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New Day Sunday
G7 Summit Wrapping Up With Talks On Open Societies, Climate Crisis; President Biden Set Ti Meet With Queen Elizabeth Today; New Book Suggest Birx Hoped Trump Would Lose Presidential Election. Aired 6a-7a ET
Aired June 13, 2021 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[06:00:26]
AMARA WALKER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone. And welcome to your NEW DAY. I'm Amara Walker in for Christi Paul.
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Boris Sanchez.
We're tracking a violent weekend that has left at least eight people dead and more than half a dozen mass shootings across the country. We're learning that some of the victims are kids.
WALKER: New details in the case of that Delta flight forced to make an emergency landing because of an unruly passenger, and it turns out that passenger works for the airline.
SANCHEZ: Plus, we're following a developing story out of China where a massive explosion has left several dead and virtually leveled part of a city block.
WALKER: And all of the queen's presidents ahead of the Bidens' meeting with the queen, we take a look back at the nearly 70-year history between Queen Elizabeth II and America's first families.
SANCHEZ: Thank you so much for waking up with us bright and early this Sunday, June 13th. We're thrilled to have you. Amara, good morning as always. How are you doing?
WALKER: I'm awake and my coffee is working. How about you, Boris?
SANCHEZ: That's what matters most. I've got some apple juice and we're ready to go.
WALKER: Apple juice?
SANCHEZ: Sadly -- yes, you know --
WALKER: No coffee?
SANCHEZ: No, I'm not a coffee guy.
WALKER: Got it. SANCHEZ: But apple juice will do. Sadly we start this morning with another weekend of senseless gun violence across the United States. At least eight people have died in mass shootings since Friday night.
And for some context, CNN defines a mass shooting as an incident in which at least four people -- at least four have been shot. Since Friday, as you see on this map, the violence spreading across six states from Georgia to Washington State, leaving nearly 50 people injured.
WALKER: And two of the youngest victims are in Cincinnati. That is where police say two children ages eight and six are in critical condition after someone began shooting outside a convenience store. A neighbor says children frequently go to that store.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They go in that direction and go get some snacks. They take that walk all the time, all the time.
Where going to go? I'm going to the store. (INAUDIBLE) going to the store. All right. Be careful crossing the street. Be careful, period.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALKER: An 18 and 19-year-old were also shot but have non-life- threatening injuries. At least two suspects were spotted leaving the scene.
SANCHEZ: Meantime, police in Austin, Texas, have arrested one suspect in a mass shooting that wounded at least 14 people. And Austin's mayor says the police are close to identifying a second suspect.
WALKER: CNN's Ed Lavandera has more.
ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Boris and Amara, this is Sixth Street in downtown Austin, the iconic entertainment district, and this is where the shooting erupted in the early morning hours of Saturday. According to Austin police, there was an altercation between two suspects. That's when the gunfire erupted. Fourteen different people wounded.
Austin police say they don't believe that any of those victims were specifically targeted, that this erupted as an altercation between two different people, but the exact details of how many people fired gunshots and who was responsible for all that is still not clear at this point. We are told that investigators are going through the area trying to find surveillance camera footage from the entertainment area here from various bars and musical venues, trying the track down as much information and video evidence that they can compile to lead them to the suspects.
We are told that one of the suspects has been identified and arrested. The mayor of Austin says that Austin police are close in zeroing in on the second suspect, but the exact cause of all of this is still not clear. What we do know, 14 people wounded. No one was killed, but this is just the latest mass shooting in a series of shootings that we've seen across the country in the United States. Boris and Amara.
WALKER: Ed Lavandera, thank you. In the meantime the city of Orlando last night remembered the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting.
SANCHEZ: Yes, it was an incident that shook the nation. On June 12th 2016, a gunman opened fire in a nightclub killing 49 people. And now five years later President Biden says he will sign a bill making the site a national memorial. For the survivors and victims' families though it is not enough. They want America to break the cycle of gun violence.
[06:05:01]
Here's Natasha Chen with more.
