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Trump's Unprecedented Second State Visit to U.K.; Israel Launches Gaza City Offensive amid Global Outcry; Trump and Melania View Royal Collection; U.S.-U.K. Launch Major Tech Deal; Pope Leo Calls for Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Release. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired September 17, 2025 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over): Welcome to our second hour of the show from our Middle East programming headquarters. I'm Becky Anderson in
Abu Dhabi, where the time is just after 6 in the evening. It is 5 pm in Gaza City, where thousands of Palestinians are fleeing, as Israel says it's
begun its ground operations there.
ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): And I'm Isa Soares in Windsor, where pomp and pageantry are on full display for protests of
president Donald Trump's unprecedented second state visit to the United Kingdom.
Becky, thank you very much. Of course, we'll be back with you in just a few moments. We'll take it from here for the time being.
Because it is set to be quite a jam-packed couple of days in the United Kingdom and it all started here at Windsor Castle. We're inside the grounds
of Windsor Castle. Just a few hours ago, we saw the royal family putting on a spectacular show for U.S. president Donald Trump's arrival. Have a look
at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES (voice-over): Love the sound.
The president and first lady greeted there by King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor for a lavish arrival ceremony, ahead of
a lunch with the royal family, which I believe is underway as we speak.
We are expecting the president will be taken for a private tour of Queen Elizabeth's tomb this hour.
In the meantime, it is very much a tale of two cities. Quite a split screen. On the left of your screen is what we have been witnessing here all
day in Windsor. The pomp, the pageantry for what is historic second state visit.
It is quite a different story if you look at the right of your screen in London, Central London. We are looking at live pictures on the right there
with thousands of people taking to the streets to protest Mr. Trump's visit.
People calling out, as we've been hearing from our Nic Robertson, everything. And you've seen the placards there from the war in Gaza, ending
the genocide. You can see his relationship with the disgraced financier, Jeffrey Epstein. We saw some of his images in the last 24 hours.
A real counterpoint, really, to what is happening just down the road here in London. Here in Windsor, I should say, where we have even seen some MAGA
hats.
Our chief international anchor, Christiane Amanpour is here with me in Windsor.
And, Christiane, I mean, this is quite a split screen, isn't it?
And this is something that the royal family and the government will want to shield the president from.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They want to shield him from it.
He wants to be shielded from it. You know, this is, as we've seen over the last, you know, that famous moment in the White House, in the Oval Office,
where Keir Starmer, the prime minister, pulled out that envelope and handed it to president Trump.
This was an attempt, like all the allies and many adversaries, to get Trump on side and to make sure that they can have some kind of a political and
economic and security relationship with him. And thus the United States, in which they are not endlessly and further penalized.
This obviously in the shadow of all the tariffs, all the demands that Europe pick up, all overnight, the security burden just about for Ukraine
and NATO and all the rest of it.
So clearly, while these countries and Britain are being, you know, talked about being toadies and this and that, they have a national interest in
trying to keep the president of the United States on side.
And if it takes flattery and if it takes pomp and circumstance, that's what they're going to do. And that's what we've seen them do.
The real question is what is the result?
SOARES: That's exactly I want to ask you, how effective do you think this soft power can be?
Because on the question of Ukraine, you know, we've spoken at length about this. You know, there have been deadlines. There have been you know, they
have been ignored. There have been lots of promises and pledges. And he hasn't really stuck with any of it.
(CROSSTALK)
AMANPOUR: Well, right. So in terms of, in terms of punishing Putin and this is key for the Europeans. Right now, Putin is escalating against the
West by putting those drones into Polish airspace, by putting them into Romanian airspace.
NATO nations, the Europeans, NATO nations, have to figure out how to stay and hold the line. And still, president Trump hasn't imposed those
sanctions that he said. And a key senator, Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat, said, we have a bipartisan agreement in the Senate right now, in the
Congress, for all these sanctions to be leveled against Putin.
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Why don't you do it?
And Trump comes back and he says, well, I'll think about it if you, Europe, stop buying Russian oil. So you know, it's all very much. And some people
have likened his authority on Ukraine or Israel or whatever as to standing aside and letting the strongman and, in this case, Putin and Netanyahu, do
essentially what they want to do.
And you can see that. And without the United States using its leverage and exerting its unique heft, none of these things are going to get fixed. It's
just going to be slow, painful and trying to figure out how to how to stay on the right side of Trump.
SOARES: And it will be interesting to see, as we see these images from earlier on. This is the thing he loves, loves -- he loves pageantry. He
will love a lot of the gold. He likes hyperbole. So you know -- all the hyperbole. We'll see. You know, he will love the fact that this some of the
biggest displays he's ever seen but bigger than anyone else.
How effective though, Christiane, when it comes to that relationship between the king and the president, do you think the king will go there
when it comes to either climate change?
We feel so passionate about Ukraine as well.
What do you think he'll leave that and just focus today on relaying out the red carpet and the lavish ceremony?
