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RNC Abandons Promises of Convention Full of Light and Optimism; CNN Goes Inside Lab Conducting Vaccine Trial; Pompeo's Speech to His Party; Belarus Protests; Sports Stars React to Shooting of Jacob Blake. Aired 10- 11a ET
Aired August 25, 2020 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIMBERLY GUILFOYLE, DONALD TRUMP JR.'S GIRLFRIEND: Don't let them kill future generations because they told you and brainwashed and fed you lies
that you weren't good enough.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over): This hour, vote for me or else. Donald Trump paints a picture of a dark, dystopian future without him.
And his secretary of state makes history and sparks controversy as he jets around the Middle East and wider regions.
And tonight, CNN takes you inside Spain's cautionary tale of coping with a resurgence of coronavirus cases.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
ANDERSON: Tonight, is the Republican Party detached from America's reality?
I'm Becky Anderson. A very warm welcome. You are watching CONNECT THE WORLD.
A dismal, dangerous future for America: that's the warning from Republicans on night one of their national convention. Their bleak
predictions of a presidency under Democrat Joe Biden a far cry from the optimistic, upbeat tone President Trump promised would be the hallmark of
the convention.
The mostly recorded speeches painted the U.S. president as a leader who gets things done. But when it comes to the coronavirus, you could argue
that that is revisionist history.
Preproduced videos blasted Democrats as failing in their initial response while ignoring President Trump's repeated comments and tweets downplaying
the virus and no mention of the more than 177,000 Americans who have died.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): From the very beginning Democrats, the media and the World Health Organization got coronavirus wrong. The World
Health Organization said authorities have found no clear evidence of human to human transmission.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Overall, most people should not be terribly concerned about --
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): Everything is fine here. We do want to say to people, come to Chinatown. Here we are. Come join us.
GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): We don't even think it's going to be as bad as it was in other countries.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go about your lives, go about your business.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): One leader took decisive action to lives, President Donald Trump.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): It takes a true leader to solve problems. COVID-19: while others criticized without solutions, President Trump's
swift action saved lives. And as leading Democrats want to keep businesses closed down, our president is leading the way for a full economic recovery.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, throughout the night Monday, speakers made repeated unsubstantiated claims that Biden's presidency would fail Americans or
worse. Here's Nikki Haley.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NIKKI HALEY, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N.: Last time Joe's boss was Obama. This time it would be Pelosi, Sanders and The Squad. Their vision
for America is socialism. And we know that socialism has failed everywhere.
They want to tell Americans how to live, what to think. They want a government takeover of health care. They want to ban fracking and kill
millions of jobs. They want massive tax hikes on working families. Joe Biden and the socialist Left would be a disaster for our economy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The president's family will make appearances throughout the week. On Monday, Donald Trump Jr. went into all-out attack mode against Joe
Biden, comparing him to the Loch Ness monster.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP JR., PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SON: He's pledged to repeal the Trump tax cuts, which were the biggest in our country. After eight years of Obama
and Biden's slow growth, Trump's policies have been like rocket fuel to the economy and especially to the middle class.
Biden has promised to take that money back out of your pocket and keep it in the swamp. That makes sense though, considering Joe Biden is basically
the Loch Ness monster of the swamp. For the past half century he's been lurking around and he sticks his head up to run for president and then
disappears.
[10:05:00]
ANDERSON: Former FOX News host Kimberly Guilfoyle, who is also Don Jr.'s girlfriend, gave the night's most doom and gloom speech of all, going so
far as to say a Biden victory could literally kill voters' descendents. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GUILFOYLE: Don't let the Democrats take you for granted. Don't let them step on you. Don't let them destroy your families, your lives and your
future. Don't let them kill future generations because they told you and brainwashed you and fed you lies that you weren't good enough.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Senior Washington correspondent Jeff Zeleny is joining me live from the auditorium where most of the speeches have been broadcast.
This follows the Democrats' virtual gathering last week and these marks the final stage of the presidential race.
That is why what is said and the tone that is set matters, correct?
JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It is, Becky. It was a version of the Trump show, if you will. You could see family members there
speaking last night. More will be speaking this evening.
But it's a bit of an alternative reality show as well, especially trying to whitewash the fact that the coronavirus crisis has existed here in the U.S.
and indeed around the world. And certainly, not talked about, the president's struggles to contain that and lead through that.
But it was the ominous tones set from the very beginning that was certainly at odds of what the organizers said would be an optimistic, upbeat look.
But make no mistake about it, this is the best shot for President Trump to reset his campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
ZELENY (voice-over): President Trump kicked off the Republican National Convention with a dark outlook of how he sees the United States without him
in charge.
TRUMP: I really believe this. This is the most important election in the history of our country.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it is.
TRUMP: Don't let them take it away from you.
