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Protesters Against Donald Trump Gathered Around Hyatt Hotel. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired April 29, 2016 - 15:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[15:30:00] JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN POLITICS REPORTER: They are certainly going to make sure that they can be heard as loudly as they can protesting Donald Trump saying that they do not believe that he should be allowed to spread his message, spread the kind of controversial and sometimes outrageous rhetoric of course that we have heard from Donald Trump on the campaign trail.

Very interesting, of course, as Donald Trump is inside trying to start to bring the Republican Party and unify the party around his candidacy which some Republicans are seeing as increasingly inevitable as Donald Trump, you know, swept through five states in the northeast last Tuesday. This Tuesday he goes to Indiana where Republican candidates are trying to counter Donald Trump and trying to stake their last o stop him. But these protesters trying to stop Donald Trump in a different way, not necessarily from getting delegates but at least from being able to spread his message, being able to sharing his message here in the San Francisco bay area which is of course, as I said before, a very liberal part of the country which explains, you know, the enthusiasm and the boisterousness of the protest over here.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN HOST: California, that state primary, June 7th. That is the last day of voting on the Republican calendar. That could be the date that Donald Trump, he is the only one who mathematically could unless this goes to a contested convention in Cleveland who could clinch the nomination and go on to take on presumably Hillary Clinton.

Michael Smerconish, I believe I still have you. And I'm curious if when we finally see Donald Trump take the stage and address this California state convention crowd, the Republicans inside, does he take the scene and the scores of protesters and essentially say, see? These people want to stop us. Does he use it to unite?

MICHAEL SMERCONISH, CNN HOST, MICHAEL SMERCONISH SHOW: I think he probably does. You know, there' is a tendency for some of us, particularly those on the east coast or the (INAUDIBLE) corridor to snicker at trends that begin in California. Things that appear harebrained initially in California and then a way of migrating across the United States. I could give you half a dozen examples of what I am thinking about, some serious and not some so serious. Think hula hoop. I'm wondering as I watch this, is California a sign of what's the come as we draw near to Cleveland?

BALDWIN: Yes.

SMERCONISH: You can rest assured that in Cleveland right now, Brooke, they're glued to CNN.

BALDWIN: Yes.

SMERCONISH: Paying attention to this and wondering how are we going to keep this convention safe?

But I want to say something else and I want to underscore this. You know from our many, many conversations for the last year about this campaign, I have never hesitated to be critical of Donald Trump on policy. But I would be the first to defend his right to speak. And if the protesters are perceived like there is a guy climbing over a barricade. I don't know what he is up to. If in fact they get close to those doors and they pose a security threat, if they should cross a line in the eyes of Americans who are paying attention, it inure to the benefit of Donald Trump politically speaking. And I think that Americans will really be repulsed by what they see as an infringement even on his right to speak.

BALDWIN: I 100 percent agree with you. He has every right to speak. He should be able to speak just as a lot of those folks have a right to protest, but not to stop him.

Michael Smerconish, thank you so much.

I want to bring in a voice who is there, he is there in Burlingame, California. He is Tim Donnelly. He is a congressional candidate currently, former tea party candidate for governor there just two years ago. And, Tim Donnelly, if you can hear me, tell me, are you inside the hotel right now or are you outside?

TIM DONNELLY (R), CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE (on the phone): I'm not inside the hotel. I was on my way to the hotel to do an interview with CNN and I actually went through the crowd wearing my NRA hat and got all the way around and went through all kinds of insanity that I was really blown away by and wound up right where the barricades will penetrated and they knocked the barricade instead of stampeding the hotel lobby. So I got out of the way. Otherwise I would have been run over by protesters and police.

But it's fascinating. They have literally taken over the entire outside of the hotel. I cannot get in at this point unless I go all the way around to the back. But they have taken over the bridge from the parking garage. I'm sure you guys have seen it on camera. I heard you say stuff about the barricade. I'm standing right near those -- turned into sort of a symbolic ladder over the border wall. I guess they don't believe in borders. So -- and they certainly don't believe in private property.

