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Trump Meets with British Prime Minister Teresa May; Crews Race to Rescue Little Girl from Mexico City Quake Rubble; Iran's President says Trump Owes Iran an Apology; Macron Says Trump Should Stick with Paris Climate Deal. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired September 20, 2017 - 15:30   ET

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

[15:30:00] MJ LEE, CNN NATIONAL POLITICS REPORTER: -- that you could have, mental conditions or surgeries that you have had in the past. So now Republicans are having to explain this is a law or a bill that if it becomes law would be hurtful to people, so many people who have pre-existing conditions.

I was thinking about yesterday just in terms of the big question of whether this is going to pass next week. We don't even know if there's going to be a vote. A colleague was asking what is your prediction on this? I've stopped making predictions on the health care front because it's been all over the place. But I would just say, for Republicans there are a couple of reasons why I think that if this law does pass, there's so much incentive for Republicans to get this done even if there are so many people telling them this is a bad proposal.

I think one of them is that, you know, President Trump and Republicans have had no major legislative victories this year and I think that is weighing very, very heavily on them. And obviously, the issue that we have talked about a lot is that this is simply a promise that they have been making for so, so many years. I think the fact that they got so tantalizingly close to getting this done last time, they were one vote away, I think has been on their minds.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN HOST: Let me come back to you guys. Here we have the British P.M. Theresa May sitting with the President of the United States.

(TRUMP PRESS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you very much. It's great to have Prime Minister May from the United Kingdom and her representatives, who are people we know very well through recent trade negotiations. I have to say we'll be doing a lot of trading with the United Kingdom and we look forward to it. And we have gotten to know each other over the last period of a year. It's a real honor to have you here. Thank you very much.

THERESA MAY, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Thank you very much, Mr. President. It's good to be here. And as you say, we've had many discussions between our representatives and ourselves on a whole variety of issues, including trade, which will be important for us, but some other issues, foreign policy issues, our security and defense relationship, which of course is the closest, the U.K. and the U.S. is the closest we have an it's great that that continues.

TRUMP: Thank you very much for being here.

MAY: Thank you.

TRUMP: Thanks, everyone.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What will you tell the prime minister --

TRUMP: Thank you, everyone.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. President what do you think allies will think of --

BALDWIN: All right. We are hanging in there to see if he would answer any of those questions. But listen, you know, Errol, the U.K. is a good, good friend of ours. I think two just most recently, a couple of days ago and that bucket bomb that hurt a lot of people in the tube station and there was a bit of back and forth after president Trump tweeted. You know, Scotland yard knew and inferring something could have been prevented. A bit of back and forth with the U.S. and U.K.

Sure, look, at least visually, the photo op, the handshake --

BALDWIN: It looks good.

ERROL LOUIS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: -- no acrimony there. So, a step on the road to repairing a relationship that was needlessly damaged frankly with one tweet. No one else in the government had anything else to say. It was simply the president. None of his national security advisers, nobody from the Pentagon suggesting, sort of talking out of school about how Britain might have prevented the bucket bomb. The president alone sort of did that. To a certain extent, this is evidence that you can contain the damage.

BALDWIN: Errol and MJ, thank you very much.

We have been watching Mexico City so closely where this frantic search has been under way to find this little girl who has been trapped in the rubble in the wake of that earthquake. That is still under way. Rescuers, they keep saying they're close. They say they saw a hand, a little hand move. We're going to take you back live to Mexico when CNN continues.

[15:35:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: More on our breaking news out of Mexico City where more than 200 people have been killed in the wake of this magnitude 7.1 earthquake. Just the most heart breaking of all of this is that children, a number of them killed when their elementary school collapsed around them. These are the pictures from these rescues that are under way after this elementary school just crumbled. And crews believe they're close to finding this little girl who's been trapped for hours and hours and hours. Keeping in mind this is the second powerful quake in Mexico in just a couple of weeks. When you look at the West Coast of the United States, now there are

earthquake fears that are rising because of what's happening with our neighbors to the south. So, what might this mean for California's San Andreas Fault line, if anything. I've got Gavin Hayes with me, a research seismologist with the USGS, the U.S. Geological Survey. Gavin, thanks so much for jumping on with me. But first, just homing in on what's happening in Mexico, unlike the quake from two weeks ago, to my understanding they haven't seen any aftershocks. Is that odd?

GAVIN HAYES, RESEARCH SEISMOLOGIST, U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY: That is a little odd, Yes. I would have expected that by now we would have recorded some aftershocks and that we haven't seen any is a little unusual. Often earthquakes of this type have fewer aftershocks than other large earthquakes on, say, plate boundary faults. But still the fact we haven't recorded any is a little odd.

