Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Harry and Meghan Marry; Texas School Shooting; Trump Demands More Info on Alleged FBI Informant; Lava Eruptions Increase in Hawaii. Aired 12-12:30a ET
Aired May 20, 2018 - 00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[00:00:00]
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Spectacular. Amazing.
CYRIL VANIER, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): A royal success as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tie the knot. The wedding ceremony was groundbreaking in so many ways. We've got the highlight reel in just a moment.
In Santa Fe, Texas, an all-too-familiar scene as a community grieves after a school shooting that left 10 people dead.
Not for the first time this week, the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii is shooting out ash and lava. How dangerous could this get? We'll be getting answers from the CNN Weather Center.
Live from the CNN Center here in Atlanta, I'm Cyril Vanier. It is great to have you with us.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
VANIER: Day will soon break in England and for Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan, it's the first day of the rest of their lives, their wedding on Saturday was like no other.
Stepping out of the church for the first time as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan sealed their vows with a kiss. And while these ceremonies are steeped in tradition, this one broke the mold.
How could it not?
With a bride who began the day as an American TV star and ended as a newly minted duchess. Let's take a look at the last glimpse we have Harry and Meghan on Saturday. Heading to a private evening reception hosted by Prince Charles.
Pretty cool, right there, a 1968 Jaguar convertible with a bespoke license plate, displaying their wedding date. This capped off a perfect day full of love. Listen to one of the bishops who gave a sermon at the wedding. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REV. MICHAEL CURRY, EPISCOPAL CHURCH: It was nonverbal communication throughout the whole thing. And you could watch them look at each other. And even when they didn't -- weren't talking, the way they looked at each other just sent a message of these people are in love, for real.
So that's Bishop Curry. And his sermon was among the highlights of the wedding, as was the gospel choir. But don't take it from me. Take it from CNN's Nick Glass, who tells it like no one else can.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
NICK GLASS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The gospel soul classic, "Stand by Me," from 1961, we assume the song means a lot to the couple and we also assume it's never been sung at a British royal wedding before.
The choir stood at the back of St. George's Chapel Windsor and simply sang for Harry and Meghan. There was a palpable sense of departure here. On one side of the chapel a certain English royal stiffness perhaps and reserve; in contrast, a warmth and vivid emotion on the other side.
Meghan Markle's arrival looks like she may help change things.
We always knew that the turnout would be glamorous, the divorced, biracial American actress marrying the most popular of English princes. We weren't disappointed. The church filled. Meghan's on- screen husband from "Suits," Patrick J. Adams; David Beckham, footballer and model; Mr. Elton John and husband; Serena Williams, tennis player.
The vintage Rolls-Royce swept bride and mother to the chapel. We glimpsed the dress for the first time.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
GLASS (voice-over): (INAUDIBLE) French couture, Givenchy were the most delicate and lengthy of veils, sewn with floral symbols from all over the commonwealth, 1930s tiara was borrowed from the queen.
It seems that Meghan had always planned to walk down the first part of the aisle by herself, followed by her retinue of bridesmaids and pageboys. In the absence of her father, Prince Charles met her halfway.
And of course, at this wedding, there was love. This was visibly, inescapably a romantic union.
REV. MICHAEL CURRY, EPISCOPAL CHURCH: The late Dr. Martin Luther King once said, and I quote, "We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love." GLASS (voice-over): For a good 30 minutes or so, St. George's Chapel reverberated to unfamiliar oratory, American and passionate. The response was mixed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He didn't -- he wasn't getting anything out of it.
JUSTIN WELBY, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY: I, Meghan, take you, Harry...
MEGHAN MARKLE, DUCHESS OF SUSSEX: I, Meghan, take you, Harry...
WELBY: -- to be my husband...
MARKLE: -- to be my husband...
WELBY: -- to love and to cherish...
MARKLE: -- to love and to cherish...
[00:05:00]
WELBY: -- until death us do part.
MARKLE: -- until death us do part.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
GLASS (voice-over): And so Harry and Meghan were married in a great English medieval chapel and kissed without any prompting from the waiting camera man. Thomas Markle watched it all on TV.
"My baby," he said, "looked beautiful and very happy."
