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NEWS STREAM
Xi Jinping And Kim Jong-Un Meet In China; Trump To Announce Whether Or Not U.S. Will Withdraw; New York Attorney General Resigns Amid Allegations Of Assault; Another Teenage Girl Raped And Set On Fire; Trump Tweets About John Kerry on Iran deal; Melania Trump's Be Best Campaign; Stars on the Met Gala. Aired at 8-9a ET
Aired May 08, 2018 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[08:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. Our breaking news this hour, a Russian diplomacy just weeks before that
expected meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
A short time ago, Mr. Trump tweeted that he will speak with Xi Jinping by phone within the hour, and we are just learning the Chinese President met
with the North Korean leader on Monday and Tuesday.
You are seeing pictures from that meeting that took place in Dalian, China. And Matt Rivers joins us now live from Beijing. And, Matt, what more have
you learned about this second recent meeting between Xi and Kim Jong-un?
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this meeting was as much of a surprise as the first one, Kristie. We certainly weren't expecting this
today. There were a lot of reports going around earlier in the day that said that there were sightings of Air Koryo plane.
That is, of course, North Korea's only airline, an Air Koryo plane in Dalian, which is a port city in northeastern China. And there were some
rumors that there could be a North Korean official on board, a senior official, but we really can't confirm anything.
China is incredibly good at keeping these kind of meetings under wraps, especially when it comes to North Korean leadership, and so it wasn't until
7 p.m. during the evening news broadcast, the daily evening news broadcast, the CCTV does, but the lead story was -- well, there was Kim Jong-un
meeting with Xi Jinping.
They showed that he was here for two days. One night spent in Dalian, that port city. They had a series of meetings. There was high-level
delegations representing both sides, and they showed footage of that. Both leaders spoke. There was a banquet.
They spoke in podium, similar to what we saw when Kim Jong-un came here to Beijing just about 40 days ago or so now. So this was a meeting that both
sides in a readout, at least, what we're getting from state media here in China.
They talked about denuclearization. They talked about the upcoming summit. And it was really a meeting what it seem like, Kristie, is Kim Jong-un
coming here to China to brief Xi Jinping on his meeting with Moon Jae-in, that historic summit at the DMZ.
LU STOUT: Yes, there were such a flurry of diplomacy happening right now. Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un meeting in Dalian, China. We also have this
high-level trilateral meeting taking place between the leaders of Japan, South Korea, and Li Keqiang, China -- the number two China there in Tokyo.
And we are learning that Donald Trump on Twitter, he said he is soon going to talk to Xi Jinping 8:30 a.m. eastern time, that's 8:30 p.m. Beijing time
on the phone. Does this mean that all parties are going to be on the same page ahead of that anticipated summit between Trump and Kim Jong-un?
RIVERS: Yes. I mean, what you have seen since that summit happened between Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un is both sides kind of go to their
respective traditional allies. So, you know, you saw the South Korean leader, he's going to go meet with President Trump.
He spoke with was Prime Minister Abe, and now you saw Kim Jong-un come to the other side. Traditionally, China and North Korea have been on the
other side of those negotiations when they're talking about nuclear issue in North Korea, and this is Kim Jong-un bringing that personal message to
Xi Jinping, the same way the Moon Jae-in is going to bring a personal message to Donald Trump.
So clearly, it's North Korean leadership, it's South Korean leadership going their separate ways trying to -- you know, if not get everyone on the
same page, at least get everyone informed all of the players at stake.
You could it separately for Russia, all of the players that have traditionally had a major role in the North-South negotiations, the
negotiations over North Korea's nuclear program, they are all getting briefings from Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in, and that is really, really
significant, Kristie.
LU STOUT: Matt Rivers live in Beijing for this breaking news story. Thank you, Matt. Take care. Now meanwhile, China's premier, as mentioned Li
Keqiang, he arrived a short while ago in Tokyo for those high-level talks with Japan and South Korea.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in is also expected to arrive soon. Japan is hosting these high-level talks that will, of course, lightly focus on
North Korea. Japan and China have been working hard to ensure that they are involved in the changes on the Korean Peninsula.
