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Pensacola Shooting; Trump And Impeachment; Giuliani Ally From Ukraine Says He'll Testify To U.S. Senate; North Korean Ambassador: Denuclearization Is Off The Negotiating Table; Trump Soft On Saudi Arabia Following Pensacola Naval Station Shooting; Nearly 700,000 Americans To Lose Food Stamps After Trump Administration Tightens Work Requirement Rules; President Trump's Struggles With Umbrellas. Aired 5-6p ET

Aired December 07, 2019 - 17:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

ANA CABRERA, CNN ANCHOR: You are live in the CNN NEWSROOM. Thank you for staying with me. I'm Ana Cabrera in New York.

Our breaking news here on CNN, major new details emerging from that horrific and deadly mass shooting at a U.S. Navy base in Florida. A U.S.-based intelligence group now revealing that the Saudi national who shot and killed three people and wounded eight others in Pensacola yesterday harbored what is being described as extreme anti-American views. The group found other things that it believes the shooter wrote online. I'll take you live to Saudi Arabia in just a moment.

This is also the day that we learn the name and some of the details about one of the victims of the senseless violence. Ensign Joshua Kaleb Watson was just 23 years old, fresh out of the naval academy. He was working on his goal to become a naval aviator. His family released a heart-breaking statement today, calling him a hero, praising his courage, and expressing how proud they are of him.

Also today, the Navy says that despite the killings at the base in Pensacola Friday, and in Hawaii just two days before, there is no plan to make changes to security measures on Navy bases in the United States. The secretary of Defense, also today, saying it's too early to apply the label, terrorism, to this mass killing in Florida.

Our International Diplomatic Editor, Nic Robertson is in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for us. Nic, I mentioned, just now, that a noted intelligence group had put together a profile of this Saudi military man who shot three people to death yesterday. What do they say about him?

NIC ROBERTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, one of the things that we understand is from this tweet that appears perhaps to have come from him in the minutes before the attack, it appears to be, potentially, some sort of explanation that he's leaving behind. And he clearly states that he -- that he is angry with Americans.

And he quotes from Osama Bin Laden, he quotes from another former Al Qaeda leader, Anwar Al-Awlaki, a Yemeni cleric. Of course, Yemen right next to Saudi Arabia here, saying things like, you know, the United States or U.S. citizens won't be safe as long as there are American troops in Muslim lands. That's an old Al Qaeda narrative that we've heard before.

Now, if, and it's at this stage only, if this does prove to be his, then this will shed a different -- a much harsher light on this particular incident. Now, President Trump, again today, talking about his conversation with the Saudis, Saudi King Salman, saying that, again with the king, he is promising to get to the bottom of what happened here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I spoke with the king of Saudi Arabia. They are devastated in Saudi Arabia. We're finding out what took place, whether it's one person or a number of people. And the king will be involved in taking care of families and loved ones. He feels very strongly. He's very, very devastated by what happened, what took place. Likewise, the crown prince. They are devastated by what took place in Pensacola. And I think they're going to help out the families very greatly.

But, right now, they send their condolences. And, as you know, I've sent my condolences. It's a very shocking thing. And we'll find out -- we'll get to the bottom of it very quickly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: So, the motivation behind this attack, that's the key. His family here telling us that they haven't seen any kind of, sort of, offbeat behavior by him or attitudes. They are struggling to find the motivation to this as well.

CABRERA: Wow. Nic Robertson, so much more to uncover. Thank you for that reporting.

Let's get down to Pensacola, Florida. The still very active crime scene where that Saudi national lieutenant and the Saudi Air Force opened fire and killed three people. CNN's Brynn Gingras is there for us. Brynn, of course security and safety are on everyone's minds there, after this horrific mass shooting. And now, the secretary of Defense is talking about where the Pentagon goes from here, and whether he's treating this attack as an act of terrorism. What are we hearing from Mark Esper?

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Ana, from right the get-go, right, this investigation, there's always -- in many cases, they ask that question. Is there a possibility of terrorism? And there is still no definite answer.

And so, Defense Secretary Esper was, sort of, talking to that point. But they can't put a label on this investigation or this motivation.