In what seemed like Californian sunshine, his daughter now has a title. She is the Duchess of Sussex, although we'll still probably refer to both of them as just Harry and Meghan -- Nick Glass for CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VANIER: And the thousands of people around the world who didn't get an invitation to the royal wedding held their own celebrations on Saturday. So in Windsor, England, massive crowds lined the streets, hoping to see the royal family entering the castle grounds. Some of tried to sum up their thoughts in just one word. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One word, amazing.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Unbelievable.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Emotional.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Magic.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Fantastic.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking foreign language).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wonderful.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Fantastic. Phenomenal.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just cool.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lovely.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Great.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sensational.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's lovely.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hey.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fantastic.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VANIER: Back in the U.S., where Meghan Markle is from, fans woke up in the early morning, very early morning to celebrate. In New York, some trekked out to a bar to watch the ceremony.
And in Johannesburg, South Africa, fans enjoyed the ceremony from a big screen with traditional scones and cupcakes with Union flags in them.
Sandro Monetti is a royal correspondent and an entertainment savant in the entertainment capital, Hollywood.
Sandro, good to have you back. This was not your average royal wedding. We just saw that.
What was the most interesting thing to you?
SANDRO MONETTI, ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: It soon became obvious that this was more than a royal wedding. It was a turning of a page in history by having so many multicultural elements in the ceremony.
Finally we had a royal occasion which not only represents in modern Britain but certain, I think a real positive message to the world. We talk so much about the things that divide us.
This was about us coming together, not just an American marrying a Brit and a biracial American at that but all the powerful words of the American preacher, the powerful voices of the gospel choir, their inclusion was Prince Charles's idea, by the way.
It really sends a whole message to the world that I think small details can have a big impact. It was a royal wedding like we've never seen before and finally the royals are the 21st century and are young, vibrant and cool again. That was my takeaway. VANIER: I have more questions on the messaging that you mentioned.
But first we saw Meghan Markle's dress. There had been frenzied speculation in which we took part about what she would wear.
In the end it was perhaps not as spectacular as some had expected.
What did you think?
MONETTI: It is interesting. Among the crowd I was watching was very Hollywood audience. I was surrounded by stylists --
(CROSSTALK)
MONETTI: -- a bit minimalist for what I was expecting. But to me she looked absolutely beautiful and spectacular and very Audrey Hepburn- esque. It reminded me of Audrey Hepburn in "Roman Holiday," and was her style- making moment and a global superstar was born at this wedding.
And Meghan Markle now, the most famous woman in the world. And she looked the part.
VANIER: I wonder, because you're an entertainment reporter also, and when I've spoken with you before, it's been about entertainment figures, actors, musicians, whatever.
I wonder, are Harry and Meghan part of that universe, the entertainment universe, do you think?
Because I don't think William and Kate are, for instance. I think they're on a separate list of royals, you know, which is really a list unto itself.
MONETTI: You're right. And it is different for William being the heir to the throne. He maybe cut loose as much as the rebel brother, Harry, can. But Harry, as a result of being sixth in line to the throne, seems a lot more relaxed, cool and open and therefore, you know, has a lot of Hollywood appeal.
And alongside him, his new bride, a Hollywood actress. To me, it seems like the perfect training, to be a member of the royal family, to have an acting background because when you're an actor, there's days when you sometimes don't want to face work; can't go through with it. But you always have to keep a smile on your face or play the character.
And, you know, Meghan seems perfect for the roles. But there was no acting in that church today. I think she was so generally happy. Harry looked a bit nervous. She was totally cool.
VANIER: Yes, a lot of people noted that one of the awesome things about --
[00:10:00]
VANIER: -- this wedding is that it seemed that it was really a wedding of love and feeling and passion between the groom and the bride. Sandro Monetti, thank you very much. Always a pleasure speaking to you. Thanks.
MONETTI: Thank you.
VANIER: And we're back after this with more world news. Stay with us.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VANIER (voice-over): This is 17-year-old Jared Black. He was supposed to have his birthday party on Saturday. That's now.
Pakistani exchange student Sabika Sheikh, pictured here.
And 17-year-old Christopher Jake Stone.
Another picture, teacher Cynthia Tisdale.
Now these are four of the 10 victims of Friday's school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VANIER: CNN has learned that the body of the exchange student that we just mentioned, Sabika Sheikh, will be sent home to Pakistan on Monday. That's according to the Pakistan consul general in Texas, who called Sheikh, "a bridge between our people and cultures."
