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Hala Gorani Tonight
Trump Proposes Sweeping Overhaul Of Legal Immigration; Trump Approves New Sanctions On Russia; Bill Imposes Sanctions On Russia, North Korea, Iran; Neymar Transfer Expected To Break Record; Voting Machine CEO: Voter Turnout "Manipulated"; Trump Supporters In Nebraska Stand By President. Aired 3-4p ET
Aired August 02, 2017 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[15:00:06]
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HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Hala Gorani. We are coming to you live from CNN London. Thanks for being with us this
Wednesday. This is THE WORLD RIGHT NOW.
If Donald Trump has his way, U.S. immigration policy as we know it would come to a dramatic end. Today, the American president endorsed sweeping
changes that would affect people all over the world. Many of our viewers as well who may be planning to make a move to the United States and hoping
to make America their new home.
Donald Trump is backing a proposal to overhaul legal immigration slashing the number of people granted permanent residency each year, the so-called
green cards, the way they are awarded would change if this legislation goes through.
The new system would give priority to skilled English speakers who can financially support themselves and their families.
Senior White House advisor, Stephen Miller, is briefing reporters on the proposal right now. It's not Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the press secretary.
Another White House official will be monitoring that briefing and bring you news line that they emerged from the White House.
Now Mr. Trump is hoping his endorsement of this immigration bill will help him pick up steam in Congress, but just like the healthcare bill, it
appears that on the passing a quick bill and this legislation quickly through Congress that those odds appear slim.
Let's bring in White House reporter, Kaitlan Collins, for more. So, the president once again is betting on a legislative success off the back of
this really failure to pass a healthcare overhaul to repeal and replace Obamacare. What are his chances this time?
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, that's a great question and we will likely find out more soon once we see more of the response from
lawmakers here in Washington.
But as you said today, the president unveiled this new proposal today alongside two conservative Republican senators here at the White House that
would be this new immigration system that would be based on merit.
He thinks that the immigration system we have now for too long has allowed in too many low-skilled foreign workers who displaced American workers.
The president essentially would be creating a point-based system that would reward people with extra credit for speaking English, be able to
financially support themselves and their families and for, quote, "contributing to our economy."
This is something the president talked about many times in the campaign trail. He thought that the immigration system should be more of a merit-
based one because he's often said that he thought American workers were not treated fairly because too many low-skilled workers were allowed into the
country.
So, they are casting this as a way to reduce that and be more fair American workers and (inaudible) by changing the way that they issue green cards.
That's what President Trump said today.
GORANI: All right. We'll see what kind of debate that generates in Washington and across the country. Kaitlan, thanks very much.
President Trump began the morning by signing a bill that was on his desk for quite a few days approving new sanctions on Russia, but he didn't hide
his irritation with Congress for essentially forcing his hand.
He called the legislation significantly flawed and criticize lawmakers for curbing his power to ease the sanctions if he so chooses. The White House
issued two separate statements detailing its problems with the bill.
Leading one top Democrat to question whether Mr. Trump really intends to follow the law at all. The bill also imposes new sanctions on Iran and
North Korea, and this hour, we want to bring you some reaction from around the world.
Our Nick Paton Walsh is live tonight in Tehran. Oren Lieberman is in Moscow. I want to start with Moscow where we have reaction to the
president signing this bill into law.
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Hala. Just short time ago, we got the first reaction from the Kremlin. It was Kremlin
spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, saying essentially through the TASS Russian news agency that there will be no further retaliatory measures against the
U.S.
When the sections bill got through Congress that is before Trump even signed it, Russia closed two U.S. diplomatic compounds here in Russia then
said that the U.S. had to cut their diplomatic staff down by some 750 workers.
Echoing a Vladimir Putin statement from a few days ago that is where the retaliatory measures will stand right now although Putin did make it clear
a few days ago that he has many other options, but didn't want to interrupt where places where the U.S. and Russia are still working together.
Whether that's space or energy or some of the other places. It is interesting what kremlin sees is essentially a contradiction in policy
coming out of Washington.
[15:05:10] There was Trump, who as you pointed out, called the legislation significantly flawed and Secretary of State Tillerson who said essentially,
this is not their number one choice for how they wanted to proceed with the sections.
And then on the flipside is Vice President Mike Pence who was in Montenegro on the western border of Russia using some very harsh language against
Russia while visiting a NATO ally, the newest member of NATO there, an ally to the U.S. They see that as a contradiction Washington policy with an
almost amused take on it.
GORANI: And Nick Paton Walsh, to you in Tehran, how is this seen there. Is this seen potentially as jeopardizing, the Iran nuclear deal?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, in short. I mean, we haven't heard a specific reaction to today's signing, but Donald
Trump that is a technicality frankly, but in the past, Iranian officials have been quite clear.
In fact, they see this as possibly in violation of the exact texts of the nuclear agreement they signed back in 2015. Top officials in the last
hours before the signing saying they are going to look at a comprehensive set of measures potentially.
