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U.S., Russia Argue Over Who Killed ISIS Leader; ISIS Attempting New Launch Attacks in U.K.; Press Left Out as Trump Lands in Mexico Ahead of Immigration Speech;. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired August 31, 2016 - 14:30   ET

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

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[14:33:28] BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Russia claims it has killed one of the world's most-wanted but the U.S. says "laughable." A defense official saying, quote, "We stand by the statement we made yesterday. We conducted a strike that targeted Abu Mohammed al Adnani. We are assessing the results of that strike." ISIS says it will avenge the killing of the man who has essentially become the group's spokesman and the leader, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi's successor, in the event of the ISIS leader's death. The key deputy's reign of terror is believed to have included the orchestration of some of ISIS' most deadly operations, including attacks in Paris and Brussels.

Joining me now, Nic Robertson, CNN's senior international editor.

Nic, before we get into his death and what Russia is saying, the backdrop to this, word that ISIS has now stepped up efforts in the wake of this to infiltrate operatives in to the U.K. to launch attacks, what are you hearing?

[14:34:29] NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yeah. Senior European counterterrorism officials are finding over this summer because they've become more aggressive in combating the terror threat, the attacks in Brussels this year, a lot more arrests of ISIS operatives. They are learning a lot more about their intentions that they want to try to get into Britain. ISIS really wants to target the U.K. One of the reasons they're having difficulty is because Britain is an island and the terrorists don't have that free travel that they had, as we saw from the Paris attacks, Brussels attacks, they were able to plan the Paris attacks by living in Brussels and drive freely across the border, the passport-free zone getting into Europe. They don't have that in Britain. The other difficulty for terrorists in Britain is it is much harder to get weapons, as it is inside France or Belgium.

What worries the European counterterrorism officials is that terrorists are communicating, ISIS operatives communicating, using things like telegram, which intelligence services cannot read into, cannot see what's going on. The only way that they can compromise them, if you will, is to bug their houses or their vehicles. So there are some pluses here for the British, but there are also some worrying things. There are unknown communications happening and a lot of that effort is towards Britain right now. BALDWIN: Then, Nic, what about the death itself? What Russia is

claiming, the White House spokesperson, Josh Earnest, said there are absolutely no facts to substantiate Russia's claim that they were the ones, it was their air strike. But they were operating in that not?

ROBERTSON: That's certainly what they claim and on that day and around about that time but they are using completely different types of weapons systems. Russians are not using guided missile systems. At least that's the assessment of the Pentagon and others. The United States, of course, does use targeted weapons systems from drones, and they do say that they were specifically targeting Adnani. But before you drop a bomb or fire a hellfire missile from a drone or whatever, you've got to know what you're firing it at. There seems to be little indication that the Russians are putting in the kind of intelligence- led effort that requires you to know where Adnani is, which vehicle he is traveling in. That's kind of key sort of real-time intelligence information that you get from months, years even, of hard work on the ground, of targeting one person, trying to get people close to him, trying to get information about when and where he is traveling, what vehicle he is in. It is that stuff that leads to -- that sort of information that leads to these drone strikes. So Russia's claim really just seems to want to muddy the waters.

But let's not forget, ISIS knew that this was bad news. They got out with the bad news first. They were the ones that announced Adnani had been killed rather than, let's say, having the Pentagon say we killed him. Then everyone turns to ISIS and says, hey, what happened, and they have to look like they are on the back foot. They try to get out ahead of this bad news.

Russia, on the other hand, just seems to be trying to capitalize on this. It really just indicates Russia feels dominant, itself, operating in the domain of Syria.

BALDWIN: ISIS trying to get out in front of their own death. That's something.

Nic Robertson, thank you, as always.

Back to our breaking story, the breaking story of the day here, Mexico. We'll take you back to Mexico City where Donald Trump has just touched down, set to meet with the president of Mexico. But I have to tell you, the details on this trip, they are slim, because Trump left the campaign press behind. Let's talk to Brian Stelter about how this whole thing went down and why some people are mad. We'll use that word, mad.

