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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees
House Speaker Ryan "Not Ready" To Support Trump; Trump Campaign Announces National Finance Chairman; Who Will Trump Pick For VP?; New Video Of Battle That Killed Navy SEAL; Thousands Flee Wildfire; Inferno Spurs Mass Evacuations; New Video Of Deadly Battle In Iraq. Aired 9-10p ET
Aired May 05, 2016 - 21:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[21:00:58] ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to the second hour based in "360" on a night and a Republican presidential campaign that shows what Donald Trump is really up against within his own party, one by one, against all odds, and against the protest of pundits and wide thoughts of the American public allied Donald Trump knocked out his competitors.
That competition is over. He is the presumptive Republican nominee. Or much like the reality showed Trump used to host when one challenge ends since the next one begins, he challenge now to unite the party and its looks like it's going to be an uphill battle and that might be an under statement of the year.
Today, House Speaker Paul Ryan who as you know, is also the chairman of the Republican National Convention rocked the political landscape when he said he cannot support Trump, at least not right now.
Trump spoken the event (ph) in West Virginia tonight, he didn't mention Ryan. He did do whoever, he spent about 15 minutes going after Hillary Clinton. Tonight we're going to air Jake Tapper's entire interview with Speaker Ryan so you can hear it for yourself it begins with the big question.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: You have said throughout this process that you will support the Republican presidential nominee, now you have a presumptive nominee, Donald Trump, will you support him?
REP. PAUL RYAN, HOUSE SPEAKER HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: Well, to be perfectly candid with you Jake, I'm just not ready do that at this point. I'm not there right now. And I hope to though and I want to, but I think what is required is that we unify this party.
And I think the bulk of the burden on unifying the party will have to come from our presumptive nominee. I don't want to underplay what he accomplished. He needs be speaking congratulated for enormous accomplishment, for winning not only plurality delegates and his own his way to winning a majority of delegates.
But he also inherit something very special, now that's very especial to a lot of us, this is the party of Lincoln, of Reagan, of Jack Kemp and we don't know who's nominate a Lincoln and Reagan every four years, but we hope that our nominee as far to be linking to Reaganesque, to that person advances the principles of our party and appeals to a wide vast majority of Americans.
And so I think what is necessary to make it work, for this to unify is to actually take our principles and advance them and that's what we want to see. Saying we're unified doesn't in and of itself unify us but actually taking the principles that we all believe in, showing that their is a dedication of those and running a principal campaign that Republicans can be proud about and that can actually appeal to a majority of Americans. That to me is what it takes to unify this party.
TAPPER: So you're saying you can't, you can't support or endorse him right now?
RYAN: Yeah, I am basically saying that. Look, I'm that's, you know, I thought about this two days ago. I thought actually this segments was going to go to June 7 at the very least, probably to a convention, and so this is all pretty new for us.
But at this point I think that he needs to do more to unify this party, to bring all wings of the Republican Party together, and then to go forward and to appeal to all Americans in every walk of life, every background, a majority of independents and discerning Democrats.
And so, you know, I think, conservatives want to know, does he share our values and our principles on limited government, the properly role of the executive adherence to the constitution. There are lots of questions that conservatives I think are going to want answers too, myself included.
And I want to be part of this unifying process. I want to help unify this party but we have to unify I think for us to be successful, first I have a campaign that Republicans are proud of going forward that is unifiable, and that actually can go in appeal to a vast majority of Americans.
TAPPER: Well, Mr. Speaker, you casting this in characteristically optimistic and positive terms, and I would expect no less from you. But what you're saying is a fairly dramatic announcement that Speaker of the House cannot as of now support his party's nominee for president. Is there something specific that he has done or said that has brought you to this moment?
RYAN: Well, like I said, I hope to support our nominee, I hope to support his candidacy fully, and I want to do that but right now, just I going to tell you Jake, just being candid with you, at this point I'm just not there right now.
[21:05:10] And it's because I think a part of the last campaign. I don't want to go back and roll the tape. Look, I was pretty clear and I was outspoken in the number of occasions where I think that he did the wrong thing or said the wrong thing, and I'll do that in the future of maybe I hope its not necessary, but I think what a lot of Republicans want to see is that we have a standard bearer that bears our standards and that unifies all the wings of the Republican Party which we all come from different wings of a party.
But we all agree in common platform of conservative principles. We want somebody who takes these conservative principles, applies into the problems and offer solutions to the country that a vast majority of Americans can vote for that they want to be enthusiastic about. That is what I think it takes to unify the party, that I think there's work that needs to be done in order to unify the party. I think our nominee, our presumptive nominee needs to do that. I want to be part of helping him do that, but right now, no. I think that, you know, there's some work to do here.
