Full transcript of
On this “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” broadcast, moderated by Margaret Brennan:
- Rep. Mike Waltz, incoming Trump administration nationwide safety adviser
- Brett McGurk, the White Home Nationwide Safety Council coordinator for the Center East and North Africa
- Sen. Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina
- Sen. Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia
- Save the Youngsters president and CEO Janti Soeripto
- Anthony Salvanto, CBS Information director of elections and surveys
Click on right here to browse full transcripts of “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”
MARGARET BRENNAN: I am Margaret Brennan, and that is Face the Nation.
The cease-fire is in place. The prisoner swap is underneath means. Is that this the start of the tip of the devastating conflict in Gaza? Section certainly one of this fragile deal is unfolding simply hours earlier than America begins its personal handover of presidential energy.
Change is coming to Washington. And regardless of the anticipated pomp and pageantry, the challenges going through our forty seventh president are quite a few and sobering.
We’ll speak in regards to the instant ones with the incoming nationwide safety adviser, Mike Waltz. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democrat Tim Kaine can even be a part of us.
Is the cease-fire deal the start of a brand new means ahead for peace within the Center East? We’ll speak with a key Biden negotiator of the truce and discover the humanitarian disaster going through the youngest victims of the conflict in Gaza – simply forward on Face the Nation.
Good morning. As we come on the air, there may be excellent news to report. We’re awaiting official phrase that the primary three hostages have safely crossed the border out of Gaza and are again residence in Israel. However what you’re seeing right here now are the crowds awaiting their return.
They’re, and CBS can verify, within the custody of the Pink Cross.
We start right this moment with our Elizabeth Palmer reporting from Jerusalem – Liz.
ELIZABETH PALMER: The day started with a tense delay, as Hamas did not determine the hostages it was going to launch after which Israel launched contemporary assaults on Gaza.
Then, all of a sudden, at 11:15 native time, the cease-fire fell into place.
(Start VT)
ELIZABETH PALMER (voice-over): The primary three hostages launched by Hamas had been handed over to the Pink Cross in Gaza to start their journey residence, Romi Gonen, who was kidnapped from the Nova Music Pageant, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher, each seized from their kibbutz, Kfar Aza.
That was 471 days in the past, when, on October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists kidnapped or killed greater than 1,000 folks in Southern Israel. Inside hours, Israel’s navy was bombing Gaza. Fifteen months later, it is too quickly to say the conflict has ended, however it’s on pause.
Hamas and a few of its supporters had been celebrating the cease-fire as a victory. As a part of the deal, Israel is meant to launch virtually 100 Palestinian prisoners from jail later right this moment.
Mohammad El-Halabi is predicted to be certainly one of them. His household in Gaza is ready anxiously.
(RIHAL SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
ELIZABETH PALMER: “He was arrested after I was solely 3 years previous,” says his daughter,” Rihal (sp?), “and I am now 12.”
There are scars on each side. Noa Argamani, a former hostage kidnapped on the Nova Pageant, was rescued after eight terrifying months.
NOA ARGAMANI (Former Hostage): I lived in a worry each single day. I did not need the guarders to all of a sudden lose management and kill me. All of the terrorists was armed with many weapons, knife and grenade. I lived in a conflict zone. Each second felt just like the final second of my life.
ELIZABETH PALMER: A lot may go improper with this complicated deal. For a begin, it has to carry for months if all of the hostages are to be freed. And it will depend on two events with inside rifts, Israel’s authorities, whose proper wing is fiercely against the cease-fire, and Hamas, which has a weakened and divided management.
GERSHON BASKIN (Israeli Hostage Negotiator): And there isn’t any cause why they need to belief one another.
ELIZABETH PALMER: Gershon Baskin is a former hostage negotiator.
So there might be breaches?
GERSHON BASKIN: Positively.
ELIZABETH PALMER: Is there a mechanism to take care of the inevitable accusations and breaches and hiccups?
GERSHON BASKIN: This time round, there may be. It is referred to as Donald Trump.
ELIZABETH PALMER: Everybody who desires this deal to carry is pinning hopes on Washington’s authority. That features Gazans who’re hungry and determined for support to reach and the hostages’ households, who need their family members again, alive or useless.
(Finish VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re joined now by Congressman Mike Waltz. He is the incoming nationwide safety adviser to president-elect Donald Trump.
Good to have you ever right here.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ (R-Florida) (Incoming U.S. Nationwide Safety Adviser): Good to be with you. Thanks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I perceive, simply yesterday, you had been assembly with the households of a few of the hostages being held in Gaza, at the very least three Individuals assessed to nonetheless be alive and in captivity.
One in every of them may not be launched till part two, when male troopers are launched and Israeli troops withdraw. Will the Trump group see this by to completion?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: Nicely, bear in mind, the phrases of the deal that we lastly have come to was inherited in some ways from the Biden administration.
So it was truly the Biden negotiators that had been on the desk, and the – the opposite facet was coping with them, however form of seeking to us, notably Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s Center East envoy.
And one of many issues that we inherited was this framework of girls, the aged and the sick popping out first. The – one of many Individuals is an Israeli soldier. He – which means he’ll come out within the second part, however we are going to get him out, interval.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Edan Alexander.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: And I – Edan Alexander.
And I’m satisfied, Margaret, that this deal would have by no means occurred had President Trump not been elected, the Trump impact, so to talk. And the households consider that. They had been effusive of their thanks for him and the – – the TRUTH that he put out that put Hamas on discover that there might be penalties if they do not let our folks go.
