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Erin Burnett Outfront

State Department: $400 Million Was Leverage to Free Americans From Iran; Clinton Foundation to Alter Donation Policy if Hillary Wins; Sources: Guard Used Gun to Force Swimmer Out of Taxi; Trump Speaking for First Time Since Staff Shake-Up. Aired 7-8p ET

Aired August 18, 2016 - 19:00   ET

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

[19:00:11] KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: OUTFRONT next, breaking news. The U.S. confirming tonight that a plane filled with $400 million in cash was, quote, "leverage to get American prisoners released." Was it ransom? I'll ask my guest State Department Spokesman John Kirby.

Plus, more breaking news, Brazilian official say American swimmer Ryan Lochte lied about being robbed at gun point, but tonight yet another side of the story.

And Donald Trump is about to take the stage, his first major speech since his campaign shake-up. We'll bring it to you live.

Let's go OUTFRONT.

Good evening, everyone. I'm Kate Bolduan in for Erin Burnett. OUTFRONT tonight, breaking news. The State Department tonight confirming that the United States used a plane loaded with $400 million in cash as, quote, "leverage to ensure the release of American prisoners held in Iran." The cargo plane was with the cash remained on the tarmac and was not cleared for takeoff until the Americans were free.

Still, the administration is insisting tonight that the money was not ransom, but that is exactly what Donald Trump and many Republican lawmakers call it. Donald Trump, he is about to take the stage moments from now rallying supporters in North Carolina. It will be his first major event since shaking up his campaign staff. His campaign was quick to jump on the news of this Iran leverage and tie it to his opponent releasing this statement in part by helping they say put together a deal that ultimately sent $400 million to Iran that was likely used to fund terrorism. "Clinton has proven herself unfit to be president of the United States."

Again, you're looking at live pictures of Trump's rally in Charlotte, North Carolina. We'll going to bring it to you live when it begins. But first, let us start with Michelle Kosinski in Martha's Vineyard where President Obama is on vacation.

Michelle, the White House clearly aware the optics are not good in this case. So, what are they saying tonight of this Iran deal?

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, they don't want to say that. They don't want to say that the optics aren't good here. They want to stand behind what they originally said at least as much as possible, but the explanations around this have changed just a little bit in the wording and that's been interesting and that's been ripe for Republicans to jump on it especially given the timing so close to the election. So the White House put out a statement very similar to how this really all started. There was some additional detail reported and the State Department responded by saying, you know, this was really -- it wasn't a ransom because that against U.S. policy.

This was leverage. We wanted to make sure that the Iranians would release those prisoners so we held this payment to make sure they were going to be released and then we paid them this money. What's made it more difficult for the administration is just how confusing this is in the first place. I mean, this was money that was going to be paid to the Iranians. It was owed to them from decades ago, a deal that was never completed for arms. The U.S. never gave them those arms. This was just before the Iranian revolution.

So, they say this was separate from the deal to release the prisoners. And initially, you know, when we asked the White House, would those prisoners have been released if that money was not on that plane on that day essentially functioning as a ransom as Iran has been calling it. The White House didn't have a response and when that same question was asked to the State Department, they said, yes. Those prisoners would have been released regardless of whether that money was on that plane, but now the State Department is giving more information and saying, well, we held up that payment to make sure they were released.

So they're still not saying that this was ransom or even that it functioned as a ransom. They still say that these were separate things that each would have happened, but they wanted to make sure that the prisoners were released, so they paid that money at that time -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: Using all of the leverage that they have, but not surprisingly, Republicans see it very differently and are jumping all over. Michelle, thank you very much.

And for that kind of angle of it, let's go to Jason Carroll. He's live at the Donald Trump rally in Charlotte. Jason, Trump has been hugely critical of the Iran deal, assume and we heard the statement that he put out, assume that he'll hit the same theme tonight.

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, one would assume so. Look, this is a subject matter that he's talked about many, many times in the past Kate as you know. And look, this is something that really plays right into Donald Trump's hands and here's the reason why. When you talk to people who come out to rallies like this, they will tell you, this is a man who doesn't parse his words, he speaks in language that is common-sense type of language and he's been saying over and over and over again that the State Department and the White House, the President can say whatever he wants, that $400 million payment was made in exchange for hostages. Trump's words. And so that is going to go over very well in this

crowd here tonight. Trump's senior communications adviser Jason Miller releasing a statement about this today saying, quote, "Clinton is aligning herself with an administration that continuously lied to Americans." Mike Pence even more direct about it basically just saying that this was a payment that was a ransom payment, people can call it what they want. Mike Pence calling it tonight a ransom payment.