Let me say at this way. Republicans have been watching each other go after each other six months. Democrats doing the same because we had a primary, a bitter primary process. And, I think we sometimes forget just how successful we have been. We have the biggest House majority since 1928. We have 54 Republican Senate seats, we have state legislative majority and governorships that we haven't seen in years, in decades.
And, so we've done extremely well. Our party is having enjoying success because we unified around common conservative principles. And, we have one more hill to climb, one more mountain top. That's the presidency. So, please note that we think the stakes are extremely high. They are the highest they have been ...
TAPPER: Right.
RYAN: ... the Supreme Court, Congress, the future of America in on the line. And no Republican should ever think about supporting Hillary Clinton.
Let me make that clear. But for us to be a successful party, to climb that final hill and win the presidency, we will need a standard bearer that can unify all Republicans, all conservatives, all wings of our party and then go to the country with an appealing agenda that can be appealing to independents and disaffected Democrats. And we have work to do on this front. And I think the nominee has to lead in that effort.
TAPPER: As you know, Mitt Romney, John McCain, George W. Bush, George H. W. Bush, all of them Republican presidential nominees or presidents have said they're not going to go to the convention in Cleveland, in fact I want to get your view, watch this clip of your former running mate Mitt Romney talking Donald Trump earlier this year.
MITT ROMNEY, (R) FORMER PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Think of Donald Trump's personal qualities. The bullying, the greed, the showing off. The misogyny, the absurd third grade theatrics. Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud. His promises were as worthless as a degree from Trump University. He is playing the members of the American public for suckers. He gets a free ride to the White House and all we get is a lousy hat.
TAPPER: Do u share Governor Romney's views Trump is a phony, a bully and a fraud?
RYAN: Look, here is what I think, Jake. And I think you're going to see tapes like that run all fall. The question is can our presumptive nominee turn things around, unify and have a different kind of (inaudible) going forward. The way I look at this, Jake is, it's time to go from tapping into anger to channeling that anger in solutions.
Its time to set aside bullying, to set aside belittlement and appeal to higher aspirations appeal to what is good in us and it lead a country and a party to having a vast majority of Americans enthusiastic about choosing a path. That's why I just feel so strongly about the chance and choice and opportunity we have in front of us. But for this to work, our presumptive nominee I believe it needs to unify the party for the party to be unified. And I want in top to do that ...
TAPPER: I think it is possible? Do you think it's possible?
RYAN: No. Jake, we're not there right now. We're not there now. Yeah. I think it's possible but we're not there right now. And I t think it is possible and we better get on with it. But I think we just need to be honest with each other about these things. And, look I think, yeah I think can we can beat Hillary Clinton, are you kidding me, so yes, it is possible and it needs to be possible because so much is at stake.
TAPPER: So you don't think the damage is done?
RYAN: And I think the nominee has a bit of work to do.
(CROSSTALK)
TAPPER: You don't think that so much damage has been done that it's almost as if is a lost cause. Because it seems to me from hearing people like Mitt Romney, hearing Ted Cruz the other day call Donald Trump a pathological liar on the eve of Donald Trump winning it all. Donald Trump was attacking his father and suggesting that Rafael Cruz might have played a role in the Kennedy assassination. It doesn't seem like there are going to be -- it's going to be possible to build that many bridges. You disagree?
RYAN: I am familiar with points you're making. That is why among other reasons, basically as a conservative, I want to see verification that our conservative principles will be championed, will be run on, will be represented, and will be brought to the public and the country in a way that's appealing for us to be successful.
[21:10:16] So, like I said, we're not there yet. But yet, I mean look, this man is going to get the nomination because he earned it, he deserved it, he won the vote. And more importantly, I think most of us need to learn a few lessons here. I think there's a bit of humility that each of us need, especially leaders in Congress which is, he tapped into something in this country that was very powerful. And the people are sending a message to Washington that we need to learn from and listen to.
But at the same time, now that we have a presumptive nominee who was going to be our standard bearer, I think it's very important that there's a demonstration that our standards will be beared. I mean, that he would advance our appreciation for limited government, for the constitution, for the proper role of the executive, for the principles that not only built our party, but build this country. And how we're going to apply those principles to offer solutions and run a campaign that Republicans could be proud of and run a campaign that Americans could be proud of.
And yet, you're looking back on a primary campaign, I think there are instances and episodes that questioned that as why. All right, at this point I'm not ready to jump in, but I hope we can get there and that's my goal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: It's an incredible interview. More of Jake Tapper's comments with speaker Ryan in just a moment. They get more into whether there's anything Donald Trump can do to win Ryan's support.
