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One World with Zain Asher

Trump Hosts First Responders Ahead of 25th Anniversary of 9/11; Canada Hits U.S. Goods With $20B in Retaliatory Tariffs; Miliband Accuses Israeli Settlers of "Ethnic Cleansing"; UK Sanctions Illegal Israeli Settlements in West Bank; Trump Headlining First-ever Republican Midterm Convention; Egyptian TV Presenter Sentenced to Death on Drug Charges. Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired September 08, 2026 - 11:00   ET

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

[11:00:00]

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: -- and, unfortunately, bodies and everything you can imagine. The job they did on

cleaning up the site. They wanted to do it fast. They wanted to get it done, and I don't think there's any other place in the world that could

have done the job that was done by the people, the construction workers, demolition experts, the police, the military.

Nobody could have done the job that was done on getting it started, and the first thing to get it started, they had to clean it up. And this was a --

it looked like it was a mile high. The rubble looked like it was a mile high. That's a piece of it. When we see this deal, we're reminded that no

matter what threat or challenge comes our way, America will fight, America will endure, and America will prevail, and nothing can keep our country

down.

And our country is stronger today than it's ever been before. We have the highest stock market that we've ever had. We have the most people working

that we've ever had. We've never had employment like it is right now. We have the most people working today that we ever had.

And when you looked at something like took place on September 11th, you say, I wonder if we could ever get back to a level of greatness. Well,

we've done it for the past few months. Tunnels to Towers has taken the steel across the nation to remind Americans of what we overcame that day

and what our heroes did.

And on September 11th, 23 members of the New York Police Department, 37 members of the Port Authority Police, three court officers, and 343 members

of the New York Fire Department made the ultimate sacrifice, and they knew what they were getting into.

They saw it. They knew what was going to happen. They were running up those stairs, and they knew what was going to happen. There wasn't one of them

that thought otherwise. The bravery is really incredible, but their photos are all around us today of these incredible people, men and women, but just

incredible brave people.

You never know about bravery until you really test it, you don't know. We're deeply honored to be joined this morning by more than 150 first

responders from New York, along with dozens more from Washington D.C. Arlington, and Pennsylvania, who carry on the mission of their fallen

comrades.

I've been to all three. I speak to all three on every we pick one or sometimes two, and we speak on that very special day. And we're also joined

by more than 200 proud members of the United States military, who were there, and some were not there, and some are here just because they want to

honor the people that were.

Would you all stand up, please? Everybody, please stand up. That's great. Anybody that was there, great. Thank you very much. Thank you very much.

But these are the men and women who lifted our country from the rubble.

[11:05:00]

Every day they go to work knowing that they might not come home, think of it for 25 years since 9/11, and they've kept us safe and free. And we thank

you and we salute you. Our law enforcement is so incredible. Our law enforcement holds our country together in light of some threats.

We have some very real threats right now. We have people that want to go a different way. They want to go a communistic way? Well, that's not going to

work. Number one, we're not going to let it happen, but that's not going to work. One New York firefighter at Ground Zero was Jeffrey Palazzo, a member

of the Elite Rescue Squad Five from Staten Island, a place I love, Staten Island, and a U.S. Coast Guard reservist.

Before September 11th, he had already saved many lives. That day, he had 10 other members of the rescue squad. That's what he did. He rescued people,

and he was a legend before September 11th. But him and the other members of Rescue Squad Five died at the World Trade Center while fighting to rescue

fellow New Yorkers.

And today I am proud to announce that this weekend in New York the Coast Guard will commission a brand new, beautiful. I bought it myself. I

negotiated the price. It was very expensive. I didn't want to negotiate too hard in honor of him, but brand-new Coast Guard will they're going to

commission a beautiful, brand new, fast.

It's called fast response cutter, the most incredible kind of ship you'll ever see. It can go through anything. They go out into waves that are five

times bigger than it, and they come back. I don't know how they do it, but they come back. But this is the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Jeffrey Palazzo, so

we honor him with this very important tribute.

