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Trump Speaks to Australian PM. Aired 8-9a ET
Aired February 02, 2017 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KRISTIE LU STOUT, ANCHOR, NEWS STREAM: Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong and welcome to News Stream. Of tensions between allies, sources tell CNN, the
US President had a heated phone call with the leader of Australia. Donald Trump is due to speak at an event in Washington.
Plus, the new US Defense Secretary visits South Korea and assures Seoul that Washington will stand solidly by its side and Facebook approaches two
billion users but can the social network continue to grow responsibly?
I want to take you now live to the National Prayer Breakfast underway in Washington DC where US President Donald Trump is about to speak. Vice
President Mike Pence is speaking right now. Let's listen in.
He's shaking hands along the way and we will carry this live as we wait for what he'll have to say. Let's go to Washington now.
Okay, apologies for the confusion just now, but you've been looking at live pictures in this National Prayer Breakfast that just kicked off there in
Washington DC. Moments ago, we just missed that the US Vice President was giving a few introductory remarks that was before the President of the
United States, Donald Trump entered the scene sitting down there at the table and we are expecting him to address the audience there within the
hour.
When that happens, we'll be sure to go back to Washington DC and bring it to you live.
Now the future of an agreement between the US and one of its staunchest allies could be at stake here after what is said to be a very tense phone
call between Donald Trump and the Australian leader, the Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull. Now, sources tell CNN that these two leaders clashed
over a deal reached with the Obama Administration to take in around 1,200 refugees from Australia.
In a tweet, Trump later called the agreement "dumb." Prime Minister Turnbull says that he was assured it's a done deal.
(VIDEOCLIP BEGINS)
MALCOLM TURNBULL, PRIME MINISTER, AUSTRALIA: In the course of the conversation as you know and as was confirmed by the President's official
spokesman and the White House, the President assured me that he would continue with - on the agreement we entered into with the Obama
administration with respect to refugee resettlement.
(VIDEOCLIP ENDS)
STOUT: And here, let's bring in Anna Corenlive from Sydney and Anna joins us now. Anna, from there in Australia, what more have you learned about
this heated phone call?
ANNA CORREN, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: That's right, Christie. This phone call took place over the weekend. It was supposed to be an hour. It only went
for 25 minutes and as you say, it was a fiery conversation between President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
It was about this refugee deal that Turnbull had signed with the Obama Administration literally days before the US election back in November in
which the United States would take 1,250 refugees in Australia's offshore detention facilities at Nauru and the Manus Island in Papua New Guinea.
Now, these refugees, they have been there for a long time. They've been living in appalling conditions that according to human rights groups and
this deal was struck. It was a one-off deal between Turnbull and Obama for the United States to resettle these refugees.
Now, you may ask, why weren't they settled here in Australia? Well that is due to the fact that Australia has a very hard line immigration policy.
They do not accept people who come by boat and that is what these people had tried to do to come by boat illegally to Australia, intercepted by the
USNavy - I beg your pardon, the Australian Navy and then sent to these detention centers.
But it would now seem that that deal is just hanging in by a thread. The reason being that tweet that we heard from Donald Trump in which she says,
"Do you believe it? The Obama administration agreed to take thousands of illegal immigrants from Australia. Why? I will study these dumb deals."
So it's certainly isn't a deal done as the Australian Prime Minister would like to have us believe that these leaks certainly not - not a very
friendly act and we have to remember that Australia and the United States has a very close relationship.
According to Obama, it was a great alliance. This is something that stretches back to World War II. These are countries where soldiers have
fought side by side in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. They share close diplomatic ties, huge trade partners and they also share intelligence.
So for Donald Trump to belittle the Australian Prime Minister this way, a friend, a staunch ally, people here are really scratching their heads.
STOUT: Yes, we don't know about the future of this deal whether or not President Trump will uphold it and also, what about the future of
relations? Because he mentioned very staunch close allies, Australia, a critical American ally in the region, after that fiery phone call, what is
the future of the relationship now?
CORREN: Well, according to the Australian Prime Minister, Mr. Turnbull, he believes that the relationship is rock solid. He was very disappointed to
learn of the leaks. We have to remember that he was mum after the phone call between him and Donald Trump on Sunday morning here in Australia. He
basically said that Donald Trump would honor that agreement.
And then we heard from the White House Press Secretary that yes that deal would be honored, but those refugees would be extremely vetted, so there
have been mixed messages all week and then finally, this leak that appeared in the Washington Post and then this tweet by Donald Trump.