ZELENY (voice-over): And that theme continued throughout the opening night. With Monday's list of speakers, also warning of a Joe Biden
presidency, they described as radical. Among them the St. Louis couple, who waved guns at protesters outside their home earlier this summer.
PATRICIA MCCLOSKEY, ST. LOUIS HOMEOWNER: They want to abolish the suburbs altogether. So make no mistake, no matter where you live, your family will
not be safe in the radical Democrats' America.
ZELENY (voice-over): Kimberly Guilfoyle, a top campaign fundraiser and former FOX News host, amplified the unproven charge that Democrats intended
to abolish the suburbs.
GUILFOYLE: They want to steal your liberty, your freedom, they want control what you see and think and believe so that that they can control
how you live.
ZELENY (voice-over): Her words echoed by the president's own son, Donald Trump Jr.
TRUMP JR.: It's almost like this election is shaping up to be church, work and school versus rioting, looting and vandalism or, in the words of Biden
and the Democrats, peaceful protesting.
ZELENY (voice-over): As the coronavirus death toll in the U.S. continues to climb, the convention portrayed Trump's handling of the crisis as a
success.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One leader took a decisive action to save lives, President Donald Trump.
ZELENY (voice-over): And showing this video of the president with front line workers at the White House.
TRUMP: We just have to make this China virus go away and it's happening.
ZELENY (voice-over): But there was no explanation how the United States leads the world in total coronavirus cases and deaths or Trump's repeated
downplaying of the crisis from the start.
The first night also featured two prominent Republicans of color, focusing on the national outlook instead of the president's record on race. Former
U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley saying the issue is personal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HALEY: In much of the Democratic Party it's now fashionable to say that America is racist. That is a lie. America is not a racist country. We are
blessed to live in America. It's time to keep that blessing alive for the next generation. This president and this party are committed to that noble
task.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZELENY (voice-over): And closing the night, South Carolina's senator Tim Scott.
SEN. TIM SCOTT (R-SC): This election is about your future and it is critical to paint a full picture of the records of Donald Trump and Joe
Biden.
ZELENY (voice-over): The only Black Republican U.S. Senator described how he believes the Democrats could permanently transform what it means to be
an American.
SCOTT: Make no mistake, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris want a cultural revolution, a fundamentally different America. If we let them, they will
turn our country into a socialist utopia. Instead, we must focus on the promise of the American journey.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ZELENY: So for the second day of this Republican National Convention, first lady Melania Trump will be addressing the nation from the newly
renovated Rose Garden, as well as a very unusual and controversial speech from secretary of state Mike Pompeo, who's delivering a taped address from
Jerusalem.
[10:10:00]
ZELENY: He taped that during his diplomatic trip there. It's certainly unusual for a secretary of state to participate at all and definitely in an
address from a foreign country.
ANDERSON: That is why this is proving so controversial, this prerecorded message from Mike Pompeo.
Who is his audience, Jeff?
ZELENY: There's no doubt the audience for President Trump is his own base. He is trying to re-energize, reinvigorate, essentially grab them by the
lapels and get them to focus on the matter at hand, as well as other voters who may not have voted for President Trump four years ago but they have
grown to like him in office.
It's certainly not the voters in middle or likely even undecided voters. It may be some wavering Republicans but basically it's the old Trump
supporters, he's trying to get the gang back together, if you will, and urge them to back him. He needs them more than ever now, Becky.
anxious Yes. That's the big question I guess for the Democrats here.
Will this show -- this is a show, produced by those who used to produce "The Apprentice," as I understand it.
Will what is said at the convention resonate with more than just this bedrock Republican base?
Will the narrative of this convention tempt Hispanics or, for example, the suburban swing voter that Trump needs to win a second term, Jeff?
ZELENY: It's hard to imagine many people's minds being decided by, you know, the really dark speeches we heard from Donald Trump Jr., et cetera.
On the margins it may. Some Republicans who are maybe thinking about Joe Biden, may be, oh, we don't like all of the Democratic policies.
But the reality is Joe Biden is not a radical socialist. He defeated Bernie Sanders. That is the whole point of the Democratic primary here. So
branding someone like Joe Biden, who's been in public life for such a long time, is difficult.
But we should be clear. It's not about who wins the convention that's important. It is about the two months after this going forward. Becky, I
have my eye on the first debate between the two of them, which is the end of September. I think that will be a greater decision point between which
side these voters will go on, with Trump or Biden.
ANDERSON: Yes. Jeff, always a pleasure. Thank you, sir.
You saw in Jeff's report a prerecorded clip of President Trump meeting with coronavirus front line workers. And there was another moment on Monday,
video of the president and former hostages freed during his presidency. In the midst of the upbeat messages that did exist, he couldn't resist
praising a strongman leader, Turkey's president. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was held in Turkey for two years and you took unprecedented steps actually to secure my release and your administration
really fought for me. And I think if you hadn't done that, I still may be in Turkey.
