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New Day

Donald Trump Live on NEW DAY. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired March 09, 2016 - 06:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:31:09] CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Big wins in Michigan, Mississippi, Hawaii. Donald Trump now with 15 states under his belt. Since 1960, we haven't had a Republican win the states that Donald Trump has won and not get the nomination.

On the phone right now, the night's big winner in his first interview off the Michigan win, which is the headline, Mr. Donald Trump.

Sir, can you hear us?

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (via telephone): Yes, I can, Chris. Good morning.

CUOMO: Good morning to you. Congratulations on last night. We seem to see something playing out in real-time that we both learned growing up. The rubber and glue argument. They came with the insults. They bounced off of you and stuck to your opponents.

TRUMP: Well, it was vicious, I must be honest with you. I was at Doral over the weekend, I was watching Adam Scott, the great golfer, win the tournament, my tournament at my place.

And I went in for a while. I'm watching with the pros the final few holes, with a lot of people. Every time there was a commercial break, it was a horrible and false -- horrible false. You know, these terrible commercials about me.

I've never seen anything like it. The people in the world of professional golf said, wow, that's a very vicious life. I said, you much better off being the golfer, believe me.

But it was a disgusting thing to see. I have never seen anything like it actually. I guess they spent close to $30 million on negative ads throughout. And it was pretty brutal.

I was actually surprised that I did so well. The people of Mississippi, the people of Michigan, I love them, because they fought through that barrage that they had to go through. And to come up with the kind of numbers, not only just winning them but winning in a landslide was so incredible. It made me feel so good.

CUOMO: So, when you look at the numbers, I know there is a lot of pragmatism here, a lot of game left to be played. You have about 60 percent of the party that's up for grabs. The theory is still out there that if the Republicans can get behind one of your rivals, they have a chance to take you down. Are you concerned about this coalescing maybe now around Senator Cruz?

TRUMP: Look, they have to do whatever they do. I'm not concerned about anything. I'm just going to keep fighting. We have great states coming up. I've always had a great relationship, obviously, with Florida. It's my second home. I'm there.

I employ thousands of people in the state of Florida. I have partners with Related and partners with Michael and Gil Dezer, who have done fantastic job on the ocean, buildings. An if you look at Doral, which is so great, Mar-A-Lago, including the club in Jupiter, one of the most successful of all. You know, it's my home.

And then you go to Ohio, where I worked for three summers. And I love Ohio. I just love Ohio. I have so many friends there.

CUOMO: So --

TRUMP: I just have, in fact, Paul O'Neill, the great Yankee, endorsed me last night. I didn't know he was in the room. I said, Paul, will you endorse me? He said I love you. I'm going to endorse you.

Paul is from Ohio. You talk a great champion. Great. Solid as a rock.

CUOMO: You're not going to get --

(CROSSTALK)

TRUMP: Great hotels of the world. So, I mean, I have great places that we're going to. North Carolina I think is going to be fantastic.

CUOMO: When you look at the polls, we have a new Florida poll out this morning. They show a solid lead over Marco Rubio. If you win Florida and Ohio, do you believe the nominating process is over?

[06:35:00] TRUMP: Well, I would say at that point it's pretty tough for anybody to do anything. And I know we have a big lead in Florida. And I hear we have a pretty good lead also in polls in Ohio.

You know, again, I'm going to Ohio. I'm going to Florida. I'm in Florida right now actually. I'm going to North Carolina today. I'm going to be all over the place the next week.

So, you know, hopefully, it will all work out. I would love to see the party come together and unify.

You know, Chris, we have done something that's never been done. The biggest story of all is the massive turnout the Republican Party is getting. We're taking from Democrats. We're taking from independents. You're reporting on it very well.

But the Democrats are down 35 percent. There's no enthusiasm for Hillary. How can you have enthusiasm for Hillary? There is none.

And then you hear her speak --

CUOMO: Do you think last night means -- do you think last night means about her campaign than even it does about yours? Do you think she's in real trouble and why?

TRUMP: No. I think she'll get the nomination, assuming she is allowed to run, which she probably will be, because the Democrats will make sure nothing happens to her. Assuming she is allowed to run legally, I think that, yes, she'll definitely get the nomination.

This is just a bump. But losing Michigan is more than a bump in the general, because it says the people don't want her. She's not going to bring back trade. You know, Michigan has been devastated by bad trade deals. She's in favor of trade deals.

She's not going to bring back trade. She's not going to bring back businesses. She's not going to bring back all the employment that's gone, all the factories that are closed.