Trump is sure to point out that this is another reason why you cannot trust the Washington elite, cannot trust Hillary Clinton. He for sure is going to be hitting on that subject when he takes the stage, just about an hour from now -- Kate.

[19:05:36] BOLDUAN: Absolutely assume that. Jason Carroll, thank you so much.

And OUTFRONT now, a spokesman for the State Department John Kirby. John, thank you so much for your time.

JOHN KIRBY, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: My pleasure. Thanks for having me.

BOLDUAN: Of course. Today you described it as leverage. The question also to you today though was you wouldn't give Iran the money until they released the prisoners and you said, correct. That seems pretty close to the definition of ransom. How is it not?

KIRBY: Oh, it's not ransom for many reasons. First of all, this is Iran's money, it was a money that was awarded to them by the Hague Tribunal. It was a process that had been working independently for many months prior to that. Number two, the way I think ransom works is you -- you have to pay first and then you get your hostages back and that's not what happened here. We have got our American citizens out first and then because we wanted to make sure we had the leverage to get them out safely, then the $400 million that was Iran's was released to them.

But look, I mean, this was really something that happened over many, many months and it did kind of come together simultaneously and we felt like we had to take advantage of the timing here to make sure that we got our American citizens out safely, and that was always the top priority. The other thing I'd say, Kate is that very little of this story is new. The President himself when we got the Americans back came out and publicly talked about how these processes came together and how we tried to take advantage of them.

BOLDUAN: But to your point, if it wasn't ransom, it was announced in January, we all know that. It was cash owed to Iran and a deal gone bad during the overthrow of the Shah. Did it become a ransom payment when you feared, as you said that the Americans wouldn't be released if you let that money enter Iran?

KIRBY: No, again, I think again, the way the ransom works is you pay first and then you get your hostages and that didn't happen. But again, this was money that was theirs and this was, again, when they all came together we knew that this would help us with a little bit of leverage and actually we wanted maximum leverage and we felt that this would assist us. You know, when people talk about a quid pro quo here. The only real quid pro quo with respect to the money was the Hague Tribunal's decision that this money was owed to Iran and so that money was then given to Iran. It was given to them as a result of the Hague Tribunal --

BOLDUAN: But no matter, the money was changed first, and then the hostages were handed over. I think if you're two people staring each other down, whoever steps first, it doesn't really matter. The fact that it was exchange, it was held and exchanged and that's how it had to happen for fear you weren't going to get the result that you wanted to get, that sounds like ransom to a layman.

KIRBY: I can understand why people might think that and people obviously are entitled to have those views and those opinions, but the facts are clear. The fact was that this was Iranian money that had been awarded to them by the Hague Tribunal, the fact is that in a separate process, we'd been negotiating for the return of our Americans and nowhere in those negotiations, Kate, not one time, was in that discussion, a payment of any kind to get our Americans back.

The negotiation process that led to getting those citizens back had no discussion and talk about the payment of money in any sum or in any form of fashion. But when the lines all came together right there in January in a very short, 24-hour or so period, it would have been foolish, we believe, for us not to hold on just a little bit longer to make sure that we had the right leverage to get those Americans out. That was the priority.

BOLDUAN: John, a different topic, but happening today. Word now, pretty strange, but word now that these Olympic swimmers that they made up that story about being robbed by gun point.

KIRBY: Yes.

BOLDUAN: There are reports that two of them including Ryan Lochte have been indicted. What's the State Department's reaction to this?

KIRBY: Well, we're watching the press reports just like you. We're watching the developments, and I'm afraid that due to privacy considerations, I'm not at liberty to discuss this case in any great detail.

BOLDUAN: Uh-hm.

KIRBY: What I can tell you, though, broadly speaking is that in Rio, just like any places around the world, we do have consular officers, State Department employees who are trained and equipped and ready to provide counselor advice and assistance to Americans in need, but I'm really not at liberty to go into more of this particularly since it's an ongoing case.

BOLDUAN: Not on the details, but on this, Brazilian officials there are asking for an apology. Should Ryan Lochte and the others offer one? KIRBY: That really not for me to say one way or the other, that's

something for the parties involved in this and to discuss and to determine on their own. I don't think we would be taking a position on that.

