Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Trump Holds Final Press Conference as G20 Comes to End; Trade Talks Continue with China, Trump Not Adding Tariffs; Trump Invites Kim Jong-un to DMZ; Biden Touts a Lifetime Committed to Civil Rights; Migrants Caught in Legal Limbo and Uncertainty; Trump Heads to Seoul; French Police Pepper Spray Climate Protesters; NASA Honors Apollo 11 and Restores Mission Control; The Best Debate Moments, Hands Down. Aired 5-6a ET
Aired June 29, 2019 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:00]
(MUSIC PLAYING)
GEORGE HOWELL, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): The U.S. president, Donald Trump, ends his G20 trip after answering questions on a variety of topics: Russia, China, trade talks and possibly meeting with Kim Jong-un, for more than an hour.
Plus, the former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden playing cleanup, this after being blasted by Senator Kamala Harris for his stance on desegregating buses.
Plus this --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: USA. USA. USA.
HOWELL (voice-over): Cheers and chants for Team USA as they move on to the Women's World Cup semifinals.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL (voice-over): We are live from CNN, world headquarters in Atlanta. And we want to welcome our viewers here in the United States and all around the world. I'm George Howell. The CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HOWELL: Handshakes are done. The meetings are over. The G20 summit has now ended. And the U.S. president Donald Trump is on his way to Seoul, South Korea. Mr. Trump held a wide-ranging, hour-plus long news conference just a short time ago.
He hit on many different topics; on Russia, after jokingly telling Russian president Vladimir Putin not to meddle in U.S. elections and telling a Russian reporter that Putin is a terrific person. And he again brought up Mr. Putin's denials. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We talked about it. We talked about it, you know, we talked about it before. You know, he denies it totally.
How many times can you get somebody to deny something?
But he has in the past denied it. He's denied it also publicly. But we talked about it. We talked about a lot of other things.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: He also spoke on China and trade, a possible breakthrough in the meeting between president jump and the Chinese President Xi Jinping, it was their first meeting between tensions between the two countries really ratcheted up and trade talks broke down. Now President Trump says talks will continue. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We will be continuing to negotiate. I promised that, for at least the time being, we are not going to be lifting tariffs on China.
We won't be adding an additional tremendous amount of -- we have, I guess, $350 billion left, which could be taxed or could be tariffed. And we're not doing that.
We're going to work with China on where we left off to see if we can make a deal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: And then he spoke also on Saudi Arabia. Earlier in the day, President Trump ignored a question about crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has been accused of ordering the brutal killing and murder and dismembering of "The Washington Post" journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
In a news conference, Mr. Trump was asked that question again and despite what his own intelligence community says, the president defended the crown prince's possible role.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: There is a lot of things happening.
At the same time, I will also say -- and nobody so far has pointed directly at finger at the future king of Saudi Arabia.
There are large numbers of people being prosecuted or he is angry and unhappy about it. I did mention it to him and he answered strongly. They are prosecuting large numbers of people. That was a bad event.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: A lot of topics were discussed and, of course, we have the best people to cover it. Our international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson and Matt Rivers both in Osaka at this time.
Matt, let's start with you and the news of trade talks continuing. Certainly this will be welcomed news to the markets.
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, without question, although it remains to be seen exactly what was achieved between President Xi and President Trump when they met in terms of what does this mean for substantive progress down the road because, frankly, George, we have been here before.
I was at the last G20 in Buenos Aires, last December, which was the last time that President Xi and President Trump met in the same place. And they discussed the trade deal, which at that point, the negotiations were dead in the water.
And at that point, both leaders said, you know what, let's get negotiations back on track. They went pretty well for a couple months. Then they derailed again, at which point both countries said, well, let's leave it up to the leaders again. They're going to meet here in Osaka. They did. And they all agreed to resume negotiations. Just like last time --
[05:05:00]
RIVERS: -- President Trump said he's not raising tariffs. And it remains to be seen exactly how this changes anything, other than just kicking the can down the road in these negotiations.
Certainly if you're not in favor of trade war escalation, this is a better outcome than, let's say, both leaders choosing not to meet or this meeting not going well. They met for well over an hour. President Trump said he thinks the event went very well. Chinese state media reiterated a similar message.
But in terms of coming to some sort of breakthrough in the trade war it didn't happen. And given that the sides are so far apart on so many issues, OK, they're going back to the negotiating table. But what happens when they get there, George? But still today didn't make the trade war any worse.
