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Trump Strikes Conciliatory Tone with Mexico. Trump Promises Wall, Deportation Program. Aired 10-10:30a ET

Aired September 1, 2016 - 10:00   ET

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


[10:00:00]

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Shaking from the explosion miles away, our team has been reaching out to NASA and the Kennedy Space Center for more information and any word whether there are injuries to anyone at this time. CNN's Chad Myers is standing by with more. Hi, Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol. Yes, we know there was an explosion. We don't know what it was at this point in time. Lots of speculation out there, we'll try not to get to that. This would have been the SpaceX, the Falcon-9 launch pad. And there's no falcon there. That's what we basically need to know now. Falcon was set to launch September 3rd, that is Saturday. Set to take a space comb satellite up in the space, a telecommunications satellite up in the space. And - in the Brevard County, people out there talking about a test fire that went wrong. And there is no threat at all to the general population. The winds are blowing off shore. We will continue to update this as soon as we get it. But right now, that's the solid concrete facts that we have. Everything else on twitter, we certainly just cannot confirm, but there should be a rocket in that picture and I don't see it.

COSTELLO: Yes, me neither, Chad Myers, thanks so much, we'll get back to you. All right, let's turn to politics now, Donald Trump talking to military veterans in the Battleground State of Ohio. His conciliatory tone just minutes ago, far from his fire-breathing address on immigration last night. A combative Trump crushing any thoughts that he was softening on his signature issue. Last night's harsh rhetoric in Arizona, a jarring change from his softer tone with Mexico's president just hours earlier. And that reversal payment of cost, some Hispanic surrogates say after hearing Trump's hardline speech in Arizona, they are now reconsidering their support for him. In fact, one of - Trump's Hispanic supporters, last hour, told me he would no longer support Mr. Trump because of his speech last night. We're covering all the angles but let's begin with CNN's Jeff Zeleny. He was at Trump's speech in Cincinnati. Hi, Jeff.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. It is almost a tale of two Donald Trumps. Donald Trump by day perhaps and Donald Trump by night. He struck a much more conciliatory softer tone here in Cincinnati. Similar to the one that he did yesterday in Mexico City, a far change from his fiery red hot speech last night in Arizona on immigration. Now, I can tell you after being at the speech yesterday for Hillary Clinton and watching this speech here today for Donald Trump, much more enthusiasm for Donald Trump. I talked to one man who says Donald Trump understands the military. He understands us. But Carol, completely different speeches, Hillary Clinton talking about America's place in the world, the challenges facing the country, Donald Trump, focusing much more on the need for respect, the need for patriotism. But he also made a brief mention to Mexico. There was no mention of who will pay for that wall, however. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I just came back from a wonderful meeting with the President of Mexico, where I express my deep respect for the people of this country and for the tremendous contributions of Mexican-Americans in our country. And they have made tremendous contributions. Many are in our armed services. You know how good they are. I want to again thank him for his gracious hospitality and express my belief that we can work together to accomplish great things for both countries. That's Mexico and the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: Carol, it is almost an entirely different. That the facts that he was talking about last night in Arizona, so different. So at one point, Donald Trump, by day and by night, will have to reconcile with one another here in terms of his tone on immigration. But here as it pertained to military veterans and values. Donald Trump did receive a much more, you know, warm greeting here. It is a challenge for Hillary Clinton, no question, here in swing state Ohio. Still a reminder of how close this race actually is up in the air. That's why the next 68 days of campaigning, so critical for both of them, Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, Jeff Zeleny, reporting live from Cincinnati, Ohio. Now, let's take a closer look at Trump's immigration speech from last night and his full-throated support of hardline policies. But Trump and Mexico's president are at odds. You heard what Jeff say over building that border wall and who exactly would pay for that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We will build a great wall along the southern border. And Mexico will pay for the wall. Believe me.

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: 100 percent.

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: They don't know it yet but they're going to pay for the wall.

ENRIQUE PENA NIETO, PRESIDENT OF MEXICO: I can say with all clarity and in public and the candidate, Trump knows that I was emphatic to affirm that Mexico wouldn't pay by any means for the wall.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: So what's up with that? CNN's Sunlen Serfaty joins me now with more on this. Good morning.

