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Interview with Eric Trump; Republicans Try to Unify Party Behind Trump; Ted Cruz to Speak at RNC; Melania Speech Writers Offers Resignation, Trump Refuses to Accept It; NRA's Chris Cox Says Clinton Wants to Abolish 2nd Amendment; Interview with Clinton Supporter Rep. Xavier Becerra. Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired July 20, 2016 - 13:30   ET

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

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[13:30:00] ERIC TRUMP, SON OF DONALD TRUMP: More corporations going into Indiana than any other state in the country. You go down the list. You know what he did with K-12 education. The vets have the second highest employment in the country. Life the things my father has been talking about for the last 13 months. He's done it in the state so well.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: What's been the high point over the last year and the follow up, the low point?

TRUMP: I think last night may have been the high point. There were two. I think when he won New Hampshire. I'll never forget we were sitting in a hotel room, some random hotel. And it was just us as a family. And they came across. You might have been the one who came across, CNN announces Donald Trump's the winner of New Hampshire. And I'll never forget that moment. It was an incredible moment. It was our first win in politics. We kind of all hugged, we embraced. That was amazing. The other one was obviously right after Indiana when, you know, Cruz dropped out and Kasich dropped out simultaneously. Here he was as the presumptive nominee. Last night when the three of us were on the floor and we got that count and it was that we got it over 1,237 and don announced he was now the president of the United States. That was the high point. And I guarantee you that the next high point is going to be on November 8th because we're going to win it. I see the movement. I feel that strongly about it.

BLITZER: And the low point?

TRUMP: You know, I don't know. There's been a lot of twists and turns. I mean, people have been incredibly tough, people have been very, very unfair. There are so many things I've seen throughout the campaign which was so ridiculous. So hurtful in so many ways and so many things he's had to fight through. You know, I also think maybe Iowa was a low point for me personally. We put a lot into the state and it was a state I think we actually won, you remember some of the things that happened the day of the actual thing. Day also taught us a tremendous amount about politics. It taught us how the game is played. It taught us the things that are going to happen. It was the best thing that happened to us in that it taught us a tremendous amount. At the same time, it was the first little kind of punch to the gut.

BLITZER: So will you go out on the campaign trail? Are we going to see you, you and your siblings campaigning?

TRUMP: I've been to every debate. I care about standing next to the man, if nothing else for emotional support. I care about him, love him. He's a tremendous person. He would be a tremendous leader. I'll fight by his side until November. I believe in him and belie what he'll do for the country is terrific. I believe in the cause and I believe in family. He's been by my side every single day of my life. He supported me in everything I've ever done. I'm going to be on the stage with him and supporting him and going to do that tonight when I deliver the speech. And we'll be there, Wolf.

BLITZER: You know your dad well. A lot of people out there don't know your dad. What single aspect of him do you know that you want to share with our viewers right now? Something about your dad that we may not know.

TRUMP: I think the kindness. You know, and the fatherly aspect. He has bee an amazing father to me. He's been an amazing grandfather to don and Ivanka's children. He's a warm and kind person. He's incredibly loyal person. Sometimes that doesn't come across in debates because you have to have your guard up. You have to have tremendous backbone. Make no mistake about it, my father is an incredible fighter. That's what you have to do. This country, we need a fighter. In business you have to fight. If you don't fight in business you get run over in three seconds. In New York real estate you'll get run over. Sometime the persona is being a tough fighter. That's what he is. I think that's what you'll get as president. At the same time, deep down, I mean, he's a charitable person. There is no greater father in the world. You see what tiffany said, Don said what I'm say tonight, you'll see what I say tonight, you'll see what Ivanka will say. You could read right through us if we weren't sincere. He's been an amazing father to us.

BLITZER: You've been practicing your speech? You've been rehearsing. Reading from a teleprompter, and I do it all the time, it's not that easy?

TRUMP: It's different. Most of the time, when we go up, we have that innate ability to wing it, but it's different. I think it's going to go amazing. I think I have a great product and I care. When you speak from the heart, it always somehow works out. You know, that's what you'll see.

BLITZER: Good luck tonight.

