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New Day

Donald Trump Walks Back Iran Video Claim; Plane Crash Survivors Describe Chaos Onboard Emirates Flight in Dubai; Olympic Opening Ceremonies Kick Off Tonight. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired August 05, 2016 - 07:30   ET

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

[07:31:00] POPPY HARLOW, CNN HOST: Welcome back. Donald Trump walking back a claim he repeatedly made on the campaign trail this week. He said, and you heard it multiple times, that he saw a video of Iranian officials unloading cash off a plane in exchange for U.S. prisoners.

Just this morning, Trump tweeting this. "The plane I saw on television was the hostage plane in Geneva, Switzerland, not the plane carrying $400 million in cash going to Iran!"

Is this a significant shift? Here to discuss are CNN political commentators, Kayleigh McEnany, Bill Press, and Ana Navarro joins us from Miami. Good morning, all.

Kayleigh, I have to begin with you because John and I were speaking this morning about wow, is this the first time that he's really said without saying I was wrong, I was wrong?

KAYLEIGH MCENANY, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR, TRUMP SUPPORTER: Well, he -- twice before he said, you know, he shouldn't done the Heidi Cruz retweet. He said if John McCain misunderstood his comments about his service then he would take it back, so those were not statements of fact, as you point out.

HARLOW: And this is a statement of fact. The video that did not exist but he said it existed, in Maine yesterday, hours after his own campaign came out and said no, he's referring to B-roll video of the hostages getting off the plane in Geneva. What do you think happened overnight that caused this tweet this morning?

MCENANY: I think he realized he made a mistake and it became very clear to him. His campaign came to him and he put it out this morning that it was a mistake. And hey, I'm still waiting on Hillary Clinton to tweet out that it was a mistake that twice she said the FBI director confirmed her statements when he, in fact, did not. So I'm glad he tweeted that it was a mistake. I'm still waiting for the Hillary Clinton - -

JOHN BERMAN, CNN HOST: We are going to talk about that in just a minute. Ana Navarro, I just want to take a walk down memory lane way, way back to yesterday when Donald Trump was explaining in great detail a video of this cash exchange that he saw. Let's watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: You saw that with the airplane coming in, nice plane -- and the airplane coming in and the money coming off, I guess, right? That was given to us, has to be, by the Iranians. And you know why the tape was given to us? Because they want to embarrass our country. They want to embarrass our country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: All right, there was no tape of the cash exchange and the video was not given to us but Donald Trump is admitting that today after describing it like yesterday, Ana. Will this tweet today -- is this the type of thing that will help some of his numbers, particularly honest and trustworthiness -- which we always talk about are not good for Hillary Clinton, and they're not, they're awful. But Donald Trump's numbers, especially in this latest "FOX NEWS" poll -- they're really just as bad on that issue of honest and trustworthiness. Is that going to correct it, Ana?

ANA NAVARRO, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Look, I think it's a tweet short and day too late. Look, the fact that he makes stuff up is nothing new. The only breaking news here is that he's actually admitting that he made stuff up. That's the only newsworthiness to it.

We've seen him do this with the video of the thousands of Muslims dancing in the streets in New Jersey. He's been doing this all along, and all along he doubles down. He never admits that he made it up, that he made a mistake, that he might have been, you know -- I mean, you can see -- seriously, can't you understand how any normal human being could confuse a person for a wad of cash being taken off a plane? I mean, certainly you can see the normalcy in that, right?

Look, I just think it's too late. And I think what you saw this week is that Republicans are in distress, are in angst because they're seeing his numbers plummet and they're realizing that there is going to be no pivot. That Donald Trump is going to continue being the Donald Trump we've seen consistently for the last 15 months, for which I give him credit by the way, because it's a lot better than waking up January 21st and realizing you've elected this man who's totally different as president.

HARLOW: So, this gets to the temperament issue, right? And let's pull up the polling -- just new polling out from last night from "FOX" showing the temperament issue. When you look at Clinton and when you look at Trump, they say that Trump only 37 percent that he has the temperament to be president.

Bill, how significant is it that Trump has come out and done this this morning? It appears like he's finally listening to his advisers who, I assume, last night got in a room with him and said there is no video, you have to walk this back. In the context of these national polls, one of which shows a 15-point gap in which Clinton leads, he's listening to them. BILL PRESS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: HOST, "THE BILL PRESS SHOW", AUTHOR, "BUYER'S REMORSE: HOW OBAMA LET PROGRESSIVES DOWN", BERNIE SANDERS SUPPORTER: You know, I must say I laughed out loud this morning when I heard this question asked, is this significant change? I mean, think of what we're talking about.