I have seen those factories and let me tell you, it's disgusting to look. What we have done with our trade deals. These guys that talk about free trade deals, they're a bunch of dopes, frankly.

You know, I discussed last night my conservative credentials. And I'm more conservative than anybody. But when it comes to free trade, let me tell you, unless we have very, very smart people representing us as a country, which we don't. We have the opposite. Free trade doesn't work, because the other countries have all made better deals than us. We have deficits with every country we deal with.

And we're losing our jobs, we're losing our factories, we're losing our base, we're losing our money. And she got beaten in Michigan. You have to see Michigan you have to see all the closed factories that we have in Michigan.

So --

CUOMO: It is I think disheartening, to say the least.

(CROSSTALK)

TRUMP: -- it's bad signal for the Democrats.

CUOMO: Now, you said something last night that was new. You said, you have been saying more lately, you can be more presidential, I can be more presidential than anybody. Last night you h I really hope we can bring this party together.

You have not been perceived as a uniter. Is this part of metamorphosis of you that you suggested in the that you can change? You can say different things. Are you going to try to shift strategy now from being more of a hammer to more of someone who wants to unite? Are you going to change message?

TRUMP: Well, I am a uniter, Chris. You know me. I mean, you know me well. Your family knows me well. I am a uniter.

But I have to finish off the project. You know, I can't all of a sudden stand there and let people -- you know, Marco was very, very nasty to me. I have to tell you. He was very, very nasty to me and I guess he made a mistake. I was more nasty to him.

You have to finish off what you have to finish off. I can't say all of a sudden, let them make statements. Now, I do think the debate tomorrow night will be a softer debate. I really do. I believe it will be a softer debate. I hope it's going to be a softer debate.

I can tell you that I go in much more as a uniter as -- I think the wins were very big ones and very decisive ones. You look at Mississippi, almost 50 percent. You look at the numbers I got in Michigan.

Then, I had the surprise of Hawaii where I did so well. Hawaii such a nice thing. I have a fantastic hotel, you know, we have a great hotel there, a lot of employees, a lot of people. And it's wonderful.

But that was the capper that I just saw this morning, and winning so decisively too. So, I really --

CUOMO: But isn't there a message in that, Mr. Trump?

TRUMP: -- this will be a nicer, softer, lighter debate, I hope.

CUOMO: Well, how do you take advantage of that? Because if the message of what happened last night is, look, people don't want to see their feelings rejected by just telling them they're wrong to feel a certain way in this case about Donald Trump, is it time for you to actually be that change, ironically?

I mean, people look at you as the person who set the tone of negativity in this race. Is it time for you to say, you know what, enough with the negative, stop attacking me, I'm not going to attack you, we need to unite, we need to be something better?

TRUMP: Well, Chris, I didn't set the tone of negativity. What I did was fought back. They attacked me viciously and I fought back. Don't forget, we started with 17 people.

So, you know, I've been doing this for a while and the nice part is everybody that's attacked me so far has gone down. Wouldn't that be nice for our country because we don't win anymore as a country? So, wouldn't it be nice to have somebody that could do that?

[06:40:03] But every single person, I mean, Lindsey Graham attacked me viciously and he went down, and he went down badly, and now, he goes around like nothing happened and he talks horribly about me, and, you know, I probably could like him. He speaks so horribly about me. It's incredible. I've never seen anything like it.

And, you know, all of these people -- and here's the thing: we have done something that's the talk of the political world. Not even in this country, beyond this country. I've been on the cover of "TIME" magazine four times. Because of this whole situation, it's been amazing.

Massive people are going out to vote. Massive people. This isn't just a little bit. Massive numbers of people. And the Republican Party is getting 65 percent on average more people going to the primaries to vote between caucuses, which I don't like caucuses, by the way. People walk in. People are grabbing them, fighting. It's the most ridiculous, caucuses.

But I really think so, it is a very bad thing for a democracy. I think a caucus is not good. Very deceiving and very bad.

Let me just tell you, something is happening that's amazing. We're getting millions and millions of people that have never voted for. Millions of people from the Democrats. Millions of people from the independents.

And, honestly, I had such a great talk with Paul Ryan. He called the other day. He was so great.

CUOMO: Oh, really?

TRUMP: That's what we should be doing, Chris. We should be talking and unifying. Because I'll tell you what, with all the new people that have come into the Republican Party and have come to vote during all of these -- during this last session, I mean, it's been incredible. During the primaries, with all of these people that have come in, we have something that's special. We have something that the Democrats can't beat us.