We know that he likes to throw hand grenades. We have witnessed it over the last week and a half of his very new administration, but to trash an
ally, I think really has stunned many here in Australia, Kristie.
STOUT: All right, Anna Corren. Appreciate that. Anna Corren joining us live from Sydney. Thank you.
As he often does, Donald Trump tweeted about the situation here. "Do you believe it? The Obama administration agreed to take thousands of illegal
immigrants from Australia. Why? I will study this dumb deal."
Now, there are a few problems with this message right here by Mr. Trump. As the Australian Prime Minister pointed out several times, the agreement
is for 1,250 refugees, not thousands and the transfer would be administered by the UN High Commission on Refugees, which brings us to another issue of
illegal immigrants.
Now, the people in question are refugees. They've been living in detention centers on islands of the Australian mainland due to strict government
policies.
Human rights groups have called the conditions in the Australian detention centers appalling and joining me now for one of stories is Tyra Pollock.
She is a former caseworker, a former child protection worker of the group Save the Children and she joins us now.
Tyra, thank you for joining us here on CNN. First I'd like to hear your reaction to news of this heated phone call between these two world leaders
Trump and Turnbull on the fate of these refugees in Nauru.
TYRA POLLOCK, FORMER CHILD PROTECTION WORKER, SAVE THE CHILDREN: Well, his change demonstrates that this deal is clearly on shaky ground and the
uncertainty is revolting. It's only going to result in further delays to the very vulnerable people who have already been languishing in Nauru and
Manus for years.
STOUT: One asylum seeker on Nauru told CNN this, we asked for his reaction he said, "We are not toys to play with," and I thought that was very, very
powerful statement.
So Tyra, do you fear that world leaders have forgotten that there are human beings at the center of this diplomatic spat?
POLLOCK: Yes, it certainly sounds that way. You know, people treated as numbers as opposed to human beings, you say it, I mean, inhumane conditions
for years on end and all of them is veryharmed from the harm they've already suffered.
What we need to see is some political leadership. They need to close the camps and they need to bring them here.
STOUT: Just a moment ago, we fact checked that tweet that Donald Trump sent out, you know, calling the asylum-seekers in Nauru illegal immigrants.
They are not illegal immigrants. They are refugees and from your experience working with them, who are they? Where did they come from?
POLLOCK: They come from many countries, but there is one thing that unites them, they say they're fleeing prosecution. They've fled everything
they've ever known and everything that they had for an ounce of safety and freedom and what they've got as a result of that is to be locked up in a
detention for an indeterminate amount of years. We still don't know what will happen to them.
STOUT: Again, you are a case worker on Nauru. You have seen the conditions there first-hand. What did you witness there?
POLLOCK: The conditions in Nauru were deplorable. There is a reason that they are being condemned by UN and by human rights groups. That we're not
fit to house families and small children.
STOUT: Now I recall when the Nauru files were published last year, it talked about some of the atrocities, some of the abuses that were
witnessedthere and it also mentioned how 18% of the detainees are children. Even though it's only 18%, as you workedwith the children, did you see that
they really bore the brunt of the abuse there?
POLLOCK: The trauma that it made to those children will never leave my mind. Seeing them deteriorate, and their language deteriorates, their
hygiene deteriorates to have them expose that these young bodies - you know, little children should be pretend playing in the kitchen, they should
be pretending all sorts of careers. They shouldn't be pretend playing security guard and detainee.
STOUT: And final question for you, what do you think should happen to the refugees in Nauru?
POLLOCK: Like I said before, this is time where we need to start some political leadership. We need to close the cans and we need to bring them
here. We have a responsibility to the people that we've harmed and the people that we've put in detention and torture, but it's time to bring them
here.
STOUT: All right, Tyra Pollock joining me live from Darwin. Many thanks to you for joining us in the program. Take care.
POLLOCK: Thank you.
STOUT: And more revelations, with Australia seem shaky at the moment, the US has reaffirmed its ties to another strategic ally - South Korea, and
right now Defense Secretary James Mattisis in Seoul.
The US is talking about putting a missile defense system in place to deal with what it calls the evolving threat from North Korea.
CNN's Matt Rivers is in China at the border with North Korea and Alexandra Field is in Seoul. Let's go to Alex first and Alex, what is Mattis's
mission in Asia?
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Well, when he landed here, he said that his mission was to come here and to listen, to gather evidence, to
talk to his colleagues and his counterparts in the region, but certainly his mission is far greater than that and there is a lot of significance to
attach to the fact that he has chosen South Korea as the first stop, his first trip officially overseas.
