Trey Yingst: Trump is no longer negotiating, he is STRIKING

[0:01] ALL RIGHT, KAYLEIGH, A LOT OF [0:03] APPOINTMENTS WE HAVE TO KEEP. [0:04] RIGHT NOW, THE U.S. OPENING A [0:06] NEW FRONT IN ITS CAMPAIGN AGAINST [0:07] IRAN LAUNCING A RARE DAYLIGHT [0:09] STRIKE AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP [0:10] REPORTEDLY HUDDLED WITH HIS [0:11] NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM THE WAY [0:13] THE NEXT PHASE OF THE CONFLICT. [0:15] I'M JOHN ROBERTS IN WASHINGTON [0:16] AND WE BID GOOD WEDNESDAY [0:17] AFTERNOON TO YOU. [0:18] THANK YOU. [0:19] IT'S GOOD TO BE WITH YOU, JOHN. [0:21] NICE TO SEE YOU IN THIS [0:22] AFTERNOON. [0:23] I'M JILLIAN TURNER IN FOR [0:24] SANDRA TODAY AND THIS IS [0:25] AMERICA REPORT. [0:26] THE U.S. NAVAL BLOCKADE IN [0:28] THE STRAIGHT OF HORMOUZ HAS [0:29] RESUMED. [0:30] AT LEAST TWO SHIPS TURNED AWAY [0:32] OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS. [0:33] CENTCOM ALSO SAYS AMERICAN [0:35] FORCES HAVE HIT IRANIAN [0:36] POSITIONS ON GREATER TUNDA [0:38] ISLAND, A STRATEGIC LOCATION IN [0:39] THE STRAIGHT OF HORMOUZ. [0:40] PRESIDENT TRUMP TELLS FOX [0:42] NEWS IRAN HAS A CHOICE NOW. [0:44] THEY CAN RETURN TO THE [0:45] NEGOTIATING TABLE OR ELSE FACE [0:47] A NEW WAVE OF STRIKES TARGETING [0:49] POWER PLANTS, BRIDGES, OTHER [0:50] CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. [0:51] VICE-ADMIRAL ROBERT HARWARD [0:53] JOINS US IN MOMENTS. [0:54] FIRST WE'VE GOT FOX TEAM [0:56] COVERAGE FOR YOU. [0:57] TREY YANGST IS HERE IN [0:58] WASHINGTON. [0:59] HE HAS NEW DETAILS FROM HIS [1:00] SIT-DOWN WITH THE PRESIDENT. [1:01] SENIOR CORRESPONDENT MIKE TOBIN [1:03] KICKS US OFF. [1:04] HE IS REPORTING FROM TELAVIV [1:05] THIS AFTERNOON. [1:06] HEY, MIKE. [1:08] JULIAN, THAT RARE DAYTIME AIR [1:10] RATE SINKS WITH WHAT PRESIDENT [1:12] TRUMP HAS BEEN SAYING, THAT [1:13] THERE'S NOTHING IRAN CAN DO [1:14] ABOUT IT. [1:15] BUT THAT ROUND OF STRIKES IS NOW [1:16] OVER. [1:17] AND NIGHT IS NOW FALLING IN THIS [1:18] WORLD. [1:19] SO WE WAIT TO SEE IF THERE WILL [1:20] BE A FIFTH CONSECUTIVE NIGHT OF [1:21] STRIKES. [1:22] MOST OF THESE STRIKES HAVE BEEN [1:23] ON THE COAST OF IRAN. [1:25] ACCORDING TO CENTRAL COMMAND, [1:26] THE NARRATIVE, ANYWAY, IS THAT [1:28] THE U.S. HAS BEEN HITTING THE [1:29] CAPABILITIES OF IRAN TO [1:30] THREATEN SHIPPING IN THE [1:31] STRAIGHT OF HORMOUZ. [1:32] AND THIS FOLLOWS SEVEN [1:33] COMMERCIAL SHIPS THAT WERE HIT [1:35] CROSSING THE STRAIGHT. [1:36] U.S. ADMIRAL BRAD COOPER SAID [1:37] NEARLY A DOZEN CREW MEMBERS [1:38] ARE MISSING, KILLED, OR [1:39] INJURED BY THE IRANIAN STRIKES. [1:42] NOW, THE