TRUMP: I have to say that to me, President Erdogan was very good. And I know they had you scheduled for a long time and you were a very innocent
person and he ultimately, after we had a few conversations, he agreed. So we appreciate that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: President Trump there.
Well, this hour, sources tell CNN that the White House has been considering fast tracking an experimenting an experimental coronavirus vaccine before
final trials are completed and possibly ahead of that November election. Well, that is something America's top pandemic health official is strongly
warning against.
But the allure of an election boost does seem to be playing high on Mr. Trump's mind.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE) will be ready by November 3rd?
Are optimistic that that will happen and will that give you a boost --
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: On the vaccine?
QUESTION: Yes.
TRUMP: I am. I'm optimistic that it will be probably around that date. I believe we'll have the vaccine before the end of the year, certainly, but
around that date, yes, I think so.
QUESTION: Mr. President, (INAUDIBLE) the election?
TRUMP: It wouldn't hurt.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Mr. Trump talking there about a vaccine being developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca. There could be a hitch with his hoped
for timing. The Oxford study has enrolled 10,000 test volunteers but the U.S. scientific agency say any vaccine research must involve 30,000 people
before it can be approved in America.
Of course, that is not the only game in town on vaccines. It's a modern-day space race of sorts. So China also going all in to develop its own Beijing
biotech, Sinovac, competing with 12 other Chinese companies. But it said its vaccine, called CoronaVac, is in late stage trials and it plans to move
quickly to get it launched.
Our David Culver went inside the vaccine lab to see what that is all about. He joins me now from Beijing -- David.
[10:15:00]
DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, moving so quickly that the infrastructure in which they're producing these vaccines isn't even
finished being built yet. That's how things are moving pace wise. It could be a bit uneasy to see that, the juxtaposition between what is an
unfinished laboratory on the outside and, inside, what is a high-tech lab.
So it's a strange sight but, at the same time, it speaks to how quickly they have had to move in creating this vaccine, one that they believe will
be successful. It's in phase 3 right now. And it's currently being tested in Brazil and Indonesia. It involves 11,000 people combined in both of
those countries.
What's interesting in China is what we have seen from the central government and that is that they have claimed over the past two months they
have already been rolling out the use of vaccines, first with the military in June and then, in July, they say, with front line workers, border and
customs agents, medical personnel, folks who are in those so-called high risk professions.
With Sinovac though, it will be on the general population, not only of China but for the rest of the world.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CULVER (voice-over): You feel hopeful just looking at the packaging and the small vials.
Might this vaccine bring us back to our lives before coronavirus?
The Chinese company behind it believes it might.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sinovac's goal is to provide a vaccine of good quality, good safety, good immunogenesis (ph) to the people in the world.
CULVER (voice-over): Sinovac is among 13 companies in China working on a COVID-19 vaccine. It is one of just nine that are well into clinical
trials. The biotech company began developing its vaccine in late January. Construction on this, their newest facility in Beijing, started about two
months later.
CULVER: One of the things we noticed walking in here, is that this space is brand-new, it's not even been used. They started building it in March
and they did that for two reasons. One, for regulatory reasons here in China, they need a separate space to produce this vaccine.
And the other is because of the demand. They need the production space to meet it.
CULVER (voice-over): While its borders remain largely sealed off, life within China has returned to near normal in most places. So much so that
Wuhan has hosted crowded pool parties.
And in Beijing, no longer are you required to wear a face mask when outside, assuming you're a safe distance from others. China credits mass
testing and strict contact testing but health experts warn those stringent measures impact immunity levels.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In these cases then, definitely, the way forward is to -- is vaccination.
CULVER (voice-over): In the past two months, the Chinese government has granted two companies special emergency approval to launch their vaccines.
Typically, a vaccine takes years to go through trials and reach production.
CULVER: Do you feel confident enough to take the vaccine?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I do, because the vaccine road map we are using is a demonstrated and approved technology.
CULVER (voice-over): They estimate they will be able to produce about 300 million vaccines a year. That's why they believe the more vaccines in the
marketplace, the better.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I think the competition is more like we compete with the virus, right?
Our speed should be faster than the transmitting of the virus instead of competing with others. We like everyone to be successful.
CULVER (voice-over): China has faced sharp criticism from many countries, most notably the U.S., for its initial handling of the outbreak. But some
nations might be willing to look past all of that if China can deliver the solution with a dose of hope.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CULVER: And Becky, as you pointed out, this has gotten political on a global scale. But it's also, as you heard from the investor relations
representative from that company, it has to do with a lot of money. Big finances are behind this. That's also at stake.
ANDERSON: Sure. Yes, fascinating. David, thank you.
Well, as well as the political support that Russia is giving to the man known as Europe's last dictator, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko,
his country now becomes the first to receive Russia's coronavirus vaccine.