But the real issue comes down to the spirits of that nuclear agreement. Now Iran points out, they haven't asked a limit that says the U.S. is not
supposed to take any measures that damage Iran economically on the international stage.
You can argue certainly that new sanctions potentially do that. The question really is, though, the U.S. perception of this. The U.S. says
that new sanctions are separate, not related to the nuclear-related sanctions that was stripped away as part of the nuclear deal.
But Donald Trump is being pretty clear campaigning and in office is unhappy with the Obama ministration's nuclear deal at it looks now too that many
senior Iranians are saying, we have done our part of the deal here.
We've definitely gone along with removing a nuclear enrichment the way we were supposed to. The broader issue is how we are going to see the
sanctions relief we expected. Are we going to see our economy continually hampered by these U.S. moves and U.S. aggression?
None of this (inaudible) in the last few hours by the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley, referring to, quote, "threatening." In her mind,
this ballistic missile launched by Iran in the past few days saying that the U.S., U.K., Germany and France are united in holding Iran to accounts
from that.
Citing a U.N. Security Council resolution that backed up the nuclear agreement itself. There's one problem with that, though, that resolution
itself of the Security Council didn't tell Iran it couldn't launch missiles.
It just called upon them not to do it. So, a lot of the texts being called over here, but more broadly, Hala, the spirits of this deal which Barack
Obama hailed as being a way of trying to soothe tensions here very much in jeopardy.
And this increased drum beat of new sanctions and harsh rhetoric from Washington making many in Tehran here perhaps see the bad deal in itself is
compromised because of Washington's approach towards it -- Hala.
GORANI: All right, Nick Paton Walsh live in Tehran. Oren Liebermann in Moscow for us. Thanks very much.
As you can see lots of major international stories on the White House agenda today. Let's break them all down. With me now is John Kirby, a CNN
military and diplomatic analyst, and a former State Department and Pentagon spokesperson.
Do you think Iranians, John, are right to be worried that this nuclear deal is in jeopardy and this because issues not just with Iran as you know and
many of our viewers know, but also with Europe because Europe really wants this deal to hold?
JOHN KIRBY, CNN MILITARY AND DIPLOMATIC ANALYST: Yes, I actually I think they do have reason to be concerned, Hala, as well as our European allies
and partners who help put this deal together.
Because it appears as if just reading the tea leaves as you can through the press reports that this administration is just hell-bent to try to find a
way to get out of this deal and to decertify Iran, which is, of course, counterproductive to the whole intent, which is to keep them from getting a
nuclear weapon.
So, yes, I do think there are some concern. I think and Hala --
GORANI: But why are they still opposed to it because, you know, like it or not, like Iran or not, you can accuse Iran of trying to assert its
influence in the Middle East and spread via militia, via involvement in proxy battles.
All of that is true, but the fact is that if you want them to freeze their nuclear program, it appears by and large, like it is working.
KIRBY: Yes. It is exactly right. That is the point. I mean, I think we all need to remember what this deal was designed to do, to prevent them
from getting a nuclear weapon capability, not -- and John Kerry said this at the time -- this was not about changing their behavior in other ways.
It was not about, you know, no peace coming out in the Middle East. It was to try to take away one of the biggest security threats that the Middle
East was about to face, a nuclear armed Iran, and did that.
And the Obama administration continue to put pressure on Iran for all the other destabilizing activities that they conduct and I applaud the Trump
administration quite frankly, for being willing to get tough on Iran as well on those destabilizing activities.
But to link those two and therefore, you know, render moot, this deal would actually make things worse, actually decrease the security envelope in the
Middle East, not increase it.
GORANI: Right. Well, in the Middle East, if you're going to target countries that engage in destabilizing activities, you have a longer list
than Iran.
[15:10:11] With regards to Russia, the kremlin is saying, look right now, we are going to stay where we are, were not going to impose or to take more
or additional retaliatory measures. Where is this going to go do you think?
KIRBY: Well, it's hard to say. I sure hope that we are able to get past this moment and continue to try to find ways to cooperate with Russia
because there are a lot of things and I think opportunities for us to have better cooperation with Russia such as a political solution in Syria.
So, I think hopefully, you know, we are going to move pass this. That said, Hala, what Putin did with the kicking out of the 755 U.S. employees
that was not proportional.
And I personally would like to see the administration take some sort of action to sort of counter this non-proportional overreaction to what
President Obama did.
GORANI: You're saying the Russian overreacted?
KIRBY: Yes, I do. I think they did. I think they did overreact, 755 employees, and don't forget, Hala --
GORANI: Yes, but some of them are Russian nationals. I mean, it's not like 750 Americans were --
KIRBY: No, you are exactly right, 755 U.S. employees, don't forget there is about 800 Russian nationals at work in our three consulates in our
embassy there in Moscow and that has always been a burr in Putin saddle. He does not like the fact that we employ local nationals and that they
support us.
And these people have come under incredible harassment over the last several years, particularly last two years. So, part of his number in my
mind it's aimed at getting those local nationals out of American employee.