HOWELL: All right. Matt Rivers on the trade tensions that at least seem to be opening up to more trade talks.
Nic Robertson with us as well. Nic, I'd like to get your thoughts on what the president had to say with regards to Russian election meddling. Again, had was asked by a reporter if he is going to speak to President Putin about it.
President Trump saying, I did say it, quote, "I said the words." Again, it wasn't forceful. Some were questioning whether he was even serious about it.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: You know, I think that's why President Trump was asked the question in a press conference because everyone that witnessed, either standing on the room or saw it on TV or online, who saw President Trump turn across to President Putin as they were sitting there before their bilateral meeting, say to him, don't meddle in the elections, please. Don't meddle in the elections. They were both smiling.
I don't think many people took that seriously. That's why the question came up. To the point being, did you ask him again, did you ask him more forcefully. President Trump said, yes, he did ask him behind closed doors.
But as he has done before, President Trump questions his own national security services about, in the first place, Russia's meddling in the 2016 elections. What we saw President Trump do again here is say, essentially how many times can I ask President Putin this question because he denies meddling?
This is a very sensitive time. He himself has kicked off his own presidential election campaign. And his own intelligence services say Russia again is poised or may be getting ready or may already be beginning to meddle in the upcoming elections.
But President Trump doesn't want to be forceful with President Putin on this issue. And that's why it came up. So again, I think it leaves that feeling for a lot of people, what does President Trump want from President Putin?
What does President Putin want from President Trump?
They both talked about having a relationship and more trade. It was such a core issue, with British prime minister Theresa May who got into a conversation with Putin telling him trying to murder spies, namely Britain, or meddling in other countries' affairs simply is no way to conduct business.
And you cannot normalize relationships with countries under that set of circumstances. So the British prime minister took a tough line but President Trump not. That's a comparison everyone can see.
HOWELL: Nic Robertson, Matt Rivers, thank you both for reporting live in Osaka. We'll stay in touch.
Just a few hours ago, Mr. Trump tweeted what North Korea calls an interesting suggestion, an invitation to meet Kim Jong-un at the DMZ, Trump said, just to shake his hand. That also came up in a news conference.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUESTION: If you do meet Kim Jong-un at the DMZ tomorrow, would you step across the border into North Korea?
TRUMP: Sure, I would. I would feel very comfortable doing that. I would have no problem.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: Let's talk more about that with Michael Breen. Michael is a columnist and the author of "The New Koreas," joining us from Seoul, South Korea.
Are you able to hear us there, Michael?
MICHAEL BREEN, AUTHOR: Yes.
HOWELL: Michael, you have connection with us?
You hear us?
BREEN: Yes, I can hear you.
HOWELL: Excellent. I wanted to get your thoughts here of President Trump saying he would be open to shaking the hand of the North Korean leader there at the DMZ. How significant and how important is that, given where relations are now between North Korea and the United States?
BREEN: Well, I think it's significant in terms of the relations between the U.S. and North Korea because, if you recall that, four months ago, the last summit, second summit between the two --
[05:10:00]
BREEN: -- leaders collapsed. So this would signal that we're on the way, you know, we've sort of recovered. We've picked ourselves up again and the process is under way again.
But I think the symbolism or the visuals of it will be tremendous.
You know, over the years, American presidents have gone up to the DMZ. It's sort of a bleak, desolate place. I think Bill Clinton called it the scariest place in the world. Ronald Reagan went up there and had a choir of Korean children singing to him. So it's sort of a photo op place.
But never has an American leader been up there and been met by a North Korean. If I recall, even the North Korean guards sort of melt into the background. So this would be significant. But also it probably visually will be used for a long time, if this relationship keeps improving.
HOWELL: The optics, you say, would be historic for a U.S. president to be there at the DMZ to meet with the North Korean leader. And if invited into North Korea, to step across the border, again, could be interesting, historic. The optics certainly powerful, as you point out.
But the greater question is, what's the value?
Where relations stand now, do you get a sense that there is concrete evidence that, you know, the goals that the United States wants to see met there in North Korea, that those goals are being met?
BREEN: Not right now. I think -- you know, we're hoping. One thing to give credit where it's due. I mean President Trump has done something that no other American leader has done, which is been willing to talk to the North Koreans directly. So we've got that far.
