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State of the Union

Khizr Khan Calls on GOP Leaders to Repudiate Trump; Interview With Vice Presidential Candidate Tim Kaine; Interview With Alabama Senator Jeff Session; Trump Inviting Russia to Interfere in Election?; The General Election Campaign; President Obama's Post-Presidency Plans. Aired 9-10a ET

Aired July 31, 2016 - 09:00   ET

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

[09:00:15]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): From the heart, the grieving father who stole the show at the Democratic Convention.

KHIZR KHAN, FATHER OF KILLED U.S. SOLDIER: Donald Trump, have you seen read the United States Constitution?

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

KHAN: I will gladly lend you my copy.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

ACOSTA: Now Trump's lashing out at him.

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: His wife, she was standing there. She had nothing to say. She probably -- maybe she wasn't allowed to have anything to say. You tell me.

ACOSTA: He will respond live in moments.

Plus: hitting the road. After the star-studded convention, Clinton and Kaine aim for a victory lap with a swing-state bus tour. Can he help her in the heartland?

SEN. TIM KAINE (D-VA), VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: It's easier to brag on somebody else sometimes than talking about yourself, and that's one of the things I think I can do.

ACOSTA: The exclusive interview next.

And more hacks. The FBI now says Clinton's campaign computers were infiltrated. Is Russia meddling in an American election, and is Trump inviting them to?

TRUMP: Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 e-mails that are missing.

ACOSTA: A top Trump adviser will be here live. Plus, the best political minds will be here with insights from the

campaign trail.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA: Hello. I'm Jim Acosta, in for Jake Tapper, where the state of our union is in a war of words.

Donald Trump is hitting back at a father of a fallen Muslim U.S. soldier who confronted him on stage at the Democratic National Convention.

Trump, in response, compared his business success to the death of Khan's son.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I think I have made a lot of sacrifices. I have worked very, very hard. I have created thousands and thousands of jobs, tens of thousands of jobs. When I can employ thousands and thousands of people, take care of their education, take care of so many things.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: And that father who stole the show at the Democratic Convention, Khizr Khan, is here with me now.

Mr. Khan, good morning. Thank you very much for your time.

KHAN: Good morning. They for inviting me.

ACOSTA: Yes, sir.

And after giving that interview, Donald Trump released a statement last night -- I'm sure you have seen it -- calling your son a hero. As a matter of fact, he tweeted as much just a few moments ago. But he also said in the statement last night that you have no right to stand in front of millions of Americans and say he has never read the Constitution.

What is your response to Donald Trump this morning?

KHAN: I appreciate his response, his press release that was issued last night, confirming that he accepts my son as a hero of this country.

But to answer your question, his policies, his practices do not reflect that he has any understanding of the basic fundamental constitutional principles of this country, what makes this country exceptional, what makes this country exceptional in the history of the mankind.

There are principles of equal dignity, principle of liberty. He talks about excluding people, disrespecting judges, the entire judicial system, immigrants, Muslim immigrants. These are -- divisive rhetoric that is totally against the basic constitutional principle. If you read the Constitution, you will -- either deliberately would be

violating those principles, or you have not read. That is why I have watched whole year and rest of the world has watched, and the love and affection and support that we have received after my statement at every corner of the street, at every place, the affection, the support, the love that I have received, that we continue to receive, is a testament that he is talking about ignorance. He is not fully aware of these principles.

ACOSTA: And in the same interview that Donald Trump gave in response to your speech, he seemed to go after your wife, suggesting that perhaps she didn't speak at the convention because of her -- of your Muslim faith.

Let's take a listen to that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: His wife -- if you look at his wife, she was standing there. She had nothing to say. She probably -- maybe she wasn't allowed to have anything to say. You tell me. But plenty of people have written that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: What's your response to that?

KHAN: That's, again, height of ignorance on a part of a candidate for the highest office of this nation.

[09:05:00]

Two things are absolutely necessary in any leader or any person that aspires, wishes to be a leader. That is moral compass, and second is empathy. This candidate is void of both traits that are necessary for the stewardship of this country.

ACOSTA: You don't believe he's fit to be president?

KHAN: I do not believe his whole yearlong rhetoric, division, excluding people, talking about them derogatorily, has prepared him.

