Return to Transcripts main page
Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
President Trump Departing For G20 Summit Today; President Trump Consumed By Russia Probe; Administration Saudi Briefing Backfires; House Democrats Vote To Nominate Nancy Pelosi For Speaker. Aired 5:30-6a ET
Aired November 29, 2018 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:31:21] DAVE BRIGGS, CNN ANCHOR: High-stakes meetings with Russia and China await as President Trump departs just hours from now for the G20 summit.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: The president floating the idea of a pardon for his jailed former campaign chair, Paul Manafort.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: I changed my mind because I'm pissed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Angry backlash from Republican senators who want to hear firsthand what the CIA director knows about a murdered journalist.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: Are there dissenters, yes, but I expect to have a powerful vote.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Nancy Pelosi clears the first hurdle to becoming House Speaker, but the final vote not so certain.
Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.
BRIGGS: I'm Dave Briggs. It is 31 minutes past the hour. Good morning, everyone.
We start with the president boarding Air Force One just hours from now for the G20 summit in Buenos Aires. With the future of global trade and security on the line, Mr. Trump plans to press Chinese President Xi Jinping to open his markets to U.S. competition or face a deepening trade war. And, he's sharpening his tone against Russia over its conflict at sea with Ukraine, even threatening to cancel a meeting with Vladimir Putin.
Also on the president's agenda, meetings with South Korean President Moon, Japanese Prime Minister Abe, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Turkish President Erdogan, Indian Prime Minister Modi, and Argentine President Macri.
On Friday, in Argentina, the president expected to sign a revamped NAFTA trade agreement with Mexico and Canada, which still needs congressional approval.
ROMANS: The Russians say the meeting between Presidents Putin and Trump is set for Saturday morning on the G20 sidelines. If it happens, Russia's conflict with Ukraine is sure to come up. President Trump has already said he doesn't like Moscow's aggression.
Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry is suggesting the West knew about or even planned the naval confrontation in the Kerch Strait -- a confrontation that is escalating tensions between Moscow and Ukraine.
A Russian court in Crimea ordering two months' detention for all 24 Ukrainian sailors who are now being held, pending trials.
Let's bring in CNN's Fred Pleitgen, live near the Kerch Strait in Taman, Russia in today's issue of where in the world is Fred Pleitgen. Fred, where are you and what are you seeing there?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Christine.
Yes, I'm actually in sort of gale-force winds right outside the Kerch Strait at the bridge that the Russians actually constructed after they annexed Crimea. And at the end of that bridge is a military base where the Russians are holding those vessels that they impounded from the Ukrainians.
As you've mentioned, those tensions between these two countries still very much flaring up. And, of course, that also very much a factor in that meeting between President Trump and President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit.
I just got some information for you a couple of minutes ago. I want to update you really quick because there was another conference call with Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, where he reiterated once again that according to the Russians, the meeting has been confirmed between the two leaders and it is still very much on.
He says that he believes there's going to be a one-on-one meeting between President Trump and Vladimir Putin and that afterwards, the two delegations are going to discuss, for about one hour, a variety of issues.
The Russians, of course, saying in the form of Vladimir Putin, that they believe that President Trump is still very much positively inclined towards improving relations between the U.S. and Russia. Of course, those relations facing another test, once again, because of what happened right here near where I'm standing in the -- or near the Sea of Azov where that incident took place.
As you mentioned, the Russians are saying that they believe that this was something that was a provocation by the Ukrainians. The Ukrainians firing back and saying the Russians are the ones that are violating international law.
The U.S. on the Ukrainian side but certainly, it is going to be a big test for President Trump when he meets Vladimir Putin in a couple of days, Christine.
[05:35:03] ROMANS: All right. Fred Pleitgen for us in Russia. Thanks, Fred.
BRIGGS: All right. Here at home, President Trump striking a note of togetherness and unity. He and the first lady lit the national Christmas tree in Washington. The president praising Americans who help their fellow citizens in need.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We are one American family. We hurt together, we heal together, and we will always pull through together. This is the United States of America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: That sounded downright presidential.
