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Hong Kong Airport Braces for More Violent Clashes; President Trump Postponed Tariffs to China; Russians Train Troops in Central African Republic; Hong Kong Airport Tries To Recover After Violent Protest; Trump: I Hope It Works Out For Everybody; Frank Lampard: Blues Lost To League Opener 4-0 To Manchester United On Sunday; PGA Tour To Review Policy In Wake Of Controversy. Aired 12-1a ET

Aired August 14, 2019 - 00:00   ET

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

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JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Hello, everyone, ahead this hour CNN NEWSROOM:

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VAUSE (voice-over): Beijing bides its time with protests in Hong Kong airport. Violence escalates and how much longer before the mainland decides it's time to intervene?

The U.S. president blinks when he puts a trade war on hold and delays new tariffs on Chinese imports because of Christmas shopping.

And along the way American students really pay for Trump's tariffs.

Plus a CNN exclusive: inside the African boot camp of the secret army doing Vladimir Putin's bidding and expanding his global influence.

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VAUSE: At Hong Kong's airport they're bracing for more protests after a night of violent clashes between pro-democracy protesters and police. Since Wednesday the main terminal is relatively calm, in stark contrast to a few hours.

Police say they were forced to act when protesters turned on a number of men, they were held down, kicked, their heads tied. Protesters say at least one was an undercover police officer.

A tabloid newspaper at the mainland said its reporter was among those seized by the protesters. Police became a target, beaten, drawing out his weapon to warn off the attackers when help finally arrived.

Hong Kong protesters for the past few days have forced the cancellation of hundreds of flights.

Well, now CNN's Andrew Stevens is live and Matt Rivers standing by in Beijing. First to you, Andrew, is there an expectation of the replay in the past 24 hours that will see the number of protesters swell, the airport will be paralyzed and there will be a real chance of another night of clashes and arrests?

ANDREW STEVENS, CNN ASIA PACIFIC EDITOR: It actually sounds like there is no plans for today at all after the violence erupted last night, again involving riot police and protesters here at the airport John which closed the airport there for a second day running from the evening into the early hours.

There is a smattering protesters who stayed here last, night they are at the arrivals hall just below where we are standing here. But there has been no calls as we heard over the past two or three days for thousands more to join them.

So we are expecting a quiet day here, as the airport try to struggle with the backlog of passengers that have been caught up in this in the last couple of days, we've been talking to a lot of passengers sleeping in the airport, sleeping behind reservation counters, wherever they can, waiting for flights which never eventuated.

It certainly -- seeing the scenes last night it's been suggested to me that with the violence last night and particularly the actions of some of the protesters, in particular the alleged undercover policeman you were talking about, he was held by a mob of protesters for several hours, four to five hours.

He actually fell unconscious at one stage and the protesters were not prepared for a long time to allow paramedics to get to him, eventually they did get to him and then took several more hours before they were prepared to release him into an ambulance and to be taken away for treatment.

So police went to help evacuate the person, the regular police left with them and then we saw the riot police and the special units arrive. And it all degenerated into again another confrontation, five arrests, pepper spray used, this all in front of passengers who are sheltering here for the night, not knowing when they were going to get out of Hong Kong, John.

VAUSE: The protesters often accuse police of using excessive violence; it seems that was the case on the other side last night, how much support is there among the original protesters, the residents who turned out weeks ago in that massive demonstration, how much support is there for those people for this kind of violent action and where this protest appears to be heading?

STEVENS: There is not a broad groundswell of support for the violent action and the protesters will say that there is a hard core and a fairly small hard core of radicals who are intent on forcing violent confrontations with the police but certainly looking at the demonstrators again here yesterday John, there were a lot of older faces among the crowds and very younger faces among the crowd of protesters.

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So if I compare it to 2014, the popular support, the support of society here is holding up much more strongly and much longer than we saw in 2014, we will probably get a very good indication this weekend, the Civil Human Rights Front which has been responsible for organizing those million person marches back in June, is calling for another big march on Sunday.

We will wait to see, it'll be interesting to see how many people come out for that. But just anecdotally, we talk to people here at the airport around Hong Kong, there is still broad support because the distrust of Hong Kong police has grown to such a degree, it is virtually an us or them scenario in many cases of the minds of Hong Kongers.

And they are supporting the protesters because police have fundamentally lost their trust. And that is across the board even though outside here, John, a lot of corporations here coming out publicly to say they support the chief executive and particularly the crackdown on these violent protesters.