[19:10:18] BOLDUAN: A strange situation, an unusual situation, to say the very least. John Kirby, thank you for your time.

KIRBY: My pleasure. Thanks for having me.

BOLDUAN: OUTFRONT for us next, we are standing by for Donald Trump live. One day after a major staff shake-up. Will they see a new Trump at the podium?

Plus, more breaking news. The Clinton Foundation with a major announcement and this heartbreaking video that is capturing the world's attention and should. A little boy bloodied and covered with dust, tonight OUTFRONT talks to the filmmaker who shot this footage.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:13:56] BOLDUAN: Breaking news. The Clinton Foundation just announced it will change its donation policy if Hillary Clinton is elected president. Bill Clinton told staff today, if his wife wins in November, they will no longer accept foreign or corporate donations. His spokesman also says that he will not give any paid speeches between now and Election Day and that will continue if Hillary ends up in the White House.

Joe Johns is OUTFRONT. Joe, the Clinton Foundation has been under increasing scrutiny. This is a big announcement.

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: It is a big announcement, Kate. The former President Bill Clinton himself making that announcement to the foundation staff today according to a spokesman telling them the Clinton Foundation will not accept donations from corporate or foreign interests if Hillary Clinton is elected in November. Well, Bill Clinton telling that the group, the Clinton Global Initiative meeting in New York this September will be the final meeting no matter what happens with the election, the move comes as questions have really started piling up over potential conflicts of interest between donors and the State Department during and after Hillary Clinton's time as secretary of state.

The latest example occurring just this week when it was disclosed that the State Department considered a consulate real estate deal in Africa with links to a billionaire who had given a million dollars to the Clinton Foundation. The Clinton campaign has said there was no quid pro quo, no bargain for exchange, and in fact, was there no deal. The announcement today, though, is an acknowledge that should Hillary Clinton be elected, the focus of the foundation would simply have to be retooled and turned around. And also this evening we are hearing from a Bill Clinton spokesman that Mr. Clinton himself will not give paid speeches if his wife is elected president -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: Yap. They are making changes and a lot of people are going to be talking about it. Joe, thank you.

Following more breaking news, moments from now, Donald Trump will take the stage for the first major event that he is going to hold since shaking up his campaign. The first big rally and you are looking at live pictures right there with his kind of its warm-up crew before the rally in Charlotte, North Carolina. The new CEO of Trump's campaign is known as a win at all costs street fighter. So, will we see that in Trump tonight?

Jason Carroll is OUTFRONT.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CARROLL (voice-over): Donald Trump trying to get back on target after a campaign shake-up, visiting a shooting range and getting an endorsement from a North Carolina police union in this critical state.

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: So it looks like it's going very well. I guess they just have a very good numbers -- North Carolina and North Carolina is going to be very important.

CARROLL: Trump hasn't had much good news in the polls lately, but a new national poll out today showing the post-convention glow may be dimming a bit for Hillary Clinton. A Pugh Research Center, poll has Clinton down to just a four-point lead. Though Trump's numbers did not rise. Newly promoted campaign manager Kellyanne Conway says, trailing in the polls right now is not necessarily a bad thing.

KELLYANNE CONWAY, DONALD TRUMP CAMPAIGN MANAGER: I think it helps us to be a little bit behind and we are. It lights a fire under us and it reminds us what we need to do to get this done.

CARROLL: Of course, correction from yesterday when Trump's special counsel tried to deny his candidate was trailing at all.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: You say it's not a shake-up, but you guys are down and it makes sense --

MICHAEL COHEN, SPECIAL COUNSEL TO DONALD TRUMP: Says who? Says who?

KEILAR: Polls. Most of them. All of them.

COHEN: Which polls?

KEILAR: All of them.

CARROLL: The campaign's new leadership seeking to project confidence that the Republican candidate will sharpen his message, but still let Trump be himself.

CONWAY: Voters know if you're comfortable in your own skin and let him be him in this sense. He wants to deliver a speech, if he wants to go to a rally, if he wants to connect to a crowd in a way that's very spontaneous, that's wonderful and that's how he got here.

