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One World with Zain Asher
Trump Visiting Royal Family At Windsor Castle; Israel's Ground Offensive To Occupy Gaza City Underway; Fired CDC Director Testifies Before Senate Health Committee; Parent Of Cancer Patient: "Rug Has Been Pulled From Under Us"; Bold Fashion Choices During U.K. State Visit; Mother Reunites With Twin Daughter After 45 Years; Aired 12-1p ET
Aired September 17, 2025 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:00:50]
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. Live from New York, I'm Bianna Golodryga. You are watching the second hour of "One World."
We've got a very busy show for you ahead, including the latest from the United Kingdom, where President Donald Trump is on a state visit. Our Isa
Soares is at Windsor Castle, where the King and Queen have just finished hosting the Trumps for a military parade.
I have to say, Isa, it did appear that the President and First Lady seemed quite impressed by what they saw today. This is the first time a U.S.
president has been invited for not one, but two state dinners in the United Kingdom.
Talk to us about how things have looked from your side there getting a front row view.
ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR: It has looked, Bianna, absolutely flawless. A lot, as you've seen, as we've been discussing the last hour, a lot of pomp, a
lot of pageantry, of course. And the pomp really has been on full display just in the past few hours as the president makes, of course, an
unprecedented second state visit to the U.K., starting, of course, with a visit to Windsor Castle right here.
And just minutes ago, if you've been watching us, British fighter jets sort of fly over as part of a musical and marching ceremony known as Beating
Retreat. It is, of course, a centuries old military tradition to mark the end of the day and the lowering of flags at a military camp.
Earlier, the U.S. President and the First Lady joined the King and Queen as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales for a lunch and then a tour, as
you can see there are several royal documents and artifacts that showcase.
And this has been the case that the -- the theme throughout, the shared history between the U.S. and the U.K.
I'm joined now by CNN's White House reporter Alayna Treene and our royal correspondent, Max Foster. Let me go first to Max.
Max, can you give us a sense of how well, how -- how much planning's been involved and just how grand this has been trying to put something like this
together?
MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. This is on such an epic scale that hasn't been done in the history of a thousand years of this castle. I
mean, literally --
SOARES: Wow.
FOSTER: -- every single moment you've seen has been bigger than anything else they've done before. I think credit to the military for managing to
bring it together. I mean, extraordinary precision there.
I will speak to them afterwards and they'll say this didn't happen, that didn't happen, but actually, it all looked absolutely spectacular. I'm sure
it would have done to the president as well. And he would have felt very honored because it would have been pointed out to him that elements of it
haven't ever been done before.
So, I think that they -- that is -- that honor that they wanted to give him has been received and clarified. And it went smoothly. So no one's been
embarrassed.
I mean, I do think it's interesting when you see images of Trump with the Royal Family. I don't know if we can show them. We could show any of them
really walking around.
But I mean, Alayna would be able to speak to this as well, because you never see him express in the same level of deference to any other sort of
figures around the world really.
So -- so Charles is leading all the time. I know it's his house and everything. But in every single moment, Donald Trump is, you know, allowing
someone else to take the lead. You never see that in any sort of other setting.
And I think that's fascinating that he's got this deference for the family. And I think that really came home with some images that we're not going to
get. But he wanted a private moment with Queen Elizabeth II at her tomb, and he laid a wreath there.
And I think this just goes back to his own heritage, his mother's relationship with the Queen, which was that she adored her. She was
Scottish.
And I think that -- I think he feels this is part of his Scottish- Americanism somehow.
SOARES: Yes, yes. And he's identity in so many ways.
Alayna, how has it been received? I mean, you can tell -- we could see in the last hour or so with the retreat, how much he was enjoying that has --
has been absolutely flawless.
Do we have a sense of -- from the White House of how he's taken and whether he'd be enjoying it, how grand it is? This is something I know he loves to
talk about. It's bigger and better than nothing compares to this experience.
[12:05:02]
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes. I have been catching up with a couple of the White House officials who have joined the president in our
-- inside Windsor Castle with him.
And, of course, he is enjoying this. I think that flyover in particular is something that the president appreciated. He tends to love that type of
showmanship, seeing the Beating ceremony. All of the military gathered there. Definitely impressive for the President and the First Lady.
And you're exactly right. I mean, in recent days, we've heard the president himself say in his own words that nobody does ceremony and pageantry like
this, like the United Kingdom and specifically like the Royals. So, yes, very much enjoying this.
And I do want to pick up on the point that Max brought up which is essentially, you know, he is very differential when it comes to the Royals.
The relationship but more specifically the way that he views them is very different.