To me very important. Where is the family? The family, the Palazzo family, is here. Thank you. Thank you very much. Incredible. Today we also remember

another hero of 9/11. After the plane hit the South Tower, a group of people on the 78th floor was trapped with broken bones, charred skin, and

eyes and lungs filled with black smoke.

Death was all about them. It was certain they were sure they were going to die. Then suddenly a rescue appeared. They call him the man in the red

bandana. Have you heard that term? The man in the red bandana has become more famous than me. I don't like it.

Very unhappy, but he's become much more famous than me. Now he's the man in the red bandana, he had found the only stairwell that barely survived. The

stairwells were all knocked down, you couldn't get by, impassable. He found an opening in one of the stairwells.

And the impact was so great there was no other way down, but this one little opening, this one little hole, and travel down from the 104th floor

to look for those trapped and dying. When he heard cries for help on the 78th floor, he began extinguishing the fires, blocking the exit, directing

survivors who could walk, of which there weren't that many.

He helped some out physically. They literally pulled them out toward the only working stair well and carried those who couldn't walk, and he just

did things that people said were not even imaginable because they knew they were dead. They said we're goners. One guy was screaming we're goners.

We're goners. He didn't know that those he helped, and nor who would have known, but he willingly made all of these trips up and down, up and down,

up and down, over and over again, saving life after life. That rescuer was a 24-year-old equity trader and volunteer firefighter from Rockland County,

named Welles Crowther.

And Welles' father, also a firefighter, great firefighter, had given him that bandana as a very special tribute when he was a boy. Probably knew

something about his son. When asked why he always kept it, Welles replied, with this red bandana, I'm going to change the world.

I'm going to change the world with this bandana. Little did he know, on September 11th, well saved many, many people before losing his own life in

the South Tower lobby when the building came down. He was in the lobby, and that building came down thousands of tons of steel.

Today, in honor of his incredible bravery and all of the other countless unknown acts of heroism that day. It is my privilege to award the very

special, the highest honor that we give, highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

[11:10:00]

We want to award that to Welles and Welles' family. Welles is up there looking down at his mom and sister's family. So, I would ask his mother

Alison and sister Paige. Paige and Alison came up. We will present them with not only the medal, but will also present them with a very important

designation.

Very, very important. Please.

ALISON CROWTHER, MOTHER OF WELLES CROWTHER: Thank you so very much, Mr. President, for this enormous honor that you've bestowed upon my son Welles

in remembrance of his selfless actions on September 11th. This means the world to me, my daughters, Paige and honor, and our entire family.

This will be treasured for generations to come.

Over the years, we have been blessed by the love and support of family and friends, many of whom are with us this morning. I would also like to thank

Rachel Ducci, whose concept it was to prepare a proposal to bring to the president for this honor, and for Congressman Mike Lawler, who did so much

to keep the energy going and bring it to the attention of the president.

Really, thank you. Walking into this site and seeing all the faces of the firefighters lost is really just so powerful and moving. And the work that

the Sillers Institute does through Tunnel to Towers is so important to keep knowledge going of what happened on September 11th.

So, we really, we salute you, Frank, and your organization for this great work. That Welles's light still shines brilliantly today, even after 25

years, is testament to his legacy of courage, compassion, and love for humanity, that continues to inspire and uplift others.

Welles, however, would not have been able to do what he did as effectively on 9/11, if it had not been for the training and experience, he gained as a

member of Empire Hook & Ladder Company Number One of Upper Nyack. Empire is a volunteer company, and the members are fully trained firefighters.

They have other jobs, and responsibilities, businesses to run, and their own families. But when the alarm goes off at any time, day or night, they

respond to the call to save life, and property. This is a calling, and Welles, following in the footsteps of his father Jefferson, joined Empire

at the age of 16.

He was no longer an equities trader on 9/11. He was a firefighter. Members of Empire Hook & Ladder Company have joined us today, and I would like to

recognize and thank them. If you would please stand where you are, there they are. Wonderful. Thank you, gentlemen.

Such a support. My family has grown over the years, not only my own family, but the family of friends Welles grew up with, and Boston College friends,

and the fire department. We're all like one big family, and it's such a beautiful thing. Welles continued his spiritual growth in service at Boston

College, whose motto is men and women for others.