But it's an unbelievable array of people from the answer coalition, from the occupy movement, from the ERA movement, of just a lot of marchers of communist, leftist groups that have all come together. And I'd say there's probably maybe 2,000 scattered around the hotel. They're waving Mexican flags for some reason and they have a lot of things I cannot say on camera about Trump. But don't Trump is --.

[15:35:07] BALDWIN: Let's not. Let's keep it clean. Tim Donnelly, so all right. So obviously represent, you know, I

understand you're a prominent tea party voice in the great state of California. You represented a number of folks who would like to be inside that hotel right now. We know Donald Trump is supposed to be speaking. There was an announcement just a little while ago that he was at a reception. We know he is in the hotel. We saw him slip in a side door.

And so, live pictures inside. People are sort of watching and waiting. I'm wondering how many empty seats. I know your seat would be empty. Let's talk politics and substance for a second if I please can. What are you hoping to hear? Once Donald Trump speaks today, what do you want to hear from him?

DONNELLY: I think Donald Trump's been saying it the whole time. There is an insurgency and what's strange is the insurgency on the right and the left linked on a couple of issues, mainly people want a candidate who hasn't been bought. That's why you see Bernie is so popular and Trump is so popular.

Candidates like Hillary are not embraced by this far left movement. I have seen a few Hillary people out here. But the bottom line is I want to hear some vision. I want to hear what his plan is to actually turn this country around. Because we are going in a very -- you can see complete opposite direction of sanity right now and witnessed out here and it's obvious that this is not something happening within the GOP.

BALDWIN: Now correct me, Tim, but you have yet to decide. I mean, you are the perfect example of who's affected down ballot depending on who is that nominee is. Do you have a particular -- you have a choice yet?

DONNELLY: Well, I have not endorsed candidate (INAUDIBLE) against the political establishment. You can hear in the background.

BALDWIN: I hear the bullhorn.

DONNELLY: Yes.

BALDWIN: I hear the bullhorn.

DONNELLY: Somebody's going to have to -- I can't do my interview. Thank you. They say they're -- first amendment and they want to shout me down.

BALDWIN: You know what, Tim? Forgive me. I appreciate you picking up your phone. I know you are in the middle of the crowd. It is tough to hear you. Let's try to reconnect once you're able to get inside. Good luck with that.

Tim Donnelly, congressional candidate, former tea party candidate for governor there in California 2014.

M.J. Lee is still with us, as well. She has covered many rally including many of Donald Trump's rallies. Again, if you are just joining us, let me just explain to you what has been happening over the last, really, hour. A lot of these protesters, several hundred perhaps in the thousands have gathered outside this hotel in (INAUDIBLE), California. This is the bay area. Protesting.

This is the California GOP convention. It starts today. Donald Trump supposed to be the first speaker of all the different Republican candidates. He was supposed to be speaking about 40 minutes ago. Instead, well, you know, it's been slowed. Perhaps in part because of these crowds that have amassed outside. And a sort of unprecedented move and in the move saying, you know, we are getting in there. We saw Donald Trump in his motorcade pull a U-turn, opposite of the highway, jump out of the car. All these guys in ties hopping over the median on foot and walking in a side door.

M.J. Lee, had you -- we have the video and we can play it for you if you didn't see it. M.J. Lee, what is this about to you?

M. J. LEE, CNN POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: I mean, Brooke, I'm blown away. I'm obviously not in California right now, but I have been glued to my phone on CNN Go just watching all this unfold. And this footage of Trump getting out of his car with his entourage to, you know, get on foot and walk into the building through the back door just to avoid the hundreds of protesters. I mean, this is sort of astounding. And I'm sort of struck by thinking about Trump as a candidate and how he has so far addressed these kinds of protests.

As you know very well, he is very sensitive when it comes to issue of protests and protesters. I think one of the first times I was sort of publicly scolded by Trump on the campaign trail was at a press conference when I asked him, Mr. Trump there are bunch of protesters outside this event. What is your reaction? And his response was very dismissive and he said, why does the media like to focus on the protesters when there are so many supporters that are here to see me?

