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Erin Burnett Outfront
Obama Meets Trump For First Time Ever; Trump Team Reviewing Candidates For Cabinet; New Photo of Michelle Obama and Melania Trump's Meeting; Hillary Clinton Seen for First Time Since Concession Speech; Trump: Healthcare Reform is Top Priority as President. Aired 7-8p ET
Aired November 10, 2016 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[19:00:12] ERIN BURNETT, CNN HOST: OUTFRONT next, the breaking news. President-Elect Donald Trump gets ready to take over his transition team in overdrive. Could RNC Chairman Reince Priebus be the next chief of staff? He's my guest tonight.
Plus, the first sighting of Hillary Clinton since her concession speech on a hiking trail, our guest, a woman who spotted her and talked to her about the election.
And meet the next First Lady Melania Trump. Is she just like us? Let's go OUTFRONT.
And good evening. I'm Erin Burnett. OUTFRONT tonight, the breaking news. Rallying around President-Elect Donald Trump. CNN has just learned that former President Bill Clinton called President-Elect Donald Trump this afternoon, an aide to President Clinton saying he congratulated Trump and wished him well.
Also tonight, President-Elect Trump arriving back in New York after his meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House. Today, for the first time ever, the two men came face to face. Meeting in the Oval Office for 90 minutes, a meeting which was only scheduled to last 10 minutes. President Obama called it excellent. President- Elect Trump said it was a great honor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I just had the opportunity to have an excellent conversation with President-Elect Trump. It was wide-ranging.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: I very much look forward to dealing with the President in the future including counsel.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: At the same time their wives, Michelle Obama and Melania Trump met for tea touring the White House. This is the picture we have of that meeting. And for the second straight day, the Trump bounced on Wall Street. The Dow surging to a record high closing. The Dow moving up as much as it has in some election. It's truly an unprecedented thing and it runs completely counter to many of the prognostications that were out there before. Yet another record today after Donald Trump's win.
Michelle Kosinski is OUTFRONT at the White House. And Michelle, the moment today of this meeting so many people thought they would never see Barack Obama and Donald Trump meet, never mind as President and President-Elect at the White House.
MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Maybe even not the two people who were in that meeting. And tonight outside the White House we're hearing more protests but inside today it was all about reassurance and everybody on their best behavior. What was so fascinating about this, is that on the one hand you have this incredibly organized transition process with handshakes and good wishes on all sides. But then on the other, you have this intense bitterness from the campaign trail.
And today the White House really didn't hold back in saying that President Obama meant every word that he has said about Donald Trump, that he's unfit, that the President has deep concerns. Well guess what, none of that has changed. But today was all about working together and moving forward despite those major differences.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KOSINSKI (voice-over): A historic day for Donald Trump. After a historic election. Meeting with President Obama alone in the Oval Office that will soon be his.
OBAMA: We talked about foreign policy. We talked about domestic policy. I have been very encouraged by the -- I think interest in President-Elect Trump's wanting to work with my team around many of the issues that this great country faces.
KOSINSKI: Donald Trump calling his fierce political rival a good man.
TRUMP: I have great respect. The meeting lasted for almost an hour and a half. And it could have -- as far as I'm concerned, it could have gone on for a lot longer. We really -- we discussed a lot of different situations. Some wonderful and some difficulties. I very much look forward to dealing with the President in the future, including counsel.
KOSINSKI: When asked though, the White House Press Secretary said all those warnings from President Obama on the campaign trail about Trump, that he's dangerous, unqualified, still hold.
(on camera): Does the President now have any reason to believe that Donald Trump is fit to be president of the United States?
JOSH EARNEST, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Again, I'm not going to -- two men did not relitigate their differences in the Oval Office.
KOSINSKI: Trump's next stop, Capitol Hill. Meetings with leadership. The tone here equally welcoming, putting deep differences aside, for now.
TRUMP: -- more affordable and better. (INAUDIBLE) KOSINSKI: An impending rolling back of as many of President Obama's
policies as possible. But the White House wouldn't talk about that today saying essentially what will be will be. America has chosen.
OBAMA: My number one priority in the coming two months is to try to facilitate a transition that ensures our President-Elect is successful.
[19:05:14] KOSINSKI: Ending it all with a joking reminder from one leader to the next, not to take questions from the press.
OBAMA: Thank you, everybody. We're not going to be taking any questions. Thank you, guys. Thank you. That's good rule. Don't answer any questions when their -- (INAUDIBLE)
TRUMP: Very good man.
OBAMA: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KOSINSKI: Well, the very uncomfortable in the Oval Office was not only how these two people feel about each other but also the fact that Donald Trump has vowed many times to roll back President Obama's policies. The White House though said, what made this meeting excellent as the President's term, is that both are committed to the transition and Donald Trump's tone reflected that -- Erin.