U.S. BLOCKADE IS [1:43] ACTIVE. [1:44] SEDCOM SAYS TWO COMMERCIAL [1:45] VESSELS HAVE BEEN TURNED [1:46] AROUND. [1:47] THE PRESIDENT SAYS THE [1:48] BLOCKADE MEANS THE STRAIGHT IS [1:49] OPEN TO ALL COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC [1:50] EXCEPT FOR VESSELS THAT STOP [1:52] AT IRANIAN PORTS. [1:53] NOW, IRANIANS WHO HAVE SPOKEN [1:54] PUBLICLY SAY THEY CAN ENDURE [1:56] THE BLOCKADE. [1:57] IT WILL CREATE DISRUPTIONS. [2:01] THIS ECONOMIC BLOCKADE HAS [2:02] CERTAINLY CAUSED DISRUPTIONS. [2:03] BUT WITH PEOPLE'S RESILIENCE, [2:04] WE WILL CERTAINLY GET PAST [2:05] THIS HISTORIC TURNING POINT. [2:06] THE UNITED STATES IS SEEKING [2:07] OUR DESTRUCTION AND IT WILL [2:08] DO WHATEVER IT CAN TO ACHIEVE [2:09] THAT. [2:10] HERE IN ISRAEL, [2:11] PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU'S [2:12] OFFICE SAYS HE HAS A TRIP PLAN [2:13] FOR THE UNITED STATES NOW FOR [2:14] THE FUNERAL OF SENATOR [2:15] LINDSAY GRAHAM, BUT THE [2:16] TIMING IS NOT LOCKED IN ON [2:17] THAT. [2:18] HERE IN ISRAEL, PRIME MINISTER [2:21] BENJAMIN NETANYAHU'S OFFICE SAYS [2:23] HE HAS A TRIP PLAN FOR THE [2:24] UNITED STATES NOW FOR THE [2:25] FUNERAL OF SENATOR LINDSAY [2:27] GRAHAM, BUT THE TIMING IS NOT [2:28] LOCKED IN ON THAT. [2:30] NOW NETANYAHU'S OFFICE SAYS HE [2:31] DOES WANT TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT [2:33] TRUMP WHILE HE'S IN THE STATE, [2:34] BUT OF COURSE NOTHING IS LOCKED [2:35] IN. [2:36] JILLIAN, BACK TO YOU. [2:37] ALL RIGHT, MIKE. [2:38] THANK YOU, MIKE. [2:39] IN TELAVIV FOR US THIS [2:40] AFTERNOON. [2:41] THANK YOU. [2:42] JOHN? [2:43] LET'S BREAK IN CHIEF FOREIGN [2:44] CORRESPONDENT TREY YANGST [2:45] PRESIDENT TRUMP AT THE WHITE [2:47] HOUSE YESTERDAY. [2:48] GREAT TO SEE YOU THIS SIDE OF [2:49] THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. [2:50] NICE TO SEE YOU. [2:51] GREAT TO BE HERE. [2:52] YOU'VE BEEN DOING GREAT WORK [2:53] OVER THERE. [2:54] WE SHOULD POINT OUT IN THE [2:55] INTERVIEWS THAT WE'RE IN MIKE [2:56] TOBIN'S PIECE. [2:57] I MEAN, IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE [2:58] GOING TO HEAR A DISSENTING [2:59] VOICE, RIGHT? [3:00] I WANTED TO GET YOUR ASSESSMENT [3:01] OF WHERE YOU THINK THE [3:02] SITUATION WITH IRANI IS ON [3:03] THE GROUND NOW. [3:04] AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE [3:05] PRESIDENT, IT IS CLEAR THAT HE [3:07] IS NO LONGER NEGOTIATING AT [3:08] THIS MOMENT. [3:09] HE SAID THAT HE IS STRIKING. [3:10] AND HE INDICATED THAT THESE [3:11] STRIKES WE'VE SEEN THE PAST FIVE [3:12] NIGHTS ARE GOING TO EXPAND. [3:13] WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THAT [3:15] TODAY ON THE GROUND. [3:16] U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND [3:17] ANNOUNCED THAT AT 6 A.M. [3:19] EASTERN TIME, DAYLIGHT IN IRAN, [3:21] THERE WERE STRIKES TAKING [3:22] PLACE. [3:23] AND THESE STRIKES ARE STARTING [3:24] TO GO FURTHER INLAND, AN [3:25] INDICATION THAT ENERGY [3:26] INFRASTRUCTURE NOT YET BEING [3:27] TARGETED, BUT THEY'RE GETTING [3:28] CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THESE [3:29] LARGER TARGETS THAT THE [3:30] PRESIDENT INDICATED HE IS [3:32] WILLING TO HIT BY NEXT WEEK IF [3:33] THE IRANIANS ARE UNWILLING TO [3:34] MAKE A DEAL. [3:35] REMEMBER THERE WAS THE [3:37] MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, [3:38] THIS 14-POINT PLAN THAT WAS [3:40] AGREED TO BY THE UNITED STATES [3:41] AND IRAN. [3:42] THE IRANIANS VIOLATED IT. [3:43] THEY ATTACKED VESSELS IN THE [3:45] STRAIGHT OF HORMOUZ AND THAT [3:47] LED U.S. FORCES TO BEGIN THIS [3:49] NEW STRIKE CAMPAIGN. [3:50] IT STRIKES ME, TREY, THAT, [3:54] YOU KNOW, THE ADMINISTRATION [3:57] CAN GET TOUCHY WHEN PEOPLE [3:59] ASK ABOUT DEFINING THIS [4:01] ENGAGEMENT. [4:02] IS IT A WAR OR NOT? [4:03] WHEN IS IT GOING TO END? [4:04] WHAT DOES THE TIMELINE LOOK [4:05] LIKE? [4:06] YOU HAD THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY [4:08] TO ASK THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF [4:09] HIMSELF YESTERDAY. [4:10] WE WANT TO SEE YOUR THOUGHTS [4:12] AFTER WE PLAYED THAT BITE. [4:13] HAS THE WAR RESUMED? [4:16] WELL, I GUESS YOU COULD [4:19] DEFINE IT ANY WAY YOU WANT, [4:20] BUT CERTAINLY WE'RE BEATING [4:21] THEM UP REALLY BADLY. [4:22] THEY HAVE TO BE BEAT UP. [4:23] THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN [4:25] NEGOTIATE WITH THESE PEOPLE [4:26] IS THROUGH STRENGTH. [4:27] AND THE ONLY STRENGTH IS [4:28] MILITARY STRENGTH, AND THAT'S [4:30] WHAT WE'VE DONE. [4:31] WHY DO YOU THINK THE [4:34] RESISTANCE TO DEFINING THIS [4:36] AS A WAR? [4:37] I ASKED THE PRESIDENT [4:38] AGAIN LATER IN THE [4:39] INTERVIEW, IS IT FAIR TO [4:40] CHARACTERIZE WHAT IS HAPPENING [4:41] RIGHT NOW AS A WAR, THE WAR [4:42] RESUMING? [4:43] AND HE SAID HE DIDN'T WANT TO [4:44] GET INTO THE SPECIFIC [4:46] LANGUAGE ABOUT THAT, BUT HE [4:48] SAID THIS IS THE RESUMTION OF A [4:50] FULL-SCALE MILITARY OPERATION, [4:53] A LARGE-SCALE MILITARY [4:54] OPERATION. [4:55] SO IT'S AN INDICATION THAT WHAT [4:56] WE'RE SEEING ON THE GROUND IS [4:57] CERTAINLY NOT JUST THE TIT FOR [4:59] TAT THAT PREVIOUSLY TOOK PLACE [5:01] WHEN THERE WERE VIOLATIONS OF [5:02] THIS AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE [5:03] UNITED STATES AND IRAN. [5:05] AND