GORANI: Last question about a couple of conversations that the president said he had, one with the president of Mexico that he said congratulated
him on the border wall and another one with the head of the Boy Scouts, who he said told him that it was one of the best speech any president has ever
given to the Boy Scout jamboree event.
Both have denied speaking with the president. Now when the president of the United States and you were a spokesman both at the Pentagon and at the
State Department, what do you make of the fact that it appears as though the president is claiming to have had conversations that never occurred?
KIRBY: Yes. It's still distressing especially the one about the Mexican president. On the Boy Scout one, you can almost imagine maybe a third
party got a call from some Boy Scout leader, and maybe he just exaggerated.
Not that that is OK for a president of the United States, but the one that is really concerning is this, you know, call from the Mexican president
when the Mexicans themselves have said, we have not talked to him since Hamburg.
You know, you have to rely on your president, on the commander-in-chief, to be honest and forthright and transparent about his interactions,
particularly on the global stage and for him to apparently fabricate a phone conversation with the president of another nation, not to mention one
on our southern border, I think is deeply distressing.
And it does not do anything to give the American people great confidence in his administration's honesty, openness, and transparency, not the least of
which, Hala, that there is there is absolutely no way that that the president of Mexico is going to call President Trump and congratulate him
on the wall.
Now there are maybe a call and there may be things to talk about that are going in a good direction between our two countries, but not the wall.
GORANI: And it appears there was no conversation at all, at least, according to the Mexican president. John Kirby as always, a pleasure.
Thanks very much. Speak to you soon hopefully.
Now we were speaking of North Korea, experts have just voiced an alarming new concerned about that country's missile test. They say that the rockets
could pose a real risk to passenger jets that fly near the country.
New data say that last week's missile test flew within miles of the path of an Air France flight that had just completed, you see it there. That is
the path of the flight in green there on the right and then you see where the missile, very close to where that plane was flying landed.
Officials say Pyongyang doesn't give regular notice of its plan as required under international agreements. Air France insist the test do not
interfere with its flight path saying last week's journey was completed without any reported incidents.
But take a look, this is perspective for you in the skies over that part of the world. This is a flight aware right now, you can see how many flights
are -- you can see populate the skies over Asia. It gives you a sense of just how busy is there.
I want to update you on a case that is just astonished a court in Britain. Your switching gears completely. Take a look at this, if you are wondering
why we are showing an image from the Disney film "The Three Musketeers," and take a closer look, there is Arabic text at the top.
It's a clue that this innocent child picture is actually -- holds actually horrifical secret. It was as the icon of a phone chat between four men who
named themselves after the musketeers and who just been convicted of plotting to carry out a terrorist attack.
They worked out in a remarkable sting operation that could have been lifted from the pages of the thriller. The men were known already to authorities
because of previous convictions linked to terrorism.
[15:15:11] But acting on new suspicions, police set up a fake company called (inaudible) Couriers and hired two of the men to deliver packages.
They were paid in cash every day while authorities watched their every move.
So, remember, they are working for a fake company. This is just a taste of what the investigators discovered, a sword hidden in the suspect's car
waiting to be used in London in a bridge-style rampage.
Also, this, a meat cleaver with the word (inaudible), which means nonbelievers scratched into the blade also and discovered a makeshift pipe
bomb, shotgun shells, and gaffer tape with vital DNA evidence on it.
The men have been found guilty of planning terrorism. I mentioned London, what I mean to say was Birmingham, it was a London Bridge style attack.
The men are due to be sentenced. They could be sentenced to life.
A lot more to come this evening, we may soon see the most expensive transfer in football history. The number is eyepopping. We delve into the
controversy behind Neymar's imminent exit from Barcelona.
Then the Venezuelan President Maduro moves forward with a new assembly despite international condemnation. We have the latest on the crisis in
Caracas live next.
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GORANI: Well, when it comes to money in sports, world football is taking center stage today in a spectacular fashion. Just asked the Barcelona
star, Neymar. The Brazilian has told his teammates he is leaving the club and his expected transfer to Paris Saint German will reportedly command
over $216 million.
It sounds like a country's GDP. No, it is a transfer fee. If Qatar own suitors are reportedly ready to double the records set just a year ago.
The deal could reportedly total nearly half a billion dollars when you factor in salary and agent's fees.
With us is Daniel Geey, a sports lawyer experienced in transfers. This number is insane. Why is it so high?
DANIEL GEEY, FOOTBALL LEGAL EXPERT: Well, I think it is fair to say with a tiny bit context there is very few players in the world than can probably
command the transfer fees that's Neymar has been able to or potentially (inaudible) Rinaldo, (inaudible) in the past. These are the stellar
football players that are commanding huge amounts.
GORANI: I get big money and all that, but if you are doubling the record a year after it was set, it sounds very inflationary.
GEEY: There is a few things here. The first is he is one of the stellar athletes, but at the same time there is a buy-out clause and that is in his
Barcelona contract, the presence of.
