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U.K. Supreme Court Rules Parliament Suspension Unlawful; Prime Minister Johnson Says Were Going to Deliver Brexit on October 31; Trump Addresses U.N. General Assembly; Trump: All Nations Have a Responsibility to Act on Iran; Trump: I will Never Fail to Defend America's Interests. Aired 10a-11p ET
Aired September 24, 2019 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LADY HALE, PRESIDENT OF THE UK SUPREME COURT: The prohibition was also void and of know effect.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As regard to Mr. Boris Johnson, he should have the guts for once to do the decent thing and resign.
JEREMY CORBYN, BRITISH LABOUR PARTY LEADER: It demonstrates a contempt for democracy and an abuse of power by him.
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Perhaps I strongly disagree with what the justices have found. I don't think that it's right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: Tonight, Britain's Prime Minister breaking the law on a call with the Queen, so says the highest court in the land. While
U.S. Democrats say the American President may have broken some laws, as well. On the phone to Ukraine's leader. In a moment, Donald Trump speaks
to the United Nations.
And right now both those monumental stories and all the entangled strands in them are converging through the very aptly named United Nations.
We're connecting your world live tonight from Abu Dhabi. I'm Becky Anderson.
Boris Johnson is heading back to the United Kingdom from New York tonight, according to a source. And Parliament will be back in session tomorrow
morning after what was a stunning ruling today in the U.K. Supreme Court. All 11 justices decided that the Prime Minister's advice to the Queen to
suspend Parliament earlier this summer was unlawful. Effectively nullifying the five-week suspension in one fell swoop. The court's
President Lady Hale read the ruling a few hours ago. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HALE: The court is bound to conclude, therefore, that the decision to advise her majesty to parole Parliament was unlawful because it had the
effect of frustrating or preventing the ability of Parliament to carry out its constitutional functions without reasonable justification.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, the British Prime Minister is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly and despite today's immense legal setback, he says
he still plans on delivering Brexit on time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNSON: I have the highest respect, of course, for our judiciary and the independence of our courts but I must say I strongly disagree with this
judgment. And we in the U.K. will not be deterred from getting on and delivering on the will of the people to come out of the EU on October the
31st. Because that is what we were mandated to do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That's the British Prime Minister. Melissa Bell is outside the U.K.'s Supreme Court in London. Hadas Gold is at Labour Party conference
in Brighton in England -- that the official opposition, of course. And Nic Robertson is at the United Nations HQ in New York where world leaders are
gathered for the annual General Assembly.
Melissa, let me start with you. A victory for British democracy many will say. A huge defeat for the British Prime Minister. Explain exactly what
happened today if you will.
MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT: Very extraordinary scenes out here at the Supreme Court this morning as the mass ranks of the press, the pro-
Brexit campaigners, pro-remain campaigners have gathered to wait and see what the Supreme Court would decide. It went, of course, as you say,
already with that spectacular verdict of deciding that a sitting Prime Minister had acted unlawfully in the exercise of his functions. Which is
in itself quite extraordinary.
But then went even further as far as it could go, Becky, by essentially wrestling back control from the executive to the Parliamentarians just
across the road here in Westminster. They come back tomorrow empowered, emboldened in a sense. And bear in mind what we have seen over the course
of the last few weeks is a steep decision between executive on one hand who was to keep the no-deal Brexit on the table and the MPs who by the
arithmetic of the house are against that and determined the take it off the table.
What the Supreme Court has done is essentially said, not only by suspending it Boris Johnson acted unlawfully but rather than come up with a sort of
remedy that was a mishmash and left the government with a possibility of continuing to get in the way of Parliament's proper functioning.
[10:05:00]
Say in fact, Parliament was not prorogued as these MPs come tomorrow and it'll be very interesting to see whether or not Boris Johnson, we know he's
flying back to the U.K. We have no word yet on whether Prime Minister's questions will be held as it normally is on a Wednesday and whether that
cacophony that we've been hearing ever since the Supreme Court verdict. Calling for his resignation but also for a change in the government's
policy with regard to Brexit will be what we hear tomorrow. All around him during Prime Minister's questions. Whether or not he will be facing those
newly empowered and emboldened MPs in the flesh -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Well, Hadas, that cacophony led by the opposition leader insisting that the Prime Minister should in a British way consider his
position for that read resign, correct?
HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, the news came down this morning here in Brighton that the Supreme Court had ruled distinctly against Boris
Johnson. Jeremy Corbyn interrupted the normal proceedings of this conference to make the announcement on stage to huge cheers and chants of
Johnson out. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CORBYN: I invite Boris Johnson in the historic words to consider his position. And become -- and become the -- and become -- I got that
message. And become the shortest serving Prime Minister there's ever been.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLD: And, Becky, I have to say, at the beginning of this conference the mood here was pretty sour. There was a lot of deep decisions about
Labour's approach of Brexit. There's a wing of the Labour Party that desperately wants the official position to be campaigning in favor of
remain. They have failed. The official position of Labour now is to get a general election, get a new Labour deal and put that to the people in a
second referendum. And Labour would decide after that general election which way they go. Whether they will support a remain position or support
their deal.
Now Jeremy Corbin was initially supposed to be giving his big end of the conference speech tomorrow. That has been moved to today in just about an
hour. We're starting to feel the activity here. People are starting to file into the conference floor to hear that major speech. I have a feeling
that the mood is going to be very positive. But the question is what will Labour do next? We don't know yet whether they will be issuing a vote of
no-confidence potentially tomorrow in Parliament. Because to them the most important thing is to get that Brexit extension through before they call a
general election -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Boris Johnson spoke to the press in New York today, Nic. Certainly not sounding like a leader on the cusp. How is this all playing
out where you are?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: You know, there's so much going on here, of course. And of course, it is President Trump's home
turf. He lives right around the corner from the U.N. General Assembly buildings and he, of course, is mired on perhaps on the cusp of impeachment
over his conversation with the Ukrainian President potentially asking him or really, you know, threatening to withhold military funding if he doesn't
investigate Biden and Biden's son, the former vice President, of course.
So, you know, when you look at the stage here, there are bigger issues at play for the home audience, obviously. For the international audience,
look, I think Boris Johnson is recognized as a fighter, is recognized as -- in an embattled position. He is recognized as being sort of isolated in
terms of politically at home, to a degree, and in the negotiations with the European Union. The mood music on that here has not been positive for
Boris Johnson.
Yesterday the European Council President, Donald Tusk, said that there was no breakthrough and they were running out of time. And essentially urging
Boris Johnson to kind of get real about the negotiations. He's been rebuffed on what he's put forward or appears to have been rebuffed on what
he's put forward as the alternative arrangements for the backstop in Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland border. So he's on a weakened
footing in his negotiations here.
Already he is expecting to meet with the Irish Prime Minister and I think in this essence, you know, weakens him further. He isn't taking it as
such. He is continuing down this path and this is the method that with Boris Johnson knew this when he set out on this October 31st deal or no
deal deadline for the European Union. That he knew was going to be a tough path, that he knew was going to draw criticism and is continuing on it.
ANDERSON: Nic Robertson is in New York for us. Hadas in Brighton at the opposition's conference and Melissa Bell busy a day outside the Supreme
Court in London. What a story.
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Meantime, this 74th United Nations General Assembly has kicked off with Brazil's President first out of the gate. He is close to wrapping what is
his first speech of this hallowed day as it were. Next in line, U.S. President Donald Trump. We are just moments away from the U.S. President's
speech. The third U.N.G.A. speech of his tenure. Iran expected to top his agenda amid increased tensions between the two long time adversaries.
All the while back in Washington, calls for Mr. Trump's impeachment swirling. As the scandal continues to unfold over his call to Ukraine's
President when they discussed Democrat Joe Biden. Well we've got a massive team connecting you to this story. CNN's Matthew Chance is in Kiev.
Richard Roth is at the United Nations for you. Live in Tehran Fred Pleitgen and standing by in Washington, John Kirby and Ali Vaez. Welcome
to you all.
John, let me start with you, ahead of Donald Trump walking to that podium, we still got the Brazilian President there. He is literally just wrapping
up. So, John, let me just start with you. What is the talk in D.C. about what we might hear from the U.S. President moments from now?