MARGARET BRENNAN: There may be additionally clearly the social gathering Israel right here…
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: … that feels some stress to get this carried out. One far proper member of the Netanyahu authorities resigned. One other this morning stated he’ll convey down the Netanyahu authorities if it doesn’t return to combating in a means that leads Israel to taking on the complete Gaza Strip.
Does Mr. Trump help annexation of the West Financial institution and Gaza?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: Nicely – excuse me – very various things.
What we’re speaking about right here is ensuring that Hamas is destroyed as a terrorist group. Hamas isn’t any totally different than ISIS or al Qaeda or any of the worst of the worst that has so brutalized the Center East through the years.
And what we’ve got made clear to Bibi Netanyahu, to his authorities – and I would like the Israeli folks to listen to me loud and clear – if Hamas reneges on this deal, if Hamas backs out, strikes the goalposts, what have you ever, we are going to help Israel in doing what it has to do, primary, and, quantity two, Hamas won’t ever govern Gaza.
That’s fully unacceptable, as a result of they’ve made their intention clear, which is to destroy Israel and to have future October 7’s. So I perceive the priority. However, on the finish of the day, Prime Minister Netanyahu supported this deal. He agreed we wanted to get these hostages out.
And inside the subsequent 24 hours, we are going to see – we are going to see three ladies popping out alive and hugging their households. And had we not entered this, these folks would have died, Margaret. I imply, these circumstances that they had been in – by the way in which, they have been held now longer than the hostages in 1979 within the Iranian hostage disaster.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: They had been being brutalized, raped, tortured. It was horrific.
However now we will have a Reagan second. We’re going to have President Trump being sworn in as hostages are popping out alive, and that is one thing we must always all have fun.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You’ve got additionally stated, although, that you just need to construct on this to ultimately get peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia, normalization.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: That is proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The worth of that’s recognition of a Palestinian state, in response to Saudi Arabia.
Does Mr. Trump help a two-state answer? Hamas would not need two states. The far proper in Israel would not need two states.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Does Mr. Trump?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: Nicely, President Trump’s plan in his first time period, his plan for the Center East and his plan for Israel and Palestine had a pathway to a two-state, with every kind of crucial qualifiers that needed to be in place beforehand, cease radicalizing the following technology of Palestinian youth, very specifics – elements of that plan by way of how issues could be divided up.
However I do suppose we are able to get to the following spherical of the Abraham Accords. We – I do suppose we are able to broaden it, and that might be between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which might be great. That has been a major objective of the Netanyahu authorities now for years.
And, Margaret, I can inform you, for President Trump, if – in a brief period of time, if we’re speaking about infrastructure initiatives, ports, rails, fiber, information heart, if we’re speaking about all of these issues, these historic animosities will turn into smaller and smaller and smaller, and that’s the piece that he seeks and that solely he can lead.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, Mr. Huckabee, the potential future ambassador to Israel, is improper when he says that Mr. Trump doesn’t consider in a two- state answer sooner or later?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: Nicely, I’ve spoken to…
MARGARET BRENNAN: He stated that yesterday on FOX.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: Sure.
No, I’ve spoken to him. And it is – it is, how will we ultimately get there, proper? And what we ultimately need is the Abraham Accords and that subsequent spherical, proper? And there’s a lot of room. Each could be true. We’re going to shield Israel. We’re going to be sure that they’re defended.
However, ultimately, we will come to some lodging that Saudi Arabia is comfy in getting into into that deal.
MARGARET BRENNAN: To result in a Palestinian state? That is what they’re asking.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: Nicely, we’ll see precisely…
MARGARET BRENNAN: A course of.
(CROSSTALK)
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: … what that appears like. That course of goes to – goes to be lengthy.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: And what – you recognize, what was so fascinating in regards to the first administration was that we shifted the dynamics.
We introduced Israel and the Arab states collectively due to their mutual concern about Iran and its hegemonic aggression, and what the ayatollahs intend – meant to do. We sat the Palestinian challenge apart for a bit…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: And that’s what – I feel the framework we’ll get again to.
MARGARET BRENNAN: There’s rather a lot to get to.
So I need to ask you what we must always anticipate by way of govt actions in these early days from Mr. Trump.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: Oh, effectively, look, we will have his marketing campaign guarantees that he promised to the American folks proper on the market on the desk, by way of border, by way of power, by way of taking over this sort of DEI, woke tradition that has contaminated so many components of our federal authorities, together with our navy, returning us to a meritocracy.
He is acquired rather a lot in entrance of him. I am excited to be part of it. I can not emphasize sufficient although, Margaret, on the border, the American folks gave him a transparent mandate, lock down our border, deport the worst of the worst, tackle the cartels. We can’t have a state of affairs the place we’ve got paramilitary gangs which might be capturing down plane with heavy weapons, controlling 30 % of our neighbor Mexico and controlling entire swathes of our border.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You are speaking about maybe an govt order designating cartels as a terrorist group or designating ultimately?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: I do not need to get forward of the bulletins.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: However we’ve got to – we’ve got to take care of them with what they’re.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: These are – these are paramilitary organizations with billions at their disposal, with armored autos, heavy machine weapons which might be combating the Mexican military, not police, military, to a standstill.
