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Sanders Pushes On Despite Clinton's Lead; Foreign Policy Committee Chair Downplays Trump Meeting; Obama Addressing The People Of Vietnam; Search for EgyptAir Black Boxes Continues. Aired 1-2a ET

Aired May 24, 2016 - 01:00   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[01:00:30] ISHA SESAY, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm Isha Sesay.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: And I'm John Vause. Great to have you with us. This is NEWSROOM L.A.

We'll start with those new polls, which showed the U.S. presidential race is tightening between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump. In an NBC News/"Wall Street Journal" survey Clinton 46 percent, Trump 43 percent, well within the margin of error.

SESAY: In the "Washington Post"/ABC News poll, Trump came out on top with 46 percent to 44 percent. The polls also showed more than half of U.S. voters have an unfavorable view of both candidates.

VAUSE: Adding to Secretary Clinton's problems is her rival, Bernie Sanders. He's been rallying supporters right here in Southern California ahead of the state's primary on June 7th.

SESAY: And Sanders says he'll keep fighting for the Democratic nomination despite lagging far behind Clinton in pledged delegates. CNN's Sunlen Serfaty is in Santa Monica.

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONENT: John and Isha, as Hillary Clinton adds a bit of urgency to her calls for Democrats to unite in the general election, Bernie Sanders is really digging in. He is renewing his promise to take his fight all the way to the convention floor.

And in an interview with the "Associated Press," he was asked about the potential for the Philadelphia convention to get messy to which he replied, quote, "So what? Democracy is messy."

But then he added he will, quote, "condemn any and all forms of violence." And as he barnstorms the state of California, Bernie Sanders seems to be taunting Hillary Clinton a bit, saying he thinks she is getting very nervous at his chances going forward.

Meantime, the Clinton campaign, they have announced that they will not participate in an upcoming debate before the California primary, one that Bernie Sanders has signed off on, and this is something that he brought up at his rally in Santa Monica Monday night. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BERNIE SANDERS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I was disturbed by not surprised to hear a few hours ago that Secretary Clinton has backed out of the debate. A number of months ago, our campaign and her campaign had reached an agreement on a number of debates including one here in California in May.

But I've got to tell you this. I think it is a little bit insulting to the people of California, our largest state. That she is not prepared to have a discussion with me about how she will help the Californians address the major crises that we face.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SERFATY: And the Clinton campaign clearly turning their attention almost fully towards the general election, say they believe that their time is better spent campaigning and talking to voters and preparing for the general election -- John and Isha.

JONES: Polls more than six months out from an election usually of questionable value, but these latest numbers seemed to show what could be a problem for Democrats.

CNN's senior Washington correspondent, Jeff Zeleny is with us now from the L.A. newsroom. Jeff, take a look at the trend. It's the trend line here which a lot of people are looking at.

It shows Trump doing better, Clinton doing worse. Is this because Trump, he's hit a high point after getting the nomination, he's uniting Republicans and Hillary Clinton, she's really still struggling to see off Bernie Sanders?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: John, that's a big part of it, no doubt, but the bigger thing is the independent voters. Those voters who don't necessarily align themselves with either side are going to Donald Trump, at least in the short term here.

That's one of the advantages that he has of wrapping up his nominating contest early. That's one of the things that's changed in the last few weeks or so. That's the difference in these polls over a month or so ago.

He is consolidating the support of some of those voters right down the middle there who weren't sure about him before. And it is one of the worries the Clinton campaign has that they are losing time here.

Democrats believed they're losing team because they were still focusing on Bernie Sanders, of course, and Donald Trump has unified them.

But those independent voters in the middle who can change from back and forth and they swing all around, that is what really speaks to why Donald Trump has closed this gap here in the last month or so -- John.

VAUSE: As you say Bernie Sanders, he's still out there campaigning. He's still in this race. He was holding a series of rallies in Los Angeles clearly encouraged by a surge of new voters ahead of the California primary next month. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SANDERS: There has been an incredible, as I understand it, unprecedented surge in voter registration here in California. The final statistics are not in. I think today was actually the last day that people can register.

