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Hala Gorani Tonight
Large Protests Expected In Cleveland; GOP Convention Theme: Make America Safe Again; Delegate Explains Why He Supports Donald Trump; Egyptian Satirist Bassem Youssef On U.S. Politics. Aired 3:30-4p ET
Aired July 18, 2016 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello. Welcome to this special edition of THE WORLD RIGHT NOW. I'm Hala Gorani. We're coming to you live
from the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. The RNC opened moments ago amid an atmosphere of, some might say, unease, certainly racial
tension across the United States. We'll have more on that this hour with special gifts.
First, a CNN world exclusive with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Now it was a weekend of shock, surprise, and a lot of violence in Turkey,
leaving an uncertain aftermath.
President Erdogan is cracking down now after members of the military staged an attempted coup, it did not succeed. He is still in charge. More than
7,000 people have been arrested in short order. More than 8,700 security officials have been suspended. This has been a quick process.
Talks of reintroducing the death penalty have also been revived across Turkey. Dozens of those detained were photographed at horse stables in
Ankara, forced to their knees, look at this image, shirtless, in a submissive situation, in their underwear, stripped to the waist.
In a global exclusive interview, the Turkish president, Erdogan, spoke exclusively to CNN's Becky Anderson through his translator. He was asked
about calls to reinstate the death penalty in Turkey. Here is what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RECIP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, TURKISH PRESIDENT (through translator): We had previously abolished it in our administration, but we can always go back
and reintroduce it. If the parliament takes that decision, then that's the decision that will count.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Do you think that's likely?
ERDOGAN (through translator): It can be. It can be. Because the people have voiced this request without any party divisions or party lines. The
people in the street, on the streets, have made that request. We have also been faced with similar requests after similar other incidents.
Because the people now have the opinion, after so many terrorist incidents, that these terrorists should be killed. That's where they are. They don't
see any other outcome to it. I mean, life sentence or aggravated life sentence, why should I keep them and feed them in prisons for years to
come?
That's what the people say. So they want a swift end to it, because people lost relatives, lost neighbors, lost children, 8-year-olds, 15-year-olds,
20-year-old young people unfortunately have all been killed during these incidents.
Of course, they have parents, mothers and fathers that are mourning, they're suffering. So the people are very sensitive. And we have to act
very sensibly and sensitively.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: Becky Anderson joins me now live from Istanbul. Let's talk about the reaction that President Erdogan had about what Fredericka Morgarini
(ph) had to say. She is, of course, the E.U. foreign policy chief. She was quite clear, she said no country that reintroduces any kind of death
penalty can become a member of the E.U. Now is this likely in any way to stop Mr. Erdogan here?
ANDERSON: I don't think so. He said if it were the will of the people, and parliament agrees, he would concede to those, to that thought. And
look, I think what's really interesting to point out here is that this has been a country in turmoil.
And its politics have been very, very fractured. What you did have was the outright condemning of this attempted coup by the opposition parties as
well. And he would need those in parliament to agree to change the law and reinstate the death penalty.
And I'm assuming by what he said today that that is, as he would suggest, the will of the people. But you have to remember that there's a Kurdish
party involved, if you talk to experts here, they say it would be very unlikely that they would agree to the reinstallation of the death penalty.
That question remains unanswered at this point. It's important to point out just how big a groundswell of support President Erdogan has been able
to garner in these squares, in these cities.
About 2,000 people out here tonight in Taksim Square, the song that you hear behind me is an old song, on old Ottoman song that's been reworked for
the AK president, the party that President Erdogan founded.
[15:05:10]And it talks about him, it applauds him, and this is what they call a celebration of democracy here. Very much urged by president Erdogan
that people hit the streets in a celebration of democracy and also a mourning process for those people who lost their lives in this.
This is what President Erdogan says. It's this sort of gathering during which he says he has heard appeals from the people in the streets to bring
back that death penalty. We've got to remember, both from him and the prime minister, we've heard very, very stern words.
This attempted coup and those who perpetrated it was treason, as far as they're concerned, they say it wasn't a coup, they say it was a terror
attack on the government and come democracy here for which they say the perpetrators will be treated with very, very harshly. So read into that,
Hala, what you will.
GORANI: Let me ask you, though, about U.S. relations. We're hearing from the White House today. Just minutes ago, Josh Earnest, the press
secretary, is saying that President Obama is going to speak with President Erdogan, unclear, though, if he's going to bring up this death penalty
question.
