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Mar-A-Lago estate, the new home for President-Elect Donald Trump; Sir Elton John will not be performing at Trump's inauguration; Jadon and Anias McDonald are still recovering from the groundbreaking surgery that separated them; Aired 3:30-4:00p ET

Aired November 23, 2016 - 15:30   ET

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

[15:30:00] ALICE STEWART, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: -- possibilities of where Jared can fit into the administration. Look. He did a phenomenal job with the campaign, bringing together the core team he had and bringing in the people and working with the RNC. Clearly, he would have a role in the administration. I think they can get around, obviously, any concerns with that by taking an unpaid position with regard to the nepotism laws.

He has a lot of talents and skills. And whether it's that position or something else, I do believe we will see him in some capacity and a lot of these positions are working with relationship and clearly he has someone who has experience with building relationships and being a good liaison for Donald Trump. So whether is that position or something else --.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN HOST: Do you think it's farfetched?

ERROL LOUIS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I don't think it's farfetched at all. I mean, you know, or maybe farfetched is what is called for in the Middle East. It would be in a better way to put it which is that we don't know who his friends are. Mae he has got a friend who has got a cousin who is tied into the Palestinian negotiating team. We don't know what we are going to find so I wouldn't dismiss it automatically.

Let's keep in mind the camp David Accord is one of the major efforts that the United States did, that was successful, negotiated by, you know, Jimmy Carter, a one-term president, a peanut farmer who became a politician. This was a pretty unlikely outcome and his negotiating partners, (INAUDIBLE), Anwar Sadat, these are people who have been really labelled as terrorists. They had personally killed people. These were really rough characters. So you never know what combination of people is going to come together and to make something great happen.

BALDWIN: What about on the DNC chair and how, you know, one name that's really been put out there is Congressman Keith Ellison who apparently is word is out that the White House- there would be resistance from the White House if he were to be selected. Does that surprise you?

LOUIS: Not at all. There is a legacy question for President Obama and his legacy politically speaking is not looking very great. You know, I mean. Four straight losses in the House of Representatives for his party, record losses across state legislatures, of course his successor, even though he was personally involved, did not win. So he has got, you know, in this faction fight that is going on within the Democratic Party, his faction is not necessarily in a very strong position right now. So I'm not sure where he thinks the party should go, but there are people who are tired of losing and they don't want to see any further losses.

BALDWIN: OK. Alice and Errol, thank you so much. I appreciate that.

Meantime, more on Trump and his family. They are in Florida enjoying the thanksgiving at his home down there in Mar-a-Lago, his estate in Florida. We will take you inside and show you the unprecedented security measures.

Also, the Trump transition team floating the name of a potential performer for his inauguration. We will tell you who. Stay with me.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:36:58] BALDWIN: (INAUDIBLE) house in Washington, D.C. will soon be Donald Trump's future home. But will his estate in Florida be the winter White House.

CNN's Ed Lavandera on the challenges of securing Trump's Mar-A-Lago estate.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Protecting president- elect Donald Trump is a challenge unlike any other. From Trump tower in New York to his private club in Florida.

So we are approaching Mar-A-Lago right here.

It's a 20-acre waterfront estate in Palm Beach, secluded from the public, but he also shares it with his many as 500 members who are willing to pay 100,000 to join.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Basically it's a compound. We have to treat it as such.

LAVANDERA: Former secret service and ATF special agent Rennie Rodriguez says in many ways it's ready made for presidential security.

Behind this natural barrier here which I assume there's a fence, there's a wall back there.

RENNIE RODRIGUEZ, FORMER SECRET SERVICE AGENT: Yes. It is more than 13 feet, I believe which is great for (INAUDIBLE) trying to come on premises.

LAVANDERA: Behind the wall, Trump keeps a residence that could become the winter White House.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And I love Florida. This is my second home.

