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At This Hour

Interview with Rep. Adam Kinzinger; McCain to Allies: "Americans Stand with You" Despite Trump; Pompeo: "Compete Denuclearization Only Outcome U.S. Will Accept"; Kim Jong-Un Takes Late-Night Stroll Ahead of Summit; Trump Admin Slaps New Sanctions on Russian Companies after Cyberattacks; Suicide Lifeline Calls Increase Following Celebrity Deaths. Aired 11:30-12p ET

Aired June 11, 2018 - 11:30   ET

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

[11:30:00] KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Senator Ben Sasse calling out President Trump saying that "the path to more trade begins with less finding on the global stage."

Jeff Flake, pleading with the Republican Party, "Fellow Republicans, this is not who we are, this cannot be our party."

And then this from Senator Lindsey Graham.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM, (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: There's a movement in our party that Trump sees, that got him the nomination and become president of the United States. I'm not so sure a majority of Americans believe that globalization and free trade is in our interests. I believe that. John McCain believes it. But the reason we're having these problems here at home, Brexit, Italy, there's a movement all over the world to look inward, not outward. I think it is a mistake, but I'm not so sure most Americans agree with John McCain and Lindsey Graham.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Here with me to talk about all of this, Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger.

Congressman, thank you for coming in.

REP. ADAM KINZINGER, (R), ILLINOIS: You bet.

BOLDUAN: Do you think there's a special place in hell for Justin Trudeau?

KINZINGER: No. Look, as a guy that believes in heaven and hell, I would never use those terms ever. I thought that was inappropriate.

Look, we can have disagreements as allies and I don't even mind the president going there with a tough message because, look, we want a fair deal, but to go to that level, when I woke up and saw that headline, I was a little confused. BOLDUAN: These are the president's top economic advisers, Peter

Navarro especially on trade, that clearly being told by the White House to say it. No repercussions for it. Should they be out there speaking for him, should they have jobs if they're saying Justin Trudeau is stabbing us in the back and Justin Trudeau, a special place in hell for him?

KINZINGER: I don't have a problem with his advisers saying things like, "We need a better deal," and going on television and doing that.

BOLDUAN: Of course not.

KINZINGER: When you go to the level of saying "special place in hell." It is for the president and t administration to decide who they want to speak for, but if I was in that position, I wouldn't have anybody out there saying that. Look, the Canadians, Australians, British, Europeans, they fought with us in most of our recent wars. The Canadians are among our best friend. You look back to their involvement in World War I and II and Iraq and everywhere else and the involvement in Afghanistan, I think we need to recognize that while we still fight for our trading rights.

BOLDUAN: Do you understand what so offended the president as he left the G-7 summit?

KINZINGER: Not really. No. I mean, I don't know the kind of behind- the-scenes discussion. Maybe there was something that was said and then President Trudeau said something different. I don't know. I don't like the tone. Look, as Republicans, as a guy that believes that America has to lead this world order, and as having 25 percent of the economy, the best thing that we have had going for us since world War II and the reason we have a fairly stable and peaceful order is because the United States has led our allies, not just in economic issues, not just in military issues, but things like human rights. And when people see a united Western front, even if we have little disagreements within us, coming with that kind of power changes things. It moves mountains. When we show too many fissures like this, and we don't appreciate our allies, and our allies get upset and angry with us, there's times and places for that, in the long-term, that's harmful to the things we want to accomplish in this world.

BOLDUAN: I appreciate your candor. And you have folks like John McCain and Jeff Flake and Ben Sasse speaking up against the president. They have become a group of typical critics speaking out against the president, but the radio of silence across the board beyond that it also speaks volumes. What is it going to take for the rest of the party? Where is everyone else?

KINZINGER: I think there's a lot of deference given to the president on foreign policy. If you look back at the tapes, I gave deference to President Obama on some things even I disagreed with. I would come out and be critical of it, but I also respected his position as president and understood he was elected by the American people.

Do I wish more people would speak out especially on comments about Russia and the G-7, et cetera? Yes. But every congressman has to make a decision. Some don't like to engage on every issue on foreign policy. Some like to work local issues. I like to do both. When it comes to things I'm passionate about, it is my district and America's role in the world. Because I think our reason the economy is so strong, so powerful, is because after World War II we didn't retreat, we understood we have a unique position granted to us to lead a world order that is going to help us in the long run.

BOLDUAN: Congressman, isn't it like an abdication of your responsibility as a member of Congress if folks don't -- you have Bob Corker that has a measure that people could back. When the president, going in, says Russia should get back with the G-7 and it should become the G-8 again, and the president leaving, I mean, he's like torching bridges when it comes to the G-7. I mean, should Congress step up and act and try to preserve the relationships and stop the president from putting tariffs in place for national security reasons?

BOLDUAN: I thought that with the -- the president has a right under national security to do it. I think there's a role for Congress to analyze this and figure out if this is the right way to go. And --

(CROSSTALK)

BOLDUAN: But does your gut tell you the national security interests of the nation should be used for applying tariffs to Canada right now?

