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Iconic, Brash And Looming Large Over London, Not Big Ben, But The American President Is Right Here In Great Britain. Aired: 11-12:p ET
Aired July 13, 2018 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BECKY ANDERSON, HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Iconic, brash and looming large over London, not Big Ben, but the American President is right here in Great
Britain this hour. He came, he saw, he trashed. He made nice. Welcome to what is a special edition of our show, connecting every part of Donald
Trump's extraordinary time here in the UK.
In an hour long press conference, the US President and the British Prime Minister couldn't seem to get enough of each other, but amid the chummy
talk, the American President was also rowing back fast on some explosive comments he made here to a Murdoch-owned newspaper. A newspaper that's in
many ways like the television the President likes to watch in America, loud and to the right.
This is Mr. Trump strolling to today's news conference with someone he just blasted, but denies blasting.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I didn't criticize the Prime Minister, I have a lot of respect for the Prime Minister and unfortunately,
there was a story that was done which was generally fine, but it didn't put in what I said about the Prime Minister and I said tremendous things and
fortunately, we tend to record stories now, so we have it for your enjoyment if you like it, but we record when we deal with reporters. It's
called fake news and we solved a lot of problems with that the good old recording instrument.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, it's important to keep in mind what Mr. Trump said in that tabloid and TV railed against not only Prime Minister Theresa May on
Brexit, but also suggested that Boris Johnson, her nemesis would make a great leader for the UK.
Have a listen to what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I would have done it much differently. I actually told Theresa May how to do it, but she didn't agree -- she didn't listen to me. I think the
deal that she's striking is not what the people voted on. It's a much different deal than the people voted on. It was not the deal that was in
the referendum.
Well, if they do that, I would say that that would probably end in a major trade relationship with the United States.
I was very surprised and saddened that he was getting out of government. And you lost some other very good people. Well, I'm not pitting one
against the other, I'm just saying I think he'd be a great Prime Minister.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Let's get to all the nitty-gritty shall we. Nic Robertson is at the US Ambassador's residence, Erin McLaughlin joins us from the Women's
March in Parliament Square, just across the river from where I am and where Christiane Amanpour is with me as well.
Nic, let's start with you. As far as I understand it, the President will leave the US Ambassador's residence once again. He's been in and out today
for his appointment with the Queen for tea, but earlier on this afternoon, at the Prime Minister's residence in the country, Chequers, she stood
shoulder to shoulder with the US President. How damaging though were the words and how damaging was the interview that was splashed across the front
pages -- the front page of this "Sun" newspaper earlier today?
NIC ROBERTSON, INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR, CNN: When you fire off a salvo of criticism in the manner that President Trump did, the bullets
ricochet around. There's injuries immediately and there's collateral to sort of mop up later. I think what we're seeing Theresa May do is try to
keep to the moral diplomatic high ground to essentially stanch -- try to staunch any damage that President Trump was caused.
Her political position has been precarious this week in the extreme, losing those two Cabinet ministers. She had tried to position yourself in the
beginning of President Trump's presidency close to him, now he comes in and fires off in this newspaper a salvo of shots that are very, very damaging
for her.
[11:05:06]
ROBERTSON: If he back pedals it, 18 hours later, that is not going to bring those -- bring those bulbs back again, so what we are seeing is her
not criticize him, focus essentially on her political survival, the survival of her Brexit plan and the realization that she is also sort of
partly collateral in President Trump's anti-EU positioning, a position where he would like to see Britain leave in very hard terms, a position
where he would like to see the European Union weakened substantially.
So, I think what we've witnessed this afternoon is Theresa May try for her political survival, try to keep her Brexit plan on track and try to remind
President Trump that Britain is a good ally. This she knows, this relationship between the two countries will endure beyond his presidency,
beyond her own leadership. She wants to try to keep that intact as well, Becky.
ANDERSON: Erin, if protesters around you today had wanted to make Donald Trump a little uncomfortable, well, it may just have worked. Have a listen
to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Now, I said very good things about her. I didn't think they put it in, but that's all right. They didn't put it in their headline, I wish
they'd put that in their headline, that's one of those things and she's a total professional because when I saw her this morning, I said...
... to make me feel unwelcome, no reason for me to go to London. I used to love London as a city. I haven't been there long time, but when they
make you feel unwelcome, why would I stay there? Now, when I say that, I'm talking about government because the people of the UK agree with me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Not everyone. Erin, the US President's schedule has largely kept him out of London. He admitted there that it was a city that had felt
slightly unwelcome in at this time. How do people where you are feel about this trip?
ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, REPORTER, CNN: Well, Becky, many of the organizers that I've been speaking to tell me that they see that as a sort of victory in
all of this that the President hasn't scheduled many of his events for the heart of London that he's been -- he's sort of relegated to areas outside
of the city.
And people from all around the United Kingdom showed up here in London today to take part in what organizers are calling a Carnival of Resistance.
It started with the Women's March just a few hours ago, which has ended here in Parliament Square. Joining me now is Izzy Watts, 21 years old from
Surrey. She took part in the Women's March. Izzy, tell me what brought you here today?
IZZY WATTS, PARTICIPANT, WOMEN'S MARCH: I think it was just the wider resistance against not just Trump as one man, but I think that his visit to
the UK catalyzed a resistance against a lot of the issues that are going on in the world right now, in the UK, in the US, across the borders.