LAVANDERA: Where presidents spend their vacations is a window into their personalities. George W. Bush liked to spend the hottest month of the year on his ranch in Crawford, Texas.

GEORGE W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There's a wonderful spot to come up here and just think about the budget -

LAVANDERA: George Bush, Sr. famously enjoyed the peaceful serenity of Kennebunkport, Maine.

Mar-a-Lago stretches across a barrier island cut down the middle by a two-lane road, nestled between a stunning streams of multimillion dollar homes. The best view comes from across the bay.

Rodriguez says secret service terms are assessing threats that could come by land, sea, and air. And standing outside the club it doesn't take long to see the skies above will be a major concern.

RODRIGUEZ: I mean, that plane is what, maybe a couple thousand feet or us?

LAVANDERA: The Palm Beach international airport is just a few miles west of Mar-a-Lago.

RODRIGUEZ: You can see the path of commercial aircraft.

LAVANDERA: For years, Trump has waged a legal battle to keep commercial and private planes from flying over this estate and now that he's president-elect he might have just gotten his way. When he is on the property, Rodriguez says, the airspace over Mar-a-Lago will be closed.

RODRIGUEZ: This will be a type of aircraft that individuals would use to drive his plane on the property:

LAVANDERA: In the waters around Mar-a-Lago the U.S. coast guard is already setting up security zones, some parts completely off limits, other areas that require permission before entering. Rodriguez says secret service agents will also conduct renewed background checks on every club member. Inside the club they can also expect to see new levels of visible and invisible layers of security.

Are they in for a bit of a rude awakening?

[15:40:06] RODRIGUEZ: I think it depends, you know. Some of the neighbors may like it. Others may complain because they don't like the intrusion.

LAVANDERA: But life will change around here for the next four years.

RODRIGUEZ: Yes, it will, most definitely.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Ed Lavandera, thank you so much for that. Coming up next, a member of Trump's inaugural committee hinting it

already has a performance lined up. A spokeswoman for Sir Elton John is saying about claiming that he would take the stage in Washington.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)

[15:44:44] BALDWIN: That was Sir Elton John performing at a Hillary Clinton fund-raiser back in March. Today we have learned that he will not, I repeat, not be performing at the inauguration next January for President Trump. This after the vice chair of Trump's inaugural committee said that he would perform and demonstrate are Trump's quote "commitment to gay rights."

John's spokesman told CNN quote "he will not be performing at Trump's inauguration." Note the word "not" in all capital letters and the exclamation point at the end.

I have with me here a Princeton University professor, historian and author Julian Zelizer with more on this.

And so, it is interesting, I mean, so obviously he said no. Do you think as president-elect Trump is one of the more controversial selections in our lifetime that he will have a tough time finding entertainers for the big day?

[15:45:36] JULIAN ZELIZER, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: For sure. Part of this isn't just liberal versus conservative, so liberal entertainers don't want to perform for Republicans, but many performers will feel that his campaign really was antithetical to everything they represent and even what they sing about. So there are singers like Kid Rock and Ted Nugent and actors like John Voigt who appeared at the Republican convention who might fill out the inauguration. I assume it will be a testosterone-filled performance to match some of the campaign.

BALDWIN: OK. I do remember, you know, when we were covering that last week, the campaign trail and, you know, I mean, on the Hillary Clinton side there was the Beyonce and Jay-Z show and Pharrell was out and Katy Perry and others and at the time I remember Donald Trump stood his ground and he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We don't need Jay-Z or Beyonce. We don't need Jon Von Jovi. We don't need Lady Gaga. All we need is great ideas to make America great again. That's all we need. That's all we need.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: You know, he was right.

ZELIZER: Yes. And that is the essence of his campaign. It's him. So he doesn't need to surround himself with celebrities. He is the celebrity. BALDWIN: People showed up for him. They waited hours and hours. He

packed those. And I'm wondering what do you think the mall will look like?