I think if you look at some of the relationships he with other foreign leaders, for example, particularly when he meets in person, you often see
the president trying to show, you know that he's kind of the alpha male in the room. You've seen that in a number of really every single Oval Office
meeting he's had.
It's different though with the Royals one, of course, the politics is very different. You might see some of that with the Prime Minister Keir Starmer
tomorrow, you know, that it's kind of, you know, showing that he's more of the alpha male in the room.
But with the Royals one politics, of course, is really not central to what today is about, but it does go back to that history for the president
specifically. And really just this greater respect that he has had for the Royal Family.
It's often something you see with Americans as well. A lot of people in America have this kind of idealized vision of the Royal Family. You see
that with the president as well and how he is acting and kind of, you know, having those private moments, not having everything before the cameras, not
making a lot of remarks to the press on days like this.
So, it's fascinating to watch. And, of course, there's also people in the White House who know what the broader strategy here is which is to really
ingratiate the president specifically with the Royal Family, with the United Kingdom, make sure that relationship is so strong, as they embark
on, you know, an uncertain future with the president having kind of scrambled his relationships with other, particularly European allies in his
second term.
So, all of this very much on display as we're watching all of these events kind of come into play this afternoon.
SOARES: Alayna Treene, not far from where we are here at Windsor. Thanks very much, Alayna. Max Foster is here with me now.
So, Max, now that we've heard the musical extravaganza, now we're looking really, all eyes will be on the banquet later on today.
FOSTER: Yes. So it's going to be, you know, opulent. It's -- they're going to throw everything at it again. It's going to be huge set of tables.
SOARES: Do we know the size, how many people, roughly?
FOSTER: We don't. We haven't been given any details about the guest list, so it's going to be fascinating to see who turns up.
And it's the opportunity, if you've got them, to wear your jewels, you know, the ultimate jewels and tiaras and ball gowns, you know, it's -- it's
fairytale stuff tonight.
SOARES: Yes.
FOSTER: And then we're going to have speeches from both sides. But they won't -- I don't think they're going to get into politics. They're going to
be talking about the long-term strategic relationship with two long-term historic partners.
So, it'll be interesting to see how the King defines that and how the President defines that. And also just some fun star spotting, I think.
SOARES: I'm looking forward to seeing that. I'm also looking forward to see what's actually on the menu.
FOSTER: Yes.
SOARES: That'll be fascinating. And then tomorrow, of course, there's strip rounds up at checkers, and that tomorrow will be mostly politics.
FOSTER: Yes. And Keir Starmer desperate for a win because --
SOARES: We saw him today.
FOSTER: -- he's in a really vulnerable position. He'll have to get something on Ukraine, on trade or anything to really bolster his position
because there are people in his party calling him to go -- him to go.
If Donald Trump starts talking about freedom of speech, that's going to be quite sensitive issue as well.
But remember, before all that, before they leave Windsor, there's going be a tour of the castle for Melania Trump from the Queen. And then the
Princess of Wales will be treating her to a visit to the Scouts.
SOARES: Well, that's great. Is that -- that's -- when is that happening? Tomorrow as well?
FOSTER: In the morning, yes.
SOARES: Max Foster knows all the inside sources in there. Thank you very much, Max.
Bianna, I'm not sure whether you have your jewels, but apparently, as Max was saying, look out for the jewels.
FOSTER: Now is the time.
SOARES: Now is the time to get them out. Shine them, polish them off, Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: I dressed down today.
SOARES: I won't even show you what shoes I'm wearing. You can guess. Anyway, I'll be back in about 20 minutes or so for much more, Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: You outshine anyone that's going to be at that banquet, no matter how many jewels they wear, Isa. Thank you so much. We'll come back
to you in just a few minutes.
All right. Well, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is among the cabinet members visiting the United Kingdom with the president.
We turn now to the -- the mass exodus from Gaza City, as Israel's ground offensive there enters a second day with tens of thousands of Palestinians
fleeing the enclave, home to nearly half of Gaza's two million population.
[12:10:08]
A medical charity official says indiscriminate bombings are wiping out entire neighborhoods. Israel's military is now providing a rough timeframe
saying the operation to root out Hamas militants is expected to last months.
The IDF, again, dropping leaflets urging those still remaining in the city to leave. This is a global outcry. It gets louder with the U.N. chief
saying the destruction and killing in Gaza is beyond comprehension.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTONIO GUTERRES, UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL: What happens in Gaza today is horrendous. We are seeing massive destruction of neighborhoods,
now the systematic destruction of Gaza City.
We are seeing massive killing of civilians in a way that I do not remember in any conflict since I am Secretary-General.
This is something that it is morally, politically and legally intolerable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: It's something though that still has the President of the United States backing for now.
