Return to Transcripts main page

CNN NEWSROOM

Report: Trump Plan in Works to Track Muslims From Certain Nations; SC Governor Haley May Under Consideration for Sec'y Of State; Trump to Meet with Romney This Weekend; Jeff Sessions May Be Under Consideration for Cabinet Post; Thousands Leave Voicemails to CNN About Their Feelings on the Election

Aired November 17, 2016 - 15:30   ET

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


[15:30:00] BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: A number of Muslim Americans have expressed fears about President-elect Donald Trump because of statements like this that he made on the campaign trail.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what the hell is going on.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Now Trump later walked back saying he would not use a religious test, instead would implement, he said "extreme vetting for immigrants from regions that export terrorism." Still, we haven't had a clear picture on what exactly his immigration policy would look like. Let's go to Pamela Brown, our justice correspondent getting new details about any possible policy. What are you hearing?

PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: I am speaking to a person involved with President-elect Trump's immigration plans and I'm told a proposal is being developed to closely track immigrants traveling to the United States from high-risk countries sort of like an entry on parole system. The people from countries deemed high risk would be entered into a database, fingerprinted and be required to check in with federal authorities on their whereabouts.

It's similar to the NSEERS program that was implemented in the United States after 9/11 which imposed higher scrutiny and tracking of people coming from Muslim majority countries with the exception of North Korea. That program was ended in 2011 following complaints of racial profiling. I spoke to the architect of the immigration plan's Kris Kobach, he denied this would be a Muslim registry. But rather a system to keep tabs on people coming from areas of the world with high terrorist threats regardless of religion.

He wouldn't specify which countries only saying it's moving target and he said some majority Muslim countries aren't on the list but this plan as you can imagine is drawing fire from people on the left with Senator Elizabeth Warren tweeting just in the last hour "registering and tracking Americans based on race or religion is idiotic, disgusting, unconstitutional and is a recruiting bonanza for ISIS." But important to emphasize basically they're just looking at options and they will have Donald Trump decide which route he wants to go down once he is officially in the White House, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Kris Kobach, Secretary of State, Kansas, someone who's been on TV a lot as a surrogate for Mr. Trump. Someone's whose name has been bandied about for a potential position. So, it is important all of this.

Coming up next, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is on a list as a possible pick for the next administration's secretary of state. Who is she, how qualified is she? We'll talk about that live with South Carolina insiders from both parties.

[15:35:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley on the visitor's list today at Trump Tower in Manhattan. The Republican a rising star now a contender for U.S. secretary of state which may come as a bit of a surprise given the tense relationship she has had over the course of this campaign with the President-elect.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: First of all, she's very weak on illegal immigration, very weak. She's very, very weak on illegal immigration. You can't be that.

NIKKI HALEY, GOVERNOR, SOUTH CAROLINA: We need to show that South Carolina makes Presidents and that our next President will be Marco Rubio. I will not stop until we fight a man that that chooses not to disavow the KKK, that is not a part of our party, that's not who we want as President. We will not allow that in our country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: And then there was this tweet. Do you remember this from Donald Trump? "The people of South Carolina are embarrassed by Nikki Haley." To which she responded as a southerner "bless your heart." she seems pretty thrilled about Trump's win.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HALEY: I'm giddy and if you talk to any of the governors here we are so excited at the possibilities and opportunities that will be here is the idea that we can now start to really govern. I've never known what it's like to have a Republican President.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Joining me now, two voices from South Carolina, Joel Sawyer, Republican strategist and former aide to South Carolina Congressman Mark Sanford and Jamie Harrison, chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party who is also a candidate to be the chair of the DNC. Gentlemen, welcome.

JOEL SAWYER, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Thank you.

JAMIE HARRISON, CHAIRMAN, SOUTH CAROLINA DEMOCRATIC PARTY: Thank you for having us.

BALDWIN: Jamie, let me begin with you as you've worked with the governor for quite a bit. What does this say about Trump that he's looking at her and is she up for the job? Let's start with the latter question. Is she up for it.