TRUMP: Great being with you.

BLITZER: Thanks very much.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Eric Trump speaking with me earlier this morning here in Cleveland. The Republican convention, we're following the breaks news, a speech

writer in the Trump campaign offers her resignation after allegations that Melania Trump's Republican National Committee speech, at least a couple or three paragraphs chunks of it, were plagiarized from Michelle Obama. We have new information on that. Stand by.

[13:34:53] Trump used to call him Lyin' Ted. Now he's having him speak at the Republican convention tonight. Standing by. These are live pictures. You're getting ready to hear from Ted Cruz very soon. Will he endorse Donald Trump? Will he help unite the party behind the Republican presidential nominee? I'll speak live with two prominent Republicans about that and more. Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and Chris Collins are here at the CNN Grill.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Right now, we're waiting for the arrival of the Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, here in Cleveland. Trump will be joined in today's kickoff events scheduled to begin very soon by his family and by his running mate, Mike Pence, who will be speaking during night three of the Republican convention, later tonight.

Also, I want to reset our top story this hour. We now have heard from a staff writer in the Trump Organization who says she wrote Melania Trump's speech and admits that some parts came from Michelle Obama's 2008 convention speech. She said it was an inadvertent error. Meredith McIver apologized for the mistake and offered her resignation and Donald Trump refused to accept it, saying people make mistakes. She's been a loyal employee at the Trump Organization.

Phil Mattingly is joining us, he's at the arena.

Phil, what more can you tell us about this speech writer, her apology, and what happened?

PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, you make an interesting point just up top. She is not a campaign official. She's not a campaign advisor. She is a Trump Organization in-house staffer. We are e-mailing back and forth. The Trump advisor said she's well- regarded inside the Trump family.

She offered her resignation, Donald Trump rejected the offer. She's been with the family for a while.

As to the apology itself, she made clear, what happened, according to her, was she was on the phone with Melania Trump, they were jotting down things from people she was influenced by, Michelle Obama being one of them. She jotted down a few lines from the 2008 Democratic National Convention speech. That is how it ended up in the final speech. She inadvertently included it. That is her explanation.

The big issue here is, over the course of the last 24 hours, the Trump campaign publicly has pushed back very hard on any indication that this was plagiarism, despite what everybody's been reporting instead. All of those comments now look wrong, because of this staffer now acknowledging. This is the first Trump campaign apology, admitting wrong doing. They're trying to move on it day three of the convention -- Wolf?

[13:39:55] BLITZER: All right. Phil Mattingly thanks for that update.

The calls for Republicans to unite are growing louder and louder here in Cleveland now that Donald Trump is officially the nominee of the Republican Party for president.

The House Speaker Paul Ryan was lukewarm in his initial reaction to Trump, as all of you remember. At the convention last night, he said it's time for the Republican Party to come together.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. PAUL RYAN, (R-WI), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: What do you say that we unify this party at this crucial moment when unity is everything?

(CHEERING)

RYAN: Let's take our fight to our opponents with better ideas. Let's get on the offensive and stay there. Let's compete in every part of America and turn out at the polls like every last vote matters because it will.

(CHEERING)

RYAN: Fellow Republicans, what we have begun here, let's see this thing through. Let's win this thing. Let's show America our best and nothing less.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Joining us now, Representative Adam Kinzinger, of Illinois; and Representative Chris Collins, of New York.

Congressmen, thank you very much for joining me.

REP. CHRIS COLLINS, (R), NEW YORK: Thanks.

BLITZER: You were the first member of the House to endorse Donald Trump.

You have not endorsed Donald Trump, at least not yet.

You heard what the speaker said are you ready to join the speaker and say you're going to support Donald Trump.

REP. ADAM KINZINGER, (R), ILLINOIS: Look, I intend to support Donald Trump, the Republican nominee. I want to hear how the speech goes tomorrow. There's a few Republicans that have some concerns when it comes to areas of foreign policy and stuff. And, you know, Donald Trump has week and a unifying week for the party. He'll have an opportunity tomorrow to address some of those things, Mike Pence will tonight. The pick of Mike Pence has been positive for Donald, all and all.

