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E.U. Agrees on Landmark Economic Recovery Plan; U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.K. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab Discuss Post- Brexit Free Trade Agreement; Trump Touts Wearing Mask as "Patriotic" in Tweet; Egypt Approves Libya Deployment, Risking Clash with Turkey; Trump Renews Coronavirus Task Force Briefings. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired July 21, 2020 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
URSULA VAN DER LEYEN, PRESIDENT, EUROPEAN COMMISSION: Europe as a whole has now a big chance to come out stronger from the crisis.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over): Tonight the European Union reaches an historic deal to help save its economy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON (voice-over): Well, after much controversy the American president shares a striking image of himself as a self-styled mask-wearing patriot.
And a promise of a vaccine by Christmas; I ask the head of the U.K.'s vaccine task force if that is remotely possible.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
ANDERSON: Well, it's 10:00 in the morning in New York, 4:00 pm in Brussels, 6:00 in the evening in Abu Dhabi.
This hour, a world facing a brutal health crisis, trying to contain the economic fallout.
I'm Becky Anderson. Hello and welcome to our expanded edition of CONNECT THE WORLD.
Well, this is the briefing room in London, where U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo and his British counterpart, foreign secretary Dominic Raab,
will be addressing journalists shortly. We'll take you there as soon as they begin speaking.
First up, we begin with a European Union that is celebrating exactly that, union, after coming together in what were torturous talks and unprecedented
deal in what are unprecedented times.
But it's a story -- but this story isn't the European fairy tale. The headline number is staggering. Spending power of $2 trillion, we'll break
it down and it's less riveting. You need to take away $1.3 trillion because that's the new E.U. budget for the next seven years. They had to agree on
that anyway.
So the number for the new recovery fund to help rebuild the economies ravaged by COVID-19 actually comes in at a far more meek $850 billion; big
number but Europe is, after all, a political project and the leaders have been selling this deal as a coup.
The relief of European Council president was palpable as, in the single word he tweeted, "Deal." But even in the lower number it's hardly a story
of European harmony; for example, the money will be paid in loans but also grants.
The grants were a controversial sticking point during negotiations. And we'll get to that in a moment. It all falls far short of the $2 trillion
plan the U.S. passed back in March. The size of both economies in the same ballpark. Both, too, have suffered about 140,000 deaths sadly from COVID-
19.
So from the big deal to the big question, how effectively will all of this be implemented in Europe and at what cost?
Well, to answer that, Melissa Bell is in Paris.
Melissa, this being touted by those around the table at least as an historic moment in European history, perhaps better described as Europe's
Hamilton moment. Explain, if you will.
MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. That was the important expression that was used back in May, Becky, when the French president
Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Angela Merkel came up with the idea of a recovery fund that was so different than anything that Germany had
envisaged and it gave you a look at the crisis.
The crucial difference is when Alexander Hamilton overcame all that opposition in 1792 to move forward with the federalizing of the debts of
the individual states in the creation of United States of America, he did so by mutualizing all of the debts of the states.
This is not what's happening here. The fact though that Europe can now neutralize that debt, the fact that it can borrow from the markets, the
fact that it then allow the revenues that are drawn from one country to be spent in another, that is an important step.
And you can measure what a big step it was and how hard it was to achieve for those leading the battle, Macron and Merkel, by listening to what they
had to say after many long nights of fractious disagreement.
[10:05:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANGELA MERKEL, CHANCELLOR OF GERMANY (through translator): We have laid out the financial foundations for the European Union for the next seven
years and we have also come up with a response to this arguably biggest crisis of the European Union.
CHARLES MICHEL, EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT: And this agreement sends a country's signal that Europe is a force for action.
VON DER LEYEN: Europe as a whole has now a big chance to come out stronger from the crisis. Today, we have taken a historic step we can be all proud
of. But another important step remains ahead of us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BELL: Of course, those future steps, Becky, refer to everything that's likely to follow. All the discussions about what happens next and the
importance for Brussels of living up to the moment.
Essentially these new powers that it's been given essentially to function much as a sovereign state in its ability to create -- to take from the
markets and to take responsibility for that debt is going to have to live up to it.
That means questions of transparency. Questions of accountability will have to be answered but a massive victory for Macron and Merkel and the
institutions of the European Union that come out stronger, Becky.
ANDERSON: Well, to quote one of the numbers from the musical E.U. leaders then suggesting Europeans should feel satisfied, despite the funds being
less than what some had hoped for.
A rescue plan not just for the countries but for the European project itself.
Is it fair to suggest that it took a virus for Europe to finally take that decisive step towards federalism in the face of what many thought was the
possibility of disintegration and what does that mean for the future?
And at what cost?
BELL: I think that's right. It is a measure really of just how serious this crisis is, that this step -- so long resisted long by the British, of
course, now gone from the European Union. But also by others now who have taken on this position of wanting to protect themselves from further
federalism.