JOHN KIRBY, CNN MILITARY AND DIPLOMATIC ANALYST: It looks like there from the brief excerpts we've seen of the speech, Becky, that he's going to be
focusing very, very heavily on sovereign issues, sovereignty. And talk about love of nation and how freedom and peace can be had simply by loving
nations. It's very much in keeping with his America first ideology and of course it'll be music to the ears of dictators and tyrants all around the
world.
People like Vladimir Putin who no doubt enjoying all this embroiling over Ukraine because there's no challenge to the fact that he has violated the
territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. So I think it's going to be a very much an America first speech. I think he'll hit immigration.
He'll probably Iran. He'll certainly hit trade. But it'll all be through the prism of sovereign rights and responsibilities and not necessarily
multilateral ones.
ANDERSON: Yes. He'll fill this cloud of impeachment talk swirling, won't he? He was asked questions as he walked into the U.N. building today.
Matthew Chance, what are we hearing from the Ukrainians? Hold that thought! Let's go to the U.N. General Assembly where Donald Trump is ready
to speak. Let's listen in.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- the United States of America and invite him to address the assembly.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you very much. Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, distinguished delegates, ambassadors and
world leaders, seven decades of history have passed through this hall in all of their richness and drama.
Where I stand the world has heard from presidents and premiers at the height of the cold war. We have seen the foundation of nations. We have
seen the ringleaders of revolution. We have beheld saints who inspired us with hope, rebels who stirred us with passion and heroes who embolden us
with courage. All here to share plans, proposals, visions and ideas on the world's biggest stage.
Like those who met us before, our time is one of great contests, high stakes and clear choices. The essential divide that runs all around the
world and throughout history is once again thrown into stark relief. It is the divide between those whose thirst for control deludes them into
thinking they are destined to rule over others and those people and nations who want only to rule themselves.
I have the immense privilege of addressing you today as the elected leader of a nation that prizes liberty, independence and self-government above
all.
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The United States after having spent over $2.5 trillion since my election to completely rebuild our great military is also by far the world's most
powerful nation. Hopefully, it will never have to use this power. Americans know that in a world where others seek conquest and domination,
our nation must be strong in wealth, in might and in spirit. That is why the United States vigorously defends the traditions and customs that have
made us who we are.
Like my beloved country, each nation represented in this hall has a cherished history, culture and heritage that is worth defending and
celebrating. And which gives us our singular potential and strength. The free world must embrace its national foundations. It must not attempt to
erase them or replace them.
Looking around, and all over, this large, magnificent planet, the truth is plain to see. If you want freedom, take pride in your country. If you
want democracy, hold on to your sovereignty. And if you want peace, love your nation. Wise leaders always put the good of their own people and
their own country first.
The future does not belong to globalists. The future belongs to patriots. The future belongs to sovereign and independent nations who protect their
citizens, respect their neighbors and honor the differences that make each country special and unique.
It is why we in the United States have embarked on an exciting program of national renewal. In everything we do we are focused on empowering the
dreams and aspirations of our citizens. Thanks to our pro-growth economic policies, our domestic unemployment rate reached its lowest level in over
half a century.
Fueled by massive tax cuts and regulations cuts, jobs are being produced at a historic rate. Six million Americans have been added to the employment
rolls in under 3 years. Last month, African-American, Hispanic-American and Asian-American unemployment reached their lowest rates ever recorded.
We are marshalling our nation's vast energy abundance and the United States is now the number one producer of oil and natural gas anywhere in the
world. Wages are rising. Incomes are soaring and 2.5 million Americans have been lifted out of poverty in less than 3 years.
As we rebuild the unrivaled might of the American military, we are also revitalizing our alliances by making it very clear that all of our partners
are expected to pay their fair share of the tremendous defense burden which the United States has borne in the past.
At the center of our vision for national renewal is an ambitious campaign to reform international trade. For decades, the international trading
system has been easily exploited by nations acting in very bad faith. As jobs were outsourced, a small handful grew wealthy at the expense of the
middle class. In America, the result was 4.2 million lost manufacturing jobs and $15 trillion in trade deficits over the last quarter-century. The
United States is now taking that decisive action to end this grave economic injustice.
