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Pope to Address Americans from White House; What Will the Pope & Obama Talk About?; Trump and Carson Under Fire for Anti-Muslim Rhetoric. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired September 23, 2015 - 07:00   ET

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

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Never before had a sitting American president and vice president and their families welcomed a foreign leader.

The people's pope leaving Andrews Air Force Base not in a limo or Popemobile but in a relatively inexpensive and compact Italian-made Fiat. It's a historic visit requiring an equally historic amount of security.

WILLIAM BRATTON, COMMISSIONER, NYPD: We planned for the worst or the unexpected.

SCIUTTO: The Secret Service and FBI coordinating one of the largest security operations ever, deeming the sometimes unpredictable pope's stay a national security special event.

DAN BONGINO, FORMER SECRET SERVICE AGENT: With this pope he could get out anywhere. So you have to resource allocate all of those -- those special weapons teams and people in the crowd, really everywhere along the route.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCIUTTO: When the pope leaves the White House later this morning for St. Matthew's Cathedral to meet with bishops and then on from there to Catholic University, we're going to see another first. That is his first ride in the Popemobile here in the U.S. That parade route is going to be lined with thousands, tens of thousands of people. And we heard this morning that many people camped out overnight to get their positions. They want to see it first, Chris. You can imagine that moment for them.

But also, another security challenge, because this is a pope who likes to not just move through those crowds but connect with those crowds. It's going to be a real challenge. But no one wants to stand in the way of this pope's chance to connect with all those fans with the American people. It's going to be -- it's going to be incredible to watch, Chris.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Absolutely. Witnesses to history, no question about it.

You know, the word inside the Vatican is they already feel the difference between the U.S. and Cuba in terms of security. And they're saying they feel confident that nobody is going to be able to just run up to the Popemobile like they did when the pope was entering Revolution Square.

And it's interesting: We keep talking about how the pope is going to influence America. How about America's influence on the pope? He's already in a Jeep Wrangler.

Let me show you the scene here this morning, because it's just a beautiful morning. The sun is coming up over the old executive office. We have the South Portico here. The stage is set. They have people who came in about an hour ago. They rushed up to the line, thousands who want to be able to see the pope, even in this controlled audience. They're waving their Vatican flag and their American flag.

The question is, how will those two meet in the suits of power between the pope and the president?

Here's one thing we know, Michelle Kosinski, is that what this pope says in public is often different than what he says in private, at least with world leaders. We know that was the case in Cuba. What will happen when he meets with the president in private this morning?

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Right, absolutely. So many questions surrounding that. What exactly will go on in that room between these two leaders?

I mean, it's going to be just the two of them in the Oval Office. They're going to be talking for about 45 minutes to an hour, only translators with them, if needed. But the White House expects this to be in English. They expect it to be a very friendly, warm conversation.

And the topics that they see as the big ones are climate change, poverty and Cuba. But what about those areas where there are broad disagreements between the two of them? On abortion? On gay marriage?

Or will the pope be irritated that the U.S., for example, is only taking in an additional 10,000 Syrian refugees? Where the pope has called worldwide for people to do as much as they can.

Well, yes, those are big disagreements, but on those hot-button issues that might be making headlines, this is the pope; and he doesn't always bring them up in a way you might expect or if at all.

I think, as you mentioned, the biggest example of this is down in Cuba. I mean, if people expected there to be some kind of stinging rebuke of the regime over denying its people basic freedoms and human rights, doesn't seem like that happened, at least not in that private meeting. Raul Castro walked away happy, telling reporters that he might start going to church again, that the pope made him want to pray again.

Or you look at President Obama's last meeting with the pope last year. Domestically, there was all this political wrangling going on over the Affordable Care Act. But the president later said that it really didn't come up at all in that conversation. The pope doesn't focus on domestic issues. He's not interested in

politics. That this meeting is going to be about the common ground -- Chris.

CUOMO: All right, Michelle. We'll be on it, that's for sure. And hopefully, as it trickles out, we'll be able to tell people who is going on between these two men.

So what is he going to do this morning? He's going to speak here. Remember, it will be in English. So what does that mean in terms of how much he can extemporize and be spontaneous, which he likes to do? Because English not his surest language.

