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Trump Claims He Delayed Aid Payment To Ukraine Because He Wanted Europe To Pay More, Says He'll Do It Again; House Democrats Reportedly Near Tipping Point On Impeachment; Trump Addresses United Nations General Assembly. Aired 10-10:30a ET

Aired September 24, 2019 - 10:00   ET

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

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[10:00:00]

POPPY HARLOW, CNN NEWSROOM: All right. Top of the hour, and it is an important morning. Good morning, everyone. I'm Poppy Harlow in New York.

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN NEWSROOM: And I'm Jim Sciutto live this morning from the United Nations, where just moments from now, President Trump will take the stage, world address leaders here. And just moments ago, the president arrived here at the U.N. headquarters addressing reports that he personally ordered a hold on $400 million in crucial military aid to the Ukraine. Listen to this answer. There is news in here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: As far as withholding funds, those funds were paid. They were fully paid. But my complaint has always been, and I would withhold again and I'll continue to withhold until such time as Europe and other nations contribute to Ukraine, because they're not doing it, just the United States. We're putting up the bulk of the money.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: Fact-check there, of course, is that this is aid mandated by an act of Congress, one, and two, Poppy, of course, that's a new justification the president offering there that that was the reason he held back this aid was concerns that Europe wasn't paying its fair sure.

HARLOW: Yes, it's exactly right, Jim. As you pointed out just a few minutes ago when the president spoke, it's completely opposite of what he said yesterday. Let me quote for everyone what the president said yesterday on this. Why did they withhold a quote from the president? It's very important to talk about corruption. Why would you give money to a country you think is corrupt? The answer this morning, vastly different.

This is why the president is facing so much controversy back in Washington, overshadowing, perhaps, the message he would like to send on the global stage today. We could know by the end of today, whether House Democrats will move forward with impeaching the president.

At this moment, at least 145 Democrats say they are in favor of an impeachment probe. Speaker Nancy Pelosi is set to meet this afternoon with members of her caucus, Jim.

SCIUTTO: We have a team coverage, as only CNN can do. Let's begin with our Jim Acosta. He joins me here live, of course, at the U.N.

So, Jim, it was only five days ago, the president was calling this story fake news. Of course, he has evolved, shall we say, over the course of the last few days.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Becoming more real as the days go on.

SCIUTTO: And admitting it and now justifying it. Although that was a new justification, was it not, saying it's because Europe is not paying up.

ACOSTA: That's right, and the justifications keep moving. I mean, the president is now saying, not only did he hold up the money but he would do it again. And we were able to confirm The Washington Post reporting last night that he instructed the acting Chief of Staff, Mick Mulvaney, to do this.

And the question now at this point is whether or not this was being as leverage to pressure the Ukrainians to investigate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, which, of course, there hasn't been any evidence provided that they did anything wrong, talking about the Bidens.

But, Jim, I will tell you, talking to Trump advisers, there is concern inside the president's team, circle, advisers and associates and so on that this could have legs, that the story could be harmful to the president, legally, potentially, down the road.

One adviser said to me yesterday, this is the president admitting that he did this, talking about pressuring the Ukrainians when it comes to Joe Biden, and now he's admitting this morning, walking in the U.N. this morning, that he was holding up this aid, and so, once again, that admission from the president.

This is unlike what we saw during the Russian investigation, Jim. As you know all too well where the president was denying there was any collusion, any obstruction. It seems to be the complete opposite this time around. As the president gets in front of the cameras, he is admitting to doing things.

The question for Democrats now is what they're going to do about it, because the president is essentially daring them to do something at this point, and that's why I think you're seeing a number of Democrats, even those moderate Democrats who were worried about the swing district seats that they're holding right now coming on board and saying that they're now at least impeachment-curious. And that certainly moves the ball forward. But I will tell you, some of the inside folks inside Trump world will say, this works for the president because we're putting the spotlight on Joe Biden. But there is a queasiness inside the president's team, not just inside the White House but outside the White House that this is starting to do some damage to the president.

SCIUTTO: And, of course, the repeated of the president, and we're going to do a fact-check on this later in the broadcast about Joe Biden and his son, it's a largely unfounded claim or at least not equivalent to the way the president is describing it there.

[10:05:02]

Poppy, as you know, we're going to stay on top of this story. But it's been remarkable to watch the president's story change so many times in just a span of a few days.

HARLOW: And such drastic changes, I think, As the other Jim, Jim Acosta, actually said, there, the new Jim, and getting more real by the day, right?

All right, so this could be a historic day for lawmakers on Capitol Hill. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 4:00 this afternoon, is set to meet with committee chairs. That is before the 4:00, I should say, caucus meeting this afternoon.

