Return to Transcripts main page

New Day

Pence & Trump On Same Page Concerning Free Trade?; Giuliani: Proof Of Clinton Illness Is "Online"; More Than 60,000 Homes Damaged In Louisiana Flooding; Team USA Dominates In Olympic Medal Count In Rio; Maya Dirado On Life After The Olympics. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired August 22, 2016 - 07:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:31:40] JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: The Republican vice presidential nominee, Mike Pence, sat down with NEW DAY, Alisyn Camerota. They were at the Iowa State Fair together having hot beef sundaes.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: True that.

BERMAN: Here to discuss with us the interview, what was said, what was not said, CNN political commentator and host of CNN's "SMERCONISH", Michael Smerconish. Mike, great to have you with us this morning.

Alisyn asked Gov. Pence some stuff about trade deals. Now, Mike Pence has been a free trader since birth. I mean, NAFTA -- you're looking at TPP CAFTA. He has supported all of those trade deals. When Alisyn asked him do you support where you've been on trade or Donald Trump, who's anti-trade, he said no, no, no, I'm with Donald Trump now. Just a complete disavowal of all of his previous positions on trade deals. That was pretty interesting.

MICHAEL SMERCONISH, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I thought it was a very illuminating interview, generally. Alisyn asked all the right questions in a very probing manner, did it in a civil way, and I thought that he handled himself well.

And you're right, I made notes on that answer. He said Donald Trump is the one who's right and Alisyn said well, how can he be the one who's right? And he said well, you know, when Bill Clinton -- did you notice how he quickly stressed that it was Bill Clinton who signed that deal into law?

CAMEROTA: NAFTA.

SMERCONISH: When Bill Clinton signed it into law it was supposed to be revisited on an ongoing basis and he implied that it hadn't been. John, this is what it is to run for vice president. I mean, it's a -- it's a delicate balance of being loyal to the individual at the top of the ticket and, at the same time, trying to be your own man, and I think he's playing that role very well so far.

CAMEROTA: I mean, that is a tough one to thread -- needle to thread -- because he felt strongly about free trade, but now you heard him. The way that he's sort of getting through that is by saying well, everything can be better, you know. Everything can be revisited. You can ask questions about any trade deal and that's what we should be doing. Is that a good enough answer, Michael?

SMERCONISH: I think it's the only answer he has, Alisyn, because in the alternative if he were to say well, this is an area of disagreement with Donald Trump. It's one of the really two pillars, that and immigration, of the Trump campaign, so I don't think there's any way that he can go in that direction.

BERMAN: So up until this point it's almost, it seems, that Mike Pence is running a parallel campaign to the Trump campaign, just completely different. Trump would be free-willing it on the campaign on the stump and Mike Pence sticks to message.

Now, this campaign shakeup. Alisyn was asking Gov. Pence about the new leadership in the campaign, Steve Bannon, who ran brietbart.com up until now, which has some awfully caustic headlines, and Mike Pence looked at some of the right there. What did you make about what Gov. Pence had to say about the new campaign leadership?

SMERCONISH: So, Alisyn asked him about some of the more incendiary comments from Steve Bannon, that which he's known for, and what did he say? He very deftly pointed to the fact that Kellyanne Conway is the first female to play such a prominent role in a campaign of this size. Again, I thought a very effective answer.

Now, I was here on Friday and we commented on the fact that Steve Bannon is known for the incendiary comments and pugilistic style and, yet, on his watch it had thus been the more contrite Donald Trump. Can I report that it's now Monday and at least that Donald Trump lasted through the weekend, courting African-Americans, courting Hispanic voters? We can talk a little bit about that.

[07:35:00] So it's kind of interesting because we -- many of us thought that this was going to be a flame-throwing campaign and maybe it will be, but thus far it's not what we anticipated.

BERMAN: I will say that Donald Trump has been on Twitter this morning throwing slander and slurs at some people on Twitter, so go look for yourself. I think probably the new nice Donald Trump may be over, at least on Twitter.

