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Trump Stands By Arrested Campaign Manager Corey Lewandowski; Interview with Rep. Scott DesJarlais; GOP Rivals Back Off Pledge To Support Nominee; Obama Tackles Prescription Drug Abuse; New Clinton Ad Takes On Donald Trump; Sanders: Trump Is Scapegoating Minorities. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired March 30, 2016 - 07:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:33:00] ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Donald Trump standing by his top aide at CNN's town hall last night. That aide, his campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, was arrested and charged with simple battery on Tuesday after allegedly grabbing a reporter.

Let's bring in Tennessee congressman and Trump supporter, Scott DesJarlais. Good morning, Congressman.

REP. SCOTT DESJARLAIS (R-TN), TRUMP SUPPORTER: Good morning, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Let's just start right there before we get to the substance of what happened last night. Should Donald Trump fire Corey Lewandowski?

DESJARLAIS: I think he made it clear last night that he wasn't, but it looks like we have law enforcement involved, we have lawyers involved, so I'm sure that they'll get this sorted out.

CAMEROTA: But, in terms of somebody even being accused and now there's a video that shows that he did grab the reporter, is that enough? That Donald Trump doesn't need a headache like this and he should let Corey Lewandowski go?

DESJARLAIS: You know, I watched the videos. It certainly got a lot of news coverage yesterday -- maybe more than the Egyptian airline hijacking, but you can look back frame-by-frame and it looks like she was trying to get the attention of Mr. Trump, and it looks like maybe he was trying to let Mr. Trump get to where he was going. So, I think that's where you let the law enforcement and the lawyers step in and sort things out, and I'm sure that they'll find a resolution.

[07:35:00] CAMEROTA: OK, let's talk about something that Donald Trump said last night during CNN's town hall that has raised some eyebrows. He was talking about other countries getting nuclear weapons and it sounded like he was open to that. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: At some point we have to say you know what? We're better off if Japan protects itself against this maniac in North Korea. We're better off, frankly, if South Korea is going to start to protect itself --

ANDERSON COOPER, MODERATOR, CNN TOWN HALL: Saudi Arabia, nuclear weapons?

TRUMP: Saudi Arabia, absolutely.

COOPER: You would be fine with them having nuclear weapons?

TRUMP: No, not nuclear weapons, but they have to protect themselves or they have to pay us.

COOPER: So if -- but if you say to Japan, yes, it's fine, you get nuclear weapons. South Korea, you as well, and Saudi Arabia says we want them, too.

TRUMP: Can I be honest with you? It's going to happen anyway. It's going to happen anyway so it's only a question of time. They're going to start having them or we have to rid of them entirely.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: Congressman, you're on the foreign affairs committee. Are you comfortable with these other countries -- South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Japan -- having nuclear weapons?

DESJARLAIS: Well, I don't think that's optimal. I don't like the fact that North Korea is testing nuclear weapons and I don't like the fact that they're testing missiles and shooting them out in the sea in kind of an antagonistic fashion. We know we have Pakistan with nuclear weapons and there's some instability in the region by people who are not really our allies.

So I think what Mr. Trump is trying to explain on his foreign policy is that a lot of people sometimes complain about the United States and their military might and power, being bullies, the world's policeman -- but, I also think that a lot of people rely on us to protect them.

And I think the point Mr. Trump's trying to make is that some of these countries need to step up and pay a little more for that protection because, as you know, we have debt problems of our own and spend 10 times more on military than most any other countries.

And it was a little convoluted as far as where he was going, but if you want to tie in the whole nuclear Iran deal which I think was a bad deal and doesn't resolve the problems of Iran getting nuclear weapons. Why is it in the Middle East that all of our enemies seem to be getting or having nuclear weapons? And I think the point that he was making is that he would like to see more reimbursement coming from the countries that we protect.

CAMEROTA: Yes, but I think that he was also making the point, Congressman, that if he doesn't get more reimbursements -- first of all, those countries do provide us with millions of dollars in terms of protecting them. But, I think the point he was making was if they don't cough up more money that then maybe they should go it on their own. And as someone on the foreign affairs committee, do you believe that the stability that the U.S. provides is worth sticking around in these countries?

DESJARLAIS: You know, it's interesting. I remember some of the limited debate I did back in high school in the late 70's, early 80's, nuclear proliferation was always the big topic and it's bad. We don't want to see it. But yet, like I said, we do have people who are considered adversaries to the United States that continue to get nuclearweapons.