It certainly seems to underscore the vast security concerns of the US attaches to those North Korean nuclear threats, but it is also of course
intended to reassure South Korea, a very long time ally about the strength of the US's commitment to that alliance.
You heard President Donald Trump say earlier this week to South Korea's acting president that the commitment, the alliance remains ironclad,
however doubts have been cast on that during the course of the campaign when candidate Trump had threated to potentially withdraw troops from South
Korea if South Korea didn't pay more for defense from US forces.
That is not the conversation right now. The conversation right now has to do very squarely with the fact that this is an alliance that will continue
and one that will grow and be strengthened. Secretary Mattishas arrived here also saying that the plans to deploy the THAAD system will move
forward - that is of course the US missile defense system that could intercept a missile that's what it's designed to do. It's designed to help
avert the possibility of a North Korean nuclear attack.
It has raised the concerns of neighboring countries, however, the US and South Korean officials are both saying that they plan to move forward with
the system. It should be installed sometime this year.
Secretary Mattis is making it very clear though in his remarks here in Seoul that this system is exclusively about defense against North Korea as
the provocations from the North do continue, Kristie.
STOUT: So Secretary Mattis is there in South Korea sending a clear message on the strength of the alliance. Now from Seoul, let's go to Matt Rivers
who is in China, but at the North Korean border and Matt, we're also looking for clarity on what matters that the Trump Administration will do
about the North Korean nuclear threat.
MATT RIVERS, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Absolutely and you know, the brand-new Secretary of Defense didn't really get into specifics during his trip to
South Korea both today, he will be here tomorrow and then head into Japan.
But what you did hear him say was that he's on a kind of a listening tour and that he wants to hear the position of South Korean officials before he
really comes out and says this is how the Trump Administration is going to deal with North Korea. He is kind of leaving the door open a little bit
there to really say this is an introductory visit here over here and you all excuse us if hear those noises, it is Chinese New Year here so the
fireworks are still going off along the border.
But you know, in terms of Secretary Mattis, he is here to really listen, to determine what the Trump Administration's position is going to be.
In terms of specifics here moving forward, however, the one thing you heard Alex bring up is this missile defense system that is something that the
United States seems very committed to and here in China, it's something that is being very closely watched by Chinese officials in terms of when
this - when or if this missile system is going, the anti-missile system is going to be deployed and how it will be done.
Something Beijing is paying very close attention to it, Kristie.
STOUT: All right, Matt Rivers live for us from the China-North Korea border. Thank you.
And Donald Trump can now add Iran to his growing list of diplomatic disputes after his pointed criticism of Tehran. Reuters reports a top
adviser to Ayatollah Khomeini says that Iran won't yield to US threats and says this is not the first time an inexperienced person has threatened
Iran.
It all stems from a statement by Trump's New National Security Advisor after an Iranian military test.
(VIDEOCLIP BEGINS)
MICHAEL FLYNN, US NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: President Trump has severely criticized the various agreements reached between Iran, the Obama
administration as well as the United Nations as being weak and ineffective instead of being thankful to the United States and these agreements, Iran
is now feeling emboldened.
As of today, we are officially putting Iran on notice.
(VIDEOCLIP ENDS)
STOUT: And that was US National Security Adviser,Michael Flynn speaking.
Now, we have just got our first look at the terms the British government will seek when leaving the European Union. Prime Teresa May just published
a white paper outlining her 12 bargaining points that include controlling immigration and ensuring free trade in Europe, securing rights for EU
nationals in the UK and to protect the rights of workers.
Nina dos Santos is outside the House of the Parliament in London and Nina what do you make of the vision laid out in the government's white paper?
NINA DOS SANTOS, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Here we have it, this is hot of the press, Kristie. This is the first look at the government's negotiating
strategy, 60 pages long this is - this white paper and it's just been delivered to the House of Commons by David Davies who is the Secretary of
State in charge of helping the UK exit the EU.
But there's already been quite a lot of stiff criticism for him especially members of the opposition, Labor Party, they're that saying while the
government seemed to pulled the faster on them here, they say because they delivered this at the same time as he delivered his speech so they didn't
have the right time to give it the proper scrutiny to cross-examine him on a number of these key 12 points.
As you said, 12 points, 12 guiding principles still the ones that Teresa May laid out in her big Lancaster House Brexit speech about a month or so
ago and there's only a little bit of detail to flesh things out.