AMANPOUR: I think certainly the latter for sure. The king remember, Britain has a constitutional monarchy. They're not allowed to speak in
public anyway in any partisan or political way. That's this country's constitution.
But as you say, he's very well known for years. I mean, he was ahead of the curve on the environment before anybody really seriously talked about it.
And he was mocked when he was Prince of Wales for talking to the flowers. I remember that. I'm older than you. I remember it.
And now he is in the vanguard and so is his son, the crown prince, the Prince of Wales, in the vanguard of trying to maintain climate mitigation.
And I'm sure he'll say something to the president about it.
And the president actually is fond of the king and is fond, was very fond of the queen. Has a real, I think, genuine like of the -- maybe love even
and respect certainly of the royal family.
The fact that he's going to lay a wreath on Queen Elizabeth's tomb is maybe, maybe it's part of protocol but it's been highlighted as part of his
visit. She accorded him a state visit but that was in London. And then a special visit, which was here in Windsor.
And, you know, I'm sure the queen, who also didn't speak too much, you know, in public on sensitive issues, I'm sure she made it clear who was
boss, without a doubt, when they were talking.
SOARES: And he has spoken very openly about the queen. Very fond memories and mother.
AMANPOUR: And he said to the traveling press on Air Force One before he landed, he said, you know, just enjoy it, right?
He said, just enjoy it. It's going to be good. I'm -- I like -- I love it. You know, it's going to be a beautiful, beautiful event. So that's what
he's hoping to take away. And you can imagine a little bit -- I don't know whether light relief is the right way to say it -- but he's under huge
pressure at home. The economy.
SOARES: And we'll hear from the Fed today.
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AMANPOUR: Later we'll hear for more of that. But also, you know, the divisions since the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the whole Epstein thing,
which doesn't go away. So this is a -- this is a welcome distraction and something he really likes.
SOARES: And he's not the only one. He's not the only one. Christiane, who is under pressure at home. Keir Starmer, we'll see that tomorrow's
Checkers. Speak to -- speak to that because he's lost -- well, he fired two members of his Parliament or of his team, of course, including the ...
AMANPOUR: Lord Mandelson.
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SOARES: Pardon me, of course -- and trying to distance himself from that, from Epstein. That will also be a focal center, I think tomorrow, when we -
- when we --
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AMANPOUR: You know, that's going to be very interesting.
And Trump is not going to like it. So imagine him trying to escape Epstein at home and then landing here, where all the press wants to do is ask prime
minister Starmer, is he going to reconsider his own leadership?
Who told him?
Who didn't tell him?
Who knew when, you know, what Mandelson and Epstein letters were and emails and this and that?
I mean, it's a mess, frankly. It's a political mess. You always have to think of the victims. You always have to think of those who are hurt the
most by Epstein.
But the questions will keep coming. It'll be the first time prime minister speaks to the press. He had an interview but that was with one broadcaster.
You know, this week, it'll be the first time.
Is he going to want his press conference with the president of the United States, who he has to keep on side, as I said, for every reason -- trade,
the economy, security --
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AMANPOUR: -- all of that to be dominated by Epstein. I'm wondering whether they'll even take questions. Sorry. They didn't in Alaska.
SOARES: Wow. OK. That would be quite something. They can shield him today. Potentially not tomorrow if that goes ahead, of course. No doubt the
British press will push him hard on this.
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AMANPOUR: -- exceedingly important visit.
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AMANPOUR: He is the president of the United States of America. And not much happens without the support.
SOARES: So critical.
Becky, I'll send it back to you. We're keeping our eyes peeled. We're expected at some time in this hour to see the president. Of course, he's
expected to lay a wreath in the tomb of queen, the late queen. Becky, back to you.
ANDERSON: Gotcha.
All right. To both of you. Thank you.
And a lot more to come this hour from Windsor.
Also, as Palestinians in Gaza suffer, the European Commission is trying to find a way to pressure Israel. Details on the bloc's latest sanctions plan
is up next.
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ANDERSON: The European Commission is proposing new trade sanctions targeting Israel over its ongoing campaign in Gaza. Now if approved by the
member states, the bloc's free trade agreement with Israel would be partially suspended.
Israel would lose its preferential access to the E.U. market and be subjected to increased tariffs. Sanctions would also apply to far-right
Israeli ministers.
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ANDERSON (voice-over): Meantime, on the ground, these are the scenes from central Gaza, a caravan of people heading down the coast after fleeing Gaza
City. Tens of thousands are heeding the Israeli military's warning to leave, with Israel's announced offensive to take control of the city and
root out Hamas militants, now in its second day.
But many of the estimated 1 million Palestinians who have been living in Gaza City remain there. The IDF says it expects the operation to take
several months.
Well, Hanya Aljamal is an aid worker of Gaza. She is joining us from Deir al-Balah.
Thank you for joining us today. And I want our viewers just to see some of the video that we've been sent of Palestinians fleeing south. So they will
be watching that as you and I speak.
This is the one road south, of course, packed with people. Just describe the difficulties for those who are on the move to move safely, if you will.