Let's bring in CNN's Jennifer Hansler. And, Jennifer, the IDF, the prime minister, had warned of this operation to take over all of Gaza City last
month, trying to put increased pressure on Hamas to give over all of the hostages and lay down their arms. They didn't do that, so Israel is
following through on that initial threat.
And a delicate balance here for the Secretary of State traveling to Israel, showing his support for Israel, then traveling to Qatar, following that
unprecedented attack by the Israelis, targeting Hamas leaders, and then now to the United Kingdom.
What is the messaging out of the State Department?
JENNIFER HANSLER, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT REPORTER: Well, Bianna, the U.S. is one country that is not joining in that global outcry. And we do not expect
them to join in this outcry over that Gaza City offensive, both when he was in Israel as well as Qatar.
Yesterday, Secretary Rubio did not denounce this offensive. He did not speak out about the humanitarian crisis, at least publicly. He did say the
U.S. does prefer a negotiated settlement still for the Gaza war. He said he wants to see all of the hostages released. And he wants to see a
demilitarization and destruction of Hamas.
However, he did conclude yesterday in remarks before he left Israel that they're going to do what they plan to do. He did not say that the U.S. had
warned them against this. He had only said that the time for a negotiated diplomatic settlement is narrowing.
He said it was down to probably days, maybe weeks, definitely not months there, of course, as this massive military campaign gets underway.
Secretary Rubio had not planned initially to go to Doha but, of course, in the wake of that strike in the Qatari capital just weeks ago by the IDF, he
went there and sort of damage control. He had also met with the Qatari Prime Minister in D.C. last week.
He said they reaffirmed their partnership, and he called on Qatar and Israel to look forward rather than looking back on this strike. He urged
Doha to continue to play a negotiating role there.
And now he is now in the United Kingdom. Of course, he is going to be discussing probably Israel and Middle East issues as well as the war in
Russia.
This is, of course, a top priority for the U.S. and the U.K. He'll be sitting down. We expect with his new foreign secretary counterpart, Yvette
Cooper, after that shuffle of Keir Starmer's cabinet. He had met with David Lammy a number of times. This will be the first time he is sitting down in
discussions with his new counterpart.
But right now, the U.S. is sort of isolated from its global partners on both stages. They have spoken out more forcefully against Russia, but the
president has yet to impose any punitive measures on Putin, despite numerous warnings.
And on Gaza, they are not joining the outcry. And they have also spoken out against key allies who are preparing to recognize Palestine just next week
at the U.N.
So a lot -- a lot at stake here, Bianna, and obviously expecting to be some difficult conversations.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. The secretary of state being quite blunt in blaming that recognition of a Palestinian state for Israel's then threatened retaliation
of annexation over the West Bank.
Prime Minister Netanyahu even stating yesterday that the president himself has invited him to the White House once again for a visit in just two weeks
time.
Jennifer Hansler reporting for us. Thank you so much.
And still to come, the former CDC director testifies on Capitol Hill.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SUSAN MONAREZ, AMERICAN MICROBIOLOGIST AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIAL: I had no basis to fire scientific experts. He told me he had already spoken with the
White House several times about having me removed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: What she said about her ex-boss RFK Jr. and much more. That's just ahead.
[12:15:00]
Plus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. EUGENE HWANG, PEDIATRIC NEURO-ONCOLOGIST: It felt like the train was really starting to gain some momentum. And now it feels like not only has
the brakes been applied, but the engine is being disassembled.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: We take a look at those who are most affected by cuts to healthcare spending, specifically cancer research. Stay tuned.
And later, a family in Chile is celebrating a joyful reunion after being split for nearly 45 years. A look at why they were separated and we'll show
you their reunion.
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GOLODRYGA: Well, right now in Washington, Susan Monarez, the former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is testifying
before the Senate Health Committee.
Monarez was fired after just 29 days on the job, she says, for holding the line on scientific integrity. She says health secretary Robert F. Kennedy
Jr. tried to force her to rubber-stamp vaccine recommendations and provided no scientific evidence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MONAREZ: On the morning of August 25th, Secretary Kennedy demanded two things of me. They were inconsistent with my oath of office and the ethics
required of a public official. He directed me to commit in advance to approving every ACIP recommendation, regardless of the scientific evidence.
He also directed me to dismiss career officials responsible for vaccine policy without cause. He said if I was unwilling to do both, I should
resign. I responded that I could not pre-approve recommendations without reviewing the evidence. And I had no basis to fire scientific experts.
He told me he had already spoken with the White House several times about having me removed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Joining us from the U.S. Capitol is CNN's Arlette Saenz.