[01:05:01]But we think there may well be as many as a million and a half new folks who are registering as Democrats or as non-affiliated who can vote in the Democratic primary.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: OK, so Sanders, he's obviously a lot of enthusiasm. He's getting a lot of new voters coming in. He's pushing on. So at this point is there anything the Clinton campaign can offer Bernie Sanders to convince him to get out of the race?

ZELENY: John, I think the short answer is no, there's nothing they can offer him or surely they would have already. But there's something that the Democratic National Committee is offering Bernie Sanders, and that happened earlier today.

That was that they gave him a third of all of the seats on the party's platform committee. This was behind-the-scenes meetings they'll be having at this summer's convention. Bernie Sanders will be able to appoint five people on that platform committee.

Very important here at least in terms of pushing his issues forward. That is nothing that is going to get him out of the race at all, but is one of those many olive branches we're going to see coming his direction, his way in the next few weeks or so.

That is one of the reasons that he's focusing a lot of his ire, his anger at the Democratic Party leadership. Like Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chairwoman of the party and not necessarily at Hillary Clinton herself.

He has ratcheted back some of his rhetoric. Sometimes it flares up again. But there's nothing the explain campaign can offer him, but the party is beginning to open its doors to some of Bernie Sanders' demands.

Those are only going to grow, John, should he win the California primary, 475 delegates at stake here. Of course, he'll get a decent share of them either way because Democrats split them proportionally.

But should he win California, that is going to give him even more say, he'll have more demands at this party's nominating convention this summer in Philadelphia.

VAUSE: Yes, the delegates equal leverage and yes, Hillary Clinton, she continues to fight this war on two fronts. The Trump campaign turned up the attacks today focusing again on past allegations of sexual misconduct by Bill Clinton implying Hillary Clinton's involvement. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was very nervous. No woman should be subjected to it. It was an assault.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I tried to pull away from him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: And keep in mind this is only May. This will not be the shining light on the hill campaign. Hillary Clinton today also going after Donald Trump about his past bankruptcies.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He could bankrupt America like he's bankrupted his companies. I mean, ask yourself. How can anybody lose money running a casino? Really.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Jeff, are these negative ads and these attacks, is this a sign from both these candidates that they kind of know they can't win so they've got to make the other one lose?

ZELENY: I think that's exactly right. I mean, this is a race to the bottom, if you will. This is an election in many respects that some voters will be deciding the lesser of two evils. But this is where the potential of sort of different messaging comes in.

The candidates are going to be going after themselves, after each other no doubt. You saw the ad that you played just at the beginning there, the Instagram video. You wonder why Donald Trump is doing that.

It's those independent voters we talked to about earlier, those moderate voters, who don't want to re-litigate all these trials and tribulations from the Clinton era a quarter century ago. They are looking for something new. That's why he's doing it.

I mean, as much as we hate this negativism, it actually works. So this will be not exactly an optimistic election by any means. It will be a scorched earth election. This is a divided country, 50-50.

We always knew this race was going to be tight until the end. These candidates have so many negatives here. But you're right, John, it is only May. I mean, who knows what's going to be coming down the pike here, but certainly not a sunshine and light election.

VAUSE: Yes, no rainbows and lollipops. Jeff, great to speak with you. Thanks so much.

ZELENY: John, thank you. SESAY: Donald Trump isn't just closing in on Hillary Clinton in the polls. He's also clarifying his stance on guns in classrooms as he tries to rally his supporters.

VAUSE: CNN politics reporter, Sara Murray, has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER (voice-over): Skeptics predicted a Donald Trump ticket would mean a blowout victory for Hillary Clinton.

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Now I'm going to start focusing on Hillary. This is going to be so easy.

MURRAY: But new national polls reveal a race that's rapidly tightening. As speculation whirls over who Trump might choose for a VP, the billionaire businessman met privately with Senator Bob Corker today, who brushed aside questions about joining the ticket.

[01:10:03]SENATOR BOB CORKER (R), TENNESSEE: I have no reason whatsoever to believe that I'm being considered. I'll say that until I'm blue in the face. Again, this was a meeting between two people who didn't know each other except over phone calls.

MURRAY: Trump allies say Corker's foreign policy experience could be an asset to the first-time presidential candidate. Even if he doesn't make the VP short list.

CORKER: We talked bigger picture, really relative to foreign policy, domestic issues.