CARROLL: Tonight, the first big rally since the major staff changes. Trump will again focus on their campaign themes, terrorism and law and order. Tomorrow their first Trump TV ad set to air in five battleground states.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[19:18:07] CARROLL: And as for those TV attack ads, one of the states where they're going to be airing is right here in North Carolina along with Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. We're also told, Kate, that Eric Trump will be joining Donald Trump when he takes the stage here just a few moments from now. Also former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani will be here, as well. It is going to be very interesting to see what happens when he does take the stage, what he has to say about that controversial $400 million payment to Iran -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: Jason Carroll, thank you so much.

OUTFRONT with me now, Basil Smikle, a Hillary Clinton supporter, Boris Epshteyn, senior adviser to the Donald Trump campaign. Mark Preston, executive editor for CNN Politics. And David Gergen, he has served -- he has been an adviser to four presidents including Reagan and Clinton.

David Gergen, I'll refrain from my typical joke which is you've served presidents dating back to Abraham Lincoln. Anyway, moving in, I had to get it in, sorry David. Mark, minutes away now from the first big rally for Donald Trump since this big shake-up. I mean, I do want to know and I want to get your take, do you -- if you're looking into your crystal ball. Do we see the old Donald Trump, the new Donald Trump or are they the same thing?

MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICS EXECUTIVE EDITOR: They are the same thing. Let me answer this way, because we don't know what Donald Trump is going to do or how he's going to act. Let me put myself in the shoes of Kellyanne Conway.

BOLDUAN: Yes.

PRESTON: I am hoping that Donald Trump goes out, delivers a speech and feels comfortable in how he does it, but keeps the focus on just a handful of subjects and he goes right after Hillary Clinton on those subjects and tries to make it stick as opposed to going out and then just riffing and going after the media here and attacking Hillary Clinton there and maybe Bill Clinton there and maybe saying something bad about a Republican over there. Keep him focused and focus on the Clintons.

BOLDUAN: Yes. Slim chances, he doesn't go after the media, that's an easy target, that's an easy win for the crowd before us. The news, the staff shake-up it seems the way it's described is they want Trump unleashed, they want him on message. So, they want Trump to stay on message but they don't want him to lose his authenticity. To me that sounds like exactly the sweet spot that this campaign is wanted from the very beginning but has been impossible to reach.

BORIS EPSHTEYN, SENIOR ADVISER, DONALD TRUMP CAMPAIGN: It's not a shake-up. The campaign is, you know, the campaign is running based on its leadership and its leader in Donald Trump is someone who has shown agility and someone who has shown innovation and this campaign now combines so many strong backgrounds. Steve Bannon with the business background. Kellyanne Conway with the political background --

BOLDUAN: Right. But there's influence on him. No matter who was the lead staff and no matter who is the campaign manager, they've wanted the authentic Trump, they've wanted Trump to stay on message. Again, the sweet spot that has been to this point unattainable. What's going to be different this time?

EPSHTEYN: He's done extremely well in the primaries, he's going to be doing well for the next 82 days. I am very confident Donald Trump -- and Marco was right. It's a combination of the Donald Trump who has given the strong positive speeches on Monday and Tuesday and the Donald Trump who is authentic and who is so attractive to the voters out there. I think your question would be about all of those Clinton issues. I mean, I could just sit back here and enjoy it. But listen, if they're changing the policies if she's elected, hold on, why don't they change that when she became secretary of state. And by the way, they promised to change.

(TALKING OVER EACH OTHER)

She signed a pledge.

BOLDUAN: Let me finish it.

BASIL SMIKLE, EXEC. DIRECTOR, NEW YORK STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY: In the time that I've been in this building I've seen four African-Americans on stage for Donald Trump. Wow! In this entire cycle -- excuse me. No, no, no. Let me talk now. Let me talk. --

(TALKING OVER EACH OTHER)

BOLDUAN: You go and then you can respond.

SMIKLE: The treaties that he is making. If this is a pivot of any kind the communities of color to me is shallow, number one. Number two, the fact of the matter is he himself has said that he is unconcerned about pivoting in any direction. He is going to follow his own lead, he is going to follow his own counsel no matter what campaign quote-unquote, "Shake-up whether you want to deny it or not." Whatever campaign shake-up there exists. And to me, that doesn't make any difference into what this campaign, Donald Trump's campaign has offered in this cycle whatsoever. It is going to be doubling down on more of the same nasty --

BOLDUAN: So, David Gergen, I'm going to interrupt with you, because I'm good at that. David Gergen, you be the arbiter of justice on this one then. When it comes to the Clinton Foundation and the announcement that they've made is that an acknowledgement, there was conflict of interest, does that erase the damage that has been done, you know, the damage done to this point?