But these talks are also sign of warming relations beyond North Korea. The three top leaders are expected to discuss things like the economy and the
environment as well. We turn now to the international waiting game as Donald Trump prepares to announce his decision on the Iran nuclear deal in
a matter of hours.
The President is widely expected to pull out of the agreement, something that could have enormous due political implications. And here is quick
reminder of some of the key points decided on in 2015.
Iran agreed to major restrictions on uranium, centrifuges, and to grant regular international access to its nuclear facilities. In return,
sanctions were lifted, but if the agreement collapses, global contracts signed in its wake would be in jeopardy.
[08:05:01] They include billions of dollars worth of deals involving everything, from aviation to gas fields, and car fracturing. Now, Amir
Daftari is monitoring reaction from Tehran. He joins me now live. And, Amir, if Donald Trump, as expected, walks away from the deal, what would be
Iran's first move?
AMIR DAFTARI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's the big question, Kristie. And one that many are trying to answer, what will Iran's first move be if
indeed the U.S. does walk away from the deal. Now, so far there has been a lot of top folks from Tehran.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani recently saying, and I quote, that the U.S. will incur historic remorse if indeed it does walk away from this
deal. Now, what that historic remorse will be, he didn't get into much detail.
But one thing, I think that will be most likely in the interim period anyway that if indeed this deal goes fall apart, Iran will go back to
square one, and ramp up its nuclear activities. And from there, it will be very hard to renegotiate a new deal, and build up the sort of trust that
came about when this deal was first put together. Kristie.
LU STOUT: Amir Daftari reporting live from Tehran, many things indeed for that. Now, Jim Bittermann is in Paris with European perspective. He joins
us now.
And, Jim, in recent weeks we have seen it play out, one after another, major European leaders, including Emmanuel Macron trying to convince Donald
Trump to stay with the deal, why? What does it mean for them?
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think you had it a bit earlier I believe there, Kristie, in fact is that there are billions of euros worth
of trade involved here. In the case of France, just as the sanctions were lifted, more than 300 companies have established themselves in Iran.
There is over 2,000 in all that do business with Iran, that's small and large companies, including (Inaudible), and large companies like that. So
there is a financial interest, but I think also Emmanuel Macron did an interview with this group highlighted the fact as out it, that this could
be the opening of a Pandora's box, which could lead to war.
And basically, his logic there is that if you can't, through diplomatic means, with the kind of (Inaudible) already got on self-imposing limits on
its nuclear program, than if you want to take it away, the only other alternative is take it away by force.
And that was what he was pointing to. So, it puts Europeans at a very unsettled position both financial and philosophically about where it's
going to be in the Middle East. Kristie.
LU STOUT: You know, Macron has been fighting, and even struggling hard as we look at these pictures from a couple of weeks ago with him meeting with
Donald Trump, to get Donald Trump to stay with the Iran nuclear deal. If Donald Trump does indeed back away, what can Macron do next to keep this
thing afloat.
BITTERMANN: Well, I think the Europeans can in general. They can continue on the path that they're on, which is to say doing business with here on,
and ignoring whatever sanctions Trump may put out. But it really depends on how Trump imposes the post-deal environment.
Is he going to say that any countries or companies in third-party countries, like France for example, do business with Iran would then be
penalized in their business dealings with the United States, secondary sanctions as it's called.
And if that were to take place, that would be a real drastic step, and it could drive a wedge between the Europeans and the Americans. There was no
sign that that's going to take place.
The other thing that could happen here, we're listening earlier today to Christiane Amanpour say, in fact, one of the things that could happen is,
you could say -- the United States would say if sanctions are re-imposed, as far as the United States is kind of concerned, and then kind of ignore
what was going on at the rest of the world. So there were a lot legal rooms here in terms of how this is shaped by Trump at his next
announcement. Kristie.