ZELIZER: Well, I think people are wondering if it will be exuberant and celebratory like most inaugurations or felt be a little rougher because obviously he appeal to an anger in the electorate. And I assume that will be a part of what people are wearing, what people are screaming. And it could be a very different time of inauguration than the kind we saw in 2008 which was about hope and possibility. This might be more about anger and almost retribution.

BALDWIN: And also I think, you know, they wanted a change. Clearly they wanted a change.

Last quick question because there is always - not always, but sometimes the tension with the outgoing and incoming so they will be -- the Obamas and the Trumps will be together in January.

ZELIZER: Yes. And there will be tension in this meeting. Obviously the two represent very different visions of politics and Trump ran against him in many ways, not just against Hillary Clinton. That said President Obama is very cool and collected and I think he can handle this. And in some ways Donald Trump doesn't care about these things. And when he has becoming president, I think is going to be focus on other things. So there are probably a pleasant ride even though there's a lot of tension in that car.

BALDWIN: All right. Professor, thank you.

ZELIZER: Thank you.

BALDWIN: Happy Thanksgiving.

ZELIZER: Thank you.

BALDWIN: Next, it's being called a medical miracle and CNN was granted exclusive access to witness their surgery and remarkable recovery. We have an update on these twin boys coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:52:39] BALDWIN: The parents of 14-month-old twin boy who were born conjoined at the head have a lot to be grateful for this thanksgiving. Even though Jadon and Anias McDonald are still recovering from the groundbreaking surgery that separated them, doctors say the recovery is quote-unquote "ahead of schedule."

CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has this exclusive update.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When Nicole McDonald go to hold her son Jadon for the first time, it was as if she saw him for the first time. NICOLE MCDONALD, MOTHER OF THE CONJOINED TWINS: As a mother you know,

when you hold your child, you know every bit of their face. Well, his face also encompassed Anias'. So it was my first moment of relearning his face.

GUPTA: Jadon and Anias are literally on in two-and-a-half million. They were born (INAUDIBLE) twins, conjoined at the head sharing between one-and-a-half to two inches of brain tissue. After over a year of planning, last month the boys were separated after a 27 hour- long operation at children's hospital at Montefiore in the Bronx.

McDonalds have allowed CNN to follow their journey from surgery through rehab, exclusively.

GUPTA: GUPTA: Oh my goodness! Hi, buddy. Hi.

Last time we were in this room they were on a -- they were --

N. MCDONALD: One bed.

GUPTA: They were conjoined. And I think he is pretty happy with the outcome.

N. MCDONALD: I think so.

GUPTA: Are you sticking your tongue out at me?

N. MCDONALD: Yes. That's a new trick.

GUPTA: For the McDonalds, this entire month has been full of first times. First time, in separate beds. First time being held. First time seeing each other. But it hasn't been easy to get here. The boys have battled infections, fevers and seizures. It's been particularly trying for Anias.

N. MCDONALD: Serious infections close to brain, skin involvement. They have -- they had to take, you know, the bone out of Anias. They had to take skin out. You know, this just has been, for Anias, it's just never -- there is never a break.

GUPTA: Despite all of that, the boys' doctors are so pleased with their progress.

Dr. James Goodrich is the boys' neurosurgeon.

He said he was right on or ahead of schedule even. Is there a schedule - I mean, because this is so rare. Is there a schedule?

[15:55:05] DR. JAMES GOODRICH, NEUROSURGEON, THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN MONTEFIORE: Well, just with traumatic cases, people with injuries, recovery times are in months. Sometimes years. So we are a month.

GUPTA: Yes.

GOODRICH: If you consider this as one month out, this to me is incredibly fast. N. MCDONALD: Yes. Yes.

GUPTA: Do you feel like you have permission or do you allow yourself, rather, now to think about the future with regard to Jadon and Anias?

N. MCDONALD: I think about their future all the time. All the time. I think about the first time they go to a park. And I think about, you know, them getting married someday. I think about -- I think - I have thought through their whole future a hundred times over.