Well, here's what we do know for sure. After he leaves here, he wants to be with the people. And we have CNN's Carol Costello live at the National Mall, where folks are gathering already and they have been for a while to get a glimpse of the pope.

What is the mood?

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR, "NEWSROOM": I cannot even describe the mood. It's joyous. That's as close as I can get, Chris.

I wish I could take you along the parade route, but I can't get out of this press pen, because they're keeping us in here. And if you could pan off, Jay, see the press pen? Every time we leave we have to be escorted by a member of the National Guard.

But I did escape for a few minutes to talk to a few people. You see the security checkpoints down there. Literally hundreds of people are streaming through the gates right now to take their place along the parade route. These are the cheap seats, so to speak. These people were unable to get tickets, so they had to get here really, really early. I just spoke to a guy who was here at 10 p.m. last night getting his spot.

[07:05:21] And along the parade route you see a lot of things like this: people in sleeping bags, just completely exhausted because, of course, the pope won't pass by until around 11 a.m. this morning.

Take a look down the street. A lot of people from -- a lot of Hispanic people lining the streets. Actually it's like a rainbow of people from all different countries.

We saw one group of people where there was a guitar player, and they were singing religious songs.

I did find my man Evan, Chris, you'll be happy to know, the student from American University. He's very excited to see the pope. He says he is a lapsed Catholic. But you know, when the pope talks about caring for the poor and the most vulnerable among us, he said it moves him. And it may just move him back to the Catholic faith, Chris.

CUOMO: Well, Carol Costello, you're in a great place to be this morning. And we wish you luck in terms of getting great insights for the audience. And there's no question that there is an ecumenical feel. There is a secular feel, a nonreligious feel to Francis's message. And we'll see if it resonates, and if so, with how many.

So let's get the perspective from somebody who's very close in terms of where Francis's main thrust will be: the archbishop of Miami, Thomas Wenski.

Archbishop, thank you very much for joining us this morning.

We know that politicians on the right want to hear less about global warming and more about reproductive rights. We know on the left they want to hear more about immigration and less about reproductive rights from the pope. As a Catholic, as an archbishop, what are you hoping he hits in terms of themes for the faithful?

ARCHBISHOP THOMAS WENSKI, ARCHBISHOP OF MIAMI: Well, I think he's going to hit a theme of mercy and of compassion, and in doing so, he will probably make people on the right and the left happy and he'll probably make them also a little bit uncomfortable.

Even in his cyclical on the environment, he spoke about an integral ecology. Integral ecology means that the natural environment should be protected. The rain forest should be protected for what they do for the health of the earth.

But also, the human ecology should be protected. The families should be protected. Marriage as an institution between a man and a woman should protected and promoted because of what it does for human flourishing as well. I think you'll see him making these points but doing it in a very gentle way, a very pastoral way as he said in Cuba yesterday, our revolution is a revolution of tenderness.

CUOMO: In terms of where he's coming from on these issues, on the plane he said, "People are saying I'm a little left. They can say it, but it's not right."

Give us some perspective on correcting this perception. Is what he's saying about capitalism, is what he's saying about immigration and religious tolerance, is it all within Catholic liturgical orthodoxy or is he going into his own space?

WENSKI: Of course. He's saying things -- the same things that Pope Benedict said and John Paul II said. Pope Benedict spoke about globalization in very strong terms as this holy father is. Pope Benedict said that globalization has made us all neighbors, but it hasn't made us brothers and sisters. So that's a pretty similar message.

And back to John Paul II, he's certainly very much in the tradition of John Paul II, who spoke very forcefully on behalf of the poor, on behalf of religious freedom, and on the behalf of the same issues of exclusion, et cetera, that the holy father is emphasizing. I think he does it from a different tone, a different approach...

CUOMO: Right.

WENSKI: ... to each other on personalities. But after all, the pope is Catholic. CUOMO: That is true. I've heard that. It's -- so it's not just the

message. It's also the messenger and how it's delivered. And obviously, that's something that distinguishes Pope Francis.

