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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Historic Summit Agreement Unsettles Many; Soon: Pompeo Arriving in Seoul; Trump-Kim Summit Huge Success for China; FIFA to Vote on Host for 2026 World Cup. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired June 13, 2018 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DAVE BRIGGS, CNN ANCHOR: President Trump lands at Joint Base Andrews in 30 minutes., fresh off his summit with Kim Jong-un. But can the president deliver a verifiable deal to denuke the Korean peninsula?
[05:00:05] Back the president or pack your bags? Voters sending a clear message to lawmakers in primaries nationwide.
And the 2026 World Cup will be awarded in just hours. Will it be Morocco or North America, and how could the president's policies on immigration impact the vote, perhaps tip the scales in Morocco's favor?
Good morning, everyone, welcome to EARLY START. I'm Dave Briggs. Christine Romans is off today. It is 5:00 Eastern Time, June 13th. It is 5:00 a.m. in the East, 6:00 p.m. in Pyongyang.
We'll tell you why a raccoon is topping the trending charts on Twitter in a moment.
But we start with the president landing at Joint Base Andrews in about a half hour. We'll show that as it happens. This following his historic meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.
The president has plenty of work to do to show the summit was more than just a photo op. Trump's announcement that the U.S. will stop military exercises with South Korea, what he called provocative war games, caught Tokyo and Seoul offguard. The "Wall Street Journal" reports the military would continue to train with its South Korean counterparts but not large-scale joint exercises.
A lack of clarity causing confusion on Capitol Hill and elsewhere. Critics and experts say the president made significant concessions to Kim without getting anything meaningful in return. Twenty-four hours later, the White House still has not explained how the U.S. will verify North Korean denuclearization.
Some observers like former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper give the president credit for moving things in the right direction.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LT. GEN. JAMES CLAPPER (RET.), CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST, FORMER DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: We're in a much better place where we're on the diplomatic path as opposed to where we were say, six or eight months ago, so that's the only real solution here in my mind. But remember, Kim Jong Un is not term-limited and he's in it for the long game, and I think President Trump is more in it for the, you know, immediate self-gratification.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: President Trump may know something about the art of the deal, but now it's on Mike Pompeo to close the deal. The secretary of state expected to land in Seoul any time now. He'll brief the South Koreans on the Trump-Kim summit. Then he's charged with negotiating an agreement. That leads to the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.
And for the first time since President Trump and Kim Jong-un shook hands, we are get something reaction from the North Korean regime.
Nic Robertson joining us live from Seoul with the latest.
Good morning, Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, good morning, Dave.
I mean, this isn't the kind of headline or coverage the United States ever gets from the North Koreans. The United States until now, it has been the archenemy, the nemesis of Leader Kim Jong-un. Now glowing rhetoric is flowing forth from their state news agency, KCNA, and it's worth reading out one of their lines here.
It is so significant because they don't do this. They do not praise the United States in this way. In the past, here is what they're saying: President Trump expressed his belief that the summit will improve the United States-North Korea relations and also said the supreme leader's active and peace-loving measures that were started earlier this year established peace and stability on the Korean peninsula. So, saying there precisely that President Trump is giving -- is giving praise to Kim Jong-un for everything that he has done. That would be typical in North Korea to praise Kim Jong-un but not to praise President Trump.
Mike Pompeo, of course, arriving here in minutes we expect into South Korea where he will meet tomorrow, Thursday, with the president, with the foreign minister and also with Japan's foreign minister to begin explaining some of the things President Trump has been talking about because here in South Korea, there's been a little bit of consternation about this issue of suspending joint military exercises.
The word we're getting here is they want to understand more precisely what President Trump is intending by this. Whether there seems to be a willingness on the South Korean part to work with the United States on whatever President Trump wants to a degree so they can improve the important, peaceful relationship that is the key to their security and peace in the future here -- Dave.
BRIGGS: But certainly a lack of clarity now at 6:04 p.m. there in Seoul. Nic Robertson live for us, thank you.
The true impact of the Trump-Kim summit may not be known for years. But for now, one country certainly has emerged as a clear winner, China.