NATASHA CHEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Amara and Boris, five years later, those 49 people have not been forgotten. Their names, their faces, their stories are all across this wall, this interim memorial, now hosted by the One Pulse Foundation. They held a memorial event Saturday night featuring speakers like the Orlando mayor, the Orange County mayor, the deputy chief of police, and the owner of the Pulse nightclub, who told us that she has seen how gun violence has really not improved over the past five years. She feels that people are not bridging their differences and somehow resorting to gun violence to solve their problems.
There were survivors. There were family members of victims who attended the memorial. Here's a bit of what they saw on the stage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So let me just say to this entire community where I was born and raised, let me just say to all of you, thank you for not letting hate win. Thank you for letting love win in this community.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mercedez Marisol Flores, Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega,
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHEN: And now underneath this Pulse sign there are panels where people can write messages. Here it says you will be loved always, and tell the people you love that you love them every single day. So a lot of heartbreaking messages here, showing just how much of an impact this made not just on the Orlando community, the LGBTQ community, but really the country as a whole. Amara and Boris, back to you.
SANCHEZ: Natasha Chen, thanks for that. Let's pivot now to the G7 summit in England. It's wrapping up today, and President Biden is being hailed by fellow leaders as part of the club, a president that is wanting to collaborate as he tries to get the United States and allies back on the same page.
WALKER: The gathering of the world's richest democracies is closing with discussions on open societies, and this hour climate change. In a few hours, President Biden will hold a press conference before heading to Windsor Castle for an audience with Queen Elizabeth. Biden will be the 12th sitting president, U.S. president I should say, to meet with the queen during her reign.
He will travel to Belgium later today for summits with NATO and the European Union in Brussels, setting the stage for a one-on-one meeting with Russia's Vladimir Putin in Geneva, Wednesday.
CNN's Arlette Saenz is in Falmouth, England, covering the final day of the G7 summit. And, Arlette, so as we learned yesterday, China turned out to be quite a contentious issue for the leaders so far. What are we learning about the progress being made on those discussions and whether or not China will be mentioned in the final G7 communique?
ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Amara, President Biden's mission here at the G7 summit was really to show a united front with America's allies. And while there were areas of agreement such as the COVID-19 pandemic and needing to fight that worldwide, there were also some very stark differences, particularly on the issue of confronting China.
President Biden really urging European leaders to take a more forceful stance against China's authoritarian practices, specifically honing in on their forced labor practices. One big question heading in today is whether that communique, the overall statement from the G7 summit, will include any reference to China. But this is something that the Biden administration has really taken to heart and tried to push their allies to try to be more confrontational in calling out China.
Now, the G7 summit continues on this morning. President Biden actually kicked off the day by attending mass. We saw him and First Lady Jill Biden entering a Catholic church. President Biden is not one to miss mass on Sundays no matter where he is traveling. And now he is currently at the G7 summit having more meetings with world leaders.
They are focusing on open societies and climate this morning. And then later today President Biden will travel to Windsor Castle as he meets with Queen Elizabeth. He is the 12th sitting president that she has met during her reign. And it will be quite a private and special meeting for President Biden and the first lady as they sit down with Queen Elizabeth.
He then jets off to Brussels to attend those NATO and E.U. summits where he is once again hoping to shore up those relationships with allies. But so far at this summit, he appears to have been welcomed with open arms by these G7 leaders after fractured relationships that the United States had with many of its allies under the Trump administration.
[06:10:02]
Take a listen and watch this moment from a meeting President Biden had with French President Macron yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON, FRANCE: I think it's great to have a U.S. president part of the club and very willing to call for aid.
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The United States have said before we're back. The U.S. is back. We feel very, very strongly about the cohesion of NATO, and I for one think that the European Union is an incredibly strong and vibrant entity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAENZ: So, President Biden there hoping his message that America is back will sit with allies and that he can also head into that high stakes summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in just a few days with the united front with the United States' allies. Now, in just a short few hours President Biden will also be holding a press conference, his first -- during his first overseas trip as president. So he will get peppered on how he thought that trip has gone, how some of those conversations relating to China went, and also how he is viewing these final days as he heads into that meeting with Russia's president on Wednesday.