President Trump was clear on the marketing campaign path that we will take them on.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: After which we will use each useful resource that we have to defend the American folks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re seeing in our polling that there’s a lot of approval for the president-elect’s plan to deport immigrants who’re right here illegally.
However understanding how that works is one thing I need to ask you. Are you able to inform us something in regards to the scope and scale of the roundups that we must always anticipate in these first few days?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: Nicely, I feel they are going to be – they are going to be fairly aggressive, primary.
Quantity two, they are going to go after these prison gangs which might be terrorizing our cities, notably MS-13, and notably Tren de Aragua. Our communities are asking for it. Our neighbors are asking for it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The place are you going to deport them to? As a result of a type of Tren de Ara – excuse me.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: Aragua, sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Tren de Aragua is Venezuelan. You may’t deport to Venezuela. So the place are you going to ship these folks?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: Nicely, we’re in numerous conversations with numerous nations that can comply with take them.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. In order that’s an enormous diplomatic initiative you are part of?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: Sure, that is proper. That is proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: TikTok took itself offline at midnight due to this nationwide safety legislation that you just signed on to as – as a congressman which acknowledges that TikTok, owned by a Chinese language agency, ByteDance, is a nationwide safety risk.
However, on this discover, it says Donald Trump has promised to work with them. If Mr. Trump points an govt order that bypasses a nationwide safety legislation, is not this a danger? I imply, how are you going to stop China from doing what you say they’re doing already…
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: … which is siphoning up and spying on Individuals?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: Nicely, look, I might – I might even level to the writer of the legislation, former Consultant Mike Gallagher, who has put out, you recognize, his objective was by no means to eradicate TikTok. It was to permit Individuals to make use of it, however then to make it secure from Chinese language Communist Occasion interference.
MARGARET BRENNAN: It was to have an American proprietor of it.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: Nicely, proper.
So what we want between now and Monday is to purchase the president a while to judge these offers. And, if it goes darkish, that is going to be, clearly, extraordinarily problematic. So each could be true. We will have an app that Individuals can – Individuals can get pleasure from, however on the similar time that protects their information and protects them from outdoors affect and undue affect.
And that is the time and area that the president is looking for. And as a dealmaker, I feel all of us needs to be assured that he can craft that form of a deal.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Have TikTok and ByteDance informed you that they are truly occupied with promoting?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: Nicely, the president labored with – spoke with President Xi, once more, very top-down, authoritarian system that he’s in.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You suppose he’s the final word decider?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: They usually – they usually – they usually agreed to work collectively on this.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, President Xi is acknowledging that he has management of ByteDance and TikTok?
(CROSSTALK)
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: Not explicitly, however I’ll inform you, each firm in China has – ultimately or some type has to report back to or has a member of the Chinese language Communist Occasion on its board.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And should share data, on the request of the Chinese language Communist Occasion?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: Nicely, that was the priority of rather a lot, proper?
MARGARET BRENNAN: Precisely.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: And so…
MARGARET BRENNAN: And Tom – Tom Cotton is saying that simply now, the Republican working the Intelligence Committee.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: Certain. Certain.
And, once more, you recognize the – the writer of the legislation is saying each could be true. We will have an app that protects Individuals. And I may inform you, I would not need the FBI or the U.S. authorities monitoring each keystroke or seeing each password, nor would we would like the Chinese language Communist Occasion.
However we additionally need an app that 170 million Individuals clearly actually get pleasure from and that we had been in a position to get our message out through the Trump marketing campaign in a really highly effective means.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you consider that an American proprietor will emerge and a deal might be carried out inside 90 days?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: I do not need to get forward of President Trump on the deal, however he’s undoubtedly eager to have the time proper now, which might imply an extension, to judge the offers which might be on the desk.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. The pinnacle of – the Republican head of the Intelligence Committee says the legislation would not enable for that, as a result of you might want to present that there was important progress.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: No, truly, the legislation says, if there is a viable deal on the desk.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper, precisely.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: Proper? I do know of at the very least…
MARGARET BRENNAN: You are saying there’s a viable deal?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: And I do know of at the very least one from Kevin O’Leary that is been delivered to ByteDance, that the – the purpose is, what’s a viable deal?
MARGARET BRENNAN: Precisely.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: The president wants the time with the Division of Justice to judge what viable means. And we won’t try this if the factor is totally darkish.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You may be on the job beginning at midday Monday?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WALTZ: Honor of my life. Thanks a lot.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Mike Waltz, thanks.
We’ll be again in a minute. Stick with us.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We flip to Brett McGurk, White Home Nationwide Safety Council coordinator for the Center East and North Africa.
Good to have you ever right here, Brett.
BRETT MCGURK (White Home Nationwide Safety Council Coordinator For the Center East and North Africa): Thanks, Margaret. Nice to be right here.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’re watching the breaking information. It is a deal you negotiated. What are you able to inform us about how these three ladies who’ve been transferred to the Pink Cross are doing?
BRETT MCGURK: Nicely, I simply confirmed with my Israeli counterparts that they are now in Israeli custody. So this has simply occurred.
Look, I do know they’re alive. I am certain they’re in – that they have been held in deplorable circumstances over 470 days, however the Israelis have an excellent system to take them into their care, and they are going to get the care they want and be reunited with their households.
MARGARET BRENNAN: It appeared that, even up till this morning, it was in query whether or not Hamas was going to undergo with this. The Israelis stated they hadn’t handed over the names of the captives.