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you Carol. We really did see Donald Trump

[10:05:16] -- return to this kind of tough - talk that he, you know, brought out during the primary campaign, throwing out some red meat to his supporters. Talking about building that wall with Mexico saying that Mexico, he believes, will pay for it. But he did declare that his policy is no amnesty and he vowed that illegal immigrants living here in the U.S. would not have a path to legal status if he becomes president. But notably, perhaps most importantly, he didn't commit to deporting every single undocumented immigrant that's living in the country now. Rather, focusing on prioritizing those that are criminals first. And he still didn't specifically outlined what he exactly would do with those non-criminals who are still living here in the United States. Here's more from his speech last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I am going to create a new special deportation task force focused on identifying and quickly removing the most dangerous criminal illegal immigrants in America who have evaded justice. We are going to end catch and release. Anyone who illegally crosses the border will be detained until they are removed out of our country and back to the country from which they came.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SERFATY: And for those who want to come live and work in the United States, Donald Trump last night says that under his proposal that they'll be subject to something called extreme vetting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We are going to suspend the issuance of visas to any place where adequate screening cannot occur. Another reform involves new screening tests for all applicants that include, and this is so important, especially if you get the right people, and we will get the right people and ideological certification to make sure that those we are admitting to our country share our values and love our people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SERFATY: And the Clinton campaign is trying quickly to remind people of Donald Trump's call during the primary campaign for mass deportations. Brian Fallon tweeting out this morning, "If everyone hoping -- to ever come out of the shadows is instead made to leave the country altogether, that = mass deportation." Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, Sunlen Serfaty reporting live from Washington. Even though Mr. Trump says he loves the Mexican people, some Hispanic supporters are backing away from him. Last hour, I spoke to Alfonso Aguilar, he is the president of the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles, he says he's not only disappointed by Mr. Trump's speech last night, he feels mislead. And he told me, he is no longer supporting Mr. Trump. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALFONSO AGUILAR, PRESIDENT OF THE LATINO PARTNERSHIP FOR CONSERVATIVE PRINCIPLES: He gave the impression on the campaign, gave impression until yesterday morning that he was going to deal with the undocumented in a compassionate way. And in that speech, he is basically saying we deport you or we self-deport you. It's even worse than what he initially proposed. So today, I'm saying -- not only I'm considering withdrawing my support, I'm telling you today, I'm withdrawing my support from Donald Trump. And it's not only me. Many like me think the same way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: All right. So let's talk about this. Let's bring in Jesus Marquez. He's a member of the National Hispanic Advisory Council for Trump and a Las Vegas radio host. Also with me, Hillary Clinton supporter and former Mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa. Welcome to both of you.

ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA, HILLARY CLINTON SUPPORTER AND FORMER MAYOR OF LOS ANGELES: Thanks for having me.

COSTELLO: Thanks for being here. Jesus, I'm going to start with you because you met with Mr. Trump. Your council met with Trump and you advised him about how to talk about undocumented immigrants in this country. You heard what Alfonso said, there was nothing compassionate in Mr. Trump's speech last night. Do you agree with that?

JESUS MARQUEZ, MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL HISPANIC ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR TRUMP: Oh, no, I don't agree with that. I think that Trump has been consistent. He is going to be tough with illegal immigration. Now, if you notice -

COSTELLO: What was compassionate in his speech? Because that's what Alfonso found so disturbing. He said - there was no compassion, there was no humane way in dealing with undocumented immigrants. - So just tell me. Because maybe - Alfonso missed it. What was compassionate in Donald Trump's speech last night?

MARQUEZ: Well, this is what we're going to talk about. For example, he's talking about deporting the illegal immigrants that have committed crimes. He didn't mention anything about what he used to talk about before, about rounding people - the 11 million and deporting those. That people are not going to be deported. He's going to prioritize to deport the criminals. We have got to understand. Everybody agrees that we have a big problem with illegal immigration. He emphasized on securing the border and stopping illegal immigration from continuing in our country. I don't think there's nothing wrong -

[10:10:16] COSTELLO: So wait a minute, because I just want to understand. So you say he's only going to deport the criminal undocumented immigrants in this country, right? -- And people who have overstayed their visas. That's about six million people, I think. That's according to "The Washington Post." - The other million, what's going to happen to the undocumented immigrants who are not criminals then, what's going to happen to them?

MARQUEZ: He said it yesterday. You know, he said it yesterday that once we deal with the illegal immigrants in coming into the country from now on and also deporting all the criminals, which he understands there's just a small portion, then we'll deal with the other part. And you know, unfortunately, it's a tough decision. America deserves this. We don't want to just talk about 11 million people here. We also want to talk about the rest of America, 300 million of Americans that are tired of just allowing this problem to continue to grow. On the other hand, we have the Democrats, Hillary Clinton and Obama, they are just not doing anything to -- tackle this problem. I believe that this talking -- and promising good things to Latinos on one hand and then going the other way is not going to solve the problem.