Some of the changes that I noticed including some changes to or some detail on how the UK laws would change to make sure that some of the laws that
currently come from European Courts of Justice wouldn't just leave a black hole in the legal system, there's a little bit of detail about that.
Some of the things that the opposition MPs were particularly irate about is that they said there wasn't enough detail on EU citizens who currently live
in the UK what rights their rights would be after the UK leaves the EU and vice versa for UK citizen living abroad on the European continent.
So we've only just had a chance to have a look at this document. There's a little bit more detail on some of these points, but opposition MPs for the
moment, for what they have had to look at just in just the last 30 minutes or so, Kristie saying that that's not enough for them on some of these key
12 points.
STOUT: Got it. The opposition already slamming the white paper saying not enough detail, not enough clarity. Nina Dos Santos joining us live. Thank
you, Nina.
You're watching News Stream, still ahead in the program, a place famous for free speech sees protest against someone speaking. Violence at the
University of California at Berkeley.
And there's plenty to like if you are Mark Zuckerburg. Facebook closes in on an unbelievable two billion users.
US President Donald Trump is at the National Prayer Breakfast. It is currently underway in Washington. This is an annual event that dates back
to the days of President Eisenhower and as you can see, a singer is performing at the moment.
Now, this event is meant to provide an opportunity for people across the political spectrum to come together and to speak about faith.
The US president is expected to speak shortly and we will bring that to you live as soon as it happens.
Now in Berkeley, California, the issue of free speech is front and center. Violent protests broke out at the UC campus. Here are some of the scene
that played out on Wednesday night.
Protesters were angry over a speech that was to be given by a (right man) commentator who is an editor at BreitbartNews. The speech and it being
canceled and Donald Trump is taking to Twitter saying this just less hour or so, "If UC Berkeley does not allow free speech and practices violence on
innocent people with a different point of view, NO FEDERAL FUNDS?"
CNN's Dan Simon is in Berkeley with more on what happened.
DAN SIMON, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Well, Kristie, order has been restored on the UC Berkeley campus, but certainly you had a lot of tension when a group
of anarchists and let's be clear about who these people are, Anarchy is 150 out of a group of about 1,500 peaceful protesters. They started smashing
windows and lighting fires and at one point, things got so chaotic that university police actually had to put the campus under lock down.
Officers, they used pepper spray and fired rubber reports to get things under control.
Now, leading up to this event, there had been calls from students to get the University to cancel the appearance of Milo Yiannopoulos. He is a
writer for the right leaning news website Breitbart. He is also an ardent Donald Trump supporter, but the University thought he should be allowed to
speak in the interest of free speech, but obviously the protesters wanted to prevent that from happening, but some expressed regret that things
descended into chaos. Kristie?
STOUT: And that was Dan Simon reporting there from Berkeley and (inaudible). Online forum Reddit is banning two so-called alt-
rightsubreddit, a message on the site says they violated a rule against the spread of personal and confidential information.
Now, such action is not known as doxing. It's posting personal information of an individual to get other web users to harass the target. The so-
called alt-right movement that opposes immigration has been accused of promoting white supremacy.
Russia is purging spies suspected of leaking state secrets to the United States. Four men including two high-ranking security service agents and a
cybersecurity expert have been charged with treason that's according to a lawyer for one of the defendants.
Matthew Chance shares their story from Moscow.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Well, this has been a highly secretive espionage case unfolding in Moscow over several weeks involving allegations
that Russian computer hackers passed classified information to the United States.
Details are very thin on the ground, but the Russian lawyer involved in the case has now confirmed to CNN that three cybersecurity experts have been
formally charged with treason.
The lawyer, Ivan Pavlov tells us that two of them worked for the Federal security services, the old KGB. It'sheadquarters are right here behind me
in the center of Moscow, but Russian media reports, "Anonymous sources are saying the arrested officers on the head of the FSB Information Security
Center and his deputy," and are both accused of passing confidential information to the CIA.
A civilian employee of a Russian Internet Security Firm, Kasperky Lab has also been charged with treason prompting the company to make a statement
confirming that it is under investigation for a period predating his employment with them. Speaking to CNN, the lawyer, Pavlov said that a
fourth person, his client whom he refused to name has also been charged, but the Kremlin has refused to confirm any details of the text which comes
in the aftermath of US allegations that Russian hackers interfered with the recent US presidential election.
Russian media reports again quoting unnamed sources have linked the case to hack attacks on Russian officials. So still a good deal of confusion, but
plenty to fuel speculation that the FSB here is purging key cybersecurity figures from its ranks.
Matthew Chance, CNN, Moscow.