But that the main message is that he is reiterating support for the elected government of Turkey. So I do wonder, considering how important the
military cooperation and the fight against ISIS is between the two countries, whether or not this will have any kind of impact.
ANDERSON: Well, I think it will. President Erdogan will be looking for support, not least from Washington on this. And if it's a line from Obama
suggesting that he as President Erdogan is supporting this, that they are condemning this attempted coup then that will work well for President
Erdogan here.
Remember that he has an issue with Washington at the moment, which is really straining relations, and that being a reclusive cleric who is
exiled, self-imposed exile in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. A man by the name of Fethullah Gulen, who President Erdogan points a finger squarely at
as being directly involved in this attempted coup.
He says that Gulen and those who were invested with Gulen here, involved in the military at the deepest level of state, he says are responsible for
this attempted coup, and it is those Gulenists, as they're called, that President Erdogan is weeding out in what is this purge of what he calls
(inaudible) at the moment.
The reason I bring this up is for one reason and one reason only. President Erdogan has been seeking to get the U.S. to extradite Gulen now
for the past three years. Now he's saying that the guy has direct involvement in this attempted coup.
He has appealed in no uncertain terms for the arrest or extradition of Gulen back to Turkey. This is what he told me. When I asked him what he
would do were the U.S. not to act on that appeal at this point, have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ERDOGAN (through translator): We have a mutual agreement of extradition of criminals. So, now you ask someone to be extradited are you're my
strategic partner, I do obey, I do abide by that, but you don't do the same thing? There should be reciprocity in these types of things.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: This was not a chastened President Erdogan I spoke to just an hour ago, Hala, this was a defiant President Erdogan. So it really does
remain to be seen what Washington does next in its relations and its activity over Fethullah Gulen.
But at this stage, what President Erdogan told me is that the official paperwork for that extradition request will be filed within days, and the
ball will be very squarely then in the court of Washington and President Obama -- Hala.
GORANI: OK, Becky Anderson in Istanbul. You can watch the exclusive intensive interview with Mr. Erdogan. It will come next hour at 9:00 p.m.
in London on CNN.
Here in Cleveland, Republicans are gathering to crown Donald Trump as their presidential nominee. But the convention is kicking off in an atmosphere
of national unease.
First of all, police were targeted and killed again. Demonstrations over police violence and a heightened sense of racial tension across the nation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This convention will come to order.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: The Republican convention got officially under way just two hours ago with music and prayers. Today's theme, make America safe again. Of
course, you know the "Make America great again," a slogan of Donald Trump.
[15:10:08]On Sunday, three police officers were shot and killed by a lone gunman in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, just the latest incident in two
tumultuous weeks in the United States.
It all began with the recent police killings of two black men, one of whom was killed in Baton Rouge. Five Dallas police officers were subsequently
shot and killed as well.
Let's bring in Ron Brownstein. He is a CNN senior political analyst and senior editor at "The Atlantic." Ron, what a time to be witnessing in the
United States. It feels historic, it feels like the country is shifting. Certain certainly the Republican Party is changing.
RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: First of all, welcome to Cleveland. Welcome back to the U.S. Yes, this is summer where the seams
are showing in American life. You know, we are leaving through the most rapid demographic change since really the turn of the 20th Century.
The majority of our public school service and all public schools in American, our kids of color, you know, the majority of our under-5
population is non-white.
In many ways I think this election has become a referendum on national identity at a time of enormous cultural, economic, and social change in
America. Can we hold together or do we kind of evolve into something that is more tribal in politics?
GORANI: Yes, and if you look at Donald Trump's success and his support, it comes a lot from white sort of lower income, less educated white men,
right? And those are the ones losing most demographically in the United States.
BROWNSTEIN: Yes, Trump's constituency is centered, not exclusively, but centered own voters who feel both economically and culturally marginalized.
They are voters who tend to have a negative view of the impact of globalization on the economy --
GORANI: But they have genuinely suffered.
BROWNSTEIN: They have genuinely suffered, but they're also -- if you look at the polling, it's very clear, they are uneasy about the demographic
change as well. We just did recently national polling at "The Atlantic," and if you tell people that a majority of our public school students are
kids of color, half of the Clinton's supporters say that's a good thing for the country. Only a quarter of the Trump's supporters say that's a good
thing for the country.
GORANI: Let's break down the polls because Hillary Clinton does have an edge in most swing states. Ohio, she's neck and neck, many undecideds. In
Florida, and Virginia, they're high single digits. She must be feeling a little more comfortable.
BROWNSTEIN: Right. It's interesting. The way to understand this, first of all, about 40 states of the U.S. are locked down, they're decided. So
the race has been fought out in 11 states over the last three elections.