I think what it shows is just how serious this is. In the end, it was the fact that Germany that had so long had resisted any moves -- remember when
we look at the predebt crisis, the disconnect that Europe was created without fiscal union or the real political union that might follow ever
really being properly considered in a way with anyone believing that Europe can move forward on this has been at the heart of so many of the crises.
The fact that Spain, Italy and France are now looking at the shrinking of their economies by 10 percent at the end of the year and the impacts it
would have on the single market. In the end this was an existential crisis and it had forced Europe to be something that it had long hesitated to
become but many federalists had said was necessary.
ANDERSON: Melissa Bell is in Paris when that "Hamilton" theme from the room where it happened to the E.U. at least to the room where it will
happen in London, the American secretary of state and his counterpart will be taking questions in a few minutes. We'll get you there as soon as that
starts.
Well, from bitter rows to backslapping after what was a marathon summit, you can almost hear the bells and whistles coming out of Brussels. E.U.
leaders are pulling the recovery fund, everything from unprecedented landmark to a pivotal moment for Europe.
For some context, it may be worth noting that the U.S. has been there, done that. Congress passed the CARES Act, a $2 trillion stimulus package to keep
the U.S. economy going as the pandemic first raged. And today they are wrangling on Capitol Hill about another trillion dollar relief bill.
Europe is definitely lifting the mood, especially among investors, and the E.U. recovery fund will be handed out to suffering member nations as grants
so they don't end up with swelling national debt from loans.
Investors in the markets have certainly reacted. You know, it's a good day, not a great day. Let's get to Julia Chatterley in New York who is standing
by to talk us through this.
A deal for Europe then full of conditionality, has to be said, but a deal nonetheless. The loss of life is on a par with the U.S., sadly. We have no
idea how big a hit the global economy will take from the coronavirus. Interesting to see how the European markets have reacted today.
[10:10:00]
ANDERSON: Where are we with the stimulus package?
JULIA CHATTERLEY, CNN ANCHOR: It's interesting, we have European markets now trading at four month highs. Remember, this is additive. It's in
addition to the different moneys that have been provided by the individual 27 nations of the E.U.
That's the difference here, what the U.S. is trying to add to. I can tell you they would be gleeful if, in the United States, they could agree
something over the next five days. It is looking increasingly problematic.
For one reason, firstly, you have the White House pushing certain policies, like payroll taxes and apparently being quite reticent about providing
further money for testing or tracing, despite Senate Republicans being in favor.
So assuming that you get the White House and its own party on the same page, then you've got the real battle that comes in finding a meet in
middle between Republicans and the Democrats.
Remember, the Democrats were way ahead of this process several weeks ago. They agreed to $3 trillion worth of measures they thought were important.
The question is, how much and where can they meet?
The key part of this is going to be what happens with the benefits, the bump up that roll off at end of the month. This is a huge amount of money
for many of the unemployed people. Listen to what Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVEN MNUCHIN, U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY: By the end of this month, make sure that before the enhanced unemployment insurance expires, that we pass
legislation so that we can protect Americans that are unemployed.
And we have said that the number one issue is we have to fix the technical fix on the enhanced unemployment. We'll make sure we don't pay people more
money to stay at home than go to work.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHATTERLEY: Interesting conundrum when you had the people to come back into the work force but they'll work to reduce that money. There's plenty
more pieces here, money for state and local governments, further assistance in terms of individuals, perhaps another bonus check; $1,000, $1,200 check.
I don't think it will happen in the next six or seven days.
ANDERSON: It will be a tough slog on negotiations for this next round of pandemic stimulus funding, like you rightly point out.
With an election looming what are we, 105 days from the election in the U.S.?
How will partisan politics play a part, do you think, in these negotiations?
CHATTERLEY: Always front and center. Obviously it is incentivizing the Republicans here to be to some degree more generous. We can't escape the
escalating COVID crisis once again. Particularly in the Republican led Southern states. So that's realigned thinking coming into the negotiation.
The Republicans talking about to $1-1.5 trillion. This is why you've got a U.S. president going tax cuts. We know he likes tax cuts. He likes tariffs.
He would like to see a tax cut and the PR problem here is, of course, there are people looking at this and going, we could be in the situation where
we're cutting taxes for people who are working and we're reducing benefits and support for people that aren't working.
So a PR crisis and an election front and center always in U.S. Congress negotiations, particularly when we're what, 15 weeks out and counting, and
facing a pandemic.
ANDERSON: Remarkable stuff.
Who would want to be a legislator at this point?
CHATTERLEY: No one.
ANDERSON: That's the story in the U.S., thank you.
The U.K. won't see the E.U. COVID cash because of Brexit, of course, and London still hasn't nailed down a trade deal with Washington. So Number 10
has got plenty on its plate.
While the U.K. may be left out of the E.U.'s coronavirus plan, prime minister Boris Johnson is looking towards another ally. He's met with
secretary of state Mike Pompeo at 10 Downing Street. The two men may be all smiles.