[11:35:05] KINZINGER: No. Look, I don't want the tariffs to happen. I live in an agricultural district. They'll be on the front line of this. But I think technically -- here is where the administration could do a better job explaining their position on this, which is I don't think they're coming out and saying Canada is a threat. They're saying lack of steel industry is a threat and, therefore, on national security, we want to build our steel industry. The reality is you're not going to build a steel industry tomorrow. It takes long-term investment. Steel plants are long, they're big, they're expensive. And you're going to have people that want to say, I want to make a 50- year investment on steel. It is hard to think there will be a steel capacity that will explode overnight.

BOLDUAN: Real quick, on North Korea, because I remember you were on with me, when the summit was canceled and you said. stand by, it is going to happen.

KINZINGER: Yes. Yes.

BOLDUAN: Mike Pompeo today said they're committed to complete verifiable, irreversible denuclearization of the North Korean peninsula. If that means the door is -- if that means the door is open to removing U.S. troops from the Korean peninsula, are you OK with that?

KINZINGER: I have to see the broader deal. No, I don't want to remove troops from the Korean peninsula. As you know, a significant part of them there's a deterrence to China, which has shown it has imperialistic goals in that area. A reduction one thing. There could be forced structure changes. But, no, I don't want to see American troops leave the Korean peninsula. I don't think that's what the president is going to negotiate. They're coming in and saying, here is some carrots, economics, you may be part of the new world, but here's some sticks which is this is your one opportunity, denuclearize. I'm proud of what the administration is doing. And a lot of my friends on the other side of the aisle that went apoplectic the day that the summit was canceled, their tweets didn't age very well in just 24 hours.

BOLDUAN: I think it was still appropriate to go apoplectic over the way that all went down. Please.

Great to see you.

(CROSSTALK)

KINZINGER: No, no. I think -- yes, you, too. Thanks a lot.

BOLDUAN: No. I get your point, totally get your point. But, come on. It was like the most ridiculous turn around, a 180 and now 180 again and then --

(CROSSTALK)

KINZINGER: But I think there's a benefit to that, which is showing we're not scared to walk away. That could work out well.

BOLDUAN: Still, we have 10 hours to go, so.

KINZINGER: Very true.

BOLDUAN: Maybe our conversation won't age well also.

KINZINGER: Right. Thank you.

BOLDUAN: Thank you.

KINZINGER: You bet.

BOLDUAN: Coming up, a stunning sight in Singapore. North Korean's reclusive dictator, Kim Jong-Un, taking a late-night stroll, taking selfies, ahead of his meeting with the president of the United States. What does this say about the high-risk nuclear negotiation that is about to take place and what does any of this mean for the hundreds of thousands of political prisoners held in North Korea right now? We'll take you live back to Singapore in a second.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:41:55] ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: Hey, I'm Anderson Cooper, back with you live from Singapore, a special edition of AT THS HOUR.

President Trump, North Korea's Kim Jong-Un set to make history here in nine hours. We have seen a very rare sight, Kim Jong-Un, the tourist, out on the town here, doing some late-night sight-seeing with his entourage and some of Singapore's top government officials.

CNN's global affairs analyst, Ambassador Joseph Yun, is here. He's also the former U.S. special representative for North Korea policy.

First of all, were you surprised to see Kim Jong-Un deciding to stroll around?

AMB. JOSEPH YUN, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: I was very surprised. I mean, you know, he looked at ease. He was actually long - in Malay, they call it (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE), which means a walkabout. That's what they call it in Singapore, and going all through the pier area, the marina area. And I was surprised --

(CROSSTALK)

COOPER: Do you think part of that is a desire to project confidence or is it legitimate -- you know, he just wants to get out and see Singapore, he's never been here?

YUN: I think it is much more thought than, let me go take a look. I think this is -- they planned it. I think this is, again, we see the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Un, coming out on the world stage. This is it. No?

COOPER: That's a big win for him, regardless of what comes out of this summit. Him on the world stage, in a way that no leader from North Korea has ever been.

YUN: I think this is a huge win in terms of respect, legitimacy. I mean, you know, you and I are used to seeing on -- a few weeks ago, Kim Jong-Un is a bit of a caricature. He's from isolated country. Funny, you know, looking leader. But, you know, after he met with South Korean president, and with Xi Jinping, you see the kind of changing of minds, especially in Asia.

COOPER: South Korean polls, before and after, his meeting with South Korea's leader, where there was a significant rise in the number of South Koreans who said they think he's trustworthy.

YUN: Huge rise. Huge. Not just little rise, you know. Double. Double.

COOPER: Which is stunning just based on the visuals of one meeting.

YUN: Completely stunning. But I think, you know, to me, when I looked at him with President Moon, he was able to convey what I call kind of Asian respectful, you know, attitude towards much older person. And, remember, he's half the age of President Trump. At the same time, holding his own. He showed a degree of confidence, yet at the same time, respect that tremendously appealed to Asians, even in Singapore. I talked to taxi driver and they say, wow, you know, he is little different.

COOPER: Yes. A lot to watch for.

Ambassador, thank you very much. It's be fascinating tomorrow.

YUN: Thank you.

COOPER: We'll go back to Kate Bolduan, in New York.

Kate?