But in a case like this, I mean, you see that this is not a small protest. In fact, there are so many protesters that it prevented him from taking just the usual route and going in through the front door. And I have to wonder, you know, how the Trump campaign will respond to something like this. I think that just being dismissive about protesters when the scene actually looks like this and when the scene looks like what we saw last night, sort of this violent scene of chaos, I think that is probably not enough especially when Trump and his advisers have been really pressing the case that they want to be a candidate. They want Trump to be a candidate who can really bring the party together. I think as we get closer to the summer convention and as Trump gets closer to clinching this nomination, this is a serious issue that he is going to have to deal with and I don't know how exactly he will do that.

[15:40:41] BALDWIN: Yes. Yes. To Michael Smerconish's point, you have to imagine folks in Cleveland are watching what's happening here in California very, very closely.

M.J., thank you so much. Don't go too far.

Let's go back to Jeremy Diamond who is now walking along with some of these protesters outside this hotel.

Jeremy, to you.

DIAMOND: The protesters are much more -- marching around in the parking lot here of the Hyatt Regency Hotel where Donald Trump is going to speak. They are marching around here. They're about a dozen people with drums actually. A really festive atmosphere taking place now.

That's a little different from what we saw maybe, you know, 20 minutes ago to a half hour. You know? It was much, much more tense. There were confrontations between protesters and police officers that broke out essentially. You know, protesters trying to get over barricades and into the hotel. They actually succeed twice in getting over --

BALDWIN: Get off that picture.

DIAMOND: And trying to storm the doors of the hotel.

BALDWIN: Sorry, sorry, Jeremy. There was some colorful language behind you and not trying to have the "F" word broadcast on TV.

Jeremy, we will come back. We will come back to you.

Roger Simon, an academy award nominated screenwriter, lives in Hollywood, plans to vote for Trump, was at the Trump event last night in Costa Mesa when we saw the violence breakout.

Roger, can you hear me?

ROGER SIMON, TRUMP SUPPORTER: Sure can.

BALDWIN: My goodness. What do you make of this scene?

SIMON: Well, I'm old enough that it takes me back to the '60s. But I have to warn my Democratic friends, I was a Democrat then. I have to warn them that in the '60s the Democrats took a shellacking because of the Demonstration in the Chicago convention. And I think this is very -- actually, sad to say, it's not way it should happen. This is good news for Trump because --

BALDWIN: Why? Why?

SIMON: These demonstrations are in the city. They are about this suppression of free speech and that's not American. Not in a good way. I mean, if these people disagree with Trump, that's fine. They should actually express their disagreement. Not try to storm the building. And let -- and have Trump not speak.

I was there last night in Orange County, and, you know, there it was mostly Hispanic with Mexican flags, people who literally wanted California to go back to Mexico. Well, it's a little late for that. So, you know, I don't think this is going to go well for the Democrats although they may think it does.

BALDWIN: Well, you know, on the other side, though, I could hear some folks disagreeing with you saying your comments will be patronizing. That they absolutely have every right to be out there just as Donald Trump, by the way, has every right to be able to speak inside this hotel and should be permitted to do so. That said --

SIMON: Yes.

BALDWIN: Go ahead.

SIMON: I agree with you about that. But I think the way they do it with the obscenity and the charging of the barricades and all of that, no, that's not the right way to go.

BALDWIN: Sure. And it is private property and that's an issue, as well. But you know, we have been seeing this. You were there last night. What did you see in Costa Mesa? I mean, that is when we saw pro-Trump folks and anti-Trump folks, you know, clashing. Blooded faces, throwing punches, you know, glass shattered in cars.

SIMON: Yes. It was smaller than this. I mean, I'm watching this on your TV. And this looks much bigger. Actually, that didn't seem like a lot of people. Just a lot of very angry people, but not a lot of people and the police there had buttoned down very quickly. But this seems like much more extensive than the one in Orange County. Believe it or not. Although I know Jeremy Diamond who is also there so maybe more of the violence than I did but nevertheless it was fairly contained. This looks like it is growing and it is the bay area.

BALDWIN: Final question, just on substance. You know, we should be seeing Donald Trump speaking inside this California GOP convention. And, you know, we will be talking to a lot of ideological conservatives who are very familiar with his past politics. Not always conservative. Not always a Republican. What do you think he needs to say to sway those conservatives in California?

