Full transcript of "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," April 5, 2026 - CBS News

## Summary
President Trump posted on TRUTH Social in the early hours of this morning, "We got him," calling the operation "an amazing show of bravery and talent by all." As he's renewed threats to Iran in recent days of intensifying military operations if they don't negotiate, he also declared this morning that Tuesday will be power plant day and bridge day, all wrapped up in one. ED O'KEEFE: To your earlier point, the president said something interesting to FOX News this morning, revealing for the first time that the U.S. earlier this year had sent a -- quote -- "lot of guns" to the Kurds, who live in Northern Iraq, Northern Iran for use by protesters. FRANK MCKENZIE (RET.): Well, let me -- let me say, first of all, we do have the ability to open the strait should we choose to do it. FRANK MCKENZIE (RET.): You know, I always hesitate to put time on a -- to put a timeline on a military operation like this, but I would say the Iranians would be very well served to listen to President Trump when he says he's going to hit him, because he's -- he's proven that he's willing to do that.

## Article Content
On this "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" broadcast, moderated by Ed O'Keefe:
Retired Gen.
Frank McKenzie
, former commander of U.S. Central Command
Democratic Gov.
Wes Moore
of Maryland
Archbishop
Timothy Broglio
, who heads the Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA
A panel with
Amy Walter
, publisher and editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report;
David Sanger
, a White House and national security correspondent at The New York Times; and
Jeff Mason
, a White House correspondent at Bloomberg
Jared Isaacman
, NASA administrator
Click
here
to browse full transcripts from 2026 of "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan."
ED O'KEEFE:  I'm Ed O'Keefe in Washington.
And this week on Face the Nation:  The missing crew member from a downed fighter jet in Iran is rescued in a daring mission.
Plus:  Artemis II makes its way around the moon.
Breaking overnight, a U.S. Air Force officer in Iran rescued alive after an urgent two-day manhunt involving special operations forces in a remote area of Iran where the F-15E fighter jet went down. We will get details on the operation and President Trump's threats to escalate attacks unless Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz. Former CENTCOM commander retired General Kenneth Frank McKenzie joins us to break it all down.
Plus, we will hear from Maryland's Democratic Governor Wes Moore about the war's effects here at home and analysis from our political panel.
On this Easter Sunday, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who oversees Catholic chaplains in the military, shares the spiritual guidance he's offering service members during wartime.
Then:
(Begin VT)
JEREMY HANSEN (Artemis II Crew Member):  To watch the moon grow is exciting. That's our destination. That's where we're locked onto.
(End VT)
ED O'KEEFE:  Tomorrow, the crew of Artemis II makes history, becoming the first humans to see some parts of the far side of the moon. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman gives us a mission update.
It's all just ahead on Face the Nation.
Good morning, and welcome to Face the Nation. Margaret is off today.
But we begin with some good news this Easter Sunday morning, as that rescued officer is being flown to Kuwait to be treated for his injuries when his fighter jet got shot down Friday.
President Trump posted on TRUTH Social in the early hours of this morning, "We got him," calling the operation "an amazing show of bravery and talent by all."
As he's renewed threats to Iran in recent days of intensifying military operations if they don't negotiate, he also declared this morning that Tuesday will be power plant day and bridge day, all wrapped up in one.
Senior national security correspondent Charlie D'Agata has details on the mission.
(Begin VT)
CHARLIE D'AGATA (voice-over):  Video this morning purports to show the smoldering wreckage of two U.S. C-130 130 transport planes that were involved in the rescue mission on a remote base in Iran. Sources tell us American forces blew them up in order to avoid them falling into enemy hands, standard U.S. military practice.
U.S. officials and White House sources describe a complex operation involving dozens of U.S. commandos and several dozen warplanes and helicopters in the search and eventual rescue of the missing F-15 crew member.
Attack helicopters and aircraft kept Iranian forces from getting anywhere near where the crewman was hiding. Armed Iranians had been scouring the mountainous terrain to find him first, with the promise of a huge cash reward.
But a Trump administration official tells CBS News the CIA was deeply involved, not only in the hunt, but in a ploy to spread false information inside Iran that U.S. forces had already found him and were transporting him by ground out of the country.
The race to find the two-man F-15 crew began on Friday. The pilot was rescued within hours of the fighter jet being brought down. He sustained some injuries. We have learned the second crewman is seriously wounded, according to President Trump.
The downing of the jet came amid a fierce U.S. bombing campaign in Iran, including blowing up Iran's biggest bridge linking Tehran to key cities. Iran says more than a dozen people were killed. And Iran has continued to retaliate, striking an oil refinery in Iraq, launching strikes across the Gulf from Bahrain to Kuwait, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and more missile barrages in Israel.
(End VT)
CHARLIE D'AGATA:  Yesterday, President Trump again warned that time is running out for Iran to open up the Strait of Hormuz by tomorrow or the U.S. will unleash hell. A senior Iranian leader has rejected that ultimatum.
ED O'KEEFE:  Charlie D'Agata in London, thank you.
We're joined now by the former head of U.S. Central Command, retired General Frank McKenzie.
General, Happy Easter.
GEN. FRANK MCKENZIE (RET.) (Former Commander, U.S. Central Command):  And the same to you, Ed.
ED O'KEEFE:  So, it took just under 48 hours to find the missing weapons systems officer after the jet they were in went down in a remote and mountain

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- ED O'KEEFE: You said last week a success for the White House is that the Strait of Hormuz reopens.
- And that's where A-10s, attack aircraft, attack helicopters and other slow-moving, low-altitude platforms are so very effective.
- FRANK MCKENZIE (RET.): Of course, it doesn't take many mines to cause a significant blockage to world shipping.

### Areas for Consideration
- Governors can't control the fact that gas prices have gone up now over $1 because we decided to enter into another war of choice, that governors cannot control the fact that we are continuing to watch homes become more difficult and more expensive.

### Implications
- We will get details on the operation and President Trump's threats to escalate attacks unless Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz.
- Plus, we will hear from Maryland's Democratic Governor Wes Moore about the war's effects here at home and analysis from our political panel.
- President Trump posted on TRUTH Social in the early hours of this morning, "We got him," calling the operation "an amazing show of bravery and talent by all." As he's renewed threats to Iran in recent days of intensifying military operations if they don't negotiate, he also declared this morning that Tuesday will be power plant day and bridge day, all wrapped up in one.
- And Iran has continued to retaliate, striking an oil refinery in Iraq, launching strikes across the Gulf from Bahrain to Kuwait, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and more missile barrages in Israel. (End VT) CHARLIE D'AGATA: Yesterday, President Trump again warned that time is running out for Iran to open up the Strait of Hormuz by tomorrow or the U.S. will unleash hell.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers iran, keefe, going topics. Notable strengths include discussion of iran. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 2638.