BURNETT: All right. Michelle, thank you very much. And we are also tonight learning that Trump will have a meeting tomorrow with the people who are going to make this happen in his transition.
Dana Bash is in Washington tonight OUTFRONT. And Dana, obviously the big question tonight, who will President-Elect Trump appoint? I mean, we've got a CIA director and a chief-of-staff and the secretary of state. I mean, it's pretty incredible what he has to do here and you have some new reporting tonight.
DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: That is right. Monumental. And it's got to be done in the next seventy days or so. The fast track, and this is what generally happens is for the chief- of-staff. Because that person once in place is going to help the transition team and the President-Elect get everybody else in place. Right now, we are told that Donald Trump himself would prefer Steve Bannon, who was the chief operating officer of his campaign. He came from Breitbart, the conservative media site. And he's been very, very present with Donald Trump, especially in these last few weeks of the campaign on the road with him sort of trying to help keep him in check.
I am told that despite the fact that Trump wants him, that people -- some people in Trump's orbit are telling Trump that that is a terrible idea. First and foremost because of the fact as I mentioned that he came from Breitbart, which sort of by definition is the outside conservative media site that throws Torpedoes at Republican establishment. Now, Donald Trump is going to be the President of the United States and he has to work with many of the Republicans who are running Congress to get legislation done, Breitbart has been going after, including the House Speaker.
Yes. The reason I'm told is because some people don't feel that he is the right person to make the trains are running on time which is one of the key jobs as chief-of-staff. The other person you had on that screen, Reince Priebus, the current RNC Chair. He has also been very, very integral in the Trump's world. He, not only on his team running the ground operation that got Donald Trump elected.
He's been also very personally involved with the campaign, also travelling with Donald Trump. I'm told that their bond isn't necessarily as close but certainly much closer than people think. And I'm also told by people around Washington Erin that he would be kind of the consensus choice. Somebody who knows Washington, who knows the Republicans on The Hill. You have to get many of them elected. So that is where things stands on that choice. The first and probably the most important choice because it is the most personal.
BURNETT: All right. Dana, thank you very much.
And OUTFRONT tonight. Reince Priebus. The chairman of the Republican National Committee. Reince, thank you so much for being with us tonight. I know you are doing this on very little sleep if any. We're told you have spoken to Trump about a position in his administration. How did that conversation go?
REINCE PRIEBUS, CHAIRMAN, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE: No that is not the case. We don't -- I'm not involved in that. Nobody is talking about those things. And so our focus right now is just making sure we're wrapping up the committee work and then, you know, making sure that the transition goes smoothly and so that he can be well equipped come January and he will be.
BURNETT: Now, Donald Trump does give you a lot of credit for his win. At that moment when the world was watching him give his victory speech. He talked about you. Here is what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I'll tell you, Reince is really a star. And he's the hardest working guy --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: We understand -- and I know you are saying you haven't talked about it with him. But you are on the list. Steve Bannon is on the list for Trump's chief of staff. If offered, would you take that job? Do you even want it?
PRIEBUS: I don't -- I don't to even talk about it. I mean, the truth is, I'm in my job right now, Erin. I mean, I'm the chairman of the RNC. It is an important role that we play at the national party. I saw it in action on Tuesday night. And it was a great victory. But those great victories only happen with a great candidate. I mean, I'm proud of her mechanics and data and I think it is unprecedented. I think it is unbelievable what this committee did. But none of those unbelievable things work if you have a bad candidate.
[19:10:08] So it always starts with a great candidate. And the other thing it starts with is, is that you have to have a candidate that is flowing with the river. In other words the momentum, the mood of the electorate has to flow with the candidate. All of those things lined up, which is why, you know, I think the media narrative was just so far off on what Americans were thinking about the choices they had in front of them.
BURNETT: President Obama and President-Elect Trump were supposed to meet today for ten minutes. As, you know, that was the schedule.
PRIEBUS: Yes.
BURNETT: Were you surprised after all the -- and let's just be honest here, frankly horrible things that they have said about each other -- that that meeting lasted an hour and a half?
PRIEBUS: No, I'm not surprised and I'll tell you why. Because I've seen President-Elect Trump in meetings one on one, in tense meetings and meeting where things needed to be patched up or people need to get to get to know each other. He didn't get to be where he is at. Even if you put aside the fact that he did something phenomenal and now he's President-Elect of the United States. In his business dealings, I guarantee you there are all kinds of problems that he's dealt with. Blowout arguments over permits or buildings or whatever the case is. But he will walk into that meeting, and people will leave the meeting and they will say, this is a gracious personable guy. He's a hard guy not to like, especially in meetings like that.
BURNETT: Do you know what --
PRIEBUS: So, I'm not surprised.
BURNETT: Do you know what they talked about? Have you had a chance to talk to Donald Trump about it?