The only they're going to beat us if we keep fighting so stupidly.

CUOMO: I know you have a busy morning but you just said something very tantalizing. This is such a big moment as you head into this debate tomorrow night. The party has to make a decisions about whether or not if you have the most if they embrace you.

Now, one of the biggest pieces of conflict how you deal with the power structure. You talking about Paul Ryan, you got a little sideways with him last week when you said Ryan has got a big problem if he doesn't do what I say. It's interesting and newsworthy to hear you spoke with him and had a good conversation.

Give me a taste of that conversation with Paul Ryan, before you.

(CROSSTALK)

TRUMP: Chris that wasn't meant as a threat. That meant that they'll lose because I have so many people that they'll lose. You know, I mean, it wasn't meant as a threat.

CUOMO: Well, but some people took it that way. But just give me a taste. Why was it a good conversation with Paul Ryan?

TRUMP: It was just very conciliatory. We get along well. I like him a lot. I respect him a lot.

I think he respects me. I think he really does respect what I've done. I mean, he said it. It's amazing. He said it's amazing.

Look, they're talking about it all over the world, Chris. We're bringing in 65 percent more people than they did four years ago. Do you know how many people told me, Mr. Trump, I've never voted for? They are like 50-year-old people, 60-year-old people. They said I've never voted before and I'm voting for you. And they have Trump shirts and Trump hats.

These are people that were never proud enough or never -- they said, I've never had a candidate I have wanted to vote for, Mr. Trump. And they're great Americans and they never voted because they have never had anybody.

We have something is that's going on that's absolutely unique and special. We have millions and millions of people like this. We have massive numbers, Chris.

And the Democrats are down 35 percent. And we're up 65 percent. And many of those people come from Democrats.

Now, if I could be -- if we could embrace this moment as a party, we're going to win so easily. We're going to win Michigan. We're going to win New York possibly. We're going to win areas and states that were never in play before and would never be in play for any of these other candidates. I mean, Ted Cruz cannot win these states.

CUOMO: That's the trick for you right now. You have convinced the people within your party. Now you have to convince the party structure itself. We'll be watching that.

Tomorrow night is a big night. You had a big night last night. Thank you for speaking to us first here on NEW DAY. You're always welcome to talk about what matters here.

TRUMP: Thank you very much, be Chris. I appreciate it. Thank you.

CUOMO: All right. So, there you go. Donald Trump talking about last night. Negativity didn't work. This is a moment for the party to come together.

He spoke with Paul Ryan. That is newsworthy after the tone that was set last week. He said it was conciliatory. So, what does that mean for the GOP? Is it time they put a hug around Donald Trump? We ask the experts.

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[06:46:45] ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Moments ago, Chris talked to Donald Trump, the front-runner, live here on NEW DAY about his big wins last night. The efforts to stop Trump failing.

Here to weigh in, CNN political commentator and Trump supporter, Kayleigh McEnany, and former George W. Bush political director, Matt Schlapp. He is the chairman of the American Conservative Union.

Great to see both of you here in Miami this morning. I know you just heard that interview that Chris did with Trump.

MATT SCHLAPP, AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION: Yes.

CAMEROTA: You know, Trump talked about the negativity, Matt, of the race. He said lots of interesting things. He said he has never seen anything as vicious as the attacks against him. He said, quote, "Marco has been very nasty to me."

Is saying he is orange colored and has small hands, is that really the nastiest that anybody has ever been? What do you think about the attacks back and forth?

SCHLAPP: It's not nasty, this isn't that presidential tone. Usually what these candidates are just killing each other over is really serious policy, like what kind of missile programs are we going to be buying. And instead, it's kind of like, dumb down to these personalities and personal knocks.

And, boy, I sure like to see that kick it up a few notches, because the American people -- I'll tell you one thing, the reason Ted Cruz -- if there is an alternative, it is Ted Cruz. And the reason is that he is staying on the issues. I think that's where the American people are.

CAMEROTA: Yes, go ahead.

CUOMO: That's newfound, OK? There's no question these guys have been trying to beat Trump at his own game.

Here's what you can argue, McEnany, that Trump has as an advantage. Perception is reality in politics. He just said to me in an interview, I didn't set the tone of negativity. I was just responding.

That is a very arguable proposition. But it doesn't matter. If he is perceiving the need to get away from the negativity before the other guys are, that could explain why last night happened. They're off in what people want right now. They're looking for something better. Trump is heading in that direction. They're still behind.

KAYLEIGH MCENANY, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: No doubt about it. He is heading in that direction.