But let me ask you something. The division is clear between the GOP and the Democrats. But there's also a division at play within your church. And what is that division, and what is the risk potential here with Pope Francis in terms of how he deals with the conservatives and how he deals with those who are more liberal leaning within the Catholic church?

Well, I think the pope is going to invite us to stand on common ground. And that common ground that we as Catholics stand on is found around the Eucharistic table, the altar.

[07:10:06] And as we approach that table to share in the one body and one blood of Christ, that is our common ground. That's what unites us.

And we are invited to follow him in fidelity and with coherency. And we do it by bringing our own particular gifts and our own intentions. There's no conflict between a Catholic that wants to advocate on behalf of the poor. There's no conflict between the social justice Catholic or a pro-life Catholic.

CUOMO: But...

WENSKI: We're the same church, the same gospel that we're witnessing to.

CUOMO: But you do have a growing division about those who want to emphasize certain rules and a pope who is emphasizing a certain rationality to mercy and love.

Let me ask you something, in terms of being in Miami: What has been the response of your Cuban faithful population in terms of the pope being in Cuba at all and, once he was there, his tone and his take?

WENSKI: I just returned from Cuba yesterday. And for the pope's visit, I brought about 300 people to Cuba, many of them Cuban- Americans, most of them returning to Cuba for the first time. And these Cuban-Americans, after 50 years, 56 years, went back to Cuba with me. They found the experience very healing. And they were there very -- very much to embrace the message of the church, the message of the Holy Father in Cuba, which is one of reconciliation and mutual tolerance and forgiveness.

CUOMO: Well, it's certain that, even for the pope, you can't please everybody all the time. And on the issue of Cuba, people are so divided. There are generations of perspective on that. And it changes as you move along.

WENSKI: That's right.

CUOMO: Archbishop, but thank you so much.

WENSKI: The pope doesn't have to please everybody. He just has to please the Lord.

CUOMO: Well said. Well said. Archbishop, thank you very much. And please enjoy the moments that are come to here.

And CNN is going to have special coverage of the White House ceremony. What's going to happen behind us in just a couple hours. Pope Francis speaking in English. That's a big deal, big deal for him and a big deal for those who will be listening.

And tomorrow NEW DAY will be live at the U.S. Capitol, because there's another big deal: the first pope to address a joint session of Congress, and especially with it being this pope, Alisyn, you know. Is he going to stay safe? Is he not? What will he test? What will he not test? It will all be in play, and we'll follow it all.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: It will be fascinating to watch, Chris. And we'll get back to your papal coverage momentarily.

But first, we do have some politics to talk about. Because Ben Carson and Donald Trump continuing to try to clarify their comments about Muslims.

Trump not backing down, claiming it's not his job to correct a supporter who went on an anti-Obama, anti-Muslim rant; while Carson insists he did not say what he said.

So let's go live to Washington and bring in CNN's Athena Jones. What is the latest, Athena?

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Alisyn.

That's right: Trump is not backing down. He's not apologizing on any way. On CBS last night, he was asked again about that man at his town hall who said the president was a Muslim, that America has a Muslim problem, and who advocated getting rid of Muslims. Trump said the man's question didn't necessarily mean he was a bigot. Take a listen to what else he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't have to defend President Obama. He's not going to defend me.

I love the Muslims. I have many, many friends. We can say there were no problems with the Muslims. There is no problem. There's no terrorism. There's no problem. There's no anything. They didn't knock down the World Trade Center. To the best of my knowledge, the people that knocked down the World Trade Center, you know where they -- they didn't fly back to Sweden.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JONES: So Trump is standing his ground there. And a lot of his supporters agree with what he's saying.

Meanwhile, Ben Carson, who said Sunday he wouldn't advocate having a Muslim in the White House, is now shifting his position. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. BEN CARSON (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I said that anybody who embraces our American values and our Constitution is somebody who is acceptable to me. And of course if they don't, I don't want them to be the president of the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JONES: So Carson insists he hasn't changed positions here. Of course, a lot of people see changing positions as something politicians do. And what voters say they like about Carson is that he's not a politician.