What we don't know, we still don't know, is are the North Koreans playing him. Let's blow hot and cold, until his term is up. Either a year or so, five years from now. Or in fact, are they serious about denuclearizing? We don't know the answer to that yet.
HOWELL: Michael, we appreciate your time and perspective today. Thank you.
Still ahead, Joe Biden wastes no time defending his civil rights record.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, FORMER U.S. VICE PRESIDENT AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I want to be absolutely clear about my record and position on racial justice, including busing.
HOWELL (voice-over): Still ahead, you will hear the heated exchange that prompted the Democratic presidential candidate to speak out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:15:00]
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HOWELL: The former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is defending his civil rights record, after it was called into question at the first Democratic presidential debate.
Senator Kamala Harris said that Biden boasted about working with senators who supported segregation, even though he disagreed with them. And she accused Biden of being against busing African American children to white schools in an effort to desegregate. Our Jeff Zeleny reports Biden came out swinging after being slammed at that debate.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Before I start, I would like to say something about the debate we had last night.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZELENY (voice-over): Tonight, Joe Biden is playing clean-up. After a rocky first debate raised questions about whether he deserves to be the frontrunner in the Democratic presidential race.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BIDEN: I heard and I listened to and I respect Senator Harris. But you know we all know that 30 seconds to 60 seconds on a campaign debate exchange can't do justice to a lifetime committed to civil rights.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZELENY: In a previously scheduled appearance at Jesse Jackson Rainbow PUSH Coalition meeting in Chicago, the former vice president trying to turn the page over this extraordinary moment with Senator Kamala Harris Thursday night at Miami.
(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 bused to school every day. And that little girl was me. Do you agree today that you were wrong to oppose bussing in America then? Do you agree --
BIDEN: No. I did not oppose busing in America. What I opposed is busing ordered by the Department of Education.
(END VIDEO CLIP) ZELENY: It was a performance even many admirers charitably describe as rusty with one ally telling CNN, he knows has to do better. After waking up to brutal headlines, tough critics, Biden is trying to seize command over his long record which he struggled to do on the debate stage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: I want to be absolutely clear about my record and position on racial justice, including busing. I never, never, never, ever opposed voluntary busing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZELENY: But the issue wasn't voluntary busing it was the federal government's stepping in to desegregate schools which Biden repeatedly opposed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: The one way to ensure that you set the civil rights movement in America further back is to continue to push busing because it is a bankrupt policy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZELENY: In the 2020 campaign the controversy isn't really about busing but instead a conversation about the direction of Democrats and whether Biden fits the moment as the party increasingly shifts to the lift. The post-debate spotlight would have shined brighter for Harris if she wasn't still trying to clean up a political mess of her own about whether she supports abolishing private health insurance.
[17:05:08] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LESTER HOLT, PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE MODERATOR: Who here would abolish their private health insurance in favor of a government run plan?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZELENY: She and Senator Bernie Sanders were the only candidate to raise their hands. But she now says she misunderstood the question insisting she was only talking about her personal plan, not those for millions of Americans. It is an issue she's repeatedly struggled to make clear since this moment at a CNN Town Hall in January.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Let's eliminate all of that. Let's move on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZELENY: So at the end of the first round of Democratic debates, after four hours of debating, 20 candidates on stage, one thing is clear, there's no longer a clear front-runner in this race. Joe Biden is a front-runner certainly in name only. He's a fragile front-runner going into the month of July.
Senator Harris certainly advanced many of the things she was trying to do. She has a moment now to introduce herself to more people. We'll see what she does with it.
But going forward, this race is still wide open but one thing is clear, Joe Biden must prove that he has a command of this race before the next debate in July -- Jeff Zeleny, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOWELL: Jeff, thank you.
And the U.S. president while in Japan, he apparently saw a bit of the Democratic debates. He may have been watching there in Japan. He said the clash between two of his potential Democratic rivals was given too much attention, listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I thought that she was given too much credit. He didn't do well certainly. And maybe the facts weren't necessarily on his side. I think she was given too much credit for what she did. It wasn't that outstanding. And I think probably he was hit harder than he should have been hit. Biden --
[05:20:00]
TRUMP: -- I thought he was hit actually harder.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: The president during that news conference, when asked about busing, Mr. Trump described busing as, quote, "the primary method of getting people to schools." He did not answer the question about busing that took place decades ago or the history thereof.