HARRISON: Listen, I'm not going to be partisan here, I think if Governor Haley was being considered for secretary of commerce then that would be a good thing but I don't know if the governor knows anything about being secretary of state. It makes me question Donald Trump in terms of his understanding of what the role is and question Nikki Haley and do you really want to do that? So, I don't know.

BALDWIN: She was extraordinary in your state, we covered it. In the wake of the shoots at Mother Emanuel and the confederate flag controversy. Do you agree with Jamie, Joel, maybe doesn't have the chops for the state department or would you disagree?

SAWYER: I respectfully disagree with Jamie. There's not a policy manual to becoming secretary of state. What Nikki Haley has shown an extraordinary ability to do is put smart people together, listen to people who are subject areas experts. You look at the way with how she dealt with the flag but the thousand-year flood that same year and dealt with hurricane Matthew this year.

BALDWIN: Right. So, you're saying yes.

SAWYER: Yes, I mean, she puts people together that are subject area experts, you don't come in as governor and know climatology or disaster management, you put together experts who do. You listen to those people and I think she's been a good decision maker in that regard by surrounding herself with smart people.

BALDWIN: Jamie, there's one camp that has given the President-elect credit for giving a serious look for the first Indian American woman to be governor in the state of South Carolina. On the flip side, people are wondering if it's just a show. What -- let's take him at his word that he's looking at her seriously. What's the sign to Democrats?

HARRISON: Well, again, the sign to America is we should be scared Donald Trump doesn't know what he's doing, again, if governor Haley was being considered for secretary of commerce I would say yes. She's been great at bringing businesses and corporations into South Carolina. But it takes a certain understanding of the world and what's going on in the world to be secretary of state and if you look at George Bush's appointments, you look at Barack Obama's appointments, every single one of those candidates for secretary of state had foreign policy experience. Governor Haley hasn't had that so you want somebody who understands the nuances and histories of all of these different things, and in all due respect to Joel, taking care of the flood and getting the confederate flag to come down, does that equate to being secretary of state caliber? SAWYER: It doesn't necessarily equate to being secretary of state but

it equates to a skill set I think you need to bring to the job. I think she certainly has a skill set to do that job and there's no policy manual. There are things that certainly she would have to learn but she's shown to be a very capable leader.

BALDWIN: Jamie, let me move on and talk about you and potentially your future with the DNC. They're looking for new leadership, they want to embrace that progressive voice in the Democratic party. Why do you think you could be that person?

HARRISON: I think I have a unique understanding of both Washington, D.C. and what's going on in the states. When you look at it, right now 33 governorships are controlled by the Republicans. 69 out of 99 houses of state legislatures, are controlled by Republicans. That say to me we're not doing our job in the states. The national party needs to invest in state parties. I understand the challenges of being a state party chair in a red state but I also understand the challenges of going into the grass-roots and rebuilding this party.

So, I hope what I can bring to the discussion and hopefully to the chairmanship is that unique understanding. The ability to talk to the Nancy Pelosis and the Chuck Schumers of the world, to get things done there but also the ability to go win and talk to the grass-roots activists.

BALDWIN: A lot of names being floated for that. Jamie, good luck, Joel, thank you so much.

We want to get back to our breaking news, the big news this afternoon that we have learned Donald Trump will be meeting with Mitt Romney over the weekend, this is the same governor Romney who called Mr. Trump a phony and fraud during a blistering 20-minute speech earlier this year. Trump has said his own choice words for Romney as well. We'll talk with the man who broke that news next.

[15:45:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JEFF SESSIONS, UNITED STATES SENATOR: He can talk to three people on three phones at the same time which is a good quality for a chief of staff. He knows everybody and he's got good judgment. Steve Bannon is a powerful intellect and a thoughtful leader that consistently provides good advice and so it's a good team right now.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Sir, would you like to serve in a Trump administration?

SESSIONS: I'd be honored to be considered Mr. Trump will make those decisions.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Do you want to be secretary of state?