But they have mammoth challenges, the two countries trying to hammer out a post Brexit free trade agreement by year's end. Yes. As we said, all this
comes under the looming cloud of the coronavirus pandemic.
[10:15:00]
ANDERSON: Pompeo is meeting with his British counterpart Dominic Raab and we'll hear from them very soon.
Well, Nic Robertson joins us from 10 Downing Street.
What can we expect from Raab and Pompeo today?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: We can expect them to talk about the commonality, the commonality of view over China. We know
that the secretary of state Mike Pompeo has been happy that Britain took the decision not to use the Huawei 5G equipment in networks here.
Certainly the prime minister and Dominic Raab all have been exposed to Pompeo's view that Britain should follow suit as they have done, to put
sanctions on China. Officials or companies, as the U.S. has done, over the human rights violations of Uyghurs. That we can expect to get mentioned I
think in this upcoming press conference.
But I think, look, they'll speak to the commonality of interests of both of the countries. What Britain wants out of this and the position it has tried
to take with the United States is we'd like to work with the United States, with the other partners in the Five Eyes intelligence sharing community to
find alternatives to 5G and other technology -- other tech future technologies.
But important -- and we have heard this from Downing Street this afternoon, summing up the prime minister's meeting with secretary of state Mike
Pompeo. Important, of course, as you mentioned, the free trade agreement because Britain's free trade agreement with the European Union is still
looking shaky by the end of the year.
So important to get something interim at least with the United States; a strong commitment or negotiations for a strong free trade agreement was how
Downing Street framed the discussion so far today. We can expect to hear about that today.
They spoke also in the garden at Downing Street about Iran and about the Middle East peace plan, the United States Middle East peace plan. So that
may get mentioned in the press conference.
But really I think what we'll hear is a sense of where the countries align and where the United States would like to see them go forward together. And
that has increased pressure on China.
ANDERSON: I just wonder how important the timing of this trip is, coming as it does, 105 days and counting before a U.S. election, an election at
which -- after which we may have a new administration run by a different man.
What's -- what do you make of the timing here?
ROBERTSON: You know, it's difficult to say in that context because everything really has been thrown on its head in sort of what would had
been planned, timing for any sort of foreign policy in one would call it, machinations of President Trump.
The pandemic has exposed fault lines there with China. But it's also put the United States in a position of, you know, of looking to its allies and
friends, you know, across the Atlantic in a way that perhaps it hadn't before, to get support on the China issue. That's something that Pompeo can
take back to President Trump.
We saw President Trump just last week touting how it was him and his pressure on Britain had brought that decision from the prime minister on
not using Huawei's 5G equipment.
So it is important to President Trump, how does it play into -- how does it play in to the current situation that the president's poll ratings are down
and that the former vice president Biden is doing better?
That's very hard to say. I think we have to look at this and understand that the pandemic really has sort of put any preplans all up in the air,
Becky.
ANDERSON: I just wonder what Downing Street's calculation will be should it become -- here we go. Let's -- I'm just going to get to you to hold for
a moment. Looks as if we may be about -- nope, perhaps I'm a little early on that.
What's the calculation in Downing Street about the possibility of a Joe Biden administration at this point?
Is it clear?
ROBERTSON: You know, I think -- you know, if you were to ask the question, the answer will be, we'll wait and see. But I think what we heard from the
prime minister in the past few days is quite clear that, you know, he wants to continue.
And understand that it will be important for Britain to have an ongoing and enduring relationship with China in the future because of the big role that
China will play in the future and already plays.
[10:20:00]
ROBERTSON: If that says let me just pause before I jump into bed with the Trump administration that won't be there for another four years, maybe
that's the language and signaling for the Chinese there.
But look, we have heard from the Chinese ambassador in London; we have heard from the -- China's foreign ministry spokesperson about their views
on Britain's positioning on Hong Kong and a warning not to get involved and to follow suit with the U.S. over human rights violations of the Uyghurs.
That -- you know, China's already bristling at the position the -- the position that Downing Street has taken. It would be a wise politician that
would try to play cards from both sides of the deck, post the wars in China and the United States.
But Britain is more in hock to the United States because it needs that free trade agreement. And China reads the Trump administration and any future
U.S. administration as potentially hostile to their national security interests. Britain is a small partner in that.
ANDERSON: Nic is outside Downing Street.
We are waiting to see Mike Pompeo and Dominic Raab and we'll get back to that as soon as they emerge.
Well, a long awaited report out of the U.K. warns that Russian meddling is now the, quote, "new normal." An 18 month long investigation shows that the
U.K. government took its eye off the ball concerning Moscow's attempts to influence politics, allowing it to go unchecked for years.
The report calls for new legislation to tackle the ongoing threats from the Kremlin. Russia says the accusations are, quote, "baseless." We'll have a
lot more on the report and Moscow's response coming up later in the show.
Well, you're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson.
Russia says president Vladimir Putin has not been vaccinated after reports that the country's elite are receiving experimental coronavirus vaccines.
The latest from Moscow coming up in the show.
And the man in the mask.