Just chilling to hear some of that testimony and the former CDC director who we should note, RFK Jr. during her testimony and during her
confirmation hearing, said that she had an impeccable skill set and viewed her as somebody who was more than qualified for the job.
Obviously, backtrack completely two weeks ago during his own testimony saying that she told him to his face that she was not trustworthy. She
explained exactly what went down during that exchange.
[12:20:03]
How have senators, both Republicans and Democrats, responded to some of what they heard?
ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Dr. Susan Monarez has now been on the Hill for more than two hours testifying before a Senate Health
Committee, where she has really doubled down on her past claims relating to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, saying that he is putting politics ahead of
science and policy.
Now, what we have yet to hear is from Republican senators, specifically who could have some concerns about Kennedy's nomination. One of the senators we
are watching quite closely is Senator Bill Cassidy, who leads this committee. He told reporters that he would speak to us after the hearing,
declining to weigh in on whether he still has confidence and does -- if he regrets voting for Kennedy for this post.
But you've heard over these two hours, Monarez really detailing some of the concerns she had about being asked to pre-approve recommendations from a
vaccine advisory panel that was handpicked by Secretary Kennedy, also concerns of what she was being asked about potential changes to childhood
vaccine schedules, and this CDC directive from Kennedy that any policy or personnel changes would need to be run by political staff.
Here's one of the exchanges she had with democratic Senator Bernie Sanders.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT): Why did you believe it was so important for you to refuse to rubber-stamp vaccine recommendations without seeing them or
the evidence behind them? What did you fear was the worst-case scenario if you had agreed to doing that?
MONAREZ: I refuse to do it because I have built a career on scientific integrity. And my worst fear was that I would then be in a position of
approving something that would reduce access of life-saving vaccines to children and others who need them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAENZ: Now coming out of this hearing, the three Republican senators we are most interested in hearing from are Senator Bill Cassidy, who was really
the deciding factor in Secretary Kennedy's confirmation, as well as Senator Susan Collins and Senator Lisa Murkowski.
All of these senators, at various points, had expressed some concern about the ousting of Director Monarez. It will be interesting to hear how they
feel after hearing directly from her at this hearing where she really disputed those claims from Secretary Kennedy that she had been lying about
their conversations.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. And we know that a number of those senators, including Senator Cassidy, has publicly stated that he's concerned about the
availability of vaccines going forward as well. You'll be looking out for them and bringing us anything they tell you.
Arlette Saenz in Washington for us. Thank you so much.
Well, U.S. researchers are warning that cancer science could be set back for years to come. That's because of turmoil within cancer research and
publicly funded science under the Trump administration.
CNN's Rene Marsh takes a look at the impact from funding cuts on a family whose daughter has battled an incurable form of brain cancer.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JULIETTE LESKO, FIVE YEAR OLD WHO HAS BRAIN CANCER: This is a fluffy one right there.
JIM LESKO, FATHER OF JULIETTE LESKO: We want Juliette to feel like she is a regular kid. Well, to that end, she doesn't know that anything is unique
about her.
RENE MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Mornings look normal at the Lesko house, but it's not. When Juliette was just three, doctors found a
tumor on her brain stem, ependymoma, an incurable brain and spinal cord cancer.
JULIETTE LESKO: My mom made that and I made that.
MARSH: You made this one?
MARSH (voice-over): She's now five, but doesn't yet know about her devastating diagnosis.
MELANIE LESKO, DAUGHTER HAS BRAIN CANCER: I will never forget that nurse walking us to the elevator just saying to us, you guys are going to be here
for a while. Your world kind of changes.
JIM LESKO: There is no cure for this condition. There is a treatment that works sometimes and it didn't work for Juliette.
MARSH (voice-over): After two brain surgeries, 30 sessions of radiation and two relapses, Juliette is now being treated with an experimental drug, but
it's unclear if it's working.
JIM LESKO: I hope it still fits.
MARSH (voice-over): Her parents, Jim and Melanie Lesko, hope to line up alternative treatment.
But the National Cancer Institute recently cut funding to the pediatric brain tumor consortium, limiting Juliette's treatment options.
JIM LESKO: You can log on to the clinical trials website and see that one of the novel treatment techniques that's being tested, the trial is
suddenly active but not recruiting. It goes beyond hurt, it becomes insulting.
MARSH (voice-over): The PBTC is a national network of top doctors, scientists and hospitals with expertise in pediatric brain tumors.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your tongue.
[12:25:01]
MARSH (voice-over): Giving children like Juliette access to experimental treatments that are often their last option.
The funding cut means current patients can continue treatments, but no new patients like Juliette can enroll.
JIM LESKO: Our next scan, being on September 25th, right now is when we need to know which trial we want to pursue.