I want to ask you about one of Donald Trump's supporters, a guy who I think may line up with where your politics has been, at least in the past, Michael. Rudy Giuliani, the former governor -- mayor of New York City here who was spreading trafficking innuendo about Hillary Clinton's health this week and there have been rumors that she's unhealthy. There have been videos posted and doctored online saying look at this, she has health issues. This is what Mayor Giuliani said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUDY GIULIANI, FORMER MAYOR, NEW YORK CITY: She has an entire media empire that constantly demonizes Donald Trump, fails to point out several signs of illness by her. What you've got to do is go online --all you have to do is go --

SHANNON BREAM, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: Her campaign and a number of people defending her saying there's nothing factual to the claims about her health and that's speculation --

GIULIANI: But go online --

BREAM: -- at best.

GIULIANI: So go online and put down Hillary Clinton illness and take a look at the videos for yourself.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Mayor Giuliani there, Michael, saying go online, find out for yourself, you can see this stuff.

SMERCONISH: I have tremendous respect for Mayor Giuliani's leadership on September 11th and in the immediate aftermath for New York City. I've had the pleasure of being in his company, talking about some of the ways in which he approached that job. I am profoundly disappointed to hear him say what he just said about going online.

And, John, here's what popped into my head. It was the day that my daughter came home from high school and raised with me "Loose Change". Don't know whether those words mean anything to you but it's this internet bunk about how 9/11 was an inside job. Does Rudy, of all people, want us going online and searching the Internet and drawing conclusions? Man, I hope not.

CAMEROTA: Michael, I mean, isn't this just illustrative of where we are with this race? There are times that it's a fact-free zone and that with the Internet -- you know, I mean, you know the old adage that you're entitled to your own opinion but not your own facts. With the Internet, you're entitled to your own facts because everybody can go on there and find whatever nugget they want to cling to, and that's what we've seen time and again with this entire campaign.

SMERCONISH: That's not necessarily a good thing, though, and I'm not going to embrace it. I think it's unhealthy for us as a society and an electorate to all play armchair physician and go on and make some diagnosis. You made reference earlier in the program to the AP reporter who said wait a minute, with regard to one of these snippets, I was there. That's just not the way that it went on.

Alisyn, somebody could take the video that you and I are creating right now, put it online later and, I'm sure, make me out to be a madman. I just don't want people drawing conclusions from that sort of thing.

BERMAN: It could never happen. I could never happen with you, Mike.

SMERCONISH: Yes, it could. It does, it does.

CAMEROTA: It can happen. It can and it does. Michael, thank you for all of those reminders. BERMAN: Some people are just too sane. All right, we want to know. You may have noticed we have no Hillary Clinton high-level surrogates here, no high-level staffers on the show. We've been asking for the last two weeks, but the last two weeks the Clinton campaign has not provided NEW DAY with any internal senior level campaign spokesperson to talk about the election. We'd love to have you, so come on the show.

CAMEROTA: Well, President Obama will visit the flood-ravaged Louisiana tomorrow. FEMA has approved $55 million in aid. As you know, Donald Trump and Mike Pence visited there last week. So is enough being done to help the people who have lost everything?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:42:15] CAMEROTA: People in Louisiana continue to clean up from the floods that have left 13 people dead and nearly 32,000 in shelters. More than $55 million has been approved to help the survivors there.

Let's bring in former Democratic senator from Louisiana, senior policy adviser for Van Ness Feldman, Mary Landrieu. Senator, thanks so much for being here.

MARY LANDRIEU, SR. POLICY ADVISER, VAN NESS FELDMAN, CLINTON SUPPORTER: Good morning.

CAMEROTA: What's the status in Louisiana today? What's happening with the people there, particularly those who have been displaced?

LANDRIEU: Well, it's terrible and devastating, and just heart- wrenching to watch so many people. I mean, the vastness of this flood is hard to really explain. And television, with all due respect to the coverage, just can't give it justice in that way.

It's a large swath of south Louisiana, not just Baton Rouge. It runs from Ascension and Livingston Parish, which is sort of between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, all the way over to the western part of the state. And it was just a one in a thousand-year rain event. I think up to 20 inches of rain in a short period of time -- over a third of the rainfall.