Coming up next, you'll hear how he answers this crucial question.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TAPPER: What are the odds that he's going to be able to become the candidate you want him to be?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[21:15:08] COOPER: Welcome Back. More now of Jake Tapper's interview with House Speaker Paul Ryan who says he's not ready to support Donald Trump in presumptive Republican nominee. In a statement Trump responded like he usually does, throwing it back to the speaker and essentially saying well, I'm not going to support your agenda either. Trump did not mention Ryan during in his speech he gave in West Virginia a short time ago. He did attack Hillary Clinton. Here's more with the Ryan interview.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TAPPER: You will be gaveling in the convention as a Speaker of the House. If he hasn't become this Reaganist, Clintonist, Jack Kempist, nominee that you need him to be, that you want him to be, in order for you to say that you support him, what are you going to do? Can you manage the convention if you haven't yet decided that you can support him?
RYAN: Look, I'm just a guy giving you my peace of mind. I'm a lifelong conservative who feels passionate about these principles and how they're necessary to save our country gets on the right track. We are on the wrong track as a country. Now we stayed on his road much further with Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders, it's going to be ugly for this country. And so I desperately want to see us unify on principles, in ideas, in policies, in agenda, and win the hearts and the minds of the vast majority of Americans and speak to everybody. And I am hoping that that's where this goes, but I don't know that that's where it's going to go.
As the chair of the convention which is something as part of my duty as Speaker of the House, I will be the chair of the convention. I'll gavel the convention in and I'm hoping by then that this will be a unified party. But, I think a lot of the burden is on the presumptive nominee to do that. And so we'll see. That's all I've got for you.
TAPPER: But doesn't he have to completely revoke in order to become the man that can unite behind the principles and the policies that you support. Doesn't he completely have to say that he doesn't support the deportation of 12 million undocumented immigrants because you disagree with that, that he doesn't support ...
RYAN: No. No, I'm not saying that at all.
TAPPER: He doesn't support banning all Muslims from entering the United States because you don't support that?
RYAN: Well obvious -- look, who am I? Look, I'm not saying he's going to ...
TAPPER: You're Speaker of the House.
(CROSSTALK)
RYAN: He won fair and square on his policies. And yes, he comes from a different wing of the party than what I do. But I got to tell you one thing Jake, if we don't unify all the wings of the party we're not going to win this election. So the question is, what can you do to unify all the wings of the party to go forward? And yes we're going to have policy disagreements and on the Muslim of that, I spoke out fortunately on that.
And if things like that continue and I feel the need out of conscious to speak out, I'll do that. I hope it doesn't come to that. But the point I'm trying to make here Jake is, you know, you have to unify all wings of their Republican Party in a conservative movement and then take it to the country so that America, the vast majority of Americans, non-Republicans also have something that they're proud to support and that we're proud to be part of. And we got a ways to go from here to there and that's the point I'm trying to make.
So of course you're going to have policy disagreements. You always have policy disagreements. Had Mitt Romney and I had policy disagreements. So that's just natural and it is too much to ask someone to change their policy views that they're duly elected on in some policy dispute. But, are we putting our policies based upon the principles that all conservatives and all Republicans share? You know, Limited government, the constitution, the right role for the executive both with the ability. TAPPER: But that's what I meant. I wasn't just ...
(CROSSTALK)
RYAN: Those are the things that we all believe in and want to make sure our standard bearer bears those standards. That our standard bearer as champions those if you want to see a unified party and that's the point I'm trying to make ...
TAPPER: Right.
RYAN: ... which is, I think for this to be successful, the party needs to be unified and I think he's got some work to do and I'm happy to help him do that.
TAPPER: I sighted those two things now because I didn't think that you had rebuked him on the Muslim ban, the temporary ban he proposed. But because they seemed to go against in your view, the principles of the Republican Party in terms of religious liberty, in terms of free trade, in terms of deporting 12 million undocumented workers. But, that's what I meant. Like those are principles, it's not just policy disagreement. Those are principle disagreements you have with them.
RYAN: We got work to do.
TAPPER: David Brock wrote this in the "New York Times" of a Trump domination quote. "This is a Joe McCarthy moment. People will be judged by where they stood at this time. Those who walked with Trump will be tainted forever after for the degradation of standards and the general election slaughter." Do you see it that way?
RYAN: I don't -- I'm not looking at it like that. I don't think its right to think about 2017 and beyond. I'm focused on 2016 because I want 2016 in Congress to be successful on where we have to be tackled the country's big challenges and get the country back on track.
I am focused on the here and the now, not the tomorrow. And just quite frankly as a conservative, as a lifelong conservative who shared these values all my life. I want to see our party unify and I loved to see our standard bearer celebrate the principles of our party, apply them to problems, appeal to all Americans, and run a principles solutions based campaign that we all going to be proud of.
