Behind the scenes with the Trump admin during a month of war

[0:00] It was my opinion that they were going to attack first. [0:02] They were going to attack if we didn't do it. [0:22] First, we're destroying Iran's missile capabilities. [0:26] Second, we're annihilating their neighbor. [0:28] Third, we're ensuring that the world's number one sponsor of terror [0:33] can never obtain a nuclear weapon. [0:37] He said that these strikes against Iran by the United States [0:39] could go on for four to five more weeks. [0:42] There was something else that stood out about the president's remarks. [0:45] See that nice drape? [0:46] He quickly shifted from talking about the war in Iran [0:48] to talking about the construction of his ballroom happening just behind him. [0:52] We hadn't yet heard from the president in person on camera until earlier today. [1:00] He began his remarks by talking about what his objectives are in Iran. [1:04] It's obviously incredibly important, [1:05] given what we've heard from his other top officials in the last 36 hours or so [1:10] on what exactly they are trying to achieve in Iran and how long that could take. [1:13] The United States is now urging US citizens throughout the Middle East to leave now. [1:19] Is it clear to you? [1:20] Based on what we've heard from the administration, [1:22] why the United States is at war with Iran right now? [1:24] Of course, it's not clear. [1:26] The objectives that they have laid out cannot be achieved in four days, four months or four years. [1:32] This is a growing crisis of incoherence and incompetence at the White House. [1:37] They're an evacuation plan. [1:46] Well, because it happened all very quickly. [1:48] I wonder what you think stranded Americans make of that answer. [1:51] Americans are paying the cost for this already. [1:54] First and foremost, of course, [1:55] the service members. [1:56] Some of whom have already given their lives in this conflict. [2:00] Only now are they thinking about how to evacuate the Americans who are in harm's way. [2:05] It just makes absolutely no sense. [2:08] We've taken control of Iran's airspace and waterways. [2:16] But when a few drones get through or tragic things happen, it's front page news. [2:19] I get it. [2:20] The press only wants to make the president look bad. [2:22] But try for once to report the reality. [2:24] Operation Epic Fury has been a resounding success. [2:28] Given what Secretary Hegseth said this morning, [2:30] is it the position of this administration, [2:32] that the press should not prominently cover the deaths of U.S. service members? [2:36] No, it's the position of this administration, [2:38] that the press in this room and the press across the country [2:41] should accurately report on the success of Operation Epic Fury [2:45] and the damage it is doing to the rogue Iranian regime. [2:48] Secretary Hegseth was complaining that it was front page news [2:51] about these six service members who were killed. [2:53] That's not what the secretary said, Caitlin. [2:55] And that's not what the secretary meant. [2:56] And you know it. [2:57] As you know, we cover the deaths of U.S. service members under every president. [3:01] The press does not. [3:02] The press only want to make the president look bad. [3:03] The president of the United States will be attending their dignified transfer. [3:06] We're going to cover that dignified transfer. [3:08] That's not making the president look bad. [3:10] That's showcasing that. [3:11] We expect you to cover that as you should. [3:14] We expect you to cover that as you should, Caitlin. [3:16] The reason this is covered is obviously because these are troops who are making [3:19] the greatest sacrifice that anyone can make and also a costly reminder of why [3:23] there is such extensive coverage over what's happening right now. [3:26] Tonight, the Pentagon tells us the bombing campaign in Iran is intensifying. [3:32] What would you say to Americans who are watching this [3:34] tonight and are worried about how this is expanding and how long this could go on for? [3:38] I understand the concern the American people have. [3:40] We literally have been at war for 47 years. [3:44] Now we're taking the fight directly to the Iranian regime. [3:48] I want to commend President Donald Trump for having the guts to pull the trigger on this. [3:52] The United States military, together with the wonderful Israeli partners, [4:09] continues to totally demolish the enemy far ahead of schedule. [4:13] They're saying, how do we make a deal? [4:15] I said, you're being a little bit late. [4:16] Mr. President, why Mark Wayne Mullen? [4:19] Why Mark Wayne Mullen, Mr. President? [4:20] Stay at DHS. [4:24] What led to the firing? [4:26] This is obviously monumental because she is the first cabinet member of President [4:29] Trump's second term to be ousted. [4:31] I've covered Trump for 10 years now. [4:33] He does not like when people use money that is related to him [4:36] to try to further their own image or when they try to eclipse the president [4:39] or make themselves too important. [4:41] And clearly that is what ultimately happened here today and led to Kristi Noem's