Amanpour Aired July 15, 2024 - 13:00:00 ET THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. [13:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK) CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello, everyone, and welcome to "Amanpour." Here's what's coming up. A call to lower the temperature after an assassination attempt against Former President Donald Trump. Tonight, we focus on all angles. First the Republican reaction just as they opened their national convention. And later, an expert on political violence. Is there really no room for this in America? Plus, today's other bombshell, a judge dismisses the classified documents case against Trump. I'm joined by former acting solicitor general, Neal Katyal. And, the international perspective with Iceland's president-elect. Welcome to the program, everyone. I'm Christiane Amanpour in London. It is time to lower the temperature in our politics, that is what President Joe Biden told the nation in a primetime address last night, following the attempted assassination of the Former President Donald Trump at an election rally on Saturday. The FBI is still trying to determine the motivation of the shooter, a 20- year-old white man armed with an AR-15 automatic rifle, who was also a registered Republican. Regardless, the attack is a testament to the increasingly fractious, furious, and now fatal state of this race. Trump says that he has completely rewritten his acceptance speech to reflect that at the Republican National Convention in Wisconsin. But he's since told "The New York Post," I want to try to unite our country, but I don't know if that's possible. People are very divided. So, joining me now from Milwaukee is Correspondent Jeff Zeleny. Jeff, welcome to the program. Let me first ask you the traditional question, which is super relevant today, what actually is the mood amongst Republicans after this violence on Saturday? JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF U.S. NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Christiane, the mood is one of relief. It's also one of excitement. Donald Trump would have been welcomed here to Milwaukee as a hero, but it is something far more than that, given the events of Saturday. Talking to Republican delegates, they, you know, first and foremost, are grateful that he is OK, and they are more committed than ever to his campaign. Of course, here in Wisconsin, the convention was chosen here. Donald Trump chose this for a reason because Wisconsin is a key battleground. This is one of the pieces of the blue wall, if you will, that he won in 2016, he lost to Joe Biden in 2020. So, that is really at the heart of the matter here. So, as the former president makes his way to the convention floor, we're expected to see a bit of him throughout this week, of course, culminating in his marquee speech on Thursday. He's talking of unity. There is no doubt about that. A couple questions. Will that pledge for unity remain after this convention? And will other Republicans also uphold that pledge? And is it what the base wants to hear? This is a time when you sort of throw red meat out to your supporters. So, it's a tricky balance. But, of course, he controls the message, and he is saying that he wants to talk about unity, of course, there's a lot to unpack in all of that. AMANPOUR: Well, yes, and as I said, you know, he said that but then he said, well, I don't know if I can, because the country is very divided. I don't know, I mean, clearly, world leaders, elected leaders have a responsibility for that division. So, it will be interesting to see if he actually throws himself into trying to do what he says he wants to do. But in the meantime, I want to ask you, Jeff, because obviously in many of these conventions they have a platform, it's their manifesto. And we hear that this one is going to be, you know, very, very much trimmed down. And according to reports, that it will really reflect a sort of allegiance to Trump rather than usual policy statements and goals. Is that what you're hearing? ZELENY: It absolutely is correct. I mean, I've covered several of these Republican conventions and not one like this. The party platform, which is really the principles of the party have been thrown out, from the abortion issue, to spending, to other matters, to allegiance to Donald Trump, they've scaled it way back for electoral reasons. [13:05:00] Donald Trump just, on abortion, for example, has walked a very careful line here. And frankly, it's angered some social conservatives in the party. They would like a national abortion ban. But Trump, of course, knows that Democrats will seize upon that in the general election campaign. So, this is very much the Trump platform, which can be boiled down to make America great again. Of course, what does that mean? But not a lot of specifics. But, Christiane, what really strikes me here, this is the third consecutive Republican nomination that Donald Trump has accepted. This is an entirely different moment. When he arrived on stage in Cleveland eight years ago, in 2016, it was a fractured party. There were attempts from Ted Cruz supporters and Marco Rubio supporters, even a few Jeb Bush supporters, to try and stop him from getting the nomination. All that is out the window. This is 100 percent his party. When you walk through the hall right behind me here, there are pictures of Donald Trump absolutely everywhere, merchandise everywhere, but talking to people, these are his people. The -- a few sort of remaining never Trumpers are nowhere near the party, and certainly nowhere near here. So, it's much, much different than his moments here before the convention. AMANPOUR: And what is your -- put on your political analyst hat. What is your feeling about what happened on Saturday and how it will play out, you know, two days, two weeks from now? ZELENY: Look, it's always difficult in the moment to get a sense of what this will mean in the longer term, but I think we have at least a bit of a sense. President Biden has snapped into duty as the, you know, commander- in-chief. He's addressed the nation three times, talking about a need to cool violence. Donald Trump also following suit. We're learning more about that phone call that they had just one on one on Sunday morning, that both sides expressed as a good and respectful call. So, I think without question, it provides a moment for the Trump campaign and for Donald Trump. And they're signaling, at least, that he is eager to seize upon this political moment. And does it create an opening for him to do something he's never really done, and that's expanding his base. There's a lot of, you know, anger and dissatisfaction with Joe Biden. So, can Donald Trump, sort of, you know, win people over? One thing I'm Looking at, this is very interesting. The schedule really doesn't usually matter that much, but this case it does. Nikki Haley, she received an invitation just on Sunday. Of course, the former South Carolina governor, the last standing rival to Donald Trump. She was not invited last week, now she is. She'll be talking on the stage on Tuesday night talking about unity. AMANPOUR: Interesting. ZELENY: That is as big of a sign as we have seen yet that the Trump campaign is trying to perhaps win over some of those Haley voters, which of course the Biden campaign had been trying to. Now, that's very much an open question. So, let's not overstate the pledges for unity. Let's watch and see if it happens, but that is certainly one indication that they're trying optically at least for something different. AMANPOUR: Jeff, that is really great and we're going to dig deeper into this now because, of course, the real and most important question is how long this unity moment will last. Even now, we've heard voices on both sides blaming each other for overheated rhetoric including Trump's own. Now, Frank Lavin is a long time Republican who served in both parties. Bush administrations with stints in the Departments of Commerce, state and in the National Security Council. And he was also working in the White House when President Reagan was shot. So, welcome, Frank Lavin from San Francisco. Thanks for being with us. You just heard Jeff Zeleny, and I guess the big question is -- well, what do you think about the depth of the commitment to this unity and can Trump actually pull that off and expand his base? FRANK LAVIN, VISITING FELLOW, HOOVER INSTITUTION AND FORMER REAGAN WHITE HOUSE AIDE: Well, thanks for having me on, Christiane. And I think the question you posed is exactly the key question of this coming week. Trump will accept the nomination on Thursday. He will command maybe the largest audience of his political life. And will he rise to the moment or in what way will he rise to the moment is the right kind of question. I think as Jeff said in his segment a minute ago, just by inviting Nikki Haley there is a good leading indicator that he has a broad tent view and has an inclusive view of his political role. The other important point to keep in mind is he has been pretty consistently in the lead for several months now. He's been ahead of Joe Biden, not necessarily by a huge amount, but I think that gives him maybe a little bit of security or a little bit of flexibility in how he positions himself to say he can act more presidential, act more high-minded because of where he is. [13:10:00] So, I think he will make an honest effort to be broad gauge in his approach, but how long that will last and how sincerely it's perceived by the American public, I think, are open questions. AMANPOUR: So, let's just roll back the tape to the last -- I mean, it was decades ago, and you were in the White House working for President Reagan's administration when he was shot. And that was really dramatic. I mean, everybody remembers it. And what was your reaction then? And what was your reaction this Saturday? LAVIN: Well, it was horrific in 1981. And remember, the president was taken to the emergency room, George Washington Hospital. He had a bullet in his chest. They had to extract it. So, it wasn't known until after surgery was over how serious it was. And it was quite serious. The blood was pooling inside his body. And so, it was, you know, a life-threatening attack. But fortunately, he survived. With Trump, I think we had the same bewilderment or same lack of information, but that only lasted 10 or 20 minutes. So, we said, actually, President Trump, thankfully, is in good shape. He was nicked. It was a serious assassination attempt, but his health was really not impaired, and he gave that really impressive fist pump at the end of that before he was escorted off the stage, which sort of did reassure the public that he seemed to be OK. But it had the same trauma, I think, the same kind of electric effect on the national audience. AMANPOUR: And what impact did it have on President Reagan? I mean, did it -- what did it do for his presidency, if anything? LAVIN: I think it definitely gave him -- definitely. And I think it lasted a few months. That it reminded -- it humanized him. It reminded -- and it gave him an opportunity to act presidential and to act gracious. And he typically took sort of a high-minded or inclusive approach to the office. Trump, as we know, is a more pugnacious, he's a more combative public figure and he enjoys sort of throwing punches. So, this will be a bit of a shift for Trump if he becomes high-minded or presidential, but there's an opportunity for him to act in a healing kind of fashion or an inclusive fashion. And we hope that he rises to it. AMANPOUR: OK. So, let's just play what President Biden said because he too, obviously, has been in a real dramatic political crisis and he too has been able to act presidential again, you know, re-engage the role that he does so well rise above it, be the, you know, unifier, et cetera, said all the right things in the immediate aftermath. And this is some of what he said in his address last night. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JOE BIDEN, U.S. PRESIDENT: There is no place in America for this kind of violence or any violence for that matter. An assassination attempt is contrary to everything we stand for as a nation. Everything. It's not who we are as a nation. It's not America. And we cannot allow this to happen. (END VIDEO CLIP) AMANPOUR: So, Frank Lavin, I mean, Look, that's great, but I don't think anybody truly believes that that's not what America is. We watch and we report day after day, week after week, not just, you know, dramatic political assassinations over the decades, but everyday mass murders in classrooms, in shopping malls, in entertainment spaces. This is America. LAVIN: First of all, let me say that I think President Biden did exactly the right thing in his remarks, which is to act presidential and to -- I think you're also right that he's speaking more in an aspirational sense about you shouldn't use violence in a democracy to try to change outcomes and it is not American to do that. So, I think his core message was absolutely the right one, and it does help him politically to act presidential. I think your broader comment is also correct, Christiane, which I say is very unfortunate, but it is a sad fact that the United States does have an element of violence to it that we see, and whether it's mental problems or access to firearms or other kind of phenomenon, but, boy, it's an ugly side of America. AMANPOUR: Can I just ask you, because this is genuinely, massively important, the tone of the political rhetoric has been just so heated, and frankly, under the, you know, years of Donald, he introduced it, he -- well, he's one of the modern, you know, users of fairly heated political rhetoric and made it from the fringe to the mainstream so that his followers and all the rest of it do the same. Do you think there is any walking that back? You know that he's mocked his opponents, whether they, for whatever reason, he's used all sorts of, you know, borderline violent rhetoric. And so, have his -- you know, even -- we even heard from colleagues that even people at the rally were blaming the press and in terrible ways, you know, directing violent language towards the press. So, is there a way, in your long experience, to actually put a lid on that kind of violent rhetoric? [13:15:00] LAVIN: Well, I think the tone comes from the top. So, I think President Biden set exactly the right tone in his remarks last night, and we can hope that President Trump will set the right tone as well. But I think presidents ought to be inclusive and high-minded and speak against violence and for civil discourse. And I think you're also right that that's not part of Trump's DNA. He has combative personality. He's a theatrical personality and he frequently doesn't rise to the moment. So, this is an opportunity for him to show his best side, if you will. The fact that he took the phone call from President Biden, I think was a welcome development that the two of them had were told a civil discourse, the fact that he invited his previous opponents, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, to speak is also assigned to say he respects honest disagreements. So, those are both nice indicators, but the real test will come Thursday to see if he rises to the moment. AMANPOUR: Can I ask you a question about substance? Look, these AR-15s are the subject of a huge amount of controversy. If I'm not mistaken, the Trump administration opposed a ban on assault rifles like this. Do you think that that should be part of political conversation going forward? What do we also do about guns? LAVIN: Well, absolutely. I think there are people who have raised questions about the weapons, as you just pointed out, who should have access to assault weapons? I think other people have raised questions about age limits. If you have to be 21 years old to have a drink in the United States, should you not be 21 years old to purchase a firearm? Is this his gun? Did he get it from a family member? Can he just go into a store as a 20-year-old and buy this kind of a weapon and should that be legal? So, I think those are very fair questions to ask. AMANPOUR: And of course, the FBI is still trying to figure out the motive. They know who this person is. They're trying to figure out the motive. But there's this other question, of course, about the Secret Service and the people who are at the actual rally. Now, videos have come out showing them pointing out this figure who was, you know, on a roof not too far away. I mean, from all your experience and knowing what happened to Reagan, I guess in his case, the shooter got really close. Is that just inevitable, or apparently, there wasn't a Secret Service sweep of that particular building, they say? LAVIN: To me, that's inexplicable. What we see on television, we might not know the whole story, but these reports we've seen over the last few days, it's just inexplicable. That appears to be the only building in the immediate vicinity, and to have a sheriff's deputy or patrolman on that building just to shoo off onlookers would be a rather rudimentary precaution. So, I cannot, for the life of me, understand how someone would get access to that building and not have it come to the attention of the police or the Secret Service. AMANPOUR: And finally, so we've talked about how this is an extraordinary year for all reasons, most particularly what's happened in the last few weeks, the Biden implosion since the debate. Now, he seems to be having a bit of a second wind with the ability to act presidential, talk to the people, what's happening, you know, where Trump might be able to, as Jeff Zeleny and you've said, expand his base if he does go the unifying route. What do you think, with all your long experience, the rest of this presidential campaign is going to look like? LAVIN: I think there's still at least one more twist in the plot, if I may use that expression, Christiane, meaning something else might well happen. There's still -- even after the Republican Convention and the Democratic Convention, there's still one more presidential debate scheduled and there's still four months to go. So, to say someone else could have an indiscreet moment or say something or do something that changes the numbers. There could be an international incident that changes the numbers. So, there's still -- it's not going to be a straight-line narrative, if I may use sort of a Hollywood phraseology, something else is going to happen in these final few months. But, boy, Biden -- you're right, Biden kind of perversely got a bit of a break because of this, because it changes the subject. The debate a week ago is Biden too old for the job, is he up to the job, this just changes the subject completely to Trump's health and Trump's ability to perform at the Republican Convention. So, that's a bit of an indirect break for Joe Biden. AMANPOUR: So, I said that was the final question, but actually, I want to ask you, again, about this unity question, because as you know, a lot of the Republicans have been accusing the Biden administration of actually them, you know, creating this "political violence" with the prosecutions and all the other things. [13:20:00] So, today, he reacted to the dismissal of the classified documents case. So, he says, as we move forward in uniting our nation after the horrific events on Saturday, this dismissal of the lawless indictment in Florida should be just the first step. The Democrat Justice Department coordinated all of these political attacks, which are an election interference conspiracy against Joe Biden's political opponent, me. Let us come together to end all weaponization of our justice system and make America great again. Does that sound like a call for unity and lowering the rhetoric? LAVIN: No, but if I'm -- it certainly does not, Christiane, but I might say if I were under indictment, I would maybe choose to impugn the Justice Department as well. So, I'm not sure that's a fair test of Trump's high- mindedness. I think we really have to wait until Thursday to see what's he going to say, what kind of tone is he going to pitch on that. AMANPOUR: And honestly, we do all eagerly await. Frank Lavin, thank you so much. And I'm going to continue the legal side of this -- LAVIN: Thank you. AMANPOUR: -- with our next guest. Because despite 34 felony convictions in New York, Donald Trump has since been racking up legal victories. First, the Supreme Court agrees that his presidential acts makes him mostly immune from prosecution. And now, the judge he appointed, Aileen Cannon, has dismissed the classified documents case against him. Joining me now is Neal Katyal, a law professor at Georgetown University and the former acting U.S. solicitor general to President Barack Obama. Neal Katyal, just give me your first reaction to the judge's dismissal, were you surprised? NEIL KATYAL, FORMER U.S. ACTING SOLICITOR GENERAL: Yes, I was surprised. I think, Christiane, this decision is cuckoo for Cocopuffs, and it's not going to stand be upheld by the Court of Appeals in the United States Supreme Court. It's certainly going to delay things in this case and certainly pass the election because appeals take time. But basically, just to recap our viewers, Donald Trump was accused of taking highly classified and sensitive information without permission, keeping it at his golf club, Mar-a-Lago. And then most importantly, lying about it to federal investigators after he was asked about these documents. And that's what he's indicted for. And one of my jobs at the Justice Department was to serve as national security adviser, where we, of course, indicted cases like this every day of the week, every time they happened. They didn't happen that much, fortunately, because people know who handle classified information just how serious that material is and how it getting out can endanger sources and methods and the like. But that's what he's accused of. And now, the judge comes along and tries to invalidate the prosecutor on a cuckoo theory. AMANPOUR: Oh, well, I'm going to get to the prosecutor in a moment. So, what is -- I want you to lay out what her, you know, legal argument was for throwing it out. KATYAL: Yes. So, her legal argument is that the special prosecutor, Jack Smith, is not authorized by Congress, that Congress has to pass a specific law naming Jack Smith as part of the -- as an investigatory official and then a funding mechanism that isn't indefinite so that -- to pay for him. And I think the most important point about this, Christiane, is eight different judges, over the last many years, have rejected this exact argument. And the special counsel regulations that Jack Smith is appointed under, I should say, by way of disclosure to all of our viewers, I drafted those back in 1999 when I was a young Justice Department staffer in connection with the entire Justice Department. And what we did after we drafted them, I went with Ms. Reno, the attorney general, to the Hill. We briefed the House Senate leadership, both the Republicans and Democrats on a bipartisan basis, we briefed all of their counsel, we briefed the heads of the Senate and House Judiciary Committee, not a single person from either political party said a word about this kind of idea that the special counsel wasn't authorized. And that's so because we've had special counsels for over a century, since the time of President Ulysses Grant. And now, this judge comes along and with a stroke of her pen tries to undo these very serious accusations against Donald Trump. AMANPOUR: You know, you say you drafted them in 1999. Everybody remembers that the late '90s were when there was a special prosecutor, I think you call him that, investigating President Clinton at the time. And at that time, the Clinton administration and all of his people talked about overreach and all the rest of it. So, it's something that happens on all sides, right? I mean, nobody likes a special prosecutor. And -- but it seems to me that many administrations use them. Didn't the Trump administration use special prosecutors? [13:25:00] KATYAL: I love your question. And sure, the Trump administration did as well and others did, but I think the most important point about the 1990s is, absolutely, there was something called the Independent Counsel Act, which is a kind of supercharged special prosecutor created in 1978 after Watergate and what the experience with Clinton showed to both political parties was that that was too aggressive, and it didn't strike the right balance. And so, Republicans and Democrats together came and said, let's throw out this Independent Counsel Act, even though it was upheld by the Supreme Court in a seven to one decision. But it's not good policy. And indeed, the independent prosecutor, Ken Starr, who was investigating Bill Clinton at the very time, Christiane, he testified in the Hill on these hearings about the special counsel regulations and said that was the way to do it, the special counsel regulations, which were just invalidated today by Judge Cannon, not the Independent Counsel Act. So, even he thought that what he was doing didn't strike the right balance, but that the special counsel regulations did, because -- and this is what we tried to do, we tried to balance all the competing considerations, political and accountable and the need for independence. But most importantly, the need to give the American people a guarantee that there wasn't going to be some sort of cover up or nefarious system of justice. You need to have some sort of independence, and that's what the special counsel did. I mean, a different way of putting this is to just think about the real- world implication of what Judge Cannon did today. What she's saying is that Attorney General Merrick Garland was the one who had to prosecute Donald Trump and investigate Donald Trump. But of course, Garland was appointed by President Biden, who is Trump's political rival. So, if Garland did that, he would open himself up to all sorts of accusations. That's why he gave it to an independent, nonpolitical prosecutor. And the flip side is even scarier, because if you imagine some future president that's accused of serious wrongdoing, could he put his own attorney general in to investigate and potentially cover up potential crimes? That's what Judge Cannon is saying. That can't possibly be the law of the United States. AMANPOUR: Except, right, the Supreme Court basically said that in relation to Donald Trump's January 6th charges and all the rest of it, that he -- the Supreme Court granted broad immunity saying that presidential acts for the most part are covered under immunity. Do you think Judge Cannon -- I know she targeted the special prosecutor, but do you think she's also saying, hey, the Supreme Court's giving me cover? There's not going to be any grounds for appeal? KATYAL: Yes. No, there's massive grounds to appeal. It's an easy appeal. So, there's a difference between presidential immunity, which is what the Supreme Court said. And can't have special counsels at all against anyone, including a lower level executive branch official or say the president's son, Hunter Biden, because what she did today would invalidate the special counsel investigating Hunter Biden as well. I mean, both are wrong, but this is wrong on a different kind of scale and degree. And I think the way we know that is that there was only one justice, Christiane, who adopted anything like the special counsel is illegal view, and that was Justice Thomas in the Trump immunity case. No one else went anywhere near this, and this is not a decision that I suspect will stand the test of time. AMANPOUR: Do you think it was a political decision? KATYAL: Oh, I don't go into judges' motivations. I -- you know, so -- AMANPOUR: I tried. I tried, Neal. I know. I tried. Because everybody's trying to figure out why this happened, given everything that you've laid out and the fact that we've special counsels for decades on both sides of the political aisle. So, just, again, finally, you know, there are several cases against Donald Trump, several indictments, and this one was considered one of the most serious, is that correct? KATYAL: That's correct. It's really an open and shut criminal case. It should have already gone to trial. It's really easy. And unfortunately, this judge has slow walked the case and now has done this. And so, I think really, this is going to go to a very fast appeal in the Court of Appeals. And really, the only question for the special prosecutor, Jack Smith, is whether he's going to not just appeal, but seek the removal of Judge Cannon. That's something extraordinary for the Justice Department to seek. I suspect it's going to happen here. This judge has already been rebuked twice by the Court of Appeals in very serious language in this very case. And it may be that three strikes you're out is going to happen here. AMANPOUR: It's incredible that it happens on this day as well. Very, very interesting. Thank you for your legal analysis. Appreciate it. [13:30:00] So, as America reels from this moment of violence, many are reflecting and condemning the rise in political violence across the country. Here's President Biden again speaking during his Sunday address. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BIDEN: A former president was shot, an American citizen killed. I'll simply exercise his freedom to support the candidate of his choosing. We cannot, we must not go down this road in America. We've traveled before throughout our history. Violence has never been the answer, whether it's with members of Congress in both parties being targeted and shot, or a violent mob attacking the Capitol on January 6th, or a brutal attack on the spouse of former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, or information and intimidation on election officials, or the kidnapping plot against the sitting governor or an attempted assassination on Donald Trump. (END VIDEO CLIP) AMANPOUR: Our next guest is an expert on this political violence. Cynthia Miller-Idriss is the director of the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab at the American University. And she's joining me now from Washington, D.C. Welcome to the program. CYNTHIA MILLER-IDRISS, DIRECTOR, POLARIZATION AND EXTREMISM RESEARCH AND INNOVATION LAB: Thank you for having me. AMANPOUR: So, you just basically heard -- well, we saw what happened over the weekend, and you heard President Biden basically list a series of recent acts of political violence. This all happened pretty much in the last year or so. From everything you study, do you think it was a matter of time before it reached this terrible level? MILLER-IDRISS: I absolutely think it was a matter of time before we got to political assassinations. I mean, that has been sort of written on the wall for the last couple of years. We've been in a situation like this before, in the 1960s. This is the kind of violence we were seeing. And not only the escalations that preceded this in terms of the threats that Biden just laid out, but also the fact that we've had political assassinations in Germany and the U.K. in recent years. You know, there's a global kind of uptick in this with the rising temperature and likelihood to use and willingness to use political violence. AMANPOUR: Can you walk us through, from all your research and studies, what is the path towards this violence? Why is there this massive uptick now? MILLER-IDRISS: Well, there's sort of -- there's several different root causes that lead to increasing willingness to support and engage in political violence. One of those is an environment or a climate where there's a lot of us versus them rhetoric happening. So, a kind of sense that there's an existential threat coming from the other side that has to be met with violence. And sometimes people even think that's heroic violence. So, we have seen that a lot of times around conspiracy theories related to the Great Replacement, but also in terms of political violence and people thinking that this is what you have to do to save democracy. We saw that on January 6th, for example. But I will also say that in national survey after national survey, over the last couple of years, the single biggest predictor or among the top three predictors of support for political violence and willingness to engage in it is hostile sexism or misogyny. And that's something we really don't talk about very often in these conversations, is what does it mean to have rising online misogyny and hostile sexism, the kind of dehumanization that goes with that, and then willingness to engage in political violence. AMANPOUR: OK. So, obviously, for me that's very interesting and for everybody it should be very interesting. But in this case, it's appears to be man on man. MILLER-IDRISS: Yes. I mean, not talking about individual motivations of a single actor in that case, but talking about the population level willingness to support political violence, which hovers now between 10 and 20 percent in the U.S., that's what I'm talking about when I'm saying that tied to other types of misogyny and hostile sexism. In this case, we still don't know the shooter's individual motivations. And I would just say, remember that in the Ronald Reagan case, you know, we saw someone who thought he was impressing a movie star, right? So, I think we have to be careful about attributing motivations yet. AMANPOUR: You're absolutely right, of course. Now, building on what you just said, I just want to quote some stats because PBS News Hour from April showed that one in five, as you say, 20 percent that's one in five U.S. adults agree that "Americans may have to resort to violence to get their country back on track." Amongst Republicans, the number was higher, 28 percent, 12 percent amongst Democrats. That's pretty dire. So, explain to us this business. Because, you know, Trump's supporters believe that he is the defender of the country and of American values. Biden's supporters believe that he is defending America from authoritarian tendencies that would crash America's democracy. This stuff is playing into what's going on in the uptick in political violence, right? [13:35:00] MILLER-IDRISS: Absolutely. You know, and I would add to that, I mean, those statistics are dire enough already, but we also have seen data that shows those numbers get even worse. If people are asked, what happens if the other side is violent first? Then it goes up to as high as 40 percent that people say they'd be willing to use political violence. So, you know, in these moments where there's a lot of conspiracy theories and false flag kind of ideas and false misinformation, disinformation circulating, we're at high risk, you know, of additional violence because people think the other side has already done it. You know, but in terms of your question about what's -- you know, what's underpinning this, I think on the one hand, yes, you have both sides presenting an existential threat. The idea that democracy is in dire straits, and it is. We're on a list of backsliding democracies globally. Things are not going so well for the U.S. on the democratic side. So, you have that kind of sense. And then you have, you know, this bubbling up among ordinary citizens of supporting violence. So, it's not just among elites, it's among ordinary citizens. Even in my own social media feed over the last day or two among people saying things like you reap what you sow. I think that's really dangerous to actually justify a political assassination attempt. AMANPOUR: And then, you have what they -- everybody calls a moment. We're right on the eve or we're right at the start of the Republican National Convention. President Biden has said lower the temperature. Former President Trump has said that he's changing his speech to reflect a new call for unity. In your research, how much does the intervention of leaders, one way or another, affect the grassroots, one in five, 20 percent, 40 percent, as you just said, those who might have tendencies towards violence? MILLER-IDRISS: Well, it does help. It helps a lot to see the temperature get lowered from political elites, from elected officials. We definitely want to see that, the language of unity and the rejection of violence. The question is, what you're asking is like, can you put the genie back in the bottle and how quickly can you do that? And there, I'm a little more skeptical. I think we do see that among ordinary citizens who are, you know, either justifying this violence or calling for similar reprisal attacks that, you know, they're not necessarily listening right now to what two candidates are saying, they have already made up their mind. And that's where, I think, we have to see some vigilance and some real de-escalation happening within communities, not just among political elites and elected officials. AMANPOUR: And when you think about this, where do you think that this -- I mean, the genie back in the bottle is one way of saying it and of course, one can't in general. But there are methods of bridging, of making connections as opposed to just constantly pulling back into silos and tribes and convinced partisan, political and social, religious, I mean, all those positions that people now hold and treat the opposition as enemy rather than just a political opponent. MILLER-IDRISS: Yes, absolutely. I mean, the first thing to say about that is that there's really good evidence that you can prevent people from believing harmful information that persuades them to take violence as the solution, or to see violence as the solution to their political problems or to the problems that they see in the world. It just has to be done before they believe it, right? There's a kind of preventative work very upstream that is extremely effective evidence-based that people reject propaganda, harmful online content, conspiracy theories, if they're warned about them before they encounter them. Once they already believe them, once they already believe that an election is invalid, once they believe that there's an orchestrated attempt to disrupt an election or something, that's much harder to come back from. It's not to say that it can't be done, but it's much more like a therapeutic intervention and not a large-scale kind of media literacy intervention. So, we do need those types of things to happen, and it happens across the dinner table as much as it happens on the campaign trail. And that's what I would sort of urge people to think about is what are they saying in their own home environments, in their communities in terms of supporting violence and what are they saying to de-escalate or build bridges across those divides in their own neighborhoods? AMANPOUR: And then, what are they thinking and seeing when they watch four days or however long it is of this Republican Convention that will have all and any number of people, including the so-called flamethrowers on the MAGA side of the Republican Party? I mean, there's a huge responsibility now that the spotlight will absolutely be on all of them for the next several days. What do you think that they need to do? [13:40:00] MILLER-IDRISS: I mean, there's a very clear need to de-escalate Any calls for violence, violent rhetoric, to call for unity and to really call on citizens to remember our own humanity. No one deserves to be shot. I would never want to hear that kind of rhetoric, no matter how much you disagree with someone's political ideas. And, you know, I'm hearing that type of justification from across the political spectrum. We hear college students on our own campuses regularly now saying things like there's no political solution, whether that's to climate change or to immigration reform across the spectrum. That's a call to violence, right? If you hear a young person saying, there is no more political solution, that's a moment to have a conversation with them. So, yes, I think we have to see that de-escalation happening across the board. The flamethrowers, as you say, are problematic. But, you know, I'm seeing it in much more ordinary and everyday ways that worry me just as much. AMANPOUR: And it's going to be really interesting to see what Nikki Haley says and how she uses it because she's -- on her platform, because she's been invited, I guess, in order to show some unity and she -- we'll see. We'll see what happens. We'll all be on, on stage. MILLER-IDRISS: Yes, this is a good moment. AMANPOUR: Cynthia Miller-Idriss, thank you so much indeed for being with us tonight. Now, across the world, leaders are also sending messages of support to candidate, Former President Trump. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, wishing him a speedy recovery and decrying the attack on Saturday as "a tragedy for our democracies." Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy sent similar well wishes and said "such violence has no justification and no place anywhere in the world." And then, there are these responses. The Argentinian president, the libertarian, Javier Milei, blames the "international left," while the Slovenian prime minister, Robert Fico, who survived his own assassination attempt in May, pointed the finger at Trump's political opponents, also, at his press corps. My next guest has been working to combat toxicity in politics in her own country, that is Iceland's president-elect, Halla Tomasdottir, emphasize -- she emphasized the importance building bridges and creating a new paradigm for politics in her campaign. She joins me now from New York. And I know I mangled your name, Tomasdottir. That's it, right? HALLA TOMASDOTTIR, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF ICELAND: It means the daughter of Thomas. AMANPOUR: Exactly. TOMASDOTTIR: It's nice to be here with you, Christiane. AMANPOUR: Nice to be with you. So, obviously, I want to know, as a politician now, as a president-elect, what went through your mind? You are in New York at this moment when you heard what happened on Saturday. TOMASDOTTIR: Well, I'm just deeply saddened, honestly, Christiane. There is no place for violence in politics or anywhere, and it won't solve our deep disagreements and divisions that we're seeing, not just in the U.S. but increasingly around the world, although it seems more severe here. I do want to extend my condolences to Corey and his family and those injured in this tragic incident. But I think Ian Bremmer was probably right when I heard him say earlier this year in the Global Risk Report that the greatest risk in the world right now is that America is at war with itself. AMANPOUR: It's really quite sobering to hear you say that. And of course, you mentioned the gentleman who was killed as he was trying to protect his own family from the gunfire. So, you know, you said there's no place for this in politics. Obviously, in America there is. It's happened repeatedly. And so, you also may be heard our last guest who said that when she hears young people say, this can't be resolved by politics or, you know, they give up on politics, it's a -- it's sort of code for, well, you know, there are other extreme resorts. How do you deal with this issue in Iceland? Has there ever been, you know, even a hint of political violence? And if not, how do you deal with getting people to remain politically engaged to figure out solutions and how to have civil political debates? TOMASDOTTIR: Well, I've long been convinced, Christiane, that we need a different approach in politics and in leadership alike because there are deep divisions and even in rather safe Iceland where gun ownership and use is much less of a risk, just to give you one statistic for comparison that over the last quarter century we've had a total of five deaths because of gun violence. So, it's a very different reality. And our police as a normal day -- on a normal day wouldn't even carry around guns. So, it's a very different reality. [13:45:00] But we are seeing divisions and disagreements increasingly in Iceland as elsewhere. And I firmly believe that we need to start closing both the gender and generational gaps in leadership in order to move forward with a new leadership playbook. I just don't think that competition at the expense of everything that we care about, big egos and this focus of -- this focus on individual leaders is going to get us through this crisis of trust that we are experiencing everywhere in the world. And so, for decades, I've been a proponent of women and leadership. And for my campaign, I really focused on mobilizing young people. They were at the core of our campaign. We even had young people running their own office and campaign team. They even ran my TikTok account. And more importantly, we focused on a very positive campaign. And I made it very clear to my team and my supporters that if anybody didn't uphold to that promise of a positive campaign where we never went low, violent, hateful or anything like that, they heard from me immediately, if anybody took a step away from that. And they just didn't because I think leaders, at a time like this, they need to set the right tone. AMANPOUR: Which is amazing to hear, but of course the other side will say, or another side will say, well, it's really nice that Iceland can do that, but after all it's a little country and the most violence you have there are volcanoes. Can you really do that in a country as big and diverse as the United States? Do you think your political, you know, philosophy can actually work in bigger, more diverse countries? TOMASDOTTIR: Yes, maybe important to say here, Christiane, that our volcanoes are not dangerous and Iceland is safe to visit. MARTIN: Oh, my God, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. TOMASDOTTIR: No, that's OK. That's OK. It's important for me to know that people are welcome to Iceland they might find some inspiration in Mother Nature creating new land gender equality and sustainable energy and all the things that this incredible country is an example for. I'm not going to tell you that I think it's as easy in the United States as it is in Iceland, nor am I going to tell you that I think it's easy in Iceland. But we need bridging leadership. We need more humanity and more humility, and we need to think about leadership, not necessarily as coming from any single leader or any one political party or any one sector of society, we need -- and this is very much something I emphasized in my campaign, we need to start bringing people together across the different groups and opinions, different genders and generations, because in a low trust environment, we cannot go forward in a better way without learning to breathe again, to listen to each other, to be willing to learn and even change our opinions. And I think this is going to require, I guess, a very different leadership model. And I hope that this tragedy is a warning and a wakeup call where Americans, every American thinks hard about how will I choose to react to this? How will I choose my -- can I lay down the weapons, whether I use them through my words or actual physical weapons? And can I start to choose my words and my actions more carefully? Because I really believe that a collective shift in behavior is possible at this moment. And I hope the United States will choose a different path forward. It starts with leaders, but I think every single person has a role to play now. And I hope not just for America's sake, but for the world's sake that this is a moment we will emerge from with a different mindset about what matters and life matters. AMANPOUR: You know, my previous guest was basically saying that all their data showed that extremism and alienation and this kind of violent rhetoric, et cetera, is also, you know, really sort of rocket fueled by sexism and misogyny. And your country, Iceland, is the most gender equal country in the world. You had the first to democratically elect a female president back in 1980. How does that affect the society at large in your country? TOMASDOTTIR: Yes. I'm so glad to ask about this, Christiane, because I couldn't be prouder to be Icelandic. Historically, women changed my outlook on life when I was only seven years old, because they went on a strike, and nothing worked in Iceland on that day. And so, that's the best example of collective courageous leadership I've seen. And I guess I personally learned that day that when we stand in solidarity, peacefully, and in joy and sisterhood, we can actually shift and change the world. And five years later, we were the first to democratically elect a woman as president. And President Vigdis was a huge role model for me, elected in 1980. I was 11 years old. She often said during her presidency that if the world can be saved, it will be done by women and men who have the courage to support them and support their leadership. [13:50:00] And I have to say that I have, for decades, been an outspoken advocate for more women in leadership, but increasingly in my campaign now, I want us to close not just the gender gaps, but also the generational gaps in leadership, because I believe they hold the key to a livable world, and I think whether it's women or young people and many men who support this new leadership approach to life, they're looking for some inspiration on how we can do things differently. And this can be a moment where America chooses to show that there is another and better way forward. And I hope, sincerely, that we will choose to do that now because it matters not to all of us. AMANPOUR: And I know that you've lived and worked for a long time in the United States as well. But I want to ask you about -- you said TikTok earlier You had young people on your TikTok for the campaign, but there was also the issue of the silk scarf. You're wearing a silk scarf right now. So, I'm going to bring it up. You had that in the first debate, and then, of course, everybody had opinions, even in Iceland about it. The scarf went viral. Even dogs started wearing them. Men started wearing them. We're just going to see this TikTok video as we talk. But the text says, use your right to vote. So, what was this moment all about? TOMASDOTTIR: Well, first, I really did speak a lot to young people that it was important not just to use their right, but also their responsibility to vote. And I am proud of the fact that we had over 80 percent of voter turnout in Iceland, which is the best in three decades. So, quite remarkable. And 75 percent of the vote went to women candidates. So, Iceland really does pounce above its weight and -- when it comes to gender equality. But I believe -- I think people are actually suffering right now, Christiane, and I think they're looking for a more positive approach to the future, and they are looking for a sense of belonging. And I'm afraid that politicians and maybe even business leaders alike are not necessarily always offering people that. And to me, the silk scarf became a community- based campaign. It wasn't just about me, but it was about a vision of bringing all of us together to craft a better way forward for Iceland. It's a way forward that doesn't use violence as a way to settle disagreements, but by a log and design. Because we're at transformational times, Christiane. We cannot deliver a better future for the next generation that increasingly has lost hope without inviting them to be active participants in shaping that future. AMANPOUR: Connections is the word. Halla Tomasdottir, thank you so much. What a great way to end this program. Thank you. And now, I hand you over to my colleagues in the United States for special coverage of the Republican Convention in Milwaukee, which is about to get underway. [13:53:00] END CNN News Central Aired July 15, 2024 - 13:30 ET THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. [13:30:00] … KAITLIN COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR & CO-HOST, "THE SOURCE WITH KAITLIN COLLINS": …right in front of the Florida delegation. And that is crucial because that, of course, is the delegation during that roll call that you just mentioned, and once it gets underway will be a state that puts Donald Trump over the line as he is becoming, the third time, the Republican nominee for president. This is his third Republican convention. The last one was held at the White House. This is the second one that he has had a real one since 2016. And of course, one of the big questions that so many people still have is who his running mate on that ticket is going to be, Jake. And as you know, Donald Trump likes to keep people guessing, as he did in 2016. And I've been talking to sources all morning long, all weekend long about this. And obviously, there's no doubt that what happened Saturday night was really the focus of the last 24 hours or so. But also Donald Trump himself hasn't quite focused on who that pick is going to be. I am told that, as of a few hours ago, Donald Trump was still waffling over what his selection was going to be. That means even those candidates who know that they are at the top of the list have still been left in the dark. The names that we've been talking about, obviously, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum. Those have really been the three finalists that Trump has been talking about. But I have learned, Jake, that Donald Trump has been very preoccupied with the idea that, if he does pick Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, of course, someone who once challenged him for the Republican nomination, he has a concern that it could create residency issues. Obviously, the vice president and president cannot both be from the same state to be on that presidential ticket. Marco Rubio would have to essentially resign his Senate seat, move. Donald Trump has become quite concerned that this could be caught up in the courts. He has a long fear. He does not think the legal system is fair to him, as you well know. And so, for that reason, I am told that Marco Rubio seems to have potentially fallen out of contention. [13:55:03] Now, of course, it is Donald Trump. And that comes with a caveat that nothing is final until it's final. But that is what we have been hearing, Jake. And Donald Trump himself may come here to announce his pick. It still remains to be seen how he will do so. But it does show that there is still a lot of uncertainty in this race, even as we are on day one of the Republican convention, Jake, here from the floor in Milwaukee itself. TAPPER: All right, Kaitlan, thanks so much. We're going to check back with you. Let's get more analysis from my panel. And, Dana, it seems like every single thing at this convention is unprecedented. Marco -- by the way, if Marco Rubio were the nominee -- and we have no indication that he will be -- that would not be unprecedented. As you might remember, in 2000, when George W. Bush picked Dick Cheney, who lived in Texas. He just moved back to Wyoming. DANA BASH, CNN ANCHOR & CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Yes, a decade for Dick Cheney. TAPPER: Right. When Dick Cheney picked Cheney. But we're dating ourselves. BASH: Yes. TAPPER: In any case, this is going to be quite a night. I can't believe that they've held the secret that long. When -- when we say that, usually, we know who the nominee is by this point, it's usually because a reporter has figured it out. BASH: Yes. And it'll probably happen soon. These finalists, the people who we believe are the finalists, the men who are the finalists, are here in town in their hotel rooms. I was talking to a top staffer of one of them. I mean, to say that there are on pins and needles is an understatement. Here's one thing that's not unprecedented, is the business that is going to occur behind us, which is the nuts and bolt -- nuts and bolts, rather, of what a convention does, which is not only to adopt the rules, but to actually nominate their candidate for president. And we are going to see that tonight. This afternoon. I should say. And then they do have to actually formally nominate the person who's going to be on the ticket. So presumably, in the next couple of hours, we will know who that will be. TAPPER: And, John, John King, you have -- you have broken in the past who the running mate was. Are you surprised that they've held this as well and this long? JOHN KING, CNN ANCHOR & CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, in the sense that I think sometimes people have this overly locked-in impression Trump is temperamental, Trump is indecisive, Trump is this, Trump is that. Around conventions, if you go back to the 2016 convention when he also had a big pick like this, they made a very disciplined choice. At that convention, very unlike this room -- that's Donald Trump's room behind you. That is Donald Trump's room. In 2016, there was still talk, you know, Ted Cruz or someone else tried to take it away. And they picked Mike Pence, what, about a week out. And that sent a signal. We're going to middle America, former governor, a member of the House, governor at the time, member of the House, Christian conservative. And then any opposition from the Republican base went away like that. This is interesting in that those three finalists, maybe no surprise to us. Traditionally, Michael Dukakis, my first one, picked Lloyd Bentsen, right, Massachusetts, picked Texas. But Al Gore was picked by Bill Clintons. This -- Trump reminds me of this. He's picking somebody from MAGA, somebody who's with him, deciding I'm in a position of strength. I don't need to address a weakness. We'll see -- and the political pros can answer this better than I can -- if that plays out. Trump's biggest weakness, if you're looking at how to put together a Republican coalition is suburban women. TAPPER: Yes. KING: And as best we know, there are no women on his shortlist. One of them will be speaking here, Nikki Haley, someone who we know could help him. But he's unconventional in how he does this. Although, I would say, in 2016, he listened to the political people. So we'll see what he does now. TAPPER: And, Chris Wallace, you've covered the Reagan assassination in 1981. There is also this wild the card of the fact that President Trump famously, just survived an assassination attempt with an iconic pose afterwards. And we have no idea -- it seems crude to even talk about the politics of it but we can't ignore them. We have no idea how that's going to play into the convention or the -- or the campaign. CHRIS WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR, "WHO'S TALKING TO CHRIS WALLACE": Well, the one thing I would say about the Ragan assassination attempt in 1981 is it changed the public's view of him. He was very a controversial figure, although he won by a landslide. And it really cemented a bond between Reagan and the American people. Because they saw in a way that you don't normally see of politicians, they saw the make of the man, the measure of the man, and the strength and the courage and the humor of Ronald Reagan in the weeks that passed. Twenty-nine days after he was shot outside the Hilton Hotel, he addressed a joint session of Congress and proposed a tremendously controversial plan, spending cuts, tax cuts. It all sailed through. And I think part of that that was the wind at his back. But it also changes the man. It changed Ronald Reagan. And he famously told Cardinal Cook (ph) afterwards, I feel that whatever time I have left, it's for God. And I -- I -- not to get overly sentimental about this, but you refer to the interviews that Trump has done overnight, he was deeply affected, as anybody would be going through a near death occurrence. TAPPER: All right, the convention is starting. Let's listen in. [13:59:57] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This convention will come to order. (CHEERING) … CNN Live Event/Special Aired July 15, 2024 - 14:00 ET THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. [14:00:06] MICHAEL WHATLEY, RNC CHAIRMAN: Delegates and alternate delegates, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 2024 Republican National Convention. Before we begin the official business of this convention, let us please take a moment of silence to reflect on the terrible events that took place in Butler, Pennsylvania, and to pray for the victims and their families. Thank you. Offering today's invocation, please welcome from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, His Eminence, Archbishop Elpidophoros. ARCHBISHOP ELPIDOPHOROS GREEK ORTHODOX PRIMATE OF AMERICA: Let us pray to the Lord of all, almighty and eternal God, in peace we come before you and implore your infinite goodness, look upon this gathering of our nation's political leaders and grant them illuminant hearts and minds to serve their fellow citizens through this Republican National Convention. Grant and to the nominee, President Donald J. Trump, and his advisors and counselors, wisdom, grace, and the spirit of duty that they may embrace all Americans' needs, shining the light on good governance upon the venerable institutions of the world's best hope for everyone's life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. Grant unto the delegates a powerful recognition of purpose to bear witness to divine providence, which has shielded this great land through the centuries, and drives us to a more perfect union with one another, ever building on the labors of those pioneers of patriotism, who went before us. Preserve, protect and defend the servicemen and women who daily safeguard our freedoms, so that in prosperity and tranquility, we can worship you the creator, redeemer in sanctifier of the universe, and be the blessed people whose God is the Lord. Amen. WHATLEY: Would everyone please rise for the presentation of colors? JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: We have some new reporting from Kristen Holmes. Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee has apparently made his decision about who his running mate will be, Kristen. KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. So, we have -- Mark Preston has heard from a single source that Donald Trump has made his decision. And that seems to be clear, because we are also told by two sources familiar that Marco Rubio, the senator from Florida has been informed that he is not the choice for vice president. Now, just to go over what Katelyn had said just moments ago. There are three people that we know have been at the top of the list for consideration. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, who has now been told he is not the choice, Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota, and J. D. Vance of Ohio. We did see Vance leaving his home earlier today. He was in what looks to be a motorcade. We have obviously been reading all of the tea leaves around that. But we were told that we shouldn't speculate that all of these three top contenders have been given extra security after the shooting on Saturday. But of course, we are still now looking at a list of three that has been narrowed down to likely two people. TARLOV: All right, thank you, Kristen. Right now, the colors are being presented by the Ozaukee County Sheriff honor guard and we're going to listen to the Pledge of Allegiance. Let's listen in. WHATLEY: Debbie Kraulidis to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. DEBBIE KRAULIDIS, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Thank you so much. What an honor. This is for all of us. Please join me. I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [14:05:06] WHATLEY: And now, to perform the National Anthem please welcome John Stanford. JOHN STANFORD: Oh say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight. O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. O, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. TAPPER: Chris Wallace it seems as though it is between J. D. Vance and Doug Burgum, the vice presidential pick. What more can you tell us? CHRIS WALLACE, CNN HOST: Well, one, the vice presidential pick has been reported is in, it appears it's down to two. We're told that right after the president goes over the top when Florida picks him and he is the officially the nominee of the party, that he is expected to come here to the hall to announce his vice presidential pick. And we're being told that it's going to be 4:37 Eastern Time. 3:37 Central Time. So, you know, you can't imagine a more dramatic moment. Donald Trump his first time in public since the assassination attempt coming here. I don't know if he still has the bandage on his right ear he had a couple of days ago but also coming bringing with him his running by for the Republican nomination for president -- vice president. TAPPER: And Dana Bash, if the reporting is accurate, and it is between these two individuals, J. D. Vance and Doug Burgum. Those are two pretty different choices. DANA BASH, CNN HOST: Very different choices. And listen, all of our reporting suggests that in the last week, and certainly several days, that those are the two that we believe were left. But we also know that Donald Trump likes to surprise people. So, who knows if there's somebody -- some dark horse that we don't know about. Very, very different Doug Burgum sitting governor of North Dakota, somebody who is a businessman, one of the main reasons why Donald Trump likes him is because he is a self-made man. And then, of course, J. D. Vance, who has effectively become even though he didn't start out life this way, just the opposite, a disciple of the former president and is definitely somebody who his sons, particularly Donald Trump Jr. is very publicly in favor of. TAPPER: Yes, very interesting. And then during this musical interlude, we're going to talk a little bit more about this. Abby Phillip, your thoughts on the moment? ABBY PHILLIP, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I mean, Jake, I think this is really a unique moment for Donald Trump in particular, he's run for president now three times. But this is really the first time that he is making a vice presidential decision that is all his own where he really doesn't need -- when I talk to Republicans, they don't think he needs anything from a vice presidential pick at this moment, except for the one thing that he requires of everybody around him, which is loyalty. And loyalty is also extended even beyond just the relationship between him and that person. There is a thinking that this is also about what comes next for the Republican -- the Republican Party. I mean, Donald Trump is 78 years old. I mean, he served I have a near death experience this weekend but he is aware that the MAGA movement has to live on beyond him and I think he takes great pride in the way that he has shaped this Republican Party. [14:10:10] And Mike Pence in a way was a pick for that moment but was not the person who would carry on the MAGA flag and I think that's going to be one of the key things is how satisfied is he, either of these men can do that for him? TAPPER: David Urban your thoughts on the choice we're about to -- DAVID URBAN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: So, listen, I agree with everything that's been said, right? Two different -- completely different courses, right? J. D. Vance is kind of the future of MAGA and Doug Burgum is a steady safe pick. Calm down people in the suburbs. Montgomery County, right, Delaware County voters. They come a little more comfortable with the -- with the Trump ticket, I think. Interestingly, both John and Dana pointed out. We were here at '16. Last time we had a convention it was 2016. It was a different vibe in the building in 2016 than it is today. Ted Cruz is going to make a run. Ken Cuccinelli went to the floor and challenge -- to challenge it. So, it was a completely different feeling. I was on the floor today, completely different feeling amongst the delegates. Today, I mean, these are Donald Trump's delegates, they are here for him. He's going to come out on stage, triumphant, victorious. It is a big moment for the Republican Party today this afternoon, and moving forward. Completely unlike anything we've seen, since -- I mean, perhaps, I don't know when the party has been this unified. It will be at 4:00 or 3:37 Eastern this afternoon. TAPPER: I don't think that there is any one person in the Republican Party who symbolizes more the degree to which Donald Trump has made this party his own than Senator Mike Lee who was on the floor with Ken Cuccinelli leading the floor revolt to try to make Ted Cruz the nominee, and now is just a -- to put it nicely, on board. DAVID AXELROD, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes, there's no doubt this is Donald Trump's party. You know, what strikes me this whole discussion about the photo -- the iconic photo the other day, the stage crafting of this vice presidential choice. Donald Trump is a showman and a marketer. And he has guided this whole process, I was told that his staff wanted to announce this V.P. pick earlier, and he said, no, I want to do it on the stage on Monday. And so, this was a reflection of Trump, the marketer. TAPPER: Kasie? KASIE HUNT, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: This is if this had played out under different circumstances, if that horrible event in Pennsylvania hadn't happened, and they were planning this. I mean, we knew that they were discussing doing it this way, all the way along. I mean, the buildup here, sort of "The Apprentice" style suspense would -- we would have been engaged in it for probably at least 24 hours, if not more. I mean, normally, when we are covering the, "veepstakes," I'll be honest, it's my least favorite story in the presidential campaign cycle. WALLACE: Really? HUNT: I really don't like it very much. WALLACE: John, how many -- how many have you broke down? Which veepstakes did you break, John? HUNT: There you go, maybe someday. JOHN KING, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Lloyd Benson and Al Gore. WALLACE: Lloyd Benson and Al Gore. HUNT: He was the legendary Associated Press reporter. Of course he did. TAPPER: What? You broke -- you broke George Bush in 1980? WALLACE: I beat Lesley Stahl by 44 seconds. TAPPER: But who's counting? But who is counting? Who is counting? WALLACE: Well, I was counting. KING: That's probably the only -- but does it matter this time? That's the only thing. Usually, this is a big drama. Everyone chases the story. Yes, I broke two of them. They were great for my career. 10 minutes later, who cares? Right? Because the vice president doesn't matter, people vote for president. However, if Biden stays on the ticket, the Trump campaign is going to say a vote for Biden is a vote for Harris. So, then, does his pick matter more because of that? Right? Does that matter more? J. D. Vance is a threat, 37 years old. He's been -- he's been in the Senate for 17 months. When Barack Obama ran for president, the same Republican Party that would say J. D. Vance is awesome said doesn't have the experience to be president. When Kamala Harris was picked as Biden's vice president, she had way more experienced than J. D. Vance elected politics, including California as a prosecutor in the United States Senate. And this Republican Party said she's not qualified. This Republican Party if it's J. D. Vance at 4:37 p.m. today, we'll say awesome. AXELROD: If there -- you know, I think I'm the only one on this. I didn't break any of those stories on that. I was involved in choosing one. HUNT: Yes, you picked one. TAPPER: You picked Biden. AXELROD: I will tell you that one of the questions that you ask yourself is not just certainly those kinds of questions. What kind of message does it send? But also how will they hold up? How will they hold up? I remember when John McCain picked Sarah Palin and Barack Obama's initial reaction was, well, I get woman, independent out of -- but he said, you know, this run for national office thing is tough. He said it took me a long time to figure it out. Now, maybe she's a great talent and can jump into this maelstrom and thrive and prosper. He said, but I give it a month and a month from that day she did the Katie Couric interview and that was the end. One of the questions I'm sure he's been -- he should be asking is how many is people going to hold up in this? HUNT: Well, and one -- TAPPER: So, I'm sorry. I need to go to Kaitlan Collins right now. But right now just onstage we're hearing from Vicki Drummond, who is the Secretary of the convention. Kaitlan Collins on the floor. Over to you. [14:15:01] KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Yes. Jake. Obviously, we're just getting underway with all of the beginnings of the convention. Pledge of Allegiance, the song and everything. I'm right here outside the Florida delegation. Obviously, that is key because it is going to be what puts Donald Trump over the top to officially get the nomination. Also, the they're getting the news that Senator Marco Rubio himself has been informed he will not be Donald Trump's vice presidential pick, obviously that would have created a bit of a complication given Rubio is a resident of Florida and there were questions of whether or not he'd have to move and whatnot. I do have a member of the Florida delegation here with me who is going to be a delegate, Darlene Cerezo Swaffar. It's great to have you. First, before we get into your state, it's going to be the one that put Donald Trump over the top. What's your reaction to the news that Senator Marco Rubio will not be Donald Trump's running mate on the ticket? DARLENE CEREZO SWAFFAR (R), CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE OF FLORIDA: Well, that was my question, if he is a Florida resident, unless one of them moves, wouldn't have been possible. But my pick from the beginning was always Elise Stefanik, I love her. She's a very powerful conservative that we have in the house. I love her platform. She's very well respected. She's has an excellent voting record along, you know, party lines. And I think that she could bring in the woman vote. I think that would have been a better choice for V.P. But that's my -- you know, my estimation. COLLINS: What do you make of the other options? It's North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Ohio Senator J. D. Vance, either of those. Would you like to see them? CEREZO SWAFFAR: I like J. D. Vance. I think he's been very loyal to Trump. And I think he'd be, you know, a great conservative and, you know, it's a -- it's a personality concern, right? So, Trump is very powerful in his own right, I think it has to be somebody that could allow Trump to be Trump and the V.P. to be V.P. and then also be strong enough to be ready to step in, in case, you know if that ever happens, to step in and be president. So, it has to be somebody worthy and capable of doing that. COLLINS: Darlene Cerezo Swaffar, great to have you. Thank you. This is of course, the Florida delegation, Jake. It will be incredibly, incredibly celebratory here in a few moments. And I should note, there's a row about five or six chairs at the front that are reserved for Donald Trump's immediate family members. So, we will see Donald Trump Jr., Tiffany Trump, Eric Trump, we saw those names at the front. So, expect to see them at the front when their father does meet that line and that threshold to cross over into enough delegates to officially become the Republican nominee, Jake. TAPPER: Let's hop over from the Florida delegation to the Ohio delegation, because Phil Mattingly is with the governor of Ohio, Mike DeWine, Phil. PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Jake. I am here with Governor Mike DeWine. And Governor, I think the question on everybody's mind right now inside this arena is there's somebody from your delegation who may become the next vice president of the United States, or at least be nominated to be so. Have you heard anything at this point? GOV. MIKE DEWINE (R-OH): Well, we've heard a lot, but I'm not sure we know what's going to happen yet. Certainly, there's a lot of talk on the floor about J. D. Vance. And that would be a great thing for Ohio. But we're waiting to hear from the president. MATTINGLY: Can I ask you, you hosted the 2016 -- Ohio hosted the 2016 convention, this is a very different moment than it was in 2016 in terms of unity behind the former president. Do you -- do you sense that here as well? DEWINE: Well, it certainly as we were at that convention, and certainly it's different, because it's certainly a unified party behind President Trump. There's no doubt about that. MATTINGLY: What do you think in the wake of the assassination attempt, the party, the president's -- former president's message should be going forward in this general election? DEWINE: Well, I think what President Trump -- former President Trump has said so far has been very good. First of all, we're -- you know, we're so grateful that he was not killed. And I think that what he has said, basically that's, tone this down some, it's been very consistent. The two -- the two presidents, President Biden and former President Trump are really saying the same thing. I think that would be a great thing for this country. Look, we know what our differences are between the parties. We know there's even differences within each party. And these two things can be debated and should be, as we've always done throughout our history. But we need to tone this down. I think the people of this country want us to do that. They want us to have a good -- a good debate, a tough, hard debate, but to do it in a way that's respectful. And I think what we've -- what President Trump has been saying the last few days, I think, is spot on. And I think it's a good thing. MATTINGLY: Do you think it can last? DEWINE: We can only hope. We can only hope. You know, we -- both parties have a responsibility to try to do this. We all know the differences. We know that what the issues are in the campaign, but there's a way of doing it. And I think what this reminded us this almost horrible tragedy is that we are one country and we should be celebrating what brings us together. MATTINGLY: Yes, it's certainly the message that Trump campaign has been trying to push for Governor Mike DeWine, we appreciate it. Thank you so much. Back to you, Jake. TAPPER: Thanks so much, Phil. At any moment we could learn the identity of Donald Trump's vice presidential pick. We are standing by for that as well as for former President Trump's official nomination, there's much more ahead on CNN special coverage of the Republican National Convention. We're going to squeeze in a quick break. We'll be right back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) [14:24:38] ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: It is day one of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, we're going to go straight to CNN's Kaitlan Collins on the floor of the convention with some news about the vice presidential pick. Kaitlan, what have you learned? COLLINS: Yes, Anderson, I'm standing over here in the North Dakota delegation, which unfortunately is not going to have a candidate on the ticket this year because we have been informed that Governor Doug Burgum has been told he is not going to be Donald Trump's vice presidential pick to be on the ticket with him. [14:25:04] Now, over to my right is the Ohio delegation. Obviously we have been talking all morning that the last three names that we have been hearing were Florida Senator Marco Rubio, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, and Ohio Senator J. D. Vance. So far, J. D. Vance we have not heard from his team. We were obviously asking them, but they were trying to leave an element of surprise to this announcement. But we have been told Doug Burgum is not expected to be the pick. Now, that's notable because Donald Trump that we've been -- as we were reporting had been really waffling on his choice, going back and forth hearing from a lot of donors, powerful donors and powerful figures. People like Rupert Murdoch, who wanted to see him pick Doug Burgum as his vice presidential running mate, saying, that he would be a good selection for him. And Trump's phone I can tell you from what I've heard has been a stream of phone calls from allies of Doug Burgum of J. D. Vance's of Marco Rubio's in recent days, but we are now learning that Doug Burgum is not expected to be on the ticket with Donald Trump, Anderson. COOPER: All right, Kaitlan, we'll come back to you shortly. I'm going to check with Jeff Zeleny. Jeff, what are you hearing? JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Anderson, we are hearing that North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, he has just really been steps away from this convention hall. For the last day or so, waiting on pins and needles for that phone call from former President Donald Trump as Kaitlan was just saying there. Governor Burgum has been a loyal soldier and a surrogate for Donald Trump. You'll remember he actually ran for president on his own. It was one year ago here in Milwaukee. He was on the debate stage, of course that fizzled out after the early votes. But I am told by a Republican close to the governor that he says Governor Burgum supports President Trump and whoever he decides to choose. So, that is the question here now, on the floor. I'm standing on the podium where the official business will begin including that nomination for the vice president. That's extraordinary. No one knows who that will be. Of course, the process of elimination is playing out just like Donald Trump would like it. Again, it's a game of elimination, but for now, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, we know is also off the list, Anderson. COOPER: All right, Jeff Zeleny, thanks. Back to the team here. Jonah Goldberg, Kate Bedingfield, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Van Jones, Scott Jennings. Scott, I mean, J. D. Vance is the only name last -- left on the list of three that a lot of people have been talking about. It's possible there could be somebody else out there, a surprise. SCOTT JENNINGS, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes, that's been alluded to today. But -- and there are other names floating around. But obviously, the focus is on Vance right now and has some ties to Kentucky. Like me, he's a senator from Ohio. He's had an interesting journey, you know, started out kind of as a -- as a never Trumper, I think he even voted for Evan McMullin for President in 2016. But his sense said, I was wrong about Donald Trump. Now, his journey is not that much different than a lot of other Republicans who didn't support Donald Trump in 2016, who have now mostly come around to supporting him. And he has become one of the high priests of Trumpism and of MAGA, inside the Republican Party and in American politics, he's very young. And so, choosing someone like this for vice president is a clear signal of a passing of the torch when Donald Trump finally exits the stage. Whenever that happens to be, obviously Vance would be in a position to carry it forward. COOPER: He's also got support of Donald Trump's son Don Jr. ALYSSA FARAH GRIFFIN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Who's been a very, very vocal supporter of his. The thing with Vance is this. Yes, he has kind of taken up the Trumpist mantle of populism, a very different direction that the Republican Party is going. But having worked for Vice President Pence and seeing how they interacted in the White House, that what Trump wants in a vice president is not someone who's going to outshine him, not someone who's going to drive more headlines than him, who's going to get more attention when he travels on the world stage. I've always been skeptical of this pick for that reason. We also know that loyalty is a big factor. And I think it's hard to be truly convinced that somebody who called him America's Hitler as recently as 2016, a moral disaster and reprehensible is truly a convert to Trumpism. Now, I would not rule out a wild card here, but there is -- I also think he's a bit of a risky pick. I think that he's extremely polarizing. He doesn't add anything Trump himself doesn't have. But he does have the family support and that's big. KATE BEDINGFIELD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: And if you think about what Donald Trump has to do here, I mean, he has -- he needs to win support with suburban women, he needs to -- that's one of the pieces of the coalition that he's weakest with. I'm not sure that J. D. Vance is somebody who gets you there as you're thinking about what a vice presidential nominee can add to your ticket. I think, you know, as Alyssa was saying, I mean, he really doubled down on some of the most alienating things about MAGAism for that universe of people. So, I think, you know, it is -- it is an interesting choice. He's certainly somebody who, you know, has a big megaphone and can go out there and carry the -- carry the flame, carry the banner for Donald Trump. I'm not sure that he actually does the persuasive work that I think ultimately is where the selection is going to be decided. I absolutely agree that I think there's still a dark horse candidate out there. I still think, you know, I'm sure I'll be -- I'll be shouted down later. But I still think Nikki Haley is a possibility here. You had Donald Trump, you know, come out of the events this weekend, say he wants to put forward a unifying message. He said, he's alluded to the fact that his choice is going to be a surprise. If you want to -- if you want to send a message that you're about unifying -- COOPER: Youngkin is the name. BEDINGFIELD: And another possibility, I would argue that Haley carries a little bit more of the -- you know, she sends a more unifying signal in this moment, but you know, we'll see. We'll see. CNN Live Event/Special Aired July 15, 2024 - 14:30 ET THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. [14:30:00] … JONAH GOLDBERG, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes, I think there's a lot of logic to picking Nikki Haley in terms of winning over the Haley anti-Trump vote. The problem is, is that Haley divides the GOP now in a way that a Glenn Youngkin does not every. Not everybody loves Glenn Youngkin, but nobody hates Glenn Youngkin in the GOP coalition. There are people who have very hard feelings about Nikki Haley. I think they could get over them, but -- and maybe they would if Trump picked her. Because the party would -- would unify around anybody. I agree with Amanda on Vance, though. The pick has never made much sense to me in that people always say, well, he can win over blue- collar people in Ohio and Michigan. The blue-collar people that are inclined to go for Trump are already going for Trump. And J.D. Vance is not the guy to win them over. And he's certainly not the guy to win over skeptical suburban housewives or any of those -- that crowd. But I've also always said, including a bunch of times on air, that the more the Trump team thinks he's going to win, the more Vance's chances improve. Because he's not a campaign pick. He's a governing pick. To put in much more serious MAGA people in all of those positions in government that -- like Mike Pence did a lot of good work doing. And that spells a real change in the Republican Party they're going forward if that -- if that's the case. VAN JONES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: This is scary dude, scary dude. Because if you are hoping that, after this near-death experience, we're going to have a kumbaya convention, this is not a kumbaya pick. And so this would signal that Donald Trump is planning on doing a lot of hard governing. He's got somebody in there who is a pit bull. He's an attack dog. He went to law school. He's going to be in there making a whole bunch of stuff happen. So if you're worried about the Project 2025 and all that type of stuff, this is the guy that's going to really keep you up at night. The only thing I want to say is that we've talked a lot about Biden not being healthy. Donald Trump is -- he eats cheeseburgers all times. He's got heart disease. That's been reported. This could be the president of the United States here. We talk about Kamala Harris. If J.D. Vance is next in line, either now or later, you're talking about a hardening of the Republican Party around a MAGA agenda with a very capable guy that does scare the crap out of a lot of Democrats. And so this is not going to be a kumbaya convention if he's the pick. COOPER: Coming up, suspense building for the announcement of Donald Trump's vice-presidential pick. We're standing by for that. And for Trump's official nomination for president. We'll be back in a moment. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) [14:37:41] JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: And we're live at the Republican National Convention here in Milwaukee, battleground state of Wisconsin, standing by for the identity of Donald Trump's running mate to be revealed. CNN has learned that two of the three contenders that we've known about, Senator Marco Rubio and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, both of them have been told they have not been chosen. There's this third other contender. Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, apparently still in the running. And also there's always a possibility of a wildcard. Let's go to CNN's Phil Mattingly, who is with the Ohio delegation. Phil, do they know anything that we don't? PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CHIEF DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENT: Jake, what's been fascinating is there has been a buzz as there has been reporting about the two individuals who we're in the running that are no longer in the running. That seems to leave it to one. Although, people in the Ohio delegation say they're not of knowledge of anything at this point. But it's been fascinating. You see cameras coming over to the Ohio delegation, which, in the last couple of cycles, has not necessarily been the battleground or the center stage for politics as it used to be. MATTINGLY: I'm joined now by the Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted. I'll ask you what Jake Tapper just asked me. Do you know anything about whether or not J.D. Vance will be the selection for vice president? LT. GOV. JON HUSTED, (R-OH): Well, I think that there are a lot of us that are hopeful that's going to happen. It's never official until it's announced. But I'm pretty optimistic J.D's going to be the guy. MATTINGLY: You say, Ohio, which used to be sort of center stage for every general election race, it's been a little red, I would say, over the last few cycles. What does it mean for the state to have J.D. Vance, should he get this nomination? HUSTED: Well, it means a great thing for the country because J.D. Vance is a Make America Great Again advocate. He's a full-throated defender of Donald Trump's agenda. He's an articulate one. He has a great background. Grew up in poverty. He was a Marine Corps veteran. He has -- he's an articulate advocate for closing the borders, making "Made in America" an agenda for -- for manufacturing, protecting our communities. He's just got it all and would make a great nominee. MATTINGLY: And certainly the people from Ohio -- did you guys see Buckeyes earlier somewhere? Can we see the Buckeyes -- (CROSSTALK) HUSTED: J.D. is a graduate of the Ohio State University, so he's pretty excited about it. MATTINGLY: And as a fellow graduate of the Ohio State University, Jake, I should say it is a great institution, apolitically great institution. Jake, back to you. TAPPER: Yes. We're going to get Daniel Dale, on the fact-check team, out on that later on. [14:40:02] Let's go to Kaitlan Collins, who's near the Michigan delegation right now. Kaitlan, what are you hearing about the vetting process for whomever President Trump picked to be vice president? KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR & CO-HOST, "THE SOURCE WITH KAITLAN COLLINS": Jake, I should just note, when we're talking about Ohio, Michigan is actually the ones that have the national championship right now. Obviously, I would know that because they beat Alabama. But on this front of this V.P. pick and what this has been looking like, let me just shed some light on how crazy this has been over the last several days inside Trump's world, where it was very clear that Donald Trump is someone who is often influenced by the last person he speaks to, the last person to kind of put in a good word for someone. And that is why all of these people who we're up for consideration for V.P. we're having their advocates and allies calling Donald Trump basically on a nonstop basis. It almost turned into kind of a battle of the billionaires at one point, where Rupert Murdoch, of course, the chairman emeritus of Fox Corp, was calling on but a half of Doug Burgum. He was someone who had been advocating for him. He was in his corner and certainly wanted to see Burgum on the ticket with Donald Trump. Meanwhile, for Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, he had people like Elon Musk on his side, who we're pushing for him and told Donald Trump they thought he would be better suited to serve as his vice president should he be re-elected in November. It really became, to a degree, a battle of the billionaires in the last several weeks as Donald Trump was weighing these picks on who would be the best running mate for him -- Jake? TAPPER: Kaitlan, thanks so much. Coming up, as we await Donald Trump's running mate announcement, we're also counting down to his official nomination here at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Our coverage continues right after this quick break. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) [14:46:97] ANDERSON: House Speaker Mike Johnson has just began speaking at the convention in Milwaukee. Let's listen. REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA): -- for vice president shall not exceed 15 minutes. It has also been the custom at past conventions to permit the chair to recognize nondelegates for the purpose of making nominating speeches and seconding speeches. Without objection, the reading of the roll call of states for presenting the names for candidates for nominations is dispensed with and nondelegates shall be permitted to make nominating and seconding speeches. At this time, the chair now recognizes the delegate from Iowa and the chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa, Jeff Kaufmann, for the purpose of nominating. Please give him a warm welcome. (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) JEFF KAUFMAN, CHAIRMAN, REPUBLICAN PARTY OF IOWA: Good afternoon. I'm Jeff Kaufmann. And I'm humbled and honored to stand before all of you this afternoon. As you've just heard, I come from Iowa, home of the first-in-the- nation caucus where our party's nomination process begins. Our caucus is a part of a lengthy democratic process, in which everyday Americans listen to the candidates, considered what they have to say, and then make a profoundly important choice on who should lead the nation that we love. Earlier this year, Iowa Republicans overwhelmingly voted for Donald Trump. (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) KAUFMANN: Then the vast majority of Republicans in primaries and caucuses across the nation, seconded Iowa's good judgment in a nominee. (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) KAUFMANN: Today is the final step before Election Day in this venerable and time-honored process. As we all gather here in Milwaukee, it's important for us to remember that this is a grass- roots party. (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) KAUFMANN: It's a party of the people, not a party of the bosses. (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) KAUFMANN: Donald Trump has earned the trust of the people. He has listened to them. And Donald Trump has kept his word. (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) KAUFMANN: Over the next four days, we will hear about the many failures of the Biden-Harris administration. The sustained criticism does not proceed from a mean or narrow partisanship but from the broad and sincere concern for the well-being and safety of our fellow Americans. It's part of our service to our country. More importantly, we will also hear about Donald Trump's broad and inspiring vision for our country. That is not a program just for Republicans, but one for all Americans. (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) KAUFMANN: It reflects the value of America. It's a program that acknowledges that our nation has seen better days and we can and we will blaze a brighter future. (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) KAUFMANN: We love America and we want to restore her security, her prosperity, and her excellence. I invite all of you to join me in supporting President Donald Trump in this great endeavor. (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) KAUFMANN: This is an endeavor that's going to make America wealthy again! (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) KAUFMANN: This is an endeavor to make America safe again! (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) KAUFMANN: This is an endeavor to make America strong again! (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) KAUFMANN: And say it with me, fellow Republicans. This is an endeavor to make America Great Again. (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) [14:50:11] KAUFMANN: So here we go. It is my honor to nominate Donald J. Trump for the office of president of the United States! (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) (CHANTING) JOHNSON: Amen to that. Amen to that. The chair now recognizes the delegate from Nevada and the chairman of the Nevada Republican Party, Michael McDonald. (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) MICHAEL MCDONALD, CHAIRMAN, REPUBLICAN PARTY OF NEVADA: Good afternoon. I'm Chairman Michael J. McDonald from the state of Nevada. (CHEERING) MCDONALD: It's been an honor of a lifetime to stand by President Trump's side since 2015. In Nevada, we held the first-in-the-west caucus where we blew the Democrat's narrative apart, that you cannot have voter I.D., that you could not have paper ballots. And then you could not have results of an election on Election Night. In Nevada, a state that is resilient on the service industry, President Trump has proposed to eliminate taxes on tips on day one! (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) MCDONALD: Unlike the Biden-Harris administration and the Democrats that increased taxes on tips. (BOOING) MCDONALD: President Trump has transformed our party to the champion of the working men and women. We fight for what's right, not for what's easy. We're in a battle for the soul of our nation. Because we want the best future for our family and for our country. President Trump is our fearless leader, who stood -- who stood -- withstood the persecution of a weaponized lawfare. And he has fought even harder and stronger to represent and fight for all of us. I ask all Americans to join me in taking back our nation by supporting President Trump as he leaves us back to victory once again! (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) MCDONALD: It is my honor to second the nomination of Donald J. Trump for the office of the president of the United States of America. (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) MCDONALD: God bless you. TAPPER: All right. We've been hearing some nomination speeches from state party chairmen. We heard a rousing nomination speech from Jeff Kaufmann, the chairman of the Iowa Republican Party. The Iowa caucus, obviously, the first one this year to give President Trump the nod to be the nominee of the party. Then we just heard from Michael McDonald, the Nevada GOP chairman, who gave a second. And Nevada obviously a battleground state. And we have a musical interlude right now. Michael McDonald, not the one from the Doobie Brothers, so a different Michael McDonald. So he, sadly, not providing the musical interlude. Dana, we should not discount the possibility that, even though of the three that we've believed to be the finalists to be Donald Trump's running mate, two of them, Marco Rubio and Doug Burgum, we've been told that they are not the nominee. We have not yet heard from Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, who, we should note, I think, is 39-years-old, turning 40 next month. There's also the possibility of some dark horse candidate, somebody who may be speaking tonight. We don't know. [14:55:01] For instance, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin is in a battleground state. There was a recent poll showing that Trump is only three points behind in that purple state. And he's speaking this evening. I'm not saying we know anything. We do not. There we're rumors aplenty out there. But it is possible that we don't -- that it's not J.D. Vance. Possible. DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: We have reached the buzz/rumor witching hour -- TAPPER: Yes. BASH: -- as we -- TAPPER: Absolutely. BASH: -- for -- for the actual announcement to come. As you mentioned, Glenn Youngkin is speaking tonight. He's on the schedule. I was told that he is being given a little bit more time to speak tonight. Now, if he were the actual running mate, he would have a completely different day to speak. Does it -- you know, we're just tea leaf reading. TAPPER: Right. A lot of people speaking tonight that are definitely not going to be the nominee. BASH: Because -- because there are -- yes. Because there are -- these cards are being held very close the former president's chest and -- and others as well. What we do know is that this is the drama, this is the made-for-TV sort of performative aspect of politics that Donald Trump absolutely craves. TAPPER: Kasie? KASIE HUNT, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well, one of the things -- and Van touched on this earlier -- about one thing that, you know, as I've been talking privately with Republicans leading up to this, is the reality that this weekend changed this race. It fundamentally altered this race. And for someone like Donald Trump, who is willing to do things that shock and awe, so to speak, in terms of the media and the attention that he's getting, I do think there are very real the questions. And Van mentioned that J.D. Vance has said inflammatory things in the past. And within hours of the assassination attempt, he was talking can you about the rhetoric that President Biden has used and directly connecting it with the assassination attempt. And that was something that, you know, others in the party were trying to steer clear from. And frankly, what we heard from the former president himself in the hour since doesn't line up with that. He is speaking about it being something that has spiritually affected him, that it was divine intervention from God. I mean, I've gotten notes from Democrats who have read some of the things he has said on truth, social, and said -- (CROSSTALK) TAPPER: Let's listen in. Speaker Johnson speaking right now. JOHNSON: As required by Rule 37 of the convention rules, during the roll call, the states will be called in the order determined by the secretary of the convention. During the roll call, the chairs of each respective delegation or their designee will announce the vote of each state. During the roll call of the states, the secretary will announce each state and that state's total number of available votes. Additionally, the chair would like to remind all delegates that the secretary will record delegate's votes in accordance with their obligations under Rule 16 of the rules of the Republican Party, state law or a state party rules regardless of the delegation's announcement. The official results from each state are those announced by the secretary. Lastly, just -- just one reminder. We want to remind all our delegates, our alternates and guests that maintaining order during the roll call is extremely important. If the convention is not in order, it's difficult for the secretary or presiding officer to hear the vote announcement. Now, without objection, the complete list of votes recorded for president shall be considered as announced. To conduct the roll call of the states. I'm pleased to announce and introduce at this time our distinguished secretary of the convention, Vicki Drummond. (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) VICKI DRUMMOND, CONVENTION SECRETARY: Delegates and alternate, let us commence with the roll -- with the call of the roll of the states. Iowa, 40 delegates. (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Madam Secretary, I speak for the delegation from the great state of Iowa, the inspiring home of Caitlin Clark. And, Madam Secretary, the great state of Iowa proudly casts all of its 40 votes for President Donald J. Trump. (CHEERING (APPLAUSE) DRUMMOND: Pursuant to the announcement of the delegation and the rules and procedures of this convention, Iowa, 40 votes for President Trump. (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) DRUMMOND: Nevada, 26 delegates. [14:59:55] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Madam -- Madam Secretary, the great state of Nevada proudly casts all of its 26 votes for President Donald J. Trump. (CHEERING) (APPLAUSE) CNN Live Event/Special Aired July 15, 2024 - 15:00 ET THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. [15:00:00] … UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pursuant to the announcement of the delegation and the rules and procedures of this convention, Nevada, 26 votes, President Trump. Oklahoma, 43 delegates. NATHAN DAHM, OKLAHOMA DELEGATION CHAIRMAN: Madam Secretary, I'm Nathan Dahm, Republican Party Chairman of the great state of Oklahoma. The crossroads of our country and the first state to have a president, Donald J. Trump highway, and the only state to have all 77 counties vote for President Trump, two elections in a row with a third time coming up this November. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. DAHM: The state of Oklahoma proudly cast all of its 43 votes for President Donald J. Trump. (APPLAUSE) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pursuant to the announcement of the delegation and the rules and procedures of this convention, Oklahoma, 43 votes, President Trump. West Virginia, 32 delegates. (APPLAUSE) PATRICK MORRISEY, WEST VIRGINIA DELEGATION CHAIRMAN: Madam Chairman, on behalf of the West Virginia delegation, my name is Patrick Morrisey, and I am very proud to cast all 32 votes for the Mountaineers, where we're always free. And to cast those 32 votes for our former and future president, Donald J. Trump. (APPLAUSE) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pursuant to the announcement of the delegation and the rules and procedures of this convention, West Virginia, 32 votes, President Donald J. Trump. New Hampshire, 22 delegates. COREY LEWANDOWSKI, NEW HAMPSHIRE DELEGATION CHAIRMAN: Madam Secretary, my name is Corey Lewandowski, and I served as President Trump's campaign manager in 2016 for that historic victory. I stand before you today on behalf of the great state of New Hampshire, the granite state, the first in the nation primary state, the state that delivered President Trump's first election victory way back in February of 2016. New Hampshire proudly casts all 22 votes for my good friend, the 45th and soon to be 47th president of the United States, Donald John Trump. (APPLAUSE) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pursuant to the announcement of the delegation and the rules and procedures of this convention, New Hampshire, 22 votes, President Trump. Nebraska, 36 delegates. ERIC UNDERWOOD, NEBRASKA DELEGATION CHAIRMAN: Madam Secretary, my name is Eric Underwood, I'm the chairman. I present the great state of Nebraska. The good life is our motto. Where agriculture, beef and corn is the lifeblood of our economy. Where our medical field and university are amongst the top in the nation. But it is our people that embody a Nebraska nice, modest lifestyle. Now to announce our delegate allocation, our delegation co-chair, John Tucker. JOHN TUCKER, NEBRASKA DELEGATION CO-CHAIR: Madam Secretary, the great state of Nebraska proudly casts all of its 36 votes for President Trump. (APPLAUSE) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pursuant to the announcement of the delegation and the rules and procedures of this convention, Nebraska, 36 votes, President Trump. California. California, 169 delegates. JESSICA PATTERSON, CALIFORNIA DELEGATION CHAIRWOMAN: California represents nearly 5.4 million registered Republicans, more than any other state in the nation. From its pristine beaches to its soaring mountains, from expansive deserts to the redwood forests, the Golden State is responsible for securing today's GOP House Majority. It will be the state responsible for returning a House Majority to Washington this November so that President Trump has a partner in Congress to support his common sense agenda. [15:05:10] With the largest delegation in the nation, Madam Secretary, the great state of California proudly casts all of its 169 votes for President Donald Trump. (APPLAUSE) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pursuant to the announcement of the delegation and the rules and procedures of this convention, California, 169 votes, President Trump. Tennessee. Tennessee, 58 delegates. JACK JOHNSON, TENNESSEE DELEGATION CHAIRMAN: Thank you, Madam Secretary. My name is Jack Johnson. I have the honor of serving as the Republican Majority Leader in the Tennessee State Senate. On behalf of our delegation chairman -- JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: OK. JOHNSON: -- the Honorable Bill Lee, the 50th governor of the great state of Tennessee, I am happy to report that from the mighty Mississippi -- TAPPER: Thanks, one and all. We're going to interrupt right now. We have some news and the news, let us go to Dana Bash about what is going on right now. DANA BASH, CNN ANCHOR: Well, we now have the former president's pick, and it is J.D. Vance, a 39-year-old freshman senator from the state of Ohio. TAPPER: Let me just read, if I can read. BASH: Please do. TAPPER: So, we have this announcement in the Donald Trump Truth Social bit. "After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the great state of Ohio. J.D. honorably served our country in the Marine Corps, graduated from" -- he says Ohio State University, it should say The Ohio State University, I've been told, in two years, summa cum laude, and is a Yale Law School graduate where he was editor of the Yale Law Journal and president of the Yale Law Veterans Association. J.D.'s book, "Hillbilly Elegy," became a major bestseller and movie. As a champion of the hard working men and women of our country, J.D. has had a very successful business career in technology and finance, and now, during the campaign, will be strongly focused on the people he fought so brilliantly for, the American workers and farmers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, and far beyond. That came at 2:04 p.m. Central Time. So 3:04. Let us go to Phil Mattingly, who is, I believe, with the Ohio delegation. And Phil, I hope that adding the "the" in that message didn't alarm anybody, but reliably you're supposed to call it The Ohio State University, that's what you've drilled into my head, so -- PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CHIEF DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENT: Yes. No, that's important -- TAPPER: There must be a lot of excitement where you are. MATTINGLY: Jake, I want to watch right now. TAPPER: Must be a lot of excitement, yes. MATTINGLY: Governor DeWine is actually reading the Truth Social post as the delegation is learning about this right now. I asked if they wanted to discuss it and they actually wanted to wait and see and make sure, not because they didn't believe it, but because they knew that it could go any different way. So, as they're reading these posts right now, I'm actually going to show you the delegates from Ohio as they are learning this basically in real time. Governor, I want to ask you, I know you were very cautious throughout this process. You know it could go any different way. Now we know that the former president has selected J.D. Vance. What do you think? GOV. MIKE DEWINE, OHIO: Well, we're very happy. This is a great day for Ohio. Ohio truly is the heart of it all, as we say. And now we have the vice presidential candidate, and we hope the next vice president of the United States in J.D. Vance. MATTINGLY: What point did you know -- I mean, I saw you reading the social media posts. Was that -- when you knew or did you have like a little bit of insight? DEWINE: No, you never knew it for sure until you see it, you know? I've been around this business for a while and, you know, we thought it was going to be J.D., but we did not know that. MATTINGLY: Yes. Lieutenant Governor Husted, did you have any kind of insight into this process beforehand or was that the first you learned of it officially too? JON HUSTED, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, OHIO: Well, I think we've known for a few days that it was likely, but it's never done until it's done. And when Donald Trump posts it and says, that's the nominee, then we can all move forward with a great deal of joy here in Ohio. MATTINGLY: Governor, before I toss you back to Jack -- Jake, I think the big question right now is, does this help the former president? Does this change the dynamics? You've been in politics an awfully long time. What does a vice presidential selection mean? DEWINE: Well, look, we're going to win Ohio. We've won it twice by 8 percentage points. But I think J.D. Vance will be a great nominee for vice president. He brings a lot to the ticket. He brings a great American story, an unbelievable story. He served in the military. He's extremely articulate. He has the ability to take Donald Trump's positions and articulate them in just a very, very good way, very understandable way. So look, he's going -- this is a new generation. This is a new generation of leaders in this country. And J.D. Vance is going to be the next vice president of the United States. MATTINGLY: All right, Governor Mike DeWine, Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted, we appreciate it. Jake, back to you. TAPPER: Thanks so much, Phil Mattingly. And it is exciting news. [15:10:01] We have just learned, Kristen Holmes, J.D. Vance is 39. He's been married for 10 years. He has three kids. This will be the first ever CNN commentator ever put on a presidential ticket. J.D. Vance briefly served as a CNN commentator after the publication of his book, "Hillbilly Elegy." Kristen Holmes, what more can you tell us about this pic? KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. So we've had lots of conversations around who Donald Trump was going to pick talking about those top three contenders, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Senators Marco Rubio and Senator J.D. Vance. And around Vance, the conversation continued to be, if he chooses J.D. Vance, he is looking to secure his legacy in the MAGA movement. As you noted, he is 39 years old, and it is clear to everyone, including former President Donald Trump, that obviously on day one of a potential Trump administration, J.D. Vance is likely to start running for president in 2028. But that would mean that Donald Trump would secure this message of populism that has really taken over the Republican Party. And J.D. Vance, as you noted, was a CNN commentator, but he was also a Never Trumper back in 2017. He was somebody who had spoken out very critically against the former president. When I asked people around them how it was that Donald Trump overcame that, somebody who cares so deeply about loyalty, they said that J.D. was able to win him over, not just through himself, but also through his son, Don Jr. Don Jr. has been one of the biggest proponents of J.D. Vance constantly building him up to both his father and publicly as well. Some of the tea leaves that we had seen is that Donald Trump's team seems to be very receptive to J.D. Vance as well. I will note that Vance was the only of these three potential candidates who went with Donald Trump on a West Coast swing recently. Burgum did meet them there. But part of the reasoning was because J.D. Vance had secured relationships with a number of Silicon Valley Tech Moguls, including David Sacks, who's speaking later tonight. This was a huge coup for Donald Trump. This is a world that he had never really ventured up into. So clearly, we had seen this moving and inching in this direction. But it is interesting when you hear about Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, a lot of this is him really securing his legacy and moving that MAGA movement forward, Jake. TAPPER: All right. Kristen Holmes, thanks so much. Let's go to Kaitlan Collins, who's on the floor. And obviously, the big exciting news here for the Republican delegates is the fact that President Trump has picked Senator -- KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Yes. TAPPER: -- from Ohio, J.D. Vance. He's 39 years old. So almost 40 years younger than Donald Trump at the top of the ticket. This is a favorite pic of Donald Trump's son Donnie Jr. And this is without question a generational change for the Republican Party handing the baton, as it were. Kaitlan? COLLINS: Yes, Jake. And I think it raises a lot of questions about what this is going to look like for the MAGA agenda, because when Donald Trump was president, obviously the last time, Mike Pence was not a threat to him necessarily politically. He was someone who bolstered the ticket in 2016 with evangelicals. But one part of the consideration and this veepstakes has been whether or not Donald Trump would view the person that he picked as his vice president as potentially a threat, someone who wanted to be kind of the heir apparent to MAGA. Obviously Senator J.D. Vance is someone who, as you noted, is incredibly young, has big political aspirations. And right now they are noting that J.D. Vance has been the pick as vice president. A lot of delegates here, Jake, are not able to watch TV. They're not on their phones. They are learning about this all in real time. But I will tell you, one thing that has been happening behind the scenes as Kristen Holmes just alluded to, is this push for Vance in recent days as Donald Trump was kind of waffling on his pick. Everyone had always believed that he favored Vance the most, but in recent days, he had been asking people about Burgum, about Rubio. He was even throwing out names, Jake, like the Texas Governor Greg Abbott and even Nikki Haley. That is kind of how Donald Trump's brain works during this selection process. But I will note, Donald Trump Jr. went to his dad in recent days and made a final push for Senator Vance. And I should note, I'm standing right here by five empty chairs. One of them has Donald Trump Jr.'s name on it. That is where he is going to be here any moment now. They've cleared a pathway for the family as they are about to come in here because this is the Florida delegation, which of course is going to officially put their father over the top. TAPPER: Listen in as the roll call continues. Ohio is going to come soon and obviously that is the home state of the brandly new -- the brand newly named running mate, J.D. Vance. And after that we will hear Florida, which will put President Trump over the top to be the nominee. Let's listen in. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The 45th and 47th president of the United States, Donald John Trump. (APPLAUSE) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pursuant to the announcement of the delegation and the rules and procedures of this convention, Maryland, 37 votes, President Trump. Texas. (CHEERING) [15:15:22] ABRAHAM GEORGE, TEXAS DELEGATION CHAIRMAN: Madam Secretary, I'm Abraham George, Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas. Not only in Texas is the economic powerhouse of America -- COLLINS: Any comment, Donald Jr. on your dad picking Senator Vance for his vice presidential pick? DONALD TRUMP JR., DONALD TRUMP'S SON: I think it's an incredible pick. I think he's an incredible guy with an amazing story both in business and in life. And I think it's just going to be an incredible person to help unify this country. COLLINS: And what did you say to your dad in recent days about why because he was considering other names as you know? What did you say to him in recent days about why it should be Senator Vance? D. TRUMP JR.: Listen, I think, I've seen him on TV. I've seen him prosecute the case against the Democrats. I think no one's more articulate than that. And I think his story, his background, really helps us in a lot of the places that you're going to need from the Electoral College standpoint. And I think it's just going to be a great choice. COLLINS: When did you find out that he had made the pick of Senator Vance? D. TRUMP JR.: Couple seconds ago. COLLINS: Thank you. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. Trump -- GEORGE: -- 161 of our delegates for the 45th and the 47th president, Donald J. Trump. (APPLAUSE) GEORGE: Thank you and God bless you and God bless Texas. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pursuant -- (APPLAUSE) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pursuant to the announcement of the delegation and the rules and procedures of this convention, Texas, 161 votes, President Trump. Iowa, 79 delegates. ALEX TRIANTAFILOU, OHIO DELEGATION CHAIRMAN: Madam Secretary, Alex Triantafilou, Chairman of the Iowa Republican Party. I stand here today with my friend Bernie Moreno, who's going to retire forever, politician Sherrod Brown, and deliver a win to the United States Senate. We proudly cast our 79 votes for President Donald J. Trump. BERNIE MORENO, IOWA SENATE CANDIDATE: And J.D. Vance. (APPLAUSE) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pursuant to the announcement of the delegation and the rules and procedures of this convention, Iowa, 79 votes, President Trump. American Samoa, nine delegates. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Talofa (ph) (INAUDIBLE) of American Samoa. Where our motto is God -- where our motto, to our God is first. Therefore, Madam Secretary, Americans are more proudly, and with all our hearts, cast our vote in favor of our next president, Donald J. Trump. American Samoa. Donald boy (ph), Donald boy (ph), hey, hey, hey. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pursuant to the announcement of the delegation and the rules and procedures of this convention, American Samoa, nine votes, President Trump. Wisconsin, 41 delegates. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Madam Secretary, on behalf of the Wisconsin delegation, we welcome everyone here to this 23rd some place we call home. Where 170 years ago, this great party was founded down the road in Ripon, Wisconsin, in a little white schoolhouse. Madam Secretary, the great state of Wisconsin proudly casts all of its 41 votes for Donald J. Trump. (APPLAUSE) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pursuant to the announcement of the delegation and rules and procedures of this convention, Wisconsin, 41 votes, President Trump. New York, 91 votes. (APPLAUSE) ALL: Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! [15:20:03] REP. ELISE STEFANIK, REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE CHAIRWOMAN: President Donald J. Trump will always be a New Yorker and New York will always love President Donald J. Trump. (APPLAUSE) We believe that President Donald J. Trump will be the first Republican in a generation who will win New York State. (APPLAUSE) It is my honor as representative for New York's 21st Congressional District, House Republican Conference Chair, on behalf of the 91 New York delegates to the Republican National Convention, we proudly cast all 91 votes for President Donald J. Trump. (APPLAUSE) ALL: Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pursuant to the announcement of the delegation and the rules and procedures of this convention, New York, 91 votes, President Trump. Florida. (APPLAUSE) Florida, 125 delegates. ERIC TRUMP, DONALD TRUMP'S SON: Madam Secretary, and everybody in this great city -- (APPLAUSE & CHEERING) E. TRUMP: -- on behalf of our entire family, and on behalf of the 125 delegates in the unbelievable state of Florida, we hereby nominate every single one of them for the greatest president that's ever lived, and that's Donald J. Trump, hereby declaring him the Republican nominee for President of the United States of America. (APPLAUSE) ALL: Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pursuant to the announcement of the delegation and the rules and procedures of this convention, Florida, 125 votes, President Trump. (APPLAUSE) (MUSIC) TAPPER: All right, it is called the over the top celebration. That is not a subjective statement about it. It is about the fact that Donald Trump has gone over the top in terms of the need for 1,215 delegates. Florida giving 125 delegates to Donald Trump. He has officially become the nominee. You heard Eric Trump, his second oldest son, standing there with his daughter Tiffany, his wife Laura Trump, and his brother, Donald Trump Jr. giving Florida's delegates to Donald Trump. He is now officially the third -- the official Republican nominee, third time's the charm, perhaps. BASH: Well, it certainly worked for him the first time. And this is -- as we said before, a very, very, very different vibe from the last time we had an in-person convention 2024 for -- TAPPER: Let's go to Kaitlan Collins right now, who's on the floor. Kaitlan? COLLINS: Yes, Jake, thank you. I'm here with Donald Trump Jr. Obviously, he was just talking about how his dad picked his selection for Vice President Senator J.D. Vance, but how's your dad doing overall since Saturday night? D. TRUMP JR.: He's doing well. I mean, obviously, it was a pretty somber moment. I was with my kids on a Saturday evening, and I get this news that he's been shot, but I couldn't get a hold of anyone. He was in lockdown at the hospital. It took about 90 minutes, so that was a long time. [15:25:06] COLLINS: 90 minutes before you could talk to him? D. TRUMP JR.: Before I could speak to him and really know what was going on. And when I did, he was, you know, just some shot, but a lot of resolve. He was able to -- he was joking about it and talking about it in a way that only my father could do. But it was just that moment when he stood up after being shot at and just showed resolve to keep fighting for this country. That was everything for me. I just literally told him I go, you're the biggest badass I know. And so we had some jokes about that. That was the first thing I thought to think of even in that moment because it was that powerful and that's the kind of resolve. That's why we had peace deals under Trump. That's why we had a great economy. You need that. We're watching right now the weakness that's led our country into all of these disasters, into these wars and it's because that's the nature of predation. When a predator sees weakness that we're exuding on the world stage, they pounce. And so -- COLLINS: Can I -- D. TRUMP JR.: -- I think it's going to be important to get that back and I'm looking forward to it. COLLINS: Can I just not right now that boo was at Senator Mitch McConnell. I should know that Kentucky delegation is over there. But on that, you know, how has that changed do you think how your dad is approaching this convention and this campaign overall? Has it changed it? D. TRUMP JR.: I think it has. I mean, I know he basically scrapped his speech that they've been working on. I was in the office when they were working with it for hours last week, and I think they just started from scratch with just a different message. We are going to try to unite this country. I mean, I take that kind of moment of just shocking moment that really changed I think even in his mindset of what we need to do to replace everything. I mean, I basically I think we all got the directive like, hey, whatever you were doing and I tend to get a little bit hot. So we're going to tone it down and keep it keep a different message out there. And I think that's going to be important actually. I think it's going to be important for us to move forward that way as a country. COLLINS: Is that what your dad himself -- I mean, I know we've heard from political advisers and sources, they want to say -- D. TRUMP JR.: My dad is -- yes, listen. My dad, you know, this is his political adviser, when he hears the people, when he speaks to the crowds, that -- he doesn't listen to the pollsters or he doesn't look at polling. He doesn't make decisions that are bad because the poll says it's, you know, 0.24 basis points more, he doesn't think that way. He understands. He listens to the people and he has a trust his own gut instinct that he's done pretty well with that throughout his career. COLLINS: How's he -- have you talked to him today, how's he reflecting on just the fact that 48 hours ago this happened? D. TRUMP JR.: Listen, I think he's moving forward. That's what he is. He's a fighter He's going to get back in the game. He's never going to be pushed aside. He's, you know -- they've tried to go after him for so many ways, whether it was the businesses, where it's throwing him in jail, up to and including the death penalty and that. They've just tried everything to stop him. He's not meant to be stopped. He's meant to help fix this country. COLLINS: Donald Trump Jr., thank you for sharing us -- D. TRUMP JR.: Thanks, Kaitlan. COLLINS: -- some insights, obviously, Jake, there on how his dad is doing talking about -- E. TRUMP: And everybody really appreciates Donald Trump and how hard he actually fought. You know, under Donald Trump, we actually had a cheerleader in this country. We don't have a cheerleader anymore. We don't even have leadership. I mean, the people aren't around. They're not present. The policies suck. We're going to win this thing. Make no mistake about it. MATTINGLY: Yes. Jake, I'm standing here with Eric Trump. Eric, can we talk about the mood in the last couple of days? E. TRUMP: Well, it's been a pretty somber mood, right? I mean, my father got shot at. Somebody took off half his ear. But I can tell you my father's never been more determined than he is right now. He is -- he's more determined to make America great again. He's got an incredible fighting spirit. No different than when he's pumping his hand in the air with blood running across his face. And I'm really proud of him. I've never been more proud as a child, as a son. He's a remarkable human being. He's got backbone that's unlike any person I've ever met before and as I said before, we're going to win and we're going to restore prosperity to this country and he's going to make America great again. Thanks, guys. MATTINGLY: Jake, that was Eric Trump. Back to you. TAPPER: Thanks, Phil. And let's take this all in. First of all, Dana, we should note, I mean, in another display of just how much Donald Trump has remade the Republican Party when Kentucky was providing its delegates -- BASH: Yes. TAPPER: -- to Donald Trump and the Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell, who is in no small way responsible for Donald Trump's successful four years getting conservative jurists on benches which in many ways has helped Donald Trump in the last few weeks, I think it's fair to say. He was resoundingly booed by the crowd here. Again, this is a Republican Party that has been completely remade and refashioned into the Trump Republican Party. BASH: And that was, I mean, quite a moment. Not only jurists on the bench, across the federal bench, but he almost physically put his body between Barack Obama and the nominee that he felt that he could put on the bench and McConnell blocked it. And as a result of that, Donald Trump got three Supreme Court justices on the highest court in the land. And we've seen just in the past year what that court has done in the past month, what that court has done to promote the wishes of Donald Trump on a host of issues, including and especially the issue of immunity. … CNN Live Event/Special Aired July 15, 2024 - 15:30 ET THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. [15:30:00] … DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: …But on the question that we just saw, the big issue, which is Donald Trump becoming for the third time the official nominee of the Republican Party. This is a moment for the history books, and this is a moment for this party to finally make its last tick towards being 100 percent the party of Donald Trump. ABBY PHILLIP, CNN ANCHOR: And as you were talking about McConnell, Dana, it just reminded me that the other thing that McConnell did for Donald Trump was, as Trump faced impeachment after January 6th, McConnell threw him a lifeline by not backing, actually convicting him of the charges against him. And it was that series of events in that time that led to this moment right here, where people who thought that Donald Trump was permanently politically damaged from what had happened in that time realized that he really wasn't, that he was going to be rehabilitated. You saw Kevin McCarthy go down to Florida. And over the course of the last three years, Donald Trump has been building and building and building to this point where there is virtually no dissent anymore in the Republican Party about who is the leader of the Republican Party. And you heard actually Don Jr. saying, the greatest president, Republican president in American history. Oh, forget about Ronald Reagan. You know, in a lot of the minds of a lot of Republicans today, that person is now Donald Trump. JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: So I want to bring it back, if I can, to the fact that the running mate, the big news of the day is that the running mate will be Senator JD Vance, a Republican of Ohio, David Urban and David Axelrod, your thoughts on this? DAVID URBAN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes, Jake, I think it really signals a big shift in the Republican Party. This is going to be a party of the hillbilly elegy. This is the this is what they're talking about with JD Vance is going to go out. You heard Don Jr. talking about he's going to go out and campaign for blue collar voters in Kentucky, western Pennsylvania. I think that's what you'll see Vance out really work in the hustings to kind of reshape. The party has been shifting, as we know, we've talked about this away from, you know, the kind of liberal northeast Republicans have now become Democrats and the Reagan Democrats have become Republicans. And I think this pick signals a further shift in that direction for working class men and women in America. You are not only welcome in this party. You are the party. And I think JD Vance's pick signals that and he's going to go out and do that. And also Vance has a foot in Silicon Valley. Let's not forget he -- I don't know who talked about this, but he helped secure the fundraiser with David Sachs. He's going to speak later. He was the pick of Elon Musk of lots of those. TAPPER: Right. Peter Thiel is obviously a big patron. URBAN: So he is. He's got a foot in in Appalachia and in Silicon Valley, which I think is really interesting and it is energizing. 2028, It's been wiped out. All those Republicans who are mentioned Nikki Haley, what it ran for president this time. They are done. Youngkin, anyone who thinks they want to be president and Republican president in '28. Well, you're going to take this. TAPPER: It's a long time. I just want to go for '32 now and it makes you're pushing a big rock up a hill. Listen, if you're Donald Trump's pick -- DAVID AXELROD, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: We don't know what's going to happen next week, much less in 2028 with a little less exuberance. Let me. But I listen. You know, I forget which of the Trump boys said two things that I think very much go to the core of this choice. One was he's good on TV making the case. Donald Trump approached this whole process like a casting director. He was watching these guys with you and others on TV to see who could bring the case. And Vance was very, very good at that. But this point that Dave's making, there is a very narrow path for Joe Biden in this race if he has a path moving forward. That is to win Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, places where John has been spending a lot of time. JD Vance is a true populist. He talks about the damage of that globalization has done to these areas. He's for tariffs, heavy tariffs, you know, and he speaks the language of voters in those small towns and rural areas and working class communities in those states. If he can help them win those states, he can seal this deal -- UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can I -- AXELROD: -- for Joe Biden. CHRIS WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: I don't think we've talked about this yet, which is the facial hair issue, because at one point when people were discussing possibilities, one of the knocks on JD Vance was that he had a beard. He has facial hair. And supposedly Donald Trump hates facial hair. And they said, well, he's not going to pick a running mate he has to live with for four years. He's got facial hair. And Trump was asked about it. And he said, you know, I think he looks like a young Abraham Lincoln. And at that point, he had won the facial hair primary. [15:35:00] So maybe the fix was in for a long time ago. TAPPER: Abraham Lincoln, by the way, famously unattractive to the point that somebody accused him of being two faced. And Lincoln said, if I were two faced, would this be the face that I picked? But obviously, very good. Abraham Lincoln. Thank you so much. JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Abraham Lincoln might also be on a list of other people's lists of greatest American presidents. TAPPER: Right. KING: But look, to David's point about JD Vance, I think it is interesting that he can go into those working class neighborhoods. That is his M.O. That is more proof of how this Republican Party. This is my 19th presidential convention, 21 if you count the Reform Party conventions. This is a populist Republican Party. This is not Ronald Reagan's party anymore. It's not George W. Bush's party anymore. This is Donald Trump's party and is a populist Republican Party. That is not the Free Trade Party of the old -- and not that Ukraine hasn't come up yet. It's not the where do we stand on the world stage? Republican Party. It is a new Republican Party. Number one. I also want to say one other thing that hasn't been mentioned. It will not be the story by the end of the day. But a challenge when you have the convention is who wins the narrative. The Republicans dominate their narrative or the Democrats take things that happen here and turn them into a story. The first words at Donald Trump's convention were spoken by Michael Watley, an election denier, a Stop the Steal guy. His nomination was seconded by Mike McDonald, the chairman of the Nevada Republican Party, who is under state indictment for the fake elector scheme. JD Vance also played, not to the degree they did, played with the whole idea of Mike Pence should have allowed the debate about fake electors on the floor of the United States Congress. It would have been good for the country. TAPPER: Yes, he wasn't a senator at the time. KING: Yes, right. But he should have allowed that debate. And so, again, the Republicans watching are going to say, oh, please, John, let it go. Well, I would let it go if they would let it go. If they would say, sorry, we got caught up in the heat of the moment. We were so in so in love with Donald Trump. We've said the election was stolen. But this new Trump Republican Party, this is a populist Republican Party, is also dominated by people who deny the basic facts and math of the 2020 election to this day. KASIE HUNT, CNN ANCHOR AND CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Well, and also JD Vance is no Mike Pence at the end of the day. If we are sticking with what you are talking about here, because the role that Mike Pence played on January 6th was central to the outcome, ultimately, which is, you know, Joe Biden rightfully in the White House. And this is, you know, kind of pulling together and watching Mitch McConnell be booed. He is obviously an elderly man now as JD Vance, 39, in that same body, which McConnell is now retiring from leading. It's going to stay in the Senate, but he's going to give up his title as Senate majority leader, says so much from a symbolic perspective. And while I do think, of course, David is jumping ahead to 2028, we are not we are not quite there yet. It is this way. I mean, we've talked also about how Donald Trump values loyalty. He does not necessarily want to pick someone who's going to try to compete with him. But what he is doing is making a decision here that says, I am going to choose the people who are going to be at the forefront here. It is going to be me who decides those things. And he seems to be willing to take this risk here. Because this on the one hand, and we heard Donald Trump Jr. down on the floor there say, well, my dad told me, you know, he goes, I can get kind of hot. Donald Trump Jr. says it's about himself. My dad told me, you know, we got to cool it down because obviously the rhetoric is what it is. So that's what's coming from the family. JD Vance has not necessarily conducted himself that way. TAPPER: Some of the quotes from JD Vance on the election just on that point, John King, he baselessly said, I think the election was stolen from Trump. He falsely said there were certainly people voting illegally on a large scale basis. These are things that both Trump's White House counsel, Trump's attorney general, court after court, election board after election board, governor after governor said are not true. And it is also -- it is also worth noting that the very reason that Mike Pence is not only not his running mate, but not here at the Republican convention and not necessarily even voting for Trump is because of what happened on January 6th and the fact that Donald Trump, in his view, in Pence's view, helped put his life and the life of his family in danger during the January 6th insurrection. Now that Donald Trump is officially a three time Republican presidential nominee, we expect his newly announced running mate, Senator JD Vance, to be nominated soon. There's much more ahead as our convention coverage continues. [15:40:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK) ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: In Milwaukee, Republican convention delegates are buzzing about Donald Trump's newly revealed running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio. We expect Senator Vance to be formally nominated for vice president very soon. A source tells CNN we expect to see him as well. The Biden-Harris campaign is now responding to Donald Trump's choice of Vance as his running mate. I want to go to Phil Mattingly with that. Phil, what do they say? PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CHIEF DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENT: You know, Edison, just about 10 seconds ago, Donald Trump Jr., one of the biggest advocates for JD Vance behind the scenes, walked by and around the same moment we got that statement from the Biden-Harris campaign from the chairwoman, Jen O'Malley Dillon. And in that statement saying Donald Trump picked JD Vance as his running mate because Vance will do what Mike Pence wouldn't on January 6th, bend over backwards to enable Trump and his extreme MAGA agenda, even if it means breaking the law and no matter the harm to the American people. It is a very lengthy statement on policy issues, on political perspective and on whether or not there would be a level of subservience to the former president should he win again. I think when you talk to Democrats leading into this, there's some concern about the kind of Midwestern appeal that Vance, an Ohio senator who pushes populist policies and is considered one of the leading advocates for a new populist Republican Party on the policy front, what it would actually mean to that critical blue wall, those blue wall states. [15:45:04] One thing Democrats make clear, though, both in that statement from Jen O'Malley Dillon, but also in the lead up to this moment, they feel like there are significant areas where they plan to attack. They already are attacking. And certainly there will be more attacks on the policy, the politics and the vice presidential selection in the days and weeks ahead -- Anderson. COOPER: Yes, Phil, thanks very much. Alyssa, what is the selection of JD Vance mean? ALYSSA FARAH GRIFFIN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: It's -- it's a strategic gamble, but I think it speaks to just how confident the Trump campaign is. COOPER: Strategic gamble, why? GRIFFIN: There are major vulnerabilities with JD Vance. You have tons of times that he's been on the record back when he was a never Trump or calling the most horrific names that you could about the now president. COOPER: Referred to him as America's Hitler. GRIFFIN: America's Hitler, among others. But he is also someone -- his talent to give him credit. He's incredibly savvy. He can appear on mainstream media and give a coherent, eloquent version of MAGA and go toe to toe with the best interviewer. But then he'll appear on extremely far right media where he said much more outrageous things that I'm sure Democrats everywhere are digging up now to portray him as the most extreme version of MAGA. So there's going to be a big dump of some of the things he said on Steve Bannon's war room and elsewhere that I think the campaign needs to be ready for, whereas a Doug Burgum would be about as safe as can be. However, JD Vance, I think, really resonates in key Pennsylvania. He's got the story. He's got that national profile. So there's some pros and some major cons. KATE BEDINGFIELD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes, I think I think this is actually an energizing choice for Democrats because he -- Vance represents the places where, you know, Trump himself is most politically vulnerable. And remember, you know, Trump's unfavorables are very high. Like Trump himself is a -- has a lot of flaws. And I think what Vance does is he underscores -- he underscores where Trump is on abortion. He obviously underscores this notion that, you know, our election shouldn't be free and fair and that people's votes, you know, shouldn't count and that ultimately you should get to decide if you don't like the outcome, if you didn't like it. So, you know, I think what Democrats are going to do here is use Vance as an opportunity to get back to messaging around Trump that has been successful. I mean, if you look at the 2022 midterms, part of the success Democrats had was in painting Republicans as aligned with MAGA extremism. And what Vance does is give them an opportunity to go really hard at some of the things that people most dislike and find most off-putting about MAGA extremism. So I think for the Democrats, this is a little bit of a shot in the arm. SCOTT JENNINGS, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST AND CORPORATE PR ADVISER: So you think that the path back for Joe Biden with a 32 percent approval rating, following his debate performance, following all of his withered appearances, is to elevate a conversation about a senator from Ohio that most people have never heard of in the hopes that they will then abandon their already definite views of Donald Trump, the most defined politician in American history? BEDINGFIELD: Define, but define it in a way who is unpopular. You've got to acknowledge that. You can. JENNINGS: Who's unpopular? BEDINGFIELD: Donald Trump is unpopular. JENNINGS: More or less than Joe Biden right now. You can argue. BEDINGFIELD: You can argue -- you can argue that Biden has an uphill climb. I have said on our air many times that I think he's got an uphill climb. You cannot dispute that Donald Trump himself is also an unpopular president. And Vance underscores a lot of the things that people dislike about him. JENNINGS: Listen, I think that this is an interesting choice. We're going to talk about it. The issue in this election for the Republicans is Donald Trump. The issue is Joe Biden. These two guys are well defined. And the idea that mass amounts of voters are going to suddenly switch back to a president that they have lost all confidence in because of a pick of JD Vance to me is not accurate. I'll just say about Vance, I don't agree with some of the conclusions he's drawn in his political evolution. I know him a bit. I think he's a thoughtful guy. I think his service as a Marine is important to him. I think he's a patriot. And I do think that this idea of him being able to go out in the media and make the case, you know, people make light of that, what Don Jr. said. It's important because what can the Democrats not do right now? The president of the United States cannot make the case. So if you have a ticket that can communicate and a ticket that can't, I'll take the one that can. VAN JONES, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, I think a couple of things. First of all, this is kind of like a be positive for a second because I'm not happy. But on the positive side, it's like a Clinton/Gore, right? Bill Clinton doubled down on Gore. We're both young Southerners. We both the same. COOPER: Sorry, I'm just going to go quickly to Kaitlan, who has Glenn Youngkin. GOV. GLENN YOUNGKIN (R-VA): Can you feel the enthusiasm in here? The Republican Party has come together and America is coming together around strong leadership. It's time for unity. It's time for us to put the divisions down and march forward together as one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: You were just quoting the Declaration of Independence as you announced your delegates, of course, for Donald Trump. You also mentioned his pick for vice president, J.D. Vance. There was a rumor going around that some donors are pushing for you. [15:50:00] But you're speaking here tonight at this convention, obviously, that has been altered by what happened on Saturday night. How have you changed your speech in light of that? YOUNGKIN: Well, first of all, we are all in a moment of gratefulness, gratefulness that providence was felt on Saturday night and Donald Trump was protected. We also have incredibly broken hearts today for a hero who was killed and those that were injured. And so I've asked everyone to lift them up in prayer and their families. Tonight is a night for unity. Tonight is a night to talk about the future, to talk about the spirit of opportunity and the spirit of hope that is flowing across this nation and to describe the opportunity that sits in front of so many Virginians and Americans for a life that is a life of opportunity. That is what I'll talk about tonight. And I have to say we have seen the economy that Donald Trump will build because he's already built it once, an opportunity that unleashes all of those dreams and aspirations for all Americans. That's what I'll talk about tonight. COLLINS: You speak of unity. Are you glad that former President Donald Trump has invited Governor Nikki Haley to come and speak to reach different swaths of the Republican Party? YOUNGKIN: Absolutely. We have a big tent that is the Republican Party and we are filling it up. In Virginia, we were able to win the Hispanic vote and the Asian vote and more of the black vote that we've seen in recent history. We can do this and this is our chance to not just bring together the Republican Party, which you see all over here, but bring together America. And I look forward to watching President Trump do exactly that. COLLINS: Governor Glenn Youngkin, thank you for your time. YOUNGKIN: Thank you. Thank you very much. COLLINS: Anderson, back to you. COOPER: Kaitlan, thanks. Van, you were talking about JD Vance. JONES: Yes, well, this is a -- Democrats are frankly thrilled. I mean, they're happy because there's the dump that's coming on this guy. I mean, he has said horrific stuff about women. I mean, you're going to see JD Vance with a blowtorch taken to him. But I feel sad about it because I had hopes that he would be a lot more like Glenn Youngkin. A Southern kid, went in the military, went to law school, wrote a book that was about translating Americans to Americans, that was about being a bridge builder. That's where he started out. And somehow that milk has curdled. He is now a toxic presence in American life. He's not a bridge builder. He's a barn burner. If you are in Ukraine right now, you're terrified. He's willing to throw the Ukrainians under the bus to Putin. If you're a woman, you're going to be terrified when you see the stuff he said about women. If you're an immigrant, you're terrified. This guy could have been one of the great unifying presences. And instead, he has become one of the most -- people don't know him yet. They're going to know him in 24 hours. This is a very dark moment for me. Look, I'm a Southern kid. I went to the same law school as him and worked for CNN. So I watched this guy, and I had high hopes for him. He has become something that is not what he could have been. And he could have been a Glenn Youngkin, a unifier. He is a divider, and it's a dark moment, I think, for the Republican Party. JONAH GOLDBERG, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes, so I want to second something that Alyssa was saying before. I think that, look, in 2022, when JD Vance was elected, he won in a state that Trump carried by, I think, eight points. He won by six points. The incumbent Republican governor won by 25 points. So this is not a guy who even has, you know, the full spectrum of Republican gettable voters behind him. He's a narrow-casting figure. And I should also say, and this is something that just doesn't get nearly enough attention out there. Gen X gets screwed, right? We've gone, we've now, Gen X is, that's it. There are no Gen X politicians coming down the pike. He's a millennial. Kamala Harris is a very young boomer. Joe Biden's silent generation. Donald Trump is silent generation. We've had boomers running out this country for a long time, and Gen X is just getting the shiv. And I think it's just -- and we're the best generation, and we're getting screwed. JENNINGS: If I may, on the gettable voters, it's not average, everyday, regularly participatory Republicans that is going to lead Donald Trump, if it happens, to a huge victory. It's going to be low- propensity or no-propensity Americans who have very little engagement with the electoral system, who like Donald Trump, but they need to be constantly communicated with in different ways than normal voters and normal -- the way that normal politicians would. I think this is where Trump is thinking on Vance. He has this -- he is younger. I think your point is well taken. But he understands how to communicate, I think, with that lower-engagement voter that -- look at the polls. The less engagement you have with American politics, the more you like Donald Trump. [15:55:00] And I think Vance may be something of an ambassador to that crowd, which, if they can increase the turnout, will -- GOLDBERG: I honestly just don't buy it. I mean, I agree with your theory of the case, that low-propensity voters are Trump's ace in the hole. JENNINGS: Yes. GOLDBERG: And I think it's kind of ridiculous the Republican Party defenestrated the most reliable voters in American politics, which were the old suburban Republican voters. But that's a fair point. JD Vance does not actually speak Bubba very well, I don't believe. What he does very well is translate Bubba to intellectuals, which is not the same skill. He's good at that. He's good at talking to Anderson Cooper and explaining what the white working class thinks. He's not really good at explaining intellectual stuff to the white working class. GRIFFIN: Well, and I think in this moment, too, coming off of this horrific assassination attempt on the former president, and this notion that this is going to be a unifying convention, and we keep hearing it from the floor. And I'm hearing from people who are there who says, the atmosphere is unifying. JD Vance had the worst statement response. Basically blaming Joe Biden for what happened, blaming Democrats. A quick look through his Twitter feed is calling people scumbags, calling people words I'm not going to say on air. This is a firebrand. He made a decision. We all know old JD Vance, and we know who he decided to be. COOPER: As Republican delegates officially make Donald Trump the party's nominee for a third straight election, we're standing by for Trump's newly announced running mate, JD Vance, to make his first appearance. We'll be right back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) CNN Live Event/Special Aired July 15, 2024 - 16:00 ET THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) [16:01:08] JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: We're live at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the Republican Party's presidential ticket is now set. Donald Trump formally nominated for the top spot a little while ago, and made clear his vice presidential choice, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, who will be nominated soon. We're told that Senator Vance is getting ready to make an appearance in his new role for the very first time. Let's check in with CNN's Kristen Holmes, who has some new report bring on this. And, Kristen, what are you learning about conversations between Trump and Vance before today's announcement? KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Jake, we are told that the two of them had a meeting at Trump's Mar-a-Lago home on Saturday before that rally in Pennsylvania and before that assassination attempt. Now, we did also report previously that in recent days, Donald Trump met with all of the vice presidential potential candidate I think that it's Senator Marco Rubio as well as Doug Burgum. But the timing on Vance is particularly notable and critical given what happened later that day. Now I am told hold by a variety of sources that he had not come to any conclusion at the end of all of those in-person meetings, but he had continued to waffle back and forth looking for all of the things that he had put on his list, all they vice presidential pick including things like chemistry and securing his legacy. Now, of course, he has officially named Vance as his running mate, but it is a notable timing even when that meeting being occurred, Jake. TAPPER: All right. Kristen, thanks so much. Now, let's go over to Jeff Zeleny. Now, Jeff, what are you hearing from Republicans about Trump's decision to choose Senator Vance as running mate. JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jake here on the floor, even as Speaker Mike Johnson moments ago sort of tabulated the delegates here for president, Donald Trump, he's announcing an escort committee talking to a variety Republicans here, there is no question. There is excitement about the pick, but there's also questions. What does Senator JD Vance bring to the ticket? What does he add to the party, talking to a variety of Republican officials looking at House and Senate races as well? Many of them were hoping for someone in the mold of Nikki Haley, if you will, someone who could win over some of those moderate voters, perhaps. Jake, what this also has done in an instant, it has potentially changed the next race for president in 2028. Yes, it's early to talk about that. But in one tweet from the former president, naming JD Vance is running mate, is also changed this via to directory of a Republican like Governor Glenn Youngkin, like Nikki Haley, like Ron DeSantis, so many others. So what has happened here is we see JD Vance would likely come to the floor in the coming minutes or hours we are certainly going to see what is the future of the Republican Party is well. So, yes, there's a bit of a divide between the grassroots and the elected class, but there is no question in this decision, Donald Trump is looking ahead beyond his presidency -- Jake. TAPPER: All right. Jeff Zeleny, thanks so much. Let's get more insight from my panel and already the Democrats, the Biden campaign is attacking this pick saying because they pick JD Vance, because JD Vance will do what Mike Pence did not do, and that is accede to Donald Trump no matter what the Constitution says. DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, there is no question that what we are already hearing from Democrats in addition to that, and we'll hear more and more of are JD Vance's words coming back at the voters, before he endorsed Donald Trump and before Donald Trump endorsed him when he was running for Senate in Ohio. Yes. He wrote a book explaining to America, part of America that didn't support Donald Trump, what and who are Trump voter was, with "Hillbilly Elegy", but he also was very, very dismissive tip of animosity towards Donald Trump. [16:05:02] The one example, he was on our show on "STATE OF THE UNION" with me in May, right after the or during the "Access Hollywood", the hush money trial, and I asked him about something that he said after the access Hollywood tape came out and he said: Fellow Christians, everyone is watching us when we apologize for this man. Lord, help us. He then deleted that tweet. Vance's response in May, was, look, my view on Donald Trump, I have been very clear on this. I was wrong about him. I didn't think he was going to be a good president. I was very, very proud to be proven wrong. It's one of the reasons why I'm working so hard to get him elected. So that's his sort of spin on the change but it is an example of what you just said that he is somebody who very much in one maybe changed his tune on Donald Trump. TAPPER: And, Chris Wallace, if you can hear me over the sound of Grand Funk Railroad, it is also going to be interesting though so to see Kamala Harris versus JD Vance in a vice presidential debate. I actually look forward to that. CHRIS WALLACE, CNN HOST: Absolutely, I just such a statement about where these two parties are and what they wanted to communicate to voters. You look at JD Vance, hard line on a lot of these issues -- very hard line on some social issues. One of the things that the party talks about and that I know that the Trump people want is the idea of strength versus weakness, as they proceed the Democrats, masculine versus feminine. And, you know, JD Vance certainly not to agree, with their premise of the case, but that's certainly is JD Vance is right. What Donald Trump was looking for a debate between JD Vance with his hard-line views and has very much blue collar rock round, although he did end up going to Yale Law School versus Kamala Harris, was would really be an interesting choice for America. ABBY PHILLIP, CNN HOST: Look, for our campaign that's running against Kamala Harris being not ready to be president, they picked someone who has quite a lot less experience than she did, even when she is descended to the vice presidency. I mean, I forgot who was saying this, but just also the reps of running for an office, running for the national office. It is something that takes practice. I mean, when you when I covered the 2020s, seeing all those Democrats, many of whom were running for the very first time, the Republican primary this time around, many Republicans running through this first time. It takes them a long time to get into the groove of the scrutiny of a campaign, of what it's like to really, actually not just be a surrogate, to be the nominee. And I think for JD Vance, that's going to be a learning curve for him because he's only done it once, only done it once. TAPPER: Coming up, we're about to yet are very first look at Donald Trump's vice presidential pick, Senator JD Vance, Republican of Ohio. Stay with us. We'll bring you much more of our special convention coverage right after this quick break. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) [16:12:09] ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: The Republican National Convention. Donald Trump's newly revealed running mate, Senator JD Vance, is getting ready to make his debut as the party's vice presidential candidate. We expect Vance to be officially nominated just moments from now. Let's check in with Kaitlan Collins, who's on the floor with delegates from Ohio, Senator Vance's home state -- Kaitlan. KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN HOST: Yeah, Anderson. It wasn't long ago that the delegate here behind me did not know that the senator from their own snake was going to be Donald Trump's running mate. But, of course, now, Donald Trump has been confirmed and I am standing right in front of the Ohio delegation, as you say, there is quite a crowd here, basically everyone on the floor all the media has gathered over here. A lot of interests by delegates as well, because we are expecting Senator Vance to walk down that aisle. That is the first time we'll be seeing him since Donald Trump announced that he has selected him to be his running mate, and on that ticket. So, obviously, we'll watch him very closely to see what he says when he speaks to the microphone. He's someone who has been asked basically in every media appearance and last four months or so, if he is going to serve as Donald Trump's running mate, he has made clear that he would have liked to have taken that job and he was always a little bit coy as most president told, candidates and contenders typically are. So we are waiting on Senator Vance to walk down this aisle. Any moment here, Anderson, for the first time since he was announced as the pick. COOPER: Kaitlan, we'll come back to you shortly for that. We also learned today back here with the panel, we also learned that Donald Trump has met with Robert Kennedy Jr. today in Milwaukee. That meeting took place short time ago. It said that they also discussed the selection of JD Vance. ALYSSA FARAH GRIFFIN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: And it was a smart call for Donald Trump to get out there and got ahead and say that RFK Jr. should have Secret Service protection because he is somebody who's pulling it a certain threshold. And because of this moment of political violence that we're living in. It's obviously the political thought there is that he wants to chip away at some of his support and that there may be a moment where RFK Jr. is going to endorse in this race, when it becomes clear there's absolutely no potential for him to himself be the presidents. So I think it's smart to make inroads there. I think the Biden team would be wise to as well. SCOTT JENNINGS, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: You think Joe Biden should meet with RFK Jr.? GRIFFIN: I mean, it be hilarious -- (LAUGHTER) JENNINGS: I mean, look, I mean, if somehow you think about what's going on here in the last few days starting with the debate and then you've got Trump getting cleared up on some of his legal stuff then he survives this assassination attempt. He has this successful convention, which by the way, NBC News poll that came out like 70 percent of Republicans are satisfied with their choices, only 30 something percent of Republicans aren't. I mean, he's coming out with a unified party. And he instinctively knows that if he could get like the RFK crowd back in -- I mean, this is a guy who is locked in on one thing, winning the election. I mean, you just think about what's happening in the circumstances and the actions, they're on a positive vector right now, and they're the only ones. [16:15:07] KATE BEDINGFIELD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: But this is why I'm not sure that JD Vance choice makes a ton of sense. VAN JONES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yeah. BEDINGFIELD: Because I think he as we've discussed, I mean, he's somebody who absolutely doubles down, triples down on the things that Donald Trump is most vulnerable on. So, you know, the world that the universe of candidates that he could have chosen to signal to people, I'm serious about this message of unity. I believe this is a moment we all need to come together. And he picks somebody who has done anything but that he picked the person who came out immediately after the shooting and said this was Joe Biden's fault. So you know, I'm not so sure that this is a strategic matter, makes a ton of sense. It will be really interesting to see when JD Vance speaks, it will be really interesting to see where does he go with this? Does he tried to make an appeal to our better angels or do we hear the JD Vance that we've gotten for the last 18 months, two years. JONES: I mean, I agree. I don't -- I don't think this is about I'm trying to win. This is about I assume I'm going to win. BEDINGFIELD: Yes. JONES: And now I'm trying to govern. BEDINGFIELD: Yes. JONES: And so for me, if you're trying to win, you don't pick somebody says no exception for rape and incest. He says that women should stay in abusive marriages for the kid -- I mean when you see this stuff that JD Vance is on record good for and he sort of switch -- fever swamp that you're talking about, that's not a campaigning choices, it's a governing choice. Except in one possible area which is that he does have this tech bro background and people like Peter Teal, people have mentioned Elon Musk, they're -- I don't know if you will understand, there's something is happening in Silicon Valley where there is this sort of right-wing libertarian backlash to the so-called woke agenda, in those folks have been bubbling and bumbling, trying to find a champion and a horse to ride. If they see JD Vance is that horse, there could be money behind it. But if you're trying to win an election, where suburban women are still up for grabs. This is one of the worst choices you can make, given that the -- given the field. COOPER: Although if -- I mean, if it's key for Biden to win in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, does the does JD Vance helpful? JONES: Well, I think it's hard for Biden to win in Ohio any way at this point. But you're from Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, yeah, that might be somewhat helpful. But I just think that there are other people can help you with that. They don't have this other baggage. JENNINGS: I don't think -- JONES: How do you see it? JENNINGS: Well, I think Vance will help in that area. I do think Trump's going to win Ohio anyway. I don't think Donald Trump is going to subjugate his positions to JD Vance's, whatever oppo your peddling and what are you -- what you're talking about? BEDINGFIELD: Oppo? These are things you see. (CROSSTALK) JONES: Oppo known as back spin. JENNINGS: Whatever is -- I mean, Trump -- Trump is not going to subjugate himself to anyone else's agenda, just like he threw Project 2025 under the bus and put out his own RNC platform, he's going to do whatever he's going to do. And I actually -- Trump's a lot more moderate than people think or want to give -- you listen to him. He's a lot more moderate. He's tossed a lot of Republican orthodoxy out the window. Inside of him somewhere is an independent, not a party person. And I just don't believe he's going to adopt anything JD Vance has said, if he thinks it's not helpful. GRIFFIN: I think he's been in the best news cycle of his life, Donald Trump has, in this actually kind -- JENNINGS: He's on offense, yeah. GRIFFIN: But this is -- this is the best thing that's happened to Biden in a really bad news cycle is there finally somebody that Democrats can throw their ire at. There's somebody that there is a lot to put out there. His previous statements accusing against him. If this was Doug Burgum, I don't even know what Jen O'Malley Dillon would be saying to the other than oh, he's a little bit conservative, but this is somebody that there's -- (CROSSTALK) JENNINGS: They're the same thing. GRIFFIN: I am curious at a moment when there is a very real conversation about Biden continuing in the race. Does the JD Vance of it change it? If he's someone who's seen as more extreme, is there a push of maybe we need to reconsider our ticket? BEDINGFIELD: I -- go ahead. JONAH GOLDBERG, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I was going to say I agree this is the luckiest stretch any president, I mean, has had a very long time. The court case today basically, killing all that. But one of the biggest things that has not that -- one of the biggest sources of his good luck is that for reasons that I find bizarre, it is utterly killed the conversation, at least in public, about replacing Joe Biden from the ticket, even though the assassination attempt on Joe Biden -- I mean, on Donald Trump completely eviscerated, at least for the foreseeable future, I'm not sure forever, but for the time being, the core argument that Joe Biden had spent millions of dollars and months and invest in, in, which is that Donald Trump is the -- is the architect of violations against political norms that he is a threat to democracy. I think a lot of those criticisms are still valid, but you're not allowed to say them and you certainly not allowed to say 'em the way that Joe Biden has been saying 'em. And to me, this makes the argument quite well for someone saying, hey, look, we've got to turn the page. We got these two grumpy old men yelling at each other. This is the politics of the past and get some fresh blood in there who can articulate these arguments in a new way, when you have 33 percent of Democrats saying they're happy with their own choice. JONES: But -- GOLDBERG: That's an opportunity and yet it's killed it for some reason, that conversation. [16:20:00] BEDINGFIELD: Well, but I don't -- I would just say quickly, I mean, I think part of the reason that it has muted that conversation and why I think the Vance pick doesn't argue for Biden to be replaced is in some ways it does bring the conversation about the race, the narrative of the presidential race back to a place where Joe Biden is strong. I mean, this is the soul of the nation argument. This is protecting democracy. This is a sense of, we want somebody in the office who has wisdom and experience and a steady hand. I mean, I think the dynamics of this conversation go back to places Joe Biden is stronger and so, I think that that is a compelling reason. I would also just say Scott said a few minutes ago that Donald Trump is a moderate and I just don't think can let that hang out in the air. JENNIGS: He is -- (CROSSTALK) BEDINGFIELD: This is the guy who put -- GOLDBERG: Bannon says he is. (LAUGHTER) BEDINGFIELD: Yes, because Steve Bannon says he is moderate. (CROSSTALK) JENNINGS: -- traditional conservative Republican. (CROSSTALK) JENNINGS: He's not. He never has been. And he beat them. BEDINGFIELD: Three justices on the Supreme Court who overturn Roe versus Wade, which has been the conservative goal for the last 50 years. JENNINGS: He has conservative views and he's done some conservative -- but he is not the same as Ted Cruz. He is not the same as the Heritage, he's just -- he's not an orthodox, conservative Republican in the way you all have tried to define or malign them for the last several decades. He is different and everybody knows it and it's one of the reasons he has some of working class appeals. JONES: You know what? I agree with you because the traditional conservative Republican would not support an insurrection. A traditional conservative Republican would not say he's going to pardon traitors and treasonous people who attacked our government. And you're correct, he's not -- he's worse. He's worse, he's much worse. But I think, you know, part of the reason that JD Vance matters isn't for these kind of short term electoral calculations. He matters because what he means for a Republican Party long term. This is cementing a kind of nationalism. Now, Trump -- to your point, I agree with you. He's an instinctive, impulsive, intuitive nationalist. JD Vance is an ideological nationalist. That's a much more dangerous virus because he can make this -- he can polish this stuff and make it seem palatable to people. He can sell this stuff to Silicon Valley. You can sell this stuff to other places. And what it does is it locks the Republican Party on a path way that I think is dangerous for the world, again, the Ukrainians are now in deep trouble. NATO is now in deep trouble. Trump is, you get a gone with it with Nikki Haley, and signal to the world, hey, listen, I got to get stuck to my base, but I'm not going to abandon the world. This pick is a horror on the world stage. So JD Vance matters because Donald Trump is pointing the Republican Party in a very scary direction for the long term. BEDINGFIELD: Hear, hear. JENNINGS: Let me -- let me -- let me -- JONES: How do you see it? JENNINGS: Here's how I see it. Number one, the idea that Biden is now running against Vance, Biden is running against Trump, and he's currently losing to Trump. BEDINGFIELD: Agree. I'm not -- JENNINGS: Vance is actually running against Kamala Harris, who not popular. I don't know if you've got checked the papers today, not popular, very unpopular. And so, if you want to have a debate about which ticket is more politically nimble, which ticket is more politically palatable right now, I'm not certain that elevating the conversation about well, let's, let's really focus on the vice presidents is going to help the Democratic Party because -- I mean, the principal reason Biden is still in the race is because no Democrats want Harris to be at the top of the ticket, I think right now. They're afraid of how unpopular she is. And so you know what? I think ultimately its not going to make a ton of difference on peoples votes but on the margins, if you want to discuss the relative popularity and extremism of VPs? I'll take it. I'll take the debate. Let's just go back to Jake in Milwaukee -- Jake. TAPPER: Thanks, Anderson. We're taking it to the streets here. We got the sounds of the Doobie Brothers behind me, even though Michael McDonald is a fake elector and the chair of the Nevada Republican Party about is not that Michael McDonald, that we are honoring, right now. John King asked by CNN if he would consider running for the Senate in Ohio, Vivek Ramaswamy noted that if I were asked to serve in that, I would strongly consider that's where -- that's where we are already. The JD Vance -- DAVID URBAN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I tweeted that out 15 minutes ago. TAPPER: Oh, is that right? You're ahead of Ramaswamy. URBAN: I was ahead of Ramaswamy. It'll be at appointed -- you know, you'll have an appointment. TAPPER: The governor -- the Republican -- URBAN: Governor DeWine will get to appoint him if and when they get elected, and I look, I think that has a nice ring to it. BASH: If they have to win first. TAPPER: Boy, a lot of popcorn, a lot of popcorn -- URBAN: Oh, come on, come on, Dana. TAPPER: A lot of -- a lot of champagne and popcorn. JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: But it, again, raises the organizing fact of this convention of how this is so Donald Trump's party in 2016, we talked about earlier, Ted Cruz and others were trying to take it away. 2020, we didn't really have a convention because of COVID. After January 6th, 2021, most of the establishment Republican Party said we got to get rid of this guy. DAVID AXELROD, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yeah. KING: We got to get rid of this guy. We've got to break from him. He is bad for us. Now you have Mitch McConnell on the floor here given -- he get booed, but being the man who gives Donald Trump Kentucky's votes. [16:25:00] You have Mike DeWine, who during COVID as the governor of Ohio, was on TV all the time saying Anthony Fauci was doing a great job, and the Biden administration is being very helpful. You have Glenn Youngkin, who has always tried to have the never really harshly critical of Trump. But let me try to keep my distance because I hope he goes away because I'm not that kind of a Republican. He's going to speak tonight. I was walking around here earlier than our dinner last night, my first convention, Wallace has beat by a couple, 1988, and there are delegates here who were part of the George H.W. Bush movement, right, Reagan, Bush Republicans. And they know what has happened in the state parties where you constantly stand up to Donald Trump, he has you first and you're not here. Those people are gone. And so they adapt and they say, I want to stay in the clubs, and so they just mute their criticisms and they show up. Don't -- it's a huge victory for Donald Trump. TAPPER: Yeah. KING: Let's take a time that this is his party. TAPPER: Let's go to Kaitlan Collins right now who has some more reporting on President Trump and Senator JD Vance -- Kaitlan. (MUSIC) TAPPER: All right. I'm told Kaitlan's audio is not working even though I hear just fine, apparently. What you -- and you talked, John, about the purging of Republican state officials. It's obviously -- I'm not telling you anything you don't know. It's not just that. It's the forces in the Republican Party who stood up to Donald Trump, especially when it comes to the overview attempt to overturn it the election are, have been purged from office. Liz Cheney, who was the House conference chair, not only removed from her position he has the candidate primary her and supported that person and Congresswoman Cheney is not in the party anymore. Congressman Kinzinger is not in Congress anymore. I don't think we're going to see Senator Mitt Romney here. It's Mike Lee gave the delegates from Utah. It is the end of at least -- for at least temporarily of voices that stand up to Donald Trump when it comes to what no president has had ever attempted before, which is to overturn an election. KING: And oddly, one of the criticisms we are hearing here is from the anti-abortion movement, right? Which was grateful for Donald Trump for the Supreme Court picks, but does not like the platform and other social conservatives because they have moderated or watered down whatever you want to term you want to use, language about same-sex marriage and abortion that has been the Republican platform for as long as I've been covering national politics. And so, it's just -- it's weird. The people now, they don't have -- they don't have the numbers. They don't have the voices but it's just we live in a very different world and again, that's to his credit, you may not like it, but he dominates this party. AXELROD: I mean, what's really extraordinary and you sort of touched on it back in the fall of 2022 after a lot of the candidates that he's supported crashed and burned to talk in the Republican Party was this guy is a cancer. We can't go with Trumpism. We need to end, and remember, Ron DeSantis was held up as the as and from that moment and to four indictments, one conviction, he now is a colossus within the Republican Party. It's -- it's quite something. The question is -- does this translate into a consensus nationally? Right now, he's benefiting from the image of strength, which this will contribute to and concerns about Biden. It still doesn't resolve the question as to whether what Biden -- what Trump is selling is something that the country as a whole wants to buy. WALLACE: David, if I can go back even further, I was just looking at Trump's fair speech at Joint Base Andrews, when he left on January 20th, 2020 -- 2021. Instead of appearing at the inauguration, attending the inauguration of Joe Biden, he said, goodbye, we love you, and we'll back in some form. He left in utter disagree, this is after January 6. He had already been impeached because second time by the House of Representatives. The idea -- I mean, just big picture that that man who left Washington in disgrace is now one step away from regaining the White House, it's one of the great political comeback stories of all time. You can love it or hate it, but it's a -- URBAN: So, what does that say about America, right? We're missing something. Everybody is missing something. PHILLIP: I think -- this is exactly what I was going to say. I think that one of them big missteps, a lot of people make is mistaking perhaps Joe Biden's weakness for Donald Trump's strength. He still has problems with a lot of voters in this country. Don't mistake that. I think Joe Biden is in a historically weak position. His approval rating is very low, he does not have not solidified his base. And so, when Donald Trump's solidifies his, which it was apparent at least to me that he would but after the Republican primary, it puts him just in that sweet spot to really at -- potentially edge out his opponent. [16:30:10] But I don't think his problems in the suburbs are solved. I don't think his problems with -- with non-white women, maybe not so non- white men, are resolved. I think Donald Trump still has quite a lot of problems on the electoral map that are not as important, I guess when your opponent is weaker, like Biden is. KASIE HUNT, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Yeah. Well, in that that, is exactly the frame that the Trump team wanted for this entire election. Strength versus weakness and the enormous changes, that we have seen in this race, these out of extraordinary events. First, the debate. And then, of course, the assassination attempt. And Donald Trump's reaction in the moment to stop his service detail, put his fist in the air and say fight -- those two things taken together have sent this race direction that undoubtedly benefits Donald Trump and plays right into what they want. We also, I think want to note that we're seeing now from Jason Miller, pictures of the Trump team already plastering Vance underneath the name Trump on the plane. TAPPER: They just have to replace him a letter, right? BASH: I think -- I think Pence has been gone for -- PHILLIP: Color now than it used be. TAPPER: That's a different color. That's right. Let's go back to Kaitlan Collins. I'm told her microphone issues have been resolved -- Kaitlan. COLLINS: Yes, Jake, I believe you can hear us now. It is quite loud. I will note, we're just a few feet away from the band. But the reason that there were people surrounding me is because Senator JD Vance is expected to walk down this aisle behind me. We are standing right by the Ohio delegation. Any moment now, Jake, just something that we're learning when JD Vance learn that he was Donald Trump's pick to be his running mate, I am told by a source familiar there's 20 minutes before Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he called Senator Vance to notify him that -- yes, he had indeed picked him to be his running. So just shows you how quickly all of this was happening. I spoke to Senator Tuberville on the floor either earlier, he spoke to Donald Trump this morning and said, as of 7:30 a.m., he was still mulling who exactly he was going to pick and was asking Senator Tuberville's advice. He did not tell me ruby recommended. But, of course, we've now learned Senator Vance himself found out just about 20 minutes before that announcement actually came down officially on Truth Social, Jake. Of course, it's not official until you hear it from Donald Trump himself. TAPPER: That is correct. Kaitlan Collins. Thanks so much. We are expecting Ohio Republican Senator JD Vance to come out onto the floor of the Republican National Convention here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at any minute. But one thing that I do think is important and perhaps under-discussed right now, Kaitlan, is the fact that this battle for the Electoral College will be waged in Wisconsin, where we are. Michigan and Pennsylvania, that is, as now according to polls as of now, John King can correct me if I'm wrong, but that is pretty much Joe Biden's only path, don't you think? I mean, is there -- is there some -- is there some other course for Joe Biden to win given today's polling? KING: Given today's polling, no. TAPPER: Yeah. KING: Given today's polling, the safest bet for Biden and he does this from a position of weakness, is Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin -- TAPPER: Wisconsin -- (CROSSTALK) KING: --which again, you know, Hillary Clinton lost those states. Donald Trump became president. TAPPER: Yes. KING: Joe Biden flipped them back and became president. He had a bigger margin because he also flipped Georgia and he flipped Arizona, Biden did, and he held Nevada. Right now, if you look at it and I don't think -- anybody wants to disagree, jump in, if you know, Trump is favored in Georgia, right? The new flip, the new purple state, if you will, Trump his trip on. Trump is favorite in Arizona, Trump is favorite in Nevada, a state that is tend to is moved from a once -- once a Republican state, then a battleground state has become reliably Democratic. But to Abby's point earlier, a Latino man especially Trump's, call it cynical if you wish, but I'll eliminate taxation on tips, was the biggest economic driver in the hospitality. BASH: Nevada. KING: Nevada. TAPPER: Right, but he was way ahead long before he introduced the notes, the taxes tips. KING: So, but, after -- and so if you're -- if you're Biden and you want to sneak out a 270, it's Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and then we'll have this conversation down the road. Can you hold Nebraska, too? You know, Nebraska and Maine award electoral votes by congressional district. TAPPER: Right. KING: You hold that. The district right around Omaha, the blue districts. And I'll say this, the meeting this morning with Robert Kennedy, you know, they say they discussion national unity. There are other reports that Trump tried to win an endorsement there, when a Republican convention, Donald Trump earned the right to be this nominee. He won the nomination convincing this is his weak to tell his story and introduce JD Vance. But anyone who wants to talk about this as a Trump-Biden race is making a huge mistake. TAPPER: Right. Again, to the point, Donald Trump cant get to 50 in a lot of these states. [16:35:00] There is not majority support for Trumpism. Abby's right, he has a lot of problems. But Joe Biden has more problems. TAPPER: So the only one I wanted to make was that JD Vance is the son of Ohio and Ohio is not Pennsylvania, Michigan, or Wisconsin, but it is a Midwestern state. And I think it's not -- just in term geographically, he speaks Midwestern, you know? BASH: No question about that. What the Trump campaign clearly is hoping with the Vance pick is to win back. Let's take Pennsylvania. David Urban, who ran Pennsylvania for Donald Trump in 2016 as an example, is to outperform those the cities and the suburbs in Trump country, like he did in 2016. TAPPER: Like Western Pennsylvania, where David's from. BASH: Yeah, with the Vance voter. DAVID URBAN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yeah, you need to run numbers in Altoona, Blair County. KING: Where he was in Butler. URBAN: Right, in Butler, you need to run up those numbers and JD Vance would be very, very popular in Blair County, Cambria County, Westmoreland County, Beaver County, those numbers and that difference, 1,000 votes. It's 67 counties win you the state of Pennsylvania. It's 45,000 and 80,000? It's on the head of a pen. AXELROD: Yeah. No, listen, this is the political electoral logic of this. As I said earlier, I think hey, Vance is very, very good at making the case. So that is one thing. The other is those three states, they take any of them in, they blocked Joe Biden from winning this presidency period. End of story. The question I just have for you is when you look at Vance's position on issues like abortion, for example, how does that play in the suburbs of Philly? URBAN: Well, it's good -- AXELROD: Which are very, very, or Pittsburgh, which are very important to Pennsylvania. URBAN: That's the tough needle has to be thread, right? So can -- can those numbers are, you know, are those voters going to be persuaded to vote for Trump in any fashion, have you put Nikki Haley on the ticket? Voters show up in Montgomery County because Nikki Haley is in the ticket. I think not. I think it's -- the thing is to run up those numbers, 70, 80 percent in Luzerne, Lackawanna, Scranton, Macomb County, Michigan. AXELROD: How about Nikki Haley? She's going to be here tomorrow night to talk about national security, kind of interesting because she hits such -- so much of her campaign was about Ukraine and national security and now you have a guy who has vowed opponent of aid to Ukraine on the ticket ratifying Trump's position on this. She may have to work on her speech -- PHILLIP: It will be interesting to me to see the effect that Vance has on the Democratic base to your point, David, about his position on abortion, you know, maybe it doesn't help them as much in the suburbs, fine, but will it help mobilize Democratic voters who are already kind of unenthusiastic about this vote? I mean, I think one -- there are the two ways that you can do this if you're Biden, you can either become a whole lot more popular or you can get your people out, right? Get your people off the couch and abortion, when you talk Democrats, that is going to be big issue how do they resume? Do they resume the argument about the future of American democracy? Can they do that? Is it easier to do that when you have the future of MAGA on the ballot? TAPPER: I think -- PHILLIP: I think those are all the questions that they're looking at right now. TAPPER: And one of the things that's interesting here on the abortion, Kasie, and I think one of the reasons that were discussing it so much is, A, this is the first presidential election since Roe v. Wade was overturned. And, B, in so many of the elections since Roe v. Wade was overturned, Democrats have, or the -- or the pro abortion rights position has outperformed including in places like Ohio, including in places like Kentucky and Montana. And I think it's fair to say that Donald Trump and JD Vance both have made it clear they don't want this to be an issue in the election and they think it's a political loser. Now that doesn't settle, but doesn't settle it. It says they're making a political calculation, not a principled calculation. I think we see their records based on what JD Vance has said and done and what Donald Trump has said and done as the man most responsible for the overturning of Roe v. Wade, other than Mitch McConnell perhaps. But I do wonder whether that will play role -- JD Vance is saying, no, no, I don't. This is an electoral loser. We shouldn't be talking about this. We shouldn't be focused on this. Will this play a role in the November election? HUNT: I mean, I think it absolutely is going to play a role in the November elections. I think big picture, I -- in my recent experience covering politics, that is extraordinarily dangerous to assume that what everyone is telling can he was going to happen is going to happen. Let me tell you, everyone with the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Donald Trump campaign both told me that the same thing was going to happen in 2016. They both said she was going to when and who was going to lose and everybody was wrong. And anyone who suggested anything else in the lead-up to that was ridiculed, including me, which is fine. But two things on abortion. One what they were looking for down there on that floor today absent what happened in Butler, Pennsylvania, was going to be a fight over abortion and the Republican platform you have, there are people here and they had an operation should a whip operation going specifically designed to prevent people who wanted to make a stick about that from getting to the microphone. [16:40:07] They had a plan in place and I spoke to someone this morning who basically said if we can tear up that plan now because no one is going to do that in a moment where they're trying to get unity. The second thing I will say is we've touched on what an interesting debate we may see between JD Vance and Kamala Harris, and this I think is going to be a central issue there because you've already seeing the Biden campaign messaging focusing in on abortion. She is one of their sort of attack dogs on and this issue. And the idea that she's not going to go right at JD Vance on it, I think -- AXELROD: Well, he has articulated -- his position has been no exceptions for rape, his position has been to endorse the Texas law, which is the most the most extreme in the country. These things are going to come back here. These things are not going to be. BASH: The one thing I will add is that I was told despite the fact that North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum was making his pitch publicly and privately to Donald Trump about why the bill that he signed in his state, which is extremely strict, a strict ban was -- was okay because he could adopt Donald Trump's position, Trump said publicly that Burgum's position and his record more importantly, on abortion was problematic. So, yes, it is something that the Republicans don't want to talk about, but they understand that they are going to do because the Democrats will give them no choice. TAPPER: I tend to think that the positions of the running mate fall by the wayside after the first day or two. I mean, I remember covering Dick Cheney being picked in the for people excited in 2000 because he had voted against the -- I forgot -- he get voted against the Martin Luther King Day holiday or you voted to make the national Congress of a terrorist group. I forget exactly what it was, but at the end of the day, its about the guy at the top of the ticket, not -- not the running mate and the not the running mates' positions that this tends to be what it is. PHILLIP: That's true, but in this particular case, Donald Trump is also here, there and everywhere on the issue of abortion. So it just makes it a live issue. Trump and his campaign, they wanted platform to kind of neutralize that. That probably wasn't going to happen anywhere certainly not going to happen now. But there's another opportunity or the other side to say these guys are not telling the truth about what they really want to do with power when it comes to the threat. TAPPER: That is what I wonder about if, if both of them indicated in that brush, but only as an extension of Trump exact, not as his. PHILLIP: I mean, not to say nobody cares, but people care about the top of the ticket to your point. TAPPER: Yeah. PHILLIP: You know, I think about JD Vance though, is the waffling on Trump, but the waffling on principles is going to be an issue for him, right? Like his position changed from the time after he published "Hillbilly Elegy" to when became a candidate for Senate is going to be a question of character for him. And it's not going to go away. I don't think any Democrat in their right mind would let. TAPPER: I would agree that Democrats are going to use his words, but JD Vance -- and, David Urban, you tell me what you think here and then, Axelrod, and I want to know what you think. I mean, he has he has explained it. You said I was wrong. I was wrong and I am happy that I was wrong. I mean, and things that he said in private he said in public, he doesn't deny them. I don't even know that he's deleted the tweet. PHILLIP: Some of them -- TAPPER: But in any case, the point is, he has owned it. I'm not -- I'm not excusing it, or justifying one way or the other, but he doesn't pretend that's not true. He says, yes, I was wrong about Trump. URBAN: And Vice President Harris has said very unflattering things about Joe Biden. It's the nature of -- TAPPER: She hadn't compared him to Hitler, right, yeah. URBANA: It's the nature of the game, right? This is -- this is the body politic, in there. It's a full-contact sport. You're running for president. A lot of sharp elbows and look, there's a long laundry list of things that Marco Rubio, JD Vance, and others have said about Donald Trump the they now have their positions of evolved done and they clearly are going to have to, you know, JD said I was wrong, but I'm glad I was wrong about it. One thing I just point out real quick up by JD Vance of figure to see a lot more of the coming weeks. This notion that he enlisted in the Marine Corps for a lot of you that may not make a big deal big, going to TBS, the basic school -- Marine Corps basic school is hard stuff. It is not a -- you're not a soft palm individual if you make it through the Marine Corps basic school. Marine Corps boot camp is tough stuff. I think you'll see a lot of pictures of a shaved head, shaved face, JD Vance, during this campaign. TAPPER: I've never heard an Army guys say such nice things about the marine in my life, in my life, wow. (CROSSTALK) TAPPER: Somebody at West Point is swooning right now. AXELROD: I do think that this military his military record is going to be an asset in those same areas that we were talking about, small towns, rural areas in the -- in the Midwest. [16:45:03] But he has said things that he has going to have to account for. There's no doubt, you know, he accused the President Biden of allowing drugs to come into the country as a plot against rural areas and so on. Things that were quite edgy, certainly not in keeping with the he unity party that we are told were going to see now. But I will tell you this. I sat down with him and I did a podcast with them in 2017. I went -- I'm going -- I'm going to re-issue it on Thursday. I -- he is a very, very smart guy and anybody underestimates that is making a mistake. A lot of the things that he's saying now, he's sort of mutated a little for the consumption of the MAGA world. But he was talking on these economic issues in, back in 2017, much as he is right now. And that's going to an appeal to a lot of these voters they're targeting. But one of the things they're so -- one of the things that the American people are going to see quite a bit in the coming days is this private text that JD Vance sent to a friend in 2016. And one of the things about it, there's some pretty incendiary stuff in there. This is when he says, is the America's Hitler, he's talking about Trump. But before that, he also says this is what I've been calling for in the Republican Party for a long time, which is to embrace working class values. Now, he seemed skeptical that Donald Trump actually had that in his heart and his soul. But there is a consistency in that level. He wanted the Republican Party to be could the Republican Party of the working class, not just the white working class. And that same text he talks about the black working-class -- WALLACE: To the large degree, as you all know, "Hillbilly Elegy" when it came out in 2015, it was an explanation not on late to the Republican Party, but to the country if you're wondering why these people feel so disaffected and feel so left out of the American dream, here's why. And if -- if you haven't read it, it's a hell of a book. I very much -- AXELROD: I guess is it's going to sell more copies now. WALLACE: And the point is that a lot of people have said that that he understands MAGA better than and before Donald Trump did. So, I -- TAPPER: Don't say that too loud. He's going to drop him from the ticket, Chris. WALLACE: But I think that he's going to be an extremely effective spokesman, particularly as you talk about in the blue wall. And that's -- you know, the wall of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, that isn't Biden's first chance. That's his last chance, assuming he loses all those states from the southern tier. Having said that, right now, for all of our talk about, well, that's 270, 269, whatever I think we have to consider the fact that right now, if you look at the polls there's a real chance this race could get away from Joe Biden. TAPPER: Yeah. WALLACE: I mean, at this point, Virginia is in single-digit. This is a state that hasn't voted for -- BASH: Margin-of-error. WALLACE: -- a Republican since 2004, George W. Bush, Minnesota is close. New Hampshire, which has been a solid, reliable republic, a Democratic state is now in play. So, yeah, you know -- TAPPER: But is that because Trump is strong, where because Biden is weak in your view? WALLACE: Yes. TAPPER: Both? WALLACE: Yeah, well, yeah, I mean, I think that -- I think at this point -- and after the horrible events of the last weekend, Trump has even stronger and Biden may be even weaker. So, you know, yes, we can talk about a blue wall and getting to 270, just above or below, this race could get away from Biden. KING: One of the things they have done that is the smart, though, so far, is that Biden is weak. He's the incumbent president again, through the rules matter when you have a former president running against the current president, I don't know. But over in history is do you want to keep what you've got? And the American people. Joe Biden's approval rating is in the mid-30s and somewhere in the ballpark of seven and ten Americans don't think he's up to serving after the debate, don't think he's up to serving four more years. That's -- your choice is framed by what you having or you're moving, right? So that's what the other things, but back to this point, the advanced picked says that they view this election more like 2016. Lessons learned from 2016. They didn't think this one they were running in 2016 because they didn't know how well Jill Stein was going to do and how well Gary Johnson was going to do at the beginning of the campaign. But they know what happened in the election, and they know why Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, especially Michigan and Wisconsin, where the third party candidate, Robert F. Kennedy, so far, is on nine ballots, including Michigan, Minnesota, and New Mexico, states Biden must win, states where Donald Trump can get to 47, right? TAPPER: Yeah. KING: Jill Stein is on the ballot in 18 states, assuming it's not official yet, but she'll likely be the Green Party nominee, including Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Maine, states Biden must win. Cornell West so far is only on in the states that Biden where he would be a threat in Colorado, as it got if it -- but he's trying to get on the ballot in Michigan and a couple of the other states in the blue wall. With Vance, Mr. Urban's theory there, what they did in 2016 is they brought a whole bunch of new voters. [16:50:04] In 2020, some of them went away. If you can turn out people who are disaffected, disillusion, but if they do show up would vote for Donald Trump. And the third party candidates have even a modest impact -- that's the Trump 2016 map, period. TAPPER: All right. Let's go to Phil Mattingly. He who is on the floor of the convention, which is celebrating that rousing rendition of "Reelin' in the Years" by Steely Dan. PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CHIEF DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, the lengthy Steely Dan interlude there, the kind of jam band, give you a sense that they're waiting for something to happen and were giving you a behind the scenes look of what they're waiting for. This is the behind shot from where Kaitlan was, we expect to in short order, JD Vance, who has been selected by the former president to be his vice presidential nominee, will be walking out that door and towards where Kaitlan was, which is where the Ohio delegation is. And there, the Susie Wiles, Chris LaCivita -- Jake, I'll turn it back to you as were starting to see senior campaign staff walked out and you expect to see JD Vance shortly. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ladies and gentlemen, is now a time for us to determine are nominee for the office of vice president of United States. Senator JD Vance. (CHEERS) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Senator, Senator, how do you feel? (MUSIC) TAPPER: So Senator JD Vance walking through the crowd. He's hung up on -- expectedly, I should say by the Ohio delegation he is a son of Ohio and is represented it Ohio in the U.S. Senate for almost -- about a year-and-a-half, I guess before that, of course, he was a favorite son, having become a huge success despite having come from very humble means, which you can read about in his book "Hillbilly Elegy". As we watch this, Dana Bash, one of the things that is definitely true is that other than the ones who were passed over, you see a sense a lot of the Republican senators are excited about the fact, given that he is one of them. I can hear Dana -- I don't what's going on with her audio right now. Go ahead, Chris. WALLACE: I was just going to say, I suspect a lot of people are looking at the woman along slide JD Vance, and they're wondering who she is and I just Googled her. It's Usha Vance, who is his wife, and have -- they met at Yale Law School. She clerked for Supreme Court Justice John Roberts and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh when he was appeals court judge. [16:55:06] She earned degrees from Yale and Cambridge. The daughter of Indian immigrants grew up in the San Diego suburb. So they clearly -- she's another under achiever, these two, here they are running to beat the second family of the United States, JD Vance and Usha Vance. TAPPER: Yes, they have they had three young children. They've been married for about ten years. And Senator Vance, very short stints in the Senate, but obviously making quite a splash especially with Donald Trump and his families. BASH: Can you hear me now? TAPPER: I can. BASH: OK. TAPPER: It was my ear, though, my audio was wrong. BASH: He said he has a lot of a lot of senators who are on the floor are happening. I think most of them are. He is a newbie and the Senate isn't what it once was and I think there's sort of an old school feeling and then there's more of the MAGA wing, which is very much growing and has its grown in the United States Senate. But, you know, you were talking about some of his personal attributes, the information about his wife, which is fascinating. I'm also just thinking about the fact that as you mentioned, Jake, he's not even 40. He will be 40 years old in August, which means that he was only eligible for this like four years ago, four-and-a-half years ago. TAPPER: Yeah, he's but that's how young he is and I just want to endorse what Jonah Goldberg said that it is a shame that Gen X is being skipped over for now. (CROSSTALK) TAPPER: They've run, they just haven't won. PHILLIP: And, Jake, yeah, as were waiting here, I just learned that the Vice President Kamala Harris plays to call to JD Vance after he was named they didn't connect, but she left a voicemail. I'm just common courtesy that I guess we have we have stopped having in this country, but perhaps is returning. President Biden called President Trump over the weekend. JD Vance got a call from the vice president just a courtesy as he is about to get on stage here today. AXELROD: You know, to Dana's point. I do think in a race where so much of the issue is about the age of the president, to put a 40-year-old on the ticket, is some kind of statements. Now, whether or that induces younger people, they'd take more of an interest or not, at least on the Republican side, I don't know. But, you know, he's the only new generation candidate really, I mean, Kamala Harris is obviously a generation younger than Trump and Biden, but it is a statement of some sort. PHILLIP: So notable. So I'm sorry, Kasie, I just wanted to say real quick. Its been very notable to me even before all this before JD Vance, Donald Trump is doing very well with young voters in a way that a lot of Republicans do not typically do well. We'll see if JD Vance helps with that, but its certainly I don't think could hurt. HUNT: Well, I think that you have seen a phenomenon. It's not just an American one populism that we have been talking about that has driven JD Vance to the ticket, it is appealing to young people. We are seeing it in Europe. We are seeing it in the protege of Marine Le Pen in France, kind of cutting a very different profile and reality is, I mean, JD Vance, to David's point Republicans have done a better job in Congress, the Democrats at this. TAPPER: Let's listen in. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To speak to you all this afternoon to formally nominate the Republican nominee for vice president of the United States. (CHEERS) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ohio is the heart of it all. And that is certainly the case once again here today. The vice presidency is an office of sacred trust. The man who accepts this nomination accepts with it the awesome responsibility to give wise counsel to the president. To represent America abroad, to preside over the Senate, and to be ready to lead our nation at a moment's notice, such a man must have an America first attitude in his heart, he -- a man. He must embrace his obligation to the American family, the American worker and the American soldier. He must believe that America is exceptional. And be prepared in the tradition of our founders to pledge his life, his fortune, his sacred honor, to preserve, protect, and defend the -- CNN Live Event/Special Aired July 15, 2024 - 17:00 ET THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. [17:00:00] (BEGIN LIVE VIDEO) JON HUSTED, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF OHIO: …Constitution of the United States. (APPLAUSE) He must share the values and principles of our presidential nominee and be trusted to faithfully implement the will of the people. J.D. Vance is such a man. (APPLAUSE) UNKNOWN: J.D.! J.D.! J.D.! HUSTED: A man who loves America and will represent our people with moral courage, strength, and honor. J.D. is a living embodiment of the American dream. He came from humble beginnings and even as his life took him to places, he might have never imagined, he never forgot where he came from. Ohio values are in his blood. (APPLAUSE) He served our nation in the United States Marine Corps. (APPLAUSE) He is a graduate of the Ohio State University. (APPLAUSE) He graduated summa cum laude from Yale Law School and is the author of the best-selling book, "Hillbilly Elegy." (APPLAUSE) And he is a crusader for the people of the Ohio in the United States Senate. He has never forgotten the working people of our country and he never will. He fought to bring investment to middle America as a businessman and has fought to defend them every single day in the Senate. And this I know, this I know, he will faithfully stand by President Donald Trump's side as they win this election and change the course of our nation. (APPLAUSE) They will change the course of our nation to the benefit of all American citizens and truly make our country great again. (APPLAUSE) It is therefore my honor to nominate Ohio Senator J.D. Vance for the office of Vice President of the United States of America. (APPLAUSE) UNKNOWN: J.D.! J.D.! J.D.! BRENNA BIRD, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF IOWA: Delegates and alternates, pursuant to Rule 40A, a motion to nominate by acclamation is now in order. The Chair now recognizes Delegate Bernie Marino, Senate candidate from Ohio, for the purpose of making a motion. BERNIE MARINO, OHIO SENATE CANDIDATE: Thank you Madam Chair. My name is Bernie Marino. I'm honored to be the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate from the great state of Ohio. (APPLAUSE) I know firsthand that my dear friend J.D. is a selfless and brilliant fighter. He is a patriot who loves America. He loves Ohio. He loves his family. He's a great father. He's a great man and that's what we need in this nation today. To J.D. Vance, America first is not just a slogan, it's his North Star. He has followed it every moment of his life and career. He knows what it's like to live in poverty, forgotten by Washington politicians. He is dedicated to ensure that no American is ever forgotten again. (APPLAUSE) Madam Chair, it is a great honor to move that J.D. Vance be nominated by acclamation by this Republican National Convention as its candidate for the office of Vice President of the United States of America. (APPLAUSE) [17:05:00] BIRD: Without objection, the previous question is ordered. The question is on the motion that Senator J.D. Vance be nominated by acclamation. All those in favor signify by saying aye. UNKNOWN: Aye! BIRD: All those opposed signify by saying no. In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it and the motion is adopted. Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table. (APPLAUSE) UNKNOWN: J.D.! J.D.! J.D.! BIRD: Delegates and alternates, ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to announce that Senator J.D. Vance has the overwhelming support of this convention to be the next Vice President of the United States. UNKNOWN: J.D.! J.D.! J.D.! The Chair is pleased to make the following appointments to the Escort Committee for Senator J.D. Vance, his Vice-Presidential nominee. Usha Vance, thank you and God bless America. UNKNOWN: J.D.! J.D.! J.D.! UNKNOWN: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome back Speaker Johnson. REP. MIKE JOHNSON, HOUSE SPEAKER: What a great night. Pursuant to Rule 40D of the rules of the Republican Party, I formally declare President Donald J. Trump and J.D. Vance as the Republican nominees for President and Vice President of the United States. (APPLAUSE) UNKNOWN: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome back RNC Chairman Michael Whatley. MICHAEL WHATLEY, CHAIRMAN OF THE RNC: What a great afternoon for the Republican Party and what a great afternoon for America. It is now time to take the official convention photograph. If all of the delegates would please stand and turn to the center camera -- (END LIVE VIDEO) JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: All right, as they prepare for the official convention photograph, let us talk about what we've just seen. So that was certainly a rousing introduction of the party's Vice-Presidential nominee, Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, coming out onto the floor, embraced, cheered to the tunes of Merle Haggard's America First. John King, what is the wisdom, what is the strategy behind the Vance pick, do you think? JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think it's Trump deciding that his base is his path to winning, as his base was his path to winning in 2016. And a lot of people, you know, there's the debate, right? Do you pick Nikki Haley? Do you go for the suburbs? Do you try to broaden your coalition? His answer was no. His answer in 2016 was quell a convention uprising, pick Mike Pence, a traditional establishment Christian conservative from the heartland. This time, there's no doubt on that floor who the Republican Party, who the leader of the party is. He's officially the nominee now. He's the leader of their party. He has grassroots enthusiasm and they have made the calculation that he can win by picking -- President Biden just called J.D. Vance a clone. That will be the political argument made. Someone who has -- who didn't begin there, but has come to the Trump agenda and has come to be a Trump loyalist and that by turning out their voters, they can win the election. And it's -- we'll know 16 weeks from tomorrow, if it's the right bet. As someone who studies the map and the demographics, it's not a bad bet. It's not a bad bet. He did it in 2016. And again, you have a very unpopular incumbent president and you have, in many of the states that matter most, third party candidates on the ballot, that if there are people out there who can't vote for Donald Trump, but don't want to vote for Joe Biden, have options they didn't have in 2020. And so it's, there's a bit of a risk to this as there always is. There's also going to be the debate about does it matter? But I can get the path. I can get the path for Donald Trump and I can also get, if you look at the other side of this arena, we're not showing to the viewers right now, there are other networks where you speak to the Trump base. That's where you go to speak to the Trump base. That's how they want to use J.D. Vance. UNKNOWN: Right. He's going on the candidate tonight. KING: Make sure you vote. Yes. Come out to vote. DANA BASH, CNN ANCHOR: Yeah. And I think that we should be careful to your point about, does it matter, that the days of JFK pick, picking LJ to unify the party and to help get him over the line. We don't see that anywhere. We haven't seen that for, for quite some time. [17:10:00] What Donald Trump clearly learned in picking Mike Pence, which was a strategic decision to unify the party because he had to, was he wants to pick somebody who he's comfortable with and he's comfortable with J.D. Vance. He's comfortable with him as a person and he cannot underestimate how important it is that his children were really pushing him. KASIE HUNT, CNN ANCHOR: Yeah. And the reality -- you're absolutely right. The reality is that in this moment, the strength that Trump has with the party enabled him to ignore what was a pretty concerted push behind the scenes against J.D. Vance. I mean, if you look at some of the graphics that were airing on Fox News tied to Rupert Murdoch, they were listing out all of the nasty things that J.D. Vance has ever said about Donald Trump in a very straightforward way. "The Wall Street Journal," "The New York Post" issued separate editorials advocating for Doug Burgum. There were donors behind the scenes. Ken Griffin reportedly one of these major Republican donors who were actively trying to get him not to pick J.D. Vance. And what did Trump do? He ignored them. He went with the guy that he had a personal connection with and if, and we're starting to get more reporting about how that connection was built over time because obviously Vance had a lot of work to do to convince Trump that he was really on board with him and he did that. He was one of the first senators out of the gate to endorse Trump when it was clear that Trump was going to run again and that was not lost. This of course after Trump endorsed him for the Senate and somewhat, you know, he noted that at the time Vance had said some, some nasty things about him but that that was like many other people who had done the same thing and he, and he went ahead and supported him. So I think these are all factors. I will also say Vance has in many ways a biography Donald Trump always wished he had. That Ivy League -- TAPPER: It's an incredible biography. HUNT: Yeah. TAPPER: It's an incredible biography raised basically -- HUNT: Plus the Marine Corps. TAPPER: Right, the Marine Corps and the Ohio State University and Yale Law, but also the fact that he had such a difficult upbringing. In fact, Vance is the last name of his mama and papa, his grandparents who truly raised him. It's the -- it's actually the third last name he ever had and it's the final one he took. DAVID URBAN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: You know I was struck by just like the human -- the humanity of it all. Watching him on that floor accept the nomination as the Vice President of the United States. To your point Jake, when he was growing up in Middletown, Ohio and that hillbilly elegy, you know, background. Do you think J.D. Vance ever thought that he would be the Vice President of the United States? It's an incredible American story. One that I think everyone, regardless of your party, should be able to celebrate at this moment. TAPPER: Or at least the vice-presidential nominee. (LAUGHTER) TAPPER: He hasn't actually won the election yet. David Urban very excited. A jam-packed convection kickoff and there's still much more ahead as we break down the new Trump-Vance ticket with our political experts and look ahead to the headliners speaking tonight. Stay with us. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) [17:17:06] WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: He's the man who will run alongside Donald Trump as the Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States. Just appearing publicly for the first time since being formally nominated by the Republican delegates. Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, along with his wife, coming out here to a standing ovation from the delegates just hours after being named to the ticket by the former president. I want to welcome our viewers in the United States and around the world. This is a special edition of "The Situation Room." I'm Wolf Blitzer live at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. ERIN BURNETT, CNN HOST: And I'm Erin Burnett in New York. And Wolf, by choosing Vance, Trump has picked one of his most loyal and fiercest defenders. It's a remarkable rise. A 39-year-old former U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Yale Law School grad will turn 40 in August. This is somebody who has only been in the Senate for 18 months. A meteoric rise. Before that, first making his name for publishing a best-selling memoir. It was the memoir "Hillbilly Elegy," which detailed the struggles of growing up in and eventually leaving Appalachia. At the time, J.D. Vance described himself vocally as a never Trump guy. That's a quote. He also, at the time, Wolf was a CNN contributor. BLITZER: I remember that. And this election, Erin, just adding to the intrigue surrounding this convention. It, of course, comes just two days after the former president survived an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania and just hours after the judge in Trump's classified documents case in Florida dismissed the case. We're gonna have a lot more on all of this coming up in just a few moments. BURNETT: I mean, just incredible that the fast and furious pace of the developments today. Let's go to Kristen Holmes in Milwaukee. Kristen, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, obviously now the pick. We know that. So what are you learning? What are sources in the in the Trump team telling you about why he ultimately chose Vance? I know your reporting was there was a lot of down to the wire for the president on what he wanted to do. And when will they appear together for the first time? KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, when it comes to when they're going to appeal -- appear together for the first time, we still don't have answers on that. There are some speculation rumors that Donald Trump could appear on the floor as early as tonight, whether or not he would be with his newly picked vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance. That is currently unclear. But when it comes to actually choosing Vance, this was a really down to the wire decision. Donald Trump has been mulling between three candidates, three potential candidates for months now. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Senators Marco Rubio and Senator J.D. Vance. And we are told that Vance and Trump met on Saturday at Mar-a-Lago before that rally in Pennsylvania, an assassination attempt. [17:20:00] When I've talked to a number of allies and advisers since Donald Trump made that announcement, they said a lot of it came down to chemistry, that they were pitching him on this idea that he had a close personal relationship with Donald Trump and that also they believe that the two of them got together or had the best chemistry when they were talking together. There was also an idea among many of them that this was somewhat of a passing of a baton. Donald Trump wants to leave a legacy. And there were questions about whether or not he would choose someone like J.D. Vance, someone who is 39 years old at the beginning, really, of his political career. There were questions as to whether or not he would be a threat to Donald Trump. But I did talk to some very close allies of J.D. Vance who said that they believe this was somewhat of a passing of a baton, showing that Donald Trump wanted to continue this MAGA legacy. One thing to keep in mind here is Vance has had a very strong belief in the MAGA movement, in this sort of populist movement. And that was something that Donald Trump took note of. Now, one thing I do want to note as well is the fact that he had a lot of allies around the former president, Vance did, including his son, Don Jr., who we know, according to Kaitlan Collins, made a pitch to his father as recently as the last several days, arguing that he was the best candidate for the job. Obviously, they won out, and Vance is going to be at the top of the ticket. BURNETT: Kristen, thank you very much. And you mentioned Kaitlan. Let's go to Kaitlan on the floor. I know she's with the former New York Republican Congressman Lee Zeldin. Kaitlan? KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Yeah, Erin, of course, here we are on the delegation floor. It has been quite a crazy few hours. I am with Lee Zeldin of New York, after we just saw Senator J.D. Vance in that first public appearance since he was named as Donald Trump's running mate. What do you believe that Senator Vance of Ohio brings to a Republican ticket in 2024? LEE ZELDIN, FORMER NEW YORK CONGRESSMAN: Yeah, I'm an Army guy. Usually, I'm biased against the Marines, but I'm excited. You learn a lot of leadership in the military. He's someone who, as we heard from the nomination speech, hasn't forgotten where he's come from. Smart guy, got an Ivy League law school, and he was successful as an entrepreneur, venture capitalist. He is someone who's smart. He could show up on Kaitlan Collins' show on CNN, and Kaitlan will ask J.D. the tough question, and J.D. will have a good response, and Kaitlan will push back, and J.D.'s ready. And I think it's good to have a good messenger. You know, running and winning statewide in a place like Ohio, you have to get into Cincinnati, you have to get into Cleveland. Well, if you want to win a presidential race, we have to get inside of blue cities. We've spoken about this on-air. Talking to longtime, disenfranchised Democratic voters, and winning and earning their support. And I think J.D. is a smart, articulate messenger. He will work hard, taking nothing for granted, and I look forward to seeing him sworn in as the next vice president. COLLINS: I'm glad you're such a big fan of "The Source," but when you look at him, you know, one question I've heard from people who were looking at who Trump was going to pick, is J.D. Vance now the heir apparent for MAGA? ZELDIN: Well, listen, I would say that for anyone at any position ever, you always have to earn your next election. It doesn't matter whether you are great with an approval rating at 90 percent, or maybe it hasn't been going well, but you have an opportunity to turn things around. First, we have an election to win. And nobody should be focusing on any election after November 5th of 2024. First and foremost, is ensuring that over these next few months, understanding that elections are starting right after Labor Day, not November 5th. Early voting starts in a place like Pennsylvania, just a couple weeks after Labor Day. So you have to work hard and earn it, and nobody should be thinking about a next election after that. COLLINS: Speaking of Pennsylvania, and obviously how critical a vice presidential pick is, we saw that on Saturday night with what happened with the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. I thought of you as I was covering it that night, because you yourself were attacked when you were on stage at a campaign event and running. And I just wonder what you make of what happened on Saturday night, what has happened to you, and what it says about the moment of political violence that we see against politicians in both parties right now. ZELDIN: To think that we were millimeters, milliseconds away from a dark, unchartered disaster for American politics. I mean, we're standing here today, and fortunately, more than just President Trump dodged a bullet. And it's not about the Republican Party dodging a bullet, or the Democratic Party dodging a bullet, America dodged a bullet on Saturday. And we need to learn whatever lessons we need to learn to ensure that these presidential candidates, vice presidential candidates, and all candidates for all office are safe as they participate in this process. Yes, I agree that with anybody who says that we sell our scores at the ballot box. And anyone out there who cares about this process should be doing everything in their power to be able to protect it. I want people to participate in the process. Go to rallies, get educated, get involved, volunteer, donate $5 if you can. What ends up happening if we have more political violence, people start staying at home. They get scared. Others won't step up to run for office in the first place. [17:25:00] So this is a moment in time where we need to unite as Americans first and foremost, and pray for not just President Trump and his family, but pray for our country to hope that there is no next victim, whether it is a candidate for office or it is a volunteer, someone just trying to show up at a rally with their wife and their daughter. Next thing you know, giving up your life heroically to protect them. I don't want to in the rest of my life, in your life, I don't want us to ever have to witness this ever again. COLLINS: Yeah, that message about settling at the ballot box, a bipartisan message with President Biden. Lee Zeldin, thank you for joining us tonight. Erin, of course, a busy moment here on the floor of the delegation. Many more busy moments though to come this week here at the Republican Convention. BURNETT: Yeah, absolutely. All right, Kaitlan, thank you very much. Wolf? BLITZER: Erin, our political experts are joining us right now for some very serious, important discussion. David Chalian, why do you think Trump decided to name J.D. Vance as his vice-presidential running mate? DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Because I think in J.D. Vance, he sees not only somebody who he believes is a real convert to the MAGA movement, but somebody who can take the Trump party beyond Donald Trump, 2028 and beyond. He sees somebody who could sort of solidify for the future the Trump version of the Republican Party, whether it's a more nationalistic look in terms of economic approach or in terms of foreign policy. And I think that's what the thinking is here. I don't think it's to put Ohio in play. I don't think he needed to solve some piece of a political problem for him on the ticket. What he's done here is take the reality of what we see in this convention hall, that this is Donald Trump's party in his making, and double down on that. I know some Republicans will think, well, Vance has proven to be such a chameleon. He was anti-Trump. How do you know where he's going to be? Is he going to continue to move around? Clearly, Donald Trump thinks he is going to put his stamp on this party as the Trump party for decades into the future. BLITZER: Audie Cornish, when he's only 39 years old, J.D. Vance, a freshman senator, and now he's the vice-presidential nominee for the Republicans. AUDIE CORNISH, CNN ANCHOR: Well, I think we know freshman senator is not disqualifying. There can be perfectly fine freshman senators go on to be president. He's interesting because he's a chief translator. He's prided himself in not just his conversion from being anti-Trump to, well, wait a second, there are some good policies here, but he's taken that out in his campaigning. He addresses the electorate on all the issues they care about, whether it's about being anti-woke or populism. He just does it in a way that he thinks can be heard beyond the base, and that's why I think he's on there, is to be the person who can speak beyond the base. BLITZER: That's an important point. Jeff Zeleny, President Biden just weighed in on J.D. Vance, this election of J.D. Vance. This is his first comment, President Biden's, on this decision by Trump. This is what -- I'll play the clip. This is what the president said. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: He's a clone of Trump on the issues. A clone of Trump on the issues. So I don't see any difference. (END VIDEO CLIP) BLITSER: He's a clone of Trump on the issues. I don't see any difference. JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS: Look, that is going to be the Biden-Harris campaign's bumper sticker message, if you will, a clone of Trump. And he's right. I think that, you know, it's one of the reasons he was chosen, at least in terms of his view of things. So the reality here now is, though, I think this gave at least the Democrats I was talking with this afternoon a bit of a shot in the arm. I mean, they believe that Senator Vance's record is something that they can successfully go after. We will see. And they like the contrast between Vice President Kamala Harris and Senator J.D. Vance. If we see them on a debate stage and they're talking about the timing of that now, that will certainly be very interesting. But I've been on the floor for the last several hours talking to Republicans. I was sort of struck by, yes, they all support Donald Trump. There's very little dissent there. There were some questions about what does he bring to the ticket? There were some questions about how they really view, this is the real handoff here in terms of national security and populism. This is not the Republican Party from yesterday. But we, of course, know that. Donald Trump has made that very clear. But J.D. Vance certainly is someone in that vein. But I think going forward, we're already hearing from Ohio Democrats and others, his record is going to be certainly examined on abortion. That's what Vice President Harris, I'm told, is really going to zero in on him. And I know that, Manu, you and I were just talking about his abortion record. MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, that's right. In fact, when I spoke to J.D. Vance last fall, right in the aftermath of Ohio voters protecting abortion access, I asked him about the fallout of that. He said Republicans should adopt, at the minimum, a national standard, a national abortion standard. Potentially 15 weeks, 20 weeks, with some exceptions. … The Situation Room Aired July 15, 2024 - 17:30 ET THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. [17:30:00] MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: He argued Republicans were in the wrong position by not supporting a national abortion ban. He said that's what we can convince voters that we are in the right position. He view that as more moderate position. The person who doesn't support that is Donald Trump. He actually very clearly does not want to be anywhere near a national abortion ban, because Democrats have gone after that issue and have run very successful campaigns on. So how do we deal with that issue? There are other things too. I mean, J.D. Vance is very anti Ukraine aide. This is of course, an animating issue in the Republican base right now. Trump has gotten very close to that position as well. That is going to be one of the things also that will give some Republicans in the more establishment part of the party some pause. NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER: Yes. And the idea that Donald Trump wants to come into this convention as a uniter, this doesn't necessarily unite, A, the country and it doesn't necessarily unite of the Republican Party either. I've been talking to some Haley voters who in the end were sort of hoping last ditch, you know, hope that maybe the pick would be Haley maybe would even be Burgum, very upset that it is J.D. Vance. And one person I talked to who was in Arizona Haley voter. She called Vance, manipulative, a manipulative divider. They are not happy with this pick, I think it speaks to what Democrats are feeling, too. They feel like in -- in J.D. Vance, they have a big target. But we also know that oftentimes vice presidential picks don't necessarily matter in the end game. But Democrats are certainly hoping that in J.D. Vance, they can make a target that will turn off those suburban voters that are so -- DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: And in this particular contest, it's really hard to see how the vice presidential pick is going to really impact this, I think very little. This is Donald Trump, who's atop the ticket. And he did so much of this race will be defined around. WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: All right, everybody standby. We're only just getting started with our analysis. A lot of news unfolding right now. I want to go back to Erin. ERIN BURNETT, CNN HOST: All right, Wolf, and more breaking news. We are right now getting the first glimpse of President Biden's interview with Lester Holt at NBC. Now, this was highly anticipated, because it was right after the Trump assassination attempt. And of course, in the context of the questions about Biden's candidacy that are still there, Biden saying it was a mistake to tell donors it's time to put Trump in a bullseye, which was the rhetoric that he had used just days before Trump was shot. Let me play this clip with the President and Lester Holt. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) LESTER HOLT, NBC NEWS ANCHOR: Well, let's talk about the conversation this has started and it's really about language, what we say out loud and the consequences of those. You called your opponent and existential threat. On a call a week ago, you said it's time to put Trump in the bullseye. There's some dispute about the context. But I think you appreciate that words matter. JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I didn't say crosshairs. I'm talking about focus on. Look, the truth of the matter is what I guess I was talking about as a time was there was very little focus on Trump's agenda. HOLT: Yes, the term was bullseye. BIDEN: It was -- it was a mistake to use or I didn't -- I didn't say crosshairs, I meant bullseye, I meant focus on it. Focus on what he's doing. Focus on, one, as far as policies, focus on the number of lies he told in the debate. Focus -- I mean, there's -- there's a whole range of things that, look, I'm not the guy that said, I want to be a dictator on day one. I'm not the guy that refused to accept the outcome of the election. I'm not the guy who said that, one, except the outcome of this election automatically. You can't only love your country when you win. And so the focus was on what he's saying. And I mean, the idea. HOLT: But have -- have you taken a step back and done a little soul searching on things that you may have said that could incite people who are not balanced? BIDEN: Well, I don't think, look, how do you talk about the threat to democracy, which is real? When a president says things like he says, do you just not say anything because it may incite somebody? Look, I -- I -- I have not engaged in that rhetoric. Now my -- my -- my opponent is against that rhetoric. He talks about to be a bloodbath if he loses, talking about how he's going to forgive all the actions. I guess suspend the sentences of all those who were arrested and sentenced to go to jail because of what happened in the Capitol. I'm not out there making fun of like when remember the fixture of Donald Trump, when Nancy Pelosi's husband was hit with a hammer, going to talk about joking about it. (END VIDEOTAPE) BURNETT: All right, that's just the -- the clip we just got obviously. There's a lot more in that interview. But everyone's here with me now. Jamal, what do you first of all, just -- just to taking a step back? There's a lot to talk about -- about what we saw there. Can we just start with that interview itself, President Biden how he answered those questions, the performance because had Saturday not happen that would be everything we were talking about right now was what -- how did he acquit himself and that interview performance. [17:35:00] JAMAL SIMMONS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: That's right. Listen, I think when you think about the points that Joe Biden was trying to make we all understand where he was trying to go but again this is part of the struggle people are having after the debate is how the president delivers his lines. And I think we are all sort of wrestling through whether or not that's going to be appropriate going forward. But here's the fundamental point that I think we, I don't want to miss. How Joe Biden has acquitted himself since Saturday, is just phenomenal. I mean, he has been the rock, the steady hand, he talked to Donald Trump, who he clearly doesn't have fondness for, because he -- Donald Trump was one of the victims that day. So he talked to talk to him -- talk to him as a victim. He has been making sure that there's going to be -- he talks to the American public and make sure the American public knew what it was that they were doing. He's led meetings in the Situation Room. That's the kind of thing that you want a president to do. And he finally -- the final point I'll make is he really made sure that we all understand that when you win, it matters that you still take care of the losers. Donald Trump lost that election. And Joe Biden is still taking care of him the same way as if he was one of the people who voted for him and making sure that his -- he and his family and this issue is being addressed. I think we can't ignore that, because it's very much how we want to model the presidency. BURNETT: Jonah, what do you take away from what we just saw? JONAH GOLDBERG, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Look, I think one of the weirdest ironies of what has been the most astounding streak of political good luck any candidate has had in my lifetime, which is Donald Trump, in the last 18 weeks, I'm not trying to make light, but it is sort of definitionally when you're shot at and they miss. It's good fortune when I called Providence, whatever. But he also had a lot of the classified cast -- cases thrown out at the bay. BURNETT: Yes. Right. GOLDBERG: A lot of stuff has broken his way lately. And I think one of the biggest pieces of underscu -- under discussed good luck, is that it is completely frozen or killed, or thrown a wet blanket on the discussion of getting his opponent out of the race, which is something that Donald Trump did not want to see happen. BURNETT: Yes. GOLDBERG: And -- and I don't -- look, I -- I agree his -- his behavior, the -- the way Joe Biden's responded to this has been laudable. I don't think there was a homerun in the speech on Sunday night. But I don't think anything that he's doing here, sort of dispels the merits of the argument that he is not up for running again. But it does -- there's all this reporting has come out that Democrats have just sort of given up all hope of replacing him and are reconciling themselves to losing. And that's not me saying that. That's them saying it on background to a whole bunch of different media outlets. It's weird. BURNETT: So -- so Shermichael, let me -- let me ask you, though, in terms of the now that the substance of what he just said, the -- the issue of bullseye. SHERMICHAEL SINGLETON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes. BURNETT: And -- and -- and now what's interesting here is he was saying, well, I didn't say crosshairs, I meant bullseye as in focus, you know, when these sorts of statements are made by Republicans. And they try to make that sort of an excuse, it doesn't generally go over very well. I mean, he did -- he did say I shouldn't have used it. I mean he did ultimately say that but he didn't want to. SINGLETON: He -- he did and the President did apologize, and I'm going to give the President credit there. I want to acknowledge that. But what we have found consistently in modern politics is that people just typically attempt to double down on their positions and their stances. No one really wants to say I made a mistake, I -- I -- I made an error, I misjudged, I probably shouldn't have used that language. That's just not common anymore. Because the base of either side, I would argue, really wants to see their candidates showcase strength. And that means even verbally, the way you discuss your opponent, the way you describe your opponent, so I can understand how a Democrat would look at that and say, this is great language. But as a conservative, I look at that and I say, well, you saw what just happened to the former president a couple of days ago. That was abhorrent language. And I think many Republicans would see it the same way. I think many Republicans have cited other Democrats using similar language to describe Republican to say this was wrong. BURNETT: So we're in this moment, Kristen, where you have obviously what happened on Saturday, which -- which changed the race, right, and in some yet unknown ways. And now, you know, you have Biden continuing to give these interviews trying to get out there and adamant that he is staying in the race. So how do you even look at this as opposed to right now? Is there any clarity amidst the fog? KRISTEN SOLTIS ANDERSON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I still think that this is a race where we are not going to see the polls move outside a pretty narrow window. We can spend all day talking about will the vice presidential pick matter or not? Will Joe Biden's interview matter or not? And in the end, I don't think that we are likely to see the polls shift too much. If you liked Donald Trump last week, you still like him this week. If you liked Joe Biden last week, you still like him this week, even despite everything that has happened. I do think that that interview clip that we just watched, suggests that Joe Biden's challenges with is he going to get sort of pushed further out of this race by Democrats are not gone. It wasn't lost on me that the Chiron underneath that clip said, you know, Joe Biden apologizes for bullseye comment and we started playing the clip, and I was kind of waiting for that part to come around. He had a thought, a really good point buried in there which was look I vehement -- I vehemently opposed my opponent and I want to be able to speak about it. And there's no guarantee that a crazy person is not going to hear what I say and take it the wrong way, 100 percent, that's a valid point. [17:40:10] But it was so -- it wasn't delivered clearly, and Democrats need someone who's going to be a clear messenger against Donald Trump, who's going to be crystal clear about what -- SIMMONS: Erin, you said something that I just want to pick up on. BURNETT: Yes. SIMMONS: You talked about whether or not we are changing the race. And you know, all day I've been sort of, really the last couple days, I've been wrestling with this idea, is -- is what happened Saturday changing the race, but we thought a president getting 34 convictions might change the race. And then we thought Joe Biden's debate performance might change the race. And now we're at this point with a tragedy that happened on Saturday occurred -- BURNETT: Yes. That's fair point. SIMMONS: -- you know, it -- it just feels like people are as to get to Kristen's point, like people are locked in on this in some way. And how many people will see this, you know, you'd be forgiven if you don't know about the Tom Sandoval scandal on "Vanderpump Rules." But I've been inundated with it and how -- (CROSSTALK) SIMMONS: -- Sandoval got about 11.4 million viewers every week on "Vanderpump Rules," 8.5 million people watched the president on the "ABC" interview, right? More people are paying attention to reality television that are paying attention to politics, and I just don't know if it's going to matter. BURNETT: All right. And -- and that makes a statement about some people at this table. I understand that. They all stay with us, of course, as our rolling coverage continues here on this breaking news. Donald Trump tapping Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate, so what does the adamant, adamant one time Never Trump or bring to the ticket? Republican Congressman Mike Lawler of New York will join us next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) [17:46:09] BLITZER: Breaking news, Donald Trump officially becoming the 2024 Republican presidential nominee as the party's convention here in Milwaukee kicks off. The former president choosing Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio as his running mate. And joining us now Republican Congressman Mike Lawler of New York. Congressman, thanks very much for coming in. And I -- I remember that when -- and you just stood up with the New York delegation here to nominate Trump today. And officially he is now the nominee. But during the primary back in March, you would not say whether you supported him. So what changed over the course of these past three months? REP. MIKE LAWLER (R-NY): Look, I voted for him in 2016, 2020 and in the 2024 primaries. At the end of the day, the party has to unify because this is about the American people, this election. You look at the economy under Joe Biden. It's a disaster. You're looking at our southern border, 10 million migrants have crossed into this country, most of them illegally, 90 percent being released into the country. And you look around the globe, the world is a tinderbox. I think it's time obviously for the party to unify and to focus on the solutions to these challenges facing the American people. And that's why I'm happy to be here today and support. BLITZER: Because almost all of the economic numbers, the official economic numbers are very positive moving in the right direction. LAWLER: I think if you go ask the average person when they go to the grocery store when they go to fill up their gas pump -- gas tank at the gas station, when they pay their mortgage, they don't agree. The average mortgage cost in my district has gone up $1,000 a month in just the last year. So the economy under Joe Biden is not working. Obviously, in a state like New York that I represent, the migrant crisis has had a tremendous impact. New York state spending billions of dollars to house and feed and clothe illegal immigrants, it doesn't work. BLITZER: I want to talk about Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, who's now officially the vice presidential nominee. Immediately after the assassination attempt over the weekend, Vance immediately blamed Democrats and he posted this, let me read it here. The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. That rhetoric led directly to President Trump's attempted assassination. Now that Vance is officially the vice presidential nominee for your party, the Republicans, do you want to see him tone down that kind of rhetoric? LAWLER: Look, the rhetoric across the board obviously, needs to calm down. We are but for the grace of God. Donald Trump would have been assassinated on Saturday. We're talking about a millimeters difference between whether or not that bullet went through his ear or his head. And I think obviously, the -- the rhetoric that has been used to say that Donald Trump is a fascist, that he's a threat to democracy is destructive to our country. Look, our elections should be determined by votes at the ballot box, not by violence or bullets at a rally. And I think all of us need to take a deep breath in this country and focus on the American people and the challenges facing them and what our solutions are. And it's very easy. Wolf, look, Donald Trump was almost assassinated on Saturday, I -- I watched your coverage. BLITZER: But don't you think the FBI and the Secret Service should be allowed to conduct their investigation into this shooter's motive before someone, a senator in the United States Senate goes out and blames the Biden campaign? LAWLER: Look, of course the investigation will determine what the motive is. And the investigation will uncover all of the facts including how in God's name the shooter got up on a roof with a clear line of sight to the former president. I think and -- and -- and certainly I think there is a feeling across the country that when you say things like that Donald Trump is going to destroy our democracy or that he is a fascist, that does not help. It does not help the dialogue. It does not help the situation. [17:50:19] I implore everybody to bring down the temperature, to focus on the actual substance of these issues, have robust debate and discussion. This is why we don't live in a dictatorship. We do live in a constitutional republic so that we can fight out these ideas -- BLITZER: So you want both Trump and Vance to tone down their rhetoric as well against the Democrats? LAWLER: Look, I -- I -- I want everybody to focus on the American people, and not may -- turn this into a battle of personalities or who can -- who can get to the bottom faster to attack the other side and demonize the other side. We have a -- a real crisis in this country. We're deeply divided. There's no question about it. I represent a district Joe Biden won by 10 points. Part of the reason that I've been rated the fourth most bipartisan member of Congress is because I am willing to work across the aisle. Right now I'm working with Ritchie Torres, on a bill to make sure that we increase security for President Trump, President Biden and RFK Jr., whose family has obviously been victim to assassination twice. It's critical that we work together. BLITZER: We've got a lot of news to report. So I'm going to thank you very much Congressman Mike Lawler -- LAWLER: Thank you. BLITZER: -- of New York for joining us. Erin, back to you. BURNETT: All right. Wolf, well, joining me now is Republican Governor Chris Sununu of New Hampshire. And, Governor, I'm glad to be with you. I -- look, you endorsed Trump. You of course had -- had very strongly supported Nikki Haley in the primary. You've had harsh criticism for Trump gets straight to a governor right. At one point you call them effing crazy. You called him a loser. It was clear what you thought. And yet here we are J.D. Vance. Does J.D. Vance make you more or less comfortable with a possible second Trump administration? GOV. CHRIS SUNUNU (R-NH): I think he makes every American more comfortable with a second Trump administration. He's a Marine. He's a dad. He's incredibly smart. He came out of Yale. Pulled himself out of his -- pulled himself up from his own bootstraps. I mean, he's -- he's a -- a great example of what you want to see in an executive position making -- driving policy, driving results for Americans in -- in all facets of life, whether it's someone that's struggling with -- with that needs better income, someone that is dealing with abuse issues, someone that's dealing with drugs, someone that just wants to support their business and help their employees. This is an individual that comes with a full package. And I think Donald Trump did a great job picking J.D. to be the next vice president. BURNETT: Governor, did you hope after the -- the horrible events of Saturday night, was there a part of you that hoped that maybe the former president would -- would go with Nikki Haley at the last moment and go for -- for a broader more unity type of field. Did you have -- did you have that hope or no? SUNUNU: Well, I -- I don't think Saturday played into that at all. I didn't -- I didn't think the former president was going to pick Nikki as the vice president. I don't think Nikki necessarily brings more unity than -- than a J.D. Vance says. I think they're -- they're both great public servants. And both would have -- I would love to see Nikki as vice president. That would be phenomenal. But I -- I didn't -- I don't think anyone had any -- any premonitions that that was going to happen. But she's there at the convention. I think she's going to have a great presence there to be sure. But J.D. is the full package, believe me. And I think a lot of folks are very excited if we can get to a vice presidential debate, to see J.D. Vance, you know, talk about real issues with Kamala Harris, not this scare tactic fear polarization stuff that you're seeing, real issues about inflation, about the border, about the -- the opioid crisis, things that every American is dealing with on a daily basis. BURNETT: Kamala Harris, I should say the Vice President, did we understand call J.D. Vance once news came out that the senator had been selected for the VP slot on the Trump ticket, and she didn't get a chance to talk to him. But she did leave him a message so that -- that -- that call I -- I understand did happen. I am curious, though, Governor, you know how you, look, and -- and you have a unique perspective on this because, as I said, you -- you called Trump effing crazy at one point. I mean, if you had it -- you were very strong in this. Now you back him. J.D. Vance, was you on steroids in terms of some of the things that he said about Donald Trump back when he did not like him, you know, here's a couple things that he said, just a couple. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. J.D. VANCE (R-OH): I'm a Never Trump guy. I never liked him. I can't stomach Trump. I think that he's noxious. (END VIDEO CLIP) BURNETT: OK, so Governor, do you believe you know that you can go from that to what he is now, right, all in in every way? Do you think that that's the case? SUNUNU: Well -- well, of course, look, you're never going to find two individuals that agree on every issue, that agree on every -- every issue of politics or whatever it might be. I'm sorry, did -- don't have Kamala Harris who once said that Joe -- did disagree with Joe Biden on his issues of race and bussing and call them out on a national debate stage harder than anybody we had ever seen before? I mean, come on. [17:55:05] So like this is not something new. So it's -- I think again look at his -- J.D.'s background, look at what he's brought to the table, look at what he's done in the Senate, look at, again, just he -- who he is, as a dad, as an individual, as someone who has real life experience that can actually help the President drive an agenda with in -- in Congress has good relationships. You know, very few people are going to say a bad word about J.D.'s personality. He's just a great guy that folks want to hang out with, that want to talk to, that he's incredibly bright. His service in the military, as a Marine, I mean, that's phenomenal. It's exactly the kind of leadership that people get excited about. BURNETT: All right, well, Governor Sununu, I appreciate your time. Always do. Thank you very much. And we do have some breaking news on the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case coming out, and we just talked about the -- the unbelievable developments here of these past days. Evan Perez joins us now. And Evan, this in -- in legal terms, I mean, this is a bombshell that -- that we're learning of today. EVAN PEREZ, CNN SENIOR JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: That -- that's right, Erin. The -- the Judge Aileen Cannon who has been overseeing the documents case, the Mar-a-Lago case, decided that this case should be dismissed. She said that, under the Constitution, Jack Smith, the Special Counsel is not authorized to bring this case. Essentially, she's saying that if the Justice Department wants to bring a case like this, that they have to bring it by someone who has been confirmed by the Senate, in this case, perhaps a U.S. Attorney Jack Smith, of course, was not confirmed by the Senate. He was brought in from outside to oversee this case by Attorney General Merrick Garland. And just this hour, we're just -- in last few minutes, we've heard now from the Special Counsel saying that they are ready to appeal this case. They said that they have received authorization from the Justice Department to appeal the case. And so the dismissal they said that the special deviates from the uniform conclusion of all previous courts that have looked into this issue. So, Wolf, we expect now that this is going to go before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, which has previously issued a scathing appeal order -- opinion rather, on a previous decision by Judge Cannon, so that is coming down the pike in the coming weeks and months. Wolf? BLITZER: Yes, the news never stops incredible developments indeed. Evan Perez in Washington, thank you very, very much. And coming up, our breaking news from here at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee continues and the excitement is clearly building after Donald Trump just named Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio as his running mate. We're going to hear what Republicans are saying tonight. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) The Situation Room Aired July 15, 2024 - 18:00 ET THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) [18:00:57] ERIN BURNETT, CNN HOST: Breaking news, J.D. Vance, the junior Republican Senator of Ohio, is Trump's new right hand man. Welcome to a special edition of The Situation Room. I'm Erin Burnett, live in New York. WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: And I'm Wolf Blitzer, live here at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. And, Erin, the excitement is clearly building behind me after the former president just named J.D. Vance as his running mate. Trump waiting until the very last minute, moments before he actually officially won the Republican nomination in a roll call here. Vance is a political newcomer, only elected to the U.S. Senate some 18 months ago, and since then, he has been one of Trump's closest allies up on Capitol Hill, and a very loyal defender of his policies. And we're also just learning that Vance actually met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago down in Florida on Saturday, just before the rally where Trump was shot at. BURNETT: And, Wolf, there is anticipation that Trump could address the delegates and the nation tonight from Milwaukee. Usually, presidential candidates wait for a later time in the convention to speak, at least the third night. In 2016, though, Trump did show up all four nights, so there, of course, is speculation. And in that room, anticipation and hope that perhaps he will appear. We have a lot to get to tonight. I want to begin by bringing in Kristen Holmes. She is live in Milwaukee, and according to her sources, former President Trump called Ohio Senator J.D. Vance to offer him the vice presidential nomination 20 minutes before it was announced. I mean, Kristen, that is really stunning. 20 minutes before it's announced, you got all these guys and sitting around waiting by the phone. Literally, that is what happened? KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Literally, literally. And the way this unfolded is really unprecedented. Donald Trump likes a good show, right? And he definitely put one on today. That's what we saw pretty much all day and for the last several weeks. Now, here's what we know. We know that he had been batting around three top contenders for over a month now. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, and, of course, Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio. He met with all of them in recent days. I am reporting from a source familiar that he met with J.D. Vance at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday before he left for that Pennsylvania rally where there was, of course, as we know now, an assassination attempt that then he was still mulling it over the decision between these three men as early as this morning, I talked to a number of his senior advisers who told me they did not think that Donald Trump had yet made any sort of decision at one point. I thought they were pulling my leg because I thought it couldn't be possible that we were just moments away from this potential announcement. And here he was not making a decision, but it does appear that he had not told anyone if he had, in fact, made that decision started then seeing the trickle in of the candidates who were told they would not be the vice presidential pick. It started with Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, sources saying that he got a call saying it would not be him. Then it was North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum. But Donald Trump still waited quite some time before he told J.D. Vance, and I was told that that was because they didn't want any of this to leak out. Donald Trump himself wanted to be the person who announced who his vice presidential pick would be. So, just about 20 minutes before that announcement, he called J.D. Vance, they spoke on the phone and he offered him the job. Obviously, J.D. Vance himself accepting that role. But this is really an unprecedented kind of rollout, at least in modern history. Generally, what we have seen and what we saw even with Mike Pence, is learning about it far in advance of the convention. Instead, this man was just landing in Milwaukee, hoping that he would be the vice presidential pick and getting a phone call in the morning, he was going to be it and then coming over here to be officially nominated on the floor. Again, Donald Trump loves the element of surprise. He loves to put on a good show to build up speculation and he certainly did that with this pick. BURNETT: All right. Kristen, thank you. Wolf? [18:05:00] BLITZER: Erin, thanks very much. Our political experts are here to discuss what's going on, very, very dramatic developments. Jeff Zeleny, what do you make of the fact that only 20 minutes before he officially made the announcement to the world that J.D. Vance was going to be his vice presidential running mate, only 20 minutes earlier did Trump actually call J.D. Vance and give him that information? JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: In some respects, I'm surprised it was 20 minutes. I mean, Donald Trump has said for a long time he wanted this to be a surprise. And it was a surprise. I was on the floor when the social media posts went out and people didn't know about it. It kind of rippled through the crowd. This is exactly how the former president wanted it. He wanted to control the message going forward. So, look, I mean, I think it was a surprise in the moment, but the tea leaves were leading that direction for quite some time. Look, I mean, there is no one like J.D. Vance who kind of represents the full spectrum here, from MAGA critic to MAGA disciple. And Donald Trump likes that. He likes the fact that J.D. Vance is younger and can sort of continue on in the Trump populist sort of street. Now, he wasn't picked because Ohio's in danger, but a Trump adviser tells me they believe J.D. Vance can be very helpful in Western Pennsylvania. And Pennsylvania is a critical state here. He grew up not far from there. Appalachia is not far from there. So, look, I think it excited the Trump campaign, obviously, but Democrats I'm talking to today, I mean, the Biden-Harris campaign are also excited about this pick. So, look, vice presidents don't necessarily matter, but in this uncertain campaign, it certainly is the biggest example yet of a decision Trump made. And it was certainly not Nikki Haley. That would have you know, created a whole different level of excitement and worry from Democrats. So, it's a significant pick. BLITZER: J.D. Vance is an impressive guy, Yale University Law School, a Marine. He's got a lot of credentials. ZELENY: He absolutely does. I mean, Manu covers him on Capitol Hill day in and day out. Look, I mean, he is a young senator, but he's someone who they believe can articulate the message. It also underscores one thing. The Trump strategy to win this is not necessarily to knock on every suburban door. It's to double down and turn out MAGA supporters, they believe, who may not be sufficiently tuned in or they don't vote. So, that's what we're looking at here. NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: And, listen, Don Jr. asked what was it about J.D. Vance. The first thing he said was he liked the way J.D. Vance was on TV., the kind of communicator he was. Of course, he was once a colleague of us here at, at CNN, but those days are long gone. BLITZER: He was a commentator. HENDERSON: He was a commentator here. You know, it is certainly, I think, an example of the ways in which the Republican party is fully Donald Trump's. Now, if you think about 2016, he had to do Pence partly because he needed to bring on evangelicals who might've had some questions about his candidacy and his presidency, and now this is all Donald Trump. He is doubling down on MAGA. It's a confident pick, right? It's Donald Trump saying that he doesn't necessarily need to expand to the kind of Nikki Haley voters or suburban voters, but that he feels like he has enough in terms of the MAGA voters to win. MANU RAJU, CNN ANCHOR: And just remember, I mean, J.D. Vance is a senator because of Donald Trump. He had a competitive primary in the last election cycle. He wasn't going to win that primary. In fact, he was a little towards the bottom of the primary. But Donald Trump made the choice and decided to endorse him in that crowded primary. And he shot up because the Republican base is the Trump base. And that was enough for him to get over the finish line. And Trump seized and sees in Vance as someone who can communicate the Trump message and will be a formidable candidate against Kamala Harris. He also brings generational issues as we see two of the oldest candidates ever at the top of the ticket. That will be helpful for them in their argument going forward. But as Jeff notes, he is very conservative on key issues, like abortion, that will be something that he will have to deal with. And other things like January 6th and the like, he has said things that Democrats believe will give them ammunition in the general election. BLITZER: He's 39 years old, so there's a whole new generation. AUDIE CORNISH, CNN ANCHOR: Another way to think of it is he's also going to be able to, for those pro-life or anti-abortion policy folks who are upset, that that language, tougher language on abortion was taken out of the Republican National Committee platform. This is a little bit of a nod to them to say, look, Donald Trump may not want a national ban, et cetera, but look who's vice president. This is someone who cares strongly about this issue and maybe that's meaningful. I don't know, Jeff, if you have the answer to this. You know, Peter Thiel, the billionaire was also a backer of Vance in Ohio during that race, how does Vance help with fundraising? ZELENY: Well, look, I think that he absolutely was. I mean, Peter Thiel, who was a former Trump donor, not necessarily as much, my guess is he'll be on board now. I think Vance does help with fundraising, especially with the high tech donors. [18:10:00] I mean, not that Trump was really struggling now with fundraising. One thing J.D. Vance can't do is write a huge personal check of his own, like Doug Burgum, the North Dakota governor could. CORNISH: But he could headline things. ZELENY: But I think he helps. Oh, sure, he can absolutely headline things. No doubt. BLITZER: Money talks in politics, to be sure. All right, guys, standby. I'm going to be speaking live with the former Republican governor of Maryland, now the current U.S. Senate candidate Larry Hogan. He's going to be joining me in a few minutes. Plus, President Biden already taking on the newest member of the Republican ticket. Stay with us. You're in The Situation Room. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) BURNETT: Breaking news, new reaction around Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, who Donald Trump has just chosen to be his running mate. Phil Mattingly is in Milwaukee on the RNC floor with the latest. So, Phil, what are you hearing there? PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CHIEF DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENT: You know, I think, Erin, what's so interesting about at least the first session of this Republican National Convention is the role of the family. [18:15:04] We obviously always know that the sons, daughters extended family as well, plays a critical part of Donald Trump, of his political rise, of his political career up to this point. But you saw it in an almost visceral fashion. We knew that Donald Trump Jr. was advocating behind the scenes for J.D. Vance, was a critical voice in that effort to have Vance become the vice presidential pick, which he has. But you also saw the effort from the family to put Donald Trump over the top in the roll call. I was here in Florida. The delegation was sitting right here where you said Eric Trump actually make the announcement of the delegates that put Donald Trump over the top. And I want to bring you back over here because this is going to become center stage here throughout the course of the next couple of months or nights, where you see the all red behind me. That's the VIP box. That will be where the Trump family is going to sit, like to see fans, family members there at some point as well. It will underscore when Melania Trump comes. She's not expected to speak. Ivanka Trump will be here, was not expected to speak, but there are speaking roles for Eric Trump, for Donald Trump Jr., for members of the family that are so critical to the inner circle and inner circle that without any question at all was rattled by the events of the weekend. This is what Eric Trump said when I asked how the family was doing. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ERIC TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SON: Well, it's been a pretty somber mood, right? I mean, my father got shot at. Somebody took off half his ear. But I can tell you, my father has never been more determined than he is right now. He is more determined to make America great again. He's got an incredible fighting spirit, no different than when he's pumping his hand in the air with blood running across his face. And I'm really proud of him. I've never been more proud as a child, as a son. He's a remarkable human being. He's got backbone that's unlike any person I've ever met before, and as I said before, we're going to win, and we're going to restore prosperity to this country, and he's going to make America great again. (END VIDEO CLIP) MATTINGLY: It's determination, it's defiance, and it's also unity, not just in the family, but Republican Party writ large, something we're expecting to see over the course of the next several nights, Erin. BURNETT: All right. Phil, thank you very much. BLITZER: Wolf? Erin, thank you. I want to bring in Larry Hogan right now, the former Republican governor of Maryland who is now running for the U.S. Senate from Maryland. Governor, thank you so much for joining us. Donald Trump is now calling on the country to unite after the failed assassination attempt on him. Is there anything he can say or do right now to get you to rethink endorsing him for president? LARRY HOGAN (R), FORMER MARYLAND GOVERNOR: Well, look, I think it's you know, I'm glad to hear that Donald Trump and Joe Biden are both now talking about lowering the temperature and trying to talk about trying to unite the country. It's something that I've been very passionate about and focused on for many, many years. And, look, right now with the -- after the horrific assassination attempt on the president, I think we really need to encourage not just Joe Biden and Donald Trump, but all of the people on both sides of the aisle. If ever there were a time for us to come together and to stop the angry, divisive, toxic politics, it's certainly right now, at this moment, as we're reaching an inflection point. I mean, the whole country is a tinderbox, and we've got to be very careful about how we proceed. BLITZER: I spoke with Senator J.D. Vance back in May, just a couple months or so. He's now the vice presidential nominee for your party, the Republican Party. At that time, I asked him whether he was okay with the Trump campaign attacking you for saying Americans should respect the verdict in Trump's hush money case in New York. Listen to what he said at the time. Listen to this. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. J.D. VANCE (R-OH): I'm okay with the fact that we need to criticize and call this ridiculous legal proceeding out. Larry Hogan is trying to win a Senate race in a blue seat. Obviously, I disagree with Larry Hogan. The problem is not criticizing the sham prosecution. The problem is the sham prosecution itself, and we need leadership to call it out. (END VIDEO CLIP) BLITZER: Governor, are you comfortable with him as the Republican vice presidential nominee? HOGAN: Well, look, I don't know Senator Vance. I don't believe we've ever met. I know that we share very different views. You know, it's not really for me to decide. I'm not there at the convention. I'm focused on my race in Maryland. And, you know, I'm out there talking to people every day, trying to convince them that send me to Washington to try to clean up the mess and the divisiveness and dysfunction. BLITZER: Governor, I know you recently said that you're not seeking Trump's endorsement for your Senate campaign in Maryland. Has that changed at all since Saturday's shooting? HOGAN: No. Look, it doesn't really have much impact on Maryland. You know, I've been out there trying to convince people on both sides of the aisle that I'm the right person to send to Washington, that I have the courage to stand up to the current president, to the former president to the Democratic Party or the Republican Party. And, you know, I didn't seek President Trump's endorsement. [18:20:01] You know, quite frankly, it's not much of a factor in Maryland where he lost by 33 points and I ran 46 points ahead of him. BLITZER: You've been a very strong voice in your Republican Party, Governor, calling for an end to all the divisive rhetoric that's out there. Here's the question. Why aren't you speaking here in Milwaukee at the Republican Convention? HOGAN: Well, you know, I've been a strong voice not just to convince the Republican Party to lower the divisive rhetoric but the Democratic Party as well. And it's what I've been focused on. I literally formed an organization six years ago focused on trying to do something about the toxic politics. And I've been calling that out on both sides, and I'll continue to do so. I'm not sure it makes much sense for me to be out there in Milwaukee. I'm out trying to convince undecided voters here in my state of Maryland. BLITZER: Former Governor Larry Hogan of Maryland, thank you very much for joining us. HOGAN: Thanks, Wolf. BLITZER: And coming up, Vice President Kamala Harris now saying she's actually ready to debate J.D. Vance. How popular will Trump's pick for vice president be with voters? Stand by. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) [18:25:43] BURNETT: The breaking news, bring it on. That is what the Biden campaign says Vice President Kamala Harris is ready to do in terms of debating J.D. Vance specifically issuing that challenge just moments after Trump announced Vance's as his V.P. pick. Vance was officially nominated, of course, during the first day of the Republican National Convention. Campaign official also saying that Harris left Vance a voicemail where she congratulated him and welcomed him to the race, so she did call him immediately after he was announced. And everyone's back with me. New York Times Maggie Haberman also joins the conversation. So, Maggie, when we hear about how this actually went down and the kind of, you know, Trump wanting this big moment to surprise everybody, what have you learned about how this happened? MAGGIE HABERMAN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: So, there was lobbying right up until You know, the final hour or, you know, two hours, essentially. People were calling Donald Trump, telling him to pick Vance, not to pick Vance. You know, I think that he had an idea of what he wanted to do for a while, but he tends to second guess himself and he tends to leave things open until the last minute. He did absolutely want to have a surprise. There's no question. He wanted to control the announcement. He likes to narrate everything he does, including his own indictments and convictions and so forth. And so this is not a surprise. When we started hearing that people had been getting calls that it wasn't them, it became pretty clear where this was headed. And there was a group of people who were pushing Vance who were very vocal, Donald Trump Jr., not just behind the scenes, but also publicly. Trump cares a lot about chemistry. And the only one of the top three who he really has chemistry with is J.D. Vance, number one. Number two, money, which was a big concern for a while for the Trump campaign, was something that donors suggested was an issue why he should pick Burgum or Rubio, that Vance didn't have the same connection with donors. Trump's campaign has raised so much money since he was convicted and since his indictments and I think since the weekend in the attempt on his life, that I think money became less of a concern. BURNETT: I mean, it could go the way he wanted to go. But amazing how much it came down to those last hours, and that he still was making that final decision. So, Kristen, when you look at the polling, what does -- and I know, you know, historically say V.P. doesn't actually matter. Does a V.P. matter on this ticket? KRISTEN SOLTIS ANDERSON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: The V.P. may matter more this time around if only because we are talking about two candidates for the major parties who are advanced in age. But at this point, we don't know what kind of an effect a J.D. Vance choice will make. He is not necessarily the most well known to the average American voter. He's very well known in political circles. He's very well known in circles like ours, because he comes from the world of the media and political elite, even though he has rhetoric that really speaks forcefully against it as well. So, interestingly, he's almost the pick that you make if you feel very confident that you are going to get elected and you don't feel like you need to use the pick to try to unify the party, or, oh gosh, I need to go win this geographic or demographic region. In some ways, it reminds me a lot of Mitt Romney picking Paul Ryan, completely opposite people. But, remember, Paul Ryan, it wasn't that he was chosen because he brought a new demographic or a new region, Mitt Romney just liked him. SHERMICHAEL SINGLETON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes. Look, I think that's a good point. Conventional wisdom would tell me you need someone who's going to strengthen where you're weak, but I think if you're Trump and you're looking at President Biden, you're thinking this is someone with a foundation that's fractured. It's broken. So, if I can energize my base, if I can maybe bring in some Republicans who aren't typical voters, who may like J.D. Vance, you can sort of speak to that plight of this sort of forgotten man and woman who've sort of seen the country go in a different direction in terms of academic attainment, in terms of what's needed to survive in this world. A lot of people remember a moment in time when their parents could work a 40-hour a week job and buy their home and put them through college if they so chose. And now a lot of people say, I can't do what my parents did 30 years ago, Erin. And so J.D. Vance can articulate that point, I think, better than many others. BURNETT: So, when you talk, Jonah, about what we know Biden has said he has to do, right, that they have to win that Midwest Midwest set of states, right, and just going back to what J.D. Vance made you for this ticket. Hillbilly Elegy is how he became so well known, right? That's how he became the bestselling author in all of the fancy events, and, you know, became that, you know, CNN contributor, right, that media world. [18:30:01] He writes, I want people to understand the American dream is my family and I encountered it. I want people to understand how upward mobility really feels. And I want people to understand something I learned only recently, that for those of us lucky enough to live the American dream, the demons of the life we left behind continue to chase us. He has talked about the substance abuse that his mother suffered. We know how much that has enabled Joe Biden to connect with people as a problem so many Americans face. He has a personal story that can connect to a lot of people. He's from that Rust Belt area. Does this turn those crucial must-win states from Biden? JONAH GOLDBERG, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I am very skeptical, at least in the way that that narrative would suggest. BURNETT: Yes. GOLDBERG: The blue collar voters, who are not low-propensity voters, but the voters that turn out in elections, who are blue collar, non- college educated, if they like Trump, they're voting for Trump anyway. The idea that they're going to be convinced to like Trump because of J.D. Vance, I'm very skeptical of. Where J.D. Vance actually does kind of help with the ticket is with a different kind of low-propensity voter. J.D. Vance goes on Steve Bannon's War Room. J.D. Vance says that Alex Jones is a more credible source of information than Rachel Maddow, because he's being persecuted by the regime. He says all sorts of troll-ish, boom (ph) bait things that I think are appealing to the of the WWE fans who like the drama and the kayfabe of a Trump presidency. And he knows how to talk to those groups. He also knows how to get some money out of Silicon Valley. So, I think it's a different play than the hardscrabble guy wins over the blue collar voter. JAMAL SIMMONS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: So, Erin, you might think the color of my tie is pink, but today it's actually soft red, a word on purpose, because J.D. Vance is a soft politician. He's so bendable to Donald Trump's will. And I found him, when you go look at him, he's intemperate. What we saw on Saturday when he went out and gave that that tweet about Joe Biden, is somebody who really rushed into the fire without thinking through what it was he was doing. And when you're picking up -- BURNETT: When he called about -- that Biden had called Trump an authoritarian fascist, and that's the rhetoric that led to the assassination. BURNETT: And that led to the assassination tip. And we are picking somebody who's going to be your vice president. There's somebody who's going to have to stand in case there is a need for the president to be there. And what you cannot have is somebody who's intemperate. And I think the judgment both of Trump to not put the American people's needs first but then also of Vance to then have this intemperateness and then to see the way that he's moved and sort of fishtailed around in order to make himself palatable to Trump. So, many people who knew him from Hillbilly Elegy and thought well of him, sort of started and heard him say these things about Trump, have a lot of questions about his resoluteness. And I think for those of us who are looking for somebody in the White House who we can trust and have some feel for, he seems a little oily. BURNETT: All right. Well, thanks all. We're going to be here throughout the evening. And just ahead, our breaking news continues, the Ohio junior senator, J.D. Vance, on the floor. The state's governor, Mike DeWine, who knows Vance well is my guest. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) [18:37:25] BURNETT: Breaking news. The Ohio senator, J.D. Vance, Donald Trump's running mate. The announcement made this afternoon during the first day of the Republican National Convention. And joining me now is the Ohio governor, Mike DeWine. Governor, I appreciate your time. So your home state senator chosen to be your party's vice presidential nominee. I know that's something you celebrate. And your office actually said that you had approved special assistance or approved assistance, I'm sorry, for Vance Saturday night, that he had additional security outside his home. Governor, did you know that this pick was coming? GOV. MIKE DEWINE (R-OH): No. You know, I've heard what everybody else hears. It seemed to be pointing towards Senator Vance, and the closer we got to today, I think the more likely it looked. But we didn't know it was official until the president said it was official. BURNETT: And in terms of that extra security, and obviously you've been on the convention floor, I know you were there during the roll call, and you had approved that extra security for Senator Vance, have you received additional threats? Has anything changed in terms of that actual situational awareness since the horrible events of Saturday night? DEWINE: Well, no. You know, I got a call from the Vance family relayed to our office that they felt that they needed some security. And that was about the same time, frankly, that the president was shot. So, I authorized the Ohio Highway Patrol to go in and give the family the executive protection, same type of protection that I get and that the lieutenant governor gets. So, we did that right away. And I think it was -- then we're working very closely with the Senate police as well. BURNETT: Now, Governor, have you had a chance to speak to the senator today or since he was announced as the vice president? DEWINE: Well, just to congratulate him as he walked into the convention floor. So, he and Usha were there and Fran. I had the opportunity to talk with them briefly. And, look, it's a big day for Ohio. It's been 80 years, I think, since we've had a vice presidential candidate on the ticket. This is good for Ohio. In Ohio, we think we're the heart of it all. We talk a lot about that, and now we're going to have the vice presidential candidate, and we hope the next vice president of the United States. BURNETT: So, if Trump and Vance are elected, if they do win, as you hope they will, that will put you in a position, Governor, to do something which is crucial to the balance of power. [18:40:00] You will select Vance's replacement in the Senate. So, you know, Vivek Ramaswamy says if you ask him, he'll consider it. Do you already have a list of names, Governor, of who you will consider? DEWINE: Well, I've certainly thought about it during the last few days. My wife, Fran, and I have talked about it. But this is something that we're not going to really get to until after the election. We have elections to win. We have Bernie Marino to get elected to the United States Senate, we hope. In Ohio, we have other races. So, you know, we will get to that. I spent, as you know, 12 years in the United States Senate. I think I have a pretty good idea of what I think a United States senator should do. And, you know, one of the main things is someone who works very hard and who focuses and represents their state and represents their country. You also have to have someone who can get elected, both winning a primary and winning a general election. BURNETT: All right. Well, Governor DeWine, I appreciate your time. It's good to see you again. Thanks, sir. DEWINE: Sure. Good to see you. Thank you. Thanks, Erin. BURNETT: All right. Thank you. Wolf? BLITZER: Erin, thank you. Also tonight, President Biden's high stakes interview. We just got our first clip from Biden's highly anticipated interview with NBC News. And in it, President Biden talks about Trump's assassination attempt, his phone call with the former president, and more. Listen to this. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) LESTER HOLT, NBC NEWS ANCHOR: Mr. President, thank you for sitting down with us. There's a lot to talk about. I'd like to start with the horrible events of last weekend. It has shocked a lot of Americans. A political rally, your opponent, Donald Trump shot in the middle of greeting his, his supporters. You spoke to Mr. Trump afterward. Can you give me a sense of that conversation? JOE BIDEN, U.S. PRESIDENT: Very cordial. I told him how concerned I was and wanted to make sure I knew how he was actually doing. He sounded good. He said he was fine. And he thanked me for calling him. I told him it was literally in the prayers of Jill and me. And I hope his whole family was weathering this. HOLT: Well, let's talk about the conversation this has started. And it's really about language, what we say out loud and the consequences of those. You called your opponent an existential threat on a call a week ago. You said it's time to put Trump in the bull's eye. There's some dispute about the context, but I think you appreciate that word better. BIDEN: I didn't say crosshairs. I was talking about focus on. Look, the truth of the matter was, what I guess I was talking about at the time was, there's very little focus on Trump's agenda. HOLT: Yes, the term was bull's eye. BIDEN: Was it a mistake to use the word? I didn't mean -- I didn't say crosshairs, I meant bull's eye, I meant focus on him, focus on what he's doing, focus on his policies, focus on the number of lies he told in the debate. Focus on -- I mean, there's a whole range of things that -- look, I'm not the guy that said, I want to be a dictator on day one. I'm not the guy that refused to accept the outcome of the election. I'm not the guy who said I wouldn't accept the outcome of this election automatically. You can't only love your country when you win. HOLT: Mr. President, you've been in politics a very long time, so let's speak frankly, we're all adults here. Has this shooting changed the trajectory of this race? BIDEN: I don't know. And you don't know either. HOLT: I don't know. But is it something you've given thought to? BIDEN: No. I've thought less about the trajectory of the case than two things. One, what his health is, that that was secure, number one. And number two, what happens from here on in terms of the kind of coverage that the president and vice president and former president and new vice president get in terms of -- look, I've never seen a circumstance where you ride through certain rural areas of the country and people have signs there, big Trump signs with a middle sign saying F Biden and a little kid standing there putting up his middle finger. I mean, that's the kind of stuff that is just inflammatory and the kind of viciousness. It's a very different thing than to say, look, I really disagree with Trump's for the way he takes care of taxes, the way he has -- wants a $5 trillion tax cut for people who make a lot of money next time around, doesn't focus on working class people. HOLT: And I asked him about his struggle in the debate and the calls from some Democrats for him to step aside. Do you feel like you've weathered the storm on, on this issue of whether you should be on the ticket or not? BIDEN: Look, 14 million people voted for me to be the nominee in the Democratic Party, okay? And listen to them. HOLT: In your last T.V. interview, you were asked if you had watched the debate. Your answer was, I don't think so, no. Have you since seen it? BIDEN: I've seen pieces of it. I've not watched the whole debate. HOLT: The president also responding to news of Donald Trump's new vice presidential pick. I want to ask you about just shortly before you and I sat down, former President Trump named his vice presidential pick, J.D. Vance. [18:45:06] What does that tell you -- his qualities, what does that tell you about former President Trump's values in terms of who he will surround himself with in the next administration, should he win. JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATS: Well, it's not unusual. He's going to surround himself with people who agree completely with him, a voting record, that support him, even though if you go back and listen to things that JD Vance said about Trump -- HOLT: And the president had a lot more -- (END VIDEO CLIP) BLITZER: All right. Let's discuss with our political experts who are listening very closely to what the president of the United States just said. David Chalian? DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Well, first thing, Wolf, is on the question of the status of a candidate, Lester Holt asked him, do you believe you weathered this storm inside your own party, I didn't hear an answer. All I heard was 14 million people voted for me to be the nominee, I listened to them. That -- that does not answer the question of whether or not he thinks he's weathered this moment of Democrats in his own party asking for him to step down as the nominee. And I thought that was telling. I also thought just in the comparison to the interview with George Stephanopoulos again, and we saw this a little bit at the NATO press conference, he clearly seems to have gotten some advice that he needs to not be as defiant in this moment, but have a little bit more humility. And I think he was still trying to strike that tone though clearly indicating he plans to honor the problem primary process and he's the nominee and I'm sure his plan hasn't changed to remain the camera. BLITZER: Audie, how did you see it? CORNISH: Well, there was a sense that the seriousness of the attempted assassination had quieted any other political chatter on any other topic. But the truth is by the end of this week, there will be the almost obligatory post-convention bounce. And I'm sure Democrats will freak out all over again. And that dialogue will return. RAJU: Yeah, but the longer that they wait, the longer that this goes on without Joe Biden making a move off the tickets, the more this benefits him, and we're going to move closer to the likelihood that the Democratic committee would be some sort of virtual roll call vote to solidify his nomination. That essentially seals the deal and the longer we wait, the more space Joe Biden has from the campaign, the better news for him to weather that storm. And I agree with David while he didn't quite answer the question, he's also sort of ignoring everybody in his party who's trying to push him out right now, saying its up to the voters. I got 14 million goes -- well, he didn't really have a serious primary. HENDERSON: That was a pretty definitive answer. He's given a similar which is he's not leaving the race. He gave a defiant speech, I think in Michigan last week. Listen, he's going to try to be out there as much as possible this week. This is one of the interviews he's doing is going out to Vegas, talking to Black and Brown voters there. He's going to be on BET. He's going to be on (INAUDIBLE) as well. You know, he has a base she in some of those, people, particularly African-American voters, they are riding with Biden. And I think that was his answer when he said, too, I've got those 14 million oh votes from the primary process. Those are the people I'm going to listen to, not the Washington elite who been trying to push me out. ZELENY: I did think one of his answers was pulled ask the attempted assassination change the trajectory of the race, she said, I don't know and we don't know in the moment, it certainly seems to galvanized and engendered for it, certainly empathy for former President Donald Trump. Let's see how this convention goes. But to Manu's point, in time is on President Biden's side here. That is what gives some, many Democrats so much pause and fear and worry because they believe are wonder if the window sort of move right before the shootings that happen? And we still haven't talked about this or not. Senator Chuck Schumer went down to Rehoboth for a meeting at President Biden's home. I'm told it was very candid good and very frank as rank as the Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader meeting two days earlier, and there were some who believed Biden should reconsider, body was maybe getting word to that point, an of course, the shooting happened literally in the next hour. So we don't know at this moment, but it is not ease the concern of many Democrats who sit well with President Biden, but they worry what will happen to the Democratic ticket in those House and Senate races. BLITZER: Manu has the talk up on Capitol Hill about potentially President Biden dropping out of this race. Has that gone away at least for now? RAJU: Well, privately, it still exists publicly has not its really subsided in the aftermath of Trumps shooting, Democrats really not wanting get a gauge and that discussion, but you guys all right, it will be a bounce out of this convention that will cause that discussion all over again. But what's really remarkable in all of this so how much Trump has solidified the Republican polls hold on, the Republican Party. [18:50:00] Mike Lawler was here talking to you Wolf. He from a swing districts in New York typically the kind of person would run away from the top of the ticket. He was here, he was fine defending his support for Donald Trump is much different with Joe Biden in his party right now, so many members including those swing districts and swing seats running away from the top of the ticket as they concerned about he could drag them down. BLITZER: Our final thought as we compete with this great music. CORNISH: We're going to hear all this week. I think that people right now is just about listening for the peak is going to come out, and how are they going to spin this narrative post assassination attempt and talk about what is the forward looking idea kind of coming out of the Republican convention. It's Monday, you know what I mean? It's really just like what is this really going to look like? And is it going to be the shift that that it has been implied. ZELENY: To the music. I mean, I think we should remember this is a moment where we could see former President Donald Trump for the first time on stage here it is an atmosphere of celebration, elation. I cannot really recall a time, of course, people are always eager to see Donald Trump but tonight's feels different to me. A, they are so were so relieve and grateful that this will be the first time he's in a public forum, set shooting aside from walking off the plans. So I think this moment is really extraordinary. We don't know if he'll speak or not, but we will likely to get that first picture between he and JD Vance. So for this week, for this moment, at least this is a big moment for Donald Trump. A chance to perhaps -- and we're here in Wisconsin. This is one of the -- HENDERSON: It's a very smart pick, yeah. ZELENY: -- what are voters doing, right? Not far from here. How will they be watching? HENDERSON: Yeah. You know, he is at the apex of his political power. Any of these you know, if you go back to 2020, it's hard to imagine what he would do oh public in nominee, after January 6, after all the lies, after all the conventions, infuriate, and this will be the most Trumpian of the conventions we've seen. In 2016 was what it was, 2020 virtual and at the White House. So you know, well see it was proud to go crazy tonight -- CHALIAN: No doubt about it. It will be a real heroes welcome. The thematically tonight, the focus is on the account which has been a driving issue top of mind for voters and top of mind for the Trump campaign. Obviously, we've seen prices come down in the most recent reports, but he still going to drive an inflation message tonight, knowing that a lot of Americans some pain here. And I think what's interesting is since the shooting on Saturday, there was that brief cessation of politics for a moment, you know, the Biden campaign pulled down their ads and they weren't doing sort of outward communicating, that all has changed, right? We're at the first day of the Republican -- I don't mean that it shouldn't have changed appropriately changed by were at the first day of the Republican National convention. It is inherently a political event. Their job is to make the argument and the contrast with the incumbent President Joe Biden, that they're trying to do. And Joe Biden, who is you see doing interviews is drawing contrast with Donald Trump again. So this is a re-engaged campaign, right now, that's not dismissing the calls for unity or keeping the temperature found on rhetoric the scenes, if that holds, but certainly the political activity. That pause after that shooting is very much real. (CROSSTALK) BLITZER: Go ahead. RAJU: I was going to say the same thing, Wolf, that a good moment after JD Vance's nomination it takes to be on the ticket, Democrats were out hammering him. He did not. I was actually kind of wondering, will they hold back because of -- no, they didn't hold back. In fact, the Biden campaign came out and just absolutely hammered him, called him an extremist and all the rest. And you can expect tonight, the people were speaking here tonight are some of the more conservative members, similar stauncher Trump allies. They're not going to hold back. They're going to go after Joe Biden very hard. So that brief moment, there was unity that was not going to last very long. HENDERSON: In some ways, that's what Biden has been signaling in some of these interviews, with Biden basically saying there was a way we can still can close a shots that it seems they have gone through the sort of the political bloodstream already, the assassination attempted this just 48 hours ago and here we are, JD Vance is going to be this is -- CORNISH: It's the celebratory. HENDERSON: Yeah. CORNISH: And I think one of the things that's interesting is you're going to have a party here that's when it celebrates basically vitality and resilience in its candidate. And meanwhile, Democrats, there's still kind of holding their breath. Every one of these interviews for Biden is still a moment of like, well, did he make it through this sentence? How did he explain himself? I think there is still a little bit of a testing going on and that's not what they have for you, right? [18:55:02] They're going to have their Lazarus so to speak, come to stage with their fist raised and showing that there is life in the party, yet and that's such a far cry here we on the third nomination for him from 2016, where you had tons of Republicans who didn't show up, when you had Ted Cruz get onstage and say vote your conscience, not this guy. I mean, the complete and total transformation is very much embodied to this moment. He's doing more of these interviews. He's got another one coming up on BET. CORNISH: Yeah. And, of course, like at the BET awards, to Taraji Henson actually got on stage and mentioned Project 2025. And that sent the Google alerts for that soaring. So there's an audience there that is still interested in more information. And that's his opportunity, I guess. BLITZER: All right. Everybody, standby. We got a lot more news coming up. Everyone stay with us. Erin and I will be back as our special coverage of the Republican National Committee Convention continues next with a special edition of OUTFRONT. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) Erin Burnett Outfront Aired July 15, 2024 - 19:00 ET THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. [19:00:26] ERIN BURNETT, CNN HOST: The dramatic opening night of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Party of Donald Trump is getting ready to put on its primetime show after their presidential nominee, pulled off a big surprise with the 11th hour reveal of his running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio. Vance making his debut as Trump's VP pick just a short time ago on the convention floor for his formal nomination. And welcome to all to this special edition of OUTFRONT. I'm Erin Burnett, along with Wolf Blitzer and his post over overlooking the convention floor. And, Wolf, it's been only two days since President Trump's survived that terrifying assassination attempt. And but he did not go late to the convention. He made it clear it must go on. WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: And it is going on, Erin, big time. We saw the GOP officially hand Donald Trump his historic third presidential nomination and now they're getting ready to drive home his agenda, leading off with the issue then uppermost in the minds of many voters of course, the U.S. economy. Headlines speakers tonight include one of Trump's most loyal allies of the U.S. Senate, and in the African-American community, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, a very popular figure in this state that shaping up to be a battleground in the 2024 presidential race would talk to me about Virginia. Meanwhile, the South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, a very prominent voice in the MAGA movement, will be speaking as well. And coming up soon, Senator Katie Britt of Alabama, who gained notoriety she delivered the Republican response to President Biden's State of the Union Address earlier this year. Erin, back to you. BURNETT: All right. Wolf, so let's go straight to Kaitlan Collins on the convention floor and, Kaitlan, you've been talking to Republicans there through the day. What are you learning about Donald Trump's thinking at this moment? KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's notable, Erin, when obviously I picked, did finally come down that it was Ohio Senator JD Vance because what I have been hearing from sources and also from lawmakers here on the floor Trump was still wage of the violence that he had in his mind as of this morning, all three of those finalists traveled, to go walking, not knowing that they were actually going to be to pick whether or not they were. Senator Marco Rubio, Governor Doug Burgum, and Senator Vance all came here still waiting to find out at JD Vance actually finding out about 20 minutes toward Trump posted on Truth Social that he was indeed his selection, obviously, a full circle moment for the senator from Ohio, given his harsh criticism of Trump back in the day which he has later said he's changed his mind on. But I should note that over the last 24 hours, what Trump was doing in these conversations was weighing the pros and cons of what they would bring in his ticket, what would mean for his chances in November. And I'm told that he became, Erin, so focused on this last 24 hours that he was kind of brushing off questions about his health and instead saying, what do you think of this person for VP. Should I pick them? What do you do? Like, what does that look like? He was getting calls from Rupert Murdoch, Elon Musk, essentially, everyone under the sun who had an opinion and about who they would like to see on that ticket with that. But, of course, we saw Senator Vance over here. I'm on the delegation floor. You can see Florida could see Florida is right behind me. We've got Pennsylvania and Wisconsin delegations right here to must-win states for Donald Trump come November, a lot of action is going to happen on this floor. We are told a lot of the speeches that you're going to hear had been rewritten since what happened on Saturday night, namely the ones on the main stage. So keep an eye out for that. And what has been changed in the light of that attempted assassination of the former president, Erin. BURNETT: All right, Kaitlan. Thank you very much. So now, let's go down towards the podium. That's where Boris Sanchez is right now. And, Boris, this is obviously going to be a significant evening. So tell us what you're learning and where you are right now. BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Erin, were just off to the side of the stage and it is quite loud. The ground was shaking from the speakers. You outlined some of the prominent Republicans over going to hear from tonight, Senators Ron Johnson, Tim Scott, Katie Britt, were also going to hear from some celebrity entertainers. There's a country singer, Chris Janson, because perform a couple of songs, including one about buying a boat. We're also going to see a supermodel turn rapper Amber Rose, Kanye West's ex-girlfriend is set to give a speech at the RNC, not something you'd likely would have how on your bingo card for 2024 RNC. Notably, Republicans are not counting on those big names go to sell their message. The message tonight, the theme of the evening is make America wealthy again and there touting everyday Americans who are set to take the stage. [19:05:04] They have a slew of speakers including a single mom of tune from Arizona, who's having a hard time to make ends meet. He's working two jobs. Aside from that, you have a Peruvian immigrant mom who's also talked about inflation. And lastly, you have a long time -- a long time a lifelong Democratic Teamster who says that he's switching parties in this election to vote for economic policies of Donald Trump. And then hanging over all of those speakers, the big question, will we see the former president for the first time, his first major public appearance attempted assassination over the weekend -- Erin. BURNETT: It's going to be a crucial question, obviously, the last convention, the big in-person when he appeared all four days, Kristen Holmes, what are you learning? KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is the big question, right? Whether or not he is actually going to appear, but we are told by aides and advisers that he is eager to get onto the convention floor that he wants to be interacting with supporters. He wants to be interacting with allies, aides, advisors after that failed assassination attempt on Saturday. And I've talked to a number of people who have spoken to him can who say that they've seen a new kind of resolve and determination in the former president ahead of November. One of his big focuses has been on this message of unity. Now, we don't know if that's going to hold. But one thing you heard Kaitlan Collins mentioning there on the floor is the fact that so many people have been rewriting their speeches. One of those people who has then rewriting their speech, former President Donald Trump as well. BURNETT: All right. Kristen, right now, lets just listen in here to Michael Whatley. He's the chairman of the Republican National Committee beginning this first convention night in prime time. MICHAEL WHATLEY, RNC CHAIRMAN: To give the invocation, please welcome Most Reverend Jerome Listecki, Catholic archbishop of Milwaukee. (APPLAUSE) MOST REV. JEROME LISTECKI, CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MILWAUKEE: And let us pray. Lord, we thank you for our nation, our Founding Fathers held these truths self-evident that all are created equal, endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. For 248 years, we have sustained this vision to guard, the, dignity of every life from conception to natural death, to protect their liberty especially to speak freely and to worship view and to support their pursuit of happiness through this life, to the next. We pray that you assist our elected officials and candidates always to protect our freedoms, to preserve our democracy, and to govern fairly. Grant them the wisdom every day to place the good of our nation above personal interests, and to cherish our union. Teach us all to respect justice and our equality before the law. Lord, protect our military, teach us gratitude that we may never forget their selfless sacrifice and protect also our first responders, police, firefighters, and EMTs for their bravery to give us peace. There is a sacrifice at all Americans make to participate in the political process. We asked you to receive his servant, Corey Comperatore, and we pray for those who were injured demonstrating their commitment to our democratic process. Let us offer a moment of silence. (MOMENT OF SILENCE) In the words of George Washington, Almighty God, keep the United States of America in the holy protection and in incline the hearts of the citizens to a brotherly affection, and love for one another through Jesus Christ, our Lord, amen. (CHEERS) ANNOUNCER: Please rise for the presentation of colors. The colors are presented by the Hartford Police Department honor guard. Let's give them a warm welcome. [19:10:00] (PRESENTATION OF COLORS) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you will, follow me. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. (CHEERS) ANNOUNCER: Now, to perform the national anthem, please welcome the Great Lakes Adult and Teen Challenge Choir. (NATIONAL ANTHEM) BURNETT: The national anthem, the pledge of allegiance, presentation of colors, Jonah, all with the somber reality of, of course, what happened on Saturday night. JONAH GOLDBERG, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yeah. I mean, this is -- I mean, the beginning of conventions, is almost always wholesome, and does this kind of thing well, and to do it in the wake of an assassination attempt makes all the more sense. So I mean, there no fireworks here. I think we might get fireworks later, but this is -- this is the patriotic bunting that you would expect at the beginning. JAMAL SIMMONS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I love conventions. I think people come from all over the country who really care about politics. They're making their points known. There building connections between each other that will matter when it comes time to campaign pain for the rest of the fall. I think it's a great time for people to come together and around the things they believe in and get to be around people who also believe in similar things. BURNETT: And that is, there is that, that moment, right? Where everybody and you're and you're putting on a show for obviously for their own party but also here for everybody to see. SHERMICHAEL SINGLETON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yeah, look, I think this is an opportunity for conservatives to showcase a deep interrogation, an examination of what makes conservative philosophy and policies work. It's about the preservation of aesthetics culturally. It's about free market ideas. It's about a prioritizing the individual and families, and not prioritizing others outside of the country, which I think most conservatives would argue is the liberal position. [19:15:11] And so this is an incredible opportunity. Erin, I would argue for the American people to not only look at so many different Republicans from all over the country, you see African-Americans there, Hispanic Americans there, showcase representation of who we are today, but also for Americans who are concerned about where were headed, about the division. And so I think that assassination attempt on the former president's life completely redirects what people will see this week. GOLDBERG: The test will be Marjorie Taylor Greene, if she can be disciplined. KRISTEN SOLTIS ANDERSON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I think it's important not to -- BURNETT: Marjorie Taylor Greene is speaking tonight. ANDERSON: Yes. I think its not its important not to take for granted that this is even happening. First of all, Donald Trump is well enough that we can be sitting here speculating whether hell be on stage rather than the very different way this could have turned out following Saturday, but also remember we haven't had a convention since 2016. We had these this ritual of our democracy was canceled because of the COVID pandemic four years ago. So it's kind of nice to be back experiencing something like this. SIMMONS: And the older I get, the more than rituals seem to matter, right? I mean, because if we didn't mean, we would invent them because we actually we learned this in 2020 as you're just talking about, Kristen, when we didn't have it, I think we missed it. We wanted to come together and figure out how we were going to move forward in the election. GOLDBERG: It's also been 16 years since the GOP is nominated somebody other than Donald Trump? BURNETT: That's which is an incredible thing about. GOLDBERG: Yeah. BURNETT: So, in terms of who were going to hear from and were going to be taking many of these alive over the night so that everyone at home can be a part of this as well, you're going to see rising stars in the Republican Party, Wesley Hunt from Texas is going to be one of those, Jamal, Marjorie Taylor Greene, though, is going to speak, Katie Britt, who of course have given the rebuttal, as we all remember from State of the Union, Tim Scott is tonight. Glenn Youngkin, governor of Virginia, is tonight. And also some voices in the economic community, some of whom have been very loud. David Sacks -- anyone who follows social media knows is just going to be sort of a broad grouping of people tonight, some of whom are among the more strident voices in the party. SIMMONS: Absolutely. Some of them are the vice presidential also-rans, right? The Kristi Noem and the Glenn Youngkins, they were mentioned. BURNETT: Yeah. SIMMONS: And then the one thing when you talk to people who are doing research and polling out in America, like, Kristen, some of her colleagues is the person who's most identify with MAGA other than Donald Trump is Marjorie Taylor Greene. She's one of a few people that Americans know by name. The rest of us do these other names. They know Marjorie Taylor Greene and she's not very popular at least with people who are in our side and who might be winnable for Joe Biden. BURNETT: But she has a crucial position tonight. She is one of the first name. She's going to be speaking this hour. GOLDBERG: Yeah. BURNETT: Marjorie Taylor Greene. GOLDBERG: No, and she's going to be torn between the devil and her shoulder in the devil on her other shoulder, I mean, in so far as her whole shtick is to be a bomb thrower to raise small-dollar donations. That's -- she's one of the biggest fundraisers from small-dollar donations. And at the same time, part of her brand is being intensely loyal to Donald Trump. The word is apparently come out from the Trump campaign to downplay the crazy, to downplay the violent rhetoric. And it'd be very interesting to see if she can follow orders. BURNETT: All right. Well, we will all be there for that. As I said, shell be among the first here speaking later this hour. And coming up, well also be speaking with Eric Trump as his father officially receives the Republican nomination. You're watching CNN's live coverage of the Republican National Convention. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) [19:22:50] BLITZER: And welcome back to CNN special live coverage of the Republican National Convention right here in Milwaukee. It's time for the opening night after a day filled with a lot of excitement, Donald Trump revealing his vice presidential pick, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, his delegates from across the United States have officially handed him his third GOP nomination. Let's go right back to CNN'S Phil Mattingly on the convention floor for us. He's got a special guest. Phil? PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CHIEF DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Wolf. I'm here with South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster. Governor, we appreciate your time. I want to start with the breaking news of a couple of hours ago. Senator JD Vance, the selection to be Donald Trump's running mate. What did you think? GOV. HENRY MCMASTER (R-SC): I though it is a great choice tours he had a lot of good people to choose from. But I think JD Vance is perfect. Those two men think alike. They like each other. They want to take to country in the same direction. I think they'll be great, great team, maybe the perfect team. MATTINGLY: You know, your home state of South Carolina. We were joking before this. People seem to have figured out its a pretty good place to hang out. You had to very high-profile politicians who ran against the former president, one of whom Tim Scott was considered in the running. Are you disappointed that it won't be Senator Scott is speaking tonight? MCMASTER: Tim Scott is terrific. I've known him since I was party chairman and '95 and he was running for county council at large and in Charleston County. And we got behind him, a lot of people got behind him. We had faith in him and he's lived up to everything we expected. He is a terrific man. He would have been a terrific vice president as well. He's a great senator and there's a lot of mileage left in Tim Scott and we are happy that he's gone stay in politics, I hope for a long time. MATTINGLY: They certainly play a significant role. Real quick before I let you go, in the wake of the assassination attempt, what is the feeling here on the ground in Milwaukee? MCCMASTER: People -- people think that that was a miracle. It was something that must have been an answer to prayers. People praying for President Trump's safety, but there is no jobs. These people all over the country are beyond anything, anything so far. [19:25:03] It has -- it has made a total package for President Trump for those who had doubts about him, when they saw the way he handled that and he saw in the way that people responded to that. So his straight and I think he is, he is he is his face is the picture of strength in America, right now. And these people in this room and all over the country would do anything for that man. We believe in him, we think he is the exact right man for so these times, perfect. MCMASTER: Governor Henry McMaster, appreciate your time tonight, sir. Thank you very much. Wolf, back to you. BLITZER: All right. Phil, thank you very much. Let's get some analysis of what's going on right now. History unfolding right here in Milwaukee. David Chalian, what do you expect to hear from the various speakers at this Republican convention tonight? Specifically the message that they will deliver and the tone? DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Well, I think the message is going to be very economic focus. They're doing a different slice each night of the convention. So tonight is going to be make America wealthy once again, what the branding people put on this. But you're going to hear the economic argument. Quite frankly, which has been the argument that you've heard Donald Trump making on the campaign trail throughout the entirety of this campaign, that prices are too high. And again, prices have come down. I understand where the statistics are in that, but we also see in a lot of the research on in conversations with voters, you hear people still experiencing economic pain, just in the prices of what they're paying at the supermarket and the like, and I have no doubt we're going to hear a lot of that. The other thing that's infused in this program, Wolf, and I, what they call everyday Americans. And you're going to hear, in addition to politics, right now, Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson behind his address to the convention, you're going to hear from everyday Americans who have very identifiable stories. This to me is part of the play of trying to broaden the appeal that the Republican Party is making here. They understand mostly partisans tune in and watch this, but it's a huge opportunity to try in these battleground states to try and reach some of these critical voters and I think having everyday Americans tell the economic pain story is going to be part of the table. BLITZER: Everybody, stand by. I want to go down to Kaitlan. She's here at the Republican Convention with a special guest -- Kaitlan. COLLINS: Yeah, Wolf, thank you. I am here just above the convention floor. I'm sitting here with Eric Trump, of course, Donald Trump's son who was down there earlier as his father clenched the nomination formally and was put over the top with a number of delegates. Thank you for being here. First, can we just talk about the last 48 hours because it's been pretty remarkable, 48 hours for your family? When you talk to your dad about what happened on Saturday night, that attempted assassination, what does he told you about what those moments were like? ERIC TRUMP, SON OF DONALD TRUMP: Listen, it's terrible. I sat there with my, you know, two infant children, I watched the whole thing happening. I can obviously recognize a sounded gunshots and you hear them coming across, you know, the TV screens and it's horrifying, right? He had blood coming out as ear, he had blood on his face. He was on the ground. You didn't know where else he had possibly been hit. Obviously, it was a huge sign of relief when he got up, when he put his fist in the air and said fight, fight, fight, and there's an incredibly courageous moment. But its heartbreaking as a son. I mean, first of all, it's heartbreaking for this nation. Our nation you should not be in that spot ever, ever, ever, ever. But -- COLLINS: It has been scary though as a son. E. TRUMP: It's terrifying. I love the man. These are remarkable father. He's been a great guy to me. I obviously, you know, there's no one that supported him the way I have. I stood on the stage every single day for the last 8, 9 years of politics and our family. I run our company. He's just a special guy. He's a big part of my life. He's my best friend. And yeah, to se him get shot at, it's unthinkable. COLLINS: Did it take you a long time to get in touch with him and to be able to actually talk to them? E. TRUMP: Listen, I know everybody in the ecosystem, as you can probably imagine. So, I was contact with him when they were in the vehicles, but no one quite know what was happening until they got to hospital. And, finally, he was in the hospital and I get a call from him and he cracked a little joke and I knew, you know, the Donald Trump, I know the father, I know is his back and he was kind of surprising to have that kind of spirit right after that happened. I mean, his life could have been taken a heartbeat, almost was, and in other people's lives were taken that day and it was scary. It was incredibly scary, but again, just a remarkable person. COLLINS: Do you think gets sunk and for him, that he was within an inch of his life? I mean, that's something every president I think is worried about. There are threats. You have Secret Service protection, but has he grappled with the fact that it was so close? E. TRUMP: It was less than inch. Had he -- he turns his head like this right before the shot broke. Had he not turned his head, he'd be dead right now, you know? That's how close this was. I mean, obviously he had hit his ear. Yes, he's certainly understands how close it was and at the same time, he's not deterred. I remember the first thing he said when I spoke in the hospital is nothing changed with the RNC. I'm going to be there tomorrow, as I had initially planned ago. You were still in the hospital. You're about to get a CAT scan and you were not changing anything? I am going to be in Milwaukee when we said we're going to be in Milwaukee. COLLINS: Well, we'll see, we'd be like, they're singing live here right now. It's just a celebratory environment, to go from something so sobering, so this must be kind of jarring for you. [19:30:08] When you look at that it and just, you know, what happened, your dad has come out and said he wants to see unity. That is what he's seeking for. What is that going to look like in his speech, how different is that? E. TRUMP: This piece is amazing and it's incredibly positive. And you're right, you go from there darkest moment to what I did a couple hours ago when I learned cast they final delegate vote in the state of Florida that made him the Republican nominee for president of the United States, right? I mean, think about that shift in a 48-hour period of time from almost in your father get killed to casting that vote, you know? And he's going to go walk up on that stage and a few days and do something great and its going to be a positive message. This country has to come together. It's enough of this stuff already and we need to make America strong. We need to make America safe. We need to make America great. People love the flag and you look at happiness in this room right now as people dancing, cowboy hats, you've got American flags I mean, the spirit in this room is incredible. And that shouldn't be demonized. It shouldn't. If you have disagreements on political issues are fine, but it should not be demonized. COLLINS: Yeah. Do you think it's altered what the next four months look like? I covered your dad's first campaign. I covered a second campaign. What does it change about what these next 100 days, what it looked like beforehand? E. TRUMP: Well, I certainly hope it does. Politics is ugly business. I never possibly imagine how ugly it would have been. I think we're all naive. We grew up in a big world, right? In a real estate, it's a cut- throat business, nothing compared to politics. And, you know, I think -- I think politics needs to be dealt with a lot more respect and a lot more love and even when I was down there before, not you, not your network, but, you know, I was attacked by one of the networks and MSNBC, and I'm saying there, saying it's less than 48 hours after guy almost took a bullet in the head and you're already just going crazy on total, you know, we've got to cool it down, we've got to stop. I think you're going to see a beautiful speech. You're going to see motivational speech and I'm proud of the man. He did not need this life. He could be living a billionaire's life in Palm Beach, Florida, and every day he wants to go out and fight for them American people, and it's remarkable. I can tell you, if you had 1,000 peers of his, none of them would do what he did. They wouldn't have that fight. They wouldn't have that energy. They wouldn't want to do it. I love the man to death. He's a remarkable human being, and I'm incredibly proud to be his son. COLLINS: Well, I think everyone could say they're glad that he's safe. Eric Trump, thank you for joining us and talking about that. Wolf, obviously, to just hear what those moments were like, we were all watching them as a country, as reporters, but also to hear from his family and what it was like, Wolf. TAPPER: Kaitlan, thank you very much. Thanks, Eric Trump, as well. Just ahead, much more of our special coverage of the Republican National Convention, Georgia's Republican Governor Brian Kemp is standing by live. He will join us. We're also expecting to hear from conservative Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene on the convention stage. And we'll be right back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) [19:36:53] BURNETT: The convention is underway. Let's get straight to Kristen Holmes. Kristen, you've got some breaking details here about the former president. (AUDIO GAP) HOLMES: -- up here at the convention later tonight, the timing of that is still fluid and we are still learning new details as to what this would look like. Now, if this done happen, obviously, everything with the former president is -- it's up in the air. We don't know what exactly this is going to look like. But one thing to note here and I'm telling -- I'm being told that perhaps you didn't hear the top of what I said. So I'm going to go again. A source familiar with the matter tells us that former President Donald Trump is expected to appear tonight at the convention. This will be his first appearance since he was shot in that attempted assassination on Saturday. We are told that he has been eager to get out here to the convention that he has been eager to meet with supporters and with allies, that this has brought him a use of determination and resolve. Now, what exactly this looks like tonight. Obviously, we will wait and see Erin but that is clearly big news that the former president is expected to be here later tonight. BURNETT: Absolutely. And as you point out, I mean, he was shot on Saturday and he had actually originally planned to delay even going to Milwaukee by a couple of days and then went ahead with his plans. He's there and going to appear on this first night at the program obviously is underway. We do anticipate Marjorie Taylor Greene is going to be speaking in just a few moments. Jonah, let me just start with you here though, to respond to what Kristen just reported the former president is going to come out tonight. Now, obviously, the last time there was an in-person convention, he went every night. GOLDBERG: Right. But this is a very different year, this is after Saturday, and it is important to him. He obviously wants to get out there. So, the first night he's there. Yeah. I mean, again, I think you're right. I mean, he loves the crowds at this thing. He you know, the whole WWE kind of thing. But at the same time, it's kind -- it's an impressive gesture, right? He's just got shot, you know, in the -- took off part of his ear a millimeter morning would have been dead. And it kind of reminds me a little bit of him doing the fist up at when he had COVID from the car, right. He just wants to say send that message. What will be very interesting to me is whether or not bandage on it, whether he has his hair over it, or whether he wants the cameras to see it because he cares about visuals so much and how that plays. I just have no idea. BURNETT: Well, that's actually a really important point. SIMMONS: It is. You can say what you want to say about Donald Trump than I have a lot to say about Donald Trump, but he really does understand the show, right? I think from you're talking about him in the car sort of waving. But I think about when he came back from COVID, and the climb the steps back to the Truman balcony and sort of stood there like Superman and the way that everybody and then went inside maybe collapse. I don't know. But for that moment, he understood how to command attention and I think that's part of the appeal of Trump is that he seems like he's a guy who's really in charge, at least of himself in the environment. That's happening around him. [19:40:01] And I think people really respond to that. Now, I would say wants to do a lot of things with that being in charge that most of us don't want him to do like get rid of abortion, but for the -- for the average person it does feel like here's like a really big man. ANDERSON: Remember the other time that Trump came out, maybe a little unexpectedly at a convention was in 2016 when Ted Cruz was speaking and was giving a speech that seemed perhaps insufficiently positive about Donald Trump and Trump came out and just kind of stood there silently and sent this message of strength like, okay, Senator Cruz, are you going to get on board or not? So, he has used the "I pop up at the convention" to send really, and wordlessly to send a message of strength has done that before. SIMMONS: Yeah. SINGLETON: I think people want to see him. This guy is 78-years-old. We're talking about a senior citizen who was shot. I'm a gun owner. I own a gun company. I don't understand -- I don't know if people really understand what it's like to be in the midst of crossfire for anybody, let along someone who is almost 80-years-old. I can't imagine that this hasn't changed his outlook on life. Erin, and I hope he does show the scar, show the battle scar, you will. Republicans want to see that. His base would love, love to see that. BURENTT: Hard to imagine that he doesn't. SINGLETON: Yeah, it is hard. They would love to see that. So I think this is a good moment, not just for Republicans, but also for the country we almost lost a former president and whatever differences you may have about Donald Trump, experiencing something like that is absolutely life-changing and it's good that he's coming out there not just only for Republicans, for the country, and I would also say for the world. BURNETT: All right. Well, of course, as our coverage here continues. We're awaiting Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of the first to speak tonight. We don't exactly know when hell be coming on stage, Wolf, but now we do know this first night, he will be coming out. BLITZER: Meantime, we've been listening really, very, very excellent musical presentation going on right now. Chris Janson, the country music star, feel like Audie and I should be getting up and dancing a little bit. We'll do that later. CORNISH: The screen myself. BLITZER: Right now, we have this very special guests the governor of Georgia, Republican governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp. Governor, thanks very much. Likely, you've been enjoying this music -- GOV. BRIAN KEMP (R), GEORGIA: They're playing a lot of it. BLITZER: Thanks very much for joining us. We're standing by. We're going to be hearing directly from Marjorie Taylor Greene, U.S. congresswoman from your state of Georgia. What do you expect she will say to this -- KEMP: Well, I think, I think she'll do a lot of what the crowds doing, what the bands doing, what the chairman's doing, and just trying to get the delegates fired up. BLITZER: She's walking up to the stage right now. We will continue this conversation, Governor. I want to hear what she has to say. REP. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE (R-GA): Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Today is a celebration. The American spirit is alive and well, and we have once again nominated for president the founding father of the America First movement, Donald John Trump. (CHEERS) Unfortunately, this is also a somber moment for our nation. Two days ago, evil came for the man we admire and love so much. I thank God that his hand was on President Trump. (CHEERS) And I pray for the family of Corey Comperatore who was killed at the rally. And for other attendees who were wounded. Corey embodied the spirit of America First. He displayed the ultimate show of love when he shielded his wife and daughter sacrificing his own life. He reminded America of what we must be, a people who will do whatever it takes to defend the people and the nation that we love. (CHEERS) Thank you. I love you, too. We will honor Corey's memory by building the country he wanted. The country he wanted for his children and a government worthy of the American people. For far too long, the establishment in Washington has sold us out. They promised unity and delivered division. They promised peace, and brought war. They promised normalcy and gave us transgender visibility day on Easter Sunday. (BOOS) And let me state this clearly: there are only two genders. (CHEERS) [19:45:14] And we are made in God's image, amen. And we won't shy away from speaking that simple truth ever. The Democrats ripped up in our borders and allowed millions of illegal aliens to pore in, driving up the cost of housing and health care, while slashing American wages and eliminating jobs. They claim that our economy is thriving, yet hundreds of thousands of American born workers lost their jobs these past few years. The Democrats' economy is of, by and for illegal aliens. Our open borders have also unleashed the worst drug crisis in American history. Yet, while hundreds of thousands of Americans are suffering, the Democrats spent over $175 billion your tax dollars to secure Ukraine's borders. (BOOS) But they tell us the border wall is too expensive. But in American government that serves the interests, not of the wealthy, the globalist or the powerful few, but of all hardworking Americans is within our grasp. Donald Trump has and he will make America successful again. He will make us wealthy again. And as God as my witness, he will finally give us the country we deserve. Because Donald John Trump is the leader American deserves. God bless the American people. God bless President Trump and God bless the United States of America! (APPLAUSE) BLITZER: Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Republican of Georgia, speaking here at Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. We were talking with Republican Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia just before, but I want to continue that conversation. What was your reaction? Was that a message of unity that we heard from Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene? KEMP: Well, certainly. Thank her tone when she started talking about the events of Saturday, the tragic loss for really a great American hero and a father protected his family was right on point. You know, when she moved into the more talking points the campaign and the issues in the race. I mean, look, she's got a great point on things like the border. A lot of Americans are frustrated out there. A lot of the policies of the Biden administration's what I'm hearing about every single day from hard working Georgians, they can't afford four more years of Joe Biden. BLITZER: At one point, she said the establishment in Washington has sold us out. You agree with her? KEMP: Well, I think the establishment in Washington for a long time now, from a Republican governor's perspective, there's a lot -- been a lot of frustration from that, which is one reason that you know, we have really, I think not only myself, but a lot of other good Republican governors have really tried to take the policy lead over the last several years and be the incubators of democracy. And so, you know, look, I'm as frustrated with the federal government as she is. BLITZER: As you know, President Biden carried Georgia, your home state by a fraction of a percentage point in 2020. What does Trump need to do to win Georgia this time? KEMP: Well, I've been saying for a long time and Chairman Whatley said this just a couple of days ago in an interview. BLITZER: The chairman of the Republican -- KEMP: The chairman of the Republican Party, and the chairman of the convention here, soggy about this, this week is a great opportunity for Republicans to tell people what were for, why they should vote for us and stay focused on the future, not look in the rearview mirror, not talk of days gone by in 2020, but really, you know, to the people that are hurting out there across this country, to the swing voters and persuadable voters that are out there, give them a message in a reason to vote Republican and the vote for Donald Trump for president. And I think he's got a great opportunity to do that with not only the record of Joe Biden, but also the division in the Democratic Party right now. BLITZER: What do you think, if anything, the impact of the horrible assassination attempt against former President Trump over the past weekend? [19:50:07] What's going to be the political impact of that going into the solution? KEMP: Well, just an incredible moment for our country. I mean, for me it was, you know, I was very sad that something like that could happen in today's politics. But also very thankful that he survived but also just hurt that, you know, you got a family that lost a husband and a father and I'm sure a son. You've got two people there were injured and it was this horrible. But I think the way Trump displayed strength through that is only going to be positive for him. I think it'll help galvanize the Republican base. But also I think, Wolf, it gives him a great opportunity to be a positive messenger in the future, you know, him and President Biden both talked about unity. I think it gives him a great opportunity to do that this week. And really move his campaign to a different level. BLITZER: Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia, great state, thanks very much for coming in. Erin, back to you. BURNETT: All right, Wolf. All right. Obviously, the governor of Georgia there talking after Marjorie Taylor Greene, who came out and obviously at the very beginning and he referenced this she talked about what happened Saturday. She talked about Mr. Comperatore who died. And then she went to her previously scheduled speech. SIMMONS: Yeah, you know, obviously she talked about trans youth, two genders. Here's -- here's one question for me after Saturday, it just comes even more. How is it that we're all supposed to live together here, right? Like that's supposed to be part of what the politicians are up to is proving out, how it as we made the country better, but how it is we make more and more people included in it. But maybe there's another agenda, that's Marjorie Taylor's agenda which doesn't actually include all Americans. And I think that's the thing for fairly people in the left, but a lot of people the center, they want to have a country where you can just live your life and nobody sort of gets in the way of you and your business. But there seems to be a lot of people in the MAGA side -- BURNETT: It used to be a very Republican view actually towards the libertarian. SIMMONS: Right. A lot of MAGA people are now saying that's not what they want, but actually what the government to be able to say what's right and what's wrong. BURNETT: Because in her few minutes that she spoke, Jonah, and this is an important speech, right? This is leading into the first night, the president of the United States, the former president of the United States going to be out there tonight. And right after she talked about Saturday, she said -- talked about transgender awareness day being on Easter Sunday, and that being unacceptable. And then she said to be clear, there's only two genders. She used her time to do it. GOLDBERG: Look, I get it. I will say just as the debutante of horseshoe theory, the left has an anti-libertarian thing too about making bakers have to pay big -- bake visages that they don't want to make, and all that kind of stuff. I don't like either of it on both sides. That said, if I'm playing in this convention and you know, you got to give a slot to Marjorie Taylor Greene, on the one hand, introducing people on the first day to her, not great. On the other hand, getting it out of the way and thinking that your other messaging will bury it, might make a lot of sense. ANDERSOIN: What strikes me about this is when you think about the bucket of issues we think of as the social issues, right? Typically, we think of things like abortion in that bucket. But actually, the party platform slightly maybe kind of moderated on this. I have asked in my polling among Republican voters, what do you think of as the most critical cultural challenges facing the country and the tradition? Chanel quote-unquote social issues, things like abortion or further down on the list, then things like conservatives feeling like new ideologies around race and gender are coming for them. And so, this is, in some ways, it's a reflection of the new way that conservatives prioritize -- GOLDBERG: Good point. BURNETT: So, looking -- when you talk about talking to the base, the trans -- the fact that she would pick Trump and gender be so specific about it actually fits. ANDERSON: It definitely speaks to the base, but it's also the sort of area where Republicans believed Democrats have misplayed their hand. They believed Democrats have gone overboard and that sort of normal mainstream Americans think it is actually Democrats, not Republicans who are outside the mainstream. SINGLETON: Yeah. I mean, mainstream polling suggests that there's some truth to that even, among Democrats, particularly among Democrats of color. But look you know, you get, you have the sprinkle in some salt and pepper for the base. I think that's what you do with Marjorie Taylor Greene. They're going to be some other, more controversial characters there who may say things that people don't like. You have to do that. But I think overall, Erin, most people are thinking about JD Vance, who he is. I want to know more about JD Vance and not so much about what Marjorie Taylor Greene reinstated. BURNETT: Right, although, you know, when you're looking at trying to win over those voters in the middle, or people who are looking or people who are maybe giving Trump a second chance, second look after Saturday, obviously, that's not what you're going to put out there. But we will get some of that tonight. You're going to have -- you'll have Tim Scott tonight. You'll have Glenn Youngkin, governor of Virginia there. They are putting other very different sorts of voices out tonight. SIMMONS: Absolutely. And some of this will be used by the Democrats in order to fundraise. So, keep in mind, this video doesn't just live in Republican -- in the Republican era. [19:55:03] Democrats will grab a hold of some of this and shoot to their base and say, look, if Trump gets elected, these are the people he's going to put in charge. BURNETT: Yeah. All right. Well, thanks to all of you, of course, as our coverage here continues. We are expecting that appearance by Donald Trump tonight on the first night of the convention, as well as several high profile convention speakers. I mentioned a couple of them, Glenn Youngkin, also Tim Scott. There will be more on that list. Kristi Noem, others in that party. How will their remarks play with delegates, and with voters watching at home, like we said, who might be looking at is very differently? Our coverage continues right after this quick break. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) ANNOUNCER: All eyes are on Wisconsin, as a history-making convention gets underway, two days after Donald Trump survived a horrific assassination attempt, Republicans rallying to support him, and doing something they've never done before -- nominate the former president to be their next president. Tonight, in Milwaukee, Donald Trump and his new running mate put forward their vision for America as one of the most consequential and tradition-shattering presidential races ever shifts into a new year, along with these high profile speakers, Senator Tim Scott, Governor Glenn Youngkin, and Governor Kristi Noem. CNN Live Event/Special Aired July 15, 2024 - 20:00 ET THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. [20:00:00] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: …Night one of the Republican National Convention begins on CNN right now. JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: And we're live in Milwaukee, in the battleground of Wisconsin where we expect to see former President Donald Trump in person at this convention this evening, as Republicans are celebrating their now official 2024 presidential ticket, Trump's new running mate. Senator JD Vance of Ohio made a surprise appearance earlier capping his formal nomination for vice president. We have an extraordinary view of it all high above the arena for our special coverage of this history making convention. I'm Jake Tapper along with Anderson Cooper. And, Anderson, we are standing by to see Donald Trump at some point this evening. ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: Yes. We're told the former president is eager to attend the convention to meet with his supporters and allies after the attempt on his life. Tonight, the GOP is putting forward some of his most powerful and polarizing figures spread Trump's MAGA message, along with a slew of everyday Americans tempt to speak to bread and butter issues. Jake, we're standing by to hear from the top speakers of the night and carry their remarks live, of course. TAPPER: Anderson, we're going to be listening very closely to what those speakers say, and the tone they set at this singular moment in American politics. And in this tumultuous presidential election, our political team is in position to follow it all. Boris Sanchez is right there near the podium where the big speeches are being given, and Phil Mattingly and Kaitlan Collins are roaming throughout the convention floor talking to delegates. And right now we're listening to Congressman Wesley Hunt, is that who this is? Yes, Wesley Hunt, a congressman from Texas' 38th congressional district, let's listen in. REP. WESLEY HUNT (R-TX): I'm the son of a retired lieutenant colonel. I'm a product of West Point along with my other two siblings. And I risked my life in combat to preserve our nation. Now, there is another man who was putting it all on the line to save our nation. His name is President Donald Trump. And with your help in November, and with his unbending resolve, together we will make America great again. God bless you, Milwaukee. May God continue to bless this United States of America, thank you. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please welcome US Army veteran Representative John James from Michigan's 10th congressional district REP. JOHN JAMES (R-MI): Good evening Wisconsin. Warmest regards from Detroit, home of the AFC North champion, Detroit Lions. Oh, in seriousness, Dean West (ph) to do a great job. Where are my West Point classmates, class of 2004? And there's another Midwestern boy did a great job, our vice presidential nominee JD Vance, another Midwestern boy. You know, he's going to need some help. When he comes up to Michigan, I'll do everything I can, but he might be the first Buckeye to win a Michigan since last time Trump was in office. But those are two great American dream stories from the Hunt family and from the Vance family, but I have another American Dream story to tell you about. It's about a little boy from Starkville, Mississippi who lived directly across the street from Mississippi State University, but he couldn't go there because he was black. Despite growing up in the Jim Crow South, he refused to let vulnerability become victimhood. He paid his way through college, served honorably in Vietnam and started a trucking company with one truck, one trailer, and no excuses hauling beer back and forth between Detroit and Milwaukee. I grew up in all of that story because it's my dad's story. It's part of my story. He and my mother raised me never telling me that this is a racist country. Never, never. [20:05:09] Even though we have market blemishes in our past, even though we have much farther to go, even though they endured racism, it did not define the nation they love. They taught me I could do anything I set my mind to. They taught me to put the Lord first always. They taught me to use my blessings to be a blessing to others. And that's what we're doing here today. That's why I went to West Point. I became a ranger qualified, a passion pilot, and flew 750 hours operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom. You know, that's something else me and President Trump have in common. The bad guy shattered his boat with a mist (ph). And we'll keep on fighting for America until the good Lord takes us home. By the grace of God, I was able to come home after my deployment, and helped run the company business. Now, I have the honor of representing Michigan's 10th congressional district, the number one manufacturing district in the best state in the entire unit. My family's story is the American dream story, but my biggest concern right now, my biggest fear is will children today be able to look back and share that same story. Look, I firmly believe Americans have not given up on the American dream. Joe Biden and the Democrats have given up on the American dream. Joe Biden and the Democrats think they know how to spend your money better than you do. They want to take your dollars, they want to take your voice, they want to take your control, and give it back to DC bureaucrats to execute their walk and green New Deal agenda. Well, that plan doesn't work because hope is not a plan. Black people were sold on hope. Now our streets are rife with crime, our kids can't read and illegals are getting better health from Democrats in four days than we've gotten in 400 years. Our daughters were sold on hope, and now they're being forced on the playing fields and changing rooms of biological males. America was sold on hope, and now the world is on fire. Our borders are wide open. And Americans are going into debt to pay for their groceries. But, look -- look -- look, we don't even have to imagine a brighter day, we just have to remember under President Donald J. Trump, we had a secure border. Under President Donald J. Trump, we had peace in Europe. And under President Donald J. Trump, we had an economy so good. We had an economy so good Democrats are trying to give Obama the credit for it. Look, I heard a little bit early today, if you don't vote Donald Trump you ain't black. See, here's the thing. By the grace of God and the proven leadership of Donald Trump, for every American, regardless of race, color and creed, we can once again have a land where a child's outcome isn't determined by their ZIP code, we can once again have a land where hard work truly does get you ahead. We can once again have a land where you can go from poverty to prosperity in a single generation. I believe that lead is still America. America is the greatest idea there's ever been. America, I believe deeply in my heart, America is the greatest idea that's ever been. It's worth fighting for, it's worth sacrificing for, and it's worth getting out to vote for. Because I truly believe in the deepest heart of hearts, that with Donald J. Trump back in the White House, the best is yet to come. God bless you. Thank you. God bless America. TAPPER: Congressman John James, US congressman from the 10th congressional district of Michigan served eight years in the Army as an Apache helicopter pilot. He spoke after Congressman Wesley Hunt of Texas, also flew Apache helicopters in the military. And it is not a mistake that in this prime time, a speaking slot. You are seeing a lot of African American Republicans being highlighted to the nation. Before Congressman Hunt and James, we heard from Mark Robinson, who is the lieutenant governor of North Carolina and the gubernatorial nominee in that state. [20:10:00] And this comes, Dana Bash, as the Republican Party as Donald Trump is making a big play to chip away at the Democratic Party's historically strong hold on African American voters. And according to polls, he is succeeding particularly with African American men. DANA BASH, CNN ANCHOR: Well, I was just going to say that African American men in particular, the fact that, as you said, there were primetime lineup started out with a trio of African American men, two of whom are in the house, one who is running for governor in North Carolina. One of the questions in the past six months or so, maybe four months, was whether or not he wanted to pick an African American to be his running mate. Tim Scott was certainly in the running. TAPPER: South Carolina senator. BASH: South Carolina Senator. He clearly wanted it from the minute he dropped out because he was running as well. He endorsed Donald Trump, and he was very positive, let's say, when he was now talking about Donald Trump, and when he was with him on the stage. And it was interesting that at the end, when it was down to three, he was no longer on there. And it was three white men. TAPPER: Yes. Abby Phillip, I know this is a topic that you've addressed on your show, the African American vote, the pursuit of it, and the successes that Republicans have been chipping away. No one thinks that they're going to win the African American vote, but this is a, you know, in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and Michigan, if you peel away 2 percent, 3 percent -- ABBY PHILLIP, CNN ANCHOR: Yes. TAPPER: -- of the vote, that's that could be enough to win. PHILLIP: What we're seeing with Trump, mostly Trump and Republicans a little bit less or so, is black working class men, Hispanic working class men are taking a look at Trump and the Republican Party. And some of it is, you know, it's a sort of a vibe that Trump gives off in a way that that appeals to them. Some of it is the economic policies to a degree that are that are working for them. I think the same kind of working class message that is working with white voters, is giving them some inroads with black voters. But it's a question of degree, and I think we saw this back in 2016 and 2020, there's some peeling off, but the question is how much. And Trump is making as good a play as any Republicans since you know, what Reagan -- BASH: George W. Bush. PHILLIP: George W. Bush and even further back, to try to appeal to black voters in an unconventional way, because he's not really changing his message. You know, he's not necessarily saying things differently. But there is a disenchantment, that's happening. We were talking about this earlier. Sometimes the weakness of your opponent can be your strength. And I think that that is partly what is happening with Trump, is that there is some erosion happening with Biden and with Democrats, that Trump is benefiting from. And that's what we're seeing tonight. With some of the rising stars I think of black Republicans showing up on the stage. TAPPER: Let's listen in. This is Sarah Workman, a single mother struggling in the current economy SARAH WORKMAN, SINGLE MOTHER WORKING SECOND JOB: I'm Sarah Workman from the great state of Arizona. I'm honored to be here tonight on behalf of everyday Americans. I'm a single mother who works two jobs to support my family. I know Americans can relate when I say that every time I fill up my gas tank, go to the grocery store and try to pay the bills, I think who doesn't miss the Trump days? But it's not just the economic pain we're all feeling under Joe Biden. It's how they're destroying the American spirit. Everywhere we look, there's pain, chaos and crisis, inflation, open borders, woke indoctrination in our schools, violence in our cities, and unjust rulings in our courts. All of it is eroding one of America's greatest strengths, our optimism. While the left is trying to divide us with identity politics, we are here tonight because we believe that America is always and should be one nation under God. In addition to the economic pain, the Democrats' open border policies have shattered my family. [20:15:04] With drugs so readily available, my husband fell victim to the drug epidemic. It tore our family apart. And now I raise my son alone. But I know there is hope. That is what this election represents for all of us who have been forgotten over the last four years, hope. We need God in our hearts, and Donald Trump back in the White House. If you're watching tonight and you hear your own story in mine, Donald Trump put me on this stage to show that he hears us, he sees us and we are forgotten no more. I find peace in God's promise that says, if my people who are called by my name would humble themselves and pray, I will heal your nation. Amen. With faith, hope and love in my heart, I know we will make America great again. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please welcome United States Senator Katie Britt of Alabama. SEN. KATIE BRITT (R-AL): Good evening, Milwaukee. I'm Katie Britt. We are all here tonight for one reason, we need to change the direction of our nation and Donald Trump is the change we need. To my fellow moms and dads across America, I think we all know that raising a family is hard. Add in smart phones and social media, and we already had plenty to worry about. But then Joe Biden and Kamala Harris came around, now our lives are that much more difficult and way more expensive. Under Biden-Harris, prices are high and expectations, well, they're low. Grocery prices are up more than 21 percent, electricity is up 31 percent, gas is up 48 percent, mortgage rates have more than doubled, and rent is skyrocketing. To me, these aren't just numbers. This is pain for millions of Americans. It means that so many American families have to live with so much less. This is too high a price to pay for an administration that has brought us to such lows. The American people won't have the wool pulled over our eyes. We see how Biden and Harris keep making things worse, and we know the current president is not capable of turning things around. His weakness is costing us our opportunity, our prosperity, our security, our safety. Each diminished, all in decline, just like the man in the Oval Office. And it doesn't have to be this way on. [20:20:00] Under President Trump, we had the strongest economy in history. That's right. You didn't need to go into debt just to make ends meet. Energy dominant, stable prices, secure borders, safe streets, strong families and communities, that's what Donald Trump will deliver. With President Trump, the tough choice was which job offer to accept. Now, it's which second job to take just to pay the bills. Your family can't afford this costly and dangerous decline for four more years. Four more years of Biden-Harris will impose a lifetime of financial damage on our children and our nation. It is time to return President Trump to the White House, yes. Republicans will put parents, families and hard working Americans first. With President Trump back in the White House, we will re awakened the exceptionalism of the greatest nation ever known. We will defeat decline, dust off our dreams and forge our future, because families across our nation deserve better. Once again, America will be the land of limitless opportunity for all and paving that path starts today. So let's roll up our sleeves, send President Trump back to the White House and get America back on track. God bless. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome United States Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina. SEN. TIM SCOTT (R-SC): Wow, wow, wow. Wow, thank you so much. Thank you. Hello, Milwaukee. Are you ready for four more years of Donald Trump? Me too. Listen, if you didn't believe in miracles before Saturday, you better be believing right now. Thank God Almighty that we live in a country that still believes in the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the Alpha and the Omega. And our God -- our God still saves, he still delivers and he still sets free. Because on Saturday, the devil came to Pennsylvania holding a rifle, but an American lion got back up on his feet and he roared. Oh yes, He roared. Yes. Yes, he did. You see, America, this is a difficult time for our nation. Inflation is crushing families. Illegal Immigration is crushing American workers, failing schools and victimhood culture are crushing our poorest kids. And the weakness of the commander in chief has invited world wars all around our world. Joe Biden is asleep at the wheel and we're heading over a cliff. [20:25:02] We hear the spare in the voices of a millennial couple raising two kids in a one bedroom apartment because they can't afford a house. We see pain on the faces of Gold Star parents, because their commander in chief, Joe Biden, literally forgets their son died in uniform on his watch. America, we deserve better. We deserve so much better. I was raised by a single mom in poverty. We had plastic spoons, not silver spoons, but she taught me to work hard to take responsibility and reject victimhood. Thank God for my wonderful mama. I know this is going to offend the liberal elites, every time I say it offends them. But let me say it one more time, America is not a racist country. No, we're not. But if you are looking for racism today, you'd find it in cities run by Democrats. Look on the south look on the south side of Chicago, poor black kids trapped in failing schools, thousands shot every single year, including one of my former interns DaQuawn. But there's good news, it's conservative values that restores hope. It's Republican policies that lifts people up. I partnered with the greatest president of my generation, President Donald J. Trump, on the biggest tax cuts ever for working people and single moms, and opportunity zones for neighborhoods that need the most. But Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, they give illegal immigrants free hotel rooms while our veterans -- while our veterans sleep on the streets. Disgusting, disgusting. Trump secured our border once and Donald Trump will secure it again. This November, we are not deciding simply the fate for the next four years. We're setting a course for the next 40 years. I see our heartland filled with huge American factories powered by abundant American energy, building what American deeds creating generational wealth for blue collar workers. You see, we are the Republican Party of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, of Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump, but we -- four more years, I love it. Awesome. We are not simply the party of our leaders. We are also a party of a young woman in Wisconsin taking over her family farm and Hispanic father working 16 hour days in Nevada, and a black teenager in Philly starving for opportunity. We're not just the Grand Old Party of the past, we are the great opportunity party of America's future. [20:30:16] (APPLAUSE) And there's only -- hear me clearly, and there's only one person who can make that vision a reality, Donald J. Trump. (APPLAUSE) God bless America. (APPLAUSE) COOPER: You have Tim Scott, the U.S. Senator from South Carolina, who's been in the Senate since 2013. Right before that, we heard from Katie Britt, a U.S. Senator from from Alabama, coming up, Glenn Youngkin. What do you think of Tim Scott? Obviously, he was in the running to be vice president. ALYSSA FARAH GRIFFIN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes, he's one of the early contenders for the VP stakes. Look, Republicans have a clear message here. The country's in decline under Joe Biden. We have an economic agenda that's going to make you richer, wealthier, more prosperous. People are on message. Here's my problem with tonight's programming. In prime time, someone like Marjorie Taylor Greene, who is a spouse just ridiculous conspiracy theories. Somebody who should not be elevated in this kind of platform. Mark Robinson, who's running in North Carolina for governor, who's shared vile anti-Semitic tropes left and right. What happens is you elevate some rising stars in the party, like a John James and a Wesley Hunt. But then put them aside, these very figures who should be fringe figures, and giving them equal billing. I think it's a mistake. I think it was a choice, but overall the message is there. And this is what the Biden camp has struggled with, is you can't really say what the core message is. You can walk away from tonight whether you agree with it or not, and you know what the core message is. COOPER: Van? VAN JONES, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: You know, it's -- that was kind of cringy to me. You got -- we got half an hour into -- it's 8:00. We had four African-American men. There's clearly an agenda here, and let me just say I'm glad that the Republicans are trying to get black men. I think both parties should compete vigorously. There's an opening to get black men. Because of the double whammy with black men feeling the economic pain seriously, and also feeling some social dislocation or when it comes to gender and feminism and what's going on. There's an opening there, but this is not it. I'm going to tell you right now, they, all four of them sounded like black people who talk about black people, but don't talk to black people. That's how they sounded. I've got -- my phone's blowing up because it felt so off in terms of the tone. And the thing that they -- I just want to say, and the things that they said you don't say that you have thousands of black children dying in Chicago with glee, the way Tim Scott did. You don't say that black children can't read the way that James did. And there's a time we can go back with zip codes didn't matter. We've never had that time in America. Those guys sound like people who talk about black people, not to black people. COOPER: Scott? SCOTT JENNINGS, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I'm -- just as a tactical matter tonight. You think about what Trump is doing eating into the traditional democratic seed corn. African-American men, all the polling is very stable. Trump's currently scoring in the 20s. They're featured tonight, whether you like them or not. These are messengers who are willing to go on a stage on national television and say, the Republican nominee is our guy. That's number one. You've got people like that. You've also got Sean O'Brien, the president of the Teamsters, coming out tonight. A union leader. Somebody who's going to be speaking to the working class. When I think about how Trump is going to win this race, peeling back African-American men, peeling back rank and file union members for my whole career. Democrats have counted on both. Now the Republicans are making a real play and that's why he's leading in all these swing states. COOPER: Coming up next, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin. Also coming up, we expect Donald Trump to show up at the convention. We're awaiting his entrance and crowd reaction. Later remarks by South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as our convention coverage continues. We'll be right back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) [20:38:01] COOPER: You're watching CNN's special coverage of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. We're awaiting an appearance by Donald Trump tonight after he officially secured the nomination. This will be the first time we see the former president at this convention after the assassination attempt. For now, though, the party is showing off some of its other top officials on the convention stage. Coming up any moment is Glenn Youngkin, the governor of Virginia, elected in 2021, the first GOP governor of Virginia since 2014. Jonah Goldberg, what do you make of the voices we've heard so far? JONAH GOLDBERG, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I think for the most part, it's pretty standard Republican boilerplate, with the exception of Marjorie Taylor Greene, which is, you know, except for that Mrs. Lincoln, how is the theater kind of level exception. Kristen Soltis Anderson was making the point earlier also that I think when you take the bread and butter culture war issues of the Republican Party and you basically water them down in the platform and say you don't want to talk about them anymore, it explains why some of the transgender stuff comes to the fore. COOPER: Let's listen to Glenn Youngkin. ALL: Joe must go. GOV. GLENN YOUNGKIN (R), VIRGINIA: Yes, Joe must go. Good evening. I'm Glenn Youngkin, the governor. (APPLAUSE) The governor of the home of Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, the great commonwealth of Virginia. (APPLAUSE) Tonight, we stop for a moment. We ask for God's grace to be on innocent victims. We ask him to be with their families. We thank him for this moment of unity. And we thank him for protecting our next president, Donald J. Trump. (APPLAUSE) [20:40:09] And tonight, our nation can have the conversation that so many families have at their kitchen tables. Yes, those tough conversations. How do we make it all work? The conversation young families from Midlothian, Virginia, to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, whose dreams of buying a home have been shattered by 7.5 percent mortgage rates. The veterans from Fredericksburg, Virginia to Phoenix, Arizona, whose raises can't keep up with 30 percent increases in grocery prices and 40 percent increases in gas. The retirees from Roanoke, Virginia, to Reno, Nevada, whose fixed income has been crushed by the silent thief of inflation unleashed by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Tonight, America, the land of opportunity, just doesn't feel like that anymore. But eight years ago, eight years ago, there was an outsider, a businessman, who stepped out of his career to rebuild a great nation with the strongest economy, the mightiest military, energy independence, unlimited opportunity, lifting up every American. That outsider businessman was Donald J. Trump, and he will do it again. (APPLAUSE) I'm proud to be a homegrown Virginian. From a family like a lot of families, with ups and downs and highs and lows. My mom was a nurse, and she was my hero. She pulled our family together after my dad lost his job. At 15, washing dishes and flipping eggs, I learned that there is dignity in work. (APPLAUSE) At the height of the pandemic four years ago, I asked my amazing wife, Suzanne, to go on a walk with me. I told her I planned to quit my job and run for governor. She looked at me with tears in her eyes and a quivering lip and asked, governor of what? We prayed together and we asked God for guidance and wisdom. And we said if elected, we would serve. After 12 years of only electing Democrats statewide, in November 2021, Virginians elected a Republican outside businessman as their 74th governor. (APPLAUSE) And I believe this year, Virginia will elect another Republican outside businessman as president of the United States. (APPLAUSE) President Trump proved that common sense conservative leadership works. It works for America. And we're proving it in Virginia too. $5 billion of tax relief backing the blue. (APPLAUSE) Slashing red tape, declaring loudly that yes, parents matter. And creating jobs, lots of jobs. Virginia now has record job growth, and we were just named America's top state for business. (APPLAUSE) Friends, could this election be more simple? It's common sense versus chaos. It's strength versus weakness. Friends, it's not just Republicans who see this. It's Republicans, Independents, and lots of Democrats. It's Americans. Under President Trump, America had high growth and low inflation. Under Joe Biden, America has low growth and high inflation. 66 percent of Americans now live paycheck to paycheck. Moms and dads worrying, can they buy new shoes for their kids going back to school? Can they write the tuition check for college? Will they ever be able to retire? Under President Trump, 2.4 million Americans were lifted out of poverty. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right. (APPLAUSE) [20:45:11] YOUNGKIN: Women, Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans all saw record low employment. Under Donald J. Trump, we once again will have that rip roaring economy that lifts up all Americans. That is our tomorrow. (APPLAUSE) A tomorrow where work is celebrated, where taxes are cut and inflation is slashed. Where we cut red tape, where we unleash American energy dominance. Where businesses proudly say, Made in America. (APPLAUSE) Where entrepreneurs dream and small businesses thrive. Where Americans from any background can pour their God given talents into building their American dream. This is the moment. This is our moment to make America the land of opportunity again. (APPLAUSE) A nation, a nation built on a basic truth that we are granted certain unalienable rights, not by a king, but by an almighty creator. And that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. (APPLAUSE) Our foundational principles are non-negotiable. They are inscribed on our national soul. My fellow Americans, the spirit of hope is spreading. Everyone can feel it, and it will sweep across this nation when we elect Donald J. Trump, the 47th President of the United States. (APPLAUSE) May God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America. Thank you. COOPER: Glenn Youngkin, governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Just ahead, more headliners taking the stage, including South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem. And of course, we're standing by for an appearance from the now official Republican nominee, Donald Trump. We'll be right back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) [20:51:24] TAPPER: And we are back live from Milwaukee. We're getting deeper into the first night of the Republican National Convention with a climactic moment. Still upcoming, Donald Trump is expected to make his first appearance sometime soon. Right now, we're hearing on the stage from the CEO of Goya Foods. After him comes the governor of South Dakota, Kristi Noem. But we do have some news. The Wall Street Journal has just reported that Elon Musk has said he's committing around $45 million a month to a new pro-Trump Super PAC. Elon Musk, who at one point, said he was not going to endorse, has endorsed Trump, and is now committing I guess that's a roughly $180 million, assuming he goes through with it. David Urban, you attribute this news -- DAVID URBAN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes. TAPPER: -- and again, this is from the Wall Street Journal to the fact that J.D. Vance, the new running mate for President Trump, Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, worked for and is very popular among this conservative Silicon Valley group. URBAN: Yes, if you look at the article, the journal reports, the Winklevoss twins, David Sacks, the group that was out in California, the kind of, you know -- they are -- they like Trump's economic message. They weren't really -- they weren't sold on the guy in 2016. They've come around lately. And I think J.D. Vance was a bridge to that group. And now that he's on the team, I think that they're throwing their economic weight and their clout on the internet, right? These folks have, you know, millions -- hundreds of millions of followers and people that will listen to what they're saying. So I think it's very significant. And completely the opposite end of the spectrum of the Hillbilly Elegy folks that he's going to come speak to in Western Pennsylvania. TAPPER: It is interesting, David Axelrod, because obviously since Elon Musk took over Twitter, now called X, it has certainly taken a different tone in terms of what accounts it propels. And -- DAVID AXELROD, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: You know, look, Elon Musk has clearly concluded he wants to be a player in American government and American politics. You know, he wants to be an American oligarch, and he has entree with Donald Trump, and he has with Twitter or X, a tool that he can use, and obviously, $45 million is more than lunch money. TAPPER: A month. AXELROD: A month. TAPPER: $45 million a month. AXELROD: Yes. So I'm sure that will be -- I don't know that he would not have given that money if it weren't Vance, because he's been working on this project for a long time. URBAN: But I think it's very significant. I think Vance was help -- I think Vance helped get that across the threshold. Or that Elon was more inclined to give it to a J.D. Vance ticket. BASH: Well, and he endorsed on his platform, on X, right after the former president was almost assassinated. AXELROD (?): Yes. BASH: He sent out that tweet, or whatever you call it now. TAPPER: OK. Let's go to Kaitlan Collins, who has Senator Katie Britt on the floor of the convention. Kaitlan? KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, Jake. We just heard from Senator Katie Britt of my home state of Alabama giving her speech here at the Republican Convention on night one. Senator Britt, thank you for being here. How much did what you said on stage change in light of what happened in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday night? SEN. KATIE BRITT (R), ALABAMA: Well, look, I think just the atmosphere here, like as we came in, there was a sadness that kind of came across all of America. But I think coming together right now, there's been a hopefulness about what can be done. So, obviously, just working to bring people together. But that's what we consistently do and figure out how to move forward. COLLINS: And you're a new face in the Republican Party on the national level. Obviously, you're a newer senator. And when it comes to striking the balance of the, you know, talking about your political opponents, criticizing them, debating them, as President Biden said the other night, but not crossing that line of where we've heard the calls to tone down the rhetoric, where is that line for Republicans? [20:55:12] BRITT: To be honest, I really wish the media would do a little bit better job of covering when we do work together because there are a number of things where we have pieces of legislation. Like Senator Laphonza Butler and I working on the NIH Improve Act or working on mental health with Amy Klobuchar. So, there are things that we do together that really do bring unity, but typically speaking, the only things that get covered are more kind of sort of hot button (ph) issues or soundbites or divisive rhetoric. So, I think unity is out there. I also think where we share a common goal, despite who we are, we have a duty to the people we serve to get in a room and try to figure out a path forward. So I think we'll continue to fight for our values and fight for our people, but try to do it in a way where we lend people to realize that you don't have to agree with someone to show them respect. And treating our colleagues with dignity and respect should be absolutely what we do each and every day. COLLINS: And is that a message that looks different, though, now, in terms of what you say about Democrats or President Biden, if you are criticizing them? Are you thinking about what that rhetoric overall sounds like to Americans generally? BRITT: Yes, I do. I mean, we -- it's something that I consistently think about. Like, if you kind of sort of go back and look at what we say and what we do and how we're working, and I think we'll be consistently be intentional about that moving forward. And I hope America can obviously know what we stand for. I am really excited about getting back the majority and being able to actually do good things for people. But at the same time, you know, making sure that we find ways to work with people who we may not agree with, on issues that we do agree with, and move them forward. COLLINS: Yes. I know you've worked with Senator John Fetterman as well. BRITT: Yes. COLLINS: Senator Britt, thank you for joining us. Jake, back to you. TAPPER: Thanks so much, Kaitlan. And John, I hate to interrupt your favorite band, The Brown Derbies playing, but I understand you have some new news on President Biden. JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is an excellent cover band, by the way. All day long, they've been out there for a long time. They deserve some credit. TAPPER: But you did request the Brown Derbies. Everybody's working for (INAUDIBLE). KING: Of course I did. Of course I did. The reporting I have is that privately the efforts to nudge President Biden to step aside and get out of the race are continuing quite aggressively. Even though the public calls have quiet it -- quite significantly. The public calls have quiet, a, because of the tragedy of Saturday, the attempted assassination. Also, Democrats believe they need to have a unified message while the Republicans are having their convention. And the president again today in the Lester Holt interview said he's not getting out of the race. So Democrats believe it's counterproductive to be in a public argument -- TAPPER: He said something like, unless a train hits him. KING: -- with the leader of the party. But I'm told that Democratic members of Congress continue to lobby the White House, the President's inner circle, and someone else who is lobbying them now is the veteran Democratic pollster, Stanley Greenberg, who's been at this for decades, one of the most respected voices in the Democratic Party who's worked on both of Bill Clinton's winning presidential campaigns. And I'm told he has been sending virtually daily memos to the President's inner circle, analyzing the polling data, and making the case that we are past the point of no return. And that President Biden is not only going to lose, but that Stan has been making the case. He's going to lose in a way that wipes out the party. That they will lose the House. They won't lose any chance of taking back the House and the Senate. Just very quickly, lose everything was one description of a Democrat who's seen these memos. Devastating was the description of another, again, making the case privately. And some of these Democrats I've talked to, the sources say that the effort will continue privately at least until this is done. And if the numbers keep going the way they're going, which they argue is this way -- TAPPER: Yes. KING: -- then it'll get public again. TAPPER: Chris? CHRIS WALLACE, CNN HOST: And Jake, to pick up on that, you were just reporting about this huge influx of money coming from Elon Musk at a time when contributions from big donors to Joe Biden are drying up. I mean, one of the big stories in recent days has been the Hollywood backlash that came after George Clooney's famous op ed in the Times. And a lot of anger at Jeffrey Katzenberg, the great movie director who is a co-chairman of the Biden campaign, and has gotten a lot of money, a lot of big contributions from a lot of rich people in Hollywood, and they -- a lot of them went to that event, where the fundraiser where Biden spoke, were not impressed about it, and are now saying, what'd you get us into here? TAPPER: And David Axelrod -- AXELROD: Yes. TAPPER: -- I mean, this is an effort that has proceeded behind closed doors, as John was talking about. We know that Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, met with him. We know Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama, Chuck Schumer, people are trying to be very blunt and honest with President Biden. But from whatever, everything I hear, he's still fairly, you know, in a cocoon of top advisers and family who just don't want to hear it. AXELROD: Yes, I think that's kind of the issue here. I mean, there's no dearth of information and no dearth of people who are delivering the same message. … CNN Live Event/Special Aired July 15, 2024 - 21:00 ET THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. [21:00:00] DAVID AXELROD, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: …And, of course, the leaders are very concerned about what the implications are for their members in the fall. And particularly if Donald Trump wins the presidential election that gives them a greater sense of urgency to try and at least win one of the houses. But all of this only -- it always comes down to the same thing. First of all, what information is actually reaching the president? Because he has a very insular group around him and they filter the information that gets to him. Does he understand where he really is in this race? KASIE HUNT, CNN HOST: And it's gotten more insular. AXELROD: I'm sorry. HUNT: It's gotten more insular in this time. AXELROD: Yes, because I think that people who come with that -- with discouraging information are sort of not invited back. HUNT: John, do you have any information about whether or not the president has gotten the information? JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Not directly that information. One of the Democratic lawmaker I spoke throughout this, said that the lawmaker is convinced that at least some of those around the president, again, being very careful not to get into private conversations with the White House. But that some of them get the depth of this was the way it was -- AXELROD: Oh, I have no doubt. KING: The question -- you raised the question, are they making it to him? Because if you see the president, he's asked about this. Number one, he won't even say if he watched the debate or he couldn't remember if he watched the debate. That seems pretty striking. If you had a horrible performance, you think the first thing you want to do to watch it, to learn from it. But he keeps saying that's not what the polling says. In his public remarks. Now, again, they're public remarks, and he could just be trying to put a positive spin on it. But if you've watched the president and everything he has said, either at the events he's done or these couple of interviews he's done, since the debate what he says about the public polling is simply not anywhere close to the truth about what it says. AXELROD: And the private polling, I think, is worse than the public polling. But look, there are a couple of people who are key in this. The guy who he trusts more than anyone on these issues is Mike Donilon, who's been with him for decades. Very, very smart guy, but very much attached to the president. And I don't know what Mike's telling him about this. KING: I will say that Stan -- you could say Democratic members of Congress, the Democratic pollster. Why do you care about the pollster? One, Stan's history is very good in the party. Number two, they do view him somewhat as a prod. He prodded Biden during the midterms saying Democrats need to change their message on crime or you're going go. He works closely with James Carville in a group called the Democracy Corps. And Carville has been poked to White House. David has taken brief from the White House when he has spoken candidly about what he says to the president. But Stan does have a very good relationship with Anita Dunn and with Mike Donilon and with Steve Ricchetti, some of the people who are closest to the president. He's worked with them for years. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, and my question, too, and actually, Axe, I'd be interested to know kind of your thoughts on it, is. Obviously the thing that everyone has been so careful not to talk about is the political impact of the assassination attempt over the weekend, because -- AXELROD: Yeah -- everyone has been justifiably very focused on the safety of President Trump. JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: Let's listen to South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GOV. KRISTI NOEM (R-SD): Thank you. Good evening. You all look fantastic. I love the cowboy hats. And a shout out to South Dakota. Hi. I'm Governor Kristi Noem from the great state of South Dakota. (APPLAUSE) NOEM: Leadership has consequences. It matters who's in the White House. Now I've been governor under both President Trump and Joe Biden, and people ask me all the time, what's the biggest difference? And I tell them that President Trump honored the constitution. He let me do my job. (APPLAUSE) NOEM: And he let me keep my people free. Now, leadership on the state level, it matters, too. It certainly mattered in South Dakota. I am so proud to say that South Dakota's strong economy has been a beacon of freedom for America. Most of you, most of you probably first heard about me during COVID didn't you? Because South Dakota was the only state in the country that stayed open for business. (APPLAUSE) NOEM: We didn't mandate anything. We never ordered a single business or a church to close. I never even defined what an essential business was because I don't believe that the government has the authority to tell you that your business isn't essential. (APPLAUSE) NOEM: When other states were pushing mandates and lockdowns, instead, in South Dakota, we hit the gas, we embraced liberty, we told our story, and we invited people to come and to enjoy our beautiful state. Now, all of the things that conservatives have always talked about, we just did it, and it worked. (APPLAUSE) NOEM: Our economy took off. And since I've been governor, we broke the national record for the lowest unemployment rate in American history at 1.8 percent. (APPLAUSE) NOEM: In South Dakota, everybody works. We paid off state debts and bonds. We fixed dams and bridges. We built roads. We have a fully funded pension plan and AAA credit rating. We broke records for surpluses, and we balance our budget every single year. [21:05:00] (APPLAUSE) NOEM: And last year, last year in South Dakota, we passed the largest tax cut in South Dakota history. (APPLAUSE) NOEM: Under my administration, incomes in our state have gone up 36 percent. Women owned businesses are thriving. We also have the highest birth rate in the nation. People are having babies because they're happy. (APPLAUSE) NOEM: And in South Dakota, we love babies. Our mental health challenges have gone down. Our suicide rates are declining, and we are the number one state in the country for a decline in overdoses because people have hope. (APPLAUSE) NOEM: We're growing so fast that we needed more workers to catch up. So we launched the most successful workforce recruitment campaign in the history of South Dakota. And they have come by the thousands to join us and to live with us. Do you guys remember those ads when I was a really lousy plumber and a really terrible electrician? Do you remember those? Well, since we started those ads, we have seen a 78 percent increase in licensed plumbers in the state of South Dakota. (APPLAUSE) NOEM: We've seen a 44 percent increase in electricians in our state. Now, people aren't moving to South Dakota for our beaches or for our beautiful January weather. They are moving to our state for opportunity and for freedom. And all of this happened because our people were bold. We took action, and I was strong. Now, South Dakota proved that freedom will make America wealthy again. (APPLAUSE) NOEM: And with President Trump in the White House, with Senator J. D. Vance by his side, we will prove it across America. (APPLAUSE) NOEM: Listen. Two days ago, the whole world changed. Evil displayed itself in the very worst way, through a cowardly act. An innocent American lost his life. And we will continue to lift his family up in our prayers every single day. Prior to this week, we already knew that President Donald Trump was a fighter. He is the toughest man that I have ever met. Nobody has endured more than what he has gone through. They've attacked his reputation, they impeached him, they tried to bankrupt him, and they unjustly prosecuted him. But even in the most perilous moment this week, his instinct was to stand and to fight. (APPLAUSE) NOEM: Donald J. Trump is our man in the arena. He will never stop fighting for us. He will never stop. And now he is bringing all of us together. Now, I know that many of you are angry, but now is the time to unite, and we have to get to work. We have to win the hearts and minds of every single American. Wake them up with truth and with wisdom. We need to listen to them. You can't win people over by arguing with them. Visit with your neighbors, at your job, at your church, at the gas station, or even at the grocery store. Listen. There are moments in our history, often after great hardship and tragedy, when true leaders unite our country. At one time, President Lincoln, he united our country. He delivered my favorite presidential address of all time. In fact, it's the only speech or poem or song that I ever made my kids memorize when they were young, when they were little. It was the Gettysburg Address, and it was delivered during our nation's bloodiest conflict. That speech so inspired people that they continue to fight for years and they lost loved ones in order to preserve this union we call the United States of America. [21:10:00] (APPLAUSE) NOEM: Now at that time, President Lincoln encouraged us to take increased devotion that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom and that a government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from this earth. (APPLAUSE) NOEM: Like Lincoln in the midst of our pain and division, Donald Trump is calling us to be touched by the better angels of our nature. As Paul wrote in 2nd Timothy, God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind. We must not be afraid. (APPLAUSE) NOEM: Even in our darkest days, we have never once given up hope. So don't quit on America. If we lose this country, where else will we go that provides more freedom and opportunity for our kids and our grandkids? And I've got three grandkids, and I'm counting on a whole lot more. And, yes, democracy can be messy, but there is a great invisible strength to a people's union. We have shown the world that we can endure sacrifice and that we can still unite. We should still aspire to be worthy of this union, America. President Donald J. Trump is the leader we need for such a time as this. (APPLAUSE) NOEM: So now I need you to get to work. Get out there. Go do it. Don't quit. Keep fighting. Keep uniting. Keep talking to people. Win the hearts and minds, and may God bless you. And may god continue to bless the great United States of America. Thank you. (END VIDEO CLIP) ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota, the first female governor of South Dakota reelected in 2022 as that state's governor. Back with the panel here. Before she began speaking, John King, reported that, efforts are still underway behind the scenes to try to convince, President Biden to step aside. He talked about, Stanley Greenberg, a pollster among, Democrats who's been sending a very damaging polls to the White House. questions about whether or not it's actually being seen by president. The president spoke to Lester Holt. I want to play, an extended, some piece of sound from that -- from that interview we shared earlier. Let's play this. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) LESTER HOLT, NBC NEWS ANCHOR: Well, let's talk about the conversation this has started, and it's really about language, what we say out loud and the consequences of those. You called your opponent an existential threat, on a call a week ago. You said it's time to put Trump in the bull's eye. There's some dispute about the context, but I think you appreciate that word -- JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I didn't say crosshairs. I was talking about focus on it. Look, the truth of the matter was, what I guess I was talking about at the time was there was very little focus on Trump's agenda. HOLT: Yeah, the term was bull's eye. BIDEN: It was a mistake to use the word. I didn't say crosshairs. I meant bull's eye. I meant focus on him, focus on what he's doing, focus on his policies, focus on the number of lies he told in the debate, focus on -- I mean, there's a whole range of things that -- look, I'm not the guy that said, I want to be a dictator on day one. I'm not the guy that refused to accept the outcome of the election. I'm not the guy who said that one would accept the outcome of this election automatically. You can't only love your country when you win. And so the focus was on what he's saying and, I mean, the idea. HOLT: But have you taken a step back and done a little soul searching on things that you may have said that could incite people who are not balanced? BIDEN: Well, I don't think -- look, how do you talk about the threat to democracy, which is real, when a president says things like he says? Do you just not say anything because it may incite somebody? Look, I have not engaged in that rhetoric. Now, my opponent is engaged in that rhetoric. He talks about there'll be a bloodbath if he loses, talking about how he's going to forgive all those -- actually, I guess, suspend the sentences of all those who were arrested and sentenced to go to jail because of what happened in the Capitol. I'm not out there making fun of -- like, remember the picture of Donald Trump when Nancy Pelosi's husband was hit with a hammer, talking about -- joking about it? (END VIDEO CLIP) COOPER: That's President Biden to Lester Holt. We'll be getting more clips from that interview. Scott Jennings, you're shaking your head. [21:15:00] SCOTT JENNINGS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I -- this man's opponent just got his ear shot off. OK? And his instinct was to try to do some wordplay with the crosshairs bull's eye thing and then turned right around and uttered the lie about the dictator, which is a complete and total lie, and the lie about the bloodbath, which is a complete and total lie. I find this to be pathetic and small and partisan. I need the president to have an ounce of humility and introspection here. He is our leader. He's our leader, and he needs to simply say, I want to lower the temperature. I'll take responsibility for my part. We should all do that together, and he cannot do it. And he can't do it. VAN JONES, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I understand you how upset you are, but I think if we try to do a split screen with all the time that Donald Trump has taken responsibility or apologized or -- for the things he said, we have a blank screen. I think we have a leadership crisis in this country. But if you're going to be mad about the cross here's comment, which is the main comment that -- there's a hundred of them on your side. And so, I agree with you. I wish he had done better. But I think for -- I think for Democrats, when we hear it, this is somebody who at least will have the conversation. I haven't heard Trump yet have the conversation. I think when -- if Trump comes out and meets your standard and says, I made the heat -- temperature too high and I'm going to take a step back, then I think you're going to be standing on strong ground. But until he does that, I don't know if you are. KATE BEDINGFIELD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: And, look, you heard -- you also heard Biden say it was a mistake to use the word bull's eye. Not sure I've ever heard Donald Trump say it was a mistake to say anything that he said. And I think that -- you know, listen, I hear your outreach -- outrage. I think we are in a very fraught moment in this country, but I also wonder where this outrage was when Donald Trump was making fun of Paul Pelosi after somebody broke into his house with a hammer and tried to kill him. So I just think what you saw from Biden was an acknowledgment that that language does have an impact. He said it was a mistake to use bull's eye. And then I thought he went to what I think we're going to be grappling with for the rest of this campaign, which is this question of how can you talk about things that are -- that do pose a real fundamental threat to our democracy without using language that incites people? And I think if we don't -- hang on. JENNINGS: Yeah. Yeah. BEDINGFIELD: And I think if we can't have an honest conversation about that for the next three and a half months, then we're going to wake up in November in a country we don't recognize. JENNINGS: One way we can have an honest conversation about it by having an honest conversation about it. Because the bloodbath, the dictator, so much of what the Biden campaign says about Donald Trump is just not true. BEDINGFIELD: Those are all things he said. I mean, those are -- (CROSSTALK) JENNINGS: These are cheap fakes. BEDINGFIELD: Those are -- JENNINGS: It's not real. BEDINGFIELD: Those are -- let's play the tape. I mean, those are his own words that have come out of his mouth. JONAH GOLDBERG, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Jones, I'm going to split the baby on this. I -- the idea that Donald Trump hasn't said provocative and incendiary things that according to the standards that are being held against Joe Biden, don't also violate it. I just don't think is remotely defensible. 2 weeks before this -- 2 weeks ago, he was retweeting or retruthing stuff about putting his political opponents on -- in to military tribunals. He's encouraged mobs to be violent in his crowds. The thing is, I find most of this -- I think the crosshairs debate, which I think he's not very effective on at all, misses the point. I have flashbacks to the Gabby Giffords stuff where, Joe Biden called Republicans in the House and the Senate -- and this is 2011, terrorists. You had them called hostage takers. You had the Tea Party people from leading pundits and intellectuals and elected Democratic politicians saying that these people are all inciting violence. That Sarah Palin was responsible for Gabby Giffords being killed because she had crosshairs on a on a map, and it was nonsense. There was no proof of it. There's no proof that this guy was incited by anything the Democrats said. And so I think there's this this weird standard now where the Left is buying -- the Right is buying into the arguments that I thought were garbage when the Left made them in 2011. There's no evidence that this guy was -- Jared Loughner, the guy who killed Gabby Giffords, it turned out that his core issue was that he was hearing voices that were telling him that we were abandoning our commitment to grammar. COOPER: Yeah. GOLDBERG: It had nothing to do with any of -- COOPER: And obviously, we don't know anything about the motivation of this shooter. Kate, just in terms of John King's reporting on, you know, Stanley Greenberg, a pollster, sending information to people within the inner circle. John raising questions about is that information and others raising question, is that information getting to the president? Is it possible that it's not getting to the president? BEDINGFIELD: Well, I -- look. I think is it possible that information is being filtered in a way to better favor the situation for Joe Biden? It's possible. I -- you know, I'm not -- COOPER: By the way -- BEDINGFIELD: I'm not -- COOPER: I just want to correct. You said Gabby Giffords died. She obviously did not -- [21:20:00] GOLDBERG: I'm sorry. Got shot. I apologize. COOPER: Yes. BEDINGFIELD: You know, I'm not there. Is it possible? Sure. I think, the Joe Biden I saw and the team around him were provided him information, told him things he didn't want to hear. I -- obviously, again, I can't vouch for the conversations that are happening right now. I can speak to what it was like when I worked for him, which is to say we often had conversations with that he didn't like. COOPER: What do you make of, though, of the of this reporting that after -- that it's gone quiet because there's belief among some Democrats that it's not constructive to have a public discussion while the Republican convention is in session. But that if there's not movement, that it will become public again after the convention. BEDINGFIELD: That seems to be the case. I think there is enough discussion. I think there's enough anxiety about polls that continue to emerge, that people are having these conversations. I think there is clearly agreement across the party, particularly after the horrific actions of this weekend that this is not a moment to, you know, to publicly, look, to be undermining the president of the United States. JONES: Yes. BEDINGFIELD: But, yes, I mean, are these conversations happening in private? They very clearly are. And look, here's the thing. One way or the other, Democrats are going to run out of runway on this. And so there is going to have to be a reckoning. I personally believe that Joe Biden can make a case for why he should have a second term. I think if ultimately the information, the data shows that that is not possible, you've heard from the president himself, that if he believes it's not possible, he will look to step down. But one way or the other, Democrats are going to have to come to an agreement on this and start making the case against Donald Trump rather than against themselves. JONES: I just -- I do agree with you on that, and that that's true. Right now, the party's just frozen. There's kind of a paralysis that set in. We were -- like, the whole country terrified when you saw Donald Trump fall down. And everybody took a big step back because that that that could have been the start of a natural civil war and also political violence in this country like we've never seen, in our lifetime. So that was a big moment of being frozen. And then now you've got the Republicans putting on their best case against us. And so in in both situations, you're going to see, quiet and some unity. But that disquiet is there behind the scenes, and I think it will reemerge. I do hope Democrats are watching this convention because the one thing that I think will get us to get our act together is to look at the agenda that's being put forward here, which is an agenda that I find, you know, very troubling. They're trying to split, black from brown. A lot of the African-American commentary was deliberately trying to turn us into an anti-immigrant block, which we have not been for the past 30 years. There's a lot of bad stuff happening in this convention that, we need to be able to talk about. And I agree with you. We don't know how to talk about it now, because we don't want to add to the vitriol that might lead to violence, but we also don't want to be silent in the face of an agenda we're afraid of. COOPER: I want to check-in with our Jeff Zeleny who has some more reporting, about President Biden. Jeff? JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: These two and a half weeks now have continued, privately as John King was reporting earlier, publicly they have cooled. But talking to several officials, this is what they're adding on to that. The battleground map, quite frankly, has expanded. There are new worries with officials I'm talking to in campaigns that Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, even Virginia could possibly be at play. But right here, Anderson, in Wisconsin, talking to Wisconsin officials, they too are concerned about the standing in the state of president Biden's candidacy. Why Wisconsin? Why does that matter? Because there is no path to the White House. There is no reelection for President Biden without Wisconsin. It's the blue wall that he talks about so often, of course. Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania. Even if he won those three, he would still need to win that one electoral vote in Nebraska if he did not win the other states. So the reason the math matters, the reason the battlegrounds matter, they are, concerned that there's an increasingly narrow path. But talking to a Wisconsin official, they are sounding the alarm here and wondering, if there should be more public conversation. But ironically, here in this hall, as we've been listening to, the Republican criticism of President Biden is extraordinary, but they want him to stay on the ticket. They think he's the easiest to beat. Anderson? COOPER: Jeff Zeleny, thanks very much. Alyssa, is that what you're hearing as well among Republicans wanting Biden to stand? ALYSSA FARAH GRIFFIN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Very much so. The Trump campaign has planned it around running against Joe Biden. He -- Donald Trump is beating him outside of the margin of error in key swing states. They are preparing for, if it's Vice President Harris, I think that they realize that that's an option that they would be prepared for, but she now is performing better head to head against Donald Trump than Joe Biden is. COOPER: By the way, that that -- where I was watching president Biden on their runway in, Las Vegas. [21:25:00] GRIFFIN: And I think that fundamentally -- honestly, I think the fact that J.D. Vance was chosen as the vice presidential pick, signals a strength and a confidence in the Trump campaign. If they thought this was going to be a squeaker. They would put somebody who they thought was going to get them more votes that they needed. But they're feeling so confident they went with a legacy pick who's going to keep his policies in place. JENNINGS: Based on what I am seeing from the rest of this Holt interview that's now coming in while we're sitting here. I'm starting to become convinced that the people around Joe Biden who want him to move on are the ones who are advocating like, oh, we got to do more. Let's do more. Let's do more. All of these appearances, his appearances before the country -- he's spoken to the country 3 times, now 4 times if you count Lester Holt since the shooting. The interview with Stephanopoulos -- I mean, remember, he won this election in 2020 by never leaving his basement. And now you've got all these people saying, let's go out, let's go out, let's go out. He's hurting himself every time. Now this question about whether he should stay in the race or not, I agree with Alyssa. I mean, Republicans are desperate to keep Biden in the race because they think he's the weakest, but also because you can sense it in the hall. They sense vindication is at hand. This is why they love Trump in the primary despite all the arguments made against him. They want the satisfaction of Donald Trump beating Joe Biden in the national popular vote in November, and they -- that they think they he can do it, and then he is on his way to do it. JONES: Ben, you know, Tom Friedman wrote a very powerful piece about this, and he said, if you ask what your worst enemy wants you to do, you should probably do the opposite. Biden's worst enemies want him to stay in the race. That might be a reason we're going to think about doing that. COOPER: This convention crowd likely get revved up very soon as we expect Donald Trump to come to the arena. And coming up on stage, entertainer and actress Amber Rose. You're watching the Republican National Convention live on CNN. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) [21:31:28] DAVID SACKS, VENTURE CAPITALIST: I'm David. Good evening, America. I'm David Sacks. (END VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: David Sacks is speaking right now of the -- he's founder and CEO of the social media site Yammer. Born in South Africa. Podcaster. Let's listen to him. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SACKS: -- same opportunities won't be there for future generations. As I look out at this convention, I see a party that is strong and unified behind President Donald J. Trump. (APPLAUSE) SACKS: And his pick for vice president, Senator J.D. Vance. (APPLAUSE) SACKS: And what about the Democrats? They're in disarray. After shielding President Biden from a vigorous primary and gaslighting the entire country about his fitness to serve. We still don't know which puppet Democrat party bosses will install as their nominee, but we know what their agenda will be. Four more years of chaos and failure, both at home and abroad. In my hometown of San Francisco, Democrat rule has turned the streets of our beautiful city into a cesspool of crime, homeless encampments, and open drug use. Democrats led by border czar Kamala Harris have allowed millions of illegal migrants to invade our country. They tasked Homeland Security not with stopping the illegal aliens, but with busing them all over our country. Democrats have recklessly spent trillions of dollars of wasteful and unnecessary government programs, setting off the worst inflation since Jimmy Carter. But worst of all, the Biden-Harris Administration has taken a world that was at peace under President Trump, and they lit it on fire. First, President Biden botched the Afghanistan withdrawal, displaying incompetence and weakness for the whole world to see. Then he provoked, yes, provoked the Russians to invade Ukraine with talk of NATO expansion. Afterward, he rejected every opportunity for peace in Ukraine, including a deal to end the war just two months after it broke out. Now the war is deep into its third year with no end in sight. Hundreds of thousands of people are dead. Hundreds of billions of our taxpayer dollars have gone up in smoke. President Biden's told us this new forever war by promising it would weaken Russia and strengthen America. Well, how does that look today? Russia's military is bigger than before, while our own stockpiles are dangerously depleted. Every day there are new calls for escalation, and the world looks on in horror as Joe Biden's demented policy takes us to the brink of World War III. In the Middle East, America is now losing a war with the Houthis, and the administration's policy towards Gaza has been so increasingly incoherent that the only thing that pro-Israel and pro Palestine protesters agree on is the chants F. Joe Biden. [21:35:00] (APPLAUSE) SACKS: Rather than bolstering confidence in American leadership, as he promised, President Biden has become the symbol of an America in decline. This may be our president, but it does not have to be our future. (APPLAUSE) SACKS: We can replace the Biden-Harris cabal with a president who is strong and smart rather than sleepy and senile. (APPLAUSE) SACKS: Or in her case, clueless and embarrassing. A president who understands that you build the most powerful military in the world to keep America safe, not to play the world's policeman. (END VIDEO CLIP) TAPPER: All right, that's David Sacks, the Founder and CEO of Yammer, giving a message focused a lot on foreign policy. Kasie Hunt, some interesting language in that speech, senile, sleepy -- HUNT: Sleepy - TAPPER: demented reference to chants of F. Joe Biden, certainly not in keeping with the unity -- American unity theme, we were told. In any case, we have a new clip of President Biden's interview with Lester Holt earlier tonight, in which he was asked about the polling suggesting what John and David and others have been discussing earlier about the less -- how to say this, the unlikelihood of his reelection, according to polls. Let's just run that clip, and then I want to get your reaction. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BIDEN: If you look at all the polling data, the polling data shows a lot of different things, but there's no wide gap between us. It's essentially a toss-up race. And I think one of the arguments that get made, you have the most successful presidency of any president in modern history, maybe since Franklin Roosevelt. Passed more major legislation no one thought you could get done. Were able to put together a consensus. Were able to unite NATO. Were able to deal in foreign policy. Why don't you just decide to rest on that -- on those laurels? And the answer is because the job's not finished. HOLT: Do you feel like you've weathered the storm on this issue of whether you should be on the ticket or not? BIDEN: Look, 14 million people voted for me to be the nominee in the Democratic Party, OK? I listen to them. (END VIDEO CLIP) TAPPER: So it does not sound as though he is getting the message that Democratic pollsters have been delivering. If he thinks this is still a toss-up race. HUNT: No. And that frame is the one that you've heard him use a couple of times here, where he talks about the voters as opposed to the elites is what he was trying to say in a previous interview, to be pushed out. And he says there, while the polls show this as a tight race, if you read national polling, it is true that the movement is rather slight. But in the battleground states where this election is going to be decided, it is not. I mean, Chris was saying earlier that the -- and this is true from the Democrats. I'm talking to -- they're looking at states that have no business being on the map under normal circumstances, including Minnesota, Virginia, New Hampshire is one that has really been bellwether and they're tasked. KING: And they're looking at this. They're looking at this. The president's approval rating is in the mid-30s, a high of 38, low of 36 in recent polls. We can go back 10 presidents to Dwight Eisenhower. OK? Here are the other presidents that had about that in their approval rating this point of their reelection term. Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush and Donald Trump. What are those three have in common? One term president? AXELROD: One term president. HUNT: One term president. AXELROD: Yeah. KING: David. AXELROD: Yeah. Look, first of all, let's just reality check here. If a Democrat is a couple of points behind on election day, they're losing all the battleground states. Democrats have to have a significant lead. Remember, Joe Biden won by almost four points in 2020, 7 million nationally, and it ended up being decided by 45,000 votes in the battleground states. He's just not connecting with the reality of the situation. And, you know, look, the president wants recognition for what I think has been a lot of really great accomplishments. He wants to -- his place in history, but this isn't about that. And when you say, well, people are worried about the future and how you'll perform in the future, he says, well, look at the last three and a half years. And I keep saying the same thing. And I think I said this to you. You know, Tom Brady won a Super Bowl three years ago. He's not in football anymore. Why? Because age is an immutable force and he can't play the way he played before. Doesn't mean he wasn't a great quarterback. [21:40:00] There's so much of the president just has to come to grips with here because, you know, right now the high likelihood, and Chris, I think you referred to this before. The high likelihood -- the higher likelihood, much higher is that he will lose by a landslide than that he will win 270 electoral votes. That is the reality. HUNT: And also -- TAPPER: Kasie I want to come to you. Right. But I want to show one other clip, because the truth of the matter is that this was -- these were concerns that voters had about President Biden long before the debate, 3 weeks and -- no, not even three weeks ago. 2 weeks and 2 weeks ago -- HUNT: It's been a year in the last, however -- TAPPER: In any case. But the polls over and over suggested that voters, including Democrats, thought that President Biden was too old and not able to do the job. It was only because of his performance at the debate that the elites woke up to it. This is not an elite -- HUNT: Voters were ahead. TAPPER: This is not an elite driven discussion. The voters were there and the elites were late to the Democratic officials. President Biden was asked about debates and whether or not he would form in another debate. Let's take a listen to that clip. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BIDEN: I'm going to debate him when we agreed to debate. And I agreed to debate him in September. HOLT: But if the opportunity came up to do one between now and then? Is there a sense of wanting to get back on the horse? BIDEN: I'm on the horse. Where have you been? I've done 22 major events, met thousands of people, overwhelming crowds. A lot's happening. I'm on the horse. What I'm doing is going out and demonstrating to the American people that I have command of all my faculties, that I don't need notes. I don't need teleprom. I can go out and answer any questions at all. And I stood there when NATO was in town. I stood there for an hour and answered questions. (END VIDEO CLIP) TAPPER: Kasie? HUNT: There -- you can see there some of the flashes of anger and defensiveness that are frequently reported to be much more amplified than that in private. And that, I think, kind of underscore the conundrum that many Democrats are in because you have a president who is so dug in. And when you layer the events of the last 48 hours that it's been since this unfolded, the Democrats that I am talking to, both who work for Democrats who've committed their lives to trying to get Democrats elected, but also sort of rank and file people in my own life or my sort of expanded circles, there is a sense of despair setting in right now among people that Democrats really need to work extremely hard for the president if they want to win and to get out and vote. And they looked at what happened on Saturday, and they are saying between the debate stage and the rally around Trump that has, you know, justifiably followed that attempt, that there is very little hope for them right now. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For all the talk about -- and there seems to be a bash Biden session going on here, I hold the Democratic Party much more responsible than Joe Biden. Yes, Biden is stuck in his and digging in. But having said that, you know, I go back to 1968 and when the Democratic Party turned down Lyndon Johnson and really pushed him and almost forced him to get out. And on March 31 of 1968, he did get out as the running for reelection. You know, if the Democratic Party really wanted to put the wood to Joe Biden, they could do it. Hakeem Jeffries, I know people say, well, you know, you don't do it in public. If it doesn't work in private, do it in public. Hakeem Jeffries hasn't called for him to leave. Chuck Schumer hasn't called for him to leave. Last thing I heard, he said, I'm with Joe. Nancy Pelosi said -- DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: In public. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- well, that's not a final decision. The party could be going much harder at Joe Biden than they are. BASH: I just finished your history lesson, and I think this is where you were going. 