There are two groups, Hala. There are rust belt states, Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and then there is a sun-belt set of swing states,
which is North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Nevada, and Colorado.
The first group, older blue collar voters, many of whom feel dispossessed by the economy. Trump is going to be a formidable competitor in him, but
he's facing real problems with a younger, diverse, more white color voters in those sun belts --
GORANI: This is why I love coming to these events because I can ask for myself ordinary Republican supporters, many of whom supported other
candidates, not everyone is happy that Donald Trump is the nominee. They even say sometimes he hijacked the party. But they will say one thing
unites us all, and that is how much we hate Hillary Clinton.
BROWNSTEIN: That's right. And among partisan Republicans, as it a great motivator. And the other thing that will be a great motivator is control
of the Supreme Court is on the ballot. The party that wins this presidential election will probably have a Supreme Court majority for the
next t10 or 15 years.
So that helps. The problem is that's enough and you have a lot of right of center or really right at the center voters who have voted Republican in
recent elections who are displaying a lot of hesitation about Trump.
Sixty percent in polling say they do not view him as qualified. That I think as the biggest thing they have to change this week.
GORANI: But the Republican Party needs to change to mirror and match the demographics. The demographics are not going to change to reflect this
current party.
BROWNSTEIN: That's a great way of putting it. That's the debate in the Republican Party. The debate after the 2012 election, after Mitt Romney
won a higher share of white voters than Ronald Reagan did in his 1980 landslide, and lost by 5 million votes.
The debate was do we reach out to the changing America, the increasingly diverse America, or do we try to double down with a harder core, more
polarizing message that will turn out more culturally conservative whites? Trump personifies that theory. Now Republicans will test whether that can
work in a diversifying country.
GORANI: One last question on this, we're expecting Melania Trump to speak tonight. It's been very hazy, we haven't gotten a very clear guest list or
speaker list or even schedules.
BROWNSTEIN: A little improv, yes.
GORANI: It's a bit improv. It certainly unlike other conditions, I'm being told. What's the point of bringing her up? We haven't heard much
from her, she's been quiet.
BROWNSTEIN: No, it's similar to what they did in 2012 with Mitt Romney's wife, basically saying, here is the person that only I get to see. After
eight years in office, one party in office since World War II, every time except once we've gone to the other party.
The core challenge for Republicans isn't to make the case for change, because people are certainly unhappy with a lot of things going on around
the world. It's to make Trump an acceptable form of change.
What you'll see from Melania Trump, his family, and a lot of the speakers, is saying this is not just the volatile, bombastic character you've been
watching on television, there's more to him that night.
GORANI: We'll see how the ex-model from Slovenia plays with this crowd. It will be very interesting. Ron Brownstein, thanks very much.
Now speaking of change, that's the message coming from Hillary Clinton, we have to change, those were the words she used that she called for reforms
to the U.S. criminal justice system.
The presumptive Democratic nominee started by condemning the killing of police officers in Baton Rouge and Dallas. She was speaking earlier to the
NAACP in Cincinnati, Ohio. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Today there are people all across America, sick over what happened in Baton Rouge and in Dallas, but
also fearful that the murders of police officers means that vital questions about police/community relations will go unanswered.
Now, that is a reasonable fear, isn't it? And all of this tells us very powerfully that we have to change. Many police officers across the country
agree with that. But it can only happen if we build trust and accountability. And let's admit it that gets harder every time someone
else is killed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: All right. There's Hillary Clinton.
Still to come tonight, just a few weeks before the Rio Olympics and more accusations of state-sponsored doping in Russia. I'll have the latest from
Cleveland at the Republican National Convention. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Welcome back. We're at the Republican National Convention here in Cleveland. The bands are playing. The Republican supporters have started
assembling. It is a very unusual convention, where most of the Republican brass has chosen not to attend.
Though you have, of course, have big names, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus. You will have an address by Ted Cruz. But the big institutional names, the
Bushes and others are not showing up. Marco Rubio is also not showing up, he is of course the Republican from Florida who ran in this election. He
will be sending a taped address.
Now to other news before we get back to Cleveland. Just three weeks from the Olympics, and there are more shocking allegations against Russian
athletics. A report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency has been released outlining what it calls state sponsored doping of all Russian
athletes at the Sochi games in 2014.
[15:20:00]It also says the Russian Ministry of Sports oversaw the manipulation of athletes' analytical results and sample-swapping. They are
making strong recommendations that Russian athletes be denied from taking at the Olympics.
