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Erin Burnett Outfront
China Flaunts Military And Influence To Send Message To U.S.; House Oversight Releases Some Epstein Docs From Justice Department; "We're Going In": Trump Says He'll Send Troops To "Hellhole" Chicago. Aired 7-8p ET
Aired September 02, 2025 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[19:00:22]
ERIN BURNETT, CNN HOST: OUTFRONT next:
Breaking news, a massive show of force starting moments from now directed at America. A who's who of the world's strongmen in the crowd. But after rolling out the red carpet for Putin in the U.S., is Trump already giving up all his cards?
Plus, more breaking news. A House committee releasing thousands of Epstein files. But is this all for show and not actually giving up the goods? The names?
And Eric Trump tackled by a sumo wrestler. We'll tell you why. What it has to do with the $5 billion that the Trump family has just banked.
Let's go OUTFRONT.
Good evening. I'm Erin Burnett.
And OUTFRONT tonight, the breaking news. A show of force against America. In just a few minutes, Xi Jinping of China will showcase his massive military might, the production aimed at the world and really at the U.S.
Xi hosting what is being billed as one of the biggest military parades ever. More than 10,000 troops going to march through Tiananmen Square. Of course, of such symbolic importance to the world, and they will be joined by more than 100 planes and hundreds of tanks, missiles and what may be a powerful new air defense laser.
This image that appeared online shows what appears to be that laser mounted on top of a long eight wheeled truck. We expect that's going to be something they want to showcase, but there is no doubt what this whole grand display is about and what the guest list is about. It's about a new world order, as Putin and Xi describe it, a world order that is no longer led by the United States of America. They throw this word multi-polar around all the time. Everyone knows exactly what it is they're saying.
And in attendance are a lot of people. I mean, the leaders of the world's two biggest countries by population are there. And a kind of who's who of the world's authoritarians, Russia's Vladimir Putin, North Korea's Kim Jong Un, the president of Iran. They're all there. We talk about a group -- I mean, that's the first time ever, in fact, that those three have been in the same place, along with China's Xi Jinping.
And just look at some of the posts on Chinese social media. Putin is here. And Kim Jong Un arrived to those Trump most wanted to see are all at the September 3rd parade, a sight he could only envy.
China and Russia serve as a source of stability for world peace, and President Putin is China's best friend. It's a stunning thing, right? We show that just to show how propaganda and lies can become reality to people if you say them enough or if they remain unchallenged.
Just imagine those leaders proudly standing together, right? Imagine standing next to leaders who have done what Kim and Putin do daily. And Trump, by the way, who did proudly stand next to Putin just weeks ago, claims he's not concerned about all of this.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
SCOTT JENNINGS, RADIO HOST: Mr. President, are you concerned about an axis forming against the United States with China and Russia? Obviously, there were some meetings among them and other countries over the weekend.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm not concerned at all. No, I'm not at all. We have the strongest military in the world by far, and they would never use their military on us. Believe me, that would be the worst thing that could ever do.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
BURNETT: Except, of course, the president of the United States has already shown cards when it comes to Putin. I mean, literally, he rolled out the red carpet for the brutal strongman, just like in China, the red carpet treatment again for Putin.
India's prime minister, Prime Minister Modi, even held his hand as they walked. It's an incredible thing. I mean, Putin invaded Ukraine, the biggest land invasion in world since World War II. And now it's like he's this darling.
French magazine "Le Point" is calling Trump out tonight on its cover. The headline "The Man from Moscow", and they put a picture of Donald Trump on there. And then there was this incredible statement from the leader of a European country. Remember, the president of Portugal said this about President Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCELO REBELO DE SOUSA, PRESIDENT OF PORTUGAL (through translator): The maximum leader of the world's greatest superpower is objectively a Soviet or Russian asset. He's been serving as an asset.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BURNETT: Now, he says he's not calling Trump a spy. He's just describing, he says, in practical terms, the effect of his actions. And Putin, now a darling on the world stage, even as he ramps up his attacks on Ukraine, says that Trump is listening to him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Our latest contacts with President Trump, with the American administration in Anchorage, show that the American administration is listening to us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: Ivan Watson is OUTFRONT live.
[19:05:00]
He is in Beijing tonight where Putin and Xi are.
And, Ivan, an incredible performance being put on, an incredibly important series of meetings. A goal of really showing that that the U.S. is not the world's superpower. As the president of Portugal described it. What is the latest that you're seeing there?
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're about two hours away from the official start of this parade. As you can see, there's already a just massive preparations that are underway here. In the entire capital has of China, has been basically locked down to put on this big show commemorating the 80th anniversary of the surrender of Japan in World War II.