STOUT: You're watching News Stream and still ahead, an ambitious project enlisting young people to help in the fight against child slavery.
Noble Prize winner talks about what he calls the 100 million campaign.
I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching News Stream and these are the world headlines. So sources are telling CNN, US President Donald
Trump had a heated phone call with Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull.
Mr. Trump objected to an Obama-era agreement for the US to take in more than a thousand refugees from Australia. Turnbull says Mr. Trump has
committed to honor that deal.
US Defense Secretary James Mattisis in South Korea right now on his first overseas trip. This comes ahead of US plans to deploy a missile defense
system there. Mattis says North Korea is the only country that needs to be concerned, but China is not convinced.
And we had just received our first look at the terms. The British government will seek when leaving the European Union. Prime Minister
Teresa May just published a white paper outlining for 12 bargaining points and they include controlling immigration and ensuring free trade with
Europe.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is at the National Prayer Breakfast underway in Washington. He is expected to speak shortly and we will bring
that to you live as soon as it happens.
Now, earlier, we talked about the fallout and the backlash over Mr. Trump's phone calls with world leaders. The leaked transcript show some pretty
tense moments, but there's also concern about how and why these conversations are getting out and that is something our Brian Stelterhas
been looking into and his reliable source, his newsletter, he joins us now. Brian, good morning to you.
We've Trump and Turnbull, and that heated exchange. Trump and Pena Nieto and that heated exchange. These are private calls between world leaders
and yet, they were leaked. Why is this happening?
BRIAN STELTER, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: This White House is leaking like a sieve and when we say the White House, we're not exactly sure who we are
talking about here, you know, it could be administration officials actually working with Trump in the West Wing, it could be State Department officials
or aides from other departments of the government. This could be coming from a variety different places, but the bottom line here is that it's
highly unusual to have at any time in an administration, but particularly in the first couple of weeks of a new president's term.
Looking at these stories in the Washington Post, the Associated Press, Reuters, CNN other outlets are all receiving information from sources
describing these phone calls as contentious.
Clearly, there's been some disagreement about some of the details, some CNN reporting, contradicting the AP reporting et cetera, but the general sense
you get from all of these stories is the same.
That these are contentious phone calls that are shocking some of Trump's own aides.
STOUT: These leaks in the White House are highly unusual indeed and finally, I also want to get your thoughts on Facebook while we have you.
The company says, it's now closing in on two billion users. Its fourth quarter sales also beat expectations at more than 50% from the same period
a year ago.
Facebook shares are up on that report even if we did know that it struggled during the presidential campaign with of course the spread of fake news on
the site, which was widely reported by you.
Now let's go back to Brian Stelterin New York and Brian, Facebook as we were expecting, it's getting big fat, quickly approaching two billion
users, but also has to control the issue of fake news, so can Facebook it all? Can it grow responsibly?
STELTER: It has more strength right now on its business side than it does, I'd argue with its users. You know, when it comes to users and the quality
of the experience on Facebook, there are some problems and you're describing one of them.
This plague of stories that are just made up that are shared on the site that sometimes show up trending on the site. Facebook has other challenges
with users as well making them come back and convincing them as new fresh material to see; however, on the business side, there is a massive growth
in that business. We are continuing to see it in the most recent quarterly numbers and the fact that Facebook continues to sign up new users and
convince more users to be logging on every day, it shows that the site has incredible strength even though it has those problems on the user side with
what you're actually seeing once you're on the site.
There is a difference of course between getting people to sign up, be online, see the ads and then have a quality experience and so the quality
experience issue is real and it's a problem for Facebook, but when you look at the business metrics, there are words like stellar use to describe his
most recent quarterly earnings.
This is the company almost everybody else on Silicon Valley wants to be because of how well it has captured that advertising revenue.
STOUT: Yes, but as you pointed out, there's still many problems in Facebook including legal issues. Its virtualreality oculus unit lost a
pretty significant loss of $500 million after a jury found that the oculist use code from another developer.
I mean, how damaging is this?
STELTER: This is there, you know, next generation virtualreality platform and if you try out oculus, you are blown away by the kind of way of feeling
it could be the future, but it's a long off and in the meantime, real challenges for Facebook, this this lawsuit being one of them, this is a
part of Facebook. It's one of their new visions for the future, but right now, this company is, like I said, it was all about that basic advertising
revenue both on desktop and on mobile.