Richard McLaren who headed up the investigation spoke earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD MCLAREN, INDEPENDENT HEAD, WADA SOCHI INVESTIGATION: The Russian Ministry of Sport directed, oversaw, and participated in sample swapping
and the active participation and assistance of the FSB, CSB, and both Moscow and Sochi laboratories.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Let's go to Moscow. Jill Dougherty, our former Moscow bureau chief, is standing by. I can guess the reaction from government officials
there. But there is a distinct possibility that all athletes will be banned -- Jill.
JILL DOUGHERTY, INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR DEFENSE AND SECURITY: Yes, and that is really a pretty sensational and very bad news for the kremlin. So
it took a while for the Kremlin to actually come out with a statement. But it did eventually come out with a two-page statement by President Putin.
And he did not get into the sensational details such as the FSB, the former KGB, helping and assisting very directly, allegedly, in changing these
samples. But he did start out, and I'll give you some of the high points.
He did start out by saying that this scandal is a dangerous recurrence of political interference in sports. And what he was referring to was back in
1980, when the United States boycotted the Olympics in Moscow over Afghanistan.
He also said these accusations are based on just one person who has a scandalous reputation. And that of course is Grigory Rodchenkov (ph), who
is the person who was in charge of Moscow's anti-doping lab.
And the reference there, although it has been reported before, is that he had a couple of criminal cases raised against him for violating Russia's
anti-doping laws. So in other words, do not believe him.
Also, President Putin did say that any Russian officials who were directly named as perpetrators would be removed from office until Russia can carry
out its own investigation.
And in connection with that, he wants WADA to give him information, detailed, credible information so that Russia can do its own investigation.
Finally, you know, Hala, he said something that he's said before, which is, there is no place in sports for doping. And that's something he has
claimed so far.
You would have to say at this point he is taking the steps that he feels he has to, but he's not conceding anything until Russia does its own
investigation.
And Hala, just to give you a glimpse of what Russian people were thinking, Clare Sebastian, a correspondent for CNN, went onto the streets with a
crew, and a lot, almost every single person said this is political, it's not fair, and essentially supported what President Putin is saying.
GORANI: All right, Jill Dougherty in Moscow. We'll be waiting for the IOC to comment on all of this.
Now, thousands of Parisians showed up to pay their respect to those killed in the Nice truck rampage. A minute of silence was held across France to
honor the victims.
Now that silence is turning into angry jeers and boos as the people of France look for answers in the wake of yet another attack. Our senior
international correspondent, Atika Shubert, has more from Nice.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The memorial here included a minute of silence and also the French prime minister, Manuel
Valls laying down a wreath here. But he was greeted with anger, local anger in particular.
This feeling that the government is not doing enough to stop these kinds of attacks. This man told us, they're partly responsible, the government,
they're just not protecting us. You can hear the anger on the streets.
But at the same time, you hear applause. And what they're applauding for here, I can see them go by, are the first responders, the firefighters, the
police officers that ultimately stopped the attack. The emotions here are still very raw.
I mean, right here at the scene of the attack, people really feel what happened here. And they're going to feel many people here want answers.
They want answers to how was this able to happen, why did it happen, how can it be prevented in the future. And these are questions that still
remain unanswered today. Atika Shubert, CNN, in Nice, France.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[15:25:07] GORANI: CNN's Will Ripley is live in Nice with more on the mood in France, which we just saw a bit of with Atika and the investigation.
What more do we know about what led to the attack, the actual attacker in this case?
WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the Paris prosecutor has released a significant amount of information this afternoon, Hala, saying that the
terrorist, Mohamed Bouhlel, that's their words, they're now calling him a terrorist. They say he started growing his beard out just eight days
before the attack.
When they seized computers from his apartment in Nice, they found he had been searching for ISIS propaganda videos including decapitation videos.
He was also searching for information about the Orlando and Dallas attacks in the United States.
They say he spent 1,600 euros to rent the 20-ton truck that he brought here to the iconic promenade. While much of this promenade has been dotted with
spontaneous memorials and flowers for those whose lives he took, this is a new memorial that shows you the anger and hatred of so many French people.
This is where the attacker died on this point in the street. People have been spitting, urinating, throwing their trash. This pile has continued to
grow throughout the day. People are angry at the attacker and angry at their government.