Can we – why? And do we all know a lot in regards to the well-being of the three Individuals which might be nonetheless being held?
BRETT MCGURK: Nicely, look, this deal was negotiated over a 12 months, for good cause.
It is a detailed, complicated association to go away nothing to probability. And even as much as final night time, I used to be up till 4:00 within the morning, when this lastly went into place, to be sure that every thing went in response to the plan. Hamas owed the record of the three names. That needed to occur for the cease- fireplace to enter impact.
That was delayed a pair hours. It will definitely occurred, and now we’ve got the information right this moment. You will have a full cease-fire in impact in Gaza. You will have about 800 vans of support stepping into Gaza right this moment. And you’ve got had…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Eight hundred?
BRETT MCGURK: Eight hundred vans of support ought to attain Gaza right this moment. And you’ve got had the three ladies now, once more, reunited, hopefully with their households, they usually’re now in Israeli custody.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, the U.N. says a mean of 72 vans per day went in, in December, and that is been the case in January. Is there even the capability for the Israelis to go looking these vans and permit in that meals? Do you anticipate 800 vans to make it into Gaza right this moment?
BRETT MCGURK: That is why – that is why I’ve been within the Center East for the final month nonstop to verify every thing is able to go. This was not put collectively within the final week. This has been put collectively actually since Might, when President Biden laid out this framework.
He developed this framework with the emir of Qatar and with the president of Egypt, President Sisi. He introduced it to the world in Might. It was unanimously endorsed by the U.N. Safety Council. We thought we had been shut in August, Margaret, after which we had six hostages killed in a tunnel beneath Rafah.
I used to be simply in your inexperienced room speaking to the mom – or talking with the mom of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was killed tragically in August. It was that incident in August, when Hamas killed these hostages, that we determined to flip the script. There was not a deal as a result of Hamas wouldn’t comply with launch hostages.
We supported the Israelis in going after Hezbollah. They took out Hezbollah. That…
MARGARET BRENNAN: In Lebanon.
BRETT MCGURK: In Lebanon.
We’ve a cease-fire in Lebanon. We’ve a brand new authorities in Lebanon. That remoted Hamas. Iran is within the weakest place it has been within the Center East in many years. So, once we went again to the desk in December, Hamas, for the primary time, for the primary time, was prepared to simply accept the Might framework and start to launch hostages.
It wasn’t till early January that they really authorised the hostage record, and that is how we acquired to the outcome right this moment.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However do we all know, Keith Siegel, Sagui Chen, and Edan Alexander, how they’re doing?
BRETT MCGURK: Keith will come out in part one. Sagui will come out in part one. Edan was a uniformed Israeli soldier. He’s part two. However we’re dedicated.
And I feel you simply heard this from Mike Waltz, and we have been working seamlessly with the incoming group. I feel this can be a testomony to President Biden and to President Trump, permitting us to work collectively. I labored with Steve Witkoff over the past week, once more, a partnership, I feel historic, to assist get this carried out.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Trump’s envoy.
(CROSSTALK)
BRETT MCGURK: And we’re dedicated – We’re dedicated to getting Edan out as early as potential. I spoke with Adi Alexander, Edan’s father, simply final night time.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, Prime Minister Netanyahu described this in a single day as a short lived cease-fire. And he says he has permission to start combating as wanted.
Do you consider he sees this as only a strategic pause, or that he truly desires to finish this conflict?
BRETT MCGURK: The best way the deal is structured, on day 16, the negotiations start for part two. Section two will start a negotiation for the alternate of troopers to Palestinian prisoners.
However, additionally, the circumstances must be set for part two, and we help the Israelis in ensuring these circumstances are set, so Hamas can by no means come again to energy in Gaza, Hamas can by no means once more threaten Israel from Gaza.
These circumstances must be set. We within the Biden administration have been very clear. We need to see this – this deal reached, all three phases, each hostage come residence. I feel the Trump administration very a lot shares that goal. And the template, the street map, once more, that the president set out in Might, this was the street map finally to ending the conflict, getting all people residence, is the one method to do it.
That street map is now in place. We’ve a cease-fire right this moment in Gaza, and we’ve got probability to get each hostage residence, and we’ve got acquired to do every thing we are able to to make that occur.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, Hamas, in response to Secretary Blinken, has recruited virtually as many new militants because it has misplaced over the course of this conflict. Blinken stated that this week.
BRETT MCGURK: Hamas has been considerably decimated. Its chief, Yahya Sinwar, was killed in October. With out that, we might not be at this deal.
Hamas on October 7 was an organized navy formation. It invaded Israel with 3,500 troops in navy formations, fight brigades. It’s now not ready to do this. It doesn’t have navy capability.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However that argues that Israel has carried out one thing which will backfire on them, by way of the humanitarian state of affairs that has allowed Hamas to not lose help, however to proceed to recruit.
BRETT MCGURK: To get the – I – I labored carefully with my Israeli colleagues. I spent hours with Prime Minister Netanyahu. It is a deal that he totally helps. They agree. There is a ethical debt to those hostages. It’s important to get them out.
And Israel can be going to be sure that it protects its nationwide safety. And we’re going to verify we try this. You understand, Margaret, we acquired this deal with out that wider Center East conflict that everyone was predicting. Individuals didn’t get drawn right into a wider Center East conflict.