HANYA ALJAMAL, AID WORKER, GAZA: Well, first of all, we need to keep one thing utterly and abundantly clear. It's that the move that is safe, that
is out of the question. People all are moving under severe bombardment campaign that is forcing them to leave Gaza.
So the idea of having a quote-unquote "safe exit" from Gaza City is not available. As you mentioned, there's only one route that is available for
civilians to use, which is the coastal route.
You can imagine the kind of congestion that would take place once you -- once the IDF made or deemed Gaza City an evacuating -- evacuation zone with
its over 1 million population living there.
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So the situation is incredibly difficult. As of -- as of the 22nd of August, Gaza City was being -- was declared a famine zone with abundant
proof for that.
So this hunger-stricken city, with over a million people living in it, in makeshift shelters, have been under incredible, incredibly difficult
bombardment campaign that have exacerbated on the 15th of this month and have been forced to move under incredibly difficult circumstances.
We're talking about logistics. The ability to move is not --
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ANDERSON: Understood.
ALJAMAL: -- is not possible. We're talking about the financial cost. For a person to be able to move with little belongings they have left from the
west to the south or middle areas, it costs around $1,200. Apparently that's not the -- that's not an amount of money that is -- that a lot of
people have.
So a lot of people who have disability or financial impairment are unable to move.
ANDERSON: So --
ALJAMAL: They are forced to withstand this situation and they're forced to live under severe bombardment.
ANDERSON: Yes.
Hanya, are you hearing from Palestinians who are actually choosing to stay in Gaza City?
And what are they telling you that they're bracing for at this point?
ALJAMAL: Honestly, we really -- we are way past the moment of choice at this -- at this point. People are choosing to stay, aren't choosing to stay
out of a mere luxury of choice.
They are choosing to stay because, A, they either have relatives and loved ones who have disabilities, who they can't move; B, they don't have the
financial capacity to move there themselves, their person, and their items to the south.
And, C, they don't have a place to go to. We're talking about less than 15 percent of Gaza is habitable. We're talking about 2 million people living
on 15 percent of the land. There isn't much options.
Even when we talk about the south or quote-unquote, the south, quote- unquote, the middle areas and the south, we're talking only about the part that is adjacent to the sea. We're talking about the western side of these
places that is available for the population.
We are now under incredible pressure as humanitarians. In the couple -- in a couple -- in the couple coming months, it's going to be winter time. All
this population is living very close to the shoreline. Any drizzle would basically flood these populations.
We're unable to make, for the shelter item needs, only a couple of hundred tents that have been allowed into Gaza. We are seeing an unprecedented
humanitarian disaster that could be easily avoided.
We can't -- it's not feasible to move 1 million people from one place from Gaza City to the south. They don't have -- there's logistically impossible
for people to find space without allowing them, without allowing us as humanitarian aid.
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ALJAMAL: -- shelter items. Only humanitarian organizations have the clearances to bring shelter --
ANDERSON: Let me just --
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ANDERSON: Let me --
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ALJAMAL: -- because it was allocated for the south. For the north.
ANDERSON: Hanya -- understood. Hanya, let me show our viewers the tents and the makeshift shelters outside your own office in Deir al-Balah.
Palestinians being pushed into these smaller and smaller, quote, "humanitarian zones."
What are conditions like?
I mean, just looking at these images now -- and these are just shot from your office, as I understand it.
ALJAMAL: Honestly, we can't -- like whenever we talk about shelter items, whenever we talk about tents, we talk about humanitarian standard that
needs to be upheld. We can't bring our own -- our own tents. So people resort to making their own makeshift shelters.
Sometimes it's their bed sheets, sometimes it's their blankets. And they staple them together to make a shelter. Or they have tarpaulins, literal
plastic sheeting, to make their own shelters.
Obviously it's hot. It gets really humid in these in these shelters. At the same time, Israel is destroying the remaining residential buildings in Gaza
City. Over 17 multi-story buildings have been destroyed. We're talking about over 92 percent of Gaza's infrastructure completely destroyed.
This should not keep on happening. The answer is simple: a ceasefire needs to be upheld. It needs to -- we need to have a permanent ceasefire right
now. It's been two years now. We have extreme restrictions on what we're allowed to bring in.
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People are literally starving. They are walking on foot to cross to the south. We are unable to support them, not with enough food, not with enough
water, not enough with this -- not with enough shelter items. They don't have literal place to stay on.
They have to -- they have -- people have to literally rent a spot so that they can set up there ragged tents on. This is a situation that should not
be allowed. It's absolutely --
ANDERSON: Yes.
ALJAMAL: -- it's way past the point where it's becoming ridiculous right now, that this is happening. Sorry.
ANDERSON: Hanya, it's good to have you on. Thank you very much indeed.
No, no, I understand. I understand you're emotional. And it's good to have you on because your perspective is so -- is so important.
And as you and I know perfectly well at this moment, there is no sign of a ceasefire, of course, because we're not even at a point where these
mediated talks are ongoing at this point.