Just a few hours earlier, the same President of the United States tweeted out a meme attacking the Russia probe, imaging his enemies behind bars charged with treason. Among those enemies, former presidents, the special counsel Robert Mueller and his direct supervisor, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.
The president doubling down on that Twitter attack in an interview with the "New York Post" where he also dangled a pardon for his former campaign chair.
CNN's Pamela Brown has more from the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAMELA BROWN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Dave and Christine.
In a stunning interview with the "New York Post," President Trump defended retweeting a picture of his opponents behind bars, calling for them to face trial for treason. And they include special counsel Robert Mueller, as well as Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.
When asked about that -- the fact that Rosenstein was also seen behind bars in this picture -- the president responded to the reporters in this interview saying that he should have never appointed a special counsel.
Meantime, the president also talked about a potential pardon for Paul Manafort, former campaign chairman, after prosecutors claimed he lied to the FBI. The president, for the first time, coming out and saying that it's not off the table for a presidential pardon for Manafort. He's also ratcheting up the language against Robert Mueller, taking it
a step further now, comparing the Mueller probe to McCarthyism.
Also in this interview, the president threatened to declassify documents that he claims would be devastating to Democrats. These are documents that he had talked about declassifying this past September.
But he says in the interview that Emmet Flood, the White House lawyer, advised him that would not be a good idea politically. But now, the president is threatening to declassify these documents if the Democrats on the Hill go after him.
Back to you, Dave and Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRIGGS: Pamela, thanks.
President Trump has denied two specific claims special counsel Robert Mueller is looking into.
CNN has learned exclusively the president told Mueller in writing that Roger Stone never told him about WikiLeaks' plans to release Democratic Party e-mails stolen by Russian hackers.
He also told Mueller he was never informed about the 2016 Trump Tower meeting between his son, campaign officials, and a Russian lawyer.
We've also learned the president made it clear he was answering to the best of his recollection.
The Trump Tower meeting and WikiLeaks are critical to Mueller's mission determining whether the Trump campaign colluded with the Russians.
ROMANS: A closed-door administration briefing on Capitol Hill apparently backfiring Wednesday. The White House was hoping to stop a resolution to end U.S. support for the Saudi-led war against Houthis in Yemen.
Instead, it sparked a backlash, with senators on both sides furious the White House kept CIA Director Gina Haspel from appearing. Senators wanted to question her about the murder and dismemberment of "Washington Post" journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the possible involvement of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman -- MBS.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GRAHAM: I changed my mind because I'm pissed. The way the administration has handled the Saudi Arabia event is just not acceptable. The briefing today did not help me at all to better understand the role that MBS played in the killing of Mr. Khashoggi.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Sec. James Mattis showed up to tow the administration line on the importance of the U.S.-Saudi relationship. They noted there is no direct evidence Prince Mohammed ordered the brutal murder.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMES MATTIS, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: We have no smoking gun that the crown prince was involved. Not the Intelligence Community or anyone else. There is no smoking gun.
We have not changed that accountability for the murder is our expectation, of everyone involved in the murder. Accountability -- our positions have not changed at all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Senate aides say the White House nixed Haspel's appearance because her answers might not line up with the White House response to the murder. But, Sec. Pompeo had no answer when asked why she was not there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE POMPEO, SECRETARY OF STATE: I was asked to be here and here I am.
REPORTER: But senators were very frustrated. Normally, in your past role as CIA director, you would be here briefing these senators on an issue this sensitive. Why isn't the CIA director herself here today?
[05:40:00] POMPEO: I was asked to be here and I'm here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: In the end, 14 annoyed Republicans crossed the aisle. The Senate voted to advance the Yemen resolution 63-37.
BRIGGS: Pretty significant pushback there --
ROMANS: Yes.
BRIGGS: -- from the Republican senators.