Without that buy-out clause, it's unlikely the transfer would happen. With it, it means that is a contractual obligation.
GORANI: So this is (inaudible) goes there is owned by the Qatar Sports Authority. Is this basically a government buying a player?
GEEY: Well, it has to go through the actual entity, which is the football club in the sense whether that is bankrolled by various --
[15:20:04] GORANI: But who pays the money? Who pays the 200 million?
GEEY: It has to be the club under these financial fair play rules which govern how much a club can actually spend.
GORANI: And would they be exceeding that?
GEEY: So that's the billion-dollar question potentially is how far can they go without actually being sanctioned, and they have liability. They
have been sanctioned previously for going over the allocated spending.
GORANI: But it shouldn't be easy to work? You know, you've spent this much. You are losing or making this much, 200 million would put you over
or not put you over?
GEEY: I can give you the short 2-second answer, which is --
GORANI: Please. We love those in television.
GEEY: So under the rules, you have to more or less only spent 30 million euros than you make over a three-year period. So more or less depending on
how much they bring in from transfers and how much they spend, how much they pay wages and how many salaries or potential commercial deals they
get. That will be dependent on the deals.
GORANI: And why is he worth so -- first of all, he wants to leave because he's in the shadow of Messi presumably, wants to become a star in another
club, but where is this money -- you need to make your money back, right?
GEEY: Exactly.
GORANI: Where is that going to come from?
GEEY: It can come within stadium and ticket revenues, many broadcasting monies, winning competitions, and the commercial revenues, the book deals,
the brands that wants to be associated with the player and the club.
GORANI: And remind me, he's 20 --
GEEY: I think 25. Yes, exactly so. You know, no limited shelf life and you know, as a top striker in the European World Football, maybe a few
years left to maximize his earnings.
GEEY: Right. He sure will be. Daniel Geey, thanks very much. Appreciate your expertise.
Now turning our attention to something different, Venezuela, the president there, Nicolas Maduro, is expected to swear in the country's new assembly
soon even though the election that established it has been widely condemned and the opposition views the assembly as a power grab by the president
essentially. But look, he's dancing. He's happy.
Plus, an electronic voting company says Sunday's voter turnout figures were clearly tampered with. Stefano Pozzebon, joins me now live from Caracas.
When is this swearing-in expected, Stefano?
STEFANO POZZEBON, JOURNALIST: Well, Hala, the swearing in is expected to start within minutes down here in Caracas. We know this is the result as
he said over very controversial elections that the Maduro government has decided to press ahead with it despite warning from the international
community warning signs.
Today, we received the news that the company that has been advising the Venezuelan Electoral Commission for almost 14 years is saying that they
cannot stand behind those numbers and they think that this election was actually tampered with, Hala. So, it's a very intense and critical
situation right now in Caracas.
GORANI: All right. And what is the reaction then of authorities there that they've been accused first of all, we have video of opposition leaders
being hauled off in their pajamas in the middle of the night.
And now the company in charge of the voting system saying it's clear this was fixed. It was tampered with. What's the reaction to all these
accusations?
POZZEBON: The reactions from the Maduro government is they'll press ahead and they have rejected any sort of international condemnation as an
interference within the internal affairs in Venezuela.
The strongest reaction has come out after the U.S. Department of Treasury decided to fire out a new round of sanctions on Monday against President
Maduro himself. The current president of Venezuela is banned from any transactions involving U.S. dollars that the U.S. Department of Treasury
has control of.
And that, Hala, is truly the greatest warning sign of how serious the situation down here in Caracas is.
GORANI: All right, Stefano Pozzebon, thanks very much live in Caracas.
A quick word on something that happened in Portugal, two people have been killed after a small plane made an emergency landing and it came down on a
beach close to Lisbon.
The victims were an 8-year-old girl and a man who were on the beach. They could not make it to safety in time.
All right, quickly something out of Minnesota, take a look at this, it's the aftermath of a gas explosion at a school in Minneapolis. Rescuers are
still looking for two people missing since the blast happened. The fire department says contractors working on the building likely triggered the
gas main brake.
We are going to take a quick break. We will be back with the latest from the White House in a moment.
Plus this --
(VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: White voters in Nebraska say they are standing by President Trump. We'll be right back.
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[15:27:27]
GORANI: Let's return to our lead story. U.S. President Donald Trump is endorsing a Senate bill that would dramatically change the nation's legal
immigration system if it ever becomes law, that is. It aims to cut current immigration levels by half, but the plan probably won't fly very high with
Democrats.
Also, today, Mr. Trump signed a bill imposing new sanctions on Russia and Iran and North Korea. Even though he said it was seriously flawed. The
bill also slaps new penalties as I mentioned on the two other countries, North Korea and Iran.
The president says the immigration bill will protect American workers by reducing unskilled immigration. But the Labor Department says more than
half of U.S. farmworkers are undocumented immigrants, so where does that leave them and what about the farmers who are already dealing with a
shrinking labor force?