CHRISTIAN MCDONALD, FATHER OF CONJOINED TWINS: It's not that I'm not optimistic. I guess I -- I am just more curious what the future holds for them. But I guess I don't want to get my hopes up, you know. I guess I just take it one day at a time.

GUPTA: But each day continues to bring more blessings. The day I visited, Nicole and Christian got to see Jadon without his head dressings.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm never seen you like that.

GUPTA: For the first time. What's that liked mom, to see the first time without the dressings?

N. MCDONALD: It's amazing! It's the most amazing thing. I just can't even believe it. And looking at his little hair? It's growing in. Hi baby.

So when I look at them and I see them laying in their beds, whole and generally healthy and, I think, mentally, with it and moving forward, I don't just see miracle, their separation miracle. But it's been the miracles that took place every step of the way.

C. MCDONALD: How does it feel to be your own little boy?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Joining me now is our chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta who has been following this just absolutely tremendous story and these two precious boys. Just to see the video - I can't imagine for the parents. How are they doing?

GUPTA: Well, the parents are, you know -- this has been a long -- it's been a month. It feels like one long day for them, as they put it to me. It's just been an amazing month for them. The boys come out of surgery. We know now, as you saw these incredible images of how well they're doing, but it's been tough. There have been a lot of ups and downs over the month.

And Brooke, you know, they had to make some tough decisions along the way. Even having the operation itself, you know, was a big operation. Might one of the boys not survive the operation. So it was emotional. It's been physical. There have been a lot of demands. But these images are incredible in terms of how well they are doing.

The doctor said to me -- this was a pretty profound thing. They said this was the most difficult operation he has ever done. And he is the leading expert in this area. But the boys are also having the fastest recovery he has ever seen. So hard operation, but fast recovery. They will take it any day.

BALDWIN: It is outstanding. And just to see them with the dressing off their little heads and to see the mom's face.

What about, though -- what are you hearing from the doctor as far as looking ahead? It may be too early to even know, but just functionality for both of them?

GUPTA: Well, there is always - one of the twins, he is the dominant twin who is Jadon in this case, and the non-dominant twin who is Anias. And the expectation is as this case here that the dominant twin is going to have the faster recovery. Their bodies are just stronger. They were sort of doing all the work. There are a lot of the work for both bodies before they were separated. So easier recover.

But Anias, you know, they were worried about him certainly initially because he was recovering more slowly. But now he is off the breathing machine as well. He is recovering pretty rapidly, again, faster than the doctors have ever seen. And the expectation is within the next several days they are going to go to rehab to start rehabilitating their bodies. These are 14-month-old boys, Brooke, who have never sat up, they have never crawled, they have never walked, so in some ways it was a second birthday for them. They are starting over again now because they are separated.

BALDWIN: I just think, you should underscore how extraordinarily rare this sort of thing is.

GUPTA: Well, I'll tell you. You know as journalists we get to see these incredible things, right, Brooke. I mean, I am a neurosurgeon. And I had never seen anything quite like this. And you know, this is my field. It's so rare that -- one in 2.5 million births, roughly. That one in 2.5 million pregnancies, I should say that many of the children don't survive to birth. Eighty percent of the children don't survive to the age of two. And many children are born in places around the world where they would never have access to these incredible resources that were provided for Jadon and Anias here in the United States. So it is very rare in and of itself and even more rare to actually see the operation completely through, from the decisions to the very end.

BALDWIN: We are living vicariously through you and the CNN team in watching these two little boys grow.

Sanjay Gupta, thank you so much. Talk about a lot being thankful for this thanksgiving week. Thank you.

GUPTA: You got it. Thank you, Brooke.

BALDWIN: And thank you so much for being with me. If you want to wake up early, I'm on Alyson Camerota tomorrow morning starting at 6:00 a.m. Now, "the LEAD" starts now.

END