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Stark Contrasts Between Biden and Trump on Thanksgiving; Trump Pardons Loyalist Michael Flynn; U.S. Seeing Surge in Cases, Deaths and Hospitalizations; South Korea Hits Highest Number of Cases in Eight Months. Aired 4-5a ET

Aired November 26, 2020 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:19]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States and all around the world. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM, and I'm Rosemary Church.

Just ahead, two leaders, two entirely different messages.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH (voice-over): U.S. President-elect Joe Biden calls for unity as Donald Trump keeps insisting the election was rigged. Also this morning.

DR. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, BIDEN-HARRIS COVID-19 ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER: We have to understand we're in a very dangerous place. People have to stop swapping air. It's just that simple.

CHURCH: A new COVID warning, the Thanksgiving surge could lead to an even deadlier Christmas surge.

And the soccer world says good-bye to one of its greatest players ever, Diego Maradona.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH (on camera): Good to have you with us. It is of course Thanksgiving Day in the United States, and the messages from President-elect Joe Biden and President Donald Trump could not be more different. In a Thanksgiving address on Wednesday, Biden said Americans can still be thankful despite the sacrifices brought on by the pandemic. Biden is staying home this holiday with his wife, daughter and son-in-law.

By contrast, President Trump's message encouraged Americans to gather together as they normally would. A frontline medical worker called that message an abject failure of leadership. While the pandemic rages, Mr. Trump remains fixated on his election loss to Biden, again falsely claiming he won by a lot, his words.

He's using the final days of his presidency to absolve loyalists of wrong doing. On Wednesday, he pardoned Michael Flynn, his former National Security adviser who lied to the FBI about his contacts with Russian officials.

But the president has been silent on the pandemic, even as American hospitals treat more COVID patients than ever before. Deaths have soared past 2,000 people for a second straight day. One medical expert warns that figure will likely double to 4,000 in the next 10 days.

We get more on the president-elect's message from CNN's MJ Lee.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENT-ELECT: Life is going to return to normal, I promise you. This will happen. This will not last forever.

MJ LEE, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: President-elect Joe Biden sharing a Thanksgiving message with the nation on Wednesday.

BIDEN: I know that this time of year can be especially difficult. Believe me. I know. I remember that first Thanksgiving, the empty chair, the silence. Takes your breath away. It's really hard to care. It's hard to give thanks. It's hard to even think of looking forward. And it's so hard to hope. I understand.

LEE: Speaking from Wilmington, Delaware, Biden discussing the sacrifices Americans are making as coronavirus cases surge across the country.

BIDEN: We fought nearly a yearlong battle with a virus that has devastated this nation. It's brought us pain and loss and frustration, and has cost so many lives. We need to remember, we're at war with the virus, not with one another.

LEE: After weeks of delay, the Biden transition team now receiving access to classified information.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We believe that we've been getting the information that our teams need.

LEE: And announcing Biden will receive his first Presidential Daily Briefing since becoming president-elect on Monday. The former vice president also preparing to announce some members of his economic team next week. Biden expected to nominate former Federal Reserve chairwoman Janet Yellen as his Treasure secretary.

Biden predicting that the challenges that confront his future government will be without precedent. And entirely unique from those he faced as Barack Obama's vice president.

BIDEN: This is not a third Obama term because there's -- we face a totally different world than we faced in the Obama-Biden administration. President Trump has changed the landscape.

LEE: Biden also insisting that as he builds out his administration, a major focus will be bridging political divides across the country and that he's even open to adding Republicans to his team.

BIDEN: The purpose of our administration is once again to unite. We can't keep this virulent and political dialogue going. It has to end.

[04:05:02]

LEE: Every move from Biden and his transition team seeming designed to draw stark contrast to President Trump. No single national issue more top of mind than the COVID-19 crisis. Biden's transition team receiving briefings on everything from vaccine distribution, testing and PPE supply chains.

Dr. Anthony Fauci saying he has been in touch with Biden's top aides including his incoming chief of staff.