Let's go live there to Beijing and bring in CNN's Matt Rivers.
Matt, is this exactly what the Chinese may have been hoping for at least after one day?
MATT RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, it's hard to look at the strategic interests that China has on the Korean peninsula and then compare that to what happened in Singapore yesterday, the words of President Trump, and come up with any conclusion there other than China's got to be pretty happy.
[05:05:01] So, start with what President Trump said about the removal of troops from the Korean peninsula. He said it's not on the table as of yet, but he specifically said that he wants to remove U.S. troops from the Korean peninsula at some point. So does China.
China has wanted that for decades now, since the end of the Korean War. They have always felt threatened, constrained by the presence of the U.S. military on the Korean peninsula. That made them happy.
Move on to the military exercises that president Trump says at least for now are suspended. He called them war games. China calls them an annoyance, and they hate them as much as the North Koreans do because, remember, Dave, those exercises are done not only with an eye on North Korea but also on China.
So, when you take those two things combined, you get a Beijing government that is looking at this and going this couldn't have gone much better for us at least to start. On Thursday, we do know Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be coming here to Beijing to meet with the foreign minister of China. They are likely to give some sort of short press availability. That is something we'll be attending and paying very close attention to.
BRIGGS: Indeed. Ian Bremmer from the Eurasia Group said the freeze for a freeze exactly the formation the Chinese have asked for. He'll be on "NEW DAY" later this morning to explain how they were the big winner.
Matt Rivers live for us in Beijing. Thank you, my friend.
Joining us to discuss the summit and political implications, CNN politics digital director Zach Wolf live in D.C. this morning.
Good to see you, sir. Let's start with the positive if we can. Is the world a safer place as a result of the Singapore summit, how so?
ZACHARY WOLF, CNN POLITICS DIGITAL DIRECTOR: Well, you don't have President Trump slinging nuclear-tinged insults at the North Korean leader and vice-versa. So, if they're talking to each other, if they're moving forward, that seems undeniably safer than if they're issuing threats, no doubt.
BRIGGS: But this deal as the president described it comprehensive, this four-point plan, certainly not comprehensive, but not a lot of criticism from conservatives. Save for this -- influential conservative columnist and syndicated radio host Ben Shapiro on Fox saying this about the lack of details and deliverables in the paperwork.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN SHAPIRO, CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: This is a slave state with 25 million prisoners and a gulag system hundreds of thousands of people wide. The president's praise for the dictator of North Korea was disquieting. And here's the reality -- diplomacy is a tactic, it is not an outcome.
And the triumphalism that seems to be appearing in so many places this morning, where everybody is very excited, that President Trump met with Kim, that's not justified by the outcome yet. OK, maybe it will be. Maybe President Trump actually got some serious concessions out of the Kim family, but that would be the first time, because virtually every other president has failed in doing that. And the piece of paper that got signed yesterday is, frankly, weak.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: The piece of paper is, frankly, weak. Ari Fleischer said it feels like the agreed framework of the '90s all over again.
What is the take in responding specifically among Republicans about what was or was not accomplished?
WOLF: Well, Republicans are being quiet. You saw Lindsey Graham who's been very loud about North Korea and suggested the use of military action there pretty recently, you know, saying essentially this is a good start.
There's not much more to say than that since not much happened other than the meeting itself. The idea of bringing U.S. troops back, I think, from South Korea caught the Pentagon and Congress a little flat-footed. It's just an idea, but I think that was surprising to a lot of people.
So, I think they're going to wait and see what's going to happen here. You're not going to see a lot of criticism at the moment from his own party, from President Trump. He's really in the driver's seat on this.
BRIGGS: Yes. And we're going to talk a bit about what happened in the primaries with specifically Mark Sanford who has been critical of the president, didn't even make it out of last night, didn't even make it out of the primary.
What does that have to do with North Korea when you think about it? Have conservatives learned their lesson that if you speak up against this president, you are out? WOLF: Yes. I don't think Mark Sanford has anything specifically to
do with North Korea. But --
(CROSSTALK)
BRIGGS: -- move forward, not looking back, but looking forward, how will conservatives learn from what they saw last night?
