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Trump Cements Official Party Nomination. Aired 10-10:30a ET

Aired July 20, 2016 - 10:00   ET

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


[10:00:00] JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: And that's concerning to the entire court.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Politics. Joe Johns, reporting live for us this morning. Thank you.

The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM starts now.

Good morning. We are live from the Republican National Convention in beautiful Cleveland, Ohio. And what a gorgeous day it is. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for being with me.

Donald Trump officially locks in the GOP nomination.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP JR., DONALD TRUMP'S SON: It is my honor to be able to throw Donald Trump over the top in the delegate count tonight with the 89 delegates. And another six for John Kasich.

Congratulations, Dad, we love you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The message from Trump's kids during last night's convention, their dad is a blue-collar billionaire with a soft side. Also in the spotlight, Hillary Clinton. Republicans taking every opportunity to skewer the presumptive Democratic nominee.

While Donald Trump Jr. and Tiffany Trump are each getting a big thumbs up from last night, tonight it would be Eric Trump's turn to tout his dad's credentials. He's among tonight's headline speakers. Vice presidential nominee, Governor Mike Pence, also expected to take the stage.

But let's talk more about what went down last night and what's to come. Let's get to CNN's Phil Mattingly.

Good morning, Phil.

PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. There were more than a few Republican eyebrows raised when Donald Trump made clear he would have his kids speaking in primetime on every night of the convention. Unorthodox, no question about it. But last night, it was on display as to why, why Donald Trump's advisers have been the most confident in the picture that this would paint. Take a listen to Donald Trump Jr. talking about his dad not in the boardroom but behind the scenes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, JR.: You want to know what kind of president he'll be? Let me tell you how he ran his businesses. And I know because I was there with him by his side on job sites, in conference rooms, from the time I could walk. He didn't hide out behind some desk in an executive suite. He spent his career with regular Americans. He hang out with the guys on construction sites, pouring sheetrock and hanging -- pouring concrete and hanging sheetrock.

He listened to them and he valued their opinions as much and often more than the guys from Harvard and Wharton locked away in offices away from the real work.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MATTINGLY: And Carol, it's worth noting after Donald Trump Jr.'s speech, I got a number of e-mail from people, Republicans, here in Cleveland, asking, is that the guy running for office or does he possibly have a political future? That's how well-received that speech was.

He wasn't the only Trump offspring speaking last night. Tiffany Trump, Donald Trump's youngest daughter, a recent college graduate, telling -- reporting a story about Donald Trump from home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIFFANY TRUMP, DONALD TRUMP'S DAUGHTER: I always looked forward to introducing him to my friends. Especially the ones with preconceived notions because they meet a man with natural charm and no facade. In person, my father is so friendly, so considerate, so funny and so real. My friends walk away with a glimpse of all that he is and all that he means to me, of the strong, protective, kind, endearing man I am so proud to call my father.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MATTINGLY: And they will be followed tonight by Eric Trump, tomorrow by Ivanka Trump. All of the Trump children except for his youngest, Baron, speaking in Cleveland. And there's a strategy here, Carol. This is a deliberate effort by the campaign, by Donald Trump himself to paint a fuller picture of the guy that we've seen on the campaign trail, relentless attacking anybody in his way over the course of the last year. They want voters who are, in large part, have a negative opinion of Donald Trump to come away from this convention, seeing him as somebody different.

If last night's any indication, even after the tumultuous first 24 hours of this convention, they are on the right track, Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. Phil Mattingly reporting live for us this morning. Thank you.

The GOP is also uniting against a common enemy in Cleveland and they coalesced around a common goal. Put Hillary Clinton behind bars.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CROWD: Lock her up. Lock her up. Lock her up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: OK, they're saying, lock her up. That rally cry spurred on by the New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, just one of several GOP luminaries trying to dim Clinton's path to the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP JR.: If Hillary Clinton were elected, she would be the first president who couldn't pass a basic background check.

GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY: We cannot promote someone to commander-in-chief who has made the world a more violent and dangerous place with every bad judgment she's made.

[10:05:05] SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R), MAJORITY LEADER: She lied about her e-mails. She lied about her server. She lied about Benghazi.

REP. PAUL RYAN (R), HOUSE SPEAKER: They are offering a third Obama term brought to you by another Clinton.

(CROWD BOOS)

RYAN: And you're supposed to be excited about that.