MURRAY: Meanwhile, Trump is still aiming to consolidate his conservative base, and he's turning to a potent issue, the second amendment, to rally --

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SESAY: U.S. President Barack Obama is speaking now in Hanoi, addressing the people of Vietnam. Let's listen.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: -- and the hospitality that you've shown me on this visit. And thank all of you for being here today. We have Vietnamese from across this great country, including so many young people who represent the dynamism and the talent and the hope of Vietnam.

On this visit, my heart has been touched by the kindness for which the Vietnamese people are known. And the many people who've been lining the streets smiling and waving, I feel the friendship between our peoples.

Last night, I visited the old quarter here in Hanoi and enjoyed some outstanding Vietnamese food. Tried some bun cha. Drank some Bie Hanoi. But I have to say the busy streets of this city, I've never seen so many motor bikes in my life. So I haven't had to try to cross the street so far, but maybe when I come back and visit you can tell me how. I am not the first American president to come to Vietnam in recent times, but I am the first, like so many of you, who came of age after the war between our countries.

When the last U.S. forces left Vietnam, I was just 13 years old. So my first exposure to Vietnam and the Vietnamese people came when I was growing Vietnamese-American community there.

At the same time, many people in this country are much younger than me. Like my two daughters, many of you have lived your whole life is knowing only one thing, and that is peace and normalized relations between Vietnam and the United States.

So I come here mindful of the past, mindful of our difficult history but focused on the future, the prosperity, security, and human dignity that we can advance together. I also come here with a deep respect for Vietnam's ancient heritage. For millennia farmers have tended these lands. History revealed in the dong shun drums.

At this bend in the river Hanoi has endured for more than 1,000 years. The world came to treasure Vietnamese silks and paintings, and a great temple of literature stands as a testament to your pursuit of knowledge.

Yet over the centuries your fate was too often dictated by others. Your beloved land was not always your own. But like bamboo the unbroken spirit of the Vietnamese people was captured by Lee Kyong Kip (ph).

The southern emperor rules the southern land. Our destiny is writ in heaven's book. So today we also remember the longer history between Vietnamese and Americans that is too often overlooked.

More than 200 years ago, when our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, sought rice for his farm, he looked to the rice of Vietnam, which he said had the reputation of being whitest to the eye, best flavored to the taste, and most productive.

And soon after American trade ships arrived in your port seeking commerce. During the Second World War Americans came here to support your struggle against occupation. When American pilots were shot down the Vietnamese people helped rescue them.

And on the day that Vietnam declared its independence, crowds took to the streets of this city and Ho Chi Minh evoked the American declaration of independence. He said all people are created equal, the creator has endowed them with inviolable rights.

[01:15:10]Among these are the right to life, the right to liberty and the right to pursuit of happiness. In another time the profession of these shared ideals and our common story of throwing off colonialism might have brought us closer together sooner.

But instead cold war rivalries and fears of communism pulled us into conflict. Like other conflicts throughout human history we learned once more a bitter truth, that war, no matter what our intentions may be, bring suffering and tragedy.

At your war memorial not far from here and with family altars all across this country you remember some 3 million Vietnamese soldiers and civilians on both sides who lost their lives.

At our memorial wall in Washington we can touch the names of 58,315 Americans who gave their lives in the conflict. In both our countries our veterans and families of the fallen still ache for the friends and loved ones that they lost.

Just as we learned in America that even if we disagree about a war we must always honor those who serve and welcome them home with the respect they deserve, we can join Vietnamese and Americans and acknowledge the pain and sacrifices on both sides.

More recently over the past two decades Vietnam has achieved enormous progress and today the world can see the strides that you have made.

With economic reforms and trade agreements including with the United States you have entered the global economy, selling your goods around the world. More foreign investment is coming in.

And with one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia Vietnam has moved up to become a middle income nation. We see Vietnam's progress in the skyscrapers and high-rises of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, new shopping malls and urban centers.

We see it in the satellites Vietnam puts into space and the new generation that is online, launching start-ups and new venture ventures. We see it the in tens of millions of Vietnamese connected on Facebook and Instagram.

And you're not just posting selfies, although I hear you could do that a lot, and so far there have been a number of people who have already asked me for selfies. You're always raising your voices for causes you care about, like saving the old trees of Hanoi.