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[14:42:31] BALDWIN: Breaking news here. We now know officially that Donald Trump, he and his team, his plane, have landed in Mexico City but there is definitely some frustration.

We're about to talk to our senior media correspondent, host of "Reliable Sources, Brian Stelter. Because the traveling press, they're irked because they are not with

him. Rather than travel on the typical media plane, CNN's team in Mexico City traveled separately from the Trump camp.

Brian Stelter, you're helping break the news that we now know his plane is officially there in Mexico City.

BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT & CNN HOST, RELIABLE SOURCES: That's all we know.

BALDWIN: That's all we know.

STELTER: The Trump campaign confirming, yes, they've landed. No word on the next step or how they'll get there. Some of that is for security reasons. The other is because there is not a traveling press pool with him. Normally, when a candidate like Donald Trump would go on an overseas trip, there would be journalists traveling with him, who travel with the candidate every day. Even now, President Barack Obama's trip to Germany and to other countries from 2008, reporters came with him the whole time. This is different though, journalists not coming with him on this trip today. Donald Trump is sort of doing this by himself. That's partly why we don't have live pictures of it right now.

BALDWIN: We're waiting for some picture. We'll get something.

Just a couple of quotes from members of the traveling press pool, "No one from the traveling press pool will be able to get down there by then. We are left in the dark." "Trump traveling press corps got no heads up about this trip, no efforts made to get them there."

STELTER: Right.

BALDWIN: Mr. Trump is someone who is extraordinarily media savvy, does not shy away from cameras. Why not have cameras? We'd be sitting on it live.

STELTER: It's curious. Maybe because it is a last-minute trip, these plans only came together relatively quickly. But the fact that they did not make arrangements for the press, the traveling press, to come with him is very unusual. The reason why so many journalists are worried about it today is because it sets a worrisome precedent for future trips by Trump and by other candidates. The traveling press corps were with him in Seattle yesterday. Now they're in Phoenix waiting for the rally tonight. Because logistics weren't made to bring the press with, it is a concerning precedent.

[14:44:34] BALDWIN: Just getting some news in my ear from the control room. We do now officially have our first couple of photos of Trump in Mexico.

Stick around. Quick break. Back in a moment.

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BALDWIN: Back to our breaking news here. The big day for Donald Trump. Just hours ahead of his big immigration speech in Phoenix, Arizona, tonight, he has up and taken a plane to Mexico City to visit with the president of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto. We have those first couple images here as we have confirmation he is on the ground.

But before we go there, let me play some sound from the State Department briefing. This is Rear Admiral John Kirby. Here you go.

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ADM. JOHN KIRBY, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: We believe that the relationship is strong enough to be able to weather comments that are made by candidates running for political office here in the United States, or frankly candidates that are in elected office in Mexico and things that they might say. Our relationship is strong enough to weather those kinds of things.

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[14:49:40: BALDWIN: I think it's also just important to continue to point out that this was an invitation extended not only to Mr. Trump but also to Hillary Clinton, extended from the president of Mexico last week. It is Mr. Trump obviously who has said yes, and said yes today. No word as far as whether or not Hillary Clinton will hop a plane at some point. She met with the president in 2014 and says she will -- the campaign says she will when the time is appropriate.

As we work on getting this picture, John Vause is there in Mexico City, there on the ground, ahead of this highly anticipated private meeting between Trump.

John, I understand that now not only do we know the plane -- the Trump plane is on the ground, but he has been seen in a chopper heading to the presidential palace. Can you confirm that for me?

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we saw one helicopter fly overhead a short time ago. We don't know if Donald Trump was on that helicopter. It would be a fairly safe assumption that he was. It would certainly fit in with the timing of the plane arriving here in Mexico City and a helicopter flying overhead just a short time later. It would be a little early, ahead of schedule.

But this has been a very hastily arranged meeting. It certainly hasn't been sticking to the details. They've been changing pretty much by the hour. Yeah, there is a good chance that helicopter flying overhead a short time ago has now touched down at the presidential palace.