SHARON DAY, CO-CHAIR, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE: And as first lady, you viciously attacked the character of women who were sexually abused at the hands of your husband.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: All right. So let's talk about all of this. I want to bring in my panel right now. Former Michigan governor and senior adviser to the Clinton coordinated super PAC, Correct the Record, Jennifer Granholm, Republican congressman from Tennessee, Scott DesJarlais. He's also a Trump supporter. And CNN political commentator and host of the "Ben Ferguson Show," Ben Ferguson.

Welcome to all of you. Thank you so much for being here.

So, Scott, I'll start with you. The Hillary Clinton, lock her up, put her in jail, I mean, Ben Carson spoke last night and compared her to Lucifer. Isn't that a little over the top?

REP. SCOTT DESJARLAIS (R), TENNESSEE: I think what we're seeing is -- you know, not just Democrats and -- or not just Republicans but Democrats across the country have this perception that maybe Hillary is a little above the law. When I questioned FBI director James Comey a few weeks ago, and he said about the potential commander-in-chief that she was extremely careless, sloppy, and that she was not as sophisticated as people may have thought when it comes to handling the nation's most top secret information.

COSTELLO: But, as far as I know, she's not a convicted criminal who should be locked up and maybe she's not Lucifer either.

DESJARLAIS: I don't think that people feel that justice has been done yet the way Loretta Lynch handled the investigation and the way that she came out basically saying that she was going to accept the FBI's recommendation, which is kind of unusual. The meeting with Bill Clinton on the plane, I think was a little bit unusual. And I just don't feel like people feel that justice has been done and there's -- they want more answers.

COSTELLO: And, Jennifer, in a certain way this is very effective because of what they're trying to communicate is, do you want a criminal in the White House?

JENNIFER GRANHOLM (D), FORMER MICHIGAN GOVERNOR: Well, it's interesting that Chris Christie is the one who tried to deliver that message and who is under investigation, but Chris Christie, a little bit ironic. But here's what I think was really surprising about last night, carol, is that they spent so much time on Hillary Clinton. 13 speeches against Hillary Clinton and only six in favor of Donald Trump. 115 mentions of Hillary Clinton. Only 65 of Donald Trump. So they seemed like an angry clot of grievances and that is really not a way to inspire people to vote for you. It can't just all be mean and visceral.

BEN FERGUSON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: But have you heard what Hillary Clinton has been saying about Donald Trump and every one --

(CROSSTALK)

COSTELLO: I know. She called him a racist and a bigot.

GRANHOLM: Well --

FERGUSON: I mean, yes. I mean, come on.

(CROSSTALK)

GRANHOLM: But the point I'm making is night's theme was about making America work again. And you didn't have people talking about the economy. You had people talking about Hillary Clinton. You have to put some meat on the bone. Some policy meat.

FERGUSON: And I think -- but I think if you're a Republican right now, you're looking at this and you're saying, there is meat on the bone. And the fact of the matter is, many people believe that if Hillary Clinton didn't have the last name Clinton, she would be in jail right now and she would have been prosecuted --

GRANHOLM: Yes, but why is that --

FERGUSON: And the fact that --

GRANHOLM: -- before that decision came out, everybody loved James Comey. He was the guy.

FERGUSON: She is above the law is what was shown in that situation. So what I think you see last night is, is you see exactly what you guys have done in the left, you've said that he is an amateur, he is a horrible human being, he's a terrible person. When you criticize Donald Trump, there's a difference. There's not investigations around him. There's not creepy meetings on airplanes, which no other American can get away from.

There's not someone using an e-mail server to get around the law and to have classified information that now has been put at risk and we know that's hacked into. That's a theme that I think, when you look at Hillary Clinton, her biggest vulnerability -- ask Bernie Sanders -- it's trustworthy issue. Her highest negative in the Democratic Party. So that's what they laid out last night.

GRANHOLM: OK. So -- all right. So let's look at the trustworthiness issue. I mean, Donald Trump and the speakers last night came out with rap after rap of statements that have been evaluated by PolitiFact and other fact-checkers and found to be false.

FERGUSON: Give me one.

GRANHOLM: Donald Trump has 85 percent of the statements --

FERGUSON: Give me one. Give me one fact, though.

GRANHOLM: OK. So Chris Christie comes and says, Boko Haram, that when she was there, they started a Twitter campaign against Boko Haram. She left office in 2013. Boko Haram attacked in 2014. That Twitter "Bring Our Daughters Back" came in 2014. Just one example.

Another example, Chris Christie and Donald Trump Jr. --

(CROSSTALK)

COSTELLO: Well, you asked me for examples, you have to let her.

FERGUSON: Yes, but I mean --

GRANHOLM: And Chris Cox saying she wants to take your guns away.