Mr. Trump's base of support in the farm state of Nebraska seems as strong as ever. Here is Alex Marquardt.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a stiflingly hot and humid field of Alfalfa that Bob Hilger is driving his
tractor across. The 72-year-old farmer is the ahead of what has become a family affair growing and baling hay that will feed nearby cattle.
This was the first pipeline. Hilger also rents out some of his land for a pump station for the controversial Keystone pipeline, which was revived by
President Trump.
BOB HILGER, BUTLER COUNTY RESIDENT: I am really impressed with all things that he's accomplished. Energy security is one of his big things and that
is what this is all about.
MARQUARDT: Eastern Nebraska is deep in the heart of Trump country. Here in Butler County, the president beat Hillary Clinton overwhelmingly with
almost 80 percent of the vote.
David City, population 2,900. Locals here tell us that support for Trump has hardly wavered.
HILGER: I did not think that he would meet with as much resistance from people who refuse to acknowledge that he is the president of the United
States.
MARQUARDT (on camera): When you see the efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare collapsed as they have over the past few days, you don't blame
President Trump for part of that?
HILGER: Heavens, no. He has been obstructed never way they possibly can.
MARQUARDT: But you feel that he has accomplished --
HILGER: Tremendously. He is laying the groundwork for the future, for us, for the military, for our national security and for employing people and
that is awfully important. People have jobs so they feel comfortable.
And then when they know our military strong, they feel safe. They just want to make sure they have a paycheck and that nobody's threatening their
life. That's what is most people are concerned about.
MARQUARDT (voice-over): No cracks in Hilger support even when ask about the President's tweeting of personal attacks and his controversial comments
like those about the French first lady's physical appearance.
BOB HIGLER, TRUMP SUPPORTER: He's one of us. He talks to people like he wants them to talk him. He talks to people like I like to talk to people.
MARQUARDT: The people of David City get together at this time of the year at the county fair for rides, dancing, and judging livestock. The fairs
events were opened by local veterans led by Vietnam Vet Larry Sabata. He and wife, Ann, also have a son who served in Iraq. They blame
distractions, including the Russia investigation for a lack of progress.
ANN SABATA, LARRY SABATA'S WIFE: If they just let him be a president, if the media would leave him alone, if they came together it would be OK, but
he always have to sidestep something.
LARRY SABATA, VIETNAM WAR VETERAN: It's rough for him he's got to get everybody together. He's got to get the Republicans back onboard as well
as the Democrats and all this other small deadly stuff I'll call it with Russia. The American people want to see results already.
MARQUARDT: The result that matters most to Larry and Ann Sabata, to Bob Hilger and so many more here is that Trump is in office and their voice was
heard.
L. SABATA: They just laugh. They said, running for a president, are you kidding? Nobody took that guy serious. Well, they forgot about us, the
horrible fear in the Midwest. They totally forgot about us.
MARQUARDT: Alex Marquardt, CNN, David City, Nebraska.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HALA GORANI, CNN ANCHOR: So, this is really interesting because you see six months into the presidency of Donald Trump. Those who backed him
passionately, including these voters in Nebraska, are still standing by the President.
Joining me from Washington, Bill Press, the host of "The Bill Press Show" and he supported Hilary Clinton. Jack Kingston is a CNN Political
Commentator and a former Senior Advisor to the Trump campaign. Thanks to both of you for being with us.
Bill, when you hear a report, Bill Press, like the one that Alex Marquardt did from Nebraska that Trump voters essentially just believe that he is
being blocked by the establishment politicians in Washington, the fake news media as they like to call it. What do you make of that?
BILL PRESS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, two things. First of all, there's no doubt about it. Donald Trump had a message that resonated with
people who felt left behind in this economy, who felt frustrated by lack of progress and lack of attention from Washington. He had a message that
resonated. Hilary Clinton did not. That's why he is in the White House and she's not, number one.
And number two, this is his base. And his base is God knows are loyal. Donald Trump said, he could go out on 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and his
based would still stay with him. I think they would, but I'd put out his based, according to the latest Reuters poll is 39 percent of the American
people, he has not expanded his reach in the last seven months.
GORANI: Jack Kingston, there's a new Quinnipiac poll that shows the approval rating for Donald Trump at its lowest point ever, 31 percent, 33
percent I should say. So do you see that his ardent supporters in certain parts of Nebraska still backed him? Overall, it appears as though his
supporters are dwindling. Would you agree with that?
JACK KINGSTON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, I agree with that. I think that our President and anybody in elected office has to expand its
base and expand his ability (ph). So, that's something that he's going to do. But, I think one of the big lessons that we're hearing from the series
about people in the heartland is that Congress is not doing its fair share of the lift and I'm speaking two years ago. I spent 22 years in the House.
The Congress is now on recess. The Congress left them with having accomplished very little although the House has done more than the Senate.
But, frankly, speaking as Republican for seven years, all of us who I think run for Congress are dogcatcher promise to repeal and replace Obamacare.