This is hurting business obviously but at this stage we haven't seen any big drop off in broadbased community support for the actions of the demonstrators although there are continuing concerns and real fears about where this goes and the violence being employed on both sides.

VAUSE: There are two parts to this protest movement, the violence and then the demonstrators, mostly peaceful, at least of the very beginning of all this, thank you for the update there.

Let's go to Beijing. Matt Rivers is live for us.

So I want you to listen to the vice president for the Center for China and Globalization and most famously the translator for the late Deng Xiaoping. This is what he said.

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VICTOR GAO, CENTER FOR CHINA AND GLOBALIZATION: I think between the Hong Kong government and central government in Beijing, something needs to be done very soon that will restore law and order in Hong Kong and the international hub.

And no one can afford the siege of the airport and the disruption of all major traffic in the city, something needs to be done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: It does seem the moment when Beijing intervenes could be fast approaching, is there a timeframe or some sort of action by the protesters which would trigger an action from the mainland and what with their response be?

MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes John you know consider the evolution since these protests began. Early on the first couple of weeks the government completely ignored it, also the state media not even answering any news about it.

And since, you have seen without question escalating hardline rhetoric from Beijing from state media really commentating this week with Hong Kong affairs office in Beijing saying, the latest protest has exhibited signs of terrorism.

In state media you've seen a coalescing round this narrative that there are western forces fomenting a revolution in Hong Kong. That is really inflammatory rhetoric coming from China, there is no doubt about that.

But we also need to consider the line, this step that would taken by both Beijing to send troops to Hong Kong, to send paramilitary forces, would be a massive step, with massive repercussions.

It would essentially mean that Beijing is admitting it has failed in its governance of Hong Kong, the one country/two systems model has failed and it would also generate massive international community blowback, which you could argue has been largely tepid so far.

In order for Beijing to take that step I think you'll have to go much further, the protest would have to go much further than what we have seen so far. It is worth pointing out there hasn't been any death as a result of this, there has been violence but not full scale violence despite the government calling them rioters.

I've been on the ground for two months in Hong Kong, there hasn't been flaming garbage cans being flown through the window of businesses. I think you need to see full scale chaos and anarchy in Hong Kong in order for the government to send in those troops.

But they are clearly trying to send a message John that they are ready to do so, I just don't think we are there yet.

VAUSE: Amidst of all this, the U.S. president tweeted on Tuesday, our intelligence has informed us that the Chinese government is moving troops to the border of Hong Kong, everyone should be calm and safe.

Do you know if that is different from the propaganda we've seen on the "People's Daily," for example, the paramilitary groups that exercises near the border?

And there's imagery released, showing Chinese military vehicles across the border.

So do we know if this is actually a serious military force, is it propaganda, is it different from What we've already seen and would that make the Hong Kong residents feel safe?

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RIVERS: Well, to answer your last question first, no, no one in Hong Kong wants to see Chinese troops on the streets. I think that would be a point of no return for the city. I don't think any or the vast majority of Hong Kong residents want to see troops brought in, despite the recent chaos. I think to the president's tweet it wasn't immediately clear whether

he was talking about new troop buildup or what we have seen. It is worth noting that the PLA has a garrison in there but it does seem that more or been moved into the area and the government, which is usually secretive about military and troop movements and has put those images out there for a reason.

They want that to be part of the propaganda that China is ready to step in and it will not tolerate anything that goes against the rule of law in Hong Kong. You know there is propaganda and there is action. And I think for those troops to be sent to Hong Kong like we talked about, I don't think we are there yet.

But it is absolutely clear that Beijing wants those videos to be discussed on channels like ours and also in Hong Kong media, to send a message that they are ready to fight back if necessary.

So we have seen those convoys, we have seen it on social media, it hasn't been censored by the government. That is all done on purpose.

VAUSE: Matt live from us in Beijing, with the very latest, there appreciate that.

Well Donald Trump has received Christmas food in the dog days of summer that it's been a gift for Wall Street and the U.S. delaying tariffs that have met the Chinese imports.

That means some Chinese consumer goods, including cellphones, toys and video games will get a break until December 15th, this is the latest from the president, saying the move is to help U.S. shoppers.