Volunteers in Belarus will take part in the vaccine's phase 3 trials. This despite Sputnik V already being registered for human use. The leaders of
both nations spoke Monday about the agreement and about the continuing protests in Belarus. We are live in Minsk a little later this hour.
You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD live from Abu Dhabi.
Ahead, two of the world's top diplomats are on the move. We'll tell you what the U.K.'s foreign secretary is doing in Jerusalem.
And a short journey with a big impact. Why the first nonstop flight from Israel to Sudan could make a difference in Middle East diplomacy. The
secretary of state Mike Pompeo involved in that.
And Pompeo's address at the Republican National Convention turning heads.
[10:20:00]
ANDERSON: We'll speak with former ambassador Nicholas Burns about why such a speech is troublesome.
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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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ANDERSON: We have got two of the most influential diplomats in the world making their way through the Middle East this hour. U.K. foreign secretary
Dominic Raab is in Israel where he'll be meeting with both Palestinian and Israeli leaders.
And the U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo just left Israel and is now in Sudan.
Before he left, he did something rather remarkable. This is Pompeo recording his upcoming speech for the Republican National Convention from
the rooftop of the historically significant King David Hotel in Jerusalem. And that's a little rich.
Why?
Well, a month ago, Pompeo reminded fellow employees not to -- and I quote here -- "improperly engage in politics."
The State Department spokesman argued there is no contradiction here, saying, quote, "Secretary Pompeo will address the convention, which of
course is back home in the States, in his personal capacity and that no State Department resources will be used."
Oren Liebermann is in Jerusalem with more.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words.
So what should we make of this image of Mike Pompeo at the King David Hotel?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Perhaps no surprise that secretary of state Mike Pompeo, even while on an official visit here to Jerusalem, gave
his speech, his prerecorded speech, that is, expected to be broadcast tonight, with the Old City of Jerusalem as his background.
That's because the Trump administration has repeatedly touted its moves in regard to Jerusalem as some of its biggest foreign policy victories. Pompeo
and President Donald Trump started looking to secure that evangelical vote with a speech from here.
But it is certainly apparently contradictory to the position he took just a month ago in a cable obtained by CNN, even with the State Department's
excuse that this was on personal activity and not on the taxpayers' dime. Here is more of that cable last moth from Mike Pompeo.
He says, "Presidential and political appointees are subject to significant restrictions on their political activity. They may not engage in any
partisan political activity even on personal time and outside the federal workplace."
That position was backed up earlier in the year by the deputy secretary of state, who had said that employees of the department should not, in their
representation overseas, should not be perceived as partisan.
Meanwhile, the legal affairs department for the Department of State strengthening that position in December, saying that Senate confirmed
appointees may not even attend a political party convention or a convention related event.
No doubt here that secretary of state Pompeo decided he would do this, using it as a personal activity and not using taxpayer dollars as his
reasoning for being able to do so.
[10:25:00]
LIEBERMANN: But a very political message it seems that he's giving at the Republican National Convention.
ANDERSON: Mike Pompeo on a swing through the region -- he has been in Israel of course -- on a swing through the region, hoping to build on the
recent Israel-UAE peace deal. It would be easy to see that deal through the prism of the Trump administration, a foreign policy win for the president,
just weeks out from this U.S. election.
But you can argue that that would be to understate the importance of what's been achieved here. I think that's underscored by the U.K.'s top diplomat,
who is in Tel Aviv today, who insists that, while historic, this deal must be followed by dialogue between the Israelis and the Palestinians. And that
at the heart, we're told, this deal is all about.
LIEBERMANN: That's right. Dominic Raab meeting here in Jerusalem with not only the prime minister but also the defense minister and the foreign
minister. First, he certainly commended the Israel-UAE deal. It's moved towards normalization.
But he tried to build on that and say this is an opportunity to re-engage in dialogue between the Israelis and Palestinians. And he'll meet with the
Palestinian leadership in Ramallah.
He sees this as using the Gulf States that is to advance the relations between Israel and the UAE and to bring an Israeli-Palestinian dialogue
along with that. Crucially the UAE pointed out one of the conditions for normalization was no annexation, meaning that in theory, a contiguous West
Bank state for Palestine is left on the table.
Given the distrust between the leaders here, between Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and Benjamin Netanyahu, it's hard to see any change there,
especially this close to the U.S. election. Palestinians are certainly looking for change in U.S. leadership and a change in the U.S. approach to
the conflict.
ANDERSON: Oren, thank you.
Mr. Pompeo then has left Israel. He's in Sudan right now. And how he got there itself, well, part of the story. Take a look at this animation that
we made you of that journey.
Do you notice anything unusual?
Well, it is a direct flight. The flight went directly from Israel to Sudan, the first time that has ever been done officially. And that could signal a
potential normalizing of relations between those two countries.