The President has tried, but the obstacle is the legislative branch.
GORANI: So, whose fault is that, Jack Kingston?
KINGSTON: It's the legislative branch. I think that the President can do so much. He's pushed. He's built the case for the American people, but
when you have three Republicans who have decided after seven years they can't build for a bill that's not bipartisan, you got to ask yourself well,
where are those three senators been working on a bipartisan solution all these years? Just like everybody else, they were running on repeal and
replace.
PRESS: Hala, I think we could put --
GORANI: Bill.
PRESS: I think we should put the blame where it belongs. The blame belongs in the Senate, on Mitch McConnell, the Senate leader who decided
we're going to the same only with Republican votes. And Jack, you know, even some Republicans have criticized him for that.
He rigged the system so they only needed 50 votes and they couldn't even get 50 votes among Republicans. So they really should have started. I
believe with what Republicans are in hedge. Republican John Cornyn said yesterday, "Let's sit down now with the Democrats and come up with a plan
that helps all the American people that both parties can support."
[15:35:09] GORANI: And, Jack, I want to, you know, I would just want to move on to this other topic because we're hearing from Sarah Huckabee
Sanders, the Press Secretary, in the briefing room. You obviously heard that the President of Mexico denied having a phone conversation with Donald
Trump in which according to Donald Trump he would have congratulated him on the building of the wall.
Now, Sarah Huckabee Sanders as Jack Kingston is saying, "I wouldn't call it a lie. The conversation happened, but it didn't happen on the phone." I
mean, it really seems as though that was not an accurate representation of the truth, Jack Kingston. I mean, how long can the President keep going
like the same things that are then refuted. How damaging is that to his presidency?
KINGSTON: You know, I do think all of us in elected office talked to hundreds of people a week, even thousands in some cases and sometimes just,
you know, attribute a conversation to the phone, sometimes it doesn't happen on the phone but it happens on the fly, walking through your cars or
something like that.
So, to me, the substance of it is less than -- or the, you know, venue of it is less important than the substance. And the substance to me is that
they do have an ongoing discussion and I think it's very important.
GORANI: Yes. But I think many people pointed out it would be hard to believe that the President of Mexico would call Donald Trump to
congratulate him on how well the wall project is going.
KINGSTON: Well, I think the two of them in their discussions back and forth in all of the issues that are facing them, particularly with the
renegotiation of NAFTA it's possible that the wall was mentioned in a favorable lie. But I don't know. I know that, you know, having been in
the passel several times, the boarder security with an existing wall and barricade and boundaries is very, very important to both nations.
BILL: Hala, let me go back to the subjects here which is the call. This is very troubling, I believe, because this is the second time this week the
President also said that the head of the Boy Scouts called him and said, "This was the greatest speech ever given to any Boy Scout jamboree." And
the Boy Scouts now say nobody ever made that call?
And now the President says that he got a call from the President of Mexico. The President of Mexico would say there was no call. I think this speaks
to the President's credibility.
This is the guy who started from day one saying the biggest crowd ever what's -- at his inauguration. He's got a serious credibility problem and
does make it just worst. At best, it's an exaggeration. At worst, it's just an outright lie.
KINGSTON: But, Bill, remember --
GORANI: All right. And -- go ahead, Jack.
KINGSTON: Well, I wan to say, you know, remember, in the interview just now before us, the gentlemen from Nebraska was saying what really matters
to us is jobs and security. And I think during the campaign there were things that Trump said that people said, that's not exactly what happen or
where it happen, but the people back in the Heartland did not elect him for that. They elect him because he had addressed some issues that are of
important to them such as economics and national security. And I think that theme is still there.
(CROSSTALK)
PRESS: I think there's nothing more important that the President of the United States --
GORANI: Bill, if I could just add, the last word to you because what Jack is saying is really hits the heart of the question for the people who
elected Donald Trump, which is they believe this is the man who's going to create jobs, strengthen the military, and keep them safe. And they believe
that even if he doesn't necessarily achieve that, it's because people are blocking him and not because he's not capable, yes.
PRESS: That's maybe what they believe. But there's nothing more important in my opinion, and it just came along among Americans, that you can believe
the President of the United States. Today, you cannot believe anything that Donald Trump says. And I think his base even is starting to realize
that. That's a serious credibility problem on him and on his presidency.
KINGSTON: But, Bill, remember politically speaking, I'm just saying only in the politics of it, Bill Clinton was often lose with the facts even from
his golf scores. But, he was overwhelmingly reelected because the economy was strong. And I think that that's what we're hearing. If the economy is
strong, that's going to be the big factor in people's decision --
GORANI: Bill, I know you're going to disagree with that one.
PRESS: No. Well, I just I got to say --I mean, look, here's the President --
(CROSSTALK)
KINGSTON: I didn't say Hilary, I said Bill.
PRESS: I mean, can we go through, Jack? I mean, will you let him really get started down this trail, the size of the inauguration, the fact that 3
million to 5 million people voted for Hilary, the fact for the allegation, the lie that Barack Obama wiretapped Trump Tower? It goes on and on and
now these phone calls.