Meantime, Israel says that it has started its ground incursion in Gaza City and says that this could go on for a couple of months until, as they
suggest, they rout out what they say are the 3,000 Hamas militants who are there.
For the time being, I'm going to leave it there. We thank you very much indeed for your perspective and your insight today. Thank you.
Well, I want to get you back to Windsor for more on the U.S. president's state visit there. Isa.
SOARES: Thank you very much, Becky. An incredibly moving interview. And it really a tale of two cities, a split screen, not just with the pageantry
we've seen here but also the protests we've seen in central London.
Very much as we've seen by the placards, protesting, of course, the war in Gaza and you know what has been happening on the ground. Let's get more
what we expect in the next 48 hours, 24 to 48 hours, of course, from the carpet being rolled out, of course, for the president.
And then tomorrow, foreign policy, on center stage. With me now here in Windsor, Jasmine el-Gamal, a foreign -- former Pentagon official, foreign
policy analyst and the host of the podcast, "The View from Here."
Jasmine, great to have you back on the show. Look, today it is -- I don't know, when you walked in, you saw -- there was a lot a lot of support for
the president. I even saw some MAGA hats. It's quite a different image from what we're seeing in central London.
But today is all going to be about soft power and how that can be used to garner some advantage and quid pro quo from the U.S. president.
How effective do you think that will be?
JASMINE EL-GAMAL, PODCAST HOST AND FORMER MIDDLE EAST ADVISER, PENTAGON: That's right. And I think I think prime minister Starmer has been one of
the leaders who has most figured out how to deal with Donald Trump.
He takes a bit of an approach that is friendly, that's not threatening. He's not trying to admonish him. We've seen several leaders over the past
few months make that, you know, trek to Washington, D.C.
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EL-GAMAL: And some of it has not always turned out well. I mean, obviously, remember President Zelenskyy's first visit and how awful that --
so prime minister Starmer is speaking to Donald Trump with respect, with a very slight tinge of deference, trying to make him feel important and
powerful.
Which is what president Trump likes to feel. And I think we've seen the fruits of that for the U.K. whether when it comes to tariffs, when it comes
to AI and tech. And I'm sure we'll be talking about the tech deals and partnerships that are being inked right now and that are expected to create
thousands of jobs across the U.K.
Something that prime minister Starmer can really hold up and say, I did this, I did this for the country, I created these jobs, I brought this
money in. And so I think it works out really well for him.
SOARES: And important to that and tied into that, Jasmine, is protecting him from these protests. You know, he flew in. He didn't -- we didn't see a
carriage through central Windsor, of course, very different from what we saw with president Macron.
And he won't see these protests no doubt. And this is something that the government will obviously will want to try and shield him from.
What do you think then, the U.K., the U.S. wants to get out of this relationship?
I mean, we know they've been meeting, the president and the first lady have been welcomed by the king and the queen inside the Green Drawing Room. They
talked about a special U.S. relationship.
And I'm going to stop there because we're looking at these live images there from central London, the protests. Exactly the point you're speaking
about, the fact that the president won't be seeing or won't want to see them or be shielded from him.
But this is -- I think we'll see some of that pressure on Starmer tomorrow as he -- when he goes to Checkers and potentially even press conference, if
there is one, potentially -- even mentioning that they might not even be one if it gets very heated.
EL-GAMAL: Yes. And, you know, London has been the scene of some of the largest protests that we've seen over Gaza every weekend. I'm sure you've
seen it, too. I mean, thousands upon thousands of people going into the streets, extremely heartbroken and upset about what they're seeing in Gaza.
You have Ukraine as well.
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SOARES: Yes, we saw --
EL-GAMAL: Freedom of speech issues, the political violence.
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I mean, look at all the signs that said --
(CROSSTALK)
EL-GAMAL: -- speech as well. (INAUDIBLE) We hate them.
SOARES: So it's not getting a very warm welcome from many. Even the mayor of London today had very strong words for the president, the United States.
I mean, let me get the quote from him.
He was basically criticizing him for what he believes the U.S. president has done. He said he's done the most to fan the flames of divisive, far-
right politics. And this is something we have seen in this country in the last, well, three or four days with a very big protest over the weekend.
EL-GAMAL: Exactly. I'm glad you mentioned that, because I was thinking about it and I thought it was really fascinating to try to see over the
next couple of days how the president's visit kind of inputs into the tensions that are going on here in the U.K.
Because although we've been talking about the protests against president Trump, he does have his supporters here, too, not -- in the reform party of
Nigel Farage, you have Suella Braverman, you have the Tories. They were both at his inauguration over inauguration weekend in D.C., very proudly
wearing MAGA hats.
And so -- with the far right march that happened a couple of days ago in the U.K.
(CROSSTALK)
EL-GAMAL: So as I think it's going to be interesting to see how he shifts some of those dynamics.
As much as people are going to be out in force against Trump and what he stands for, he might also inject some energy into the right and the far
right. And then that impacts what's happening here in the U.K. domestically.
