Return to Transcripts main page

Wolf

Trump Taking Putin's Word; Trump On North Korea; Trump Launches Insults; GOP Leader Believes Moore's Accusers; Voters in Alabama on Moore. Aired 1-1:30p ET

Aired November 13, 2017 - 13:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Wolf Blitzer. It's 1:00 p.m. here in Washington, 2:00 a.m. Tuesday in Manila in the Philippines, 12:00 a.m. in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Wherever you're watching from around the world, thanks very much for joining us.

Whiplash. Russia interfered in America's election, but President Trump praising Vladimir Putin and attacking his own intelligence agencies. Now, those former intel chiefs say the president's being played.

On the defense. Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore defiant as sexual allegations swirl.

Now, as more Republicans say he should dropout, new signs that'll still -- he still has some strong support in his home state.

Plus, this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (translator): My sons and daughters were shot on Thursday. I can't find them (ph), he says. There's no one left.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: It's being called ethnic cleansing. CNN sees first-hand the horrors of the massacre unfolding before the world's eyes as hundreds of thousands of people run for their lives in Myanmar.

Up first, President Trump brags about his red-carpet receptions during his Asia trip. But he's under lots of fire for downplaying Russian meddling in the U.S. presidential election and human rights' abuses in the Philippines.

The White House says the president briefly brought up human rights during his meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte. But a spokesman for the Philippine leader says the issue never came up

President Trump also sent mixed messages about Russian election meddling in the 2016 election and Vladimir Putin's denials. He told reporters aboard Air Force One, and I'm quoting President Trump now. He said he didn't meddle. He said he didn't meddle. I asked him again. You can only ask so many times.

Our White House Correspondent Sara Murray is traveling with the president in Manila right now. Sara, at one point, the president appeared to take Putin's word over the word of the U.S. intelligence community. So, what is he saying now?

SARA MURRAY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the President later tried to clarify his remarks, saying he does side with U.S. intelligence agencies and not necessarily Vladimir Putin's assessment of Russian meddling.

But the president also went out of his way to say he agrees with U.S. intelligence under its current leadership, meaning the leadership that he hand-picked to lead these intel agencies.

But it's worth noting that this raw intelligence hasn't changed, Wolf. It was all of these agencies that agreed together at the end of the 2016 presidential campaign and Russia tried to meddle. Obviously, that was under the leadership that was selected by Barack Obama.

And when Trump put his own in, they testified on Capitol Hill that they agreed with those conclusions.

BLITZER: You know, Sara, the president also, at the same point, getting some criticism for lavishing lots of praise of the Philippine president, Duterte.

Critics point out, though, there has been a bloody war on drugs, including thousands of killings outside the bounds of normal Philippine court proceedings.

Do we know whether President Trump raised this issue specifically? There is some dispute right now.

MURRAY: That's right, Wolf. And, look, President Trump has made it clear that his top issues in many of these bilateral meetings are trade as well as national security. He has hardly been a champion for human rights on the world stage on any of these trips or in his meetings with any strong men so far.

And that certainly seems to be the case in his meeting with Duterte as well. The thing that's a little bit bizarre about this is neither side can even agree as to whether the issue came up.

Duterte's side insists the issue of human rights was never broached, but the White House says they did discuss it, all be it briefly.

Suffice to say, this is going to be a disappointment, though, to human rights groups. And already, the president is catching some slack from members of his own party, including Senator John McCain. And disappointed that he didn't press Duterte harder on some of his tactics in this drug war here.

BLITZER: Sara Murray traveling with the president in Manila for us. Sara, thanks very much. While he's been on this Asian trip, President Trump's contentious relationship with North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, took a rather bizarre turn. The president said it's possible the two could become friends.

But the comments came out shortly after the president called Kim Jong Un, and I'm quoting now, "short and fat" in a tweet. CNN -- that was in a tweet.

CNN, by the way, is the only U.S. -- the only American television network currently in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. Our Will Ripley is on the scene for us. Will, what is happening?

WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, it was a surreal few hours here in North Korea over the weekend with insults flying back and forth from the president of the United States and the supreme leader of North Korea.

[13:05:06] And then, of course, North Korean media continuing their attack on President Trump, showcasing the anti-Trump protesters in South Korea. While failing to mention, unsurprisingly, that the larger crowds were actually in support of President Trump.

Then, there was this, from North Korea's news agency, KCNA, saying, quote, "The reckless remarks by a dotard, which translates to old senile person, like Trump can never frighten us or put a stop to our advance."

That was followed up by a tweet from the president himself, saying, quote, "Why would Kim Jong Un insult me by calling me old when I would never call him short and fat. Oh well. I try so hard to be his friend and maybe someday that will happen."

But the sense I get from North Koreans, unofficially, but still a lot of skepticism, as to whether a friendship would be possible between the two leaders, considering all of the president's fiery rhetoric, the threat to totally destroy North Korea, the rocket man nickname.

And then, of course, the North Koreans have told me repeatedly that actions speak louder than words.

And they point to the fact that there are joint naval drills underway. Those massive drills involving three aircraft carrier strike groups in the Pacific, the waters off the Korean Peninsula. Something that North Korea has long-viewed as a dress rehearsal for a potential war with this country.

North Koreans also watching very closely to see if President Trump will, indeed, announce his decision on whether to re-add North Korea to the list of state sponsors of terrorism. A list that they were taken off nearly 10 years ago, during negotiations back then over North Korea's nuclear program which has only gotten much more -- significantly more advanced since then -- Wolf.

BLITZER: It certainly has. All right, Will, thank you very much. Will Ripley in North Korea for us. Besides North Korea, the other issue overshadowing the president's Asia trip certainly is Russia. The president appeared to give Vladimir Putin a pass on Russia's election meddling. He said, and I'm quoting the president now, "Every time he sees me, he says, I didn't do that. And I believe -- I really believe that when he tells me that, he means it."

The president walked back that statement somewhat during a news conference in Vietnam. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: What I said there is that I believe he believes that. And that's very important for somebody to believe. I believe that he feels that he and Russia did not meddle in the election.

As to whether I believe it or not, I'm with our agencies, especially as currently constituted with their leadership. I believe in our intel agencies, our intelligence agencies. I've worked with them very strongly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: But earlier, the president blasted former intelligence community leaders, saying, and I'm quoting now, "I mean, give me a break. They are political hacks.

So, you look at it -- I mean, you have Brennan, you have Clapper and you have Comey. Comey has proven now to be a liar and he has proven now to be a leaker."

John Negroponte is the former director of National Intelligence for the United States. He's joining us right now. Ambassador, thanks very much for joining us.

You've worked with all these guys, Brennan, Clapper, Comey. Are they political hacks or career professionals?

JOHN NEGROPONTE, FORMER DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: Well, they certainly have strong career professional records.

I think it's unfortunate that it's gotten into this, kind of, ad hominem exchange between the president and them. I don't think it adds much to the debate about our real national security issues.

And the sooner we can get that off the front page, I think the better it would be.

BLITZER: But you don't agree with the president or maybe you do, that these guys are political hacks?

NEGROPONTE: Look, I think they've gotten into a bit of a shouting contest with the president. They said things that were pretty strong about the president of the United States. I think Mr. Clapper said that he was -- something about his mental balance or his mental stability. Well, you know, when you start putting those kinds of words out about the president of the United States, I think you can expect to get blow back.

BLITZER: But you agree with them that Russia interfered in the presidential election.

NEGROPONTE: And so does the administration. They put out a report to that effect. So does the president. I think he's --

BLITZER: The president is reluctant ever to criticize Putin --

NEGROPONTE: He is.

BLITZER: -- or the Russians. He -- it's like -- you know, it's like pulling teeth to get him to say anything bad about him.

NEGROPONTE: But if you complete --

BLITZER: How do you explain that?

NEGROPONTE: -- well, if you completed the quote of the president on that, I think he said something to the effect that you've got to understand, while I may go with the assessment of the intelligence community, I also have to work with these people.

