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Trump Fires Embattled Campaign Manager; Interview with White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest. Aired 8-8:30a ET

Aired June 21, 2016 - 08:00   ET

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

[08:00:00] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's the right and appropriate decision to make.

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's time now for a different kind of a campaign.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Trump is being massively outgunned by Clinton.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're talking about 700 staffers for Hillary versus 70.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're not going to propagate through violent rhetoric.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Backlash on Capitol Hill, the Justice Department released the full transcript.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "I'm in Orlando and I did the shootings."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The killer made these murderous statements in a chilling, calm, and deliberate manner.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Massive wildfires on the west coast.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Be prepared because this fire could change direction very quickly.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just looked out the window and it was just billowing full of black smoke.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo and Alisyn Camerota.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: I'll tell you, I have covered a lot of threatening situations. There is something uniquely disturbing about wildfires out west. It is almost look a human army that you see moving around. The wind can shift it and people have to live with the unknown, and it is really scary.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: I was just in southern California, and in a moment's notice I had friends and family who have had to get out and take everything they can in their jeep. So it's frightening. We'll cover that for sure this morning. CUOMO: Absolutely. Good morning to you. Welcome to your NEW DAY.

It's Tuesday, June 21st, 8:00 in the east. Alisyn is off. Brooke Baldwin is here. And we've got big news for you. Less than a month from the Republican convention, Donald Trump says it is time for a change, and a big one. His campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, the man who has been with him from the beginning, is out. Get this. They say the move was driven by Trump's children. Lewandowski talked to CNN, gave a big interview about why this happened, and what he sees about the future of what will happen with the campaign.

BALDWIN: We will talk to Dana Bash about her interview with Corey.

Also, all of this as the new CNN national poll numbers are out this morning, released. How does Trump stack up against Hillary Clinton on terrorism and the critical issues that we all care so much about and why? Let's begin our coverage with CNN chief political correspondent Dana Bash with that interview with Corey Lewandowski. Still doesn't know why he was fired, he says.

DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. And as for his now former boss, Donald Trump, he said this morning, Brooke, that he has no plans to change his tone. He said, quote, "I have to be who I am." And that will be disappointing to many Republican officials who I've talked to who hoped that Trump getting rid of his hard charging campaign manager is a signal that the candidate is more willing to listen to those encouraging him to be less controversial as he tries to appeal to a general electorate.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BASH: What happened? Why were you fired?

COREY LEWANDOWSKI, FORMER TRUMP CAMPAIGN MANAGER: I don't know. I don't know the answer to that.

BASH: But the answer, according to multiple GOP sources, is Donald Trump's lagging poll numbers, lack of campaign infrastructure, plus heated power struggles, which all led Trump's family to say enough.

Sources who I've talked to and other I've talked to said that they described you as a hothead and that you didn't treat people right. What do you say to that?

LEWANDOWSKI: Look, I think I'm a very intense person. And my expectation is perfection because I think that's what Mr. Trump deserves. I had a nice conversation with Mr. Trump and I said to him it has been an honor and privilege to be part of that. And I mean that from the bottom of my heart.

BASH: CNN is told Trump watched Lewandowski's interview as it happened live a few hours after he was fired. Trump later expressed his appreciation as he talked about moving on.

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He is a good man, we've had great success. He is a friend of mine. But I think it's time now for a different kind of a campaign. BASH: That different kind of campaign is one with Paul Manafort,

Lewandowski's nemesis, now firmly at the helm. CNN is told that internally Manafort's mantra is that Trump must act more presidential, and Lewandowski kept saying let Trump be Trump.

Sources from in and around the campaign have told us that they thought that you were feeding Mr. Trump's worst instincts. If there was a plan in place, post primary, now trying to pivot to the general, is in the general, you would get on the plane and undercut that plan and bring out his worst instinct. How do you respond to that?

LEWANDOWSKI: I say what best interest would I have in doing that?

BASH: The suggestion is it is who you are.

LEWANDOWSKI: If Donald Trump wins, that's good for Corey Lewandowski and it's good for the country.

BASH: Lewandowski made clear to CNN he supported Trump's controversial response to the Orlando shooting.

TRUMP: And goes boom, boom.

BASH: And disparaging a judge presiding over a fraud case involving Trump University.

TRUMP: This judge is of Mexican heritage. I'm building a wall, OK.

BASH: The question now is whether Trump will tone down his rhetoric with his likeminded campaign manager out. CNN is told it was that, plus concerns about anemic fundraising and basic campaign structure, that alarmed Trump's children.