SOARES: Yes, and that potentially could weaken Starmer even further, of course, when he's facing so many questions, not just, of course, over the
pressure he's putting on Ukraine or lack thereof or indeed on the war in Gaza.
But also, as we've been seeing on Epstein and what he knew, how much he knew, of course, relating to Epstein.
I want to focus as we keep an eye on those images out of London. I do want to touch on the relationship between the U.S. and the United States,
because in the Green Room, you know, as I looked at some of the artifacts there, it really speaks to the long decades of this strong bond between the
U.S. and U.K. relationships.
Speak to that and how much that will be focused today, with the king wanting to highlight that bond.
EL-GAMAL: Yes, it is a very special relationship. I mean, Trump is the only president who's gotten two state visits to the U.K. So in itself, this
second visit is a historic landmark in the relationship between the two countries.
Trump has Scottish ancestry. There's all of this history between the two countries, between the two peoples. I think Trump really embodies that. He
has huge respect for the king. He has huge respect. It's different also from the respect and deference that he has with other royal families around
the world. I mean, we see --
(CROSSTALK)
SOARES: -- the queen as well.
(CROSSTALK)
EL-GAMAL: Exactly, exactly. I mean, you know, he likes, talking to MBS or, you know, other royal families around the world in the Gulf. But there's
something different. I think you can see it in the way that he deals with and appreciates and respects the history and the gravity of the British
royal family.
SOARES: And, of course, we saw the carriage. This will go down, a storm, no doubt, for the president, who he loves the pageantry.
Jasmine, thank you very much indeed. So very much.
As you see there, a split screen with the royal family laying out the red carport -- carpet, the pomp, the pageantry. A different picture though, 25
miles or so away, in central London, where we see in protest. We are going to keep our eyes on both sides. We're going to take a short break. Be back
after this.
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ANDERSON: Well, welcome back. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson, these are your headlines this hour.
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ANDERSON (voice-over): And tens of thousands of Palestinians are fleeing Gaza City with Israel's announced offensive to retake the city now in its
second day. Israel's military says its ground offensive will last several months as it targets Hamas militants. One medical charity official says
Israeli bombings are erasing entire neighborhoods.
FBI director Kash Patel is facing another hearing on Capitol Hill, this time in front of House committee members. On Tuesday, Senate Democrats
accused the FBI director of obeying the will of the White House and not the Constitution during what was a contentious hearing.
Well, U.S. president Trump is following a packed agenda on his state visit to Windsor in England after an arrival ceremony in London with the king and
queen. This hour, he is due to lay a wreath on the late Queen Elizabeth II's crypt. Talks with the British government, expected to focus on trade
and geopolitics, will happen tomorrow.
SOARES: Well, it's been pomp and pageantry and even some protests here in the U.K. Trump's second state visit has all the ceremony of the first, a
carriage procession inspecting the Honour Guard, though this one much, much bigger.
But shortly after Trump touched down these images you're looking at of president -- of the president with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein were
projected onto the walls of Windsor Castle.
And Stop Trump Coalition is holding a demonstration in London as we speak. And we've been speaking to our correspondent on the ground there with other
supply and other protests planned around the country. CNN White House reporter Alayna Treene is following today's events as they unfold.
A very busy day, Alayna. Give us a sense of what you're likely to see. I know that we're getting our first images and maybe you can speak to that of
the U.S. president and the first lady in Windsor Castle's Green Drawing Room.
And they looked at some items there, some historic items that really speak to the bond of that relationship, special relations between the U.S. and
the U.K.
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. This is after their private lunch. Isa, we're seeing the president but also King Charles, Queen Camilla
and the first lady, all inspecting some objects of great importance between the history of the United States and the United Kingdom and their
relationship in the Green Drawing Room.
I was just going through some of what they are looking at. One item, for example, is a first edition of "The General History of Virginia" by John
Smith. It's one of the earliest accounts of English colonies in North America. Other items like that as well.
After this, we're also going to see the president and the first lady accompany some of the royals for a wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb of
the late Queen Elizabeth II. Later today, we're also going to see the first lady engage in some events of her own, one alongside Queen Camilla when
they go to inspect Queen Mary's dollhouse.
And then later, the first lady will join Princess Kate to go on a scouting visit of some of the gardens on -- inside Windsor Castle and on the estate.
So a big -- a big number of events today.
And then, of course, the real big event is that state banquet dinner this evening. We're going to hear some speeches from the president as well as
the king, we're told. I actually was told in my conversations with one White House official that that is the event that Melania Trump has been
looking forward to.
Specifically, she's been planning her outfits, I was told, for that dinner for months now but this is all part of that pageantry and kind of the pomp
and circumstance that not only the president of the United States was expecting but was really hoping for.
He is very much enamored by all of this. And this is really a specific card, a unique card, I'd argue, that not only the royals but, of course,
prime minister Keir Starmer can kind of play here in this push to make sure that the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom
remains very strong.
[10:35:10]
And at a time when we know that president Donald Trump has really been on shakier ground with many of his closest -- of the United States closest
allies, of course, when it comes to tariffs. But other trade deals, we know that they will be discussing tomorrow.