SANCHEZ: We know you'll be watching it for us. Arlette Saenz reporting from England. Thanks so much.
A lot of important conversations about the G7, about that foreign trip, and a lot of things going on at home, infrastructure, et cetera. Later today on "STATE OF THE UNION" Jake Tapper and Dana Bash are going to be joined by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Don't miss it, "STATE OF THE UNION" today at 9:00 Eastern right here on CNN.
WALKER: All right. Still to come, we are following a developing story out of China. At least 12 people are dead after a gas explosion tore through a residential neighborhood. The desperate search to rescue people from the rubble.
SANCHEZ: Plus, we're learning more about that unruly passenger on a Delta flight threatening to take the plane down. We've got details on the suspect. And what he does for a living might be hard for you to believe. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[06:16:13]
WALKER: There is more information coming out of China after a gas explosion left at least 12 dead and 138 people injured.
SANCHEZ: Yes. It happened in the early morning hours in Shiyan, a central Chinese city. State authorities say almost 150 people were found in the area. Rescue workers they are still trying to work their way through the wreckage.
WALKER: And that wreckage looks just like this entire place was decimated. CNN's Kristie Lu Stout joining us now live from Hong Kong with more. Hi there, Kristie. What's the latest you're hearing about what exactly happened and what's China saying about all this? KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Amara and Boris, this is a picture that we know at this hour. A massive gas explosion rips through this residential area in the central Chinese province of Hubei. At least 12 people have been killed so far. They've been able to find 150 people, but 37 are described to be severely injured.
The incident took place early this morning, 6:30 a.m. local time in the central Chinese city of Shiyan. And local officials there they say that many people remain trapped in the rubble and the debris. Search and rescue operation is still underway. A hundred and seventy-three rescue workers are on the scene as well as six sniffer dogs.
Video of the dramatic aftermath of this deadly blast has been circulating widely on social media in China, and it paints a truly stark and harrowing picture of what happened. You know, what was once a neighborhood -- a tranquil neighborhood just waking up to a new day instantly transformed into this charred smoldering wasteland.
It prompted one person on the social media platform in China Sina Weibo to write this, I really can't imagine it. My home is only 100 -- 200 meters away from the explosion. I can't imagine that the place where I live day and night has become a ruin.
The videos and the pictures are shocking. Sadly, China is no stranger to deadly explosions like this. And each time an incident like this happens it raises questions about safety standards inside the country.
It was in January, earlier this year, one person was killed at an explosion at a factory. In August last year six people were killed in a chemical plant explosion. In 2015, well over 100 people were killed in a series of blasts in the Chinese port city of Tianjin. And now we have this incident, this morning, 6:30 a.m., in the city of Shiyan. At least 12 people killed. The death toll could very well rise.
As for the definitive cause, we don't know yet. The investigation is under way. Amara and Boris.
SANCHEZ: We appreciate the update. Kristie Lu Stout, thank you so much for reporting from Hong Kong.
STOUT: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: You may have seen this video circulating on social media yesterday. A man tried to break into the cockpit of a Delta flight while in midair, and passengers and crew got into a scuffle trying to stop him.
WALKER: CNN's Polo Sandoval joining us now with an update on that.
POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's going to be up to authorities to find out exactly what led up to some scary moments aboard a Delta Air Lines' flight on Friday in which one of the airline's own flight attendant is believed to have been responsible for an altercation onboard. The Delta spokesperson told me yesterday that that flight attendant was actually off-duty, was not actually working the flight, but instead was among those passengers aboard flight 1730 which left Los Angeles bound for Atlanta.
Some cellphone video capturing the scene here. Witness aboard the flight tells CNN about two hours before landing the off-duty Delta employee made his way to the front of the aircraft and reportedly started using the plane's P.A. system. Once the flight crew tried to address the situation and take away the P.A. that's when various witnesses say that he attacked two flight attendants which we now know were not injured during the altercation.
