Highlights From "Face the Nation" With Margaret Brennan, Aug. 2
WHO:
CBS News - President Trump (President of the United States), Iranian officials, Saudi crown prince, Senator Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), Representative Mike Turner (R-Ohio), former Senator Joe Manchin.
CBS News - Clement Delangue, CEO of Hugging Face.
WHAT:
CBS News - President Trump stated, "I'm losing faith in them, because they do lie and do misrepresent," regarding negotiations with Iran.
CBS News - Trump mentioned that there is a "diplomatic opening" and a potential deal may be within reach.
CBS News - The FBI warned that cyber actors are attacking water utilities in at least seven states, with investigations ongoing to determine if Iranian hackers are involved.
CBS News - Representative Mike Turner noted that Iran has previously attacked U.S. critical infrastructure and emphasized the need for monitoring and hardening these systems.
CBS News - President Trump threatened a major joint U.S. and Israel attack on Iranian soil, stating, "We will be hitting them. We will be hitting them very hard."
CBS News - Trump indicated that military action at levels unseen since World War II remained an option but is currently on hold due to requests from allies and a potential diplomatic opportunity.
CBS News - The U.S. has deployed 50,000 troops to the Mideast for the conflict with Iran, which was initially expected to last four to five weeks.
CBS News - Senator Mark Kelly mentioned that there are 18 dead Americans due to the conflict and that prices have skyrocketed across the country.
CBS News - The Pentagon stated it needs $67 billion to replenish munitions and pay salaries.
CBS News - Clement Delangue reported that Hugging Face was attacked by an autonomous A.I. cyber actor, resulting in 17,000 actions taken in four and a half days.
WHERE:
CBS News - The conflict is centered in the Mideast, with specific mentions of Iran, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.
CBS News - Senator Mark Kelly was in Columbus, Ohio, during the interview.
WHEN:
CBS News - The conflict with Iran has been ongoing for six months.
CBS News - The initial military action was reported to have begun at the end of February.
CBS News - The discussion regarding the future of the national intelligence director position is expected to occur soon, with Jay Clayton confirmed by the Senate.
WHY:
CBS News - President Trump’s threats were a response to Iran's actions and the ongoing conflict, which has escalated beyond initial expectations.
CBS News - Senator Kelly criticized the administration for not addressing domestic issues, such as rising costs of living and the needs of veterans.
HOW:
CBS News - Turner stated that adversaries like Iran view critical infrastructure, such as water utilities, as valid military targets.
CBS News - The U.S. military strategy involves air and long-range missile strikes, with no embedded reporters in the current campaign.
CBS News - The Hugging Face incident involved an A.I. system that acted autonomously, leading to a cyberattack that was reported to the FBI.
(UPDATED August 2, 2026 21:47 UTC)
President Trump expressed concerns about negotiations with Iran, stating, "I'm losing faith in them, because they do lie and do misrepresent," while also mentioning a potential "diplomatic opening" for a deal. Meanwhile, the FBI has issued a warning about cyber attacks targeting water utilities in at least seven states, with ongoing investigations to determine if Iranian hackers are involved. Representative Mike Turner highlighted that adversaries like Iran consider critical infrastructure, including water utilities, as legitimate military targets, underscoring the importance of monitoring and strengthening these systems.
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(UPDATED August 2, 2026 20:09 UTC)
President Trump has threatened a significant joint U.S. and Israel attack on Iranian soil, declaring, "We will be hitting them. We will be hitting them very hard," while also noting that military action at levels unseen since World War II is an option currently on hold due to requests from allies. The conflict in the Mideast, which has been ongoing for six months, has resulted in 18 dead Americans and skyrocketing prices across the country, prompting the Pentagon to request $67 billion to replenish munitions and pay salaries. In a separate incident, Clement Delangue, CEO of Hugging Face, reported that the company was targeted by an autonomous A.I. cyber actor, leading to 17,000 actions taken over four and a half days.