Well, the secretary's arrival comes as Sudan works to restore ties with the United States after the ouster of its Islamist leader last year. Nima
Elbagir regularly travels to Sudan. She joins me now with more from London.
Just how significant is this stop with regard to the kind of context of these Israeli-U.S. peace deal brokered and announced a couple of weeks ago.
And just provide some context if you will for U.S.-Sudan relations at this point.
NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Sudan has been on the state sponsors of terror list. That's been its designation since
Sudan was accused by the United States of being involved in the bombings in the embassies of East Africa, the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole in the Gulf of
Aden, where men and women lost their lives.
This has been a consistent issue with any push towards normalization even post the ouster of the dictator. The issue for Sudan is without removal of
the state sponsors of terror list, they cannot access effective debt relief.
So that's the context when it comes to what Sudan wants out of the conversation between Pompeo and Prime Minister Hamdok. They want debt
relief and they are desperate for it.
Being that as it may, when it comes to the U.S. and what the U.S. -- the Trump administration wants with regards to its legacy, you and Oren were
discussing with regard to the broader peace deal, Sudan is but one of the sticks that the U.S. and Israel are bringing together in the region to
further isolate the Palestinian position.
It's very clear you have the Israeli-UAE deal, which was historic but is only the opening of the door to further normalization between Arab states
and Israel. Hamdok has said as the prime minister of the transitional government, it's not his place nor is he mandated to make this decision.
But many I'm speaking to in the Sudanese government are saying the reality is that the Sudanese government cannot afford to hold out. They need this
deal, even more so than Israel does -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. OK, we'll keep across that and, as you say, Sudan just one of the doors that the U.S. seems to want to open.
[10:30:00]
ANDERSON: And pushing for more Arab states to normalize relations with Israel. Nima, thank you.
Politics and diplomacy have an uneasy relationship but critics of the U.S. secretary of state says he's crossed the line. I'm going to talk with a
prominent former diplomat about why.
Plus a frantic search for survivors is underway in India after an apartment building there collapsed with scores of people inside.
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ANDERSON: Welcome back. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson. This is CONNECT THE WORLD from your Middle East broadcasting hub
in Abu Dhabi.
Day two of the Republican National Convention is about to begin. The next hour or so, the event touted as a fountain of hope and optimism as opposed
to what the Republican Party called the Democrats' gloom and doom convention.
Republicans painted a dark, dystopian view of the U.S. under Joe Biden on day one, throwing out the usual buzzwords like "socialism," "cancel culture
and "rampant violence." They say only one person can stop it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Trump is the bodyguard of Western civilization. He was elected to protect our families from the vengeful mob that seeks to destroy
our way of life, our neighborhoods, schools, churches and values.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, secretary of state Mike Pompeo will address that convention today, Tuesday, in a message recorded out in Jerusalem. And as
we have just been discussing that's a very unusual thing for America's top diplomat to do, to weigh in on politics from outside the country.
Foreign policy adviser to the Biden capitalizing, Nicholas Burns, doesn't think that's all too wise, tweeting that "Mr. Pompeo should be focused on
restoring America's lost global credibility."
Ambassador Burns is joining us now. He was the U.S. ambassador to NATO and is now foreign policy adviser to the Biden campaign.
A warm welcome to you, sir. I'm interested by your comment on Pompeo's decision to record a message of support for Trump from Jerusalem. It may be
flouting protocol but you could argue is absolutely an attempt to restore U.S. credibility at least to Trump's influential evangelical base, who see
America's role in the politics of the Holy Land as divinely ordained.
NICHOLAS BURNS, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO NATO: Becky, this is not a wise decision by secretary Pompeo.
[10:35:00]
BURNS: I have worked for nine secretaries of state. All of them stayed away from political conventions. All of them stayed away from speaking in a
partisan voice during an election campaign.
Why did they do that?
Because, in the United States, our secretary of state has to work with both houses of Congress, both parties. And on an issue like Israel, we have
tried very hard over many decades not to politicize who's stronger, Republicans or Democrats, in support of Israel. There's very strong support
of Israel. Secretary Pompeo, in taping this speech -- and that's a step that no secretary of state has taken -- and taping it from Jerusalem is
doing just that.
So it politicizes one of the most important relationships we have in the world and it puts the State Department professionals in an very
uncomfortable position. They have been told, every employee of the State Department, that they may not engage in any kind of partisan activity. They
certainly can't speak at political conventions.
And here is the secretary of state doing just that. That is not right, that's not good leadership and it's inconsistent with what he's telling the
rest of the State Department.
ANDERSON: He was in Jerusalem to discuss the UAE-Israel peace deal being touted as -- by the Trump administration as "the Abraham accord." A deal
that Joe Biden described as an historic step towards -- or to bridge the deep divides in the Middle East.