[11:44:53] BOLDUAN: Anderson, thank you so much.

Coming up for us, we have breaking news that is coming in. New sanctions against Russia now, just days after President Trump said Russia should be allowed to rejoin the G-7. Talk about a mixed message. What are the sanctions? And what does it mean?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: Breaking news, the Trump administration has just slapped new sanctions on Russian companies and executives linked to cyberattacks on the U.S. and allies.

CNN's Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, is joining me right now with more detail on this.

Barbara, what are you learning about it?

[11:49:48] BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. Always considered a national security problem by many is Russia's eagerness to engage in cyberattacks. This morning, the Department of Treasury has put orders on five entities in Russia and three individuals over all of this. That means they can't do business with U.S. entities, and U.S. persons or anything within the U.S. jurisdiction cannot do business with them.

The allegation is that these companies and individuals gave military support, if you will, to the Russian FSA, essentially, follow-on agency to the old Soviet KGB, that they were engaged in cyber activity that could lead to hacking. And specifically, the concern is about undersea communications cables, which, of course, carries so much of the world's telecommunications data that these Russian entities were involved in cyberhacking and trying to cyberhack into these undersea cables. That is a vital security concern for the United States. The details, even one of these entities tried to buy a mini submarine that could potentially be used in all of this -- Kate?

BOLDUAN: Oh, my goodness.

Barbara, thank you. Appreciate it.

Coming up for us, as the world continues to mourn the death of Anthony Bourdain, who died by suicide just days ago, possibly, possibly a glimmer of hope. Signs those in need are reaching out for help. Details ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:55:26] BOLDUAN: Last week was a pretty rough week for so many. The tragic deaths of Anthony Bourdain and fashion designer, Kate Spade, shining a bright light on suicide in America.

But maybe, just maybe, a sliver of hope coming from their sadness. Calls to the national Suicide Prevention Lifeline have jumped 25 percent. This just in the days following the news of Bourdain's death.

I talked to the director of the Suicide Prevention Lifeline on the impact of these high-profile tragedies.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN DRAPER, DIRECTOR, SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE: In fact, I see a lot of people who are nervous about talking about their history. And when they do, it's not only a relief to them, but they're typically very surprised at the outpouring of support. What we have seen is actually studies that have shown that when people talk about their positive coping through suicidal moments and they share them with the media or a public forum, it's been associated with a reduction in suicide rates. It's basically a contagion of hope that we can spread.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Tributes for Anthony continue to pour in. The now-shuttered restaurant that he made famous with his first book, "Kitchen Confidential," is being transported into a memorial of sorts.

CNN's senior national correspondent, Alex Marquardt, is live outside Les Halles, in New York, with much more on this.

Hey, there, Alex.

ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey Kate. This memorial has grown over the past few days since Anthony Bourdain's passing. It is fitting that the physical memorial, the physical tributes would be placed here, a place that was so important for him and in his life. This restaurant, which is now closed, the Les Halles, it is where Bourdain became a household name. It is where, in 1998, he became executive chef. If's where he wrote his book, "Kitchen Confidential," which launched him into chef superstardom.

For the past three days, people have come here to pay their respects, laying bouquets of flowers. You can see a baguette and lots of cans and bottles of beer, which Bourdain was known to drink on the show.

And people have left really heartfelt messages. Take a look at this one, Kate. "It made no sense that I loved you as I did. I talked about you in therapy. We never met."

Kate, we've been speaking to people out here over the course of the morning about what they remember about Bourdain and what he meant to them, including a man who worked here as a waiter when Bourdain was chef. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very kind, very grateful, nice to everybody. I thought he wrote like Hunter S. Thompson and kind of lived his life like a rebel. Like a cook, he always referred to himself as a cook, not a chef, which I appreciated. He didn't have this throne that he sat on or anything like that. He remained humble.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He meant to me like he was the most inspiring person to me, because he was going to places that people never think of going. He was always like a mind opener for me. So I was thinking, oh, I should maybe one day visit Iran or maybe I should go to Hanoi. So these are the places, because I'm a Turkish people. I go in summers to the seasides, not to these kinds of places. So he was a great admirer.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUARDT: And we've heard that from so many people, that they have a sense of where they want to travel in this world, what they want to see, but he opened the eyes of so many people to places and cultures that many wouldn't think about going. Also, that woman was Turkish. And we should emphasize there are so many people around the world that also felt like he brought so much love and attention and caring, genuine caring, to the cultures that he visited, to the people he visited, not in a condescending way, but in a, look what I'm sharing, I want you to see what I'm seeing.

A couple of the notes really reflect that here. Up here you see, "Thank you from all your fans in Indonesia. Thank you for introducing Indonesian food to the world. You'll be missed."

And right here, "Thank you for bringing a respective view to the people of Palestine, Libya, Iran. You brought people together."

This is really not just a time of mourning for people here all across the country, but really around the world -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: Absolutely. It's impossible now, but you would hope Anthony would understand the impact he had on so many people that he never even met. That's what we're really hearing in these tributes you're reading right there.

Thank you, Alex. I really appreciate it.

Thank you all for joining us AT THIS HOUR.

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