[17:05:02] As you heard from Nic, they don't know the motivation just yet. But that's, really, what the Defense secretary was talking about. Listen to that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK ESPER, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: I can't say it's terrorism, at this time. I think we need to let the investigators, the FBI, do its work and tell us -- get us the facts, and we'll move on from there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GINGRAS: Yes. And that's exactly what they're doing, Ana. It's a global investigation at that -- at this point. We know from the FBI, Jacksonville field office which is the lead on this investigation, that the Joint Terrorism Task Force is part of this investigation, as well as the criminal investigation program, who has people on the ground here, on the naval base. So, Basically, going through that crime scene. It's enormous. It's two floors of that training facility, trying to collect evidence both indoors and outdoors.

We've also learned from a source that there are other, some other Saudi nationals that have been detained, are being questioned, at some point throughout this investigation, to try to get more answers as to that motivation. Presumably, they are going to be asked about the demeanor of this gunman. What were his movements, prior to Friday morning when this all took place? So, motivation is going to be a big key with this investigation.

Now, of course, this is happening in Pensacola. People here, in Pensacola, say that this town, this city was built around this naval academy. And they are heartbroken as to what happened. We're still waiting to find out the names of the people that were killed in this incident. Three in total and others injured. We're told that the FBI is really going by naval protocol, which is to wait 24 hours after the notice of next of kin.

But we do know, as you mentioned earlier to your viewers, at least one person, his name is Joshua Watson, 23 years old. His family going to Facebook and, really, calling him a hero. He came here to the naval academy wanting to be a jet fighter pilot. And he was about to do his training. And, certainly, people here are now hearing that name and people are heartbroken.

I spoke to one woman, not too long ago, who brought her daughters out here to lay a wreath for all of those who were part of this, even first responders. And she was heartbroken, grabbing her daughters a little bit closer to here now.

I also want to quickly mention, before I go, Ana, that we have two deputies, sheriff's deputies, who responded to that call immediately, within minutes, that were injured in this incident. One underwent surgery this morning, is expected to be OK and be released, at some point, from the hospital. The other has been released since from the hospital and is doing OK -- Ana.

CABRERA: OK. Brynn Gingras, so much there, thank you for that reporting.

I want to bring in CNN Legal and National Security Analyst, and former FBI Special Agent, Asha Rangappa; and CNN National Security Analyst Juliette Kayyem.

So, Asha, let me start with you. As an investigator, what would be happening right now, especially since we don't know the motive and this involves another country?

ASHA RANGAPPA, CNN LEGAL AND NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Yes. So, right now, you would have the normal investigative steps, maybe executing a search warrant. Interviewing people who knew this person. Looking at their computer. Things that they've written. The problem, Ana, is that a lot of this stuff might be located in Saudi Arabia.

And the FBI can't, you know, get a search warrant and march into Saudi Arabia and execute it. And that's why they use, when they have these crossovers internationally, what's called a legal attache in a foreign embassy, or a legate. We have 63 of these around the world. And agents there liaise with the local law enforcement to obtain the evidence they need.

So, I think a big question here is how cooperative will Saudi Arabia be since we are incredibly reliant on them in getting a lot of the evidence that the FBI is going to need to create the full picture that they would, say, if this was just an American.

CABRERA: Right. And, Juliette, according to "The New York Times," the gunman showed videos of mass shootings at a dinner party the night before he carried out this shooting. This is the new information we are just getting in. What is your reaction to that?

JULIETTE KAYYEM, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: So, this is the big question, just picking up on what Asha said. We have so many questions. So, it is not like someone wakes up and does this.

We see, in each of these cases, they are -- they leave hints. What was his motivation? Had he talked to people? Did he have coconspirators? Did friends express concern? Did his teachers, or anyone in the U.S. military, ever express concern to higher ups?

Did Saudi Arabia, through their surveillance programs or when he returned home, pick up on an increased radicalization and fail to tell us? Did Saudi Arabia not have a proper vetting, when he first got in several years ago? Dozens of questions that have to be answered by the FBI, or are going to be investigated by the FBI, completely dependent on Saudi Arabia.

So, one of my concerns about, sort of, you know, I think it's great that Saudi Arabia is expressing concern and apologies. Is the United States government, in the form of Secretary of State Pompeo or President Donald Trump, need to not come to conclusions yet, because we simply don't know yet what the motivation is and whether there will be criminal liability for him or anyone else, at this stage.