We're talking about that Donald Trump has admitted that the lied about a video that never existed. And the fact that a year after his campaign began this is the first time that Donald Trump has ever admitted that one of his wild -- one of his cascade of wild statements was wrong hardly signifies that this guy has had a heart change operation or a brain operation that he's changed at all.I think he just realized that this one maybe went too far.

[07:35:00] What I really find interesting is that this is a disastrous week that he has had, right, at the end of this week, of many, many mistakes - many bonker movements, if you will -- and this is the only one that he's tried to correct at all, still leaving out there all the stuff about throwing the kid out of the -- out of the rally, about the fire marshals, about Paul Ryan and John McCain.

There's no clean-up man who can clean up enough of this mess. And every time that -- I find now that we're talking about this campaign, I find like I am this morning. I love you both but it's me with two Republicans, one who is for Trump and the other one who is critical of Trump. I mean, he can't even unite his own party.

BERMAN: So, generally speaking, the Republican Party is united or has been in the past, against Hillary Clinton. She's trying to gather Republicans right now. They're making a big effort, including in ads and leaks to newspapers this morning trying to make it seem like it's a giant Republican groundswell for her.

The Clinton campaign -- Hillary Clinton, herself, continues to use language to describe the emails and what the FBI director said about those emails. It is drawing a lot of criticism right now. If we can throw up the language she used in an affiliate interview on the screen. I don't have it in front of me, I'll read it off the screen if you put it up. She said this in an interview just this week. "As the FBI said, everything that I've said publicly has been consistent and truthful with what I've told them."

Again, I just want to play for you what the FBI said -- what the FBI director James Comey said in testimony. He did, absolutely, say she was truthful to the FBI but he said only that, and then he also said this -- listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TREY GOWDY (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: Secretary Clinton said there was nothing marked classified on her emails, either sent or received. What was true?

JAMES COMEY, DIRECTOR, FBI: That's not true.

GOWDY: Secretary Clinton said I did not email any classified material to anyone on my email. There is no classified material. Was that true?

COMEY: There was classified material emailed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: So even after "The Washington Post" gave her four Pinocchio's for suggesting that FBI Dir. James Comey said that what she told the American people was true, she goes and says it again, Bill.

PRESS: I'd have to say, and I've said it many times, that first of all, setting up the whole email server was a big mistake on her part in the first place. And the way she has handled it and the campaign has handled it has been very amateurish and very unprofessional, and sometimes not always true. But again, you've got a Donald Trump who is incapable of taking advantage of an issue like that.

HARLOW: But, but, but let me --

PRESS: If I can just finish that -- and even the Iran nuclear deal. And look at the economy, the last statement on the economy. Those are the things he ought to be talking about. Instead, he goes after the Gold Star family and then we talk about that for a week.

HARLOW: So people are going after Donald Trump for doubling down on a video that wasn't there, fairly so. But Hillary Clinton is also doubling down on statements that she knows are, at best, as "The Washington Post" called it, cherry picking, and at some point the question becomes is that insulting to the intelligence of the American people.

PRESS: What I'm saying is it's a legitimate issue but the Republicans have nominated a candidate --

HARLOW: But why is it different?

PRESS: -- in the campaign -- well -- but that's my point because you have a candidate and a campaign that are incapable of taking advantage of the opportunities they have and the weaknesses in Hillary Clinton. It's all about Donald Trump and the outrageous statements that he makes day after day after day.

BERMAN: Kayleigh, you actually agree with Bill Press on this. You'd like to see Donald Trump pushing more of what he's saying he should be pushing.

MCENANY: Yes, and I think this tweet this morning, as you point out, is really kind of a first and I hope it continues because I think Newt Gingrich really might have gotten through to him. When you have your staunchest ally coming out and saying that he wants a reset, things need to change if he wants to win the election, I think that that might have been a wakeup moment. And I hope so because this election is primed for Donald Trump to take the White House on the economy, on foreign policy, but sticking to the issues is key.

BERMAN: Kayleigh McEnany hoping one tweet can change the world. Kayleigh, Bill, Ana, thanks so much. HARLOW: Anything can happen on a Friday morning. Thank you all very much. Now this, in the span of three minutes they held their breath as their flight skidded down the runway in Dubai. They ran for safety moments before their plane burst into flames. You will hear from two Americans onboard. They share their story and the video they shot during the chaos.

[07:39:20] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:42:40] BERMAN: We're now hearing personal detailed stories from people who narrowly escaped this plane crash. (Video playing) A huge fire, chaotic evacuation of the Emirates airlines flight at Dubai International Airport as passengers only had minutes to rush off the plane before there was a big explosion. Miraculously, all 282 passengers and 18 crew members survived a near disaster. A firefighter who did rush to the scene was killed.

Siblings Jerin and Riya George, they were on the plane along with their mother and father and they join us right now. Thanks so much for being with us, guys, I really appreciate it. You know, when did you know something was wrong?

