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Trump Blitzes Battleground And Red States; Candidates Rally In Battleground Georgia; Poll Shows Some Latino Voters Who Supported Trump Moving Away From GOP; French President Addresses Nation After Day Of Violent Protests; Are Democrats Getting Too Comfortable About Their Midterm Chances?; Trump Defied Late Poll In Iowa And Won The State In 2024; Pope Leo Resumes Duties After Lung Cancer Surgery; Trump Endorses Netanyahu Nine Days Before Israeli Elections. Aired 4- 5p ET

Aired October 18, 2026 - 16:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: Julia, walk us through President Trump's campaign strategy to try and get these numbers in his and Republicans' favor.

JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. President Donald Trump, he promised to really hit the campaign trail hard over this past month. And he has done that. He started out with rallies in Oklahoma and in Alabama. And then keeping with that theme of going to areas that primarily are Republican strongholds, he was in Kentucky this weekend, and an RNC official tells me that the strategy for that rally, for all the rallies that he's had this month, have been to drive turnout.

They want to get Republicans out to the polls, and Trump has repeated that message that he wants voters to pretend like he is on the ballot. That's a message that some in the party hope still resonates, as his approval rating has hit an all-time low.

Now, he did deliver a similar message yesterday when he spoke to those voters there in northern Kentucky. But he also kind of said he doesn't have to do this. He doesn't have to be out here. And people are essentially lucky that he's taking the time to do it. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't need to do this. I could sit home. I already won. Somebody said, good luck with the election. I said, no, I already won. I don't need to do this, but I have to because if they win the midterms, all of a sudden you're going to see a slide and all of the crap that we talk about, the incompetent stuff that we talk about is going to come back and we're going to go through the same process. And I don't think our country can handle it again. I really don't.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BENBROOK: And of course right now Republicans have control of the White House, the Senate and the House. Any change in that dynamic will have a big impact on Trump's next two years in office. Now, when it comes to polling, his approval rating, according to a CNN

Poll of Polls, which is an accumulation of several recent national polls, it shows that that approval rating sits at just 34 percent. A poll from the "Washington Post," ABC and Ipsos took a closer look at some specific issues, looking in and asking voters which party they prefer, which political party they prefer when it comes to the handling of the economy. And that data showed that 37 percent said Democrats, compared to just 28 percent who said Republicans.

That poll also showed on some other key issues that Democrats have an edge on big topics like health care, the cost of living and inflation. Some Republicans, particularly those involved in House races, have privately acknowledged that they are concerned about the growing frustration on some of these important topics, specifically when it comes to working class voters, as they see those gas prices and grocery prices skyrocket right now.

But Trump, back on the trail this week, another busy one. We are looking to see him in Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Iowa. And then he's going to end the week back here in the state of Florida with a rally in Fort Myers.

WHITFIELD: All right, Julia Benbrook in Florida, thanks so much.

All right. President Trump plans to make another campaign stop in battleground Georgia this week with a rally in Macon on Saturday. He rallied supporters in the northern part of the state just a few days ago as he ramped up his attacks on Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff, who leads in the polls against Republican Mike Collins.

Ossoff held his own campaign rally last night with Democratic candidate for governor, Keisha Lance Bottoms, who is in a tight race with her Republican challenger, Rick Jackson.

CNN's Rafael Romo is joining us now with more on this battle for Georgia.

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's been very interesting, Fred, because, yes, the president is crisscrossing the country. He energizes the Republican base. But you know what else happens? He also energizes the other side. Right? And so a lot of voters telling us that over the weekend, and there's a lot of excitement among voters we've talked to here in Georgia in the last couple of days.

Last Tuesday, on the first day of early voting in the state, Georgia voters cast, listen to this, over 190,000 ballots, a number that sets a record for the first day of early voting, beating by more than 53,000 than the one set for the 2022 midterm election. That's the kind of excitement we saw on Saturday when we went to a polling place in Cobb County.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROMO: And let me do this very unscientific poll.

Guys, if I can ask you, raise your hand if you have already voted. Let me see a show of hands.

Do you see that, Fred? Here in this group, everybody has already voted. And that's the story that we're hearing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMO: In a statement, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said that, "This record-breaking turnout proves that voters have confidence in the integrity of our elections. It's a testament to our strong election system, overseen by 159 of the best county election officials in the country."

