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Trump's Video Removed over Misinformation; Trump Defends Speech from White House; Trump Backs Some Mail-in Voting; Information on Beirut Explosion; Trump Extends National Guard Payments; Trump Slams NBA. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired August 06, 2020 - 06:30   ET

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


[06:30:00]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Did where he said that children were immune to coronavirus. It's interesting that this is where FaceBook jumped in.

MAGGIE HABERMAN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: So, John, there were two warning shots fired by social media companies yesterday over something the president said on Fox News about children being quote/unquote almost immune to the coronavirus, which isn't true. FaceBook took down this post, which had a video of the interview and of the comment. And then Twitter briefly froze the president's re-election campaign's account. There was some misinformation last night that it was actually his account. It was not his account. It would be a huge deal if they had done that.

But this was, I would say, trying to fire some kind of warning shot at him to let him and his campaign know that they are moving in that direction. Whether we will see this a lot, I would imagine it's something that these companies are going to do fairly judiciously, but it is one of the few times that you have seen this company applying rules that they do sometimes apply to others to anything related to the president and what he says.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: We have been just watching in extreme fashion the president spinning the coronavirus to seem much more positive, much more rosy a picture than what medical experts tell us.

And is that, Maggie, just his style? Is it, as CNN reported yesterday, that he doesn't sort of intellectually grasp when he's briefed how bad the death toll is? Is this just his ongoing state of denial? What's going on there?

HABERMAN: Yes, I -- I have reporting, Alisyn, that is similar, that this is something that he intellectually doesn't get. The numbers just are what they are. But I don't think that he has any kind of a personal attachment to it beyond talking periodically with friends he known who have had it. He has been pretty annoyed when people within the White House have tested positive for the coronavirus. In one case, somebody who -- who served him his food and who -- he had no mask on when they -- when -- right before the person learned they were sick. I do think that this is what he does, generally speaking, with any

news that he considers to be unfavorable. He spins it positively. He tries to tell people that they are seeing something different often than -- than what they actually are. And -- and I think that that is how he is going to maintain this going into the fall. I think he is banking on the idea that there is going to be a shift in what people are talking about, that things will not remain frozen in time. That between what happens with schools and whether the economy starts getting better, that that will be better for him.

And also, look, he knows that this is not an area where he is doing well in terms of the coronavirus, at least in terms of the polling. The polling is universally condemnatory of how he has performed. So it's very in keeping with what he always does, which is to suggest therefore it's not that bad.

BERMAN: So, Maggie, the president floated yesterday that he would give his acceptance speech for the Republican nomination at the White House. And he said it again yesterday at the White House briefing, he'll probably do it.

How serious is he about this? What preparations have they made? What are the other possibilities?

HABERMAN: So it's pretty serious, John. I mean they've been looking at this in a real way for several days now, whether it would be, you know, the South Lawn or whether it would be one of the rooms inside the White House. The one area they seem to be suggesting is cordoned off in terms of used for this would be the Oval Office, and they're trying to suggest the other rooms would be OK. That's never a distinction, obviously, that anyone has made before.

I think that people can understand. And there are a number of really decisions about who will give speeches where that are being discussed. One possible use, I've heard, is the Nolan (ph) Auditorium in Washington possibly for a speech by the first lady or somebody else. And they plan on having a couple of hours of programming a night.

This was -- this is the most distilled example we've had of just how the president has completely blurred the line between politics and the presidency. And he is not subject to The Hatch Act, as he reminded us again yesterday. But if he does go ahead with this, he is essentially ordering other people to violate The Hatch Act.

CAMEROTA: Right. They would have to -- I mean, to your point, there would have to be teleprompters set up.

HABERMAN: Right.

CAMEROTA: There would have to be support staff. And so they would be violating The Hatch Act.

And is there some awareness inside the White House that that would be a no-go zone for some people or is this going to happen?

HABERMAN: No, it's hard -- I have not heard anybody raising huge concerns about it. There have -- there have been discussions also about having some aspects of this at the Trump Hotel in Washington. Some folks are -- are not in harmony about doing that. But, look, you know, there's not been an enormous sense of alarm about what might happen if he stays at the White House because people have decided -- I think two reasons, Alisyn. I think one is that they are all just sort of plowing ahead, looking toward November and they're going to figure it out, you know, if he -- if he wins or if he loses. But I also think that this president's been inching towards this for so long, with giving such overtly political statements from the White House in a way we really just haven't seen with the president that I think that they -- they don't have a huge sense that this is a potential mistake.

[06:35:05]

BERMAN: He's also talking about the money that would be saved by doing it at the White House for the Trump Campaign. That's who would save the money is the campaign.

HABERMAN: Right.

BERMAN: And he makes this seems like it's the taxpayers.

HABERMAN: He argues --

BERMAN: Yes.

HABERMAN: He argues, therefore, it would be -- you know, we wouldn't have to -- it costs security -- a huge amount of security to the country every time I move around.