He promised to the Republican leadership that he will change his manner, he will not be as ignorant as he had been. But he had continued. Those two traits of moral compass and empathy are absolutely necessary for the leader of a free world, leader of a nation like United States.

ACOSTA: And for all of those viewers out there who are wondering why your wife stood by you silently during the convention?

KHAN: Her medical condition.

She has written an op-ed in her own words, her own voice why didn't she speak. I invited her that, when you come to the stage, can you say, "Thank you for inviting us; my husband will speak further"? She said: "You know my condition. When I see my son's picture, I

cannot hold myself together."

For this candidate for presidency to not be aware of the respect of a Gold Star Mother standing there, and he had to take that shot at her, this is height of ignorance. This is why I showed him that Constitution. Had he read that, he would know what status a Gold Star Mother holds in this nation.

This country holds such a person in the highest regard. And he has no knowledge, no awareness. That is height of his ignorance. She is ill. She had high blood pressure. People that know her looked at her face, and she said, "I may fall off the stage."

And I told her that, "You have to assemble yourself and stand for the beauty of this tribute that is being paid."

This person is total incapable of empathy. I want his family to counsel him, teach him some empathy. He will be a better person if he could become -- but he is a black soul. And this is totally unfit for the leadership of this beautiful country.

The love and affection that we have received affirms that our beliefs, our experience in this country had been correct and positive. The world is receiving us like we have never seen. They have seen the blackness of his character, of his soul, that he is void of recognizing, empathizing with people.

ACOSTA: And you mentioned that Constitution that you keep with you in your pocket. You have it with you right now.

KHAN: I always...

ACOSTA: Why do you have it with you?

KHAN: I always have it because it embodies, it enshrines the existence of this nation.

This nation, we live here so often -- we are here -- we become unappreciative of the goodness of this country, but we are testament to that. We live every day. I have a stack of this -- this beautiful document at my home.

When guests come, I am so delighted to start the conversation by handing them a copy. Luckily, I had it in my pocket. I didn't know that I have it. My words were different. My words were: I hope you have read the Constitution. I hope you will look for the words of liberty and equal justice and equal dignity.

When I was getting ready to come get in the cab to go to the convention, when I put my coat on, I touched it, and it was in my pocket. It is always -- whenever I wear a coat, it is in my pocket.

ACOSTA: And Trump accused you of having these words written for you by the Clinton campaign. Is there any truth to that? Did you write the speech yourself? KHAN: There is no -- there is no truth to that. You are listening to

me. You are talking to me.

And over there, I had limit of the time. I had written a longer speech. And I am going to say the rest of the speech to you right now. There is no Clinton campaign here. There is no prompter here.

I am articulate person. I can utter my thoughts and utter my feelings. And I address -- which my wife asked me to not include those things, but this is the time to say those things I wanted to address, and I address them now.

[09:10:05]

I address the Senate majority leader, a patriot, and I address the speaker of the House, a patriot American. It is their moral obligation. History will not forgive them. This election will pass, but history will be written. The lapse of moral courage will hold them, will remain burdened on their souls, on their leadership.

ACOSTA: What do you -- what do you want the Republican leaders to do, Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan?

KHAN: To repudiate him.

They have suggested -- they have sat with him, as we are aware, in public. They have advised him. They have counseled him, entire leadership of the Republican Party. I know Republicans are as patriot as Democrats, as independents.

But he had promised them to mend his ways, divisive ways, harmful way, hurtful manner and policies. Yet he comes back again on the same thing.

It is majority leader's and speaker's moral, ethical obligation to not worry about the votes, but repudiate him, withdraw the support. If they do not, I will continue to speak, and I am speaking.

I have received tremendous support from Republicans saying to me that, in last -- they have never voted in Democratic -- for Democrats. This year, they are not going to vote Republican because -- for the office of president because of this candidate.

ACOSTA: You have obviously received an overwhelming response to your speech. And you just mentioned that many Republicans have reached out to you to say that they appreciate your words.

What about the supporters of Donald Trump? Have you heard from them? What are they saying to you?

KHAN: I -- the people that have called, left messages, I do not know what their political affiliation is.

But it appears, from the overwhelming response and affection and support that we continue to receive, is, that is what Captain Humayun Khan died fighting for, the liberty, equal dignity. That is what these patriots fight the war for America, to keep it safe, to keep it -- in addition to this, there was in the speech that my good wife asked me to refrain from saying.