How far is Donald Trump willing to go in his new push to encourage mask wearing?
Plus Egypt's parliament gives the green light to deploy its troops into Libya.
How serious is Cairo about getting involved in the conflict?
Details are coming up. Let's get you to that press conference at 10 Downing Street.
DOMINIC RAAB, BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY: Really delighted to welcome Secretary Pompeo back to London. We've been discussing the full range of
issues today. We're going through a whole range of challenges in the world, I think it's fair to say but there are also great opportunities and
Britain and the United States are absolutely keen and focused on making sure that we grasp them.
We've spoken today about our serious concerns about the situation in Hong Kong, particularly in relation to the national security legislation. We
talked a bit about our - the U.K. offer to BNOs, what we're doing in suspending the extradition treaty, extending the arms embargo to Hong Kong.
Mike gave me his perspective on it as well. We're coordinating together with the Five Eyes and we also discussed next steps including at G7 level.
We also talked about ongoing discussions in relation to 5G and crucially how we can diversify our supply chains in relation to telecoms in the 5G
network and also more broadly learning some of the lessons from coronavirus around PPE and other things and the work that we can do together in order
to facilitate that.
That, I think, brought us on to talk about the free trade negotiations. We're looking forward to meeting British and American businesses shortly,
given we're each other's biggest investors. Our annual trade relationship is worth over $300 billion. We think we can do even better than that.
There are, every morning, just under one half million Americans who go to work for British companies, around the same Brits going to work for
American companies. And I think that illustrates the kind of win-win free trade deal that we're committed and determined to achieve between our two
countries - good for jobs, good for consumers as well.
The U.K. is really clear that we need to work with our American friends and also with other partners together in the international system to protect
our freedoms and interests and stand up - as we've shown, I think, on Hong Kong - stand up for our values. We're more influential, we have more
impact when we work together. We also discussed Iran, Russia, the Middle East peace process, the broader challenges of COVID-19 and the need to
strengthen, reinforce and keep the team together in relation to NATO.
[10:25:00]
RAAB: We discussed bilateral issues and I think across the full range of international challenges we - of which there are many - we recognized that
we're always a lot stronger and more effective when we work together and that's what we're going to continue to do in the weeks and months ahead.
Mike, over to you.
MIKE POMPEO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Thank you and good afternoon. I want to thank Foreign Secretary Raab for the invitation to be here today.
I know it's not easy to host events, especially at these times, so I want to thank you and your staff for putting this all together and making it
work. It was a very productive conversation. We, of course, began with the challenge presented by the Chinese Communist Party and the COVID-19
virus that originated in Wuhan, China. On behalf of the American people I want to extend my condolences to the British people from your losses from
this preventable pandemic. The CCP's exploitation of this disaster to further its own interests has been disgraceful. Rather than helping the
world, General Secretary Xi has shown the world the party's true face. We talked about how we've seen Hong Kong's freedoms crushed. We've watched
the CCP bully its neighbors, militarize features in the South China Sea and instigate a deadly confrontation with India.
I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the British Government for its principled responses to these challenges. You made a sovereign
decision to ban Huawei from future 5G networks. You've joined other free nations to condemn China's broken promises on the Sino-British treaty. You
generously opened your doors to Hong Kongers who seek nothing more and fleeing just for some freedom. And yesterday you suspended your
extradition treaty and extended your arms embargo on China to Hong Kong itself. We support those sovereign choices; we think well done. I'll meet
later today with Hong Kong democracy advocate Nathan Law and Sir Chris Patten, the last governor of Hong Kong. I'm sure those will be eye-opening
and important discussions too.
Dominic mentioned free trade discussions. We've completed two rounds, more work to do; a third round scheduled for later this month. It is a primary
focus of the United States to see if we can make progress on this and bring this to a closure just as quickly as possible. I spoke with the prime
minister this morning about this and I hope that we can get it finalized before too long. When we leave, Dominic and I will sit down with the
British-American Business Council to hear about how we can get to the right place, which is reducing trade barriers and hear more about how we can get
opportunities for small businesses and create real wealth and opportunity, good jobs for working people here in the United Kingdom and for Americans
too.
And finally, I discussed with both the prime minister and with the foreign secretary the importance of extending the UN arms embargo on the Islamic
Republic of Iran. We welcome the recent statement from the United Kingdom, France and Germany recognizing that allowing the embargo to expire would
have major implications for regional and security stability. And I want to thank the British people too and the U.K. Government for its role in
helping lead the international maritime security construct in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. That's important leadership from a true ally.
As Dom and I were talking about the Special Relationship, you can see it on days like today, where it translates into the ability to have candid, frank
discussions on important matters which really cut to the heart of how we can work together to secure freedom for our peoples and each of our two
countries and both of our countries be forces for good together around the world. So thanks for the chance to be with you here today.
RAAB: Great. Thanks, Mike. So we'll take a couple of questions. Vicki Young from the BBC.