In any case, this issue is not going away anytime soon. We'll have to see if it hurts either candidate in the polls -- Michaela.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Another person who doesn't consider himself a politician, Donald Trump -- Thanks so much for that, Athena -- he dodged some questions about where the president was born. The Republican frontrunner wouldn't talk about it when "Late Show" host Stephen Colbert tried to coerce him. Instead, he stuck with his campaign points. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEPHEN COLBERT, HOST, CBS'S "THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT": Let's talk about immigration for just a second.

TRUMP: OK.

COLBERT: OK. I know that you believe that illegal immigrants should all be deported. True?

TRUMP: That's true.

COLBERT: That's true? OK.

TRUMP: We have to bring people -- look, we have a country, we have borders. We no border right now; we don't have a country. We have to create -- No. 1, we're going to build a wall. No. 2, we're going to...

COLBERT: OK.

[07:15:13] TRUMP: Listen to this, even with your crowd, I hear.

COLBERT: No, they love -- they love the wall. People love the wall.

TRUMP: We have to have a wall. We have to have a border. And in that wall we're going to have a beautiful big fat door where people can -- they come into the country, and they come -- listen to me.

COLBERT: A beautiful big fat door? OK. TRUMP: A beautiful door where people can come into the country, but they have to come in legally. Two thousand years ago, you have the Great Wall of China, 13,000 miles long.

COLBERT: Jesus helped build that.

TRUMP: Here we're really talking about -- you're right. You're right. But here you're really talking about 1,000 miles. You're talking about 1,000 miles. Because in certain areas -- it's 2,000 but you need it in a thousand miles. We can have a great and beautiful wall. When it will be up, it will stop. We'll have our border. And guess what? Nobody comes in unless they have their papers.

COLBERT: All right. I'm going to throw you up a big fat meatball for you to hit out of the park right now. OK?

TRUMP: Good.

COLBERT: This is the last time you ever have to address this question if you hit the ball.

TRUMP: OK.

COLBERT: Big old -- there's like sauce all over my hands, this meatball is so big. OK?

TRUMP: I want to hear this one.

COLBERT: Barack Obama born in the United States? Go.

TRUMP: Let me just...

COLBERT: Was he? It's a meatball.

TRUMP: I know.

COLBERT: It's hanging out there. Right there. Come on.

TRUMP: And do you want to know -- I don't talk about it anymore.

COLBERT: You don't talk about it?

TRUMP: I talk about jobs. I talk about our veterans being horribly treated. I just don't discuss that...

COLBERT: You know that meatball is now being dragged down the steps of the subway by a rat.

TRUMP: I know, I know. You're right; you're right.

COLBERT: You missed the meatball.

TRUMP: I saw that rat. That was not pretty.

COLBERT: You missed the meatball. You missed the meatball. TRUMP: I talk about jobs. I'm talking about the vets who are treated

like third-class citizens; they're treated worse than the illegals. I mean, the vets in this country are so mistreated, terribly. I'm talking about the military building up. Those are the things I'm talking about. I'm not talking about that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CAMEROTA: That was a big beautiful meatball but he didn't take a bite of it, did he?

PEREIRA: He did not.

CAMEROTA: He ignored the meatball. All right. We're going to be talking much more about that with our pundits.

Meanwhile, European Union leaders finally holding that emergency summit on the refugee crisis. They are agreeing to help 120,000 migrants, but not all countries are on board. Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary voted against the plan. The summit also focusing on tightening E.U. borders and boosting aid to Syria's neighbors.

PEREIRA: China's president, Xi Jinping, telling a crowd of dignitaries and business leaders in Seattle that he's willing to work with the U.S. to fight hack attacks, this as the White House prepares to hold vigorous talks with President Xi on cyber-security, trade and human rights issues on Thursday. His visit also comes as the Pentagon says a Chinese jet flying above the Yellow Sea last week passed in front of a U.S. plane in a move that was deemed unsafe. It's unclear why that maneuver was made.

CAMEROTA: Jews around the world repenting today to commemorate Yom Kippur. In the highest of holy days, Jews take time to reflect on their lives and pray for their sins to be forgiven. For the most orthodox Jews, the day of atonement is a day of rest, no work, no driving and a 24-hour fast. President Obama marking the start of the high holy day by wishing Jews, quote, "an easy fast."