I'm saying at some point, I believe, Donald Trump has to realized, "I am President of the United States. I'm no longer this mogul at Trump Tower.
I just can't say anything that comes into my head and it doesn't matter. It does matter now."
(CROSSTALK)
GORANI: But, Jack, I want to also -- there are the statements that are later proven either exaggerated or untrue and then there was also at least
for the critics of Donald Trump what they believe is a troubling event when the President and Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed weighed in on a
statement that was issued in the name of Donald Trump Jr. regarding a meeting he had with the Russian lawyer last year where he said initially
that it had nothing to do with campaign matters. That was obviously later proof to be untrue.
[15:40:24] Is this also -- I mean, do you believe at some point that establishment Republicans are going to say, "This is really starting to add
up for us here, starting to damage the party."
KINGSTON: Well, I think the establishments Trump Republicans have already said that. They said in unsuccessfully during in the last year's election
that no one really wanted to listen to them. But I want to say, what really is overwhelming reality that people are voting on is that
unemployment is now at some like 15 or 16 year low. Business enthusiasm, optimism is at all-time high. Border security is up.
The numbers of illegal crossings are down by some -- like 70 percent and we are rebuilding our military and standing up to our adversary. So, I think
this is what really matters. And, frankly, I don't want to ever say ISIS is on the run, but to some degree terrorism is down. But I do think that's
temporary, but still that some people pay attention to.
PRESS: Well, Jack --
GORANI: We're going to take a quick break.
PRESS: Real quick.
GORANI: We'll get back with more. No, no, absolutely, but we'll your take on this Bill. We just need to take a quick break and come back just in a
couple of minutes. We'll be right back.
PRESS: All right. OK, all right.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Let's get back to our top story with your guests. The Trump administrations plan to introduce a point base immigration system. Now, my
colleague Jim Acosta asks about the plan during today's White House briefing and he drew a fiery response from a Trump adviser, Stephen Miller.
Listen to the exchange.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM ACOSTA, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: This whole notion of well, they could learn -- you know, they have to learn English before they get to the
United States. Are we just going to bring in people from Great Britain or in Australia?
STEPHEN MILLER, SENIOR WHITE HOUSE POLICY ADVISER: Jim, actually, I honestly say, I am shocked at your statement that you think that only
people from Great Britain and Australia would know English.
It's absolutely -- it reveals your cosmopolitan bias to a shocking degree that in your mind -- no, this is an amazing moment. This is an amazing
moment that you think only people from Great Britain or Australia would speak English.
It's so insulting to millions of hardworking immigrants who do speak English from all over the world. Jim, have you honestly never meet an
immigrant from another country who speak English outside of Great Britain or Australia. Is that your personal experience?
ACOSTA: But, of course, there are people who can --
MILLER: But that's not what you said and it shows your cosmopolitan bias. And I just want to say --
ACOSTA: It sounds like you're trying to engineer the racial and ethnic flow of people into this country.
MILLER: Jim, that is one of the most outrageous, insulting, ignorant and foolish things you've ever said. And for you, that's still a really -- the
notion that you think that this is racist bill is so wrong and so insulting.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: All right. That happened just minutes ago in the briefing room. Jack Kingston, CNN Political Commentator, a former CNN Senior Adviser to
the Trump Campaign and Bill Press, the host of "The Bill Press Show."
Before we get to actually the content of the exchange there, there's something about the tone, about now what is considered acceptable rhetoric
in the briefing room. Calling reporters ignorant, just making this very personal it seems from the part of the Trump team and the Trump White
House. Jack, am I right? I mean, we've never seen this before, have we?
KIGNSTON: Well, I think we haven't. But I think we're evolving to an area where there has been some antagonism. But at some degree, I think there's
also a little bit of a team sport here that, you know, I'm red, you're blue, not in the political sense. But just, you know, that there does seem
to be a banner that gets going on. I don't think it's that personal. I think it is a little bit more of, you know, you hit me, I hit you back.
And, you know, that's the game that we're both playing.
I think there's some drama in there that's probably not necessary, especially if you go back to the days of written press conferences where
questions were submitted. But -- and I do think maybe with the personalities there may have been something that would not necessarily
carry over the other reporters.
So, I yield to Bill on this, but I don't want to think it too deeply at this point. I think it's just, you know, part of what we're seeing in
today's media political world and the relationship --
GORANI: Bill, should we not think too deeply about this? This is just the new reality. This is kind of like a television, the natural kind of result
of television politics as they are played out on television now?
PRESS: Well, I hope it's not the new reality. I don't think the answer to your first question that we've seen anything like this since the days of
Spiro Agnew who Richard Nixon's vice-president and went out and attacked the media, although I don't think there are any personal exchanges like we
saw today.
Hala, I go to the White House briefing so I'm not there today. I was sleeping because I wanted to be with you. But we've never seen anything
like this. You know, there is always a tension between the press core and whoever is at the podium. But, what happened today is not the first time.