[16:05:06]

You may remember this, as the state's top election official Raffensperger refused President Donald Trump's demand to find, remember that? Find the votes needed to overturn the president's 2020 loss in the Peach State. And there were dozens of rallies here in Georgia over the weekend organized by the "No Kings" movement to encourage voters to go to the polls and exercise their right to vote.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LORI SMITH, "NO KINGS" RALLY PARTICIPANT: I'm here to voice support with my fellow folks that are displeased with the current administration and their way that they act like kings. Very encouraged, encouraged by the support that we get. I've been here on a couple of the different marches that we've had, and there's overwhelming support by the traffic and the people that we see on the streets.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMO: Why are voters in Georgia so energized for the 2026 midterm elections? Well, it has to do mainly with two races, the one for the U.S. Senate between Democrat Jon Ossoff, the incumbent, and Republican Congressman Mike Collins. President Donald Trump campaigned for Collins Friday in Dalton, the conservative northwest corner of Georgia, and Senator Ossoff held a rally Saturday night in Cobb County.

The other race energizing voters is the one between former Atlanta mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat, and Republican businessman Rick Jackson. More than 800,000 voters have cast ballots in Georgia since early voting started on Tuesday. A lot of people saying, we got to get there before it gets even busier -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my goodness. Yes, OK. Probably another 10 days or so is the window.

All right, Rafael Romo, thank you so much. Appreciate that.

All right. And there are signs that some Latino voters, a key group that helped Donald Trump win the presidency two years ago, are now having doubts about the GOP heading into the midterms. Polling suggests that their reservations are being fueled by economic worries and their dislike of President Trump's immigration policies.

CNN's Arlette Saenz has been looking at how this is playing out in south Florida, where there's a very competitive House race taking place there. She's joining us now live from Miami.

And what have you found?

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, Latino voters have the potential to be another big swing voting constituency in this election, as there are signs that some Latino voters have shifted away from President Trump after helping fuel his victory in 2024. We are right here in Miami-Dade County, a county that President Trump actually flipped in the last election by a little over 10 points and became the first Republican presidential nominee to win here since 1988.

The question is whether that frustration with President Trump, which is in part fueled by Latino voters, might impact Republican candidates in other congressional races. We are in Florida's 27th Congressional District, where Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar is facing a challenge from the Democrat, Elliot Rodriguez. They are both well- known former TV anchors here in the state.

And one thing that we've heard from a lot of Latino voters over the course of the past few days here is that there's frustration with the economy and President Trump's handling of immigration enforcement. Yesterday, we spent some time speaking with voters in the Little Havana neighborhood. This is a predominantly Cuban area. And here is what voters had to say about the president. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: And how have you felt about the economy?

ROBERT PEREZ, INDEPENDENT VOTER: The economy going down, down, down, down, especially gasoline. The gasoline always been $3.49, $3.59. Now it's $4 down, getting $5. Too much. To live in Miami, you got to have money, man.

CARLOS VENEGAS, REPUBLICAN VOTER: The only thing that kind of frustrates me is that he's not finishing the job with Iran. Yes. Everything else, bump stocks, maybe, but, you know, mostly I'm satisfied with him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: Now, the first voter there told us that he's undecided in this congressional race, while the second one told us that he is likely to vote Republican. But Salazar won this district by over 20 points in the last election. She is dealing with that discontent regarding the economy and immigration. She herself actually had released an ad criticizing some of the president's immigration enforcement, saying that some in the Latino community are feeling betrayed by his actions.

But this will be one of the testing grounds in this midterm battle to see where exactly Latino and Hispanic voters stand. This is an area where voters who are Latino or Hispanic make up about 70 percent of the residents. So that is why this will be an area watched very closely on election night just a few weeks away -- Fredricka.

[16:10:04]

WHITFIELD: All right. Always a very critical district of voting.

Arlette Saenz, thank you so much.