CABRERA: So, Asha, this video of mass shootings apparently shown at a dinner party.

[17:10:03]

That seems like major information for the FBI.

RANGAPPA: Absolutely. And I think that one of the big questions is going to be, you know, these people that he was watching this with, was this something coordinated or planned? As Juliette said, you don't just wake up and do this. You know, we've had lone wolf actors. If this was, you know, done with some kind of coordinated activity, that takes it into a different category.

I think another question will be, what kind of weapons did he use and how did he get them? Here, people who are here on a nonimmigrant visa are not allowed to purchase weapons under federal law, except for certain exceptions. So, you know, did he fall under these exceptions? And did he have a firearm anyway or was -- did he get these illegally and how did that fall through the cracks if that was the case?

CABRERA: And what we do know about the vetting, Juliette. As Mark Esper is saying, --

KAYYEM: Yes.

CABRERA: -- they're taking another look at the vetting process, especially for these foreign nationals. It already contains a number of steps, though, including an in-country screening. So, prior to them coming here, it involves searching databases for evidence of drug trafficking, support of terrorist activity, corruption and criminal conduct. What more could be done?

KAYYEM: Well, I think, in this instance, the question we have is, should there be recurring vetting? And so, in other words, what happens is DOD does a review with the partner country. The person is allowed in. He's here for several years.

A lot happens in several years and we have to be careful about motivation. Was he radicalized some way? Was this a crime of passion? We simply don't know yet, although it does seem like we're starting to see evidence that this was a politically motivated activity or killing.

And so, that's the -- that's the -- I think, for the Pentagon, the question is, should we do recurring vetting? Now, to make it clear here, Saudi Arabia has only one interest, at this stage. It is to protect its military liaison program. It represents 20 percent of a program that brings in 5,000 foreign nationals to be trained at our military facilities. Saudi Arabia has about a thousand of those slots.

So, Saudi Arabia's motivation is to simply say, he was an outlier. There is no problem with the program. We want our guys, mostly guys, to be trained because we buy so many U.S. military assets, including, of course, airplanes. And so, that's Saudi Arabia's motivation which is very different than our motivation, the United States, to make sure this doesn't happen. And to make sure anyone involved is criminal prosecuted. And, obviously, does not get to the needs of the parents or the Navy family or the Navy community, at this stage.

You can -- you can give money to people to make them feel better, but that does not answer the question about whether this could have been stopped and whether people, both within the United States and Saudi Arabia, knew that this was a person who was, you know, showing videos of dead Americans the night before he did this.

CABRERA: But here's the thing. I mean, he passed the vetting before he came to the U.S.

KAYYEM: Yes.

CABRERA: He's been in the U.S. for two years. We are learning there was another, sort of, run through the vetting process after this shooting to see, like, gosh, did we miss something? And he passed it again. Asha, I mean, how do you make sense of that? Apparently, there were, you know, anti-American views, according to this intel group site, that they believe are connected to this individual. And then, we hear about showing mass shooting videos at a dinner party the night before.

RANGAPPA: Right. I mean, I think that -- I would think that they would review the vetting procedures and make sure that they were conducted properly, A, of all. And B, of all, if there is something new that's coming up that the current procedures don't address, then you need to revise those. I mean, for example, on the FBI, after we caught Robert Hansen, we started giving polygraphs every five years to FBI agents.

So, you know, you always have to keep evolving, as you uncover new threats that, you know, he might be a one-off. But if our procedures aren't enough to even catch the one-off, then, you know, it might be worth revisiting them.

CABRERA: They aren't calling this terrorism yet. And that's interesting they haven't put that label, even as we learn more and more information. I also wonder if, you know, in fact, there was this viewing of the video of a mass shooting, would that help them determine what the motive might be, if they look at what the video, itself, contained? Because we've covered mass shootings, some, that are terrorist related and others that aren't. I think of, --

RANGAPPA: Right.

CABRERA: -- you know, San Bernardino or the Pulse nightclub, that was in that terrorism category. But then, you have others, like, you know, the Aurora theater shooting, that weren't.