PEREIRA: And we second the sentiment. Absolutely.

CAMEROTA: We do.

PEREIRA: Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton making it clear that she opposes building the Keystone Pipeline. What are her Republican rivals saying? We'll take a look at that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[07:22:15] COLBERT: Barack Obama born in the United States? Go.

TRUMP: Let me just...

COLBERT: Was he? It's a meatball. TRUMP: I know.

COLBERT: It's hanging out there. Right there. Come on.

TRUMP: And do you want to know -- I don't talk about it anymore.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: The politics of late night are in full swing. Donald Trump refusing to answer Stephen Colbert's meatball of a softball there. Was that effective?

And meanwhile, Ben Carson is all over the map.

So let's bring in Richard Socarides. He's a Democratic strategist and former senior adviser to President Clinton. And CNN political commentator Ben Ferguson, host of "The Ben Ferguson Show" -- Richard.

RICHARD SOCARIDES, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Good morning.

CAMEROTA: Why wouldn't Donald Trump answer that question? He used to be very vocal about what he thought was President Obama's citizenship.

SOCARIDES: Well, you know, I think it's hard to know why he wouldn't answer. I think he's on Colbert, so he's -- he's, you know, measured -- slightly a little more measured last night, I think. And I think that he took some of the stuff that Colbert threw at him and, rather than go after it and make the crazy statements we're used to seeing from him, he was a little softer with Colbert.

But I think, you know, the fact remains, is that this is not really funny. You know? It is sad. It reflects the sad state of our politics today. And the truth is, is that on any given day, unless you're a middle aged white guy, someone running for president in the Republican Party is likely to insult you.

CAMEROTA: Ben, Donald Trump hates political correctness. Right?

BEN FERGUSON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes.

CAMEROTA: I mean, that's what he said. Why didn't he just own it?

FERGUSON: I think this is one of those issues where he realizes that he's pandered maybe a little bit to the extreme of his base, and he's afraid if he comes back and looks like he's saying, "Hey, of course he's an American citizen," referring to the president, that people might not like him as much.

I mean, when you go this far to the extreme, as he has done in his campaign, you then put yourself in an awkward situation. Because he could have easily answered this question and said, "Of course he's a citizen. I even looked into his birth certificate. Yes, he's an American. Let's move on. Here's what I'm focused on. I'm focused on the vets. I'm focused on the V.A. scandal. I'm focused on all the things, building the great wall with a beautiful door." But for some reason he just didn't -- you know, didn't attack this

question head on, which is exactly the reason why people liked him so much early on. And many still do, obviously.

But I think he's getting himself in that awkward corner now where, you know, who is he going to be as a candidate? Is he going to play the game a little bit or is he going to be this blunt-talking guy he claims he is?

SOCARIDES: Well, the amazing thing is that Ben and I -- you know, there's something for the first time almost ever, there's something that Ben and I agree on.

CAMEROTA: There you go. Donald Trump has somehow brought you two together. There's that. Wow. Yes.

OK. Let's move on to Ben Carson. Because Ben Carson, it appears, has been all over the map in terms of his whether or not he would ever support a Muslim candidate for president.

He was just on the FOX morning show moments ago, and once again, he tried to answer it. This time it sounds like he's saying, again, he would not support a Muslim candidate. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARSON: I never said that a person could not run for office. I just said I wouldn't support them. Do I not have a right to support what I want to support?

I want to support what made this nation great and what made us unique. I want to support the things that gave me an opportunity to come from nowhere to rise to a very high position in our society. I want that for the people who are coming after us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: OK, Ben, it sounds like he's sticking to his original thought of he would not support a Muslim candidate. Is that OK for him to say?

FERGUSON: Yes, it is. And that's exactly what he should do. And I think many people have taken him out of context. When he said his original comment, "I would not advocate for someone who's a Muslim to be in the White House," he did not say, as CAIR came out and implied, that you should be disqualified from running for office for the presidency if you are Muslim. And they kept saying the Constitution says that you should not have a test on someone's religion. He never advocated for that.