So all this dynamism has delivered real progress in people's lives. Here in Vietnam you've dramatically reduce extreme poverty, boosted family incomes, and lifted millions into a fast-growing middle class. Hunger, disease, child and maternal mortality are all down.

The number of people with clean drinking water and electricity. The number of boys and girls in school and your literacy rate. These are all up. So this is extraordinary progress. This is what you have been able to achieve in a very short time.

And as Vietnam has transformed so, has the relationship between our two nations. We learned a lesson taught by the venerable Tig Nya Tan who said in true dialogue both sides are willing to change.

In this the very war that had divided us became a source for healing. It allowed us to account for the missing and finally bring them home. It allowed us to help remove land mines and unexploded bombs because no child should ever lose a leg just playing outside. Even as we continue to assist Vietnamese with disabilities including children we are also continuing to help to remove Agent Orange, dioxins, so that Vietnam can reclaim more of your land.

We're proud of our work together in Da Niang (ph), and we look forward to supporting your efforts in Dien Huan (ph). Let's also not forget that the reconciliation between our countries was led by our veterans who once faced each other in battle.

[01:20:01]Think of Senator John McCain, who was held for years here as a prisoner of war, meeting General Zad, who said our countries should not be enemies but friends. Think of all the veterans, Vietnamese and American, who've helped us heal and build new ties.

Few have done more in this regard over the years than a former navy lieutenant and now secretary of state for the United States, John Kerry, who's here today, and on behalf of all of us, John, we thank you for your extraordinary effort.

Because our veterans showed us the way, because warriors had the courage to pursue peace, our peoples are now closer than ever before. Our trade has surged. Our students and scholars learn together.

We welcome more Vietnamese students to America than from any other country in Southeast Asia. And every year you welcome more and more American tourists including young Americans with their backpacks to Hanoi's 36 streets and the shops of Hoyan and the imperial city of Hue.

As Vietnamese and Americans we can all relate to those words written by Van Kam. From now we know each other's homeland. From now we learn to feel for each other.

As president I've built on this progress. With our new comprehensive partnership our governments are working more closely together than ever before.

And with this visit we put our relationship on a firmer footing for decades to come. In a sense the long story between our two nations that began with Thomas Jefferson more than two centuries ago has now come full circle.

It's taken many years and required great effort. But now we can say things that were unimaginable. Today Vietnam and the United States are partners. And I believe our experience holds lessons for the world.

At a time when many conflicts seem intractable, seem as if they will never end, we have shown that hearts can change. And that a different future is possible when we refuse to be prisoners of the past.

We've shown how peace can be better than war. We've shown the progress in human dignity is best advanced by cooperation and not conflicts. That's what Vietnam and America can show the world.

Now, America's new partnership with Vietnam is rooted in some basic truths. Vietnam is an independent sovereign nation, and no other nation can impose its will on you or decide your destiny.

Now, the United States has an interest here. We have an interest in Vietnam's success. But our comprehensive partnership is still in its early stages, and with the time I have left I want to share with you the vision I believe can guide us in the decades ahead.

First let's work together to create real opportunity and prosperity for all of our people. We know the ingredients for economic success in the 21st Century.

In our global economy investment and trade flows to wherever there's rule of law because no one wants to pay a bribe to start a business, nobody one wants to sell their goods or go to school if they don't know how they're going to be treated.

In knowledge-based economies jobs go to where people have the freedom to think for themselves and exchange ideas and to innovate. And real economic partnerships are not just about one country extracting resources from another, they're about investing in our greatest resource, which is our people and their skills and their talents.

Whether you live in a big city or a rural village. And that's the kind of partnership that America offers. As I announced yesterday, the Peace Corps will come to Vietnam for the first time with a focus on teaching English.

And a generation after young Americans came here to fight, a new generation of Americans are going to come here to teach and build and deepen the friendships between us.

Some of America's leading technology companies and academic institutions are joining Vietnamese institutions to strengthen training in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine.

[01:25:10]Because even as we keep welcoming more Vietnamese students to America we also believe that young people deserve a world-class education right here in Vietnam.

It's one of the reasons why we're very excited that this fall the new Fulbright University Vietnam will open in Ho Chi Minh City, this nation's first independent non-profit university where there will be full academic freedom and scholarships for those in need.

