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Harris Releases First Video for Her Presidential Campaign; Biden Gives Emotional Oval Office Address on Decision to Exit Race; Trump Blasts Harris, Says He's Done Being Nice at North Carolina Rally. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired July 25, 2024 - 07:00   ET

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

[07:00:00]

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Kamala Harris releases her first campaign video this morning, featuring none other than Beyonce. Donald Trump says this, if you don't mind, I'm not going to be nice.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: closing the chapter. President Joe Biden speaks to the nation about his decision to step aside, saying he reveres the office but loves his country more. His plans for his final six months in office.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: and breaking just moments ago, a novel business strategy from Southwest Airlines. Give the customers what they want. Ditching the open seating system that we think pretty much everyone hated. Where will we find so much discomfort again?

I'm John Berman with Sara Sidner and Kate Bolduan. This is CNN News Central.

BOLDUAN: Just moments ago, just out moments ago, Kamala Harris with her first campaign video since launching this presidential bid. Her campaign theme, we choose freedom.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAMALA HARRIS, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT, DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: We believe in the promise of America and we're ready to fight for it. Because when we fight, we win. So, join us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: So there is that. And later today, a huge and fraught foreign policy moment for Kamala Harris, sitting down one-on-one with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Will she stake out a different position on Israel and its war against Hamas than Joe Biden, or will she remain in lockstep with Joe Biden? We will soon maybe find out.

Add this all up and it's no surprise then that the toned down and nicer Donald Trump of one week ago is no longer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DONALD TRUMP (R), FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT, 2024 PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: When you're dealing with these people -- they're very dangerous people. When you're dealing with them, you can't be too nice. You really can't be. So, if you don't mind, I'm not going to be nice. Is that okay?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: A huge day ahead in presidential politics, just after President Biden gave an emotional address to the nation about his decision to step aside. With his family by his side, the president told the nation leaving the race was a matter of saving democracy.

CNN's Priscilla Alvarez in Houston for us. She's joining us now where this is where Kamala Harris is going to be starting her day. Tell us more about what you're hearing about this new campaign video and what we're going to see today.

PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Kate, the vice president has had to strike a balance this week between acknowledging the president's abrupt departure from the presidential race while also defining her own campaign. And that is a glimpse of what we're getting this morning from that new campaign video released just moments ago. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: There are some people who think we should be a country of chaos, of fear, of hate. But us, we choose something different.

We choose freedom.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALVAREZ: Now, the video also takes through multiple issues, reproductive rights, gun violence, healthcare, and what will likely be a key theme of her campaign, that no one is above the law.

Of course, Kate, where the vice president is going is notable. She was in battleground, Wisconsin this week. That's where you see some of those images in that video. She was in Indianapolis yesterday talking to a black sorority. And today, here in Houston, Texas, she's going to be speaking to the American Federation of Teachers, which is the second largest teachers' union.

So, while she is on the campaign trail, she is talking about prosecuting the case against former President Donald Trump, but she's also articulating what it is exactly that's at stake at the election. That was something that she was already testing as the running mate to the president. And now she is taking it to a bigger stage as the Democratic candidate and expected Democratic nominee.

Now, as you also mentioned, she'll be returning to Washington today where she's going to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. On policy, the president and the vice president have been on lockstep, but the vice president has also been the voice in the administration talking about the plight of the Palestinians. Remember those remarks in Selma where she described the deteriorating and dire conditions in Gaza.

[07:05:06]

So, you can expect that that will be part of the conversation that she has with the Israeli prime minister, as she closes out what has been a momentous week in this campaign, one that brought in endorsements, fundraising and we expect a lot more to come. Kate?

BOLDUAN: Yes. I mean, just today, what's all going to happen is going to be a huge day ahead. Priscilla, thank you so much. John?

BERMAN: Yes. Along those lines, very shortly, President Biden will meet with the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. This is his first major action in this new final phase of his presidency from the Oval Office. Biden told the nation, quote, I revere this office, but I love my country more.

CNN's Arlette Saenz is at the White House this morning. So, Arlette, how is the president approaching this day and this meeting in this whole new phase?