If it is Trump, he will be heading into that meeting with the president to last maybe 30 minutes or so. After that meeting, the president of Mexico and the presidential nominee of the Republican Party will make a statement. It is not entirely clear if they will answer questions at this point.

But, Brooke, if they do take questions, the questions will be to the Mexican president, will you pay for the wall. And if he doesn't get the first question, and Donald Trump gets the first question, the question will be, do you plan on still building that wall and making Mexico pay for it. The answer to both those questions is likely to be no. That then raises another question, what was the point of this trip? Was it all about publicity if there is going to be no policy shift from either side here.

BALDWIN: We've got pictures of the helicopter.

I am listening to you, John Vause. Those are questions that will be asked.

I understand from our CNN Espanol crews that they believe this is the helicopter that is carrying Mr. Trump from wherever it was he landed in Mexico City on to the presidential palace.

To your note about questions being asked, Brian Stelter, let me ask you. I read that Kellyanne Conway, the campaign manager, said, yes, there will be questions. My question is, if there is no traveling press pool, whose questions.

STELTER: That's an unanswered question right to you. Hopefully, folks like --

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BALDWIN: Questions about questions.

STELTER: Hopefully, reporters like John Vause, as well as CNN Spanish-speaking reporters who are there in Mexico. But earlier today, there was an indication maybe Trump will not take questions after all. So it is very much up in the air. It is very possible we won't hear from him until his speech tonight. Obviously, reporters would like to be able to talk to both Trump and the Mexican president about what transpired, because we'll wonder about the two men's events. We could hear two very different accounts of what happened during this meeting from the men in the room. So there is a lot of curiosity about that.

BALDWIN: Excellent point.

Stand by.

John Vause, stand by.

We'll take you back to Mexico momentarily. More on our breaking news, when we continue.

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[14:57:15] BALDWIN: We'll get you back to the breaking story here of the day.

Meantime, a new CNN film airing tomorrow follows a man in search of his spiritual awakening. Will he give up his life and family to join the Buddha Field? Some former members call it a cult. And it is still active today. Take a look at the sneak peek, the CNN film, "Holy Hell." (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We would use this term "you need to drop your mind."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That was something you would say to someone. And it was critical. It was, hey, you're not in line with what's going on here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't want to be in the mind. No thoughts. If you're having thoughts, you're not connected to meditation and to God.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There is a term called Mutual Complicity. You can't have a teacher without followers.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The benefits outweighed the craziness. So you started to accept the questionable stuff. You just started to accept it. It is like any family. I think a lot of us compartmentalized. A lot of us rationalized always. He certainly helped us rationalize, everything.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The only truth that's left is the truth that I am told. And who is the highest authority in the group? It's the master.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And looking at here, many of them speaking have since left this group. But as you just pointed out, it is still a robust group.

We went to the island of Oahu in Hawaii. There were 100 to 150 followers. So still very robust. And they contend that what you're seeing here, though it looks magical and mystical, it is quite harmless. They find it to be beneficial.

Certainly, the people who have left the group call it something very different -- Brooke?

BALDWIN: We will be watching, Kyung. It is the CNN film "Holy Hell," airing tomorrow night on CNN, at 9:00 eastern.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

BALDWIN: All right. Here we are on this Wednesday. I'm Brooke Baldwin. You are watching CNN.

My goodness, it is a busy afternoon. A major moment here in the race for president. Donald Trump has officially landed in Mexico. It is a visit sure to send shockwaves through the political world, both here, domestically, and beyond our borders. Donald Trump will be meeting with the president of Mexico, President Enrique Pena Nieto. Trump has maligned this country really since the first couple of minutes of his campaign when he descended that escalator back in Trump Tower. Trump's own advisors actually tell CNN that this photo-op in Mexico

was one of the reasons Mr. Trump decided to take this trip south of the border ahead of his big speech tonight in Phoenix. And yet, you after wonder, after Trump --