DAVID GERGEN, FORMER PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER: No. I don't think it erases the damage done, but I think it could stop the bleeding going ahead in the next few weeks because this is, I think the Trump people clearly were going to go after the foundation here in the closing weeks. And this is an effort by Bill Clinton and my people there Donna Shala (ph) who runs the foundation now. Just a look, we're going to -- we understand we're here and we're going to run this foundation differently regardless of how this election turns out, but if the election -- if she does win we will dramatically change it. Whether it's enough or not is a big, big question I think, Kate. You know, "The Boston Globe" for example is, which is very friendly to Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton has had a call to shut the damn thing down. If Bill Clinton's elected, you've just got to shut it down.

[19:23:30] BOLDUAN: So they did it. So they did -- not necessarily shutting it down, but they're not going to accept these donations. They're making changes. Does that take your ammunition away?

EPSHTEYN: Absolutely not. She promised to do this when she became secretary of state, and she didn't. She lied to the President. She lied to the American people. She lied to her own party. She lied to everybody and now we're supposed to believe her? Fooled once. Not going to be fooled twice and also they're not saying that they're not -- he won't be making paid speeches during the election or they won't be taking foreign money during the election.

BOLDUAN: That's what he said?

EPSHTEYN: No. They said if elected.

BOLDUAN: Let me say, during and between now and the election and they're not going to making paid speeches.

SMIKLE: Let's also be clear. The foundation has done phenomenal work. The HIV and aids in Africa, I've seen firsthand --

EPSHTEYN: No, about 90 percent goes to --

(CROSSTALK)

SMIKLE: And -- and in communities of color and in Harlem in particular working with small businesses. This foundation has done -- has done tremendous work.

EPSHTEYN: If they've done so well, why are they changing their policies? They're changing their policies because they're admitting --

BOLDUAN: Because of a perceived or real conflict of interest. I can answer that right now.

EPSHTEYN: Because they've been committing fraud, that's why. Because it's a fraudulent entity.

GERGEN: Hey, listen.

BOLDUAN: One final thought, David, I'm sorry. GERGEN: The Clinton Foundation is not a fraudulent entity. That's

just so much b.s. This foundation has done phenomenal work. They frankly were sloppy inside about trying to have their ethics rules set up. They just -- they didn't take that seriously enough and they're paying a price for it in the election, but they have done great work and I think it's smart now that they're trying to move and they may be under continuous pressure to shut it down altogether. We'll have to wait and see how it's done.

BOLDUAN: Stand by, stand by, stand by, stand by, stand by, stand by. We're waiting for Donald Trump to take the stage in Charlotte, North Carolina.

That is just moments away, but also this. Brazilian authorities say American Olympian Ryan Lochte lied about being robbed in Rio, but Lochte is firing back. Was surveillance video doctored?

The plot thickens, and the story behind this heartbreaking picture. A little boy caught in the horror of war. You need to see this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:29:32] BOLDUAN: Breaking news. Ryan Lochte pushing back tonight on claims by Brazilian officials that he lied about being robbed in Rio after vandalizing a gas station. Sources close to the swimmers say the surveillance video shows a security guard forcing the men out of their taxi with a gun and demanding money. This coming as the same time Brazil is asking the U.S. swim team to apologize as they waive potential charges.

Martin Savidge is OUTFRONT.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[19:30:06] MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Brazilian authorities now saying Ryan Lochte, stunning story about being robbed at gun point, all a lie. Surveillance video just released tells a very different story about what happened to the American gold medalist and his three teammates. Police say the four were drunk when they vandalized this Rio gas station around 6:00 a.m. on Sunday. According to authorities, a security guard pulled a gun on the four swimmers forcing them to get out of the cab and on the ground. The athletes eventually paid for the damage and left.

In an interview the next day, Lochte told a very different story claiming it was armed robbery.

RYAN LOCHTE, U.S. SWIMMER: They pulled out their guns. They told the other swimmers to get down on the ground. They got down on the ground. I refused. I was, like, we didn't do anything wrong and the guy pulled out his gun. He cocked it and put it to my forehead. He took our money, he took my wallet.