President Trump has been dealt a legal blow in his efforts to add a border wall between U.S. and Mexico. A federal judge in California has blocked of the use of $2.5 billion for the barrier. That decision for now will prevent Mr. Trump from carrying through with construction in parts of California and Mexico.
He declared a national emergency back in February to use the money for the wall. Democratic presidential candidates are keeping up the pressure on the administration to address the view of immigration. A few of them visited a detention facility for unaccompanied children in Florida. But they weren't able to get inside that facility.
One of the president's critics and presidential candidate told CNN's Don Lemon what he was able to see.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JULIAN CASTRO (D-TX), FORMER HUD SECRETARY, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, there's a spot where activists have set up ladders. So, you can look across the road beyond the fence to tents where outside of those tents in a single file line, migrant teenagers were held at Homestead walk from tent to tent during their day.
And what was so powerful to me was that they're wearing these orange baseball caps. That are the color of a prison uniform. And we were waving to them and you know, the activists said that they can hear if you shout. So we were yelling supportive messages to them, but I have said a lot now that we need to end these private prison facilities. Detention facilities like Homestead. And we need to end family detention.
And Don, this is why I was so adamant the other day about repealing the law that allows the Trump administration to separate migrant parents from their little children. Section 1325 of the Immigration Nationality Act. And I was so happy last night in the second debate that they asked this question. Who on stage supports repealing that act? As I proposed.
And by my count nine out of 10 candidates last night said that they would support that. That is a step in the right direction. We can maintain border security, but go back to the way we used to do this and treat it as a civil offense instead of criminal.
We should be doing something like investing in partnering with Honduras and El Salvador and Guatemala in a 21st century Marshall Plan so that people can find safety and opportunity at home instead of having to come to the United States. That would actually be a much smarter more effective way to deal with this issue.
And the president should have started doing that the minute that he took office because he knew this was an issue of a lot of people coming over. He's wasted two and a half years. He has failed on this issue. The other thing that amazes me Don, is that you remember several
months ago the president suddenly out of nowhere found $1 billion from other parts of the budget to dedicate toward this wall that he wants to build.
But a few days ago it was reported that they're saying they can't pay for soap and for toothbrushes for a whole bunch of children. That are at the detention facilities. It makes no sense. It's part of the bankrupt administration that we have.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: The detention of migrants is not only thing causing controversy. As CNN's Michael Holmes r3ports, those desperate to make it to the United States face many uncertainties, including legal limbo and even hunger.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): At 6:00 am in the Mexican border town of Matamoros and Yazmin Ramirez Vazquez and her co-workers begin their day in their sandwich shop, not working for profit but to help feed the dozens of migrants waiting here, sometimes for months, to see U.S. immigration authorities and pray their asylum claims are accepted.
HOLMES: Now the operation here is funded by private donors in the U.S. But the people who work here, they do it for free. They even let migrants use the little shower in the back. They say they're paying it forward, doing it for God.
YAZMIN RAMIREZ VAZQUEZ, SHOP OWNER (through translator): To see people desperate, hungry. If I had more to give, I would.
HOLMES (voice-over): Also working here, Brian, a former Nicaraguan policeman, who said he fled after threats to his life, now sleeping on a park bench by night, volunteering to help feed fellow migrants by day as he waits to plead his case with U.S. immigration.
[05:25:00]
BRIAN, NICARAGUAN MIGRANT (through translator): My mother taught me values and principles, you must always help those in need. So I help whoever I can. And they help me. It's a miracle I've made it this far.
HOLMES (voice-over): Around 8:00 am, Yazmin and Brian walk a familiar route to the plaza, where other migrants wait at the border crossing. It's close, maybe five minutes away. And hungry families already know Yazmin is coming.
VAZQUEZ (through translator): They're happy. They're happy when they see me come with the cart. They get in line, kids first, then women, then men.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, they're very important. They -- for my part, I appreciate what they're doing. There's somebody up there that's thinking about us.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): There's so many people that don't have money here. Waiting for two to three months and they don't have money to eat. So this is a big help.
HOLMES (voice-over): Elsewhere in Mexico, the government crackdown continues in the wake of the Trump administration's tariffs threat. More than 450 Central Americans detained in Veracruz, mostly Honduran and Guatemalan.
The operation targeted hotels and lodging houses and more operations are to come. Also nearly 180 migrants found in a trailer on Thursday.
Back here in Matamoros, the sandwiches are gone for another day. The migrants grateful for locals who care.