Students, scholars, researchers will focus on public policy and management and business, on engineering and computer science and liberal arts.

Everything from the poetry of Wing Tsu to the philosophy of Fan Chu Ching to the mathematics of No Ba Cho. And we're going to keep partnering with young people and entrepreneurs because we believe if you can access the skill and technology and capital you need nothing can stand in your way.

And that includes, by the way, the talented women of Vietnam. We think gender equality is an important principle. From Kyung sisters to today, strong confident women have always helped move Vietnam forward.

And the evidence is clear, I say this wherever I go around the world. Families, communities, and countries are more prosperous when girls and women have an equal opportunity to succeed in school and in government. That's true everywhere, and it's true here in Vietnam.

We'll keep working to unleash the full potential of your economy with the Transpacific Partnership. Here in Vietnam TPP will let you sell more of your products to the world and it will attract more investment.

TPP will require reforms to protect workers and rule of law and intellectual property. And the United States is ready to assist Vietnam as it works to fully implement its compliments.

I want you to know that as president of the United States I strongly support TPP because you'll also be able to buy more of our goods, made in America.

Moreover I support TPP because of its important strategic benefits. Vietnam will be less dependent on any one trading partner and enjoy broader ties with more partners, including the United States.

And TPP will reinforce regional cooperation. It will help address economic inequality and will advance human rights with higher wages and safer working conditions.

For the first time here in Vietnam, the right to form independent labor unions and prohibitions against forced labor and child labor and it has the strongest environmental protections and anti-corruption standards of any trade agreement in history.

That's the future of TPP offers for all of us because all of us, the United States, Vietnam and the other signatories will have to abide by these rules that we have shaped together. That's the future available to all of us.

We now have to get it done for the sake of our prosperity and our national security. This brings me to the second area we can work together and that is ensuring our mutual security.

With this visit we've agreed to elevate our security cooperation and build more trust between our men and women in uniform. We'll continue to offer training and equipment to your coast guard to enhance Vietnam's maritime capabilities.

We will partner to deliver humanitarian aid in times of disaster. With the announcement I made yesterday to fully lift the ban on defense sales, Vietnam will have greater access to the military equipment you need to ensure your security.

And the United States is demonstrating our commitment to fully normalize our relationship with Vietnam. The 20th Century has taught all of us including the United States and Vietnam that the international order upon which our mutual security depends is rooted in certain rules and norms. Nations are sovereign and no matter how large or small a nation may be its sovereignty should be respected and its territory should not be violated. Big nations should not bully smaller ones. Disputes should be resolved peacefully.

(APPLAUSE)

[01:30:10] OBAMA: And regional institutions like ASEAN and the East Asia summit should continue to be strengthened. That's what I believe, that's what the United States believes, and that's the kind of partnership America offers this region. I look forward to advancing the spirit of respect and reconciliation later this year, when I become the first U.S. president to visit Laos.

In the South China Sea, the United States is not a claimant in current disputes but we will stand with partners in upholding core principals like freedom of navigation and over flight and lawful commerce unimpeded and peaceful resolution of disputes through legal means and in accordance with international law. And as we go forward, the United States will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, and we'll support the right of all countries to do the same

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: Even as we cooperate more closely in the areas I've described, our partnership includes a third element. Addressing areas where our governments disagree, including on human rights. I say this not to single out Vietnam, no nation is perfect. Two centuries on, the United States is still striving to live up to our founding ideas. We still deal with our shortcomings, too much money in politics and rising economic inequality, racial bias in our criminal justice system, women still not being paid as much as men doing the same job. We still have problems and we're not immune from criticism, I promise you. I hear it every day. But that's scrutiny, that open debate, confronting our imperfections and allowing everybody to have their say has helped us grow stronger and more prosperous and more just.