We should note, of course, politics is not really verboten for the royals. We're not expecting that today. All of the politics expected tomorrow when
the president joins Keir Starmer at his country estate in Checkers for a bilateral meeting and a joint press conference.
But this today, the pomp and pageantry, I know that that is what the president and the first lady and many of the advisers who are joining them
were really looking forward to.
And I think the unprecedented nature of this, the idea that this is the second state visit that Trump is getting to engage in and participate in,
really, is something that he likes and enjoys and respects.
I think having Keir Starmer kind of show that invitation from the king when he visited the White House earlier this year, telling Trump, you know, this
has never been done before. That is something that bodes very well with the president.
And so I think, you know, stay tuned for some of those moments. But it very much is going to kind of be sweetening, sweetening the deal a bit before we
look forward to tomorrow.
SOARES: Yes. And not only unprecedented, as you've been saying, but also apparently bigger and better. And for a president, of course, who likes
superlatives, this may go down very well.
Now we probably won't see the president laying a wreath on the tomb of the late Queen Elizabeth, because that's going to be -- we've been told
there'll be a private moment, of course.
But speak to that relationship because he had huge respect for the late queen, didn't he?
TREENE: Absolutely. And it is a very, very big difference, of course, from this state visit back -- and comparing it to 2019, when he was meeting with
the queen. And this also goes back to his mother and his relationship with his mother.
His -- Trump's mother was from Scotland, of course; there are stories that he's told and other biographers of the president that his mother used to
watch the queen and her speeches on television. And Trump, a much younger Trump then, would be kind of glued to the television screen as a kid,
watching that as well.
So there's a lot of history there for president Donald Trump. And it is, I mean, if you look at the way that he has talked about the royals, the way
that he discusses them behind closed doors, that respect for them from back from his first term but all the way to now has really been unwavering.
But it is a difference. I think the relationship with the queen and the meeting then, that was a huge deal for the president, kind of a stamp of
approval that he had always sought from, you know, the royal family, something that meant a lot to him. It still means a lot to him.
Now you often have heard the president, particularly in recent days, saying that he has a great relationship with Charles. Of course, their politics
are quite different. We'll see if any of that actually gets brought up in some of their private conversations.
But there is still that respect. I also think the kind of the deployment of the Prince and Princess of Wales today as well very notable and kind of a
difference from back during the first term, particularly, I think, with the first lady is doing some of the events that she has specifically, with
Princess Catherine.
Notable change and something that is that the Trump administration, specifically the president, the first lady, are excited about for part of
this trip.
SOARES: Yes, small details that no doubt make all the difference, of course, for this president who is, like you laid out there, Alayna, an
ardent, of course, Anglophile. Alayna, thank you very much indeed.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You need to stay with the hearings.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So they --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can as well, yes.
ANDERSON: All right. Let's do more on the deals then, the deals that the U.S. and U.K. have unveiled. Britain and the United States say they've
agreed a major tech prosperity deal. And I quote there, "tech prosperity deal," with U.S. tech giants pledging billions in investment.
Now Nvidia leading the charge, deploying 120,000 advanced AI chips across the U.K., the largest rollout in Europe to date. Microsoft and Google also
investing heavily in AI infrastructure and in data centers.
Well, the deal could create over 5,000 jobs in the U.K. And this is -- this is extraordinary stuff, given that we are seeing such a AI race at present,
not least here in the UAE, in France and elsewhere. So this is this is really important stuff.
CNN business and economics reporter Anna Cooban joining us now from London.
And this tech investment does seem to be increasingly used as a form of diplomacy. We talk geotech. We talked alongside geopolitics these days and
geoeconomics.
[10:40:05]
Geotech is very specifically involved in these geopolitical discussions. You've just spoken to Nvidia CEO, Jensen Huang.
What did he have to say to you ahead of the dinner tonight?
ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Well, I was speaking with him this morning and he made the point that he really sees
the U.K. as you know, has the potential to become an AI superpower.
But when you talk about tech diplomacy, really the U.K. is not the issue for Nvidia right now. It's China. And that's the big elephant in the room.
You know, we've seen that -- Huang was saying this morning that China is the second most important AI compute market in the world.
And Nvidia's business there over the past few years has been, quote- unquote, "a rollercoaster."
So we've seen just this week that Chinese regulators have called out Nvidia for breaching China's anti-monopoly laws. Just last week, we saw the U.S.
put two Chinese chipmakers on a list which basically barred them from buying really key U.S. AI technology.
And so given that Jensen Huang is in the U.K. today, given that he's going to this state dinner later, where Trump will most definitely be, he'll have
perhaps Trump's ear. And diplomacy is really the name of the game. And I was speaking to him earlier and he had this to say about that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENSEN HUANG, PRESIDENT AND CEO, NVIDIA: President Trump is very clear. He wants America to win. And president Xi wants China to win. And it's
possible for both of them to and the reason for that is because it's not a zero-sum game.