CAMEROTA: But Ben -- Ben...

FERGUSON: He never said that.

CAMEROTA: Ben, hold on. He did say here -- I will read it verbatim. Chuck Todd asked, "So do you believe that Islam is consistent with the Constitution?" Islam. Not radical Islam, not extremist.

FERGUSON: Well, and that's a personal..

CAMEROTA: And Ben Carson says, "No, I don't. I do not."

FERGUSON: Which is his personal belief. He's not saying that we should pass a law and/or there is a law where a Muslim cannot run. He's saying, "Personally, I am not going to support someone who is Muslim, because I do not think that it coincides with my beliefs and what America is about."

It's the same way Democrats say they're never going to vote for a Republican who is against, as they put it, a woman's right to choose, even though it's the issue of abortion. This is very normal in politics, to have a set of values that you will advocate for and you will not advocate for.

CAMEROTA: Sure. Yes.

FERGUSON: It's the reason I won't support Hillary Clinton.

CAMEROTA: It's not consistent in politics to rule out millions of people because they follow a particular religion and say that they could never be president. But go ahead, Richard. I know you wanted in there.

SOCARIDES: Listen, I think the point is, you know, we're trying to slice this every which way. It's hard to know exactly where he stands. Because I think he's, you know, gone this way a little bit. Then he's gone the other way a little bit.

But the truth is that we should call this for what it is. I mean, right -- both Mr. Carson and Mr. Trump, they are pandering to the extreme right-wing racist elements in their party. And they're intentionally...

FERGUSON: Strongly disagree.

SOCARIDES: They're intentionally leaving a little wiggle room so that when -- you know, when they maybe have to run in the general election, they can take some of it back.

But right now, the Republican -- you know, there is a strong element in the Republican Party which they're appealing to, this anti- immigrant, this anti-everybody faction...

CAMEROTA: Sure.

SOCARIDES: ... and that's who they're appealing to.

CAMEROTA: I'm wrapping you, because, Ben, I know that you strongly disagree with that. but we do have to talk about Hillary Clinton. Because some say that she is also pandering to a wing of her party.

She now says that she opposes the Keystone Pipeline.

SOCARIDES: Yes.

CAMEROTA: It took her a long time to come around to that position. Is this because Bernie Sanders opposes the Keystone Pipeline? What took her so long, Richard?

SOCARIDES: I think she opposes the Keystone Pipeline, because the Keystone Pipeline is a bad idea, and many people have believed that. I've believed that for a long time. And I think she's putting the environment first.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

SOCARIDES: Obviously, she's running for president in a Democratic primary. But -- but...

CAMEROTA: Hold on. A few seconds, Ben. Go ahead.

FERGUSON: Hillary Clinton is now opposing the Keystone Pipeline because gas prices are low. And it's not as big of a political issue when you're pulling up to the pump, and now you're paying 2 bucks a gallon instead of $4 a gallon. This was all about the price at the pump for her, because it's not a big campaign issue that you're going to get hit on right now.

Yes, she's trying to copy Bernie Sanders on this one. But mark my words: she will not be speaking out vocally about this. If, come closer to election day, gas prices are $3.50 or $4 a gallon, then everyone cares about the Keystone Pipeline a lot more than they do right now when you're seeing a dollar something on the board.

CAMEROTA: Yes. OK. There you go. Ben Ferguson, Richard Socarides, we covered a lot of ground. Thanks so much, guys, for that debate.

SOCARIDES: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: Let's get out to Chris, who of course, is bringing us the full papal coverage from Washington, D.C.

Hey, Chris.

CUOMO: All right, Alisyn, just a quick note also. Donald Trump is in the crosshairs of the campaign once again. He will be on NEW DAY tomorrow. And you get to put the questions to him.

But we are here on the South Lawn. And there's a much bigger moment than just simple politics here going on. About 15,000 expected. Many have been here for hours in anticipation for the man, the moment and the message. What will he say to America in English? And will POTUS get a different message in private?

The flags are being waved, the Vatican and the U.S. brought together this morning. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)