In their minds, someone should have been watching him, a French-Tunisian allowed to live here, with a history of petty crime, abuse against his wife
and children, a charge earlier this year where threw a wooden paddle in a fit of road rage, a volatile personality, clearly mental health issues, and
very quickly (inaudible) --
GORANI: Our connection problems there with Will Ripley in Nice there. He was really giving us a very interesting corruption of what's happening
there. Grief slowly being replaced by anger and frustration, understandable.
This is the third major attack in France in a year and a half. Of course, honoring the victims is part of what's happening on the promenade. Also
those very interesting scenes of people spitting and throwing their rubbish and trash on the very site where the murder was killed.
We'll get back to France later, in the coming hours. A quick bit of media news, there is a startling new report just in, this could have significant
implications, that long time Fox News chairman and CEO, Roger Ailes is on his way out at the network.
"New York Magazine" is reporting that Rupert Murdoch and the leadership at parent company, 21st Century Fox have decided that Ailes should go. This
comes just weeks after former Fox anchor, Gretchen Carlson, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Ailes.
The 21st Century Fox issued a statement a short time ago saying, quote, "This matter is not yet resolved and the review is not concluded." We'll
keep our eyes on that as well.
Just ahead, it is Donald Trump's big moment becoming his party's presidential nominee, but protests and gun laws are also taking center
stage. We'll have more on that coming up later. We're live in Cleveland.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Welcome back. I'm Hala Gorani. We're coming to you live from Cleveland at the Republican National Convention. We'll have a lot more on
the event here later.
But first, a quick recap of the main headlines. The Turkish President Recip Tayyip Erdogan says he would approve reinstating the death penalty in
his country if it was approved by his parliament. He was speaking exclusively to CNN through his translator and called the coup attempt on
Friday, quote, "A clear crime of treason."
The U.S. Republican convention is now very much underway here in Cleveland, Ohio. Speakers are expected to focus on security issues as well illegal
immigration. Republicans are set to officially choose Donald Trump as the party's nominee for president.
His wife, Melania Trump is scheduled to give a rare speech tonight, we don't often hear from her in public, but this will happen in primetime in
Cleveland.
Police here are pretty tense and on alert, understandably, after Sunday's police killings in Louisiana. Investigators in Baton Rouge now say the
three officers who were gunned down yesterday were ambushed and assassinated. You're seeing pictures of all three on your screens now.
Louisiana's governor just spoke in Baton Rouge.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN BEL EDWARDS, LOUISIANA GOVERNOR: This was a diabolical attack on the very fabric of society and that is not hyperbole. That is not an
overstatement. There is nothing more fundamentally important than maintaining law and order so that people can have good quality lives. And
that's what he attacked, the very fabric of our society and that is not what justice looks like.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, for those coming to the convention here in Cleveland, you can bring your guns. But leave the tennis balls at home. At least 72
kinds of weapons and hardware are banned from the event zone, like switch blades and sledge hammers, drones as well, lasers, ladders, tennis balls.
Guns are not officially banned on the list. The Secret Service will not, though, allow them inside the perimeter. Adding to those concerns is the
growing number of anti-Trump protesters and his supporters outside the arena.
Things have turned violent between the two sides at other Trump events during the primaries. Thousands of police officers are now in place to
keep all of the peace, hopefully things will not get out of hand.
The Cleveland police union have asked Ohio's governor to suspend what's called the open-carry law here basically allows people to wear their
weapons in public, not concealed, but he says he doesn't have the power to arbitrarily suspend constitutional rights or state laws.
Sara Sidner joins me now live. Sara, what's the mood been outside the convention center? There have been few protests, any concerns about
violence?
SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, not a one, not right now. There's 300 or 400 protesters that walked around about a mile and a half perimeter
around the convention area. There are a few protesters left from the Black Lives Matter Movement, from the socialist movement, from the immigrant
rights movement.
I would to give you a look-see what's around us. This is called the mall. Just over there to my left is the public square, just below that Grandiose
Building. And then if you look across the street, you will see a myriad of police. These police are from all over the nation.
There are 500 from Cleveland dedicated to this convention. There are more than 2,500 who are from across the United States here. They're job is to
try to keep things as calm as possible. They've set up an incredible perimeter around. There are fences around, there are barriers around.
So far things have been very, very calm. Lots of loud protesting but no violence -- Hala.
[15:35:02]GORANI: I can't -- all right, Sara Sidner, thanks very much, just outside the convention center. I'll be completely transparent, the
background noise here has reached a level that prevents me from actually hearing what Sara is saying.
But she's giving us a good sense of what's happening outside, concerns about tension and violence are not materializing. Thank you very much,
Sara.