PRIEBUS: I talked to him briefly today when he swung through the RNC. But we -- obviously I wasn't downloading on details with him. But I'm sure it was very positive and the reports are indicative of that.
BURNETT: You know, Bernie Sanders today talked about Donald Trump on CNN. I wanted to play for you part of what he said. Here he is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BERNIE SANDERS (D), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The election is over. Donald Trump won. I intend to work with President Trump. I will vigorously oppose him if he appeals to racism or sexism or some of the other discriminatory measures that he brought up during his campaign.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: Reince, you have seen the protests. They are out there again on the streets tonight protesting against Trump's presidency. Does he need to? Does he feel he should reach out to these people explicitly and assuage their fears?
PRIEBUS: Well Erin yesterday morning, keep in mind Donald Trump spoke to the American people, just yesterday morning. And when he was getting ready for that speech, it was nothing about bragging about the election, nothing about continuing the rhetoric, the political rhetoric that was -- that was indicative of a political campaign. It was all about coming together, leading all Americans no matter battleground, race, ethnicity, whatever the gender, whatever the case is. And it was Donald Trump that led. And it was him that decided this is the direction to go. Let's bring people together. Let's cool the water.
BURNETT: So this is how it is going to be from now on.
PRIEBUS: That is what he did. It wasn't a speech rater Erin that said, oh, read this speech. And he says, OK, great, put her on the -- no he sat down and made sure that it was the right speech at the right time. And just yesterday morning, him sitting down for 90 minutes with the President is another indicator. People should look at that and say, here is a person that just won the presidency. And he's sitting down and having a 90 minute conversation -- should have been 10 -- with the President, he's working hard and he is showing the country that we need to move together forward.
But I would say, the agenda that Americans were in favor of was an agenda that the Republican Party, meaning our candidates, including President-Elect Trump, House and Senate candidates put on the table. So, the other part of this is we have an obligation then to pursue the promises that we made in the campaign that people voted for. They voted and said yes, we want those things to be done in Washington. So those things will be done. We don't have a mandate to water down our promises. We have a mandate to perform the things that we promised. That's what we're going to do.
BURNETT: So a wall banning Muslim immigration from certain countries -- those all fall under the category of promises he made that he will keep?
PRIEBUS: No. But that's not the promises -- no but that is not the position that he laid out. And this has now been since June that he gave that speech. I believe to either the American legion or the VFW. In June he said his position is if a country is harboring terrorists in the risk of the security of the United States that he would take measures to temporarily suspend those immigration visas until a better vetting system is in place. That is consistent with many bills in the House and the Senate. And it is what Donald Trump's position is.
And so, if the media wants to go back now. Not you in particular Erin, but if the media now wants to go back now and stir the pot and now claim that he want this Muslim ban when he's made it clear himself through a three debates, since June that that's not his position. So, it would do us all a big favor if the media would get their act together and quit stirring the pot in creating conflict where it shouldn't exist.
[19:20:25] BURNETT: Right. But I mean, you know, he did say it originally. Right? No one is going to deny that.
(CROSSTALK)
But then, and then he said, it's going to be certain countries. Right? And then countries that harbor terrorists. Those -- what are those countries? Is that nothing to do with being Muslim at all?
PRIEBUS: No!
BURNETT: I mean, he's got to iron out very completely what he meant, right? Because he made it very clearly about religion.
PRIEBUS: Listen Erin. He said repeatedly that there is no religious test. And for you all to be coming back and relitigating something that was -- that is now five months old is what the problem is in our country. The problem is we've got to fill 24 hours a day, seven days a week of cable stations that create these issues that don't exist, and then turn people against each other. If the media is so interested in America coming together, then they ought to do their job and quit stirring the pot where it shouldn't belong.
BURNETT: Do you think Reince that he also carries an obligation? You know, you have Muslims in this country who are worried. They are afraid. They are afraid of what will happen and they are afraid of what it all be kicked out?
PRIEBUS: But Erin, Erin, listen --
BURNETT: Muslims in other countries who are afraid they can't come to this country -- I've talked to CEOs in other countries who are Muslim who are worried about this. Isn't incumbent on Donald Trump to come out and say, you know what? I didn't mean what I said and here's what I mean, to be very clear, just to be the sort of leader that you're saying he wants to be, someone who promotes unity --
PRIEBUS: Erin, listen. I think you are very good but I'm very surprised that this is the conversation we're having. Yesterday morning, yesterday morning, he just gave a speech about Americans coming together. And you're asking me now on Thursday whether he needs to do another -- I mean, I'm not sure what you are asking for. He's the president for all Americans. He's made that very clear. We're making it clear. And to go back to, you know, old issues when they have been asked over and over again and have been answered by President-Elect Trump, people need to understand that he understands.
I promise you. I know where his head and heart is at. And he said it. So just trust his own words. He'll be a president for all Americans, Republicans, Democrats, Independents, any religion, any faith. He's your president and he's going do the -- he's going to do a fantastic job and he understands the gravity and the seriousness of the position.