The victims of Friday's shooting at Santa Fe High School were remembered at a Friday night vigil. One of the survivors who knew the alleged shooter says there were no clues that he would do something like this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MADALYN WILLIAMS, SANTA FE HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING SURVIVOR: I love everyone in Santa Fe's coming together and in a beautiful way. The vigil last night that we were at, so many faces that I haven't seen in years -- sorry...
ERICA HILL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You don't need to apologize.
WILLIAMS: -- people that I was -- that I hadn't talked to in years, people that I had gotten in huge fights with, they just came up to me and hugged me. They said even though I'm upset that it happened I'm glad you're OK.
HILL: I know you know some of the victims. That's a lot to process. That's something that you and your friends have been talking about? WILLIAMS: It is. We were just talking about how just Thursday, we were laughing with them. We were cutting up, just being teenagers and now we don't get to do that anymore.
HILL: You also knew the shooter.
WILLIAMS: I did. I was talking to him in 7th period on Sunday -- or on Thursday. And there was no warning signs. There was no indication that he could do any of this because he was very quiet and very sweet. He was funny. He was never mean to me. He was nice. We'd make jokes. We laughed about memes on the Internet.
And there was no red flags, no warning.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VANIER: That was Madalyn Williams, one of the survivors of the shooting, speaking to CNN's Erica Hill.
The family of the suspect, the alleged shooter, who is a 17-year-old student at the school, has released a statement. And it says --
[00:15:00]
VANIER: -- that they are as shocked and confused as anyone by these events. They add that they are gratified by public comments by fellow students that, quote, "showed Dimitri as we know him, a smart, quiet, sweet boy."
Robert Spitzer joins me now. He is chair of the political science department at New York University, author of the book, "Guns across America."
Robert, this is the 22nd school shooting in the U.S. this year and just as chilling, the third time this week that a gunman has been on a school campus.
Is this scenario doomed to repeat itself?
ROBERT SPITZER, NYU: Well, the answer I believe is yes, partly because these incidents feed off of each other and there's a lot of evidence to show that people who commit these sorts of mass shootings often go to school, so to speak.
Prior mass shootings to some degree are inspired by them or get the idea from them and use that as a jumping-off point. That does not explain, of course, the underlying rage or alienation or other feelings that prompt a person to do something terrible like this.
But it does suggest that there -- we will likely see similar incidents, although we are coming up on the summer months when schools will be out. And that may be a welcome break and that may help break what seems to be an accelerating cycle.
(CROSSTALK) VANIER: -- and is sparking more conversation about gun control. But in this instance, the alleged shooter took his father's handgun and shotgun. He also had no known criminal record. So wasn't known to law enforcement.
Is there a law out there or a potential law that would have prevented this from happening?
SPITZER: Yes, pretty simple, which is you could say by law that people who keep guns in their homes are required to lock them up when they're not using them. Now as a matter of good practice, even organizations like the National Rifle Association tell gun owners that they should lock up the weapons, that they should keep them unloaded, that the ammunition should be located in a different location and that, too, should be locked up.
It's an elementary safety measure. Many gun owners follow that procedure. But one of the unfortunate facts of mass shooters such as this one and others was that they had ready access to their parents' guns with the most deadly consequences.
VANIER: Look, Americans see this happening again and again. And yet the laws have not changed.
Is it fair to say that this country collectively prefers to protect gun rights at the expense -- at the expense of student lives?
SPITZER: Well, I think that it is not surprising that people come to that conclusion. I don't think the state of affairs, this kind of paralysis that we face about national gun policy is specifically because that kind of rational calculation has made.
But it is the outgrowth of the kind of political stalemate, the polarization, the great political strength of the gun lobby, of the gun rights movement and related factors that essentially immobilize the national government and prevent it from doing anything on this subject.
The current Congress clearly will not take any action on gun policy. There could be 100 mass shootings --
(CROSSTALK)
VANIER: And yet, Robert, and yet -- let me interrupt you for a second -- listen to the U.S. president Donald Trump about this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: My administration is determined to do everything in our power to protect our students, secure our schools and to keep weapons out of the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves and to others. Everyone must work together.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VANIER: Now earlier this year, another school shooting in Parkland, Florida, left 17 students dead with all the national outcry that we covered.