And he mentioned it. I have to work with them on Syria. I have to work with them on North Korea. I have to work with them on the Ukraine.

There an indispensable -- they're part of the P5. They're a nuclear power. And they're people that we have to negotiate.

BLITZER: But don't you think that if Russia interfered in the U.S. elections and was involved in all this stuff that that's a substantive issue that the president of the United States should directly and forcefully raise when he sees Putin?

NEGROPONTE: I think it is a very substandard matter. And I think we ought to do whatever we can to avoid its repetition and take appropriate measures to do that. But I'm just trying to point out that the president was trying to juggle.

I think he sees a dilemma here. He's got this problem of what the Russians did. And I think he knows in his heart that they did it.

[13:10:04] And, at the same time, he sees a need to work with them, as one of the major powers, to deal with some of these highly important international strategic (INAUDIBLE.)

BLITZER: But he keeps calling this whole Russia investigation a witch hunt, a hoax. I'm not so sure, in his heart, he highly believes what you're suggesting.

NEGROPONTE: Yes, well, -- BLITZER: I know his aides -- I know Pompeo, Mike Pompeo at the CIA does. I know his other top national security officials have all said they believe the Russians did it. But in contrast to them, the president is reluctant to say so.

And I want you to listen to the reaction yesterday. You know, Clapper and Brennan were on CNN "STATE OF THE UNION" with Jake Tapper. I want to you listen to how they responded. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES CLAPPER, FORMER DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: Putin is committed to undermining our system, our democracy and our -- and our whole process. And to try to paint it in any other -- any other way is, I think, astounding and, in fact, poses a peril to this country.

JOHN BRENNAN, FORMER DIRECTOR, CIA: Also, I think Mr. Trump is, for whatever reason, either intimidated by Mr. Putin, afraid of what he could do or what might come out, as a result of these investigations.

So, it's very worrisome. And I think it sends a worrisome, a very disturbing signal to our allies and partners who are concerned about Russian interference in their Democratic processes as well.

So, it's either naivete ignorance or fear, in terms of what Mr. Trump is doing visa vi the Russians.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: All right. So, you know Clapper and Brennan. Give me your reaction to what they just said.

NEGROPONTE: Well, I think there's quite a bit of truth to what they say. But I also believe there's an investigation underway. There's a report already out that says they sought to influence the election.

I cannot imagine that we would not take stronger precautions, in upcoming elections, to avoid the repetition of these kinds of events.

So, right, we have the question of seeing deeply into the heart of the president. And I can't fully speak to that.

BLITZER: All right, let's talk a little bit about, you know, the president's reluctance to deal forcefully with the Russians. As you know, the House of Representatives and the Senate overwhelmingly passed new sanctions against Russia in the Senate, 98 to two is the vote. Almost everyone voted in favor of these sanctions.

The administration has been very slow and they missed some deadlines in implementing the sanctions. Even now, they're not fully implementing the sanctions. The president suggesting, well, there's other sanctions.

You know, this is raising a lot of concern, especially among Republicans on Capitol Hill who voted overwhelmingly with the Democrats to impose these new rounds of sanctions. Why do you think the administration is so slow in doing this?

NEGROPONTE: Well, first of all, they're working to create some guidelines on how to implement the sanctions.

BLITZER: Well, they've had months and months to do this.

NEGROPONTE: Right.

BLITZER: The deadline was October first, I think. And it's been a while.

NEGROPONTE: In the legislation, there was reference to the fact that this had to be done in consultation and coordination with the allies. And some of the sanctions that are being discussed affect important economic interests of some of the allied countries.

So, I think an effort is being made to avoid any kind of pitfalls in our relationships with our allies as we go forward.

BLITZER: Because it was clear the president didn't like these sanctions to begin with. He urged everyone to not go for additional sanctions. The Senate and the House overwhelmingly rejected that advice, imposing these new sanctions.

And now, I'm just pointing out the administration very slow in implementing what is, really, the law of the land, right? Now, he reluctantly signed that legislation into law.

