that next generation. You know what? I want to grow up to be like Balogun one day, right?

Instead of being the next Steph Curry or Patrick Mahomes, they might want to be out there on that pitch, kicking around, shooting some goals. So we'll see. I will say this, though.

The U.S. fans, they showed out, man. They were repping and they were rocking every venue they showed up in. SANCHEZ: It was great to see that enthusiasm. Coy Wire, always appreciate you. Thanks so much for being with us as we continue watching these live pictures from Madrid. A lot more to ...

END