QUESTION: First of all, Foreign Secretary, the Russia report today has two central accusations - one, that the present government's ignored the threat
that Russia poses to our democracy, more specifically that your government actively avoided looking for evidence of Russian interference in the Brexit
referendum. On both points, why have you turned a blind eye?
And to the Secretary of State, do you want Britain to take more robust action against China?
You have praised the U.K. Government for what it's done so far. Do you think it ought to go further, maybe targeted sanctions of Chinese
individuals, for example, banning TikTok, maybe?
Are you happy with China's investment in the nuclear industry (inaudible)?
RAAB: Vicki, thanks very much. First of all, you mentioned the suggestion that the U.K. actively avoided investigating Russia - I think in fairness
you'll find that wasn't in the ISC report. It was the comment of one MP, Stewart Hosie and we categorically reject that.
I think if you look, we've got a long period recognizing the enduring and significant threat posed by Russia to the U.K., including in relation to
cyber, Russia's top national security priority. We call out Russia when it's necessary. We've shown that in relation to the cyber attacks on
research and development facilities in the U.S., the U.K. and Canada. We've done that together with our partners.
[10:30:00]
RAAB: And we are not for a second complacent about the threat Russia poses when it comes to cyber.
Mike.
POMPEO: Your question was about whether we would like the United Kingdom to do more to confront China. I don't think about it that way; we don't
think about it that way. We think that the entire world needs to work together to ensure that every country, including China, behaves in the
international system in ways that are appropriate and consistent with the international order. You can't go make claims for maritime regions that
you have no lawful claim to. You can't threaten countries and bully them in the Himalayas. You can't engage in cover-ups and co-opt international
institutions like the World Health Organization.
We want to see every nation who understands freedom and democracy and values that and knows that it's important to their own people, their own
sovereign country to be successful, to understand this threat that the Chinese Communist Party is posing to them and to work both themselves and
collectively to restore what is rightfully ours.
We - look at President Trump on trade. All he simply asked for was a fair and reciprocal trading relationship with China. We just no longer wanted
them to steal intellectual property, denying citizens of the United States who'd worked hard to create something, to invent something, to get a patent
or a trademark and then the Chinese Communist Party directed its state- owned enterprises to steal that property from Americans.
We want every nation to work against that kind of activity. It's those actions. It's not about language. It's not about words. It's about we
want every nation to work together to push back against the Chinese Communist Party's efforts in every dimension that I described to you today.
That certainly includes the United Kingdom. It includes every country. We hope we can build out a coalition that understands this threat, will work
collectively to convince the Chinese Communist Party it's not in their best interest to engage in this kind of behavior.
RAAB: John Hudson from The Washington Post.
QUESTION: Thank you very much. Mr. Secretary, Secretary Pompeo, what is the ultimate goal of U.S. actions against Huawei?
Does the U.S. want to crush the company or does it want it to make certain reforms in order to continue to do business with it?
And Secretary Raab, how do you respond to critics who say the U.K. is being strong-armed into its - into its China position by U.S. officials,
including Secretary Pompeo, who met this morning with MPs who are China hawks?
POMPEO: Would you like to go first?
RAAB: I'm relaxed.
POMPEO: I'll take your question, too.
(LAUGHTER)
RAAB: Look, we - when I go to Washington, I meet with folks on the Hill in all parties, all sides - quite right. Look, we - the reality is as a
result of U.S. sanctions, we've, of course, got to look with a clear- sighted perspective at what that means and we've taken a decision based on that but I don't think there's any question of strong-arming. Mike and I
always have constructive discussions and actually a vast majority of the times our views overlap and we work together very well, as we have with our
Five Eyes partners on Hong Kong and I think you can see that in the various measures we've taken.
POMPEO: Yeah, look, the prime minister's decision was reflective of what he believed was in the best interests of the people of the United Kingdom.
I have absolutely no doubt about that. We've had a number of conversations about a broad range of issues, not all of which we agree on, not all of
which we've come to the same conclusion about. I think the United Kingdom made a good decision but I think that decision was made not because the
United States said it was a good decision but because leadership here in the United Kingdom concluded the right thing to do was to make that
decision for the people of the United Kingdom.
As respect to Huawei, we don't have an end state that we seek from Huawei. We have an end state for the people of the United States, which is to make
sure that the data sets - the private data that belongs to Americans - doesn't end up in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party. So our efforts
aren't aimed at any one particular company or one particular business; they are aimed at protecting American national security. And we will continue
to take actions against every entity that engages in trade behaviors that are inconsistent with American national security or uses telecommunications
infrastructure in ways that pose threats to the United States of America, whether that's to our military information and our high-end national
security information or the average citizen's private information that ought not be in the hands of the Chinese national security apparatus. No
American should engage in ordinary activity on their cell phone or on their laptop computer or talking on their phone - no American should have the
risk that that data set is going to be in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party. We're determined to make sure that doesn't happen. So
the actions you have seen us take against multiple companies, including Huawei, are reflective of that security mission that we have.