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: I have been in contact with Ron Klain telling me that we're going to be talking about this very soon now that the transition is in process.

LEE (on camera): Now as we head into an unusual and tough holiday season for so many Americans, Joe Biden saying that his family is no exception. He said that for many years his family has had the tradition of traveling out of state so that they can have a big family gathering for Thanksgiving, but not this year. He is staying put with his wife here in Delaware, and they are only going to be doing a very small family gathering.

MJ Lee, CNN, Rehoboth, Delaware.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: And we want to take a closer look now at President Trump's pardon of his one-time National Security adviser Michael Flynn. It's widely expected to be just the first of numerous pardons of Trump loyalists in the waning days of his presidency.

CNN's Jessica Schneider has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (on camera): This presidential pardon for Michael Flynn abruptly ends what has been a three-year legal saga. Up until Wednesday afternoon, a federal judge here in Washington was still deciding whether to drop the case as the DOJ had asked or to sentence Flynn, and that's because back in the spring, the Justice Department suddenly changed course, saying that they were dropping Flynn's charges even though he had twice admitted to lying.

And it was Judge Emmett Sullivan in D.C. who stepped in to second guess whether DOJ could even do that since Flynn had previously pleaded guilty. Now we're told that the DOJ was not consulted about Trump's plans for a pardon, though they were given a heads up. And a Justice Department official put it this way, saying, they would have preferred the matter to be resolved in court since they thought they'd be successful in getting the case dropped. But ultimately, they say, this outcome for Michael Flynn was an appropriate use of the president's pardon power. Now two hours before Flynn was actually pardoned, he tweeted a

reference to the bible passage Jeremiah 1:19, that says in part, "They will fight against you but will not overcome you." Flynn also later tweeted, "#FightLikeaFlynn," and also a family statement thanking the president.

Now Michael Flynn likely feeling completely vindicated now that he's been sheltered from any further legal fight or prison time by the president. But there are some questions now about whether Michael Flynn could face any additional charges under the Joe Biden administration since we know that Michael Flynn had also admitted to lying about his lobbying work for Turkey, but was never actually charged with a crime related to what could be a violation of filing requirements as a foreign agent. So we'll see what happens under the next administration.

Jessica Schneider, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: And President Trump had planned to travel to Pennsylvania on Wednesday with his attorney Rudy Giuliani. The purpose was to meet with Republican state lawmakers for a so-called hearing on the election. But the president cancelled his trip and instead phoned into the event where he, again, falsely claimed he won the election.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This was an election that we won easily. We won it by a lot. This election was rigged and we can't let that happen. We can't let it happen for our country, and this election has to be turned around because we won Pennsylvania by a lot, and we won all of these swing states by a lot.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And it should be emphasized that Pennsylvania has already certified that Joe Biden won the election.

Thomas Gift is the director of the Center on U.S. Politics at University College London. He joins me now from Oxford, England.

THOMAS GIFT, DIRECTOR, UCL CENTER ON U.S. POLITICS: Good to have you with us.

Good morning, Rosemary. Happy Thanksgiving.

CHURCH: And to you as well. So we'll get to the presidential pardon in just a moment. But I do want to start with the president-elect's compassionate Thanksgiving address to the nation where Joe Biden called on Americans to unite and recommit to fighting the pandemic, saying we're at war with the virus, not with one another. It offered a stark contrast to what we have seen and heard from outgoing president Trump.

How significant was Biden's speech at this critical moment in the United States history?

GIFT: Well, it's such a stark contrast, Rosemary, as you know. Presidents have the bully pulpit. They persuade, they communicate, they affect behavior. And Biden really is calling for sacrifice and a deference to public health experts, which, you know, given where we are with the virus right now I think couldn't be more important. At the same time, it is worth noting the contrast where Trump is calling for Americans to gather.

[04:10:07]

It doesn't get more conflicting than that. Clearly it's a very difficult time for many in the U.S. right now as we head into the holidays against the backdrop of the pandemic. But critics will say it's hard to fathom how the White House could in good conscience explicitly endorse contravening public health guidelines this Thanksgiving. Biden, much different message. And I think it's a really important harbinger for what we can expect going forward in his administration.