I wanted to say, we reject all violence. We are faithful, patriotic, undivided loyalty to this country. We reject all terrorism.

She asked me not to say that because that was not the occasion for such a statement.

We say to his ignorance -- I address his ignorance -- that the direct effect, the most effect of the terrorism in -- the menace of terrorism had been Muslims in the world. Muslims hate this menace of terrorism as much as any other place. It is our duty to keep this country, our country, beautiful country, safe.

We have always thought of that way. We will continue to do our part to keep it safe and beautiful.

What he cites in the name of Islam and all that, that is not Islam at all. I wish he would have -- somebody would have put something in his head that these are terrorists, these are criminals. These folks have nothing to do with Islam.

ACOSTA: Khizr Khan, we appreciate your time this morning. Thank you for coming in.

We also appreciate the sacrifice of your son, Army Captain Humayun Khan.

Thank you very much for joining us this morning.

KHAN: Thank you very much.

ACOSTA: Appreciate your words. Thank you.

Coming up: the very personal issue Tim Kaine disagrees with Hillary Clinton on. It's coming up.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAINE: I'm a Catholic. And I accept the church's teaching on this issue.

As a vice president, I had to get comfortable with the notion that I can have my personal views, but I'm going to support the president of the United States. And I will.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:18:27]

ACOSTA: Welcome back to STATE OF THE UNION. I'm Jim Acosta, in for Jake Tapper. Newly married couples have honeymoons, and newly hitched running

mates, well, they have bus tours. Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine hit the road this weekend for some quality time together that just happened to take them through some key swing states.

Jake Tapper caught up with the would-be V.P. the morning after he shared the stage with Hillary Clinton and a whole lot of balloons.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: First of all, congratulations.

KAINE: Thank you, Jake. It's been a great week.

TAPPER: So, let me ask you a question. Do you think you could be president? Are you ready to make those kinds of decisions? Because that's what the gig really is.

KAINE: Yes. That's what I ought -- that's what it ought to be.

You ought to pick somebody for V.P. who can help you govern, and, God forbid, should something happen, could steer the nation over. I haven't missed a rung on the ladder, Jake. You know, I have been a city councilman and mayor, and lieutenant governor and governor, and now a U.S. senator with a foreign policy and armed services expertise.

TAPPER: Your son Nat is a Marine. He is deployed.

KAINE: Mm-hmm.

TAPPER: How does his service weigh into how you look at those life- or-death decisions?

KAINE: Jake, I'll tell you, I have cast a lot of votes in my life in those positions. There is never a vote that is as meaningful or powerful as when you're casting a war vote.

I voted twice in the Senate with respect to supporting the president to use military action against Syria, and then to support military action against ISIL. Those are very different votes than any vote you will ever cast.

But when you got a kid in the military who -- and a lot of his friends are in the military -- it's even more so. So, I have a very -- it's rare these days for somebody in Congress to have children in the military. There's only two of us in the Senate that do. It's probably about the same on the House side.

[09:20:05]

So, I am very mindful of anything we will be doing in this new role, giving my opinion to Secretary Clinton, and then supporting her, as we are making really hard decisions.

I -- you know, I have got a little of my own blood coursing through the veins of one of the two million young men and women who serve this country. And that adds an extra kind of sense of gravity and, frankly, gray hair.

TAPPER: Let's talk about some of the politics.

I don't want to dwell too much on it.

KAINE: Yes.

TAPPER: But there were protesters during Hillary Clinton's speech. They were worried about protesters heckling you.

KAINE: Yes.

TAPPER: Is there still work that needs to be done to unify the Democratic Party?

KAINE: Sure, there is, but I feel we're in a really, really good shape.

I was Democratic Party chair, so I'm used to the fact that we are a big family with a lot of different points of view. And I think Bernie did a good job this week by -- by telling his folks why Hillary was right and why Donald Trump is a -- you know, directly contrary to every value that he's ever held or advocated in his life.

TAPPER: Hillary Clinton and you have another challenge in how many Americans perceive her in terms of her honesty, in terms of how trustworthy she is. Can you help with that, do you think?

KAINE: I think I can, because, look, I can brag about her more than she's going to brag about herself.