WOLF: Right. He's been a consistent critic of the president. Was used to be a Never Trumper. So, you know, him losing to somebody who's much more supportive of the president shows that certainly in primaries specifically that the base of the party is totally aligned with this president, and that party members who are in Congress, who are in the Senate, who have been critical of him, Jeff Flake is another example who's retired rather than face a primary. It's going to be hard for them to get out of primaries if they're being at all critical of this president.
BRIGGS: Yes. And you wonder moving forward who is the check on the president if we don't get some deliverables, if we don't get some verification on the North Korean nuclear program.
Zach Wolf, we'll check back with you the next half hour.
[05:10:00] Thank you, sir.
WOLF: Thanks.
BRIGS: OK, ahead, two women kicked out of an Uber in New York City for what? Kissing. Hear the exchange and what the driver is saying next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BRIGGS: A busy primary night and hard lesson for Republicans. Candidates who criticized President Trump do so at their own peril. CNN projects Congressman Mark Sanford won't even make it into the runoff in the GOP primary for his House seat in South Carolina.
The president endorsed the challenger, State Rep Katie Arrington, hours before the polls closed with a tweet that said Sanford is better off in Argentina.
[05:20:01] That, of course, a shot at Sanford's scandal-rocked time as governor which ended when he jetted off to Buenos Aires with his mistress instead of hiking the Appalachian trail, as they floated. Sanford, a frequent Trump critic, told supporters he has no regrets.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. MARK SANFORD (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: It may have cost me the election in this case, but I stand by every one of those decisions to disagree with the president because I didn't think he at the end of the day would be concurrent with the promises that I made when I first ran for office or the voices of the people the first district that I represent. (END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: CNN projecting Corey Stewart will win the Republican Senate nomination in California. Stewart built his career championing Confederate symbols. His opponent in November, Senator Tim Kaine, heavily favored to win.
Two vulnerable incumbent senators found out who they'll face in November. North Dakota Democrat Heidi Heitkamp will go up against Republican congressman Kevin Cramer. And in Nevada, Republican Dean Heller will face Congresswoman Jacky Rosen. That's a seat Democrats are targeting.
Breaking overnight, Republicans announcing there will be a vote in the House next week on two immigration bills. Last night, GOP leaders reached an agreement that satisfied conservatives and headed off a moderate-led revolt. One of the bills, a conservative measure that's not expected to pass. The other still being drafted and expected to offer a solution for DACA recipients while adding resources for border security. The Senate has not indicated whether it will take up the bill if it does pass the House.
Two New York City women say an Uber driver kicked them out of his car this weekend after he saw them kissing in the back seat.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What's the issue?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I said don't do it --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, is it illegal for Uber?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is it illegal?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Kissing is not illegal --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it is illegal.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, it's not.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can't do that here in the car.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Anyone can kiss in Uber. You are sick.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You aren't allowed to do this --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes --
(CROSSTALK)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Alex Iovine and Emma Pichl tells CNN several minutes after their kiss, the driver pulled over, opened the passenger door, and told them to get out. The driver is identified as Ahmed Elbotari. His New York City taxi license has been suspended, pending an investigation.
Elbotari told "The Daily News" that he was uncomfortable with their behavior. He said they played loud videos and one put her feet up on the seats, a claim the couple denies.
Stormy weather moving into the Northeast bringing a chance of damaging winds and hail.
Meteorologist Allison Chinchar with the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALLISON CHINCHAR, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Dave, the main concern for today is going to be the chance for severe weather across areas of the Northeast. But the rain chances extend back toward Texas as this is producing a pretty wide swath of heavy rainfall. The main threats of severe weather today in the green and yellow areas you see here.
We're talking about damaging winds and the potential for some pretty large hail, as well. Now, we've got a couple of different waves moving in. We've got the initial band that will move through this morning. Into the afternoon and into the evening hours, that sun will help to heat things up. You'll get a second wave of showers and thunderstorms late afternoon and into the early evening hours.
