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Source Says Trump-Kim Summit for Meet and Greet; Newborn of Fallen Hero Is Photo Shoot; FBI Agent in Break Dance Shoots Person by Accident. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired June 04, 2018 - 15:30   ET

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

[15:30:00] BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN HOST: If you plan to watch here in the U.S., 9:00 p.m. June 11th for people in North Korea, it's actually technically June 12th, that's when this historic summit will happen according to the White House press secretary between President Trump and Kim Jong-Un.

So with mere days to go before this meeting, there is still a lot yet to be decided like where in precisely Singapore this will be held, who is paying for it, who sits where around the table and its actual goal here? A source familiar with the North Korea Discussions tells CNN that the Trump/Kim summit will be more of a meet and greet. Rather than any realization of historic action. Here is what we just heard from White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders when she was pressed on whether denuclearization is still the goal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARAH SANDERS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Look, I'm not going to go ahead and predict a meeting that hasn't taken place yet, and I can't get into the ongoing diplomatic talks, but I can tell you they've been positive and we're looking forward to the meeting in Singapore. Steven?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No matter what you call it, is maximum pressure still the policy of the United States toward North Korea?

SANDERS: Our policy hasn't changed, as the President stated. We have sanctions on, they're very powerful, we would not take those sanctions off unless North Korea denuclearized.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: With me now, Gail Tzemach Lemmon, CNN national security analyst and a senior fellow at the Council of Foreign Relations, and Bruce Klinger, a former CIA deputy division chief for Korea. Gail, I want to start with you here. When we hear this is a meet and greet, I think we can all agree that something substantive has to come out of this. For this to really work but do you think that's a smart strategy on behalf of the White House to perhaps at least publicly lower expectations?

GAYLE TZEMACH LEMMON: CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST, AND A SENIOR FELLOW AT THE COUNCIL OF FOREIGN RELATIONS: Yes. Here's the thing. There's been year upon year of the North Korea strategy that has not led to a successful end. Here is a President who promised an unpredictable foreign policy and really delivering on that, lowering expectations and really trying to set the stage for what will be seen as the first step in the publicly engaged conversation.

I think there's a lot of discussion in Washington about how usually you meet at the end, right? This is a President and administration that has flipped a lot of the script in terms of the way things play out. It's also true that very few people can point to successes from the way that your strategy had been pursued.

BALDWIN: Bruce, you have had talks with the North Koreans in the past, how do you see it?

BRUCE KLINGER, FORMER CIA DEPUTY DIVISION CHIEF FOR KOREA: Certainly President Trump seems to be lowering expectations from what he said, as, you know, very high bar for the meeting, so I think what really was a critical point was when the senior North Korean official a couple weeks ago, issued a statement that really publicly and very clearly articulated what had been North Korea's longstanding policy on denuclearization emphasizing the strong conditionality, as well as that North Korea defines denuclearization not as unilateral disarmament but as part of global arms control. I think that policy, which is well known to Korea watchers, came as a surprise to the White House, and they've been back pedaling a bit since then.

BALDWIN: How about the logistics, according to reports, they're being ironed out. Would it be at the Shangri-La Hotel, will it be in a man- made island. What will the table look like, will it be round? Where will people sit?

KLINGER: It matters for having a smooth meeting, when you have two leaders meeting, particularly for the first time between a U.S. even North Korean leader, you want everything to go as smoothly as possible. But far more important than the logistics is the substance, and that has to be North Korean denuclearization. People have asked for denuclearization. It's not just that, it's the commandment North Korea is supposed to abide by according to 11 UN Security Council resolutions.

BALDWIN: Who pays for it is significant, right? Gayle, there are these reports out of "The New York Times" that North Korea is known to push other governments to pay for their expenses. They travel to South Korea for the Olympics, Paralympics. South Korea footed the $300,000 bill. The U.S. so far is saying, they want no part of that, but how do you see it going?

TZEMACH LEMMON: Well, I mean, this is the question, right? How do you get all of the smaller items focused on and dealt with before you get to the photo op and the table? I think there are two things I would watch. One is the role of China, and the other is the role of Russia, because President Putin just invited Kim Jong-Un to visit and to have a discussion. And the Russian foreign minister was just in Pyongyang, I would watch to see, what are other nations who are maybe not center stage at the table but are closely watching who will happen, doing, and what angles are they pursuing. Russia has already called for an end to the U.S. sanctions, the U.S. has said there's no chance that's going to happen. How do you get to definitions both sides can agree on?