SESSIONS: I haven't -- if he asked me, I'll share with him but I'm not talking about my agenda at this point. I'd be pleased to continue to serve in the Senate. I've got a lot of work to do there but I feel that the House and Senate are charged up. They believe we've got a new leader, the President will be the one that sets the agenda and the whole Congress will be supportive.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Will you be with Trump in his meeting with Abe today?

SESSIONS: I had planned to go back to D.C. and I may not do that so I don't know, I don't think so at this point.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: How long do you plan on staying her, in New York?

SESSIONS: Not much longer. Tomorrow's Friday, I think.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Have you seen "Hamilton"?

SESSIONS: I have not seen Hamilton. My wife would not be happy if I went --

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Are you going to --

SESSIONS: I have not committed to do that so I'm not on the -- I'm not committed to go to that.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: There are reports Mitt Romney will be meeting Donald Trump. What do you think about this idea that his arrival from the campaign season and now have passed the point where the campaign is over? Is this a coalescing around the President-elect or how do you this?

SESSIONS: I think it's good that the President-elect is meeting with people like Romney. There are a lot of talented people that he needs good relationships with. And I think Mr. Romney would be quite capable of doing a number of things. But he will be one of those, I am sure, that's reviewed. And Mr. Trump will make that decision.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Do you think you could be confirmed easily in the Senate by your colleagues?

SESSIONS: People have to make that decision. Actual senators will cast those votes on any confirmation. So, what do you think.

KELLYANNE CONWAY, TRUMP ADVISER: One more question.

[15:50:00] UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Is Romney meeting this weekend?

CONWAY: We're working on it. Happy to have your support. Thank you.

BALDWIN: OK. These are the moments when we hang on every word here. You have loyal supporters and soldiers of the Trump administration, Jeff Sessions. Kellyanne Conway. The campaign manager. You heard the question about Romney. Mark Preston, you want to jump into the conversation. Mark Preston is the one who broke the news that Mitt Romney would be meeting with Donald Trump over the weekend. You heard Senator Sessions say it's good. He is quite capable of doing several jobs. What do you think, Mark?

MARK PRESTON, CNN EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Brooke, I hung on that as well, which is interesting talking about positions that are interesting that also Jeff Sessions could potentially do. Jeff Sessions himself has been mentioned potentially as a secretary of state candidate. We'll see if he is really in the mix for that. But it is this game of dominos. And they fall all in line.

If Mitt Romney were to go into the secretary of state job, if that's what Donald Trump offers him or has a very serious discussion with him this weekend about, you have to wonder where does everybody else go? Does Jeff Sessions go to the department of defense where he's been mentioned or potentially to go to the department of justice where he does have a background in it? What about Rudy Giuliani who seemed to be openly asking to become the secretary of state or be appointed.

BALDWIN: Chess pieces.

PRESTON: A lot of dominos dropping, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Mark, thanks so much. Back in a moment.

In this post-election world, everyone has a little something to say. So, CNN opened up the phone lines, and we have been flooded with calls from across the political spectrum. Here is just a few.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: In this post-election world, everyone has a little something to say. So, CNN opened up the phone lines and we have been flooded with calls from across the political spectrum here are just a few.

MIKE, NEW YORK, VOTED FOR CLINTON: Hi. My name is Mike. I've been going through my downs and ups over the last week. Extremely disappointed in the results. Questioning, frankly, the country that we live in. Not realizing how many people would choose the direction that they did on election day. But there have been bright points, and I try to remain optimistic. Optimism is hard when my 8-year-old son asked me this morning how come the Nazis were coming back after seeing a news report about swastikas. Yes, it's a tough time. And we're trying to get through it. Thanks.

MARCIA, TENNESSEE, VOTED FOR TRUMP: I didn't feel very good for the last four or five years at all, even though I voted for Obama. And I believe that he let me down. I don't really believe that he loved America. By the way, this is very significant, I am a Democrat! And so, all of a sudden I don't believe what's happening in the Democratic party. Like it's going so far left that it's gone into the socialist range.