SAVIDGE: Brazilian authorities say that didn't happen.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): There was no robberies the way it was reported or claimed by the athletes.

SAVIDGE: Today's press conference adding just another confusion that's followed days of elaborate and often conflicting stories. Lochte and his teammates, Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and James Feigen spent the hours before the gas station incident partying at a club in Rio, but the story of being robbed starts to unravel Tuesday when video from the Olympic Village shows them going through security gates. They appear to be joking around and with their watches and cell phones. Something many believe thieves would have taken.

Wednesday, as questions mount, the judge orders the seizure of Lochte and Feigen's passports to keep them from leaving Brazil, but Lochte is already back in the U.S. talking to NBC's Matt Lauer, changing the most dramatic part of his story.

MATT LAUER, NBC NEWS: When he talked to me tonight he said that's when the guy pointed the guy in my direction and cocked it, and I pointedly said to him, you had said before it was placed on your forehead and cocked and he said, no, that's not exactly what happened.

SAVIDGE: That same night, authorities boarded a plane and pulled off Bentz and Conger. Now, the story of the American Olympians being robbed at gunpoint in a foreign country appears to be a night on the town and too much celebration.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE: Lochte arrived back home here in Charlotte, North Carolina, early Wednesday morning. We've knocked on his door. There's been no answer.

Neighbors say that they haven't seen him, however they do report seeing his car which is pretty hard to miss. It's a black Rolls Royce. Everyone would very much like to hear his side of the story as would we, we'll be standing by right here just in case. Erin? Kate?

BOLDUAN: Thank you so much, Martin. There are a lot of sides to this story it appears.

OUTFRONT with me now, CNN sports analyst Christine Brennan and she's been following this and all of the twists and turns, and is in Rio tonight. Also with me, CNN legal analyst Paul Callan.

Christine to you, this other side of the story being added in, people close to the swimmers say surveillance video shows one person used a weapon to get them out of the car.

Guys, stand by. Actually, we need to take us real quickly over to Charlotte, North Carolina, and that is where Donald Trump is holding the rally after the shake-up to his campaign. He just took the stage.

Let's listen in.

(MUSIC)

(CHEERS) DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Thank you.

(AUDIENCE CHANTING)

Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you, and it's great to be in Charlotte.

I just met with our many amazing employees right up the road, up my property. I will tell you, they like me very much. I guess I pay them a little bit too much.

I'd like to take a moment to talk about the heartbreak and devastation in Louisiana. A state that is very, very special to me. We are one nation. When one state hurts, we all hurt, and we must all work together to lift each other up.

(CHEERS)

Working, building, restoring together. Our prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones and we send them our deepest condolences.

[19:35:05] Though words cannot express the sadness one feels at times like this. I hope everyone in Louisiana knows that our country is praying for them and standing with them to help them in these difficult hours. They are very, very difficult. Thank you.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

We are one country, one people and we will have together one great, fantastic future.

Together, I'd like to talk about the new American future that we are going to create as a team together. Last week, I laid out my plan to bring jobs back to our country. They are vanishing, and they are vanishing quickly.

On Monday, I laid out my plan to defeat radical Islamic terrorism.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

On Tuesday in Wisconsin, I talked about how we're going to restore law and order to this country. We need law and order. Without it, we have nothing.

Let me take this opportunity to extend our thanks and our gratitude to the police and law enforcement officers in this country who have sacrificed so greatly in these very difficult times and they are difficult. The chaos and violence on our streets and the assault on law enforcement are really and truly an attack against all peaceful citizens.

If I'm elected president, this chaos and violence will end and it will end very, very quickly.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) Every single citizen in our land has the right to live in safety, to be one United Nations. We must protect all of our people, all of our people. And we must also provide opportunities for all of our people.

We cannot make America great again if we leave any community behind. Nearly four in ten African-American children are living in poverty. I will not rest until children of every color in this country are fully included in the American dream.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

Jobs, safety, opportunity is what we have to have and it's what we need. Fair and equal representation. This is what I promise to African-Americans, Hispanics, Americans of all types, of all colors, of all religions, this is what we promise. We all promise, everybody in this room promises. This is what we have to do.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

But to achieve this new American future, we must break from the failures of the past. As you know, I'm not a politician.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

It's good.

I've worked in business, created a great company, created lots of jobs, rebuilding neighborhoods. That's what I've done all of my adult life.