CHURCH: Yes, and of course in the meantime, President Trump granted a full pardon to his first and former National Security adviser Michael Flynn who pled guilty to lying to the FBI. What other pardons are likely, and do you expect Trump to preemptively pardon himself -- it is possible -- and perhaps his family?

GIFT: It is possible. At this point, it's really difficult to know what Trump may do or may not do but with this president, I certainly wouldn't rule anything out. You know, this isn't the first time with Michael Flynn that we have seen the president pardon a longtime associate or colleague. We saw that with Michael Stone, and I think you're absolutely right that this is probably just the start and by all accounts we should be bracing for more pardons between now and January, friends, allies, anyone who's been implicated in wrongdoing in order to protect the president.

CHURCH: Does this pardon, truthfully, indicate that President Trump realizes the jig is up, and he's leaving office in January without him actually having to say it out loud, to concede?

GIFT: I think you're absolutely right, Rosemary. It does give some indication that he's expecting to leave on January 20th, and as a result, he's basically taking this approach at the moment. I think it is entirely possible that Trump won't explicitly concede, he'll just continue to rail against fraud and irregularities, despite a lack of corroborating evidence, even now with the GSA and the administration engaged in a transition process.

The fact that Trump hasn't acknowledged that he lost still remains really problematic. The fact that he's maybe doing it implicitly through pardons and other things may be a hopeful sign that at least he recognizes that his administration is going to come to an end. But, still, the way that he's doing it I think presents severe problems for the U.S.

CHURCH: So do you think democracy in this country survived the stress test despite the baseless election fraud accusations asserted by the outgoing president?

GIFT: Well, clearly America's democratic institutions have been tested over the last four years. That they didn't break I think is a testament to the endurance of the U.S. political system. However, I think it's also true that, you know, much of what ails American politics right now and contributes to low prestige of government isn't just Trump. Trump is both a cause as well as a symptom. But some of these challenges run much deeper.

Deep cultural cleavages between red and blue America. Biden is promising to heal the country. But the divides are significant and they don't go away simply because we have a new president entering office. So it's an uphill battle for sure.

CHURCH: Very sobering. Thomas Gift, many thanks for your analysis. Appreciate it.

GIFT: Thanks, Rosemary.

CHURCH: And we are getting our first glimpse of how a strong conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court is likely to evolve on religious issues.

Late Wednesday the high court ruled 5-4 that New York's governor could not restrict the size of religious gatherings in his efforts to curb the coronavirus. It was the first time that newly installed Justice Amy Coney Barrett had a decisive role. Similar cases had been brought earlier this year in California and Nevada, but the court sided with the governors in those cases also by 5-4.

This case centered on New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's strict limits on attendance at religious services in communities where the risk of COVID infection was high.

Well, just ahead here on CNN, the U.S. has set another record for COVID-19 hospitalizations and experts warn it could get even worse as we enter the holiday season. Back in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:18:23]

CHURCH: Here in the United States, a disturbing new projection about the coronavirus as we mark the Thanksgiving holiday. A report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest America's death toll from COVID-19 could reach as many as 321,000 by December 19th. A horrifying number.

Right now, Johns Hopkins University reports more than 262,000 coronavirus related deaths and almost 13 million confirmed cases since the pandemic began. The U.S. is also setting a new record for COVID related hospitalizations. Almost 90,000 people are now being treated for the virus, that's almost 2,000 more than the day before.

And with millions of Americans traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday, health experts say the surging number of COVID cases is likely to continue for weeks to come.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OSTERHOLM: We have to understand we're in a very dangerous place. People have to stop swapping air. It's just that simple, and if we don't, we're going to see many, many of our friends, colleagues, and loved ones ending up in a hospital, and unfortunately some of them not making it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: CNN medical analyst, Dr. Jonathan Reiner, joins me now.