RANGAPPA: Right. So, our laws are kind of a little weird in this way. When you have a shooting, it needs to somehow be connected to or motivated by, you know, a terrorist ideology or foreign terrorist organization to, really, fall in that category. Whereas, for example, if it were -- if an explosive were used, it wouldn't matter. That would still fall under the definition of terrorism.

And I think Juliette would probably be able to break these down. This is what she did. But I think that because this is a shooting, that's why the motivation becomes so central, in terms of how to classify this and what tools would be available to law enforcement.

[17:15:03]

CABRERA: Quick, final thought, Juliette, for us.

KAYYEM: There's a -- yes, I mean, so, there's a political meaning to terrorism, and this is why the United States is being, I think, cautious. We'll wait for the FBI to come up with the legal definition which is -- which is Saudi Arabia is not a -- is not agnostic to sending terrorists to the United States, as we know from 911.

And so, I think the caution that you're hearing now is, simply, can we prove the case? Because to call him a terrorist without that, sort of, evidentiary, even if it seems obvious to us now. Background is a political statement and we know that this is also a political case.

And it's interesting that the king called Donald Trump and not the crown prince. This is how high this has gotten in Saudi Arabia. They want to protect this program. They want their service members to be able to come here, so they are going to do everything to make sure that they depoliticize it, especially in light of the Khashoggi killing, which they were responsible for, in terms of the politics of what that has meant with our relationship with Saudi Arabia.

CABRERA: All right, Juliette Kayyem and Asha Rangappa, thank you, ladies.

More breaking news.

KAYYEM: Thank you.

CABRERA: President Trump touting his attorney, Rudy Giuliani's, trip to Ukraine to dig up dirt on his political rivals, even teasing that Giuliani has found plenty.

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

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CABRERA: This just in. President Trump not trying to distance himself from his attorney Rudy Giuliani's brazen trip to Ukraine to dig up dirt on the president's political rivals.

[17:20:00]

Yes, the very thing that contributed to the president's current impeachment predicament. It's also very similar to what the president was investigated for in 2016 with Russia.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Rudy, as you know, has been one of the great crime fighters of the last 50 years. And he did get back from Europe, just recently, and I know -- he has not told me what he found. But I think he wants to go before Congress and say, and also to the attorney general, and to the Department of Justice. I hear he has found plenty.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: To be very clear, Giuliani has made no secret about what he is trying to do or who he's meeting with. For instance, earlier this week, he was pictured with this former Ukrainian diplomat who wrote, to all conspiracy theorists, there is no secret on what we are doing. The truth will come out.

Now, this former diplomat has pushed that debunked conspiracy theory, that it was Ukraine not Russia that meddled in our last presidential election. And, yet, this appears to be the type of person Giuliani is getting information from. Information the president says will be presented to the attorney general.

With us now, former Clinton White House press secretary, Joe Lockhart, and Host of "S.E. CUPP UNFILTERED" here on CNN at the top of hour, S.E. Cupp. Good to have you both here. Joe, put on your old press secretary hat and sell this to us as ethically and legally sound.

JOE LOCKHART, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: No comment. The best I can do for this.

CABRERA: Take a day off.

LOCKHART: Yes, take a day off. Take the whole weekend off on this one. This -- I mean, I think the hardest thing that came out of this week, for the Democrats on the impeachment hearings, was, why don't you wait until all the information comes in? Why are you rushing? This is Exhibit A of why they're rushing. All of this stuff is going on and the president is still pursuing the criminal acts that he's being accused of with Rudy Giuliani over in Ukraine.

CABRERA: From a (INAUDIBLE) that Involved foreign election interference.

LOCKHART: Yes. So, the -- it absolutely bolstered the Democrats' case that we have to move forward now, because he wants to corrupt the elections. He's doing it.

CABRERA: And, now, we have the tab on your screen here say, presidency in peril. Do you find this is like a president just grasping at straws here?

S.E. CUPP, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, yes and no. I mean, the president is -- Democrats want to rush this, both because of what Joe is talking about, but also because we're running up against a 2020 election time clock. And that does not actually benefit Democrats. That benefits President Trump.