Our goal is simple. We want balanced trade that is both fair and reciprocal.
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We have worked closely with our partners in Mexico and Canada to replace NAFTA with the brand new and hopefully bipartisan U.S./Mexico/Canada
agreement.
Tomorrow I will join Prime Minister Abe of Japan to continue our progress in finalizing a terrific, new trade deal.
As the United Kingdom makes preparations to exit the European Union, I have made clear that we stand ready to complete an exceptional new trade
agreement with the U.K. that will bring tremendous benefits to both of our countries. We are working closely with Prime Minister Boris Johnson on a
magnificent, new trade deal.
The most important difference in America's new approach on trade concerns our relationship with China. In 2001, China was admitted to the World
Trade Organization. Our leaders then argued that this decision would compel China to liberalize its economy and strengthen protections to
provide things that were unacceptable to us and for private property and for the rule of law.
Two decades later, this theory has been tested and proven completely wrong. Not only has China declined to adopt promised reforms it has embraced an
economic battle dependent on tremendous market barriers, heavy state subsidies, currency manipulation, product dumping, forced technology
transfers and the theft of intellectual property, and also, trade secrets on a grand scale.
As just one example I recently met the CEO of a terrific, American company, Micron Technology, at the White House. Micron produces memory chips used
in countless electronics. To advance the Chinese government's five-year economic plan, a company owned by the Chinese state allegedly stole
Micron's designs valued at up to $8.7 billion. Soon the Chinese company obtains patents for nearly an identical product and Micron was banned from
selling its own goods in China.
But we are seeking justice. The United States lost 60,000 factories after China entered the WTO. This is happening to other countries all over the
globe. The World Trade Organization needs drastic change. The second largest economy in the world should not be permitted to declare itself a
developing country in order to game the system at other's expense.
For years these abuses were tolerated, ignored or even encouraged. Globalism exerted a religious pull over past leaders causing them to ignore
their own national interests. But as far as America is concerned, those days are over.
To confront these unfair practices, I placed massive tariffs on more than $500 billion worth of Chinese-made goods. Already as a result of these
tariffs supply chains are relocating back to America and to other nations and billions of dollars are being paid to our treasury.
The American people are absolutely committed to restoring balance to our relationship with China. Hopefully we can reach an agreement that will be
beneficial for both countries. But as I have made very clear, I will not accept a bad deal for the American people.
As we endeavor to stabilize our relationship, we're also carefully monitoring the situation in Hong Kong. The world fully expects that the
Chinese government will honor its binding treaty made with the British and registered with the United Nations in which China commits to protect Hong
Kong's freedom, legal system and democratic ways of life.
[10:25:00]
How China chooses to handle the situation will say a great deal about its role in the world in the future. We are all counting on President Xi as a
great leader.
The United States does not seek conflict with any other nation. We desire peace, cooperation and mutual gain with all. But I will never fail to
defend America's interests. One of the greatest security threats facing peace-loving nations today is the repressive regime in Iran. The regime's
record of death and destruction is well-known to us all. Not only is Iran's the world's number one state sponsor of terrorism, but Iran's
leaders are fueling the tragic wars in both Syria and Yemen. At the same time, the regime is squandering the nation's wealth and future in a
fanatical quest for nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them. We must never allow this to happen.
To stop Iran's path to nuclear weapons and missiles, I withdrew the United States from the terrible Iran Nuclear Deal. Which has very little time
remaining. Did not allow inspection of important sites and did not cover ballistic missiles.
Following our withdrawal, we have implemented severe economic sanctions on the country. Hoping to free itself from sanctions, the regime has
escalated its violent and unprovoked aggression. In response to Iran's recent attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities, we just imposed the highest
level of sanctions on Iran's Central Bank and Sovereign Wealth Fund.
All nations have a duty to act. No responsible government should subsidize Iran's blood lust. As long as Iran's menacing behavior continues sanctions
will not be lifted. They will be tightened. Iran's leaders will have turned a proud nation into just another cautionary tale of what happens
when a ruling class abandons its people and embarks on a crusade for personal power and riches.