Obviously, everybody feels like the only thing we can do is use our own voices in order to get our views across, use our votes, use visual
materials, use big protests and rallies like this just to kind of show how we feel and we are very much against a lot of the things that are happening
right now, which perhaps are brought in by Trump himself or the UK government or a mix of both.
So, I just wanted to come here and contribute and lend my voice to hopefully be heard by (inaudible) ...
MCLAUGHLIN: And we've seen so many signs here today, many sort of would say that this British sense of humor is on full display. Tell me about
your sign.
WATTS: So, my has got two sides, "Keep your tiny hands off our rights." Obviously, this is a bit of a personal dig at the President himself. I
think using a bit of an insult and trying to get people's attention is more easy sometimes. On the other side, I've just got, "Families belong
together." I think that's very typical at the moment with the stuff about immigration and children being separated from their families, which is just
wrong, like it shouldn't be happening. I've just had a symbol and just communicating how I feel about the current situation.
MCLAUGHLIN: And there is the odd Trump supporter here today, some of them telling me they're actually pretty upset to see these personal digs at the
President, upset to see the big baby balloon blimp that this is still the President of the United States and deserves respect. What do you say to
that criticism?
WATTS: I would say when the President of the United States decides to respect other people -- minorities, people from the LGBTQ plus community,
women, migrants -- I think when he starts to show them the respect they deserve, maybe he'll get some respect himself, but at the minute, he is not
really giving anyone anything to respect at all. So, yes.
MCLAUGHLIN: Izzy Watts, thank you very much. Becky, back to you.
[11:09:55]
ANDERSON: Erin McLaughlin in amongst the protesters there in London. A number of different protests are going on today. Christiane is with me and
there is no love lost between the mayor of this city and the American President. I want to hear from Donald Trump -- but before we do, one thing
that has really irritated Trump as we know is the flying all this Trump baby blimp. Let's bring a picture of that up if we have it over at
Parliament Square earlier on today.
He will know that that was sanctioned that couple of hours that this blimp was flying. It was sanctioned by Sadik Khan, the mayor of London. This is
what Trump had to say about him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: You have a mayor who has done a terrible job in London. He's done a terrible job, and take a look at the terrorism that's taking place. Look
at what's going on in London. I think he's done a terrible job, but I think that all of this immigration has really changed the fabric of Europe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: You spoke to Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London earlier on. How did he respond to what Donald Trump had said in this interview that
splashed across the front pages there.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Well, regarding the protest, he said, "Look, we are a democratic country. There
are people who wanted peacefully protest, that's their right." Imagine if a country like America in cities like New York or LA or Chicago can also
protest. Don't forget, we had protests here during George Bush because of the war, during Reagan because of nuclear sort of agenda there.
And of course, this is going to be peaceful, and you can see, it's like a carnival kind of atmosphere. So, it's very clear that that was okay, right
and democratic. Regarding immigration, he was much more upset about that because that is the true heart of Donald Trump. That's the one thing he
hasn't flipped on today. He has flipped on NATO. He's flipped on Theresa May. He's flipped on Brexit. He's flipped on whether we get a trade deal
or not.
He's really done a 180 when confronted with Prime Minister May after that rather explosive morning interview that turned up in "The Sun." But the
immigration thing is really very troubling to people like Theresa May who faced him down, said, it's been very good for Great Britain and Sadiq Khan
who is the first Muslim elected mayor of London, the highest level Muslim elected official in all of Western Europe and he has said that, "Look, you
can't talk like that. The facts and figures don't match up. Immigration is good." He says, "Donald Trump is blaming me for the crime, and for the
migration and the terrorism." This is government issue, it's the home office. It is not the mayor of London who deals with immigration.
But anyway, migration has been good for the fabric of this country. And so, I carried on in this vein and this is what he said to me.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SADIQ KHAN, MAYOR OF LONDON: We lost 14 people last year in these terror attacks last year, and one of the comforting things for us was the message
of support and love from friends around the world including America. But, Manchester lost 22 people over terror attacks. Berlin, Paris, Brussels,
Nice lost many, many people. We are grappling with the evils of terrorism. I just want President Trump to explain why he singled me out as the mayor
of London or other mayors or other leaders, but the second substantive point he made during the interview was to link the increase in crime across
our country, crimes have gone up across our country over the last four years.
In fact, in parts of South Yorkshire, in Manchester, by 61 percent and 60 percent; in London it's gone up by 4 percent over the last year and he's
linking the increasing crime with the increase in immigration to Europe. I've seen no evidential basis for that, but secondly, I'm not responsible
for immigration policies across Europe or even indeed in our country or city.
AMANPOUR: Who is responsible for the migration policy, just to be clear, here in the city?
KHAN: So in the city of London, in London and across the country, the UK government, Theresa may is responsible for immigration in the UK, and
across Europe, is of course the EU individual countries that are in the European Union, and so I am unclear why he singled me out in relation to
his concerns around immigration.