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, President Biden has made clear that one of his top priorities in his final six months in office will be trying to find an end to this conflict in Gaza. The president today will turn his focus to that very issue when he hosts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu here at the White House for a meeting. This will be their first meeting since Biden had traveled to Israel. Of course, the men have spoken on the phone multiple times over the course of this conflict. And after that sit down meeting, they will also both be meeting together with the families of the American hostages who are believed to be held in Gaza.

Now, this meeting is coming at a critical juncture, as President Biden himself has indicated he believes they are on the verge of reaching some type of agreement that would put an end to this conflict and bring those hostages home to their families. But still, there are so many details that need to be worked out. Yesterday, a senior administration official said that they do not believe Netanyahu is standing in the way or delaying any type of deal. But if they ever reach that conclusion, they said that they would publicly make that clear.

Now, this a potential hostage and ceasefire deal, as well as developments in Gaza, are expected to be on the agenda for this meeting. The two men are also expected to discuss threats that are posed by Iran.

But at the same time, President Biden is now grappling with this transition of his time in office. Last night, the president spoke emotionally, very somberly from the Oval Office as he talked about his decision to step out of the 2024 race.

Now, the president notably did not make any reference to the Democratic pressure campaign that was underway as many Democrats had publicly expressed their concerns that Biden would be able unable to effectively campaign or beat Donald Trump in November. Instead, the president tried to portray this decision as one aimed at uniting the country and really preserving democracy, which has been a central argument of this White House and his campaigns. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, U.S. PRESIDENT: I believe my record as president, my leadership in the world, my vision for America's future, all merited a second term. But nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy. That includes personal ambition. So, I've decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. That's the best way to unite our nation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: Now, the president said he has a long to do list for his final months in office, including trying to grow the economy further and also calling for Supreme Court reform. But in those remarks, the president also had praise for his vice president and argued that it is now up to the American people to make their choice and choose to preserve democracy in this election.

BERMAN: It was an emotional moment with his family in the room as he was delivering that address. Arlette Saenz, thanks so much for being there. I appreciate it. Sara?

SIDNER: No more Mr. Nice Guy, former President Trump launching a full scale attack on Kamala Harris, his new strategy against his new opponent.

And what appears to be a first, fighter jets intercepted Russian and Chinese bombers flying near U.S. airspace.

Plus, First Lady Jill Biden touched down in France just a few days ago, decked out in her Team USA gear. Details on her role in the Olympic opening ceremony, which happens tomorrow.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:10:00]

SIDNER: Just 12 days after the attempt on his life and after calling for unity, Donald Trump is clearly back to feeling like himself. The former president wasted no time blasting Vice President Kamala Harris at his first rally since President Biden dropped out of the race. And Trump made it abundantly clear to his supporters he's done being nice, a blunt contrast from what he said at the Republican National Convention exactly a week ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: The discord and division in our society must be healed. We must heal it quickly. As Americans, we are bound together by a single fate and a shared destiny. We rise together or we fall apart.

They say something happened to me when I got shot. I became nice.

If you don't mind, I'm not going to be nice. Is that okay?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: CNN's Steve Contorno joins me now. He didn't stay nice during the actual speech at the convention. And now he's warning he's about to be himself, right? We expect this.

STEVE CONTORNO, CNN REPORTER: Exactly, Sarah. Nice Trump only lasted about 30 minutes through that convention speech.

[07:15:02]

And Nice Trump certainly didn't make an appearance last night. He was on the attack from almost the moment he took the stage.

Take a listen to what he had to say about his new potential Democratic opponent.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Now we have a new victim to defeat, Lyin' Kamala Harris, Lyin', L-Y-I-N apostrophe.

She is a radical left lunatic who will destroy our country.

Kamala, you've done a terrible job. You've been terrible at everything you've done. You're ultra liberal and we don't want you here. We don't want you anywhere. Kamala, you're fired. Get out of here. You're fired.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CONTORNO: Trump went on to criticize Vice President Harris for not appearing at Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech at Congress yesterday. He said, she's totally against the Jewish people. That's a remarkable statement, given that her own husband, of course, is Jewish, the second gentleman. She also is going to meet with Netanyahu one-on-one today. And meanwhile Trump's own vice presidential pick, J.D. Vance, didn't appear at the joint session of Congress either.