TRUMP: My boy Eric and Don, they've been working so hard.

(APPLAUSE)

[08:05:05] TRUMP: Ivanka and Jared have been amazing.

BASH: And they all played an instrumental role in ousting Lewandowski, especially daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner, real estate whiz and publisher.

Can you tell me about your relationship with him?

LEWANDOWSKI: I've had a great relationship with him. He's helped us from the onset of having a better online presence, being aggressive in a good way. He understands a different component than I understand.

BASH: CNN is told Kushner will now be even more influential in trying to right the Trump campaign ship.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BASH: Corey Lewandowski was in charge of fundraising which is a new phenomenon for Donald Trump. He spent his own money on his primary campaign, but the general election could be $1 billion enterprise. And Trump is way behind his Democratic opponent. Look at those numbers. Hillary Clinton has $42 million in the bank, and new FEC reports show Donald Trump has only $1.3 million. AS for their super PACs, again, completely different ballgames there. Hillary Clinton has $52 million. Donald Trump, has $500,000 in his super PAC.

BALDWIN: OK, so he has said he will stay the course, let Trump be Trump. So he just said Dana, thank you very much.

But we have these new numbers for you this morning. This brand new CNN national poll puts Hillary Clinton five points over Donald Trump in a head to head, 47 to 42 percent. The margins get even tighter when you factor in those third party candidates. Let's go to Ohio, to our CNN senior political correspondent Brianna Keilar live there in Columbus a couple hours away from Hillary Clinton big speech on economy. How much of it will be Hillary on economy, how much of it will be no to Donald Trump?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: It seems like a lot of it is going to be no to Donald Trump and really taking aim at him. And you can see why, Brooke. In the polls, you mentioned Hillary Clinton leading overall. That does tighten to four points when you add the third party candidates in there.

But when you look at the economy number, when voters are asked who do you think will do a better job on the economy, they say Donald Trump 51 to 43 percent. So that is a margin that Hillary Clinton is trying to take aim at. This is the issue that voters say will matter most in November and the issue that the Clinton campaign certainly believes voters will be motivated by.

So what we're expected Hillary Clinton to do today, this is what we're hearing from her top aides, is to make the case that Donald Trump is unfit temperamentally to handle the economy and to take aim at some of his ventures, from Trump steaks to Trump vodka, to his casinos. This is something that we're seeing today in an n-line video that the campaign has posted along with a new website, ArtoftheSteal.biz, a take on Donald Trump's bestselling book, a negative take obviously.

But if any indication from what we heard a few weeks ago, where Hillary Clinton took on Donald Trump on foreign policy, it will be less about what her proposals are. We expect to hear obviously some broad things, and it is going be more about taking aim at Donald Trump. That speech a few weeks ago was almost like a roast, perhaps an indication of what we'll see today here in Ohio, Chris.

CUOMO: And also feeds into just the negativity of this campaign, Brianna. Everybody says they're going to come up with plans to make our lives better and yet all they're doing is throwing mud at one another.

Now, how do we see that manifest itself in a larger sense? Look at what's going on in Washington, D.C. The Senate remains gridlocked on gun control even in the wake of the Orlando terror attack. Now, whether or not you believe in a law as being able to address the problem, it would be nice if the politicians could do something. You have a deadlock on four different votes. There's a fifth one in the offing. What will happen to change anything in a positive way?

Let's discuss with White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest. Mr. Ernest, in your capacity in the White House, you cannot deal with a 2016 election, I understand that. But I just have a scheduling question. Do you know when we will see Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton out on the trail? Scheduling question.

JOSH EARNEST, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Chris, hopefully it will soon. We haven't been able to schedule it. This is something that was originally planned for last week, but obviously in the aftermath of the terrible terrorist attack in Orlando, the event has been rescheduled. But we don't have it on the books yet, but the president is quite enthusiastic about Secretary Clinton's campaign. You've heard him talk about her character and her service to the country and what a good president she would be. But there will be an opportunity for the two of them to get together and campaign together soon. I know the president is looking forward to it.

CUOMO: Let's check two boxes this morning about big ideas that matter and what actions are coming or not as a result. The first, guns. The president after every one of these, sometimes even emotionally, comes out and says it is about the gun. But Josh, time and time again, we've seen somebody doesn't agree, right, because despite all the polling data, there is nothing that gets through Congress to address guns.

[08:10:08] And I'm not saying that that's the right solution or not, but do you believe that there is any ability for the president to force any type of mandate for change?

