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Pittsburgh Penguins Visit White House; Trump Challenges Secretary of State to I.Q. Test; Aired 3-3:30p ET

Aired October 10, 2017 - 15:00   ET

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


[15:00:00]

JOSEPH LOMBARDO, CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA, SHERIFF: Would it enable the first-responders to be directing their attention in other locations, which would enable Mr. Paddock to just leave the hotel?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Quickly, what do you make of that theory?

ART RODERICK, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: I think it's a possibility. But I think he probably also knew the probability of him getting away was about zero.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: OK. Art, thank you, very much.

RODERICK: Thanks, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Now this.

All right. We continue on, top of the hour. I'm Brooke Baldwin.

Any moment now, President Trump will welcome the Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins, to the White House. The visit comes amid the president's culture war with athletes, including NFL players who have taken a knee during the national anthem.

Also we wait for that -- and we will take it live -- the president is also downplaying his spat with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. The two met for lunch today on the heels of reports that Secretary Tillerson called Trump a moron at the Pentagon this summer.

So in this interview with "Forbes" magazine, the president boasted that he's smarter than Tillerson and challenged him to an I.Q. test.

Asked if he's undercutting the secretary of state, here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

QUESTION: Did you undercut the secretary of state today with the I.Q. comment?

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: No. I didn't undercut anybody. I don't believe in undercutting people. Thank you very much, everybody.

QUESTION: Do you still have confidence in Secretary Tillerson?

TRUMP: Yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Let's go to Kaitlan Collins. She's our White House reporter in the East Room of the White House, anticipating the big hockey team.

But before we see the Penguins here, what can you tell me about this lunch today between the president and his secretary of state?

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, a lot of face time for these two men where the tension is at an all-time high between them, Brooke.

During the press briefing just now, we heard from Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, who said the president was joking when he said he wanted to compare I.Q. scores with his secretary of state in an interview published this morning that comes after those reports last week that Tillerson called him a moron over the summer.

Now, in this interview, the president was asked if he had undermined his secretary of state. And as we just heard, he said, no, he does not undercut people. But when he was asked about that, he did say that he would like to compare I.Q. scores with him. But now that's just a joke.

But we have seen these two men in a very public disagreement over the last few days. After Rex Tillerson told some reporters that he had a line of communication to North Korea, the president swiftly got on Twitter and said that Rex should stop wasting his time trying to negotiate with North Korea. When he said Rex, he was referring to Rex Tillerson.

So we have seen this really public display of tension between these two men, even though the White House is maintaining that he has confidence in his secretary of state. We did hear from the president the other day. He said he believes they have a good relationship, but that he disagrees with him on some things and wishes he could be a little tougher, Brooke.

BALDWIN: All right. So that's secretary of state. Let's go to sort of one feud to the next, being Senator Bob Corker.

And part of the back story is Senator Corker's tweet over the weekend calling the White House an adult day care center. Steve Bannon on TV last night, the president's former adviser, saying Senator Corker should resign immediately. Sarah Sanders was asked about this in the daily briefing moments ago and she said, no, it's up to the good people of Tennessee to decide whether he should no longer be in office.

COLLINS: Yes, and we are at the nickname part of this feud between the president and Bob Corker. We have seen this in the past. The president has nicknamed people that he's simply not disagreeing with. And today he gave Bob Corker on Twitter, calling him little Bob Corker.

But we have seen this play out. The president is learning that he is not the only counterpuncher in town. After he went after Bob Corker and said that he had begged for his endorsement, Corker responded that the White House was like an adult day care center.

Now, Sarah Sanders was just asked these comments. She was asked if the White House believes that Corker should resign, as the former chief strategist Steve Bannon said last night. She said that that's up to Corker and the people of Tennessee.

But when asked about the president's and Bob Corker's differing accounts over whether or not he asked for his endorse, Sarah Sanders said the president was telling the truth. That's something that's been widely disputed by Corker's office, because the president maintained that Corker begged for his endorsement, and then when the president would not grant it, decided he would not run for election and decided to retire.

Now, Bob Corker told "The New York Times" in an interview that that's simply not true, that the president actually urged multiple times to run for reelection and offered to endorse him if he did run, and even floated the idea of attending a rally in Tennessee to support Corker.

So we see these very two different accounts coming out of the White House and Capitol Hill. And it's not likely that this battle will end any time soon. A White House official told my colleague Jeff Zeleny just yesterday that the president is not finished with Corker just yet, Brooke.