I'll say this though, immigration has been a source of huge benefits to our city and our country economically, socially and culturally, and by that,
actually the Americans who make our city the greatest city in the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AMANPOUR: And this feud goes back to candidate Trump when he gave that very explosive comment. You remember Donald J. Trump will call for total
ban on all Muslims et cetera et cetera, and so Sadiq Khan was asked about it when he became elected, and he said, "Well, maybe I won't feel
comfortable going to the United States. I'm a Muslim." And it started from there.
And each time there was a terrorist attack in London, Trump sort of piled on to Sadiq. It was extraordinary.
ANDERSON: Christiane, when Donald Trump was asked about his comments on immigration at the press conference earlier on today when he was standing
shoulder to shoulder with Theresa May and you've rightly pointed out that she was very firm. She said that immigration had been good for this
country, it was important to control borders she said, but immigration had been good for this country.
[11:15:04]
ANDERSON: Donald Trump, the US President excused his comments somewhat when asked by saying that he doesn't do PC. He doesn't do political
correctness. His detractors will have read that interview and would have heard his comments on migration across Europe, and are likely to call him a
bigot and a xenophobe. Is he?
AMANPOUR: Look, his supporters will say Donald Trump is being politically incorrect, but he is saying what we all think. There is too much
immigration, the color of country is changing and we don't like it, and that's the bottom line, that's what it's all about.
But what his detractors will say is, "Look, he is conflating demographic changes," yes immigration and many, many of our countries over the years
with crime and terror and all of that. That's where it's not true. It's not politically correct what he's saying. It's untrue.
Because in the United States when you have mostly migrant communities in various cities, those are the ones with the least amount of crime. The
same actually around our countries here in Western Europe. He tried to say about Germany a few weeks ago, piling on to Angela Merkel again, but saying
her disastrous immigration policy is letting all the migrants -- not all, a million or so migrants coming in, in 2015 caused a massive spike in crime.
It's not true.
The fact showed that crime has gone down by 5.2 percent in Germany over the last several years, so those facts are not true. But beyond the facts, the
message is one of white supremacy. That's what the detractors say. He is harking back to an era of nostalgia where those kind of demographics were
the norm, and they are not anymore, but he said and he is right, he believed that his election was down to immigration and it is true. Because
it is a dog whistle tribal identity politics which is now prominent around the Western democratic world including here in Europe.
ANDERSON: Dog whistle or dog Klaxon certainly as you rightly point out, it is the sort of bedrock many will say of these nationalist populist leaders
...
AMANPOUR: That's right.
ANDERSON: ... we'd had this discussion a number of times between the two of us. Is it a fact as Donald Trump was quick to point out in the
beginning of this new conference today with the UK Prime Minister that the UK and the US have and will continue to have a special relationship. Does
it matter at this point with this US President? You are smiling ...
AMANPOUR: I am smiling because it is a good question.
ANDERSON: Very special apparently.
AMANPOUR: We parrot this cliche of the special relationship. Of course, it really was 70 years ago when what? Since the war, when all of this was
very special and they fought together and they liberated Europe as you pointed out today ...
ANDERSON: Which we know what happened.
AMANPOUR: And then NATO was created and in many of the military endeavors and many of the other joint endeavors, Britain has been a key ally of the
United States and vice versa. Britain always punching above his weight. The truth of the matter is that according to a lot of experts, that idea
has been sort of kind of diminished over the decades, but most importantly, diminished now with the Brexit because Britain pulling out of the EU
diminishes its clout on every single level, and it diminishes its clout with the United States.
No matter what the US says about wanting just a bilateral deal here and there, Britain was really powerful because it was able to bridge US and
Europe. It was able to be stronger itself by being attached at one hip to the United States and be strong to the US by being attached at the other
hip to Europe and that was it's real big strength.
Now, Britain is potentially going to be cast into the wilderness as a small country compared with the massive US and the massive EU ...
ANDERSON: So, then we will call it a colony, in fact, it did in its ...
AMANPOUR: But it's a complete and utter disgrace that -- it's a disgrace to call a country a colony. He also called Obama a colonial sort of hater.
ANDERSON: The former foreign secretary in his resignation letter -- you used the term diminished, I want to close this out by asking you whether
you think that the UK Prime Minister is a diminished parent as a result of this trip by the US President?
AMANPOUR: No, I don't think so, actually. I think that the Prime Minister Theresa May who was undergone a huge amount of pressure ever since she took
the office and everybody has been predicting her demise since the very day that she took the office, she's had to take stabs and slings and arrows
from all her opponents in her party, which is still in a Civil War for heaven's sake. They had a referendum to try to fix that and they still
can't get together, and she's in the unenviable task of trying to figure out a deal that that everybody can except and it's that all or no deal.
And so I think, her performance in the press conference today was actually one of the strongest performances she's made in recent times and she stood
there, very strong, and he, the President was the one who had to keep turning on a dime and walking back the comments that he made in "The Sun."
ANDERSON: One of his bug beds in that interview with "The Sun" newspaper was that Theresa May hadn't taken his advice on Brexit. When asked what
that advice was, she just said, "I get a lot of advice." And moved on.
AMANPOUR: Which was very diplomatic, but the President kept saying, "I keep giving her ..." But he wouldn't say what it was either. But he didn't
apologize. We've never heard him use the apologize word.
[11:20:23]
ANDERSON: Right. Christiane Amanpour in the house with me. It was a pleasure, thank you so much. We are seeing and hearing a lot of criticism
for Donald Trump's UK visit. But when we come back, we'll hear from the other side. One of Mr. Trump's staunchest supporters here in the UK with
me here on set in just a moment. Stay with us.