VAZQUEZ (through translator): It breaks my heart to see them suffering. I wouldn't want my children, my family to go through this. It's really sad.
HOLMES (voice-over): And so tomorrow, Yazmin and her team will be back, feeding those who wait for their number to be called -- Michael Holmes, CNN, Matamoros, Mexico.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOWELL: Michael, thank you.
Still ahead, Europe is suffering from a major heat wave. Many countries are experiencing record-breaking temperatures. We'll have more on that ahead.
Plus, the U.S. president heads to South Korea next to meet with the president there. That meeting has everyone talking.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:30:00]
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HOWELL: Welcome back. To viewers in the United States and around the world, you're watching CNN NEWSROOM live from Atlanta. I'm George Howell with the headlines we're following for you this hour.
(HEADLINES)
HOWELL: The U.S. president will arrive in South Korea shortly and some demonstrators are rallying against his visit, also some are there in support of his visit, where he meet with the South Korean President, Moon Jae-in. And Mr. Trump has extended an invitation on Twitter to Kim Jong-un to meet up with him at the DMZ.
Our Paula Hancocks joins us at this hour. Tell us more what you're seeing at this hour, Paula.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, George, the numbers are fairly small at this point. There's an anti-Trump protest going on around the corner. There may be up to 500 protesters there.
Also there are a fair number of pro-Trump ralliers. Certainly, he's fairly popular in this country; the conservatives like him because he's a Republican president. Even the progressives like him which they wouldn't usually but he is engaging with North Korea and that's what many of them want.
So there is actually a fair bit of support for him. He will be coming here shortly. We know he's heading to Seoul. He'll be having a dinner with the South Korean President Moon Jae-in this evening before commitments tomorrow, Sunday.
Of course, what has overshadowed everything about this trip to Seoul is the fact that he has said he will go to the DMZ. And he is going to invite Kim Jong-un to come to the border as well and have a handshake with him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Kim Jong-un was very receptive, he responded. And so we'll see. Because tomorrow, we're going to the DMZ. I said, while I'm there, I'll shake his hand. We get along.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANCOCKS: Now it appeared to be a spontaneous invitation. We don't know whether or not for sure it was. We did have an extremely fast response with North Korea with the state-run KCNA, far quicker than I've seen in the years I've been here. Saying that it is a very interesting suggestion, that they would like a more official invitation.
North Korea and its protocol is not quite as fast and loose as the U.S. president. At this point, we've heard from the U.S. president, they may or may not be meeting at the DMZ, George.
HOWELL: And if it does happen, Paula, if indeed President Trump is invited to cross over the line there, cross into North Korea, how significant and how historic would that be?
HANCOCKS: It would be incredibly historic. He would be the first sitting U.S. president to go into North Korea.
Now this area potentially where he would be, the joint security area, there is a military demarcation line within that area, the truce village of Panmunjom. It's the area where we saw President Trump and Kim Jong-un stepping over the North Korean side of the DMZ.
If President Trump were to do that, he would be the first. He was asked about this in the press conference. He said would you cross the border if this opportunity arose. He said, sure, I feel very comfortable doing that. I have no problem
with it.
Now of course, it would be an incredible photo opportunity to have that as going down in history. What it would achieve when it comes to denuclearization --
[05:35:00]
HANCOCKS: -- is another matter. Nothing really has changed since the Hanoi summit in February, when the leaders walked away without agreement. Very surprising for North Korea, humiliating for North Korea. When it comes for actual facts on the ground, very little has changed.
HOWELL: That really is the final question that I wanted to pose to you. You know, we've certainly seen many letters between the two. We have the possibility of more optics.
But at the end of the day, Paula, is there a sense is that there is progress being made when it comes to the complete verifiable, irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula?
HANCOCKS: Well, it's interesting, George; just a couple days ago, we had an article from the foreign ministry published in media, slamming the U.S., slamming Trump administration officials, being very careful, of course, not to slam the U.S. president himself.
But slamming secretary of state Mike Pompeo, talking about reports that have come out recently, saying that North Korea is still one of the worst human rights abusers in the word, calling those reports and the officials who spoke about it, namely, Pompeo, vicious, slander, hostility from the United States.
So on the one hand, you are seeing this increasing hospitality between the two leaders themselves. You're not seeing that when it comes to the two countries.
HOWELL: Paula Hancocks, standing by, as the U.S. president is en route to Seoul, South Korea, from Osaka, Japan. Paula, thank you.