COSTELLO: Right. OK, so Antonio, what did you hear in that speech that was humane and compassion? Because that's what Alfonso is concerned about. That's why he withdrew his support. And by the way, Alfonso does not like Hillary Clinton and he does not plan to vote for her now. I just want to get that in so our viewers could understand. -- So Antonio, what was compassionate in Donald Trump's speech?

VILLARAIGOSA: I couldn't find anything compassionate about a speech where -- well, one, he's talking out of both sides of his mouth. Because as you know, he went to Mexico, made the centerpiece of his campaign that Mexico would pay for the wall. And then claims that the issue was never brought up, speaks in one way there. Then goes to the show me your papers state of where he essentially reiterates what he's been saying for the year. That he'd deport the 11 million people. Yes, he'd start with criminals, he says. But he said every single one of them needs to go back. And he's also talking about anchor babies, which undermines our constitution, says that people, babies that were born here to the undocumented would be deported too. So now we're talking about 16 million people. No nation anywhere has ever deported that number of people. The wall they say would cost some $30 billion. We're already spending $17 billion for immigration enforcement at a time when we have roughly a net minus of Mexicans coming in to the nation. And as you know, Carol, they're only about 65% of the undocumented. They come from all over the world. So I don't know what was compassionate about what he said. In fact, -- I think there's an argument to make what he had to say today -

COSTELLO: I keep coming to this because Alfonso is not alone. Just let me get this in. Jacob Monty, who also sits on your council, the Hispanic Advisory Council, he resigned. He told "Politico" he resigned because Trump's Arizona speech lacked compassion and because his ideas are not realistic. So it's not just Alfonso. -

MARQUEZ: Let me get this straight. I mean, I don't agree with everything that Obama is saying here. But you know, with the status quo that we have, I think this is the best. Because the Democrats have all just promised and promised and they haven't done anything and they've allowed the problem to grow. Now, to answer to Mr. Villaraigosa, -- he never said that he was going to deport all the 11 million, including the dreamer. What he said - was he is going to deport the illegal immigrants who are criminals. Now, he's going to emphasize on those. And then, -- at the end, he emphasized, and then we'll see what happens after that. You know, we have to understand we have a big problem with illegal immigration. Hillary Clinton's plan and Obama's plan is just to have an open border. I don't think anybody should agree on that. We have the right to sovereignty control our borders -

COSTELLO: Well just going back to, like, so what is his plan after he gets rid of all the criminal undocumented immigrants, then he's just going to think about another plan?

VILLARAIGOSA: -actually, what he said is he's going to send them back and they're going to have to reapply, which means they're going to be deported. You know, look, he speaks differently to different audiences. He obviously -- on the same day and sometimes in the same five-minute interview, can say two things at the same time. The fact of the matter is he wants to build a wall that will cost upwards of $30 billion. He wants to create a deportation force that -- at a time when we're already spending $17 billion to secure our borders. He doesn't believe that

[10:15:16] the kids who were born here who are the children of the undocumented, ought to be able to be U.S. Citizens, contrary to the constitution. So, look, the fact of the matter is, nothing he says or either last night or any other time that I've heard him, is compassionate. And certainly, in my mind, it's not constitutional either.-

COSTELLO: I have to leave it there. - I have to leave it there. I do, I have to leave it there I apologize. - Antonio Villaraigosa, Jesus Marquez, thanks to both of you. So to cover the Newsroom, Donald Trump making headlines in raising eyebrows for his speech to black voters and now he takes that - speech to an African-American church in Detroit. The church's pastor will join me next.

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COSTELLO: Donald Trump will continue his pitch to black voters this weekend when he visits Great Faith Ministry, it's a black church located in Detroit, Michigan,

[10:20:16] on Saturday. There's a twist though. Mr. Trump will not speak directly to churchgoers. He will, however, conduct a one on one interview with the church's pastor, an interview that will not be open to the public or the media. Joining me now from Detroit is the pastor of Great Faith Ministries and the founder and president of The Impact Network, Wayne Jackson. Welcome, sir.

WAYNE JACKSON, PASTOR OF GREAT FAITH MINISTRIES AND THE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE IMPACT NETWORK: How are you, Carol?

COSTELLO: I'm good, pastor, thank you so much for being with me this morning. Mr. Trump will not address your congregation and I just wanted to ask you why.

JACKSON: Well, he decided to come in. He wants to come in and enjoy the service, get the experience of a black congregation. Should I say African-American congregation. And you know, this whole - this whole event or this whole service that we're having on Saturday the 3rd is based on Mr. Trump wanting to talk to the African-American community. As you know, he's been promising African-Americans things from another audience and he needs to come into the African-American community and tell us exactly what he wants to do. So The Impact Television Network would be the venue he would do it on. And that's the only African- American Christian television network in our nation in about 50 million homes. So he has been - promising the African-American community that he will, you know, make it better for their lives and so -

COSTELLO: So pastor, he's going to be sitting in the church service, correct?