I've never wanted to learn the language of the insiders, and I've never been politically correct. It takes far too much time -- sure.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

True. Truthfully, it takes far too much time and can often make it more difficult to achieve total victory. Sometimes in the heat of debate and speaking on a multitude of issues, you don't choose the right words or you say the wrong thing.

I have done that.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

[19:40:07] And believe it or not, I regret it.

(AUDIENCE CHANTING)

Thank you.

And I do regret it, particularly, where it may have caused personal pain.

Too much is at stake for us to be consumed with these issues, but one thing I can promise you this, I will always tell you the truth.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

I speak the truth for all of you and for everyone in this country who doesn't have a voice of which are there many. I speak the truth on behalf of the factory worker who lost his or her job, and that's happening more and more in our country.

I speak the truth on behalf of the veteran who has been denied the medical care they need and the medical care they deserve, and so many are not making it, but they're going to make it if Trump becomes president. That, I can tell you.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

They are dying on lines waiting for a doctor. We are going to take care of our veterans. I speak the truth on behalf of the family living near the border that deserves to be safe in their own country, but is instead living with no security and no protection at all.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

(CROWD CHANTING)

We will build a wall. Believe me, we will build a wall.

Our campaign is about representing the great majority of Americans, Republicans, Democrats, independents, conservatives and liberals who read the newspaper or turn on the television and don't hear anyone, anyone speaking for them. All they hear are insiders fighting for other insiders. That's what they do.

These are the forgotten men and women in our society and they are angry at so much and on so many levels. The poverty. The unemployment. The failing schools. The jobs moving to other countries. I'm fighting for these forgotten Americans.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

Fourteen months ago, I declared my campaign for the presidency on the promise to give our government back to the people. Every day since then, I have worked to repay the loyalty and the faith that you have put in me.

Every day, I think about how much is at stake for our country in the upcoming election. This isn't just the fight of my life. It's the fight of our lives together to save our country.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

Thank you.

I refuse to let another generation of American children be excluded from the American Dream which is what's happening. Our whole country loses when young people of limitless potential are denied the opportunity to contribute their talents because we failed to provide them the opportunities that they deserve.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

[19:45:10] Let our children be dreamers, too. Our whole country loses every time a kid doesn't graduate from high school or fails to enter the work force or worse still, is lost to the dreadful world of drugs and crime and so many are. So, so many. When I look at the failing schools, the terrible trade deals, the infrastructure crumbling in our inner cities, I know all of this can be fixed and I can fix it, but I know it can be fixed very, very quickly if we know what we're doing.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

In the world that I come from, if something is broken you fix it. If something isn't working, you replace it. If a product doesn't deliver, you make a change.

I have no patience for injustice, no tolerance for government incompetence and that's what it is, it's gross incompetence, and no sympathy for leaders who fail their citizens. That's why I am running to end the decades of bitter failure and to offer the American people a new future of honesty, justice and opportunity.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

A new future where America and its people, and I mean always, comes first. America first. Remember, America first. America first.

Aren't you tired of a stem that gets rich and this is a system which is getting very rich at your expense. That's what's happening. Aren't you tired of the same old lies and the same old broken promises?

And Hillary Clinton has proven to be one of the greatest liars of all time. Aren't you tired of arrogant leaders who look down on you instead of serving and protecting you, and that's what's happening. That is all about to change, and it's about to change very, very soon. How about November 8th?

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

We are going to put the American people first again. I've traveled all across this country laying out my bold and modern agenda for change. In this journey, I will never lie to you. I will never tell you something I do not believe. I will never put anyone's interests ahead of yours.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

And I will never, ever stop fighting for you.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

I have no special interests controlling me, and I have no special interests.

I'm spending millions and millions of dollars on my own campaign. I'm funding my campaign. My only interest is the American people. That's my interest.

This country has been so good to me, I'm giving back and that's what it's all about, giving back.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

So while sometimes I can be too honest, Hillary Clinton is the exact opposite. She never tells the truth. One lie after another and getting worse with each passing day.

(CROWD CHANTING)

[19:50:06] Thank you.

The American people are still waiting for Hillary Clinton to apologize for all of the many lies she's told to them and the many times she has betrayed the American people at great danger to them.

Tell me, has Hillary ever apologized for lying about her illegal e- mail server and deleting 33,000 e-mails?