Well, a giant balloon of Donald Trump depicted as a baby in diapers floated over Britain's Houses of Parliament today, that's one reason the US
President told "The Sun" tabloid newspaper owned by Rupert Murdoch that he does not feel welcome in this -- the city of London. Thousands of people
are taking to the streets of the British capital to protest his visit.
Here with me now is Drew Liquerman on the Board of Republicans Overseas, UK Chapter of which, I am sure you've been looking forward to this, a working
visit by the US President. are you satisfied with his performance to date?
DREW LIQUERMAN, BOARD OF REPUBLICANS OVERSEAS: Well, it is hard to say at this point. I mean, we really have to see what comes out of the visit.
It's on paper, Trump here, it's nice, it's good ...
ANDERSON: On paper, it's nice, it's good. Did you read "The Sun" newspaper this morning?
LIQUERMAN: I think on paper it's good for our two countries, culturally, politically. That shows our world leaders are willing to meet, but I think
it's more important to wait to see what exactly comes out of this visit instead of what's going on at the press conference or what's going on that
side. I'd like to see what comes out of the trip before I comment.
ANDERSON: We would have liked to have been a fly on the wall, I think earlier on today.
LIQUERMAN: Exactly.
ANDERSON: Let me just ask you a personal question. Did you get invited to a supper party and then just before you turned up, you trashed your host.
Would you be surprised if your host was a little niggled by that? Because that's exactly what the President did to the UK Prime Minister.
LIQUERMAN: Right, well, look, my number one criticism of Trump has always been when Trump interferes or comments on internal UK politics. I was
highly critical of when Barack Obama did the same exact thing. I've always come out and said Trump was -- if we're going to talk about politics, we
need to stay internal, inside the US.
[11:25:08]
LIQUERMAN: That being said, talking about the trade deal, I don't view that in that way. I think he's clearly stating US policy where if the UK
is one foot in the EU, one side out somewhat tied to the customs union, it's going to be very, very difficult to have a free-trade deal or a
bilateral trade deal that works well for both our great nations.
ANDERSON: Alluding to the fact that he says front page of this newspaper earlier on today that May have wrecked Brexit, no US dealing. You make a
very good point factually, ultimately if the UK stays in the customs union, as far as good are concerned, there wouldn't be a bilateral deal.
I want to get your opinion on something now that Mr. Trump did say about the now former British Foreign Minister because this is specifically
domestic politics and this is a man who is the nemesis of the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson is who he are talking about and this was at today's
news conference. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: They asked about Boris Johnson, they said, "How would he be as a Prime Minister," and I said, "He'll be a great Prime Minister." He's been
very nice to me. He's been saying very good things about me as President. I think he thinks I'm doing a great job. I am doing a great job that I can
tell you, just in case you haven't noticed, but Boris Johnson I think would be a great Prime Minister.
I also said that this incredible woman right here is doing a fantastic job.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That praise for Boris Johnson coming with Mrs. May as we saw there, standing right next to the US President, that cannot have been
comfortable for her. He said the same thing in that interview with "The Sun" newspaper. If you are the Prime Minister, how do you react to that?
LIQUERMAN: Right, if I was President of the US I don't think I would have made the same comment. But he didn't call -- I think it's a bit far to say
that they are complete rivals. Sure, they have their differences and yes, Boris Johnson aside from the government and he did say, he thinks Theresa
Mays is doing a great job and she's a great Prime Minister, and he said, "I'd like to see Boris be Prime Minister in the future."
ANDERSON: He is a huge rival of Mrs. May. There is no doubt about that.
LIQUERMAN: Look, and Theresa May is not going to be Prime Minister forever, and I think Donald Trump respects Theresa May and really likes
Theresa May. Boris Johnson and Trump, they've been friends for quite some time, even though Boris did bash Trump a little bit during the primary or
during the election.
But that being said, look, I think it's regrettable. I wouldn't know -- he could have praised Boris Johnson in other ways. Everyone knows they are
great friends and they would get along very well, but ...
ANDERSON: We've spent the day discussing the fact that this is a man who doesn't do rules, he doesn't roll backs, he said that we knew that about
him, and we shouldn't be surprised by that. He is a disruptor. He calls himself a disruptor-in-chief. Has this though been -- has this been a trip
that you would want to see repeated? Let me put it that way. You say, we can't know until after the trip. We won't know what's come out of this.
He met 150 businessmen and women, apparently last night at Blenheim Palace. He said that had gone really, really well. We won't know what happens
going forward. We won't know what happens on a any bilateral trade talks for some years, perhaps. Would you like to see this repeated though?
LIQUERMAN: I think there are a lot of things about this trip that were regrettable. I think the number one thing being that Trump didn't meet
with -- look, it's not Trump's fault. I think it's a little bit of both sides. I think it's a bit regrettable. I think it would have been nice to
have Trump meet with the First Minister in Scotland, the Scottish government seeing that he is going up to Scotland.