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TRUMP: We're doing this for Christmas season just in case some of the tariffs would have an impact on U.S. customers but so far they've had virtually none. The only impact has been that we've collected almost $60 billion from China, compliments of China. But just in case they might have an impact on people, what we've done is we've delayed it.

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VAUSE: It seems when the president blinks, Wall Street soars. The Dow is up 373 points on Tuesday recovering from Monday's 400 crumble.

Joining us now is Ryan Patel, global business executive at the Drucker School of Management.

Good to see you.

RYAN PATEL, GLOBAL BUSINESS EXECUTIVE: Likewise, John.

VAUSE: Up until now the U.S. president who is rarely on tariffs anything, has been remarkably consistent on tariffs -- consistently wrong.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TRUMP: We're taking in billions and billions of dollars from China in the form of tariffs. Our people are not paying for it.

The tariffs are not being paid for by our people.

We've collected close to $59 billion in tariffs so far. And in my opinion, the consumer has not paid for it.

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VAUSE: On Tuesday that language ended. He used words like just in case and might have had an impact. But his words and actions clearly indicate that China is not paying the full cost of the tariffs and at least some of it's being paid for by American consumers.

Did he do this all wrong and he's just bluffing?

Did he read "Economics for Dummies?"

Did he see this headline in "The Wall Street Journal" on Tuesday?

"Latest China Tariffs Will Cost $831 Per Household."

Where did all of this come from?

RYAN PATEL, GLOBAL BUSINESS EXECUTIVE: It must comes from all of the robins he's got roaming around. He's Batman. He had a whole bunch of those. What I think what happened is that the businesses got to him.

What is going on, it's consumers buying from corporations. Holiday season is the biggest time in the U.S. economy in the fourth quarter and he knew it. We're talking about August right now and he knew he needed a strong market, that this is something -- he came back with a 10 percent tariff two weeks ago.

Why the change?

Corporations and businesses not just spoke up but with all these variables in play, if we're going in a path that was going to least resistance go downward and nothing would push it up and he needed the economy with some foresight, he needed to show some kind of way that we're not going down the path.

Talk about Christmas gift, if we stay like this, huge for the market investors, that there will be some stability the next few months.

VAUSE: Stocks are on the news of the tariff delay and the president continues to have the possibilities of a breakthrough with Beijing and here it is.

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TRUMP: We had a very good talk yesterday with China, very, very productive call. I think they want to do something. I think they'd like to do something dramatic.

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TRUMP: I was not sure whether or not they wait until a Democrat has a chance to get in.

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VAUSE: That last part, because nothing has really been resolved between Beijing and Washington. The market rallied because tariffs are delayed for a few months or was it driven by a belief that President Trump caved and doesn't have the stomach to escalate this trade war in China?

PATEL: I don't believe the second thing. It's a stopgap. There's nothing to do -- if Wall Street is believing that there's a deal as of today, they are on the wrong bet here. This a stopgap, strategically to help the U.S. economy not keep bleeding. You saw what happened over the last few weeks. The market and businesses are topsy-turvy with any kind of news and President Trump and his team notice it is not something they want to continue to battle on all fronts.

I don't think this gets him close to a deal. Yes, it's great that they're talking. There is still no urgency behind this. They still have to talk about IP rights and the hardcore things that they have not been talking about. We're nowhere close to that.

If someone takes us as we are getting a deal done, even playing with what he said it, doesn't get me thinking that it's going to get done.

VAUSE: Over at the Trump cheerleading FOX News, Laura Ingraham tweeted this.

"Trump caved. China will be emboldened -- during Hong Kong crackdown no less: U.S. removes some items from China tariff list, delaying tariffs for others."

If you're Xi Jinping and you're in Hong Kong and the president hands you this propaganda gift, why wouldn't you wait out the world's self- described greatest negotiator?

PATEL: Because he already knew that Trump would cave, he already knew that this is going to happen. China's looking at what's best for them. I take the opinion as China wants to come out looking strong. They also know that they need this deal and fighting the tactics with Trump, playing a game of chicken, they don't want to get into this.

They could come back and hurt the U.S. more. But I don't think they're going to do that. What they should do now is engage in a conversation and that's what they want at the end of this. They want to have a great deal and still move forward and they know they're getting hurt but they're playing these games with President Trump.

I think what China has always known is that they could hurt the economy and know what the hot button are. This is Wall Street with this administration and they found it, what you and I talk about, the trade war, they knew they had that weapon. VAUSE: There's also this visit to a petrochemical plant by the president, when he attacked the Democratic rivals, Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden. And he also made his claim.