In the months that followed 9/11, we established the Welles Remy Crowther Charitable Trust and continue with our work today, both charitable and

educational.

[11:15:00]

Over 10 years working with a team of distinguished educators led by Vernoy Paolini, the Red Bandana Project was created. Social and emotional learning

lessons on leadership, caring for others, team, the power of one, bridging divides, forgiveness, and carpe diem were the subjects for elementary

through high school students.

This year, the Red Bandana Project has been updated and digitized by Dr. Kevin Holbrook, who is here today as well. Thank you, Dr. Holbrook. These

lessons are available for downloading free of charge on our website, wellescrowthertrust.org. As I travel around the United States speaking at

schools, I see firsthand how young people are impacted and inspired by Welles, his example and legacy to be better, kinder, and more caring of

others.

25 years after September 11th, his life continues to remind us of something very simple. In moments when others need us, each of us has the power to

choose courage, compassion, and service. That's the real meaning of the red bandana, to be courageous, to find the good, to be the good.

Again, thank you, Mr. President. We are profoundly grateful for your very special honor of Welles.

TRUMP: Thank you --

CROWTHER: Thank you so much --

TRUMP: Thank you very much. So, a while ago, years, I promised mom and sister that Welles was going to get the Presidential Medal of Freedom. And

we didn't forget, so we didn't forget. We never forget, so it's good and really deserves it. Again, this has been an honor to be involved with Frank

and the whole group that does such an incredible job of helping so many people, and it's very special on the ellipse.

Very few things are allowed to be touched. I don't know if you know. This is very important soil. They don't allow things like this to happen except

for very special events. And this is a -- to me, this is a very special event, Frank. And the job you've done is great. The job your people have

done is amazing.

And even the proficiency, they were saying how well everything was run, and it has been. And you even worked out great weather. I think Welles gave us

the weather, right? Welles is looking down. He gave us the weather. So, I just want to end by saying, God bless you.

Our country is bigger, better, stronger than ever before. We have a great country. We're going to keep it that way, and we appreciate it. My honor to

be with you. And we'll see you again soon. Congratulations. Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you.

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN HOST, ONE WORLD: Well, I'm Bianna Golodryga in Washington, D.C. You are watching "One World", and you've just been

listening to President Donald Trump speaking here in Washington, outside the White House, where he met with first responders, officials, and victims

of the September 11th terror attacks, as the country prepares to mark 25 years since that tragic day.

The president also got a look at a steel beam that was recovered from the South Tower of the World Trade Center. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation is

taking the six meters, 7600-kilogram beam across the country to honor those who were killed on September 11th.

I want to bring in Kevin Liptak live from the White House. And Kevin, quite an emotional moment there as the president was honoring among those who

have fallen on that day 25 years ago a fireman by the name of Welles, his mother, and his sister there receiving an honor from President Trump just

for his sacrifice, the sacrifice that he and countless others made to this country 25 years ago.

Just talk to us about what we saw and the significance of the moment here as we are leading up to Friday, September 11th commemoration.

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Right, and that individual Welles Crowther, he's known as the Red Bandana Man. He was seen in

photographs from the day, relying on some of his training as a firefighter to help rescue. I think it was 18 individuals before he died when the South

Tower collapsed.

[11:20:00]

He was actually an equity store in the area, but he had trained as a fireman, and he sort of sprang into action, put that red bandana around his

face, and worked to rescue those individuals before he died in the collapse. And the president honoring him as part of the ceremony today with

a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest honor that a civilian can receive in the United States.

And he says that Crowther's family had been lobbying and working for quite some time to make that happen. You also heard the president reflect on his

own experiences from that day. Obviously, President Trump is a native New Yorker. He was a builder in Manhattan at the time, and he recounted

watching this on television, and then going down to the area in the days afterwards to survey some of what was happening.

Now, some of the president's whereabouts in and around 9/11 are in dispute. They don't necessarily match up with other -- what others remember at the

time, but obviously, this day is seared in the president's memory. Whether it reflects what actually happened or not, it is a different question.