Thank you, Doctor, for being with us and for all that you do at these difficult times.

DR. JONATHAN REINER, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: Thank you so much.

CHURCH: So U.S. COVID cases are now averaging 174,000 a day, amid record hospitalizations, 88,000 reported Tuesday, and the daily death toll just passed 2,000 for a second day. The numbers are horrifying, yet so many Americans are ignoring CDC recommendations not to travel during this Thanksgiving holiday.

[04:20:09]

You called this potentially the mother of all super spreader events. What could this mean in terms of lost lives in the weeks ahead and then of course there's Christmas still to come?

REINER: Right. So if we think that we're in the third peak in the United States right now, so the first peak was in end of April, beginning of May, the second peak was during the summer, this is certainly now rising towards the third peak. We might start to drop soon. We would have started to drop soon if not for what is about to happen.

So if you think about the Sturgis Motor Cycle event in South Dakota this summer, we think that that played a significant role in seeding parts of the Midwest with the virus. So now magnify that many, many times. Almost record numbers of airplanes in the air, certainly as many planes as we've seen flying in many months. People going from city to city, there's virus all over the United States, and we will see another peak as a result of this.

So this is going to lengthen the pandemic in the United States. What needed to happen was essentially a shelter in place, and that sentiment really needed to come from the White House. Instead, the CDC didn't recommend not traveling until just a few days before Thanksgiving. That should have come a month before Thanksgiving, before people made plans. But remember, that was during the presidential election.

And there was a conflict of interest that the CDC faced at that time. But after the election, the CDC finally recommended no travel on Thanksgiving, but by then it was too late. CHURCH: Yes. It is a just -- it's a tragedy, really, and Doctor, I

have to say, I come from a nation where we respect and follow public health advice, knowing it's going to save lives.

Why do Americans distrust health recommendations and what might that attitude mean when it comes to taking the COVID vaccine once it's approved and available?

REINER: Well, I think the American public was really badly served by our leadership this year. Elements of public health were politicized, shamelessly politicized. Something as simple as wearing a mask was politicized. You know, what this country needed was a consistent message for people on how to keep themselves safe. And Americans by and large are rule followers.

You know, there is a libertarian streak that runs through the United States, and there is sometimes a thin line that separates selfishness from libertarianism, but overall, I think Americans would heed a consistent message, but they never got it.

CHURCH: As we await approval for the Pfizer vaccine and ultimately the Moderna and AstraZeneca options and others as they come up through the pipeline, what's a realistic timeline for frontline health workers getting vaccinated then the elderly and ultimately the rest of the population?

REINER: We will be vaccinating health care workers before Christmas, and it's going to come, you know, not a second too soon because by then our hospitals are going to be crushed with COVID patients. Today we had 90,000 Americans in the hospital with COVID, and that's going to continue to rise dramatically over the next few weeks.

CHURCH: Dr. Jonathan Reiner, we appreciate you, and we wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving. Do take care.

REINER: Same to you, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Well, the number of new coronavirus cases in Europe is dropping, but Europe remains the largest global contributor to new COVID-19 deaths and cases in the past week. That's according to the World Health Organization. In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel is extending a partial lockdown until at least January 20th in effort to curb the virus' spread. That means restaurants and bars will stay closed. Mask requirements will be broadened and the number of people allowed to get together will be limited.

In England a month-long partial lockdown ends on December 2nd and will be replaced by three-tiered restrictions based on local infection rates. And in Asia, Japan's government warns it might declare a state of emergency soon if the number of new coronavirus cases keeps going up. Health officials say the medical system in Tokyo and other high infection areas is strained.

[04:25:02]

All right, now to South Korea, where health officials are reporting their highest number of new COVID-19 cases in eight months. South Korea had 583 new cases on Wednesday. The last time it reported more than that was on March 1st.

And CNN's Paula Hancocks is in Seoul. She joins us now live with the very latest.

So, Paula, what's behind this increase in cases and how is the South Korean government going to react and respond to this?