The United States Air Force has sent some of its top of the line F-22 Stealth Fighters to Qatar. It's the first U.S. buildup in the region since tensions with Iran have escalated. It comes about a week after Iran shot down a U.S. drone over the Strait of Hormuz.
The Air Force would not say how many F-22s are now in Qatar but says they're thee to defend American forces and interests in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.
In the streets of Paris, a sea of red, white and blue. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: USA! USA! USA!
HOWELL (voice-over): U.S. fans cheer on their team at the Women's World Cup in France.
Did their rallies work?
Or did France come out on top?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:40:00]
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HOWELL: The scene in Paris, France, where a protest becomes confrontational. Police there pepper sprayed a group of protesters after they blocked roads in the city of Paris. Some people were dragged away. Many others were arrested. Around 400 protesters, mostly students, participated in it, part of a group wanting action on climate change.
And across Europe, nations are experiencing a miserable heat wave. There have been record-breaking temperatures. That includes France where they've seen the highest ever temperature. It was a sweltering 114 degrees Fahrenheit. That is 45.9 degrees Celsius.
CNN producer Saskya Vandoorne is live in Paris with more on what's happening there.
Saskya, we see people out and about, trying to stay in the water, trying to cope with the heat.
SASKYA VANDOORNE, CNN PRODUCER: (INAUDIBLE).
HOWELL: I don't know if we have Saskya. But, again, we see what's happening behind her there, Saskya Vandoorne is there in the French capital. Very, very hot temperatures across France, 114 degrees, in fact, record-breaking temperatures. And at this point, no relief in sight.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HOWELL: Let's go back to our producer in the French capital.
Saskya, I know it's got to be warm there. People out and about trying to beat the heat. Tell us how they're doing it.
VANDOORNE: It is getting hotter and hotter, George. And as it does, people are taking to the refreshing Trocadero fountains behind me, dipping their legs in, swimming around, doing anything --
[05:40:00]
VANDOORNE: -- they can to keep cool. We did just hear from France's national weather forecaster saying it
does not expect terms to exceed yesterday's temperatures. That record breaking temperature is not going to be exceeded today. The French government is trying to minimize casualties as much as possible.
Having said that the French prime minister said that he fears casualties are inevitable. Now some of the measures that they've implemented include closing 4,000 schools yesterday. They have pushed national exams to next week. And they have restricted traffic in six cities across France.
Just here in Paris, over 60 percent of cars registered in the region have been banned from the road. And that is in a bid to fight air pollution that is being made worse by the hot temperatures -- George.
HOWELL: Saskya, of course, no relief in sight across Europe. We'll stay in touch with you as people continue to deal with the miserable heat wave.
Paris may be experiencing record temperatures but the heat failed to dampen the mood at the U.S. Women's World Cup. The U.S. defeated France in the highly anticipated match. Our Amanda Davies reports, all eyes were on the game's top scorer.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AMANDA DAVIES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Megan Rapinoe had written the headlines pre-match it could almost have been written in the stars. She would be the one making the difference.
Two goals on the night, her fifth in four games to book her side a place in the semifinals. She'd been adamant, her verbal sparring with the U.S. president Donald Trump was not going to detract from the job in hand, prove a distraction to her team's quest to win a record extended fourth Women's World Cup.
And as if to underline the point it took her just five minutes to find the back of the net and give the USA an important early lead over the hosts, see the defending champions really stamp their authority on the pretenders to their crown.
MEGAN RAPINOE, U.S. FOOTBALL FORWARD: We'd like to play a little bit nicer today but we're moving on into the semis, into the medal rounds. I think that we have England, right, the next game, so we'll enjoy this one for sure. It was just so special to be able to beat the host nation in the Parc de France. You can't ask for anything more than this.
DAVIES: This was a proper World Cup atmosphere, an atmosphere that wouldn't have been out of place at the men's tournament in Russia 12 months ago, where the fans were so celebrated.
For all their hope, expectation and roaring support, the French just couldn't find a way through and, in turn, find their hearts broken for the fifth time in five major tournaments at this, the quarterfinal stage. This will know, you suspect hurts the most right here on home soil.
For the USA and Rapinoe, the journey continues. They will face England in Lyon on Tuesday -- Amanda Davies, CNN, Paris, France.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOWELL: Amanda, thank you.