But obviously, he is someone who remembers the impact on Lower Manhattan and the impact on New York and the impact certainly on his own industry and

recounts some of that. I think with a degree of reverence for what happened on that day and for what happened to the first responders, to the policemen

and firefighters who sort of sprang into action, many of whom lost their own lives.

He also called out his Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who was the Chief Executive of Cantor Fitzgerald, the firm that had, I think, it was four

floors atop the North Tower of the World Trade Center. More than 600 employees of that firm, including Lutnick's own brother Gary and his best

friend at the time, died in 9/11, and it's always been a very personal moment for Lutnick as well.

So, the president referencing him as well as we head into this 25th anniversary. Now, the president won't be at Ground Zero on Friday. He will

be speaking at the Pentagon here in the Washington area. I think the president really -- you could hear in his remarks today.

I think trying to instill in people who are watching, including people who might not have any firsthand memory of this event at all, just what this

day meant, the gravity of it, the impact of it that still lingers today, and the family members who lost loved ones, whether it was Lutnick or the

family of Welles Crowther.

I think an important moment for the president to try and instill in people, particularly young people who were not alive or who were very young on

September 11th, just exactly what this day meant.

GOLODRYGA: A day that changed the world and the images that so many, including myself, saw firsthand when I was down there in Lower Manhattan,

25 years ago, the first responders guiding, assisting people, anyone in the location to leave buildings, to leave Lower Manhattan, as they, were making

their way into those buildings, and so many of them sacrificing their own lives.

Kevin Liptak, thank you so much. And we'll be right back with more.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:25:00]

GOLODRYGA: Now to a dramatic escalation in President Trump's trade war, Canada is now imposing $20 billion in retaliatory tariffs. Duties against

U.S. goods range from 15 percent to 50 percent. Now this move matches the tariffs Trump had been imposing on Canadian goods.

Throughout the heated trade talks, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has accused the U.S. of not negotiating seriously.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK CARNEY, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: In the face of unjustified, unprovoked tariffs from the United States, we're stepping up. With large,

sustained financial support to protect our workers and our businesses, and help them to retool, retrain, diversify, and build.

That's another thing unions have always understood when we look out for each other, when we work together, when we're united. There's nothing the

Canadian workers can't do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: For more details on this new chapter in America's trade war. Let's go to Paula Newton live from New York for us. And Mark Carney, Paula

had said that it was time for the president to stop with the memes and to start negotiating in earnest. The president didn't seem to get that message

or care much about it, last night, continuing to post videos on social media and continue to strike out against our neighbors to the north.

Things are escalating, and they're escalating quickly. How is the Canadian public responding?

PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, quickly, and things could get even more escalatory, even in the next few hours. U.S. Trade Representative

Jamieson Greer says that perhaps as early as today. They would have more retaliation against Canada. I mean, listen, Bianna.

In terms of how Canadians are reacting, they are resolute. That is not to say, though, that this will not hurt not just Canadian business but

Canadian livelihoods. And that's why Mark Carney made yet another statement released just a few hours ago, really making it clear to Canadians that as

good as it may feel to stand up to the United States, it will also hurt in very material ways. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARNEY: I don't believe in escalating the conflict. That's not constructive, but our tariffs are necessary to protect our workers, protect

our companies and our communities. We can't let American goods into Canada tariff-free while they charge our companies to export them.

Second, we're supporting Canadians because up here we take care of each other. The harsh reality is that the American tariffs will hurt some

Canadians more than others, and that was by design.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: When he says by design, Bianna, what he means is that whether it was the United States or Canada, it is designed to get political leverage,

and that is what the Canadian retaliatory tariffs will do as well. We've already heard from Republican politicians in places like certainly Kentucky

and Kansas saying, look, these tariffs hurt our states, and they continue to hurt our states.

But Bianna, there is no sign yet, not at all, that whether it's corporate America or Congress will stand up to any of this. And Howard Lutnick

himself kind of let the cat out of the bag. And if anyone around the world is looking at negotiating with the United States, he made it very clear,

tariffs are here to stay.