This Republican National Convention is like no other. Marsha Blackburn joins me now to talk about it. She is a Republican congresswoman from the
state of Tennessee. You are scheduled to speak, Marsha Blackburn. What are you going to say?
REP. MARSHA BLACKBURN (R), TENNESSEE: I'm going to talk about how we all come together as one, one nation, focusing on what has made hour nation
great, opportunity, the American dream. I'm looking forward to it. It will be Thursday night, 8:00, 9:00, somewhere in there.
GORANI: And that's a prime speaking spot because this is the night that we expect to hear from the presumptive Republican nominee, Donald Trump.
BLACKBURN: That's right, yes.
GORANI: You talk about unity, how the party needs to come together. But it is not together now. You have big Republican names that are not even
showing up to this convention.
BLACKBURN: You have some that still have their feelings hurt. But it's a very small sliver of the Republican Party. And I think most people are
like me, they feel like now is the time for individuals who have put themselves ahead of the party to kind of get over themselves.
GORANI: Mitt Romney, George Bush Sr., George W. Bush.
BLACKBURN: It's a small number.
GORANI: They're big names, it has to be said.
BLACKBURN: They're some big names, yes.
GORANI: OK, so let's talk a little bit about what you like about Donald Trump, because internationally there have been some raised eyebrows about
what he said about Mexicans, about Hispanics, about Muslims, about women, he's polling terribly among women. As a woman, why do you support him?
BLACKBURN: There are three big issues that women focus on, national security, jobs, economic security, and retirement security. I have to tell
you, it's so interesting to me, as Trump's numbers rise, and his favorables rise. It comes in over national security. People trust him that he's
going to make a decision, pull a team together, and focus on keeping the nation safe.
GORANI: But can you address some of those inflammatory statements, a Muslim ban. You yourself have said that you believe it's a good idea to
ban all Muslims in the world from entering the United States. Does that not go against the spirit of this country?
BLACKBURN: In favor of the legislation that Senator Sessions and I have, which would temporarily halt the Syrian refuge program until we can get our
arms around it, get some funding.
GORANI: I don't have to tell you, it takes two years to be vetted as a refugee. And if you want to get in as a terrorist, it might be the worst
way to get in.
BLACKBURN: They've already said they plan to go in and utilize that program. So, you know, what we need to know is who is coming into our
country, what they're planning to do when they get here. That's why people are concerned about the border and they want to make certain that our
border is secure.
I think that national security issue is a very tangible issue. And people look at what is going on with ISIS and they say, all of this happened on
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama's watch.
GORANI: Major terrorism happened under Republican presidents' watches as well.
BLACKBURN: Of course, it has. The way the drawdown in Iraq was handled, the escalation in Syria, the mistakes that were made in Libya and Syria,
the Benghazi happenstance, all of that is Hillary Clinton.
GORANI: One last question about your future. Do you see yourself, if Donald Trump is elected, in a Trump administration? There were even rumors
you might be selected as his --
BLACKBURN: You know, when your colleagues and pundits say she would be a good VP pick, I see myself continuing to represent the good people of the
state of Tennessee, looking forward to it.
GORANI: OK, thank you very much, Marsha Blackburn, from Tennessee, for joining us.
This is THE WORLD RIGHT NOW. Coming up, much more from the Republican National Convention. We'll hear from one delegate who has accused Trump of
textbook racism and still supports him for the White House. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:41:52]
GORANI: Welcome back. As the Republican delegates gather here in Cleveland, the U.S. does remain deeply divided on many issues. Police
officers have been violently targeted across the country, prompting one major focus for the Republican National Convention, how to make America
safe again.
There are three key items on the agenda here. Of course, nominating the presidential and vice presidential candidates, adopting the party's
official platform, and setting the rules that will governing the party over the next four years.
Those are the procedural issues. Donald Trump's family is a crucial ingredient. His wife, Melania, is one of tonight's headline speakers. She
doesn't speak in public much, so this is kind of a big deal. Here is a closer look at the family behind Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI (voice-over): He's the presumed GOP nominee. A famed billionaire, the Donald. But to his children, he's dad. In 1977, Trump married his
first wife, Ivana, a former model from the Czech Republic. The couple have three children.
All are today accomplished professionals working as executive vice presidents for the Trump family business. The oldest, 38-year-old Donald
Jr. He's married with five children.
Then there's Ivanka Trump, the 34-year-old is probably the most outspoken. A polished voice for her father's brash style, and his biggest public
champion.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think there's a limit to how much he's listening to anybody. Ivanka in particular has his ear, he listens to her at least.