And, you know, China was a bloody battleground. The Japanese military invaded, the fighting raged for eight years, perhaps some 20 million Chinese died throughout that awful conflict. So, this is honoring a -- just an incredible, number of casualties in that time and a victory as well.
So, a big moment of pride for many Chinese. And just as an outsider, to see how much the city has been mobilized, the security measures that have been in place, journalists like myself, I had to report to pick up accreditations and have equipment searched at 2:30 in the morning, you know, long before the sun came up and you just get the feeling that beyond the thousands and thousands of soldiers that will be marching, that are already doing some maneuvers out here in Tiananmen Square, that there are also armies of bureaucrats and security officers, making sure that nothing can possibly go wrong during this show that will be watched by Chinese -- millions of people all across the country on television -- Erin.
BURNETT: Yeah. Across the country, and obviously, images to be repeated around the world. Of course, we think of the past of Tiananmen Square and images there. The importance of this and that. They want it to be seen in this way, in this parade.
All right. Thank you so much, Ivan in Beijing. And I want to go now to Democratic Congressman Mike Quigley, the co-
chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus. Beth Sanner, former deputy director of national intelligence. And Bill Kristol, editor at large of "The Bulwark".
I'm grateful to all of you.
Congressman, let me start with you. Trump says, and you heard him there. He's not concerned at all about an axis against the United States. Of course, the significance of that word in the context of World War II. You know, it's there. Are you concerned?
REP., MIKE QUIGLEY (D-IL): Look, I'm concerned that we are now vacant on the world stage. Obviously, this axis of upheaval sees an opportunity. They see our weakness in Ukraine. They see us eliminate our soft power. They see us distance ourselves from NATO. So, clearly, the voices of 1939 and isolationism aren't being heard.
BURNETT: You know, Beth, as Ivan's describing, you know, we're going to see a military parade and it's going to be something, right? The perfect marching in stark contrast to what we saw in the U.S. with Trump's parade. We're going to see it all right on display, and you're going to see Xi, Putin and Kim Jong Un standing shoulder to shoulder, which is a pretty stunning and incredible thing when you think about what Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un do every single day and are doing every single day, right. That's standing next to them is a point of pride.
What concerns you the most about this?
BETH SANNER, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: You know, we've talked about this axis of upheaval or axis of authoritarianism, but it's really been about kind of bilateral efforts to that were strengthening each of the parties. You know, Russia helps Iran and North Korea helps Russia and back and forth. But now what we're really seeing is this concerted effort by presidency to unite all of these people together in this idea. As you started off, Erin, talking about, you know, how can we create an alternative world order and what we have on display is a combination of this hard power that we're seeing with the goose stepping and the tanks, you know, and also of the soft power that we saw in this -- in the recent summit where they promised development and they promised a multilateral multi-polar world that would be better and more fair, right? And they're pushing on a bit of an open door.
BURNETT: Right, right. Well, and where USAID, that vacancy is being filled, is being filled by China.
Bill, I want to play something Putin said today. And just listen carefully to these words.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PUTIN: Any sane person is perfectly aware that Russia has never had, does not have, and will never have any desire to attack anyone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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BURNETT: Bill, you know, the thing about that is that we're living in a world where someone can go out and say something that is counter to reality, counter to what someone did. And billions of people might just believe them. I mean, what does it say that he can go out there and say that? And in the U.S. isn't even present. Reality isn't even present.
BILL KRISTOL, EDITOR AT LARGE, THE BULWARK: But don't you think, Erin, that part of the show of power of strength here is saying something that is obviously totally, manifestly false. He knows it's false. We know it's false, and no one dares to challenge him, right?
I think it's less about persuasion, honestly, and more about intimidation. And that's what this whole show in Beijing is about. It's a humiliation of President Trump. He had Putin here two and a half weeks ago in the U.S. as Putin's first visit to a liberal democracy since the invasion of Ukraine.
He's under sanctions. He's under indictment in the international criminal court. Trump went ahead and rolled out the red carpet, literally for him. And now Putin, two and a half weeks later, goes to Beijing, talks about what Trump's listening to me, but makes clear he has no particular concern about Trump. Obviously, Xi is not intimidated at all.
It's really -- it's a sad day, honestly, for the United States.
BURNETT: Well, and there is something, Congressman, if the point of the bill is making about intimidation, right? The power of the fact that this is not a bilateral meeting between Putin and Xi, right? That this is India and China, largest countries in the world. It's also Russia. It's also North Korea. It's also -- it's many countries.
And Trump's response, though, Congressman, is -- you know, he says -- he's not -- he's not worried about anything. He's -- he's -- remains frustrated with Putin on the war. Here's what he said.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
TRUMP: We'll see what happens. But I'm very disappointed in President Putin. I can say that. And we'll be doing something to help people live.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
BURNETT: Congressman, it just seems so empty.