It doesn't matter the country. It is a policy that this Trump Administration will keep at close hand, and that they will use it as a

revenue generator as it continues that debt to pile up more than $40 trillion at this hour. Bianna, although I do want to state something else.

We just had the point at ceremony about 9/11.

It is not to be forgotten the kind of bonds that were between Canada and the United States that existed a generation ago. I think I'm not putting

too fine a point of it to say that those bonds, as far as Canadians are concerned, are frayed right now.

[11:30:00]

And that is an extraordinary thing to say, considering that between Americans and Canadians, on a personal level, there certainly isn't the

animosity. But we are entering uncharted territory here in so many ways.

GOLODRYGA: Yeah, dozens of Canadian soldiers lost their lives as Article Five was imposed there after the attacks on September 11th in the fight in

Afghanistan, and we know that hundreds joined that fight from Canada as well. Quite a different time, 25 years later.

Appreciate it, Paula Newton. Well, the United Kingdom has announced that it is imposing sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West

Bank. The announcement was accompanied by a letter from 11 other countries who said they'd introduce similar restrictions on trade.

For Britain, the move marks a major reset in its relationship with Israel, and it comes as Israel pushes to advance the internationally condemned E1

settlement project. Critics say it will make a contiguous Palestinian state virtually impossible. The British Foreign Secretary used much harsher

language.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED MILIBAND, BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY: The British government agrees that there is ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in areas of the West Bank,

perpetrated by settler terrorists. And all too often the Israeli government has turned a blind eye to this, and worse members of it have made

statements and taken actions to support the forced displacement of Palestinians.

Now, Madam Deputy Speaker, I recognize the gravity of saying this, but the truth is, the least the people who face such -- it is the least the people

who face such suffering deserve, and it should be the prelude to justice.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah.

MILIBAND: Now, for a long time, the British government has rightly said settlements are illegal, but we have remained silent on the question of the

legality of the occupation as a whole, which, in 2024, the International Court of Justice concluded was unlawful.

Today, I announce that the official view of the British government is that the occupation is unlawful because of Israel's entrenchment of its control,

its intention to extend permanent sovereignty, and its expansionist agenda via illegal settlements? Madam Deputy Speaker, our position is not just an

overdue statement of reality.

The government believes the unlawfulness of the occupation should be reflected in the economic relationships we choose to have with the occupied

territories. I do not believe the British people want us supporting the occupation by accepting products from settlements in our shops and

supermarkets.

So, I can announce today that we will introduce an import ban on goods from illegal settlements in the occupied territories. To do so, we will

introduce a new comprehensive sanctions regime, working with my right honorable friend, the business secretary, with appropriate religious

exemptions.

And as part of this regime, we will go further. We will take action against specific companies and individuals who provide services such as

construction, infrastructure, financing, or real estate for settlement expansion. So, to those who finance or facilitate illegal settlements, let

me say this, you will face the full force of UK sanctions.

Settlements are illegal, they should not be promoted in our country.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GOLODRYGA: Let's take a closer look at these developments with Steven Cook, he's a Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies in the Council on

Foreign Relations. So, on the one hand, Steven, this should not be a surprise. New government in the UK had previewed that these new policies

would come into place.

In addition to the United Kingdom, also France and Canada imposing these sanctions. Is this a turning point in Israel's relationship, which has

continued to deteriorate after the October 7th attacks and Israel's war in Gaza with these three nations, perhaps even more?

STEVEN A. COOK, SENIOR FELLOW FOR MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA STUDIES AT THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS: Yeah, I think that Israel's relationship with

these three countries and with Western Europe in general is broken. And that's why the Europeans are going to take this action, and the Israelis

are going to lash back out.

In just the last few minutes, the Israelis have announced the expulsion of a number of British diplomats, the closure of Britain's consulate in East

Jerusalem, the expulsion of British military officers that are part of the President Trump's 20-point peace plan, the coordination cell there.

So, there's going to be more of this to come. It is a very strong statement from the British government, and it is intended to get the attention of

average Israelis. That Israel's international standing is deteriorating even further, and this is no coincidence that this is coming 49 days before

an Israeli election.