Look, some of the comments commenting on internal British politics, look, I think these are minor detractions that won't have any affect in our
relationship at all, down the road or anything, but we will stop talking about it in six hours and will be done with. So, look, I wouldn't
highlight that on the trip, but look, I would like to see take Trump take a more official trip to the UK, a longer trip, meet with more politicians in
the UK and overall, I think there will be another trip and there will be a better trip.
ANDERSON: And if Theresa May has got anything to do with it, it may not be any time soon. Within the hour, Queen Elizabeth II, will be entertaining
Donald Trump for tea. After that, viewers, he will be back to Windfall House as we understand it. Marine One will take him there, bring him back
and then that will be sort of the backend of this trip, a trip that we will be discussing I am sure for some time to come.
Thank you, Drew Liquerman of the Republicans Overseas, UK Chapter. Meanwhile, First Lady Melania Trump and the Prime Minister's husband,
Phillip May are also out and about today. The pair went to the Rural Hospital in Chelsea which actually isn't a hospital, but a home for retired
soldiers known as the Chelsea Pensioners -- both of them took part in some traditional British bowling with pensioners and children. This is Garden
Bowls. There you go. Not the sort of bowling when you have to put a dodgy pair of shoes on. That wouldn't work. There you go.
Just ahead, thousands march through the streets of London, protesting the US President's visit to the United Kingdom. We are in London. You are
more than welcome. Stay with us, back after this.
[11:30:09]
ANDERSON: Welcome back. We are in London. I am Becky Anderson, and this is our special edition of Connect World as US President Donald Trump makes
his first official visit to the United Kingdom. It has been just as controversial as many had feared, if not more so. Mr. Trump's true
feelings about Prime Minister Theresa May it seems came out last night when his explosive comments to the Murdoch-owned "Sun" newspaper were published.
Meanwhile, the protest continues. Thousands marching in Central London right now telling the world how they feel about the US President. We know
because he talked about this in his interview that he was disappointed that he didn't feel welcome in the city of London and his schedule has largely
kept him out of the city.
Nick Paton Walsh is in the thick of those protests. We know how President Trump feels about the protesters, how do they feel about him, Nick?
NICK PATON WALSH, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN: It's extraordinary, Becky, to see this mount of revulsion towards one sitting US
President compacted into such a small space. So many of these posters, we can't really show you, they are so deeply impolite in the way they depict
and talk about the US Commander-in-Chief, the White House occupant. Extraordinary because normally, this part of town would be sealed off to
enable him to get around and go to see the seat of government here.
But also, we're hearing from police that the volume of protesters who are trying to get down towards Trafalgar Square where I'm standing here past
the fountain, Nelson's Column further in the distance. They are being addressed by a pretty well organized PA system here which recently said
that Donald Trump in fact was a threat to world peace.
[11:35:27]
WALSH: The police are saying they are close to capacity here in Trafalgar Square and trying to encourage people to slow their movement from the
various different arterial roads as they move down here, which started with this march up in Regent Street. This normally a commercial heart of London
as you well know, Becky, and we had expected it to be crammed with shoppers, but totally deserted. Tens of thousands of people out here in
the streets there. A remarkable level of imagination being used frankly, but just in terms of the cavalry, but with a different insulation we're
seeing. Some people lying on the floor under a sheet, I am not quite sure what they were trying to say.
But there's so much really being expressed here that comes from a wider spectrum of British political life than you would normally see. It's
pretty normal to have US military action around the world, protested by the sort of left-wing elements of British protesting, but certainly, this is
much thicker. This is much wider and this is much angrier and so, yes, I think -- well, many people wonder exactly what does the carpet being pulled
from under Theresa May and that "Sun" interview actually mean in British political life, well, if you bear in mind the fact that about one in ten
people in the United Kingdom approve of Donald Trump, she probably isn't suffering that much.
But really, the hope I think now is the small pockets of Donald Trump pro supporters that are popping up here and there around this particular
demonstration that all remains calm and this has been very peaceful so far, something of a relaxed atmosphere despite the rage we've heard. I mean, I
think the hope is in hours ahead, things continue in that vein, Becky.
ANDERSON: Nick Paton Walsh in amongst the protesters here in London. It's 4:35 in the afternoon, just last hour, at a news conference, Mr. Trump
said, he will ask the Russian leader about meddling in American elections. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I know you'll ask will we be talking about meddling? And I will absolutely bring that up. I don't think you'll have any, "Gee, I did it.
I did it. You got me," there won't be a Perry Mason here, I don't think, but you never know what happens, right? But I will absolutely firmly ask
the question.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Donald Trump earlier, when he also told reporters say he may talk about cancelling NATO military drills in the Baltic states if Vladimir
Putin asked. A very busy hour. Up next, we will talk -- what are we going to do? Are we going to talk with the Director General of the Royal United
-- again? Let's dive in to this with our guest, Karen von Hippel, she is the Director General of the Royal United Services Institute. Apologies for
that.
What I will tell you, viewers is the reason I was just distracted for a moment is we may be going to some news out of the US shortly. When we do,
Karen, I am going to apologize and get that -- the Deputy Attorney General is supposed to be holding a press conference shortly, so if and when that
happens, we will get to that.
While I have you here, before we do that, this is the second leg of a European odyssey for Donald Trump, it's nearly over. Next leg of course is
Helsinki, and a one on one meeting. The first official one on one with President Putin. You just heard what Donald Trump said at the press
conference earlier on today. Your thoughts on that meeting?