We defended Israel from Iranian missiles. We supported Israel going after Hezbollah. We supported Israel going after Hamas. We’ve defanged Iran’s proxy networks across the area, and that led to the isolation of Hamas to truly get this deal right this moment. That is how we acquired thus far.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
I’ve to take a break right here, Brett, so do not imply to chop you off. However we could have extra questions, however we’ve got to take a fast break.
Stick with us.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: And this simply got here in. President-elect Trump has simply introduced he plans to challenge an govt order tomorrow to postpone the ban on TikTok.
So, all you TikTok customers may see it again on-line presumably very quickly.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We might be proper again with much more Face the Nation.
Stick with us.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome again to FACE THE NATION.
We’re persevering with our dialog now with Brett McGurk of the Nationwide Safety Council underneath President Biden.
Brett, I simply need to choose up the place we left off.
Simply this previous week President Biden gave certainly one of his final interviews and he shared a non-public dialog with Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Take a take heed to it.
(BEGIN VC)
JOE BIDEN (President of america): And I stated, however, Bibi, I stated, you may’t be carpet bombing these communities. And he stated to me, effectively, you probably did it. You carpet bombed – not his actual phrases, however you carpet bombed Berlin. You dropped a nuclear weapon. You killed hundreds of harmless folks, since you needed to as a way to win a conflict.
(END VC)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure, President Biden went on to say, that is why the complete U.N. and worldwide order was created, to cease that from ever occurring once more.
How a lot do you suppose Israel’s standing on the planet has been broken by the conduct of its navy?
BRETT MCGURK: (White Home Nationwide Safety Council Coordinator for the Center East and North Africa): Nicely, Margaret, that was a dialog early on when the talk was whether or not or not the Israelis ought to go in on the bottom. And we had a debate with them about that. Finally, we supported them, they usually had been proper as a result of Hamas was dwelling in 400 miles of tunnels beneath Gaza. There was no method to root out Hamas with out going into Gaza. And, frankly, you may see –
MARGARET BRENNAN: However he was speaking about dropping bombs on buildings.
BRETT MCGURK: However you may see Hamas – however I am simply going again to what the dialog was about. It was about how this was going to go. And look, we’ve got labored very carefully with the Israelis. Too many individuals have died on this conflict. That is why we’re – we labored so laborious to get to the place we’re right this moment with a ceasefire. The ceasefire right this moment, this framework, the roadmap the president specified by Might, was the one method to finish the conflict. And the one method to finish the conflict was, frankly, with huge stress on Hamas and knocking out the opposite proxies that had been supporting Hamas.
I simply have to emphasise this once more, when Hezbollah was firing on Israel each single day, it was Hassan Nasrallah’s place that they might not cease capturing on Israel and making northern Israel a no man’s land till – till Israel accepted all of Hamas’ phrases in Gaza. Israel needed to knock out Hezbollah to get this deal. That is what occurred with a ceasefire on the finish of November. That is what opened up the area to get this deal.
It has been a brutal conflict, however to finish it we get we needed to get the ceasefire deal. And to do this, to do this, we needed to help Israel and again them up, and we did.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, we are going to see if this ceasefire turns into an finish to the conflict, and there is extra diplomacy forward.
Brett McGurk, thanks for sharing the main points.
We’ll flip now to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who joins us this morning from Seneca, South Carolina.
Good morning to you, Senator.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): Good morning.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I think about you’re supportive of this ceasefire and Mike Waltz’s pledge to see it by?
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Sure, I very a lot respect what Brett and Steve Witkoff have carried out. Let me simply say this, these folks wouldn’t be popping out if Donald Trump had not demanded they’d be out. All the things Brett stated about stress on Hamas and Iran is true, however the recreation changer, when Trump stated, I would like them out or all hell might be to pay.
Now, this is what I am hoping, they arrive out, the deal holds, however what does the tip of the conflict appear like?
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: I need to reinforce one thing to you. This conflict won’t ever finish with Hamas accountable for Gaza.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Politically or militarily. Their days are numbered. And the following query for the world is, what will we do in regards to the Iran nuclear program? That is the place we will transfer to subsequent.
There’s diplomacy, there is a one in a trillion probability you will degrade the Iranian nuclear program by diplomacy.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: There is a 90 % probability you will degrade it by navy motion by Israel, supported by america. So, the following matter I might be participating in with President Trump is to take this second in time to decimate the Iran nuclear program as a result of they’re so uncovered.
MARGARET BRENNAN: What does that imply?
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Assist Israel ship a knockout blow.
MARGARET BRENNAN: What does that imply?
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: It means giving Israel the potential –
MARGARET BRENNAN: What does that imply? You are going to urge him to have Israel bomb Iran’s amenities which might be underground and would require U.S. navy help to truly have – be efficient?
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: I will – I will urge the decimation of the Iranian nuclear program. I do not suppose diplomacy works. Brett will inform you what they’ve carried out to Hezbollah and Hamas has been wonderful. The proxies are extremely weakened. Israel can go anyplace they need to go.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: It is a non secular Nazi regime. They need to destroy the Jewish state. They need to purify Islam and drive us out of the Mideast.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely – effectively –
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: It might be like negotiating with Hitler.
I hope there might be an effort by Israel to decimate the Iran nuclear program, supported by america. And if we do not try this, it will likely be a historic mistake.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Lindsey Graham, I’ve rather a lot to get to on the home entrance, however that’s fairly a marker to put down.