[15:55:00] BALDWIN: Here with me, listening to these voice mails CNN social producers. Masuma Ahuja, social producer and CNN's digital senior editor, Amanda Wills. Ladies, so nice to have you on. This is just absolutely fascinating, I keep saying we need to go on a listening tour and listen to how people are feeling in this country. It was your idea, so I want to go to you first. How many tearful voice mails did you hear?

MASUMA AHUJA, CNN SOCIAL PRODUCER: Everyone's on Facebook and twitter and talking about how they feel and how angry they are, how happy they are, and talking at each other. And people weren't really listening to each other. We wanted to listen to them and hear what they were thinking so we opened up the phone lines and the voice mails started pouring in. We're at about 7,000 now. People are crying. People are laughing. People are happy. People are sad. We're getting everything.

BALDWIN: People are hitting the beep and calling back because they're not finished leaving the voice mails.

AMANDA WILLS, CNN DIGITAL SENIOR EDITOR: That's correct. We had one women who called back. She went over the time limit and called back four more times because she really wanted to convey that, in her own words, she felt like an island in her community because she voted differently from everyone else.

That's what's very interesting about this project. We spend a lot of time on social media, a lot of time at the dinner table arguing with friends and family about the outcome of this election. This is the first time, me personally, that I've had to sit silently and listen to a voice in my ear. Think it's a different perspective than we're used to. It's very personal and it's very raw. BALDWIN: Listening. Listening. We all need to be doing more of it,

I think. We have more -- more voice mails. Listen to these.

THOMAS, TENNESSEE, VOTED FOR TRUMP: I couldn't be happier for the of the election. I am also a gay male. And it was a great turnout. I think everyone is freaking out about -- that Trump will take away rights. He is obviously not. He said he's not going to touch gay marriage. So I think everyone should probably calm down a little bit and just take a step back.

ALICIA, MASSACHUSETTS, VOTED FOR CLINTON: I'm a transgender woman. I am [ bleep ] terrified. Like, everybody else I know is too. There are tons of back lash. Tons of violent crimes happening against people like us. We're so visible. Most I know are staying inside for days who are trying to avoid going out and about. I went out today and I couldn't stop looking over my shoulder. I was so afraid. I'm not really sure how things are ever going to feel again. But we just need to hide and stay safe.

BALDWIN: Kept looking over my shoulder and I felt so afraid. You all actually took the time to call some of these people back.

WILLS: Yes.

BALDWIN: Tell me about some of the stories.

WILLS: Thomas from Tennessee --

BALDWIN: The gay male who voted for Trump.

WILLS: Right. From everything we heard leading up to this election we would have put Thomas in a certain category. I was really interested to hear his side of the story. He even told me. I face a lot of backlash from my gay communities openly supporting Trump. He said I am a single father. It came down to economic issues. He voted solely based on Obamacare.

BALDWIN: You?

AHUJA: For me what was surprising was the people who you wouldn't expect to vote the way they did. I talked to a woman named Alexis, who lives in Texas. Her parents crossed over the border illegally from Mexico. She was born in the U.S. she is for the wall. She has family members who are crossing over from Mexico. She says, I get that that, I think we need to deport some of the illegal immigrants. We need a wall. It isn't OK. I called her back. She was really impassioned about it. People like Alicia, the transgender woman. She said she grew up in a liberal town in Massachusetts. Very liberal town. Over the last year she is scared to go out. She is scared to go into the town.

BALDWIN: Can people still call?

WILLS: The phone lines are open through inauguration day. We've seen in the past seven days alone how much things have changed. I am sure that's going to happen all the way up until January. We want to keep the phone lines open. We want it to be a cathartic process and also we want to learn things on our own.

BALDWIN: Please call us. We've gotten 7,000 messages so far. We're still listening.

The phone number is 646-535-9720. I am sure we have it on cnn.com as well. Masuma and Amanda. Great idea. Thank you. First it was listening to love stories in February. And now it's the election. I'm Brooke Baldwin.