LU STOUT: All right, Jim Bittermann live from Paris for us. Many thanks indeed for that. Jim was referencing the reporting from Christiane
Amanpour. Let's bring her up now. She's joining us live from CNNMoney. And, Christiane, if Donald Trump, as expected, walks away from the deal,
what were the consequences be?
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well look, just as Jim was saying though, what I had outline is one of the options, but the Trump
administration -- in fact, the United States since signing the deal has already, it can be said, violating spirit of the deal from the beginning.
Because part of the deal specifically says that not only should sanctions be lifted both global and U.S. sanctions, but specifically the United
States should not be interfering with Iran reintegrating into the global, you know, community, particular financial institutions, and the like.
[08:10:00] And that the United States shouldn't interfere with that well, there are reports certainly from the Washington Post a while ago that at a
summit with European leaders, President Trump decided, and try to do just that, persuade European, and other leaders not to do business with Iran.
So that would violate the spirit of the deal, and Iran has been complaining about that for a long time, and I put that to the former Secretary of State
John Kerry, and he said the United States should not be violating its end of the deal.
Iran has been declared in compliance nine times, even Secretary of Defense James Mattis has declared that. The Congresses has declared that. The
U.N. has declared that. Just about everybody who has a say on this has declared that Iran is in compliance with it's end of the JCPOA, the
official name for it.
So if President Trump decides to pull out, and we still do not know what he is going to say, but according to Europeans and others, they believe he is
going to pull out.
The question was, could the deal still survive if President Trump does not interfere with Iran dealing with other nations, and other parts of the
world that are have signed on to this deal.
If President Trump specifically does not, you know, quarantine Iran from any interference on business, then the whole thing is going to dye and
collapse according to the Iranians who I was spoke to last week.
LU STOUT: And, Christiane, we have led the broadcast with the breaking news out of China that Kim Jong-un and Xi Jinping met the second time.
AMANPOUR: Yes.
LU STOUT: So, let's connect the dots here between North Korea and Iran. If Donald Trump leaves the Iran nuclear deal, what kind of messages is that
going to send to North Korea about negotiating with the U.S. under Trump?
AMANPOUR: Well, probably a bad message. It means that the U.S. is not to be trusted or taken, that anyone at any time can sign a deal, and then
renege on the deal. That is the actual message, and that's it, that's not even implicit, it is explicit. That is the message.
But more importantly, I think, first of all, it's obvious that Kim Jong-un would be debriefing his biggest ally, just like President Moon will be
debriefing his biggest ally. These are obvious pre-summit negotiations that are going on, and informational trips between the principles and their
allies.
We're all involved in this big, big, big picture play around the Korean Peninsula. But coming back to Iran, what it actually does is actually
highlight a real weakness of the idea that negotiations a week, and binding agreements are not to be trusted.
This happened when George W. Bush came into office shortly after 9/11, he decided to ditch the deal that the United States' President before him,
Bill Clinton, had signed with North Korea precisely to limit its nuclear program. They thought they could get a better deal.
The Republicans spurred on by hardliners like Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney, they thought that they could bring North Korea to its knees, and
bring North Korea to heal by ditching a deal that was in place trying to get a better deal.
Well, what happened, everybody remembers, was the exact opposite, and that North Korea withdrew from the NPT throughout any IAEA inspectors went off.
Its nuclear program went dark, and for the rest of the world, nobody had eyes on when North Korea was perfecting, and building nuclear weapons, and
intercontinental ballistic missiles.
The same thing could happen with Iran, and that's what's so important to point out, that in search of a perfect deal, you may ditch a good deal, and
be left with no deal, and nothing, and no eyes on no transparency, nothing.