I've said this before. The United States does not seek to impose our form of government on Vietnam. The rights I speak of, I believe are not American values, I think they're universal values, written into the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They're written into the Vietnamese Constitution, which states citizens have the right to freedom of speech and freedom of the press, the right to access information, the right to assembly and the right to demonstrate. That's in the Vietnamese Constitution.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: So, really, this is an issue about all of us, each country trying to consistently apply these principals, making sure that we -- those of us in government are being true to these ideals. In recent years, Vietnam has made progress. They're committed to bringing their laws in line with international norms and its new constitution. In recently passed laws, the government will disclose more of its budget and the people will have right to access more information. And as I said, Vietnam has committed to economic and labor reforms under the TPP. So these are all positives steps. And ultimately, the future of Vietnam will be decided by the people of Vietnam. Every country will chart its own path and our two nations have different political systems and different cultures.

But as a friend of Vietnam, allow me to share my view, why I believe nations are more successful when universal rights are upheld. When there's freedom of expression and speech and when people can share ideas and access the Internet and social media without restriction, that fuels the innovation economies need. That's where new ideas happen. That's how a Facebook starts. That's how some of our greatest companies began. Because somebody had a new idea that was different and they were able to share it. When there's freedom of the press, when journalists and bloggers are able to shine a light on injustice or abuse, that system works. When candidates can run for office and campaign freely and voters can choose their own leaders in free and fair elections, it makes the countries more stable because citizens know their voice counts and peaceful change is possible and it brings new people into the system. When there's freedom of religion, it allows people to fully express the love and compassion at the heart of all great religions but it allows faith groups to serve their own communities through schools and hospitals and care for the poor and vulnerable. And when there's freedom of assembly and citizens are free to organize in civil society, then countries can better address challenges that governments sometimes cannot solve by themselves. It's my view that it's not a threat to stability, but reinforces stability, and is the foundation to progress. After all, it was a European yearning for these very rights that brought people around the world, including Vietnam, to throw off colonialism. And this is what so many cherish, including here, in a nation that claims to be for the people, by the people.

[01:36:25] Vietnam will do it differently than the United States does, and each of us will do it differently from other countries around the world. But there are these basic principals that I think we all have to try to work on and improve. And I say this as somebody who's about to leave office. So, I have the benefit of almost eight years now of reflecting on how our system has worked and interacting with countries around the world who are constantly trying to improve their systems as well.

Now, finally our partnership, I think, can meet global challenges that no nation can solve by itself. If we're going to insure the health of our people and beauty of our planet, then it has to be sustainable. Natural wonders have to be preserved for our children and grandchildren. Rising seas threaten the coasts and waterways on which so many Vietnamese depend. And so, as partners in the fight against climate change, we need to fulfill the commitments we made in Paris and we need to help farmers and villagers and people who depend on fishing to adapt and bring more clean energy to places like the Mekong Delta. It's the rice bowl of the world, but we need to feed future generations. And we can save lives beyond our borders by helping other countries strengthen, for example, their health systems, we can prevent outbreaks for disease from becoming epidemics that threaten all of us. And as Vietnam deepens its commitment to U.N. peacekeeping, the United States is proud to help train your peace keepers, and what a truly remarkable thing that is. Our two nations that once fought each other, now standing together and helping others achieve peace as well. So, in addition to our bilateral relationship, our partnership allows us to shape the international environment in ways that are positive in ways that are positive.

Now, fully realizing the vision that I've described today is not going to happen overnight and it is not inevitable. There may be stumbles and set backs along the way, there are going to be times when there are misunderstandings. It will take sustained effort and true dialogue where both sides continue to change. But considering all the history and hurtles that we've already overcome, I stand before you today very optimistic about our future together.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: And my confidence is rooted, as always, in the friendships and shared aspirations of our peoples. I think of all the Americans and Vietnamese who have crossed oceans, some reuniting with families for the first time in decades, and who said in his song, "Have joined hands and opening their hearts and seen our common humanity in each other."

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: I think of all the Vietnamese-Americans who've succeeded in every walks of life, doctors, journalists, judges, public servants. One of them who was born here wrote me a letter and said, "By God's grace, I've been able to live the American dream. I'm very proud to be an American and very proud to be a Vietnamese."

(APPLAUSE)

[01:40:] OBAMA: Today, he's here --

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: Today, he's here, back in the country of his birth, because he said his personal passion is improving the life of every Vietnamese person.