QUIGLEY: Look, again, Putin understands only one thing, and that's strength. Not a stern lecture on some sort of social media post. He would understand if the president said, we're going to do another supplemental. He would understand if he actually said, okay, Senate, let's pass that sanctions bill. Let's seize the Russian assets here in the United States and in Europe to help Ukraine in this war. That would get Putin's attention. Otherwise, he comes off as weak and
naive, not understanding a bloody tyrant who started this war.
BURNETT: Beth, what do you make just of the legitimization of putting all these people together at this time? Right. When you look at the Israel-Iran war earlier this summer. When you look at Kim sending thousands of soldiers to help to help Putin and also what he's doing in North Korea today, Putin assassinating and murdering anyone who dares challenge him, right, putting them in jail. And Xi Jinping is legitimizing all of these people together.
SANNER: Exactly. I mean, China is the only, only power here that isn't really a pariah in many ways, right? But I think that the thing is that, you know, by banding together, this really shows that that the goal of the Trump administration to split off China from Russia or from -- or from North Korea, none of that is going to work because all of these countries see this enormous benefit from banding together. And yes, it's just rhetoric right now, mostly, but to band together to really challenge the U.S. in the world order and most of the world is, you know, listening in a different way than they did before.
BURNETT: And, Bill, you know, let me just enter India into this, because Modi was also president -- president -- present, I'm sorry, at this meeting, Prime Minister Modi, and he took an hour long private meeting in the Russian presidential limousine with Putin, an hour long. At one point, when they're walking around, he reached out and was holding his hand. So they're walking, holding hands. I'm just showing everyone that.
All right, Bill. Okay. We see these images and the time an hour together after -- after Modi came to Washington, one of the very first visits Trump had a foreign leader. After Prime Minister Netanyahu, he has Modi, does an early sanctions deal with him. Now, of course, he's threatening him with sanctions because of the -- of the Russian war.
But Modi -- I mean, look, again, is this substance or is this reality, Is basically by being here and doing this with Putin, given the bird to Trump.
KRISTOL: It's really shocking. If you followed U.S.-India policy at all for the last 20 years. I mean, it's been a huge priority of ours under Republican and Democratic presidents and with congressional support to build closer relations with the world's largest democracy, partly because their democracy on some, some, some backsliding or Modi, but still a democracy, a free country, a country that's become gone from poverty to reasonable prosperity and a counterweight to China.
[19:15:06]
And that's how I was in India about ten years ago. That's how they think of thought of the relationship then and now to have Modi decide basically that he can't count on the U.S., he doesn't want to count on the U.S. he doesn't believe me. The Indians are not great buddies with the Chinese. They fought just what, 4 or 5 years ago on the border.
BURNETT: Right.
KRISTOL: But he feels that's where the power is. And if getting along with Putin is part of the deal and he also can make money selling oil to Putin, I mean, the degree to which all of our sanctions on Russia are just collapsing here because the evidence is at the summit. It's very -- you know, that's another -- it's not just the axis of evil, if you want the true authoritarians, its the fact that someone like Modi, the head of the world's largest democracy, feels he has to accommodate them. And not -- and not us.
BURNETT: Yeah, it's an incredible statement. Thank you all very much. I appreciate it.
And we've got breaking news on the Epstein files next. Some of the Epstein files have just been released. But is this what it seems like Epstein files released? Is this -- is this it, or is it all for show? We have details, new information.
And President Trump addressing the growing online rumors about his health, as we learn more about the makeup he's been putting on his hand to cover the bruising.
And the husband of a chief medical officer in Los Angeles detained. He was driving to the grocery store then held for 26 days. He's our guest.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:20:53]
BURNETT: Breaking news, Congress just releasing tens of thousands of pages from the Epstein files. Tens of thousands of pages. Now, right now, CNN's combing through these documents. There are redactions in there as well.
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, though, have complained that this batch from the DOJ contains very little new information. It does come as members of the committee, along with House Speaker Mike Johnson, met with six Epstein accusers for more than two hours today. That's important.
They were able to share their harrowing stories with the speaker as they are pushing the Trump administration to release all of the files.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: There were tears in the room. There was outrage. It was both. I would describe it as heartbreaking and infuriating that justice has been delayed so long.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: Speaker Johnson making those comments, talking about delayed, which would imply that now it's time for justice. But he is also, in terms of his action, opposing a push from Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, who at this hour is collecting signatures for a petition that would force a vote on the release of the full Epstein files. He only needs six Republicans to join him.