Maybe he doesn't always follow her advice, but he does listen.
GORANI: A successful businesswoman in her own right, who calls her father an inspiration to his daughters.
IVANKA TRUMP, DONALD TRUMP'S DAUGHTER: I think the way he raised me, the way he raised Tiffany, it's a testament to the fact that he believes in
inspiring women and empowering women.
GORANI: Ivanka married real estate developer, Jared Kushner, in 2009 and converted to Orthodox Judaism, something she says was very important to
her. The couple have three children. The tall, shy, little brother, Eric Trump is 32, owner of the Trump Winery and president of the Eric Trump
Foundation, a charity for terminally ill children.
ERIC TRUMP, DONALD TRUMP'S SON: I have a special bond with my father, work really brings us together.
GORANI: Donald and Ivana's troubled marriage ended in bitter divorce, making the family front page news.
DONALD TRUMP JR., DONALD TRUMP'S SON: It was obviously a difficult time to go through for any young kid, I was 12 years old so I was at the stage in
life where you think you're a man but you're not quite.
GORANI: In 1993, Donald Trump married actress and TV personality, Marla Maples, they have one child, meet Tiffany Trump. Trump and Maples were
married just six years. Tiffany grew up in California, raised mostly by her mother, away from the limelight of her half siblings in New York. But
still, she says, close to her father.
TIFFANY TRUMP, DONALD TRUMP'S DAUGHTER: I think I've grown up seeing him as a mentor. His hard work ethic is truly inspiring.
[15:45:02]GORANI: And meet Melania Trump, Donald Trump's current wife.
MELANIA TRUMP, DONALD TRUMP'S WIFE: I'm very proud of him. He's a hard worker. He's kind. He has a great heart.
GORANI: Born in Slovenia, Melania worked as a model in Milan and Paris before moving to New York, where she met Donald Trump. The couple married
in 2005 and had a son named Barron, who is now 10. Melania says she often calls him little Donald, saying he enjoys wearing a suit and his favorite
sport is golf.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Has he fired anybody yet?
MELANIA TRUMP: Yes, he fired the housekeeper, the nanny, many times.
GORANI: A loving wife, five children, eight grandchildren. Donald Trump surrounds himself with family, his businesses, and now, very much in the
race to the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: All right, well, the next person I spoke with says he believes in some cases Donald Trump has exhibited, quote, "textbook racism." Despite
that fact, he says he still supports him. I spoke to a delegate from Georgia named Ashley Bell. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ASHLEY BELL, 2020 LEADERS OF AMERICA CO-CHAIR: Well, it's going to take Donald Trump to unify this party. Everyone wants a Republican nominee who
is a conservative and believes in free markets. If we can get Donald Trump to start talking about free markets again and talking about things the
Republicans like, and picking Governor Pence was a big part of that because --
GORANI: You were happy with the Mike Pence selection for the ticket?
BELL: I can tell you, Republicans are more familiar with Mike Pence than they are with Donald Trump's policy positions. So yes, we were excited
about it. I think he's a great pick for social conservatives, for rock ribbed Republicans who want to see someone who understands fiscal
conservatives.
GORANI: I think the obvious question for people watching us, Ashley Bell, you're African-American. Donald Trump has said things, referring to a
black man in the crowd, "look at my African-American over there," that didn't bother you?
BELL: Of course, it did, I have a list of things that bothered me. What he said about Judge Curiel, I was one of the first to come out and say that
is textbook racism. This is a candidate that he says stumbled on his message many, many times. I want to win, but I want to win the right way.
And the way you win the right way is that you respect all voters and respecting voters means that you're not -- don't say racist things. You
don't try to offend people. So hopefully this convention is our turning point as a party.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: All right. That's Ashley Bell, a GOP delegate from Georgia.
Coming up, he's known as the Jon Stewart of Egypt, famous for his biting political satire. He's now turned his sights on American democracy. He
will be my guest, right here in Cleveland, just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: He has been called the Jon Stewart of Egypt, he might be sick of being called that, I don't know, we'll ask him. He's famous for mocking
those in power including former President Mohamed Morsi. Now he's set his sights on America and this country's presidential race. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete issues shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.
BASSEM YOUSSEF, EGYPTIAN SATIRIST: What makes you like Trump more than the other candidates?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's literally saying he's going to make America great again.
YOUSSEF: And you like that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love that.
[15:50:05]UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I watched him on "The Apprentice."