I mean, this is a -- Hillary is a -- I call her kind of Midwestern Methodist church kid. You heard President Obama the other night talk about the Midwestern thing. And I'm from the Midwest.

We don't like to talk about ourselves much. That's not her natural way, and, frankly, it ain't mine either. But I love to brag on other people. And so I talk about Hillary.

When people ask a question like that, I say, look, if you want to know the character of somebody in public life, what you do is, you look to see, did they have a passion that was obvious before they got in public life, and have they maintained their passion all throughout that career, hell or high water, good or bad, victories or defeats?

Hillary's got that passion, from a teenager, the empowerment of families and children. And I said the other night at the convention, and Trump has got a passion, too, but his passion has been himself. Is it kids and families first, or is it me first?

I think Hillary -- even though this isn't her natural thing, I think when she told her story last night and walked through the battles that she's been in, I think you could tell that was coming from the heart and soul.

TAPPER: You mentioned Mr. Trump. Mike Bloomberg spoke at the convention, and he basically suggested that Donald Trump is not sane. Do you agree?

KAINE: Mike Bloomberg knows Trump, and I don't.

You know, I got to scratch my head all the time. Two days ago, he did a press conference and he told everybody what a lousy governor of New Jersey I was.

TAPPER: To be honest, you were.

(CROSSTALK)

KAINE: Yes, well, I was a no-show governor of New Jersey when I was governor of Virginia.

And the fact that, you know, he was a lousy governor of New Jersey, he tried to raise taxes by $4 billion on his first day in office -- OK, look, the guy is new to it, and we're a big country, and there are 50 states, and New Jersey is different than Virginia. I guess you got to let him climb the learning curve.

I don't know anything about his sanity. I have never met him. But somebody who would mistake New Jersey for Virginia, or Virginia for New Jersey, I mean, I just -- I just scratch my head.

(CROSSTALK)

TAPPER: He was confusing Tim Kaine with Tom Kean, I think, right?

KAINE: Tom Kean was governor of New Jersey, and he finished his term 26 years ago.

TAPPER: Right.

KAINE: I mean, I don't know. I was 5 years old then.

And I would have been a bad governor. No, actually, I was older than 5. But, at age 5, I would have been a bad governor.

TAPPER: One of the things you talked about in your speech was your -- your faith.

KAINE: Yes. Yes.

TAPPER: You're a Catholic.

So, I have to ask you about your position on abortion, because, when you started your career, you seemed very -- you seemed pro-life. You were anti-abortion.

Now you are not. And you have voted the way the Planned Parenthood and NARAL, groups like that, would like you too.

Robby Mook, the campaign manager for Hillary Clinton, said you have given the campaign assurances that you're with Hillary Clinton when it comes to her position on repealing the Hyde amendment, which bans federal funding. KAINE: That -- that is not accurate. And I don't think Robby has

said that, Jake.

Here's my -- my voting position on abortion has not really changed. I am a Catholic. And I accept the church's teaching on this issue, but I do not believe that the job of somebody in public life is to basically say, I am a Catholic, so my job is to make our laws consistent with Catholic doctrine and make everybody follow it.

This is an important personal matter. And I have always supported Roe v. Wade. I think the last thing we need is a government that intrudes upon the decision-making of women and men too when it comes to matters of whether it's abortion rights, contraception.

(CROSSTALK)

TAPPER: But you used to...

(CROSSTALK)

KAINE: Not on this. Not on this. No, look...

TAPPER: Not on Hyde?

KAINE: I -- well, on Hyde, my position is the same. I support the Hyde amendment. I haven't changed that.

But, as a vice president, I had to get comfortable with the notion that I can have my personal views, but I'm going to support the president of the United States. And I will.

TAPPER: What's been the most surprising part of this storm that you're in?

KAINE: Wow.

TAPPER: Your life is very, very different than it was a week ago.

[09:25:03]

KAINE: Surprising. It is just so -- you know, so much in the last week has just really changed and is different.

But, you know, I just -- I have a moral compass. And that's not changing. And I have a wonderful and warm family, who have been so supportive. And that's not changing.

That I am where I am, and that I was able to have my 81-year-old parents and my wife's 90-plus-year-old parents with us this weekend, it has just been...

(CROSSTALK)

TAPPER: I wanted to ask you, what was the reaction of your parents?