RIYA GEORGE, SURVIVOR OF EMIRATES FLIGHT EK521: Well, when I first saw smoke I felt like -- I just took my phone and started recording and when we landed it was really rough and I knew there was something wrong. And after I saw the smoke coming out, everyone rushed.

They took their baggage and stuff and everyone's praying and we didn't see the fire outside of the engine yet. Then when we landed -- when we slid down the inflatables everyone was -- it was really bad. That's when we saw the fire.

BERMAN: Did you see the smoke, Jerin, before the pilot or someone got on and said hey, something's going on here? How did they inform you that there was an issue?

JERIN GEORGE, SURVIVOR OF EMIRATES FLIGHT EK521: So, first things first. It was just a usually normal flight. The passengers were not given any special instruction. You know, sometimes there are unusual instructions that are given to the passengers while landing, but this time there is no special instructions given. It was just a normal landing.

But, however, when the plane first tried to land it was very hard and a rough landing and the plane actually went -- tried to land a second time. And then it was this very big noise and the plane actually came to a stop within a couple of seconds.

Me and my family were sitting in the rear row of the seats and when we looked out of the window we say the smoke. But we didn't know, really, what happened outside the aircraft, so we actually saw the smoke coming from the front seats and eventually from the left and right side of cabin.

BERMAN: What was going through your heads as all this is happening? [07:45:00] J. GEORGE: It was a scary moment but I had to -- I had to be brave and courageous for me and my family. So I thought, you know, that was it when I saw the smoke but the cabin crew gave us instructions.

BERMAN: What did they say?

J. GEORGE: The first attempt of the landing the cabin crew told us stay calm, stay in your seats, don't get up or anything. However, you know, when the plane landed the second time the smoke starting coming in and everybody panicked. And then the cabin crew told us get out of your seats, exit right away. So we tried to -- as you can see in the video how I tried to gather my belongings but there was a huge rush behind me so I had to leave my baggage behind on the seat and just jump for my life.

BERMAN: Well, leaving your bags is actually what they tell you you're supposed to do. You're supposed to just leave your stuff and get the heck off as soon as you possibly can. Riya, what was the most harrowing moment for you? Was it the lack of knowledge of what was going on when you saw the smoke or was it the chaos when people finally started trying to get off?

R. GEORGE: The chaos. There was a lot of pushing and stuff and everyone was just trying to get their baggage. They just wanted to get out of the plane. They didn't know there was a fire. I feel like if some people knew there was a fire they would just leave their baggage and just run off.

BERMAN: So, we've seen this video from outside of the huge fireball. I guess it was the wing or something exploding after. Where were you when that happened?

R. GEORGE: We were actually in the car when my brother and my dad, they were outside and me and my mom were in the car. We were watching the whole thing but it exploded after like two minutes after we got out of the plane. It exploded -- the middle part exploded.

BERMAN: And you saw the explosion? What did you think when you saw this giant fire?

R. GEORGE: It was crazy. If we were there for a like a little bit more time we would have been -- if we were in the plane it would have exploded.

BERMAN: And you saw the explosion also?

J. GEORGE: Yes, I was outside at the other -- and me and my dad saw that right in front of our eyes. It was just a huge explosion right in the middle of the plane. It was just metal and the fire just going up in the sky and falling on the ground. It was just a very terrifying moment.

BERMAN: Because you knew that had it been five minutes earlier --

R. GEORGE: Yes. J. GEORGE: It was just a matter of seconds, to be honest. It was a very close call.

BERMAN: You going to fly anytime again soon?

J. GEORGE: Not anytime soon.

BERMAN: Take a break, ride a bike, drive a car, take a train for a while? How about you, Riya?

R. GEORGE: I'm OK with it, I don't care.

BERMAN: You've already had the worst experience you could have.

R. GEORGE: Yes.

BERMAN: Hopefully, it will be better from this, you know. Riya and Jerin George, thanks so much for being with us, I really appreciate it. Glad you made it out OK.

R. GEORGE: Yes.

J. GEORGE: Thank you, thank you so much.

BERMAN: Poppy --

HARLOW: Wow, all right. Well, the wait -- the wait is almost over. In hours, the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics kicks off. Some of the biggest stars are flipping out, excuse the pun, but literally flipping out. Up next, we're going to talk to Gold medalist Shawn Johnson as the U.S. gymnastics team wants to repeat its golden performance in Rio.

[07:48:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:51:50] HARLOW: The opening ceremony for the Rio Summer Olympics just hours away. It all happens tonight. Athletes from 206 nations will compete in dozens and dozens of sports. Five of those athletes are some pretty amazing women. The women's gymnastics team for USA looking to defend America's title as the reigning all-around champions.