And I don't think that Donald Trump is condoning nuclear proliferation, but I think with what was happening in Israel between Israel and Iran and their concerns over Iran getting nuclear weapons, that when he said that at some point maybe in time down the road -- I don't know if he was talking 10 years, 20 years -- maybe something like this is inevitable. We certainly hope not. I would certainly like to hear him explain that further, however.

CAMEROTA: Yes. Let's talk about what happens at the convention and how the path is forward to getting that number of 1,237 delegates. It's complicated and, as you know, Marco Rubio got out of the race and he has held on to his 173 delegates.

Earlier I said that he was trying to figure out what to do with them and who to award them to. It's much more complicated than that. It's been described as a mosaic of different policies state by state in terms of how those delegates will be allocated. What is Mr. Trump doing in order to try to get those -- to secure them -- which might push him to the 1,237 number?

DESJARLAIS: I don't know specifically what he's doing. What I'm seeing is that all the candidates are trying to develop a strategy to woo some of these delegates from various states and some of these other candidates.

You know, Mr. Trump is clearly on the best trajectory to actually possibly get to 1,237 and some of the states that will favor him are New York and California. So, it's not out of the question that he does reach the number. I don't think there's any question he goes into the convention with the most wins, the most states, and a huge number of votes.

And I think he was a little frustrated last night. It was interesting. You were maybe going to get this on all the different candidates talking about not honoring the pledge that was such a big deal early on in the debates when you still had a stage full of people. And I think John Kasich said something to the effect that we all sometimes agree to things early in a debate that maybe we shouldn't.

But I do remember one candidate raising his hand on the first debate saying he didn't agree with that and then the establishment put pressure on Donald Trump to make sure that he would not run as at third-party candidate. That he would accept the nominee and he made the pledge.

But then, as you saw Donald Trump racking up wins, taking a clear lead, it did seem what he said last night was somewhat true with the RNC and the establishment working in any way possible to get anybody but Trump. In fact, now, after Jeb was gone and Rubio was gone and then Cruz is left, he seems to be becoming the establishment darling. And I don't think Ted Cruz was ever considered anyone's darling within the establishment.

[07:40:00] CAMEROTA: It is interesting how this has all shaken out and the different bedfellows and alliances that keep cropping up. Scott DesJarlais -- Congressman, thanks so much for being here on NEW DAY.

DESJARLAIS: Yes, thanks for having me.

CAMEROTA: Let's get to Michaela.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: So, President Obama laid out a plan to combat drug abuse. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is part of the initiative. He joins us live to tell us all about it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: President Obama laying out plans for reducing America's reliance on prescription drugs. Appearing at the National Prescription Drug Abuse &Heroin Summit in Atlanta, the president says there needs to be a fundamental change to understanding addiction as a preventable disease.

Joining us now, CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the great moderator of the panel with the president. I know this is something that you are quite passionate about. And, Sanjay, why don't we play a little bit of sound from the president from yesterday's panel where he presented this solution to the addiction epidemic.

[07:45:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: What we have to recognize is in this global economy of ours that the most important thing we can do is reduce demand for drugs. And the only way that we reduce demand is if we're providing treatment and thinking about this as a public health problem, and not just a criminal problem.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PEREIRA: That's a big shift for America. Do you think we're ready for that?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think we are ready for it. In some ways this problem was sort of laid upon us. I think this has been a manmade problem. When it comes to the opioids -- the prescription opioids -- you may not realize this, Michaela, but 80 percent of those prescriptions are right here in the United States.

PEREIRA: Wow.

GUPTA: Eighty percent of the world's opioids are consumed in the United States. We are five percent of the world's population. We do not have 80 percent of the world's pain -- I promise you that. And yet, we consume all these pain medications, and so many of them given out doctors' prescription.

PEREIRA: Right.

GUPTA: So this has been a culture that has formed. I don't think America ever -- this was sort of self-inflicted, I guess, is what I'm saying.

PEREIRA: And a slippery slope, too. A sliding problem, I would argue. Painkillers -- when you talk about opioids, I think it's worth pointing out there are painkillers -- things like OxyContin, Vicodin, and Percocet, just so everybody's on the same page.

GUPTA: That's right.

PEREIRA: What I'm shocked by is how big this problem is. Research showing that, what, seventy-eight people that die from opioid overdoses a day?

GUPTA: Well, yes. I mean, if you do the math it could be number cause of preventable death right now in the country, more so than car accidents. Someone dies every 19 minutes of an accidental opioid overdose. Accidental is -- so it's really, really staggering numbers. And again, it's been crescendoing, I think for some time.

You've gotten some new regulations around this now. You've gotten some action from organizations like the CDC, who say these types of medications should never be first-line therapy for chronic pain. You're going to start seeing black box warnings on these medications, as well. Sometimes patients need reminders about this.

