Return to Transcripts main page

New Day

Trump Jokes with Putin; Missing College Student in Utah; 50 Years After Stonewall Riots; Rapinoe Pledges to Skip Potential White House Visit. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired June 28, 2019 - 08:30   ET

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

[08:30:00] JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Joining us now from Japan, CNN chief national security correspondent and CNN "NEWSROOM" anchor Jim Sciutto, and from Moscow, Matthew Chance, CNN's senior international correspondent.

Jim, you're in Osaka. You're where all this happened. You've also been at many of the other locations where the president's done things like this before.

What's your take on the moment?

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Listen, it was disturbing, frankly, because you saw the U.S. president and the Russian president sharing a joke, in effect. The president smiled, kind of waved it off, the idea of Russian election interference, and Putin was smiling throughout as well. That serves Russia's interests, right, to undermine the assessment that Russia interfered in the election and the seriousness of that assessment. And as you said, it's 11 months since that Helsinki infamous moment when the president even took Putin's side against U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia had interfered, but not the only time he did so. In repeated encounters, questioning that assessment, seeming to go to the Russian side as opposed to the side of the U.S.

And I'll tell you, another thing that struck me just in the last hour or so here is that when the British prime minister, Theresa May, when she met with the Russian president, she said in no uncertain terms, there can be no normalization of relations between Britain and Russia while it continues its destabilizing -- irresponsible and destabilizing activities which she cited, including the example of misinformation. So why can the British prime minister say that in definitive terms but the president, the U.S. president misses repeated chances to do so? It is noticeable.

And also, John, just one more thing, it's not just the rhetoric because we know that in terms of the time he has spent on this issue, just one cabinet level meeting on election security, even as his intelligence advisers warning Russia will interfere again in 2020. So it's the words but it's also the actions.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Matthew, there was also another dimension to that exchange. It wasn't just that these two men were sharing a joke, it was the sort of solicitousness in which President Trump said it to him. He said, don't meddle in our elections, please. And that tone from a U.S. president to someone who attacked the democratic system is also what is so off so off-putting this morning.

How is it being received in Moscow?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, I mean, this is going to obviously fuel criticism of President Trump domestically over there in the United States. But, I mean, I was watching this as well and I got the

sense that Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, isn't altogether comfortable himself when every time he goes into a room with President Trump, President Trump seems to make light of stuff, he capitulates to the Russian point of view, because Putin knows that this undermines President Trump domestically in the U.S., but it also creates a backlash from the Congress. I mean Russia is under very tough U.S. Sanctions because of its election interference. It wants those sanctions lifted. And Putin is smart enough to know that this kind of behavior from the U.S. president is going to sort of make people in Congress even more hardline, possibly even ratchet up sanctions against Moscow. And so, you know, I think that's why you saw sort of Putin playing along with this and smiling, but I don't think he was really sort of fully in on the -- on the joke, Alisyn.

BERMAN: That's really fascinating.

CAMEROTA: It's really fascinating.

BERMAN: Too (INAUDIBLE) even for Vladimir Putin.

Hey, Matthew, to that -- to that point, look, you -- I've seen interviews that you have done with Vladimir Putin over the years. How does he respond -- does he respond more to people who are tough with him, frank with him, or does he respond to this type of activity?

CHANCE: Well, I mean, I think what's interesting is that last meeting they had face to face in Finland, in Helsinki, the Finish capital. I was in that press conference. And, you know, President Trump was like, you know, I believe -- I'm basically paraphrasing -- I believe President Putin. He believed him over his own intelligence services, as we've been reporting. I mean Putin actually intervened in the press conference at that point and said, hang on a minute, you know, actually behind closed doors President Trump did criticize our action in Crimea. He said he disagreed with it. And he -- you got like a situation, a bizarre situation, where the Russian president was actually saying, look, I was criticized in private behind closed doors by behind -- by President Trump.

And, you know, I think that's very telling of how concerned the Russians are and how concerned the Kremlin is that this sort of relationship they've got with President Trump could be counterproductive and could actually provoke more of the sanctions that they're trying to get rid of.

CAMEROTA: Matthew, that is so fascinating. What a fascinating perspective that Vladimir Putin is uncomfortable with how much love President Trump shows to him. Also, one last thing -- we have to go, but President Trump also said

when reporters asked what he was going to talk about behind closed doors with Putin here, now, he said, none of your business. The president works for the people. The U.S. president works for the American people. It is their business what he's going to talk about with Vladimir Putin.

[08:35:13] CAMEROTA: OK, gentlemen, thank you very much for that fascinating perspective.

There are also new details in a case of a college student who stepped out of a car in Utah and then seemingly vanished. We have an update, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: New this morning, this intriguing case out of Utah. Investigators there found multiple items of evidence while searching a home in connection to the disappearance of missing college student Mackenzie Lueck. Police are now talking to the owner of that home.

CNN's Scott McLean live in North Salt Lake, Utah, with the very latest on this case.

Scott.

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, John.