LU STOUT: Christiane Amanpour as always, thank you so much for your insight, take care. Now we've got Abby Phillip standing by in Washington,
right outside the White House. And, Abby, we know how Trump feels about this deal. He's called it the worst deal ever, but why? You know, why is
President Trump so keen to exit it?
ABBY PHILLIP, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kristie, I think we have to start first of all with the fact that this was began as a campaign promise.
The President promising to rollback something that was widely perceived among Republicans here in the United States as being a bad deal, but
specifically how they are looking at the fact that the deal doesn't deal with some of the other issues that the world has a with Iran, ballistic
missiles for example, and also the funding of terrorism.
You hear President Trump talking a lot about what he calls barrels of cash that were returned to Iran as part of this deal. Now, that is not exactly
an accurate description of what happened there, but there's a perception here that Iran is using the loosening of sanctions, and also some cash that
was returned to Iran that had been withheld by the United States in the past decade to fund terrorism.
So there is a lot of concerns there, the President is also concerned about the sun setting of the nuclear provisions believing that over time, over a
period of 10 or 15 years, what it ultimately does is just delay around development of nuclear weapons. But ultimately, Kristie, we have to come
back to the political element here.
[08:15:02] President Trump is always keenly aware of not fulfilling his campaign promises. This was a big one, and he had been encouraged for
months and months by his advisers to stay in the deal.
And now, he's at a point where some of those advisors have left his administration, and he wants to really say that he can check this one off
that list.
LU STOUT: Yes, so Trump went this check off his list. He wants to deliver his campaign promise, is this necessarily what the American people want?
Do they believe that the U.S. should withdraw from the Iran deal?
PHILLIP: Well, according to a new CNN poll is a 63 percent of Americans, a really large majority of Americans believe that the United States should
stay in the Iran deal. Now, you know, it's an interesting statistic in part because it's such a complicated set of issues.
But it seems very much that by and large, Americans are content with what the deal does, even if it is perhaps in some ways, even if advocates would
admit, not entirely perfect. And that they are also perhaps believe what the Europeans have been saying to President Trump, which is that if you
pull out of this deal, it undermines U.S. credibility in the long-term, and also there's no alternative.
It simply leaves a black hole that Iran can fill with whatever it wants. So the American people seems pretty firmly on the side of this deal for
now, but also the calculation for President Trump politically is about his base.
And Republicans are pretty, by and large, opposed to the Iran deal for a number of reasons. The President is speaking to those people with this
move here today, Kristie.
LU STOUT: All right, Abby Phillip live from the White House, thank you. You're watching News Stream. And still ahead, outrage after another
teenager allegedly raped and set on fire in India. Protesters are crying out against brutal sexual violence, but activists argue it is time for the
government to step up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: Coming to you live from Hong Kong, welcome back, this is News Stream. Now, New York's Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, a prominent
critic of President Trump, and a champion of the Me Too Movement is stepping down with allegations that he assaulted several women.
And now an investigation is underway. CNN's Brynn Gingras joins me now live from New York with more on the story. And, Brynn, wow, what a
dramatic fall from grace. How did all this come to be?
BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I mean, damning allegations, Kristie. This all came out in a New Yorker article. One of those authors is Ronan
Farrow who of course was the person who reported on Weinstein's fall.
But we are talking about serious allegations against the New York's Attorney General who has since resigned. We're talking about slapping
women. We're talking about choking woman.
[08:20:00] Verbal and physical, some to the degree that the women had to go to the hospital, and this really does paint a totally different picture of
a man who even you said, Kristine, was known for being a champion for women during the Me Too Movement.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GINGRAS: New York's Attorney General Eric Schneiderman abruptly resigning three hours after The New Yorker published an article detailing abuse
allegations from four different women.
Two of the women who were romantically involved with Schneiderman speaking to the magazine on the record saying that the Attorney General would,
quote, repeatedly hit them, often after drinking, frequently in bed, and never with their consent.