AGAIN, THE PRESIDENT IS NOT [5:07] JUST SAYING THIS ABOUT THE [5:08] STRIKES TODAY. [5:09] HE IS SIGNALING THAT BY NEXT [5:11] WEEK, IF A DEAL ISN'T REACHED, [5:13] THESE STRIKES ARE GOING TO [5:14] EXPAND. [5:15] AND HE'S TALKED ABOUT POWER [5:16] PLANTS AND BRIDGES BEFORE AND [5:17] ULTIMATELY DIDN'T MAKE THAT [5:19] DECISION. [5:20] HE'S ALSO TALKED ABOUT [5:22] DESALINIZATION PLANTS AND HE [5:23] SAYS HE WON'T TARGET THOSE [5:24] BECAUSE THE CIVILIAN POPULATION [5:25] IN IRAN, MORE THAN 90 MILLION [5:27] PEOPLE, WOULD PAY THE HIGHEST [5:28] PRICE IN THAT INSTANCE. [5:29] TOTAL HUMANITARIAN [5:30] CATASTROPHE. [5:31] ABSOLUTELY. [5:32] AND THAT IS CERTAINLY ON HIS [5:33] MIND. [5:34] WE TALKED ABOUT A VARIETY OF [5:35] DIFFERENT THINGS INCLUDING THE [5:36] MANAB SCHOOL STRIKE [5:37] INVESTIGATION THAT IS ONGOING [5:38] ACCORDING TO THE PENTAGON AND [5:39] THE WHITE HOUSE. [5:40] HE SAID THAT ULTIMATELY IT MAY [5:42] NEVER COME TO A CONCLUSION. [5:43] I PRESSED HIM ON THIS AND [5:45] PRESENTED THE EVIDENCE THAT WE [5:46] HAVE AND ULTIMATELY HE SAID IT [5:47] IS POSSIBLE. [5:48] THIS WAS A MISTAKE OR SOMETHING [5:49] BASED ON OLD INTELLIGENCE. [5:50] BUT HE SAID TO WAIT FOR THE [5:52] OUTCOME OF THAT INVESTIGATION. [5:53] I THINK IN TERMS OF [5:54] WHETHER THIS IS A WAR OR [5:55] WHETHER IT'S A MILITARY ACTION, [5:56] THE FOLKS ACROSS THE STREET [5:57] FROM US MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING [5:58] TO SAY ABOUT IT IF THE [5:59] PRESIDENT WERE TO SAY, OH, [6:00] YES, IT'S A WAR. [6:01] BECAUSE CONGRESS HAS THE [6:02] POWER TO DECLARE WAR AND NOT [6:04] THE WHITE HOUSE. [6:05] BUT I WANT TO ASK YOU THIS [6:06] QUESTION ABOUT THE PRESIDENT. [6:07] BECAUSE YOU TALKED TO HIM [6:08] SEVERAL TIMES ON THE TELEPHONE [6:09] WHILE YOU'VE BEEN OVER THERE. [6:10] YOU SAT DOWN WITH HIM [6:11] YESTERDAY. [6:12] HAS HE FINALLY CAUGHT ON TO THE [6:14] FACT THAT THE IRGC DOESN'T WANT [6:16] TO NEGOTIATE WITH HIM? [6:17] THAT THEY JUST WANT TO CAUSE [6:18] TROUBLE AND THAT THE ONLY WAY TO [6:20] MOVE FORWARD IS TO EITHER [6:22] COMPLETELY DEFANG AND NEUTRALIZE [6:25] THE IRGC OR GET RID OF THEM [6:26] ALTOGETHER. [6:27] THERE'S A REAL [6:28] UNDERSTANDING IN THE WHITE [6:29] HOUSE THAT THEY ARE DEALING [6:31] WITH TWO GROUPS OF PEOPLE INSIDE [6:32] OF IRAN. [6:33] YOU HAVE THESE RELATIVELY MORE [6:35] MODERATE VOICES. [6:36] THE FOREIGN MINISTER AND ALSO [6:38] IRAN'S PARLIAMENT SPEAKER AND [6:39] TOP NEGOTIATOR MOHAMMAD KALIBAF. [6:41] BUT WHEN THEY MAKE A DEAL, THE [6:43] QUESTION IS AS JOURNALISTS THAT [6:44] WE MUST CONTINUE TO ASK DO THEY [6:46] HAVE THE POWER TO ENFORCE AN [6:47] AGREEMENT? [6:48] AND AT THIS POINT IT DOESN'T [6:49] APPEAR THAT THEY DO AND THERE [6:51] ARE THESE IRGC COMMANDERS THAT [6:52] WANT TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT [6:53] AGAINST THE UNITED STATES. [6:54] BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE [6:55] WE TALK TO ON A DAILY BASIS AND [6:57] I THINK WE'RE ABOUT TO TALK TO [6:58] ONE, ROBERT HARWARD AS WELL, WHO [6:59] SEE THAT THE ONLY WAY TO DEAL [7:01] WITH THE IRGC IS TO DEAL WITH [7:02] THEM IN THE SAME WAY THAT THE [7:03] PRESIDENT DEALT WITH ISIS. [7:04] TAKE THEM OUT. [7:05] AND I ASK THE PRESIDENT ABOUT [7:07] THIS BECAUSE YOU HAVE THESE [7:08] HARDLINERS WHO, AGAIN, IT'S NOT [7:10] JUST THE DEEPER INSTALLATIONS, [7:12] THE NUCLEAR FACILITIES AND THE [7:13] COMMAND CENTERS AND PRODUCTION [7:14] LINES INSIDE OF IRANIAN [7:15] TERRITORY. [7:16] WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS COASTAL [7:17] AREA NEXT TO THE CITY OF [7:18] BANDHAR ABAS, RIGHT ON THE [7:19] STRAIGHT OF HORMUZ INTO THE [7:21] PERSIAN GULF, THE IRANIANS CAN [7:23] DISRUPT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS [7:25] WORTH OF INTERNATIONAL [7:26] SHIPPING WITH A SMALL [7:27] WHEELING VESSEL OR A DRONE OR [7:29] CRUISE MISSILES, THINGS THAT [7:30] THEY STILL DO HAVE IN THEIR [7:31] ARSENAL. [7:32] NOW THE PRESIDENT WOULDN'T [7:33] INDICATE HOW MANY MISSILES [7:34] THE IRANIANS HAVE LEFT BUT [7:35] THE BOTTOM LINE HERE, IRAN [7:37] CAN CONTINUE TO TRY AND [7:38] DISRUPT SHIPPING AND IT [7:39] RAISES THIS BROADER QUESTION [7:40] ABOUT HOW THE PRESIDENT IS [7:42] GOING TO HANDLE THIS IRANIAN [7:43] REGIME THAT AT THIS POINT [7:45] APPEARS UNWILLING TO MAKE A [7:47] DEAL. [7:48] THE PRESIDENT HAD SET THIS [7:50] PAST SATURDAY WHICH HAS COME AND [7:52] GONE OBVIOUSLY AS A DEADLINE FOR [7:54] THE IRANIAN REGIME TO ADMIT [7:56] PUBLICLY THAT ALL THE STRIKES [7:58] ON COMMERCIAL SHIPPING WAS A [8:00] BIG MISTAKE. [8:01] THEY OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T BUT THERE [8:03] WAS REPORTING THAT THEY DID SO [8:05] SORT OF PRIVATELY BEHIND THE [8:06] SCENES TO SENIOR TRUMP [8:07] ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS. [8:08] DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE OF IF [8:10] THAT HAPPENED OR NOT? [8:11] WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THERE [8:13] FOR THE PRESIDENT? [8:15] I THINK THE PRESIDENT IS [8:17] CLEARLY BACK CHANNELS WITH THE [8:18] ADMINISTRATION AND THE IRANIAN [8:19] REGIME. [8:20] I ASKED THE PRESIDENT WHEN WAS [8:22] THE LAST TIME YOU SPOKE WITH [8:23] AN IRANIAN OFFICIAL? [8:24] HE SAID MY TEAM SPOKE WITH [8:25] IRANIAN OFFICIALS AN HOUR