BLITZER: Are you hearing that? There are some Republicans, Congressman, who are not coming to Cleveland, including the Republican governor of Ohio, John Kasich. He's not even here. Interesting that the Democratic mayor of Cleveland showed up to welcome the delegates but the Republican governor of Ohio, he's boycotted this convention.

COLLINS: I can't speak for the governor. What I will tell you, Wolf, is the party is uniting solidly behind Donald Trump. I think as we leave this convention, we'll have over 90 percent of Republicans there.

Hillary is the great uniting of our party, Never Hillary, the Supreme Court, her Second, Tenth Amendment. There are so many critical issues. The country could not survive four years, let alone eight years of a Hillary Clinton presidency. She's uniting our party.

There's nothing wrong with disagreeing on certain issues with anyone and everyone whether it's your wife or your kids or your best friend. Hillary Clinton is uniting the party. You're hearing the speeches. They're going after her, as we should. And so I'm comfortable. This is a great unifying convention.

BLITZER: Congressman Kinzinger what your reaction to a speech writer for the Trump Organization said she copied a few lines from Michelle Obama's 2008 speech and it wound up in Melania's speech?

KINZINGER: I'll take her word for it. I think it was glaring mistake I would think it would have to be a legitimate mistake versus an intentional copy. I am concerned with the continuing double down of we did nothing wrong, and, OK, yeah, somebody did something wrong. I think people ought to be given leverage for this. I think the campaign should have been clear at this was not intentional. I think it's time to move on.

Tonight is going to be a good night for the party. We're going to stress the importance not just talking about the presidency but holding the House, holding the Senate, and insuring we have good Republicans in office

BLITZER: What was your reaction to the whole Melania Trump speech issue?

COLLINS: Right now, it says a lot about Donald Trump's character that he's keeping the speech writer on, did not run her over with a bus. There is no one more loyal than Donald Trump. We saw that again. I think America would like all of us to be magnanimous and forgiving, and he was. It was truly a mistake, an honest mistake by her. And I think it is time to move on. But I think it says a lot positive about Donald Trump's character.

BLITZER: You're an Iraq war veteran. What specifically would you like Donald Trump to say in his speech tomorrow night that would reassure you that he's your man for the presidency?

KINZINGER: I've got a lot of details. I don't expect that to come. I think things like American strength and engagement in the world is important. Not militarily everywhere but understanding we have a purpose in being engaged. I think pushing back against the Russians. I've been concerned with the rhetoric about Russia which I think has been devastating to Europe and Europe's security. Maybe talking a little more about ISIS and, frankly, the need to destroy them. But then long term how you'll win the fight. This is a generational fight as much as I hate to say it. It's winning a war of ideas.

BLITZER: Guys, thanks for joining us.

KINZINGER: You bet. Thanks.

BLITZER: We'll see you today. We'll see you tomorrow at the convention.

(LAUGHTER)

COLLINS: Very good.

BLITZER: Adam Kinzinger, Chris Collins --

(CROSSTALK)

[13:44:50:] BLITZER: -- thank you very much.

Still to come, there is one person who seems to be unifying the Republican Party right now, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton. We're going to discuss that after the break.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Once again we're standing by. Donald Trump getting ready to arrive in Cleveland. Ted Cruz is on the right side of your screen, getting ready to speak. We're going to monitor that and see whether he will go ahead and endorse Donald Trump.

One theme at the Republican convention last night was jobs. Many of the speakers took the opportunity to go after Hillary Clinton, including the National Rifle Association Chief lobbyist, Chris Cox, who says if elected Hillary Clinton, will abolish the Second Amendment to the Constitution. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[13:50:03] CHRIS COX, CHIEF LOBBYIST, NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION: In case you're wondering where Hillary Clinton stands, she said, quote, "The Supreme Court is wrong on the Second Amendment." It's that simple. A Hillary Clinton Supreme Court means your right to own a firearm is gone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: CNN, last night, fact-checked Chris Cox's claims, and on a recording leaked last year, Hillary Clinton did say the Supreme Court got it wrong on the Second Amendment. Clinton was referring a 2008 case which struck down Washington, D.C.'s, ban on handguns and overturned a requirement that guns be kept either unloaded or bound by a trigger lock. Hillary Clinton explained the comment, saying she worried the decision would allow future gun safety measures to be overturned. However, Hillary Clinton has never called for the establishment -- for the abolishment, I should say, of the Second Amendment. Therefore, CNN rules Chris Cox's claims as false.