Neither woman filed a police report, but both say they sought medical attention after being slapped, and choked, the article stated. The women
were also accusing Schneiderman of verbal and emotional abuse.
Tanya Selvaratnam, who dated Schneiderman from the summer of 2016 until last fall, is telling The New Yorker that the former Attorney General,
quote, started calling me his brown slave, and demanding that I repeat that I was property.
Schneiderman denying the accusations, insisting, quote, in the privacy of intimate relationships, I have engaged in role playing, and other
consensual sexual activity.
I have not assaulted anyone. I have never engaged in none consensual sex, which is a line I would not cross. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called
for his resignation, and within an hour the Attorney General stepped down.
Quote, while these allegations are unrelated to my professional conduct, or the operations of the office, they will effectively prevent me from leading
the office's work at this critical time. Schneiderman's resignation, a dramatic fall from grace for a public official widely considered to be a
champion for women's rights.
ERIC SCHNEIDERMAN, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NEW YORK: Are we ready to fight against male supremacy in all its forms?
GINGRAS: As Attorney General Schneiderman, who is not married, was at the forefront of the Me Too Movement, leading the legal charge against Harvey
Weinstein and the Weinstein Company.
SCHNEIDERMAN: We have never seen anything as despicable as what we've seen here, a pervasive pattern of sexual harassment, intimidation,
discrimination, and abuse at the Weinstein Company.
GINGRAS: Schneiderman has also been a fierce critic of President Trump and his policies, bringing more than 100 actions over everything from the
DREAMer program to potential presidential pardons.
SCHNEIDERMAN: When bullies step up, you have to step to them, and step to them quickly. And that's what we're here to do today.
GINGRAS: In 2013, Schneiderman sued Trump for fraud over Trump University, resulting in a $25 million settlement. The President's allies were
celebrating Schneiderman's resignation.
Donald Trump Jr. retweeting this 2013 message from Mr. Trump predicting that Schneiderman will be next, asking, is he a crook? Wait and see, worse
than Spitzer or Weiner.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GINGRAS: And some of these accusations do fit within the statute of limitations, so we do know that the Manhattan district attorney's office is
looking into these claims, Kristie.
LU STOUT: Brynn Gingras reporting live from New York, thank you. Now, protesters are breaking out in India as the country struggles with a string
of brutal rape cases.
Another teenage girl was allegedly raped, and set on fire. She survived. But the violent incident happened the same day another teenager girl on the
same region was burned to death after being gang raped.
Women in India have been fighting for their safety for years, but many lack faith in the legal system's ability to protect them, and give them justice.
The Delhi Commission For Women Chairwoman Swati Maliwal has long advocated for women's rights and justice for victims. She argues that rape in India
happens so often because the attackers know -- they know that police and prosecutors won't do anything about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SWATI MALIWAL, CHAIRWOMAN, DELHI COMMISSION FOR WOMEN: What is happening in our country is that that is there is a complete lack of sense of
justice. People are just not scared.
People feel that they can get away with anything. They can get away with rape. They can get away with any kind of sexual assault on a woman, and
nothing will be done them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: The full interview with Swati Maliwal is online. Just go to CNN.com/newsstream. And you can catch it there. Now, Armenia finally has
a new Prime Minister, opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan was elected by parliament a short time ago.
The ruling party decided not to block his candidacy after weeks of street protests, and political turmoil. The rally that followed the move was much
more upbeat.
This video from Instagram shows thousands of supporters gathered in a square in the country's capital. The person who posted it wrote the
following, quote, there is no need to keep protesting, now we're just going to celebrate.
You're watching News Stream. Still ahead, deal or no deal, as Donald Trump weighs of the future of the Iran nuclear agreement, we will look at what
could be at stake not just for Washington and Iran, but for the world.