Barry Levine is with us, former editor of "The National Enquirer", author of "The Spider", about the Epstein investigation. And Tara Palmeri, who has reported extensively on Epstein and also has been speaking with some of his accusers today.
So, Barry, just to go through these, the data, we were all just sitting here prior to this of what we got, Ro Khanna told NPR this morning, jotting it all down because I thought he laid it out well. One gigabyte of information was released. Sounds like a lot. Oh, a gigabyte.
Well, there were 300 total. So we got one out of 300. That's less than 1 percent. And of that, less than 1 percent of the Epstein files, almost all of it, 97 percent of that little bit was already out there.
So, when people say we want the full Epstein files, that's not what this is. That's why Massie and Khanna are up in arms. So, is this anything new in here?
BARRY LEVINE, AUTHOR, "THE SPIDER": Erin, I wish we had something really bombshell to talk about, but what we're seeing, at least what I started going through, I'm seeing the same stuff that's already been out in the public domain that already has redactions, on going back to the original Palm Beach case. We have Maxwell's court case. We don't have any of the -- any of the juicy stuff that might tell us something and might give some of these victims closure.
Where's the autopsy report on Epstein? Where's the 60-count indictment that was drawn up by the FBI that never came to pass? Really good information in that material. The computer files, all the CDs. We're not seeing any of that tonight.
What we are seeing is the possibility of a -- of a tidbit or two from the customs and protection list of Epstein flights from 2000 to 2014.
BURNETT: So some more flights?
LEVINE: There might be something new in some of that that may not, may be or may not be redacted. I haven't gotten to that portion of it yet, but I'm expecting no real bombshells tonight from the new material.
BURNETT: And really, Tara, the takeaway here is, okay, it's nice they're releasing what they were given, but why one gigabyte out of 300? I mean, what is the problem here. Right? If there's -- if everyone wants transparency, give it to them all. Put it out there. That's not what happened, what happened.
TARA PALMERI, HOST, "THE TARA PALMERI SHOW": It's interesting because Speaker Johnson says he's protecting the innocent. And yet the innocent who were there speaking to him directly, six Epstein survivors in a room with him, saying, no, we want the files out there. This is what we want. You're not protecting us.
You're -- this is, in fact, the opposite of that. I know that from a source that their attorney, Sigrid McCawley, she's a partner at David Boies' firm. She's a powerhouse attorney. And she said, when you get those Epstein files, when the DOJ hands them over, if they are unredacted, you are going to see the names of men that my clients have accused that they have been trafficked to, that these people, they are out there and that they want justice.
They're not okay with just Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein being prosecuted.
[19:25:00]
BURNETT: And just to be clear, right, and I think this is so important. What do the victims want? Well, they are saying they want this out there. And Tara's reporting, Barry, has shown that there's over 1,000 men names, male names, possibly in the total files. Right?
PALMERI: A thousand victims. Yeah.
BURNETT: A thousand victims, I'm sorry.
PALMERI: Right, right.
BURNETT: I'm sorry. But -- and countless men, right? We don't know. But that part is redacted, right?
PALMERI: Dozens and dozens of men.
BURNETT: Yeah.
PALMERI: Yeah.
LEVINE: This is certainly something that really is, is the heart of the files. Let's go after these individuals. Not only the men who took part in the sex trafficking, but also the enablers, the men who put some of these victims on, you know, on planes to the Virgin Islands for Jeffrey Epstein.
He had international fixers in several different countries who were supplying young girls to him. We know from the attorney general in the Virgin Islands that there were girls as young as 12 years old who got off planes. There were men who put these girls on those planes, and we need to do a full sweep of all these files to come up with as many names of enablers and also individuals who took part in the trafficking.
BURNETT: So, Tara, why is it and I -- every time I talk about this with anybody, you know, in conversation, it comes up a lot. What they say is how come it hasn't leaked? How come something like this, where justice could be done by those men being exposed? Why hasn't it ever leaked? I mean, you've been covering this and reporting on it for a long time.
PALMERI: Yeah. It's interesting that you said that, because I think it's the fact that the people that are in those files, the men that are mentioned, are just so powerful. And this is just another extension of what we're seeing right now in our government, lawfare. If these names are released, those very powerful men, first of all, they've already fought the courts to keep their names redacted in all of these depositions and all of these files that are public, as you saw when Virginia Giuffre documents were released by Pam Bondi, the classified documents, they were just redacted depositions. Right? Already public.
And that's the thing. I mean, there is a fear of retribution, of lawfare, of defamation suits by some of the most powerful men in the world. I mean, we're talking about foreign dignitaries, leaders, politicians, heads of state, business, finance. I mean, these were -- he rolled in some serious circles.