House Democrats say they are nearing a tipping point. That's the words of one. At least 145 Democrats say they're in favor of an impeachment probe. And just moments from now, Senator Chuck Schumer is expected to call for a resolution, to get the whistleblower complaint released to Congress.

Sunlen Serfaty joins us on Capitol Hill.

It was interesting when this news just crossed about what Schumer is going to do. Can you help us understand, Sunlen, the practical implications of that, right? Is this a move that will compel that to happen?

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's largely symbolic in nature, Poppy, underscoring what Democrats up here on the Hill are doing on trying to increase the pressure up here today, but certainly a huge moment for Democrats, specifically for Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, given that this could be a real defining moment in next the steps, especially House Democrats take going forward.

As we've seen the tide towards impeachment really shift over the last 24 hours, you noted that there are slew of significant events today, not only that symbolic measure that Chuck Schumer will bring to the Senate today, but the fact that Nancy Pelosi will be huddling with the six committee chairs for investigating President Trump, then she will meet with her entire House Democratic Caucus. The result of that meeting could potentially lay out the next steps of what she will do going forward. And, of course, she is so important.

Now, she caught up with Jeff Zeleny on a fight last night about this impeachment inquiry. She did not endorse going forward with that. But she essentially sounded all but certain. She said, we will have no choice. It will be a big week.

HARLOW: So, Sunlen, she has held off -- Adam Schiff's language had been very different until he talked to Jake on Sunday. This is the leadership that matters, right? And they don't have the numbers there yet in terms of public sentiment and willingness to move forward on impeachment. But has the game changed in the last 24hours for Nancy Pelosi?

SERFATY: Certainly it has, and that's why we're talking so much about it, and not only the numbers but who specifically is calling for impeachment. Very notable, in fact, Nancy Pelosi called it a significant development herself, that you had a big op-ed by seven Democratic House freshman members. I want to read you part of this. These are formerly members that formerly worked in national security intelligence.

They say, quote, we have devoted our lives to the service and security of our country and throughout our careers. We have sworn an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States many times over. Now, we join as a unified group to uphold that oath as we enter unchartered waters and face unprecedented allegations against President Trump.

Also notable, Poppy, there, the fact that we have over the last 12 hours two close friends and allies of Speaker Pelosi coming out for endorsement. That really underscores how the dynamics up here are changing and potentially indicting how Pelosi may be changing herself on what she thinks about impeachment.

HARLOW: Yes. Sunlen, thank you, great reporting. It's so nice to have you.

Let's talk to our Senior Political Analyst, Senior Editor of The Atlantic, Ron Brownstein, and National Political Correspondent for Time, Molly Ball, also former federal prosecutor Elliot Williams is here.

And, Elliot, let me just begin with you on Sunlen talking about that Washington Post op-ed by those seven freshman Democrats who are in vulnerable districts. Moving towards impeachment could cost them their seat. You point out something out in their op-ed you think is very significant. And that is the mention of inherent contempt. Why?

ELLIOT WILLIAMS, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Well, because it shows that they are not playing around. Inherent contempt is a very -- well, it's even to say drastic remedy that hasn't been used in something like a hundred years. And for these particular seven members of Congress who were on the fence, it is clear that they are taking this incredibly seriously.

So just a step back, there are a few different ways to hold someone in contempt. You can sue for it. You can go to the Justice Department for it. But Congress has this power of inherent contempt, where, technically, Congress can jail someone and find someone, like they used to do 100 years ago, and lock them up in a jail cell on the grounds of Congress.

It's interesting to see that now even centrists are jumping in feet- first or head-first, whatever you want to say, into this impeachment debate. This wasn't a wishy-washy centrist Democrat kind of op-ed that we saw.

[10:10:01]

Even people who were on the fence are really starting to embrace this in the Democratic Caucus.

SCIUTTO: Ron, help me with the politics here. Of course, there's the legal question, important, the politics because impeachment, by its nature, is a political process here. How qualitative in your read have the politics change based on what we know so far about the president's apparent pressure been on Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden and his son?

RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: One-word answer is enormously. I mean, the line of demarcation among Democrats has moved dramatically. With this op-ed yesterday, four of those seven, Jim, who wrote it were in districts that Trump carried. The fifth one was in a Clinton district but won by only three percentage points. There are many, many more Democrats in safer districts who are not calling for impeachment.

And I think this really signals how -- even people at the front lines of the majority, the ones that Pelosi is talking about, trying to protect, are now seeing this is perhaps inevitable. We're now, depending on how you can't, 10 or 11 of the 31 Democrats in Trump districts, one-third of them are now supporting an impeachment inquiry.

And it's worth noting that I have seen private polling that in many of the districts that Trump carried in 2016 now held by democrats, he's under 50 percent approval. So they may be feeling less pressure than they were some time ago to move in this direction. But, certainly, it is a different group of Democrats that are now talking about this than were doing so earlier.