Something like oculist, it's a bet down in the future, Zuckerberg has made a number of those bets for the future, but we're seeing the challenges that
come with doing that in some cases, not only for Facebook, also for Google and for Apple. These companies that are looking way ahead into the future,
but right now for Facebook, it's still all about that advertising.
STOUT: Yes, a number challenges ahead for Facebook and as you point out, the industry and as a whole. Brian Stelterdoing this live, thank you so
much, Brian. Take care.
STELTER: Thank you.
STOUT: Thousands of children are taking up the streets of New Delhi in support of the goal to end child slavery. The man behind the movement is a
Nobel Peace Prize winner who is motivating young people to be advocates for millions of exploited children around the world.
Muhammad Lila reports.
(VIDEOTAPE BEGINS)
MUHAMMAD LILA, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: KailashSatyarthiis used to standing out in a crowd and the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner has spent a lifetime
standing up for the rights of children.
But Satyarthi's latest endeavor is ambitious even by his own standards.
KAILASH SATYARTHI, 2014 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER: Child slavery, child labor, suppression of children is evil and we have to put an end to it.
LILA: Satyarthi'sfoundation recently launched 100 million for 100 million, a campaign to mobilize young people from developed nations to advocate on
behalf of the estimated 100 million victims of child labor, trafficking, slavery and violence.
SATYARTHI: So this 100 million better off young people in schools, colleges and universities are going to be the change makers and champions
for the cause of those hundred million left out young people and children in the world.
LILA: The Laureates and Leaders for Children Summit in December 2016 brought together 25 Nobel laureates and leaders from government, business
and religion all to meet and hear directly from child activists.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One million gone, 400,000 dead in in the (inaudible).
SATYARTHI: The most satisfying moment was that former child slaves and the world leaders and Nobel Laureates came so closer. They were hugging each
other. They were becoming friends and leaders and laureates have promised to the children that we are going to respond to the challenge you made
here.
LILA: The event was followed by a peaceful march which saw 5,000 children take over the streets of India's capital, Delhi.
SATYARTHI: And the children are challenging us that they are not going to wait anymore. They want the end of slavery now.
LILA: But still, there are a lot of questions that remain. Satyarthiwants to see an end to all child slavery within five years, but where will the
funding come from? How will young people actually be mobilized and what can be done to tackle entrenched ideas in some of the world's toughest
places?
SATYARTHI: People in power still think that, "Oh they are poor children and we cannot get them out of child labor or child slavery, otherwise, it
is going to affect the family resources." I am quite confident that in my lifetime, I will see the end to child slavery everywhere in the world.
LILA: A problem spanning centuries and an entire planet solved in just five years, if only we all had the childlike optimism of one of the world's
elder statesman. Muhammad Lila, CNN Delhi.
(VIDEOTAPE ENDS)
STOUT: At CNN, we are committed to fighting modern-day slavery. So on March 14th, we're teaming up with young people around the world for a
student led day of action called My Freedom Day, and driving My Freedom Day is a simple question - what does freedom mean to you?
Send us your answer by text, photo or video across social media, just use #myfreedomday, so we could share your responses on our website. You're
watching News Stream. We'll be right back after this.
Welcome back. Now, US president Donald Trump is to address the National Prayer Breakfast shortly and we will bring that to you live when that
happens and while Americans are divided on Mr. Trump's policies, there is one thing that most fashion experts agree on, his ties are too long.
Here is Jeanne Moos.
(VIDEOTAPE BEGINS)
JEANNE MOOS, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: When John Stewart came out, flinging his endless red tie, you didn't have to be a fashionista to know who he was
mocking.
JOHN STEWART, COMEDIAN: Super long tie, dead animal on head, boom.
MOOS: Even on dress your best inaugural day. There was no tie when it came to whose tie was longer and when the wind blew, there it was - tape.
The second time Donald Trump had been caught with his tape showing inspiring tweets like, "Ran over to Macy's to pick up a Trump brand tie
clip," and this "Scotch tape is great again," hat to go with his tie.
(VIDEOTAPE ENDS)
MOOS: The fashion police want the President to say, "So long," to ties that are so long.
(VIDEOTAPE BEGINS)
MOOS: Business Insider called them "Sad." "Crimes against cravats," screamed the headline. The CVS receipt of ties compared his neck wear to
the notoriously long drugstore receipts. "If Trump's tie were any lower, it would be his approval rating," tweeted Seth Myer's show.
But why oh why does a man with his own line of ties wear them so long? Celebrity stylist, Phillip Bloch has a theory.