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TRUMP: This thing is costing me a fortune, being president. It's going to cost me, including, upside, downside, lawyers, because every day they sue me for something. These are the most litigious people. It's probably costing me from $3 to $5 billion for the pleasure of being - and I couldn't care less, I don't care. You know if you're wealthy, it doesn't matter. I just want to do a great job.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: This is a mandatory us for claiming his own wealth. Those numbers are not just impossible to verify but are unable to believe.

PATEL: Yes. John, let me tell you this. After he's done being president, he made his money. He is going to be wanted for stuff and people are going to pay him to come speak, he has made his life outside -- he is going to be fine.

It's funny that he says this because he's made himself, by becoming the president of the United States, he made himself to be wealthy even more than he was before. So I don't feel bad for him but I feel like this is a conversation where there's other issues going on and I wish he would focus on what's at hand for the economy and the American people and focus on that.

VAUSE: That was an official White House visit, by the way, not a campaign stop. Ryan, thank you.

PATEL: Thanks John.

VAUSE: A short break and when we come back, a CNN exclusive about Putin's private army training soldiers that had access to (INAUDIBLE).

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CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Russia is in a straightforward bargain. They provide the weapons and (INAUDIBLE) and in return they get access to the country's national resources. And in the process hope to reassert themselves as a major player in this region.

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VAUSE: More now on the reporting on a secret private army doing the bidding of Russian president Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin's concerns about how the report became obvious as the CNN crew was followed all the way to Africa. Here is chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WARD (voice-over): This is boot camp for recruits to a new army in the war-torn Central African Republic. The troops are being taught in Russian. Weapons are Russian, too. It's taken months to get access to this camp and officially this is a U.N. approved training center (ph).

But the Russian instructors wouldn't talk to us or even be identified because they are not actually soldiers; they are mercenaries sponsored by a Russian oligarch with close ties to the Kremlin. They are the sharp end of an ambitious drive into Africa, stoking fears in Washington of Russian expansionism.

Valery Zakharov is the man in charge here, a former military intelligence officer, he is now the security adviser to the Central African Republic's president.

VALERY ZAKHAROV, SECURITY ADVISER TO CAR PRESIDENT (through translator): Russia is returning to Africa, we were already present in many countries during the time of the Soviet Union and Russia is coming back to the same position. We still have connections and we are trying to reestablish them.

WARD (voice-over): That's not the only reason they're here. The Central African Republic is rich in natural resources, gold and diamonds, and the Russians want them. We're on our way to one of seven sites where a Russian company has been given exploration rights.

WARD: One of the challenges of trying to nail down exactly what the Russians are doing here is that, once you get outside the capital, this is still a very dangerous and chaotic country. Just last year, three Russian journalists were actually ambushed and killed while working on a story about Russian mercenaries.

WARD (voice-over): The drive is bruising and long, along rutted tracks to a tiny village of straw huts. And then we have to cross a river, on this hand-pulled ferry. Local teenager Rodriguez agrees to show us where the Russians have been active. It's another bumpy ride through the bush; the last part of the journey is on foot.

We asked the workers if they have seen any Russians.

WARD: (Speaking French).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking French).

WARD: So he's saying that earlier this year there were a lot of Russians here looking for diamonds.

WARD (voice-over): Rodriguez says the Russians now employ hundreds of workers on artisanal mines like this across the area. In the pit, a group of teenagers pan through the sand in the search for a precious fragment. Whatever they find, they say --

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WARD (voice-over): -- must be handed over to the Russians' agent.

WARD: It's interesting; these guys are saying that the Russians who visited this spot actually came from the training camp at Berengo that we visited. It's pretty clear they're doing more than just training troops here.

WARD (voice-over): CNN has learned that the mining exploration rights have been given to a company called Lobaye Invest. Lobaye is part of a sprawling business empire owned by this man, Yevgeny Prigozhin, an oligarch close to the Russian president Vladimir Putin. He's been sanctioned by the U.S. for meddling in the 2016 election.

A CNN investigation based on hundreds of documents has established that Prigozhin's companies are also providing the mercenary muscle. He is believed to be the man behind Wagner, Russia's most notorious private military contractor.

On a return to town from the mines, we noticed we are being followed. We tried to approach but the car drives off. We catch a glimpse of four white males. All but one hide their faces from our camera. There is no license plate.