So, in that regard, I don't think he's in peril. I think he's going to try to use this to his advantage. But, of course, on the other side, you have to look at the optics of a president being impeached, only the third in history potentially. Despite being down what will likely be partisan lines, that's not a small thing. And that the president is doing the very thing he will likely be impeached for and will continue to do it, probably, is a big deal. And voters will have to ask themselves, do we have to hold this guy accountable or not?

CABRERA: And the other thing that's interesting that we've learned is that the president and his lawyers will not participate in any of the House impeachment hearings. They had the deadline yesterday. They said, no thank you. We know the hearings begin this week and continue on. And this is a president who has previously said there was no due process and was arguing about that.

LOCKHART: Right.

CABRERA: This president is a fighter and, yet, he doesn't want to show up for these hearings. What do you think the strategy is, Joe?

LOCKHART: Well, I think the strategy is to delegitimize the entire process. The process has been run according to the rules, according -- you know, basically to the rules the Republicans passed in 2015. So, the process is completely legitimate. It's a serious, serious issue. But they don't want to participate because by participating they believe they legitimize it.

Now, the other thing I'd say is that every argument they have used, from the White House to the GOP, and it's changed -- they change about every three days when the argument collapses. So, the last one to collapse was we have no due process because they didn't show up.

CABRERA: Right. And let me show you the list of Republican witnesses. The ones they want to call. It includes the Bidens. It includes Congressman Adam Schiff, the whistle-blower. This isn't realistic, is it?

CUPP: Probably not. I don't think Democrats are going to agree to that. I think they're very satisfied with the witnesses that they did bring in. And I think that's why you saw Nancy Pelosi decide this week, OK, we're doing it. Let's get this ball rolling. Enough of the process. We're ready. And I don't think they're going to give in to any Republican demands. They don't have any incentive to.

CABRERA: Speaking of Nancy Pelosi and the strategy as they move forward, because the Articles of Impeachment are going to be written, potentially this week. They could even have a vote on them this week in the Judiciary Committee.

Joe, what do you think Democrats should do, when it comes to whether to include anything from the Mueller report?

LOCKHART: I, personally, think they should include it, because it establishes a pattern of behavior.

[17:25:00]

I believe they won't, because I think there is a sentiment, particularly among some of the more vulnerable Democrats, that the more you throw in there and that a lot of their constituents wrongly believe that the president was exonerated by the Mueller report, that they just don't want to have that fight. So, my guess is that it won't be in, but I personally think it should be in.

CABRERA: What do you think, S.E.?

CUPP: I think so, too. I mean, I agree completely. I think they won't do it. And I understand minding those moderate Democrats and their concerns. I understand that because impeachment is political and there are consequences for it.

But, if it were me, I would put everything that I thought was really bad and impeachable in there. I would offer up every terrible thing that you believe he's done so that every member of Congress and the Senate has to vote on all of these things and have a public record on being either for or against. OK with or not OK with this laundry list of abuses of power. We haven't been able to hold them accountable. Republicans have been able to dodge all of -- all of this. This would put them all on the record, and I want to know what they all think about each one of these.

CABRERA: Well, it's interesting you say that, because Congressman Jim Hynes said this, and I quote. "I don't know how you could look at Volume 2, where Bob Mueller says there are 10 instances about obstruction of justice, a crime that would send every other American to jail, and say, yes, we just ought to just let that slide.

CUPP: Right.

LOCKHART: Yes.

CABRERA: But do you think Democrats are prepared to do that?

LOCKHART: I think that this is a really difficult decision for Pelosi. I think if you're sitting in Congressman Jim Himes' district, you want to put it in. If you're sitting --

CUPP: Yes, he can afford to. It's my district. He can afford to.

LOCKHART: Yes. If you are sitting in Abigail Spanberger's district in Richmond, it's not. I mean, it goes to some of the, sort of, meta issues here which is that the public is still -- no matter how much this is reported on, half the public still thinks that Ukraine meddled in the election. It's at 30 percent of Democrats think Ukraine meddled in the election. So, you've got to deal with the situation that's on the ground.

I agree with S.E. that, you know, people should go on the record. But what we've learned, in the last couple weeks, is Republicans in the House will have no problem going on the record defending the president. And my guess is they'll have no problem in the Senate either. That it is not a hard choice.