He certainly released that statement in the wake of the announcement of the deal.
Does Joe Biden still welcome that deal?
BURNS: Well, of course, he issued a very strong, clear statement, Becky, on the UAE-Israel deal. The United States, over many administrations, has
been trying to encourage Arab countries for decades actually to accept Israel, to establish diplomatic relations.
So Vice President Biden welcomed this deal very clearly. He said in his statement, I think you probably read it, that these efforts have been
underway for a long time and he as vice president, he and President Obama, were strongly encouraging Arab states to establish diplomatic relations and
end the state of war that's existed between Israel and many Arab countries since Israel's founding.
It's a very positive development. Joe Biden went on to say in that statement and in other statements that, of course, he remains opposed to
annexation by Israel of the West Bank. I think that is a difference between Vice President Biden and President Trump.
President Trump has never spoken critically of the prospect that Israel might someday annex the West Bank. Vice President Biden strongly supports a
two-state solution, wants Israel and the Palestinians to be negotiating together on a fair basis. And annexation would make that impossible.
ANDERSON: The UAE had said that the normalization of relations with Israel is not specifically connected to their desire to purchase F-35 fighter jets
from the U.S. But they have said that that is something that they have been pursuing with the U.S. now for some time.
Would a Joe Biden administration work with the UAE to ensure that the Emirates were able to purchase F-35 fighter jets and other military
hardware, if indeed they get -- Joe gets in?
BURNS: Well, Becky, the last thing I'm going to do is try to predict what Vice President Biden would do if he's elected on November third and if he
takes office in January 20, 2021. It's a hypothetical answer I can't answer but I will say this.
When Vice President Biden was vice president for eight years he was personally strongly involved in the Middle East. As you remember, he was
the lead, in fact, in determining the -- our relationship with the government of Iraq back in the first term of the administration.
He worked very closely with our allies in the region but also with our partners like the United Arab Emirates. So he brings decades of experience
to the Middle East. He knows the leaders individually. And he knows the issues in a deep, substantive way.
And I would say, as a supporter and adviser to Vice President Biden, one of things that distinguishes him from President Trump is that he's a true
expert on these issues. He goes a mile deep into the details and understands their complexity in a way that I think we can -- based on his
actions, we can say that President Trump does not.
And that's been a weakness for the United States. The Trump leadership, he simply doesn't have the grasp on the complexity of the issues separating
these parties.
[10:40:00]
ANDERSON: Nicholas Burns, one of the big, thorny issues of the Obama administration under -- with Joe Biden as vice president -- was the Iran
nuclear deal, the JCPOA. Have a listen to what Nikki Haley has said about that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HALEY: Obama and Biden let Iran get away with murder and literally sent them a planeful of cash. President Trump did the right thing and ripped up
the Iran nuclear deal. This president has a record of strength and success. The former vice president has a record of weakness and failure. Joe Biden
is good for Iran and ISIS, great for Communist China.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: What many people in this region -- I'm broadcasting from Abu Dhabi and the UAE -- what many people want to know is simply this: will
Joe Biden reinstitute the JCPOA?
BURNS: First of all, let me say that speech given by ambassador Haley, I was disappointed -- disappointed that it was so cavalier in its criticism
of Joe Biden and so lacking in substance.
You know, the JCPOA, the Iran nuclear deal, stopped the Iranian plutonium and uranium enrichment program. It had 24/7 eyesight on what the Iranians
were doing. The Iranians were not going to able to produce fissile material for a nuclear weapon and that was a success. I say that as -- I was the
Iran nuclear negotiator for the George W. Bush administration between 2005 and 2008 and I supported what Vice President Biden and President Obama did.
President Trump, in taking the United States out of the deal, has now given Iran a pass and we're in the worst of all possible worlds. The constraints
on Iran have disappeared and the Iranians are violating the agreement, by trying to reinstitute the core elements of their program.
So we're in an unsafe world because of Donald Trump. So I thoroughly reject the argument that ambassador Haley tried to make.
And I think the answer to your direct question is this: if Iran were to come back into compliance with the 2015 agreement then Vice President Biden
said he'd work with Britain, France, Germany and China and Russia to try to negotiate a new deal and to extend the strength on the deal. He's on record
saying that.
That's the logical thing to do. President Trump tore the house down and then did not build anything else to replace it. And the Iranians are, I
think, stronger because of it. So ambassador Haley's argument, I think, can be turned on its head.
ANDERSON: Let's talk about Saudi Arabia then. You're a foreign policy adviser to Joe Biden, I'm fascinated to dig a little deeper and find out
what his position is on the region. This is Joe Biden on Saudi Arabia. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN (D), FORMER U.S. VICE PRESIDENT AND PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: I said it at the time, Khashoggi was in fact murdered and dismembered and I
believe on the order of the crown prince.