SIMON: Well, you know, he is talking to a much more conservative, especially socially conservative, base of the Republican Party than the real Republican Party voters in California. So it's a different sort of group.

I think the average Republican voter in California is more like the Republican voters in New York who are more live and let live on social issues. And I think the group is less like that. So it's an interesting dilemma for him because I don't -- I'm more the live and let live person. So I think he is going to be trapped between -- so I want him to talk to me not to them. If you know what I'm saying.

[15:45:40] BALDWIN: I do.

SIMON: He has to win the primary.

BALDWIN: I understand. He does, indeed. And then between the perhaps primary and November that his stance on the spectrum could, indeed, change.

Roger Simon, academy award nominated screenwriter, lives in Hollywood, plans to vote for Donald Trump, thank you so much. Great to hear your perspective.

Let's go back, I believe we still have Jeremy Diamond who, you know, pivoting back and forth. I just want to make sure we give you the full picture of what is happening Burlingame, California. Folks who are supporting Mr. Trump who are waiting to hear him speak inside this hotel, obviously these scores of protesters are trying to stop him and hoping he won't do that there on private property in Burlingame, California.

Jeremy Diamond, what are you seeing now?

DIAMOND: Yes. So, Brooke, the protesters have now made their way back towards the main entrance of the hotel. That's where they're standing. They are out here with drums, they are chanting, they have (INAUDIBLE), they have pinatas and Mexican flags and a real variety of signs. Some of them, of course, with expletives that we're trying to, of course, keep out of view from the viewers. But there are other signs, also, talking about the bay is love. That is, of course, the area where we are, the San Francisco bay area. A very liberal part of the country which is, of course, why you are seeing this mass of protesters, very well-organized protesters who have now twice gone over barricades that police officers had initially set up to keep protesters from coming in to this hotel where Donald Trump is set to speak. But what the protesters were able to do was initially we saw a wave of about two dozen protesters who made it over the barricades and tried to rush the doors, storm the doors of this hotel. And police officers had to rush back pretty quickly, actually, to be able to keep those protesters from getting in. That seems to have inspired some other protesters here.

You have a sea of protesters and all of them essentially coming at the backs and pushing police officers backwards to try and get into this hotel. Police officers then used their batons and they were in riot gear pushing protesters back to get them off of the property. That did not succeed, however, because protesters then wrapped around the hotel area here. Went around to another barricades and crossed in to the parking lot. So now, protesters are in the parking lot of the hotel where Donald Trump is speaking, where the California Republican Party is hosting its state convention.

And there are protesters trying to rush three separate doors to this hotel now. But right now while it was pretty tense scene moments ago, now we are seeing a bit more of a festive atmosphere taking over. You have protesters chanting. They are dancing and singing and you have a lot of music going on. But still, an egg just cracked off now. Protesters were throwing eggs at the building.

So that is what we have been seeing right now. And still, as I said, much more of a festive atmosphere now. It was pretty tense earlier on with confrontations between police officers and protesters. That has been down a bit but still several hundred perhaps 200 to 300 protesters are out here outside of the hotel where Donald Trump is speaking inside.

BALDWIN: Jeremy, may be tough for you to tell but I'm curious if how many of these folks, these protesters are there, you know, politically motivated, don't want Donald Trump to speak at the California state convention or simply are there to disrupt.

DIAMOND: Well, we have a lot of protesters here, most of them actually have signs and they are certainly carrying a specific political message. We just saw something unfold here that just happened right now. It seems like somebody came outside, perhaps a Trump supporter. It is very unclear but protesters grabbed the man it seems and threw his phone into the street, is what it seems like just happened. This is not the first time that we saw protesters confronting what appears to be Trump supporters earlier. We saw Trump supporter actually walk through the area where protesters were before several hours ago. And that man was actually pushed and shoved by some of the protesters. So that's what we saw moments ago. That was several hours ago, actually, when that happened. That man helped by police officers to get over a barricade, but unclear what just happened with a man whose cell phone was apparently tapped into the street area.