In 1998, this was a hard choice for Democrats to let Clinton slide for what he did. And you can go back and see the public statements and the criticism that he came under from Democrats. The world has changed radically in the last 20 years. CABRERA: Right. Joe Lockhart, S.E. Cupp, thank you, both. And

S.E.'s show is at the top of the hour, "S.E. CUPP UNFILTERED" right here on CNN. Please stick around for that.

After North Korea's ominous morning to the U.S. prepare for a Christmas gift. Officials now say denuclearization talks are off the table. So, what does that mean for negotiations going forward? We'll discuss live in the CNN Newsroom.

[17:27:56]

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[17:31:50]

CABRERA: The president's personal lawyer has even mystified some of Mr. President Trump's die-hard supporters with that trip to Ukraine this week. But now we've gotten word of one result. One of Rudy Giuliani's allies has agreed to talk to investigators in the U.S. Senate.

Andriy Telizhenko is a former Ukrainian diplomat, who has promoted a debunked conspiracy theory that Ukraine, not Russia, conspired to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. He says he will be interviewed on Ukraine, the 2016 election and the DNC.

Once again, listen to former National Security Council official, Fiona Hill, on this topic.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FIONA HILL, FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICIAL: This is a fictional narrative that has been perpetrated and propagated by the Russian security services themselves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: Max Boot is our global affairs analyst and a senior fellow on the Council for Foreign Relations.

Max, good to have you here.

It is clear the president and his allies don't care that this is a debunked conspiracy theory that fuels what Russia wants to have happen here, this disinformation to be spread. and doubt cast on whether they were responsible. And, yet it seems to be a key part of the president's defense in this impeachment inquiry.

Do you think they just believe if they keep saying this that that's what eventually people will believe?

MAX BOOT, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Yes. I think Trump and Giuliani are basically showing their contempt for the impeachment process because they seem to be doing the very same thing now that Trump is getting impeached for, which is trying to solicit Ukrainian interference in our politics.

The best summary I saw was in the "Washington Post" quoting a Trump donor who said, "The fact that Giuliani is back in Ukraine is like a murder suspect returning to the crime scene to livestream themselves moon dancing. It's brazen on a galactic level." That is absolutely correct.

CABRERA: What does Giuliani have to gain by continuing on with this path in the Ukraine?

BOOT: Well, I think what he is basically doing is he is trying to show there's nothing wrong with what he did before by continuing to do it, even though we all know it is wrong but he is pretending it isn't.

And he is somehow hoping to vindicate their crazy conspiracy theory about Ukrainian interference in our politics or about Joe Biden's supposedly illicit activities in Ukraine.

None of this is true but Rudy Giuliani is still trying to make the case, even as his boss is getting impeached for this very kind of conduct.

CABRERA: Let's pivot to North Korea. Here is the president today trying to cool the rhetoric. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We'll see about North Korea. I'd be surprised if North Korea acted hostilely. I have a good relationship with Kim Jong-Un. I think we both want to keep it that way. He knows I have an election coming up. I don't think he wants to interfere with that. But we'll have to see.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: So that's the president of the United States on a day when North Korea's ambassador to the U.N. said, denuclearization is off the table in talks with the U.S. In fact, no need for any lengthy talks.

BOOT: I think that President Trump is going to be in for a nasty surprise before too long. I mean, it is pretty interesting that he thinks Kim Jong-Un wants to help him get re-elected. That was kind of the import of what he said.

[17:35:02]

In fact, there's a different signal coming from Pyongyang where, for months, Kim Jong-Un has been pretty consistent in saying that, unless there's a very generous deal that is done by the United States by the end of the year, they will return to a much more hardline policy, which means more provocations like hacking or longer range missile tests ramping up their pressure on South Korea, Japan, and the United States.

And it's clear a deal is not going to get done by the end of the year. So, you know, I think we need to be prepared for a greater level of hostility from North Korea.

And, you know, Trump is just whistling past the graveyard if he thinks that Kim Jong-Un loves him so much he is going to hold off on ramping up the pressure.

CABRERA: Max, I also want to ask you about this shooting in Pensacola as we learn more information about the shooter. He was a Saudi national doing military training here in the U.S.