KAREN VON HIPPEL, DIRECTOR GENERAL, ROYAL UNITED SERVICES INSTITUTE: It's interesting, he says, "I'll ask him," if he meant it at all and at previous
times, he asks Trump questions -- I'm sorry, he asked Putin questions and then he believes what Putin says. The problem really with this kind of a
meeting is that we know that Donald Trump doesn't do his homework in advance. He rarely reads the scripts that he is given and even if he is
told orally, "These are the things you need to emphasize." He often strays from the script.
He also doesn't really understand the history or the importance of the NATO alliance, just to give the most recent example and so it's really hard to
say what will happen.
ANDERSON: I wonder whether the congressional delegation that was in Russia just over the past couple of weeks and who reportedly came back and offered
some somewhat sage advice to at least the ministration if not Donald Trump, himself, which was go prepared to this meeting with Vladimir Putin, and
don't go alone.
He did go alone to the meeting with Kim Jong-un. He likes the idea and principle. He has talked about it. Is that like -- I am just wondering,
what do you think -- what does Putin lose from this? And what does Trump ultimately gain if anything, do you think?
VON HIPPEL: Of going alone? Well, I mean, I don't think it matters really if Trump brings someone with him because he is going to listen to his own
advice anyway and he is very, very confident about his advice, but the concerns are as you mentioned, that maybe he'll cancel the NATO exercises
that are in the Baltics and in Poland, maybe he'll even say, "Well, we're going to take troops out," or " I'm going to put even more pressure on
NATO."
I mean, Putin is very good at winding Donald Trump, I mean, getting him to do things that pretty much no one else wants Trump to do.
[11:40:27]
ANDERSON: Karen, before we get to Helsinki of course, I want to reference what our viewers are seeing on the screen at present. Because this Windsor
Castle. This is his very last stop on what has been this two-day tour through the UK and this ahead of Mr. Trump's arrival at Windsor Castle
where he will be entertained by Queen Elizabeth II for tea, and then it is pretty much out of here after that.
VON HIPPEL: Off to Scotland, right. He is going to play golf.
ANDERSON: Well, he's going to play golf for a couple of days and then he's -- clearly, Scotland is closer to Helsinki, right? Some geographer is
going to tell me, it's not. But it is. So, you worry about what happens next.
VON HIPPELL: Yes, I am worried about it and I worry about Trump's presumption that it's up him alone to make all sorts of decisions that
impact various parts of the US government, as well as alliances. I mean, he's not in charge of NATO. And he acts like he is by really directing
other countries, not only to get to their 2 percent, which they are trying to do, but to get to it by January.
I mean, it's not his decision to make alone. I mean, he really does act like he's in charge of these various ...
ANDERSON: He is certainly treating the meeting as a victory.
VON HIPPELL: Right, right. And he did the same thing at the G-7 summit. He really is speaking to his supporters, his base back in the United States
and as you say, Congress and others are trying to clean up the mess in all sorts of ways. I mean, Congress passed an oral vote of support for NATO.
It doesn't really mean anything, but just to say to NATO members and others, "We have your back," and while he may be saying these things, we
don't support a lot of things that he's trying to do.
ANDERSON: We were well aware when this man was campaigning that he didn't like this international institutions, NATO -- very derogatory about it over
-- during the campaign and beyond. So none of these should be a surprise, should it?
VON HIPPELL: It shouldn't be a surprise. I think really, base is, he doesn't understand what an alliance is because he is a very transactional
person. I give you this and you give me this in return. What he doesn't understand with alliances is that over time, there's lots of sacrifice. I
mean, don't forget, the only time NATO invoked Article V was when the US was attacked after 9/11 and hundreds of troops from many NATO countries
have been killed in America's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
There have been many sacrifices, of course, in support of what the US government has pushed through NATO, and of course European troops and NATO
members do all sorts of things in support of the alliance and it's not just about a bottom-line. You can't just look at "You owe us this much or we
pay this much and you haven't kept up."
ANDERSON: Theresa May maybe looking forward to his exit. I mean, again, we're looking at these pictures of Windsor Castle, he is due for tea with
the Queen there in the next 20 minutes or so. Generally, when we hear choppers above us, we know that Marine One is moving from Winfield House
which is a couple of miles up the road from where we are here and fly him over to Windsor Castle. So we'll be aware of probably when he leaves
because we'll hear the noise.
His detractors, President Trump's detractors and I reference Prime Minister Theresa May not to suggest that she is one of his detractors. I am sure
she'll be pleased that this leg of the trip is over, but his detractors will have seen this as nothing short of a humiliation for the -- for Prime
Minister May and Donald Trump getting involved in sort of sovereignty issues and domestic politics here which they will say he just shouldn't do.
Will he treat this leg of this trip as a success, do you think?
VON HIPPELL: I actually don't see it as -- I mean, of course, we knew he was going to meddle. Of course, we knew he would say inappropriate things.
Actually, I think it's good that he visited this country. He's been wanting to visit for a while. He did emphasize the importance of the
transatlantic relationship. He knows he needs friends and he knows that Britain is a long-standing friend and he has a lot of admiration for this
country.
So, while he does very inappropriate things, I wouldn't say that the visit has been a failure. Yes, there are protests. Yes, many people are angry
that he is here, but I actually think it's the right thing for him to do and ...