NEGROPONTE: Correct. But within that law of the land, there's a reference to acting in -- taking into consideration the interests and the concerns of allied countries. So, it's a balancing act.

BLITZER: But you see -- but you see that as a legitimate concern whereas a lot of other people say he's just looking for an excuse not to go ahead and implement the sanctions.

NEGROPONTE: Well, it's certainly, in part, legitimate.

BLITZER: Very one -- very quickly on this tweet on Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea. I want to get your quick reaction. The president tweeted, why would Kim Jong Un insult me by calling me old, when I would never call him short and fat. Oh well, I try so hard to be his friend and maybe someday that will happen.

Is that realistic that he and Kim Jong Un someday could be friends?

NEGROPONTE: Well, I think this whole trip -- I mean, the major strategic issue during the trip was what to do about a nuclearized North Korea. And I think it was a considerable success in that regard, in Japan and China and Korea and elsewhere.

I think he's trying to build up. I think the United States is trying to build up a set of pressures on North Korea, military, economic, political, that hopefully will bring them to the table one of these days. In one of his comments when he was in Japan, he made a reference to the possibility of North Korea perhaps returning some of the abducted Japanese citizens that have been abducted over the past 40 years. And he said it would be a fine gesture on their part if they did that.

I think he may hold out some hope of a possible negotiated solution, provided we maintain a united front, which I think he succeed in reinforcing on this trip, in bringing pressure to bear on the country of North Korea.

[13:15:12] BLITZER: And you're -- very quickly, you're a former ambassador to the Philippines. Are you OK with sort of the tepid criticism, if there was an criticism of the Philippine leader, Duterte?

NEGROPONTE: Well, it's not a good situation. On the other hand, the Philippines is a strong ally. We're supportive of them. Their issues in the South China Sea. They've been a historic friend for more than 100 years. I think he also managed that situation as well as he could. There was, in the joint statement, by the way, a reference to the human rights situation.

BLITZER: Which is a serious situation.

NEGROPONTE: Right.

BLITZER: John Negroponte, the former director of national intelligence, thanks very much for joining us.

NEGROPONTE: Thank you. Appreciate it.

BLITZER: Always good to have you here on CNN.

Also breaking today, the Senate top Republican saying he believes the women accusing Roy Moore of pursuing them as teens and he's considering a write-in candidate. Many voters on the ground have some surprising opinions.

Plus, was one of the U.S. soldiers killed during the ambush in Niger found with his hands tied? We have new details on the investigation. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:20:32] BLITZER: The Republican Senate majority leader here in Washington says he wants Roy Moore to go. Mitch McConnell says it's time for Moore to step aside from his Alabama Senate race and that he believes the women who were accusing Moore of pursuing them when he was in his 30s and they were teenagers, one as young as 14.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R), MAJORITY LEADER: I think he should step aside.

QUESTION: Are you encouraging a write-in candidate, (INAUDIBLE) or Strange.

MCCONNELL: That's an option we are looking, whether or not there is someone who could mount a write-in campaign successfully.

QUESTION: Would it be Senator Strange, do you think?

MCCONNELL: We'll see.

QUESTION: Or do you believe these allegations to be true?

MCCONNELL: I believe the women, yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: He says, I believe the women, yes.

All right, CNN's Brianna Keilar is up on Capitol Hill.

Brianna, this is some very strongly worded language from the Senate majority leader.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Wolf. And it's a significant upgrade from what the Senate majority leader said last week, which was that if true Moore should step aside. And we heard that refrain over and over, including from the White House, if true.

But the issue with that was proving it. Even though this report from "The Washington Post" appears to be very credible, four women saying that Moore pursued relationships with them while they were in their teens, including a 14-year-old, two years younger than the age of consent in Alabama, who said that Roy Moore engaged in sexual conduct with her that made her uncomfortable. There was the issue of, well, how do you prove that something is true? It's really about, do you believe the women? And to that point, Mitch McConnell is saying that he does believe the women.