Joining us live, someone who's a big part of that legacy, 2008 gold and silver medalist gymnast, Shawn Johnson. I am -- I'm like starstruck talking to you, my friend, because I used to be a gymnast back in the day. Nowhere near your level at all, but idolized you and everything you guys have done.

So, first of all, it must be amazing for you to be there. Thank you for being with us. Why don't you take us into the mind of this women's team because the expectation is so high for them. What are they going through right now?

SHAWN JOHNSON, FORMER OLYMPIC GYMNAST: The expectation is so high. I feel like every single person in the world is expecting nothing but every gold should be taken by the USA team and I would have to agree with them. I feel like we have probably the strongest team our country has ever seen.

HARLOW: Wow.

JOHNSON: I think the ability and the capabilities of these girls is untouchable and if they have a good night, not even a great night, we should walk away with most of the gold medals here.

HARLOW: Wow. So we know of the Magnificent Seven and we know of the Fierce Five. If you had to give a name to this women's gymnastics team this go-around, what would it be?

JOHNSON: I have no idea. The Gold Five? I don't know.

HARLOW: The Gold Five.

JOHNSON: That's really a bad name. It needs to be a lot better than that.

HARLOW: It's pretty good. Well, we'll let you keep thinking. You can come back to that at the end. Simone Biles getting a ton of attention for the accomplishments she has already made on the world stage in gymnastics. But as you look at her, she is favored to win multiple gold medals this year. There was this cute moment at the P&G Championship where she sent a wink your way. I think we can also pull that up. But tell us about her and he incredible story and what you think it is that's made her so successful.

JOHNSON: Simone Biles is just pure talent. I mean, I feel like when you look at gymnastics as a sport we always have these girls that are incredibly talented but it comes more from work than just pure talent, and Simone is just pure talent. We've never seen a girl throw her difficulty, her execution, her grace.

And I think the thing that makes her and separates her from everyone else is she just loves it. She's just a little kid out there playing around and you can tell it's easy for her, which is kind of comical because she throws the hardest skills in the sport, even comparing to men, so it's impressive. If she just goes out and has fun she should do the same thing here.

HARLOW: At such a young age now, you -- 24, I think -- I mean, correct me if I'm wrong.

JOHNSON: I'm 24.

HARLOW: You are a gold medalist, a silver medalist. You're now a correspondent down there covering this, you've got a best-selling book, you won "DANCING WITH THE STARS". As you look back at your time getting the gold what's the advice you would give these girls? A lot of people say I wish I would have enjoyed the ride more.

[07:55:00] JOHNSON: I tend to say the same thing but when I look back on itI feel like had I enjoyed it more I would have been more distracted and not as focused, and probably not a successful. So I feel like for these girls being so young, like every gymnast is -- I feel like just stay focused, enjoy it, have fun, but do what you do best and just be your 16-year-old self. So I think all the fun stuff and all the excitement comes after.

HARLOW: This team has two 2012 gold medalists on it, Aly Raisman and also Gabby Douglas. What's the biggest advantage for this team heading into the games?

JOHNSON: I feel like the biggest advantage, especially with those two girls, is that they just have experience under the belts. They have someone kind of coaching them through and guiding them through all of the kind of chaos and telling them what to do and what not to do.

HARLOW: All right, so I do want to ask you this, as well, since we have your perspective on this morning. There is a report out this weekend in "The Indianapolis Star" saying that USA Gymnastics, the entity, basically did not do enough to follow up on allegations of sexual abuse by coaches. And I want to read you the statement from USA Gymnastics in full here responding to this "Indianapolis Star" report.

They wrote, "USA Gymnastics has, in the strongest terms, encouraged anyone who believes abuse has occurred to contact law enforcement and frequently works with law enforcement community on these matters. USA Gymnastics provided The Indianapolis Star with substantial information on its policies and procedures to demonstrate the organization's commitment to the safety of its athletes within the scope of its jurisdiction and governing structure. We feel the Star left out significant facts that would have painted a more accurate picture of our efforts."

As a veteran of the sport reading this report this week, Shawn, did it concern you and what are your thoughts?

JOHNSON: I mean, personally, I have no experience. I don't know enough in this area to be able to speak on it. I know it is heartbreaking for it to come out and all the allegations around it. I know USAG is doing the best that they can and right now it's just trying to focus on the athletes. But I truly have no experience or knowledge of any of it.

HARLOW: So it sounds like you were very surprised to read this report, even given your lengthy experience with USA Gymnastics, but this report came as a shock to you.

JOHNSON: It came as an incredible shock. I mean, I had nothing but great experiences in my career and I feel like I have so many teammates and friends who would say the same. So it is unfortunate but, again, no personal experience.

HARLOW: Let's talk about tonight. You get to be there as a spectator --way less pressure. You get to enjoy it and you're reporting on it. What are you looking forward to most tonight as the opening ceremony gets underway?