BURNETT: All right. Reince Priebus. Thank you very much. Appreciate your time tonight.
PRIEBUS: Thank you, Erin. BURNETT: All right. And new tonight, Donald and Melania Trump are
back in New York tonight. They had of course their big visit to the White House. Melania Trump spent the morning with the First Lady Michelle Obama and this is a picture of the first meeting, the two having tea, after one of the ugliest presidential campaigns in recent history.
Suzanne Malveaux is OUTFRONT at the White House tonight. Suzanne, despite the bitter campaign, these two women found common ground. And that wasn't easy to do but they did cordially. They talked about being mothers.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I mean, it's one thing to talk about your kids. Right? It's safe territory. Really is a good ice breaker. That is exactly what Michelle Obama as well as Melania Trump did. You might recall, Sasha and Malia were quite young and they went to the White House, the Obama family. And of course, it is Melania Trump that is concerned. Very protective of her 10-year-old son Baron.
And so that is something that they share. Very unique experience of having their kids live in the kind of fishbowl atmosphere but also very isolated as well. This is very different than what their husbands experienced today. No cameras. It was no press. No public statements. As you mentioned, we have one photo from the White House press office. All smiles. We are told that it started off with the tour of the residence. And went to the Truman balcony. That as you know Erin, a place where the First Lady and Barack Obama, the President, spending a lot of quality time there. So it is a special place for them.
They took them there. And then also Melania was shown taken to the state floor in the White House to meet with the curator of the White House. That is Bill Almond. And he really is a human encyclopedia for all things inside of the building. And so she got a tour and she also got a lot of ideas about the White House looks like. The public space as well as the private space. And all of this as you know really meant to give them an opportunity, a chance to break the ice here in light of a very bitter campaign.
This was with Michelle Obama saying quite publicly, quite forcefully making her case that she did not believe Melania's husband was fit for the office and also followed the RNC convention where we saw Melania introduce her husband but also seemingly take a portion from her speech very similar to Michelle Obama's given in 2008. So there is a lot of fodder there for both of them. But the White House says this is just the first of many meetings -- Erin.
[19:20:20] BURNETT: All right. Thank you very much Suzanne. A meeting of course so many want to know would have been great to be a fly on the wall in both of those meetings.
OUTFRONT now, Philip Bump, Washington Post political reporter. Jackie Kucinich, Washington bureau chief for The Daily Beast. Jeffrey Lord, Donald Trump supporter. Basil Smikle who supported Hillary Clinton. And David Gergen, who of course served as advisor to four presidents. And we shall see who ends up being the chief of staff whether Steve Bannon, Reince Priebus or someone else, David Gergen, who gets that job.
Jackie, let me just start though with what we just saw. Michelle Obama, Melania Trump meeting. Symbolic moment for these two women to meet but obviously very cordial.
JACKIE KUCINICH, WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF, THE DAILY BEAST: Obviously. Both of these meetings between Donald Trump and the President and Melania Trump and Michelle Obama. This is good for the American people to see. Because it does represent turning the page. Going away from this nasty campaign where everyone said mean things about each other. Now we're moving forward. And it's just -- it is the hallmark of the United States, the peaceful transition of power. And it is heartening to see them talking to each other like civil humans.
BURNETT: I mean, and let's -- because I mean, if anybody wouldn't be able to talk to each other likes civil human, it might be these two people given what they have said in the past. And yet they were so gracious to each other today. Here are some of the things they had to say about each other.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MELANIA TRUMP, WIFE OF DONALD TRUMP: My priority is my son Barron -- our son Barron.
I'm a full time mother to our son Barron.
MICHELLE OBAMA, U.S. FIRST LADY: At the end of the day my most important title is still mom in chief.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: Obviously, that wasn't the sound bite I was looking for. But Philip, you know they do have obviously something in common. Michelle and Melania Trump. But let me play what I wanted to play there which is President Obama and President-Elect Donald Trump saying such nice things about each other today.
OBAMA: I have been very encouraged by the, I think, interest in President-Elect Trump's wanting to work with my team.
TRUMP: Mr. President, it was a great honor being with you. And I look forward to being with you many, many more times in the future.
OBAMA: Thank you.
TRUMP: Very good man.
OBAMA: Thank you, guys.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: Heartening things to hear. Heartening image and hopefully healing for Americans who are so divided right now. BASIL SMIKLE, HILLARY CLINTON SUPPORTER: It's amazing in the picture
because Donald Trump sitting in front of a bust of Martin Luther King, Jr. But, you know, it is a peaceful transition of power. I do think it seemed like he was a little nervous and understandably so. The weight of this job is going to be tremendous. And I think in that 90 minute time period Donald Trump got an understanding of just how important this road is going to be.