We're analyzing the second debate between the U.S. Democratic presidential candidates and it gives us, you could say, a pointed look at some of the candidates' bad habits. We'll explain what we mean, right after the break. Stay with us.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:50:00]
(WORLD SPORTS)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HOWELL: We're looking at the room that gave witness to some of humanity's greatest achievements. This is NASA's Mission Control Center, the command post that oversaw historic space missions.
Over the years, time has taken toll on this facility, of course. But now, it has been restored to its former glory, just in time for the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 spaceflight. It's supposed to look exactly as it did on July 20th, 1969. That's the day when man first landed on the moon.
The modern day pride movement was solidified by the Stonewall riots which began 50 years ago to the day on Friday. In 1969, New York police raided the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in Manhattan. At the time there were no laws protecting gay people from discrimination and police were determined to shut that bar down.
That spawned riots for the several weeks. Several groups harnessed the energy from the riot and push for legislation to secure LGBT rights. That push still continues today.
The Democrats hoping to become the next U.S. president covered a very wide range of issues during their second debate, sparring with each and trying to gain trust and support from voters. But it wasn't so much what was said as much as what was waved around that got attention. Our Jeanne Moos has this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Who knew a candidate's arms could get so much workout at a presidential debate, all that pointing and waving and pumping. Then the strenuous stuff starts: pick me.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE, NBC ANCHOR: Senator Harris.
MOOS (voice-over): Guys in their 70s have to act like 7-year-olds trying to get called on.
PETE BUTTIGIEG (D), MAYOR OF SOUTH BEND, IND., PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We got to talk about one other thing because...
SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D-CA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's wrong. It is wrong.
BUTTIGIEG: It's no longer possible.
MOOS (voice-over): But it was Joe Biden's finger that got the most exercise, hesitantly upraised...
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: A woman has the right to control her own body.
MOOS (voice-over): -- then wandering to the chin, hoping to be picked...
RACHEL MADDOW, MSNBC HOST: Senator, I'm going to give you --
MOOS (voice-over): -- and detouring to the nose. But this was the real action.
LESTER HOLT, NBC ANCHOR: And this is going to be a show of hands.
GUTHRIE: And hold them up for a moment.
HOLT: Who here would abolish their private health insurance in favor of a government-run plan?
MOOS (voice-over): Up went two hands.
And what about Joe Biden's finger?
It was as if Joe were peeking at what the others did before deciding himself on two of three such shows of hands. Moderators were befuddled by that finger.
GUTHRIE: I believe at the show of hands, you did not raise your hand.
Did you raise your hand?
JOE BIDEN, FORMER U.S. VICE PRESIDENT AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I did.
GUTHRIE: Sorry, sorry.
SETH MEYERS, NBC HOST: If I had the right answer, I did.
[05:55:00]
MOOS (voice-over): Here it was again...
JOSE DIAZ-BALART, NBC ANCHOR: -- without documentation.
MOOS (voice-over): The wavering finger.
DIAZ-BALART: Mr. Vice President, I don't know if you raised your hand or were just asking to speak?
MOOS (voice-over): Someone compared Joe to patients voting on whether to watch the World Series in "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest."
After the debate, Kamala Harris took back one of her votes, saying she misinterpreted the question. There were lethal arms on stage.
MADDOW: I'll hold you to 30.
SANDERS: Look, the old ways --
MOOS (voice-over): Joe flinching at Bernie's flailing arm became a GIF, but if he wants to get to Pennsylvania Avenue, maybe Joe should listen to "Sesame Street."
(VIDEO CLIP, "SESAME STREET")
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Raise your hand up --
MOOS (voice-over): Or at least your finger -- Jeanne Moos, CNN --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Raise it up, raise it up.
MOOS (voice-over): -- New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOWELL: Just letting you know the breaking news we've been covering this day. The U.S. president is on his way to Seoul, South Korea. He will arrive at a U.S. Air Force base there.
Mr. Trump is set to meet with his South Korean counterpart, President Moon Jae-in. President Trump also tweeted an invitation to Kim Jong- un, North Korea's leader, to meet him at the DMZ.
Demonstrators who both support and oppose President Trump have gathered as the president is set to arrive. We'll continue to follow it, of course, for you.
Thank you for being with us this hour. I'm George Howell at the CNN Center in Atlanta. For our viewers in the United States, "NEW DAY" is next. For viewers around the world, of course, we'll continue to have the news for you. Stay with us.
[06:00:00]