I do think if there are some details in these flight logs, maybe it can be used to put together a real case if a prosecutor wanted to do it to show, okay, I can place this victim on this plane going to this island with these people. I mean, if you actually wanted to build a case, you could do it.
LEVINE: Yes, you have that evidence, and you also have the existing flight logs. And if you match up the some of the new material that's coming out tonight, there may be some, substantiated evidence that could be used in a possible prosecution.
BURNETT: And we can all just hope when Speaker Johnson says delayed justice, that that somethings going to change and that he actually is going to want justice for those men and pursue that.
Thank you both very much.
And next, the breaking news, a war of words. Tonight, the governor of Illinois firing back after Trump made it clear he is sending the national guard to Chicago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Chicago is a hellhole right now. We're going in. I didn't say when. We're going in.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: Plus, Eric Trump manhandled by a sumo wrestler. And why does this matter? Well, it has a lot to do with the $5 billion, 5 billion more dollars that the Trump family has just made.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:33:10]
BURNETT: Breaking news now, Trump versus Pritzker. So President Trump now warning that he has made up his mind and that he is going to deploy federal troops to the city of Chicago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Chicago is a hellhole right now. We're going in. I didn't say when, we're going in. If the governor of Illinois would call up -- call me up, I would love to do it. Now, we're going to do it anyway. We have the right to do it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: Well, when it comes to that, minutes later, the Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker responded to Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. J.B. PRITZKER (D), ILLINOIS: I can't live in a fantasy land where I pretend Trump is not tearing this country apart for personal greed and power. He has no idea what he's talking about. There is no emergency that warrants deployment of troops. He is insulting the people of Chicago by calling our home a hellhole. And anyone who takes his word at face value is insulting Chicagoans, too.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: Pritzker also says he has reason to believe that the Trump administration has already begun staging the Texas National Guard for deployment to his state.
Lulu Garcia-Navarro, Shermichael Singleton, OUTFRONT.
So, Lulu, you know, you can see the intensity in his voice. And I just want to say, though, in terms of what he's saying, it is a new level of fury from Governor Pritzker. He hasn't shied away from a fight. He hasn't shied away from this fight. He likes a fight.
But this is different. What he was saying about Trump was different.
LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: It is different, and I think Governor Pritzker feels like it's warranted. I mean, let's put this into the context of what has historically happened in this country. You normally do not have a president essentially saying that he's going to send in troops to a city of the same country, right?
[19:35:02]
I mean, if you look at this, this is punishment and not policy. Policy for crime would be like, I'm going to give you more money. I'm going to surge the police. I'm going to do things to help you tackle crime.
This is aimed squarely at states and governors he doesn't like. I read something in the "FT" the other day which said, if this was happening in any other country, they would paint this as, you know, basically a president targeting opposition members in cities that he doesn't control. I mean, it just isn't American. This isn't the way we do things here.
BURNETT: Shermichael, I think Lulu does have a fair point here, right? You would say if this were another country targeting opposition, right? Targeting opposition leaders, opposition locations. Certainly, if Putin were doing it because the reality of it is, is that if this were really about crime, why is Trump not doing it in any Republican led cities or states? SHERMICHAEL SINGLETON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Look, I would do it
wherever the crime is concentrated. It's objectively true that there are pockets of the city of Chicago that do have high concentrations of crime. We can't deny that.
Look, is this a long-term strategy? Absolutely not. But it is a temporary fix to president using the bully pulpit to put a spotlight on crime in Chicago I think makes sense. We're discussing it.
The mayor of D.C. just signed an act today allowing local police to work indefinitely with federal law enforcement because what they have seen is a decrease to a number of zero in terms of murders in the city of D.C. Why would that not be a good thing in Labor Day? Just passed, for example, 58 people were shot in Chicago. Eight of those people killed. The youngest, who is now in critical condition, is a teenager.
So, Erin, to me, you may not necessarily like what the president is doing, but how in the world could any sane person not agree that trying to make safer communities for people who live in some of those higher concentrated areas of crime, is not something that should be a bipartisan effort?
BURNETT: So, Lulu, the D.C. mayor, to the point that Shermichael is just saying, Muriel Bowser, she just issued an executive order that requires coordination with federal law enforcement to the maximum extent allowable by law.
In the words of her order, without an expiration date. And she did just days ago admit that Trump's crackdown in D.C. was reducing crime. So, what does it make? What does it mean that she is essentially, it sounds like said? Well, they can stay as long as they want and work with them.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: I think it means that she's probably not going to be reelected as mayor of D.C., because if the polling here shows that about 80 percent of D.C. residents think that this is an absolute overreach. And so, this is not happening in consultation with the people, the people who both the mayor and the president are supposed to represent.