[08:25:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You are watching News Stream, and these are your world headlines.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: We are learning about another surprise visit between the leaders of China and North Korea. Xi Jinping met with Kim Jong-un in Dalian, China
on Monday and on Tuesday. Those leaders also met in Beijing back in March.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted a short time ago that he is going to talk to the Chinese President by phone at any moment. Now, Donald
Trump will announce his decision on the future of the Iran nuclear deal in the coming hours.
The President is widely expected to pull the U.S. out of the agreement despite the urging coming from Britain, France, and Germany to stick with
it. Iran says it will not renegotiate the deal.
New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, a fierce critic of President Trump, and a champion of the Me Too Movement has resigned. The
stunning move comes just hours after report laid out assault allegations by several women. And Schneiderman strongly denies all the allegations.
More than 1,000 people taken by Boko Haram in Nigeria are now free. They were rescued in Borno State in the northeast of the country. The army says
most of those freed are women and children, along with some young men forced to fight for the terror group.
A former star of the Chinese Communist Party has officially fallen, Sun Zhengcai has been convicted on corruption charges and sentenced to life in
prison. He was once considered to be President Xi Jinping's successor. Last month Sun admitted to accepting more than $27 million in bribes over a
15-year period.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: Now, let's get back for top story, that meeting between North Korean Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping. And right now, Mr. Xi
should be talking to the U.S. President about North Korea according to tweet by Mr. Trump. Our Matt Rivers joins us now.
And, Matt, it is believed at this very moment Donald Trump should be talking on the phone with Xi Jinping. What do you think Xi Jinping is
trying to get across? Ahead of that big meeting between Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump, what are China's key interests when it comes to North Korea?
RIVERS: Yes, I mean, we spent a lot of time over the past couple of weeks, Kristie, talking about how China has been concerned that it's going to be
left out of this process somehow, that it wasn't going to have its numerous interest on the Korean Peninsula represented during these negotiations.
First, during the Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in summit, and then of course with the upcoming Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump summit. And what you saw
today with this meeting with Kim Jong-un is very much China saying we are a part of this process, not only are we a part of it, but we are an integral
part of this process.
[08:30:00] North Korea in a way understanding that, making this trip to Dalian, Kim Jon-un, his second trip in just 40 days, that is a huge deal.
That is something that we haven't seen before and that's North Korea recognizing that China is going to be a big part in this process.
And then you have the phone call between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump. This is all China saying we are going to have a role in this process and its Kim
Jong-un making sure that this is happening.
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN NEWS STREAM SHOW HOST: Yes, and the fact that this meeting took place in Dalian and it's believed that Kim Jong-un didn't take
that armored train there, but that he flew there, does that widen the possibility for potential locations for where Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump
could potentially meet?
RIVERS: I mean, in terms of where Donald Trump is going to go, it's almost assured they're not going to be China at this point. China would have too
much control over the process according to most of the analyst that we spoke to. But one thing I think you can take away from Kim Jong-un coming
back here to China to Xi Jinping is very different than what we've seen other North Korean leaders do in the past.
Even from the trip that Kim Jong-un just made to Beijing, highly choreographed, very stayed (ph) and both leaders almost look even a little
bit uncomfortable and yet here we are 40 days later, Kim Jong-un making this meeting happen pretty much out of thin air, not a ton of planning
involved. Of course, no diplomatic meeting that the Chinese government is involved in isn't choreographed or scripted, I'm certainly not saying that.
But this shows a Korean leader -- a North Korean leader that appears to be much more flexible and can got to a summit with Moon Jae-in and then turn
around and say, you know what, I'm going to go brief in person the key ally that I need on my side moving forward. And now that I think it's highly
significant, it shows Kim Jong-un being able to pivot, understanding that China needs to have a role in this process and that's something. That kind
of flexibility isn't something that we've really seen from North Korean leaders in the past.
So it's highly significant that he flew to Dalian and went on that walk with Xi Jinping. And one thing Kristie, I think it was no coincidence both
these leaders take a private stroll. Their translators were there but they went out by themselves or at least so it seemed on this news report that we
saw.