But to your point, those kind of costs are supposed to be reimbursed. So --

BERMAN: Maggie, voting by mail. I have been struck over the last 48 hours, the president has been making this argument for some time, but it has shifted and he has said the quiet part out loud, that voting by mail is OK in Florida and Arizona because he says they have Republican governors. And yet he noted, among other things, that Nevada, the reason that they shouldn't be able to do it is because they have a Democratic governor. It's astounding to me the extent to which he just says it, he admits to it, that that is one of the dividing lines.

HABERMAN: Right. Look, I mean, it -- what -- what his advisers have said (INAUDIBLE) -- hoped he would say (ph), in a state like Florida, they've spent -- he did do some of this yesterday, but they've spent years dealing with absentee voting and therefore they have worked out the kinks. And then he points to a place like New York, where there was recently a congressional election and that the board of elections really struggled with in terms of mail-in ballots. It's just very different. And I do -- and it's not -- there was not widespread fraud, as he keeps saying, in New York.

But you're right, he has been just very, very sort of stage directions out loud saying that he thinks the Democratic governors will do something poorly. Look, we know, John, that he does not view any decisions as devoid of politics or does not treats them that way and he treats everything as an up/down referendum on himself. But what he's doing when he says this stuff is, first of all, potential depressing his own vote share because if he tells Republicans they can't deal with voting by mail, that that's going to be unsafe, I think that's why you've seen a course correction in what he's saying about Florida. He's potential hurting himself and other Republicans.

But I also just think that what he's doing is sewing enormous distrust in the integrity of the election. And I understand that there will likely be a number of factors heading into the election that should do that. But the words of a president should matter and what he says on this is hugely undermining to the system.

CAMEROTA: Maggie Haberman, great to talk to you. Thanks so much for all the reporting.

HABERMAN: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: The government in Lebanon has declared Beirut a disaster city as the death toll rises from that catastrophic explosion. We have a live report with some new images from the scene for you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:41:26]

CAMEROTA: Breaking overnight, 137 people now confirmed dead in that Beirut blast. And new questions about the tons of fertilizer that sat in a warehouse for years, fueling this explosion. The blast, as you can see from these new satellite images, left a crater more than 400 feet wide.

Senior international correspondent Arwa Damon joins us now live from Beirut.

Arwa, what have you learned?

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is just so utterly heartbreaking, Alisyn. This explosion ripped at the very soul of the city. It devastated its residents and left them wondering, what is going to be happening next?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAMON (voice over): Nothing prepared them for this. Three thousand tons of ammonium nitrate exploding, sending a shock wave so strong, so vast, many who survived say they thought doomsday had arrived.

Prayers were lost to fear and chaos. Life's iconic moments swept away in an instant. And in its aftermath, an apocalyptic wasteland. The destruction on such a scale many here cannot even find the words to express the depth of their emotions.

With more than 135 dead, 5,000 wounded, and dozens of others still missing. There is shock, horror, and deep sorrow, coupled with anger and demands for answers. How is it that such a massive amount of dangerous, explosive material, confiscated in 2014, was stored in an unsecured warehouse, despite multiple warnings from the head of customs? The Lebanese government said that many port officials will be put under house arrest and --

MICHEL AOUN, LEBANESE PRESIDENT (through translator): And to hold accountable those responsible and inflict on them the most severe punishment.

DAMON: But there's little faith in this country's rulers. In a nation where corruption dominates and the people suffer at the hands of the political elite. U.S. President Trump offered his condolences, floating the idea this may not have been an accident, but offering no proof.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It looks like a terrible attack.

DAMON: And then his own secretary of defense refuted that claim.

MARK ESPER, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: Most believe it's - it was an accident as reported. Beyond that, I have nothing further to report on that. It's -- it's obviously a tragedy.

DAMON: It is a tragedy. The largest in a chain of many, a failing economy, the spread of Covid-19, that have crippled this nation.

Three hundred thousand people have been displaced. Damages are estimated to range from $10 billion to $15 billion.

How do you recover from something like this? Physically, emotionally, or as a nation?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DAMON: And, Alisyn, what we're seeing right now in the destroyed parts of the city and its streets is not people turning towards the government for support or the government institutions, but rather towards each other. You have so many volunteers who are out there with their shovels digging through the rubble, helping others clean up, providing food and trying to figure out where to shelter all of those who were displaced and providing basic medical aid, as well.

CAMEROTA: Arwa, all of those cell phone videos or home videos of the moment where it happened, just capturing people in their daily lives, or their peak experiences, that bride, that is just so remarkable to see how their -- their whole life turned in that instant.

[06:45:13]

Thank you very much for all of the reporting. We'll check back with you.

CAMEROTA: So, President Trump back here appears to be playing favorites with which states will get federal coronavirus support. Guess which states he likes best? New reporting, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BERMAN: So, new this morning, CNN has learned that President Trump agreed to keep paying for National Guard troops deployed to help with the coronavirus response in just two states, Texas and Florida. Why those two states?

CNN's Ryan Browne at the Pentagon with the details.

Ryan, you helped break this story. What's going on here?