PHILLIP BLOCH, CELEBRITY STYLIST: As a stylist, I believe he is thinking he is hiding his gut. I think he thinks it's creating an elongating
sensation, which it sort of does because your eye goes to the long red line that again is pointing down where we don't want to go.
MOOS: The rule is that the end of your time is supposed to hit right at the middle of your belt. Your tie should not touch the chair when you sit.
GQ suggested the President swap this monstrosity for a skinnier tie.
"I dressed myself greatly," reads this New Yorker cartoon, but many regular guys like that this President's no fashion plate, he's a plate held
together with scotch tape.
BLOCH: But we actually have things called tie clips for that and actually have them at the White House. They sell them.
MOOS: No point in hitting below the belt like the President's ties do. Jeanne Moss, CNN, New York.
(VIDEOTAPE ENDS)
STOUT: Now former US President Barack Obama seems to be doing a good job of ignoring the political turmoil in Washington these days. He's been
hanging out in the Caribbean with Richard Branson.
The Obamas have been spending time in the British Virgin Islands.
British media captured him with the billionaire on Branson's private island.
Beyonce meanwhile is setting social media on fire. This photo shoot posted on Wednesday is now the most liked Instagram of all time. Last check, it
has more than seven million likes.
The superstar has announced that she is pregnant with twins, saying this, "We have been blessed two times over." She married rapper Jay Z in 2008.
They have a five-year-old daughter, of course her name is Blue Ivy.
Now, we are yes, waiting for the US President Donald Trump to speak at the National Prayer Breakfast and we will bring it to live when that happens.
You're watching News Stream, stay with us. We'll be right back.
STOUT: All right, coming to you live from Hong Kong, welcome back, you're watching News Stream. President Donald Trump is at the National Prayer
Breakfast in Washington. Let's bring up live video for you.
It is an annual event that dates back to the days of President Eisenhower in the 1950s. It is co-chaired by members of Congress and this event is
meant to provide an opportunity for people across the political spectrum to come together and to speak about faith.
The US President is expected to speak shortly and he may also meet with the King of Jordan, King Abdullah. We will bring you the President's speech to
you live as soon as it happens right here on CNN.
Now, a number of issues on the table. The migrant dispute with Australia, Iran's missile test, working with the Middle East and the allies there to
fight terror and all of it will be waiting for Rex Tillerson when he starts his new job today.
Tillerson was sworn in as US Secretary of State on Wednesday night after being confirmed by the Senate. The vote fell largely along party lines.
Donald Trump praised Tillersonsaying that he would bring a clear eyed focus on foreign affairs.
(VIDEOCLIP BEGINS)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Secretary Tillerson, I first want to congratulate you, Linda and your entire family on this incredible
honor and it is that an incredible honor. You bring the unique skills and deep, deep insights and I've gotten to see it firsthand into foreign
diplomacy, our nation needs to foster stability and security in a world too often trapped and right now, it's trapped in violence and in war.
(VIDEOCLIP ENDS)
STOUT: Donald Trump has added Iran to his growing list of diplomatic disputes and it all stems from a statement by the US National Security
Adviser after Iran conducted a military test.
For its part, Iran maintains it did not violate a UN resolution but had test fired a ballistic missile. As Michelle Kosinski tells us, the Trump
Administration sees it very differently.
(VIDEOTAPE BEGINS)
MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: A tough line on Iran at the White House today.
MICHAEL FLYNN, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: As of today, we are officially putting Iran on notice.
KOSINSKI: National Security Adviser, Michael Flynn offering a cryptic warning after Iran tested another ballistic missile Sunday.
FLYNN: The Obama administration failed to respond adequately to Tehran's malign actions including weapons transfers, support for terrorism and other
violations of international norms.
KOSINSKI The new administration making it clear it believes the missile launch violated the UN resolution. Flynn's comments today follow this
warning from US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley yesterday.
NIKKI HALEY, US AMBASSADOR TO THE UN: The United States is not naive. We are not going to standby. We are going to act. We are going to be strong.
We are going to be loud and we're going to do whatever it takes to protect the American people.
SEBASTIAN GORKA, DEPUTY ASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT TRUMP: There is a new sheriff in town, his name is Donald J. Trump and we are not going to follow
the policies of the prior administration.
KOSINSKI: Wanting to send a strong message, but how exactly the US will act is unclear. Administration officials say they are not taking any
options off the table including a military response.
The former Deputy National Security Adviser for President Obama, Ben Rhodes lashed out on Twitter, "While Russian intervention in Ukraine increases,
National Security Adviser Flynn takes time to publicly criticize Obama and not Putin.