QUESTION: Is Huawei savable?
Is it salvageable?
[10:35:00]
POMPEO: We're going to protect American national security.
RAAB: Great, thanks very much, folks.
POMPEO: Thanks, everyone.
ANDERSON: Well, it was Mike Pompeo and Dominic Raab. Nic Robertson is joining us again from Downing Street.
Relations with China clearly top of the agenda at these talks. Mike Pompeo said it's not about language or words; it's about actions. And we want
every country, including the U.K., to push back on what he described as Beijing's behavior, which he sees as a threat to American national
security.
He also talked of a free trade agreement; the annual trade relationship between the U.S. and the U.K., of course, is worth over $300 billion,
Pompeo said he wants to see closure on that deal as soon as possible.
What did you make of what you heard?
ROBERTSON: You know, I think one of the key questions that people on this side of the Atlantic were keen to ask secretary of state Pompeo was, have
you strong armed Britain into making this decision on Huawei?
Are you strong arming into them making other decisions on China?
He pushed back on that. He said I believe that Britain has taken this decision and other decisions it may take about China out of its own
national security interests, that we're better on working across these issues together.
We're better when it's all countries that value democracy working together to thwart the efforts of intellectual property theft by the Chinese
Communist Party, as he frames it when he's speaking about China here.
So I think that's the key question that a lot of people wanted answered. The answer perhaps would surprise them. It's still the perception that to
get the important free trade agreement that he and Dominic Raab and the British prime minister have spoken positively about, the perception remains
that, to get that, Britain has had to give into pressure from the United States on the use of Huawei 5G equipment and may yet need to give in to
further pressure that's evidenced today perhaps by the fact that secretary of state Pompeo met earlier today with crossparty MPs, who are hawks on
China, that the government may yet have to go further on that issue.
So I think, you know, I think that's the crux of it today. And the secretary said, no, it's not pressure; it's mutual interests. It's joint
interests. And it is Britain's national security interest in taking these decisions.
ANDERSON: Yes, you make a very good point because, quite frankly, with a free trade deal, which is so important to the U.K., with the U.S. post
Brexit on the table, and as Mike Pompeo pointed out today, he wants the third stage of those talks closed as quickly as possible, it felt like we
were talking, you know, days and weeks, not months and years when he said that.
But that's just my sense. It's no surprise that critics of the U.K. will say, you are simply in hock to Washington at present, is it?
ROBERTSON: They're going to say that. And anyone who's a critic of Brexit deal is going to say that. Because they're going to look at the Brexit deal
and say, where are you, Mr. Johnson, on negotiating with the European Union and they're still poles apart. The negotiations are not going very well,
which raises the stakes of needing that trade deal with the United States.
If you look at what the European Union has gone through with the marathon negotiations on their future budget and on how to fund, you know, resources
to deal with the coronavirus, you look at a joined-up 27 nations. That what's Britain stepped out of. So the European Union rather than looking
weaker has this day emerged looking stronger.
And that's a reflection now on how Britain fares outside of what is a stronger body of 27 nations with joined-up agreements after days and days
of tough negotiations. Where a few days ago, Britain might have been part of that deal.
So yes, I think the current environment, particularly over where the Brexit free trade agreement with the European Union is going, does put pressure on
that U.S.-British relationship.
ANDERSON: There was a comment, at least from the German chancellor, that suggested that Britain wasn't missed. She was remembering, perhaps, not
fondly of the days when David Cameron, for example, was around the table.
[10:40:00]
ANDERSON: Tough negotiations, as you rightly point out; they are not shy of the negotiations because, quite often, around that table of 27 nations,
those negotiations are tough in Europe. All right, thank you, Nic.
Let's take a quick break. Back in a moment.
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(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
DR. DEBORAH BIRX, WHITE HOUSE CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE COORDINATOR: What would happen if 100 percent mask use the public areas, closing bars, limiting out
-- indoor gatherings and decreasing dining capacity?
When we modeled it, it came very close to the impact of sheltering in place.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that was the U.S. president's chief medical adviser on the coronavirus, telling the nation's governors that mask wearing and social
distancing would be just as effective as locking down the economy again.
Well, it certainly appears the White House is ready to push mask wearing this week from Donald Trump, in which he called mask wearing patriotic. Got
a lot of attention but only hours later he was seen mingling without a mask at a fundraiser in Washington.
President Trump has been saying he likes masks but he does not like mask mandates. All of this comes as the president prepares for the resumption of
daily White House briefings on the coronavirus, scheduled to begin just hours from now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We had successful briefings. I was doing them, we had a lot of people watching. Record numbers watching. In the history of cable
television, a lot of the country is doing well. We had this big flare-up in Florida, Texas, a couple of other places and so I think what we're going to
do is -- I'll get involved and we'll start doing briefings. I think it's great way to get information out to the public.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Let's bring in CNN White House correspondent John Harwood.
Just when you had seen an about-face about wearing a mask by the U.S. president, you know, we hear him -- which many people would say is great,
you know, it's a good message -- we hear him talk once again about ratings.