For 40 years the world has listened to Iran's rulers as they lash out at everyone else for the problems they alone have created. They conduct
ritual chants of death to America and traffic in monstrous anti-Semitism. Last year the country's supreme leader stated Israel is a malignant
cancerous tumor that has to be removed and eradicated. It is possible and it will happen. America will never tolerate such anti-Semitic hate.
Fanatics have long used hatred of Israel to distract from their own failures.
Thankfully there is a growing recognition in the wider Middle East that the countries of the region share a common interests in battling extremism and
unleashing economic opportunity. That is why it is so important to have a full, normalized relations between Israel and its neighbors. Only a
relationship built on common interest, mutual respect and religious tolerance can forge a better future.
Iran's citizens deserve a government that cares about reducing poverty, ending corruption and increasing jobs, not stealing their money to fund and
massacre abroad and at home. After four decades of failure, it is time for Iran's leaders to step forward and to stop threatening other countries and
focus on building up their own country. It is time for Iran's leaders to finally put the Iranian people first.
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America is ready to embrace friendship with all who genuinely seek peace and respect. Many of America's closest friends today were once our
greatest foes. The United States has never believed in permanent enemies. We want partners, not adversaries. America knows that while anyone can
make war only the most courageous can choose peace.
For this same reason, we have pursued bold diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula. I have told Kim Jong-un what I truly believe. That like Iran,
his country is full of tremendous untapped potential. But that to realize that promise North Korea must denuclearize. Around the world, our message
is clear. America's goal is lasting. America's goal is harmony. And America's goal is not to go with these endless wars. Wars that never end.
With that goal in mind, my administration is also pursuing the hope of a brighter future in Afghanistan. Unfortunately the Taliban has chosen to
continue their savage attacks. We will continue to work with our coalition of Afghan partners to stamp out terrorism and we will never stop working to
make peace a reality.
Here in the Western hemisphere, we are joining with our partners to ensure stability and opportunity all across the region. In that mission, one of
our most critical challenges is illegal immigration which undermines prosperity, rips apart societies and empowers ruthless criminal cartels.
Mass illegal migration is unfair, unsafe and unsustainable for everyone involved.
The sending countries and the depleted countries and they become depleted very fast. But their youth is not taken care of and human capital goes to
waste. The receiving countries are overburdened with more migrants than they can responsibly accept. And the migrants themselves are exploited,
assaulted and abused by vicious coyotes.
Nearly one third of women who make the journey north to our border are sexually assaulted along the way. Yet here in the United States and around
the world, there is a growing cottage industry of radical activists and nongovernmental organizations that promote human smuggling. These groups
encourage illegal migration and demand the erasure of national borders.
Today I have a message for those open border activists who cloak themselves in the rhetoric of social justice. Your policies are not just. Your
policies are cruel and evil. You are empowering criminal organizations that prey on innocent men, women and children. You put your own false
sense of virtue before the lives, wellbeing and countless innocent people. When you undermine border security, you are undermining human rights and
human dignity.
Many of the countries here today are coping with the challenges of uncontrolled migration. Each of you has the absolute right to protect your
borders. And so, of course, does our country. Today we must resolve to work together to end human smuggling and human trafficking and put these
criminal networks out of business for good.
To our country, I can tell you sincerely we are working closely with our friends in the region including Mexico, Canada, Guatemala, Honduras, El
Salvador and Panama to uphold the integrity of borders and ensure safety and prosperity for our people. I would like to thank President Lopez
Obrador of Mexico for the great cooperation we are receiving.
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And for right now putting 27,000 troops on our southern border. Mexico is showing us great respect and I respect them in return.
The U.S., we have taken very unprecedented action to stop the flow of illegal immigration. To anyone conducting crossings of our border
illegally, please hear these words. Do not pay the smugglers. Do not pay the coyotes. Do not put yourself in danger. Do not put your children in
danger. Because if you make it here, you will not be allowed in. You will be promptly returned home. You will not be released into our country. As
long as I am President of the United States, we will enforce our laws and protect our borders.