[15:05:01]

BALDWIN: We wait to how that develops. Kaitlan, we will see you shortly, as well as the Pittsburgh Penguins. Hockey fans, hang tight.

Let's talk about football, though, now. The NFL has just responded to the president's attacks, while also addressing this issue of kneeling of during the national anthem. We have just gotten a statement from the NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, sent this memo to team executives this afternoon.

Let me just read part of that for you here. This is from Roger Goodell. "The current dispute over the national anthem is threatening to erode the unifying power of our game and is now dividing us and our players. For many fans across the country, we believe that everyone should stand for the national anthem."

Then, just a short while ago, the White House said this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I think we would certainly support the NFL coming out and asking players to stand, just as the president has done. We support the national anthem, the flag, and the men and women who fought to defend it.

And our position hasn't changed on that front. We are glad to see the NFL taking positive steps in that direction.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: The commissioner goes on to say that the league will develop a plan that will include an in-season platform to adjust social justice issues. And as we just saw, the White House responded moments ago.

Christine Brennan, CNN sports analyst and sports columnist for "USA Today," nice to see you.

I just went through sort of the bullet points of the Goodell statement. What's your reaction to this?

CHRISTINE BRENNAN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Of course, Brooke, when we hear the commissioner talk about the players should stand, that's been the language all along.

There's nothing new about that. That's what it stays. That's what their code for the national anthem has always said, the players should stand. So now the question is, will they force them to stand? Boy, oh, boy, that's a slippery slope. I can only imagine.

I think we can all imagine the pushback from the players union, from players themselves, from any number of legal venues. I could see lawsuits. You could see almost anything. Imagine it, and it could probably become true.

And if we put this in perspective, two-and-a-half weeks ago, if we heard had this conversation, Brooke, we wouldn't have this conversation because no one cared, it was over, it was done. Colin Kaepernick was out of the league. He wasn't talking about that. All he was doing was giving a million dollars to charity. Very few were kneeling and this story was literally dead.

And then Trump with his comments in Huntsville on that Friday brought it all back to the surface. Now for the National Football League to be getting involved and understanding now that they may need to react, it's all because of Donald Trump inserting himself and really driving a wedge between teammates, between fans and their teams, between role models and the little kids that look up to them, between teammates, as I said.

It's really unfortunate because none of this had to happen. It all stems from that speech in Huntsville.

BALDWIN: Well, 24 hours ago, we were talking about Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys owner, who now, despite the fact he took a knee a couple weeks ago, saying to his team, guys, you have to stand, and if you don't stand I'm going to bench you.

So going by what now the White House is saying, what if they still -- these players still take a knee? I mean, what -- would they suspend them? What if they are star players?

BRENNAN: This is chaos. And this is asking for chaos. That's what it is. And I don't cover the White House. I'm not a political journalist, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Not trying to get you out of your lane, Christine.

BRENNAN: No, no, but I'm happy to stay in this big lane now that's sports and culture and the National Football League and Donald Trump.

But chaos, if you are creating chaos, I will -- dot, dot, dot -- I will let the ellipses go from there. So, the Cowboys, so Jerry Jones, who himself was kneeling two weeks ago, now is saying he's not going to play anybody who kneels.

So let's put that into the mix of just completely bizarre behavior and conversation. Jones says you can kneel beforehand. Is everyone going to be, for the Cowboys anyway, keeping an eye on, OK, they are kneeling now, OK, now, strike up the anthem, OK, if they don't stand within, what, a second, two seconds, are they then not going to play?

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: But what's getting lost in this is the reason they took a knee to begin with. It didn't have to do with the flag or disrespecting men and women in uniform. It had to do with Kaepernick and then others, right, feeling police brutality and African-Americans in this country.

BRENNAN: Social justice.

BALDWIN: Social justice.

BRENNAN: And social injustice. Yes.

And the concerns he has. And, again, I'm one of these people that stand for the anthem and I can get tears in my eyes at the Olympics when I hear the U.S. anthem. But I also of course personally believe fully in the right of anyone to express their opinion during the anthem. That's the whole point of the United States. That's my personal belief.

[15:10:00]

But the idea that we're going to now start legislating this, oh, my goodness, the NFL -- it's a slippery slope, as I said earlier.

And I just don't know. For example, the Cowboys, let's say that entire offensive line decides to take a knee just as a surprise. Well, then you aren't going to play your entire offensive line? Because, according to Jerry Jones, the players will not play that minute that they don't stand.