[15:40:00] BALDWIN: The conversation, I know, for our friends in California is, well, what about us, looking a little bit down the road. And so, is there a connection between the fault lines, Mexico and California, or not whatsoever?

HAYES: The San Andreas fault in California is a different type of fault than the subduction zone in Mexico. While they are ultimately connected and the plate motions in California are transform or strike set motion, whereas the seduction zone that has caused these earthquakes in central Mexico is related to the convergence of the Cocos plate and north America plate. So, the plate boundary systems are very different and very far apart as well so we wouldn't expect any kind of triggering from the Mexico earthquakes to start causing earthquakes in California.

BALDWIN: OK. You're bringing back my geology 101 but I think what you're saying is Californians need not worry too terribly because of what's happening farther south. Is that correct?

HAYES: Well, the hazard is still high in California. They could have large earthquakes at any time. It's just not elevated because of what's happening in Mexico.

BALDWIN: Got it. It's also my understanding Mexico City has a system that warns of strong shaking off of Mexico's coast. Does the U.S. have a similar system or not?

HAYES: That's correct. Mexico City does have an earthquake early warning system, we call it. Mexico City is very well situated to be able to receive about 60 to 90 seconds of warning from earthquakes at its coastline. An earthquake early warning system is in pilot mode in California. We hope with more funding that that system can be completed.

BALDWIN: All right. Gavin Hayes with the USGS, thank you so much. Again, we're watching Mexico. We also have our breaking news on the president of Iran speaking out today, speaking here in New York on U.S. soil saying president Trump owes him an apology. What President Rouhani is threatening to do if the U.S. pulls out of the nuclear deal. That's next. [15:45:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Iran's president having his say at the United Nations today, lashing out directly at President Trump. President Hassan Rouhani of Iran says president Trump owes his country an apology for President Trump's inflammatory remarks regarding the Iran nuclear deal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRESIDENT HASSAN ROUHANI, IRAN (through translator): Yesterday Mr. Trump was extremely offensive to the people of Iran and before anything, we are waiting for Mr. Trump to issue an apology to the people of Iran.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: President Rouhani there also said that if the U.S. pulls out of the Iran deal, his country may resume enriching uranium. I have Elise Labott here with me, CNN global affairs correspondent, who covers all this on a daily basis. When you hear those words coming out of President Rouhani's mouth, how much of it is bluster back or truly, truly significant?

ELISE LABOTT, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: I think it's a little bit of posturing, because, look, yes, it would be bad for Iran if the U.S. pulled out of the deal, but it's got a hell of a lot of other countries, Brooke, who already consider Iran open for business. There's some skepticism about the investment climate if the U.S. doesn't take part. But European companies are lining up to do business there. So, if Iran were to stay in the deal and continue to do business with these other countries, then it's Donald Trump who's on the outside and he -- President Rouhani does have a point that it would be on Donald Trump that the U.S. is isolated.

BALDWIN: What about President Rouhani's point about North Korea? Right. How here and Trump and everyone is trying to get the world behind him on North Korea and stopping them, yet if he wants to pull out of Iran --

LABOTT: Exactly.

BALDWIN: -- what happens then? What's the message?

LABOTT: Listen, even Secretary of State, Tillerson, said on the talk shows this weekend, on the Sunday talk shows, that technically Iran is in compliance of the deal. Now, what the administration is saying is that Iran is not live up to the spirit of this agreement. Iran -- this agreement was supposed to make Iran part of the world of nations and moderate its behavior. I think that was the long-term hope. But that's never what the agreement was intended to do.

And so, if Iran -- if an international atomic energy agency, most countries agree that Iran is abiding by this deal. If the U.S. pulls out and says it's not living up to the spirit, then why would North Korea ever make a deal with the United States if it says that the U.S. doesn't live up to its agreement. And that President Trump is doing that on, you know, Paris. He's doing it on NAFTA. He's doing it on a lot of other things. And so, I think the U.S. credibility really is on the line, not only in terms of Iran but in terms of its future deal making. And President Trump is supposed to be the deal maker.

BALDWIN: He said he's made up his mind but is not telling anyone just yet. Maybe he kicks it to congress, we shall see. Elise Labott, thank you, good to see you.

Coming up next, it is a race here in Mexico as crews are trying to save this little girl from the rubble at this elementary school in Mexico City. They have seen her little hand wave. They put a hose down to get her some water. Her family is there waiting on standby. We'll get an update after the earthquake.

Plus, powerful hurricane Maria has already left Puerto Rico in the ruins. 100 percent they say of the island without power. We'll tell you where Maria is headed next. Stay with me.