PEREIRA: Can you walk us through some of the initiatives the president laid out? I know there were several.

GUPTA: Yes, there were several. I think a couple of the big ones -- he wants to make more money available for what is known as medical assisted therapy. Someone who's an addict now -- in order to treat their addiction sometimes you use other medications that have similar effects but that aren't as powerful.

People think of Methadone, for example, with regard to heroin. But there are other medications that can also start to wean somebody off. Also wanted to give more funding for something known as Narcan or Naloxone. This is, essentially, a drug that can change a person's overdose. It can pull them out of an overdose if they're starting to stop breathing or something like that, so you can give it by injection. He wants to make that available to everybody.

PEREIRA: Right.

GUPTA: Put it in first aid kits, give it to paramedics so they can save lives this way. He wants to make more doctors available to try and treat pain, thinking that maybe there's not even resources sometimes for people. So these are the types of things. He's asked for the money. It's over $1 billion to get some of these things done. It's not been appropriated or even voted upon yet, but that's the hope.

PEREIRA: Perhaps even just the fact that he was at this summit having a conversation, it's almost like setting a flag in the sand saying we are not going to ignore this problem anymore. We've got to do something about it. Sanjay, we appreciate that you were a part of that and I know that it's something that is very close to your heart. Thanks so much for bringing this to us today.

GUPTA: You got it. Thank you.

PEREIRA: All right, Don --

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Michaela. Thanks, Doctor.

Hillary Clinton focusing squarely on Donald Trump in a just-released campaign ad. Should she be focusing on Trump with Bernie Sanders winning five out of the last six states? We'll discuss that next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:52:00] LEMON: Hillary Clinton trying to split her focus between Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump. Clinton returning to her adopted home state of New York where Sanders is pushing for a debate. Her new campaign ad is out this morning. It directly targets Donald Trump.

Let's discuss with CNN political commentator and Daily Beast columnist, Sally Kohn, and CNN political commentator and Democratic strategist, Paul Begala. Paul is the senior adviser to a pro-Clinton Super PAC. Good morning to both of you. Hillary Clinton released her new ad this morning. Let's look at it and then we'll discuss.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: New York, 20 million people strong. No, we don't all look the same. We don't all sound the same, either. But when we pull together we do the biggest things in the world. But when some say we can solve America's problems by building walls, banning people based on their religion, and turning against each other -- well, this is New York and we know better.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Is this a power move, Paul Begala, that she's already focusing on Donald Trump towards the general and who is this Bernie Sanders guy?

PAUL BEGALA, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes, and I think Democrats are going to love it. I think this is what you want to -- if you noticed at that town hall last night, the dog that didn't bark was that they didn't really attack Hillary very often. I was stunned.

Why? Because the Republicans are so busy destroying each other, which I could not be happier about, that you don't want the same in the Democratic Party. There's very little chance of that, frankly, butI think that this is exactly what Hillary ought to be doing, frankly.

Our Super PAC -- we have also released an ad last week attacking Donald Trump. This is where the fight goes. The one thing that unites all Democrats is that we do not want Donald Trump to have his finger on the nuclear button.

LEMON: Sally, is this an oversight, so to speak, because Bernie Sanders has won five out of the last six contests? Should she be focusing, at least somewhat, on Bernie Sanders?

SALLY KOHN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, I mean, look. I think her case to voters is, first of all, she has a bit of an enthusiasm gap with Bernie Sanders. They both, obviously, have some numbers there but his supporters are more compassionate and I think she's trying to get the Democratic base that's on her side a little more fired up. And one way to do that, undoubtedly, is Donald Trump.

And the other isI think one her strongest cases is, I have the experience. You can imagine me in the White House and you can't imagine Donald Trump, so that contrast, I think, does play well to her. It's still too early, though, for her to count out Sen. Sanders who, I think, is giving her a real run for her money.

LEMON: Yes, that was my question. The New York primary is not until April 19th, but let's look at the 247 delegates up for grabs here in New York State, but it's also Bernie Sander's home state, as well. How do you think a Clinton-Sanders contest is going to play out here, Paul?

[07:55:00] BEGALA: Oh, I think it will be great. Are you kidding me? You're sitting there in Manhattan. It is the mother of all media markets and it going to be great. Hillary was the senator from New York, elected there twice. Bernie did grow up there. Has that fantastic Brooklyn accent. And they're going to be fighting for the right to take on another quintessential New Yorker archetype, the bully billionaire, Donald Trump.

I couldn't be happier -- pop your popcorn. Pay your cable bill, ladies and gentlemen. You are not going to want to miss one minute.

