Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Ryan-Trump Statement: We Found "Common Ground"; Clinton: Ryan "Clearly Wasn't Swayed" By Trump; Injured Vet Inspires With Invictus Games Speech. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired May 12, 2016 - 15:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:30:55] BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. You are watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin. This word unity, we are hearing that a lot lately. Common ground, whatever you want to call it. You know, these are ultimately been goals Donald Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan are trying to achieve after their meeting this morning in Washington, D.C.

Listen, it is no secret that these two have differences. But the divide between Mr. Trump and Speaker Ryan is clear on policy.

Issues like when it comes to the Muslim ban as we were just discussing, taxing the rich, Planned Parenthood. Tom Foreman joins me now looking into these different policy issues that really sort of been divisive between these two.

Because this whole sense of unity, Tom, it's sort of like this nebulus idea and I want you to be specific on these policies where -- how they are differentiated?

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, if the Republican leadership a year ago could have picked the perfect candidate on these all of these issues, and we just picked five here, they would all be firmly in the Republican camp. They would be a classic Republican candidate.

That is not Donald Trump. We can take them one at a time. On defense, Trump has said that something that Republicans like to hear, I will make the military stronger than ever. It will be fantastic. That's his claim about the whole thing out there.

The problem is he's also said some things that some Republicans find very troubling about his relationship with U.S. allies so while this is on the Republican side, yes, it's not as firmly as they would like it to be.

Abortion is a tricky issue because remember Donald Trump was once a Democrat and he once said abortion rights were something that should be allowed out there. Now he says he's moved completely into the other side over here.

However, again, he said positive things about Planned Parenthood and about funding Planned Parenthood so while the main issue of abortion is still on the Republican side, there are parts of this issue that makes some Republican leadership uncomfortable.

Taxes is an area where Donald Trump started off saying things that Democrats liked. He was going to hammer the wealthy, give tax breaks to the middle class.

Now he's slipped really much more firmly up here into Republican land because he's saying, well, if the wealthy pay more, it only be more than I originally propose not more than they are paying now and everybody else gets a tax break. That fits into the Republican gospel there.

Trade is very tricky because in one hand he says I'm a businessman. I'm going to support trade. I'm going to make all these great things happen out there, which many Republicans like.

They have supported a lot of these big trade deals even when Democrats have opposed them. However, he's also said a lot of things about the need to protect working people in the country and things like that.

So in the end, I think trade almost comes out in the middle. It's hard to say really where he is going to fall because it's also a very big issue that can go either way.

And then on immigration, this is one of the clear examples of where he is not merely in the strong Republican stance over here where they would like him, but he's actually moved up into sort of a hyper stance that also makes many Republicans uncomfortable because they're saying you have gone too far with some of your claims.

[15:35:00]So if you look at it, Brooke, what you have here is a lot of nuance and changes in his positions and frankly a lot of shifts in his position, but in no way the classic Republican candidate that the party was probably looking for coming into this election -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Thank you for explaining where he's been, what he's saying now. Tom Foreman, thank you. With that in mind, let me bring in former Republican presidential candidate, former Virginia governor, Jim Gilmore. Governor, welcome back.

JIM GILMORE (R), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you, Brooke.

BALDWIN: So, I love what Tom Foreman just did, going through those different issues, immigration, taxes, abortion, defense, et cetera. I'm curious from your perspective, is there any one that makes you uncomfortable with regard to Mr. Trump where you need him to move?

GILMORE: Well, I really thought it was a terrific analysis, but in a way, Brooke, I think it misses the point about what Donald Trump's appeal has been in the primaries and what it will be going forward.

And that is, feeling of strength, a feeling of decisiveness, a commitment to change, which the American people absolutely want and he's very different from Hillary Clinton and that's going to be the Republican advantage in this race.

So I think that right now what we need to do is focus on unifying the Republican Party and not try to overthink all of this too much as we go forward. I think that right now that the American people are beginning to rally behind the guy they voted for in the primaries.

BALDWIN: Having been a governor, you understand listening to the people, listening to the different members of Congress, you know, the different levels and the state of Virginia. What kind of pressure, where do you think the pressure is coming from that Speaker Ryan is facing right now?

GILMORE: Well, yes. Yesterday, I actually spoke to a very large group of conservative leaders that are all my friends, and I made the point that conservatives need to rally to this ticket because we need to actually inject our conservative ideas as a matter of policy into the Trump campaign.