All right. Still to come, violent protests in France, buildings torched, stores looted, hundreds of police injured. Now what President Emmanuel Macron is warning the nation about. And later, Pope Leo returns to the Vatican balcony, thanking the faithful after lung cancer surgery.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:15:08]

WHITFIELD: We have breaking news. In his address to the nation, French President Emmanuel Macron just said the rioters and looters in yesterday's massive protests will be held accountable. More than half a million people took to the streets to voice their anger over the rising cost of living. But scenes of widespread looting followed with store windows smashed, cars burned. Officials said at least 2,000 people were detained and 600 police officers injured.

The 143-year-old town hall in the city of Limoges was heavily damaged after it was set on fire. And in the light of day, you can see the extent of the damage while the building is still smoldering.

CNN's senior international correspondent Melissa Bell is in Paris.

Melissa, Macron expressing his frustration at the protests in his address. And what was the wider reaction in the country?

MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, this was a day of shock, really, in so many French cities, Fredricka, as the country woke up to scenes of devastation like those you just showed in Limoges, but in so many parts of France, including here in Paris, because there was very early on in these protests not just a large number of people on the ground, but also a great deal of violence, scuffles between the police and the protesters.

And then a great deal of violence and riots that then descended into looting, really, scenes that we haven't seen in France these last few years. These protests tend to follow a particular pattern. And that changed yesterday. So a lot of shock at this unrest, a lot of anger at the government's inability really to stem these protests these last few weeks and address the students' demands that led us here to this point, where other groups were ballooning with a lot of anger about the cost of living.

And all that we saw on the streets of France yesterday, there's been a lot of criticism as well of the police response initially, of its lack of a presence and ability to bring the looting under control yesterday, and that was really what he was trying to address. So really going about it two ways, saying that he would restore order.

Those who had been responsible for the looting and the violence would face the full force of the law, that prefects would now work with mayors to ensure that this didn't happen again, but also probably slightly belatedly addressing some of the demands of the protesters, although without really proposing any concrete measures or concessions. He said that there would be more meetings between political parties with mayors, with students to try and work out what might be suggested to meet some of those demands.

He himself, he said, was traveling to the Gulf over the next couple of days to try and help find measures that will bring the cost of petrol down here in France. But for now, one expects that given the criticism there's been from major political parties towards one another for the responsibility in this crisis and specifically towards the government, very difficult to see what might stem this anger all the more, Fredricka, that more protests are already planned here in France for November 5th.

WHITFIELD: My goodness. All right. Melissa Bell in Paris, thank you so much.

Still to come, the strong words from Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy in reaction to President Trump's decision to hold off on sanctions against Russia.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:22:54]

WHITFIELD: Energy Secretary Chris Wright is downplaying President Trump's suspension of some Russian sanctions. He told CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION" that the president is just trying to find a way to end the four-year-old war.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRIS WRIGHT, ENERGY SECRETARY: This is not a going soft on Russia. This is an incentive to end the war. The war has gone on for four and a half years. And so what President Trump is trying to do is find what different way will lead to peace. Clearly rational conversation, dialogues have not worked. He's always looking for innovations. This is quite innovative actually.

What does the world need most of all for energy right now? Diesel. What is Russia not able to supply right now? Diesel.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: On Friday, President Trump signed an executive order to waive penalties on Russian fossil fuel sales. They had been passed under the Lindsey Graham Act just a month ago, which came not long after the U.S. senator's passing.

Graham's sister, Darline, was appointed to fill his seat and is running in next month's election. Here's what she said on the campaign trail last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. DARLINE GRAHAM (R-SC): Look, the president and I share the same goal, which is to end the war to get gas and diesel prices down. And the sanctions bill is one of the tools he can use to do that. It's up to him whether or not he chooses to use it. Personally, I would choose to keep the pressure on Russia to end the war and get the gas prices down, because I don't trust Putin and I don't trust Russia.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Graham said she will bring up the topic with President Trump when he is in South Carolina for a rally this week.

And as the midterm elections approach in just over two weeks, many Democrats are projecting confidence that they can flip the House and maybe the Senate. But are they running the risk of being too presumptive, too comfortable?

Joining us now with his perspective is Antjuan Seawright. He is a Democratic strategist.

Good to see you, Antjuan. So are Democrats campaigning overly confidently that there will be a blue wave?