You know, it's all about the ratings, it seems, as far as this U.S. president is concerned.
What's going on here?
JOHN HARWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, what's going on is we have a president who is imprisoned by his ego, who is trying to react to
polls showing him in a very deep hole against Joe Biden. And he was reluctantly pushed by those polls to embrace mask wearing in that tweet.
He did it half heartedly. He said many people say it was a patriotic thing to do. He did tweet a picture of himself. That's a step forward for public
health, whatever his motivation.
[10:45:00]
HARWOOD: But it is unclear whether these briefings are going to do him any good for precisely the reason you mentioned. He talked about them as a
source of television ratings and attention for himself.
We do not know whether or not members of the Coronavirus Task Force, public health experts, Deborah Birx, Tony Fauci will be there. And when the
president talks on this subject, he only hurts himself politically because he's disconnected from the reality of the pandemic, which is surging in the
United States.
He tweeted this morning, we are doing very well. The only path for him to repair his standing is to acknowledge the severity of the situation and
convey the idea he's doing something about it.
Not clear that's going to result from the briefings although, I have to say, Becky, I would expect aides will prevail upon him to have public
health experts at the briefings because it's important for him politically to do so.
ANDERSON: You've been talking to your sources, John.
What are they telling about why these briefings stopped and how they will look going forward?
I know it's not clear whether there will be, you know, health experts or not.
But how does the U.S. president feel about re-engaging with the U.S. audience on very, you know -- one assumes this will be COVID specific or
these briefings will be wider than that and an opportunity for him to sort of, you know, put a marker down as far as the campaign is concerned?
HARWOOD: Well, I think the latter, Becky. We know why they stopped in the first place is because the president was embarrassing himself in front of
television cameras in a huge television audience.
We all remember the time in late April, when he came out and suggested that people inject themselves with bleach or some sort of disinfectant or have
light shot into their bodies to deal with the coronavirus. Those were obviously ridiculous things to say and the president then withdrew from the
stage.
He -- his position has only gotten worse since then. But he was talked into resuming these briefings by aides, with the idea that he could talk about
what he wanted to talk about.
Again, the president, because of what he feels compelled to do or not do, doesn't naturally help himself politically. And the question is whether he
can be made to do things that are more beneficial to him, like have some of the public health experts give a more realistic portrayal of the situation.
ANDERSON: John Harwood is in Washington, thank you.
Mr. Trump just had a call on Libya and Egypt's parliament has authorized the deployment of troops there. That could mean direct confrontation with
Turkey. We will look into that and explain why up next.
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ANDERSON: Libya, a powder keg of foreign interference, may be about to plunge into further chaos. On Monday, Egypt's parliament approved the
possible entry of troops into the conflict zone. Now this comes after the Egyptian president al Sisi threatened military action against Turkish-
backed forces in Libya numerous times before.
[10:50:00]
ANDERSON: Although it's unclear if the Egyptian leadership will actually send in any troops. Deployment in Libya would bring Egypt and Turkey, close
U.S. allies, that support rival sides in this conflict, into direct confrontation.
President Sisi spoke with President Trump and they agreed on the need for a cease-fire. Well, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, also spoke to Mr.
Trump about Libya.
He tweeted this picture, a very steely and determined looking Macron. Here's what the White House said about that call. The two, quote,
"discussed critical bilateral and global issues, including ways to de- escalate the situation in Libya, which has been exacerbated by the presence of foreign forces and arms."
Well, Libya's battlefield has many hands at work. I recently spoke with Ibrahim Kalin, spokesman for the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and
asked him about Turkey's role in the country. Have a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
IBRAHIM KALIN, TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON: Well, the (INAUDIBLE) limitation (ph) of the government of national accord, GNA, and we have
supported them and we will continue to support them after it has wreaked havoc in that country.
He has tried to push his way and he's trying to divide Libya or take control of Libya with no legitimacy at all.
In regard to the countries that support Haftar, we have said from the very beginning that he's not a reliable partner. He has violated every single
agreement, cease-fire or peace process, over the last two years.
ANDERSON: Is Turkey here a savior or an aggressor?
KALIN: We are for the political process. We do not want any military escalation in Libya. We are also against any plans to divide Libya de facto
between east and west, like with Benghazi and Tripoli. These are dangerous ideas that we should all avoid.
ANDERSON: Does Turkey's long-term plan in Libya include a lasting Turkish military presence in the country?
KALIN: Libya is a sovereign country. It is up to them to decide what kind of agreements they will have with other countries, political, military,
social, economic. And we are absolutely against the breaking up of Libya, whether in reality or on the map or politically or geographically.
That will be a devastating scenario. We have seen similar cases in Iraq and Syria and other places. We should draw lessons from that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Turkey's position, according to the chief spokesman for the Turkish president. Let's get to Sam Kiley, normally based in Abu Dhabi, and
he's reported from Libya over the years. He happens to be in England.