Joining us here to talk about all of this, David Rohde, executive editor of "The New Yorker" Website; a CNN global affairs analyst. He was asked to be here --
ROMANS: Hey, David.
BRIGGS: -- and here you are.
DAVID ROHDE, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, THE NEW YORKER WEBSITE: Good morning.
BRIGGS: So let's start with the G20. The president -- wheels up in just a few hours. How significant are the stakes, and being that he said just over 24
hours ago that his gut tells him more than anyone else's brain, what do you expect from the high-stakes meeting with Xi Jinping?
ROHDE: That will be the big focus, I mean, for most Americans because that's about the American economy. That's about American jobs.
The trade war -- the president denies this but many economists think it's hurting the American economy. It reducing manufacturing jobs. The GM layoffs shocked the president.
So, can he cut a deal with Xi?
His track record in every international meeting -- a colleague of mine wrote this -- is to be a wrecking ball. He is the disruptor.
So will he start a new fight with Xi or strike a deal? This is a chance for him to start down a new course and strike a deal.
ROMANS: This is the first G20 I've covered where there hasn't been weeks and weeks of principals between the two trade partners deciding what the parameters are going to be and where the (INAUDIBLE) is and doing the work ahead of time.
This is going to be Xi and the president. The president winging it, do you think?
ROHDE: Again, that's the past pattern and he believes his gut knows best.
Xi is going to be very patient. Time is on his side. He's the president of China forever.
President Trump has been weakened after the midterm elections, so --
ROMANS: Yes.
ROHDE: -- he has to prepare for these meetings. No human being can sort of be an expert on everything here.
And again, his trade policy -- he has a new trade agreement with Mexico and Canada, to be fair, but so far, the trade war with China is not working.
ROMANS: And we've had a different -- we've had a different message three days this week from the administration about where -- you know, where they're going with it --
BRIGGS: Yes.
ROMANS: -- or there could be a breakthrough. So who knows what -- if that's just a negotiating tool.
BRIGGS: We've also had different messages on whether or not the president will meet with Vladimir Putin given the confrontation between Russia and Ukraine. How significant are the optics -- whether or not he even meets with Putin and how that goes, given Helsinki?
ROHDE: I think that there's tremendous pressure on him. The vote yesterday on Yemen is unusual. You have Lindsey Graham, a staunch supporter of the president --
BRIGGS: Right.
ROHDE: -- furious about not holding Saudi Arabia and the crown prince responsible.
So, here's a test. Will the president hold Putin responsible?
And then the second thing is as the Mueller investigation heats up and it's more in the press, if he gives Putin a pass it raises suspicions that why is he being so gentle on Putin?
And again, I'm just -- domestic politics is what matters and he's got his own party turning against him on Saudi Arabia and Russia. It's -- this is -- you know, again, this is not a smart strategic play, I think.
ROMANS: He'll have a choice whether to shun MBS --
ROHDE: Exactly.
ROMANS: -- or to shun Putin. And we know that Putin and MBS are meeting on their own. I mean, the optics are just limitless.
ROHDE: So, you -- what's he saying, essentially, is if you are my friend -- as a foreign leader, if you murder a journalist or if you seize Ukrainian ships -- Ukraine is our ally -- I'll give you a pass.
And that's what so upsets, I think, Lindsey Graham -- is he's sending a message to the world -- to the world's autocrats -- lawlessness is fine. You can do whatever you want if you are my personal friend -- if I trust you. If you're backing me, Donald Trump, politically. And I -- you know, I think that's an incredibly dangerous precedent to set.
ROMANS: Well, it also translates domestically because in the "New York Post" he's floating the pardon for Paul Manafort. At the same time, he's tweeting out a meme that's showing former presidents and people -- anybody's who's against him -- in prison for treason.
ROHDE: I think the president has done some things well in terms of highlighting workers and their jobs. This issue of the rule of law -- no one above -- you know, no one in this country's above the rule of law is vital to just American -- you know, basic American values.