EARNEST: Well, Chris, what we saw last night in the United States Senate was a shameful display of cowardice. And, look, I don't know what else to call it when you have Republicans who spend after the worst mass shooting in American history, running around and saying radical Islam to anybody who will listen. But when it comes time for them to actually do something, to prevent those violent extremist from getting their hands on eye gun, they don't do anything about it. They continue to protect a loophole that allows individuals who are suspected of having ties to terrorism to be able to walk into a gun store and buy a gun.

CUOMO: But you know what the other side says. They say why would you handcuff people who want to get guns legally so that all these bad guys and people who want to buy it on the black-market can keep getting their weapons and make victims of the rest of us.

EARNEST: Well, Chris, we believe that our law enforcement should be well-armed. We believe the military should be well-armed. We believe that law-abiding Americans should be able to use their constitutional rights to purchase a firearm. We don't believe that there is any bill that we're going to be able to pass into law that is going to prevent every act of gun violence. But why wouldn't we do more to keep guns out of the hands of people that we all agree shouldn't have them?

If we believe as we do as a country, if our government has determined that it is too dangerous for an individual with suspected ties to terrorism from boarding an airplane, why on earth would we make it possible for them to walk into a gun store and buy a gun? That doesn't make any sense. Why wouldn't we strengthen background checks? Why wouldn't we prevent people from being able to go on the Internet and purchase a gun without going through a background check? We're not suggesting that a law-abiding American citizens shouldn't be able to buy a gun? Why wouldn't we just make them go through a background check to make sure they are someone who is not mentally impaired or subject to a restraining order of some kind?

CUOMO: First of all, we both know there are lots of different facets to the current background checks. There is no proposal in the offing that would flag for someone for mental illness because you don't know how to find unless there is an adjudication of one or a felony conviction. We don't know how to do that and there's no proposal on the table to figure it out.

The FBI wanted something else, Josh. They say this guy in Orlando wasn't on a list, wasn't going to be on a list. They had investigated him, closed the case. They want discretion to be able to say, look, I know this guy's name. I know that he wants to up to no good, but I can't make a case about him. If he wants a gun, I want to be able to flag that. This is about the FBI's power. Nobody is really talking about it that way. It keeps getting caught up in the politics of gun laws.

EARNEST: Chris, here's the thing, the Feinstein amendment that was considered on the floor and was voted down by an overwhelming majority of Republicans would have actually given the FBI more information about individuals who had previously been subject to a terrorist investigation, who went into to try and buy a gun. It would give the FBI more information on that and give them the ability to act on it if they concluded that it was necessary.

But here's the thing, Chris. We're actually talking about a more egregious situation. I recognize there are complicated decisions to make about how do you handle individuals on investigations who have been the subject of an investigation that is now closed. I'm actually talking about a situation where there are active, open terrorism investigations, individuals who are law enforcement investigators have concluded might be associated with a terrorist plot.

CUOMO: Right.

EARNEST: Right now, according to loopholes that are protected by Republicans, those individuals can walk into a gun store and buy a gun without them being prevented from doing so. That doesn't make any sense. That's just common sense.

CUOMO: Feinstein put out the report that said that of those on the terror watch list, 91 percent are successful in getting weapons.

Now, what the other side pushes back on, last question here, Josh, is this. You want to deal with this problem in Orlando, you want to take it on, then call it what it is. The president's speech, while seen as effective on many different levels, didn't move the needle much on Islam, radical Islamic terror. People still feel he doesn't say it because he is afraid of dealing with this problem, that he lacks a fundamental toughness about calling it what it is. He didn't move the needle on that, Josh. People even look at Orlando and say, well, this is a reflection of that weakness as well. Fair?

EARNEST: No, Chris. It is outrageous, actually. The truth of the matter is the individuals who spend their time talking about radical Islamic terrorism are individuals like Republicans in the Senate who voted against legislation that would prevent those individuals from being able to buy a gun. And those are individuals who not actually put forward their own strategy for keeping the country safe.

Using the term "radical Islamic extremism" is not a counterterrorism policy. It is a political talking point plain and simple. And what the president of the United States has done has put forward a comprehensive strategy to squeeze the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria to inhibit their ability to recruit and radicalize people around the globe.

[08:15:05] He has aggressively supported proposals that will make it harder for individuals who are suspected of having ties to that extremist organization from being able to walk into a gun store to guy a gun. So, the president has actually demonstration -- the president has built a coalition of more than 65 nations to take the fight of ISIL. So, the president has implemented a strategy that has put increasing pressure on ISIL, and has made the country safer.