For all of the countries of the Western hemisphere, our goal is to help people invest in the bright futures of their own nation. Our region is
full of such incredible promise, dreams waiting to be built and national destinies for all. And they are waiting, also, to be pursued. Throughout
the hemisphere there are millions of hard working patriotic young people eager to build, innovate and achieve but these nations cannot reach their
potential if a generation of youth abandon their homes in search of a life elsewhere.
We want every nation in our region to flourish and its people to thrive in freedom and peace. And that vision we are also committed to supporting
those people in the Western hemisphere who live under brutal oppression such as those in Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
According to a recent report from the U.N. Human Rights Council, women in Venezuela stand in line for ten hours a day waiting for food. Over 15,000
people have been detained as political prisoners. Modern-day death squads are carrying out thousands of extra judicial killings. The dictator Maduro
is a Cuban puppet protected by Cuban bodyguards hiding from his own people while Cuba plunders Venezuela's oil wealth to sustain its own corrupt
communist rule.
Since I last spoke in this hall, the United States and our partners have built a historic coalition of 55 countries that recognize the legitimate
government of Venezuela. To the Venezuelans, trapped in this nightmare, please know that all of America is united behind you. The United States
has vast quantities of humanitarian aid ready and waiting to be delivered. We're watching the Venezuelan situation very closely. We await the day
when democracy will be restored, when Venezuela will be free and when liberty will prevail throughout this hemisphere.
One of the most serious challenges our countries face is the specter of socialism. It's the wrecker of nations and destroyer of societies. Events
in Venezuela remind us all that socialism and communism are not about justice, they are not about equality. They are not about lifting up the
poor. And they are certainly not about good of the nation. Socialism and communism are about one thing only. Power for the ruling class.
Today I repeat a message for the world that I have delivered at home. America will never be a socialist country. In the last century, socialism
and communism killed 100 million people. Sadly, as we see in Venezuela, the death toll continues in this country. These totalitarian ideologies
combined with modern technology have the power to excise new and disturbing forms of suppression and domination.
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For this reason, the United States is taking steps to better screen foreign technology and investments and to protect our data and our security. We
urge every nation present to do the same. Freedom and democracy must be constantly guarded and protected both abroad and from within. We must
always be skeptical of those who want conformity and control.
Even in free nations, we see alarming signs and new challenges to liberty. A small number of social media platforms are acquiring immense power over
what we can see and over what we are allowed to say. A permanent political class is openly disdainful, dismissive and defiant of the will of the
people. A faceless bureaucracy operates in secret and weakens democratic rule. Media and academic institutions push flat-out assaults on our
histories, traditions and values.
In the United States, my administration has made clear to social media companies that we will uphold the right of free speech. A free society
cannot allow social media giants to silence the voices of the people. And a free people must never, ever be enlisted in the cause of silencing,
coercing, canceling or blacklisting their own neighbors.
As we defend American values, we affirm the right of all people to live in dignity. For this reason, my administration is working with other nations
to stop criminalizing of homosexuality and we stand in solidarity with LGBTQ people who live in countries that punish, jail or execute individuals
based upon sexual orientation.
We are also championing the role of women in our societies. Nations that empower women are much wealthier, safer and much more politically stable.
It is, therefore, vital not only to a nation's prosperity but also is vital to its national security to pursue women's economic development. Guided by
these principles, my administration launched the Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiatives.
The WGDP is the first-ever government wide approach to women's economic empowerment working to ensure that women all over the planet have the legal
right to own and inherit property, work in the same industries as men, travel freely and access credit and institutions.
Yesterday I was also pleased to host leaders for a discussion about an ironclad American commitment protecting religious leaders and also,
protecting religious freedom. This fundamental right is under growing threat around the world. Hard to believe, but 80 percent of the world's
population lives in countries where religious liberty is in significant danger or even completely outlawed. Americans will never fire or tire in
our effort to defend and promote freedom of worship and religion. We want and support religious liberty for all.
Americans will also never tire of defending innocent life. We are aware that many United Nations projects have attempted to assert a global right
to taxpayer funded abortion on demand right up until the moment of delivery. Global bureaucrats have absolutely no business attacking the
sovereignty of nations that wish to protect innocent life.