I need to ask you about what you’re engaged on domestically with Steven Miller, Trump’s homeland safety adviser, on border safety.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Certain.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And I perceive it is a part of the large Republican reconciliation invoice that is being put collectively.
Do you will have a high line quantity but on how a lot that is all going to value?
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Sure, $100 billion for border safety by reconciliation could be sufficient to rent ICE brokers, create new detention beds, and end the wall and put expertise in place over 4 years. $200 billion might be given to the navy to make it extra able to deterring China. $100 billion for border. $200 billion for the navy.
I met with Mike Johnson yesterday. He’s a pricey good friend. I like him vastly. He has a political downside within the Home. He desires to – to do one large, stunning invoice. I’ve by no means been extra nervous about an assault on our homeland than I’m now with the rise of ISIS in Afghanistan and wars all around the world. I feel the primary precedence for the Republican Occasion needs to be to safe that border. You want new cash to do it. And if we do not, we’re enjoying Russian roulette with our personal nationwide safety.
Border first, navy funding first. Get the tax cuts and spending reductions put collectively in a while.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So –
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: It is advisable safe that border like our life relied on it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, this invoice goes to be larger than the $300 billion you simply laid out.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: It’ll be rather a lot larger.
MARGARET BRENNAN: What is the timetable on that, as a result of Johnson says Memorial Day.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Nicely, I hope we are able to get there, however to those that need to cut back spending, I am giving you a chance to return meet me subsequent week. You have to minimize spending that is (ph) reconciliation compliant, and we have sufficient votes to cut back spending.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: So, can we do $2.5 trillion over ten years? Let’s give it a strive.
I need to do two issues, minimize spending and make the tax cuts everlasting. The secretary of Treasury, Steve Bessent, stated, if the tax minimize expires, it will likely be a disaster for our financial system.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: I do not consider there’s one Republican on the market, in the event that they had been pushed, would let the tax cuts expire, as a result of that is a $4.5 trillion tax improve. I need to minimize spending, however my primary precedence is to safe that border rapidly.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, it – we are going to watch the politics of the potential with the very difficult caucus within the Home.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Let me ask you in regards to the Senate, although, since you are on the Judiciary Committee. Kash Patel, the choose to run the FBI, would not actually have a listening to scheduled but. In his 2022 memoire, Invoice Barr stated of Kash Patel, “he is somebody with no background as an agent, would by no means be capable of command the respect essential to run the day-to-day operations of the bureau. He has just about no expertise that may qualify him to serve on the highest stage of the world’s preeminent legislation enforcement company. The thought of transferring him into a task like this confirmed a stunning detachment from actuality.”
Was Legal professional Basic Barr improper then and improper now?
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Sure, I disagree with that. Sure, he was improper then and he is improper now. And I take my recommendation on Kash Patel from Trey Gowdy, expensive good friend from South Carolina, who labored with Kash. Kash was a public defender. He was a prosecutor. He labored with Trey Gowdy in regards to the Russia hoax. So, I do suppose he has the expertise. He has the belief of the president. And we’ll see how this performs out. However Trey Gowdy is enthusiastically supporting Kash Patel, and which means rather a lot to me.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely – effectively, OK. However he is acquired an inventory he is printed, Kash Patel has. He printed it in a guide of – of enemies. It consists of folks just like the FBI director, Protection Secretary Austin, Invoice Barr, former White Home Counsel Pat Cipollone, former CIA Director Gina Haskell, the pinnacle of CENTCOM.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Nicely, we will – effectively – sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I imply, do you are taking him at his phrase right here that – that these are an enemies record and you are going to put him in a legislation enforcement function to go after him?
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: I – I consider the listening to will expose him to be a really certified man of the legislation. He wrote a guide. He’ll must reply questions on what’s within the guide. However I am able to vote for him as a result of I do know him, too. See, he by no means requested me in regards to the Russia hoax that he uncovered. Individuals on the fitting consider that he was a part of the answer, not the issue.
You requested query of Brett, has Israel suffered due to this conflict, they went too far, on the world stage? This is what’s occurred on the world stage. The Worldwide Felony Courtroom goes to be sanctioned by the Congress –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, that is a –
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Republicans and Democrats, as a result of they’re attempting to prosecute the prime minister, protection minister of Israel.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Lindsey, this a – Lindsey Graham, this can be a far cry from the query about Kash Patel. You took me all the way in which to Israel from Kash Patel.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Sure, effectively, let’s get again to Kash Patel.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Are you – you are committing to vote for him it doesn’t matter what?
GRAHAM: Sure, we’re not – I will not say it doesn’t matter what, however I –
MARGARET BRENNAN: You’ll vote for Kash Patel?
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Sure, I’m able to vote for Kash Patel as a result of you’ll by no means ask me –
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: The function he performed in exposing –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: The darkest second of the FBI –
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Since Edgar – J. Edgar Hoover. That is why I belief him.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. Ask him about going after journalists, which he is additionally stated. I am within the reply to that query.
We’ll be proper again.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Sure, I am certain – I am certain our Democratic pals will ask him. And also you should not fear about Kash Patel.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: You must fear about –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Reporting the information pretty –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Which –
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Which you do not do in the case of every thing Trump. So, anyway, thanks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Lindsey Graham, you are a visitor on this program as a result of we wished to listen to you out.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Nicely, good. Thanks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we welcome you again, as we regularly do.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: I will be again.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Anytime, to legacy media.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: I will be again. Thanks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We flip now to Virginia Democratic Senator Tim Kaine.