PAUL HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rosemary, obviously health officials are very concerned with this rise. They had predicted that we could get close to 600 cases a day by early December. Now clearly this has come a week earlier than that. So officials have said that we're in the third wave here in South Korea. The majority of the new cases are within the capital Seoul as well. And they are concerned that this particular wave could potentially be worse than the first two waves.

And the reason for that, they say, is because there are numerous smaller outbreaks across the capital this time around. In the first and second waves, you had just a few large epicenters, which were far easier to contain and to do contact tracing. But there was a lot of community transmission at this point.

Now officials have put extra restrictions in place. We've moved up to level two social distancing meaning that clubs and bars are closed, that you have to wear a mask indoors. If you don't, you will be fined around $90. And things like restaurants only can do take out after 9:00 p.m. So they're trying to restrict social distancing somewhat. But they do warn that numbers will continue to rise in the coming days.

They're hoping by early next week we could be able to see the impact of the increased restrictions playing some part. But certainly there are a lot of concerns. We've heard from the South Korean president Moon Jae-in who said the public cooperation is desperately needed to try and keep this under control this time around saying it's a precarious and worrying situation -- Rosemary.

CHURCH: Indeed it is. Paula Hancocks, joining us live there from Seoul, many thanks.

And still to come, Diego Maradona's passing has shattered fans around the world. How fans and friends are mourning one of the greatest soccer players of all time. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:30:50]

CHURCH: Tributes and tears are flowing all across the world for soccer superstar Diego Maradona. The Argentine legend died of heart failure on Wednesday, less than a month after turning 60 years old. A genius on the soccer field, Maradona was revered for bringing Argentina World Cup glory in 1986 and in Naples, Italy, where he helped lead his club to two national titles. Maradona was also well-known for his wild behavior, substance abuse

and subsequent health problems. In the coming hours, throngs of fans are expected to bid him farewell as he lies in state sat Argentina's presidential palace, lit up in the national colors of this hour with a black ribbon above the entrance.

Well, joining me now is John Smith who was Diego Maradona's agent from 1987 to 1990. He's also co-author of the book "The Deal Inside the World of a Super-Agent."

Jon Smith, my deepest condolences to you for the loss of your dear friend, Diego Maradona.

JON SMITH, MARADONA'S AGENT 1987 TO 1990: Thank you, Rosemary. How are you? How's Thanksgiving for you?

CHURCH: Thank you for talking with us. And you would, of course, have so many stories to tell. How do you think Maradona will be remembered? And how will you remember him?

SMITH: Let me take it this way, on a personal level, I've said this previously, he was actually two people, Rosemary. He was Maradona, the showman, and he was the ultimate show -- ultimate person. He was like a showroom by himself, by the way. He was extraordinarily talented. And as an individual, he was still the little boy Diego from the back streets of Buenos Aires, and he never really lost that. And that's the person I will remember.

A warm, caring human being who was great fun and blessed with God- given talent. On the larger stage, I think history will be kind to him. I think of course, he had his demons. And we talk about geniuses and flawed geniuses, and I actually am fortunate met a few. I don't know many geniuses that aren't flawed. And I think at a fairly young age he'd achieved everything. And sadly like so many other people, he then disappeared into some dark corners to I guess explore other parts of life that he couldn't find on this planet. But let's not forget that he shone a very bright light on to the sporting stage and entertained and delighted millions and millions of people across the planet.

CHURCH: Yes. He most certainly did, and, you know, some people called Maradona charming. Others a rascal. As you say, he was two men in one body, wasn't he? And you were his manager. What was he like to deal with?

SMITH: Well, I say manager, I mean, I was an agent of his. The problem -- if there was a problem with Diego is because he was such a lovely guy, he never really learnt the ability of saying no. So there were a lot of people -- I was living in London, he was in Naples, and we obviously saw quite a lot of each other, but he could never stop listening to people or inviting people into his circle.