Mackenzie Lueck has not been seen or heard from in the past 11 days. What we do know is that she arrived at the Salt Lake City Airport early in the morning of June 17th and she took a Lyft to this park. Police then say she got out of that vehicle and into another one that was waiting for her somewhere in this parking lot. Now, what kind of car that was, who was driving it and where they took her, that is the mystery that police are trying to solve.

[08:40:08] Now, they did announce yesterday that they had searched a home about five miles south of here. As you said, they took out multiple pieces of evidence, including a vehicle, though they would not say whether that was the vehicle in question. They even dug up part of the backyard. And for reasons they did not explain, the medical examiner's office was involved in that search.

Now, the man who owns that house, he runs an Airbnb that his neighbor says is often booked. He also called him the epitome of a great neighbor and a man of high integrity.

Now, police are not naming him, though, because he hasn't been charged anything. They do say, though, that he gave away a mattress and a box spring recently and police want to get those items back from whoever may have taken them.

Now, police were also asked yesterday about activity on one of Lueck's Instagram accounts. The police chief explained that they were looking at her social media activity and her digital footprints, though they would not say exactly what led them to that house. Now, it's important to note that no one has actually been arrested in

this case. And while obviously the disappearance is concerning, Alisyn, this is still a missing persons case.

CAMEROTA: Scott, it sounds like the police know a lot more than they're saying. So, thank you very much. Please keep us posted on that case.

All right, now here's what else to watch today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ON SCREEN TEXT: 1:00 ET, Joe Biden speaks in Chicago.

3:00 p.m. ET, USA women's soccer versus France.

7:15 p.m. ET, Trump meets Saudi crown prince.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: So 50 years ago today, such an important moment, riots broke out outside the Stonewall Inn here in New York City, galvanizing a national movement for LGBT rights. The uprising, it happened in the summer of 1969 as the gay bars patrons fought back against a police raid after years of discrimination. Now thousands are expected to mark that historic act of defiance at a site that is now a national monument.

CNN's Polo Sandoval live outside Stonewall in New York's Greenwich Village with what we are seeing now and really will see over the next couple of days, Polo.

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, not lost on the preparations that you see behind me is, of course, the meaning of today. Keep in mind, it was 50 years ago today that the patrons of Stonewall Inn basically said they had enough. In a single act of defiance, they basically stood up against authorities in what the current police commissioner describes as discriminatory and oppressive behavior by officers back in 1969 here. The patrons of this bar essentially speaking out as one of those patrons described for me exactly what it took for the men and women inside this bar to speak up against authorities.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSEPH NEGRELLI, STONEWALL RIOT PARTICIPANT: The civil rights movement, the woman's movement all galvanized together. But it was truly the transvestites and minorities that were the forefront runners of the Stonewall riot.

If you were a feminine or you were dressed unconforming your sexuality at birth, you were arrested and tried to be humiliated. And that's what was happening that night.

(END VIDEO CLIP) SANDOVAL: That flashpoint at that particular moment would only be the beginning, of course. It would later result in about six days of protests at around the New York area that then spread, not just nationally, but international, John, which is one of the main reasons why we expect millions of people from around the world to basically come here to New York City this weekend to celebrate this day because for so many this place is really more a shrine than a bar.

BERMAN: Such a great way to put it.

Polo Sandoval outside Stonewall here in New York City. Thank you so much.

And join CNN for a special, "Pride and Progress" on Sunday. That's 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

CAMEROTA: OK, Team USA soccer star Megan Rapinoe not backing down on her comments about the White House. And the big game just hours away. All that, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:48:42] BERMAN: All right, the comedians were up extra late last night to react to the debates. You don't want to miss this. Here are your "Late Night Laughs."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D-CA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools, and she was bussed to school every day. And that little girl was me.

TREVOR NOAH, HOST, "THE DAILY SHOW WITH TREVOR NOAH": That moment was so brutal on Joe Biden, for the first time I wanted to give him a massage.

REP. ERIC SWALWELL (D-CA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Joe Biden was right when he said it was time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans 32 years ago. He's still right today. If we're going to solve it issue of automation, pass the torch.

SETH MEYERS, HOST, "LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS": Damn, you're bringing a Biden quote to take down Biden. Come on. If anyone's going to take down Joe Biden with a Joe Biden quote, it's Joe Biden.

The window for Marianne Williamson impressions might be closing fast.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My plan is to gather all the sage in America and burn it. My plan is to harness the energy of babies to finally put a man on the moon. And I said to the president of New Zealand, I said, girlfriend, you're so on. And I would say to Donald Trump, boyfriend, you chill. Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Good.

CAMEROTA: It is really good.

BERMAN: It's so good.

CAMEROTA: She nails it. It's really good. But most Googled person during the debate.

[08:50:02] BERMAN: Yes, Marianne Williamson, most searched for person.