And again, Paul Manafort convicted by a jury of his peers of cheating on his taxes -- not paying millions and millions of dollars in taxes -- he's going to get a pardon. But if you're the president's friend -- if you're the deputy law enforcement official in the country you go to jail -- Rod Rosenstein. It's extraordinary what he's saying. Again, if you're my ally, you get a pardon. If you attack me in any way, you go to jail. I mean, I'm -- he hasn't done any of this yet. It's all talk.
ROMANS: Right.
ROHDE: But this -- you know, this echoes of authoritarianism. This is not American.
BRIGGS: If you're Paul Manafort's lawyers, though, you should be aware of the fact that Manafort faces state charges in some four states. A presidential pardon does not cover that.
He is not a young man. Either way, he looks like he spends the rest of his life in jail, does he not?
ROHDE: Yes, but it's a message Trump, I think, is sending that if you cooperate with the special counsel --
ROMANS: To others.
ROHDE: Yes. If you -- if you back me up, I'll pardon you.
And again, there is no evidence that I know of yet of collusion. Why is the president so afraid of Robert Mueller? Let this play out.
[05:45:03] That's what so many people -- Jeff Flake and others, are saying. If you've done nothing wrong, let it play out. He's overreacting to this. He may be innocent of collusion but he's creating more problems by overreacting to it.
BRIGGS: Yes.
ROHDE: You know, pardoning people and raising suspicions.
ROMANS: Quickly, what does your very, very smart gut say about a breakthrough with China on trade this weekend?
ROHDE: Very low. His -- I mean, I hope there's a breakthrough on trade. I think that would help the president and he should take a new course. But he wants to be the disruptor and we'll see what happens.
BRIGGS: Or at least kick the can for the tariffs and not implement those in January. That could be devastating for the economy.
ROHDE: It's all about American jobs and --
BRIGGS: Yes.
ROHDE: -- you know --
ROMANS: Yes.
ROHDE: -- it's a critical meeting.
ROMANS: All right. David, thank you. Nice to see you. ROHDE: Thank you.
ROMANS: All right. Jeff Sessions with two words to describe his ouster from the Trump administration.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFF SESSIONS, FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL: Pink slip. That's -- everybody -- a lot of people have gotten pink slips, I guess.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: More now from -- more from the now-former attorney general, just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:50:11] BRIGGS: Nancy Pelosi taking a giant step toward a historic second turn as House Speaker. House Democrats, Wednesday, voting overwhelming, 203 to 32, to support Pelosi's nomination.
Pelosi talked about the small, but vocal faction of Democrats who tried to derail her bid for speaker.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PELOSI: I'm talking about scores of members of Congress who just gave me a vote -- are giving me a vote of confidence and that is where our focus is. Are there dissenters, yes, but I expect to have a powerful vote as we go forward.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: The make or break moment for Pelosi will come in January when the full House votes -- need to convince at least of the 32 no votes to come on board with Pelosi.
Former attorney general Jeff Sessions, at last night's annual Chicago Crime Commission awards dinner, reflecting on his experience as the nation's top law enforcement officer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFF SESSIONS, FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL: Well, a lot has changed since my visit here a few months ago -- about a month ago, actually. I've got a new title -- former -- pink slip. That's -- everybody -- a lot of people have gotten pink slips, I guess, but mine's a little more public than most, I've got to say.
But I really enjoyed the honor and appreciate the president allowing me to serve almost two years in one of the greatest jobs in the world. I'm satisfied and fulfilled, I think, with what we were able to accomplish and I'm excited for those who will continue to lead the great department.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BRIGGS: Sessions, of course, fired just days after the midterms. Silence as to who will replace him. Matt Whitaker, the acting A.G.
ROMANS: Just about eight minutes to the top of the hour. Let's get a check on "CNN Business" this morning.
Global stock markets mostly mixed ahead of the G20 summit.
In Asia, you can see the Nikkei up slightly. Shanghai and the Hang Seng are down.