They do not like this. They see this as an infringement on the city itself, and they see this as an occupation and not as some sort of liberation from crime.
Of course, nobody likes crime. Of course, murders are bad, but this is about something much deeper. How do you do this? Whose role is it to tackle it? And who has autonomy?
BURNETT: So, Shermichael, what do you make of that?
SINGLETON: Can I -- can I push back a little bit? I mean, what people? Who's saying this?
You know, two weeks ago I was on air on Laura Coates show and we played we aired about a four or five-minute package of one of our reporters talking to residents in D.C., for example, who live in some of those very dangerous areas. A mixed race people, young and old, older people saying, you know, at my age, I have to go home before sundown because it is too dangerous.
So maybe if you're talking to some milquetoast liberal who lives in northeast D.C. or northwest D.C. and a $2 million house, then maybe they're saying it's great.
(CROSSTALK)
GARCIA-NAVARRO: Shermichael, you live in Virginia, I live in Washington, D.C.
SINGLETON: But let me tell you something --
GARCIA-NAVARRO: You live in Virginia and I live in Washington, D.C.
(CROSSTALK)
SINGLETON: -- there are a lot of people who live in the poor areas who do not see it the way that Lulu just described. And again, I'm not saying that this is a long-term fix. I acknowledge the fact that this is only temporary. You do got to increase funding. You do have to have more policing, but hell, that's pretty hypocritical coming from the other side, who demonized the hell out of police for four years? I mean, give me a break here. I am not the other side.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: Shermichael, I'm a reporter, I'm not the other side. I'm simply saying that there was a recent poll that said 80 percent of the residents of this city do not agree. That's a fact. Now you can try and cherry-pick your -- you know, who you want to talk about, but that is just the way that the people feel here.
Now, I believe in a democracy, people who live in a city should have a say in what happens there.
SINGLETON: I agree, but I'm also -- I agree, I'm also a strategist. I've worked in a lot of polls and I know focus group size, education, ethnicity, all of that stuff matters. Lulu, it's easy to come up with a poll and say, well, this demonstrates what most people believe. You know that as well as I do.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: I think at the end of the day, this is not about crime. I understand that the president and you would like to make this about crime. The bigger concern here is what this means, putting troops on the streets of American cities, troops that the governors of those cities don't want.
[19:40:09]
The mayors of those cities don't want, and the people of those cities don't want. What does that say about the United States of America today? The concern and I've worked in many of these places, is that this turns into some kind of police state where, of course, you have safety, but you lack liberty. And that is the concern I'm hearing from many, many people. SINGLETON: And, Lulu, I don't want that either, by the way. No
American wants to live in a police state. I'm in agreement with you there. But people also deserve to live in safe communities. And having 60, 50, 40 people killed in a city every other weekend just seems nonsensical to me.
BURNETT: All right, we'll hit pause there. Thank you both very much.
SINGLETON: Thank you, Erin.
BURNETT: For the conversation. Thank you.
And tonight, President Trump addressing rampant rumors over the weekend that he had died.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: It's sort of crazy, but last week, I did numerous news conferences, all successful. They went very well. Like this is going very well. And then I didn't do any for two days. And they said, there must be something wrong with him.
It's also sort of a longer weekend, you know? It's Labor Day weekend. So I would say a lot of people know. I was very active this Labor Day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: I mean, you'd have to be living under a rock to not have heard the discussion. I mean, the hashtag Trump dead was trending online on social media platforms throughout the holiday weekend. I mean, it was really incredible, frankly.
And the reason was, I guess because Trump had not been seen for three days, no public events, which is highly unusual for him because he's always out and about. Also driving speculation was this this visible, recurring bruising on his hand, which obviously doesn't look good.
OUTFRONT now, Dr. Jonathan Reiner, who has been a White House medical consultant for four administrations.
Dr. Reiner, the sources tell CNN that the attention to Trump's hand bruising has made him self-conscious that until recently, he's been trying to use heavy makeup to cover the bruising. And you can see that on it in that that one image, which has obviously gone viral.
You know, this concerns you. Tell me why.
DR. JONATHAN REINER, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: Well, I'm more concerned. I don't know what -- he has a bruise on his hand. And I'm sorry. He's self-conscious about it. When you see him sitting at the Resolute Desk, he always covers his right hand with his left hand and kind of an awkward way.
And I'm sorry he feels self-conscious about it. He's a 79-year-old man. He's pretty vigorous for a -- for a 79-year-old man. And stuff happens to 79-year-old people. But he's been portrayed for a long time now as basically a part of the
marvel universe. His -- he's -- his -- you know, Ronny Jackson said he could live to be to be 200. And when you're portrayed that way, you can't have a bruise on your hand.