[16:25:04]

ANTJUAN SEAWRIGHT, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: There's a difference between being confident and being arrogant. I also know as a southerner, there's no education in the second kick of the mule. We've been here before where all the fundamentals we're on our side and then the voters sent a different message come election day. So I think we have to treat this election like any good sprinter would.

We have to lean forward as we run, and even when we cross the finish line, we have to keep on running and make no assumptions about what running through the tape looks like. There's some fundamentals in this race or in these races that will not change the price of diesel, the price of utilities, housing costs, the affordability crisis around health care. Just an economy that has given the middle finger to middle America thanks to the failure of MAGA-nomics.

We have to continue to make the case to the American people directly. High touch and high tech.

WHITFIELD: Well, in fact, you know, lots of polling underscores that American voters are feeling just like you just spelled out that they want the economy addressed. They want gas prices lowered, an end to the Iraq war. And, you know, people polled don't seem to think that Republicans led by this president will do that fast enough.

So is that why Democrats feel confident?

SEAWRIGHT: Well, we feel confident because we have the right message. Fighting for an affordable America, holding the crooks accountable. We know the corruption is on the top of mind of voters as the FOX News poll -- most recent poll indicated.

We also know that health care in places like battleground Michigan and other places are top of mind reality because Americans are paying more for their premiums, co-pays and deductibles because Republicans led by Donald Trump refuse to expand those Affordable Care Act tax credits.

We also know from a pure materialistic well-being America is way too much -- way too expensive and the American dream is far out of reach. And Republicans who control the House, the Senate, and the presidency have done nothing as they promised on day one to lower the high cost of living, including getting us into an unconstitutional war of choice that has made the high cost of living even higher.

WHITFIELD: Well, messaging is one thing, but then there's money. And money can influence things. I mean, big money like Elon Musk's $250 million that have been pumped into Republican campaigns. Do you see that as leverage?

SEAWRIGHT: It wouldn't be out of the ordinary for Republicans to outspend us in an election, because they have more billionaires like Elon Musk, quite frankly, flooding the zone. But there's something that can overpower money, and that's momentum. And that's the people's power. And you're seeing that all across the board.

The other thing that will out power money is candidate quality. You can't beat the candidate quality nor can Republicans up and down the ballot. So when you look at traditional fertile ground for Republicans, it has become uncertain ground. What was once uncertain ground for us, Kansas, Nebraska, battleground Alaska, North Carolina, Georgia, has now become very fertile ground because of the candidate quality and the messaging and the momentum we enjoy as Democrats.

WHITFIELD: So what are among the mistakes that can still be made with just 16 days to go? Because not every voter has made up their mind.

SEAWRIGHT: Well, the mistake is making the assumption that the election is already over. And so I've been saying across the country, as I've been traveling, we have to make certain that we give the politically unhoused or the politically homeless shelter, even if it's temporary for this election cycle. We have to remind the American public who's in charge and what they've done to fail you on the basic, fundamental things they promised during the course of the 2024 election cycle.

And then we have to offer our plan. Unfortunately, our homework is not great at the same as Republicans. They can talk about concepts of a plan. They can say drill, baby, drill is a part of their legislative priorities and can get away with it. We have to consolidate our base, expand to independent thinkers, independent voters, give the unhoused and the politically homeless a place, and then figure out for people who set out elections because they've lost trust in government.

Give them a reason to show back up like it's a presidential year and continue to make Donald Trump a walking and talking liability every step along the way, and his policies. WHITFIELD: Well, speaking of presidential years, I mean, just before

the 2024 election, the "Des Moines Register" poll showed Kamala Harris with a slight lead over Donald Trump. But then Trump easily won Iowa. So I wonder if you use that as framework for potential dangers of being overly confident.

SEAWRIGHT: Well, you always -- two things happen in elections. You win or you learn. When we did not win in 2024, we learned a lot.

[16:30:01]

And so here's the difference between that election and this election. The fundamentals are on our side. The farmers in Iowa are feeling the brunt from these unnecessary tariffs and this unconstitutional war of choice.

And so when it comes to key constituencies that Donald Trump won, whether it's rural voters, non-college educated voters, white voters, working class voters, both white, brown, and African-American, those constituencies are finding peace and joy aligning with Democrats. And sometimes elections, Fredricka, are about voting against the people who are in charge and not necessarily voting for the opposition.