[06:20:01]
CNN spoke yesterday to Ben Curlee who's aboard the flight. This is what he remembers hearing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN CURLEE, PASSENGER: The perpetrator was on the intercom and was telling passengers to return to their seat because oxygen masks were going to be required of them. And that created quite a stir amongst everyone around us. It became very tense.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL: Several of Curlee's passengers sprang into action helping subdue this individual while the plane made an unscheduled and safe landing in Oklahoma City. Delta Air Lines released a statement immediately after this incident writing, "Thanks to the crew and passengers of Delta flight 1730 who assisted in detaining an unruly passenger as the flight diverted to Oklahoma City. The aircraft landed without incident and the passenger was removed by law enforcement."
Although it's still unclear exactly what this individual was possibly thinking, all of that is under investigation right now as the -- even the FBI looks into this. But really this is just the latest in a growing list that has been tracked by the Federal Aviation Administration regarding in-flight incidents with unruly passengers.
So far, tracked at least 2,900 of those this year alone. About 2,200 because passengers refused to wear a mask, which is part of that federal mask mandate that's still in place because of the pandemic. Amara and Boris, back to you.
SANCHEZ: Polo Sandoval, thank you so much for that.
Coming up, weighing the risk. A leading health organization urging Americans to get vaccinated despite a very rare but possible risk of heart inflammation. We'll bring you the facts next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[06:25:41]
WALKER: Despite concerns of a rare heart ailment in young people getting COVID-19 vaccines the American Heart Association says it still recommends the vaccines to anyone who is eligible to get them. The group said in a statement yesterday the benefits of the vaccine outweigh what they call the very unusual risks.
SANCHEZ: Yes. The CDC is going to hold an emergency meeting this week to discuss the potential link between the vaccines and heart inflammation. The cases, again, are extremely rare. They're found mostly in young men, and most of the patients who have been affected have fully recovered.
An update now on the summer Olympics in Tokyo. They're just six weeks away, and organizers are continuing to face calls to postpone the games once again over coronavirus concerns.
WALKER: Yes. Parts of Japan, including Tokyo, remain under a state of emergency, citing a lack of protection against COVID. Around 10,000 volunteers at the games have quit. CNN's Selina Wang spoke to some of those volunteers who are walking away.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JUN HATAKEYAMA, FORMER TOKYO 2020 VOLUNTEER: I think it's belittling human lives. Yes.
SELINA WANG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jun Hatakeyama is one of some 10,000 Tokyo Olympic volunteers out of 80,000 that has quit amid pandemic fears.
HATAKEYAMA: I quit because for my health condition and to show my opinion that I'm against the Olympic Games.
WANG: When college student Hatakeyama signed up to be a volunteer, he was excited to witness the world's best athletes come together at this Olympic village. Instead, he has witnessed mounting problems.
HATAKEYAMA: The Olympic Games is belittling human lives. Our lives are not normal, so it's an emergency now. So I think why can we hold an Olympic games in 2020 now?
WANG: An army of enthusiastic volunteers has been key to the success of recent games, helping to operate venues, assisting spectators and athletes. Tokyo organizers say fewer volunteer this year won't impact operations, given no foreign spectators and downsizing of events. But volunteer Nima Esnaashari (ph), a language teacher, who lives here in Hyogo prefecture says protection hasn't been nearly enough.
WANG (on camera): What COVID protection have you been given as a volunteer?
NIMA ESNAASHARI (ph), TOKYO 2020 VOLUNTEER: We are going to get two masks and a bottle of hand sanitizer.
WANG: So that's it.
ESNAASHARI (ph): That's it.
WANG (voice-over): Volunteers are asked to take public transportation between their homes and Olympic venues. And for those who live outside of Tokyo, they have to find their own lodging. Esnaashari (ph) hasn't quit yet but says he's thinking about it.
ESNAASHARI (ph): I could be bringing back COVID to my family.