Did Donald Trump take decisive action then, which he had promised?
And do you think he will now?
SPITZER: He didn't then and I do not believe he will now. He speaks those words after the Parkland shooting in February. He said -- made some similar comments about possible changes in federal law that he seemed to be embracing.
But then he had a meeting over the weekend after those comments with some leaders from the NRA and he backed away from those comments. I mean, leaving aside the gun issues, he simply wanted to focus on mental health, on improving school safety and on improving the physical facilities of public schools around the country.
Where is the legislation?
Where are the appropriations to pay for these possible changes that, even aside from implementing stronger gun laws?
In terms of actual policy proposals, the Trump administration has proposed nothing and I would predict with great confidence that it will not propose anything concrete to Congress, along those lines, much less any meaningful gun laws or gun --
[00:20:00]
SPITZER: -- measures that could have some possible benefit.
VANIER: Robert, thank you for joining us here on the show.
SPITZER: Yes, Cyril, good to speak with you.
VANIER: There are new reports of countries besides Russia allegedly hoping to influence the 2016 presidential election in favor of Donald Trump.
According to "The New York Times," Donald Trump Jr. took a meeting in August 2016 with a man called George Nader, who claimed to represent two Arab princes who wanted to help Mr. Trump get elected.
Also offering help at the meeting was Joel Zamel, an Israeli social media expert. A lawyer for Trump Jr. told CNN that nothing came of the Trump Tower meeting. Still, it's illegal for foreigners to be involved in U.S. elections and both Zamel and Nader have come under scrutiny by special counsel Robert Mueller.
Meanwhile, the president continues to hammer away at the notion that an FBI informant might have been inside his presidential campaign. Mr. Trump is demanding the U.S. Justice Department reveal more details about this mystery person. CNN's Ryan Nobles explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RYAN NOBLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President Trump is continuing to put pressure on the Department of Justice and the FBI to bring out more information about an informant that attempted to gain access and information to the Trump campaign during the 2016 election.
The president tweeting about this topic again on Saturday, saying, quote, "If the FBI or DOJ was infiltrating a campaign for the benefit of another campaign, that is a really big deal. Only the release or review of documents by the House Intelligence Committee, also Senate Judiciary is asking for, can give conclusive answers."
Then he went on to say, "Drain the swamp."
Now the president has continued to say that someone had infiltrated his campaign or was embedded in his campaign and sources tell CNN that actually wasn't the case, that this is someone outside the campaign and they will only tell us that it was a U.S. citizen.
But we've learned from reports by "The New York Times" and "The Washington Post" that this was someone outside the campaign who was working to build relationships with people working on the campaign as a way to get information that could be a part of this FBI investigation.
Now there is a concern by the intelligence community and the Department of Justice and even some elected officials that the release of some of this information could lead to the identity of this informant going public and that that could hurt future investigations.
Mark Warner, a Democrat, the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has specifically warned against this.
And Christopher Wray, the current FBI director and of course an appointee by President Trump, said, quote, "The day we cannot protect human sources is the day we become less safe."
But this is clearly something that the president is not going to let go. He has now tweeted about this issue on four different occasions. And it seems as though he is attempting discredit the Mueller investigation and any information that may have been gleaned by this informant.
It's important to point out, though, that this informant began his work prior to the launch of the Mueller investigation. He was attempting to make contact within officials related to the Trump campaign during the campaign and the Mueller investigation did not launch until well after the campaign.
One thing is for sure, though, that the president is not letting this issue go. And this could be a big point of contention between the president, his own Justice Department and members of both the House and Senate -- Ryan Nobles, CNN, at the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VANIER: All right. More impressive pictures coming out of Hawaii, paradise paved over by hot volcanic lava. Up next, we're checking in on Hawaii's big island, where eruptions are still opening up the ground. Stay with us.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:25:00]
(MUSIC PLAYING)
VANIER: So this is the scene from the skies over Hawaii. That's where molten lava from new volcanic fissures is threatening dozens of homes and even a major highway along the big island's east coast.
Geologists warn that the fresh lava could move with greater ease and cover more area than before. So far, 40 structures have been destroyed. And with a new 5.0 magnitude earthquake rocking the island Saturday evening, there's no sign the volcanic activity is slowing down.
(WEATHER REPORT)
VANIER: Thank you for watching. We've got the headlines next.