But, as you all know the geography of the nation well, even when it rains in Minnesota or Arkansas we get the water. So it's just an ongoing struggle and I think we need a lot more investment locally, statewide, and federal to prevent this kind of flooding in the future.

CAMEROTA: The pictures are just stunning and, you know, it has been described as the worst natural disaster since Hurricane Sandy. We all remember how Hurricane Sandy gripped the country. You saw all the politicians rushing there and being devastated. Why do you think this hasn't gotten as much attention?

LANDRIEU: Well, I think a couple of things. I think maybe, and this is just my perspective, the south tends to get a little bit less than maybe the coast, either California or New York. But that's, I think, just a general truth, I hope, not an exaggeration.

But also the Olympics was on. I think people were distracted. So I'm really glad that the networks are starting to give more attention. It's also maybe not a major city, like maybe New York or even New Orleans, who got a lot of attention in Katrina. And I think that happens quite a bit, whether it's a flood in the Midwest or a flood in the South. If you're not a major metropolitan area you kind of get left out and that's a shame because people really need the attention and help.

CAMEROTA: And --

LANDRIEU: Yes, so --

CAMEROTA: Well, Senator, what do you think of the fact that Donald Trump was the first politician to go? He and Mike Pence went before President Obama or Hillary Clinton.

LANDRIEU: Well actually, President Obama has been on top of this from day one -- I know that for a fact -- and did send down Secretary of Homeland Security, which is the appropriate person to go, and the FEMA director. That's who you want to see, is the FEMA director and Homeland Security on the ground.

[07:45:00] I said -- and thanked Donald Trump for coming -- anyone that comes should bring -- can bring attention. I hope he also brought a check. I understand he made a generous donation, at least that was reported, and again, the people thank him for that.

But President Obama will come when it is appropriate. I think he's coming tomorrow at the Governor's invitation because, you know, rescue was still going on over this weekend. I mean, the waters are still high --

CAMEROTA: Yes.

LANDRIEU: -- in some parts. And so, to organize a presidential visit during a rescue operation is really not smart.

CAMEROTA: But what about Hillary Clinton? I mean, do you think, as she has said -- I'll read to you what she posted on Facebook. "My heart breaks for Louisiana, and right now the relief effort can't afford any distractions. The very best --"

LANDRIEU: I think that's smart. Look --

CAMEROTA: She -- I mean, do you think that her visit would be a distraction?

LANDRIEU: Well, it would be if people are being rescued in boats, yes. And so you want to wait for an appropriate time to come and I think that she'll be down as soon as she can. But more than coming down to visit, which is important, believe me, to see it, it's also important to think about as a leader what can you do to improve the flood insurance situation, not just for Louisiana but for the nation? It's a little -- something I know a little bit about because I've fought against higher insurance rates, opportunities for more people to have flood insurance. So when lower income or moderate income or middle income families, like in this situation, lose everything there's somewhere to help them.

The FEMA budget just goes so far. There is money in the FEMA budget. FEMA is better organized than it was before, which is good. But it's going to take a combination of local, state, federal, and volunteers to help rebuild and attention from you guys.

CAMEROTA: Yes. Well, and speaking of the attention, the local paper, "The Advocate", has called for politicians and leaders to go there. I mean, they don't think that it would be a distraction. Let me read what their editorial board just put out.

They say, "Whatever one thinks of the controversial GOP presidential nominee, perhaps we can agree that he has often displayed an instinct for tapping into the anxieties of many Americans who feel dispossessed. It's time for leaders in both political parties to come here and find some common ground in the places that, just days ago, were underwater."

I mean, it sounds like they're calling for Hillary Clinton and President Obama to go there.

LANDRIEU: Well, I would generally say yes, that is correct, we want more people to come. And again, I thank Donald Trump for coming. But also, I think it's true the governor cautioned please don't come just for photo ops. If you're going to come, do something. And while Donald Trump left a check -- very grateful -- I think a lot of people would like to hear a little bit more from him about his views on flood insurance and how as president he might provide more help and support.