WANG: Organizers say the Olympics can be held in a safe bubble with the majority of the Olympic village vaccinated. But many public health experts say that's impossible especially if there are tens of thousands of largely unvaccinated and untested volunteers at Olympic venues across Tokyo and Japan, and less than 4 percent of Japan's population fully vaccinated.
BARBARA HOLTHUS, TOKYO 2020 VOLUNTEER: We are not being given neither testing nor a vaccine, so we have to go in and out of the bubble at all times. There's a significant potential of this becoming a superspreader event.
WANG: Normally a symbol of national pride and excitement in the host country, many volunteers this year instead are scared, largely left on their own to protect themselves from COVID-19.
HATAKEYAMA: I think the meaning of the Olympic Games was completely forgotten.
WANG: Selina Wang, CNN Tokyo.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALKER: That is one very difficult and controversial situation. Coming up, pomp and protocol. You are looking at live pictures right about now out of Windsor. That is where President Biden will meet with Queen Elizabeth today. We look back at her long history with American presidents next.
[06:30:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Happening right now, the third and final day of the G7 summit in England is underway and world leaders are wrapping up with the session on climate that's scheduled for this hour.
AMARA WALKER, CNN ANCHOR: Earlier today, the G7 discussed open societies and economies. Soon President Biden will be holding a news conference as we wait to see what if any substantive progress was made. Leaders will soon release their official communique marking the end of the summit. And the question is whether or not China will be explicitly mentioned in that communique as Biden has been pushing for.
Now, in just a few hours, President Biden and the First Lady will be meeting with Queen Elizabeth. That will make him the 12th U.S. President to sit down with the monarch. The Queen has met every sitting U.S. President except one during her nearly seven-decade reign.
[06:35:11]
SANCHEZ: And CNN's Max Foster takes a look back at her memorable meetings with American leaders.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAX FOSTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This special relationship or a dozen special relationships.
RONALD REAGAN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Ladies and gentlemen, to her majesty, the Queen.
FOSTER: Joe Biden is the 12th U.S. President to meet Queen Elizabeth II during her reign. The Queen will have met every sitting president during her 69-year reign, except Lyndon B. Johnson.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were welcomed at the White House by the First Lady at the beginning of a memorable visit to the nation.
FOSTER: Starting with Dwight Eisenhower in 1957, and most recently, Donald Trump, Britain's monarch has seen her share of administrative change, and the conversations invariably remain private.
PRINCE EDWARD, EARL OF WESSEX: People really do respect the fact that this is a -- this is a genuinely private, off-the-record conversation. So, they really can talk about things and get to the heart of things in a very genuine fashion because they know it's not going to come out.
FOSTER: Does she ever let it slip to you in any way?
PRINCE EDWARD: Good, gracious, of course not, of course not.
FOSTER: Well known for their shared love of horses, Elizabeth took President Ronald Reagan horseback riding in Windsor in 1982. T
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: his was not expected to happen.
FOSTER: His successor, President George H.W. Bush brought the Queen to her first baseball game at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore during a state visit in 1991. Both Reagan and Bush were later given honorary knighthoods, the UK's highest distinction.
REAGAN: I feel greatly honored.
FOSTER: Opportunities to meet the 95-year-old monarch are dwindling. The Queen no longer travels abroad. Leaders are expected to come to her. But when they do, the royal family rolls out the red carpet in a real display of British soft power. President George W. Bush was the first U.S. President to pay an official state visit in 2003. And Bush was also the last to host the Queen at the White House in 2007.
Pomp and pageantry do at times provide awkward moments, however, evident when President Trump visited in 2018. He also revealed the topic of the conversation, Brexit, which raised eyebrows too.
His predecessor, President Barack Obama also committed a faux pas by speaking over the national anthem. BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: For the vitality
of the special relationship between our peoples.
FOSTER: Now it's the turn of Obama's VP and current Commander-in-Chief to visit Windsor Castle. President Biden will be welcomed by a guard of honor before being invited in for tea.