1968, March of that year, LBJ got out and the Democratic convention in Chicago was a mess. And who won the presidency? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, but this is in -- (CROSSTALK) BASH: Not the Democrats. OK. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just want to interrupt. I just want to interrupt for one second, because Charlie Kirk is speaking right now. He's the head of a Right Wing student group called Turning Points. And I just want to point it out because this is something that the Republican Party has an issue with, and they do not reckon with it. The Democratic Party has its own issue, and that is Charlie Kirk in Turning Point USA has been accused credibly by other conservatives of having an anti-Semitism problem within its ranks. Erick Erickson wrote in a Post that Turning Point USA was looking like not just a drifting operation, but an anti-Semitic drifting operation. Ben Domenech, a Co-Founder of The Federalist wrote, if Charlie Kirk remains the head of TPUSA, the right has an anti-Semite problem, that will follow them into the coming elections. Now, obviously, there have been a lot of issues with anti-Semitism on the Left that we've seen explode since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. This is the second speaker this evening who has said things that are blatantly anti-Semitic. The lieutenant governor of North Carolina was the first. Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot. Marjorie Taylor Greene there have been three. [21:45:00] And this is a problem in party politics. We're going to do this again if the Democrats put up people like this in August. But this is a problem. And I think that it's beholden on us to call it out and point it out. BASH: Yeah, it's anti-Semitism and it's more broadly just, he swims in oceans of conspiracies. And it really is noteworthy that at quarter to 10 prime time -- TAPPER: Yeah, this is prime time spot. BASH: Prime time on the first night of this convention that he is getting this kind of platform. And it does speak -- and David Urban, I mean, you can talk about this. But it does speak to the fact that the Republican Party isn't just -- this isn't just about being enveloped by Donald Trump. The Republican Party has to deal with people like Charlie Kirk, who have giant megaphones and very, very big followings, especially among young people. I mean, that is what he's trying to do. He's trying to get young people, and he's doing it with a lot of tropes and a lot of things that are just flat wrong. TAPPER: And again, I'm quoting two conservatives who -- because I'm quite certain that the response will be CNN is blah, blah, blah. It is Erick Erickson and Ben Domenech who accused Charlie Kirk of anti- Semitism. And I'm just saying this is an issue. Again, the Democrats have their own issue, too, with this, but this is an issue on the Right. DAVID URBAN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Listen, I'm not familiar with the exact issue with the anti-Semitism that Charlie Kirk has espoused. But I can assure you, right, that Donald Trump with Jewish grandchildren, if he was made aware of it, would kind of swat it down. You know, I can assure you that Donald Trump adores his kids, grandchildren more than he adores down Charlie Kirk, whatever anti- Semitic remarks that he has made or may have made in the past, I don't know. And listen, why they condemn it. We could do better. I think that you're talking about prime time. We should have somebody better on perhaps than Charlie Kirk. I'm sure there are people that you could address younger -- you know, younger crowd, and Charlie Kirk -- Turning Point USA started out really robustly and I think may have made -- AXELROD: Principal promoter of J.D. Vance. URBAN: Charlie Kirk? AXELROD: Yes. HUNT: And you see Trump in front of a lot of Turning Point USA pipe and drape because they host events and Trump shows up. URBAN: Well, again, I'm not trying, I'm not making an exception. I'm not trying to make take over, make an excuse for Charlie Kirk of anti- Semitism. They do turn out a lot of kids, and I'm not sure what the remarks are, but I would vote. TAPPER: There's a New York Times story I'll send to you in one second. It just published a few hours ago. Kaitlan Collins is on the floor with news. Kaitlan? KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Jake. Yes. I am now a little bit higher off the floor right now, and I can tell you that we are told that former president Donald Trump is now in the building here in Milwaukee. Of course, this is the first time that he has been over here on the day one of the Republican convention. He got here last night. He had dinner with donors. And then, of course, today, we saw him make that vice presidential pick in J.D. Vance, the Senator from Ohio. We do expect to see the two of them together, which will be the first time that we have seen them. That is the family box that you're looking at right now. House Speaker Mike Johnson is in it. Congressman Byron Donalds. We do expect other VIPs to be in there, Senator Katie Brit, her husband, up in the top left of that box. We do expect to see all of them in that box coming in. We expect the entire family to come in together. There's a ring of supporters waiting for them to come in, and it will be the first moment that we see the two of them together since Trump announced his pick. A pick, of course, Jake, that he was waffling over even as of this morning, weighing the pros and cons. And, of course, Jake, the other thing to think about, based on what you were just talking about, Charlie Kirk getting a prime time speaking spot here, looking at the other speakers, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Kristi Noem, not always people that you would expect to see in these prime time spots at a party's convention. It just shows you this really is Donald Trump's party now. I know we know that, but we haven't really seen it on display at a Republican convention ever, because in 2016, that floor was quite contested. There were a lot of cruise delegates down there and people who wanted someone else at the top of the ticket. In 2020, we were the South Lawn of the White House doing that convention. This is the first time we've seen a convention truly in the mold of Donald Trump. TAPPER: That's right, Kaitlin. Let's throw it over to Anderson. Anderson? COOPER: Jake, thanks very much. As we continue to watch, the convention. What do you anticipate the Donald Trump -- he's not going to be speaking tonight, obviously. This is just sort of him appearing to build up excitement. JENNINGS: Absolutely. I mean, I think -- I mean, let's look at the way he rolled out the VP today. I mean, this whole thing has the touches of Donald Trump, the showman. Right? And the platform has the touches of Donald Trump's agenda. The speakers have the touches of Donald Trump's remade Republican party. [21:50:00] So to me, it's just sort of, putting, an imprint on the story here, which is this party has been remade in Donald Trump's image from top to bottom, and, and he's enjoying it. And he's building a -- you know, he's building an entire week around that theory. JONES: I think there are two things happening. One is, you know, he's certainly a great showman. He's also alive. JENNINGS: Yeah. JONES: He's also alive, and that's a big deal. I think that's a very big deal. I think when he comes out, even people who don't like Donald Trump very much, even people who hope that he never gets near the White House again are going to feel some emotions. They're going to be surprised by, because he's alive. And I hope that people will open their hearts a little bit to understand, I don't want him in the White House, but I don't want him in the hospital either. I don't want him in the White House. I don't want him in a cemetery. I want him to be defeated the right way and sent back to Florida. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And the back to -- JONES: oh, and for the country. GRIFFIN: The timing's interesting to me. I mean, it's going to be a huge moment. The room is going to be on its feet. You're going to feel the energy, and I think people watching at home are going to be glad to see him, to your point, alive and well. I'm curious to see who's going to be on stage because he's not going to give remarks. It seems like he's going to most likely be in the box. He may be up there when Amber Rose, this entrepreneur, entertainer kind of figure is there. It's an interesting moment. I probably would have sequenced it with an elected official praising him up there, but these are the details that -- Listen, all the focus in the room is going to be on Donald Trump, his family -- JONES: And maybe J.D. Vance. GOLDBERG: I don't quite get this timing of it either insofar as he was still getting a lot of goodwill. He was freezing the Democrats like tears in the headlights. And he did that did the VP announcement tonight, which kind of took the issue away from Trump, and he could have this night all to his own. I mean, maybe there's some logistical or legal reason that you had to get the VP thing out there. But you would've had two surprises over two nights if he had, like, die day one, I'm alive. They can't kill me. GRIFFIN: Yeah. GOLDBERG: Day 2 -- GRIFFIN: Yeah. COOPER: Do you think it was a mistake to have Charlie Kirk to speak, to Jake's point? GOLDBERG: I think it's a mistake to have Charlie Kirk speak anywhere at any time. COOPER: Woah. GOLDBERG: I think talking to Charlie Kirk, and listening to him is the one of the fastest ways to burn off IQ points. I think Charlie Kirk is a grifter and a fraud. I the anti-Semitism stuff is a fair accusation against him. But the bigger problem with Charlie Kirk is he's profoundly dumb. And when you don't know anything about how the world works, you think everything is a conspiracy theory. Anti-Semitism is the oldest conspiracy theory out there. It's why they used to call it the Socialism of fools. But he's also the guy who cofounded the Falkirk Center for Jesus stuff at Liberty University with a guy who had some interesting relations with his, pool boy (ph). He is -- he's gotten very, very rich off of a lot of gullible parents who want their kids to be like what they think Charlie Kirk is like, and he's been incredibly damaging to conservative movement in the Republican Party. COOPER: We expect that we expect Donald Trump to enter the hall at any time. Our coverage continues after a quick break. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) … CNN Live Event/Special Aired July 15, 2024 - 22:00 ET THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. [22:00:00] ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: This is CNN's special live coverage of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Donald Trump in the building, expected to enter the hall at any moment. I want to go to Phil Mattingly, who's standing by. Phil, what can you tell us? PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CHIEF DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENT: Well, all eyes have been on the stage for much of the night right now. They are turning to the back of the room in the VIP section where we have started to see Trump family members start to walk in, including Don Jr. and his girlfriend, Kimberly Guilfoyle. They have joined J.D. Vance, who is already standing there with the speaker, Mike Johnson, Mike Johnson's wife, Kelly, Byron Donalds, another House member as well. Tiffany Trump has also walked in. You see the family, friends, close advisers, including Dan Scavino from the Trump team, Alina Habba, Trump's lawyer, is also here as well. There's Eric Trump sitting with his wife, Lara Trump, who is now heading the Republican National Committee. We should also note Tucker Carlson walked into the VIP section just a short while ago, really kind of setting the stage for what we expect in short order will be the former president himself walking in, really the first time other than taking -- coming off of the airplane, we have seen him since the assassination attempt. And you can hear the crowd now, everybody paying very close attention, Anderson, to this VIP section and now you can see the former president on the jumbotron as the anticipation is starting to mount. There was no explicit guarantee he was going to be here tonight. You see the bandage on his ear. We're waiting for him to walk out for a major entrance on the day that he named his potential vice presidential nominee, J.D. Vance, the unification of the Republican Party not even in question before this certainly the case now. Jake? JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Phil Mattingly, thanks so much. We're seeing that the VIP section of President Trump's box filled up, and we just saw a clip of President Trump, obviously, there behind the scenes, ready to come out, President Trump with a big bandage on his right ear, which was obviously -- he was obviously wounded in the assassination attempt. The crowd cheering when they see the images of him on the jumbotron with the bandage on his ear with the bandage on his ear from that horrible event in Butler, Pennsylvania. But the crowd really excited, people standing out, people -- everybody's phone is out to film it. Though I'm sure there will be better video they can get at home. But the -- back, to go to the VIP section, we saw Tucker Carlson, J.D. Vance, who is now the vice presidential nominee, Congressman Byron Donalds, members of the Trump family, Donald Trump Jr., Tiffany Trump, and others, I think I see Lara Trump, Kristi Noem, perhaps, Eric Trump, I see people getting ready for this. Now, this is not the big night for Trump. The big night for Trump will be Thursday when he accepts the nomination, but this obviously a big moment for him as he comes before the crowd, the crowd that was already excited to see him but certainly it's taking on more love and excitement because of what happened on Saturday. DANA BASH, CNN ANCHOR: And you can hear everybody. The crowd is roaring. [22:05:00] TAPPER: An obviously emotional Donald Trump greeting a crowd and they're chanting, fight, fight, which is what he said right after the attempted assassination attempt. And you can see the emotion on his face, it looks like possibly even tears on his face, this crowd joyfully welcoming him back after the horrible events over the weekend. Viva Trump, they're saying. Oh, we love Trump. I'm sorry. I was having a flashback to the 2000 convention. We love Trump, they're saying, we love Trump. Chris? CHRIS WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Winston Churchill famously said, nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be shot at without effect. And you could see that today. The idea that just hours ago, a few days ago, this man, an assassin's bullet whizzed by him, hit him in the ear, inches from his temple. I mean, just by the slightest fraction of an inch, he survived, shot at without effect. And you can see the joy of this crowd. I got to tell you, somebody who's been covering these conventions since 1964, that may have been the most electric moment I ever saw. That was quite extraordinary. Whether you like the men or not, that was -- TAPPER: Well, I mean, this is a crowd, these are tens of thousands of people who love Donald Trump, and they almost lost him, this figure that -- that figure is so prominently in their lives. WALLACE: And it's so interesting tonight. There has been zero talk about the Democrats and rhetoric and political rhetoric and them blaming the media. And it's all been talk about divine providence, a miracle. And I think that's what most of these people view is that it is by the grace of God that Donald Trump is here tonight and representing them going forward. BASH: I mean, we're -- go ahead, Abby. ABBY PHILLIP, CNN ANCHOR: There's always been with Trump an almost messianic quality to his following, and we typically see that at his campaign rallies, I've been to many of them. They feel a little bit like this. It's not as common to see these sort of party official events have that same kind of feel. And it's just reflective of how far Trump has come in his command of his own party. And even between Saturday and today, this room feels different because of what happened Saturday, as we've been saying. And you cannot underestimate on the enthusiasm scale. You know, there are Trump's really extreme supporters, but I'm hearing from people who are kind of -- were kind of mediocre about Trump going into this, who feel a sense of relief and a sense of appreciation for him that is reflected in this room. I mean, there are probably a lot of people in this room who maybe they wanted somebody else. [22:10:01] But, overwhelmingly, I think he has brought people over into a place where it used to be only his most fervent supporters were. And that is the big change, and that is going to matter. KASIE HUNT, CNN ANCHOR: And the other thing too, and Jake, you touched on this when you talked about his reaction, he sitting in this family box, next to, we should note, Tucker Carlson, Mike Johnson, J.D. Vance, he seems like a different man than the person that we often see at the podium at rallies. I mean, he is subdued. I mean, seeing that bandage on his ear, it's very striking. DAVID AXELROD, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I did not -- the one place where I would depart from you, Chris, is he does not look exhilarated to me. He looks very, very subdued, which is another way you might have react to having almost lost your life. But it is I think -- WALLACE: Don't blame me. Blame Winston Churchill. AXELROD: Yes. Well, he wasn't around for this one. But I just -- you know, it'll be interesting to see. He said he's rewriting his speech for Thursday. It would be interesting to see what he says. DAVID URBAN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I think he's grateful to be alive. He called Salena. I talked to Selena a couple times. He called her -- TAPPER: Salena Zito, the reporter from Western Pennsylvania. URBAN: And so he called her several times to check in on her to see how she was doing. He was so taken aback by the incident and was talking to her about it, and she, she eventually said, hey, can we write this down? But he reached out to her and said, listen, I want to make sure you're okay. I feel badly about your daughter. I feel badly about what happened. I mean, you cannot get shot in the head and not be affected. HUNT: Listen, look at him there, the smile on his face, the sort of response, I mean, it's remarkable to take it in. Sorry, Dana. BASH: No, that's okay. We're right above this VIP box, so we actually witnessed with our own eyes the former president come in. And I think you're all right. There was an exhilaration in the room while he was subdued. And it was -- I think that's part of what made that moment so striking. And, Chris, I don't go back as far as you go. I would say about 24 years of covering conventions, and we haven't -- I haven't covered it. None of us has covered a convention, obviously, with this kind of almost tragedy. And it was a tragedy. Somebody lost their life on Saturday. But with this kind -- a, frankly, hero's welcome, which Donald Trump gets in any case when he walks into a room of supporters, particularly a convention. But in the light of what happened on Saturday, it's almost hard to describe. TAPPER: Well, he's been through a trauma. BASH: The way it felt in this room. TAPPER: He's been through a traumatic event. He almost lost his life. Somebody was killed, an innocent man in the audience, his only crime was going to a Trump rally. Obviously, he should have had the right to enjoy that. Two other individuals in Pennsylvania in critical condition, a horrible, horrible event, and he's been through a traumatic event. And that's going to have an effect on people in an emotional level. How much that actually changes him, obviously, people get changed from near the experiences, how much that actually changes him as a politician or as a presidential candidate, we will see. But, obviously, it has had an impact. URBAN: Jake, to Dana's point, they feel that Donald Trump took a bullet for them, right, that he's out campaigning. He took a bullet for them, was in the state, was standing in the way, and got hit and took a bullet for them. And you could feel that in this room. HUNT: Well, there's this thing -- TAPPER: Let's go -- I'm sorry to interrupt. Let's go to Kaitlan Collins who's on the floor with the governor of North Dakota, Doug Burgum. KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, Jake. I've got Governor Doug Burgum here with me. We're sitting right off the floor, obviously watching this entrance, watching those in the box with former President Donald Trump. Thank you, Governor, for being here. What is it like for you to see former President Trump walk in with that large white bandage on his ear, just obviously so markedly different from since Saturday night? GOV. DOUG BURGUM (R-ND): Well, I think like a lot of Americans tonight, we're sitting here just in awe of a man that's got the strength and the perseverance and the courage. I mean, he's literally the picture of that with him coming off the stage in Pennsylvania with his fist in the air. That's going to be in kid's school books a hundred years from now, is a defining moment in history. But I think all of us also feel just a tremendous amount of gratitude because, as was said on this show, I mean, divine providence. I mean, we're a millimeter away from right now having a country and a party being in chaos and in mourning for something that would mark an era just the way the JFK and assassination did in the 1960s. So, we missed that by a millimeter and now history's on a different path, but I think President Trump, not only he's uniting this party, but I think he actually -- the language he's used in Saturday is talking about uniting the country, rewriting the speech for Thursday night about uniting the country. I know people haven't seen him that way, but when people go through a near death experience, I think that these things can change people. COLLINS: Do you think it's changed him? BURGUM: Well, I think you saw him tonight walking in and listening to Lee Greenwood sing a song that he stood on the stage many, many times, but I think he certainly has to have an understanding and gratitude that, A, he's alive. [22:15:06] He said that to all the people around him. He's lucky to be alive. COLLINS: Yes, and he's sitting in that box. You know, when something like Saturday happens, it makes you realize how consequential a vice presidential pick, not that it always isn't, but how it is. He's sitting next to Ohio Senator J.D. Vance. Obviously, you were also one of the finalists to be picked for vice president. How did you get the news today that you were not going to be the pick? BURGUM: Well, I got a call and a great conversation with the president. And he said, hey, Mr. Secretary. He's always been so positive and so considerate to Catherine and I this whole time. But, as you know, Kaitlan, we were never running for a cabinet position, never running to be V.P. As a sitting governor, I've got 152 days left of the greatest job in the nation, being a governor of North Dakota right now. That was our focus because another four years of Joe Biden for a state that produces natural resources and agriculture, the inflation that's affecting every one of our citizens, affecting everybody in America, the open borders affecting everyone in America. So, Donald Trump's policies actually do lift up not just independents and Republicans, but Democrats as well. And I think this week is going to be a chance for people across the country to hear that. COLLINS: So, he called you, Mr. Secretary. I mean, that sounds like he's teasing that he would want you in his cabinet. You told me previously that you were not open to taking a cabinet position. Is that still the case? BURGUM: Well, there's going to be no cabinet positions that President Trump can get out unless he wins. And this is going to be a tight race for sure this fall. I mean, people may feel like it's a runaway today, but these things always tighten up. And I would just say there's, there's going to be a lot of work to do between now and then. And that's going to be the focus any time that I'm spending now is my governing job in North Dakota and making sure that President Trump ends up back in the White House. COLLINS: So, you're saying, don't take it for granted. It's not clear what's going to happen in this election. What do you think Donald Trump needs to do out on the campaign trail? If you were his running mate, what would your advice be over -- because you and Senator Vance had very different reactions to what happened on Saturday. You were more in the camp of talking about unity and taking the temperature down. One of Senator Vance's initial posts within hours of the shooting was blaming President Biden and his rhetoric, even though there's no motive determined by the FBI yet. Which tact do you think Donald Trump should follow? BURGUM: Well, I think President Trump himself has been talking about unity. It's been peace, unity, make America great again. He's added those words to even what he's putting out on his post right now. And I think that's the right message for us going forward. And I think with J.D. Vance, I mean, he's a small town guy, like me. What's not to love about someone who grew up in a small town? And this election is going to be determined by that blue wall up north, and with him having Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania in his backyard, I think he's a solid pick for the Trump-Vance ticket to have a sweep this fall. COLLINS: Yes, a lot of rivalries between Pennsylvania and Ohio, but we'll see what that looks like. Governor Burgum, thank you for joining us. I know it's been a very chaotic and busy day for you. So, thank you for your time. BURGUM: Thank you, Kaitlan. COLLINS: Anderson, obviously, hearing from Governor Burgum for the first time since learning the vice presidential pick earlier today. COOPER: Yes. Kaitlan, thanks very much. Extraordinary to see the former president really the first time since we last saw him on that stage. SCOTT JENNINGS, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes. He looked emotional to me. He looked humble. I mean, he had an interesting sort of look on his face, like he was soaking in all the united Republicans there. I can't really imagine what it's like to be in his position. I read today. He said, I'm not supposed to be here. I'm supposed to be dead. And so from that point forward, when you sort of internalize that every day is a gift and he -- to me, his facial expression, his body language show a different kind of Donald Trump than we're used to seeing. COOPER: He's listening to Amber Rose right now. Let's listen in. [22:20:00] COOPER: So, listening to the speakers this is going to go on probably until about 11:00. I mean, it's fascinating to have the people here. Her as a speaker there, I think she has some 20-odd million Instagram followers. ALYSSA FARAH GRIFFIN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: 23 million Instagram followers. So, I just have to say, the stagecraft, the sequencing of this, this whole moment tonight, this is what Donald Trump does best. He's the producer-in-chief, him walking out, Lee Greenwood playing. And then first you're hearing from an everyday American talking, but then a social media influencer with 23 million followers who young people are looking at and young voters are up for grabs this election. Throw in there also, Donald Trump is now a meme everywhere, you know, best not miss if you're going to shoot the king. Like, this is what is on TikTok, this is what tens of millions of young voters, who are not necessarily decided, they don't have longstanding party affiliation, are seeing. He's making a play there, it's very smart, and to be honest, she's one of the most effective communicators we've seen tonight. JENNINGS: I'll admit something, I had no idea who this was. So, I looked it up and then I called a friend of mine and I said, do you know who this is? And they didn't know, also a political person. But that's the point. They have put someone on the stage who reaches into this whole group of Americans who are not necessarily engaged at all in our politics or in our civics. These kinds of voices, I heard some grousing about this from some of the conservatives. This is how you change the composition of the electorate. VAN JONES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes. That was probably the most dangerous speak for the Democratic coalition. That is a young woman of color. She's describing the experience a lot of people have feeling that maybe if you're around too many liberals, you might get criticized too much, or you might not be able to speak your mind, and she spoke to it really well. And she's way more famous than any of us up here, I'm going to tell you that, way more famous. And so to the extent that these guys are trying to bust up our coalition, that was a bunker buster right there. COOPER: By the way, and it's one of the things we've been talking about, but there are speakers who speak to the room, and there are speakers who speak through the television screen. She speaks through the camera to the audience at home, not -- I mean, she's effective in the room. But when you're yelling into the room, that is not communicating directly through the lens. JENNINGS: This person is super talented. Okay, like, this person knows how to speak plainly and directly, knows how to use the camera, the cadence of it. They got something there. JONES: Yes. And it really is hard in those big arenas. It's hard not to want to throw up the room. If you want to scream, just make sure the grandma in the back can hear you. But you're not talking to the 30,000 people there. You're talking to the 30 million people at home. And she was -- I mean, she was the most effective. You can be heard in the hall, but you're in somebody's living room. She understood that. And I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't have a political future. KATE BEDINGFIELD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: You can tell that she's somebody who makes a living communicating with people on the screen, right? She understood how to connect with the camera. That's what she does. That's part of why she has 23 million Instagram followers. [22:25:00] JONAH GOLBERG, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: The only thing -- COOPER: I'm sorry, go ahead. GOLDBERG: The only thing I would add to that is, not only are you speaking to the people watching, but, you know, per your -- some of your, you know, well taken criticisms of some of the earlier African- American speakers, they're going to cut these things up into little YouTube videos of 10, 30, you know, TikTok videos, all that kind of stuff, and they'll take highlights, and if they have a good digital operation, it's going to be seen by a lot more people. JENNINGS: Speaking of stagecraft that you were mentioning, watching Trump come down that hallway, the way they set it up against Lee Greenwood, who by the way, also 81 years old, looks pretty good and did a great job. But the way they choreographed that thing, the way they brought Trump out, you could not have done it any better. It was really, really well done. And to me, I also just seeing the bandage, I mean, I was wondering how they were going to do it. It's pretty -- BEDINGFIELD: He's terrific at stagecraft, no question about it. And, obviously, this is a moment, given what happened over the weekend, where just seeing him on camera is impactful and meaningful. And I think, as someone, I can't remember who was saying earlier, you know, anybody, even if you're not somebody who supports him, you can still see him in this moment and feel grateful that he was not killed on Saturday. So, it's a powerful moment. I think the question is, what version of him do we see over the course of this week? I mean, we've seen speakers tonight who range from Marjorie Taylor Greene to people who are more kind of in the more traditional Republican mold. And so, you know, he has a lot of goodwill tonight and I think the question is, what version of him do we see later this week? JONES: As a dad, seeing Don Jr.'s face. Don Jr. is a -- he's a firecracker. He's usually a pretty tough guy in that, I think he wants to be like his dad. But that emotion in his face, I thought, was powerful. I think it's okay for everybody just to absorb it. COOPER: We're going to listen to Sean O'Brien, President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Let's listen in. [22:30:01] SEAN O'BRIEN, TEAMSTERS PRESIDENT: Hard to believe, anti-union groups demanded the president rescind his invitation. The left called me a traitor. And this is precisely why it's so important for me to be here today. Think about this, think about this, the Teamsters are doing something correct if the extremes in both parties think I shouldn't be on this stage. President Trump had the backbone to open the doors to this Republican convention and that's unprecedented. No other nominee in the race would have invited the teamsters into this arena. Now, you can have whatever opinion you want, but one thing is clear. President Trump is a candidate who is not afraid of hearing from new, loud, and often critical voices. And I think we all can agree, whether people like him or they don't like him, in light of what happened to him on Saturday, he has proven to be one tough S.O.B. Now, when I won the presidency of the Teamsters in a national election two and a half years ago, we started reaching across the aisle. In the past, the Teamsters have endorsed GOP candidates including Nixon, Reagan, and George H.W. Bush. But over the last 40 years, the Republican Party has really pursued strong relationships with organized labor. There are some in the party who stand in active opposition to labor unions. This, too, must change. And I want to be clear. At the end of the day, the Teamsters are not interested if you have a D, R, or an I next to your name. We want to know one thing. What are you doing to help American workers? As a negotiator, I know that no window or door should ever be permanently shut. In my administration, the Teamsters reached out to eight Republican senators who stood up for railroad teamsters over our fight for paid sick leave. Josh Hawley was one of them. We started talking. Senator Hawley changed his position on national right to work. Then we started walking. Senator Hawley walked a teamsters picket line in St. Louis and a UAW picket line in Wentzville, Missouri. More than that, I want to recognize Senator Hawley for his direct, relentless, and pointed questioning of corporate talking heads, lawyers, CEOs, and apologists. He has shown he is not willing to accept their pillaging of working people's pocketbooks. I know from a career in negotiating that you get nowhere by slamming your fist on the table. The first step is to listen. The teamsters in the GOP may not agree on many issues, but a growing group has shown the courage to sit down and consider points of view that aren't funded by big money think tanks. Senators like J.D. Vance, Roger Marshall, and Representatives Nicole Malliotakis, Mike Lawler, and Brian Fitzpatrick are among elected officials who truly care about working people. And this group is expanding and is putting fear into those who have monopolized our very broken system in America today. [22:35:05] There are far too many people on both sides of the aisle still caught up in knee-jerk reactions to unions, who subscribe to the same tired claptrap that unions destroy American companies. Take a moment to consider United Postal Service, which is the largest private sector logistics company, and it's been unionized for more than 100 years. More than 350,000 Teamsters make it run. We work for good middle-class wages, quality health care, and secure pensions. There are work rules that ensure fairness and due process for both sides. UPS is the most efficient package delivery company in the world. But let's not forget that UPS doesn't provide these great wages and benefits out of the kindness of its heart. UPS does it because the Teamsters fight for it, all 350,000 of us. You know, corporatists hate when working people join together to form unions. But for a century, major employers have waged a war against labor by forming corporate unions of their own. We need to call the Chamber of Commerce and the business roundtables what they are. They are unions for big business. And here's another fact. Against gigantic multinational corporations, an individual worker has zero power. It's only when Americans band together in democratic unions that we win real improvements on wages, benefits, and working conditions. Companies like Amazon are bigger than most national economies. Amazon is valued at over $2 trillion. That makes it the 14th largest economy in the world. What is sickening is that Amazon has abandoned any national allegiance. Amazon's sole focus is on lining its own pockets. Remember, elites have no party. Elites have no nation. Their loyalty is to the balance sheet and the stock price at the expense of the American worker. In my office in Washington, D.C., I can see the United States Capitol from my window. I see well- intentioned people arrive in Washington and get eaten up by an unforgiving system. The responsibility to average Americans takes a back seat. The objective now becomes survival. Fundraiser after fundraiser, corporate consultants hedge every initiative. The hill crawls with lifers, bouncing from government jobs to corporate jobs and back again. I think we can all agree D.C. is a pretty treacherous area. Most legislation is never meant to go anywhere, and it's all talk. And in America, talk isn't cheap. It's very expensive, and it comes at the cost of our own country. Working people know our system is broken. The elites are not laboring on behalf of workers. There is a political caste system that prevents citizens from accessing their representatives to hold them accountable. For a moment in time, working people in America were seen as essential. Sadly, it took a global pandemic for political and corporate elites to notice this fact. But ask yourself this question. Since the end of the pandemic, when was the last time you heard major news outlets regularly refer to workers as essential? You haven't. The men and women who provide goods and services, deliver packages, stock grocery shelves, care for patients, pick up your trash, and keep our communities safe are taken for granted. All the while, the stock market booms, housing prices hit record highs, and corporate salaries skyrocket. But the income of everyday Americans are shrinking in the face of inflation. At the gas pumps, at the grocery store, with the electrical bill, and with the car insurance. This has got to change. [22:40:00] Never forget, American workers own this nation. We are not renters. We are not tenants. But the corporate elite treat us like squatters, and that is a crime. We've got to fix it. Now, this will shock you, this will shock you. To paraphrase Senator Mark Wayne Mullen, it's time for both sides of Congress to stand their butts up. We need trade policies that put American workers first. It needs to be easier for companies to remain in America. We need legal protections that make it safer for workers to get a contract. We must stop corporations from abandoning local communities to inflate their bottom line. We need meaningful bankruptcy reform. Today, corporate vultures buy up companies like Yellow Freight with the intent of driving them into bankruptcy and feasting on their remains. The courts leave workers begging for crumbs as third tier creditors. Labor law must be reformed. Americans vote for a union but can never get a union contract. Companies fire workers who try to join unions and hide behind toothless laws that are meant to protect working people but are manipulated to benefit corporations. This is economic terrorism at its best. An individual cannot withstand such an assault. A fired worker cannot afford corporate delays, and these greedy employers know it. There are no consequences for the company, only the worker. We need corporate welfare reform. Under our current system, massive companies like Amazon, Uber, Lyft, and Walmart take zero responsibilities for the workers they employ. These companies offer no real health insurance, no retirement benefits, no paid leave, relying on underfunded public assistance. And who foots the bill? The individual taxpayer. The biggest recipients of welfare in this country are corporations, and this is real corruption. We must put workers first. What could be more important to the security of our nation than a long-term investment in the American worker. In 2021, Teamsters nationwide elected me to fight for them, and that's precisely what I'm doing. Something is wrong in this country, and we need to say it out loud. I will always speak for America and the American worker, both union and non-union. I challenge each and every one of you, and especially my friends on the Democratic side, to embrace cooperation, to truly collaborate to achieve meaningful and productive change, to ensure we make this great nation in this world the bigger, faster, and strongest nation in the entire world. I love this country. The Teamsters love this country. Our 1.3 million members move America on the roads, in the ports, on the rail, and in the air. And at the end of the day, if the powers to be stop me from raising my voice on behalf of American workers, I will not have one single regret. I still carry my commercial driver's license. I still have my place on the union seniority list. You'll find me back in Boston driving a tractor-trailer, delivering equipment for Shaughnessy and Ahern, because I have the protection of a union contract that gives me the freedom to speak my mind and to fight like hell. God bless the greatest nation. Thank you very much. UNKNOWN (voice-over): Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome back RNC Chairman Michael Watley. TAPPER (voice-over): That was interesting. I got a text in the middle of that from a Republican congressman saying that he had to check to make sure he was at the Republican convention, not the Democratic convention. That was Sean O'Brien, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, making an appeal to the delegates to embrace a more worker-friendly agenda. [22:45:13] One has to observe that President Trump opposed an increase in the minimum wage, put a bunch of corporate lawyers on the National Labor Relations Board, and on and on and on. You can Google it. Very interesting. One little thing to clear up, just if anybody didn't get the reference, he quoted Senator Mark Wayne Mullen of Oklahoma, and he said it was interesting that he would quote him, because he and Mark Wayne Mullen, Senator Mullen, last November almost got into a fistfight during a Senate Health and Labor Pension Committee hearing. We don't have to go into the reasons behind it, but let's just say that Sean O'Brien does not consider Senator Mullen to be too pro- labor. BASH (voice-over): No. TAPPER: In any case, this was a very interesting speech. I'm not really sure how much it belongs when it comes to the actual policies of the Republican Party. BASH (voice-over): Donald Trump is desperate to get the endorsement from the Teamsters. The fact that Sean O'Brien showed up here, I mean, this was peppered throughout his entire speech, was very controversial because it has been decades since the Teamsters did anything other than support Democrats. He got a lot of pushback among many of his members when he went to meet with Donald Trump in Mar-a-Lago, but he clearly wanted to be here at this convention to push his agenda and also give a warning to Joe Biden and the Democrats that his endorsement and the support of his over a million -- 1.3 million members cannot be and should not be taken for granted. AXELROD: Well, I'll tell you, he gave a rip-roaring populist speech, I mean, a vigorous assault on corporate America, a very strong pro-union speech, all delivered in an idiom that John King particularly appreciates, because it was all -- but I know that there was a whole lot of people standing. I'm not sure how this landed. I think people were confused, like the guy who texted. JOHN KING, CNN ANCHOR: It's not about them. BASH: No, it's not. He stood for the whole speech. PHILLIP: I mean, this, okay. Earlier today, there was a long conversation about Joe Biden, but this is the case for Joe Biden. He improved on Hillary Clinton's performance with union households by about five percent. In a very close election, that is incredibly significant. Joe Biden was chosen by Barack Obama in part because he could speak to these types of people. He performed better than Hillary Clinton because he could speak to working-class white Americans, to union households, union workers. He walked a picket line earlier this year. This -- if you're trying to make a case for Joe Biden, it's on this particular issue, and I think this is still why Biden's advisers are saying the fundamentals of Joe Biden's appeal to the weakest part of the Democratic coalition, which is white working-class men, are still intact. We'll see if that's true, but that is their case. TAPPER: If that were true, if that were true, I don't know that the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters would be speaking at the Republican National Convention. COLLINS: Well, that's exactly what this showcases, is Joe Biden's problem, because Teamsters endorsed President Biden in 2020, and the idea that he is a Teamsters leader has never spoken at a Republican convention. And to see Sean O'Brien stay here -- URBAN: Not at least in 121 years. COLLINS: Okay, thank you for that count. So, I think that just speaks to the motive of this battle. TAPPER: Let me just interrupt for one second. I want to go to Phil Mattingly on the floor, and then we'll come back and keep talking. Phil? MATTINGLY: You know, Jake, as you guys kind of walked through the dynamics of the speech and what we actually heard, watching the former president, watching the people in the VIP box who did not sit down the entire speech, who, when Sean O'Brien said he'd be the first Teamsters president to speak to a Republican convention in 121 years, it was Byron Donalds, who has been sitting next to the former president, who slapped Trump's arm and said, "That's huge, that's huge." It was Tucker Carlson sitting to the right of Byron Donalds, who was pumping his fists the entire time. And you contrast that with where the rest of the party is, particularly on this issue, but also the same party that's holding fundraisers with corporations and large donors over the course of this entire week. I think we all know that's such a central part of this process. That was a speech that was, for Sean O'Brien, a moment to take advantage of. It was a speech for the former president, who sees a clear ability to peel off the union vote in a significant way on the rank and file side of things. And it was also, I think, a window into a realignment on the policy of the Republican Party, a policy that J.D. Vance, while not fully kind of in the Josh Hawley model of things, who Sean O'Brien shouted out to, is certainly more towards that populist level than, say, Speaker Mike Johnson, who was also sitting in that box, who very much represents kind of a "Wall Street Journal" editorial board, kind of traditional establishment Republican economic ideology. [22:50:20] And so, just the entire contrast of listening to the speech, watching Sean O'Brien, definitely getting the Dorchester versus Medford, John King versus Sean O'Brien accents going there, but also watching the people in the VIP box and who they represent for the party now and for the party in the future, was absolutely fascinating, Jake. TAPPER: One of the things that's so interesting about it, John King, is that there is this strain of populism in the Republican Party. It is by no means predominant. But it is the J.D. Vance, Marco Rubio, Josh Hawley strain that does think that the Republican Party needs to change and adapt to the American worker. Those policies were not embraced during the Trump administration, at least not if you look at what the Teamsters have on their policy agenda or the AFL-CIO, et cetera. But there is this internal fight going on. Sean O'Brien, I'm sure, you know, sagely understands that that is going on and there are people who are listening. That doesn't mean that the agenda is going to be adopted, but it is worth noting. KING: Mr. Mattingly needs to be corrected that we tend to skip the D when we say Medford in Boston, we just say Medford. That's how it goes. Look, there's a fascinating debate within all of America's blue- collar unions about this. Donald Trump did pretty well, especially with working-class union men against Hillary Clinton. Abby's right, Joe Biden improved on those numbers. I've been in Michigan with the United Auto Workers Group and they have endorsed Joe Biden, and yet on the factory floor they say they expect around 40 percent, maybe even higher, to vote for Donald Trump. Because these are voters who, yes, of course, care about labor issues and organizing and collective bargaining and pay, but they also care about guns. They also care about other issues. And so, this has been a divide brewing for some time, and Trump does make inroads. And what you see here, there is a huge fight within the Teamsters Union about him being here. His deputy was on Aaron Burnett not that long ago, essentially saying we should be endorsing Joe Biden on policy. There are African-American groups within the Teamsters that say how dare you come here, given Donald Trump's record and other issues. But he has decided to stick his neck out. And what it is, it's a green light. The Teamsters may not endorse. That would be a big deal if they do not endorse. It's a big debate over whether to do it. He clearly wanted to come here and speak. And you saw Trump and J.D. Vance, like, saying yes afterwards because it's a green light to those union members who might think on the labor policies, of course we should be with Biden. He is the most pro-union president in anybody at this table's lifetime. That's a fact on policy, union policy, labor policy. But on other issues, it's a green light to say go Trump. PHILLIP: Yeah, and look, John, as you were just saying, that 40 percent, Trump got about 40 percent of labor households in both 2016 and in 2020. So, he's there, right? Like he has some of that rank and file support. The question is, does it go, is it enough in the right places for it to matter the most? And the key thing, I think, with union households and union support is that not every union is the same. And in a lot of the unions, they are a diverse group of people, and that racial divide is part of what is playing out in terms of who supports Biden, who supports Trump, and where the peeling off is happening in this country. TAPPER: So, as we hear the dulcet tones of Journey playing in the background, Kaitlin Collins, we heard the gavel come down, and that is officially the end of the day in terms of official business here, although Donald Trump's still soaking up the crowd, enjoying the celebration and the love of him. There was another chant of "We love Trump" that broke out, Kaitlan. And it's been quite a day. COLLINS: Well, and two things just on how Saturday night has changed this. I spoke to Eric Trump earlier, and he said that when he was on the phone with his dad while he was still in the hospital, he was talking about the Republican convention and what this was going to look like. And so, obviously, that has shifted this. The other thing, just from being on the floor all day, I'll tell you, obviously, they chant Donald Trump, they chant USA. The new thing that they are chanting is exactly what you heard from Donald Trump when he -- after he nearly missed that shot on Saturday night, the "Fight, fight, fight." That has become a new motto that you are hearing from delegates and surrogates and allies on the floor at this Republican convention this week. TAPPER: Yeah. Anderson? COOPER: Watching the former president slowly make his way out of the convention hall as this first night wraps up. General Goldberg, you have been watching this, I don't know how many hours today. JONAH GOLDBERG, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Been here a while. COOPER: About 12 hours almost, I think. GOLDBERG: Something like that. COOPER: Yeah. GOLDBERG: The longest week I ever spent was the 10 hours I spent here watching this. [22:55:01] COOPER: What do you make of this wrapping up the first night? GOLDBERG: Yeah, so I think, you know, we've all said how he was a showman. I was kind of surprised. I expected a little more, also spoke Zarathustra Elvis in Vegas music than what we got when he came in. You know, there was a little less of a pomp and circumstance thing, and I think in part because he actually seems like he's been humbled a little bit, or at least that's what he wants to put forward. I do think that this is a sign of how inchoate the GOP coalition is. One of the long-term political stories of the last half century is the continued dissolution of the FDR coalition and the GOP's ability to take different pieces of it. You see that with J.D. Vance, who is not a party unifier. He is not someone that every branch of the party likes. It is doubling down on the MAGA definition of things. You saw it with Amber Rose. You saw it with the head of the Teamsters. The head of the Teamsters was saying this stuff about how great unions are and all that, and that's his job, and he should say it, and he makes many fine points. But it's in Wisconsin, and I think one of the heads of the delegation from Wisconsin is Scott Walker, who, you know, the last time we didn't have Trump on a ballot fought a hammer-and-tongs war with unions in the state, and he was not a huge fan of the Teamsters. This is a real schism that is being opened up here, and I was waiting, almost pleading, for this guy to call for Elon Musk to unionize Tesla just to see the open floor flight that would bring, right? But there are tectonic shifts going on in here that are going to be playing out for a while. GRIFFIN: That's what was most striking to me is just the remaking of the Republican Party in the image of Donald Trump, and it was notable to me the people who aren't there tonight. Obviously, former Vice President Mike Pence, a traditional conservative, is not. Mitt Romney is not there. Paul Ryan is not there. The former standard-bearers of conservatism are not present because this is much more a nationalist, populist party. And the choice of Vance is so interesting because this is Donald Trump looking beyond his term if he's reelected and who is going to carry on his legacy, who is going to implement those policies going forward, who could potentially set up one of his children to run for office someday, to run on this MAGA populist platform. BEDINGFIELD: I think it is also going to be so interesting to see as the convention unfolds this week what the party does to try to reach specifically these suburban women that they need. I mean, you saw, you know, Katie Britt spoke tonight, the woman earlier in the program, the single mother who was talking about her life experience. I mean, you saw them try to really reach out on the cost-of-living argument where they obviously feel they have a lot of runway, but not surprisingly. You didn't hear anything about reproductive freedom, about choice, and we know that's an issue that is significant for suburban women. So, I think it's just -- it will be interesting to see as you're talking about kind of these pieces of the Republican coalition. That's another big piece, and, you know, there wasn't that much time tonight dedicated to speaking specifically to suburban women. I'll just be interested to see how that evolves over the course of the week. JENNINGS: Well, it's just the first night. BEDINGFIELD: Yeah, absolutely. JENNINGS: I mean, we've got a whole week of stuff. You know, if you consumed all the media of this convention tonight, and then you also watched the Biden interview, which we talked about, what's amazing to me is that Trump got shot, and Biden's the one who's angry. I mean, he snapped at Lester Holt several times tonight. He's not in a good place. And yet Donald Trump, who just got his ear shot off, is out here walking around smiling, you know, looking emotional as he basks in the glow of this convention. Trump got shot, and Biden is the one who is angry. We've been told for so long, Donald Trump's angry. He's vengeful. He's going to be out here with a closed, clenched fist. That's not what you saw on your television screen tonight. BEDINGFIELD: I think we should see how that comment ages. I mean, as you said, this was just the first night. He didn't speak tonight. So, let's put a pin in that. Let's put a pin in that and see how that ages. JONES: I think tonight he looked humble, and hopefully he'll stay that way, but I wouldn't bet a lot on it. But what I would say is, what you called an inchoate coalition, I see it as the Republicans are trying to eat our cookies. We've had some cookies called the black vote, and they're trying to take those cookies. We've had the labor vote. They're trying to take those cookies. And a governing coalition is inchoate. That's what political leadership is. It's the ability to hold together a coalition that would ordinarily not form. And the challenge, I think, for the Democratic Party is that we had a governing coalition called the Obama coalition, and we had high hopes and aspirations for that coalition. We thought that as the country got browner, our party would get bigger. This looks like maybe that was a little aspirational on our part because the country is getting browner, and yet so is the Republican Party. [23:00:00] And so, there's something happening here tonight that I think Democrats who want to win in November should take very, very close note of. You cannot take our voters for granted, Democrats, labor, black, female, or otherwise. COOPER: And we are going to continue our coverage here for the next hour with this panel and also opposite the team at the convention. We have more coverage starting right now. CNN Live Event/Special Aired July 15, 2024 - 23:00 ET THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. [23:00:00] … JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: Let's take another look at the emotional capper of this opening night of the Republican National Convention here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Donald Trump entering the hall to love and applause. His ear bandaged, a visible reminder of that bullet that hit him during the attempt on his life on Saturday. The former president, now the official nominee of the Republican Party for a third consecutive time. He was joined in the Trump family viewing box by his newly-named running mate, Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, an eventful day amid truly extraordinary circumstances surrounding this convention. Let's go to Kristen Holmes. Kristen, what are you hearing from the Trump campaign, from Trump allies, about his appearance today, which seemed to be quite emotional for him? KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, it clearly was. Jake, this is somebody that I've now been covering for over a year. This is the most emotional I have ever seen him. And I have certainly seen him in what could have been various vulnerable positions. But Donald Trump himself, talking to his allies, the people who know him the best, people who hadn't seen him yet in public until this situation, they were shocked at what they saw. They said he appeared softer, that at times it looked as though he might cry. They said that they themselves were crying. I even spoke to people who used to support Donald Trump, who no longer do, who said that it made them choke up. But this was an incredibly emotional experience, and they felt like they were seeing a different person up on that stage or in that box when he entered onto the convention floor. The other thing to point out here is that Donald Trump himself has been telling people, both publicly and privately, that he believes that he is lucky to be alive, that he believes that there was some sort of divine intervention. Of course, that is notable given the fact that Donald Trump, we know, is not a religious person. He's not even a spiritual person. But this is something he has said over and over again, that he fundamentally believes that he shouldn't be alive right now, that there is some reason he tilted his head the way that he did to look up at that chart, and that is what kept him alive. And we saw a lot of that in his face tonight. And that is what allies said as well, that they just felt like this was so much more of a human being than they had ever seen the former president look before. TAPPER: All right. Let's go over to Boris Sanchez now. He is near the convention stage here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Boris, tell us what it was like from your vantage point when former President Trump made his entrance. BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, Jake, it was an extremely emotional moment. I'm sitting just across from that VIP area. I could see the actual podium where we heard speakers tonight. And I could see the way that the president was responding, not only to them, but to the crowd. When his face first appeared on the Jumbotron, there was an audible sound from the crowd, elation, and literally thousands of people taking out their phones to get ready for his appearance. Once he finally emerged, Kristen was just outlining the emotional response from the president. I saw several people in the crowd appearing to be emotional themselves, really the power of the moment landing heavily on them. And throughout the evening, you could see the responses from folks not only in the crowd, but also other speakers. When we watched Amber Rose seeming to charm the former president, he appeared to make several remarks. I watched them make a comment to Congressman Byron Donalds and now the presumptive vice-presidential nominee, J.D. Vance, during her speech, all the way to Sean O'Brien, when the president stayed standing during the speech, seemingly expressionless. I did watch Byron Donalds sort of make a gesture to him. But he was very receptive of what was going on. And one interesting thing, I'm not sure if the cameras could capture this, but a large portion of the crowd over by that VIP area wasn't even turned to the speakers. They didn't turn away from the president once he emerged after the speeches began. But overall, obviously a very powerful moment for this crowd that was eager to the president all the way toward the end of the benediction, watching the president in that moment, as Kristen outlined, not known for his spirituality, but seeming to absorb the importance of the moment, Jake. TAPPER: All right, Boris, thank you so much. And let us talk about the biggest thing that happened at this convention today, other than Donald Trump appearing in public for the first time with a bandage on his ear after the assassination attempt on his life just two days ago. [23:05:05] And Dana Bash, that is, of course, the selection, the nomination of J.D. Vance, a Republican senator from Ohio, who was one of the very first and most outspoken Republican critics of Donald Trump back in 2015, 2016. He was at the time known as a commentator, the author of Hillbilly Elegy. I think we have a mashup of some of the things that J.D. Vance -- you see J.D. Vance there earlier today with the guy at the top of the ticket, Donald Trump. I think we have a mashup of some of the things he said back then followed by comments that he made earlier tonight on Fox, in which he tried to explain where those remarks came from. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. J.D. VANCE (R-OH) (voice-over): Half of the things that he says don't make any sense or a quarter of the things that he says are offensive. I might have to hold my nose and vote for Hillary Clinton. I can't stomach Trump. I think that he's noxious and is leading the white working class to a very dark place. I'm a never Trump guy. I never liked him. He seems to like actively antagonizing a lot of the Black vote. I don't hide from that. I was certainly skeptical of Donald Trump in 2016. But President Trump was a great president, and he changed my mind. I bought into the media's lies and distortions. I bought into this idea that somehow, he was going to be so different, a terrible threat to democracy. It was a joke. (END VIDEO CLIP) TAPPER: Well, he did try to overturn a free and fair election. But beyond that, what do you make of the conversion by Mr. Vance on the way to Damascus? DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Uh, you know, that conversion happened a couple of years ago, when he decided that he wanted to be a United States senator from the state of Ohio, which is now a red state, and he needed the endorsement of Donald Trump, and he got it. And so, he did that mea culpa over and over again, and he will have to continue doing it over and over again. He wasn't getting information from the media. He was getting information from the then candidate in 2016, and then the president after -- starting in 2017. And, I mean, as much as he wants to say that it's the way that Donald Trump was portrayed, it's just not true. He's a smart guy. He saw what he saw. And he made his own opinion based on that, an opinion that he has changed so much that he is now a 39-year-old running mate to that very same Donald Trump. ABBY PHILLIP, CNN ANCHOR: It's very emblematic of a broader trend, I mean, among Republicans. There is -- it's something strange with Donald Trump where he has such fervor, that he gets from the base of the Republican Party, that it's almost impossible to succeed in republican politics, this has been true since 2016, without being somewhat aligned with Trump. And yet, Trump also has a lot of political liabilities that make him a complicated and even toxic figure in the broader electorate. But for J.D. Vance, as Dana said, I mean, the paradigm was very simple. If he wanted to be elected, he had to be aligned with Trump. And the thing that probably changed his mind was that Trump's hold on the base kept getting stronger, not so much that Trump did anything different or said anything different as president. I mean, he acted as president the way that he ran as a candidate, and nothing really changed. The only thing that changed -- (COUGHING) -- was that Republican base voters said, this is our guy, and anybody who wanted to be associated with the Republican Party needed to get in line. TAPPER: David Urban? DAVID URBAN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yeah, look, it is -- this is the problem when you run in the primary, when you have a record, when you go on television, you speak your mind and it ends up coming back to bite you in the ass, right? This is what we're seeing here. It is amazing that he said those things. I mean, they're pretty strong. DAVID AXELROD, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Shame on him for speaking his mind. What are we going to do about that? URBAN: Those are pretty strong statements against his current running mate right now. He's going to have to explain them way a little bit more. I think that, Dana points out, you know, J.D. Vance is a Yale- educated lawyer, very smart guy. And so, look, you can have a conversion. You can change your mind about someone's performance and how they've done the job and how they perform in the job. But he's going to need to have a little bit better explanation of how he was so vehemently opposed to somebody, and then now he's on the ticket. KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: But can I say one thing with this? You know -- TAPPER: One thing. I want to go to Daniel Dale right now. He's our resident fact checker. And there were many things that were said at the convention that were, shall we say, contrary to the facts, fact- challenged. Daniel, just give us a -- just give us a sampler because we don't have all night. DANIEL DALE, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: Indeed. So, Jake, two of the biggest lies came from former President Trump. [23:10:01] He didn't speak live, of course, but he gave pre-recorded video comments in which he repeated some of his usual election nonsense, talking about the 2020 election having been unfair, Democrats supposedly being serial election cheaters, just nonsense. There are also smattering of false or misleading claims from others. The chairman of the Republican National Committee, Michael Whatley, claimed there was peace in the Middle East under President Trump four years ago. Not even close to true. There were a whole bunch of ongoing wars, not to mention, of course, the unresolved Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A pre-recorded video claimed that Trump signed the largest tax cut in history. He did not. Other pre-recorded videos talked about inflation being at a 40-year high. Didn't explain that that high was actually hit two full years ago, June 2022. That inflation today is about a third of what it was then. Same with gas prices. They had a video in which people complained that they have to deal with a national average of more than five bucks per gallon. Didn't explain that that was the June 2022 average. It's now way down from that as well. I also want to fact check a claim from Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. She was talking about the Biden-era economy. Take a listen. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) REP. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE (R-GA): They claim that our economy is thriving, yet hundreds of thousands of American-born workers lost their jobs these past few years. (END VIDEO CLIP) DALE: This claim is misleading at best, and I think I'm being generous. Data actually shows there has been major job growth for American-born workers under President Biden. Four point seven million more American-born workers had jobs in June 2024 -- last month -- than three years prior. Now, I said misleading rather than false because, sure, it's possible hundreds of thousands of particular American-born workers lost their jobs under President Biden, but Greene certainly created the impression, I think, Jake, that American-born workers on the whole have lost jobs during this presidency, and that's just wrong. This group has gained big on the whole. Jake? TAPPER: All right, Daniel Dale, thanks so much. All right, when we were -- when we were talking -- COLLINS: I was just going to say about Senator Vance, I think everyone has reckoned with the fact that he said very critical things about Trump, raised the question if he was a Hitler-like figure and what that looks like. One thing that stood out to me is whenever you're getting a job, you always wonder, well, why is the job open? Who had it last? Why are they no longer in it? Obviously, Mike Pence is not here tonight for a reason. And to look at, you know, why that was, when I spoke to Senator J.D. Vance a few months ago, I asked him, he was very clearly in the running to be Donald Trump's vice president, I asked him if it gave him any pause, how Trump treated Mike Pence, someone who was a very loyal lieutenant of his, navigated him very well during those four years that they served together. Obviously, Donald Trump, as we've seen with other members of his cabinet, is not always easy to work with or doesn't always get along with people that he has picked and put in those positions. And J.D. Vance's response was actually not, you know, that it gave him any concern. He actually said that he didn't believe. He was skeptical of Pence when he claimed that his life was at risk on January 6th. And it just kind of puts into perspective also the caliber of people that Trump was considering, not just their resume and what they've done on the Hill, but also what they would do in a situation like that. That is really the number one issue to Donald Trump. CHRIS WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: You know, we've been talking a lot tonight about what J.D. Vance does for the ticket. I think maybe the better question is, why did Donald Trump pick him? And I think that goes directly to what you were just talking about, Kaitlan. And that is the fact that this probably is more a governing pick than it was a campaigning pick, and he's thinking less about who's going to put him over the top. I think Donald Trump thinks, I'm going to win this election on my own, but I got to live with somebody for four years. And if there's one thing -- I mean, when you think of Mike Pence and how he just kind of checked his -- anything he believed in at the door and for four years did Donald Trump's bidding, and then, of course, on January 6th, 2021 did not, I think that was the unforgivable sin. And maybe what Donald Trump sees in J.D. Vance, not that it'll -- not necessarily be on January 6th, but it's somebody that he can count on to do what Donald Trump wants and to be faithful to Donald Trump's wishes. TAPPER: Anderson? COOPER: Jake, thanks very much. We talked earlier, and I want to talk a little bit more about some of what we saw, particularly earlier on during the convention through the outreach to Black voters, a number of speakers, in particular, John James, a Michigan congressman. I want to play a little bit of what he said and talk about it. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) REP. JOHN JAMES (R-MI): Yeah, I heard a little bit earlier today, if you don't vote for Donald Trump, you ain't Black. (APPLAUSE) But see, here's the thing. By the grace of God and the proven leadership of Donald Trump, for every American, regardless of race, color and creed, we could once again have a land where a child's outcome isn't determined by their zip code. (END VIDEO CLIP) COOPER: Van, you had made the point earlier that there was not a great time years ago when a child's outcome was not determined by zip code. [23:15:04] JONES: Well, yeah, I mean, that's just -- it's a weird thing to say because, I mean, that's true. And it's also true for poor white kids. I mean, if you grow up in a neighborhood that's impoverished and don't have opportunity. So, I think those kinds of comments don't move Black voters because they just seem out of touch and bizarre. And so that's part of the challenge they have here. They're reaching out to the Black community. But Amber Rose, when she talks, it lands, it's authentic, it makes sense. You can tell she's coming from within the experience and she's talking -- that cuts -- she was perfect. I mean, if you want -- she gave a master class on political conversation. Those speeches to me, and I don't mean to take anything away from their leadership, but they seem to be coming from people who talk about Black people, not to Black people. They talk about black issues, not to Black people. And the thing I thought was most harmful was Tim Scott, who I love and admire. When he talked about the thousands of Black children that are being killed in Chicago, he had a glee in his voice. He was like, sort of like a kind of point scoring. But, you know, those of us who go to those funerals and sit with those grandmothers and those mothers and look at young people in the caskets, there's no glee about that. That's not -- politicizing funerals in our community is not a good strategy for moving the Black vote. So, I understand what they're trying to do, but I think they got to really look at this because there's a way you can give offense. And also, the other thing that James said that I thought was bad, he talked about, you know, that Black children can't read. Look, we have some challenges, but please don't take away from the millions and millions of Black children who can read, who do read, and who are held by teachers in tough schools learning the joy of reading. There's just a way that you can sometimes try to play with these tropes for an audience like that, that really lands badly in the community. SCOTT JENNINGS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I've got a nugget from a Republican pollster source friend of mine who's doing some testing among Black and Hispanic voters in the wake of the assassination attempt, and I'll just tell you what they said. Minority men, especially middle age and young minority men, are enthralled with how Trump responded to the assassination attempt. These are not overtly political people, but it's obvious the story transcends politics in their minds, and it's all about strength and courage under fire. Put another way, the testosterone is flowing. JONES: Now listen, you are correct on that. 50 Cent came out and played "Many Men," and showed a picture of Donald Trump. Anybody who knows anything about hip-hop, you know, "many men wish death on me," it's a very strong, defiant anthem in the Black community, and 50 Cent played that. So, there are things that are happening here. There are ways that there's a -- you know, unfortunately, having court TV all summer has created Donald Trump as almost like a John Gotti folk hero among some people, Black and white. So yeah, there's stuff going on here. But I just think that the particular way they dealt with it tonight, I have criticism. COOPER: You mentioned Tim Scott and also Amber Rose. Let's just play some sound from both of them. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. TIM SCOTT (R-SC), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: America is not a racist country. (APPLAUSE) AMBER ROSE, MODEL AND RAPPER: I realize Donald Trump and his supporters don't care if you're Black, white, gay or straight. It's all love. (APPLAUSE) And that's when it hit me. These are my people. This is where I belong. (APPLAUSE) (END VIDEO CLIP) ALYSSA FARAH GRIFFIN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I mean, listen, Donald Trump is also playing to the youth vote, the Gen Zers who maybe haven't voted in a previous election and don't have deeply baked in perspectives on either of these candidates who probably feel very disillusioned by the fact that we have basically two octogenarians running against each other. But if you look at TikTok, if you look at social media, which is where young voters are watching this, they're not watching on linear, Donald Trump knows how to use messages like that and blast it out to tens of millions of people. He knows how to play the meme games. He knows how to create viral moments and share them. So, that's also something I wouldn't sleep on in this election because that's traditionally been something that's more of a democratic coalition, something that Obama obviously turned out. And I think he's making a real play there. KATE BEDINGFIELD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: But I think Trump also has, look, he has a personal history of things like the Justice Department coming after him because he refused to rent to Black voters -- to Black renters in his properties. I mean, he obviously has said many things that are, I would argue, deeply problematic in terms of aiding and abetting some of the white supremacist factions in this country that I think are, you know, as I think voters of all colors should look at and say, that's not what we want the president of the United States. So, I think he has a personal history on race that I think Biden and the Biden team has an opportunity to really put front and center for people because there's no question, for Biden to be re-elected, he has to do the kind of numbers that he did with Black voters in 2020. And I think we've seen in a lot of the polling some slippage there. And so, I think there's got to be, you know, an aggressive argument from the Biden campaign. [23:20:00] I think in addition to Trump's kind of personal history, I think they also have a substantive argument they can make about what the economy looked like for black businesses under Donald Trump. You know, black unemployment was higher under Donald Trump. So, you know, I think there are both personal and substantive arguments here that give the Biden campaign a lane. And I think they have some work to do and they need to do it. JONAH GOLDBERG, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yeah, so I -- I'm a text guy, right? I listen to some of these speeches and I'm like, that doesn't sound right, whatever. Vance criticism -- (COUGHING) -- is based on text. The subtext here is very good for Republicans, right? The subtext is, you know, there's this rule in politics that says before people are going to listen to your policy solutions, they first -- you first have to prove that you care about them. And so, you can be ham-fisted in some ways about how you reach out to Black voters. I mean, they introduced one woman as a Latino woman and then read her name. (LAUGHTER) You know, you would never say white American, Joe Schmo, right? And so, but so there's some ham-fisted stuff because Republicans aren't good at this historically. At the same time, you see -- if you were -- if you're doing this, the sort of -- we can all stipulate that Roger Ailes was a flawed human being, but he was onto something about watching TV with the sound off. And if you watch this with the sound off, you would say, oh, Republicans care about Black people. And then you see the chyron on the Teamsters guy. Oh, they were reaching out to Teamsters. That -- I think the osmosis of that is -- is -- is pretty powerful. And I agree there's all sorts of text, substance, however you want to put it, for Biden to execute or the Democrats to execute against Republicans, particularly against Donald Trump and his actual record, but you need to be really nimble to execute that. And I just don't have a lot of confidence I can. GRIFFIN: Can I mention one more thing? if I may just praise Amber Rose again, this political savant. She alluded to her Democratic friends who would say, you know, you can't say that, you can't do this. That is so much more effective. That's something I hear constantly with American voters, left, right, and center, is feeling like we kind of have speech codes, and if you use the language that was good five years ago, but it's not now. The way she articulated it in basic English is so much more effective than some of the earlier language of the woke mind virus. If you don't live on Twitter, that means nothing to you. But feeling like, oh, if you slightly, you know, mischaracterize how we now talk about this, you're going to be ostracized. It was very, very effective. JENNINGS: I think to answer you, Kate, some of the what's going on with the African-American debate here, you know, who's better for these voters, is just wrapped up in the fact that they are largely working class. African-Americans are working class Americans. This election is not necessarily, as we've seen tonight, just R&D, just red and blue, just urban and rural. It's working class feeling like the elites in this country have stopped listening to them and left them behind. And Trump seems to be agnostic of your race. He only cares whether you are a working-class person. And when you continuously tell groups of people, just shut up and show up, and hey, I know you think cost of -- I know you believe cost of living is going to be here, eat some of these charts and graphs for dinner tonight, they get sick of it. And I think that's why you're seeing folks, to your point, more willing now to break out in the past. You got your head shot off. You jumped up out of the ditch, you know, in some certain communities. Now, people are feeling more free to express it. (CROSSTALK) COOPER: -- Van and then we get to -- JONES: Just to keep us somewhere close to reality. (LAUGHTER) The vast majority of Black people will be voting against Donald Trump. I mean, 80, 90%. We're going to -- Black people -- JENNINGS: You're confident of 90? JONES: I'm not confident of 90 -- (LAUGHTER) JENNINGS: How about 85? JONES: I'm confident -- I'm confident that Black people will vote against Donald Trump more than any other group with no peer. And some are beginning to move. So, I just want to just keep us somewhere close to reality. COOPER: Let's check in with -- with Jeff Zeleny for more democratic reaction about the pick of J.D. Vance. Jeff, what are you hearing? JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, there's no question that Democrats were eagerly watching this republican convention as well, largely because of the new man in the race, J.D. Vance. And for the first time, of course, we got the look, the first look between Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, how their body language was. But Democrats are looking much deeper into his record. And we heard from President Biden today. He immediately sorts of phrased Senator Vance as a clone of Trump. I am told that that is going to be a bumper sticker message going forward, particularly on abortion. They are going to try and look into some of previous comments on abortion rights that Senator Vance has talked about, including his support for a national abortion ban. Now, of course, this race is going to revolve around Donald Trump. There is no question about that. But they do believe, at least on the margins, that Vance being added to this ticket offers them some opportunities. But, Anderson, as Democrats were watching the convention tonight, just checking back in with them, it was the speech from Sean O'Brien, the Teamsters president, that had some alarm for Democrats as well. [23:25:02] Some of his words certainly were speaking to what we're all seeing here is a potential realignment in the parties. We do not know where that will go this year. But that is one thing that Democratic officials, both here in Wisconsin and others that we've been speaking with, are looking at very carefully. So, this election in 2024, again, sort of cycle by cycle. We have seen the working class and the country club Republicans sort of occupy one another's space. So, Democrats watching that tonight as well. But for here going forward, J.D. Vance's big speech on Wednesday night, you can bet Democrats will have a lot to say about that. And, of course, Vice President Harris, I'm told, she'll be talking about him as well. Anderson? COOPER: Jeff Zeleny, thanks very much. The other factor which we haven't talked about in the last couple of hours is the assassination attempt and what the ripple effects of that are. I mean, it has fundamentally changed things. It has fundamentally changed, in some people's minds, sort of the perception of Donald Trump. I mean, his -- JONES: Humanized him. COOPER: Humanized him tonight. He looked more -- you know, it humanized him on that stage. You know, the presence of mind he had, that -- that extraordinary sense he has to tell his Secret Service detail to wait so he can have this iconic moment, all of that happening in real time. Do we know yet how -- I mean, for many in that crowd tonight, there's a messianic feel to his survival. JENNINGS: I think it has changed him based on his own words. He told the "New York Post," you know, I'm not supposed to be here. I'm supposed to be dead. He told -- he said he ripped up his speech and he's starting over. So, I guess we're going to see just how much he has changed. But I also think it has reinforced Trump's basic framing of this election. It has always been strength versus weakness. And when I look at him on that stage, standing up, fighting through his detail to raise his fist and say, fight, fight, fight, juxtaposed against the video of Joe Biden at the debate, Joe Biden, some of these interviews, the strength versus weakness frame has been magnified a thousand times right now, and I don't know how in the world a Democrat campaign would ever change that at this point. GRIFFIN: I'm still struck, though, by the announcing of J.D. Vance today, and I say that because there was sort of this tone within the media, political circles, pundits, that after the assassination attempt, we need to take down the temperature and even having conversations around, is Donald Trump a threat to democracy, which, by the way, I believe he needed to kind of stifled for a bit. But by choosing somebody who used language far more outrageous and offensive than that and equivocating him to Hitler as your running mate, you basically just welcomed that conversation, which I think has kind of been the core democratic message back into the ether. So, I think that that kind of what could have been even half a week of sort of people really holding what they were going to criticize Donald Trump over, it welcomed that back into the discourse with the selection of this. BEDINGFIELD: I agree with that. And I think that there's -- I think you can kind of feel almost like a champing at the bit of people to sort of get back to like everybody knows we're in the midst of a hard- fought presidential campaign, and you can sort of feel everyone is creeping back closer to criticizing each other. You heard it from some of the speakers tonight. You heard it some from President Biden in his interview. I mean, I think everybody recognizes there are significant stakes in this election. And I think it's even given the significance and, you know, the horribleness of what happened over the weekend, it -- I'm not sure, like Scott saying there's no way to change the dynamic between now and 112 days from now, 14 days from now. JENNINGS: There is -- BEDINGFIELD: That's not -- look, I don't disagree -- I don't disagree that the strength -- the strength contrast -- JENNINGS: Yeah. BEDINGFIELD: -- Trump had his instinct to throw his fist up, that photo, all of it reinforced strength. I'm not disputing that. But I also think we can't sit here 100 plus days out from the election and say definitively we know what the dynamics are going to look like, you know, three and a half months from now. JENNINGS: Do you believe there is a 1% chance that on election day, more Americans will view Joe Biden as a stronger leader than Donald Trump? BEDINGFIELD: I think there is a very good chance more Americans will view Donald Trump as a bigger threat to their future than Joe Biden. JENNINGS: I think -- I think if -- if you want to -- BEDINGFIELD: And that's the task for the Biden campaign, to make that case. JENNINGS: I think if you want to return to the rhetoric that you were using previously, that Trump is going to end the country, burn the Constitution, and he's a modern Hitler, it's going to backfire. (CROSSTALK) JONES: But -- I mean, that is true. I mean, Trump uses that language. GRIFFIN: -- if you have another four years -- JENNINGS: We'll see what happens this week. But I think -- I just think -- JONES: But even in his statement -- JENNINGS: It would backfire to go back to that right now. GRIFFIN: He called Nancy Pelosi a threat to democracy just two days ago on True Social. COOPER: And also, even in the statement he put out today about, you know, unity. If you read the sentences before, I mean, I don't have it in front of it, but it's -- it's all about, you know, the getting rid of all the court cases or, you know, it's still the election lies. I mean, it's -- it's not as if there has been -- I just feel like we've seen multiple campaigns where people talked about a change of tone in Donald Trump. GRIFFIN: Yeah. [23:30:00] COOPER: And how -- I mean, I remember in 2016, interviewing him and talking about, oh, I can be so presidential. You know, I'll have a presidential tone. GRIFFIN: And by the way, on teleprompter, I expect him to be presidential. I actually think he will have a well-written, thoughtful, substantive, forward looking speech. It's what he does when he's not on prompter, when he's rallied up by a crowd, when he's out there campaigning or the things that he's actually going to do from a policy perspective. GOLDBERG: So, look, I've been running columns for almost 10 years now saying Donald -- I predicted Donald Trump's presidency would end badly because character is destiny. I've been saying how expecting Donald Trump to pivot to being presidential is like waiting for Godot. It's just not going to happen. But I want to give due credit to Scott's point that getting shot at -- JENNINGS: Yeah. GOLDBERG: -- can change a person. So, we'll see. But my one source of skepticism, other than the fact that 78-year-olds, even when they go through something dramatic, don't tend to change their fundamental natures too much. But it's possible. I'll credit you that. I don't know that he knows how. I don't know that he knows the language of being a conciliator for more than five minutes. And the idea that he is going to not go back to calling his opponents vermin and Marxists and fascists and communists and all that kind of stuff, that's the language he has learned how to speak in, and I don't know that he can get a Berlitz phrasebook and get up to speed on how to be like a middle-of-the-road guy. JONES: And what I would say is, you know, I do feel that Democrats right now feel frozen because we don't want to be mean or insensitive or whatever. But if they keep giving us the permission structure to get out of this box, we have to get out of it. J.D. Vance is unlocking a door that you guys don't want unity. You pick somebody who's mean to us. You pick somebody who's a barn burner. You didn't pick a Nikki Haley. That begins to open the door back up for us to get out of this crouch. Right now, Democrats are in a crouch. We're not going to stay here if we continue to see this kind of stuff. BEDINGFIELD: I also think, by the way, Biden laid out in the interview a path forward on this, which is, you know, you don't -- you can criticize somebody, you can criticize the substance of what they're putting forward without doing it in terms that are, you know, going to incite violence. And he, I think that was a piece of the interview tonight that I thought was very good for him in that he sorts of -- he laid down a roadmap of how he clearly intends to get back into taking this to Trump. It doesn't mean using, you know, hateful language, which I would argue is not Joe Biden's memo anyway, but -- JENNINGS: If he was laying out this roadmap of how we're going to have this respect, why was he so mad? Why is he snapping at Lester Holt? (CROSSTALK) JONES: You guys are snapping turtle. COOPER: We're going to continue -- we're going to continue this discussion. Let's get back to Jake. (LAUGHTER) TAPPER: Thanks, Anderson. And guess what it's time for? It's time to break out the magic wall. John King, we brought -- you brought your portable magical wall here to Milwaukee. It's beautiful. And walk us through where the race stands right now. JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think the most striking thing, Jake, is on this first night of the republican convention. And let me turn this way so you can get a closer look. Just take a look between the then and now. This is the then. This is the 2020 presidential election. This is Joe Biden's overwhelming and convincing win in the Electoral College. Yes, the former president was in the room here tonight. Others in the room here tonight. Still say this was a rigged or unfair election. That's not true. It's just not true. Joe Biden won, and he won big. That was that, 306 to 232. But this is our current CNN projection of where we are now. And look at this. If Donald Trump won, what we have here, dark red states, solid Republican. Light red states, leaning Republican. If he won just those right there, he would already have the path to 270. He would have 272 electoral votes. Look what is different. We have Wisconsin as a toss-up. We have Pennsylvania as a toss-up. Two critical states for Joe Biden. Michigan right now, another critical state for Biden, leaning Republican. Georgia, a state Biden flipped, leaning Republican. Arizona, a toss-up state. That was a state Biden flipped. Nevada, a state he won, leaning Republican. This is the dire strait for Joe Biden right now on the first night of the republican convention. Tomorrow is 16 weeks to Election Day. Sixteen weeks from tomorrow, we count the votes. It is tough to change a map like this in that amount of time. And here's why Democrats are so worried. Why so many Democrats are saying, Mr. President, please reconsider and get out of this race. Because right now, Trump is leading here. And Trump is leading here -- leading here. Narrowly, but he's ahead in those states. Trump is leading here. That's 312 electoral votes. Trump is leading in this Nebraska congressional district. Let me change it that way. Nebraska does it by congressional district. That's 313 electoral votes. And Democrats are warning that Trump may not be well ahead. It may still be margin of error. It might be a tie. But right now, Trump is competitive here. That's blue Virginia. That's blue New Hampshire. [23:35:00] So, the warnings to the White House are Donald Trump could conceivably, if the current dynamics in the race hold, get 330 or more electoral votes. That's what they believe. Now, if you're a Democrat, if you're in the Biden White House, yes, there are 16 weeks to Election Day. So, can it be done? Come back to this. Can it be done? Yes. But it's a very narrow path for Joe Biden. He must win this. He must change this. Michigan has to go blue, and he must win this. Look at that number. Even if he did that, won the three blue wall states, he's at 269. So, he either has to get Arizona or Nevada back or get Georgia back and win the Nebraska congressional district. So, Joe Biden has essentially one, maybe two narrow paths to 270. Donald Trump has so many. There are viable paths to get him as high as 330, which means you can take some states away, Jake, and he would still get to 270. Donald Trump, on the first night of his convention, and Democratic people who are studying the data closely say it keeps getting worse for the president. Donald Trump opened his convention tonight in a commanding position in this race, period. TAPPER: Yeah. John, stay right there because I want to play some fresh sound from the new vice- presidential running mate for Donald Trump, Republican Senator J.D. Vance, talking about the phone call that he got when Donald Trump offered him a spot on the ticket. Take a listen. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) VANCE: He just said, look, I think you've got to go save this country. I think you're the guy who can help me in the best way. You can help me govern. You can help me win. You can help me in some of these Midwestern states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and so forth. (END VIDEO CLIP) TAPPER: So interesting. We talked about that earlier, J.D. Vance, son of Ohio, and the ability of him to help with those blue wall states, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin. Western Pennsylvania, key part of Pennsylvania, key part of the commonwealth, right across the border from Ohio. And so that's one of the reasons that he was picked, according to J.D. Vance. KING: You just made an excellent point when you said Western Pennsylvania. This, I think, will be the interesting test case to watch, J.D. Vance get on the road. Watch where they put him, not just on the ground campaigning, but on television interviews. One of the things a vice presidential nominee does, a lot of local television interviews. So, let's see how they use J.D. Vance. Let's use your home state, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Is J.D. Vance going to flip Allegheny County, where Pittsburgh is, from blue to red? No, no. Most unlikely, anyway. But -- but does he change the margins? That's the question, right? So, you're in a place like this. You know, this Allegheny County, Pittsburgh is right here, strong democratic stronghold. But as you move up, where the president's rally was, in Butler, is up here, to the north of that, as you go up, as you move up here, there are voters who are available to you, 59% to 39% there. If you go back to 2016, you come back there, 56%. You might say 59, 56. That's close, doesn't matter. It matters a lot. It matters a lot. The third-party candidates -- again, we're talking about Trump, Biden, Vance, Kamala Harris tonight, but the third-party candidates matter as well. The issue is you have places like that. Will we see -- my question is, do we see J.D. Vance over in places like this? Bucks County, the more blue collar, the more competitive of the Philadelphia counties, maybe plays there. Some blue-collar people here. As you move into Montgomery County and you come down here into Chester County and you move over here to Delaware County, those are where -- that's where Donald Trump's kryptonite. The American suburbs is Donald Trump's kryptonite. And does J.D. Vance help there? His record on abortion, his record on other issues, there's nothing on paper today that says J.D. Vance will help you here But -- but Western Pennsylvania, then you come across again, Michigan. The Teamsters president was here tonight. Joe Biden has trouble with some autoworkers. There are places in Michigan. Notice Donald Trump came into the hall tonight before a gentleman from Western Michigan spoke. The Trump people timed his entrance for a reason, because they know where this race will be won or lost. So, can he help here? Can he help here? Well, remember, you know, he's from here in Ohio, a reliably red state here. And if you remember back on the night of 2016, Jake, the first clue that Donald Trump was going to have a good night was when the votes started coming in, in Northern Kentucky, right along the Ohio border. And yes, you knew Donald Trump was going to win Kentucky, it's a red state, but the turnout was coming through the roof. That's when we first started seeing, because if that happened there, then would it happen here? And there are communities just like that here in Pennsylvania. And there are also communities just like that to the west, in Michigan and Wisconsin. Turnout matters. Can J.D. Vance get more white Trump voters, maybe disillusioned with both candidates? A lot of voters out there who don't like either of these major party nominees for president. One of the things that gets forgotten sometimes is, look at that, 62 million votes, right? Sixty- three, if you round up billion votes for Donald Trump in 2016. He got a lot more votes in 2020. He still lost because Joe Biden and the Democrats turned out so many more voters. President Biden has an enthusiasm problem right now. [23:40:00] If J.D. Vance can help Donald Trump turn out every MAGA Republican, every maybe non-Trump Republican but by DNA Republican who can't vote for Biden, that number might be enough this time. If you can match that number or turn it up a little bit, it might be enough. If the third-party candidates are more of a factor in 2024, they were not a factor in 2020. And if Biden loses just a little bit in Black turnout, a little bit in Latino turnout, a little bit in the suburbs. So that's J.D. Vance thing, try to get Trump back to the 2016 model of where he did well, but with the 2020 numbers, bring them out. TAPPER: So, let's turn to something that I think is under discussed when it comes to policy and what we heard tonight. J.D. Vance, Senator Vance, is not just this quintessential American success story. He is also one of the leading skeptics in the United States Senate of aid to Ukraine. And what we heard from David Sacks, this entrepreneur from Silicon Valley, today, this evening, in a prime time speaking slot, was a very curious interpretation of the war in Ukraine. Noah Rothman, who is a conservative writer for "National Review," writes, David Sacks alleges that Joe Biden -- quote -- "provoked" -- unquote -- Russia's invasion of Ukraine. And he perpetuated the war by failing to endorse a Russian-backed peace proposal. This is Rothman still saying Sacks laid the blame for Ukraine's civilian casualties, not at Vladimir Putin's feet, but Joe Biden's. And that is a fairly shocking statement to be made at a Republican Party convention. Yes, we know that Donald Trump is of the more isolationist wing of his party. But now, we have conservatives basically saying that they are stunned that David Sacks was given this speaking slot to basically blame the war in Ukraine on Joe Biden instead of Vladimir Putin. BASH: Which maybe not in those stark terms. But we've heard Donald Trump do similar, effectively saying that if I were president, this wouldn't have happened. Maybe not about those terms and about the potential deal, I understand, but it is definitely another example, a very big, a very consequential example, Jake, of the way that this Republican Party is so different from the one that we covered early on. And I've heard from other national security-minded Republicans that they are concerned for the reason you just said about J.D. Vance on the ticket. TAPPER: Coming up, what's next for the Republicans here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and how President Biden is responding to the GOP convention. Stay with us. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) [23:46:52] COOPER: Donald Trump's party wrapping day one of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee with an appearance by their presidential nominee still bandaged after the attempt on his life. Now, it is on to day two. President Biden is in Las Vegas tonight, so is CNN's Kayla Tausche. So, Kayla, how is the president responding to what has been happening at the republican convention? KAYLA TAUSCHE, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, this evening, President Biden called Senator J.D. Vance, the vice- presidential pick, a clone of Trump. That was a carefully calibrated soundbite sized line that we expect to hear a lot of as the president, as well as Vice President Harris, respond to the news of what the ticket looks like for the Republicans. Vice President Harris sending out fundraising emails and many campaign officials talking about the desire to really frame at least the vice- presidential discussion on reproductive rights, as well as the future of democracy. But the big moment for President Biden today was his sit-down interview with Lester Holt of NBC News. That was expected to take place in Austin, Texas. But when Biden postponed that travel in the wake of Trump's assassination attempt, that interview still took place at the White House. It was yet another opportunity where Biden was hoping to prove to the American people and the American media, as well as the democratic class writ-large, that he was up to the task of four more years. He was extremely defensive in that interview. He apologized for some of the rhetoric that he'd used as it related to his opponent on the campaign trail. But he reverted essentially back to some of his campaign rhetoric, saying that he was not the one who pledged to be a dictator on day one, that he, President Biden, was not the one who challenged the outcome of the 2020 election. So, hitting back at President Trump on some of those very familiar topics. Here in Nevada, he's going to try to turn to policy tomorrow, talking about housing specifically and actions he's taking for workers. But where workers are concerned, Anderson, we all saw the president of the Teamsters on stage tonight. I'm told that the Teamsters are withholding an endorsement until after the conventions, as they usually do. But as of right now, the Democrats have not extended an invitation for O'Brien to appear at their big convention in August, Anderson. COOPER: All right, Kayla Tausche, thanks so much. I want to play some more, another clip of President Biden talking to Lester Holt. Let's play it. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) HOLT: Who do you listen to on deeply personal issues, like the decisions whether to stay in the race or not? BIDEN: Me. Look, I've been doing this a long time. The idea that I'm the old guy, I am. I'm old. But I'm only three years older than Trump, number one. And number two, my mental acuity has been pretty damn good. I've gotten more done than any president has in a long, long time in three and a half years. So, I'm willing to be judged on that. I understand. I understand why people say, God, he's 81 years old. Whoa. What's he going to be when he's 83 years old or 84 years old? It's a legitimate question to ask. (END VIDEO CLIP) COOPER: Back with the team here. I mean, then how long can this go on for? [23:50:00] I mean, this -- I mean, yeah, on the democratic side. JONES: Well, look, I think it's probably going to go until November. And I want to give the president some credit. Before, it was -- he's hiding Biden. Hiding Biden. He won't come out. He won't do unscripted. He won't do interviews. He hasn't done enough interviews. So, then he does them. And he sounds like an old guy. But this was not a rambling, incoherent mess the way he was on that debate stage. And he's trying to stick up for himself. And by the way, he's got a reason to stick up for himself because he has gotten a lot done. It's -- I think it's hard for Americans to feel it the way that he wants us to. But, so, anyway, I -- COOPER: My question, by the way, how long has this gone for? I mean, the -- the -- the indecision on it, I mean, are they overhang? JONES: Yeah. COOPER: Whether -- JONES: Look, man, we -- the clock is running out on us. We're going to have to make decision. At some point, the DNC is going to have to just decide, if nothing else for Ohio, that this is the ticket and that's it. And when that happens, we're going to fight till the last dog barks for Joe Biden because we believe Joe Biden is better for this country, even if he is old than Donald Trump. But in the meantime, I think it's a healthy sign for this party to have a discussion. It's a cult. You would be in a cult if your candidate did something awful and you couldn't debate it and you couldn't talk about it. The Republicans, apparently, no matter what happens, they won't debate it. You can have all kind of felonies, all kind of terrible stuff. It's all right with them. But with us, we get new facts and new data. We discuss it. We debate it. JENNINGS: We had a primary. JONES: Well, yes -- JENNINGS: Many people -- well, many people ran, including Trump. We had a primary. We had debates. There were votes. Trump won. In the Democratic Party, you know, they ran RFK Jr. out of the room, wouldn't let him challenge Joe Biden. Where'd that get you? Not in a good place right now. They rigged the thing for Biden. You have not had a debate. And it's why right now in the latest NBC poll, that like 30% of Democrats are satisfied with their party's nominee. The most important thing Joe Biden said right there, by the way, he said, I've got a record and I'm willing to be judged on it. He just asked the American people for a referendum on his record. He currently has a 32% approval rating. I'll take it. GRIFFIN: Well, from a P.R. perspective, I just find that every time they've put him out since the debate, it hasn't gotten better. You could argue the NATO press conference was maybe neutral. It didn't do a ton of harm. But frankly, if our bar for the Democratic nominee is simply that he can answer basic foreign policy questions on issues he has worked on for 40 years, it's a pretty low bar and acknowledging there's a low bar that we have on the right. It's not he has been unable to get past this place of defending why he should be in the race and what he has accomplished. There's no forward- looking vision. He's not talking about here's what we're going to do next term, here's what your next four years are going to look like. And that's what keeps him stuck in this sort of stagnant place, and why, frankly, I think conversations are going to continue with dumb leadership because, listen, people might be willing to sacrifice the presidency, but down ballot races, I don't think. COOPER: I think we have another -- I think we have just another bite from this Lester Holt interview. Let's play that. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BIDEN: Why don't you guys ever talk about the 18 to 28 lies he told? Where are you on this? Why didn't the press ever talk about that? Twenty-eight times, it's confirmed, he lied in that debate. I had a bad, bad night. I wasn't feeling well at all. And I had been -- well, I'm not going to make any -- I screwed up. (END VIDEO CLIP) COOPER: Should point out we did extensive fact checking on all the lies told by Donald Trump in that debate. The question is, you know, why couldn't he on the stage push back on -- on those -- those -- those lies effectively? But to the question of -- you know, also, John King is reporting earlier. Stanley Greenberg has been sending poll numbers to the inner circle of President Biden, making the argument that it's -- it does not look good. BEDINGFIELD: Well, look, it shouldn't go on much longer if Democrats want to win this election. I mean, I think there has been -- look, you know, Scott can say the process was rigged, but he's the incumbent president. Others got into the race. Dean Phillips actually got in the race and made this exact case and didn't get the votes that he needed to become the nominee. Joe Biden became the nominee by the -- the votes of voters who -- who voted in the democratic primary. He has said many, many times after having been questioned many times about this, that he's not stepping down and he is going to be the nominee. So, at some point, Democrats have to decide that they want to try to win this election and turn their fire on Donald Trump. I think there is -- I shouldn't have said turn their fire. I apologize. That was not the phrase that I meant. They need to turn their focus on Donald Trump. So, you know, but I do think there has to come an end to this. I think everybody in the party leadership has -- has made their case. They've spoken to the president privately, as we've heard from, you know, a lot of reporting. And the president has said that he's not going to step down. [23:55:00] So, I -- at a certain point, we can -- you know, we can keep arguing in circles about this or we can decide that we want to put our full throat, our full chest, our full voice behind Joe Biden and go try to win this race. And I do think that this -- that the -- the finish line for this needs to be in sight here. JENNINGS: What do you do, though, when the guy who's running believes he's destined to win, and virtually, every other single person in your party, strategist, elected official and otherwise, thinks he is destined to lose when the core argument is up until now, if we lose, the country is over? How do you square that? How do you square that as a -- as a Democrat? Do you believe it or not? BEDINGFIELD: Because there is no guarantee that somebody else is going to win this election. That's where the argument starts to fall apart, that people are making. There is no magic one. No one has a crystal ball. No one can say if we inserted fill in the blank here, Vice President Harris or any other nominee into this race, they are guaranteed to beat Donald Trump. That's where that argument starts to fall apart. GOLDBERG: They are guaranteed to be able to campaign. And that's -- that's the thing I look at. I don't think Joe Biden can campaign for president. I think Kamala Harris can. I think a lot of the other people can. I mean, I have my preferences. But I got no party loyalty to defend here. I just think as a -- just -- I don't think he's good enough to -- I don't think he's in good enough shape to serve for four more years. COOPER: Twenty seconds, man. JONES: Here's the thing. There is a character piece here that I think people might be missing, which is that the diligence, the perseverance that he's showing is itself an argument for his character. COOPER: A history making night at the Republican National Convention. There's much more ahead. Laura Coates picks up our coverage after a quick break. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) CNN Live Event/Special Aired July 16, 2024 - 00:00 ET THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. [00:00:51] LAURA COATES, CNN ANCHOR: Good evening. I'm Laura Coates and we are live from Milwaukee, and welcome to CNN's special live coverage of the Republican National Convention. We are alive inside the CNN Grill right here in Milwaukee, where convention attendees are gathering. They are celebrating after a busy first night of the Republican National Convention. And you know what, a lot has happened already here tonight. But perhaps the biggest moment we were all waiting for, the arrival of a man who just 48 hours ago survived what is being investigated as an assassination attempt. Former president Donald Trump. You know who was next to him? The man who solved the mystery of who Trump will name as his running mate, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, and both were nominated by Republicans earlier today. (VIDEO CLIP) COATES: But tonight was more than about the fist pump. It was also a night in speeches focused on today's theme. It was "Make America Wealthy Again." You probably saw all the different signs that were in the convention hall, and each day it's going to bring yet another new theme of the convention, and speakers mostly focused on those issues. The economy, Biden's policies, but also both of Trump's sons spoke to CNN about the shooting and how it is affecting their father. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ERIC TRUMP, DONALD TRUMP'S SON: He was in the hospital and, you know, I get a call from him and, you know, he cracked a little joke and I knew, you know, the Donald Trump I know, the father I know is, you know, he's back. He certainly understands how close it was and, you know, at the same time, he's not deterred. DONALD TRUMP JUNIOR, DONALD TRUMP'S SON: That moment when he stood up after being shot at and just showed resolve to keep fighting for this country, that was everything for me. I just literally told him, I go, you're the biggest badass I know. (END VIDEO CLIP) COATES: Well, tonight's event comes on a monumental day for Trump when it comes to his legal jeopardy. Judge Aileen Cannon throwing out, throwing out, the classified documents case against him, a decision the special counsel tonight says that they are going to appeal. And all this as we get news on the other side of the aisle. Despite being, what, 37 days away from the Democratic National Convention, sources telling CNN that the private effort from Democrats to nudge President Biden out of the race is apparently still going on, and it continues tonight. We'll talk about all of these things from inside the Grill here but let's first begin with the convention. Joining me here Harry Enten, David Polyansky, Tara Palmeri and CNNs' own Mark Preston. So glad to have all of you guys here. Look, we were all waiting on this moment where, what, 72 hours since an assassination attempt of a former president of the United States. He came in. He appeared to be quite emotional at first. We walked on to the convention floor. How significant was that moment to see him knowing that he intends to change his speech to be one of unity? MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Look, it was -- it was raucous in a way for him to come into -- he was welcomed as a conquering hero in many ways and I do think that that iconic picture, which we're all describing now as, because it is an iconic picture, you know, really kind of like typified where we are in the race right now and where he thinks he can take the race. Now weather he can keep the discipline of being focused on, you know, being somebody who can unite the country remains to be seen, but at least that's what he's trying to play right now. And I do believe that the discipline we've seen so far has been the most shocking things for me tonight. COATES: I mean, discipline in terms of the themes of staying on topic. PRESTON: Yes. COATES: I think people respected the Republican National Convention because we know that politics is not a bean bag sport, it's sometimes a contact sport. Should not be physical as it has turned into, but still it was a change in tone. But is it enough to bring more people into the fold? DAVID POLYANSKY, CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER, AXADVOCACY: Absolutely. Look -- COATES: You thought so? POLYANSKY: The former president came into the debate and certainly came in to this weekend, and now into the convention with a pretty sizeable lead. You look at national polling, which obviously isn't all that overwhelmingly compelling, but he's up by almost 4 percent on average. And at this point in the race four years ago, Joe Biden was up by almost nine points. Now you go to the battleground states where he's leading in every single one of them and frankly, he's about to expand the map in the states like Virginia, New Mexico, and even in Minnesota. [00:05:08] And so there's a lot of confidence brewing with the president, with his team, and now with his pick, and I think you sense that today in the crowd and the audience that they were thrilled to see him, they're excited to see him. COATES: Yes. POLYANSKY: They are thrilled that he's healthy and in a strong position but today they are celebrating his pick and his position politically as well. And I think that is giving him the confidence to be a unifying force because for all intents and purposes the race is over. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's easy to be magnanimous when you're -- COATES: Wait. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. POLYANSKY: You heard it here. (CROSSTALK) COATES: The race is over. It's 12:05 East Coast Time. What are you talking about? Why is the race over to you? POLYANSKY: Because half -- the latter part of your segment was Democrats tonight against the who is leading in every state that matters, who is leading the financial -- with a major financial advantage, who is leading in every metric imaginable, and the other side is debating how to toss out the sitting president of the United States with 37 days left until their convention. Look, I'm all for -- COATES: Harry is chaffing at the bit. Hold on. HARRY ENTEN, CNN SENIOR DATA CORRESPONDENT: I'm chaffing at the bit just because I feel the confidence. I fear for Republicans on their side of the aisle, it may be creeping into over confidence, right? Look, there's no doubt that Donald Trump leads nationally. There's no doubt that he leads in the important battleground states. There's no doubt he's in his best political position than he's ever been in in terms of a general election. But if you take a step back and you do what I do for a living and you look at past polling errors and look how much races can shift from this point until the general election, there's roughly about a one in four shot flipping the coin twice and landing on head twice. That's the chance that I believe Joe Biden has at winning that election. Now would I much rather be Donald Trump? Absolutely. Oh, my goodness, gracious. But the idea in my opinion that this race is over, I'm not quite sure I'd go that far at least yet. POLYANSKY: I'll let -- sorry. COATES: Go ahead. POLYANSKY: Well, I just wanted to say real quick, in most campaigns, I agree with you. Campaigns are generally about, should this person hold office, should Donald Trump or should Joe Biden be president? The challenge here is that's no longer the case. It's can Joe Biden be president, and an overwhelming amount of voters including Democrats don't think so. So polling errors, margin of error, that phone out the door. Nobody believes Joe Biden can not only win this race, but can serve another four years. And I don't think that's possible to overcome. COATES: Look, my father always says, put a fork in and it is done. Do you agree with that assessment right now when it comes to the current president of the United States? TARA PALMERI, SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, PUCK: I think there's a real push among Democratic leadership. They're strategizing, they're trying to figure out a way to move them off because they know they're going down the ship. I mean, the way I would describe it is it's like they're on the Titanic and they're just seeing the violin seriously. There is a real resignation, a remorse. And it's strategy and it's every day -- it's fluid. You know, he talked to people and they think, OK, maybe today is the day, but he has to decide for himself. COATES: Today is the day that what? PALMERI: That he can be convinced or that he will decide that he should not be at the top of the ticket. Here's the game changer, the X factor. If someone else, if Trump runs against someone else, because they would like to run against Joe Biden. That is the campaign that they have strategized around, that's what they've crafted around. You throw in someone different then yes, four months from now is a totally different story. COATES: Well, let's just take a step back because -- it's interesting to me, and I think Democrats are probably very upset to think that on the first day of the Republican National Convention, the focus continues to be on the current president of the United States. Now maybe if you're President Trump or -- you want that to be the case but in terms of the tone today we didn't really hear a lot of attacks personally about Biden. We heard about the policy and the idea, the economy in a different way. How did that tone strike you? Does it resonate with you in this conversation? PRESTON: Well, I mean, it comes back to the whole idea of them staying on message in the campaign, and look, the Donald Trump we're seeing run right now this campaign is much different than we've seen in previous campaigns. There's a lot more disciplined. Susie Wiles, who's running the campaign, is keeping it, you know, very, very tight. They make sure -- COATES: So what's their timeframe? We're not talking about two days. We're talking about over time, this campaign feels different, not just the last few days. PRESTON: No, but I think what we've seen over the last two days is a culmination of them making him stay on message. He's been more on message and I know it sounds crazy for me to say this, but he's been on message more now than he's ever been than I've ever seen him at this point. And I do think that what I expected tonight, and I was wrong, is that we would see a lot more anger coming out from folks, and we didn't see that necessarily. They were told to stay to the scripts. ENTEN: They can smell victory. They can smell it. You even just look at the GOP platform. How many times does the word marriage mentioned at the GOP platform? Once. How many times was abortion mentioned in this GOP platform? Once. [00:10:02] These would be issues, if you go back to 2016, that were mentioned dozens of times. They are running a campaign to try and win in the middle at this point. They can smell the victory and they feel like unity can be the thing that can take them there, whether or not it ultimately does, we'll have to wait and see, but so far it's working. (CROSSTALK) COATES: Well, let me ask -- PALMERI: -- supporters will come out. His supporters will. His base after this attempt, like it's a pretty locked shore proven thing that he will have high turnout. POLYANSKY: Even before this weekend. COATES: But -- hold on. If this is the case, it is the assured victory, which I'm going to pause that. I don't think that -- ENTEN: No. PRESTON: No, no, nothing is for sure. ENTEN: Not assured. Nothing is assured in politics. COATES: I know. I'm saying -- PALMERI: I'm saying his base. COATES: Nothing is assured in politics. No, I hear your point. But if that's the case, why is he Elon Musk asking or going to give $45 million a month for the next several months? This is a lot of money in politics. Maybe the layman, not people who are in the strategy and the pundit field would say, well, do you need -- if it's a sure victory, why so much money? POLYANSKY: Look, this is just a campaign anymore about the White House. This is about ensuring control of the Senate and the House. But also gubernatorial races across the country, and down-ballot. This is the moment, this is the election for Republicans and conservatives across the country, to seize the moment and take control of government up and down the ladder. And why that matters? Sure it matters at the federal level for things like Supreme Court nominations, tax cuts, which will expire next year. All of that matters, but what happens at the local level matters, too. It's where you decide policies that impact a lot of us on our everyday lives. We see it firsthand. And just as importantly, that's actually where we start to build our base for the future of candidates and the growth of our party. ENTEN: I would just add, you know, when you smell victory, you don't all of a sudden run away from the kitchen. You run towards the kitchen. You put more money down. You ensure that that victory actually comes because as you were just saying, Laura, nothing is assured. You put in more money in those races. You make sure if you're beating Joe Biden, you can continue to beat Joe Biden. COATES: So what about the choice for the vice president? You're talking about the tone being decidedly different over time, but it was not perhaps as antagonistic. There's a lot about what's going to happen there and the selection of J.D. Vance in particular, but you know, it struck me today, the people who were speaking. You know, you had Senator Tim Scott, you had, you know, Governor Kristi Noem, you had others who were all there. What did it say to you that the selection of the people who came out of the gate talking? You had Amber Rose talking as well. What was your thoughts? PALMERI: Well, I think that most of the people that were speaking there are the bench for the, you know, the future of the Republican Party since Donald Trump can only serve one term. Essentially, J.D. Vance would be a frontrunner because he'll be the vice president or if they win obviously. But, yes, this is the future of the Republican Party. And the thing I gathered from J.D., it seems like he's going to be the pit bull at this moment, right? Because Trump has taken this tempered tone, he's trying to be magnanimous. Of course he can do that, like I said, because he's ahead in the polls and he's doing well in the race. But for now, he can have J.D. out there and I think they think that J.D. offers, you know, some help politically in the rust belt, but mostly Trump never really thought that a running mate would add much to the ticket. He always believed it was about him and it would irk him to think that someone could really help him, frankly. COATES: You know what, we're going to get more of this because I am really intrigued by the choice of the vice presidential candidate. There's so much more to talk to you about this and I do not for one second think this race is over. And you know what? I think a lot of Americans do not either. And our panel will get more into this discussion. Next, more on Trump's new running mate. A once fierce critic, remember that, who called Trump a -- was it a moral disaster? I'll speak with the man who nominated J.D. Vance. And Harry Enten also will help us figure out whether this will help Trump on the electoral map. We are continuing this CNN special live coverage from where, the CNN Grill in Milwaukee. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) [00:17:53] COATES: We are back live at the CNN Grill right here in Milwaukee. And you know, just eight years ago, a lifetime ago in politics, right, maybe several lifetimes ago, J.D. Vance refused to vote for Donald Trump in his first White House bid. And now he is his running mate. This is Vance right before the 2016 election. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. J.D. VANCE (R), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm a never Trump guy. I never liked him. The media sort of asked me to be this spokesman for the white-working class voter, who's voting for Trump, right. But as somebody who doesn't like Trump myself, I sort of -- I understand where Trump's voters come from, but I also don't like Trump himself. And that's made me realize that maybe I'm not quite part of either world totally. (END VIDEO CLIP) COATES: That was before the beard. And now he is very much in that world. I mean that the 180-degree turn pretty stark to say the least. And this is, of course, for somebody who normally has punished those who have gone against him, well, tonight he downplayed his past comments. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) VANCE: I was certainly skeptical of Donald Trump in 2016, but President Trump was a great president and he changed my mind. I bought into the media's lies and distortions. I bought into this idea that somehow he was going to be so different. President Trump did a really good job, and I actually think it's a good thing when you see somebody you were wrong about him, you ought to admit the mistake and admit that you were wrong. (END VIDEO CLIP) COATES: Well, let's go through some of those comments. In an op-ed in "The Atlantic" during Trump's 2016 campaign, Vance called Trump the opioid of the masses. He wrote, "Trump's promises are the needle in America's collective vein. And he -- Trump is cultural heroin. He makes some feel better for a bit, but he cannot fix what ails them. And one day, they'll realize it," unquote. Well, CNN's KFILE uncovered tweets from Vance in 2016 disparaging Trump. They have since been deleted. But in one, he says, quote, "Trump makes people I care about afraid -- immigrants Muslims, et cetera. I find him reprehensible. God wants better for us." Now the day of the "Access Hollywood" tape Vance called on his fellow Christians, writing, quote, "Everyone is watching us when we apologize for this man. Lord help us." [00:20:09] Now earlier that year, he even wrote that he hopes he would be remembered as someone who fought Trump, quote, "the most aggressively." (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MATT JONES, "THE MATT JONES PODCAST": And I cannot stand Trump because I think he's a fraud. Well, I think he's a total fraud, that he's exploiting these people. VANCE: I do, too. JONES: Who is a total fraud. VANCE: I agree with you on Trump because I don't think that he's the person -- I don't think he actually cares about folks. But I think that I'm going to vote for -- I'm going to vote third party because I can't stomach Trump. I think that he's noxious and is leading the white-working class to a very dark place. (END VIDEO CLIP) COATES: Well, Dinah Washington once saying what a difference a day makes, 24 little hours, what a difference eight years certainly has made. The about-face was never more evident than just even two years ago when Vance's law school roommate posted a screenshot of a message that Vance sent him in February of 2016. And in it, Vance writes, "I go back and forth between thinking Trump is a cynical asshole, like Nixon who wouldn't be that bad, or that he's America's Hitler." His words, not mine. Joining me now is Ohio Lieutenant Governor John Husted. He officially nominated J.D. Vance at the Republican National Convention, and he's here now. Thank you for joining us. What a day, you did not know this was going to happen. You were here, you were attending. What do you think about the fact that he now will be the running mate of Donald Trump? LT. GOV. JON HUSTED (R), OHIO: I'm excited about it. J.D. is son of Ohio. He grew up humbly. Has worked hard his whole life. Really talented guy. And now he's going to be Donald Trump's wing man and Ohio is proud to have him there. COATES: You know, there's been an evolution. Many people wondered what the criteria would be for how Trump would choose his running mate, and to be honest, J.D. Vance was not always a fan of Donald Trump. In fact, he in the past had called him a cultural heroin, reprehensible, said that God wants something better for America. And now he's the running mate. You and I are speaking a little bit about some of the evolutions that have occurred. Did it surprise you that he was the choice? HUSTED: No, because over time I've seen J.D. really reflect on his humble beginnings and the hardworking people where he grew up. He's like, you know, they like Donald Trump for a reason. They think he's fighting for them. He is fighting for an agenda that's made in America, that's securing the borders, is protecting, you know, working families in those communities. And I think he realized that, hey, that's where my constituents are. That's where I've got to be. COATES: You know, Ohio is going to be one of those states everyone is going to be watching. I'm from the Midwest as well. I'm from the better state of Minnesota, but I won't hold that against you right now thinking about that. But I do wonder from the perspective of Ohioans. The idea that oftentimes inside the beltway gets the most attention, right? Places like New York, places like Washington, D.C. What is it about Ohio voters in particular that you think they're going to be even more drawn maybe to a Trump ticket knowing that Vance is on it? HUSTED: Yes, they will. I think Donald Trump was already going to win Ohio by double-digits. I think that that number goes up, which is really important for our Senate race, because we have Bernie Moreno on the Republican side running for that Senate seat. And I think it's really going to help him. That's probably the big factor in Ohio that this nomination did today. I think it really helps Bernie Moreno win the Senate seat. COATES: You know, one of the concerns, of course, for everyone in the electorate is they do not want to have a repeat of something that is anything less than a peaceful transfer of power. And January 6th is still in the minds of so many people. At one point -- Senator Vance said he would not have certified the election. You yourself have talked about in a post once that that the constitutional peaceful transfer of power is what makes America special. What's happening right now, referring to the Capitol that day, is a sad day for America. What do you make of the fact that Senator Vance was not willing to certify, may not have voted HUSTED: Look, we don't have to agree on every single thing. I think Senator Vance made some really good points and the guy makes some really good points. But we're looking forward. I hope for America that what happened on Saturday is going to be a little bit of a turning point for us. I sense that. I sense that in Donald Trump. I sense that in listening to the people that are at the convention that they really -- they want to fight. They do want to fight for what they believe in and what they're against. But they -- I think they're struggling to find the language to do that in a more perhaps constructive way. But I think that that's happening. I hope that worldview holds that we find a way to air our differences without using language that incites something more severe, that we should never resort to violence, that we should look for -- look to elections and being smarter than the other person and outwitting them and having better ideas as the currency of how we motivate people. [00:25:04] COATES: You know, you're looking forward and I think every strategist and frankly the voters want to do the same. And yet there was the post right after that, what could have been a fateful day in America. It still very much is, knowing that there was grave danger posed to a former president of the United States. And I keep talking about how often we've heard in this country about where were you when. And no one wants to have that happen. But then there was a post that Senator Vance posted about the rhetoric he believed directly led to the assassination attempt, and I was taken aback. Were you? HUSTED: It was pointed, but there's some truth in it. There's some truth in the fact that no president -- presidential candidate has been attacked more than Donald Trump. I get it. Some people say he asks for it, but you want to know something? It never stops, through the courts, through the media, through the Democrats and their advocates are attacking him personally. Joe Biden used the language of putting a target on Donald Trump. That language is also out of bounds and look, I'm going to be a guy who's going to say, let's try to find some language that's aggressive in fighting for what we believe in. But let's not go over the top with it. There's no doubt that language describing Donald Trump in the past has been over the top, and we've even seen it in the last two days. However, it's incumbent upon leaders, the media, people in political life, to try to find a language that is clear about what we believe in, what we're fighting for, what we're against, but not over the top, personal attacks that would lead some lone ranger out there to want to try to take justice in their own hand. COATES: And that goes for both sides. HUSTED: It goes -- it goes for the media, it goes for the political parties. We all have a role in this as voices to the American public. COATES: Why they're looking ahead, and looking to a brighter future certainly. It felt so great to have you on. Thank you so much for joining me. HUSTED: Great to be with you. COATES: Well, J.D. Vance's announcement today follow a long often very public --can we call it an audition process from multiple candidates, many of whom came out today to publicly applaud Trump's choice. Now I'll be back with my panel right now, and we're also joined by Marc Caputo. He is a national political reporter for "The Bulwark." All right. There were a lot of people auditioning for this role. You know, I wonder how people were sort of smiling through irritation and frustration. But if the tone is to change toward unity, and you have that Senator J.D. Vance's tweet, what is it say about the choice? MARC CAPUTO, NATIONAL POLITICAL REPORTER, THE BULWARK: Well, it says about the choice is that it's about unity, right? You're going to talk about, oh, we need to all come together and we need to unite as a country. But at the same time, you're going to have your attack dog who goes out there and tears apart the other people who don't get in line. That's the point. That's the purpose of J.D. Vance. And on the day of the assassination attempt, J.D. Vance went right into that role even before he was picked. He just went right out there. He started attacking the media. He started attacking Democrats, congressmen, and he also started attacking Joe Biden. He was basically auditioning ahead of time, saying, look, Trump, this is what I'm going to do for you. COATES: Gosh, you know, the other couple of mouth did not have that thing. Burgum took a different tone. Rubio took a different -- (CROSSTALK) CAPUTO: Yes, they didn't get the job, did they? COATES: And they didn't get the job. PRESTON: Yes. But can I say, how bizarre -- I mean, again, showing my age here, I've covered many, many, many, many, many, many presidential campaigns. COATES: Many. ENTEN: Your looks are still great. PRESTON: A lot of many. (LAUGHTER) PRESTON: I have never -- yes, no, but I've never seen an auditioning process like this where the folks who were interested in becoming vice president were so public about it, and they wanted to talk about it. PALMERI: It was "The Apprentice." PRESTON: It was "The Apprentice." It really was. PALMERI: And he dragged it out because he loves the art of the tease and he really didn't know until the last minute because we were in contact with aides and they would say, OK, he's down to two or three. It's Burgum, it's Rubio, it's J.D. I think we had had an idea that it was going to be J.D. COATES: Well, what pushed it over? PALMERI: I mean, maybe it was the brush with death because I think there was a moment where he really did not -- he was scared to hand over the MAGA mantle to someone who is younger. He didn't want to hand over what he created at first. And then I think there were a lot of lobbying by his son, Donald Trump Junior. A lot of butt-kissing from J.D. Vance. Tucker Carlson making a lot of phone calls. CAPUTO: Oh, my. Oh, my. PALMERI: Rupert Murdoch saying basically he wanted anyone but J.D. Vance, which does not help in Trump world because Trump does not -- he's not happy with Rupert Murdoch. And I think eventually, I mean, perhaps he was thinking about his legacy for once, which is not something that Donald Trump typically thinks about. And it just -- I mean I think he was always going to go with J.D. Vance, but maybe this pushed it along. CAPUTO: Exactly. And one of the things -- ENTEN: No, no, no, no. I was just going to say when you face your own mortality maybe then you realized that, you know, even if you win, you're only going to be president for four more years. And then you have to pass the mantle to somebody else. PALMERI: Exactly. ENTEN: But here's the other thing. VP picks are about making the president feel comfortable. It's not necessarily making the general electorate feel comfortable. There aren't very many swing voters this evening going, well, you know, I wasn't thinking of voting for Donald Trump before now. [00:30:05] COATES: But is it different now because the age of the candidates, though? I mean -- ENTEN: I mean, most folks at this point don't believe that Donald Trump is too old to be president. That may be the case on the Democratic side, which is why the V.P. person there, Kamala Harris, is so important. But on the Republican side, I just don't see it the same way. MARC CAPUTO, NATIONAL POLITICAL REPORTER, "THE BULWARK": I think Harry, on an interesting point is J.D. Vance was a venture capitalist before this; also, a successful writer. ENTEN: Right. CAPUTO: He excelled in getting older, powerful men to give him money, to give him power. Money is power. And out of all of the people who were auditioning in this "Apprentice" -- or I'd like to call it "The Bachelor." I'm upset no one got a rose. There was no rose ceremony. But he was auditioning the entire time. And one of the interesting things that Trump was saying, and says to J.D. Vance, is he loves his beautiful blue eyes, like literally, J.D. Vance was able to entrance President Trump, or former President Trump, and got him to pick him. COATES: Didn't Dave Chappelle do a joke about Prince's eyes once: Well, they weren't blue, but you couldn't look him right in the eye? There was a whole skit about this. Maybe I'm dating myself here. MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Was there a moment, though, when they were together in the box where you can see, like, a young Donald Trump and J.D. Vance. I mean, they seemed to have this -- CAPUTO: They were bro-ing out. He likes to bro out with guys. PRESTON: Right. And to Harry's point about, like, the legacy and what have you, if Rubio had been chosen -- and Mark, you know Rubio probably better than anybody. Or if had Bergum been chosen, would have that been really the heir apparent for the MAGA movement? J.D. Vance is clearly the heir apparent for the -- COATES: How is it possible, though? I mean, you talk about Marco Rubio and others. I mean, weigh in. Don't you remember a Trump who did not forgive those who would say negative things about him? Are we that far away? CAPUTO: As long as they grovel. You've got to grovel. COATES: But he embarrassed -- he also has embarrassed people in the past who has lingered -- put a carrot out there, knowing they will, and then saying no. ENTEN: The convert. He loves a good convert. More than anything else, he loves a good convert. And you know, I just think about, you know, a young Donald Trump. We're dealing with two guys who were in that box tonight, two "New York Times" bestsellers. He's a media guy, as much in some ways as Donald Trump is. COATES: Right. ENTEN: Yes, there are some ways in which he differs from Donald Trump, but both of them understand media. And I think Donald Trump might have seen a lot of J.D. Vance in himself. TARA PALMERI, SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, PUCK NEWS: J.D. came a long way. Because let's just think back to the Senate primary in Ohio. It took six weeks to convince Trump to endorsement him in the primary. He was down. He was, like, 6 million down in fundraising. The polls. PRESTON: He was in third in the polls, yes. PALMERI: He was in third in the polls. He needed Trump's endorsement. And in the end, Donald Trump Jr. was really on him, Tucker Carlson, the whole MAGA, you know, crew. And they convinced him. And he was reluctant to do it because of past comments. Think of what J.D. Vance was able to accomplish in two years. To get him to have this complete about-face and, essentially, pick someone that he knew that -- that in the right of it would say this man called him America's Hitler. PRESTON: Right. PALMERI: You have to swallow that. COATES: How about the age we were talking about. So, he is now going to be the youngest, I think, vice-presidential since what, Nixon? ENTEN: The first millennial. PRESTON: He's the third youngest, third youngest. COATES: Third youngest ever at this point in time. PALMERI: It's a contrast. COATES: It's a contrast, but you know, younger vote -- and I look today. It was 18 years ago today that Twitter even launched. So, a lot of people who are voting for the very first time, I mean Twitter can now vote, right? Eighteen years later, people have grown up in the social media era. They're picking out different things like this. Will it attract younger voters? PRESTON: No. Before I answer that -- ENTEN: No, no. (CROSSTALK) COATES: Even with a bigger -- all right. OK. PRESTON: No, but it's not about that, though. It's about attracting voters in that Rust Belt or into some of these other states that are now expanding, whether that be, you know, New Mexico, as you noted. Georgia may be off to off the board. Maybe North Carolina is not for Democrats, at least at this point in time. You know, but are we going to see him in that Rust Belt? We're going to see him in Pennsylvania all the time. Is his role, as you note, to be the attack dog and to try to win the Rust Belt? And if that's the case, then Trump wins. ENTEN: I'll just say, I am skeptical of that, insofar as J.D. Vance actually did worse than Ohio in 2022, which was a better Republican year, than Donald Trump did in 2020. He was underwhelming compared to the gubernatorial candidate who was running. Obviously, the governor, the incumbent governor there, Mike DeWine. And he was underwhelming compared to the average House candidate. This, in my mind, was not a pick that really was looking at electoral implications. It was a pick that made Donald Trump comfortable. CAPUTO: That's true. However, let's face it. Out of the four people -- you've got Kamala Harris. You've got Joe Biden. You've got President Trump, former President Trump. You have J.D. Vance. Out of the four of them, who's going to be best to talk in the Rust Belt? Who's going to be best to talk about issues of the white working class and the white intellectual conservative class? It's J.D. Vance. And that's what Trump is interested in maximizing. The Trump campaign likes to talk about, oh, we're going to get black voters. Oh, we're going to get an historic share of Hispanic voters. Maybe that's true. But in the end, the bread and butter of a Republican ticket is white voters, and J.D. Vance speaks to white voters. [00:35:08] COATES: Well, we'll have to see what will come of this. And of course, there's one thing about preaching to one's choir, and then trying to convert. Everyone standby. We've got more breaking news tonight to discuss, as well. You forgot this happened, probably. Judge Aileen Cannon threw out Trump's federal classified documents case. The Justice Department is promising to appeal. We'll talk about why, whether they should, and what comes next. Next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) COATES: Well, there was major -- and I do mean major -- news on the legal front today for Donald Trump. Judge Aileen Cannon dismissing the classified documents case against the former president. Now, why? Well, because according to the judge, the appointment of Special Counsel Jack Smith violates the Constitution. She wrote, in part, quote, "In the end, it seems the Executive's growing comfort in appointing 'regulatory' special counsels in the more recent era has followed an ad hoc pattern with little judicial scrutiny." [00:40:07] Translation: she thinks that they should not have been able to appoint him without confirmation or otherwise. But the Justice Department isn't going down without a fight, issuing a statement today saying, quote, "The dismissal of the case deviates from the uniform conclusion of all previous courts to have considered the issue that the Attorney General is statutorily authorized to appoint a special counsel. The Justice Department has authorized the Special Counsel to appeal the court's order." For more, I want to bring in former Nixon White House counsel and CNN contributor John Dean, with former U.S. attorney Harry Litman. Glad to have both of you guys here. John, let me begin with you, because this was such a significant moment. Of all the ways a judge could put their thumb on the scale, whether it's voir dire, including evidence, or in witnesses and beyond, this was the ultimate. And when you look at what happened leading up to the ruling today, John, are you surprised that she ultimately decided to dismiss this case? JOHN DEAN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Not at all. She -- she seems to have gotten a telegraph in the concurring opinion of Justice Thomas, who raised issues that she, indeed, picked up and carried a distance not even he could carry in questioning the constitutionality of the appointment process under the Appointment Clause. And also, as you mentioned, the Appropriations Clause. It's really a reach. It was a hail Mary pass by the Trump team. And I think the only person in the world who could have caught it and plucked it out of the air was Aileen Cannon, and she did. And I think it's going to be reversed. COATES: Well, you mentioned Justice Clarence Thomas, and they -- there was that recent immunity decision in the Supreme Court. And Justice Thomas wrote in a footnote where, frankly, we find, as a lawyer, is a lot of the juiciest parts, that there are, quote, "serious questions whether the Attorney General has violated that structure by creating an office of the Special Counsel that is not established by law." I mean, clearly, these comments, as you say, weighed heavy on Judge Cannon's decision. I want to bring you into this, as well, Harry, because look, the DOJ, in a special counsel appointment, is intended in very much part to ensure that there is not the accusation that it's being politicized, and it not be somebody who serves the pleasure of the president overseeing a matter; that it goes to somebody with an independent authority to do something. Now, this decision suggests that that is not what should happen. What did you make of it? HARRY LITMAN, FORMER DEPUTY ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL: You know, look, as a -- as a legal decision by a district court judge, it's simply indefensible. As John says, you know, she had telegraphed it several times, but it almost doesn't make sense to try to talk about it in legal terms. This is, as I said, the first Project 2025 opinion. The principal is only loyalty to Trump. But you make a very important point now, Laura, because the DOJ is committed to this notion of no appearance of conflict when they're prosecuting Trump, something they could easily do. It's been suggested already, is they just assign somebody else to file the case, and then there's no problem. Except that Merrick Garland and the DOJ want to keep this looking impartial, and that's why you have an appeal and appeal so quickly. But however quickly it is, I think she's done full service to Trump, because the 11th Circuit, I doubt has time to reverse this before the election. The state of play for now is it's been reversed. She's -- that check is now paid in full on her part. The very best she could have done for him. The 11th Circuit ought to reverse it, unless of course, Trump becomes president, in which case they'll just say goodbye and order DOJ to stand down. COATES: Well, just to be clear, not the 11th Circuit, but the idea of this being a federal case, it would not be likely to be a federal pursuit any longer, if of course, Donald Trump becomes the president of the United States. To bring you back in here, John, I mean, there's still this case, the special counsel's case against Trump, and it's also in the interference in the 2020 election. And I do wonder if this ruling -- many are wondering, does this ruling today have a domino effect on the other matter at the federal level for him? DEAN: I don't think so. The D.C. circuit where the January 6 case is proceeding, or has been remanded by the Supreme Court after their immunity decision, to determine if he, indeed, has any immunity or not, and what is evidentiary material that can be used or not used before Judge Chutkan, I don't think that she is going to return to the subject even though Trump will probably issue new motions, based on the Florida ruling, to somehow -- or based on Thomas's ruling during the immunity case, where he addressed the powers and authority of the special counsel. [00:45:16] You know, they'll -- they'll do anything to stretch this out. So, I wouldn't be surprised if a motion was there. I'd be very surprised if Judge Chutkan entertained it or if it went anywhere. COATES: You know, Harry, on this case, as you've mentioned, there will be an appeal. What does that look like here? What are the odds of being able to raise this issue in a way that could move the needle back towards having a prosecution? I mean, this 11th Circuit in the past has been critical of Judge Aileen Cannon. That had to do with the special master overseeing documents in the FBI probe. And they found it just unbelievable that she would try to insert herself into a criminal investigation. But the 11th Circuit now would have a very different role. What do you think the chances of this appeal being successful are? LITMAN: As long as Trump isn't president, in which case he'll make the appeal shut down, the chances are very high. As the DOJ said, Laura, every single court to consider this case has gone the other way. It's especially outrageous for a district court to take it upon herself to do it. So, I think it will be -- be reversed. The question is, will they then recuse her? That's a bigger stretch. But yes, with the -- with the preamble that you talked about in the search case, I think they have more than enough predicate. And she's just a sort of black eye now in that district, and I think they will want to bounce her if they can. Again, we're talking February, March, a time when, if we have a new second Trump regime, all of this is -- all bets are off. They'll just tell the DOJ to close down shop. COATES: Well, there already was that slim notion of who it could be in that particular district. There wasn't a whole lot of judges there to choose from. I do wonder, really quickly, Harry, I do wonder if they could try to re-bring this case in another jurisdiction, knowing that some of the classified documents were reportedly found elsewhere other than Florida. LITMAN: The short answer is, yes, they were worried about venue before, but I think they have a real shot if they wanted to, in bringing it in D.C. Still with a special counsel now. That's what the DOJ will want. COATES: John Dean, Harry Litman, a pleasure to talk to you both. Thank you for joining me tonight. Up next, we'll have the very latest on this investigation into an assassination attempt against Donald Trump, including news just moments ago that snipers were inside -- inside -- the very building the shooter fired from. You are watching coverage from CNN's Grill at the Republican National Convention. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) [00:52:54] COATES: Disturbing new details tonight that the FBI is struck by the lack of leads on the Trump shooter's possible motive or mindset. We're also learning local police and -- get this -- snipers were inside the building that the gunman climbed and fired from. As witnesses warned police of his very presence, long before the gunfire. All that as the director of the Secret Service spoke for the very first time since the assassination attempt. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) KIMBERLY CHEATLE, U.S. SECRET SERVICE DIRECTOR: The buck stops with me. I am the director of the Secret Service. It was unacceptable, and it's something that shouldn't happen again. (END VIDEO CLIP) COATES: Joining me now is Donell Harvin, former chief of Homeland Security Intelligence for the government of D.C. Donell, there are so many questions. And the developments that we're hearing tonight, this news that not only were local police, but snipers were actually inside the building where the gunman was. I mean, we're just over two days now in the investigation. I find that pretty shocking, that there aren't any leads so far. But what do you make of this new news that there would be local law enforcement and snipers inside and not a whole lot of leads to go on? DONELL HARVIN, FORMER CHIEF OF HOMELAND SECURITY INTELLIGENCE, WASHINGTON, D.C.: Well, I mean, it's so shocking. Once you get over the shock at the fact that the leading Republican, now the candidate for the Republican Party, was -- came within an inch of losing his life, then you wake up to the shock that, you know, witnesses were pointing this individual out minutes before this occurred. There are layers of security when these type of events take place. And there's different police organizations that protect or have charge. At the end of the day, the Secret Service is responsible holistically for the entire scene. And so obviously, there's going to be an inquiry. It's stunning that this individual -- Laura, this -- this individual graduated from high school two years ago. Let's just take a second and think about that. And in two years, without any tactical training or any other -- anything that was significant, he was able to almost take the life of the presidential candidate. And so how is that possible with the layers of security that -- that are in place, is something that we all are waiting to hear. COATES: I do wonder about the combination of Secret Service and local police. Is that common for them to be getting help from local police? HARVIN: It's essential. So, the Secret Service is a large organization, about 8,300 individuals. Not all of them are agents. It's a mixture of uniform Secret Service police, non-uniform individuals that protect the president. There's individuals that get there days before, that you've heard this term before: the advance team. So, it's a multi-layered organization that does a complex mission. At the end of the day, they cannot do this mission without the help of state and local law enforcement. This is in all events, whether they're a national security special event like you're covering right now at the RNC, all the way down to rallies. And so local law enforcement creates that outer perimeter, that extended perimeter: road closures, directing people, checking people out. [00:55:05] At the end of the day, the Secret Service has overall responsibility, but primarily, they're there for to protect the detainee [SIC] -- the protectee, rather. COATES: I mean as they mentioned, the buck stops with them, but this is, what, 100 plus days away from the presidential election. There will surely be more campaign rallies. With the former president, we have a current one who's also going to be on the campaign trail. And we understand there will be more service provided to even third-party candidates now. Donell Harvin, thank you so much for joining me. HARVIN: Thank you. COATES: We're going to have more on day one of the Republican National Convention from right here in Milwaukee at the CNN Grill. That's next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) COATES: Well, welcome to CNN's continuing coverage of the Republican National Convention. I'm Laura Coates, up late tonight here at the CNN Grill in Milwaukee. And this was the must-see moment from night one… CNN Live Event/Special Aired July 16, 2024 - 01:00 ET THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. [01:00:00] LAURA COATES, CNN ANCHOR: …indelible to the crowd watching Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president walking out for the first time in public since that gunman tried to take his life appearing to be emotional. A white bandage covering his right ear, a reminder of just how close the would be assassins bullet came. I mean, just listen to the crowd when he emerged. On that stage next to him was his newly chosen running mate, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, the one-time self-proclaimed never Trumper turn now forever Trumper. Somewhere the bumper stickers are being printed right now. Trump-Vance 2024, or for those who still have a Pence one, just do what Don Jr. posted Sharpie out the P for a V and the E for an A and voila. Vance, tonight shrugging off his well-documented critiques of his new boss. In fact, he thinks that those critiques are going to help the campaign. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. J.D. VANCE (R) VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: I said some bad things about Donald Trump 10 years ago, but I think it's actually important to be able, again, to admit that you're wrong. You can make a good case to the American people, people who may have been skeptical of the president back in 2016. You can be skeptical now that we've seen the results. (END VIDEO CLIP) COATES: Well, there is no doubt that everyone in that hall is united behind Donald Trump. But the race make no mistake about it is still tight, and there are plenty of voters and plenty of days left for the election, and those who reject Donald Trump and what he stands for irrespective of whether or not he's chosen his running mate. The question now is whether the new Trump-Vance ticket can appeal to those who are undecided voters like here in the battleground state of Wisconsin or as they say, Wisconsin and beyond. Well, joining me here in Milwaukee, former Trump administration official Matt Mowers, CNN political commentator and former national coalition's director for the Biden-Harris 2020 campaign, Ashley Allison, national reporter for The Bulwark Marc Caputo and CNN senior political analyst Mark Preston. Gosh, we're going to challenge all the diction tonight with all the different can we have less, it's him and him and her and him. OK, as we're doing right now. So listen, first of all, we now know that he's picked his running mate. It is Senator J.D. Vance from Ohio, somebody who on Saturday came out to say that the rhetoric of President Biden directly contributed to the assassination on Trump. Meanwhile, Trump is saying he wants take a step back a message of unity. What do you make of this thick? MATT MOWERS, FORMER TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Well, look, I mean, I think it does a few things. First and foremost, certainly injects youth into this campaign, we have had a lot of conversation about the age of the top of the ticket on both sides, certainly injects youth when the youngest vice presidents we could ever have in American history, if he's elected. Certainly also brings a humble upbringing. I mean, everyone's now read Hillbilly Elegy. I'm sure every DNC staffer was required summer reading to learn all about him and everything he's ever written. And so I think he's going to bring that to the fold as well. And so, you know, I think his rollout clearly was done in a Trumpian fashion held to the last minute done in front of an adoring crowd here at the Republican National Convention. I remember being in Cleveland eight years ago, and Donald Trump waited 48 hours before the convention to dominate Mike Pence. Today, he actually did at the convention, and I think it really sends if this was the Trump convention, right. I mean, every speaker we saw tonight show that was about the working class. You had that President, the teamsters union night. That's all amplified by J.D. Vance. And that's the message the campaign's clearly trying to get out there. Right. COATES: What's the message to undecided voters? Wait a second. MOWERS: I think that side eye is official side eye. COATES: I was getting to ask the question. MOWERS: I saw a lot of nodding in agreement. Nod and agreement. (CROSSTALK) COATES: I'm going to ask a question with my eyes, and you're going to answer you're ready. ASHLEY ALLISON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, look, I mean, it's hard to believe that I was just sitting here 24 hours ago, having a totally different conversation about unity, about turning the rhetoric down, about how we build a bridge for it. I have to say J.D. Vance is from my home state of Ohio. He put out one of the most aggressive tweets yesterday, attacking Democrats. So, I was taught as a little girl actions speak louder than words. And Trump's actions seem that he is picking someone who is not trying to turn the temperature down. I also find it ironic that during the convention today when Mitch McConnell got to the microphone to call it during the roll, people booed Mitch McConnell, because, like at the national convention, the person who actually enabled Donald Trump to get three Supreme Court nominations he got booed on the floor, and some of J.D. Vance's behavior were somewhat similar to Mike Pence. [01:05:02] The difference is J.D. Vance said he learned the error of his ways. But I think some people are saying actually the error of your ways is supporting someone who still doesn't acknowledge the election results. Who still won't say January 6 was an insurrection. So I don't know where this unity is going at this point. COATES: Mark Preston, I'm going to ask you to listen to what J.D. Vance in his first interview since his VP nomination on Fox. Listen what he said. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) VANCE: What are Democrats running on lies and complete distortions of people's records, Kamala Harris has allowed America to be saddled with a president who clearly doesn't have the middle capacity to do the job. And the only way to punish the Democrats from lying about Joe Biden's health and saddling us with an incapacitated president is to vote them out of office at every level come November. (END VIDEO CLIP) COATES: So this is his job. He attacked of it? MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Right. Yes, but that's the job of every vice president. I mean, it's a pick in many ways, right? They're the ones who have to go out, try to do the dirty work, try to bolster up, you know, their running mate. You know, Matt was talking about the party and how things have kind of changed a little bit. I got to tell you, just sitting in the bowl tonight and watching people walk around and around and around. Again, I have spent a lot of many years covering campaigns. I got to tell you, I had a very hard time knowing very many people in there. The party has changed so much from 2016 to where we are now in the folks who are actually active in the party and participating party. That doesn't mean that there still isn't, you know, this Mitch McConnell wing of the party, but clearly we saw what happened to that Mitch McConnell wing of the party, they're getting booed out on. It has become -- it is no longer the GOP. It really is the MAGA party. COATES: Well, more on this and much longer. I want to hold on because I'm going to who does know who we're talking about Senator JD Vance. Let's bring him J.D. Vance's former college roommate or law school roommate at Yale Law School, Josh McLaurin. He's also a democratic state senator in Georgia. Senator McLaurin, thank you for joining us this evening. First of all, are you surprised that he is now the running mate of Donald Trump? JOSH MCLAURIN (D) GEORGIA STATE SENATOR: Hi, Laura, thanks so much. No, I totally expected this. Because I know J.D. to be an angry person. I think he controlled his anger more in law school when I had the chance to know Him. But it's really been unleashed now. You heard it yourself just a minute ago. He didn't say let's elect Donald Trump and make things better for people. He said, let's elect Donald Trump to punish Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Now that framing is vindictive. It's about revenge. And he's unapologetic about that. Now. I think the comments I heard on the panel basically track my experience, which is he is in this to vindicate anger. And that's the thing I want Americans to understand the most about JD. It's one thing to be a hypocrite. Look, politicians flip flop, right. It's another thing to play that role of a tech dog with such a viciousness, that something really different is going on. COATES: Senator McLaurin, I want to read for you something that he texted you, J.D. Vance texted you back in 2016, of what he thought of Trump, and he said, quote, I go back and forth between thinking Trump is a cynical asshole like Nixon, who wouldn't be that bad or that he's America's Hitler. These are the words that he wrote to you. I mean, you mentioned the idea of one might be a hypocrite or otherwise. But how does a man go from calling someone a phrase like America's Hitler, to a full throated supporter standing beside him as a running a political ambition is one thing. That's a hell of a term? MCLAURIN: I couldn't agree with you completely. I think what you saw with a lot of Republican elected officials was just sort of like a generic flip flop, right? Well, He's our guy. So now we got to go with him. But how many people really texted their former roommates to say, this guy could be Hitler? I mean, clearly, J.D. has some kind of insight. I mean, he's a student of history. He's a very smart guy. I remember having thoughtful conversations with them. It's not like he didn't get this. He got it, not just back in 2016. But back in 2010- 2011, when he was forming relationships with a lot of law students and graduates who are now you know, very liberal, some of those relationships he maintained for many years after that. So it's not like he's not capable of getting the right answer. It's just that he has decided to forego all of that insight, all of that emotional intelligence, and direct his intelligence and his skill at this agenda. This goal. I have to think, and again, I've been talking about a long time, but you see how publicly angry he is and filled with contempt. I think he just realized in 2016 that when the Republican Party went the direction of the content of Donald Trump, that he had to go along with it. I mean, he's got interviews where he says, I just had to suck it up and support Trump. And I think what would it mean for him personally, is that all that anger he's carrying around, he gets to bring that to bear in being vindictive being that attack dog and making Trumpism an even more potent of form going into the second term. COATES: State senator Josh McLaurin, thank you for your perspective. I want to bring back I can the panel here. [01:10:00] And Matt me go to you first because obviously the vantage point of somebody who knew him personally hasn't spoken to him in a long time. There are going to be voters who voted for J.D. Vance, who will say what you're calling anger. I'm calling passion representative of what it is I want. But there is a very different moment here for what Vance is saying versus what we're being told Trump is evolving towards? MOWERS: Well, in some ways, it actually gives Donald Trump the ability to go out there and be a unifying figure. And here's why touch on one point Mark made. The traditional role of the vice presidential nominee is to be the attack dog, you then have a presidential nominee you can kind of rise above it, they can be the unifier. And so in a lot of ways, Donald Trump has taken the opposite, right. He has never found a ball going by him that he has not been afraid to swing it himself. If this now gives them a chance, especially after what happened on Saturday. Lots of eyeballs will be looking at watching that speech on Thursday, they'll be looking for tone as much as substance. They're going to try to see is a softer, gentler Donald Trump to some degree, and then he's still a J.D. Vance out there, who's going to go out there and be able to articulate the case against Joe Biden, who's then also going to be able to fire up the base, that time that maybe frees up Donald Trump to reach out to some new voters he hasn't had in the last few cycles. COATES: And yes, America, we do have our own laugh track going on behind us. (CROSSTALK) COATES: Now to reflect everyone's hidden CNN girl, I love it. Let me ask you about this, this idea of the cover the political cover of being able to have your attacks. I do wonder how this plays between vice president Kamala Harris and J.D. Vance, should there be a maybe a debate or otherwise, if they're both -- with the role of both them is going to be attack dog and the presidential candidates are going to be the ones talking about civility? How do they match up? MARC CAPUTO, NATIONAL POLITICAL REPORTER, THE BULWARK: I have absolutely no idea. COATES: OK, next question. CAPUTO: Out of all the things. Out of all the things I want to see. PRESTON: We did somebody new. COATES: Excuse me. CAPUTO: All the things I want to see, I want to see that. That is a debate that I'm not sure J.D. Vance will be used to having. One of the things that Marco Rubio who was a shortlist for Trump to be his vice presidential candidate is someone who actually had debated a black woman. J.D. Vance has no experience with that. He comes from a very white area. He's had no experience dealing with those sorts of racial politics. He's very used to talking about the dispossessed white working class and issues that are very important to white people. Yes, in 2016. If you look at his messages, and you look at the things he said criticizing Trump at the time, he talked about the importance of being more of a unifying figure and the difficulties of trusting Trump, because of the way Trump handled minorities. However, now he's fully on the Trump train, and which J.D. Vance is going to show up. I think Kamala Harris will be well prepared for that. But at the same time, J.D. Vance is very smart. And I can't wait to watch. COATES: Are we still in a world where the idea of having to present oneself according to the audience and your opponent is going to be valued the same way? I mean, women in politics, black women in politics, in particular, treated differently. Will this be different? ALLISON: No. I mean, it hasn't been different for Kamala Harris, the last three and a half years. She's been vice president. Here's the thing. I've -- CAPUTO: She had -- I'm sorry. She handled Pence well. ALLISON: Oh yes, she took them to task like she took Brett Kavanaugh attack. I mean, she is a prosecutor and chief. And so I think she's going to be able to do great on this debate stage. The thing that I think is a little bit different from what the Republicans are going to do this cycle with maybe Trump and 2016. And in 2020, was the attacks off. If he's going to present this united front, maybe Vance takes that role. Joe Biden needs to still be on the attack. There's this question about, does he have the strength, does he have, so he can't be -- he has to still feel like he can confront Trump, debate him on the issues. Be strong. I am the commander in chief. I have control of this country. And let Kamala Harris say, I am prepared in the event. What a number two will do. And I think there's difference again. PRESTON: Here's the difference. Here's the difference right now between Democrats and Republicans when the shooting occurred, Democrats started saying we're going to take down our ads and, you know, the messaging from the Biden campaign to staffers was lower the temperature, let's make sure we're not fundraising. What do we see President Trump does? He goes out just starts fundraising right away. COATES: Yes. PRESTON: Doesn't care just follows right through it is like literally going to a fist fight. Republicans are going to fist fight right now with a knife. Democrats right now we're trying to figure out if they, you know, they're going to try to fight with their right fist or their left fist. And if they're going to win the fight, they better show up with a knife or a baseball bat or something. COATES: I just I just don't see a world where former President Donald Trump delegates all attacks on responsibility anyway. And it would be something that would not appeal to those who have supported him. I mean, there's ways to attack productively. We'll see if everyone can do it. Stand by everyone, please. President Biden trying to undercut Donald Trump's message at the RNC by having an interview with NBC, how he's getting some of his language and going after the former president. Next. [01:15:04] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JOE BIDEN, U.S. PRESIDENT: I'm not the guy that said, I want to be a dictator on day one. I'm not the guy that refused to accept the outcome of the election. I'm not the guy who said that one accept the outcome of this election. (END VIDEO CLIP) (COMMERCIAL BREAK) (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) LESTER HOLT, NBC NEWS ANCHOR: What do you listen to on deeply personal issues like the decisions whether to stay in the race or not? BIDEN: Me. (END VIDEO CLIP) COATES: Tonight, President Biden counterprogramming part of the RNC answering doubts about his candidacy and political violence and an interview with NBC News. After the attempted assassination of Trump Biden defended some of his own rhetoric but says it was a mistake to use one particular word. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) HOLT: A week ago you said it's time to put Trump in the bullseye. There's some dispute about the context, but I think you appreciate that word -- BIDEN: I didn't say crosshairs. That's I'm focus on. Look, the truth of the matter is what I guess I was talking about at the time was there was very little focus on Trump's agenda. HOLT: You have the term bullseye. BIDEN: It was a mistake for -- (END VIDEO CLIP) COATES: And Biden is emphatic that he is staying in the race after his shaky debate performance and he is seen nothing, nothing to change his mind. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BIDEN: If you're looking all the polling, the polling data shows a lot of different things. But there's no wide gap between us. It's essentially a toss-up race. (END VIDEO CLIP) [01:20:05] COATES: In public, the calls for Biden to step aside have quieted since Trump was grazed by that bullet. But new tonight, CNN's John King reports that some Democrats are continuing their efforts to try to nudge the president to bail out of the race, but they're doing it in private. My panel is back with me along with congressional reporter for The Hill, Mychael Schnell and CNN senior data reporter, Harry Enten. Well, first of all, let's talk about what just happened in the -- interview with Lester Holt. He is saying if the boy it's his decision, he will consult himself. It's him who will make this call. You ever reported on Capitol Hill? This is something that I think members of the Legislative Branch want to change. MYCHAEL SCHNELL, CONGRESSIONAL REPORTE, THE HILL: Yes, I mean, this is sort of been the dynamic we've been dealing with, since the debate, President Biden being consistent saying he has made his decision he's remaining in the race. But those statements didn't stop. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently saying that the ball is in President Biden's court, he has to make a decision. Look, I think that it's possible that we still will see these democrats try to nudge him out of the nomination. But I don't think it's going to happen as the RNC is happening in Milwaukee right now. I had spoken to a House Democrat last week before the Trump rally shooting on Saturday, who said to me, who suggested that they were in favor of Biden leaving the ticket he said, I don't want to deal with this during the RNC. I want the attention to be squarely focused on Republicans and their con fab and their platform. I want that to happen. And then we can have this discussion. Republicans -- Democrats wanted to keep the focus on the RNC right now. It seems like that is working in their favor. COATES: Yes, Ashley, CNN's John King has some reporting. And that democratic pollster Stanley Greenberg is actually one of those behind this private effort to try to nudge by not to take any sharing polling, and one democratic source called devastating. Are you hearing something similar? ALLISON: Look, I think it depends on who you ask and how you want to read a poll. So, there are clearly Democrats that are saying publicly, or they were at least publicly, and some privately that they think Joe Biden to say, to drop out the race. But simultaneously, there is still a significant amount of Democrats who have not come out publicly and who privately are saying no, we feel like we need a path for it. I have only seen snippets of the interview with Lester Holt. And I think he did a pretty good job from what I saw. The one thing I probably would have changed in his answer is when he said, who decides who stays in the race? Yes, it's a personal decision. But he should have also said the voters and not and not like his -- this narrative of this inner circle that's around him that's protecting him, like this deep state. That's like telling Joe Biden and saying. It's the voters because he's working for the people. And I think the way if people can actually change, Democrats can change the narrative and make it about the people we can win in November. But how all about self -- COATES: Let me ask you, Ashley, how do -- how will he hear from voters before November? I mean, that's part of the conundrum, right? He's saying himself, and I'm not putting words into his mouth. But he's saying he's making the decision and trying to get rid of that notion of insular and insiders. The voters spoke when they said that he should be the nominee. And this week again in November, what's his barometer truly? ALLISON: Well, you go out, you meet people where they are. He's not just a candidate but he is the leader of the free world. So he should be engaging in roundtables and communities. You should be walking into barbershops and beauty salons, he should be going and getting his favorite thing ice cream, and talking to the people in middle America, in the south, in the cities to have a real conversation. And when you do, people are candid. I have worked for President -- I've worked for presidents before, actually. And when you actually sit down and you take the facade of like the Roosevelt Room or the Oval Office, and you meet people in their community, they are not -- they're unafraid to say how they are really feeling and I think you get a good barometer. HARRY ENTEN, CNN SENIOR DATA REPORTER: A few things. Number one, your talk of ice cream at this particular hours. COATES: It's rude. ENTEN: It's rude and it's making me hungry. ALLISON: I'm lactose intolerance so it doesn't matter. SCHNELL: Doing that thoughts. MOWERS: We're in Wisconsin right now. COATES: I think last day makes -- ENTEN: Pastured would be my preference in Wisconsin. But look, here's the deal. Number one, you said, you know, it's about the people. Well, it was about the people during the primary. He got the votes, he has the delegates. And now if anyone's going to step aside, make that decision. It's going to be Joe Biden. But to the thing that just is so bizarre to me about all of this is the polling actually doesn't look vastly different than it did before the debate. The problem was, was that Democrats some had some notion in their mind that Biden is going to come out in this debate stage and kind of assuage fears about him being too old. But the fact is, the vast majority of voters thought before the debate he was too old to be an effective president for New York Times Siena College. Well, that number has shifted a little bit up. You know, we spoke about those numbers last week or but they haven't changed tremendously at all. So, at the end of the day, the question I really have is, what were Democrats thinking beforehand? Why weren't they more critical of Joe Biden during the primary season when they could have actually chosen another nominee instead of somehow relying on some Aaron Sorkin type of maneuver to somehow remove them as the Democratic nominee. [01:25:10] Now as we stand, what is it only? ALLISON: 37 days. ENTEN: A little bit -- 37 days? I mean, come on. COATES: Well, let me play a play for a second here because Biden tonight was talking about the attempt on Donald Trump's life and how it could affect the campaign. The election is 111 days away at this point in time. Listen to what he had to say. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) HOLT: Has this shooting changed the trajectory of this race? BIDEN: I don't know. And you don't know either. HOLT: I don't know, but -- BIDEN: No. No, I -- I -- HOLT: Have you -- it's something you've given thought to? BIDEN: No. I've thought less about the trajectory of the case than two things. One, what his health is, that was secure, number one. And number two, what happens from here on in terms of the kind of coverage that the president and vice president and former president and new vice president get in terms of -- look, I've never seen a circumstance where you ride through certain rural areas of the country and people have signs there stand big Trump signs with -- middle signs saying "F Biden" and the little kid standing there putting up his middle finger. I mean, that's the kind of stuff that is just inflammatory and a kind of viciousness. It's a very different thing than saying, Look, I really disagree with Trump's the way he takes care of taxes, the way he has -- wants a $5 trillion tax cut for people who are making a lot of money next time around. Doesn't focus on working-class people. (END VIDEO CLIP) COATES: Matt, is he making the case well enough to the American people? MOWERS: I don't think so. I think the only thing the President stated very clearly, obviously, is which we don't really know the impact of what happened Saturday on this race yet. In my opinion, I think the opinion of the Trump campaign, if you're seeing the messages that are coming out with the messaging that President Trump is coming out with himself. He's getting a second look likely from a number of voters who maybe thought they made up their mind about Donald Trump a long time ago. A lot of voters who said, you know, we keep talking about the doubleheader voter, right. The voters are saying, you know, I don't like Joe Biden, I don't like Donald Trump. A lot of them are going to tune in Thursday night to say, you know, maybe we should judge Donald Trump differently. You know, the moment he got up after he was grazed with that bullet, after he was shot and raised his fist. That was an iconic moment that really stood for something more than just a message for supporters of a MAGA movement or people were at the rally. It's an American moment. I mean, we had a presidential nominee shot on Saturday from an attempted assassination yet they got up and stood up and said, I'm not going to be taken down by this and we shouldn't be either. That could be an American moment. If Donald Trump chooses to turn it into one, I think we'll see that on Thursday night. COATES: Well, listen, you know, it was almost 72 hours ago, this happened. We're almost 72 hours from this speech. That will be very important. If you think that debate and focus on Joe Biden is going to be important in the American public trying to assess what they think about a candidate. Thursday will be yet another litmus test. Standby everyone and up next, a huge legal win for Donald Trump. Judge Aileen Cannon dismissing Jack Smith's classified documents case against the former president. So what happens now? We'll discuss. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) [01:31:25] LAURA COATES, CNN HOST: Well tonight, President Biden is weighing in on the ruling that ripped apart the classified documents case against Donald Trump. Just hours before the RNC began, Judge Aileen Cannon decided to throw out special counsel Jack Smith's entire case. She argues Smith's appointment as special counsel goes against the constitution. Now President Biden says, "The writing was on the wall." (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm not surprised. It comes from the immunity decision in the Supreme Court ruled on and Clarence Thomas in a dissent said that independent prosecutors appointed by the attorney general aren't legit. That's the basis on which this judge moved to dismiss. (END VIDEO CLIP) COATES: It's important to note that Justice Thomas' opinion was actually a concurring opinion, not a dissent. And Jack Smith is vowing to appeal Cannons ruling. His office says the decision flies in the face of long-standing precedent. Joining me now from Miami-Dade County, Court Judge Jeff Swartz. Jeff, thank you so much for being here, Your Honor. A very consequential decision. Indeed, this decision by Judge Cannon, it goes against court decisions that stretched back really decades. And when you read this, I think it was 93 pages, what stood out most to you? JUDGE JEFF SWARTZ, FORMER JUDGE, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY: The fact that she based her whole decision on just what you talked about, just one statement in a concurring opinion by Justice Thomas, which was not concurred with by anybody else on the court. And the fact that she would take that and spin that the way she did, tie it together with Relentless versus Secretary of Commerce case and say, ok, this is an overreach. We interpret what the statute means, not the attorney general. And as a result of which just decided I'm going to set aside his order of appointment and end this all together. COATES: The idea behind having a special counsel is really to fatally undermine anyone's accusation that this is going to be a political endeavor. That's the premise of having somebody not under the pleasure of the president of the United States otherwise. SWARTZ: Yes. COATES: What she is now ordering would destroy that principle. SWARTZ: It destroys that principle no differently than the immunity case did. By taking on the idea and also the Relentless case, the idea that now a department an agency, which the Department of Justice is, has no right to interpret statutes that control what they do. They have no right and there should be no deference to them. The court took a -- had a really big grab of power, a power grab in that case, and decided to overturn Chevron. And when they did that, they basically just decided that they're the ones that are going to decide what the statutes mean and interfere with the business of the executive branch. And that's exactly what they did here. And she did here. COATES: What you describe is sort of the culmination of collateral damage and the domino effect at play here with just a series of cases. But there is also Jack Smith's office saying that they will appeal and there are still other cases he's working on. Of course, the one out of Washington, D.C. the election interference matter. SWARTZ: Right. [01:34:48] COATES: Do you think that he will be successful in appeal out of this classified documents case. SWARTZ: I'm not sure that he can be the person for DOJ to do that. There was no stay placed on her order. And as of right now, the order of appointment has no basis for him to do anything in the case that involves the documents on the East Coast. So it really may fall upon DOJ to defend Garland's order. And that would be the solicitor general's office. This case has absolutely in her ruling has nothing to do with what Judge Chutkan will do. She's already ruled on this issue as have many other judges, including the Hunter Biden case. The Ninth Circuit is not going to go with the direction that this judge has gone. She's pretty much standing alone against almost everybody who's ruled on this issue now and in the past. COATES: And that 11th Circuit has in the past scolded her in terms of an opinion on an issue related to this matter, a special master or whether there will be a subsequent wrist slap, so to speak, will be telling but one thing's for sure, Judge Jeff Swartz, the time and the timing of all this has just been kicked perhaps indefinitely down the road. Judge Jeff Swartz, thank you so much. SWARTZ: Yes. Nice seeing you Laura. Have a nice night. COATES: Thank you. You, too. Ahead, there are new details now that we are learning this evening into the investigation into the assassination attempt against Donald Trump. We're learning that a local sniper team was actually inside the building where the gunman climbed on the roof. Plus someone who went through a different assassination attempt joins me to explain what it's like to survive one. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg is my guest next. [01:36:38] (COMMERCIAL BREAK) COATES: Well, just in to CNN, law enforcement snipers were stationed inside the building where a gunman climbed to the roof to attempt to assassinate former President Trump. That's coming from a source familiar with the investigation, who is saying the team was from the Butler County Emergency Services unit. They were stationed on the second floor providing overwatch of the rally crowd. This new information coming as Secret Service director Kimberly Cheatle insists, quote, "the buck stops with me" and that she plans to stay on as director. But questions are swirling around how a shooter could have gotten about 130 yards away from the former president of the United States with a rifle trained in his head. President Biden asked tonight if he feels safe under their protection, his answer yes. Now as for the investigations with the assassination attempt, there are still more questions than answers. The FBI has successfully gained entry into the phone of the alleged shooter and have collected hundreds of (INAUDIBLE) with his family and also his friends. So law enforcement sources say they still have not found a motive. My next guest is a survivor of an alleged assassination attempt that happened in 2022 in Louisville, Kentucky when a man walked into Craig Greenberg's campaign headquarters. Greenberg and his team were having their morning meeting when they asked the man if they could help him. At that point, the man pulled out a gun aimed it right at Greenberg and started firing. Now, Greenberg and his staff emerged from the shooting, mostly unscathed. That is until Greenberg later realized a bullet had gone through his sweater and t-shirt. He is now the mayor of Louisville, Kentucky. Mayor Craig Greenberg, thank you so much for being with me this evening. Louisville, one of my favorite cities. I'm so sorry to have you on to think about that moment in time, but thank you for joining us. MAYOR CRAIG GREENBERG, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY: Thanks for having me, Laura. COATES: You know, that unbelievable moment, that attempt on your life, it must have been particularly triggering to see the events of this past Saturday and knowing about the political rhetoric and the climate that we all find ourselves in. I do wonder in retrospect how did that experience change you, if at all? GREENBERG: Well, it definitely changed me, Laura. Just as I'm sure experiencing gun violence changes everyone who is at the wrong end of a gun. It's certainly changed me a lot. One thing it did was it gave me a stronger resolve than I ever had before to try to work to end this gun violence that continues to plague our country. Whether it's in politics or whether it's in any part of life, gun violence has no place in America. And so I'm really hoping that maybe finally this assassination attempt on President Trump is the wake-up call that people like me continuously hope for every time there's a heinous act of gun violence. COATES: You know, Mayor Greenberg, it instantly struck me as a mother knowing that my children were getting ready to see the events unfold as children across his country, parents across the globe were watching and already so accustomed to talking about sadly, gun violence in this country, there is something particularly unnerving about having it happen to a former president of the United States, presumably notably one of the most safest people in the entire world. And it's not just an instance of what happens Saturday, but we have seen other instances of political violence in recent years. You've mentioned just a few. But the attack on Nancy Pelosi's husband, Congressman Steve Scalise shot at the congressional baseball game. And sadly, we could spend the better part of an hour talking about various instances and I haven't heard enough people talking about this under the guise of, and discussion point of gun violence. Why do you think this keeps happening in this country? GREENBERG: Well it's unfortunate, Laura, because I think every time there is an act our country right now is so divided. It's so divided about an issue like gun violence. It's so divided about issues like abortion and other things that that's one of the reasons why the temperature needs to be lowered, why we need to do every one of us, whether we're in elected office, whether we're running for an office, or whether we're just someone who occasionally talks about political issues. I think we all should do more listening and learning from one another. And that will help lower the temperature. If we listen and learn from one another we can reach common ground. [01:44:49] GREENBERG: Because I firmly believe whether you're Democrat or Republican or Independent, we all want the same things. We all want to end gun violence. We all want to improve public education. We all want to end homelessness. We all want good-paying jobs close to our homes. So if we all agree on those things, lets listen and learn from one another. Let's treat each other with respect. And let's find some common ground so we can finally make progress on some of these key issues that are dividing our country right now. (CROSSTALKING) COATES: I am curious given the fact that we are going to be hearing from a former president Donald Trump. He is slated to give an extraordinarily important and impactful speech. Hopefully in a few days at the RNC. He's made an appearance, of course, here tonight. It's the first public appearance and speech since the assassination attempt on him. Given what you've just told me tonight, if you could speak to former President Trump with your own experience in having been the victim of gun violence and knowing what it's like to be a leader in a community, what would you tell him is the most important thing to say? GREENBERG: Well first, I do want to express my wishes for a speedy and full recovery to President Trump. My thoughts are with him and his entire family. What he and his family are going through right now, I recall all too well, those memories and the physical feelings of surviving an assassination attempt. And I would encourage Mr. Trump to use that now new personal experience of his to reach across the aisle, to be a willing participant as the leader of the Republican Party, to work with Democrats, Independents in Congress and state halls and city governments like mine, to end this gun violence epidemic that's plaguing our country. COATES: Mayor Craig Greenberg, thank you so much. I'll be curious to see if he follows that advice. Thank you so much. GREENBERG: Thank you, Laura. COATES: Up next, the other big moments of the night. One of the RNC from Mitch McConnell getting booed to a big speech from Amber Rose. We're back in a moment. [01:46:59] (COMMERCIAL BREAK) COATES: A presidential nominee confirmed, a vice-presidential pick finally announced, and primetime appeals to voters all across the country, Republican or not. A lot happened on day one of the Republican National Convention. And here are three more days of nonstop action to come. My panel is back with me. I do wonder, we've got the lightning round, what were the moments for all of you that stood out today and makes you think this was a day? MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Look, it didn't happen on the floor. It happened in the hallways right before JD Vance met up with Donald Trump and made the grand entrance. The people in the hallways were losing their minds because a, they're in this view of this vice-presidential candidate, but even more so, I think that they saw Donald Trump in there. And there was just this excitement that they just don't feel, like you just don't you haven't felt this kind of political excitement on just a political level in such a long time. There's been so much anger and hatred that have kind of gone through our politics. It's kind nice to see that. COATES: This ticket is set? HARRY ENTEN, CNN SENIOR DATA REPORTER: Look, I think for me the big thing that's interesting was the religious overtones and undertones of this particular evening, which is very interesting to me because yes, that matches a Republican Party, I think a lot of us are used to, but maybe not the Republican Party of today nearly as much. You know, I was -- I mentioned earlier on looking at the GOP platform, right? Mentions of abortion, way down from eight years ago; mentions of marriage, way down from eight years ago. So to see that and to hear that this evening reminds us that this is still a Republican Party whose base is white Evangelical voters. And so I think we saw that tonight. That's going to be very interesting after the failed assassination attempt and all dimensions of God sort of guiding that bullet away from Donald Trump by a lot of folks within the Republican ranks. Whether or not perhaps Trump takes on a little bit of different rhetoric going forward, whether the night's a one-off, or whether it's something that we see going forward. COATES: I mean, Evangelicals has always been important in a presidential race. And certainly when it came to the issues of reproductive rights, it was particularly important in 2016 and 2020 prior to the overturning of Roe v Wade. ASHLEY ALLISON, FORMER NATIONAL COALITIONS DIRECTOR, BIDEN-HARRIS 2020: And yet you had Amber Rose on the stage today. I mean, I think it was kind of comical. The Republican Party is doing this, making his effort to court black voters. And I think that Amber Rose was an attempt and it was a failed attempt. Amber Rose is not where the culture is. It's not the person that black voters are going to take their political cues for. And it just was weird, quite honestly. And so when you when you talk in the group chats, when you're on Twitter, when you're just having conversations, people are like, what did she say? Like these are my people and were like, ok, go ahead. COATES: But what do you see -- and I want to play for a second what she had to say to orient that more. Listen to what she had to say on that stage. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) AMBER ROSE, INFLUENCER: The left told me to hate Trump. And even worse to hate the other side, the people who support him. And when you cut through the lies, you realize the truth. American families were better when Donald Trump was president. (END VIDEO CLIP) COATES: You know, there were some who were very complimentary of what she did today, including our own Van Jones at CNN and talked about her appealing to the notion in particular of sort of the epiphany generation. What did you make of that? ASHLEY: I don't agree with Van on it. I mean I don't and my group chats don't either. So, you know, Van is open to have his opinion. I'm cool with Van. But not -- we don't agree on this. COATES: Well, you know, what do you think of the idea of having the spread of people that were on tonight. I mean, these were a series of speeches -- (CROSSTALKING) COATES: -- a series of people, they're trying to appeal to a larger base. To Ashley's point be very careful who your audience is and who's going to be coming out to vote? MATT MOWERS, FORMER TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Well look, I've been to every Republican convention since 2004, with the exception of one that happened because of COVID, right, in 2020. This was the most racially diverse group of speakers I've ever seen in a Republican National Convention, significantly more blue collar. This certainly was not the Mitt Romney convention, right? [01:54:49] MOWERS: I mean, if you go back to 2012, our economic night was a bunch of business owners. Tonight, you heard from a lot of workers. You had the president of Teamsters who were there speaking in a Republican National Convention talking about Donald Trump opening the doors of the Republican Party but it was really the amalgam (ph) I think of the speakers. And also on the point that if you look at who they put in prime time, it was none of the politicians, none of the governors, none of the senators. It was literally the focus of everyday people. And you know, traditionally those were kind of interspersed during the daytime programming of the conventions. They put them front and center spotlight speaks to who Donald Trump and his campaign are trying to go after, right? COATES: Well, you know, at this point in time, 100 and what, 11 days away from the presidential election, trying to have a bigger tent that, that number made your like head spin back. PRESTON: I don't know. (CROSSTALKING) PRESTON: -- kind of gets thrown out this morning that I still don't remember. COATES: Yes. ENTEN: What? COATES: There's a lot going on this and what -- ALLISON: So much. COATES: -- this is just day one. Thank you, everyone so much. And thank you all for watching. CNN's coverage of the RNC continues next. But first, we leave you is some of the highlights from day one. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are going to try to unite this country. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The greatest president that's ever lived, hereby declaring him the Republican nominee for president of the United States of America. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My honor to nominate Ohio Senator JD Vance for the office of vice president of the United States of America. SEN. TIM SCOTT (R-SC): If you didn't believe in miracles before Saturday, you better be believing right now. ROSE: Donald Trump and his supporters don't care if you're black, white, gay, or straight. It's all love. That's when it hit me. These are my people. This is where I belong. SCOTT: An American lion got back up on his feet and he roared. (END VIDEO CLIP) [01:56:48] (COMMERCIAL BREAK) CNN Newsroom Aired July 16, 2024 - 02:00 ET THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) [02:00:32] LYNDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to viewers joining us from all around the world and to everyone streaming us on CNN Max. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Just ahead, emotions run high on day one of the Republican National Convention, as Donald Trump makes his first public appearance since the assassination attempt. And amid growing scrutiny of these Secret Service agency in the wake of that shooting, the director breaks her silence, calling the incident unacceptable. ANNOUNCER: Live from Atlanta, This is CNN NEWSROOM with Lynda Kinkade. KINKADE: Fight, fight, fight. That was the chant on day one of the Republican National Convention. Those same words came from Donald Trump's Saturday following the assassination attempt. Trump appeared at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee Wisconsin Monday night after the party formally nominated him as their candidate for president. He had a white bandage on his right ear, which was hit by a would be assassin in Pennsylvania. Trump was accompanied by his vice presidential pick freshman Senator J. D. Vance of Ohio. If elected, Vance would be one of the youngest vice presidents in U.S. history at 39 years old. The opening night of the convention feature stonewalled Trump supporters. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, and Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota. There was also controversial speakers including House Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene all mentioning Saturday's assassination attempt. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. TIM SCOTT (R-SC): On Saturday, the devil came to Pennsylvania holding a rifle. But an American lion got back up on his feet and he roared. REP. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE (R-GA): Two days ago, evil came for the man we admire and love so much. I thank God that His hand was on President Trump. GOV. KRISTI NOEM (R-SD): Prior to this week, we already knew that President Donald Trump was a fighter. He is the toughest man that I have ever met. Nobody has endured more than what he has gone through. They've attacked his reputation. They impeached him. They tried to bankrupt him, and they unjustly prosecuted him. But even in the most perilous moment this week, his instinct was to stand and to fight. (END VIDEO CLIP) KINKADE: More now from CNN's Kristen Holmes in Milwaukee. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It was a very emotional scene on the ground in Milwaukee, Wisconsin tonight as for President Donald Trump walked out for the first time in public since that assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania over the weekend, he had a bandage on his ear. He looked at times softer, almost as though he was going to cry, spoke to a number of aides and allies, supporters, all of whom had not seen him yet. And they were shocked at what they saw. They believed that this was almost scary and also, again, incredibly emotional. And there are a lot of tears in the audience here. People who felt like this was a patriotic moment, one of the things that we had heard from a number of people he had spoken to that Donald Trump himself has said over and over again, that he feels he is lucky to be alive, that he believes there was some sort of divine intervention. And talking to the people in the crowd here tonight, they think they saw that in his face. A number of them saying they think he is now a changed man. Now what we do know is that Donald Trump himself has been focusing on this concept of unity when he is talking to again aides, allies, supporters. But whether or not that holds, that, of course, is going to be the big question moving forward. Donald Trump has not really been wanting to focus on unity. There have been brief moments of this in the past. But right now we are told that he scrapped his entire speech that he had written or at least had an idea of in his head before that shooting took place. And now he wants to focus on unity. And that was also really what we saw a lot of in the speeches today, maybe not necessarily a big focus on the concept of unity, but really staying away from the more violent rhetoric that we have heard in months past, weeks past from a lot of these Republicans who were on the stage tonight. Now, of course, we don't know if this is going to be the only time we see the former president before he takes the stage again on Thursday. I know that he has been eager to be interacting with supporters and allies. That was very clear here tonight, because one point there was a question of whether or not Donald Trump would actually come yesterday to Milwaukee. [02:05:14] But he didn show up here. So, very interesting to see how the rest of the week plays out. Of course, the big news again, coming out of today was one, the first time we're seeing him in public and two, his announcement of Ohio Senator J. D. Vance to be his running mate. Kristen Holmes, CNN, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (END VIDEOTAPE) KINKADE: Well, CNN spoke with people in the crowd about J. D. Vance's securing Trump's pick as his running mate. And despite the senators past criticism of Trump, he got glowing reviews from the party faithful. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DONALD TRUMP JR., DONALD TRUMP'S SON: I've seen him on T.V., I've seen him prosecute the case against the Democrats. I think no one's more articulate than that. And I think his story, his background really helps us in a lot of the places that you're going to need from the electoral college standpoint, and I think he's just going to be a great choice. GOV. HENRY MCMASTER (R-SC): A lot of good people to choose from that I think J. D. Vance is perfect. Those two men think alike. They like each other. They want to take the country in the same direction. I think they'd be great, great team, maybe the perfect team. (END VIDEO CLIP) KINKADE: Well, the White House is also reacting to Trump's new vice presidential pick. Biden campaign officials say Vice President Kamala Harris reached out to Vance and left him a voicemail, congratulating him on his election. She hopes to meet with him at a vice presidential debate. But the Trump campaign has not yet accepted that invitation. President Biden though isn't surprised by the pic referring to Vance as "A clone of Trump on the issues." Speaking with NBC, the president pointed to Vance's shift in politics in recent years to align closer with Trump's platform. Take a listen. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He's going to surround himself with people who agree completely with him, a voting record. I support him. Even though if you go back and listen to what J. D. Vance said about Trump. LESTER HOLT, NBC NEWS HOST: Well, he said some things about you, yes. BIDEN: Well, he says something about me but see what he said about Trump. What's with you guys? Come on, man. Look, the point I'm making is that J. D. Vance has adopted the same policies, no exceptions on abortion, making sure that a huge portion of the new $5 trillion tax cut that Trump wants to give in the next administration, signing on to the whole notion of whether or not we're going to -- he says there's no climate change is happening. I mean, he signed on to the Trump agenda, which he should if he's running with Trump. (END VIDEO CLIP) KINKADE: Ron Brownstein is CNN's senior political analyst and the senior editor for The Atlantic. He joins us from Los Angeles. Good to have you with us. RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Hi, Lynda. KINKADE: So, Ron, we saw Trump at the Republican National Convention for the first time since that assassination attempt. He will speak Thursday, and apparently he's ripped up his speech, his team are reworking it. What stood out to you on day one, and what do you think you'll hear when Trump speaks? BROWNSTEIN: I think what stood out to me the most on day one was how they tried to have representatives who would kind of chip away at the Democratic coalition. You know, a number of Black male speakers, women speakers, Latina speakers, and of course, the -- maybe the most interesting event of the night was the speech by the head of the teamsters union, which was critical of both parties. And kind of difficult to kind of figure out, exa -- I think a lot of delegates had trouble figuring out exactly how they were supposed to react to the speaker at the Republican Convention, you know, praising unions and denouncing corporate power. So, it was, I think, a confident kind of first night above all, obviously, it showed that this is Trump's party, the rapturous reception that he got, the kind of the tracking shot of him coming into the hall reminiscent of what Bill Clinton did in 2000, which was self-reminiscent of good fellas and Martin Scorsese. So, I think it was Trump's party, and it's a party that feels confident enough that they can try to make inroads into the Democratic coalition, which in fact, polling shows that they are in position to do and that is the main reason why he's in a stronger overall position than he was at this point in 2020. KINKADE: And, of course, Trump announced his running mate, a former Yale graduate who once likened Trump to Hitler. Let's just take a listen to what he said in the past. BROWNSTEIN: Yes. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. J.D. VANCE (R), U.S. VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Half of the things that he says don't make any sense or a quarter of the things that he says are offensive. I might have to hold my nose and vote for Hillary Clinton. I can't stomach Trump. I think that he's noxious and is leading the white working class to a very dark place. I'm a Never Trump guy. I never liked him. He seems to like actively antagonizing a lot of the black photo. (END VIDEO CLIP) KINKADE: So, that's Senator J. D. Vance, who once called himself a Never Trump guy who is now Donald Trump's running mate. Trump had other options. Why him? BROWNSTEIN: Yes, for J. D. Vance, a reminder of the old Soviet lifeline nevermind. [02:10:05] Look, I think J. D. -- I think he picked J. D. Vance, because he wants a successor and an acolyte more than any me electoral advantage. I mean, there are others you know, with Virginia suddenly in play, Glenn Youngkin would not have been a crazy pick with their inroads among Black men, Tim Scott would not have been a crazy pick. But I think J. D. Vance offers him someone who in a way of repenting from that earlier resistance to Trump has become one of the most full throated advocates of the national populist MAGA agenda, you know, and it's gone from basically arguing, as you saw in that clip, that Trump represented a dead end for the white working class to kind of preventing -- presenting him to salvation. I think it suggests that he sees Vance as an inheritor of his movement. You know, it's not a pick that does an enormous amount in kind of immediate electoral sense. I think Democrats don't view Vance as really expanding Trump's reach in any important way. But it does give him someone who is not going to challenge him. And you can bet, if it somehow came down to it, he would not make the kind of decision that Mike Pence did on January 6th, in fact, he has openly said -- Vance has openly said that, you know, Trump should be willing to defy Supreme Court decisions. So, I think it's loyalty and succession more than immediate political benefit. KINKADE: You make some good points. I have to ask you, though, Ron, politically speaking, what does the assassination attempt mean for both Trump and Biden? BROWNSTEIN: Well, you know, look, one thing it clearly does, and you saw that tonight, and this was something Trump was good at, anyway, it is going to mean enormous Republican turnout. I mean, this Republican idea that Trump is being persecuted, and his success at convincing the Republican base that he's being persecuted on their behalf. Obviously got turbocharged. Now, you know, we don't know anything about the motive of the -- of the shooter, what we do know, you know, does not accord with the narrative that somehow this is the left targeting Donald Trump. In fact, you know, neighbors were telling Pittsburgh television, they saw Trump signs in front of the house, but I think at the least it does that. Second, it does complicate for Democrats, the democracy argument, you know, what you saw the president today kind of struggling in his interview with Lester Holt to figure out exactly how to talk about, you know, Donald Trump and his relationship to democracy. I mean, Donald Trump is still the same person who said his opponents are communists and Marxist and fascists and live in this country like vermin. You know, that is still Donald Trump, the Republican platform still talks about mass deportation. So, everything that was true about Donald Trump before the shooting is true after the shooting, the challenge of how you express that in this environment, I think is going to be an issue for Democrats. But I also think that, you know, any more than the debate, I'm not sure this fundamentally changes the dynamic Trump is ahead, because voters are dissatisfied with Biden's performance, and two thirds of them think he is too old, Biden has an uphill climb if Democrats stick with him, but I'm not sure this fundamentally puts the race out of reach as some Republicans are saying, particularly if Democrats do switch their nominee which looks less than less likely. KINKADE: Yes. All right. We'll leave it there for now. We will talk again soon, no doubt. Ron Brownstein, thank you. BROWNSTEIN: Thanks for having me. KINKADE: Well, we are learning new details about the investigation into the attempted assassination of Donald Trump and the movements of the shooter ahead of that attack. We'll have the latest when we come back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) [02:15:58] KINKADE: U.S. President Joe Biden is defending himself against criticism over his own rhetoric admitting his bullseye comment about Donald Trump was a mistake. Mr. Biden's words on the campaign trail are under the spotlight in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on the former U.S. president on Saturday. President Biden had said it's, "Time to put Trump in a bullseye during a call with donors last week." He explains what he meant to NBC's Lester Holt. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) HOLT: The term is bullseye. BIDEN: It was a -- it was a mistake to use or I didn't -- I didn't say crosshairs and I've said bull's eye, I meant focus on him. Focus on what he's doing. Focus on his -- on his policies. Focus on the number of lies he told on the debate. Focus -- I mean, there's a whole range of things that, look, I'm not the guy that said, I want to be a dictator on day one. I'm not the guy that refused to accept the outcome of the election. I'm not the guy who said that won't accept the outcome of this election automatically. You can't only love your country when you win. (END VIDEO CLIP) KINKADE: Well, in that interview, President Biden also said the U.S. Secret Service has his full confidence amid questions over the agency's security preparations following the assassination attempt on Donald Trump. The director of the Secret Service spoke for the first time since that weekend shooting, calling the violence "unacceptable," and saying the buck stops with me. Those comments coming as we learn new details about the investigation. A source telling CNN that snipers were inside the building where a gunman was on the roof before opening fire. CNN's Danny Freeman has more details from Butler, Pennsylvania. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DANNY FREEMAN (voiceover): On Monday, we learned a tremendous amount of new information not only when it comes to what exactly happened, and how was this shooting able to happen behind me at the fairgrounds here in Butler, Pennsylvania. But also we learned more information about the shooter's movements leading up to this assassination attempt. But first, I'll start with that question of what happened here. Well, we did hear from a Secret Service spokesperson earlier on Monday saying that they did not sweep the building that Thomas Crooks the shooter was perched on top of when he fired those shots. A spokesperson for the U.S. Secret Service said that it was actually local law enforcement who was responsible for searching and covering that area because it was outside of the perimeter of that Trump campaign event. But the Secret Service did not say specifically who in local law enforcement was responsible for this. Well, what has resulted is a bit of a blame game and finger pointing. And we spoke with the Pennsylvania State Police who told us that they were not responsible for that particular area. And furthermore, they reiterated that they gave Secret Service all of the resources that Secret Service asked for when they were asking state police to help provide security for this particular event. And that's why the State Police emphasized that in these sorts of events which they've done multiple of, Secret Service is the one who is the lead organization for these types of rallies. Now, I want to move on to the new information that we learned about the shooter's movements prior to the event. We're learning from CNN's John Miller through law enforcement sources, that back on Friday, a day before the shooting, Thomas Crooks actually went to a gun range. And that's important because Thomas Crooks belong to a particular gun range of sportsman's club where there was a range that was about 200 yards, that's notably just a little bit farther of a range than the distance between where the gunman was perched on that rooftop and former President Donald Trump onstage at that rally. Then, according to CNN's John Miller, the shooter on Saturday morning, purchased a ladder then later in the day purchased 50 rounds of ammunition from a local ammunition store in the area near not too far, I should say, from his house. But here's the thing, even though there has been all this evidence and all of this investigation, and that is included the cell phone of the shooter that the FBI is now telling CNN they have now finished processing, we have learned that through law enforcement sources, the FBI still has not been able to come up with a solid motive for this case. And that's after searching his phone, that's after interviews with family, interviews with friends and going through the shooter's search history leading up to this particular incident. [02:20:13] The FBI at this point, and law enforcement sources telling CNN that they just do not have an ideology and a motivation for this shooting. So, that mystery at this point still open. Still a number of questions remaining about how this all came to pass. Danny Freeman, CNN Butler, Pennsylvania. (END VIDEOTAPE) KINKADE: Charles Marino is a former Secret Service special agent and former adviser to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He joins us now from Columbia, South Carolina. Good to have you with us. CHARLES MARINO, FORMER SECRET SERVICE SPECIAL AGENT: Thank you, Lynda. KINKADE: So, you've been a Secret Service special agent under three presidents in various locations and while in transit. There are many unanswered questions with regards to this attempted assassination. The biggest question I have is how did this happen while Trump was under the protection of the Secret Service at a planned event? MARINO: Well, I can tell you, Lynda, the Secret Service spends a lot of time on what I would call the proactive side that is identifying and mitigating risks. They send agents out in advance of the event taking place. They survey the setup for the particular event and the surrounding environment. The formation of the security plan is based on three concentric rings of security, the inner, the middle, and the outer perimeters of security. This building fell within the outer perimeter of security. The Secret Service relies heavily on the support of state and local law enforcement no matter where they go in the United States. And as a result, the Secret Service puts together and is responsible for the overall security plan and the implementation of security resources that includes both special agents with the Secret Service, uniformed division officers and state and local law enforcement. State and local law enforcement is primarily positioned within the middle perimeter and the outer perimeters and the Secret Services responsible for identifying those risks, like direct line of sight, elevated buildings, similar to where the shooter positioned himself to carry out the attack. And then they are to position state and local law enforcement officers to mitigate those threats and advise the counter sniper team, which you saw eliminate that threat the other day to those threats. KINKADE: And speaking of that outer perimeter, we understand that local police were charged with securing that building. In fact, the chief of the Secret Service said local police were in the same building as the gunmen. What does that tell you? MARINO: Well, the Secret Service bears responsibility on the implementation, the effective implementation of the security plan, that is to check and check again, to make sure that areas of concern on the outer perimeter, keeping in mind this building was approximately only 130 yards away with a direct line of sight of where the president was be speaking, to make sure that the local police departments supporting them are doing what's been requested. This is a continuous responsibility of the Secret Service to make sure that any areas of concern have been and continue to be addressed during the duration of the event. KINKADE: Interesting to hear that a friend of a suspected gunman says he didn't get into the junior varsity rifle club because he was a terrible shot. Yet he was able to shoot and strike a former president from this rooftop that was 450 feet about 140 meters away. And some people attending that rally claimed that they told police before the shooting that they've spotted this person. If that's true, what does that tell you about the communications between local police and Secret Service? MARINO: Yes, that's a good point, it's going to be an area of concern. And you know, what happens when you have a catastrophic failure like this as you begin to uncover other failures, other systems in place that didn't work and communication is going to be one of them. Not only the fact that this shooter was spotted, acting suspiciously, and in some cases, while being armed, but also why wasn't this information getting to where it needed to get in a more timely manner? For example, if the shooter was identified by all reports, as early as 30 minutes prior to the event, why was the former president ever brought to the stage until being informed that this threat was mitigated or discovered, police couldn't find this individual, they were still searching for this individual. And yet, the president took the stage. [02:25:14] So, this tells me that the inner working detail that's permanently assigned to the former president may not have been informed about the threat. That's a problem. And also what was the communication like, between local law enforcement and the counter snipers from the Secret Service and local authorities that were on the roof that eventually solved that threat and mitigated it, but only after the firing started? KINKADE: There are, of course, multiple investigations underway. The chief of the Secret Service says the buck stops with her. What other outstanding questions do you have as these investigations get underway? MARINO: Well, you know, I appreciate the statement from the director of the Secret Service, but then you can't turn around and blame state and local law enforcement authorities for causing this, which is what happened. And this can have an extremely detrimental effect on the relationship between the Secret Service and local authorities around the world, because they're all watching what's going to happen here. And if they're worried that they're going to get blamed in the event, that something happens, something goes wrong, then they're going to hold back and be more cautious about providing that assistance when the Secret Service calls in the future. KINKADE: Charles Marino, we'll leave it there for now but hope to get you back on the program as these investigations unfold. Good to have you with us. Thank you. MARINO: Thank you, Lynda. KINKADE: Still to come, Donald Trump let's this suspends bill before finally naming his running mate. More details in the former president's appearance at the Republican National Convention when we come back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is therefore, my honor to nominate Ohio Senator J. D. Vance for the office of Vice President of the United States of America. (END VIDEO CLIP) [02:30:00] KINKADE: Senator J.D. Vance is Donald Trump's running mate, the former U.S. president announcing the Ohio Senator as his VP pick via social media on Monday. Trump and Vance appeared together at the Republican National Convention Monday evening. Trump's right ear bandaged because of his wound from Saturday's assassination attempt. The Trump campaign is working to win back black voters. But while black voters overwhelmingly vote for Democrats, President Joe Biden's advantage among the group is not as wide as it was four years ago. Monday night's RNC speakers featured a number of black Republicans who praised Donald Trump. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) REP. JOHN JAMES, (R-MI): I heard a little earlier today, if you don't vote Donald Trump, you ain't black. (CROWD CHEERING) SEN. TIM SCOTT, (R-SC): America is not a racist country. (CROWD CHEERING) AMBER ROSE, MEDIA PERSONALITY AND INFLUENCER: I realized Donald Trump and his supporters don't care if you're black, white, gay, or straight. It's all love -- (CROWD CHEERING) ROSE: -- and that's when it hit me, these are my people, this is where. (CROWD CHEERING) KINKADE: Trump called (ph) Vance on Monday to officially offering the spot just 20 minutes before the former president made the announcement on social media. He wrote that after lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I've decided that the person best suited to assume the position of vice president of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the great state of Ohio. Speaking to Fox News later that night, Vance shared Trump's explanation as to why he picked him. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. J.D. VANCE, (R-OH) VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He just said, look, I think we got to go save this country, I think you're the guy who could help me in the best way. You can help me govern; you can help me win. You could help me in some of these Midwestern states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and so forth. (END VIDEO CLIP) KINKADE: Well, Vance posted on X late Monday that he is just overwhelmed with gratitude to be Trump's running mate. He'll speak to the Convention Wednesday, followed by Trump's speech on Thursday. CNN's Phil Mattingly reports. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CHIEF U.S. DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENT: For delegates here on the floor, the first day of the Republican National Convention was news-wise, by far the most important issue was J.D. Vance, the Senator from Ohio, is now the vice presidential running mate for former President Donald Trump. That was the big breaking news the day -- the big breaking moment of the night, without any question at all, was the appearance of the former president for the first time in front of a major crowd since the assassination attempt, the attempt on his life that left him with a bandage over his ear, joining several top allies and family members in the VIP box to watch several of the speeches tonight. Also, getting a roaring, roaring welcome from a Republican Party that I don't (ph) think without any question, was unified going into this first night of the Republican Convention, even before the assassination attempt. Now, there's no question about it. They believe that Donald Trump is not only going to be the next president of the United States, they also believe that he is the party, and there's no question about that. You saw it at every single moment of that first day. You are certainly going to be seeing it in the days ahead. Phil Mattingly, CNN, in the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. (END VIDEOTAPE) KINKADE: Well, Donald Trump reportedly received some help from his inner circle with choosing Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate. CNN Political Analysts, Maggie Haberman, describes the hours leading up to the former U.S. president's big announcement. MAGGIE HABERMAN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: People were calling Donald Trump, telling him to pick Vance, not to pick Vance. I think that he had an idea of what he wanted to do for a while, but he tends to second guess himself and he tends to leave things open until the last minute. He did absolutely want to have a surprise, there's no question. He wanted to control the announcement. He likes to narrate everything he does, including his own indictments and convictions and so forth. And so, this is not a surprise. When we started hearing that people had been getting calls, that it wasn't them, it became pretty clear where this was headed and this was -- there were --there was a group of people who are pushing Vance who were very vocal, Donald Trump Jr., not just behind the scenes, but also publicly. Trump cares a lot about chemistry and the only one of the top three who he really has chemistry with is J.D. Vance, number one. Number two, money, which was a big concern for a while for the Trump campaign, was something that donors suggested was an issue why he should pick Burgum or Rubio that Vance didn't have the same connection with donors. Trump's campaign has raised so much money since he was convicted and since his indictments, and I think since the weekend and the attempt on his life, that I think money became less of a concern. KINKADE: Well, Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., is supposedly one of Vance's biggest supporters. Sources say he and some others (inaudible) the Senator would be the most loyal to Trump. Well, U.S. President Joe Biden is slamming news media for focusing on his gaffes in last month's debate instead of fact-checking his opponent, Donald Trump. Speaking to NBC, Mr. Biden struck a defiant tone when asked if he'd consider doing another debate before the next scheduled one in September. [02:35:00] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JOE BIDEN, (D) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He's going to surround himself with people who agree completely with him. I have a voting record. I support him. Even though if you go back and listen to the things that JD Vance said about Trump -- (LAUGH) LESTER HOLT, NBC NEWS ANCHOR: Well, that -- he says some things about me, but see what he said about Trump. What's with you guys? Come on, man. Look, the point I'm making is that J.D. Vance has adopted the same policies. No exceptions on abortion, making sure that he supports a new $5 trillion tax cut that Trump wants to give in the next administration, signing on to the whole notion of whether or not we're going to -- there's -- he says there's no climate change that's happening. I mean, he signed on to the Trump agenda, which he should if he's running with Trump. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) KINKADE: Well, the public calls from Democrats urging Joe Biden to exit the presidential race have quietened in recent days, but several Democratic sources tell CNN that private efforts to nudge the president and his top aides continue. Those efforts include numerous memoirs from seasoned Democratic Pollster, Stanley Greenberg, who claims Mr. Biden is on track to lose the election and potentially lose so big that it hurts other Democratic candidates as well. David Axelrod, CNN's Senior Political Commentator and former Senior Adviser to President Barack Obama, says President Biden may, to some extent, not fully comprehend his poor polling and just how concerned some Democrats are over his decision to stay in the race. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DAVID AXELROD, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: There's no dearth of information, no dearth of people who are delivering the same message. And of course, the leaders are very concerned about what the implications are for their members in the fall and particularly, if Donald Trump wins the presidential election, that gives them a greater sense of urgency to try and at least hold one of the -- win one of the Houses. But all of this only -- it always comes down to the same thing. First of all, what information is actually reaching the president? Because he has a very insular group around him and they filter the information that gets to him. Does he understand where he really is in this race? Because I think that people who come with discouraging information are sort of not invited back. (END VIDEO CLIP) KINKADE: Well, in a stunning ruling, a Florida judge has dismissed the classified documents case against Donald Trump, but the legal wrangling is not over. We'll explain what happens next when we come back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) KINKADE: An astonishing decision in the classified documents case against Donald Trump, a federal judge dismissed the case Monday, saying Special Counsel Jack Smith was unconstitutionally appointed. CNN's Evan Perez explains the decision and what might happen next. [02:40:00] (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) EVAN PEREZ, CNN SENIOR JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: A federal judge in Florida on Monday dismissed the classified documents case against Donald Trump. It's a surprising ruling that for now, clears away one of the major legal challenges facing the former president. It was a 93-page ruling from Judge Aileen Cannon and she said that the appointment of Special Counsel Jack Smith violated the constitution because he was not confirmed by the U.S. Senate. And she didn't rule on the specifics of the charges that Trump faces for allegedly mishandling classified documents. Now, it is a ruling that goes against rulings by multiple other judges in and other similar cases which have upheld the legality of special counsels. Cannon wrote, "In the end, it seems the executives' growing comfort in pointing regulatory special counsels in the more recent era has followed an ad hoc pattern with little judicial scrutiny." The special counsel's office says that the Justice Department has approved plans to appeal Cannon's ruling. They said, "The dismissal of the case deviates from the uniform conclusion of all previous courts to have considered the issue that the attorney general is statutorily authorized to appoint a special counsel." Now, Smith had charged Trump last year with taking classified documents from the White House and for obstructing the government's attempts to retrieve those materials. He has pleaded not guilty. The former president also faces charges brought by Smith in Washington, D.C. for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. A judge there had rejected the same Trump claims over Smith's appointment. Evan Perez, CNN, Washington. (END VIDEOTAPE) KINKADE: Bradley Moss is a national security attorney. He joins us now from Washington. Good to have you with us. BRADLEY MOSS, NATIONAL SECURITY ATTORNEY: Absolutely happy to help any time. KINKADE: So, this ruling was an absolute shock. This federal judge appointed by Trump in 2020 has dismissed Trump's classified documents case and in her ruling, Judge Cannon said the clerk is directed to close the case, any scheduled hearings are canceled. Her reason was that the appointment of Special Counsel Jack Smith violated the constitution. Explain why. MOSS Yes. So the crux of the challenge that Donald Trump was bringing in this particular motion was the idea that the appointment of Jack Smith as special counsel, through the special counsel regulations, was unconstitutional in the sense that it violated what's known as the appropriations clause and the appointments clause. Specifically, what Judge Cannon focused on was the idea that Jack Smith was improperly appointed, that the Justice Department doesn't have the authority, absent some kind of delegation from Congress, to create that role and specifically not for someone who is at that time a private citizen. This ruling rather controversial in the sense that it flies in the face of decades of precedent, institutional precedent, case law, policy, as recently as the Mueller probe during the Trump presidency, this very same issue was litigated with someone who was at the time of private citizen and it was upheld. This flies in the face of everything that had previously existed. It will automatically be appealed, but it's going to take time and delay is Donald Trump's best friend. KINKADE: Yeah. As you say, we've seen so many administrations do this in the past. In terms of the appeal, the Justice Department has already said it's going to appeal. On what grounds? MOSS: So it's going to be an immediate bill (ph) as the case is over right now. As far as everybody is concerned, the case is dead. She threw out the indictment. It's over against Donald Trump and his co- defendants. It's all based on the idea of whether or not the government had the authority through Jack Smith to bring the case itself. So they're going to bring this now to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals to review the legal appropriateness of Judge Cannon's ruling. The Eleventh Circuit has already previously twice ruled against Judge Cannon in this matter. That was during the pre- indictment phase, when she tried to point a special master, they rejected her on that. It's almost certain that they will reverse her here. But if they do, no matter who wins or loses at the Eleventh Circuit, the loser will appeal to the supreme court. KINKADE: And of course, this case was considered the most serious case against Donald Trump. There are, of course, other cases pending. What does this mean for the other cases? MOSS: So, it's almost certainly going to come up in the D.C. case because that's the other case that Jack Smith has brought, that obviously was the election interference case. Once the mandate comes back down from the supreme court, that issue (ph) that immunity decision. Judge Chutkan out there in D.C. is going to almost immediately be faced with a motion from Trump's team to throw out that indictment on the same exact arguments, citing to Judge Cannon's analysis. Judge Chutkan will then have to basically decide whether Judge Cannon got it right or if she did in fact conflict and rule against everything else that have been established. [02:45:00] Whatever Judge Chutkan decides, of course, will ultimately be resolved based off how the Florida appeal goes, since that will almost certainly go to the supreme court. KINKADE: And it's interesting to note though that several special counsels, even during Trump's last administration, were run this exact same way. There is, of course, the case against Hunter Biden, Joe Biden's son, who was prosecuted by a special counsel. What could this ruling mean for him? MOSS: It could absolutely implicate that case, although that is slightly different because David Weiss, who is a special counsel in the Hunter Biden matter, is already an existing U.S. government employee, so there could be an argument that there is a distinction. But the irony, all of this -- of this ruling is that the Robert Hur investigation into President Biden is by virtue of what Judge Cannon just concluded, an entirely illegal investigation. That whole report that was issued, all of the subpoenas that are coming out from Congress, trying to get tapes from the Justice Department, according to Judge Cannon, the Robert Hur investigation would be unconstitutional, illegal as well, and that whole report is apparently a nullity because that would have been an improper appointment. This is what happens when judges -- these random rogue district court judges, issue these rulings flying in the face of established precedent and established policy. It's going to have temporary effect most likely; it's going to have to go through the appellate litigation now. KINKADE: So, we will see this appeals process play out. Is there any chance that the Justice Department could simply appoint another special counsel? MOSS: No, they're not going to go that route (inaudible) other reason, that doesn't solve anything for them. They'd face the exact same motion, exact same challenge. You can't just swap someone in and out. They're going to appeal -- they've already announced they're going to bring this before the Eleventh Circuit. The only question is how expedited a treatment the Eleventh Circuit gives it. Do they resolve it in say the next six weeks to nine weeks, or do they resolve in the next six months to nine months? Nobody knows yet. KINKADE: All right. Bradley Moss, good to have your analysis. We appreciate your time. Thank you. MOSS: Of course. KINKADE: Just ahead, President Donald Trump and calls from his supporters to tone down the political rhetoric as they gather in Milwaukee for the National Convention of the Republican Party. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) KINKADE: The shocking violence at Donald Trump's Pennsylvania rally has shaken a nation with the attempted assassination of the former president playing out before cameras and his supporters. A CNN Investigation has tracked those moments minute by minute using footage from that day. CNN's Alexandra King has the details. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: President Donald J. Trump. ALEXANDRA KING, CNN DIGITAL PRODUCER (voice-over): On Saturday, July 13th at 6:02 p.m., former President Donald Trump takes the stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Approximately 11 minutes later, he will leave the stage, having survived an assassination attempt. Here we show you what happened in those 11 minutes from multiple angles and perspectives, captured by both CNN's cameras and witnesses at the rally. CNN has synched footage taken by spectators with the official feet (ph) of the Trump rally by matching the audio of Trump's onstage remarks, which can also be heard in the videos filmed by rally-goers. [02:50:00] (CROWD CHEERING) DONALD TRUMP, (R) FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is a big crowd -- this is a big, big, beautiful crowd. (CROWD CHEERING) KING (voice-over): Minutes after Trump says this, at 6:09 p.m., a person just outside the rally spots and begins filming what appears to be a man cooling on a roof. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, on top of the roof, look. There he is right there. Right there, you see him? He is lying down. You see him? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah, he is lying down. KING (voice-over): For several seconds, spectators attempt to draw attention to the man on the roof. The building is located approximately 400 feet to 500 feet away from the rally stage. A spokesperson for the United States secret service told CNN that the agency did not personally sweep the building, but instead leaned on local law enforcement to conduct security at that location. TRUMP: That job that I love so much. KING (voice-over): The Pennsylvania State Police said that they were not responsible for the area where the building was located. CNN has reached out to the local Butler County Police Department for comment but has not heard back. TRUMP: They are getting better with time. My guys, take a look at that chart. Take a look at the arrow in the bottom, see the big red arrow, right? KING (voice-over): Trump asks his staff to pull up a chart on in nearby screen to show the audience Border Patrol statistics. Trump will later say that his decision to turn his head away from the crowd, something he says he rarely does at rallies, so that he can look at that chart, caused the would-be assassin to miss and likely saved his life. At 06:11, shots rang out. TRUMP: Take a look at what happened. KING (voice-over): Trump grabs for his ear, then gets down on the stage as he is rushed by secret service agents. About a minute later, a spectator captures footage of other rally-goers calling for medical aid, indicating that an individual has been shot in the head. The man who later died was identified as Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old volunteer firefighter and father of two from Pennsylvania. Two other rally-goers were in critical but stable condition two days after the shooting. During this time, the mic picks up someone saying that the shooter has been killed. As he gets to his feet, the mic also picks up Trump asking to put his shoes back on. TRUMP: Let me get my shoes. KING (voice-over): He later told the "New York Post" in an interview that when the secret service came to his aid, they inadvertently tackled him out of his shoes. After rising to his feet, before leaving the stage, Trump raises his fist and appears to mouth the words (inaudible). (CROWD CHEERING) KING (voice-over): Trump is then whisked away in a vehicle to safety. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can see the guy down. I think they hit him, the guy is (inaudible). KING (voice-over): Footage captured after the shooting shows the lifeless body of Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. The secret service said that a counter-sniper killed Crooks. The FBI have not yet been able to determine a motive for the shooting, but are investigating it as an attempted assassination and potentially an act of domestic terrorism. (END VIDEOTAPE) KINKADE: Well, CNN is in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where some Donald Trump supporters are warning their fellow Americans against ascending into deeper political division after the assassination attempt on the former president Saturday. Our Donie O'Sullivan went to a vigil outside of the Republican National Convention the day after the shooting, but Trump supporters were praying and discussing the state of political rhetoric in America. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was actually in the airport when the news broke. CHRIS, TRUMP SUPPORTER: I was at home sitting on my couch. I couldn't believe my eyes. I mean, this is America. DONIE O'SULLIVAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are here for a prayer vigil just outside the main security perimeter of the RNC in Milwaukee. This event was put together at last-minute after the attempted assassination of former President Trump last night. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe the Lord Almighty was with Donald Trump yesterday. God's hands of protection was around him as we have prayed for him many, many times before. [02:55:00] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've worked elections for 18 years. Side-by-side some of my best friends for over the last 18 years are Democratic voters and poll workers. And they are as appalled as we are about this. O'SULLIVAN: Yes. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This shouldn't happen in America. O'SULLIVAN: Of course. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- shouldn't. This is not a third world country. CHRIS: It's because of the rhetoric. Look, everybody is so divided. O'SULLIVAN: Yeah. CHRIS: No one likes extreme left and no one likes extreme right. We got to find some consensus in the middle and people might talk about that but both sides do it, they vilify each other. It's ridiculous. It's just got to stop. O'SULLIVAN: Is that on both sides? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: On both sides. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, absolutely. Oh, absolutely. How can we call each other names? And then have Republicans and Democrats win and have them sit at the same table and negotiate when you've called each other morons and idiots -- O'SULLIVAN: Yeah. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- and Nazis? It's not conducive to having a real dialog and getting things done. O'SULLIVAN: What do you think has happened for, I mean, I know you're holding this sign that says fight, fight, fight. I take it, you obviously don't want to see more violence (inaudible). CHRIS SLINKER, RNC DELEGATE: No. No, no. I don't think it's a violent fight. O'SULLIVAN: Yes. SLINKER: I think this is a fight that can be won intelligently. I think it's about fighting to restore decency to this country. O'SULLIVAN: There has been pretty universal -- on the part of Democratic leaders, elected officials, Biden -- CHRIS: Yeah. O'SULLIVAN: -- there's been pretty unanimous condemnation of the attempted assassination of Trump. CHRIS: And there should be, yep. O'SULLIVAN: I've seen some Democrats make the point -- CHRIS: Yep. O'SULLIVAN: -- that when it came to Paul (ph) Pelosi and other things, that Republicans were not as straightforward saying, we condemn this, that there was people joking about it. There was -- CHRIS: Oh, yeah, you don't joke about when somebody gets hurt. I don't care what their -- O'SULLIVAN: Yeah. CHRIS: -- political feelings or what side they lean. O'SULLIVAN: Yeah. CHRIS: You don't joke about that. O'SULLIVAN: How do you think the temperature can be turned down a bit? SLINKER: I'm not interested in toning it down. They've almost just killed our president. They almost just murdered him. This isn't a time to tone down; this is a time to turn up. (END VIDEOTAPE) KINKADE: Well, thanks for your company this hour. I'm Lynda Kinkade. "CNN Newsroom" continues in just a moment with my colleague, Rosemary Church. Stay with us. You are watching CNN. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)