YOUSSEF: How can we change Americans' perception about the Arabs? Do we need to rebrand ourselves?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why not?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: Well, Youssef is traveling across the country to learn more about democracy in the United States, made in the USA, for his new program called
"Democracy Handbook on Fusion." Bassem Youssef joins me live.
YOUSSEF: Hi.
GORANI: Hi.
YOUSSEF: How are you?
GORANI: Amazing to meet you in person. I've been a big fan.
YOUSSEF: I'm a big fan too.
GORANI: You are hilarious.
YOUSSEF: Thank you. You know, my wife's name is Hala too.
GORANI: So it's the same name.
YOUSSEF: Yes.
GORANI: Let me ask you what you've discovered in your travels here across the United States. You've come from Egypt. You had a very successful
show. You didn't have the show after a while for obvious reasons. Here you are.
YOUSSEF: Yes. It's amazing. First of all, this is a spectacle. You guys should have this on Broadway. You should be selling tickets. This is like
all kinds of revenue coming into the country, it's amazing, wow.
GORANI: What do you find most exciting about this, that it's this big production American-style? Nothing like you have in the Middle East.
YOUSSEF: What do we have in the Middle East? We have democracy, of course.
GORANI: Of course.
YOUSSEF: I come from a very democratic region, everything is good, and everyone can say whatever they want on their own responsibilities.
GORANI: No fear of repercussions.
YOUSSEF: Oh, my god, do I look afraid?
GORANI: What has surprised you, interested you, shocked you most about reporting, about doing this program on U.S. politics, on big issues like
guns and freedom of expression?
YOUSSEF: Well, you would be surprised. Nothing has surprised me. Everything sounded so familiar.
GORANI: In what way?
YOUSSEF: It's the same echo chamber. It's the same rhetoric, demagogue, empty patriotism like, hey, we are better than others.
GORANI: Same as where?
YOUSSEF: As where I come from. Everybody is against us, everybody out there is out to get us, let's direct our hate to a certain group of people.
GORANI: And that group in some cases is Muslims, right?
YOUSSEF: Yes, I feel so loved here.
GORANI: And you're a Muslim.
YOUSSEF: Yes.
GORANI: So when they discovered, the people that you speak with, that you are an Arab and a Muslim, what reactions have you got?
YOUSSEF: They kind of -- first of all, oh, you are? Where are you from? I'm from California. And I do the accent, so they don't get it. And then
they say, oh, we love -- I mean, I have three Muslim friends, like I have three black people that I know. And they would say, oh, it's not all
Muslims, it's just the bad people. I tell them, how do you know the bad people? Then they have this beautiful argument, like if you have a bowl of
a thousand M&Ms, how would you know?
GORANI: Have you ever gotten hostile reactions or people who really had very negative reactions?
YOUSSEF: No. I think they are trained well because they are out there, they are kind of like -- they'll give you the pc version and still love
that PC.
GORANI: But could it be also that when you meet somebody in person, it's very difficult to dehumanize somebody, when you know somebody personally.
YOUSSEF: I was meeting people today and indirectly, this is what they said. They said, there came a time in this country, 1930s, where it was
not controversial to put Japanese in camps. I said, yes, that's a great idea.
GORANI: Let me ask you about other issues because you've spoken about guns. Guns are in the news practically every day in this country.
YOUSSEF: I don't understand.
GORANI: There is a lot of gun violence. What don't you get about it? Let me tell you something about the Middle East, guns are everywhere.
YOUSSEF: But guns are in the hands of the government so they can kill us peacefully. Here they're in the hands of everyone. Here is the thing
about guns that I don't understand. I understand, if you want guns for recreation, for hunting, for protection. I don't understand why would you
have an assault rifle? How fast is that deer?
GORANI: Because people are very attached to what they consider a constitutional right.
YOUSSEF: Yes, but --
GORANI: Don't tinker with that, don't touch it, this is what they'll tell you.
YOUSSEF: But what has this constitutional right has done? All these mass shootings, and then they blame it on others. They say a good man with a
gun will prevent a bad man with a gun. When was that ever a solution? And why is it banned on the floor of the RNC? The RNC are banning guns. One
of two things. They either don't believe in their narrative that guns are OK, or they don't think that these are good people that could have a gun.
GORANI: Do you live in the U.S. now?
YOUSSEF: I live in California and I'm a vegan.
GORANI: You are assimilated, my friend. Bassem Youssef, we love you. Thank you for being on the program with us.
And this has been THE WORLD RIGHT NOW. I'm Hala Gorani. Ahead in the next hour, more of our exclusive interview with Turkish President Recip Tayyip
Erdogan. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