[10:45:00]
Like many nations here today, we in America believe that every child born and unborn is a sacred gift from God.
There is no circumstance under which the United States will allow international entities to trample on the rights of our citizens, including
the right to self-defense. That is why this year I announced that we will never ratify the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty which would threaten the liberties
of law-abiding American citizens. The United States will always uphold our constitutional right to keep and bear arms. We will always uphold our
Second Amendment.
The core rights and values America defends today were inscribed in America's founding documents. Our nation's founders understood that there
will always be those who believe they are entitled to wield power and control over others. Tyranny advances under many names and many theories
but it always comes down to the desire for domination. It protects not the interests of many but the privilege of few.
Our founders gave us a system designed to restrain this dangerous impulse. They chose to entrust American power to those most invested in the fate of
our nation, a proud and fiercely independent people. The true good of the nation can only be pursued by those who love it. By citizen who is are
rooted in its history, who are nourished by its culture, committed to its values, attached to its people and who know that its future is theirs to
build or theirs to lose.
Patriots see a nation and its destiny in ways no one else can. Liberty is only preserved. Sovereignty is only secured. Democracy is only sustained.
Greatness is only realized by the will and devotion of patriots. In this spirit is found the strength to resist oppression. The inspiration to
forge legacy. The goodwill to seek friendship and the bravery to reach for peace. Love of our nations makes the world better for all nations.
So to all the leaders here today, join us in the most fulfilling mission a person could have. The most profound contribution anyone can make. Lift
up your nations. Cherish your culture. Honor your histories. Treasure your citizens. Make your countries strong and prosperous and righteous.
Honor the dignity of your people and nothing will be outside of our reach.
When our nations are greater, the future will be brighter. Our people will be happier. And our partnerships will be stronger. With God's help
together we will cast off the enemies of liberty and overcome the oppressors of dignity. We will set new standards of living and reach new
heights of human achievement. We will rediscover old truths, unravel old mysteries and make thrilling new breakthroughs. And we will find more
beautiful friendship and more harmony among nations than ever before.
My fellow leaders, the path to peace and progress and freedom and justice and a better world for all humanity begins at home.
Thank you. God bless you. God bless the nations of the world. And God bless America. Thank you very much.
ANDERSON: Well, there you have it. A rather low energy Donald Trump it has to be said with a familiar refrain putting America first at the center
of his speech, at the United Nations General Assembly.
He started by saying if you want freedom, take pride in your country. If you want democracy, hold on to your sovereignty. If you want peace, love
your nation. Wise leaders, he said, always put their country first.
[10:50:00]
And he criticized Iran at length as many had expected him to do. He called Tehran a threat to global peace and security. All nations he said have a
responsibility to act as long as Iran's menacing behavior continues. No nation, he said, should subsidize Iran's blood lust.
All right. Let's bring in a superb group of commentators for you. And let's start with what he did talk about which is Iran. Live in Tehran,
Fred Pleitgen. Standing by in Washington, CNN's military and diplomatic analyst, John Kirby. Iran expert, Ali Vaez also with us this hour. And
regular guest on this show, Stephen Collinson is in New York.
Ali, let me start with you. The U.S. President also went on to say the United States does not seek conflict with any other nation, we desire
peace, cooperation and mutual gain with all. But I will never fail to defend America's interests. What did you make of what you just heard of
the U.S. President?
ALI VAEZ, IRAN PROJECT DIRECTOR, CRISIS GROUP: You know, Becky, it was interesting because the President's tone was not as threatening as his
speeches previously towards Iranians or towards the North Koreans. He even left the door ajar I think on diplomacy. Talking about the fact that the
U.S. doesn't have permanent enemies. And even extended an olive branch to the Iranians toward the end. But nevertheless I think his tone was quite
insulting to the Iranians and it can potentially squander an opportunity of some kind of a diplomatic breakthrough today at the U.N.