And this isn't just for us. You could ask people in Nashville, where I'm filming from this morning. They had a terrible flood here. Or in the Midwest or in Ellicott City in Maryland. I mean, people are, you know -- and also let me say that I hope that both Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and President Obama will talk about the underfunded budget of the Corps of Engineers.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

LANDRIEU: That's what people want to hear. How we can build our levees stronger. Hillary Clinton has talked about infrastructure. I hope Donald Trump will start talking about that. I haven't heard a word about infrastructure --

CAMEROTA: Yes.

LANDRIUE: -- from his campaign. That's what people want to hear about.

CAMEROTA: Former senator Mary Landrieu, thank you for the reminder that after the crisis there's still much work to be done. Thanks so much for being on NEW DAY. LANDRIEU: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: Let's get over to John.

BERMAN: All right, thanks, Alisyn. U.S. athletes now making their way home after a big run in Rio. A record number of medals. We have a special one here. An Olympian coming home with one of every medal and she brought them in for us to take home. Maya Dirado joins us next, live. She's now holding onto them extra tight.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:52:55] BERMAN: This morning, many members of the Team USA flying home, filled with pride about their time in Rio. The team combined to win 121 medals during the Games. Four of those, and I think the most important four, belong to U.S. swimmer Maya Dirado. She joins us right now. Thanks so much for coming in, we appreciate you being here.

MAYA DIRADO, OLYMPIC SWIMMING MEDALIST: Thanks for having me.

BERMAN: The question everyone has is when you fly back -- when you go the airport, do you check the medals or do you carry them on?

DIRADO: You carry them on. We're very careful about that. But going through security they were like what are those because they show up as these ominous black discs on the screen so we had to take them out and show all of them.

BERMAN: And you say they're my gold medals. Two golds, a bronze, and a silver, in case you're wondering -- to security, right?

DIRADO: Yes.

BERMAN: You won the 200-meter backstroke, right? This was not a race that you were supposed to win.

DIRADO: No.

BERMAN: Not a race that I think anyone thought you would win. What was the like, the moment you got to the end and you looked up at the board?

DIRADO: Unreal. (Video playing) I think you can see the surprise on my face but I think the first thought that went through my mind was no fricking way. I was just -- I had to look and look and I don't even remember fully comprehending it but just the surprise that -- it was overwhelming.

BERMAN: You had thought about quitting swimming. I mean, you didn't make the 2012 team and you kept on swimming in college and you thought maybe my time is up. To almost give it up and then to go on and win a gold --

DIRADO: Yes.

BERMAN: -- has to be overwhelming.

DIRADO: It was -- it was crazy and it led to a very special moment with my coach back after I won and everyone was crying and I just was like thank you so much. He convinced me to keep swimming and then thought I could do this. And it's just kind of been little by little getting me to that moment, so that was -- that was incredible.

BERMAN: In the swim -- you know, you guys, you won a few medals in swimming down there. What was it like to be part of this team which just seemed to rake them in?

DIRADO: It was so fun. Every night, whether you're swimming or not, or you're watching from the stands or in the team area, it was just like swim after swim was incredible. And so we were all kind of feeding off that energy and getting really excited. I would almost have to calm myself down before I swam because I was getting so hyped for my teammates and just watching everyone dominate.

[07:55:00] BERMAN: You're done. How do you know you're done? How do you know after you win four medals it's time for me to hang it up because I'd be like, you know, maybe I can win some more.

DIRADO: Maybe I could but it's four years from now and that's a really long time and I'm ready for the challenge of different hard work, you know? I think the challenge of swimming is good but I feel like I've gone out the way I want to go out and now it's time for something new.

BERMAN: You're going into management consulting, you're going to McKinsey. You're going to go be an analyst there. It's a little bit of a different kind of hard work, right?

DIRADO: For sure. I think people are like -- I'm like now you get to coast in your real world. And I was like this is going to be way harder. I don't get naps during the day. It's going to be a little bit tougher but I think I'm ready for the adjustment.

BERMAN: Do they have medals in McKinsey?

DIRADO: (Laughing).

BERMAN: Interesting. It's something for them to think about.

DIRADO: Yes.