KAINE: My mother last night on stage, you know, history-making, to nominate the first woman as a president of a major party.

TAPPER: Sure.

KAINE: My mom on stage, with all the balloons falling -- she's 81. She says, "This is the best night of my life."

Now, when mom says that to son, I feel like I know at least for the next 48 or 72 hours, I'm going to be in good shape. I will do something on Monday that will make her mad. But it was a very, very powerful moment.

And I said to Hillary when I walked out -- when I walked out into that fantastic evening, I said to her, "This is a great country, and you just made it a lot greater."

TAPPER: All right. Well, congratulations.

KAINE: Thanks, Jake.

TAPPER: And we will see you on the trail.

KAINE: Look forward to it.

TAPPER: Thank you.

KAINE: You bet.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA: Donald Trump says the debate schedule with Hillary Clinton is rigged. Is he trying to back out?

I will ask a top Trump adviser next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:30:33]

ACOSTA: Welcome back.

Donald Trump this morning picking a fight with the gold star father who attacked Trump from the stage of the Democratic convention. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: If you look at his wife, she was standing there. She had nothing to say. She probably -- maybe she wasn't allowed to have anything to say. You tell me. But plenty of people have written that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: Joining me now is Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama. He's a senior adviser to Donald Trump. Senator, good morning. Thanks for joining us. You just heard Khizr Khan there in our interview here on STATE OF THE UNION a few moments ago. He said that Donald Trump has a black soul. What's your response to that?

SEN. JEFF SESSIONS (R), ALABAMA: I reject that. And I am disappointed that he would say that. Donald Trump complimented him. He praised his son, who gave his life for this country.

Mr. Khan's son served in the military. He did his duty and he gave his life for America and that deserves to be celebrated absolutely. But I don't think anybody that says we ought to slow down and be more careful about bringing in immigrants from countries that have terrorist tendencies and can't be vetted properly -- I don't believe that's a person who lacks a soul. In fact millions of Americans, a majority of Americans favor that kind of policy with regard to immigration from countries that have history of terrorism.

ACOSTA: But what do you say, Senator Sessions, to your fellow Republicans like Ohio Governor John Kasich, they're expressing disappointment in Donald Trump for his treatment of the Khan family. Donald Trump questioned whether the mother of this soldier did not speak because of her Muslim faith. Obviously, that is not the case. Could Donald Trump have handled this better, do you think, in your view?

SESSIONS: Well, it's important that we communicate these issues correctly. Every American, no matter what they are religion, is entitled to be protected in the free expression of that religion in America, but you don't have a religious right to demand entry into the United States. The constitution does not give that right. In fact, the law of the United States is crystal clear that the president should not admit people he -- classes of people he deems detrimental to the country.

ACOSTA: Right. But, senator, I think part of the -- right. But, senator, I think part of the issue is how Donald Trump responded to the wife of Khizr Khan, suggesting that she was silent there during the convention because of her faith.

SESSIONS: I read the transcript -- I read the transcript of what he said on the Stephanopoulos interview, Trump, you know, takes these interviews all the time, unlike Hillary Clinton, who hides from the press. And he -- his interview was not unkind. It was respectful. It did express condolences to the family for their loss, Jim.

ACOSTA: And let me ask you about some comments that Donald Trump made last week in inviting the Russians to hack into Hillary Clinton's emails, a comment that he later said he was being sarcastic about.

He did later say that he did not have any business dealings with the Russians. Let me put this up on screen. It says in this tweet, "For the record I have zero investments in Russia."

He was saying that in reaction to Democrats who are suggesting that perhaps he's taking a soft approach on Russia because he has business dealings there. But according to the "Washington Post" center there is strong evidence that Trump received significant funding through his businesses from those Russian investors.

What can you tell us about these investments? What are you aware of? Is he coming clean on this?

SESSIONS: What I want to tell you is that Hillary Clinton left her email system totally vulnerable to a Russian penetration. It's probably clear that they have what was on that system. I have people come up to me all the time and say, why don't you -- if you want to find out where those 30,000 emails are, why don't you ask the Russians? They're the ones that have them. So she has made a huge error in there.