BURNETT: So, I want to ask you Jeffrey, but first, to you David Gergen, on this issue that came up in Reince Priebus and my conversation about the -- in this case it was about how Donald Trump would treat Muslims. But there are other groups in this country who are also concerned. Does Donald Trump need to speak to these people? Some of whom are protesting now. And say if his policies have changed, how and why? Does he need to talk to them David?
DAVID GERGEN, FORMER PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER: Yes, I think he does. I don't think he needs do it immediately. And, you know, you have to say that both he and President Obama have given an excellent tone for the transition.
BURNETT: Yes.
GERGEN: Gives us much more assurance about how the transition itself will be conducted. There are going to be issues that come up in the next few days. If Trump names Steve Bannon as his chief of staff, you are going to hear a lot of flurry about that one. But beyond that, I think that over time he does need to reach out. He'll have a couple of speeches coming up I'm sure public remarks where he can say some of those things. But I actually think that if he were more proactive and call some people in and talk to them. That is the kind of smart thing. You know, you sometimes needs to do things that are a little daring in order to get attention and people say, yes, OK, maybe he mean too.
BURNETT: Should he do that Jeffrey? Call in? Have a meeting with whatever group it may be. We just talked with Reince about Muslim Americans. Muslim leaders in this country.
GERGEN: Sure. Sure. Donald Trump is a good leader. He's a good executive. The Donald Trump you saw there is the Donald Trump that I know and so many of his friends the people who work for him now. So, I totally expect him to be doing this. And that said, I want to say something about the protests here. I have the gray hair for a reason. And it is because at my age I have seen -- I've grown up. And in my lifetime I have seen. And I'm sure some of these are the same people in the streets over Vietnam.
There were million people in the streets protesting Ronald Reagan's nuclear policy. They've been demanding a nuclear free. Carrying paper mache heads, you know, it is not a movie Ron and saying that he was stupid -- they do this all the time. They are going to do this to Donald Trump. They did it to poor Hubert Humphrey in Chicago. So, they're not -- some of these people are not going to change because it is their profession. SMIKLE: Though this is not vanity. This is a reaction to real
concerns. We may not remember exactly everything that Donald Trump said during the course of the campaign but we'll remember how we felt. So, whether it is the Muslim community, whether it is African- Americans being concerned about the reintroduction of stop and frisk. Whether it is the immigrant community broadly. I think there is real anger and concern.
Now look, the tone on Tuesday night and today have been great. So the question then becomes, is he going to be the kind of person that is going to be welcoming to all these communities and let people know that the campaign was not literal, maybe -- but either way, I am going to be the president for everyone.
BURNETT: Quickly, Phil.
PHILIP BUMP, POLITICAL REPORTER, THE WASHINGTON POST: So, let me just say, I was in these protests last night --
BURNETT: I was watching your twitter feed.
BUMP: Yes. And it was young people. It was young people. It was young people, it was predominantly young women who are concerned about Donald Trump not because they are concerned about Donald Trump's policies. They are concerned about Donald Trump as Donald Trump. And Donald Trump cannot sit down and meet with a woman and make that go away. He needs to demonstrate over the course of the next four years that he is making significant outreach and not doing the things people are worried about, not doing things people are worried about with women. Not doing the things people are worried about the African- American community and not doing the things people worried about the Muslim community. That's what he needs to do. Sitting down with people now is not going to do --
BURNETT: All right. Let me hit pause for a moment. All of you staying with me next. Hillary Clinton seen for the first time since her concession speech. My guest, Hillary Clinton supporter who randomly spotted her in the woods alone on a hike today. Guess who took the pitcher.
Plus, the GOP waging war on President Obama's signature achievement. Just rhetoric? Or is ObamaCare a goner? We have the facts.
And ISIS celebrating Donald Trump's victory vowing dark days ahead for the U.S., what will President Trump do about it?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:30:41] BURNETT: Breaking news, Hillary Clinton seen for the first time today since giving her emotional concession speech after losing to President-elect Donald Trump. A woman hiking with her 13-month old mother spotting Clinton as she took a walk near her home in Chappaqua. The woman says former President Bill Clinton was there as well.
OUTFRONT now, the woman in that picture with Hillary Clinton, Margot Gerster. And, Margot, thanks so much for being with me.
You posted that picture and many, many people want to hear the story. You're out hiking with your daughter. You don't see anyone around. You hear some footsteps and there's Hillary Clinton?
MARGOT GERSTER, RAN INTO HILLARY CLINTON HIKING TODAY (via telephone): Yes. It was completely tense (ph). I mean, I literally hike that trail almost every day. So, this was sort of incredible to just randomly ran into Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton two days after the election.
BURNETT: I mean, did you do double take? Did you question your eyes for a second or?