I think of a new generation of Vietnamese, so many of the young people here, who are ready to make your mark on the world, and I want to say to all the young people listening, your talent, your drive, your dreams in those things Vietnam has everything it needs to thrive. And your destiny is in your hands. This is your moment and as you pursue the future that you want, I want you to know that the United States of America will be right there with you as your partner and your friend.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: And many years from now, when even more Vietnamese and Americans are studying together, doing business together, standing up for our security and promoting human rights and protecting our planet with each other, I hope you look back on this moment and draw hope from the vision I've shown today or if I can say it another way, in words that you know well from the "Tail of Kuo (ph)," "Please take from me this token of trust so we can embark on our 100-year journey together."

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(APPLAUSE)

Thank you very much. Thank you, Vietnam. Thank you.

(APPLAUSE)

JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: A standing ovation for the U.S. President Barack Obama as he addresses a group of entrepreneurs in Hanoi. He focused especially on his signature TPP, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which would see the removal of tariffs. Pretty much every country in Asia, except for China, is included in that TPP agreement. It's often called the anti-China trade.

Let's go to Athena Jones who is with us from Hanoi.

One question about that speech delivered by the president, Athena, he talked a lot about the Trans-Pacific Partnership and all the benefits. How can he deliver a speech like that when the three major candidates in the election have said it's a bad idea and they don't support it?

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's a very good question. It's likely a question he's been asked in the meetings he's been having today and yesterday but the president has said over and over that he remains confident that this deal can get done. He hasn't explained why he remains confident but there is some support in Congress. Can this get done before his term is up? And what happens if, as you mention, the candidates running to replace him don't support it? It's a big question facing him in meetings here and in Japan, another important member of that partnership. And there's been a lot of talk about human rights and the president did spend time talking before this audience. It was government leaders, diplomats, students and members of the community. He says the U.S. Is not going to try to implement its values on a sovereign country and went on to say that the free exchange of ideas full innovation, companies like Facebook because they fuel ideas and he said freedom of political affiliation fuels security. And jobs go to places where people are free to think for themselves. We did hear the president touch on the human rights issues, that lifting of that ban on lethal arms sales that was announced yesterday. A wide-ranging speech, as you said, touching on trade, touching on human rights, climate change and also touching on the developing relationship between the U.S. and Vietnam. He said reconciliation was in many ways led by veterans of the Vietnam War on both sides. He cited Senator John McCain and of course, Secretary of State John Kerry. So, he covered a lot in this speech.

[02:44:57] SESAY: He did indeed. And it was interesting the fact that he alluded to China on a number of occasions when he talked about China. Once again, China looming large over everything in Asia.

Athena Jones, thank you.

ISHA SESAY, CNN ANCHOR: Next on NEWSROOM, L.A., the search for clues in the EgyptAir. Crucial pieces of evidence still missing.

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(WEATHER REPORT)

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SESAY: Hello everyone. Days after EgyptAir flight 804 went down, there are still no answers.

VAUSE: Rene Marsh reports, the search area and time both working against investigators.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RENE MARSH, CNN AVIATION & GOVERNMENT REGULATION CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): As the search for EgyptAir flight 804 heads into its fifth day, crews are pulling more debris from the sea, including life vests, and still missing is the fuselage and its critical black boxes located in the tail.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The investigators are up against the clock. If they don't find the black boxes within the next 30 days, r is going to be much harder because they may no longer be sending out a sonar ping which will help them identify it.

[01:50:07] MARSH: An Egyptian submarine is search the ocean floor hoping to find the plane's recorders in waters nearly 10,000 feet deep. A French submarine is also listening for signals from the recorders.

(BEGIN AUDIO FEED)

PILOT: Hello, hello.

EgyptAir 804 flight level 370.

(END AUDIO FEED)

MARSH: For the first time, we're hearing from the pilot speaking with air traffic controllers about two and a half hours before all contact was lost. The recording suggests a normal start to the flight.

(BEGIN AUDIO FEED)

PILOT: Thank you so much. Good day, good night.

(END AUDIO FEED)

MARSH: Egyptian authorities say terrorism is the most likely cause but no terror group has claimed responsibility.

(SHOUTING)

MARSH: It was about three years before Osama bin Laden officially claimed responsibility for the attacks on September 11th. "The New York Times" reports, political vandals scribbled the words, "We will bring this plane down" on the plane about two years ago.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was secured as to procedure of airports. Whether anyone would write anything on it -- and I'm not aware of that, by the way.