And I would make it very clear we were not going to in fact sell more weapons to them. We were going to in fact make them pay the price and make
them in fact the pariah that they are.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Those are pretty strong words from a man who could be U.S. president come the beginning of November.
What is Joe Biden's position with regard to Saudi Arabia?
BURNS: He just articulated it for you and I could not possibly improve on what he said on your program. I think Vice President Biden was reflecting
when he made that statement, very strong anger at the United States across the political spectrum here in every part of our society against the brutal
killing of Jamal Khashoggi.
And reflecting professional and public opinion so obviously that statement speaks for itself.
ANDERSON: Very briefly, sir, to our viewers watching in this region and around the world but particularly in this region, would a Joe Biden
administration look any different to a Barack Obama administration?
BURNS: Well, obviously, Vice President Biden was proud to serve in that administration and was part and parcel of a very powerful and active vice
president, especially on national security and foreign policy affairs.
I think the biggest difference -- and it stands to reason -- is if Vice President Biden is elected he'll govern starting on January 20, 2021. The
world is a different place four years after Vice President Biden and President Obama left office. China is stronger as a power.
The United States unfortunately has been weakened by President Trump. He's weakened our alliances and partnerships. He's pulled us out of the Paris
climate agreement, out of the World Health Organization during a pandemic. There's going to be a lot of rebuilding that has to be done.
[10:45:00]
BURNS: And as you look at what the vice president is saying, it's standing up for democracy, re-establishing and strengthening our alliances and
partnerships that's the key to getting the United States back as a global leader and taking part in international life, rejoining the Paris climate
change agreement for example.
So I think that's the major difference. And the argument that people like me are making as supporters of Vice President Biden is that the United
States is in a perilous position right now. We are so weak. We have lost our global credibility.
And it's this go-it-alone strategy of President Trump that has not succeeded in the Middle East or any other part of the world.
ANDERSON: With that, we have to leave it there. I do hope to speak to you in the days and weeks to come. Ambassador, thank you for joining us.
You heard Ambassador Burns call Joe Biden a true expert in foreign policy and that he understands the relationships in this, the region and insists
he has been a close friend to Israel. Let's get to Oren Liebermann in Jerusalem.
What do you make of it, a potential Biden administration going forward and what that would mean for Israel?
LIEBERMANN: Well, Joe Biden has been, for his long career, a pro-Israeli Democrat and politician. And so has Kamala Harris. She has spoken at APAC
twice.
In terms of what the differences would be here, well, for many here, President Trump is the greatest president ever for Israel. You see that
reflected in the peace deal he put in the table. He called it the path towards the two-state solution. There was so much criticism that what it
really was a green light for Israel to annex and the most pro Israel document put every on the table that essentially and pretty much sidelines
the Palestinians.
Where would Biden come in?
Essentially trying to restore America's leadership on the conflict, which means trying to treat both Israel and the Palestinians fairly. He supports
a two-state solution, which has been a traditional position for Republicans and Democrats, as well as opposing annexation and absolutely being on the
side of Israel when it comes to security.
Crucially, Biden rejected the position of more progressive Democrats trying to link Israeli aid to settlement growth or trying to link Israeli aid to
the opposition of annexation. He said that stays no matter what.
That being said, is he about to pour a lot of energy into solving this conflict if he's president?
No, he has a lot bigger issues to do deal with, like Iran, Russia, China, NATO, U.N., all of that is much higher on the list.
ANDERSON: Oren Liebermann, thank you.
Well, in the push to oust the Belarusian president, the opposition turning to the European Parliament for support.
Will they get the help they need?
More on that coming up.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:50:00]
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ANDERSON: Well, election protests in Belarus enter a third week. The opposition took part in a European parliament emergency meeting. And CNN's
Fred Pleitgen is in Minsk with more on that.
What do we know?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there, Becky. Well, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya went in front of the E.U. committee
and said that she believes that they won the election, that they're not a minority in the country anymore but she also said that the opposition is
willing to immediately go into negotiations with Alexander Lukashenko's government for a transition of power.
Now one of the things that she said is that Lukashenko tried to intimidate the opposition but the opposition is not backing down. Let's listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SVIATLANA TSIKHANOUSKAYA, BELARUSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER: Belarus has woken up. We are not the opposition anymore. We are the majority now. The
peaceful revolution has taken place.
The revolution in Belarus is not geopolitical revolution. It's neither a pro-Russian nor a anti-Russian revolution. It's neither an anti-European
Union nor pro-European Union revolution. It is a democratic revolution.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLEITGEN: Becky, of course, all of this comes after those massive protests that took place on Sunday and the opposition is trying to maintain that
momentum somewhat even though the protests have died down a little bit.
There was a protest by teachers that took place earlier today. What we did see there on the ground, Becky, was a larger detachment of security forces
apparently trying to stop that protest from happening.