AGO. [8:26] IT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF THE [8:28] REAL-TIME UPDATES THAT THE [8:29] ADMINISTRATION IS GETTING AND [8:30] ALSO THE WARNINGS THAT THEY [8:31] ARE DELIVERING BEHIND THE [8:32] SCENES. [8:33] YOU ALSO HAVE THESE OTHER [8:35] REGIONAL PLAYERS, PAKISTAN AND [8:36] KATAR, THAT ARE CONTINUING EACH [8:38] AND EVERY DAY TO TRY TO BRING BOTH [8:43] INFLATION. [8:44] THE PRESIDENT SAID THE PRESIDENT [8:46] WAS INVOLVED. [8:47] THE PRESIDENT WAS INVOLVED AND [8:49] IT WAS VIOLATED. [8:50] SO THE QUESTION IS COULD THEY [8:52] REACH ANOTHER DEAL THAT [8:53] ULTIMATELY THE IRANIANS WILL [8:54] ADHERE TO? [8:55] THIS IDEA OF THE PRESIDENT OR [8:57] THE NEGOTIATING TEAM TALKING [8:58] WITH THE IRANIANS ON AN ALMOST [8:59] CONSISTENT BASIS. [9:00] THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE, DAVID [9:02] IGNATIUS, AMONG THEM WHO ARE [9:03] SAYING THE BEST THING THE [9:04] PRESIDENT COULD DO IS STOP [9:06] TALKING ABOUT IRAN, STOP [9:08] TALKING TO IRAN, JUST KEEP THE [9:10] BOMBS RAINING DOWN, KEEP THE [9:12] INVOLVED AND DON'T SAY ANYTHING [9:14] AND LET THEM TWIST IN THE WIND [9:16] UNTIL THEY FINALLY GET SCARED [9:17] ENOUGH THAT THEY COME TO [9:19] WASHINGTON WITH HAT IN HAND AND [9:20] SAY, OKAY, LET'S NEGOTIATE. [9:21] BUT THIS CONSTANT BACK AND [9:23] FORTH ALLOWS IRAN TO ON A [9:25] DAILY BASIS GET PR WINDS. [9:26] IT'S CERTAINLY ONE [9:27] PERSPECTIVE AND WHEN YOU THINK [9:28] ABOUT WHAT THE IRANIANS ARE [9:29] VIEWING, THEY ARE LOOKING AT A [9:31] MASSIVE U.S. MILITARY PRESENCE [9:32] IN THE MIDDLE EAST RIGHT NOW. [9:34] 50,000 U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS, [9:36] AIRCRAFT CARRIERS, DESTROYERS, [9:37] YOU HAVE FIGHTER JETS AND [9:39] REFUELERS STAGING EVEN IN PLACES [9:40] LIKE TELAVIV. [9:41] THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS [9:42] PREPARED FOR THIS TO UNRAVEL [9:43] FURTHER. [9:44] AND THE IRANIANS UNDERSTAND [9:45] THAT. [9:46] SO THIS IDEA OF WHAT COMES [9:47] NEXT, THEY HAVE TO BE [9:48] CALCULATING HOW THEY ARE GOING [9:50] TO APPROACH THIS ADMINISTRATION [9:51] THAT AT THIS POINT IS WILLING [9:53] TO CONTINUE THE BATTLE AGAINST [9:54] IRAN. [9:55] AND RIGHT NOW IT'S A BATTLE FOR [9:56] THE STRAIGHT OF HORMUZ AND [9:57] CONTROL OF THAT STRAIGHT. [9:58] BUT VERY QUICKLY THESE THINGS [10:00] CAN UNRAVEL AND EXPAND. [10:02] WELL, TREY, THANKS FOR COMING [10:04] IN TO SEE US. [10:05] DON'T BE A STRANGER. [10:06] COME BACK SOON. [10:07] ALL RIGHT. [10:08] SAFE TRAVELS BACK HOME. [10:09] THANK YOU. [10:10] THANKS FOR HAVING ME. [10:11] SAFE TRAVELS BACK HOME. [10:12] THANK YOU. [10:13] THANKS FOR HAVING ME.