That's exactly what Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un did at that summit at the DMZ so, a lot of symbolism there. I think Xi Jinping saying that he is an
equal with Kim Jon-un and will have a process apart of this process moving forward.
STOUT: Yes, a lot of symbolism and as you pointed out the keyword, flexibility, as Kim Jong-un showcases his diplomatic flexibility as it
appears to be as well as logistic flexibility. Matt Rivers reporting live for us fro Beijing. Thank you so much. Take care. And we got more another
top story this hour. The world still waiting to see if Donald Trump will indeed pull out the Iran nuclear deal. Announcement due just hours from
now.
In the meantime, the president has taken aim on one of the diplomats who brokered that deal, former U.S Secretary of State John Kerry on twitter. He
said this earlier, John Kerry can't get over the fact that he had his chance and blew it. Stay away from negotiations, John, you are hurting your
country.
All right, for more on all this, let's speak to our international diplomatic editor, Nic Robertson who joins us now from London. Nic, if
Trump as expected, walks away from the deal, in practical terms, what could happen next?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, just to pick up on John Kerry before I answer that question, John Kerry has made the plea
that other European leaders are making, that the deal was the best thing to be had at the time. It was negotiated with Iran. On the nuclear issue
alone, excluding some of the other issues that give President Trump handle the European leaders some concerns. But John Kerry's point there is that it
is far better now to negotiate, far easier to negotiate with Iran now that you have their nuclear weapons effectively off the table on these other
issues.
So, this is the common line that we're hearing from European leaders, from the Russians today as well and from John Kerry making that very strong and
clear point. You're better off with the JCP array to deal with the other issues that you face with Iran. Now, what could the possible implications
be, immediate concerns of course that this could end ultimately in very short order.
Impact Iran's oil production, therefore that could drive up global oil prices therefore that could drive up the cost of gas at the pumps for many,
many people. That will be a concern. But we don't know precisely what President Trump is going to say. There are many countries in Europe who
rush to do business with Iranian businesses following this agreement in 2015. They would be working very closely to see if they will affected by
the terms of what President Trump says.
[08:35:02] Is he going to break with the deal completely? Are these companies in Europe and other places, are they going to face knock-on
effects by not being able to do business with these new business partners in Iran? We just don't know quite what President Trump is going to say,
whether he's going to frame some cut-outs for his allies in Europe or if he's going to apply a blanket with his decision to anyone doing business in
Iran.
STOUT: And Donald Trump going to make that decision just a matter of hours, a decision that's going to have knock-on effects on businesses and
governments all around the world. Nic Robertson reporting live, thank you. You're watching "News Stream."
And still ahead, with her husband looking on, Melania Trump unveils her Be Best initiative, but could the president learn a few things from the first
lady's campaign? We're going to discuss that next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
STOUT: Reporting to you live from Hongkong, welcome back. This is "News Stream." Melania Trump is encouraging Americas young people to be best. At
16 months in her tenure as first lady, she unveiled her form of platform in a Rose Garden ceremony at the White House on Monday. Mrs. Trump says she
wants children to be free of bullying and to treat each other with respect and compassion, both in life and online.
The first lady has faced criticism in the past for pledging to fight cyber bullying, considering some of her own husband's tweet. Now let's bring in
CNN politics editor-at-large Chris Cillizza. He joins us live from Washington. Chris, thank you so much for joining us here on the program.
You have identified some of the lessons that Melania Trump's Be Best campaign can teach her husband.
So, let's start with this one, we're going to bring it up for our viewers, social media can both positively and negatively affect our children, but
too often it's used in negative ways. So Chris, there is so much @realDonaldTrump on twitter can learn from that. Tell us the ways.