MARSH: Investigators are still trying to determine what caused the plane to send out a warning, indicating smoke in front of the plane just minutes before the crash. Experts say it could mean a fire or it could mean the plane's symptoms were failing.

But these automatic warnings still do not explain what caused the deadly crash. The cockpit voice and data recorders may contain information and audio that could.

Rene Marsh, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SESAY: Well, Ian Lee joins us from Cairo with the latest.

Ian, Greek and Egyptian officials providing different accounts before it disappeared from radar. What's the latest now?

IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You're right, there is this contradiction between the Greek officials and the Egyptians. The Greeks were saying in the final minutes of this flight that the plane swerved 90 degrees, 360 degrees, and they could track it as it descended thousands of feet. But Egyptian officials are saying that was not the case, that this plane was cruising at 37,000 feet and once it was in Egyptian control in their airspace for about a minute, disappeared. So, we'll have to see what comes of that.

But we're also following the search in the Mediterranean right now. We do have those two submarines, the Egyptian one with multiple cameras and remote arms able to manipulate things on the sea floor, and that French one is also crucial because it will pick up, as we heard, that sonar ping from the black box, and that is crucial because as of now, there are a lot of theories. But when they get the black boxes, they'll have a better idea of what exactly happened.

SESAY: All right. Ian Lee, joining us with the very latest from Cairo. Appreciate it very much.

Well, some people are calling this year's U.S. presidential election, a circus.

VAUSE: Some are.

SESAY: Some are.

Unintentionally comical, with characters straight out of a TV show.

VAUSE: And after this weekend, American audiences will be without one of the most popular late-night comedies for political satire, "Saturday Night Live."

Jeanne Moos reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(LAUGHTER)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Better savor it. Because you're going to have to endure most of the rest of the election season without your "SNL" fix.

KATE MCKINNEN, COMEDIAN: I don't really like people.

(LAUGHTER)

I only talk to them because I want to be the president so bad.

MOOS: Just when Kate McKinnen has nailed her Hillary and 60-year-old Daryl Hammon has made a comeback as the Donald.

DARYL HAMMON, COMEDIAN: Everybody loves me. I even have this fat piece of me now.

UNIDENTIFIED COMEDIAN: Yes, sir. Thank you sir. Please, sir, may I have another.

MOOS: And Larry David manages to be himself and Bernie at the same time.

LARRY DAVID, COMEDIAN: Oh, Hillary, I'll miss that lack of charm.

(LAUGHTER)

MOOS: What will be lacking is SNL. No Larry, no Kate, no Daryl. The three stooges of "SNL" gone. Gone until the new season starts.

A mere month or so.

(MUSIC)

MOOS: No more dancing candidates, no more reenactments of Hillary's metro card fail. And no more crawling over the turnstile, and no more candidate said themselves trying to be funny.

(SINGING)

MOOS: Or pretending to be president.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The president of Mexico is here to see you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, Donald.

DONALD TRUMP, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & CEO, TRUMP ORGANIZATION: Enrique.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I brought you the check for the wall.

TRUMP: Oh, that's so wonderful. (APPLAUSE)

[01:55:11] MOOS: Who could forget Val.

MCKINNEN: Hey, bartender, keep them coming.

(LAUGHTER)

All anyone wants to talk about is Donald Trump.

HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: Donald Trump? Isn't he the one that's like, uh, you're all losers?

(LAUGHTER)

MOOS: McKinnen told "Time," "It was the greatest day of my life," while Hillary tweeted "A vote for Hillary is a vote for four more years of Kate McKinnen's impression."

And as for Daryl Hammon, when he returns, he'll be playing the Republican nominee and the aspiring first spouse.

HAMMON: Oh, my god. They're multiplying.

(LAUGHTER)

MOOS: Jennie Moos, CNN --

(MUSIC)

MOOS: -- New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: Oh, it's been a really good season.

SESAY: Fantastic. I'm going to miss it.

VAUSE: It's actually been funny.

SESAY: Come on.

VAUSE: You're watching CNN NEWSROOM, live from Los Angeles. I'm John Vause.

SESAY: And I'm Isha Sesay.

The news continues with Rosemary Church and Errol Barnett, after this.

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