Here is what the president said earlier today on that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I spoke with the king of Saudi Arabia. They are devastated in Saudi Arabia. We're finding out what took place. Whether it's one person or a number of people. And the king will be involved in taking care of families and loved ones. He feels very strongly. He is very, very devastated by what happened.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: Max, what do you read into the president's message as he talks about how Saudi Arabia is handling all of this and its role?

BOOT: Well, it is striking the extent to which Trump is really a spokesman for the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Imagine how he would have reacted to this terrorist attack if the shooter had been, let's say, a Mexican immigrant or a Muslim immigrant from any other country in the world other than Saudi Arabia.

It doesn't take a lot of imagination to imagine that he would be foaming at the mouth about this animal, this horrible act. We have to do something.

This is what he said before. after previous terrorist attacks not just in the U.S. but all over the world. And he is very understanding and forgiving when it is a Saudi national, Saudi military officer who has gunned down a number of Americans in Pensacola.

Which is very much in line with the way Trump basically did nothing after the Saudis murdered and dismembered my "Washington Post" colleague. Jamal Khashoggi.

Very, very pro Saudi in his orientation. I'm not sure we know exactly why.

CABRERA: Max Boot, as always, thank you.

BOOT: Thank you.

CABRERA: We'll be right back.

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[17:41:25] CABRERA: Nearly 700,000 Americans will lose access to food stamps after the Trump administration tightened the rules requiring more recipients to work. The Trump administration says this move will energize nonworking Americans to pursue and get jobs.

But as CNN's Dianne Gallagher reports, experts say this rule change may achieve just the opposite.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TIMOTHY FREEMAN, FORMER FOOD STAMP RECIPIENT: It's very expensive being poor, very.

DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Timothy Freeman says food stamps helped him survive during tough periods of life. And he believes changes being made to government assistance will hurt, not help, his community on Atlanta's West Side.

(on camera): How many people do you know who receive some kind of or have received some kind of food assistance?

FREEMAN: Out of 10? Nine people out of 10 around here, men and women.

GALLAGHER (voice-over): Wednesday, the Trump administration revealed a change that the USDA estimates could result in nearly 700,000 Americans losing their food stamps by requiring them to work 20 hours a week before receiving the benefits.

In his neighborhood, Freeman says it's not that easy. People are dealing with limitations, ranging from lack of transportation to criminal records, and looking for a job while hungry doesn't help.

FREEMAN: It is just going to make things worse and worse and worse. Over here, we don't have much room for things to get any worse.

GALLAGHER: The new rule is set to take effect in April. Now, currently, the food stamp program requires only non-disabled working- age adults without dependents to have jobs.

SONNY PERDUE, AGRICULTURE SECRETARY: What we want to do is increase employment. We need these people in the work force.

GALLAGHER: But states can currently waive the work requirement for areas where unemployment is at least 10 percent or there are not enough open jobs available.

The new rules would limit states from doing that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CABRERA: That was Dianne Gallagher reporting.

We are staying on top of breaking news this hour. The "New York Times" reporting the gunman in the Pensacola Navy base shooting showed videos of mass shootings at a dinner party the night before the attack.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:47:26]

CABRERA: "A day that will live in infamy" were the words of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor 78 years ago today. More than 2400 Americans died that day, almost half of them on one battleship, the USS Arizona.

This attack was pivotal. It was a pivotal moment that led to the U.S. entering World War II.

A remembrance ceremony was held today at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial honoring all those who lost their lives or were injured during the raid. Of the three remaining survivors from the USS Arizona only one was in attendance at the event.

And at a striking moment, the superintendent of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial also reflected on the two shootings at Navy facilities just this week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACQUELINE ASHWELL, SUPERINTENDENT, PEARL HARBOR NATIONAL MEMORIAL: I wish to take a brief moment to offer the condolences of the National Park Service to our Navy colleagues and to their families in the wake of the tragic events that unfolded earlier this week at the Pearl Harbor shipyard, as well as the events yesterday in Florida. We are thinking of you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: Now to a sweet story from Michigan. Take a look at this. A boy bouncing around. You see him there. That is 5-year-old Michael. When he showed up at the courthouse in Grand Rapids Thursday for an adoption hearing with his foster parents, he had this unusual crowd of supporters. It was his entire kindergarten class. His adoptive parents and the judge were thrilled.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED ADOPTIVE MOTHER: He brings us a lot of joy. He is so full of energy and so full of love. And it's just been great for everybody.