[15:35:00] Of dismantlement, of demobilization, of de-escalation? How do you get to a common definition of those three D's, those will be the biggest questions as they figure out the smaller items on the way to the summit conversation?

BALDWIN: Yes. To the conversation summit, meeting, whatever you want to call it, June 11th, 12th, that's what's happening. Gayle and Bruce, thank you.

If you have been on social media at all in the last week, you have probably seen this stunning photo of this gorgeous newborn being cradled by a group of soldiers who served in the same army unit as her father when he was killed in action, his widow and this precious little girl's mother joins me next to share this story.

[15:40:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: His widow says his greatest goal in life was to become a father. Sadly, Christopher Harris didn't live to meet his newborn daughter Christian. He was killed in action last August during a vehicle explosion while serving in Afghanistan. The fallen hero found out he was going to be a dad just days before he paid the ultimate sacrifice. His brothers in arms did not skip a beat in supporting his widow. Even helping her with the gender reveal while they were still deployed about.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On my count, ready? 3, 2, 1.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: I just got goose bumps. Baby Christian was born April 15th. And her dad was honored last week at the 82nd Airborne Division is Memorial Day service.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: More importantly, he missed welcoming Christian Michelle Harris. Chris's 2-month-old daughters is here with us today. If you've seen the photos of Chris, the shocking blue eyes that reveal his spirit, darkest skin, the jet-black hair, the piercing smile, you'll immediately identify Christian as his daughter. In this solemn place today, Christian Michelle Harris serves as a point of light that reveals the darkness. The light beaming from all the opportunity and good which can come from her new life repels the darkness of death that makes the opportunity possible. The gift of her life, her liberty, her right to pursue happiness.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So happy to be joined by Christian's mom Brit Harris. I am so sorry for your loss, I am thrilled for you, though, for your daughter and just -- we all read your story, not a dry eye around this place. So, thank you so much. You did a few photo shoots, I understand, but I want you to tell me

about this latest one. Tell me why you decided to do it with the 82nd airborne?

BRITT HARRIS, HUSBAND KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN, DAUGHTER CHRISTINE: I wanted to have something I could pass down to Christian, and give her a picture. The men and women from his unit are about to be stationed in different places, some are going to different countries. Eventually we're all going to be split up, I wanted to show her a time when we were all together, all rooting for her, and show her how loved she was.

BALDWIN: When you asked them to do it what did they say?

HARRIS: They were so happy. Every time they see her, they line up. You see these big macho army guys and all of a sudden, they turn into the baby talking' mushy -- they're so excited to get to see her any time they get a chance.

BALDWIN: Big old balls of mush when they see little Christian. We talked to your girlfriend and the photographers of the shoot this Friday, they explained this whole thing was supposed to be -- what the pictures were looking at, the whole thing was supposed to be outside, but because of the weather you had to move it inside, which enabled Christian to open her eyes.

HARRIS: We were kind of disappointed. Because the outside area was so beautiful. And then we were like, OK, we'll just do it inside, just make the best of it, and she was so fussy and hot, and then as soon as the guys got around her in that circle, she opened her eyes up, looked up, smiled, it was perfect.

BALDWIN: This is the photo, this is what we're talking about. Her eyes, these piercing blue eyes, and just the symbolism of it all, the guys hands all under her, you know, and the dog tags and the one he read, my daddy's my hero.

HARRIS: Right.

BALDWIN: What does that mean to you?

HARRIS: I want Christian to know that her father didn't die for nothing. He was a hero. Not just to her, but to others as well.

BALDWIN: Can we get a sneak peek of her if we don't wake her up really quickly?

HARRIS: Yes.

[15:45:00] BALDWIN: Oh, my goodness. She's sleeping, she's like, mom, don't wake me up. Lastly, can you tell me with her in your arms, what you miss most about your husband and what you can't wait to tell your daughter about him?

HARRIS: Chris was such an extrovert. He was the life of the party, he made sure I got out and talked to people and everyone loved him. Everyone that met him wanted to be friends with him. I wanted her to know he had this bigger than life personality, I'm going to channel my inner Chris as much as possible while raising her, and step outside of my comfort zone and try to do all the things with her I know she can do.