BONNIE GREER, AMERICAN-BRITISH PLAYWRIGHT AND AUTHOR: The future of this special relationship depends ultimately on the American people and British people what we understand about each other.
Joe Biden is of the generation that special relationship means something, the Queen is certainly.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II, QUEEN OF THE UNITED KINGDOM: For the continued friendship between our two nations, and to the health, prosperity, and happiness of the people of the United States.
FOSTER: Max Foster, CNN, Windsor, England.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALKER: And that private audience with the Queen will begin in about six hours from now. Joining me to discuss all of this is Ed Owens, royal historian. I have to ask you, I was just watching some of that video of President Obama and other presidents, you know, breaking with protocol. Does it give you goosebumps? Or how do you feel when you see world leaders breaking protocol like that?
ED OWENS, ROYAL HISTORIAN: Oh, it's a little awkward, but I think the Queen is used to people not getting things quite right. So, I think she brushes these things on these things often gets on with things.
WALKER: So, regarding this upcoming audience with the Queen, for the Biden's -- so we know that they've obviously -- and we've seen video of them interacting a bit this weekend. But today's meeting, it's going to be more personal with only Biden and the First Lady with the Queen in her home. So, just give us -- I mean, do we know what exactly happens during an audience with the Queen? I know, I'm sure they'll be sipping tea. It's supposed to be a private conversation. That's off the record. But you know, what do they talk about?
OWENS: As you say, we know that they're going to be sipping tea, no doubt. There'll be other hospitality on offer as well. The idea is it will be a relaxed conversation. No doubt they will be reflecting on the presence on what has come about as a result of the G7 summit. But we know that President Biden's a great historian. He's got a great fascination with the past. They will also be reflecting on the recent history between the U.S. and the U.K. and also where the two countries are going to together in the future.
WALKER: What will you make of this relationship so far? I know that President Obama, his predecessors, and Trump they had quite an affinity for the Queen and just the royal family in general. We know, you know, President Biden has, you know, made a few, you know, funny jabs, you know, over the fact that he is an Irish Catholic. I guess tell us about this particular relationship.
[06:40:21]
OWENS: This relationship is interesting. It's about, I think, projecting an image of soft power. It's about reminding us audiences that there is goodwill that exists between Britain and the USA, despite whatever the current political situation is. We know that President Biden has been a little bit cautious around Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Equally, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been getting quite a lot of criticism from the E.U.
So, Britain's under pressure, but at the same time this is a reminder, this meeting between the Queen and Biden, that Britain matters, that whatever happens to the Prime Minister -- you know, Prime Ministers come and go, that the monarchy is here to stay. And in that -- in that respect, it will continue to create and build goodwill between the U.K. and the USA.
WALKER: How important is this charm offensive for the Royals right now? You did talk about them being under pressure right now. And it really has been a rocky year to say the least for the royal family, especially with this very public spat between them and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. What's going on in their minds right now and tell us about the choreographing of this charm offensive with world leaders.
OWENS: Yes, these three days have been absolutely a charm offensive. The Royals are presenting a united front. It's been a difficult 18 months ever since the Megxit, and the fallout more recently of the Oprah interview. The Royals have been under pressure. The Royal Family have always played a key role if you like in greasing Britain's diplomacy. And here they are three days out in force reminding the world that the British -- that Britain is here to stay and that Britain matters. Also, that the monarchy is here to stay, and that it has this key role in projecting Britain's soft power to play.
WALKER: And you know, the Queen has is really lighten the mood during the G7 Summit. I mean, she's made some funny comments as well. I want to show you a moment during a photo op for the G7 leaders. I think she says something to the effect of, are you supposed to act like you're, you know, you're having a good time.
OWENS: Yes.
WALKER: So, the Queen has been in, by the way, more family photos than the others put together. It's like she knew exactly what she was supposed to be doing being among this pool of world leaders. What do you make of that and how she has been so far?