ouster [4:45] as the DHS secretary. [4:46] Over the past nine days, we've carried out a lot of work. [4:51] Over the past nine days, we've carried out a lot of work. [4:51] Over the past nine days, we've carried out a lot of work. [4:51] Over the past nine days, we've carried out a lot of work. [4:52] Over the past nine days, we've carried out some of the most powerful and complex [4:55] military strikes and maneuvers the world has ever seen. [4:59] They were going to take over the Middle East and they were going to try and destroy Israel. [5:16] So we stopped it with good timing. [5:18] We're very proud to be involved in this and it's going to be ended soon. [5:21] This was just an excursion into something that had to be done. [5:25] There's footage that shows that a Tomahawk missile likely destroyed that Iranian girls school. [5:31] Will the U.S. accept any responsibility? [5:33] Well, I haven't seen it. [5:34] A Tomahawk is very generic. [5:35] It's sold to other countries. [5:36] Well, I haven't seen it. [5:36] It's sold to other countries. [5:36] But that's being investigated right now. [5:39] The president said on Saturday to reporters that he believed it was Iran [5:42] that was actually responsible for that. [5:44] Our analysis of the geolocated images has said that it was the United States military [5:48] that was most likely responsible. [5:49] There's been no confirmation of that yet. [5:52] I'm joined by not one, but four Senate Democrats who are now threatening to voice [5:57] a series of war powers votes on Iran unless the Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth [6:01] and Secretary of State Margot Rubio testify publicly about the war. [6:05] We know from the classified briefings there were [6:06] no imminent threat of attack. [6:08] So if there was no imminent threat to the United States, why are we at war? [6:12] Imagine you're one of these families and you're watching your kid come home [6:16] killed and you hear this president make light of it, calling it an excursion. [6:19] That is so insulting. [6:20] This is a sobered moment for our nation in which a president unilaterally has made a [6:25] decision to bring our country into this conflict. [6:27] Our body was designed to provide a check on the executive. [6:30] It's time that we do it. [6:40] The White House press secretary filled a bunch of questions today about the [6:43] Strait of Hormuz and the rising price of oil. [6:45] The swings that we've seen based on comments made by President Trump before the markets closed, [6:50] after the markets closed. [6:51] One other thing that Caroline Leavitt said earlier about this prospect of the Navy [6:55] escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. [6:57] It is still an option if and when necessary. [7:00] If you look at the markets, they may argue that time is now. [7:03] Tonight, we are learning that nearly 140 US service members have been wounded [7:07] during the first 10 days of the war with Iran. [7:10] We seem to be on a path toward deploying American troops on the ground. [7:15] A lot of people might think they're on the ground, but they're not. [7:15] You might hear that and be alarmed by your statement. [7:18] The American people deserve to hear everything. [7:20] I am extremely worried and fearful after that briefing, but I was even before. [7:25] There can be great military triumphs through bombing, but success requires a strategy. [7:31] The report says the military needs that truck to school. [7:43] I don't know about that. [7:45] You know, you never like to say too early you won. [7:49] We won. [7:50] We won the bet. [7:51] In the first hour, it was over. [7:52] Do you agree with President Trump when he says that he believes the United States has won? [7:57] The war at this point? [7:59] I think the outcome thus far has been outstanding. [8:03] I'm very much aware that I'm the only Democrat in the Senate that supports this operation, [8:08] and I'm going to continue to do that. [8:09] The situation with Iran is moving along very rapidly. [8:25] We're doing what has to be done, should have been done. [8:27] They really are a nation of terror and hate. [8:30] They're paying a big price right now. [8:31] Governor, how do people in your state feel about what they're paying at the pump? [8:37] Do they think it will be worth it in the long term, as the administration suggests? [8:40] Donald Trump? [8:40] Donald Trump said that he was going to lower prices. [8:43] He said he was going to release the Epstein files. [8:45] And he said he was not going to get us involved in foreign wars. [8:48] And I think people are now seeing that each and every one of those things was a lie. [8:52] We don't need anybody. [8:57] We're the strongest nation in the world. [8:59] We strongly encourage other nations whose economies depend on the Strait far more than [9:20] ours. [9:21] We get less than 1% of our oil from the Strait, so we want them to come and help us. [9:26] I do believe I'll be having the honor of taking Cuba, whether I [9:30] free it, take it. [9:31] I think I can do anything I want with it. [9:33] Do you think the United States should, in the president's word, take Cuba? [9:37] I