GERSTER: I think I recognized him first before her. And once I realized it was her, I think my face was just like, awkward, huge ginning smile, like oh my god, like sand drawing (ph) almost. It was pretty hilarious.
BURNETT: So, what did she say to you?
GERSTER: I think actually, I think more initiated it. I said, you know, I obviously said hello and I said something to her along the lines of, you know, all I wanted to do all day yesterday was hug and tell you how proud I was to bring my daughter with me to vote for you.
And, you know, she was very gracious and she hugged me, and she couldn't have been any nicer. She was very warm. And, you know, she asked me about my daughter obviously. And, you know, where I was from and it was just very pleasant. You know, nothing too serous, you know?
She was taking a nice peaceful hike to the woods. I don't think she wanted to talk, you know, serious politics.
BURNETT: Right. And, of course, she was, you know, alone. She was with her husband and dog, as you said. It's just a day, though, Margot, after her concession speech, that people saw around the world, an incredibly painful moment for her. How did she seem to you?
GERSTER: Honestly, I think she seemed as well as anybody could be expected after, you know, such a crazy, crazy experience. You know, I can't speak to how she was feeling on the inside. But she couldn't have seemed any nicer or, you know, kinder and gracious to me.
You know, I think it was a very dark day for a lot of people yesterday. So, this was a very hopeful encouraging moment for me. And that is really why I posted the picture at all.
BURNETT: And Bill Clinton I know was there, Margot. Did you -- was it a selfie or he'd take it?
GERSTER: He took the picture actually.
BURNETT: All right. Thank you so much. I appreciate you taking the time, Margot. And, you know, there are many who were very eager to see this picture. And thank you for sharing it.
GERSTER: You're welcome. I hope it makes people feel hopeful and comforted. That is really why I posted it.
BURNETT: All right. Thank you.
GERSTER: Thank you so much.
BURNETT: My panel is back with me.
You know, we're learning a little bit more tonight about what the Clinton campaign thinks went so wrong versus what they expected, Jackie. But, obviously, she was out with Bill in the woods taking a walk today. And she posed for that picture. So --
JACKIE KUCINICH, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Life goes on. It has to, right? And the fact they are hiking in the woods. But I think, you know, to that woman's point, seeing a lot of Hillary Clinton supporters in my Facebook feed and on Twitter, I think a lot of women especially just wanted to give her a hug. So, hearing that, I think she really --
BURNETT: But this woman did that.
KUCINICH: She did that. I think she spoke for a lot of folks out there who are upset.
BURNETT: And there are. There are tens of millions of them, right? When you look at the vote here. That is how this country's split.
JEFFREY LORD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: They were better if Donald Trump loss.
(CROSSTALK)
BURNETT: Heartbroken and it would have been the other way around as well.
Basil, "The New York Times" is reporting that Hillary Clinton privately is admitting she stepped in when she did something that Mitt Romney got slammed for and we know with her when he said 47 percent, she said deplorables.
[19:35:02] Let me just play exactly what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON (D), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: To just be grossly generalistic, you could put half of Trump's supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables, right? The racists, sexists, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic, you name it. And unfortunately, there are people like that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: Did she make a big mistake? Was that something a lot of people heard? Pollsters didn't pick it up and that over the summer could have started to turn that Rust Belt away from her?
SMIKLE: I don't know if that is the issue. I do think she believes it was a mistake because she said so right afterwards. So, but I don't -- I actually don't think that in and of itself was the issue. I do believe that the way that we should characterize some of Donald Trump's comments, I think that those are things over the course of time we've seen and I've remarked about it, and others have remarked about it.
But I think she was particularly contrite o about that and admitted it off the bat. I think the e-mails themselves and the consistent stories about the e-mails that have been fed into the narrative about her, that was difficult to overcome. But I don't think it was not common itself.
MATTHEWS: What do you think? Do you think that this actually influenced people who maybe were independent and persuadable?
LORD: I think it did. And I want to in a partial sense defend Hillary Clinton here. I think she really believes that, but she is not alone. If you notice the response --
BURNETT: Really believes the basket of deplorables?
LORD: Right, and right, and the string of things she added.
I went back and took a look at her famous speech at Wellesley when she was graduating and it had the same thing. One of the reasons I become a Reaganite conservative instead of, once upon a time a wannabe liberal when I was in college, is that I began to pick up this the contempt for like American working people and the American middle class, contempt for their values and all of this sort of thing, which I think American liberalism has come to exemplify.
And that little statement from her is a snapshot. I totally convinced she really believes it. And more to the point, the people that were in the room laughing all agree.
SMIKLE: I think you take it a little too far, though, because to, A, say that liberals have this contempt with the working class when so many of us are, and to be able to say that she herself has that kind of contempt, I think is stretching that comment --
(CROSSTALK)
KUCINICH: I think moral of the story is, talk about the candidate. Don't talk about their voters.