With us now to discuss this, Chris Cox.

You want to react to that? She said she supports the Second Amendment, she believes people should be able to buy guns, but there should be restrictions on the purchase of guns.

COX: Sure. This fits very neatly into Hillary Clinton's pattern of lying to the American people on issue after issue after issue. In a moment of honesty, and you mentioned it -- she said that the Supreme Court was wrong on the Second Amendment. It is important for your viewers to know all the Supreme Court said was that you have the right to keep a gun in your home to defend your family, and Hillary Clinton says it was wrong. We know Justice Ginsburg, both before and after Justice Scalia's death, has said she looks forward in the future overturning that decision. If you don't have the right to keep a gun in your home to defend your family, you have no right at all. Hillary Clinton can say whatever she wants and try to back away from a toxic political position, but we're not going to let her get away with it, regardless of what your fact checks say.

BLITZER: But she says she wants restrictions on gun purchases, background checks. A recent CNN/ORC poll, among Republicans, agree that 91 percent favor universal background checks. 88 percent believe certain people, like those who have committed felonies or suffer from mental health issues, should be prevented from going out there and buying guns.

COX: Sure. And if Hillary Clinton wants to have a conversation about keeping guns away from hands of people with mental health problems, violent criminals, she needs to pick up the phone and call President Obama and tell him to tell the Justice Department to start prosecuting criminals in Chicago, to start prosecuting criminals across this country, to encourage the states to put mental health record into the system so they can be denied. Those are things that the national rifle association's been working on and calling for, for decades. But it's Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer and Barack Obama who would rather play politics with the issues than get something done.

BLITZER: Chris, stand by for a moment, because Ted Cruz is now speaking. I want to listen in briefly to see if in fact he goes and endorses Donald Trump.

(CHANTING)

SEN. TED CRUZ, (R), TEXAS & FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You know with be this afternoon, this afternoon is really for one very simple purpose, and it is to say thank you to each and everyone of you. Thank you from the very, very bottom of our hearts.

(APPLAUSE)

CRUZ: More than anything else, Heidi and I are filled with extraordinary gratitude and thankfulness. Together, the men and women here, we have been part of an amazing journey. And it has been the privilege of our lifetimes to stand with each and every one of you fighting for our country. The men and women gathered here today, you are patriots. You love this country. You love our constitution. You love our freedom. You love our children. And you believe in tomorrow. And this campaign I believe was about a lot more than one campaign, or one candidate. This was a movement all across this country. You know, I'm reminded over and over again of the inspiration we received -- some people would ask on the campaign, do you guys get tired? Do you get beaten down by all the nonsense? And the answer I would give over and over again is, no. I am inspired, and I'm inspired by each and every one of you.

(CHEERING)

(APPLAUSE)

CRUZ: I was inspired by two little children in California, 4-year-old and 6-year-old, who when we were out there, they gave me an envelope filled with change. They had held a lemonade stand the weekend before. They said we want to give everything we made at that lemonade stand to the campaign because this is the future of our country.

(APPLAUSE)

CRUZ: I'm inspired by a gentleman in North Carolina who sent an e- mail to our campaign. He said, I'm retired. My wife and I, we're on Social Security. He said every month we send $200 to the campaign. He said a couple of weeks ago, my wife fell and broke her hip and just had to have surgery, and we can't send our $200 this month. I just wanted to e-mail and say I'm sorry we don't have the money this month but we're with you.

(APPLAUSE)

CRUZ: You know, I'm inspired by a woman in Indiana, when Heidi was in this -

[13:56:12] BLITZER: We're going to continue to monitor Ted Cruz. He's speaking right now here in Cleveland we'll see how far he goes in saying whether or not he will endorse Donald Trump.