OWENS: Yes, she's the consummate expert at these things. She's cost almost 70 years of practice as a queen in, if you like, working this sort of this soft diplomatic role as Britain's Head of State. She knows how to behave. She knows how to lighten the mood. This has been a difficult summit, especially for the British Prime Minister, but she has helped, if you like, to lighten that mood and remind the rest of the world and other world leaders that Britain matters and the British, in particular, the public, are very happy to be hosting this particular summit.
WALKER: Yes. And all of this, of course, underscoring this special and historic alliance between the U.S. and the U.K. Ed Owens, we're going to leave it there. I appreciate your expertise. Hopefully, there are no faux pas or breaking up the protocol that will embarrass anyone. Thanks so much.
OWENS: Indeed. Thanks so much.
SANCHEZ: Coming up, a new claim that one of President Trump's top Coronavirus advisors wanted him to lose the 2020 presidential election. We'll dig into what was said next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[06:45:00]
SANCHEZ: A new book is shedding light on just how strange former President Donald Trump's relationship was with one of his top Coronavirus advisors.
WALKER: In his new book, Preventable, Andy Slavitt, who just left his post as the pandemic Advisor to President Biden, suggests that Dr. Deborah Birx hoped her then boss would lose the 2020 election. CNN's Chief Media Correspondent Brian Stelter joining us now to discuss. Good morning to you, Brian.
SANCHEZ: Good morning, Brian.
BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
WALKER: He's also the host of CNN's "RELIABLE SOURCES." So, Brian, Dr. Birx has herself said that she always thought about quitting then- President Trump's task force. But it sounds like she was also rooting for him to be out of a job.
STELTER: That is certainly the implication in this new book titled Preventable. What makes this book remarkable among all the books that have come out about the pandemic and that are in the works in the coming months is Andy Slavitt was an outsider who became an insider. During the Trump era, he was an outsider trying to call for the COVID task force to take stronger actions to stop the virus, stop the spread of the virus. Then in the Biden years, he briefly became a top adviser to Biden on the COVID response and on the vaccine effort.
So, Slavitt has now left government. He was a temporary employee. Now, he's coming out with his book on Tuesday. And CNN's Kaitlan Collins obtained an early copy with some remarkable details about what he says was going on during the Trump administration. Here's a key quote from the book describing Slavitt talking with Dr. Deborah Birx back in August.
Birx is saying when they were talking about the transition of government, what would happen if Biden won, according to the book, she looked at Slavitt and said, "I hope the election turns out a certain way." Slavitt certainly taking away the belief that Birx wanted Biden to win because -- and the idea here was that Birx then believed that the government response to COVID will get back on track.
There are a lot of details in this new book, Preventable, about the missteps of the Trump administration, about failures to respond effectively to the pandemic. Of course, this is coming from Slavitt, who as I said, then advised Biden. So, this may join the political fray, but it's important to have these accounts or history of what happened and what could have gone differently.
[06:50:00]
SANCHEZ: And Brian, Birx also apparently told Slavitt at one point that she had been silenced. What else does the book reveal about these tensions within the Trump administration?
STELTER: Yes, I think this is really important reporting in the book as well, because we all remember -- and I remember talking with you all about this last summer. There were times last summer last fall where it was pretty clear that some Trump advisors, some Trump government officials were being kept off television.
There were times where Dr. Anthony Fauci would disappear from television. It was clear that the Trump White House was trying to keep certain figures off TV. And one of those figures, according to this book, was Alex Azar, the HHS Secretary. There's a line in the book, we can put up on screen, that says that Azar was kept off television for 45 days during a critical point in the pandemic. The book indicates this was for political reasons, trying to downplay the severity of the virus, perhaps try not to worry people too much.
Some of these government officials who were experts in health and medicine were kept off TV and Slavitt says he has some of the proof, some of the evidence of that. It is notable that here those accounts because it we kind of suspected or sensed it back then. This book says it really was happening.
This comes out on Tuesday. And like I said, there's going to be a lot of these kinds of books firsthand accounts of the pandemic. But it's interesting to hear a Trump critic turned Biden advisor coming out with one on Tuesday.