The advance of human society is not a zero-sum game. And so I think that, for America to win the technology, to win the AI race particularly, it's
important that -- and president Trump sees this clearly -- it's important that all AI companies, that all AI research is built on the American tech
stack.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOBAN: So president Xi Jinping will be having a call with Trump on Friday. And so, you know, for Jensen Huang, it's very important that
there's a "softly, softly" diplomatic approach to all of this.
He said this morning to me that he's very excited about this dinner tonight, particularly the, quote-unquote, "pomp and circumstance" that he
will be greeted with.
ANDERSON: Good to have you. Good to get that interview in. Thank you, Anna.
And the -- we've just been having a look at the stock price. Of course, Nvidia taking a little bit of a hit today off the back of that China news.
Of course, the Nasdaq, though, the wider tech market off a little bit as well.
You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. There is a lot more news ahead. Do stay with us.
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ANDERSON: Let's get you an update on one of our top stories this hour. Fresh reaction to what we are seeing in Gaza. Pope Leo weighing in. A short
time ago, he posted on social media that he feels, quote, "profound closeness to Palestinians," who he says are living in fear and in, quote,
"unacceptable conditions."
[10:45:04]
The pope renewed his appeal for a ceasefire, the release of hostages and a diplomatic solution that respects international law. And he also urged
prayers for what he called a dawn of peace and justice.
Extreme heat across Europe caused more than 24,000 deaths in recent months, according to a new study. Experts cite climate change as a major factor,
causing nearly 70 percent of those deaths. Now CNN meteorologist Chris Warren walks us through the details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS WARREN, AMS METEOROLOGIST: The study, conducted by Imperial College London and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, focused on heat
deaths across more than 800 European cities, representing about 30 percent of Europe's population.
It estimated about 24,000 heat deaths and they found that climate change was responsible for an overwhelming majority of those deaths.
Looking at a map of Europe showing climate change's impact, the temperature impact, seeing an increase, a larger increase in temperatures more than two
degrees Celsius with some of the darker red showing where already hot areas getting even hotter because of climate change.
And it was a very hot summer. Europe's deadly summer heat, June, July, August was the fourth warmest on record.
Western Europe had its hottest June on record and Southeast Europe recorded July heat waves and extreme fires. The Mediterranean region, absolutely
baked through much of August. Spain recorded its most intense heat wave on record.
So it was a very hot summer. And a big reason for that was the weather pattern, what we call a heat dome. So it's a big area of high pressure and
with some rising air, it gets capped, essentially. It's like a lid on the atmosphere.
And that air is forced back down. And high pressure is sinking air and that sinking air warms up even more by compression. So just the heat builds on
top of itself.
You also have clear skies, which allows more sun in and produces more warming.
So it was an extreme summer with warmer than average temperatures. The darker red shows us where it was much warmer than average. And again, these
are areas that are hot anyway.
So going forward, if things don't change, if things stay the way they are, we can expect to see even more heat-related deaths.
And cities are highly vulnerable to heat waves, because the cities themselves can absorb more heat, retain more heat. They essentially trap
the heat. And in Europe, 70 percent of people live in cities and that number is expected to go up to 80 percent by 2050.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Wow. Interesting stuff.
Well, FBI director Kash Patel is back on Capitol Hill this hour in front of House committee members today. That follows a combative appearance before
the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, where Patel engaged in shouting matches with several Democratic senators.
They accused him of mishandling the bureau's investigations into the Epstein case and the manhunt for Charlie Kirk's killer. Well, staying on
that Kirk case, prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty against 22-year- old Tyler Robinson for the conservative political activist's death.
Robinson, seen here, showed no emotion on Tuesday as he appeared in court via video link, hearing the seven charges against him, including aggravated
murder. His next hearing in Utah is set for September the 29th.
Right. We're going to take a short break after this. We will get you back to Windsor Castle, to our special coverage of Donald Trump's state visit to
the U.K. Stay with us.
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[10:50:00]
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SOARES: Now we have been following a momentous day here at Windsor Castle. The royal family has put on and continues to put on a spectacular show for
U.S. president Donald Trump, as you can see there. A lot of pomp, pageantry, hats as well as he makes his unprecedented second state visit to
the U.K.
With me here is our own Max Foster, our royal correspondent.
And Max, this is what the U.K. does best, isn't it?
We're going to see more of it in the next hour or so. We've got the royal retreat and also we've got flypast.
Is that still on?
Do we know that?
MAX FOSTER, CNN LONDON CORRESPONDENT: Flypast is still on but we don't know how many planes will be involved. So the fighter jets are struggling
with the weather. But the Red Arrows, you know, they always come out very.
(CROSSTALK)
FOSTER: But that's a shame because that was unprecedented, to see a joint flypast, U.S. And U.K. planes. That was a first that King Charles could
point to and say this has never been done before. He still does have the beating retreat which you mentioned, which is a big musical celebration
from the British military, never done at a state event before.
So --
(CROSSTALK)
SOARES: And we'll have families, right, military families from ...