We happen to be through four different sides involved in Libya and that's not the limit. Just talk us through the latest with regard to Egypt at this
point because this is important.
Oh, that shot looks as if he is considering what I have asked him. But in fact, I think his shot has frozen. The vagaries of technology in these
COVID times, when many of our correspondents are working with limited technology from their homes. We will get back to Sam.
Libya is an extremely important story and we will pick that up when we can. Let's see if we can bring him back.
Have we got Sam?
Or should I do something else first?
All right. Let's do something else first. We will get back to Sam just as soon as we can.
With the poll numbers falling on Monday, President Trump tweeted a photo of himself wearing this face mask.
He said, "It's patriotic to wear a face mask when you can't socially distance. There's nobody more patriotic than me."
Well, it appears he's finally following the advice of his own health experts. But as CNN's Jim Acosta tells us, the mask might be part of a
larger plan to win favor with voters. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With more than 140,000 deaths from the coronavirus in the U.S. and counting,
President Trump is offering up a new proposal to show he's dealing with the pandemic, resurrecting the briefing room news conferences on the
administration's response to COVID-19.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'll do it at 5:00 like we were doing. We had a good slot and a lot of people were watching and that's
a good thing.
ACOSTA (voice-over): As Mr. Trump made the announcement, the former reality TV host turned president appeared to be more focused on the ratings
for the briefings than the surging number of cases across the country. TRUMP: Well, we had very successful briefings. I was doing them and we
had a lot of people watching, record numbers watching. In the history of capable television, there's never been anything like it.
ACOSTA (voice-over): The briefings were sometimes useful when they featured the expertise of health experts like doctors Deborah Birx and
Anthony Fauci. But Mr. Trump suspended the news conferences back in April shortly after he suggested people could inject themselves with
disinfectants to kill the virus.
TRUMP: And then I see the disinfectant knocks it out in a minute.
ACOSTA (voice-over): The president is still misleading the public about the virus insisting he was right when he predicted COVID-19 would
miraculously vanish.
TRUMP: It's going to disappear. One day it's like a miracle, it will disappear.
ACOSTA (voice-over): Mr. Trump defended that comment on Fox.
TRUMP: I'll be right eventually. You know, I said it's going to disappear. I'll say it again. It's going to disappear --
CHRIS WALLACE, FOX NEWS HOST: But does that -- does that discredit you?
TRUMP: And I'll be right. I don't think so.
ACOSTA (voice-over): And his lukewarm support for wearing masks still runs counter to what the experts are telling Americans.
JEROME ADAMS, U.S. SURGEON GENERAL: I'm begging you, please understand that we are not trying to take away your freedoms when we say wear a face
covering.
ACOSTA (voice-over): The president still faces tough questions over his handling of the pandemic like why the White House is seeking to block new
funding for testing for the virus, a stance that irked some in his own party and surprised administration health officials.
COLLINS: The opening bid from the White House was a bit surprising, certainly for many of us who were certainly hoping to see more in the way
of support.
ACOSTA (voice-over): A new ABC/Washington Post poll finds Mr. Trump far behind former Vice President Joe Biden. So the president and his team are
turning to former aides, Cory Lewandowski and Steve Bannon for advice.
TRUMP: We have Cory and we have all the people. And actually Steve Bannon's been much better not being involved. He's says the greatest
president ever, I mean, he's saying things that I said, let's keep Steve out there. He's doing a good job.
ACOSTA (voice-over): Bannon's message to Mr. Trump, pay more attention to the pandemic.
STEVE BANNON, FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF STRATEGIST: My recommendation would be every day start to have the top people around you, Dr. Fauci, Br. Birx,
the Vice President, Dr. Redfield and CDC, chief of staff Meadows. Have them in the Oval, get briefed every day on an action plan.
ACOSTA (voice-over): The president's interview on Fox concerned even some of his own aides with one adviser telling CNN it was embarrassing. His
total lack of preparation is catching up. One awkward moment came when Mr. Trump bragged about passing his cognitive assessment tests.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Well, I tell you what, let's take a test. Let's take a test right now. Let's go down, Joe and I we'll take a test. Let him take the same.
WALLACE: I took the test too when I heard that you passed it.
TRUMP: Yes, how did you do?
WALLACE: It's not the -- well, it's not the hardest test.
TRUMP: No, but the last --
WALLACE: And it's in the picture and it says, "What's that" and it's an elephant.
TRUMP: No, no, you see, that's all misrepresentation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ACOSTA: As for the president he posted an unusual tweet, at least for him, all of a sudden the president is now encouraging mask use, something
his advisers have been urging him to do for weeks. It is quite the reversal for the president, who once mocked Joe Biden for wearing a mask back in May
-- Jim Acosta, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Right. Stay with us here on CONNECT THE WORLD. In the next hour, we explore reports, some of Moscow's elite have been given early access to
a COVID-19 trial vaccine. This as the science world races to find a solution, by Christmas possibly. The second hour of CONNECT THE WORLD in
just a moment.
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