Secondly, this whole problem with Russia is really disastrous for America, for Russia and for the world. Donald Trump is right. We need to figure out a way to end this cycle of hostility that's putting this country at risk, costing us billions of dollars in defense, and creating hostilities --

(CROSSTALK)

ACOSTA: But is he right about saying that he has no investments in Russia? Is he right when he says he has no --

SESSIONS: I don't think anything about -- look, that's not the big issue for America today, whether -- that's not the big issue.

[09:35:00]

The big issue is, can we, should we be able to create a new and positive relationship with Russia? I think it's -- is -- that makes no sense that we are at the hostility level we are.

ACOSTA: Let me ask you, senator --

(CROSSTALK)

SESSIONS: Hillary Clinton tried this reset and it failed.

ACOSTA: Yes.

SESSIONS: And we need to see what we can do in the future.

ACOSTA: Do you in your view is Vladimir Putin a good leader or a bad leader? Is he a good man or a bad man, in your view?

SESSIONS: What we need -- we have a lot of bad leaders around the world that operate in ways we would never tolerate in the United States. But the question is can we have a more peaceful, effective relationship with Russia. Utilizing interests that are similar in a realistic way to make this world a safer place and get off this dangerous hostility with Russia. I think it's possible --

(CROSSTALK) ACOSTA: Well, this is a good topic for the debates this fall, sir. Let me ask you this because we're running out of time here. The presidential debates are scheduled to begin on September 26th. Here's a look at the schedule September 26th, the first presidential debate. October 4th, the vice presidential debate. And then the following weeks the second and the third. On Friday Donald Trump took to Twitter and accused Hillary Clinton of trying to rig these debates so they're up against NFL games. Is he going to participate in these fall debates?

SESSIONS: Well, I would expect so. They'll negotiate intensely as you know is always done in these debates. Hillary Clinton wanted the lowest possible followership so she negotiated with Sanders to have bad dates. He wanted dates with higher rating possibilities. She wanted low rating possibilities.

I don't know what's going on in these negotiations but I suspect it will be intense as we go forward.

ACOSTA: And I think with Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton sharing the stage, we should get sky-high ratings no matter who they're up against that night, senator.

All right. Senator Jeff Sessions in Alabama. Thank you very much for joining us this morning. We appreciate it, sir. Thank you.

SESSIONS: Thank you, Jim.

ACOSTA: Talk about cleanup duty. Clinton's convention was upbeat, but is she recalibrating the message now that she is campaigning in the heartland? That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:41:17]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Nobody knows the system better than me.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

Which is why I alone can fix it.

CLINTON: Don't believe anyone who says, I alone can fix it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: That was Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton making their opening arguments to kick off the general election campaign. Whose message would be more effective?

With me Democratic Congressman Xavier Becerra, Republican Congressman Marsha Blackburn, plus CNN contributors Amanda Carpenter and Bakari Sellers. Everybody catch up on their rest from these last few weeks?

(LAUGHTER)

REP. XAVIER BECERRA (D), CALIFORNIA: Not yet.

ACOSTA: Not quite yet. Not yet. Call me in November.

Let me ask you first Congressman Becerra, when Donald Trump says I can fix it, I mean, he does -- he does resonate with that message across the country. I have been to a lot of these rallies. It resonates because people are just sick and tired of Washington. Isn't that an effective message for him?

BECERRA: If he could prove that he could fix things, perhaps it would be. If he could prove that this is a country that does things on its own where we don't work together as a team, perhaps. But this is America an America where we have built this country, we have fought and saved our democracy together. And saying you can do things by yourself won't cut it, especially when in fact what you've been doing is benefiting yourself and not necessarily trying to help your fellow Americans.

When he talks about bringing jobs to America, well, he could start by first manufacturing Trump ties in America, manufacturing Trump suits in America. Instead, he seems to be saying that he is all about himself and he puts himself first. You can't do things by yourself. This is a country where we do things as a team.

ACOSTA: Congressman Blackburn, let me ask you about the Democratic Convention because Khizr Khan seemed to steal the show from just about everybody.

And he pulled out that constitution and accused Donald Trump of not fully understanding the constitution. Do you think he fully understands the constitution?

REP. MARSHA BLACKBURN (R), TENNESSEE: I do think Donald Trump understands the constitution, and I think he fully understands how you make this country great.