[11:35:00]

GOLODRYGA: Well, and that is something that President Isaac Herzog, who has more of an honorary role there, nonetheless lashed out against these

sanctions, saying that they're interfering with Israeli politics, they're interfering with Israeli elections. And also says that it will disable or

not allow Palestinians in the West Bank from working and thus receiving a salary. Are those or any of those points valid?

COOK: Well, I think there are potential unintended consequences of the European action. The first is, as President Herzog intimated, is that if

Israelis are not able to sell their products in European markets, it's possible that Palestinians who work in the fields in the West Bank or small

manufacturing firms in the West Bank will lose their jobs.

I think the other unintended consequence is that, given the Israeli perception, particularly since October 7th, that Europe has enabled the

Palestinians has enabled antisemitism throughout the continent. That if the Israeli government strikes a significantly defiant tone.

It may actually help Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his current coalition rather than hurting them.

GOLODRYGA: How do you square the words that we heard there from the Foreign Minister Miliband describing the actions as ethnic cleansing illegal, I

believe the U.S. Ambassador to Israel has described some of the actions of Israeli settlers as terrorists. But as it relates to these specific

sanctions on settlements, Ambassador Huckabee called it discrimination against the Jewish people and Israel.

So, which one is it, and can they be effective without Washington's support?

COOK: Right. It is clear that settlers and elements within the settlement community are seeking to push Palestinians off their land. We have seen

this happen. It is being enabled by the Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, and very quietly from behind the scenes through resources,

the Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich.

What is different about the foreign secretary's statement is that he declared Israeli settlement illegal. That is something that is very, very

new here. It is something that has been debated since the settlements began to emerge in the early 1970s. But the British government is now taking a

very strong stance in saying that these settlements are illegal.

So, there may be further consequences and further isolation of the Israelis as a result of this. The U.S. position is that these are disputed

territories, and they're subject to negotiation, and that the legality of the settlement remains -- the settlements remain unclear at best.

GOLODRYGA: The ultimate goal here, these countries say, is they're trying to preserve a two-state solution. Realistically, where does that lie at

this point?

COOK: Yeah, I'm probably the worst person to ask that question because for a long time, I've been saying that there is no two-state solution. That if

you look at the infrastructure, the size of the settlements, the number of Israelis living in these settlements, and the post October 7th mindset of

many Israelis.

There is majority opposition to the idea of a two-state solution. And in the time to rebuild back support for two-state solution, it would take a

generation, if not more. There won't be anything really left for the Palestinians to claim as their independent state. I think, as the foreign

secretaries suggested, there with the expansion of settlements, there is no possibility for a contiguous Palestinian state.

I don't believe at this moment there is a possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state.

GOLODRYGA: Steven Cook, there's never a bad question to ask you. Thank you. Always appreciate your time and insight.

COOK: Thank you.

GOLODRYGA: And the Run DMC sign that I saw behind you there. I always take a look at your shelves, and that was a surprise to me.

COOK: Well, thanks for noticing that.

GOLODRYGA: OK, thank you. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:40:00]

GOLODRYGA: Republicans are holding their first ever midterm convention starting tomorrow in Dallas, Texas. The two-day gathering coined Trump-a-

Palooza will feature the U.S. President, where he is expected to speak both nights. The stakes incredibly high, with control of Congress hanging in the

balance.

Here to discuss is Founder & Principal of Bluestack Strategies, Maura Gillespie. Maura, good to see you. So, we know the president's poll numbers

are at their lowest. I think in the low 30s range. Just talk about what he needs to accomplish in Dallas, a state where the Republican candidate

appears to be really struggling against his Democratic opponent.

Again, in Texas, we should note, what does he need to accomplish for this convention to be a success for Republicans?

MAURA GILLESPIE, FOUNDER & PRINCIPAL OF BLUESTACK STRATEGIES: You know, I think that largely the Ken Paxton versus James Talarico race is, you know,

a sticking point for a lot of members of Congress. They did not support Ken Paxton, and the president did.

So, he really needs to make the case for why he backed Ken Paxton, and can he put his money behind it, and can he put you know the ideas behind it

about the why? I don't think we were given a real good reason as to why, and so this is the president's opportunity to tout the candidates that he

has supported, not only with what they are going to do and why he is backed them, but also with the financials.