FERGUSON: She does.

GRANHOLM: That is total B.S.

FERGUSON: It's not B.S.

GRANHOLM: And -- no, no. Everything --

FERGUSON: If you look at what she said, if you look at what she said --

GRANHOLM: She has said that there should be background checks --

FERGUSON: Hold on, let me say this. [10:10:02] If you look at what she said, you cannot sit here and tell

me with a straight face that Hillary Clinton does not want to take away guns in America.

GRANHOLM: I can tell you. She does not want to take away guns.

FERGUSON: She doesn't like --

GRANHOLM: She wants the right people --

FERGUSON: You're telling me she wants to keep AR-15s in America? No, she doesn't, come on.

GRANHOLM: Come on.

COSTELLO: She doesn't want to take all guns.

FERGUSON: I didn't say all guns but the fact --

GRANHOLM: No, no --

COSTELLO: So clarify what you're saying.

FERGUSON: OK. Right. Yes, yes, yes. But I mean, Hillary Clinton obviously, you can't tell me she's a pro-gun candidate.

GRANHOLM: She believes in the Second Amendment. She does not want to take the Second Amendment away.

FERGUSON: Limited --

(CROSSTALK)

GRANHOLM: No, no --

COSTELLO: OK.

GRANHOLM: But the point is that they've been saying that she wants to get rid of the Second Amendment and that is false.

COSTELLO: OK. So let's talk this argument right here for just a moment. A lot of Republicans still aren't aboard the Trump train. If there is one unifying factor --

FERGUSON: It's Hillary Clinton.

COSTELLO: It's Hillary Clinton.

FERGUSON: Yes.

COSTELLO: And isn't that really the reason that they keep talking about Hillary Clinton at this convention?

FERGUSON: This is the best --

COSTELLO: Because that is the single unifying factor. There are still many Republicans who aren't quite sure about Donald Trump.

FERGUSON: And that's the reason why you saw a theme last night that was --

COSTELLO: But is that enough?

FERGUSON: Hillary -- yes, it is because if you look at her --

COSTELLO: So you're going to elect someone just because you hate the other person?

FERGUSON: It's not -- it's not about the hate, it's the fact that she's corrupt and above the law. There is a feeling with Hillary Clinton that you cannot trust her. Democrats have the same feeling. That's why Bernie Sanders did so well. 70 percent of Democrats in exit polls said they had a trust issue with Hillary Clinton.

COSTELLO: They also have a trust -- well, not a trust issue, but they don't really like Donald Trump either.

DESJARLAIS: Governor --

(CROSSTALK)

FERGUSON: But this is --

DESJARLAIS: What we have here -- the family has been rolled out, people who have not really gotten to know the real Donald Trump because of the circus of the primary but now what they're seeing is the kids coming out and talking about the man, Melania coming out and talking about the man. And the first time I met him in person it's different in person than it is on stage.

(CROSSTALK)

COSTELLO: But see, here's the thing -- here's the thing with that, Scott, and I got this from Larry Sabato. So all Trump's children are going to speak.

DESJARLAIS: Right.

COSTELLO: That's unprecedented in history, right? And the reason that so many of Trump's children are speaking is because he can't get past presidents to speak on his behalf.

DESJARLAIS: I don't know --

FERGUSON: I disagree.

(CROSSTALK)

COSTELLO: Really?

FERGUSON: Here's what I really believe. I --

COSTELLO: He wouldn't want someone like General Petraeus standing up an and talking on his behalf?

FERGUSON: Donald Trump, you need to soften him. That may be the best strategy that the Trump campaign has had. When you have children who are nonpolitical come out and want to do things for dad, it's just like the Bush twins in 2004. They wanted to be involved in their father's campaign. They wanted to help their father win in that election. And they weren't political. They were not as polished. But it comes across as authentic and real when a child comes out and talks about their father.

COSTELLO: I totally get it.

FERGUSON: And that's why --

(CROSSTALK)

COSTELLO: But there are six of them that are going to talk.

GRANHOLM: Right.

FERGUSON: Well, and I think, though, that those are your six best surrogates.

GRANHOLM: But you need more than that. They should be --

FERGUSON: They are.

GRANHOLM: This should be the pivot point to the general election. I get that everybody's speaking to the base but the -- but the regular voter out there wants to know what are you going to do for me, not how much you hate Hillary Clinton. You guys have done that very, very well. Spent two decades doing it. But what are you going to do for me? And we haven't heard any --

(CROSSTALK)

DESJARLAIS: Because what you say is what does the average voter wants. The average voter wants something other than the establishment. That's why Donald Trump is here. And that's why Donald Trump got the nomination.