Of if they're locking arms or what if they are sitting? Or what if one stays in the locker room? This is a mess. And I think the NFL, I think anyone would be better off just letting it play out and accept it and understand it and know the history books are going to be looking at this and probably judging it in a very interesting way, say, 50 years from now, the way we look, say, at Muhammad Ali or Billie Jean King or Jackie Robinson.

And I think that's the mistake the NFL is going to make if they do wade into this any further.

BALDWIN: You said it perfectly, hashtag slippery slope.

Christine Brennan, we will talk again. Thank you, my friend, very much.

BRENNAN: Thank you.

BALDWIN: We go from football to hockey. The Stanley Cup champs, the Pittsburgh Penguins, will be there in the East Room, packed house. We will wait for them. We will wait for the president. Might he make any other comments while on camera?

We stand by and watch. CNN back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:15:17]

BALDWIN: Welcome back. You're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin.

Hillary Clinton, Hillary Clinton now giving into to mounting pressure, finally condemning a man who gave a significant amount of money to her campaign, a man who now stands accused of rape and sexual abuse, mega- producer Harvey Weinstein.

Here's Secretary Clinton's statement: "I was shocked and appalled by the revelations about Harvey Weinstein. The behavior described by women coming forward cannot be tolerated. Their courage and the support of others is critical in helping to stop this kind of behavior."

Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, the list of accusers continues to grow. Those two mega-names surfacing in this exclusive "New York Times" report claiming they also were harassed by Weinstein.

Not even 48 hours after Weinstein was fired from his own company, we are now hearing new bombshell allegations of rape and more sex abuse.

Several women coming forward with their allegations to "The New York Times" and also "The New Yorker." This "New Yorker" piece, the journalist, Ronan Farrow, said he spent 10 months investigating, speaking with three women who claimed the movie mogul forced them into either oral or vaginal sex.

You are about to hear a recording secretly captured during an NYPD sting operation. The women's voice you are about to hear, Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, a model, and in it, you will actually hear Harvey Weinstein's voice and how he admitted to groping her.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

HARVEY WEINSTEIN, CO-FOUNDER, THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY: I'm telling you right now, get in here.

AMBRA BATTILANA GUTIERREZ, MODEL: What do we have to do here?

WEINSTEIN: Nothing. I'm going to take a shower. You sit there and have a drink.

GUTIERREZ: I don't drink.

WEINSTEIN: Then have a glass of water.

GUTIERREZ: Can I stay on the bar?

WEINSTEIN: No. You must come here now.

GUTIERREZ: No.

WEINSTEIN: Please?

GUTIERREZ: No, I don't want to.

WEINSTEIN: I'm not doing anything with you, I promise. Now you're embarrassing me.

GUTIERREZ: I know. I don't want to. I'm sorry. I cannot.

WEINSTEIN: No, come in here.

GUTIERREZ: No, yesterday was kind of aggressive for me.

WEINSTEIN: I know...

GUTIERREZ: I need to know a person to be touched.

WEINSTEIN: I won't do a thing.

GUTIERREZ: I don't want to be touched.

WEINSTEIN: I won't do a thing, please. I swear I won't. Just sit with me. Don't embarrass me in the hotel. I'm here all the time. Sit with me, I promise.

GUTIERREZ: I know, but I don't want to.

WEINSTEIN: Please sit there. Please. One minute, I ask you.

GUTIERREZ: No, I can't.

WEINSTEIN: Go to the bathroom.

GUTIERREZ: Please, I don't want to do something I don't want to.

WEINSTEIN: Go to the bathroom. Hey, come here. Listen to me.

GUTIERREZ: I want to go downstairs.

WEINSTEIN: I won't do anything, and you'll never see me again after this. OK? That's it. If you don't -- if you embarrass me in this hotel where I'm staying...

GUTIERREZ: I'm not embarrassing you.

WEINSTEIN: Just walk.

GUTIERREZ: It's just that I don't feel comfortable.

WEINSTEIN: Honey, don't have a fight with me in the hallway.

GUTIERREZ: It's not nothing, it's...

WEINSTEIN: Please. I'm not going to do anything. I swear on my children. Please come in. On everything. I'm a famous guy.

GUTIERREZ: I'm -- I'm feeling very uncomfortable right now.

WEINSTEIN: Please come in. And one minute. And if you want to leave when the guy comes with my jacket, you can go.

GUTIERREZ: Why yesterday you touch my breast?