Good morning to you.
SENATOR TIM KAINE (D-VA): Margaret, nice to be with you. Thanks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I need to ask you about a few of the positions you maintain on key committees which have a task in nominate – or in going by the affirmation course of for a few of Mr. Trump’s picks.
Senator Rubio is predicted to be swiftly confirmed as secretary of state. You anticipate him in on day one?
SENATOR TIM KAINE: I do. He visited my workplace earlier than the listening to. He did very effectively on the listening to. And I feel we’re more likely to act on day one and he’ll get a powerful, bipartisan vote.
MARGARET BRENNAN: In the case of a few of the different picks, Democrats have little or no say, frankly, as a result of Republicans have this 53-seat majority, so they do not want Democratic votes. You sharply questioned Pete Hegseth this previous week, who’s the choose to run the Pentagon. You requested about his willingness to interrupt oaths, having cheated on his second spouse and the mom of a kid born two months earlier than when he had informed police he was having consensual intercourse with a lady in Monterey, California, who filed a declare of sexual assault and he filed a monetary settlement.
Why did you select to place that challenge of character so entrance and heart as a substitute of asking him about insurance policies?
SENATOR TIM KAINE: The – I – I consider he could be a really harmful secretary of protection. And so my remark of my Republican colleagues is the one cause they ever vote no on a nominee is both a perception of gross incompetence by way of {qualifications} or severe character deficit. That is why Matt Gaetz withdrew, as a result of the Senate Republicans felt, on each of these counts, he was a non-starter.
I consider my questions of Pete Hegseth about his serial infidelity, in regards to the allegation of sexual assault that he refused to open up to President- elect Trump and the transition group and his personal mom’s allegation that he is a serial abuser of girls. I feel these are the sorts of issues that may have an effect on how Republicans view this. If not within the committee, presumably on the ground.
We’ll see. I feel there’s more likely to be committee motion as early as late tomorrow within the Armed Providers Committee. We’ll see when there’s motion on the ground.
MARGARET BRENNAN: To really verify him.
SENATOR TIM KAINE: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: “The Wall Avenue Journal” editorial board, which isn’t liberal by any anybody’s definition, stated, “Hegseth made noises about restoring U.S. navy deterrents, that is one thing, however seems we’re on monitor to have a secretary of protection whose actual views are a thriller.”
Wasn’t it additionally essential to listen to what his plans are for China and the like, as a result of it appears like he’s going to sail by if Republican management can preserve Republicans in line and get all of them to ship the votes they want?
SENATOR TIM KAINE: Nicely, I – and, Margaret, I feel they – for those who have a look at the complete listening to, numerous his views had been placed on the desk. I had seven minutes. It was so uncommon to have a secretary of protection nominee refuse to even meet with any of the Democratic members of the committee, aside from the chairman.
RFK has met with Democratic members. The secretary of labor nominee, secretary of military, secretary of navy, secretary of state, they’re all assembly with the Democratic members of the committee. However when he refused to satisfy with us, and also you solely have seven minutes, we divided up matters.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR TIM KAINE: I requested him about what I contemplate to be obvious faults of character. Different members of the committee requested him about positions on technique, the function of girls in fight, whether or not he’s certified to run a company of the scale of the Pentagon. I feel general within the listening to we put plenty of materials on the desk for people to contemplate.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Let me ask you about immigration. You are a former governor. Incoming border czar Tom Homan has stated that there might be huge deportation raids starting as quickly as Mr. Trump takes workplace. There are nearly 300,000 undocumented people believed to be dwelling in your state in response to Pew Analysis. And I do know your present governor, Youngkin, has pledged to totally help efforts by state legislation enforcement or the Nationwide Guard.
How do you suppose that is going to work?
SENATOR TIM KAINE: Nicely, I do not precisely know the way the administration goes to do it, however let me inform you, I am listening to important considerations from many sectors within the Virginia financial system, agriculture, hospitality, well being care, development, that huge deportation raids could be an absolute intestine punch to the Virginia and American financial system. And for those who add to that the Trump risk of huge tariffs, I feel you are going to see plenty of ache for shoppers and plenty of ache for employers in the event that they carry by on mass deportation.
Now, look, you’ve got acquired a president who says plenty of issues after which chooses to not do them. So, I do not know precisely what that is going to appear like.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR TIM KAINE: However I might say that the financial system of Virginia and the financial system of this nation goes to undergo by deportation – mass deportations and tariffs in the event that they go ahead with what the president has stated he’ll do.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, the Biden administration prioritizes criminals of their roundups and deportations. The Trump administration says they’re additionally going to focus on criminals. Do you suppose that is going to look totally different?
SENATOR TIM KAINE: Nicely, it is – I do suppose the Biden administration prioritizes criminals who’re a public security danger, who pose a risk of violence. The Trump administration may go a lot broader than that. You understand, people – I imply, for instance, there is a invoice that is pending on the – within the Senate proper now that may deport folks on the idea of an arrest, even when they’ve not been convicted of something. A shoplifting arrest. Even when they’ve not been convicted of something. A elementary side of our society is that an arrest doesn’t suggest something except there is a conviction.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR TIM KAINE: As a result of folks get arrested all of the instances for issues that they did not do. So, if the Trump administration says, look, an arrest results in deportation even with out a conviction, sure, it will look fully totally different.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR TIM KAINE: Fully totally different than what the coverage has been through the Biden administration.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Tim Kaine, thanks in your time right this moment.