But he has not relied on a political talking point as a substitute for a counterterrorism strategy. Republicans in the Senate who like to talk have that luxury. But when you're the president of the United States, and you're focused on keeping the country safe, you don't have that luxury. What you do is you focus on a strategy that will put pressure on ISIL, that's going to make sure that we send a clear message to the Muslims in the United States, that we want their help and protecting their community from efforts -- from ISIL to radicalized vulnerable members of our population.

So, the president is focused on a strategy. You have Republicans in the Congress are focused on a talking point.

CUOMO: Josh Earnest, thank you for making the case this morning from the White House. Appreciate it.

EARNEST: No problem, Chris. Thank you for having me. It's good to see you, man.

CUOMO: Good to see you.

Brooke?

BALDWIN: All right. Orlando police defending tactics used during a three-hour standoff with the terrorists at the gay nightclub. The police chief there in Orlando saying officers fired at the terrorist, forcing him to then, you know, head into a bathroom, allowing police to rescue people from the Pulse nightclub, as the massacre was unfolding. Also, I can tell you that the FBI, Department of Justice, reversing

course near hours after they had initially redacted pieces of the 911 transcript, during that attack when the terrorist called 911. Officials were criticized for initially releasing redacted versions, trying to avoid ISIS propaganda.

CUOMO: The revolving door keeps moving at the Oakland Police Department. The city is now on its fourth police chief in less than two weeks. The mayor, tapping the city administrator this time, to oversee the department. Three chiefs resigned or were fired in a nine-day span. Why? Well, the department was rocked by allegations of sexual misconduct and racist texts and e-mails within the department.

BALDWIN: Triple digit heat causing trouble for fire crews battling more than a dozen wildfires there in California. Just in Los Angeles alone, apparently fires have already burned through 4,500 acres and chased more than seven hundred thousand people from their homes.

Massive plume of smoke visible from miles and miles towering above the L.A. skyline. We'll show you a picture here from -- there you go, Dodger Stadium. You see the plume of smoke there?

Fire officials warning folks who live in the area, get your go bags ready should winds redirect the smoke and flames, and force more evacuations.

CUOMO: Hot and dry makes fire fly. That's what they tell you, out there fighting those fires.

All right. So, very different story, politics. High stakes as well. The Trump campaign says, with Corey Lewandowski, the manager, out, we can have a fresh start.

How? We're going to ask team Trump, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[08:21:44] COREY LEWANDOWSKI, FIRED TRUMP CAMPAIGN MANAGER: I had a nice conversation with Mr. Trump and I said to him, it's been an honor and privilege to be part of this. And I mean that from the bottom of my heart.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Some pretty kind words on the way out the door, just less than a month ahead of the Republican national convention, Corey Lewandowski let go as Donald Trump's campaign manager.

Can his campaign shake up, reboot his bid?

Let me bring in Tana Goertz, senior adviser to Donald Trump.

Tana, good morning. TANA GOERTZ, SENIOR ADVISER TO DONALD TRUMP: Good morning. How are

you today?

BALDWIN: I am wonderful.

But this is about you, and let's get to it. So, Dana interviewed Corey about 30 minutes on live television. First question out of the gate, why were you fired? His response, "I don't know."

Can you shed some light on that this morning?

GOERTZ: Well, yes. The reality is the campaign was moving into another direction. This is -- they say that this is normal in political campaigns, and Paul and the team made a decision that Mr. Trump, going into the general election, would be going in another direction and that did not include Corey.

BALDWIN: All right, so maybe it's normal, but you know, again timing, three weeks before the convention. We'll talk about what is to come.

But on the why -- you know, our sources are telling us it was really about Trump's children and specifically his daughter, Ivanka Trump. There were reports Corey was going to plant some negative stories about Jared Kushner, her husband, because of the rising role he was playing in the campaign.

Dana asked Corey Lewandowski about that. This was his response.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEWANDOWSKI: Great asset to the campaign. I mean --

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Would you be surprised that you heard she was not thrilled with the job that you were doing?

LEWANDOWSKI: I don't think that's the case. I think Ivanka is somebody who understands her father and is a fantastic surrogate for this campaign. She brings a sense of calmness to the campaign. She has a way about her that she connects immediately, not just with women but business executives. She is so polished and so professional, it has been an honor to work with her for the last 18 months.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Tana, to you, what was Ivanka's role in the firing of Corey Lewandowski?

GOERTZ: I don't know what her role was in that capacity, because I haven't spoken to her about it. But Corey described her role perfectly. I've been her many times at these rallies, and she is so poised and professional, and just perfect for the role of a surrogate.