CHRIS CILLIZZA, CNN POLITICS EDITOR-AT-LARGE: Yes, I mean, in some ways you could use that speech, the Be Best speech as sort of a lecture to
Donald Trump. It was ostensibly about kids. It was also about the ways in which parents influence their children, the ways in which our activities
demonstrate how our kids should or shouldn't act.
Well, with our husband sitting in the audience, Donald Trump just today in Washington tweeted about John Kerry saying that the former secretary of
state should butt out of the Iran nuclear discussions saying he lost and he had his chance. So, he does not take her advice to heart, but I think he'll
be better served politically and just as a human if he did.
STOUT: Well, here's another's Be Best takeaway from the fist lady. And she wrote, it is our responsibility as adults to educate and remind them that
when they are using their voices, whether verbally or online, they must choose the words wisely and speak with respect and compassion. Chris, is it
safe to say that this is a president not necessarily known for his compassion?
CILLIZZA: No. I think it's very safe to say that. I think this is someone -- Donald Trump always to knock on him during the campaign was, he's not
empathetic, that American voters ultimately wants someone when there a hurricane or a natural disaster of some sort. They want someone who can go
to that site, console people, should be the uniter-in-chief.
[08:40:00[ He's never been that person. He is not naturally inclined to do that. His most natural inclination, he shows it every day on twitter
despite what his wife rolled out in her Be Best campaign. His natural inclination is attacked to find an enemy, to vilify that person, to bully
that person and to use that person as a foil for what he wants.
He's doing it today with John Kerry, done it with Hillary Clinton. He's done it with members of his own cabinet like Jeff Sessions. So, he is not
that person no matter what Melania Trump should aspirationally (ph) would like us to be as a country.
STOUT: Yes, and you know, it's fascinating to watch, you know, President Trump was at Melania's side when she unveiled her in-depth BE Best policy
announcement. You know, he embraced her afterwards. He's obviously very proud of her in this moment. But is the U.S. president aware of how many of
this pointers should actually be applied to him?
CILLIZZA: No. I think one thing that Donald Trump does not have is sort of a self-awareness gene in that regard. I `m sure he is very proud of her. He
talks about her regularly of what a great first she is. This was a big campaign of hers and spent 16 -- they spent 16 months from developing what
she wanted to say around online bullying, opioid problem in the Unbited States and that sort of thing.
But he doesn't -- I think it just sort of rolls off of him. He is able to compartmentalize. I'm proud of Melania. I'm glad she's doing this. The
message I think is almost entirely lost on him. And if you need evidence of that, I remind you, less than 24 hours ago, those clips from the speech we
just talked about were delivered by Melania Trump with Donald Trump sitting at the front row.
This morning in Washington, tonight where you are, Donald Trump out attacking John Kerry and my guess is there'll be more of that to come past
this prologue.
STORU: You know, as you say, it just rolls off of him. It's a pity because it's a good platform from the first lady. We're going to leave it at that.
Chris Cillizza, live from Washington for us. Thank you so much and take care.
CILLIZZA: Thank you for having me.
STOUT: Now, finally here on the program, high fashion to get some inspiration from on high in New York on Monday night. Of course I'm talking
about the famous Met gala. This year's theme was heavenly bodies. Fashion and the Catholic imagination, that was the theme this year. I think co-host
Rihanna, she clearly took it to heart opting for taple (ph) style miter and cape. Zendaya, another highlight, a personal favorite. The star took
inspiration from obviously Joan of Arc with the haircut and that number from Versace.
And how could any event combining the worlds of fashion and religious iconography that include (inaudible), the queen of pop herself, decades
after accessorizing outfits with crucifixes, rosary beads and angering the Vatican, the process with her infamous Like a Prayer video, Madonna. She
turned head once again with this stunning ensemble and she attended the event with a friend and longtime collaborator, who else, Jean Paul
Gaultier.
She looked amazing. And that is "News Stream." I'm Kristie Lou Stout. Don't go anywhere. We got "World Sport" with Lindsey Sirnak, up next.
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