LORD: Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
BUMP: Jeffrey has also made a good point consistently for weeks now, which is this contrast between the elites that Hillary Clinton representing and Donald Trump despite where he lives and all his money, what he represented to folks and I think that that does reinforce it.
But I also agree that I don't think it made a huge difference in the campaign.
BURNETT: All right. We're going to leave there. Thank you.
And next, the GOP threatening to rip Obama's signature issue to shreds. So, can he just get rid of Obamacare just like that? Poof.
Plus, Melania Taylor, just like us, jamming to Taylor Swift during a fun night out with Donald driving and son Baron riding shotgun.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:42:11] BURNETT: Breaking news: President-elect Trump promising healthcare reform will be a top priority as president. No surprise there, but what it means of course is getting rid of Obamacare.
So, is Obamacare gone? Can it just happen just like that? Tens of millions of Americans, this whole country wants to know.
And Manu Raju is OUTFRONT with answers.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER (voice-over): With the campaign now over, Republicans are plotting an assault on the president's signature legacy item, Obamacare.
TRUMP: We're going to fix health care, make it more affordable and better. And we're going to do a real job for the public.
RAJU: Getting rid of Obamacare has been a GOP rallying cry since the law was enacted more than six years ago.
TRUMP: Real change begins with immediately repealing and replacing Obamacare.
RAJU: But they have failed repeatedly to overcome Democratic resistance over repealing the law. With Trump now headed to the Oval Office and the GOP controlling both chambers of Congress, the law appears to be on life support.
REP. PAUL RYAN (R-WI), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: When Donald Trump said he wants a special session to repeal and replace Obamacare, let me tell you something, as a speaker of the House -- not only yes, but heck yes. We're ready, we're willing and we have a plan to do that too.
RAJU: Republicans are likely to hold fifty-two Senate seats in the new Congress. Because of Senate rules, the GOP only needs 51 votes to kill core aspects of the law. That means subsidies, taxes, and an expansion of Medicaid could be on the chopping block.
Yet there are limits. It would require 60 votes to repeal other provisions, such as allowing people to have preexisting conditions to get health insurance. Plus, Republicans would need Democratic support on a bill to replace Obamacare, a difficult task over such a polarizing issue.
Obama making an appeal to voters while campaigning for Hillary Clinton.
OBAMA: Twenty million Americans have health insurance that didn't have it before. But make no mistake: all that progress goes down the drain if we don't win tomorrow.
RAJU: Democrats in Congress plan to fight tooth and nail to save the sweeping law.
SEN. AL FRANKEN (D), MINNESOTA: If we're going to repeal and replace, we need to replace with something that doesn't take healthcare away or insurance away from 20 million people.
RAJU: But GOP leaders say that voters expect them to do away with Obamacare.
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY), MAJORITY LEADER: Let's just stipulate that every single Republican thought Obamacare was a mistake, without exception. That's still our view. And you can expect us with a new president who has the same view to address that issue.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RAJU: Now, passing a replacement bill could take up to two years, Erin, the entire duration of Congress. That's if they get Democratic support. And in the meantime, as the Obama administration leaves office, they are redoubling efforts to get people to sign up through the healthcare.gov website. They announced that on Wednesday, the day after the election, a hundred thousand people signed up, the best day yet in their open enrolment period. Shows how difficult it will be for Republicans to simply gut the law that people are signing for, Erin.
BURNETT: This is going to be a fascinating one to watch. But I think it can go in a category of the promise that Trump will keep no matter what. Thank you very much, Manu Raju.
And OUTFRONT next, ISIS rejoicing in a Trump win and threatening to bring disaster to America. So, what is President-elect Trump going to do about it?
Plus, the other side of Melania Trump. At this Donald Trump driving. Baron in the front seat. And the Melania filming in the back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BURNETT: Breaking news. We're watching anti-Trump protests again across the country tonight, in Washington to Minneapolis, as the president-elect's team is working to fill roughly 4,000 jobs within his administration.
[19:50:10] That's a herculean task that they don't have much time to do it. He's going to be meeting with his transition team tomorrow and the top priority is the 800 jobs that require security clearance.
OUTFRONT tonight, a man who has been working since long before Election Day on Trump's national security team, the former chairman of the House Select on Intelligence, Mike Rogers, also national security commentator and host of the CNN Original Series "DECLASSIFIED".
And, Congressman Rogers, good to talk to you again.
It's been about 41 hours, 41 hours since the seismic event that so few expected. Donald Trump is the next president of the United States.
You have been working with the Trump team for a long time before Election Day, but take me inside the room for these 41 hours. What has this been like for you?
MIKE ROGERS, HELPING TRUMP'S TRANSITION TEAM ON NATIONAL SECURITY: Well, I can't take it too far into the room, Erin.
BURNETT: Yes.