[21:20:03] And I do believe there is work that needs to be done for that to happen. That's the point I'm trying to make and I'm not worried about what's after this election. This election right now is the one we need to focus on.
TAPPER: And just to be clear sir and I hate to be that guy. I know you hate it when we ask this question, your still ruling out.
RYAN: Yes, you asked it like three times.
TAPPER: No, no, this one, just to be clear. You're still ruling out in any way you accepting any sort nomination of your party.
RYAN: Oh, yeah.
TAPPER: OK, just want to make sure of that. And then lastly, sir, just I guess the question is, what are the odds that he is going to be able to become the candidate you want him to be? You have a lot of work to be done, but quite frankly I've been covering him, I've covered you. Is this chasm bridgeable?
RYAN: I think it it's possible, but this isn't, look, don't say this is about me. This is about we the Republican Party, we the conservatives who want a standard bearer who's going to represent all of the full spectrum of conservatism and unify all factions of the party, but no just that Republicans can be part of and Americans can be part of, that can compete for the vast majority of Americans so that it can win the election. Like I said we've been very successful as Republicans.
One more big job ahead of us. And there's no less than Supreme Court Congress and the future of America at stake. And so for this to be successful, the party needs to be unified. And then we have to go out and win converts. And we have to do it in a way that appeals that's enthusiastic. I believe that can be done, but right now that's not where we are and that's where we need to get to.
TAPPER: How worried are you about Trump dragging down Republicans running for re-election in the Senate and the House?
RYAN: I just don't know -- one thing I think you can predict this year, it is going to be unpredictable. So I just don't think you can draw a parallels or make projections at this point. So, I just think you always run like everything is on the line. My focus this fall is -- has been and will be the House majority. That is primarily my responsibility and what I'm focused on. But I also really love this country, and I want to see us win this election so that we can fix these country's problems.
TAPPER: And lastly sir, Mr. Trump said back in March that if you, he was talking, and you don't get along with him, you'll, "have to pay a big price." Are you worried?
RYAN: No, I am not worried about that.
TAPPER: All right, House Speaker Paul Ryan, thank you so much for your time. Sir, it's always a pleasure to see you.
RYAN: You bet Jake, have a good one. Take care.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: The headline making interview today. Just a head and more about Trumps reaction to the House speaker, also reaction from other Republican.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[21:26:27] COOPER: Talking about the latest earthquake to rock the GOP, Paul Ryan, the Speaker of the House, the man who will preside over the Republican National Convention told our Jake Tapper just a few hours ago that he's not ready to support presumptive nominee Donald Trump.
Mr. Trump fired back saying to statements, saying and quote, "I am not ready to support Speaker Ryan's agenda. Perhaps in the future we can work together and come to an agreement about what is best for the American people. They have been treated so badly for so long and it's about time for politicians to put them first!"
So, now, how, I guess is the question, how is the rest of GOP react to all of this? Joining me is chief political analyst, Gloria Borger, what people talking about, what are your sources saying about this announcement by Ryan?
GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: First of all, they thought it was stunning. And there isn't one Republican I've spoken who didn't believe that this was heart felt coming from Paul Ryan. They didn't think it was some kind of political move for his own future high office. And they also said, look, he gave some moderate Republicans political cover if they need it, they can say, you know, I'm going to support the Republican nominee but I believe in Paul Ryan's agenda. They're really worried though at the same time, Anderson, like how do you put humpty dumpy back together again.
I have one Republican say to me, where does this end? I don't see how Paul Ryan and Donald Trump ever really get on the same page when it comes for a sort of a unified vision about what the Republican Party should be all about.
COOPER: One thing was interesting, we watched that interview again, we notice that for 16 minutes the full length of the interview Ryan never want to says name Donald Trump, he says standard bearer. He, but never his name, what does that tell you, does that tell you anything?
BORGER: Well, it's a little bit of denial maybe. It's also not wanting I think to make it really personal. I think Paul Ryan wanted this to be more about his vision rather than the person of Donald Trump, but I'll tell you something else, Anderson. Here is what I've noticed.
In hearing Republicans these days talk about their support, they say, lots of them, I will support the Republican presidential nominee and they stop short of saying, I endorse Donald Trump because in some weird way, some Republicans think there's a difference even though Donald Trump is, of course, the Republican nominee. They just haven't gotten their arms around it yet.
COOPER: Is there still, I mean, are you hearing any talk about the possibility of a third party candidate?
BORGER: Yeah, I still am. And, you know, I spoke with folks today who were part of that movement. They believe that Ryan may help them to a certain degree. But here's the big problem. They don't have a person who's going to run.
COOPER: Right.