So whenever I was with him, there were always 20 or 30 other people and probably 25 differing opinions going into both of his ears. So it was a very difficult position to try and insert any sort of corporate influence. We did some good commercial deals and I think we -- I say we, it was a wonderful soccer player who introduced me to me, Osvaldo Ardiles. And he was very close to him. And between us I think we gave him some good advice.

And he was single handedly turning around the whole region of that country. I mean, the southern part of Italy, in those days was very poor, very religious, they had these huge posters -- massive posters of Jesus hanging off most of the buildings.

[04:35:09]

And there were massive posters of Diego next to Jesus. So it was that kind of level of stardom and it was difficult to manage that.

CHURCH: That's extraordinary. As you say, a flawed genius, he was extraordinary on the field. He certainly had his demons off the field. But he will be greatly missed. So many people remembering Diego Maradona.

Jon Smith, thank you so much for talking with us and sharing your memories with everyone here.

Well, China reaches out to congratulate U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on his election victory. We will have details live from Beijing when we return.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Ethiopia's prime minister says the country's military is ready to begin the final phase of its campaign against a breakaway militia in its northern Tigray region. He's threatening to assault the region's capital, home to 500,000 people to put down Tigray's rebellious local government. It comes as the country's state appointed human rights commission accuses a group of Tigrayan youth of the mass killing of 600 villages earlier this month.

CNN's David McKenzie is following these fast-moving developments from Johannesburg. He joins me now.

So, David, what is the latest on (INAUDIBLE) consequences?

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, just a few hours ago, the prime minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, had said that that window has closed on any surrender that Tigrayan forces and their leadership said was never going to happen. And now you have the situation that potentially the full might of the federal military in Ethiopia is bearing down on this major city in that northern region of Ethiopia.

[04:40:03]

That 72 hours that was given, according to the prime minister, was to allow people to potentially turn their backs on that group of leaders that the federal government calls treasonists. And also, he says was a moment where they possibly could surrender. But he said that they've firmly closed the door on that option. Now it seems like what's going to happen is a major military offensive on the city. No details yet exactly how that is progressing or if it's even begun

because there is a total communications blackout. A cackle from that region, from the rest of Ethiopia and in fact the world. Humanitarian agencies are warning that this could be calamitous. There are already thousands of people in the western part of Tigray streaming over the border into Sudan to seek help, and within that region, many people needing food assistance and shelter. How many again I'm clear.

But what is clearer is that the continent's second most populous nation, a critically strategic nation in that Horn of Africa region could rarely move into a full-balloon conflict between this breakaway province and federal people troops in the coming days. At this stage, though, unclear when that offensive will begin, but it seems time has run for the Tigrayan officials.

CHURCH: Yes. That is a real concern. CNN's David McKenzie joining us live from Johannesburg, many thinks.

Well, the Chinese government is proposing new rules that could impact foreign religious groups and worshipers inside the country. Officially the rules are meant to prevent religious extremism and prohibit using religion to undermine Chinese unity. But they come amid a growing crackdown on religious activity in China. One of the rules appears aimed specifically at the Vatican. It states that outsiders cannot interfere with the government's appointment of Chinese clergy.

Catholic bishops are chosen by the government that has long been a source of tension with the Vatican which holds that only the Pope has that authority.

Well, more than two weeks after Joe Biden became America's president- elect, he finally got a message of congratulations from Chinese president. Xi Jinping says a healthy and stable relationship is fundamental to both countries and the world. The leaders of Brazil, Mexico and Russia have yet to congratulate Biden.

So let's head to Beijing and CNN's Steven Jung. He joins us now live.

Good to see you, Steven. So what took China so long to congratulate Biden on his win? And how likely is it that the two nations will see a stable relationship sometime in the future?

STEVEN JANG, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER: Well, Rosemary, that delay was very much noticed around the world but from Beijing's perspective, they simply did not see any upside to have Mr. Xi congratulate Joe Biden before Mr. Trump was ready to concede because they were rightly concerned that Mr. Trump could still do a lot of thing against China in his remaining days in office. Now, of course, Mr. Trump still hasn't formally conceded but at least he has allowed this transition process to begin. That explains the timing of Mr. Xi's message.

