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

On this “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” broadcast, moderated by Ed O’Keefe: 

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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:

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JEREMY HANSEN (Artemis II Crew Member):  To watch the moon grow is exciting. That’s our destination. That’s where we’re locked onto.

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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.

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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.