BORGER: I mean, they all thought it might be Rick Perry until Dana Bash reported tonight that Rick Perry not only is going to endorse Donald Trump but he wouldn't mind being picked as his vice president. He told Dana he wouldn't say no to that. So, they're kind of scratching their heads looking for someone who's willing to run and haven't found anyone.
COOPER: Gloria Borger, passing new day, thank you a lot to discuss ...
BORGER: Yeah.
COOPER: ... with our panel.
BORGER: Thanks.
COOPER: Mike Preston joins us, he's the executive editor of CNN politics. I don't understand, though, how Donald Trump can change to Paul Ryan's liking. I mean, he's talking about supporting the ideas of limited government. I mean, many of Donald Trump's ideas are not traditional Republican ideas.
MARK PRESTON, EXECUTIVE EDITOR CNN POLITICS: No, they're not. And here's something I think Donald Trump missed today. He had an opportunity today to look presidential which is something that a lot of people have been wondering if he would do it.
[21:30:02] Paul Ryan comes out and directly delivers, you know, his idea of what Donald Trump should be. Donald Trump could have turned that around and said, I agree with Paul Ryan, we do need to unify the party, we do need to bring it back together. I might not agree with everything Paul Ryan agrees with, but there's enough there for us to bring the party together. I need Paul Ryan's help. Had he done that, he would have served that ball back in the Paul Ryan's court then Paul Ryan would have then had to help Donald Trump trying to bring the party together. Now it looks like we're at war.
COOPER: Kayleigh, I mean , as a Trump supporter, do you see, I mean essentially the things that Paul Ryan seems to want Donald Trump to say publicly or not Donald Trump's positions?
KAYLEIGH MCENANY, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: That's exactly right. And it would have been against his brand to do what Mark is suggesting, because people like Donald Trump because he exhibits strength and if he were to come out in against a situation where you have something unprecedented, and the Speaker of the House coming out against the nominee, and cow tow to that, and exhibit weakness issues, it wouldn't make much sense.
And you know, I would like to point out with toward Speaker Ryan, McCain had many points, that where in unethical (ph), the conservative view, he opposed the Bush Tax Cuts, he was for happen trade, these are very much not a part of the conservative agenda but he was still on board. Mitt Romney had the blueprint in for ObamaCare in Massachusetts, but Paul Ryan in conservative were still on board. So this is not only unprecedented, it's nonsensical and people are saying this is about defending conservative values. It's not bad, that's a cover, that's a front for the Never Trump movement because that truly what it where about, they would have been against McCain, they would have been against Romney.
COOPER: Tara?
TARA SETMAYER, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: A lot of us were not happy with McCain or happy with Mitt Romney, but they were at least Republican enough for us. There's, there are a couple of issues we didn't agree with, but they were conservative Republicans on most other issues. So we weren't dealing with people here who offended, you know, immigrants and women and disabled veterans and all the list of things that Donald Trump has done and from the character side of thing, the integrity side of things. Mitt Romney and John McCain they didn't flip flop on every Republican, every issue and every single thing that were Democrat thing, so there's a difference thing for that.
COOPER: So Tara, OK, so if you agree with Paul Ryan, are there things Donald Trump could do to win you over just as he is probably needs to win Paul Ryan over? I mean, what sort of statements can he make or what can he do?
SETMAYER: Yeah, well, not for me because I think Donald Trump is completely dishonest, I don't think that he believes in anything. It was interesting in Kayleigh's defense of him, she said it would hurt his brand ...
COOPER: OK, well do you think ...
SETMAYER: ... not his principle, not what he believe.
COOPER: ... there's something he can do for Paul Ryan? I mean what's ...
SETMAYER: Yes, politically, I think Mark was exactly right, and Paul Ryan gave him kind of an opening to earn the vote of conservatives. That's what he needs to do.
COOPER: But how does -- what does he say?
SETMAYER: It's not about bullying people to into accepting him.
COOPER: And this is I believe in limited government, I mean it doesn't have to change fundamentally, some of his positions?
SETMAYER: Yeah, he would, this is why I don't think it's -- that's why I don't think it's necessarily possible because it would have to change who he is. He is a political chameleon but it would be pandering perhaps back to conservatives if you all have been decided no, I'm not going to think about the minimum wage, or no I'm not going to get rid of NATO or no I don't think we can use in ... MCENANY: So you call him.
SETMAYER: ... all of these things that's the problem here that because he has been so ...
(CROSSTALK)
SETMAYER: ... on so many thing.
RICK LAZIO, FORMER NEW YORK CONGRESSMAN: Like I say, in talking to people, that active Republicans, big donors, been involved in a number of different cycles, many of them, men in particular more than women by the way are looking for a reason to come over. Just trying to convince they were opposed to Trump, now they're just trying to convince themselves, it's maybe he's going to be OK, maybe he's got the secret formula.