WEINSTEIN: Oh, please. I'm sorry. Just come on in. I'm used to that.

GUTIERREZ: You're used to that?

WEINSTEIN: Yes, come in.

GUTIERREZ: No, but I'm not used to that.

WEINSTEIN: I won't do it again. Come on, sit here. Sit here for a minute, please?

GUTIERREZ: No, I don't want to.

WEINSTEIN: If you do this now you will (INAUDIBLE). Now go. Bye. Never call me again. OK? I'm sorry, nice to have -- I promise you I won't do anything.

GUTIERREZ: I know, but yesterday was too much for me.

WEINSTEIN: The guy is coming. I will never do another thing to you. Five minutes. Don't ruin your friendship with me for five minutes.

GUTIERREZ: I know, but, it's kind of, like, it's too much for me. I can't.

WEINSTEIN: Please, you're making a big scene here. Please.

GUTIERREZ: No, but I want to leave.

WEINSTEIN: OK, bye. Thank you. (END AUDIO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Brian Stelter, CNN senior media correspondent, that was just a piece of this "New Yorker" article that Ronan wrote.

Talk to me about some of the other -- there are several women who detail their disturbing allegations.

BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: Yes.

And just first on that tape, this is from 2015. It was a sting operation. The NYPD handed over the evidence to the Manhattan district attorney's office. We just heard from the DA, who says, we would have prosecuted this if we could have, but said it was horrific, but it was not enough to prosecute a crime.

That will be debated by lawyers going forward, because a lot of folks hear that tape and say it's pretty obvious he's saying, he's admitting to groping this woman. At one point, he says, I'm used to that. I won't do it again.

You hear Harvey Weinstein in his own words saying it on the tape. Now, Harvey Weinstein also stands accused of three rapes and other assaults and harassment. That's according to the "New Yorker" story naming many of the women who are making these allegations.

I can show you, Brooke, Weinstein's reaction to the rape allegations. He denies there was never any non-consensual sex. He says he believes any of these relationship, all of these relationships were consensual. He also said he further confirmed there were never any acts of retaliation against any of the women in these cases.

That's one of the subtexts here, Brooke, is that, if women rejected him, they were afraid they were going to lose their jobs, lose out on acting opportunities.

[15:20:07]

So, in this statement from Weinstein's spokeswoman, it goes on to say that: "Mr. Weinstein believes all the relationships were consensual. He has begun counseling. He has listened to the entertainment community and he is pursuing a better path."

Brooke, I'm really struck by this last line.

It says: "Mr. Weinstein is hoping that if he makes enough progress, he will be given a second chance."

He means a second chance by Hollywood. A second chance from the entertainment world. But, Brooke, these allegations, these stories, they make you sick to your stomach.

(CROSSTALK)

STELTER: At one point, he mentions his children. He said, I swear on the lives of my children that I'm not going to grope you or do anything inappropriate.

This is not the sound of an amateur. The person you hear on that tape, he sounds like a predator.

BALDWIN: I have got to pull away from this. We are going to come back. I have two amazing women waiting in the wings to talk more Harvey Weinstein, but now President Trump.

TRUMP: By the way, everybody wanted to be here today.

(LAUGHTER)

TRUMP: And I know why.

Well, thank you all very much for being here. And before we get started, I went to say a few words to the people of California, great state, especially with those in Napa. Napa has been hit so hard and Sonoma, as they deal with the tragic loss of life and property, two devastating wildfires.

I spoke with Governor Brown last night to let him know that the federal government will stand with the people of California. And we will be there for you in this time of terrible tragedy and need.

And I just want to pay my warmest respects. They are going through a lot.

We also continue to pray for those grieving and wounded after the mass shooting attack in Las Vegas. And we stand in solidarity with those suffering in the aftermath of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. And thank you very much. We have to never forget.

To the many members of Congress who join us here today, we have many, many -- we have many fans out here, folks. You know that, right? A lot of fans, not all from Pennsylvania, too, if you can believe it. They are a lot of fans.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: Members of my administration and distinguished guests, please join me in welcoming to the White House the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: Not only are the Penguins the first team in the National Hockey League literally in nearly 20 years to be repeat champions. You also captured the Cup in three out of the last nine seasons. That's pretty amazing, because I know the competition -- the competition is tough.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: Is it tough? Pretty tough, right? Not for you guys, it's not so tough. Over the last couple of months, the New England Patriots, the Chicago

Cubs and NCAA Champions Clemson Tigers football have all visited the White House to celebrate their great victories. It's been an honor to have them all here.