And also in addition to that, we want to make sure that above all things that we run a strong race so we maintain the House and the Senate. I think what Speaker Ryan is feeling right now is some of his members are uncertain.

They probably are not ready to make an endorsement themselves. They don't want the speaker to get too far in front of them. But I believe that all the wheels of unity are beginning to come together and that's certainly what I'm doing both nationally and in Virginia.

BALDWIN: You and I have talked a lot about this proverbial bridge, the bridge to the presidency, the bridge among Republicans. Is the bridge fixed, sir?

GILMORE: I think the bridge is repairing and as I told you last time when I was on, you know, one of the big incentives for us to put the bridge back together again, the bridge to the White House, is that alligator down in the river to get over and that alligator is Hillary Clinton.

And that she's a real unifying force. Look, it's a very different world view that --

BALDWIN: You know she's enjoying this. Forgive me, Governor. She's enjoying this you have because here you have the highest elected, you know, Republican in office who is still not endorsed the presumptive nominee for president. She -- they have to be eating this up.

GILMORE: Yes, but I thought all the sounds that came out of the meeting today were on the whole very positive. Could have been abrupt. None of that is going on. Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders is giving Hillary Clinton fits.

And causing her to move to where I think she probably wants to be anyway, which is the hard left and really setting up I think a really good race for us in November.

Look, Brooke, I think that this might be an opportunity for the Republican Party to, you know, go into a little bit of a new paradigm.

We've been stuck a little bit in the rot. I think this is a chance to hold the south and add the working men and women of the industrial Midwest. We do that, we'll win this election.

You give us Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, we'll win this thing going away.

BALDWIN: Governor Jim Gilmore, thank you so much. Love having you on.

GILMORE: Thanks, Brooke. Hope I didn't scare you.

BALDWIN: No, never. Never scared. Thank you.

Coming up next here, got to talk about the Democrats here. Fresh attacks on Clinton from the Sanders campaign. What they're saying about Secretary Clinton's chance to win the general election.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:43:28]

BALDWIN: Just in to CNN. A victory for Republicans when it comes to the fight against Obamacare. A federal judge ruling it is unconstitutional for the administration to spend money to reimburse health insurers without the green light from Congress. This is a key provision of law. The decision in response to a lawsuit House Republicans filed against the administration. More to come on that.

Meantime, Hillary Clinton has one take away from House Speaker Paul Ryan's meeting this morning with Donald Trump. Ryan was not impressed.

The campaign statement reacting to the Capitol Hill meeting reads, quote, "Today, Speaker Ryan met with Donald Trump, but he clearly wasn't swayed by the nominee as he again refused to endorse him."

Jeff Zeleny is me with me now, CNN's senior Washington correspondent. I have been wondering how the, you know, the Clinton camp, well, if they have made of all of this. She's making a point of showing she's not the only one who thinks that Trump, I supposed would be too big of a risk.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: No doubt, Brooke. They are taking a list and sending it out really hourly as every Republican comes out and says they're not sure if they can support the nominee here and they certainly are watching this with a bit of glee, I would say, in terms of how this all unfolded today in Washington.

But the fact remains Hillary Clinton believes the best way to unify her party is with Donald Trump. She talks about the prospect of his candidacy so much.

She is also taking to Twitter, though, and calling out Donald Trump, every little change he makes in his sort of policy plans or line up.

Let's take a look at this one about his proposal for -- to ban Muslims traveling into the U.S. She said that Trump stood by his proposed Muslim ban just last week and now he is trying to back pedal. Don't let him.

[15:45:10]Now these are just coming out, you know, really a bit by bit here. He, of course, is saying now that was just a suggestion he made. Not a full-out proposal. So she's trying to keep his positions frozen in time here as he tries to evolve on them.

BALDWIN: But in addition to Secretary Clinton, Bernie Sanders is jumping in, as well. What is he saying?

ZELENY: His campaign manager saying, look, it would be a roll of the dice, excuse me, if she were to be elected. It would be a dangerous situation here. This is Jeff Weaver, the campaign manager who had to back that up a little bit and said it would actually be dangerous if Donald Trump was elected.

But Senator Sanders is actually in South Dakota today. We have a picture of him right there touring Mt. Rushmore. His first visit to the black --

BALDWIN: How about that?