The police confirmed later to us that they are Russians. Near our hotel, we spot the vehicle again. They tried to get closer but the men drive off.

WARD: We're back at our hotel now but a little bit shaken up because that car full of Russians has been following us for quite some time and we don't know why and we don't know what they want.

WARD (voice-over): Mindful of the murder of the journalists last year, we leave town the next day.

Back in the capital Bangui, Russia's growing influence is impossible to escape, on the streets and even on the airwaves. Radio Lengo Songo features African music and lessons in Russian. No surprise, perhaps, that it is funded by Prigozhin company Lobaye Invest. The manager tells us the station wants to deepen cooperation between the two nations.

And in a country where education and entertainment are in short supply, it seems that plenty of people are listening. American officials say they are greatly concerned by Russia's actions here and that they undermine security.

But with the U.S. shrinking its footprint across Africa and with minimal official Kremlin involvement, Putin has little to lose.

WARD: For Russia, this is a straightforward bargain. They provide the weapons and the (INAUDIBLE) and in return they get access to the country's natural resources. And in the process, hope to reassert themselves as a major player in this region. WARD (voice-over): It's a campaign for hearts and minds and hard

power. Russia is moving quickly to be a step ahead of its rivals -- Clarissa Ward, CNN, the Central African Republic.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: CNN has asked Prigozhin for comment by his company Concord Catering. But so our requests are unanswered. In the past he has denied any links to Wagner. Denials, too, from the Russian government to any links with mercenary groups.

Much more from Hong Kong ahead on CNN NEWSROOM where a test of wills is unfolding between pro-democracy protesters and the Beijing-backed government. We will have more in just a moment.

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JOHN VAUSE, CNN HOST, CNN NEWSROOM: Welcome back everybody you're watching CNN Newsroom. I'm John Vause with the headlines this hour. U.S. is delaying new tariffs on Chinese made chemicals after trade negotiations the great to resume talks within the next two weeks.

It's the latest turnaround for President Donald Trump because repeatedly threaded tariffs have leverage in the U.S. and China trade war. Hong Kong's international airport has resumed a normal schedule after Tuesday's flight clashes protest that sees a number police tried to rescue them and met with their respective distance.

The airport now is safe. It has an injunction to meet anyone that's trying to interfere with the main terminal. Back to calm Hong Kong now and Joseph Cheng a Political Science Professor at City University of Hong Kong thanks for coming in Joseph.

JOSEPH CHENG, POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR, CITY UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG: Thank you.

VAUSE: Why is Beijing decided to sit on the sidelines and not actively intervene in a substantial way? Can you explain the calculation here being made by Xi Jinping?

CHENG: Beijing probably is aware that Carrie Lam Administration probably can handle the situation. Intervention will be very costly not only for Hong Kong because of the damage to business competence that makes to the international withdrawals and international financial center and also very costly for Beijing, because it's one country two systems small door will be perceived to have failed and its policy to Hong Kong will be perceived to a failed. And the intervention will have a pretty bad impact on Taiwan which is going to have this Presidential election in January. Basically the Chinese leaders would like the Carrie Lam Administration to clean up the mess itself.

VAUSE: It's often said that you know Beijing aren't willing to act here or showing restraint feelings because we get only disruption. The PLA who is stepping down Nathan Roy would have seen his bad PR. In some ways it doesn't kind of ring true the sense of the Congress Party is always taking this sort of a long view and is very concerned about the opinions of others?

CHENG: And it is concerned mainly with the preservation of the party regime and its monopoly of political power. If it is seen essential to intervene it will not hesitate but at the moment, the calculus is such that it does not believe it has to be intervened physically but certainly it has been working hard to mobilize the Hong Kong business community to come out to support the Carrie Lam Administration. Unite a front is making tremendous using a lot of resources and money from Beijing of course to try to turn the tide of the popular opinion.

VAUSE: And we're seeing that with the number of business leaders coming out and showing their support for Carrie Lam. The Former American Ambassador to China told CNN one reason for Beijing not acting at least up until now is because they're unsure of what to do? Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAX BAUCUS, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO CHINA: There's got to be a meeting in the minds on both sides here. If Beijing thinks they can jam a solution down the protesters throw that is not going to work and I think they know that and they are trying to figure a way.