He has a very large war chest, and he should be equipped to use it for the candidates that he is wholeheartedly supporting. So, this convention that

he, yes, is calling Trump-a-Palooza, is an opportunity for him to explain what he's going to do should he be able to retain either the House or

Senate majorities.

And I think share with the American people real action items to impact their day-to-day lives, not necessarily the president's life and the

president's legacy.

GOLODRYGA: Yeah, he has a massive war chest, as you've noted, and he has been reluctant to use it. Now, I believe this week has announced that he

would be investing some $10 million in helping candidates. But as it relates to making this less about him and more about those vulnerable

candidates, he can draw a crowd, sure.

But what does he need to do to draw attention to where voters, in his view, should be focused, and that is on electing Republican candidates as opposed

to just talking about Trump himself.

GILLESPIE: And that was typically his problem. He always ends up reverting back to himself. And when you look at, yes, he's offered to spend $10

million out of what an $800 million war chest that he has in his super PAC. And so, it's not really making much of a dent.

And again, when you are these events, the midterm convention idea isn't necessarily a bad idea, right? If it's around rallying behind a party

message, party support, as you pointed out, candidate support for members who are more vulnerable, pointing to why they need to be reelected, and the

president can use his megaphone to do that.

But what you also have that juxtapose with is the amount of money this is costing. You know, not only to the Dallas, you know, the City of Dallas,

this convention will cost upwards of $2 million just for security alone.

[11:45:00]

And so, I do think that the president's opportunity here is to explain why this is important backing the members that are in need of his support, but

also again, he has such a vast amount of money, and putting that behind it so that there are not these additional burden cost on everyday taxpayers in

Texas when the seat is already so vulnerable.

I think that would go a long way in showing that he is committed to supporting the party and not just supporting himself. So, I would like to

see the president put more of his money forward to show that he really is serious about supporting the party and showing that using his massive war

chest.

GOLODRYGA: A number of Republicans will be there, the president, obviously, the vice president, the Speaker of the House. But some battleground

Republicans are staying away. You worked for Speaker Boehner. What does that tell you about the tension, if there is any, between Trump's national

message?

And what some of these more vulnerable race candidates are up against? What their constituents are focused on?

GILLESPIE: Right. You have this convention happening in September. You know, you're about what six weeks away from six, seven weeks away from the

midterms, and so the members who are vulnerable, but also who are just looking to show their constituents that they're there for them and they

serve them.

This is a chance to say either you know do they stay in their districts and work with their constituents, or do they go to this convention, this rally

that costs a lot of money to attend. It costs a lot of money to put on this event, and it is deemed as a fundraiser in addition to being a rally

support for the party.

They have to weigh that out. What is it worth? Is it worth it to be there in person with the president, or is it worth it to be there in person with

their constituents at their home district, doing the work on the ground, and so that's a decision that needs to be weighed by each member who is

running, each candidate who is running, and whether or not it helps them to be standing up there next to President Trump or not.

And I think with you know you pointing out his low approval ratings, it really becomes district specific and dependent because if their district is

a swing district, or if numbers are showing that things are not going well for the people who live there, whether it's the high gas prices or things

of that nature, the members who are running and those who are candidates need to really consider that before making a decision to go.

GOLODRYGA: What do Republicans need to focus on now and explain about their own record? When, as you've noted, some of the biggest concerns for voters,

Republican and Democrat, is the cost of living, where the war in Iran will end up going from here.

And just overall lack of focus from the president on these key issues that are impacting their daily lives.

GILLESPIE: So, members who are, you know, Republicans in districts where they can tout things like veteran affairs issues, where veterans are

receiving support. You know, Doug Collins has roughly 90 plus percent approval rating in some estimates, and so maybe touting that if that's in

an area where they have a strong constituency of veterans.