think what we need to do is try to hopefully get a democracy there, [9:40] where the Cuban people get to pick their leaders. [9:42] When it comes to Iran and what's been happening with this back and forth with the White House [9:46] and U.S. allies, if the Strait of Hormuz doesn't open, [9:49] how are oil prices in the United States going to come down? [9:51] We need to do what we're doing. [9:53] They cannot have a nuclear weapon. [9:54] They cannot have ballistic missiles. [9:56] The main goal here is destroy their ability to kill us. [9:59] The United States should take Cuba. [9:59] The United States should take Cuba. [10:00] NATO's making a very foolish mistake because we don't need them, [10:10] but they should have been there. [10:11] As soon as that war is over, which will be soon, your prices are going to drop like a rock. [10:16] Trump has been publicly calling on allies for help to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, [10:21] but he's offering no timeline and officials are providing new details. [10:24] That's been a key question that the president has been facing as he is [10:27] simultaneously lashing out at U.S. allies for not helping the U.S. do so, [10:31] while also arguing that the United States doesn't need them. [10:34] The other huge topic here at the White House today has been the first high-profile exit [10:38] we've seen from this administration since this war started in protest over this war. [10:49] When you look at Joe Kent's resignation letter today, [10:52] what's your reaction to his reasoning for leaving the administration? [10:55] When you blame the Israeli lobby for us going to war to Iran, I have a problem with that. [10:59] The president suggesting that the United States could [11:01] leave NATO without the consent of Congress, what goes through your mind? [11:05] Anger, because NATO is the best alliance, strongest alliance in history. If he broke up NATO, [11:10] it would be a civil war in the Republican caucus. [11:13] Two questions. There's only two of us. Can you come on at 9 o'clock? [11:27] So it turns out things got very heated very quickly when Attorney General Pam Bondi and [11:38] the Deputy Attorney General showed up on Capitol Hill to brief lawmakers on the House Oversight [11:43] Committee on their Epstein investigation. Democrats left, and you saw them at the [11:47] microphones saying that Pam Bondi wasn't answering any of their questions as the [11:51] Attorney General herself argued that Democrats weren't asking anything of substance. [11:55] Can you just kind of give us your version of what happened inside the [11:57] room? The actual crux of what I was asking is what is this? What was this arrangement? [12:04] How should we engage it? The first question that was asked was to confirm the Attorney General [12:09] would come in under oath, be deposed by the committee so we can make it public to the [12:12] American people. And she refused to answer that question. Iran is a serious threat to the world, [12:26] to the Middle East and to the world. I think virtually every country agrees with me on that. [12:30] I wanted to put out that fire. Thank you very much. President Trump was hosting the new Japanese Prime [12:35] Minister for the first time in a decade. President Trump was hosting the new Japanese Prime Minister [12:36] for the first time in the Oval Office on Thursday when he made a comment that caused some audible [12:40] gas but a little bit of laughter inside the room by bringing up Pearl Harbor and making a joke about [12:46] it. Because we wanted surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Okay? Why didn't you [12:53] tell me about Pearl Harbor? Okay? Right? What's your initial reaction to the Pentagon [13:01] seeking $200 billion for this war? Is that something you'd vote yes on? I support the [13:06] action. We're sick of living under the scourge of potentially nuclear war. We don't want to live [13:12] like that. Secretary Scott Besant said today that the U.S. might suspend sanctions on Iranian oil [13:17] that's already out to sea. I think some people might say, why would you ease sanctions on a [13:21] country that the United States is currently at war with? Once that oil arrives wherever its [13:26] destination is, do you think that Iran's getting the check? Do you think they're going to be able [13:30] to get the money? Yes. The money's probably going to come to the United States of America. [13:34] How are they getting the money? Is it being wired by China? [13:36] And by India? To what bank in Iran? And if there is a bank in Iran in about 15 minutes, [13:42] it can be gone. That is who's buying their oil. I don't think you can assume that the terms of [13:47] sale are the same as they were 20 days ago now. They want very much to make a deal. We'd like [13:55] to make a deal too. If it goes well, we're going to end up settling this. Otherwise, [13:59] we'll just keep bombing our little hearts out. We're dealing with the man who I believe is the [14:17] most respected and the leader. No, not the Supreme Leader. We have not heard from the Sun, [14:24] but the people that seem to be running it. If you obliterated their