You allow individuals to have the opportunity to make the country great. Let's bring back manufacturing. Let's deal with the EPA. Let's deal with regulatory overreach. Let's make certain that people have the opportunity to dream those big dreams and make those dreams come true. And he should --

BECERRA: So he'll manufacture ties and suits in America?

BAKARI SELLERS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I think --

BLACKBURN: I would love to see those come back and I think he would too. But look at what has happened because of all this regulation

BECERRA: Why do we have to wait? He didn't have to be president to bring those jobs back to America? He could do it right now.

BLACKBURN: And there are...

BECERRA: The regulation doesn't stop Donald Trump from manufacturing ties in America.

BLACKBURN: ... lots of companies I called -- I talked to --I think you need to rethink that one right there.

SELLERS: But congressman --

BLACKBURN: Look at what OSHA, the Department of Labor...

SELLERS: Congressman --

BLACKBURN: ... the EPA are doing to this country. Look at what has happened to manufacturing in the south. Come through my district look at all of these --

SELLERS: But congressman, that's not the issue.

(CROSSTALK)

SELLERS: What Khizr Khan is talking -- that's not the issue. What Khizr Khan is talking about, when he is going up there, when he and his wife were standing up they're talking about -- and you saying, yes, it's about individuals being able to make this country great again. But what individuals are we talking about? Are we talking about Hispanic-Americans? Are we talking about Muslim-Americans?

But what Mr. Khan --

BLACKBURN: We're talking about all Americans.

SELLERS: Because Mr. Khan's son...

BLACKBURN: All Americans.

SELLERS: ... would not be able to give his life for this country in Donald Trump's America. That's a fact. Donald --

BLACKBURN: I would disagree on that one because...

SELLERS: How?

BLACKBURN: ... all Americans -- we honor the Khans and their loss.

SELLERS: He would not be allowed in this country under Donald Trump's America.

[09:45:00]

BLACKBURN: No. That is incorrect. That is incorrect.

SELLERS: How is that incorrect?

BLACKBURN: It is incorrect. What Donald Trump has talked about doing is a temporary time-out to the Syrian refugee --

SELLERS: That's not what he said, though. That's a new position.

BLACKBURN: Yes, it is.

BECERRA: That may be what you think you'd like to hear but that's not what he said.

SELLERS: Khizr Khan's son gave the ultimate sacrifice along...

BLACKBURN: Yes he did and we honor that.

SELLERS: ... with 13 other Muslim-Americans since 9/11.

BLACKBURN: And we honor that.

SELLERS: But the fact that even this morning when Senator Sessions and Donald Trump don't have enough empathy to recognize that gold star mother, to recognize Mr. Khan and his son's sacrifice and we're sitting here acting as if Donald Trump has not been some type of demagogue that not -- that will not be repudiated by Republican leadership.

BLACKBURN: Bakari, we honor the Khans.

ACOSTA: Do you think the president of the United States should have called Donald Trump a demagogue? People give Donald Trump a hard time about name-calling and there's the president of the United States doing the same thing at the convention.

SELLERS: I think that's a fair statement.

I mean, listen, Donald Trump has taken the political discourse somewhere that is below where we need to be in having in terms of president of the United States. There is no question about that.

But Donald Trump's rhetoric is more than divisive. Donald Trump's rhetoric is disrespectful. I mean, I'm hoping that somebody in the Republican Party -- and I think the Khizr Khan's father -- Khizr Khan said it best. I'm hoping that either Mitch McConnell or Paul Ryan or someone steps up and says, this type of rhetoric has no place in the political discourse.

(CROSSTALK)

AMANDA CARPENTER, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Everybody has a right to speak but I for the life of me cannot figure out why Donald Trump would say that that man doesn't have a right to say what he did. You can disagree with what he said but why is Donald Trump picking this fight?

And this is just in the theme of the entire campaign (INAUDIBLE). We lurch from one controversy to the next. And congressman laid out a much better case for why Donald Trump may have not produced his manufacturing in America. The (ph) Donald Trump editor (ph) has he should be listening to smart Republicans who know how to talk about these issues instead of forcing Republicans to defend these wild and, quite frankly, heart-breaking things that he does every day.