But, look, this is obviously an attempt by Donald Trump to get on the attack early on Vice President Harris. The ground is shifting very quickly beneath this campaign. This is a very different race than it was just a week ago. His own campaign put out new material in a memo suggesting that they expect this race to get much closer and potentially for Vice President Harris to maybe even get ahead. And so there is a rush by his campaign to define her before she can get on the airwaves and get around the country and start to define herself.

Trump, though, couldn't resist taking some final parting shots at President Joe Biden. He released some posts on Truth Social criticizing Biden's Oval Office address, calling it, quote, so bad and saying Biden was It's barely understandable. Sara?

SIDNER: Steve Contorno, back to his old tricks, thank you so much. I appreciate it. Kate?

BOLDUAN: Also breaking overnight, for the first time, U.S. fighter jets intercepted both Russian and Chinese bombers flying near Alaska. The dangerous new escalation, we have new reporting on this.

And also, mandatory evacuations are happening, as we speak, are underway, as a wildfire in California is growing, exploding to consume over 45,000 acres.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:20:00]

SIDNER: Breaking overnight, an apparent first. U.S. fighter jets intercepted both Chinese and Russian bombers off the coast of Alaska. The North American Airspace Defense Command says the bombers remained in international airspace.

CNN's Natasha Bertrand is live for us this morning at the Pentagon. Give us some sense of the importance of what happened there in the air, even though they were still in international airspace.

NATASHA BERTAND, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY AND POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Sara, this is a very significant event. It actually marks the first time, according to a defense official, that these Chinese and Russian bombers have actually flown in this space together. And the U.S. and Canada, they actually scrambled fighter jets to intercept these bombers, but they were not seen as a threat. It was just something that the U.S. and Canada felt that they had to respond to.

According to a statement from NORAD, these bombers they did stay in international airspace, even though they entered the Alaska air defense identification zone. And, again, you know, the Russian bombers, you know, they were intercepted. The Chinese bombers were intercepted without incident. But still, it is a very significant event because we're starting to see now the Chinese kind of entered this space in a way that they haven't previously.

Now, according to NORAD, these events are not necessarily that uncommon, but it is uncommon again for these Chinese bombers to enter this kind of space. And so while the U.S. has not necessarily always intercepted these Russian bombers when they have seen them flying in this international airspace, very close to and they were not able to or entering Alaska's air defense identification zone. In this instance, they felt like they had to simply because it is not something you see every day. And, of course, they felt like they had to respond in this instance. Sara?

SIDNER: A very unusual situation as you mentioned, and the unusual thing is that the Chinese have joined Russia in the skies there very close to Alaska. Thank you so much, Natasha Bertrand. I appreciate it. John?

BERMAN: All right. This morning, the billionaire and the founder of LinkedIn says he is all in for the vice president. Why he thinks a Harris administration would be best for business. And then cheating, rumors, COVID outbreaks, new developments from Paris as the Olympics, they are underway.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:25:00]

BOLDUAN: LinkedIn co-Founder and big Democratic donor Reid Hoffman is throwing his support behind Kamala Harris. Hoffman now joins what's become a tidal wave of donations supporting the vice president from Democratic grassroots up to the mega party donors, also including Abigail Disney, who had publicly announced that she was stopping donations to the Democratic Party, to Democratic candidates, unless and until Biden dropped his bid.

CNN's Matt Egan has more on this. He's tracking all of this for us. Matt, you spoke to Reid Hoffman. What did he tell you?

MATT EGAN, CNN REPORTER: Well, Kate, he's going all in on Kamala Harris, the LinkedIn billionaire. He dismissed the idea that Silicon Valley is turning towards former President Trump. He said that, in fact, many parts of the tech industry are very excited about Vice President Harris. And he argued that it's really Harris, not Trump, who would be stronger for business and stronger for American families. Take a listen to why that is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REID HOFFMAN, CO-FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, LINKEDIN: Trump wants tariffs, which is anti-business, you know, makes us a very strange election indeed, because I think actually vice president Harris is much more of the pro-business candidate than Trump and Vance.

EGAN: But Vice President Harris, she wants to raise the corporate tax rate. The Harris-Biden administration or Biden-Harris administration has in fact imposed tariffs.

[07:30:00]

So, aren't there some anti-business concerns there as well?

HOFFMAN: I think what's most important for business is stability of a country, unity.