Trump agrees to future CNN interview with Jake Tapper

President Donald Trump agreed to a future interview with CNN's Jake Tapper during a phone appearance on "State of the Union" on Sunday, July 12, 2026, while using the occasion to pay tribute to the late Senator Lindsey Graham. The president called into the program primarily to discuss Graham, who died on Saturday, July 11, after returning to Washington from a trip to Ukraine.

The interview remained focused on Graham's legacy after Trump declined to answer questions on other topics, specifically regarding recent U.S. military action against Iran. When Tapper attempted to ask about the situation in Iran, Trump stated he did not wish to discuss it out of respect for the senator. Near the conclusion of the segment, Tapper invited Trump to return for a broader interview at a later date. Trump accepted, saying, "Sure, we'll do that." He added, "We're trying to have CNN go on a normal path, and we'll do that." Tapper responded by saying he was on a normal path and thanked the president for his time.

Reflecting on Graham's career, Trump described the senator as having been in good spirits during a phone call on Saturday evening, though tired from his travels. Trump highlighted Graham's...