CAMEROTA: OK, in just hours, the U.S. women's national soccer team faces off against France in one of its biggest challenges ever. This is a must win World Cup match. This comes as one of its biggest stars explains why she would not go to the White House if the team wins the tournament.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MEGAN RAPINOE, U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM: I think obviously entering with a lot of passion considering how much, you know, time and effort and pride we take in the platform that we have and using it for good and for leaving the game in a better place and hopefully the world in a better place. I don't think that I would want to go and I would encourage my teammates to think hard about lending that platform or having that co-opted by an administration that doesn't feel the say way and doesn't fight for the same things that -- that we fight for.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: OK, joining us now is Christine Brennan. She is a sports columnist at "USA Today," and a CNN sports analyst.

So, Christine, this fight between President Trump and Megan Rapinoe, it keep going back and forth. Who's winning this one at the moment?

CHRISTINE BRENNAN, CNN SPORTS ANALYST: I guess we'll see when -- if the U.S. beats France, Alisyn, that that certainly could be a statement from Megan Rapinoe and her teammates.

This is unprecedented. I mean we've certainly seen the president take on athletes before. But they're always NFL players or NBA players or teams, their owners or coaches or whatever. This is a U.S. team that is playing on foreign soil, playing in France, representing the country, red, white, and blue, all of that. And here's the president going after them while they're playing and representing the nation. And I think that's why this is so remarkable, but it's very much in keeping with the U.S. women's national soccer team over the last 20 years, since that '99 team, Brandi Chastain and the Rose Bowl 20 years ago now, they have always been about much more than soccer and here we see that again.

BERMAN: You know, I've heard Megan Rapinoe described as a modern day Muhammad Ali and the similarities there are, she's not going to let go of her beliefs, not for anybody, and at the same time she's going to crush it. She's going to keep on winning there. She's going to prove it on the field at the same time. BRENNAN: That's right, John, Muhammad Ali, Billy Jean King, Jackie

Robinson, on and on it goes. We've seen this more. And I think athlete activism has certainly been on the rise since the election of Donald Trump. There's no surprise there. And Megan Rapinoe has been doing this for a long time.

She's 33 years old. She's been around a while. And she has always spoken her mind. And, again, I think that's what has been so wonderful about covering, as I have, the women's national soccer team now for 20 years. And it is that they take us to fascinating conversations that I think we should be having a nation while they also play great soccer and usually win tournaments.

CAMEROTA: I'm just going to read the end of President Trump's tweet towards her, just because I think that it's important context. He says, I'm a big fan of the American team and women's soccer, but Megan should win first before she talks. Finish the job. We haven't yet invited Megan or the team, but I am now inviting the team, win or lose. Megan should never disrespect our country, the White House or our flag, especially since so much has been done for her and the team. Be proud of the flag that you wear. The USA is doing great.

I can't tell if he's rooting for them to win or not.

BRENNAN: Right. Right. Yes, I -- it will be stunning if the U.S. president is rooting for France. Although I certainly have seen on Twitter that there are a lot of Trump supporters who say they want France to win. Think about that for a minute. It's just amazing.

But I do think, here, look at an alternate universe here, Alisyn. The president was asked about Megan Rapinoe. He could have said, I'm cheering for her. He could have brushed it off. No, he went right there. He wanted to pick a fight with her. She happens to be openly gay. Is that something, playing to his base? I have no idea. I'm a sports journalist. I'll try to stick to sports.

But when the president enters the conversation, chooses willingly to go after a U.S. player while she's, by the way, the co-captain of the team, representing the country in such an important event, the U.S. Women's World Cup where the nation watches, the country has fallen in love with this team all over again and the president wants to pick a fight with the team that the nation loves so much. It's really a fascinating dynamic but there -- here we are and there he is.

BERMAN: Ten seconds, Christine, are we going to win today?

BRENNAN: I think the -- I think the U.S. will win this one. France beat the U.S. 3-1 in -- in January, John, in a friendly. This is a different U.S. team. I think the U.S. wins 2-1. But this is tough one. France is really good.

CAMEROTA: Christine Brennan, always great to talk to you. Thank you very much. We'll be watching, of course.

BRENNAN: Thank you.

BERMAN: I think Spain put a scare in the U.S. team and they're going to play huge today.

So when CNN hero Jamyle Cannon was in school, he had anger issues and go into fights. But once he took up boxing in college, everything changed. Now he's using the sport to help students on Chicago's west side.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMYLE CANNON, CNN HERO: All right, let's work.

We're using this sport to teach kids how to fight for their own success.

Hands up. Pump it. Boom, boom, just like that.

I want them to learn how to apply all the positive aspects of boxing, the self-control, the discipline, the focus and walk around with those principles every day.

[08:55:03] This is your homework for today? Check you out.

When we give them the support that they need, they learn that they are capable and the sky's the limit. I can't wait for people to see just how powerful our kids are.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: All right, to learn more about Jamyle is changing the lives of children in Chicago, go to cnnheroes.com. And while you are there, nominate someone that you think should be a CNN Hero.

CAMEROTA: All right, Senator Kamala Harris had a huge moment in last night's debate. There was also a moment this morning between President Trump and Vladimir Putin. So "NEWSROOM" with Poppy Harlow and Jim Sciutto picks it up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:00:02] POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: All right, this morning, everyone, the big question, did Senator Kamala Harris do long-term damage last night to.

END