ANDERSON: And it's done.
VON HIPPELL: It is done, right. It's done and he will probably be back for an official visit sometime next year, which is really what he would
like to do. He'd like an official visit and I think they will plan that.
ANDERSON: This was a working visit for Donald Trump. The pictures you are seeing -- a beautiful day in Windsor. That's Windsor Castle, views of the
wedding held there, just a month or so ago, you will recognize that. A beautiful day that was, too back in May. It is quarter to five in the
afternoon, and this parade attending the arrival of the US President for his appointment with the Queen.
We are going to take a very short break at this point in time. Thank you for joining us and we will back after this.
[11:45:21]
ANDERSON: Well, these are images of Windsor Castle, a beautiful afternoon and this the greeting that President Trump will receive as he arrives there
in the next few moments. The US Ambassador to the UK Woody Johnson on Trump's audience with her Majesty. He was quoted today as suggesting that
this is the highlight of any President's visit to the United Kingdom when the Queen is met. Ten of the 11 US Presidents who have held office since
she became Queen 66 years ago, all except Lyndon B. She even met Harry Truman when she was a Princess in 1951.
This Castle just some facts for you as we look at these beautiful images, built by William the Conqueror in the 11th Century, the world's oldest
largest occupied castle, the home to 39 monarchs, and Queen Elizabeth spends most of her weekends there. So, this weekend, kicking off with a
visit for tea.
The US President or Mr. Trump's Thursday evening interview with Rupert Murdoch's "Sun" newspaper is really what is still making headlines today,
Friday, among the many controversial remarks he made was that comment on US trade with the EU and Britain. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We have enough difficulty with the European Union. We are cracking down right now on the European Union because they have not treated the
United States fairly on trade. Now, if they do that, I would say that that would probably end a major trade relationship with the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: John Defterios is with me now. Can you fact check that for me, please?
JOHN DEFTERIOS, EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR, CNN: Well, there's almost the dual realities of Donald Trump. One is the interview in that clip you just
ran there talking about ruining the potential for a free-trade agreement and then he is on the podium standing side-by-side with Theresa May and
said that there is -- anything is possible. He actually acts like a Brexiter though when it comes to both trade and when it comes to
immigration. His comments are quite strong.
ANDERSON: John, as you were speaking, I just want our viewers to know that this is Queen Elizabeth and this is the Queen awaiting the arrival of
Donald Trump to Windsor Castle, so I will come back to you momentarily, but I think I am going to upstage you at this point by bringing in Max Foster
who is at Windsor for us today. Max?
MAX FOSTER, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Yes, you can see the Queen there, Becky, on the dais. You can also probably hear behind me some demonstrators as
well, just in case, you're wondering what's going on. I don't know whether they can hear them there in the quadrangle.
But the Queen is standing there on the dais and you can see the Honor Guard as well laid out for Donald Trump. This is standard format really for a
foreign head of state visiting the Queen here, but I think ...
[11:50:27]
FOSTER: Let's listen in anyway, just for a moment so you can hear what it's like.
ANDERSON: So Queen Elizabeth II here awaiting the arrival of the US President, for what is a working visit. This is not a state visit by the
US President, an official visit may be extended at another point, but during this time, the invitation extended for him to have tea with Queen
Elizabeth. The US Ambassador to the UK, Woody Johnson suggesting that an audience with Her Majesty is -- and I quote him here, "The highlight of any
President's visit to the UK." And we can be assured that this will be absolutely a highlight for President Trump and his wife, Melania who has
spent the day incidentally with the Prime Minister's husband in London.
The US President himself has had a working lunch with the British Prime Minister and then a press conference this afternoon, during which he
somewhat rode back on some comments that were fairly humiliating in an article in "The Sun" newspaper.
Let's listen in a little bit more to what we are hearing and seeing here at Windsor Castle.
This Guard of Honor formed the Coldstream Guards will give a royal salute for the US President's arrival that is momentarily now. The Queen and Mr.
Trump will inspect the Guard of Honor before watching the military march pass the President and First Lady, will then join Her Majesty for tea at
the Castle, that is Her Majesty in blue.
And this trip was scheduled for the top of the hour. The Queen waiting for what will be an official greeting of the US President. Christiane Amanpour
is with me now. I have to say with the greatest of respect, Donald Trump is not a great time keeper is he? I hope he doesn't keep the Queen waiting
too long.
AMANPOUR: I know, I'm a little troubled, I have to say for Her Majesty, but maybe this is normal procedure. I don't know, but one generally
doesn't see the Queen waiting around.
DEFTERIOS: No, in fact, you saw when you were talking over the pictures there, she looked at her watch twice wondering what was taking place with
all the pageantry, and so far, the President not showing up for the visit.
AMANPOUR: It is remarkable looking, is it? It's just fantastic. You've got, as you said the Coldstream Guards. It couldn't be more pomp and
pageantry, that is really traditional English British ceremonial. It is -- I don't know whether to say a far cry, but it is less than a state visit,
which is what the President wanted, the whole carriage and all the rest.