If the tumor has grown, it means we need to try something new and we need to try it fast.
MARSH (voice-over): Dr. Eugene Hwang is also feeling the impact of federal cuts. He didn't get the funding he expected for a cancer vaccine. He and a
colleague created that cured lab mice of one of the worst forms of brain cancer. Then, the pediatric network that would have run his clinical trial
also lost funding.
HWANG: It felt like the train was really starting to gain some momentum. And now it feels like not only is the breaks been applied, but the engine
is being disassembled and the tracks are being taken off the road in front of us.
MARSH (voice-over): Health and Human Services defends the cut, saying it will allow resources to be "more effectively used" by rolling these
clinical trials over to another larger pediatric cancer network.
They say they do not anticipate any funding gap for pediatric brain tumor research.
JIM LESKO: Can I put your backpack on you?
MARSH (voice-over): The clinical trial Juliette's family is locked out of is designed for patients with cancer like hers.
And DJ Daniels, the young patient President Trump highlighted this march.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: His name is DJ Daniel. He is 13 years old and he has always dreamed of becoming a police officer.
But in 2018, DJ was diagnosed with brain cancer.
JIM LESKO: For us to see that was actually very hopeful. My child's rare disease is in headlines and -- and acknowledged. And then following that,
all the actual budget cuts and proposed budget cuts to NCI and NIH has -- I mean, had completely taken the wind out of our sails.
M. LESKO: This was already a hard battle, it makes it even harder.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:30:43]
SOARES: Welcome back to "One World." It's just gone 5:30 in the afternoon, live from Windsor. I am Isa Soares.
I want to show you some live pictures outside Parliament Square in London of protesters that have been gathering, as you can see for an anti-Trump
demonstrations. Lots of flags being flown there to speak to some of the concerns that many have, of course, on the ground here in London.
The Trumps won't be able to see them. They're 25 miles away or so. The American President, who is here at Windsor Castle for a state visit. He
won't be able to see them. He won't be able to hear them. Not just for the distance, of course, but also there are -- we've seen no protests here in
Windsor at all. The president very much shielded.
But last night, police did arrest for people after activists projected images of President Trump and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein onto the walls
of Windsor Castle. This happened on Tuesday night. Max Foster was with me.
And, Max, I mean, I saw this because you were among the first to actually share this. This is a sort of thing that the -- the government will want to
avoid. That the -- the -- that also the -- the Royals will want to avoid.
FOSTER: Yes, obviously. I mean, initially, I just saw that end of it with Donald Trump. And I thought it was part of the actual state event because
it was so perfectly presented on that -- on that turret. And then Epstein appeared and I realized it was an alleged timeline of their relationship.
Earlier in the day, we saw this massive poster unveiled on one of the fields as well, which is quickly whipped up by police. I think it's
interesting, you know, not strictly a breach in security. They were across the road in the hotel, the projector campaigners. They got arrested.
But the way the police went in, like a big, you know, group of them --
SOARES: Yes.
FOSTER: -- arrested them, cleared out their rooms, put everything in bags. They've been really tough with them.
And it's interesting sort of freedom of speech debate.
SOARES: The speech that we're having, right?
FOSTER: You know, should they be allowed to protest or should they not be allowed to protest? The images we've got there are showing freedom of
speech protest.
But for these protests, you know, tens of miles away in London, not anywhere near the -- the president. We don't want, you know, your views to
be seen by him, which is an interesting way they've handled it here.
But they just -- I think the government, the monarchy, the military, they see a long-term relationship with America as a nation as the vital thing
that we need to preserve and almost separating President Trump and the politics. They're separating the politics today.
SOARES: I'm just going to get my producers bring those images up because it's such a split image, isn't it? To what we have seen, what we've seen in
London, of course, the Parliament Square, protests over not just having President Trump here once again, but questions of Gaza, free speech,
Epstein.
Compared to the images we have seen today. The carpet quite literally being rolled out for the U.S. president, the prompt, the pageantry.
I wonder whether you think, and there's a lot of that still to go later on. I wonder whether you think that Starmer will come under pressure tomorrow
from some of these foreign policy objectives that many in the U.K. want to -- want the U.K. government to tackle --
FOSTER: Well, he's --
SOARES: -- top confront the U.S. president.
FOSTER: -- hammered in the press conference and not by the American press, but --
SOARES: No.
FOSTER: -- by the British press because he's under such pressure politically.
And they're going to -- I'm sure they'll mention that Epstein projection. I think he will have to address it because I think Trump will be in a
position to say, I just didn't see it, so I don't know.
SOARES: Also because of his connections or, you know, questions over Lord Mandelson.