The risk for Trump, I think is that he is, his game from here to the general election, is going to -- he is going to see as replay of what has been successful ...
COOPER: Right.
LAZIO: ... through the primaries, which is to control the debate, create controversy, dominate the media, and be able to force in this case now of Hillary Clinton to respond to his questions.
COOPER: Right, why would he change?
LAZIO: Well because first thing, he's got to do is to understand 50 plus one, so he does need to get that of those Republicans back in line is going to get them to the polls, he's got to make sure he's consolidates this base and he's got to go after the independents, which your right because Hillary Clinton is got 21 percent favorable among independents.
But he's got to do this in sort of a serial ways, is got a linear, I think path of victory if he can get it together. So far he is showing me he's stuck in that pattern and he's committed into emotionally to what he has done previously.
COOPER: And Errol, I mean do you see a path for Donald Trump to win Paul Ryan over?
ERROL LOUIS, NEWYORK POLITICAL ANCHOR: Yes, yes, I mean I think that to the extent it is possible, if you have Donald Trump sort of trying to make common cause. I mean look, one of the things that we know Paul Ryan is can be concerned about is his 30 seat margin in the House. I've heard some, you know, probably exaggerated fears among some Republican consultants saying we could lose the majority or we could really come close to losing it. I don't know if it's going to quite that far. But it is Paul Ryan's job to make sure that nothing even remotely like that happens.
If they can get that some kind of an agreement, and find some issues to campaign on that aren't going to hurt any of these marginal members, then Paul Ryan I think can come on board and they can run something that sort of resembles, some of the campaigns that we've seen in the past.
[21:35:07] SETMAYER: Just really quickly ...
MCENANY: But the challenge -- sorry.
SETMAYER: ... something else that the concern is what would like, is the Republican platform. You have to understand when we go into the convention, we have platform, that the Republican Party agrees upon before the convention that the standard barrier, the presumptive nominee is supposed to promote and agree to.
COOPER: Right.
SETMAYER: There's a myriad of things that Donald Trump has set and done. And has believe in spouse, that is completely antithetical to that, which is also something else that Paul Ryan and other conservatives are concerned moving forward.
COOPER: Right.
CHRISTINE QUINN, CLINTON SUPPORTER: And to get to that kind of a platform, in order to get, you know, Speaker Ryan, Donald Trump would have to do something that I think he is actually constitutionally incapable of doing, which is go in a room with somebody and close his mouth and listen and really hear them and try to reach a common ground that would be a win for both of them.
I think Donald Trump thinks you can only win by slaughtering the other person and that is not going to unify his party, which again, is good for my perspective.
COOPER: All right. Everyone, stay with us.
Coming up next, the beefsteaks, who Donald Trump may be eyeing as a running mate. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[21:40:04] COOPER: Big reversal announced today by Donald Trump's campaign now that he is the presumptive Republican nominee. He will no longer self fund a majority of his campaign, something he's talked about for months.
Mr. Trump is now building a fund raising operation and today named the Hedge Fund executive to run it. More key decisions are expected over the coming months, including his pick for a running mater.
Our Suzanne Malveaux has a look at the potential contenders.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The early read on Donald Trump's search for his VP is some combination of who he wants and who would even want to do it. DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm going to go the political route.
MALVEAUX: Some names he might be interested in are surfacing, Senator Rob Portman from the critical battleground state of Ohio, is seen as someone who could help Trump bridge the gap with the GOP establishment.
But, a spokesman tells CNN, Portman is not interested and focused on his Senate re-election bid.
TRUMP: Women want security. Women want strong military. They want to know that they are secure in our nation.
MALVEAUX: Among Trump's other early favorites, Governor Susana Martinez of New Mexico. She could help Trump improve his standing with voting blocks that polls show view him unfavorably, women and Hispanics.
But, like Portman, Martinez says she is incline to pass on the vice presidential spot. A Martinez spokesman telling CNN, the governor appreciates the spotlight on her state, but isn't interested.
Another female governor who may be considered, Mary Fallen of Oklahoma said she would be very honored if called to serve by Trump.
TRUMP: My foreign policy will always put the interests of the American people, and American security above all else has to be first, has to be.
MALVEAUX: If Trump is looking for national security credentials, Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, who's already advising Trump on foreign policy could fit the bill.
And what about a former Trump opponent?
TRUMP: When somebody says nasty, I never like them quite the same, but I will tell you, you look at somebody.
MALVEAUX: Like conservative Texas, Senator Ted Cruz.
TRUMP: Lying Ted, right. Lying Ted.
MALVEAUX: Key Endorser, New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie.
GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE, (R) NEW JERSEY: America first, Donald Trump is that man.