Don't forget that China is very conservative it's harsh but China is dealing with matters like this so they're used to it having their own way. So this has been difficult for them. They're not nimble they don't have a big diplomatic core like the United States does for example is this is tough for them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: If that assessment is true will be an encouraging sign that this you know might not end like Chinaman Square? How do you see it?

CHENG: I tend to agree. The options of interfering directly are limited. You see the PLA the People Libration Army is not exactly the tool to deal with crowd control. You need very competent well-trained police force to do it. And the Hong Kong police force is competent enough and strong enough exactly to handle that.

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CHENG: The issue of course is you send a inter PLA the streets will be very quiet, empty and but then how -- when will the PLA will throw and how are you going to restore business competence? How are you going to restore business activities? So I think Beijing is cautious enough to understand this calculus.

VAUSE: The U.S. President was asked on Tuesday if China should show restraint in dealing with these pro-democracy demonstrators. This is what Donald Trump said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: The Hong Kong thing is the very tough situation. Very tough, we'll see what happens but I'm sure it will work out. I think it will work out and hope it works for liberty, I hope it works out for everybody, including China.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: It was a pre taped response you know what you would expect for the U.S. President. How will Beijing view those comments?

CHENG: Beijing officially will consider these statements as interference is in Beijing, interferences into the domestic affairs of China and they will be used and in fact have been used as proof as evidence of collusion between the Hong Kong Democracy Movement and western powers to discredit the Pro-Democracy Movement and to mobilize patriotism among Hong Kong people. And above all else among people in mainland China which certainly have been supporting the government's position on Hong Kong so far.

VAUSE: So that will be the official way that these comments are viewed. But even they were fairly taped and not what you would expect. If that was Barak Obama or George W. Bush you would expect to him much stronger language and we have heard much stronger language coming from the U.S. Law makers for instance when it comes to demands to China's respect peaceful protests is that kind of thing. So even if it this was a fairly week state that coming from this U.S. President they will still be viewed as almost being hostile to Beijing?

CHENG: Beijing will try to exploit these statements. I think Hong Kong people as well as Beijing understand that the pressure will mainly come from Congress and not from the White House. The Pro-Democracy Movement the protesters have been quite skillful in influencing international opinion, they managed to rise quite a bit of money and have advertisements in all major newspapers in the world just before the G-20 Summit.

And it was also said that there were communications between the White House and President Xi Jinping namely that the White House did not have the intention to exert pressure too much, at least not publicly onto Hong Kong issue before and during the summit meeting.

VAUSE: Okay. At that point we were out of time. And so thanks so much for being with us. We appreciate your insights.

CHENG: Thank you.

VAUSE: We'll take a short break and when we come back on CNN Newsroom, America's President giving new name to the phrase "Keep on Truckin".

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VAUSE: The U.S. President is the man with enthusiasms. Some would say obsessions, across ices, the Clinton's, President Obama, opinion polls and to those list 18 wheelers. Here's Jeanne Moos. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Even a President may be especially a President which is he was doing something else sometimes.

TRUMP: I love planes. I love trucks of all types. Even when I was a little boy at four years old my mother would say you love trucks. I do.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And that little boy voice inspired by the equivalent in a Pennsylvania Petro Chemical Plant with a President drove home the point.

TRUMP: Sometimes you know you might become President but nothing changes, I still love trucks.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, we've seen his love for trucks from a fire truck to a missile defense system vehicle to the big rig part in front of the White House. The President did what he loves to do blowers own horn.

And the moment went viral find you someone who loves you as much as Trump loves sitting in that truck. He was photo shopped into the kind of truck he probably had when he was four, and impersonator of portrayed him escaping from a press conference. He goes on a joyride.

TRUMP: Seeing the smoky on the way.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Drives into the water and then wakes up back at the Presidential podium. The only time I've ever seen a real Trump actually drive was when Melania posted her husband at the wheel of their car with son Barren riding shotgun. But at the Petro-Chemical Plant there were bigger temptations.

TRUMP: When I look at the largest crane in the world that's very cruel. Do you think I'll get to operated? I don't know. I'll put the media on it and I'll give my little ride.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Alas the media got no ride on the crane that disappeared into the crowds. The President could only gaze at it and pretend to use a joystick to joyfully stick it to the press. Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Thank you for watching CNN Newsroom. I'm John Vause, world sport starts right now.