And this issue of whether there's going to be a write-in candidate on the Republican side instead of maybe voters going for Roy Moore in the December 12th general election, that really is going to be up to the state party. But I'll tell you, the federal apparatus for the GOP is really distancing itself from Roy Moore. The National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee has said that it's cutting it -- or it has cut its fundraising ties with Moore.

But Moore is still saying that this is fake news. He actually tweeted in response to Mitch McConnell saying, quote, the person who should step aside is Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. He has failed conservatives and must be replaced. Hash tag drain the swamp.

But just a reminder, Wolf, as we look to see how this is all going to play out, there are, in this report, two dozen corroborating witnesses when it comes to these four women in "The Washington Post" report who say that Roy Moore pursued relationships with them while they were teens and he was in his 30s. BLITZER: The statement from the Senate majority leader, Brianna, in

contrast to what we're hearing from White House officials, they are all consistently saying that if true Moore should step aside. But they're not yet declaring that he should step aside.

KEILAR: No, that's exactly right. And, of course, President Trump supported Luther Strange, Roy Moore's opponent. But Roy Moore has also made it clear that when he comes to Washington, he does want to back President Trump's agenda.

So really eyes are now on the White House. How is the White House going to respond now that today the Senate majority leader has come out and said not just if true Roy Moore should step aside, but that he should step aside and that he does believe Roy Moore's accusers.

BLITZER: All right, Brianna, thanks very much.

Brianna Keilar's up on Capitol Hill.

Moore is denying the accusations and he's now threatening to go after "The Washington Post" over its initial report.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROY MOORE (R), ALABAMA SENATE CANDIDATE: "The Washington Post" published another attack to my character reputation (INAUDIBLE) desperate (INAUDIBLE) to stops my political campaign. These attacks I would (INAUDIBLE) completely false and untrue (INAUDIBLE).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Jason Carroll's on the ground for us in Alabama right now.

Jason, how are voters there reacting to the story?

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's what it really comes down to, doesn't it, Wolf? It comes down to what voters are going to do here in the state of Alabama. We've already heard from state leaders who are basically in most -- and for the most part standing by Roy Moore. But it does come down to the voters.

And we spent all day yesterday out with voters yesterday and last night and what we really found is the allegations have really confirmed what people really thought about Roy Moore. In other words, if you didn't like Roy Moore before these allegations came out, if you didn't like him then, you like him even less now after the allegations. If you liked him before the allegations came out, after the allegations, a number of folks still standing squarely in his corner saying they believe this is some sort of Democratic Party plot to get him to get out of the race.

[13:25:17] What we were really looking for was to find out whether or not voters were moving from one box to the other box, Wolf. Haven't found that yet. But want you to listen to what some of the voters told us out here yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm going -- I'm going to compare it. A man of God who's done everything ever since I've known he existed. I didn't know him when he started to -- he's done everything he said he would do in politics, which nobody else I know has. And I'm going to compare him with -- with a -- a girl who had a sorted reputation, even in high school. And I know she can change too. I -- you know, I -- and we forgive and all that. That's not withstanding. But who am I -- whose word am I going to take? It's not even a close call.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not planning to vote for him. And I'll -- that's where I'll leave it at this time. I'm not planning to.

CARROLL: But it sounds like you're on the fence a bit.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I really like his opponent. I kind of like the policies a little bit. And, I don't know, Roy Moore feels like a little bit more of a show as opposed to an actual, you know, legitimate, honest, trustworthy candidate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: And, Wolf, here's an interesting point where we found voters, regardless of what side that they're on, where they agree. They -- both sides agree that they feel as though the timing of when the allegations surfaced, they feel as though the timing is suspect.

Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Jason, thanks very much. Jason Carroll's in Alabama for us.

Just in, by the way, Roy Moore's wife is speaking out on the allegations. Hear what she says about the accusers. That's coming up.

And CNN is on the ground where an ethnic cleansing massacre is unfolding in Myanmar. Eyewitnesses and survivors describing the horrors. We're going to take you there live.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My boy was just behind me and they hit him with a wooden stick and he collapsed to the ground, dead. His head was split open.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)