MALVEAUX: Or the self described grown-up in the room, Ohio Governor John Kasich.
TRUMP: I have never seen a human being eat in such a disgusting fashion.
MALVEAUX: Kasich says, he doesn't want the VP job, but Trump seems open to at least considering his former rival. TRUMP: I like John. I've had a good relationship with John. I've gotten along with him well. But, John, whether he's vice president or not, I think he'll be very, very helpful with Ohio.
MALVEAUX: Retired Neurosurgeon, Ben Carson is being considered to play a role in Trump's VP selection committee, but says he only wants to help from the outside of Trump's campaign.
TRUMP: To Dr. Ben Carson, special, special person, special man.
MALVEAUX: And even the current man a heartbeat away from the presidency is enjoying the speculation.
JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES: I'm anticipating, he'll ask me to be vice president.
MALVEAUX: Donald Trump's daughter, Ivanka will have a role in the VP selection process, a process Trump says, will conclude in July with his pick announced before the GOP convention in Cleveland.
Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Back with our panel. A lot to discuss. Kayleigh, I mean, we've heard from Donald Trump say somebody with experience on the hill, with experience on the Senate or with the House, who do you think?
MCENANY: I would like to see someone who stood on the stage with during the debates, who ran on the race, who didn't make it, who was part of this contentious back and forth, but nonetheless, comes around.
I love Marco Rubio. I would love to see him in that spot, if not him, there are many others, or he could go the other route and go with a Newt Gingrich, who obviously, knows the hill very well, he's very adept in legislative matters. He would be fantastic, Rick Scott, a bold conservative. There are many, many good contenders that he could pick.
COOPER: Tara, who would be?
SETMAYER: I would be heartbroken if Marco Rubio sold out and decided to go over to become VP with Trump.
But, I think for Donald Trump, he is probably going to go for someone that does have some experience to kind of calm people down, because since he has none, perhaps a general. Someone with military and foreign policy experience since he is scared a lot of us and some of his incoherent foreign policy things.
So, I think it will be interesting. But, who knows. I mean, what Donald Trump decides to do is something that, you know, only Donald Trump knows. I mean, if it's any indication who he's stopping himself with now, I'm not very encouraged with who his vice president going be. I mean, he named his national chairman today, finance chairman who was a Goldman Sachs, George Soros, Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer donator.
And, you know, back to analysis, acceptable as his finance chairman when he rails against Goldman Sachs. He went after Ted Cruz for the Goldman Sachs loan. So, that he swung the other side when it's convenient for him. So, who knows who was going to pick for vice president.
COOPER: A lot of times a vice president during a campaign, their role is kind of be the attack dog or Donald Trump certainly doesn't ...
LAZIO: He doesn't need that. Yeah.
[21:45:03] COOPER: That box's checked.
LAZIO: Yeah. He needs experience, needs somebody who understands the hill, who knows government, who's been around.
He couldn't do better than Senator Rob Portman from Ohio. Two cabinet level spots, he's widely respected in Washington served in the House with me and then in Senate. The issue though was his up for re- election and his heart really is with Ohio. But he is smart, he's a serious legislator, he understands the mechanics, his been a budget director, he would be a wonderful complement to Trump. Whether he would ever do it, I don't know it's also from the key state of Ohio which John Kasich also brings to the equation.
COOPER: Right, Mark? I mean.
PRESTON: So couple things one is somebody who he should pick who will not accept it is John Kasich from Ohio. There's absolutely no way the governor of Ohio will do this, 18 electoral votes on the table. John Kasich knows how to legislate one of the smartest guys who had ever work in Washington, and also is a CEO but to the congressman's point, he would be a fantastic pick. But for everybody here that knows John Kasich, honestly you probably know him better than anybody, John Kasich is a tough person to get along with.
Second person who is a possibility is Rick Perry now the governor of Texas -- former governor of Texas. He doesn't give him Texas Trump going to win Texas anyway but he gets him bona fide with conservatives and conceptually that I'd be talking about now.
COOPER: Well I think that Rick Perry came out early against Donald Trump I mean in a, you know, in very prepared speech, going after him on religious grounds.
PRESTON: Right and there's no such thing as short statement in politics. I will be your enemy today and guess we're going to best friends tomorrow and I think that's what we've seen you know with Rick Perry in just a last, you know, few hours of from Dana Bash conceptually though. Again and bad is saying this now for -- for six to eight months in general OK, a retired general that understands the line of command, that is loyal, that also knows how to legislate. Generals in the military have worked Washington they know how to legislate and they also give you foreign policy experience.
COOPER: Errol? Who do you see?
LOUIS: Interesting you know ...
COOPER: Or on the Democratic side frankly which is also this things, yeah.