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DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORTS HOST: It is time for World Sport. Hi there and welcome, I'm Don Riddell at CNN Center.

English Football celebrated the return of the Premier League at the weekend now two of their top teams are going head-to-head in Europe for the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday in Istanbul for Champions League winners Liverpool are going to be taking on the Europa League Champions Chelsea.

It's a big week for the blues and this is a tricky prospect for Chelsea.

[00:45:00]

RIDDELL: They have got a new inexperienced Manager in Frank Lampard they've just lost their best player to En Hazard to Real Madrid. And in their first game of the new season they were thrashed by Manchester United.

FRANK LAMPARD, CHELSEA MANAGER: What I learned from the players was that they did so many good things in the game and it's not easy to speak about them and after losing 4 nil because the result says a lot.

But in terms of how we played in the game if you take out the mistakes that led to the goals there was lots of good things. So we have to analyze and I have to analyze the - the lots of good things and we can improve on that because we need to score goals not just create chances.

And we need to be much better in not committing errors that can lead to chances on the counterattack because all good teams will make it difficult for you if you do that.

RIDDELL: Liverpool star studded team will be hoping to win their 2nd European Trophy in just a matter of months. If they do I'm sure that nobody will have a broader smile than their Egyptians forward Mohamed Salah in an exclusive interview with CNN and he was speaking to Becky Anderson.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN CONNECT THE WORLD: Let's take you back to that Champions League glory and you're lifting that trophy. How was it?

MOHAMED SALAH, LIVERPOOL PLAYER: Obviously it was great. It's a dream for everyone with the city and the players to win a Champions League so it was great. It was a dream comes true.

ANDERSON: Pep Guardiola says that winning the Champions League is like winning a casino but its bit of a fluke. You know you need a bit of luck on your side. What do you make of those comments?

SALAH: I didn't know that he said that but I think if you give him a choice to choose which one, he would choose a Champions League and that's my opinion. I'm not talking about him, but my opinion. It's the best competition in football so everyone wants to win it, every coach and every player wants to win it. A dream to win, so of course the Premier League also sounds big but to say the Champions League is the biggest competition.

ANDERSON: No major signings by Jurgen Klopp in the summer. Is that a problem?

SALAH: No that's true that we have a good team, so we have good player good squad and a big number of players and that's it.

ANDERSON: And your contract?

SALAH: What's my contract?

(LAUGHTER)

ANDERSON: Are you resigning? Resigned?

SALAH: I'm happy with Liverpool. I'm happy in the city. I love the fans and they love me. I'm happy with the club but it is too early to talk about it at the moment.

ANDERSON: So if there had been a major signing as sort of one to one for you would that of rounds you were up more than made you happier the summer?

SALAH: I'm happy now. I'm happy now so it's too early to talk about anything else.

ANDERSON: The game against Chelsea Wednesday in Istanbul nice to get some extra silverware in the cabinet?

SALAH: Yeah. I love big games and final game. So they want to win with a new coach and we also want to win it so let's wait until Wednesday.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIDDELL: And there will be more from Becky on that connect you all next week. Okay. Hurry up and late time is standing still on the PGA Tour.

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[00:50:00]

RIDDELL: Hello again, the issue of slow play isn't new in golf but this season has become a really hot topic of debate and during the Northern Trust Tournament last week it reached fever pitch. He Bryson DeChambeau was a big reason for the latest flare-up.

This was one of his putts from his 2nd round. His playing partner Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Thomas were beside themselves as he did it over an 8 foot putt but the time he took it some two and a half minutes later. Frankly everybody was rooting for him to miss which he eventually did.

He also took 8 years over for another chip shot and just like that Bryson DeChambeau became a new lightning rod for one of the oldest problems in golf.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU, WORLD NUMBER 8: When people start talking to me about slow play and how I'm killing the game. I'm doing this and that to the game. That is complete and utter you know what? That's not fair and look I'm not really that sensitive of a guy I don't get hurt by a lot of things. It's not like I'm throwing - this is a conversation about playing golf in a certain time matter.

If you really want to talk about this and if you really want to do something about this let's look at the other people that are associated to it. It's a total time it takes to play the hole is not just about the time it takes to hit a shot.

(END VIDEO CLIP0

RIDDELL: Well on Tuesday on Instagram he promised to try and pick up the pace but perhaps Bryson DeChambeau was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. He's right, certainly other players have a reputation for taking their time as well for example J.B Holmes winning the Genesis Open back in February. His ponder style was on full display.