GRANHOLM: He may be the average base voter in the Republican Party wants. But there's a lot of Democrats who really would like to see Hillary Clinton in office.

(CROSSTALK)

GRANHOLM: In fact there's a huge unity on the Democratic side.

FERGUSON: Donald Trump, though -- the reason why Donald Trump has become the nominee is because people do understand that he's an outsider, and that he -- and they know what he said he's going to do in Washington. You can't say his message through the entire campaign has not been that I am the complete opposite of Hillary Clinton, or any other Republicans. This idea that last night was a missed opportunity. The people know exactly what Donald Trump says he's going to do in

Washington. That's why they like --

GRANHOLM: No, they don't.

FERGUSON: You may not, you may not, but Republicans do. That's why he's going to get the nomination.

GRANHOLM: But what is he going to do to create jobs in America? What is -- what is he --

FERGUSON: I think he's made it pretty clear what he said.

GRANHOLM: OK, so what --

FERGUSON: Bring American jobs back.

GRANHOLM: So -- all right. So --

(CROSSTALK)

COSTELLO: I will disagree with that and only because that I went out and talked to Republicans here in the state of Ohio. Blue-collar Republicans who have absolutely no idea about how he's going to bring jobs back to Ohio except renegotiate trade deals. As far as anything else, they really don't know because he hasn't talked about that at length.

FERGUSON: But you look at here in Cleveland, look at steel, great example. I had a --

COSTELLO: I get all of what you're saying. I'm just saying --

(CROSSTALK)

COSTELLO: From Mr. Trump himself I haven't heard specifically what he's going to do to bring jobs back.

FERGUSON: No, I think when he talks about how he's going to change things in trade and he's going to bring back the American advantage, that is a theme that is a reality for many Americans when they look at industries that have disappeared.

(CROSSTALK)

GRANHOLM: I'm from Michigan, believe me, I totally get this.

FERGUSON: And I think that's enough. I think it's a fact that you actually acknowledge is a problem and then you say you understand how to do these deals and you understand how to do the business deals.

GRANHOLM: So that's the only thing he's going to do?

FERGUSON: That's one. You haven't --

(CROSSTALK) GRANHOLM: Well, that's --

COSTELLO: He'll have a chance on Thursday.

DESJARLAIS: So let Bill Clinton say it, the economy, stupid.

FERGUSON: Yes.

DESJARLAIS: Donald Trump gets the economy and that's why people are --

GRANHOLM: She gets that and she's got specific plans to do that, including making sure that trade is fair, but she's got --

FERGUSON: Look at her on the streets.

GRANHOLM: You go to her Web site and you see exactly what she's going to do.

(CROSSTALK)

COSTELLO: All right. I've got to end this here.

COSTELLO: Jennifer Granholm, Scott --

GRANHOLM: I'm just saying.

DESJARLAIS: We're only halfway through.

GRANHOLM: Wait.

COSTELLO: Thank you so much. I'll be right back.

[10:14:53]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: It is day three of the Republican National Convention. Today's theme, make America first again. 16 people scheduled to speak tonight. Among them, three of Trump's former rivals, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, Senator Marco Rubio will appear via video message, and Senator Ted Cruz who is not expected to endorse Trump tonight.

Vice presidential nominee, Indiana Governor Mike Pence will also take to the podium as well as Trump's son Eric.

I'm joined now by former Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, and Trump supporter.

Welcome. Thank you so much for being here.

JAN BREWER (R), FORMER ARIZONA GOVERNOR: Thank you. Thank you.

COSTELLO: So let's talk about Senator Ted Cruz. He's going to speak at the convention but he's not expected to endorse Mr. Trump. Why not?

BREWER: Well, I didn't know that he wasn't expected to not endorse him.

COSTELLO: That's what we're hearing.

BREWER: I would think he would come forward tonight and probably say some really lovely things about the Trump campaign. You know, they agreed -- a lot of things they agreed, that those people need a voice. They agree on -- you know, the economy. They agree on taxes. And they agree on the border.

[10:20:03] COSTELLO: But it was very vicious primary campaign.

BREWER: It was -- it was, you know.

COSTELLO: Mr. Trump said some terrible things about Mr. Cruz's family.

BREWER: Well, it has been an interesting campaign time on both sides of the aisle.

COSTELLO: Do you hope that Senator Cruz does endorse Mr. Trump?