(CROWD SAYS "NO")

Has Hillary Clinton apologized for turning the State Department into a pay-for-play operation where favors are sold to the highest bidder which is exactly what's happening?

(CROWD SAYS "NO")

Has she apologized for lying to the families who lost loved ones at Benghazi?

(CROWD SAYS "NO")

Has she apologized for putting Iran on a path to nuclear weapons?

(CROWD SAYS "NO")

Has she apologized for Iraq?

(CROWD SAYS "NO")

For Libya? For Syria? Has she apologized for unleashing ISIS across the world? She and Barack Obama unleashed ISIS, whether you like it or don't like it, whether you want to hear it or don't, that's what happened.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

Has Hillary Clinton apologized for the decisions she made that have led to so much death, destruction and terrorism?

(CROWD SAYS "NO")

Speaking of lies, we now know from the State Department just lied about the $400 million in cash that was flown to Iran, that was flown to Iran. $400 million in cash.

He denied it was for the hostages, but it was. It just came out. He said, "We don't pay ransom," but we did.

He lied about the hostages, openly and blatantly, just like he lied about Obamacare.

You remember, you can have your doctor, you can have your plan, right? You can have your doctor, you can have your plan. It didn't work out that way.

Now, the administration has put every American traveling overseas, including our military personnel, at greater risk of being kidnapped.

Hillary Clinton owns President Obama's Iran policy. One more reason she can never, ever be allowed to be president.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

Let's talk about the economy. Here, in this beautiful and great state, so many people had suffered because of NAFTA. NAFTA. Remember NAFTA, what it's done to this country.

Bill Clinton signed the deal and Hillary Clinton supported the deal. North Carolina has lost nearly half of its manufacturing jobs since NAFTA went into effect.

Bill Clinton also put China into the World Trade Organization, another Hillary Clinton-backed disaster.

Your city of Charlotte has lost one in four manufacturing jobs since China joined the WTO, and many of these jobs were lost while Hillary Clinton was secretary of state, our chief diplomat with China.

She was a disaster, totally unfit for this job. Totally unfit.

(APPLAUSE)

Hillary Clinton owes the state of North Carolina a very big apology and I think you'll get that apology around the same time you'll get to see her 33,000 deleted e-mails. In other words, you'll never see the apology.

Another major issue in this campaign has been the border.

[19:55:04] Our open border has allowed drugs and crime and gangs to pour into our country and our communities -- so much needless suffering, so much preventable death. I've spent time with the families of wonderful Americans whose loved ones were killed by the open borders and sanctuary cities that Hillary Clinton supports.

I've embraced crying parents who lost their children to violence, spilling across our border. Parents like Laura Wilkerson and Michelle Root and Sabine Durden and Jamiel Shaw whose children were killed by illegal immigrants so needlessly.

My opponent supports sanctuary cities. But where were these sanctuaries for Kate Steinle? Where were they? Where was it?

Where was the sanctuary for Kate? Think about it. Where was the sanctuary for the children of Laura and Michelle and Sabine and Jamil? Where was the sanctuary for every other parent who has suffered so horribly?

These moms and dads don't get a lot of consideration from our politicians. They certainly don't get apologies. They'll never even get the time of day from Hillary Clinton. She doesn't even care, I'm convinced, but they will always come first to me.

Listen closely. We will deliver justice for all of these great American families.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

We will create a system of immigration that makes us all proud.

Hillary Clinton's mistakes destroy innocent lives, sacrifice national security and betray the working families of this country.

Please remember this, I will never put personal profit before national security. Nobody should.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

I will never leave our border open to appease donors and special interests, which is what Hillary is doing and they are being appeased.

I will never support a trade deal that kills American jobs. I will never, ever put the special interests before the national interests.

I will never put a donor before a voter or a lobbyist before a citizen.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

Instead, I will be a champion for the people. The establishment media doesn't cover what really matters in this country or what's really going on in people's lives. They will take words of mine out and spend a week obsessing over every single syllable, and then pretend to discover some hidden meaning in what I said.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

Just imagine for a second if the media spent this energy holding the politicians accountable who got innocent Americans like Kate Steinle killed? She was gunned down by an illegal immigrant who had been deported five times. Just imagine if the media spent time and lots of time investigating the poverty and joblessness of the inner cities? Just think about how much different things would be if the media in this country sent their cameras to our border, to our closing factories.