BALDWIN: We're grateful for his service and for you and baby Christian. I want to pass along, there's a fund-raising site set up for Christian, your precious baby, can you find it at gofundme.com/gold star baby. Our best to you, thank you very much. We'll be right back.

[15:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Rudy Giuliani has made a lot of headlines and contradicting what the President said he knew about the Stormy Daniels lawsuit and attacked the Robert Mueller Russia probe and this weekend he weighed in on if the President has the right to pardon himself.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUDY GIULIANI, TRUMP'S PERSONAL LAWYER: He has no intention of pardoning himself. It doesn't say he can't. That is an interesting constitutional argument. Account President pardon himself? Pardoning himself would be unthinkable and lead to an immediate impeachment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: And he is the big guest this evening on this guy's show, Chris Cuomo will interview Rudy Giuliani during Cuomo prime time. Congratulations on the new show. And your whole thing is really chewing on mega interviews, giving them the time to breathe, you got Rudy Giuliani on tonight. Give me a preview.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN HOST: Got lucky tonight. Rudy is the man of the moment. You never know when the news will break but he's a focus of questions and it is an opportunity to show what we're going to do, which is to test power. Why does he think what he does and what is his base because there is growing suspicion this is smoke and more P.R. than it is law? This is about creating political currency for the idea that no matter what the probe comes up with, it is illegitimate and so when you go to the polls in November, we have to test what their tactics are, what the law said, what the policy should be. An example, we're all talking about this in terms of whether or not the President should have limited exposure to this process. You could just as easily argue that the President should have more exposure to the process. He certainly should have more of a special responsibility than Baldwin or Cuomo to the American people. He was elected. He's the highest office in the land. But that is not the discussion. Why? Because it is spin, that's why.

BALDWIN: And what else. Tell me about your show every night.

CUOMO: Big fat interview and big debate about what happens in the interview and the issues at play. I'll do a lot of white board segments that simplify what is going on. I'm a big fan. Everybody hates my handwriting. But I think that is good. I think certain things are made so complex out there, especially in prime time, we want to simplify it. And then we'll have rebound interviews with another player and --

BALDWIN: A player within the big picture of --

CUOMO: Yes. Test power. The hashtag I like to play with is getting at it and trying to find common ground, like the Supreme Court case today, the baker case and the decisions with 7-2 but narrow in terms of the findings. But there is a -- and Jeffrey Toobin is right, they will litigate whether people that are gay will have the same rights you and I do and the only way that happens is if congress acts and is there common sense that the human rights are universal that we all believe in them. Will they act on common ground? So, we're pushing for progress.

BALDWIN: And I know you and I know how much you talk about your kids and your last -- can you give me -- are they all right that dad isn't around in the evening, but you have them in the morning.

[15:55:00] They like that I'm not going to be there because I'm the homework czar. My existence at home is much more difficult than my existence on television. So, family is always first.

BALDWIN: I know it is for you.

CUOMO: Congratulations on the wedding and we'll see as you start building a family, god willing, that comes first in every single way. I make the sacrifices the way you do because that is how I show my family what my life is about and how I make them proud every day, but they'll always come first. They are my jewels. Christina made them and I pay for them.

BALDWIN: Chris Cuomo, 9:00 eastern here on CNN. Thank you.

Still ahead, what was this guy thinking? An off-duty FBI agent does a back flip at a club and ends up shooting a customer. Details on what happened next.

[16:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: An off-duty FBI agent night on the town went wrong when his gun discharged sending a bullet into the crowd of onlookers. He's dancing up a storm and does the back-hand spring and the gun -- you see it again -- it falls out of his pants and goes off. Hitting a person in the crowd. In the leg.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARA CHANCELLOR, WITNESS TO BREAK DANCE GUN ACCIDENT: It was a break dance circle. A quintessential break dance circle and one man doing flips and he left and the FBI agent, we didn't know, he came on the scene and he did a back flip and he was dancing and then right as he did that back flip his gun fell out and hit the ground. It shot off.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BALDWIN: The gunshot victim was taken to the hospital with nonlife- threatening injuries. Police are investigating to determine whether to file any charges against this FBI agent.

I'm Brooke Baldwin. Thank you for being with me this afternoon. We'll send things to Washington, D.C. now. "THE LEAD" with Jake Tapper starts right now.