The -- and I don't know why he why he has the recurrent bruise, but the bigger issue is I don't think in this country, we've ever really had a full candor about the health of our president. And it's really time to start talking about how the public can and Congress can, can remain informed about the salient points, about the health of our leaders.
BURNETT: Yeah. I mean, of course, you know, the press secretary today says Trump's been completely transparent, unlike his predecessor. But obviously, you know, that's not the case. I mean, to your point, I wouldn't say there was -- there was transparency then either, but there certainly isn't now.
REINER: Well, I think, I think when you're covering a lesion on your on your arm with makeup, that's basically the opposite of transparency. That's being opaque.
BURNETT: In the most literal sense.
REINER: Right. But with this, you know, with this president in his last administration, he went to Walter Reed in November of 2019, emergently on a Saturday afternoon. And the white house just never told people what that was, what that was all about. It's been reported that in, in 2020, he had, you know, covid days before it was announced to the public.
So, I think this precedent to basically understand that this administration has not been completely candid about the health of this president.
BURNETT: No, no. And certainly what we saw on social media. Pretty stunning, actually, when you consider what -- what things can -- social media just makes become real to people.
Dr. Reiner, thank you very much.
REINER: My pleasure.
BURNETT: And next, the husband of a top doctor in Los Angeles detained during Trump's immigration crackdown on the way to the grocery store. He calls his detention, quote, torture. So what happened? He's OUTFRONT next.
And the jaw-dropping windfall of $5 billion that the Trump family has just made.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:48:20]
BURNETT: Tonight, torture. Thats how my next guest describes his 26 days in ICE custody, 26 days.
Here's what happened. He was stopped and detained driving to the grocery store. He says he was stopped by people who wouldn't identify themselves or answer his questions about why he was being taken into custody. He's been in the United States since 2015. A green card applicant, husband of the chief medical officer at a hospital in Los Angeles.
OUTFRONT now, Rami Othmane, who was recently released by DHS speaking out tonight, still wearing an ankle monitor. I believe, Rami, as you and I are speaking, I know we can't see that, but I just want people to understand the status of the situation.
So, I appreciate you speaking out. I know it's got to be hard to do this, and you're, you know, draws attention to you in ways you some you may want, some ways you may not.
So here's what happened. You're going to the grocery store. It's July 13th and a bunch of unmarked vehicles block you on the road. I mean, what happened?
Oh, sounds like. Hold on, Rami, we're not hearing you, Rami. We're not hearing you. Hold on. Let's see if he turns on his mic. Give us one second. Sorry, this is live TV. Before we try to interrupt it, let's see if he can fix it.
I know you can hear me. There you go, Rami.
Okay. Sorry. So let me start again. Tell me exactly what happened. Okay. No problem. You fixed it and you did it under pressure on live TV. So that's not easy to do.
Okay, a bunch of unmarked vehicles, they block you. You're going to the grocery store. I mean, it sounds terrifying. It's like a scene out of a movie. What happened?
RAMI OTHMANE, DETAINED BY ICE AGENTS: Correct. Yeah. It was -- it was a scary scene. I didn't know who the people are because their cars were unmarked. And also, they were unmarked.
[19:50:00]
You can see that anything written there any like no police, no ICE, no DHS. So, it was --
BURNETT: Okay. So then I guess you're driving here when this happens. So, did you see them? See you. I mean, why do you think they picked you?
Oops. Okay, you know what we're going to do, Rami? Put a pause. Okay, go. Go ahead. Try again.
OTHMANE: Yeah. So the -- they tried to -- I tried with them to ask them if they know my name. They said they didn't give me any answer. I asked for warrants. There is no warrant. So I've been profiled.
BURNETT: So they had no warrant. They didn't know how they how they knew your name. So, then what happens?
OTHMANE: They actually take you into custody they took me to B-18.
I stayed there 13 days. Snacks only, and no sleep because there is no beds there. And then after that, I went to detention center.
BURNETT: So, no beds?
OTHMANE: No beds, no, for 13 days.
BURNETT: And -- at what point did you -- did you ever figure out why they stopped you? I mean, did they know who you were and followed you? Did they just pick you because you -- look, I don't know, they look at you and you look like you're not -- I mean, what do you think happened?
OTHMANE: Yeah, it's based on my look for sure, because they didn't know my name. And also, I'm green card applicant, so I'm protected by immigration law. Even ICE agent told me that they were not supposed to take me. And I'm not supposed to be here.