They can also tout some of the economic wins they have secured in the one big beautiful bill. I know that's a controversial bill for some, but you

know Republicans, if they can stay stalwart and rally behind it, then they can tout that. I do think becomes a challenge when you bring up Trump, and

because he has largely become sort of a sticking point for a lot of members, Republican and Democrats alike, because of his you know

infatuation with naming things after himself and putting resources and mostly his attention there.

I think if they can differentiate from the president and really focus on why they want to serve, why they are serving, what they purport to do in

Congress through their committee work and for their constituent services, that will be their best avenue is to really focus on the local issues and

things that impact their constituents directly, and speak to the issues that are impacting them.

And trying to either avoid talking about Trump or avoid talking about those larger issues like you just mentioned, the Iran war and the impact it's

having on gas prices around the country.

GOLODRYGA: We will see where things land in Texas. Ken Paxton is a very vulnerable candidate, but nonetheless, it is a very red state. So, despite

the fact that there is a lot of attention and momentum behind James Talarico, you know, no one's calling it a win for him at this point.

But for the president to come to Texas now and continue to advocate for and campaign for Paxton. He also risks perhaps energizing Democrats even more

in the state. No, especially if he goes off script or off message and does speak more about his own accomplishments and less about the difference

between these two candidates.

GILLESPIE: Certainly, but I think that's part of the problem that Republicans face. On the one hand, they want to support the president and

show that they're with the president because the very small pocket of his loyal fan base and voter base that stays with him, yes, they want them to

turn out to vote. They're more likely to turn out to vote.

[11:50:00]

So, do they want to do that, or do they risk alienating themselves from the people who are frustrated Republicans, Independents, and Democrats alike

who are frustrated with the president and are frustrated with the promises that he has not kept. And so, there is this very tough decision to be made

by Republicans right now because of the president's volatility.

And yes, of course, being in Texas for Ken Paxton because this is the president's candidate, and so he should be there. He should be touting for

Ken Paxton and trying to make the case. But it does run the risk of galvanizing more Democrats to see that this is a real problem and why they

don't want another Trump 2.0 to be their senator of the State of Texas.

And so that that is a concern, obviously. But I would also say that it presents an opportunity for Republicans, like I mentioned, to steer away

from the president and create a new path and off ramp, if you will, towards what they will do as members and what they will do in service, you know, in

Congress.

GOLODRYGA: Yeah, turnout is a big concern here, and voter enthusiasm within the Republican Party when the president's not on the ballot, which is why

it worked if in South Carolina for Lindsey Graham's seat when he was campaigning for his sister. He was saying, just think of me on the ballot.

Will be interesting to see if he tries to repeat that as well when we hear from him in Texas tomorrow. Thank you so much, Maura Gillespie. Good to see

you. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GOLODRYGA: To Egypt now, where a social media influencer and TV presenter is now facing a death sentence for drug trafficking. That is according to a

state-run newspaper. Sarah Khalifa was sentenced by Cairo's criminal court on Saturday along with other defendants. Nada Bashir has more.

NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Death by hanging, that is the sentence facing Egyptian TV presenter Sarah Khalifa along with 11 others over their

alleged role in a drug trafficking network, according to state media. The TV host is a well-known entertainment and social media figure in Egypt,

with some 2.5 million followers on Instagram.

She's best known for presenting the Egyptian crime show "Mission Impossible", as well as managing her own cosmetic surgery clinic. Now, the

39-year-old is among 12 defenders accused of forming an organized criminal gang, said to be involved in importing substances used to manufacture drugs

with the intent of then selling them.

Prosecutors say 750 kilograms of synthetic narcotics and other raw materials were seized from the property where the defendants allegedly

stored and made the drugs.

[11:55:00]

State media also reports the gang has also been sentenced for the possession of firearms without a license. In videos circulating on social

media, Khalifa is heard weeping during her sentencing, pleading for mercy and humanity. CNN has been unable to independently verify the footage and

has contacted her attorney for comment.

News of the death sentence being issued has sent shock waves across the world. In 2025 alone, Egypt issued nearly 500 death sentences, one of the

highest recorded rates in the world, according to Amnesty International.

GOLODRYGA: Well thanks to Nada Bashir for that report. All right, do stay with CNN. My colleague Zain Asher will have more "One World" after the

break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END