I've seen her with Corey, there has never been any problems looking in. So I do not have any knowledge as to that. Nor do I have any knowledge as to the fact that the speculation that Corey was going to start -- or put out a story about Jared, who once again was another excellent person in the Trump campaign.

So you know, in any business or corporation, there is always a conflict of interest and clashing of personalities.

I've worked very, very closely with Corey, since the day Mr. Trump came down the escalator. Corey has always respected my unique relationship with Mr. Trump. And for that, I'm very grateful.

But the campaign has decided they're moving in another direction and I have to respect that decision and I've also worked with Paul, and he is fantastic. I will never take anything away from Corey for getting us to the playoffs.

[08:25:03] But now, we need Paul to get us to win the Super Bowl.

BALDWIN: Before you get to the Super Bowl, though, you know, on Corey, you know, known for letting Trump be Trump, if not, you know, saying this is what you should say about Judge Curiel in California, and handling Trump University perhaps, maybe encouraging it or not saying no. You know, an adjective I'm hearing is aggressive.

Did you see all of that?

GOERTZ: Did I see Corey be aggressive with Mr. Trump? Is that the question?

BALDWIN: Be aggressive to staffers, encourage Mr. Trump, when it came to the Trump U story.

GOERTZ: I have never seen aggression out of Corey personally. I have seen -- I heard Corey say numerous times, let Trump be Trump.

It's -- Mr. Trump is the boss. Anybody -- I've heard Paul say that, just the same. Mr. Trump is our boss.

Mr. Trump does take guidance. I have seen that first hand. I have experienced that. He has taken guidance from me, he has taken guidance from Corey. He will take guidance from Paul.

So, Corey, like I said, he did a great job getting us to win the primaries. And I mean, I just -- I can't say enough about what he did for the campaign, but I do know what Paul will do for Mr. Trump going forward.

BALDWIN: Paul Manafort is who you're talking about. He was hired initially to handle delegates, and now presumably will take on an even larger role. As you pivot and you are correct to point out, and Corey was saying multiple times with Dana, I mean, lean and mean, and kudos to all of you for bringing out unprecedented Republicans in droves to vote for the primary season, but is this a different ball game looking ahead, and you know that very well, Tana.

But when you look at the numbers, when you compare now that we're looking ahead to November 8th, the Trump campaign, in terms of staff size, 69 people, compared to the Clinton camp, 685. And that's ten times, ten times larger, the Clinton campaign. In terms of money in the bank, Clinton, they have $42 million. Trump $1.3 million.

Lean and mean might have worked in the primaries, it will not moving ahead. How do you catch up?

GOERTZ: Well, I don't think we need to catch up, because we are winning our side.

BALDWIN: But this is a different ball game moving forward, Tana.

GOERTZ: Well, I understand that, but Mr. Trump is a billionaire. If money -- money is not a problem for our campaign. So, that's not even on my radar as that's a problem. Mr. Trump has a lean, mean -- we're a great machine.

BALDWIN: Every paper today indicates money is a problem. This is politics.

GOERTZ: Guess what, Mr. Trump is a billionaire. Money is not a problem.

I mean, yes, I'm sure all the papers are saying that. The papers need to say something about Mr. Trump. We are winning. He is going to be the -- he is the nominee in my mind.

BALDWIN: Look at the numbers today, 47 percent to 42 percent, he is down five percentage points to Hillary Clinton.

GOERTZ: That's nothing. Brooke, that's nothing. Just let us get through the convention.

Once America hears, he is the nominee and there won't be any funny stuff or there isn't a third party coming in, you just watch. Wait until you see those numbers go up.

I mean, he is almost at dead race in Pennsylvania, where we will win, and Ohio. This is nothing. I'm super excited about this. Money is not a problem for Donald Trump.

BALDWIN: Tana Goertz, we'll see you in Cleveland in three weeks, all right? Thank you very much. July 18th.

GOERTZ: Yes. Thank you, bye-bye.

BALDWIN: Bye.

A quick programming note here to all of you, Chris tomorrow night will be hosting the CNN libertarians town hall. Presidential nominee Gary Johnson, his running mate William Weld, joining him live 9:00 Eastern, only here on CNN.

Chris?

CUOMO: That will be a good one introducing the audience of these two men, third party becoming more and more viable with many voters.

So, let's take a little break. When we come back, Hillary Clinton has been beating up Donald Trump in fundraising, despite the fact we just heard from his campaign that money is not an issue. It is on paper. So, we're going talk to the man responsible for raising cash for Clinton. And get a preview for you on what her plan is for the economy today.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)