JACKSON: Yes.

COSTELLO: Among the parishioners, right, during the service?

JACKSON: Yes.

COSTELLO: So is he going to talk with them? Do they get to interact with him? How does that work?

JACKSON: Yes. Well, he will be like any other visitor. And you know if the Secret Service allows that to happen, I'm sure he will be talking to other parishioners because any visitor that will come into the House of God is welcome to talk to whoever they want to talk to. And you know, I'm sure he will.

COSTELLO: OK. Will the media be able to take pictures of that?

JACKSON: I'm sorry?

COSTELLO: Will the media be able to take pictures of Mr. Trump among these black parishioners?-

JACKSON: I'm sure. His national campaign is, you know, they're making sure that Mr. Trump is going to be safe, however the secret service want to make sure that his -- are safe. I know that the secret service is already at the church now. They got snipers. They have everybody, a lot of security around there. So it's very, very tight security. And if Mr. Trump -- you know, Mr. Trump is Mr. Trump. He's going to do what Mr. Trump wants to do. And if he wants to worship and he wants to sit down - or just shake hands with parishioners like any other visitor, we welcome that. But after that, that's when we are going to have a one-on-one sit-down interview for The Impact Television Network.

COSTELLO: And you plan to ask him some pretty tough questions. I think I read in a Detroit paper, you're going to sit-down and ask first if he's a Christian and secondly if he's a racist. Will you really put it in those terms?

JACKSON: Well, I won't just come out -- I guess that may be disrespectful, because first of all, we've got to understand Mr. Trump. And we have two candidates running for major parties should I say, Democratic and Republican, running for the office of the highest position in our land and, you know we're going to give him respect, I am not going to - say, are you a racist? But you know, based on all the things that people have been hearing, people want to know that. They want to know, you know, what is his view on certain things he has said? You know, are you - do you feel that way and why did you say such and such. Yes, we want to know about that. Our community want to know if he is elected president, what will he do when it comes to the unarmed shooting of young black males, you know, it was not even these males were running and whatever they were doing, they were shot down, and we want to know how his justice department's going to look. So it's a lot of things that concerned the African-American community.

COSTELLO: Well, let me ask you this. Because the black church has been so instrumental in the fight for civil rights and ensuring that people actually do get out the vote. But there are these two black pastor who are tied to Mr. Trump, Mark Burns and Apostle Thomas Rodgers. They're making news for very controversial reasons. Pastor burns tweeting that image of Hillary Clinton in black face. Pastor Rodgers saying he wants African-American to go back to Africa to build roads and have dual citizenship. - Is it a good thing for those pastors to be - to Mr. Trump?

JACKSON: No. See, that's not a good thing. You know, first of all, we must engage in love. You know, all this going back and forth, you calling names, you calling names. It's a lot of racial tension in our country. It's no secret about that. And I just think that that type of, you know

[10:25:16] tweeting or whatever you're doing, you know, -- it's counterproductive. Jesus taught us love. He said that even if your enemy, even your enemy, he said love your enemy. Do good that also has despite for you. People like the teachings of Jesus, Martin Luther King. It has to be done in peace, so all of that is just adding to the fuel at the fire. And we're not about that at Great Faith Ministries, we teach love. We teach one another. Even if you don't agree with someone, you know, just make sure you pray for them and love everyone. Whether they're homosexual, whether they're ex- drug addicts, -- whoever it may be. We teach love and great faith.

COSTELLO: OK. We look forward to the outcome of your meeting with Mr. Trump on Saturday. Thank you, pastor.

JACKSON: And let me say this before we go off, I am a registered Democrat. I've been voting Democrat all my life. And one thing I do want to say is this, is that the last two candidates that came who ran for the Republican Party, they didn't come to Detroit. At least Mr. Trump is coming to Detroit. John -- George Bush did, but the last two candidates that ran for the presidency of the United States, for the Republican Party, -- didn't come to Detroit. So at least he's coming. People say, well, you know, when is he going to come and talk to black audience, when is he going to come and address the people that he says he's going to help. Well, he's doing it now. So he's doing it. We're going to pray -- the bible teaches us to pray for all of those who are in authority and we're going to pray for Ms. -- Secretary Clinton, going to pray for Donald Trump and we'll just going to pay for this country. COSTELLO: Yes, we certainly need that at this moment. Pastor thank you so much for joining me this morning. Coming up in the "Newsroom," Hillary Clinton calls Trump's visit to Mexico a failure. But is she making a mistake by not going?

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