I think this particular cycle, we're enjoying the fact that voters are angry and informed, whereas in 2024, there was a lot of uninformed voters who were angry.

WHITFIELD: All right. Antjuan Seawright, we'll leave it there for now. Great to see you. Thanks so much.

SEAWRIGHT: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Straight ahead, just a day after leaving the hospital following lung cancer surgery, Pope Leo is back leading public prayers.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:35:40]

WHITFIELD: Today, Pope Leo delivered his first Sunday prayer just days after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous nodule in his lung. The 71-year-old pontiff led the Angelus from the balcony of the papal residence overlooking St. Peter's Square.

CNN Vatican Correspondent Christopher Lamb is in Rome with the latest.

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square to hear from Pope Leo for the first time since his lung cancer surgery and diagnosis. The Pope spoke with a strong and clear voice. He wished the crowd a happy Sunday, and he reflected that the recent experience of being in hospital had made him feel closer to those who suffer and are sick.

The Pope also emphasized that he is slowly planning to get back to work. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

POPE LEO XIV, HEAD, CATHOLIC CHURCH (through translation): Now that I have overcome this delicate phase, as you know, I will gradually resume my activities, always with God's help and your prayers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAMB: Now, the news of Pope Leo's lung cancer diagnosis has come as a huge shock to people inside the Vatican. It's not clear how things are going to pan out in the short term for him in terms of all the events and schedules that he has in his calendar. Of course, the big question is, can he make this trip to Latin America scheduled from the 6th to the 17th of November?

The surgeon who operated on him says there's no clinical reason why he can't go. However, the trip has not been officially confirmed yet post operation. So it's a lot of questions over that trip, which would include going to Peru, a country, of course, Leo knows so well, having served there for many years. But the itinerary of the trip is to go to some high altitude places in the country.

So it remains to be seen whether that trip will definitely take place. But on Sunday, Pope Leo making his first major public appearance since his hospitalization, the Pope pleasing the crowd, offering them his blessing, and he's going to continue his recovery for the coming days.

Christopher Lamb, CNN, Rome.

WHITFIELD: Christopher Lamb, thank you so much.

All right, here to give us some perspective on Pope Leo is the man who literally wrote the book on the pontiff, Christopher White. He's the author of "Pope Leo XIV: Inside the Conclave and the Dawn of a New Papacy." He's also an associate director for Strategic Initiatives on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University.

Great to see you, boy. That's a big title, but congratulations on that title. Well earned.

CHRISTOPHER WHITE, AUTHOR, "POPE LEO XIV": It's a mouthful. It's a mouthful.

WHITFIELD: It is. Well, that's awesome.

So, you know, how important do you think this was for Pope Leo to, number one, you know, leave the hospital just days after lung surgery? And then the next day after his departure from the hospital, he's on the balcony and he's leading prayer?

WHITE: Yes, you know, it's been a real whirlwind at the Vatican. It was just last Sunday that he stepped out of that same window and told the world that he was going to be having surgery. And then two days later, he goes in the hospital and the Vatican announces that it was a successful surgery, but it was cancer. I think many people in the Vatican have been very transparent about the fact that this was not what they were expecting. You know, he was just elected not even two years ago. He was, you know, pretty young, 71, which is young for Pope's ages.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

WHITE: And he's healthy. And so this was a big shock to the system. But seeing him back in action today, I think has sent a sort of a calming signal to those in the Vatican that the Pope is back and he's determined to get back to work.

WHITFIELD: Wow. Among the things that he did say, Pope Leo said, you know, this experience brought him closer to those who suffer. How do you see this as impacting and reshaping the way he has led?

WHITE: Well, there's no doubt about it, that in a sense, this makes him incredibly relatable. There are millions of people around the world that either suffer cancer or have loved ones that are affected by cancer. And the fact that the head of the Catholic Church is being very open about his own health struggles and his own diagnosis with cancer, in a sense, makes him sort of, you know, an everyman.

And I think that the fact that he is sort of using his own suffering to draw attention to others that are suffering just shows you that he's very intentional about how he's facing this illness with bravery, openness, transparency. And I think he's trying to, in a sense, offer a sign of solidarity with those that are also perhaps battling some other illness of their own.