FOSTER: Yes.
SOARES: And how much he knew. I think that's a huge question over that.
FOSTER: So the U.K. ambassador to the U.S. --
SOARES: To the U.S. Yes.
FOSTER: -- who apparently came up with the idea for this state visit in the first place, oversaw it, arranged it all. And then we -- we found out from
the filings from Congress that he had a much deeper relationship with Epstein than anyone knew, so he had to be fired.
So that was, you know -- that I think, you know, part of the debate about firing him would have been, not just the information, but getting it done
before the state visit, so we didn't end up talking about Epstein, but of course we are.
SOARES: Yes.
FOSTER: Because the protesters see Epstein as this -- how to describe it? Like this thread that speaks to corruption at the top of British society,
starting with Prince Andrew going to Mandelson. And frankly, Trump, he's not popular here.
SOARES: And, look, Epstein very much shut on both governments on the side of the United States. Trump trying to get away from it. That hasn't -- that
hasn't gone away. The case here as well.
[12:35:07]
Let's just go back to today, to the prompt today. It does seem when you and I were talking, we saw the images earlier on today, that they were enjoying
it, that --
FOSTER: Yes.
SOARES: The -- the U.S. president was enjoying it. And then, of course, we've got the state banquet in about what, two hours or so from now.
FOSTER: Yes.
SOARES: How lavish? How grand is that expected to be?
FOSTER: How lavish and grand can you make a state banquet?
SOARES: Well, Trump -- Trump, the bigger the better.
FOSTER: If we look at what happened today, everything was bigger in terms of the number of bands, the number of soldiers, the number of cavalry, the
number -- even the twice, the number of cannons in the gun salute. I mean, it was extraordinary.
So, I think that -- that, you know, it's a beautiful setting in there. When they do a state banquet, it's George's Hall. This huge long table. And I
think they're going to just make it look spectacular.
And it's going to be very interesting to see who Donald Trump's invited. I've had a bit of a glance at some of the names, but can't share them quite
yet, but there's going to be this long processions, and really interesting names there.
And Donald Trump's side decided he would have gone on his side. And then the King would have decided who -- or the government actually with -- in
consultation with the King.
SOARES: You can't tell us -- you -- you can't tell us yet. Can you -- can you -- were you surprised by the guest list?
FOSTER: I can't go into it, Isa.
SOARES: Oh, see, this is -- I've got some time to work on this, OK? I've got, what, 20 minutes. I'll get it out of him.
FOSTER: I don't have a full list. I'm -- you know, also, you know, Hollywood is -- if we talk about how the monarchy defines the U.K. in many
ways, you know, Hollywood defines America in many ways to the rest of the world, so --
SOARES: There's a big hint, guys.
FOSTER: We're going to see some members --
SOARES: OK.
FOSTER: The glitterati there, I think.
SOARES: Reading between the lines, I love that, Max.
FOSTER: But I have to say, a lot of it will ultimately be what they're wearing.
SOARES: Yes, and actually -- oh, thank you for -- what a wonderful segue for what we've got coming up.
FOSTER: Oh, what is that?
SOARES: Well, fashion, of course. First Lady Melania Trump also making an impact today with her choice of outfit. Max, you want to watch this.
She's been showcasing the best of British fashion touching down in the U.K. in a trench coat by iconic British designer, Burberry.
And all this morning, it's been all about her headwear and her eye-catching Christian Dior hat.
Senior White House reporter, Betsy Klein, is with me. And, Betsy, I'm so glad you're with us because Max was asking me for more on fashion, on what
she was wearing. I did not know where to start.
Talk us through not just what who she's wearing, but also the -- the state -- the dinner, the banquet later. Do we have a sense of what she will be
wearing a bit later?
BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: We're trying to find out those details. And I also want to know who is on Max's guest list.
But the First Lady --
SOARES: Yes. Right?
KLEIN: -- and Catherine, Princess of Wales are both extremely private spouses with enormous global platforms.
And from this morning's arrival ceremony to a private meeting that they had between the King and Queen, Prince and Princess of Wales, and the First
Lady and President, as well as a schedule of public appearances tomorrow, this first state -- the second state visit, really underscoring the close
ties that the U.K. is looking to cultivate with the Trump administration and what's been a very sensitive diplomatic moment.
And this also marks a key moment for these two women and the role that they both play on the world stage.
So for the First Lady, a source familiar with state visit planning tells me that preparation for a visit like this spans months. From the minute that
invitation is sent, she is planning the gifts that the U.S. will give to the U.K. She is studying meticulously.