UNIDENTIFIED JUDGE; Never have experienced this before. It was loads of fun. And the kids were into it and supporting their best friend.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: Best wishes, of course, to Michael and his new family.

For many, this time of year is about giving back, but the 13th annual "CNN HEROES, AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE," salutes 10 people who put others first all year long. The star-studded gala event airs live tomorrow night at 8:00 eastern here on CNN.

Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED CNN HERO: There's a saying in Ethiopia: People are medicine for people.

(SINGING)

UNIDENTIFIED CNN HERO: What we do here is provide food, clothing and shelter, and a whole lot of love.

(SINGING)

UNIDENTIFIED CNN HERO: To give children a place to mourn their loss and tell their story.

ANNOUNCER: They're the best the world has to offer.

UNIDENTIFIED CNN HERO: We're going to start a program and we're going to help people.

UNIDENTIFIED CNN HERO: I'm feeling the love.

ANNOUNCER: They're heroes today and every day.

[17:50:01]

UNIDENTIFIED CNN HERO: I think we must talk less and do action more.

UNIDENTIFIED CNN HERO: Video games are an incredible source of relief during difficult times.

UNIDENTIFIED CNN HERO: We purchased R.V.s and give it to a family who lost their home in a fire.

(SINGING)

UNIDENTIFIED CNN HERO: Many of our kids come to us traumatized. I just want to see them happy.

UNIDENTIFIED CNN HERO: It impacts those who don't feel they have a voice.

ANNOUNCER: Join Anderson Cooper and Kelly Ripa live as they name the 2019 "CNN Hero" of the year.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR & CNN HOST, "A.C. 360" & CNN HEROES HOST: Our heroes are incredible people.

KELLY RIPA, CNN HEROES HOST: Their work and they're stories will inspire you tonight.

ANNOUNCER: "CNN HEROES: AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE" December 8th at 8:00 p.m. on CNN. (END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CABRERA: Jeanne Moos shows us the art of the umbrella.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just as a new book told of separate bedrooms on separate floors of the White House, President Trump and the first lady deployed separate umbrellas as they boarded Air Force One. Then it was time to coordinate the closing.

The art of the umbrella, presidential edition.

Instead of providing cover, sometimes they turn on the president of the free world.

Presidents have been skewered and poked.

Chelsea Clinton was almost blinded by her mom's umbrella.

Bill dripped on Hillary.

Hillary got mobbed.

HILLARY CLINTON, (D), FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE & FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: -- this extraordinary institution.

(LAUGHTER)

MOOS: Umbrella etiquette can be a minefield.

[17:55:04]

BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Mr. Prime Minister, do you want an umbrella?

MOOS: President Obama asked for umbrellas for himself and Turkey's prime minister.

OBAMA: Why don't we get a couple Marines. They're going to look good next to us.

MOOS: Oh, the Marines did look good.

OBAMA: They there we go. That's good.

MOOS: But was it a good look?

Lou Dobbs called it "disrespectful, inconsiderate, classless."

"Real men don't use umbrellas," got secured by four presidents, four umbrellas.

When President Trump left his son and wife out in the rain, he was called an umbrella hog.

In contrast to President Obama sheltering his staff and handing over his umbrella to his daughter.

(on camera): President Trump did just desert his wife and son. He even abandoned his own umbrella.

(voice-over): As he boarded Air Force One, he couldn't or wouldn't close it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you going to do? Are you (EXPLETIVE DELETED) kidding me?

(LAUGHTER)

(APPLAUSE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're just going to leave it there and walk onto the plane?

MOOS: It got its own "Trump's Sad Umbrella" Twitter account.

"Lost and forgotten like tears in the rain."

STEPHEN COLBERT, HOST, "THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT": You can't just drop an umbrella when you're done with it. It's not a wife.

(LAUGHTER)

MOOS: One aide walked right by it. Finally, somebody finally picked it up.

Seems like Air Force One itself is easier to close than a presidential umbrella.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York City.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CABRERA: I'm Ana Cabrera. See you back in an hour.

"S.E. CUPP UNFILTERED" is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)