Chris Cox is still with us.

Very quickly, Donald Trump, as you well know, after the Orlando nightclub shooting, he tweeted this on June 15th -- I will be meeting with the NRA who has endorsed me about not allowing people on the terrorist watch list or no-fly list to buy guns. Has he met with the NRA? I know you weren't happy with that tweet.

COX: We were fine with that tweet because the truth is Donald Trump's position is the same as the National Rifle Association. We do not want terrorists to have access to firearms legally or illegally. What we've asked for is when the government keeps a secret list, that there be due process protection for law-abiding Americans who have put on that list.

BLITZER: Have you met with Trump?

COX: We've had multiple conversations with the campaign and those conversations with continue.

BLITZER: With the campaign but not directly with Donald Trump?

COX: I've had conversations with Mr. Trump as well. Again, there is no difference between Mr. Trump's position and NRA's position.

BLITZER: You guys are exactly on the same page.

COX: We are on the same page.

BLITZER: Stand by for a moment.

A Democratic Congressman from California is over with as well.

Vice president? Is that in the cards or not happening?

REP. XAVIER BECERRA, (D), CALIFORNIA: It's somewhere in the cards.

BLITZER: For you. We're talking about for you.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: You were vetted, right?

BECERRA: The secretary's looking at a number of people. I know she's reducing the list.

BLITZER: You were on that list.

BECERRA: I know that they were looking at a lot of people.

BLITZER: You can say it.

BECERRA: I can say it, but I don't know how far things have gone.

BLITZER: But presumably Friday and Saturday she'll be making an announcement.

BECERRA: I think so.

BLITZER: You haven't been told officially who it is?

BECERRA: Want me to whisper it in your ear?

(LAUGHTER)

No. Again, that's -- (CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: So a lot of people are wondering, you're a Democratic congressman, you are a top-notch Democratic leader in the House of Representatives, you're here in enemy territory in Cleveland at the Republican convention. Tell us how you got leer and why you're here.

BECERRA: I took a plane. I did it the way most Americans do. It is a great city. People have been great. I hope that Republicans have a good convention because we need to have active parties that are really trying to show America what's the best part of us and we have to come out with a winner. I hope they do well. I've not been completely pleased with what I've heard in the last few days.

BLITZER: When you heard the crowd screaming out during Chris Christie's speech last night -- lock her up, lock her up, talking about Hillary Clinton.

BECERRA: That disturbs me when anyone yells that kind of thing about someone who could be the next president of the United States. I don't mind locking someone up who's committed a crime, who has been adjudicated and found guilty. But there's no evidence that Secretary Clinton deserves to have people saying "lock her up." I think it is unfortunate. I don't believe it is America. It may be this convention but I don't think it in America.

BLITZER: How far do you think the Democrats will go in Philadelphia next week? There are going to be some tough, tough words about Donald Trump.

BECERRA: We'll prosecute based on the facts. We don't have to turn to anyone other than Donald Trump and his words to prosecute those facts. I think they'll try to do it in a way that shows we understand that it is still a campaign and Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton will probably be the next president and we want to respect whoever will become the next president. Even though Donald Trump has said some things that I find very offensive, in fact, I think it is still important to respect t system, respect the process, because we want everyone -- not just in America but around the world to respect our president.

BLITZER: What do you think of the first two nights of this convention?

BECERRA: As I said, I think it's been lacking. I hear a lot of talk about uniting but all the previous Republican presidents and all the previous Republican nominees for president, except Bob Dole, are skipping.

BLITZER: Do you accept the explanation words got into Melania Trump's speech?

BECERRA: Plagiarism is plagiarism. I'm glad they admitted it. Get it off the table.

BLITZER: Inadvertent error. BECERRA: Plagiarism is plagiarism. But you make a mistake, admit it.

BLITZER: Representative Becerra, thanks very much.

BECERRA: Thank you.

BLITZER: Appreciate it.

That's it for me. I'll be back at 5:00 p.m. eastern in "The Situation Room."

The news continues next right here on CNN.