FOSTER: Yes. And it's about the music. And what's interesting is they are playing Melania Trump's favorite marching song.
SOARES: Which is?
FOSTER: Yes. Good question.
(LAUGHTER)
SOARES: You want to watch that.
(LAUGHTER)
SOARES: But it has been -- it has been pretty flawless though. I mean, putting aside -- right, putting aside the fact that we're not seeing this
joint U.K.-U.S. flypast, it has been flawless. It's something the royals can be incredibly proud.
FOSTER: We're looking at the, you know, the band earlier on; we'll see them again in a moment. But I was speaking to the soldiers involved with
the Guard of Honour and the leftenant colonel who was looking after that.
So normally he would have one company to look after. So one of those groups. And he had three to coordinate. And again, this is about doing
everything bigger and better for Donald Trump. And that was hugely complex. But it was absolutely flawless.
This, I have to say, was a slightly weird moment for me.
SOARES: Why?
FOSTER: Because this is a carriage procession, which normally you'd see going through the streets and the public is normally --
(CROSSTALK)
SOARES: -- President Macron.
FOSTER: Yes. So we normally see, you know, flags waving and, you know, the president perhaps looking out the carriage and seeing how he's adored in
the country. The public have been kept a million miles away from this. Everything has been on complete lockdown. So no crowds at this moment.
But I think this is about security, certainly on the U.S. side and managing that security, you know --
(CROSSTALK)
SOARES: -- shielding.
FOSTER: This isn't the Beast. This is a, you know, centuries-old carriage. It's not that secure. But it's also about, I think, saving him from
embarrassment if these Epstein pictures appear again on the route.
SOARES: Which we saw yesterday. I think you captured that on social media.
FOSTER: And we're seeing them today at the protests in London.
SOARES: And the protesters. And Nic Robertson has been showing being pretty significant. All eyes, of course, will be on the state dinner later
on. And they are expected to speak.
Is that right?
FOSTER: Yes. They'll give speeches. Also very keen to see the guest list. So the Americans basically have half the seats and the Brits have the other
half.
SOARES: And I'm guessing it will be CEOs, major companies, heads of companies.
Do we have a sense of what --
FOSTER: Celebrities.
SOARES: Oh, really?
FOSTER: Clooneys there.
Who we could we see?
I don't know, it's all guesswork. They won't tell us anything.
SOARES: What about the menu?
Do we have a sense -- ?
FOSTER: Oh, we'll get that soon, I think in about an hour. So that'll be really interesting. And they've got a mixologist in the palace now, who
does these special, brand-new cocktails.
So they did one for president Macron, which mixed a French cocktail and a British cocktail. So we'll see whether -- I don't know; bourbon will be
involved in the one there. But that I think also -- I mean, our White House team was saying that Melania Trump, who's, you know, I think, you know, you
could speak to her fashion better than me.
SOARES: Oh, I'm not sure.
FOSTER: But she has been working on her outfit for months.
SOARES: Oh, yes. I did hear that from Alayna Treene. And they all look fabulous.
But very, very quickly, Max, the Green Room, they were looking at some of the items that the bond between the U.S. relationship between the U.K. and
the U.S. Speak to that and what we and what we saw. I think we've got --
(CROSSTALK)
FOSTER: -- in a moment of the whole day.
(LAUGHTER)
SOARES: We know how John feels about that.
FOSTER: John Berman.
SOARES: The ducks.
(CROSSTALK)
FOSTER: I'm going to say Republican streak or is that off the record?
(CROSSTALK)
FOSTER: I don't know, it sometimes comes across that he, you know, he believes in the republic.
(LAUGHTER)
SOARES: John, if you're hearing, sorry.
[10:55:00]
FOSTER: Which is legit, of course. And -- but yes. So what was really interesting is normally what you'd have on a state visit is they'll dig
into the royal archives and find anything that speaks to the shared history and all the positive parts.
So you know, you know, we've -- as expected, we've seen the queen riding with Ronald Reagan through Windsor Great Park. And that was celebrating
that, you know, relationship that she really helped create with America.
But what they did, they went right back into the archives and showed the first documents talking about colonialism, U.K. colonialism of America. And
then on into the Battle of Independence and showing this map, which was fascinating, which really marks the end of it and where the Brits were
beaten in the final battle.
SOARES: So the relation started in a revolution.
FOSTER: -- of it. Positive side. So I think really facing that front-on -- and that's been the big issue in America and still is a big issue in
America. But it's about healing those wounds. You know, we didn't behave necessarily that well. But excepting (ph) that --
SOARES: That's for another conversation.
FOSTER: Yes.
SOARES: Max Foster, you don't want to miss that. Let me send it back to Becky.
A busy hour ahead, Becky. Of course, lots of pomp, pageantry, of course, as we'll see musical performance in the next hour. Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes.
And what is Melania Trump's favorite song?
We will find out. Thank you for that. Let's you lot with CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson, and Isa Soares, today in Windsor.
Stay with CNN. "ONE WORLD" and more from Windsor up next.
END