We’ll be again in a second.
SENATOR TIM KAINE: You wager.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We could also be seeing the start of the tip in the case of Israel’s conflict with Gaza, however the wrestle going through the youngsters within the area is way from over. We need to flip now to Janti Soeripto, the pinnacle of Save the Youngsters.
Good morning to you.
JANTI SOERIPTO (President and CEO, Save the Youngsters): Good morning, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You will have groups within Gaza. We simply heard from Brett McGurk, as many as 800 vans prepared to enter Gaza. Have any of yours truly made it in but?
JANTI SOERIPTO: Not as of ten minutes in the past, Margaret. We’ve 60 vans ready in that queue, all loaded up with heat clothes, footwear for youths, pallets with medicines, malnutrition remedy, which is sorely wanted. We’ve not as but seen any go in. However that might have occur over the past couple of minutes.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And it is extremely troublesome simply to get in by the safety screenings. I feel the height has been 200 or so vans per day. So, to scale as much as 800 is fairly unbelievable, if they’ll pull that off.
JANTI SOERIPTO: It is huge. Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However after I have a look at a few of these statistics, they’re simply – simply jaw-dropping, 1.1 million youngsters in Gaza –
JANTI SOERIPTO: That is proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Half the inhabitants, want meals. They’re in pressing want. Surviving on one meal a day after 15 months of conflict.
JANTI SOERIPTO: That is proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: What state are these youngsters in?
JANTI SOERIPTO: Oh, we – there’s estimates that there is about 300,000 youngsters in actual acute want of malnutrition remedy. This isn’t simply meals, proper, this can be a medical remedy to be sure that they do not get actual long-term penalties of their malnutrition, cognitive in addition to bodily. There are 150,000 pregnant and lactating ladies within Gaza who urgently want micro-nutrients as effectively to keep away from those self same penalties. So, the wants are monumental.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I learn, and this was notably heartbreaking, that Save the Youngsters can be going to attempt to join greater than 17,000 separated youngsters to search out relations.
JANTI SOERIPTO: That is proper. It’ll be an enormous effort. You understand, it is an actual second of hope and peril on the similar time. We all know –
MARGARET BRENNAN: How do you try this?
JANTI SOERIPTO: Nicely, what we’ll do is to – we do household tracing. So, we will attempt to discover prolonged household, even – even when no direct mother and father, prolonged households, aunts, uncles, nephews, neighbors generally, the group the place they had been, discover members from that group, vet them, test backgrounds, after which the painstaking means of reuniting these youngsters who – lots of whom have been both displaced or misplaced or – and a few even displaced outdoors of Gaza, assist them reconnect to that group. A variety of psychological well being, psychosocial help, money to be sure that that household’s additionally in a position to – to look after them, in already a state of affairs of the place they’ve – most of them could have misplaced every thing.
So, it is a lengthy and laborious, painstaking course of that additionally wants actual delicate {and professional} social employees.
MARGARET BRENNAN: When will these professionals be capable of get in?
JANTI SOERIPTO: Nicely, we hope as quickly as potential.
MARGARET BRENNAN: In part one?
JANTI SOERIPTO: In – that’s the actual ask and hope.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Within the subsequent six weeks?
JANTI SOERIPTO: We’d like urgently to get in pediatric medical employees. We’d like these social employees in. These case administration employees for – to guard youngsters. We’d like refreshment. We’ve 250 – a workforce of 250 Palestinians in Gaza who’ve been at it for 15 months. They’re exhausted. They – in addition they have to get again to their – no matter is left of their properties. We urgently want to have the ability to surge in sufficient capability and specialism.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, Hamas shouldn’t be going to manipulate Gaza. They don’t seem to be governing Gaza now. It is – it is largely chaos.
JANTI SOERIPTO: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: How, virtually talking, are you able to get all of this stuff carried out if, as is now Israeli legislation, the biggest group, UNWRA, is now going to be banned? If the U.N. cannot do that by the U.N. RWA, who does this?
JANTI SOERIPTO: That’s going to be problematic. The operational infrastructure from UNRWA is – is very large. We have stated that now for 15 months. All of us are humanitarian companies can’t substitute UNRWA identical to that. If ever. 13 thousand UNRWA employees within Gaza the place –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Colleges.
JANTI SOERIPTO: Colleges, warehouses, vans, every thing which might be getting used additionally by organizations like ours. So, that might be troublesome. And we might hope that there might be sure exemptions to permit for that operational effectiveness to occur.
MARGARET BRENNAN: As a result of it will be unlawful so that you can do any work with them?
JANTI SOERIPTO: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
You will have an amazing quantity of labor, Janti Soeripto, forward of you. Thanks very a lot for sharing with us. And I do know you’ve got been working in California as effectively with youngsters on the market.
JANTI SOERIPTO: As effectively. Sure, it is – it is – effectively, we – we attempt to be there for youths wherever the disaster hits.
MARGARET BRENNAN: All proper. Thanks.
We’ll be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is it for us right this moment on this very busy Sunday. CBS Information might be on the air and streaming beginning at 7:00 a.m. Japanese Time tomorrow with “CBS Mornings,” adopted by our protection of the – of Mr. Trump’s second inauguration all day lengthy, together with a primetime particular at 10:00 p.m. I am going to see you then.
For FACE THE NATION, I am Margaret Brennan.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