LOUIS: Good luck with that. I mean there's another senator who is in a tough re-election battle, Pat Toomey in Pennsylvania. The possibility of putting Pennsylvania in play should be of interest to Donald Trump I mean, he is going to have a hard time getting the map to work for him. This is also somebody who has conservative bona fide, this is somebody who used to run the club for growth of the conservative movement is comfortable with him. And if somebody who has reached across the aisle he was in involve in some of the efforts to get some bipartisan legislation.
COOPER: We see on the Democratic side who is I asked Hillary Clinton this yesterday, and of course she gave the answer, which I kind of I should have sort of prefaced my question with that answer because I knew she would use that answer which is well of course to has to be somebody who's able to take the job as president.
QUINN: Right. Well first of all the Senate, the Trump side, I think it is noteworthy how many people have said flat out no, right and not even hedged bets which is kind of saying no, I don't want to be your vice president, no, I don't want to be considered for your administration which I think is a pretty bold statement to have so many ...
COOPER: All the play and people said while running afterward is a different.
QUINN: Yeah, but usually not at this level.
(CROSSTALK)
QUINN: Yeah they usually hedge it in a more political way. This folks were saying ...
COOPER: Who would you like to see Hillary Clinton you support? Who do you like to see her name?
QUINN: You know, I would like to see somebody obviously, I agree with her, you know, in experience who could be the president if God forbid that was necessary, obviously like to see or somebody who brings even more diversity to the ticket, somebody who represents, be great to have somebody who was a Latino or Latina, because I think that community is one of a largest in up and coming most critical part of the Democratic Party. I think that would be terrific. I also think it would be great to have somebody, you always want somebody from a key state that could be helpful. So strategically I think that would be good too, but I really hope she brings somebody who brings from a community, a younger person, particularly from another diverse community because this is going to be a historic ticket and the degree to which we can add to this moment in history in the representation and remind people that diversity makes government stronger is a good thing.
COOPER: I want to thank all our panelists tonight.
Just ahead, a new video showing the deadly battle that killed a navy SEAL in Iraq. Plus terrifying images from Alberta, Canada where a huge raging wildfire forest more than get this 88,000 people from their homes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[21:53:07] COOPER: Firefighters in Alberta Canada are working 24/7 to put out a mammoth fire that has burning for days destroying at least 1,600 structures. The evacuation has been orders 88,000 people (inaudible) flee a second time when the fire move toward an emergency shelter.
Now there's no word yet on the cause of the fire.
New details also about the tactic of Navy SEAL Charles Keating IV, he was 31 years old a decorated combat veteran on his third to war in Iraq. Keating was part of a force sent in too rescue group of U.S. military advisers after they came under attack by ISIS fighters. A video of the attack is surface it is difficult to watch also raises troubling questions.
Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr reports.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Gunshots ring out an American yells, as ISIS stages a surprise attack. A raging gun battle unfold in this video, exclusively obtained by the Guardian.
The blurred faces are U.S. navy SEAL alongside Kurdish Peshmerga forces in Northern Iraq. With no protection but there white SUVs this is the battle that would kill Navy SEAL Charles Keating.
Raising questions of whether the SEALS had access to all the intelligence they desperately needed, and to the extraordinary admission from the Pentagon Pres. Secretary.
SEC. ASH CARTER, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE: And the force is there, been able to see this attack coming, they would have responded differently to it perhaps this could have been avoid and that certainly something that they were looking at carefully.
STARR: The SEALS are not supposed to be in combat. They were there to visit advisers behind the front lines. Keating now mourn in deeply by his family was part of a quick reaction force called in to try to get the Americans out of the line of fire. The battle had erupted suddenly.
At 7:30 a.m. ISIS forces broke through the front line and reach the American positions. At 7:50, the Americans advisers come under fire and call for help. At 9:32, Keating who was part of the force called in is hit by direct fire.
[21:55:16] He was Medevaced within the hour, but his wound was not survivable.
CARTER: They did not anticipate this particular strike, the kind of force that was brought to bear in this particular instance and as a result, we saw the fire fight.
STAR: As Peshmerga forces try to retake the area, coalition aircraft rolled in, carrying out more than 30 air strikes against ISIS positions.
The firefight became so brutal, that even the Medevaced helicopters that came in to try and get Keating out of there to a hospital took small arms fire.
Barbara Star, CNN, The Pentagon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Just horrific. We'll be right back.
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[22:00:05] COOPER: Well, that does it for us. Thanks for watching. "CNN Tonight" with Don Lemon starts now.
DON LEMON, CNN "CNN TONIGHT" ANCHOR: So, this is a GOP's worst nightmare.
This is "CNN Tonight", I'm Don Lemon.