She's also taking steps to de-conflict her outfits. As you mentioned, what they wear is so critical. And when she's preparing for a visit like this,
she'll receive a memo with some brief biographical details about her counterparts. And then a more substantive binder with details on the kind
of outings they will have and more personal information and interests that she can study.
And it's important to note that as -- as you mentioned, the First Lady seen and not heard in many of these public appearances. So the outfits that she
is choosing to wear send a very important diplomatic message.
And one source familiar with the planning tells me that there are steps taken to communicate that through diplomatic channels, that source telling
me, quote, "We were pretty forthright, calling and saying, is she wearing blue today? And what shade of blue is it? And then we would wear navy if
she was wearing sky blue. We definitely don't want to clash. We want to complement."
And then for the Princess, who returned to a lighter schedule of public events after treatment for cancer earlier this year, this marks a
meaningful milestone for her progress. But it is also a deployment of her star power, a really critical member of the Royal Family.
And I spoke with Elizabeth Holmes. She's a royal journalist who has previously covered U.S. politics. And she was talking about how there are
often conversations about the use and utility of the monarchy in modern times.
[12:40:03]
And this is a very clear example of why it is important. They are so good at impressing. And what -- doing what they do, we saw that carriage ride,
the full pomp and circumstance of the state banquet later this evening. This is their bread and butter. And it is so critical to establishing
relations with this administration.
So for the First Lady, we understand that she has been planning that outfit for months that she will wear tonight. All eyes on what it will be, Isa.
SOARES: Great start with that Burberry coat. Let's see whether she continues the tradition British designer.
Betsy Klein. Thank you very much indeed. And CNN, of course, has continuing coverage of President Trump's state visit to the U.K.
I'll be back in a little over what, an hour or so with the latest from Windsor Castle. We'll have more news calls from Bianna in just a moment. Do
stay right here. You are watching CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: It's a great honor. This one's at Windsor. They've never used Windsor Castle for this before. They use Buckingham Palace. And I don't
want to say one's better than the other, but they say Windsor Castle is the ultimate, right?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: For a day of pomp and pageantry. The focus of this historic second state visit is on the very historic Windsor Castle inhabited for 900
years and a favorite residence of the British Royals.
And speaking of kings, CNN's senior legal analyst, our own king, Ellie Honig, has a new book out called "When You Come at the King: Inside the
DOJ's Pursuit of the President from Nixon to Trump."
And it poses the question, how do you investigate the most powerful person on the planet, especially when that person might also be your own boss?
That leads us to our Exchange today.
Ellie, it is good to see you, my friend. Congratulations on the book. A must-read. I think it's your third, right? I don't know --
ELIE HONIG, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Yes.
GOLODRYGA: -- where you find the time.
And to have it fittingly talked about today, at least with us here, I know it came out yesterday. Today is Constitution Day, we should note. And that
was, I believe, 238 years ago today, when 39 brave men ratified the U.S. Constitution.
I want to ask you how that's holding up in this present era in just a moment. But get to -- get into the point of your book.
As you note, you go back to Watergate. No president wants or likes to be investigated and tries to stop it as much as they can, or at least to hold
off on these investigations.
[12:45:08]
You say that President Trump, however, takes it to a completely different level. Who did you talk to in coming to that conclusion?
HONIG: Well, Bianna, first of all, I want to say I did not intentionally plan this book to coincide with a visit to the actual King of England and
the Constitution Day. Coincidences is just sort of a happy turn of fate.
What I did in this book is try to bring people inside an American dilemma. What have we done, especially over the last 50 years or so, when we have to
investigate our own most powerful person, the President of the United States?
And so to answer that question and to give us a look ahead, I spoke with over 35 different people who live these cases, prosecutors, defense
lawyers, White House officials, people who actually were prosecuted, FBI agents, going back to Watergate all the way up through Donald Trump's legal
team and people on the special prosecutors we've seen over the last few years, Robert Mueller, Jack Smith.
And what I come out of this with is this. What's happening now in the United States? You asked about what's the status of the Constitution now is
fundamentally different. It is a break in the history that we've had that really goes way beyond, way before Watergate. It goes back to Ulysses S.
Grant after the Civil War.
Because what Donald Trump has done now is decreed that there will be no investigation of him. And anyone who tries to do it will be the subject of
retribution. Hence, the title of the book, which is from the old saying, when you come at the King, you better not miss.
So, I think it's important to lay out and understand that history so we can understand also where we are now.
GOLODRYGA: And -- and where we are right now, I mean, you have the Supreme Court granting the president to the executive really broad immunity here. A
lot of concerns about the checks and balances, specifically from Congress.
And I think both Republicans and Democrats have been raising that concern given whoever's -- which parties in office that Congress is not doing
enough to hold up their responsibilities.