Both of which has the potential to have some pretty heavy rainfall embedded in those thunderstorms. The one good news is it will help to keep temperatures at bay, however. We're looking at a high of only 77 today in New York, 80 in Syracuse. High temperature about 88 in Cincinnati, same thing for Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRIGGS: Allison, thank you.
The world awaiting a big decision. We'll know momentarily if the U.S. wins the World Cup for 2026. Look who's back? Coy Wire, his triumphant return in the "Bleacher Report" next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:23:07] BRIGGS: Five-twenty-three Eastern Time.
We're just one day away from kickoff of the World Cup in Russia. But we're just hours away from hearing if the U.S. has a shot at the 2026 Cup.
Coy Wire has more in this morning's "Bleacher Report."
Welcome back, my friend. Good to see you. How is fatherhood treating you?
COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: A little slice of heaven, Dave. You know that all too well. It's good to be back, brother.
BRIGGS: Not always, buddy. WIRE: Yes --
(LAUGHTER)
BRIGGS: A word of warning.
WIRE: All right. Listen here, guys -- soccer's world governing body is meeting in Moscow with a vote expected any minute. It comes down to a joint bid from the U.S. and Canada and a bid from Morocco. The first time in more than 50 years that all of FIFA's member associations going to vote, all 207. So, 104 votes would be the magic number.
Now, before this, FIFA executives decided who would host the World Cup. After the controversial award of this year's tournament to Russia and the 2022 world cup to Qatar, FIFA has promised a more open and transparent vote. The 2026 World Cup will be the biggest ever, 48 teams playing 80 matches across 34 days. We'll stay tuned.
Tiger Woods taking practice swings at the U.S. Open which tees off tomorrow in Long Island. Ten years ago he last won a major, hoisting that U.S. open championship trophy. Kept his focus ignored pain. An epic victory he claimed while playing on a fractured leg.
To keep him focused this time, Tiger's away from the crowd standing on his $20 million yacht named "Privacy." Over half a football field long has a theater, gym, a Jacuzzi. Reportedly costs $2 million a year just to operate it. He talked about it yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIGER WOODS, PRO GOLFER: Nice to get away from the tournament scene and go there to my dinghy there and really enjoy it.
[05:25:07] REPORTER: Must feel funny not to have the biggest yacht in New York, though.
(LAUGHTER)
WOOD: It's -- I'm not opposed to that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WIRE: Check out the scene that Washington hadn't witnessed in 26 years, a sports championship parade. Thousands of capitals fans took to the streets celebrating the first-ever Stanley Cup victory. 47 vehicles down the streets, the fans coming from all over the place. It's been a nonstop party, though, for the team's star, Alex Ovechkin says his Caps beat the Golden Knights last week.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALEX OVECHKIN, STANLEY CUP FINALS MYP: We're not going to be (EXPLETIVE DELETED) this year!
(CHEERS) We're the Stanley Cup Champions! Yeah!
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WIRE: My goodness, he's having fun.
And they're also having fun in Oakland. The bottles were popping there, as well. Warriors' fans getting used to their praise. This is the third time they've been on this route in the last four years.
Somehow, some way, Kevin Durant still struggling with the champagne bottle. Come on, man. It took him nearly a minute to finally pop the cork, Dave Briggs. You and I wouldn't have that problem, buddy.
The alcohol bill reportedly an estimated half a million dollars for their celebration. Hope it was well worth it.
Good to be back. I just sent a tweet, Dave, I thank you for the swag that you sent baby Wrenn. You have two biggest fans -- she's the littlest fans. I sent out the picture of her holding these.
Thank you guys so much for all the love while I was away.
BRIGGS: Romans and Briggs on a stick.
Congratulations to you, my friend, to both of you. Enjoy the honeymoon phase. It's not all that.
WIRE: I'll be texting you for tips.
BRIGGS: All right. Ahead, President Trump moments away there landing back at joint base Andrews fresh off his summit with Kim Jong-un. Plenty of work remains to secure a verifiable denuclearization process on the Korean Peninsula.
Live coverage of the president's arrival, straight ahead on EARLY START.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