nuclear sites last [14:29] summer with your strikes, then how can you argue it was an imminent threat now? [14:33] Oh, we hit them so hard, we obliterated them. But that doesn't mean with the right equipment, [14:38] you can't dig down and go get it. We don't want that. What about the stream of war moves? Who's [14:43] going to be in control of that? That'll be opened very soon, if this works. How soon? [14:47] Maybe. Who's in control of it? [14:49] Will Iran still be able to control the flow of oil? [14:52] Be jointly in control. By whom? [14:54] Maybe me. Me and the Ayatollah. Thank you very much. [14:57] Whose idea was that, to put ice in the airport? [14:59] Mine. That was mine. [15:02] The Democrats are fully to blame with the struggle with the airports. We just put ice [15:14] in charge, and they're helping TSA, the agents. [15:17] You're going to love Elvis. [15:23] Have you been here before, Mr. President, or is this your first time? [15:25] I've never been here, no. I'm a big fan of Elvis. Who isn't today? [15:29] I just left Graceland with President Trump, which he was touring for the first time ever. [15:34] At one point, the President was asked to sign a guitar and a gold Sharpie. He tested it out [15:38] before he did, and then held up the guitar for everyone to see. [15:57] Change. You know, I don't like to say this, but this war has been won. [16:00] The President is talking today about these ongoing talks with Iran. That comes after he [16:07] was threatening to bomb their power plants and putting deadlines on that. He's now extended it [16:11] to Friday. When you hear what the White House is saying, do you believe that he's looking for an [16:14] off-ramp in this war? There was an off-ramp. There was an off-ramp. There was an off-ramp. There was [16:16] evidence that in fact he is not talking to Iran, that that's a lie stated in order to calm the stock [16:20] market and to lower oil prices. You want them to hold the line, even if that means TSA agents [16:25] still not getting paid. So they need to be paid. Donald Trump is trying to cause maximum chaos and [16:30] cruelty to TSA agents and all those people waiting in line in hopes that it'll make Democrats buckle [16:36] and support his ICE agency. It's a President who is, again, cruel and chaotic, and he's [16:40] bringing that to our airports. As for the temporary short-term fluctuation in gas prices, [16:53] the President has said once these combat operations are over, this administration is [16:57] going to continue to unleash American energy dominance. We're continuing to do that every [17:01] day and we're going to see prices at the pump go back down. The United States has been engaged over [17:08] the last three days in productive conversations, which led the President to temporarily instruct [17:13] the Department of War to postpone planned strikes against Iranian power plants. It was when the [17:21] President came out on Monday and said he was extending his deadline that he had issued for [17:28] should they not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, he extended that to this Friday. There are still [17:33] questions about the deadline and if that holds and where these talks go from there. [17:37] I said, fellas, do you mind taking off your masks in the airport? And they took them off. [17:50] And they're helping the people with their bags. They're moving things along. [17:54] People are starting to say, ICE, you're nice guys. We really appreciate it. [17:58] We've seen the President saying that Iran really wants to make a deal. The White House [18:05] today even went out, so exactly who they're speaking with. Still haven't said who that [18:09] person is. Do you think these talks are genuine, or do you think the President is buying time? [18:13] Well, it could be he's buying time, but the chances of reaching an acceptable agreement [18:17] with this regime, no matter how many of their leaders we have killed, is zero. [18:21] Read a story today that I'm desperate to make a deal. I'm not, I don't, [18:33] I'm the opposite of desperate. I don't care. They said yesterday that we weren't negotiating with [18:39] them, and now they admit that we were negotiating with them. So they want to make a deal. The reason [18:43] they want to make a deal is they have been just beat to shit. [18:50] President Trump has just extended his deadline for Iran to blow up their power [18:53] plants if the talks with the United States don't proceed as he wants them to by another 10 days. [19:03] When you look at what is happening in the region, the force built up, [19:06] do you think we're more likely than not to put U.S. forces on the ground in Iran? [19:11] At this moment, I would say the dynamic is toward troops on the ground, [19:15] because the President of the United States never sends armed forces to a region without [19:20] some plan to use them that way. I can tell you, without disclosing any [19:23] classified information, which indicates to me that there are potential plans in [19:28] the works in the event that these negotiations fail to be fruitful. [19:31] And right now, there is no indication that Iran is in a great hurry to have negotiations.