HARLOW: And, Molly, we know that impeachment is, inherently, by its nature, political process, right. But what I hear changing is how much it is about politics for the Democrats or not about politics. Listen to the exchange last night, Molly, between Cory Booker and our Chris Cuomo on that exact issue.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN HOST: Where is the political advantage in that or is it about something else?

SEN. CORY BOOKER (D-NJ): So, Chris, it is about something else. Politics be damned, this is our country. This is our Constitution. 20 years, 40 years from now, people are going to look back in moments like this, what do we do to hold a president accountable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: Significant to you, Molly, to hear that, that even if this could cost them seats, et cetera, even if the American public is not there at least yet in the polling, it's bigger than that?

MOLLY BALL, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Yes. Well, I mean, this is the line that Speaker Pelosi has been using, that the House will not impeach for political reasons but they also will not impeach for political reasons. And that's why I think you hear so many of these statements, particularly from Democrats newly coming out for impeachment, couching it in moral terms, couching it in constitutional terms.

But I do think, as Ron was saying, the politics have shifted as well. The conventional wisdom in Washington for a long time has been that this is bad politics for Democrats. And you have more and more people questioning that.

SCIUTTO: Hang in there, Molly. We have the president approaching the podium at the General Assembly. Let's listen to his remarks.

TRUMP: Mr. Secretary-General, distinguished delegates, ambassadors and world leaders, seven decades of history have passed through this hall in all of their richness and drama. Where I stand, the world has heard from presidents and premiers at the height of the Cold War.

We have seen the foundation of nations. We have seen the ringleaders of revolution. We have beheld saints who inspired us with hope, rebels who stirred us with passion and heroes who emboldened us with courage all here to share plans, proposals, visions and ideas on the world's biggest stage.

Like those who met us before, our time is one of great contests, high stakes and clear choices. The essential divide that runs all around the world and throughout history is once again, thrown into stark relief. It is the divide between those whose thirst for control deludes them into thinking they are destined to rule over others and those people and nations who want only to rule themselves. I have the immense privilege of addressing you today as the elected leader of a nation that prizes liberty, independence and self-government above all.

The United States, after having spent over $2.5 trillion since my election, to completely rebuild our great military, is also, by far, the world's most powerful nation.

[10:15:08]

Hopefully it will never have to use this power.

Americans know that in a world where others seek conquest and domination, our nation must be strong in wealth, in might and in spirit. That is why the United States vigorously defends the traditions and customs that have made us who we are.

Like my beloved country, each nation represented in this hall has a cherished history, culture and heritage that is worth defending and celebrating, and which gives us our singular potential and strength. The free world must embrace its national foundations. It must not attempt to erase them or replace them.

Looking around and all over, this large, magnificent planet, the truth is plain to see. If you want freedom, take pride in your country. If you want democracy, hold on to your sovereignty. And if you want peace, love your nation.

Wise leaders always put the good of their own people and their own country first. The future does not belong to globalists. The future belongs to patriots. The future belongs to sovereign and independent nations who protect their citizens, respect their neighbors and honor the differences that make each country special and unique.

It is why we in the United States have embarked on an exciting program of national renewal. And everything we do, we are focused on empowering the dreams and aspirations of our citizens.

Thanks to our pro-growth economic policies, our domestic unemployment rate reached its lowest level in over half a century. Fueled by massive tax cuts and regulations cuts, jobs are being produced at a historic rate. 6 million Americans have been added to the employment rolls in under three years.

Last month, African-American, Hispanic-American and Asian-American unemployment reached their lowest rates ever recorded. We are marshaling our nation's vast energy abundance and the United States is now the number one producer of oil and natural gas anywhere in the world. Wages are rising. Incomes are soaring. And 2.5 million Americans have been lifted out of poverty in less than three years.

As we rebuild the unrivaled might by the American military, we are also revitalizing our alliances by making it very clear that all of our partners are expected to pay their fair share of the tremendous defense burden, which the United States has borne in the past.

At the center of our vision for national renewal is an ambitious campaign to reform international trade. For decades, the international trading system has been easily exploited by nations acting in very bad faith, as jobs were outsourced, a small handful grew wealthy at the expense of the middle class. In America, the result was 4.2 million lost manufacturing jobs and $15 trillion in trade deficits over the last quarter-century.

The United States is now taking that decisive action to end this grave economic injustice. Our goal is simple. We want balanced trade that is both fair and reciprocal. We have worked closely with our partners in Mexico and Canada to replace NAFTA with the brand new and hopefully bipartisan U.S./Mexico/Canada Agreement.

[10:20:06]

Tomorrow, I will join Prime Minister Abe of Japan to continue our progress and finalizing a terrific new trade deal. As the United Kingdom makes preparations to exit the European Union, I have made clear that we stand ready to complete an exceptional, new trade agreement with the U.K. that will bring tremendous benefits to both of our countries. We are working closely with Prime Minister Boris Johnson on a magnificent new trade deal.