LEMON: Make sure you subscribe to CNN because -- and also, listen, speaking of --

KOHN: Like a subway series.

LEMON: Yes. They're arguing also, or at least going back and forth, Sally, about whether there should be another debate. Bernie Sanders wants another debate to happen here. The Hillary Clinton campaign says well, that depends on Bernie Sanders' tone. Is this a risky move for her to do that?

KOHN: I happen to think -- again, I tend to support Sen. Sanders more but I happen to think she does really well in the debates so I don't know why she'd want to avoid them. I mean, obviously, the more voters get to know him, it helps him, I guess, but she's pretty strong in the debate setting. Look, the debates are not only good for the Democratic Party, they're

good for America. People need to see the contrast between the Republican mess that keeps happening -- the sort of hot mess that happens. Even when they're asked substantive questions they turn back to personal attacks and insults, whereas the Democrats are really talking about substance. They're really giving people hope, and ideas, and solutions, and that's good for the voters, that's good for the country. I say the more debates, the better.

LEMON: Hey, listen, Bernie Sanders, last night, spoke to my colleague Erin Burnett and gave her a very lengthy interview, not only speaking about Hillary Clinton but also about Donald Trump, and saying Donald Trump is really capitalizing on the anger in the country and whether or not that was a good move. Let's listen and then we'll discuss.

(BEING VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: People are angry. What Trump is doing is taking that anger and saying it's the fault of the Mexicans or it's the fault of the Muslims. We've got to scapegoat people. Well, beating up on Mexicans who make $8 an hour is not going to deal with the real issues.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: An interesting approach. He did discuss Hillary Clinton but, again, directly, Paul Begala, taking on Donald Trump, saying that's not the real issue, that's not the way to go here.

BEGALA: Right. I think it's so smart. Not just every Democrat, I think most Americans are going to agree exactly with what Sen. Sanders is saying and I think that's the same tone Hillary's trying to strike in that ad, which is you don't fight fire with fire, actually. You fight fire with water.

And one of the phrases you're seeing at Hillary rallies, and I suspect at Bernie rallies also, are people carrying homemade signs saying "Love Trumps Hate" which I just think is terrific. That's the way for Democrats to beat him -- is to step back and say hey, we've all got to pull together as a country. Let's come together instead of coming apart.

LEMON: It plays wells among Democrats, Sally, but what about the independents and the people who are not sure of where they're going to go. How does this play in Peoria, as they say?

KOHN: I think it's interesting. There's a really long conversation to have here about the angry voters on both sides of the aisle here, and a lot of them are angry about the same things. An economy that isn't working for working people anymore. That hasn't been for a long time. That has been rigged for big business and the very rich and fed up against the average American.

So, that part of that anger is real. And I think when we talk about trade policy, when we talk about holding Wall Street accountable, we talk about tax policy, everyone can unite, frankly, Republicans and Democrats -- a lot of those angry voters.

Bernie Sanders is exactly right. It's one thing to talk about that anger, that frustration. It's another thing to scapegoat that anger on Mexicans, and Muslims, and immigrants. That's the problem, that's dangerous. And by the way, I think most Republican voters also are against that and they are resonating with what Bernie is saying.

LEMON: Sally Kohn, so happy that she's in Milwaukee reporting for us this morning that there's tears of joy.

KOHN: It's a little cold here.

LEMON: Thank you, Paul. Thank you, Sally. I appreciate it.

BEGALA: Thanks, Don. Thanks, Sally.

KOHN: Thanks, Don.

LEMON: We are following a lot of news, including the big news at last night's CNN Republican town hall, so let's get to it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Do you consider your pledge to whoever the Republican nominee is?

TRUMP: I don't want -- look, no, I don't think.

GOV. JOHN KASICH (R-OH), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If the nominee is somebody that I think has really the country, I can't stand behind them.

SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm not in the habit of supporting someone who attacks my wife.

COOPER: You're running for President of the United States.

TRUMP: Excuse me, I didn't start it.

KASICH: Our children are watching. This is America.

CRUZ: Just when you don't think it can get any uglier, it gets uglier.

TRUMP: I almost fell to the ground. I almost fell to the ground. She didn't almost fall to the ground.

LEMON: Trump defends his embattled campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski.

TRUMP: She was grabbing me. Am I supposed to press charges against her?

PEREIRA: The manhunt for two fugitive terror suspects tied to last week's attacks in Brussels. The fear and anxiety is palpable.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're scrambling, to be honest.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is huge concern that there may be more attacks in the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo, Alisyn Camerota, and Michaela Pereira.

CAMEROTA: Good morning, everyone. Welcome to your NEW DAY.