And I think Trump is right. By and large, you look back, he has attacked when he has been attacked. He really hasn't initiated things. He has responded to things. I think that's an important point and that's part of why this negativity has transpired.

But the important point is here that you look at every electorate that's voted. Last night, 80 and higher were angry or dissatisfied with the federal government. Likely, in South Carolina, that number was above 90 percent. In Nevada, too.

These very disparate different electorates are all angry at the establishment and the federal government. And Donald Trump is harnessing that anger and he's expanding the party too. I think it's a really important point.

CAMEROTA: In fact, he did just talk to Chris about how he wants to be a uniter. He believes he can be a uniter. That is a different tone. But he started to pivot over to that tone.

So, what do you think that means for the debate tomorrow? Will we hear that? Can Trump be a uniter at this point?

SCHLAPP: Yes, I think there is a transition in front of him, to borrow your word, Chris, which is there is the Trump that appears with the beautiful family after he wins these states. And his tone is more subdued. It is more calm. He's actually complimentary to the guys he just killed on the field.

And then there is the Trump at the rally. There's the more bombastic Trump. It has been very effective. Who am I to argue with that, right? He's winning.

But I do think eventually, you have to transmission to this question of, OK, you're in this competition. Do I see is a president? And I think he realizes that and I think he was foreshadowing that in the interview, which is he knows he has to come across in these dates. And he's got it in them.

[06:50:01] He can be a magnanimous guy. And I think that's the transition we're going to have to see.

CUOMO: A new Matt Schlapp sitting here on the set of NEW DAY right now. Boy, I never thought I would hear you say what you're saying right now.

But maybe it's emblematic. Your party has got to make a decision.

SCHLAPP: That's right.

CUOMO: If this guy keeps rolling, he is your guy. And you can't make an argument, I mean, you can, but I don't know how compelling it is, that nobody is offering anything better to your people than he is.

What they're saying is, you're wrong to like Trump, that ain't enough.

SCHLAPP: Here's the thing, there is a whole movement, you know, Never Trump. And what it is, is there's a lot of people inside my party who are uncomfortable with Donald Trump.

The problem is this. These are voters that are pushing him over to these Ws. He's getting wins. When you say I'll never support the guy who is getting the support from these people is offensive. And I think what the people in my party are uncomfortable with, listen to the message that is coming forth. If you want to keep fighting him, those are the rules. Keep fighting him. But don't be disrespectful to people that are giving him win after win.

CAMEROTA: Just a few more seconds, Kayleigh. Last word.

MCENANY: Sure. This Never Trump movement is something orchestrated by the establishment. Donald Trump is an agent for change. The establishment is uncomfortable with that.

And that's why you heard Ted Cruz say it, when you hear someone talk about a brokered convention, those are the words of the establishment. They want to see Donald Trump fail. That's their mission. It is not the voters who are rejecting them, it is the party leaders and the party leaders are being rejected.

CAMEROTA: Kayleigh, Matt, thanks so much. Great to have you with us here in Miami.

MCENANY: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: All right. Lots of cash being shelled out on campaign ads. Which candidate is spending the most and which are working? We'll explore all that, next.

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[06:55:32] MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: CNNMoney now, time, chief business correspondent Christine Romans in the money center.

You're looking at the millions spent on all of these campaign ads.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, there are many millions, Michaela. Candidates and super PACs spent a total of $8.4 million on television ads in the four states that held primaries or caucuses Tuesday. The bulk of that money spent in Michigan. More than $7 million. The next highest, Idaho, $240,000. That was GOP only, same with Hawaii. The lowest amount spent, in Mississippi.

The biggest individual spender, Bernie Sanders. He spent more than $3.2 million. Almost all of that spent in Michigan ahead of his narrow win there.

Hillary Clinton was second at almost $2.5 million, then Donald Trump, followed by John Kasich. Now, Michigan was the big prize of the night, of course, but spending on TV ads was the sixth largest of the primary states in Michigan.

The focus now shifts to Florida, Ohio. Millions of dollars already pouring into those states. Total spending in Florida among candidates and political action committees already topping $16 million, half, half of that total coming from a pro-Rubio super PAC.

In Ohio, more like $5 million right now. Those primaries, folks, mark your calendar. Next Tuesday, still six days left to spend or endure the advertising. However you look at it -- Michaela.

PEREIRA: However you look at it.

All right. Thanks so much, Christine.

Bernie Sanders scoring that big win in Michigan, a surprise upset over Hillary Clinton. Well, we're going to ask Clinton's campaign about that, next.

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