Give us a check on where things stand in terms of the checks and balances so brilliantly laid out in the Constitution.
HONIG: Well, it's all about accountability, really, as you say, Bianna. And the immunity ruling, which came down last year. That was a real landscape
shifter. That basically said that the president has broad, not total, but broad protections from criminal prosecution for anything that's tied to his
core duties as president.
But as I argue in the book, look, there's no disputing the fact that that decision is going to make it much harder to prosecute the president. But
what I say is prosecutors in the future cannot just crawl up into a ball and say, well, it's hopeless because if you really look at that decision
and what it means, there is still room to at least certainly investigate and potentially prosecute a president who violates his duty, who violates
the law.
And so I sort of lay out a prescription in the book of how I think we can do this. You know, we've had various historic eras of how we've gone about.
There was different laws in place back before Watergate, back during the Bill Clinton-Ken Starr case. And I get deep into that.
And as we have now, and I argue in the book, it is time we do tend to revamp these laws every quarter century or so. We're right about on
schedule to come up with a system that's even sturdier that will put in place a -- an independent prosecutor with more -- independence with more
accountability and with more ability to actually impose accountability on a president. And I lay that out in the book.
GOLODRYGA: Right. Because there's a big difference in laws and norms. And it seems that over the past few decades, we have relied way too much on
norms that at least this president and perhaps others in the future taking note will be fine in bending and -- and not following up on.
Elie Honig, great to see you. Congratulations --
HONIG: Thanks, Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: -- on the book again.
When we come back in just a moment. Stay with CNN.
And still to come on CNN, we'll take a joyous -- we'll take you to a joyous reunion after --
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:50:26]
GOLODRYGA: Well, a family in Chile is celebrating a joyful reunion after being caught up in a decades-long nightmare. Chilean officials are seeking
justice for families like theirs who were ripped apart in the 1970s and '80s when thousands of babies were stolen from their mothers and sold into
adoption in other countries.
CNN's Rafael Romo reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There were no words needed for this hug that had to wait over 45 years.
It is the cry of a mother who for decades feared her twin daughters were lost forever.
Their story begins in 1979 when Chile was under the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet and a young single 18-year-old mother gave birth to twin
girls.
Maria Veronica Soto says after a routine doctor's visit, a government clinic took her then eight month old babies from her, accusing her of not
feeding them properly. Soto says the birth certificate was altered to say that no parent had shown up to register the babies.
According to Chilean officials, from 1973 to 1990, during the dictatorship, thousands of babies were stolen from their biological mothers and sold into
adoption mainly to foreign couples from the United States and Europe. In Chile, they're known as the children of silence.
Maria Veronica Soto says she never lost hope of reuniting with her daughters. That's why praying for a match in 2020, she sent a genetic
sample to a DNA bank in the United States designed to help connect children with their lost biological parents.
MARIA VERONICA SOTO, BIOLOGICAL MOTHER (through translator): And I said in this little envelope goes all my hopes of finding my girls. And so it was.
ROMO (voice-over): It took five years, but finally across the Atlantic, one of the twins children decided to take a DNA test In Italy, the country
where they were raised.
The son of one of the twins sent her mother's DNA cent temple to the bank and it was confirmed as a match that led to a long distance phone call in
this emotional reunion.
ROMO: In June, for the first time in the country's history, a Chilean judge announced he was prosecuting individuals alleged to have stolen babies in
the South American nation. The judge charged and issued arrest warrants for five people who he said should remain in pretrial detention for criminal
association, child abduction and willful misconduct.
ROMO (voice-over): No investigation can ever do justice to the decades this mother spent apart from her twin daughters.
SOTO (through translator): God heard me so many times. I asked the moon and the stars about my daughters. And they too asked, where's mom?
ROMO (voice-over): Soto and her twins say both families were deceived, their family in Chile and their adoptive parents in Italy who didn't know
the girls had been taken away from their biological mother.
MARIA BEATRICE MEREAU CHESSA, BIOLOGICAL DAUGHTER (through translator): So many emotions and very happy because we finally found our mother. And now
we will enjoy these moments, which are few, but it is really worth it because we found her again. And we want to be with her, with the family,
all the brothers, all the uncles, all the cousins, everybody.
ROMO (voice-over): Even though she spent nearly half a century apart from her twin daughters, Soto considers herself blessed. There are many mothers,
she said, who have yet to find their long lost children and others who died waiting for a reunion like hers that never materialized.
[12:55:05]
Rafael Romo, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: Wow. What an incredible story to leave you with.
That does it for this hour of "One World." I'm Bianna Golodryga. Thanks so much for watching. "Amanpour" is up next.
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[13:00:00]
END