RYAN BROWNE, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Well, John, it's an interesting turn of events. Basically, President Trump and the White House had agreed to cover 75 percent of the costs for all these National Guards across the United States. Now, these guard forces have been helping with things like coronavirus testing, food supply, logistics, a lot of different tasks that are under the control of their state governors and they've been insisting.

[06:50:07]

Now they'd only agreed to pay for 75 percent of the costs. Since March, they've been paying the entire bill. This is million and millions of dollars that these states that have been hard hit by the coronavirus really couldn't afford to pay. They've decided to only pay for 75 percent, but a direct appeal made by the governors of Florida and Texas to President Trump convinced him to actually pick up the full tab, the full 100 percent for those two states.

Now, both Florida and Texas have been particularly hard hit by the coronavirus. Hundreds of thousands of cases. But other states, like California and Arizona, which have been similarly hard hit by the pandemic, will not be receiving that full reimbursement for their National Guard forces.

So, again, it just shows -- officials telling us that President Trump was swayed by this direct appeal by his two close political allies there, the governors of Florida and Texas. So, again, this is already drawing opposition from Democrats, leaders of Democrat states who wanted that full funding statement issued by the executive director of the Democratic Governors Association called it a disgrace, saying with American lives at risk, the president is continuing to manipulate our nation's pandemic response to benefit his own political fortunes. The National Guard deployments are the latest development in the partisan games the president has played with states seeking critical supplies and aid.

So, you know, very strong criticism from the Democrats over the White House's decision to only fund 75 percent of these National Guard deployments in those states, while fully funding Florida and Texas, two close allies of the president.

Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: I mean, Ryan, as you've pointed out, part of that critical aid is that the National Guard is helping food banks get food to desperate people. So it seems like all the states could use that help.

So, thank you very much for breaking all of that news with us.

BROWNE: You bet.

CAMEROTA: Well, "The New York Times" reports that prosecutors have subpoenaed President Trump's primary bank lender as part of a criminal investigation into his business practices. Sources tell "The Times" that Deutsche Bank was subpoenaed last year and complied. The bank reportedly provided the Manhattan D.A.'s office with financial statements, records, and other materials. The Supreme Court ruled last month in favor of prosecutors who are looking to get the president's personal and corporate tax returns.

BERMAN: FBI agents serving a federal search warrant on the California home of YouTube star Jake Paul. Video shows officers carrying out several large firearms. The bureau says the search is part of an ongoing investigation. Police in Scottsdale, Arizona, dismissed local charges against Paul stemming from looting at an Arizona mall in May. They say it is so the FBI can complete its investigation. Paul has denied he engaged in looting or vandalism.

CAMEROTA: Well, President Trump says he's done watching NBA games if players kneel during the national anthem. And the biggest name in the game says he's cool with that.

Andy Scholes has more in this morning's "Bleacher Report."

Hi, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, Alisyn.

So in a recent Fox interview, President Trump says he thinks NBA players kneeling is disgraceful, not acceptable, and he turns the games off when he sees that. Well, after last night's Lakers game, LeBron James was asked about those comments from President Trump and LeBron says he doesn't think anyone in the basketball community is sad about losing President Trump's viewership. And LeBron then encouraged everyone who was fighting for change to vote this November.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEBRON JAMES, LOS ANGELES LAKERS FORWARD: I hope everyone, you know, no matter the race, no matter the color, no matter the size, what it -- see what leadership that we have, you know, at the top in our country and understand that November is right around the corner and it's a -- and it's a big moment for us as Americans. If we continue to talk about we want, you know, better -- more change, we have an opportunity to do that. So -- but the game is -- the game will go on without -- without his eyes on it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: All right. Major League Baseball, meanwhile, sending out a new memo obtained by CNN outlining several strict changes to its health and safety protocols. Among the changes, players and staff are being told to wear face coverings at all times, including in the dugout and clubhouse. The only exception is the players on the field. Clubs are now required to reduce the size of their traveling parties to only those who are absolutely essential to playing games. And players and staff are strictly prohibited from gathering in my public areas without permission from the team's compliance officer. Repeated or flagrant violations of these new protocols could lead to a suspension for the remainder of the season.

Alisyn, baseball clearly trying to prevent any further outbreaks like we saw with the Marlins and Cardinals.

[06:55:03]

CAMEROTA: OK, Andy, thank you very much.

So Dr. Anthony Fauci warns the coronavirus may never be eradicated. What does that mean for our daily lives? Dr. Fauci joins us live, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The virus is winning and the American people are losing.

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NIAID: As long as you have any member of society not seriously trying to get to the end game of suppressing this, it will continue to smolder and smolder and smolder.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The coronavirus teaching us a terrible lesson as some schools begin filling with students.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'd like to see the schools open. I think many of the schools, most of the schools will be open.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I can't say that I approve of them going back to school without the numbers going down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Alisyn Camerota and John Berman.

[07:00:00]

BERMAN: Welcome to our viewers in the United States and all around the world. This is NEW DAY.

And developing this morning, a new warning from the White House Coronavirus Task Force coordinator, Dr. Deborah.

END