It can undermine the efforts of French President Emmanuel Macron who is trying to create some kind of diplomatic detente between Iran and U.S. And
we know that one President Trump's key requirement for that is a face-to- face meeting with the Iranian President. When he just insulted the entire Iranian leadership, I have a hard time imagining that Rouhani would be
willing to pay the political price of meeting with the President now.
ANDERSON: Yes, that's fascinating. John, there was certainly no rocket man 2.0 but Ali's suggesting an insulting speech to Iranians. He called
Tehran a threat to global peace and security. All nations he said have a responsibility to act as long as Iran's behavior continues. This blood
lust he said should not be subsidized. Your thoughts?
JOHN KIRBY, CNN MILITARY AND DIPLOMATIC ANALYST: Right. Well I think it was striking that he didn't get very militaristic at all. Which is very
different from the way he and his administration had been speaking in the last week. So I agree he sort of walked that back a little bit.
He spoke only of sanctions in terms of punitive measures against Iran other than the rhetoric that sounded it which I thought was also noteworthy.
Kind of gives you a very clear sense of where he and the Trump administration is moving with respect to how they're going to treat Iran
going forward. And I think as we heard they were going to try to use the U.N. General Assembly as a chance to build international consensus to go
after Iran. Since Iran went after the global economy with the strikes on the Saudi oil facilities. Maybe see if they can marshal some international
support which is kind of ironic given the tone of his speech which was very nationalistic. And I think he was trying to weave that very difficult
balance in that small section he had on Iran.
ANDERSON: That's fascinating. Ali, John's right. Whatever happens next the U.S. will need this more than just Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies,
for example. The U.S. needs friends in this Iran affair. In the past 24 hours, though, Britain, France and Germany referred to as the Iran Nuclear
Deal's E-3 nations, of course. Issued a joint statement blaming Iran for the Saudi oil attacks. Saying, quote, it is clear to us that Iran bears
responsibility for this attack. There is no other plausible explanation.
Mike Pompeo thinking the E-3. Saying, quote, we urge every nation to join in this condemnation of Iran's sanctions.
Ali, Iran's foreign minister clapping back. Tweeting, quote, parroting absurd. U.S. claims and request is inconsistent with JCPOA. No new deal
before compliance with the current one.
That was a frustrated Iranian foreign minister. I wonder whether you feel he's lost ground in any negotiation be that back room or front room this
week in New York with the way that the E-3 have pitched themselves. They have specifically said they want to see the missile program in play. And
the U.S. President's speaking to that, as well. JCPOA, the U.S. and its Gulf allies, and it seems E-3 now have said, we're moving on from. Your
thoughts?
[10:55:00]
VAEZ: Look, Becky, I think this is not a new position from the Europeans. They've always said that they share some of the U.S. concerns with regards
to Iran's regional behavior, with regards to Iran's ballistic missile program. But they've always believed that a better way of building a
better and broader agreement with the Iranians is to build it on the nuclear deal. The 2015 nuclear deal that at least addressed one of the
most threatening activity that the Iranians engaged in.
They're saying the same thing. They're saying they're committed to the nuclear deal. They would like Iran to come back into full compliance. And
what President Macron is suggesting to President Trump at this moment is to use the sanctions that he has put in place as leverage. And basically
either to use them now to create some kind of a diplomatic settlement with the Iranians or that he might potentially lose them. Because, look, in the
past three months we have twice come to the brink of a military confrontation with Iran and the President has blinked at the last minute.
But there are only so many times he can do this. And we know if there is no detente happening on the sidelines of this U.N. General Assembly meeting
the likely scenario is that this cycle of escalation will continue. In the Iranians will continue to roll back their compliance with the nuclear deal.
They will continue to do these kind of attacks in the region. And then the President would feel the tension between his priority of ending endless
wars in the region and his priority of putting maxim pressure on the Iranians. Which is actually gradually shifting us to the brink of a
military confrontation.
ANDERSON: All right. Ali, it's always good having you on. Everybody else, stand by. We're coming back to this. This is a two-hour show. And
so I've just got to get into an advertising break, pay the bills and have you back at the top of the hour. Breaking the news and breaking it down.
There is so much to get into here. We will be back as I say with all the very latest in about three minute's time. Enjoy the break.
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