Iran has launched ballistic missiles several times over the lat few years. In January 2016, the Obama Administration's Treasury Department did impose
sanctions specifically targeting those helping Iran get supplies for its missile program.
But prior tests have gone down with no more response than statements of condemnation. Experts say the missile tests while provocative do not
violate the nuclear deal the US and five other countries helped negotiate.
TONY BLINKEN, FORMER DEPUTY US SECRETARY OF STATE: Some will say that there are those in Iran who are actually trying themselves to undermine or
sabotage the nuclear agreement that we reached with Iran. They're trying to take provocative actions to get us to respond, to get us to pull out of
the agreement.
KOSINSKI: President Trump on the campaign trail talked about getting tough on Iran, but not necessarily ripping up the nuclear deal.
TRUMP: It's a horrible agreement. I will make that agreement so tough and if they break it, they will have hell to pay.
(VIDEOTAPE ENDS)
KOSINSKI: Here at the State Department, they are not using the same language that the White House is. Let's keep in mind, the new Secretary of
State, Rex Tillerson was just confirmed, but at this point, they're not saying definitively that this missile launch violated the UN resolution.
They are saying things like it was in defiance of it. It was inconsistent with that and that it was provocative. They are also not completely clear
right now what exactly are these options that the White House is talking about.
Michelle Kosinski, CNN, the State Department.
STOUT: You are watching News Stream and we will be right back.
Welcome back, now for the first time, a select group of journalists is allowed to join the White House press briefing via Skype.
The virtual seats debut on Wednesday and the participants were two local TV reporters, a conservative radio host and publisher and each asked a
question.
The past few days have been dominated by the frenetic pace of activity coming from the White House since Donald Trump moved in, but while he's
been busy in the West Wing, the East wing has been relatively quiet.
Kate Bennett brings us the case of the missing First Lady.
(VIDEOTAPE BEGINS)
JOHN ROBERTS, CHIEF JUSTICE: Congratulations, Mr. President.
KATE BENNETT, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: It's been 12 days since her husband was sworn in and MelaniaTrump has yet to return to Washington DC without her
living under the same roof as her husband, the responsibilities of the office of the First Lady are in limbo.
With the White House Visitor Center on staff - that means no White House tours and with no appointed Social Secretary, there's no one to plan state
dinners or the Annual Easter Egg Roll.
MELANIA TRUMP, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: We must find better ways to honor and support the basic goodness of our children especially in
social media.
BENNETT: Mrs. Trump has said she plans to take on cyberbullying as First Lady, but she has not yet formally announced a platform of official causes,
a social schedule of events or for Washington calendar.
She has also not hired a full staff in the East Wing, all things past First Ladies had done almost immediately after their husbands take office.
In November, her husband told reporters that Mrs. Trump would delay their move to Washington until 10-year-old, Baron Trump complete his school year.
More recently President Trump told the New York Times the First Family would return to DC on weekends.
TRUMP: Our First Lady.
BENNETT: But Melania Trump has not been seen in Washington since she returned to New York this Sunday after husband was sworn in, which was also
their wedding anniversary.
The only sighting of the First Lady since leaving DC was on Monday night when the paparazzi caught her running errands in New York.
MelaniaTrump made few public appearances on the campaign trail, a decision she told Anderson Cooper was hers.
MELANIA TRUMP: They will have me on the trail all the tie. They wish to have me there, but I made the decision. I will be a parent to our boy, to
our child.
BENNETT: She spoke at the Republican National Convention in August where she was met with controversy amid allegations she plagiarized part of her
speech from Michelle Obama.
MELANIA TRUMP: He is tough when he has to be, but he's also kind and fair and caring. This kindness is not always noted, but it is there for all to
see.
BENNETT: And she defended her husband when the Access Hollywood tapes were released calling it, "Boy talk."
MELANIA TRUMP: I said to my husband that you know, the language is inappropriate. It is not acceptable. I accept his apology. I hope the
American people will accept it as well and it was many, many years ago. He is not the man that I know.
BENNETT: She traveled to Washington for the inauguration looking every bit the First Lady in a Jackie Kennedy inspired ensemble and she gave brief
remarks at the inaugural Armed Services Ball thanking attendees for their service.
MELANIA TRUMP: I'm honored to be your First Lady. We will fight, we will win and we will make America great again.
(VIDEOTAPE ENDS)
STOUT: And that is New Stream. I'm Kristie Lu Stout. We will continue to monitor events in Washington DC as CNN Money with Maggie Lake is next.
END