WALKER: Yes, that's very interesting, still so much to learn about what was happening inside that white house during this pandemic. Brian Stelter, I appreciate you as always. Thanks so much. And a reminder, check out Brian's book Hoax: Donald Trump, Fox News, and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth. That is now out in paperback.
A terrifying scene in soccer. A player needed CPR after collapsing in the middle of the game. He's OK. The latest on the condition next.
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WALKER: It was really a terrifying scene in sports yesterday. A Danish soccer player collapsed in the middle of the game. SANCHEZ: Yes. Carolyn Manno is with us now. Fortunately, Carolyn, official say that Christian Eriksen is fine but that was an incredibly tense few minutes.
CAROLYN MANNO, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, absolutely. One of the tensest moments that I can remember. I mean, he's a player that's admired around the world. And for the 25,000 people who were there and for the millions who are watching, everybody just held their collective breath. But as you mentioned, thankfully, he remains in stable condition this morning.
We're not going to show you the images of the actual incident. It's a little bit disturbing. The 29-year-old Danish player is in the hospital. He collapsed late in the first half of the country's opening match at the European Championships. Medical personnel did rush to him. They perform CPR his teammates formed a wall for privacy. He was on the ground for 13 minutes before being taken away.
And this is the photo that gave everyone a big sigh of relief. It appeared that he regained consciousness as he was carted away from the pitch. And an hour and a half after that, Danish officials confirmed that he was alert via Twitter and that he even urged his team to keep playing and they did do that. They got back out on the field. They lost to Finland 1-0. You can imagine what his teammates were obviously feeling and going through at that time.
Meantime, in golf, Jon Rahm is cleared to play the U.S. Open later this week after a positive COVID-19 test forced him to withdraw from the tournament a week ago. He tweeted the news yesterday after receiving back-to-back negative tests. Now, despite the initial positive, Rahm was asymptomatic. He enters Torrey Pines now as the favorite.
The Clippers climbed back in the third game of their series against the Jazz on Saturday night. Kawhi Leonard led the way with a game-high 34 points. Paul George added 31, his best showing of the postseason in a 26 point window.
The big news is the health of Utah's All-Star Guard Donovan Mitchell. He left the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury. That is something to keep an eye on with the Jazz up 2-1 in the series. Game four is set for tomorrow.
For the sixth straight year on the women's side, the winner of the French Open is a first-time major champion. Barbora Krejcikova defended Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in three sets. Now, it was just her third time making the main draw at a major. Before this tournament, the 25-year-old Czech never even made it past the fourth round of Grand Slam, a very special moment for those two.
And a close call from the Westminster Dog Show on Saturday, guys. So, this is Ripple, the Boston Terrier, whipping through the agility course when her trainer goes down, narrowly avoiding landing on the pub. But you know what, the -- she went to check on her human. You see her circle back around. They're fine. He was fine. The two finished out the run, that you know, just very, very close to being a tough scene. Those Boston terriers are tiny little dogs but kisses all around for everybody in the room for us. And hey, it happens.
WALKER: I'm only laughing because everyone is fine. But at least the dog is agile, right?
SANCHEZ: Yes. I mean, these are --
MANNO: Oh, yes. The dog was perfect.
SANCHEZ: These are primed athletes at the height of their powers. Carolyn, I'm wondering, is this like golf where if you don't like your caddy, you can just replace them, like if they mess you up?
MANNO: You know, I don't think so. I'm going to have to double-check that, Boris. I don't want to be inaccurate. I think the handler and the dog go together as a perfect pairing. And I think Ripple will maybe forgive the misstep. It happens sometimes in sports.
WALKER: I mean, it was -- it was like this close. I mean, that would have been bad TV if you land on that tiny little dog.
SANCHEZ: Yes. If I were Ripple, I'd find -- I'd find a new owner, I think.
WALKER: And if I were the owner, I will be quite embarrassed, right?.
MANNO: Wow, cutthroat. OK, OK, Boris. Yes, yes, yes.
SANCHEZ: Carolyn, thank you so much. Stay with us. NEW DAY continues right now.