ROGERS: But what I can tell you is this -- this was very professionally run. I saw earlier reports that oh, no, they don't have a transition team. They weren't engaged in it.
This was very separate from the campaign. If Trump was up 10 points or down 50 points, it never mattered. All of the metrics of putting together a professional transition was underway since about August.
Ands so, the election came. I think there were some surprises for the folks on the transition team thinking it was a day that we were going to hand in our gear. Instead it turned around.
Here's the good news -- all of that preparation had already happened up to Election Day. So the surprise in the election didn't change that. So, President-elect Trump is going to get a full and robust package, everything from national security to economics, to all of it, including, by the way, pre-vetting of individuals that they believed could be -- could fill some on these important jobs so he could get up and running and make sure that the country is taken care of.
And I will tell you, the Obama administration has been very professional. They took the model from George W. Bush and said, "We want to duplicate it", and they have lived to that. A very professional transition to make sure that the change -- you know, the handoff of the baton is good for America at the end of the day.
So, that part has been really refreshing and gives you faith I think a little bit in the country.
BURNETT: Now, in an area, of course, that you know all too well, ISIS, al Qaeda terrorists. They've been celebrating Donald Trump's victory on web forums, saying it will bring disasters to the United States on social media. What's your reaction when you hear that?
ROGERS: You know, fill in a candidate who would have won. Either one was, they were going to do this. Remember, in the terrorism realm, they're getting really good at
psychological operations using social media. So, I would discard it pretty much immediately.
There will be a change. I'm sure there is going to be a strange in strategy for sure and for certain when it comes to targeting ISIS. But that effort is really try to get into America's head and our allies in Europe. So, I think you got to shrug that off like you would shrug anything else off, Erin. And remember they have a goal. They are trying to disrupt. They're trying to cause a little question. They're trying to cause a little disruption. We ought not to let them do it.
BURNETT: So, let me just ask you quickly. Barbara Starr is saying if Trump gave the illegal order, of course, which it would be if you order waterboarding to some generals, they would force the president- elect to fire them, they can't resign. Is he ready to do that to fire a general who would not comply with that order?
ROGERS: So purely speculation and so early. He's going to get in. He's going to get lots of briefings. He's going to understand what his options are. He's going to understand what his legal options are.
I have no indication, not even a little bit, that he's going to go out -- go outside of the bounds of his legal boundaries.
I think that's all campaign speculation. I dismiss it. This is a president who's come in and said, "I want professionals in all of these places." They have done that. There is professional transition. He's going to get professional advice. I think he's going to take it.
BURNETT: And very quickly before we go, FBI special agent for five years. You are respected on both sides of the aisle. A lot of people are saying you could be up for a top job, say CIA director. Would you take it if offered, Congressman?
ROGERS: I can't even -- wouldn't even hesitate to bother to speculate. You know, got a pretty important job of making sure that this president is ready to govern on January 21st. The whole focus of the transition team is that really, honestly, nothing more.
BURNETT: All right. Congressman Rogers, I appreciate your time. Good to talk to you tonight.
ROGERS: Thanks.
BURNETT: Thank you.
And next, Melania Trump embracing her new title.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:57:46] BURNETT: Will Melania Trump be a model first lady? Here's Jeanne Moos.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: She's been a model. She's done commercials. She may seem like an odd duck for a first lady. But Melania Trump is just like us.
At least on first glance at her Facebook where she posts videos of beautiful beaches.
And that great Aerosmith concert she attended, as well as the fun night with my two boys, Donald J. Trump and her son Baron. The Donald is driving. His son is riding shotgun.
Unlike her husband, Melania is not addicted to Twitter. But some of her older tweeted photos of fun. Melania is Batwoman for Halloween. Wearing a cat suit, teasing her husband, "Honey, see you soon."
And then there's oldie but goodie, the Clintons at the Trump's wedding. OK, maybe she's not just like us.
MELANIA TRUMP: Hi, fans. It's Melania Trump.
MOOS: Not everyone has fans.
MELANIA TRUMP: Hi, fans. I'm going to Metropolitan Gala.
MOOS: And not everyone goes to galas in the designer gowns.
MELANIA TRUMP: And thank you, Christian, beautiful job. Fantastic job.
MOOS: You can't say Melania hasn't had plenty of training for all of those dinners she and President Trump will be hosting.
Almost instantly after the election, Melania updated her Instagram.
@RealMelaniaTrump became @firstladymelaniatrump. On Thursday, she chronicled her trip to Washington, writing, "Such an honor to visit the White House."
Little did she know this would end up being her home back when she tweeted this photo captioned, "At home with my husband."
Don't worry, Melania. There is a piano in the White House, should you feel the urge to recline.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BURNETT: And thanks for watching us.
Don't forget, you can watch OUTFRONT any time anywhere on CNN Go. We will see you back here tomorrow.
"AC360" with Anderson Cooper begins right now.