Europe opened mixed as well, up a little bit. The DAX, in Germany, is up half a percent. The FTSE, in London, and Paris CAC Quarante both higher as well.
On Wall Street, futures are down this morning. The Dow rose, though nearly 620 points. That's 2 1/2 percent. That's a big one-day move.
And the reason, the Fed chief, Jerome Powell. He suggested the Fed may be -- it's not going to raise rates so aggressively that it will hurt the economy.
The S&P 500 gained 2.3 percent. The Nasdaq closed up nearly three percent.
Caterpillar and Boeing, two of the Dow's most economically sensitive stocks, each rose nearly five percent.
New home sales have suffered the steepest decline in two years. According to the Commerce Department, purchases of newly-built single- family homes fell nearly nine percent in October. That's the lowest level since March 2016. The percent drop was the biggest since late last year.
Look, sales of new U.S. homes are declining as higher mortgage rates are coming and rising construction costs are creating problems for some builders. Watch that there.
There's also these new tax laws in some of the states like New Jersey and New York --
BRIGGS: Out here, and in Connecticut and New Jersey.
ROMANS: -- where -- you know, look, you don't get the big write-off for the interest anymore --
BRIGGS: Yes.
ROMANS: -- and new homes tend to cost more than existing homes.
BRIGGS: California and Illinois.
All right, a new testament to the power of Taylor Swift. Details, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [05:57:48] ROMANS: Who is the most influential person on Twitter? Taylor Swift topped the annual list by the social media analysis company Brandwatch. She's only tweeted 13 times in 2018, so I guess less is more.
The rankings mostly based on genuine audience engagement.
The most influential man, Liam Payne, formerly of "One Director" and now a solo artist.
Coming in at number three, President Trump. I don't know how he sings. I don't have any clips of him singing.
BRIGGS: That's the wrong clip. I can't recall one.
All right, we wrap up with the tale of two Christmas trees. Here are your "Late-Night Laughs."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIMMY FALLON, HOST, NBC "THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON": Well, the White House and 30 Rock had their tree-lighting ceremonies on the same night. In many ways, the events are similar, but there are some key differences. I'll show you what I mean.
First, at 30 Rock, everyone gathers to see the tree get lit. At the White House, everyone who works for Trump gets lit.
Next, at 30 Rock, music superstar John Legend sings the hits. And at the White House, Commerce Sec. Wilbur Ross plays the spoons.
Finally, at 30 Rock, the tree is donated to Habitat for Humanity to build homes. At the White House, the tree is chopped up to build the wall.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Oh, all right. We'll leave it there.
BRIGGS: That's pretty well done. The president says $5 billion to build that wall or a shutdown.
ROMANS: Or he could shut it down --
BRIGGS: Yes.
ROMANS: -- that's right. Thanks for joining us. I thought Mexico was paying for the wall.
BRIGGS: That's right.
ROMANS: Thanks for joining us. I'm Christine Romans.
BRIGGS: I'm Dave Briggs. "NEW DAY" is right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DAVID AXELROD, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: There's no doubt the president is sending a very strong message -- do not cooperate.
HARRY LITMAN, FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY, FORMER DEPUTY ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL: Any pardon would like a reward for funneling information to Trump. I can't tell you how extraordinary that is.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The president has told Mueller that Roger Stone never told him about WikiLeaks and he said he didn't know about the Trump Tower meeting.
SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D), CONNECTICUT: The special counsel has the evidence that can corroborate or dispute that contention.
SEN. JEFF FLAKE (R), ARIZONA: I just can't, for the life of me, understand why more of us here in the Senate aren't concerned about this investigation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Alisyn Camerota and John Berman.
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, I am accepting compliments on my dress right now, John.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: She was very upset --
CAMEROTA: Yes, I am.
BERMAN: -- that no one had said anything until about 30 seconds ago. It was ruining the whole morning.
CAMEROTA: And, Asha (ph) complimented it and now we can begin the show. Thank you --