BURNETT: So, we reached out to DHS to comment on your case, Rami. So they responded to us and they said in part, about the allegations, you know, the no beds, the things you're talking about which sound horrific. They say any allegations that detainees are not receiving medical care or conditions are inhumane -- or that conditions are inhumane, are false. All detainees are provided with proper meals, medical treatment, and have opportunities to communicate with their lawyers and family members. This is the best health care that many aliens have received in their entire lives.
What do you say to them?
OTHMANE: That's in detention center. That's not on B18. B18 is not a detention center. So, there is no beds there. Usually, they keep people maximum of two to three days. That's by law, because there's no beds, of course. No hygiene.
But because no detention center took me, accepted me. So I was stuck on B18, which is the crisis. But in detention center. Yes, it's humane.
BURNETT: And so, what happens now? You're still wearing an ankle bracelet. What happens now?
OTHMANE: Correct. I need to go to court. And then once I get my green card, I remove this ankle monitor.
BURNETT: Well, it's really showing a video of it. Yeah, we'll show a video of it now, but truly, truly incredible. And just an absolutely -- I mean, it's an upsetting story to think about why they picked you. And I know I keep honing in on that.
Thank you so much for talking to me and for dealing and for dealing with those technical difficulties as you did. Thank you so much.
OTHMANE: Of course. Thank you so much for having me.
BURNETT: All right. And next, Eric Trump taking on a top rated sumo wrestler. So why are we talking about this? Because it's all about $5 billion at the Trump family just got.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:56:59]
BURNETT: Tonight, eric Trump tackled by a sumo wrestler. The president's son facing off with a high ranking sumo wrestler in Japan. Now, why is this coming up? He was later picked up and carried out of the ring.
But why was he there? Why was he there doing all of this to get attention?
He was there for the launch of the Trump family crypto token WLFI which began publicly trading yesterday. Since then, according to "The Wall Street Journal", the Trump family, quoting them, has amassed a $5 billion fortune because of this. WLFI is likely now the Trump's most valuable asset. I mean, talk about the opposite of real estate.
Harry Enten is OUTFRONT to tell us something we don't know. In fact, it is not real. It is --
HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: No.
BURNETT: I don't know what it is. This is not real, right? It's -- okay. WLFI, most people haven't even heard of it. Okay. And here it is now, perhaps the biggest single thing making the Trump family money right now.
I mean, so it goes public yesterday. They put it on an exchange. People get to buy it. What was the response?
ENTEN: The response was tremendous. We're talking about $1 billion in terms of crypto that changed hands in just the first hour.
BURNETT: Wow.
ENTEN: And just the first hour. Again, and I just think it's so interesting to note, because Trump was not in a crypto at all in his first term as president. And now all sudden, the Trump family is all in the crypto and other people are following them in their interest of crypto.
BURNETT: Right. I mean, the people who are co-founders of this whole thing are Trump's kids, and Steve Witkoff.
ENTEN: Steve Witkoff and his kids.
BURNETT: And his kids, so that's who it is.
Okay. So how what's happening to crypto? You get $1 billion? Sure. That's all going to Trump. But it's part of something bigger. ENTEN: It is part of something bigger. And this is what I think is so
interesting, right? I think there's this stereotype that people who trade in crypto, they live in their parents basements, et cetera. But we're actually talking about real investors who are getting really involved in crypto. People who are traditionally been in the stock market, for example.
Look at the rise in terms of investors getting into crypto. Look at this. In 2018, it was 2 percent. In 2021, it was 6 percent. By 2025, 17 percent of all investors were involved in crypto.
So yes, we can laugh, we can joke, we can whatever. But the bottom line is real people, smart people, people who invest are getting involved with crypto.
BURNETT: Right, which doesn't mean anything about where it's going, but it is --
ENTEN: We have no idea.
BURNETT: It is -- it is a shift.
Okay. But so, the Trump family, you talk about this, this WLFI, could be the single biggest thing.
All right. So they're putting that out there. But one of their earlier ventures that they had a Trump meme coin --
ENTEN: Yes.
BURNETT: -- now big money loser for anybody who got into.
ENTEN: Right. I'll tell you something that you don't know, Erin Burnett.
And that is while the Trump family may have gotten very wealthy off of crypto, when you're talking about their meme coin, if you jumped into their meme coin when it was at its peak, right when it was trading at about $75, you have lost -- get this -- you have lost 89 percent of your investment. We are down 89 percent from the January peak.
So yes, it is 100 percent true that Trump hade a lot of money off of crypto. But if you got in on the Trump meme coin when it was at its top, you have lost a ton of money off of crypto.
BURNETT: Wow.
All right, Harry, thank you very much.
ENTEN: Thank you.
BURNETT: And thanks so much, as always to all of you for being with us on this Tuesday.
"AC360" with Anderson begins right now.