[15:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: In a CNN exclusive, French President Macron in the U.S. for U.N. assembly sat down with Christiane Amanpour to talk about everything from the crisis in North Korea, to President Trump's threat to pull the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear deal. Here's their interview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You are here on your first UNGA. President Trump is also making his first address to the world. You have areas of agreement and disagreement. What are the main areas of disagreement right now?

[15:55:00] PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON, FRANCE: I think the very first visit, the disagreement is well-known is about climate. And as President Trump decided to leave Paris agreement, I mean, that is his choice, and I do respect his choice, and he was elected on the basis of such a decision. But I do regret his decision. And I do want to convince him to come back to it. Because for me that's the core agreement for climate. And I do believe that, especially after these hurricanes we've just had both in U.S. and in France, we do feel the direct consequences of CO2 emissions, and all this climate change.

AMANPOUR: The president says this is a bad deal. We can get a better deal. It's bad for the economy. It's bad for the climate. What do you say when he says that to you?

MACRON: I mean, first of all, it's not bad for the climate and environment definitely. And especially if he decides to leave, it will be worse. Because the U.S. is very great contributor in terms of CO2 emissions. Have would have to change a lot of things in our economies. I mean, you would have to stop certain activities regarding fossil fuels, regarding classical industrial activities. Because we know they pollute a lot. But you will create new jobs to produce emissions. It means more innovation, more jobs in cleaner sectors. And we have to make the switch from an economy point of view. It's critical.

AMANPOUR: Let's move on to another necessity and something that you and other countries have signed with the United States and Iran which is the nuclear deal. The president told the United Nations in his speech that he wants a tougher, better deal. He's very concerned also about North Korea. I spoke to the Iranian president who says, the U.S. will pay if they pull out of this deal.

MACRON: First of all, our concern today regarding nuclear weapon is about North Korea. North Korea is a very good illustration of what- ifs scenario from nuclear arm deal with Iran. Why? Because we stopped everything with North Korea years and years ago. We stopped any monitoring and any discussions with them. And what's the result? They will probably get nuclear weapons.

So, my position for Iran to President Trump was to say, look at the situation now in North Korea. I do not want to replicate the situation with Iran. We need this framework. That's very much important. Because if we stop with this agreement, what do you propose? Nothing.

AMANPOUR: Do you think there is a military solution? I mean, sometimes the president seems to indicate that there is a military solution to North Korea.

MACRON: Look at the map. If you think there is a military resolution, you'll speak about a lot of victims.

AMANPOUR: Let me ask you how you deal with President Trump. Because he says some things in person. He says some things on Twitter. His ministers say other things. How do you deal with the leader of the free world?

MACRON: I have very direct discussions with President Trump. I do appreciate him. We have very good personal relationship. And I have very direct discussion with him. I don't interfere in the domestic policies and what you describe as interferences or discrepancies between different members. For me, there is one voice, your president, you elected your president, and this is a voice I consider. And is a man, I speak were.

AMANPOUR: President Trump said make the world great again. He sort of kind of shifts between being part of the world and being protectionist an isolationist. And I know before the election, you said, this is a good moment for France to go in the opposite direction of the prevailing trend. You know, take on anti-globalization. Take on populism. What made you do that and believe that you could win doing that?

MACRON: Because I know the outcome of this trend. It's war. I do know the outcome of this trend. Nationalism is all about war. We experience that 80 years ago in Europe.

AMANPOUR: I would like to ask you, if you say to you love, what does love mean to you? The world is actually obsessed right now with your marriage and your relationship with your wife. Tell us about it. MACRON: Look, it's always hard to speak about that, because it's part

of intimacy. Love is part of my life in my values. And I do believe that you don't build something great and if you don't behave properly if you are not balanced and do not have a strong couple. I've been with my wife for decade now and she's part of me.

AMANPOUR: Is it important for a world leader to have that part of their life?

MACRON: At least for me it's very important. For me, it's very important. For my personal balance, to have somebody at home telling you the truth every day.

Because access to truth is one of the main challenges. And somebody with her deep convictions and knowing you for what you are and loving you for what you are. Not for what you represent and your role or your nose and something very specific at that point in time. So, we know I chose her and we are together as I said for decades. And that's very important to me because that's my anchor at the end of the day.

AMANPOUR: Your anchor.

MACRON: Yes.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: French President, Emmanuel Macron sitting with our own Christiane Amanpour this week, as everyone is in town here For the U.N. General Assembly. I'm Brooke Baldwin, thank you so much for being with me. The "THE LEAD" with Jake Tapper starts right now.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: Welcome to the "THE LEAD" I'm Jake Tapper we'll start with the breaking news that is both in the world and national lead. Two forces of nature leaving --