BREWER: Well, we certainly would hope and welcome that endorsement. I -- you know, I think after the convention, Carol, that people will come forth and get on because the alternative is so much worse.

COSTELLO: But shouldn't the convention itself unify Republicans?

BREWER: And I think --

COSTELLO: The unification shouldn't come after.

BREWER: I think after, you know, yesterday and the day before and after tonight you will see many people coming forward. I've talked to them myself. You know, I'm from Arizona and there was a pretty bunch of a big divide in Arizona. And that they have -- they've tossed it in, they're going.

COSTELLO: I have noticed Senator John McCain is not here, right?

BREWER: Well --

COSTELLO: A lot of prominent Republicans.

BREWER: And, you know, and I'm a supporter of John McCain. I mean, I've endorsed him, and he's out there and he's campaigning. And he's got a primary and he's very concerned about it as we all should be when we run for election. But --

COSTELLO: But had Mr. Trump not kind of disrespected his war service, do you think that Senator John McCain would have been here?

BREWER: No. I don't. I think John is a really hard campaigner. When he's running for election, of which he has done very successfully in the past, he's out there. He is a man with unbelievable energy and he just go, go, go. I've campaigned with him. I know how he travels. And he's a people person.

COSTELLO: And he is. He is involved in a very tight race in Arizona and I do know that.

Another powerful Republican who will not be here is the Ohio governor, John Kasich. I mean, Republicans have to deliver the state of Ohio where they're not likely to win the presidency, right?

So I'd just like you to listen to why John Kasich says he won't be here basically.

BREWER: OK.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JOHN KASICH (R), OHIO: I am thrilled to be in Cleveland. I'm having the time of my life. It's just not for me to go because that's not where I think I need to be in terms of what I have stood for through the presidential campaign.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: You know, he's still concerned about the negativity of the campaign. He still doesn't feel very comfortable about Mr. Trump or where Mr. Trump stands on issues that he's passionate about. And won't that hurt Mr. Trump if he doesn't have at least some nice words from Ohio's governor?

BREWER: Well, I really like John Kasich. I think he's a great guy. I served with him. And he has done a wonderful job in Congress a reputation and in Ohio. So I would hope that John McCain -- that John Kasich would get on board. I think he would be very, very helpful.

COSTELLO: Is he wrong not to show up here?

BREWER: I think that as Republicans, once the nominee has been chosen, that everybody should get on board and support them to the best of their ability and their capacity.

COSTELLO: But do you think for the good of the Republican Party that John Kasich should show up here and at least voice some support for a Republican who voters put here in the first place?

BREWER: Well, I think it's unusual to come to a state where the national party is holding their his convention and not be there. I -- you know, his opposition must run very, very deep. But, you know, there's still time --

COSTELLO: Doesn't that concern you?

BREWER: It does concern me. It does. Because I really like John. And I mean, he could do so much for the Republican Party if he would get on board.

COSTELLO: Should Mr. Trump call him up and say hey, hey, John, let's put our differences aside, come to the convention?

BREWER: I think that would be grand. I think that would be wonderful. And you know, I'd probably do that if it were up to me and maybe something that I would suggest to the Trump campaign. But sometimes people --

(CROSSTALK)

COSTELLO: Well let me ask you --

BREWER: They dig themselves in. They dig themselves in.

COSTELLO: Is that what it is? Because I was just going to ask, I mean, what would it take to get John Kasich here?

BREWER: You know, people are reaching out to him. I mean, I could probably try to reach out to him or text him or something, say, hey, John. But I think that some of these issues that are well known have run deep. And run deep. But when we leave here this week and we get back out there, I think we will see everybody really coming together. I think some of those hurt feelings and deep hurts will be gone. I do. I hope. I do. I want everybody to be unified. We want to win this election. We're going to win this election.

COSTELLO: Jan Brewer, thanks for stopping by.

BREWER: Thank you, Carol. Thank you.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, Newt Gingrich defends Melania Trump's speech by saying Democrats borrow language, too. We'll talk about that next.

[10:24:55]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: And good morning, I'm Carol Costello, live at the Republican National Convention in beautiful Cleveland, Ohio. Thank you so much for joining me.

Newt Gingrich now weighing in on the plagiarism controversy surrounding Melania Trump's convention speech. Moments ago during a one-on-one interview with CNN's Jamie Gangel, Gingrich dismissed the firestorm and pointed the finger right at the media.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMIE GANGEL, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT: Monday night, there was this controversy because there were these strikingly similar lines, plagiarism in Melania's speech from Michelle Obama's speech. Do you think that's a problem?