Some of the tour's leading players have begun speaking up; Eddie Pepperell called DeChambeau "A single minded twitch" He has since apologized for calling him names. And while Ian Poulter got involved too. He responded to a fan on twitter saying "I'm sorry you stopped watching the PGA Tour. There are a few players that continually disrespect their fellow pros and continue to break the rules without a conscience". On several occasions this season the world number one Brooks Koepka was also weighed in.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BROOKS KOEPKA, WORLD NUMBER 1: I mean I take 15 seconds and go, and I've done all right. So I don't understand why they're taking a minute and half. It's just frustrating as a player.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIDDELL: Until now the PGA Tour has been reluctant to get involved but they've said that they will review their policy. Earlier I spoke with a golf broadcaster Brian Katrek and I asked him how it did come to this?

BRIAN KATREK, PGA.COM HOST AND ANALYST: I think for 2 reasons honestly Don, social media has made this debate far more public than it ever has been in the past. There are players have been debating slow play in the locker room and on driving ranges for years but we've never heard about it because the debates were private.

Now they're doing it on Twitter and its public. And I think the other reason is because may be for the first time ever the best players in the world are also the fastest players for a long time some of the best players in the game were the slowest players in the game. Jack Nicklaus they didn't need a stopwatch to time him, you could have done it with a sundial.

Tiger during his heyday and we saw a lot of tiger's routine but his routine has significantly spat up here in the last few years. Then it was during his stop time but Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler and Dustin Thomas even Justin Rose you name it. You go down to Rory Mcilroy even on the top of the World Golf Rankings and those are the fastest player so they have got a little bit more cloud.

RIDDELL: Bryson DeChambeau has become the lightning rod for this. How fair is the criticism that he is receiving because he's surely not the only slow player on the tour?

KATREK: Definitely not. And I think most of the criticism is unfair. We saw the videos. Did he take two minutes to miss an 8 foot putt? Yes. So you definitely deserve criticism for that. Did he step off every set of a 70-yard shot? Yes he did.

But I think the reason why Bryson is getting it because he punched back; he came back with his explanation and said well I am faster than some guys I walk faster. I actually take less time than some players because I can't get my ball first then I'm the one being shown out. He's right about a lot of that but nobody wanted to hear that.

RIDDELL: So why is the tour letting this fester and not do anything about it? Because now they're in a position where they have to react and they have - presumably they are going to do something.

KATREK: The policy was purposely written so they would not have to write any penalties.

[00:55:00]

KATREK: It's almost like having a 50 mile an hour speed limit but writing right underneath that on the sign, right underneath where it says 50 write; hey we're not going to really write you any tickets unless you're doing 90.

So really the first sign doesn't mean what the first sign means. The 2nd sign has everything and the players know that. No slow play penalties ever get called a very rare I think we had 3 in the last 20 years or something like that. The tour doesn't want to do that but I think their mentality is changing?

RIDDELL: What's your best guess about how the PGA Tour is going to address this and fix this? How can they do it in a way that's fair and doesn't impact on the integrity of the game?

KATREK: It's really hard to do that don. That's for sure. Because what they said in their statement last week, the PGA Tour said they're reevaluating their policies and one other things they're looking at is potentially timing players that are not out of position.

It's not as easy as just asking who is slow and going in timing those players because that's paternally unfair. The PGA Tour is going to have to develop some system where they determine who is emeritus of getting timed and who isn't.

That is going to be a very big deal and it's not going to seem fair and they may have to as they alluded to in their release they might have to lean on their shot link system and perhaps then they can come up with some sort of a list or some sort of a percentage perhaps, the bottom 3rd in pace of play is now eligibly timed whether they're in position or out of position that seems a little more fair than just saying let's go time Bryson because Brooks said Bryson is slow.

RIDDELL: It's a fascinating topic and this one is going to run and run. Good insights there from Brian Katrek, but that's it for this edition of World Sports. Thanks for your company see you again.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VAUSE: Hello everybody, great to have you with us. So I'm John Vause ahead this hour on CNN Newsroom. Beijing biding its time as rightfully, clash with protesters at Hong Kong's airport. How long will the communist leaders on the Mainland be made to wait before deciding to intervene? The U.S. President blinks, putting his trade war on hold delaying new tariffs on Chinese imports because of Christmas shopping.

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