ZELENY: -- sort of looking up there at those monuments of four great American presidents, someone jokingly asked if there is room for him up there. He looked up and said I think there is next to Abraham Lincoln.

But Brooke, I can tell you, a long way to for him to win the nomination and certainly make it up there. He knows that, but he's fighting for every vote today in South Dakota -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Yes, he is. Jeff Zeleny, thank you.

Coming up next, we will take a break from politics and speak to an incredible American hero. A Purple Heart recipient who just won gold at the Invictus Games for Wounded Warriors.

Air Force Master Sergeant Israel Del Toro will be join me live to talk about his inspiring story and the bet he just won against that guy, Prince Harry. Stay with me.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:50:39]

BALDWIN: Closing ceremonies are tonight for the Invictus Games, the grueling adaptive sports competition for the world's wounded warriors, U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Israel Del Toro Jr. was critically burned during an IED explosion in Afghanistan.

Doctors did not think he would survive and not only did he prove them wrong, D.T., as his family and friends call him, took home gold in the men's shotput, but the Purple Heart recipient will likely be remembered most for his powerful speech during the game's opening ceremonies.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MASTER SGT. ISRAEL DEL TORO JR., INJURED DURING TOUR IN AFGHANISTAN: Once I awoke from my coma, the doctors told me that my prognosis was grim. Third-degree burns on 80 percent of my body, 15 percent chance to live. Almost died three times. I beat the odds.

Unlike so many others and it was only possible because I had hundreds of people who rallied around me. Like the legendary phoenix, I'm reborn from these ashes and these flames have made me stronger. So stay strong and finish on and never (inaudible) quit.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Goose bumps. Goose bumps. Master Sergeant Israel Del Toro Jr. joins me now. It's an honor and a privilege to have you on. Thank you so much for your service to this country and thanks for letting me call you D.T. Welcome.

DEL TORO: Thank you, ma'am. Thank you for having me on.

BALDWIN: You mentioned in your speech that President George W. Bush came to visit you when you were still in a coma. What did he tell your family at the time and then what was the message for you at the Invictus games?

DEL TORO: You know, when he came and visited me, of course, I don't remember. I was in a coma. All I have is pictures of it. My wife told me he went in there, talked to me and comforted her mostly, you know, speaking to her in Spanish, telling her it's going to be OK. He'll be fine. He looks strong. You know, he'll get out of this and then --

BALDWIN: And what did he say to you this week, Mr. Shotputter?

DEL TORO: You know, he just told me -- he usually likes busting my chops because I left Texas because I'm now in Colorado Springs. But he just told me, D.T., everyone really looks up to you and for me it's strange because I just think of myself as a normal guy just doing my job and just trying to show my son he can overcome things. He really wishes me luck and he's become a good friend.

BALDWIN: Well, from presidents to princes, can we talk about Prince Harry? I saw the pictures of you two hanging out this week and a bet was made. Talk to me about that.

DEL TORO: Well, we were watching the semifinals volleyball game and the British made it and the U.S. made it and I leaned over to him and I was like, do you want to do a little friendly wager? He stood up and busted out a $20 bill.

First, I was just amazed that he actually had one in his pocket. I was like, OK. But then after the championship game, he disappeared real quickly. I couldn't find him. I thought, he's going to back out of my bet. I tried to recover my winnings from him.

BALDWIN: Recover your winnings from a man with a $20 bill, the prince. D.T., I love what you said about the feeling reborn and staying strong and your message there at the games. Thank you so much for coming on. I really, really appreciate it.

DEL TORO: Thank you. It was my honor and I'm glad they asked me to try and show the world you can overcome things, you know, even help and that's my 15 minutes of fame. You know, it's well worth my 15 minutes of fame to educate the world.

[15:55:01]BALDWIN: We'll come find you at the Air Force there in Colorado Springs. D.T., thank you so much.

DEL TORO: Thank you, ma'am.

BALDWIN: Thank you.

Still ahead here, news today on George Zimmerman trying to cash in on the weapon he used to kill Trayvon Martin. Why his plan didn't work.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FORMER PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN: In the last five years, we've moved from malaise to hope, confidence and opportunity. The values and shares hitting record highs and more Americans than ever before --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: The rise of Wall Street and the greed that came right along with it. Tonight's new episode of "The Eighties" at 9:00 Eastern and Pacific.