[16:40:14]

WHITFIELD: I wonder, too, if he's also demonstrating a sense of vitality because, you know, he didn't come out of that hospital. Most people, when they have surgery, they're in a wheelchair being pushed out to the car. OK, let's be frank.

You know, he walked out. He's handshaking. And there's nothing wrong with that, but I'm just saying he's doing it a different way. He's handshaking. He was right there, you know, looking just very strong. And then some people described, you know, his prayer to have a very strong, you know, voice, a very strong presence. And I wonder if that kind of demonstration of vitality also makes a distinction in the way in which he -- what he embodies as the Pope.

WHITE: You know, Leo's a clever man and he understands the power of media and that optics matter. And so I think he wanted this first public appearance to be really reassuring, to show the world that, in a sense, you know, he may have had this, you know, whirlwind of a week of surgery, cancer diagnosis, but that he's a fighter, that he wants to get back out there.

And I think he wanted his, you know, exit of the hospital yesterday, his return to the Vatican and then his prayer today to really be a booster shot in the arm of Catholics around the world and other people of goodwill that have been worried about him. We've seen just in this past week a ton of outpouring support from people, Catholics, other religious leaders and people of no faith at all, who see Pope Leo as one of the sort of world's most credible moral voices.

And they were a bit concerned that perhaps, you know, his suffering, his sickness might set him back. And I think what we've seen over the last 24 hours is his effort to show that he is back.

WHITFIELD: Yes, and it's still unclear whether he will indeed embark on that Latin American trip. I mean, amazing if he does do that, but I think won't there universally be forgiveness, you know, if he has to delay it too.

WHITE: This trip, you know, even before this illness was going, it was looked at as this real sort of almost odyssey of a trip. Two weeks, he was going to go on something like 14 flights, give almost 40 speeches and travel to some places that are --

WHITFIELD: Wow.

WHITE: -- at really high altitudes. And I think, you know, the fact that he wants to press on is a sign that, you know, how committed he is to this. Of course, you know, as Christopher Lamb noted in his report, his surgeon saying there's no clinical reason why he can't travel, but it hasn't been confirmed.

So I think that's what everyone will be watching very closely over the next week or so is whether or not the Vatican confirms that trip. A lot of people in Latin America, and especially Peru, are hoping this homecoming happens and hoping it happens on schedule.

WHITFIELD: Yes. So we saw in his, you know, Angelus, of course, he's resuming the business, you know, of healing and prayer. But we also saw him and have heard about how he is carrying on with, you know, the business of promoting peace and advising, because on Friday, we understand Pope Leo spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the war with Ukraine and that he is hoping to persuade Putin and President Zelenskyy to come to some agreement to end the war.

I mean, what more do you know about that, or how do you suppose that came about?

WHITE: Yes, an extraordinary gesture on the Pope's part. Just three days after his surgery, his very first public call that we're aware of, to pick up the phone in his hospital room while he's recovering and to call President Putin of Russia and really make a plea for humanitarian corridors and to make an appeal for peace, which has been his constant plea since his election in May of 2025.

You know, the night he was elected, he appeared on the balcony, gave a very short speech of 500 words, and he talked about peace nine times in that very short address. That has been his constant refrain over the past year and a half. And so I think it's in keeping with that sort of desire that he picked up the phone and called Russia.

He's repeatedly said no more war and begged for an end to this war. And he's also been very clear who the aggressor is, that Russia is the aggressor here. And so I think it just shows you how much of -- how much space this sort of occupies in his mind, that even while ailing and recovering in the hospital, that he picks up the phone and makes this call.

WHITFIELD: Yes, all very incredible.

All right, Christopher White, thank you so much.

WHITE: Great to be with you.

WHITFIELD: Straight ahead, President Trump today showing support for Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu, but recent violence in the West Bank may add pressure on their political alliance.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:49:40]

WHITFIELD: Today, President Trump endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for re-election just nine days before Israelis go to the polls. It's a show of support that seemed uncertain until even this morning, as the relationship between the two allies has hit a few bumps in recent months.

CNN's Kevin Liptak is live for us at the White House. Kevin, so what caused these fractures between the two men?