Also, Alexander Lukashenko, of course, showing no signs of wanting to back down in any way, shape or form. In fact, several leaders of the opposition
have been put in detention and they have to go to jail.
And one of the members of the coordination council, the Nobel laureates (ph) as Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, she was also summoned as well and she has
to go there and explain herself.
So we do see that Lukashenko continues his crackdown, continues to try to assert his grip on power while at the same time, the opposition is also
making clear it will not back down as well.
ANDERSON: Fred Pleitgen in Minsk for you. Thank you, Fred.
In the next hour, we'll be discussing this situation in Belarus with European Parliament member David McCallister, the chair of the Foreign
Affairs Committee. That should be enlightening.
LeBron James dazzled on the court yet again but his words on the latest police shooting of a Black man were the resounding message Monday in the
NBA.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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ANDERSON: Well, it was an emotional night in the NBA playoffs for more reasons than one. Don Riddell is in the house.
Don, all of the players may be in the Disney World bubble but they're very aware of what's going on outside.
DON RIDDELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For sure. Thanks very much, Becky.
There are 15 teams left in the NBA bubble and it's the most intense time of this most unusual season.
[10:55:00]
RIDDELL: But the players will tell you it's getting harder and harder to focus on just the basketball.
The NBA is well known as a progressive sports league where players are encouraged to speak out on social issues. And after the shocking police
shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin on Sunday, LeBron James did not hold back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEBRON JAMES, LOS ANGELES LAKERS FORWARD: Well, quite frankly, it's just (INAUDIBLE) in our community and us -- I know people get tired of hearing
me say it but we are scared as Black people in America.
Black men, Black women, Black kids, we are terrified.
You're just standing here telling me that there was no way to subdue that gentleman or detain him or to just -- before the firing of the gun, then
you are sitting here and you're lying to not only me, you're lying to every African American, every Black person in the community because we see it
over and over and over.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIDDELL: "CNN SPORT's" Andy Scholes has been closely following the developments both on and off the court.
These players were already incensed by the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor but clearly this situation is really getting to them.
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Don, you know, LeBron, he's always been one to lead the way when it comes to speaking out on social issues.
But he's not alone in this NBA bubble there in Orlando.
A big part of the restart for them was continuing to fight for social justice. Many of them have been wearing messages like Black Lives Matter.
And they're continuing to kneel during the national anthem as a way to peacefully protest.
Now the Milwaukee Bucks, they normally play their games about 40 miles away from where Jacob Blake was shot. They did beat the Magic yesterday to take
the 3-1 lead in their series but Bucks star George Hill, he didn't want to talk about that. He didn't want to talk about basketball after the big win.
And he openly questioned whether they should be playing right now at all, considering the social climate in the U.S.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE HILL, MILWAUKEE BUCKS GUARD: Well, we can't do anything. First of all, we shouldn't have even came to this damn place, to be honest. I think
coming here just took all the focal points off of what the issues are.
I think thusly, when it's all settled, you know, some things need to be done. I think this world has to change, I think our police department has
to change, us as a society has to change. And right now, we're not seeing anything of that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHOLES: Yes, Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell even more blunt, tweeting, "F THE GAMES AND PLAYOFFS! THIS IS SICK AND IS A REAL PROBLEM. WE DEMAND
JUSTICE. IT'S CRAZY. I DON'T HAVE ANY WORDS BUT WTF, MAN! THIS IS WHY WE DON'T FEEL SAFE."
So Don, a lot of the players saying they don't feel like they should be playing right now. They should be concentrating on the issues off the
court. For now they'll continue to play. But I imagine all of these players will continue to bring light to what's going on.
RIDDELL: Yes, I'm sure you're absolutely right. As we mentioned at the top, Andy, it was already an emotional night for the NBA.
So what happened on the court?
SCHOLES: Well, so Don, Monday was Kobe Bryant Day. It was August 4th, 8:24. Those were the two numbers that Kobe wore during his legendary
career. And everybody is still remembering Kobe and what he meant to the game of basketball.
On Monday you saw James Harden, Russell Westbrook, LeBron wearing tribute outfits to Kobe on their way to their games. The Lakers wearing special
Black Mamba jerseys against the Blazers in game 4.
(WORLD SPORTS)
RIDDELL: For sure, the NBA playoffs are really heating up. But it's no longer just about the basketball. Andy, thanks very much.
Becky, that's all we have time for but we'll see you in 45 minutes time with a fascinating story about the abuse that professional tennis players
are receiving on social media and what the sport and the players are trying to do about it. We'll have that for you next time.
ANDERSON: Good stuff, thanks, Don.
Don just showing comments from LeBron James, speaking about Jacob Blake, the Black man shot multiple times in the back by police in the U.S.
And protesters having a simple message, "We will continue showing up until they are tired of killing us."
We are on the ground there up next.
[11:00:00]
END