Now the message itself, as you mention, is filled with jargons you often hear from here, win-win cooperation. Non-confrontation. But if the expectation here is to having some sort of a reset in this relationship which really has plunged to its lowest point in decades. Then analysts say the leadership here may be in for disappointment because China really has become one of those rare bipartisan consensus in Washington.

Mr. Biden himself has said the U.S. needs to get tough on China. Now remember, Mr. Biden got to know Mr. Xi a bit when both were vice presidents. I remember covering Mr. Biden's trip here back in 2011 when he spent almost a week with Mr. Xi. And even back then, he was telling us he expected Mr. Xi to be a tough leader to deal with. So he's under really no illusion in terms of the strongman Chinese dealer you'll be dealing with in the next four years.

But his approach I think will be very different from that of Mr. Trump's. He's expected to really rally traditional U.S. allies and partners from around the world to form a united front against this increasingly powerful and assertive nation. And that, of course in the long run will be probably making the Chinese leader's life more difficult.

In the short term, I think, Rosemary, Beijing is probably more relieved that they no longer have to find out new U.S. policies or China policies on Twitter anymore, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Yes, indeed. Steven Jang joining us from Beijing. Many thanks.

We are now seeing a pandemic price tag for the airline industry. And the cost is even worse than predicted. Can the airline stay aloft until a vaccine is widely available? We will discuss after a short break.

[04:45:04]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Millions of Americans are traveling to be with family and friends for Thanksgiving. That is despite a surge in COVID cases and a record number of hospitalizations. At least five million people have boarded airplanes in the past week, despite pleas from health officials to stay home. Officials expect some day, when everyone hits home, to be the busiest travel day in the U.S. since the pandemic started. But don't be mistaken, the pandemic is still taking its toll on airlines across the globe. An industry group says airlines will lose about $157 billion this year and next because of the pandemic.

So CNN's John Defterios joins me now with more on this.

Good to see you John. So the travel and tourism industry representation one out 10 jobs worldwide. So are we getting a clearer picture of the fallout from the pandemic here in the U.S. and of course globally?

JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN BUSINESS EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: I think it's worthwhile, Rosemary, for us to in fact focus on the United States on this Thanksgiving weekend, and look at the fallout that you're talking about, despite the surge that we're going to see over this longer holiday weekend.

[04:50:05] It's quite extraordinary because of the impact it has on GDP and the slowdown on travel. They're suggesting in the U.S. hotel industry, to lose two out of three hotels by the time this pandemic is open and finished. It's quite alarming indeed. And if you look at the global picture here, you're looking at the overall impact on the numbers. This year alone is going to be a record loss of $118 billion, just over that.

And that will carry on until 2021, to better than $38 billion. Again, not anything they've ever seen in the industry. Even if you take the World Trade Center bombings. The global financial crisis. This is something in a league of its own. If you're looking for a silver lining it is that they could break even by this time next year.

But there's a big slug ahead because they've been lent $173 billion to get through the crisis. You know, in the emerging market it's been the big growth area for the industry. If you look at the passenger numbers, Rosemary, from 2019, we have 4.5 billion. Look at the fall going into this year, all the way down to 1.8 billion. We should add another billion next year. And many ask the question, when do we get back to normal again?

For the airline industry, they're saying 2024. And you see a lot of different figures out there, Rosemary. But the last GDP, this year alone, if you take travel, tourism and the hotel business itself we're looking at lost GDP of $5.5 trillion. And that's why the industry is saying look, don't come short in terms of a lending here. Push forward if you need to and provide more liquidity until the vaccines are widely distributed in the industry.

CHURCH: Yes. I'm still processing the fact that five million Americans traveled in the midst of a pandemic. With cases going up, hospitalizations and deaths. Just incredible.

John Defterios, happy Thanksgiving to you. Enjoy and stay safe.

DEFTERIOS: Thanks, Rosemary. You too. Take care. Thanks.

CHURCH: Thank you.