[16:50:04]

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, and there have been growing rifts between these two leaders really since the start of the Iran war. That was a conflict that has, in a lot of ways, divided them. The two countries' interests seemed to have diverged shortly after the war began.

And for months now, reporters have been asking President Trump whether he wanted Netanyahu to remain on as prime minister as this election got closer and closer. And the President had always kind of stopped short of saying whether he wanted Netanyahu to stay in the post, even as Netanyahu was kind of fighting for his political survival.

But now, you know, just days before Israelis are set to head to the polls, the President is throwing sort of his full-throated support behind Netanyahu. He says that Bibi Netanyahu has been strong, brave and brilliant in the face of tremendous opposition, including that coming from even Israel itself.

Despite all of that, he has endured and, in fact, he has thrived. The President says that Netanyahu is the kind of partner that the United States of America is demanding of Israel, a country for which it has done so much. And he says that anyone except Netanyahu as prime minister would be the, quote, "wrong leader."

You know, it had been taboo, you know, for a long time for any American leader to endorse in a foreign election. President Trump did away with that tradition a long time ago. In this instance, it's not necessarily clear how much help President Trump will be.

You know, he was once enormously popular in Israel in the 2019 elections. There were billboards of Netanyahu and Trump lining the highways there in Israel. Those billboards are not there now. His support has dropped. In a lot of ways, Israelis, many Israelis think he's kind of dropped the ball with Iran. And that is part of what has led to the divides with Netanyahu.

Now, in this post, the President does mention the Iran war, saying that the U.S. and Israel will, quote, "finish the job there." But he also offers a subtle warning. He says that if Israel has the wrong leader, which would be anyone other than Bibi, America will have to do this work ourselves, which he says, quote, "I am not inclined to do."

WHITFIELD: All right. And then, Kevin, the President also just posted about his decision on Russian sanctions. What did he say?

LIPTAK: Yes. And we've been trying to get clarity from the President on this ever since Friday, when he waived those sanctions that were set to go into effect next week as part of that bill named for Lindsey Graham that would apply tariffs, secondary sanctions on Russia. The decision to waive those sanctions caused an enormous amount of frustration, including among some of the President's allies.

But now the President is saying this, "My decision on Russia is very -- is a very simple one. I'm in the process of negotiating peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine and don't want to do anything that will drive foolishly Russia away from the bargaining table." He says, "Signing that document at this time will do that." And he says, "I can sign it later or any time I want."

And so the President suggesting that if those sanctions were to go into place, that that would cause these peace negotiations to collapse. But we'll have to say at this point, it doesn't really seem clear how close he is to securing a ceasefire in this war.

WHITFIELD: All right. Kevin Liptak at the White House, thanks so much.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:57:58]

WHITFIELD: In an all new episode of "The Detour with David Chang," Chef Chang hits the road with actor and comedian Eric Andre to showcase Florida's best eats from Miami to Key West.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID CHANG, CELEBRITY CHEF: What's this?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That is kind of like ground pork and we wrap it with seaweed, eggs and inside this vegetable.

CHANG: Very filling but delicious. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This used to be just for royalty.

ERIC ANDRE, ACTOR AND COMEDIAN: Me, Meghan Markle.

Are you thinking about maybe opening up a restaurant?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE).

ANDRE: Do you want some coffee?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I'm good. Thank you.

ANDRE: Some tea?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I can't drink coffee. I get drunk before.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Drunk?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE).

ANDRE: Hell yes. Put some cognac in your coffee. I knew a true player when I see one.

What's up new best friend?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is caramel fish.

CHANG: What kind of fish is this?

ANDRE: More foods coming, dude.

Thank God, we didn't do our Ozempic this morning.

ANDRE: Here comes the airplane. It's a grown boy. Oh yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh my god.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh yes.

CHANG: Oh mangosteen. This is mangosteen.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, no, not sop (ph).

ANDRE: Soursop, buddy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Soursop is --

ANDRE: It's all over the Caribbean.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Yum, yum. OK, watch "The Detour with David Chang" now streaming with an All Access subscription.

Thank you so much for joining me today. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. The CNN Newsroom continues with Jessica Dean right now. JESSICA DEAN, CNN HOST: You're in the CNN Newsroom. Hi, everyone. I'm Jessica Dean here in New York.