But to your question, most people here are certainly politically motivated. They are carrying a very specific message. Some people have signs that say anti-fascist. Some people have signs that are specifically tailored to Donald Trump. That's different from what we saw last night where we saw a lot more violence. And we also saw a lot of the protesters there who didn't necessarily have signs. They weren't necessarily chanting anything about Donald Trump. Some of them were chanting about police abuse. And a lot of those people out there last night seemed to be seeking to stir the pot, as it would, when they, you know, when and damaged some property, damage some police cars. That was the scene last night. Much more violent. Today, we're seeing a certainly more festive atmosphere but definitely some confrontations as we just saw between Trump supporters, protesters and also --

[15:50:51] BALDWIN: OK. Jeremy Diamond is on the outside. Jeremy, thank you so much.

Let me pull away from you for a second. I just want to make sure that we are also going inside the California Republican convention starting today. This whole thing has been, you know, slowed because perhaps in part due to the protesters' presence. Donald Trump was supposed to be addressing this lunchtime crowd about an hour ago. We know Mr. Trump was able to get inside. He slid and his entourage siding in the side of the building of this hotel unbeknownst to a lot of these protesters.

Jason Carroll has been good enough to stand inside, talk to some of the folks who are sitting there who have been waiting to hear Donald Trump speak.

Jason, do we have an eta yet?

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Still waiting. And we are told he should be taken the stage very soon. No more indication of what exactly "very soon" means.

But, you know, Brooke, as you know, we have been talking to a number of people inside here about what is happening outside. And I have ti say, those people who support Donald Trump are telling me that following.

They say, look, this has just made the resolve even stronger. They feel as though the people who are outside are not expressing themselves in the way that they should. Some also telling me that, look, Donald Trump is a man who speaks his minds but he speaks for us. So a number of the supporters who are here say this is a man who has a vision, has a way of bringing people into his vision. Not everyone is going to share that vision. So they understand why there are protesters outside. But having said that, it seems as if it's made the resolve even stronger - Brooke.

BALDWIN: So it sounds like I'm hearing applause behind you. Has the program begun so as to assume Donald Trump will be taking to the stage at some point?

CARROLL: Well, they are stalling. I mean, to me, there's no other way to say it. Then that is what it is. They are stalling. The program has begun. The lunch has officially begun. Trump was supposed to have spoken at this point more than just about an hour or so ago from now. So, again, they are stalling waiting for him to come up. I'm sure what he's going to have to do, Brooke, is whatever he was going to say, he is going to, in all likelihood, change what he was going to say in terms of having to address what is happening outside. They are making another announcement right now. We'll see if it is Trump who ends up taking the stage.

BALDWIN: Let's just listen.

OK. So this is a video that is running on the inside. This is a video made by a Trump, Donald Trump's daughter.

Jason, I want to stay with you as we are obviously looking at these pictures outside. Have you seen other speakers take to that podium and are they directly addressing the scene outside?

CARROLL: Not yet. They started in the way that we have seen so many events like this start in the past with a prayer and the pledge of allegiance. Having said that, one speaker did take to the stage indicating that there were some problems, quote/unquote outside. That there would be a short delay and that Trump would take the stage, that he had made it inside here at the Hyatt, that he was inside a VIP room and then he would be here to address the people, some of whom have been waiting to hear him for quite some time. So that is the only way we have heard someone addressed what has been happening outside, at least so far.

BALDWIN: OK. We are going to keep our camera pointed towards you and watch very closely for Donald Trump to take to that stage. Meantime, we're going to go back outside to Jeremy Diamond who has been showing us the throngs of protests.

Jeremy, what would you estimate, couple of hundred people?

DIAMOND: Yes. Definitely, Brooke. We see perhaps 200 to 300 people gathered outside of the hotel where Donald Trump is set to speak inside momentarily. They are out here. They are chanting. They banging drums. And they are hoisting signs up in the air talking specifically several times about Donald Trump's position on immigration. Of course, Donald Trump has leveled some very heated rhetoric on the topic talking initially when he announced his candidacy about undocumented immigrants from Mexico being criminal and rapists. Many of them, of course, is what he said.