The most important difference in America's new approach on trade concerns our relationship with China. In 2001, China was admitted to the World Trade Organization. Our leaders then argued that this decision would compel China to liberalize its economy and strengthen protections to provide things that were unacceptable to us and for private property and for the rule of law.

Two decades later, this theory has been tested and proven completely wrong. Not only has China declined to adopt promised reforms, it has embraced an economic model dependent on massive market barriers, heavy state subsidies, currency manipulation, product dumping, forced technology transfers and the theft of intellectual property, and also trade secrets on a grand scale.

This is just one example. I recently met the CEO of a terrific American company, Micron Technology, at the White House. Micron produces memory chips used in countless electronics. To advance the Chinese government's five-year economic plan, a company owned by the Chinese state allegedly stole Micron's designs, valued it up to $8.7 billion.

Soon, the Chinese company obtains patents or nearly an identical product and Micron was banned from selling its own goods in China. But we are seeking justice. The United States lost 60,000 factories after China entered the WTO.

This is happening to other countries all over the globe. The World Trade Organization needs drastic change. The second-largest economy in the world should not be permitted to declare itself a developing country in order to game the system at others' expense.

For years, these abuses were tolerated, ignored or even encouraged. Globalism exerted a religious pull over past leaders, causing them to ignore their own national interests. But as far as America is concerned, those days are over.

To confront these unfair practices, I placed massive tariffs on more than $500 billion worth of Chinese-made goods. Already, as a result of these tariffs, supply chains are relocating back to America and to other nations and billions of dollars are being paid to our treasury.

The American people are absolutely committed to restoring balance to our relationship with China. Hopefully we can reach an agreement that will be beneficial for both countries. But as I have made very clear, I will not accept a bad deal for the American people.

As we endeavor to stabilize our relationship, we are also carefully monitoring the situation in Hong Kong. The world fully expects that the Chinese government will honor its binding treaty made with the British and registered with the United Nation in which commits China to protect Hong Kong's freedom, legal system and democratic ways of life.

How China chooses to handle the situation will say a great deal about its role in the world and the future.

[10:25:01]

We are all counting on President Xi as a great leader.

The United States does not seek conflict with any other nation. We desire peace, cooperation and mutual gain with all. But I will never fail to defend America's interests.

One of the greatest security threats facing peace-loving nations today is the repressive regime in Iran. The regime's record of death and destruction is well-known to us all. Not only is Iran the world's number one state sponsor of terrorism but Iran's leaders are fueling the tragic wars in Syria and Yemen.

At the same time, the regime is squandering the nation's wealth and future in a fanatical quest for nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them. We must never allow this to happen. To stop Iran's path to nuclear weapons and missiles, I withdrew the United States from the terrible Iran nuclear deal, which has very little time remaining, did not allow inspection of important sites and did not cover ballistic missiles.

Following our withdrawal, we have implemented severe economic sanctions on the country. Hoping to free itself from sanctions, the regime has escalated its violent and unprovoked aggression. In response to Iran's recent attack on Saudi Arabia oil facilities, we just imposed the highest level of sanctions on Iran's Central Bank and Sovereign Wealth Fund.

All nations have a duty to act. No responsible government should subsidize Iran's bloodlust. As long as Iran's menacing behavior continues, sanctions will not be lifted. They will be tightened. Iran's leader will have turned a proud nation into just another cautionary tale of what happens when a ruling class abandons its people and embarks on a crusade for personal power and riches.

For 40 years, the world has listened to Iran's rulers, as they lash out at everyone else for the problems they alone have created. They conduct ritual chants of death to America and traffic in monstrous anti-Semitism. Last year, the country's supreme leader stated Israel is a malignant, cancerous tumor that has to be removed and eradicated. It is possible and it will happen. America will never tolerate such anti-Semitic hate.

Fanatics have long used hatred of Israel to distract from their own failures. Thankfully, there is a growing recognition in the wider Middle East that the countries of the region share common interests in battling extremism and unleashing economic opportunity. That is why it's important to have full normalized relations between Israel and its neighbors. Only a relationship built on common interest, mutual respect and religious tolerance can forge a better future. Iran's citizens deserve a government that cares about reducing poverty, ending corruption and increasing jobs, not stealing their money, to fund a massacre abroad and at home. After four decades of failure, it is time for Iran's leaders to step forward and to stop threatening other countries and focus on building up their own country. It is time for Iran's leaders to finally put the Iranian people first. America is ready to embrace friendship with all who genuinely seek peace and respect.

[10:30:00]

Many of America's closest friends today were once our greatest foes. The United States has never belived in permanent enemies.