[11:55:14]
ANDERSON: Sorry, Christiane, what he has had though is a trip to Sandhurst Military Academy. He had a gala dinner thrown in his honor last night at
Blenheim Palace and he talked in a press conference today about just how much he had enjoyed that history of Blenheim Palace, what he learned at
Sandhurst earlier on today.
This is the US President who likes a military guard, who likes a parade, clearly likes the salutes.
DEFTERIOS: The fact that his mother was born here, so it was an emotional touch that he had at the same time, but just think about what we've gone
through in the last 24 hours due to the interview in "The Sun," right? And where we are today as he is ready to meet with Her Majesty. He threw a few
verbal grenades here that rocked the UK, rocked the Prime Minister and then he sat on the podium with her, or stood at the podium and said, "It's the
highest level of a special relationship."
So, this is the clumsy that we are trying to walk back a little bit for Donald Trump after that interview and then trying to stabilize relations
today.
ANDERSON: There are no obligatory codes of behavior when meeting the Queen, no obligatory codes because you're looking at me, Christiane's sort
of moment -- a look of surprise, but there are traditional forms that most people follow. For men, this a neck bow, for women, it's a small curtsy,
other people do -- prefer simply to shake hands, no bow.
The correct formal address of course is, "Your Majesty," first subsequently, "Ma'am" which rhymes jam rather mum I think that was
something certainly when I met the Queen, I learned for the first time and it was something that we were told, a protocol dictate. And this is --
absolutely, what you're saying, it's this sort of pomp and pageantry that the US President is surely going to enjoy and Christiane, as the US
Ambassador to the UK pointed out earlier on today, he said in his own words that the highlight of any President's visit to the UK is an audience with
Her Majesty, who has now been waiting for -- I would say, a good five or six minutes, which is slightly unusual.
I mean, I have to say -- I've got the schedule here and Marine One is supposed to arrive at Windsor Castle at around the top of the hour or some
time before that, perhaps they've been given the nod that there was an early arrival anticipated, clearly not now.
AMANPOUR: It's interesting because the Queen obviously has been on the throne for so long now, more than 60 years, isn't it? Yes, 66 years and
she's met with every single US President we're told except for Lyndon Johnson and she has been sort of this figure that has really transcended
the decades, the different political parties in the United States, the post -- immediate postwar era which is when she came and was crowned in 1952
which is just Britain and Europe were emerging from the ashes of World War II and she has seen this incredible -- from her particular vantage point,
she's obviously not a politician. She's a constitutional monarch. She doesn't have a public role to play in modern politics.
But she does have a massive role to play in the diplomacy that goes with nurturing Britain's most important relationships, not only that, with
Commonwealth relationship and she's been all over the world in that capacity. She's met just about anybody who is anybody around the world.
ANDERSON: She's seen them ...
AMANPOUR: It's just all worth it, yes.
DEFTERIOS: I think in this context, with the courtesy with all of the President that you singled out, both Becky and Christiane, this is probably
the least predictable President she's ever had to deal at a very critical window in UK history with relation to the European Union, to exit in 2019
and trying to maintain this transatlantic partnership that Donald Trump was talking about with Theresa May at the podium at the press conference.
ANDERSON: And this is a monarch who knows just how critical other relationships will be, not at least at those at the Commonwealth for
example as and when this country exits the them when the country except the EU, however, it does that. We know as well as we await the arrival of the
US President, the Queen has now been waiting for six or seven minutes. He is due in. Apparently -- I have just been told within the next couple of
minutes, as we've been explaining to you, this is a Guard of Honor form of the Coldstream Guardrs and they will give a royal salute for the
President's arrival.
He and Melania will be arriving by Marine One to Windsor Castle momentarily. Meanwhile, back in London, the protest continues.
AMANPOUR: Well, you know, the juxtaposition as you say, Becky, between what the President is seeing in his official itinerary and what is
happening on the one that he hasn't come to because he has said now, we now know that it is because of the protest that he doesn't feel welcome in
London and has been bypassing London.
His itinerary was very clear and he didn't come to the capital, that in and of itself is unusual for a foreign head of -- of government head of state,
not to come to the capital and it's because of these protests, and so that was also as the car now -- the limousine and the motorcade come through the
great porticos there of Windsor Castle.
ANDERSON: The arrival of the US President to Windsor Castle, a visit that has been described as the US Ambassador here to the UK as the highlight of
any President's visit to the United Kingdom.
[12:00:38]
ANDERSON: And the Queen awaiting his arrival now. She's met 10 of the 11 US Presidents who have held office as Christiane was pointing out, since
she became Queen 66 years ago. In fact, she even met President Harry S. Truman when she was Princess in 1951, so the arrival of the US President to
Windsor Castle, this will be an appointment for tea for the President and First Lady will join Her Majesty at the Castle.
AMANPOUR: I honestly would love to be a fly on this particular wall. I mean, there are many occasions where I'd love to be, but this one
particularly, because this is a visit that's been loudly requested by the President of the United States, obviously we're not out of line saying that
he is a very controversial figure and I would be so interested to know whether -- or what she made all of the splash across "The Sun" today in a
very unprecedented and undiplomatic way to refer to your host, Prime Minister as the way he did. He has obviously walked that all back in his
press conference, but it is a breach of protocol. The Queen has lived by the highest standards of protocol her whole rein.
ANDERSON: Let's just pause for a moment and listen in.
[12:02:00]
END