And so, since then, of course, Donald Trump has drawn the ire of these immigration activists and protesters and that's where the big themes that we're seeing out here from the protesters. But not all of them are focusing on that issue. Broadly, they are focusing on Donald Trump's rhetoric, one that they view as one of division, one of hatred and bigotry. That's what a lot of the protesters here are telling us outside.

So you see a range of people here protesting Donald Trump, all here for the same reason, saying that they want to shutdown Donald Trump. That's one of the slogans that people have been chanting. And they have also been using explicit to say "f" Donald Trump. Those are some of the message that we are seeing from protesters out here, of course. Inside, we are expecting Donald Trump to express a very different message, when are we going to try and start unifying the Republican Party around his candidacy, which he now said he is the presumptive nominee of the Republican party. So he is trying to log in the support of enough delegates so that he can clinch the Republican nomination. If that's the case, of course, we are going to see a lot more of these protests. We have seen them throughout his campaign, but certainly if Donald Trump were to become the Republican nominee officially, I think we would continue to see a lot of these kinds of protests happening. A lot of people continuing to protest Donald Trump's rhetoric on the campaign trail - Brooke.

BALDWIN: OK. Jeremy Diamond, thank you so much. You've been in the thick of this for us for the better part of the last two hours. We appreciate you. I'm sure Jake Tapper will be talking to you in a matter of minutes.

Let me go back to Susan Page, Washington bureau chief for "USA Today."

Susan Page, with your wealth of knowledge of politics, you are what, covering ten different election cycles, presidents. Again, I go back to my original question. Just first, your thoughts on this scene and follows, does Donald Trump acknowledge the scene outside when he takes to that stage?

SUSAN PAGE, WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF, USA TODAY: You know, Brooke, I assume he will because that's been his practice in the past rallies when he has had protesters. He acknowledged them, usually in a really defiant way. You asked earlier, how can Donald Trump unite a Republican party that's not necessarily behind him right now? This is one way. Big protests by the other side including some chaotic scenes, police barricades pushed down, massing hotel doors trying to get in. These are the things that might convince some reluctant Republicans that, you know --.

BALDWIN: Here he is, Susan. Donald Trump. He made it. TRUMP: Thank you very much. Wow. So nice. That was not the easiest

entrance I have ever made. My wife called and she said, there are helicopters following you and we did and then we went under a fence and through a fence. Oh, boy. Felt like I was crossing the border, actually. You know? I was crossing the border. But I got here.

They said Mr. Trump, it would be really much easier, sir, if you just didn't speak today and just left and go back immediately to Indiana. And I said, you know, we can't let these people down. Right? Do we agree? We can't do it.

But I appreciate it. But it was fun. It was a little different. That was a different kind of a thing. So here's "the Washington Post" today. "The Time has come to admit that Republican voters want Donald Trump as their nominee." You see that? Chris. Good writer. Good writer. That's pretty good.

So, you know, we are making amazing progress all over. It's been incredible. Last night, as you know, we had 31,000 people. It was - by the way, no protesters inside. There were some protesters this morning, but with no protesters inside. But we have 31,000 people and it was just like rocking. And everybody loved it. Was anybody there last night? It was so incredible. We're pretty far away, but I'll tell you what, it was just an incredible.

So what has happened is we started this journey on June 16th and it was all about trade because we made the worst trade deals probably ever in the history of any country. And then it got down to other things that I talked about. I talked about illegal immigration, which is a very important subject and has been. And because of the fact that I brought it up, now people are talking about it. Now, they don't talk about it the way I do. We got last week, as you know, the border patrol 16,500 agents, border patrol agents, who are phenomenal people who want to do their jobs, they are told to stand back, stand back. They are standing there. These great-looking people, strong and in shape, all of the best equipment and they are told to stand back, just let everybody come right through the border. And they endorsed me, 16,500. They have never endorsed a presidential candidate.

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: And then Sheriff Joe, as you know, from Arizona endorsed Trump and he knows what he's doing. He really knows. But we have had so many incredible endorsements. And now they are coming. And I will tell you, over the last two weeks -- it took place really even before that. But people see what has happening because we have far more votes than anybody else, far more delegates than anybody else.