Now I want to proudly welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins owners. First of all, he's a friend of mine for a long time. He's a great, great negotiator.

Ron, how about negotiating some of our horrible trade deals that they have made over...

(LAUGHTER)

TRUMP: Here's what I want. I want to get him. Oh, I would love to have Ron Burkle.

And it's great to have you, Ron. But I really mean that. If you want to get involved in negotiating NAFTA, I like it, because we are renegotiating NAFTA, Ron.

(LAUGHTER)

TRUMP: Of course, he may not like that, because maybe he's on the other side. That's what's happening. That's why it's so hard to redo these trade deals, because there's so many other people.

You are not on the other side of NAFTA, are you, Ron?

RON BURKLE, CO-OWNER, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS: I am not.

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: And one of the all-time greats -- and, by the way, a really great golfer, too, Mario Lemieux, Super Mario.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: He hits that ball a long way.

To general manager Jim Rutherford and coach Mike Sullivan, I know you have a really big -- it's an early season match-up tomorrow night against the rival Washington Capitals. Are they tough, Washington Capitals?

[15:25:10]

What do you think? Are they tough, huh?

(BOOING)

TRUMP: So I want to thank you for coming today.

But for us, this is really a truly great group of world champions. That's what they are. They are world champions. We have to start with somebody that I have been watching for a long

time, because I saw him when he was just about as young as you can get going into the NHL, Sidney Crosby. Where is Sidney?

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: Man, can you play. Sidney, do you know how to win or what? Look at him. He's shy.

(LAUGHTER)

TRUMP: Do you know how to win or what? Great. Great job. What a job you have been, 44 goals last season, 89 points in all, and once again the recipient of the Conn Smythe Trophy.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: And, Sidney, you have built an incredible legacy in Pittsburgh. And congratulations. Keep it going. Fantastic.

Before it's all said and done, you might -- frankly, you know they are telling me this -- has he outdone you yet, Mario? I don't know. He's getting close, isn't he?

(LAUGHTER)

TRUMP: They have -- you might even outdo him. I don't know. He has got to be awfully close. Right?

Well, Mario is Mario. And, Sidney, congratulations.

And Sidney is not the only star that shined for the Pens last year.

Evgeni Malkin. Where is Evgeni? Where is...

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: Looks like he's a basketball player. Big guy. Strong, tough.

Served as other half of the two-headed monster. They call it the two- headed monster that scored a combined total of 77 goals.

Way to go, fellows. Great. That's fantastic.

Phil Kessel. Where is Phil? Phil.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: Come on. Come on. Come on. Get over here, Phil.

(LAUGHTER)

TRUMP: These guys don't want to be politicians. They shouldn't be. Don't be a politician.

(LAUGHTER) (CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: Phil led the team in assists, although I hear his sister Amanda may be the best hockey player in the family. Is that possible? You know what? I doubt it. OK? But I hear she's really good.

Matt Murray stewarded 32 wins as goaltender and is the first goalie in league history to win the Stanley Cup championship game in each of his first two years.

Where is Matt?

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: I assume you have very good reflexes, right? Have you had good reflexes from day one? Yes. Hey, you better have, right? Way to go, Matt. We expect big things again this year out of Matt, as he will be taking on a greater role this season between the pipes.

Conor Sheary. Jake Guentzel. Where's Jake and Conor? Where are they? Come on. Oh, wow. Oh, what a group.

And Justin, Justin Schultz, also had really big years as some of the young, upcoming stars of this team. He's got a team that's a tremendous future. That's what I'm hearing.

Despite being sidelined to injury, Kris Letang used his experience to help younger players.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: Where is Kris? Where is Kris?

Well, you look pretty young to me. What do you mean younger players? Do they get younger than you?

(LAUGHTER)

TRUMP: You look young. Handsome -- very handsome group of people.

(LAUGHTER)

TRUMP: In fact, I don't like actually -- I don't like standing in front of them.

(LAUGHTER)

TRUMP: First thing you know, we always like unattractive teams, right?

(LAUGHTER)

TRUMP: And devised strategies that spurred the Pens onto a really incredible victory.

I'm pleased to report that the Tanger, right, Tanger, is healthy and back on the ice this season, where he belongs. It's going to be a great season for you.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: Yet many of the players really might agree that the biggest MVPs was your incredible loyal fans.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)