ACOSTA: Let's talk about the conventions themselves. Donald Trump after saying he wanted a more Hollywood-like convention put out a video blasting the Democrats for putting out something of that sort. Let's watch this video.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You heard the speech. But behind the glitter lies this stark truth. In Hillary Clinton's America things get worse. Under her dishonest plan taxes keep rising, terrorism spreads. Washington insiders remain in control. Americans losing their jobs, homes and hope.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: Congressman Becerra, you know, there is -- there is a message there that potentially could work in this campaign in that people, you know, by and large, they are not comfortable with Hillary Clinton as president.

There are just huge poll numbers showing that they're just uncomfortable with Hillary Clinton as president, and it keeps Donald Trump in this campaign to some extent. What do you make of that video and that notion that Hillary Clinton is just somebody that a lot of people don't trust as president of the United States?

BECERRA: Jim, I think, at the convention, people saw who Hillary Clinton is. They saw not just what she would do by what Hillary Clinton says she would do, but she heard from the people who know her best. Her daughter, her husband, many of the people who have worked with her. They showed -- all of them showed how tough she can be, how experienced she is. But at the end of the day how she is a human being and understands the plight of so many Americans.

ACOSTA: And Amanda, do you think the Democrats painted too rosy a picture? That was a message you heard from Donald Trump after this convention. They didn't talk about ISIS enough. They didn't talk about the violence against police officers enough.

CARPENTER: Well, I mean, they talked about a wider range of issues than the Republicans did at their convention.

And I just want to touch on something. A lot of the Democrats spend a lot of time bringing up Hillary's character. And I thought going through the convention watching it, wow, you know, they might really have a shot of getting a lot of Republican voters until Hillary Clinton started talking that acceptance speech where the first half of it she kind of gave a nod to people that care about the constitution. And then the second half was like, here is my progressive agendas. We're going to have a rerun of the Obama administration.

BLACKBURN: Yes.

CARPENTER: And I said, there it is. She undid so much of the good will that they may have generated among Republicans in the first half of that convention.

BLACKBURN: You know, he proved the point that she believes that government is the solution to every problem. And she laid it out in her speech. Lost opportunity.

ACOSTA: OK. We'll end on that one.

After the break President Obama and NBA owner as he prepares to leave office, his retirement plans are starting to take shape.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:53:49]

ACOSTA: And welcome back.

President Obama's speech at the convention this week had some of the crowd chanting, four more years, not an option. So what are the Obama's planning for their second act? The Obama Foundation announces Presidential Library will be built in their hometown of Chicago but the Obamas themselves won't be headed back to Chicago now that the whole world is their orchard (ph).

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA (voice-over): President Obama passed the baton to Hillary Clinton this week with the hope that he'll next hand her the keys to the Oval Office. Heading into the twilight of his administration, his plans as a young ex-president are already taking shape, with one item at the top of the agenda.

OBAMA: I am going to take three or four months where I just sit.

(LAUGHTER)

OBAMA: And I hope you all don't mind that.

ACOSTA: We do know he'll be waking up under this roof, a D.C. mansion the Obamas will rent just a few miles away from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. These first parents say they want to remain in Washington long enough for their younger daughter Sasha to graduate from high school here. Big sister Malia Obama just graduated.

As for mom and dad.

MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: Our motto is when they go low, we go high.

ACOSTA: Michelle Obama's rousing convention speech had Democrats once again holding out hope that she might run for office herself.

[09:55:06]

But she said don't hold your breath waiting for another Obama in the White House.

MICHELLE OBAMA: I will not run for president. No, nope, not going to do it.

ACOSTA: The more likely answer is that she will continue her advocacy for girls' education worldwide.

MICHELLE OBAMA: When it comes to the issue of global girls' education believe me I am just getting started.

ACOSTA: Mr. Obama will be the youngest member of the ex-president's club seems unlikely to spend his political retirement painting still lives and portraits like George W. Bush. (INAUDIBLE) Politics?

BARBARA WALTERS, ABC HOST: Will you continue in politics? (INAUDIBLE).

MICHELLE OBAMA: That's a no.

ACOSTA: In addition to his library in Chicago, the president says he's open to all kinds of other things, from Silicon Valley startups to owning an NBA team. But he's also sure to stay in touch with the most important member of his team of rivals, turned close friend and now possible successor.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA: It will be fun to watch this next couple of months.

Thanks for spending part of your Sunday with us in Washington. I'm Jim Acosta in Washington.

"FAREED ZAKARIA GPS" is next.