BERMAN: Obviously, you know, the swim team, great accolades, great success. There was also a little bit of controversy, as well, over what happened with Ryan Lochte there. Was that tough for you to see? When you want it to be all good -- you want it to be all sunshine, roses, and unicorns and about the success of the team but the focus gets pulled to Ryan Lochte and, frankly, his dishonesty.

DIRADO: Yes, it was really unfortunate after coming off the week that we had as a team in USA swimming. You know, we just destroyed. It was one of our best Olympics ever. So then, for the focus to be on that this past week, and especially as other athletes are competing. You know, you have Ashton Eaton winning the decathlon for the second

time in a row and that kind of gets overshadowed by what happened, so we're bummed about that. And we had a great time in Rio and Rio was an amazing host and so we're disappointed that the focus wasn't on that and what a great Games they put on.

BERMAN: Do you feel left out?

DIRADO: A little bit. I think the team -- the team is better than that and for that to be what people remember it as is really unfortunate. So we want people to remember the first week and how amazing USA swimming did.

BERMAN: You went back to your high school after the Olympics. You went back on Monday and you've been back for nearly a week now and you went back to your high school in the interim here. What was that like? What lesson do you want to give to those kids at that high school?

DIRADO: It was insane. I walked in and all 1,600 people were there in an assembly. (Video playing) Oh my gosh, you have the footage. Yes, it was -- it was nuts. I wasn't -- I think I want to convey to them that it's cool to work hard and to be really passionate about something. And that doesn't make you the coolest kid in high school, necessarily, but it pays off down the road. So I just hope that they can get something that they love and that they like to work hard at and I think that will take them far.

BERMAN: Did you pull a muscle in your face smiling there? I don't think I've ever seen a bigger smile.

DIRADO: I didn't really know what to do at that point. It was either cry or smile so I just tried to keep it together.

BERMAN: All right, Maya Dirado, thanks so much for coming in and congratulations. Like, what an accomplishment -- unbelievable.

DIRADO: Thank you so much.

BERMAN: All right, we're following a lot of news this morning, including an interview with Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence, so let's get right to it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We're going to build a wall. Don't worry, we're going to build a wall.

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Will that plan include a deportation force?

KELLYANNE CONWAY, TRUMP CAMPAIGN MANAGER: To be determined.

GOV. MIKE PENCE (R), VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: The man that is running this campaign is now and always has been Donald Trump.

TRUMP: African-American communities have suffered. What do you have to lose?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The foundation is in the process of figuring out how to refocus.

TRUMP: It's called pay for play.

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There is no new Donald Trump. This is it.

TRUMP: She doesn't have the strength or the stamina, coupled with all of the other problems.

SIMONE BILES, OLYMPIC GYMNAST: It has honestly been a dream come true and I don't know how I've been so lucky.

SCOTT BLACKMUN, CEO, U.S. OLYMPIC COMMITTEE: This was a fantastic Games.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you see gold medal after gold medal that just uplifts you?

BLACKMUN: The incident with the swimmers doesn't define these Games. These Games, for us, are going to be defined by the great performances of our athletes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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

CAMEROTA: Still a lot to talk about with the Olympics. What a great guest you just had. That was a great interview.

BERMAN: She has two gold medals around her neck the whole time so what am I supposed to do? You know, it's crazy.

CAMEROTA: I don't know but I felt those. They're much heavier than you'd think. Those are impressive. Good morning, everyone, welcome to your NEW DAY. It's Monday, August 22nd, 8:00 in the East. Chris is off and John Berman is here. Great to have you.

BERMAN: Good to be here.

CAMEROTA: Donald Trump appears to be changing his tune about a deportation force to round up 11 million undocumented immigrants. Trump's new campaign manager announcing that plan is now "to be determined".

BERMAN: So is this a completely reversal on one of his signature positions and what does this mean for the wall along the border? Could that be off the table, as well? We have this covered from every angle, starting with CNN's Sunlen Serfaty in Washington. Good morning, Sunlen.

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, John. Well, this would potentially be a big reversal for Donald Trump. His hardline stance on immigration, of course, is one of the defining core issues of his campaign. Trump is now preparing to make a major policy address this week on immigration and there are some indications his positions could be changing.