But particularly today, both against Glenn Thrush of "The New York Times" and Jim Acosta from CNN, it was very personal. It was very ugly. It was
very unnecessary, just answer the questions.
I think Stephen Miller went there because he could not defend the policy. This policy turns American immigration a policy forever upside down. And
it says from now on, you know, we don't want you unless you got a degree, unless you can speak English, unless you make a lot of money, we don't want
you.
So all those millions of people who came here from Eastern Europe, from Asia, from Latin America, from all around the world with nothing but a
dream and a determination, we don't want you anymore. We just need --
(CROSSTALK)
KINGTON: Bill, but let me say --
PRESS: -- and that is wrong.
GORANI: Quick. I've got to get the quick last word to Jack and then we have to wrap it up. Yes. Go ahead, Jack.
KINGSTON: 50 percent or the million who legally migrate here end up on welfare. 50 percent, that's not a small number now. Frankly, if you have
the choice between getting some doctors and scientist in here who could may be cure a cancer I'd say, yes, you have to do it at merit based just like
they do in Australia and in Canada. And if they have common sense in the immigration system, I don't see anything wrong with that. And I don't see
turning over the society as we know it. I think I will make America stronger. And remember that --
PRESS: Jack, a very elitist thing to say and you know this. We would not be the (INAUDIBLE) that we are today.
KINGSTON: Well, let me say this. Bill, remember that since --
(CROSSTALK)
PRESS: -- who built this country and did not speak English when they arrived on this island.
GORANI: We've got to -- I apologize. We've got to leave it there. We've got --
(CROSSTALK)
KIGNSTON: -- Bill, but they all have to work and they all have to response.
PRESS: Of course they do.
(CROSSTALK)
PRESS: -- speak English when they came here, that's what important.
KINGSTON: Thanks, Hala.
GORANI: We certainly -- yes, certainly America was built on waves and waves of immigration and it's a debate that I hope we'll be able to
continue having. Thanks very much Jack Kingston and Bill Press. We appreciate both of you on the program today. Quick break, we'll be right
back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:53:42] GORANI: All right. Now, what do you get if you take tens of thousands of public appearances and spread them over 6.5 decades while the
measure of just one man, Britain's Prince Philip. Today he is retiring from public duty, officially. Here is Nick Glass.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK GLASS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ramrod straight, a man in a rain coat and a traditional bowler hat. From behind, you would have been
hard pressed to guess his age, 96. Or that this, after 70 years, was his final official engagement. As parades go, this was informal. Prince
Philip just doing his thing, raising a smile and a laugh among young and old. As an ex-navy man, it seemed entirely apt that the parade at
Buckingham Palace was by the Royal Marines.
Prince Philip is still affable, still inquisitive, ever more hawk-like in look but, at his great age, his energy is dimming and he's finally
retiring. Who else aside from the queen has done more for the monarchy over such a long time?
HUGO VICKERS, ROYAL BIOGRAPHER: I think in a way it is transitional moment. The queen has been a little bit worried about him at certain times
over the last couple of years. I have heard people say that. And I think that you know, she doesn't want him to get overly tired and so I'm sure
there is an element that this is a sensible thing to do.
[15:55:09] PRINCE PHILIP, DUKE OF EDINBURGH: You're now seeing the world's most experienced plaque-unveiled.
GLASS: Here he was at Lord's Cricket Ground in London earlier this summer, wearing the famous egg-and-bacon tie of the MCC and doing what he's done on
countless occupations, chatting, this time about old cricket bats and cutting a ribbon. "Are you ready," he asked the photographers.
Prince Philip has been around so long, we need to remind ourselves of his glamorous arrival in 1947, a handsome groom of 26, Leftenant Philip
Mountbatten of the Royal Navy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: God, he was good-looking, (INAUDIBLE). And I think he really, truly has been a rock.
GLASS: Prince Philip has always been his own man, a thoughtful man, a family man.
PRINCE PHILIP: Like all families, we went through the full range of pleasures and tribulations of bringing up children. I'm naturally somewhat
biased, but I think our children have done rather well under very difficult and demanding circumstances.
GLASS: He could also be combative, livid, in fact, especially with photographers. But more often than not, he saw the funny side.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sorry to hear you're standing down.
PRINCE PHILIP: I can't stand up much.
GLASS: By his own admission, Prince Philip has never been a man to look back much. But this afternoon, he did seem to just for a moment. It was
70 years there have been a lot of parades, a lot of young men marching past, some of them off to war. As he left the parade ground, the band
struck up "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow."
The palace has issued a retirement photo taken in the garden of Buckingham Palace. Although there'll be no more official engagements, Prince Philip
is still expected to appear at the queen's side from time to time.
Nick Glass, CNN, in Central London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: I'm Hala Gorani. I'll see you tomorrow. "Quest Means Business" is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And that major fist bump right there really undisclosed what revealing is what everybody on "WALL STREET" is talking
about.
END