Well, as the pandemic worsens in the United States, it's compounding another crisis, food insecurity. Millions of Americans will go hungry this year. And the struggle is being felt more than ever as families nationwide are getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving.

CNN's Vanessa Yurkevich reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The journey to get food through the cold and COVID-19 has been long and hard for Regina Status.

REGINA STATUS, NEW YORK CITY RESIDENT: Got to take one day at a time. And as long as you have for today, you save for tomorrow, when tomorrow gets here, something's going to happen. YURKEVICH: And it did, just in time.

STATUS: Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No problem.

YURKEVICH: Days before Thanksgiving, Agatha House Foundation, a local food pantry in the Bronx, New York, made a special Thanksgiving delivery, filled with everything she needs for her and her two teenage daughters.

STATUS: It's just a relief that I don't have to purchase all of that.

YURKEVICH: Over 50 million Americans like Regina won't have enough to eat in 2020. In part because of the pandemic. Feeding America, the largest hunger relief group in the U.S. predicts that eight billion meals will be needed next year to feed food insecure Americans.

CLAIRE BABINEAUX-FONTENOT, CEO, FEEDING AMERICA: About 40 percent of the people who right now are turning to food banks for help around the country are people who've never before relied on the charitable food system.

YURKEVICH: Regina is out of a job. Her car was totaled months ago and she's not receiving unemployment. She now relies on a once-a-week delivery from the Food Pantry.

(On camera): Day do day, is your pantry stocked or what does it look like day to day?

STATUS: Just surviving. That's all I can to say, just have to survive it.

YURKEVICH (voice-over): The 15th Congressional District here in the Bronx has the highest food insecurity rate among children in the country. At Agatha House they're hoping to take the stigma our of needing a little exactly help.

JEANETTE JOSEPH-GREENWAY, FOUNDER, AGATHA HOUSE FOUNDATION: We have to look and try to imagine ourselves in the position. What we would want for ourselves. Not just to give them a cardboard box but to make them feel loved, special.

YURKEVICH: This small operation says it's seen 100 percent increase in need.

JOSEPH-GREENWAY: Even with the that they get, hopefully, there's someone in their building or one of their neighbors that they can invite for a plate of food.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. Got to give Miss Mamie some stuff.

YURKEVICH: Despite her struggles to put food on the table --

STATUS: You welcome, Miss Mamie.

YURKEVICH: -- Regina is sharing what she has with her neighbor and remains grateful for this Thanksgiving.

STATUS: Even if we didn't get to Agatha House or we were just having regular chicken every day, just to say that you're alive to eat it, that's a blessing in itself.

YURKEVICH: Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN, Bronx, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: And with so many people struggling to put food on the table, the price of groceries can add up quickly around the holidays.

[04:55:05]

So it was the ultimate Thanksgiving surprise when some entrepreneurs took over the registers at a grocery store here in Georgia. For two hours, they paid for ever unsuspecting customer's purchase at the checkout.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JASON LOBDELL, ENTREPRENEUR: I'm still on cloud nine after seeing those faces and getting all those hugs from the grannies, wiping them tears. It was just a good feeling.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: I'm sure it was. And just look at that cash register. The final total, more than $40,000 in groceries. The group says they're happy to give back to the community.

And another inspiring story because we can't get enough of them right now, would you drive more than 1,000 miles for a total stranger? Oh, and you'd be driving in the snow as well. That is exactly what one Canadian man did to help out a woman and her kids who got stranded in British Columbia. The family from Georgia, was trying to get to Alaska to meet up with dad who's in the U.S. military.

But when the drive got treacherous in Canada's wintry weather, the woman went online to ask for help. And that's when Gary Barks saved the way. He drove them the rest of the way to Alaska with a trailer in tow. And that's not the only act of kindness. CBC reports Barks got donations from the public for a flight back home.

How's that? That's how we want to finish this hour on this Thanksgiving. We want to thank you for your company and wish you a very safe, safe Thanksgiving. Keep that mask on. "EARLY START" is next. You're watching CNN.

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