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Trump Hosts Indoor Rally; Greek President Speaks To CNN About Tensions With Turkey; Four Arab Countries Now Recognize Israel. Aired 10- 11a ET
Aired September 14, 2020 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[10:00:27]
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: The crux of the dispute is this that Turkey over here is claiming that Greece over here is using
some of its tiny islands to claim an outsize portion of the Mediterranean to stake for its claim on the hidden underseas gas reserves.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Connecting this our, NATO allies facing off in the East Mediterranean, and the standoff entangling the
entire region. We're live in the med and in assemble.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think people are forced to wear masks they're sensationalist. I'm not going to let a government tell me what to do.
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ANDERSON: Tons of people together with almost no masks inside. Plus --
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I cannot believe how quickly the Australian government has abandoned its citizens caught overseas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: No job, no visa, no health care, and no way home. How and why tens of thousands of Australian citizens are currently stranded abroad.
I'm Becky Anderson, welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD. Now, don't mess with Turkey. Those Eastern unambiguous words of Turkey's president as he squares
up to his European neighbors and they in turn do the same. Mind you, this is a story you don't often hear about but is right now making the East
Mediterranean Sea one of the riskiest places on earth, as no one really seems to be backing down.
Let me explain exactly what is going on here. Greece and Turkey are at odds over waters around these small islands, each claiming that they belong to
them. Well, they've had similar disputes for decades. What makes this one so important? One word, energy. The sea floor is thought to contain
abundant natural gas and oil reserves. And that is big, big money. Both countries want to find it, use it and sell it.
And they've been sending in more navy ships and military hardware, all amid talk of sanctions against Turkey. And just maybe a negotiated solution.
Well, there's a lot to unravel here. Nic Robertson is on the tiny Greek island that is now the center of this round. And Arwa Damon is in Istanbul
for a look at the Turkish side and why France is also getting seriously involved. Let's start with Nic who has an exclusive interview with the
Greek president. Nic?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, Becky. One of the reasons that this island is front and center the dispute owing if we think
about it, it's about a mile and a half away from Turkey over there, the mountains in the background. That's Turkey. And it's about 80 miles away
from the largest Greek island and it's about near the big inhabited island, and it's about 350 miles away from the capital of Greece, Athens.
And the Turks say that Greece is using islands -- tiny islands like this one to extend their claim over access to that undersea gas. Isn't that that
environment that Greece's president arrived here just yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: At a time of tension with Turkey, Greece's president is on a mission to Kastellorizo, a tiny island, population about 500, less than two
miles from Turkey to celebrate an anniversary of nationhood. A message to residents and to Turkey, just across the water.
KATERINA SAKELLAROPOULOU, GREEK PRESIDENT: We're living in delicate times. But we are always for dialogue. Greece has proved that it's supporting
dialogue. But of course dialogue, not under threats.
ROBERTSON: Coming here in the face of Turkey at a time of tension. Is that also a provocative
message?
SAKELLAROPOULOU: I don't peaceful visit from the president of Greece can be provocative in any way.
ROBERTSON: Even so, Turkish defense minister chose the same moment to visit the Turkish town in plain sight just across the sea. He criticized the
president's visit.
The crux of the dispute is this. That Turkey over here is claiming that over Greece, over here, is using some of its tiny islands to claim an
outsized portion of the Mediterranean to stake for its claim on the hidden underseas gas reserves.
[10:05:12]
ROBERTSON: This summer, Turkey began exploration backed by its navy in disputed waters. A war of words has grown since.
And this weekend, after a 10-year hiatus, Greece's prime minister announced beefing up his armed forces, buying 18 fighter jets from France, adding
15,000 troops to his army and ships for his navy. I asked the president, why now?
SAKELLAROPOULOU: The government has decided that we must make these moves.
ROBERTSON: To send a message to Turkey?
SAKELLAROPOULOU: Not only to send a message but if you are -- you want to have peace, you must always be better prepared for war.
ROBERTSON: Even so, no one here is panicking. They've seen it all before.
Captain Karianas who runs the local ferry to Turkey plays down his concerns.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No problem. Everything is fine. All is good.
ROBERTSON: For now, he might be right. Over the weekend, Turkey pulled back its gas exploration ships.
Do you think this tension over the gas reserves is finished? It's going down? Is it over?
SAKELLAROPOULOU: I'm not so positive that it is. Because it's Greece and Cyprus and the whole Mediterranean, it's going to move by small steps.
Everybody needs stability in the Mediterranean not only Greece, not Turkey, the European Union, NATO, everybody.
ROBERTSON: Not the first crisis between the two nations. And not done yet either.
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ROBERTSON: So whether things stand now in 10 days as the European Union summit and Greece wants to put its case there that unless turkey keeps its
military vessels out of these disputed waters, then the European Union should put sanctions on Turkey. But what Greece worries now is that Turkey
is pulled back its vessels. And Turkey says that one of those exploration vessels is back for repair. Nothing really more in it than that.
They're saying that Greece fears that Turkey might then after that E.U. Summit, send its vessels out again and send the tensions ratcheting back
up. So this is far from over, Becky.
ANDERSON: Nic is on the story in place. France weighing in on what is an escalating route here, and siding with Greece, France, and Turkey. Of
course, both NATO members have already been at odds over this issue. Last month, France increased its presence in the Mediterranean, even joining
military demonstrations with Cyprus, Greece, and Italy. Well now, the French President Emmanuel Macron is pointing the finger directly at
Turkey's leadership.
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EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT (through translator): Turkey has unacceptable drilling practices in Cyprus' exclusive economic zone. And it
is multiplying provocations in a manner that is unworthy of a great steak. The Turkish people are great people, and they deserve something else. When
I speak of a (INAUDIBLE) Mediterranean, it must go with the capacity to find a modus vivendi with Turkey.
But we Europeans must be clear and firm with Turkey, not as a nation as a people, but with the government of President Erdogan which behaves today in
unacceptable way. And I mentioned only one part of it.
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ANDERSON: Just fascinating. Well, just a short time ago, I sat down with the UAE's foreign minister or Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, at
least, to talk about his country signing a peace deal with Israel at the White House tomorrow and we will play you more of that sound tomorrow when
the Abraham Accord is actually signed. But in the face of what the UAE sees as an aggressive stance by Turkey, in the Mediterranean, I use the
opportunity to ask him what kind of support the UAE is willing to offer Greece at this point. Have a listen.
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ANWAR GARGASH, EMIRATI MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS: It is Turkish policy with regards to Arab issues that has sort of catapulted what was a
good relationship with Greece to be a great relationship with the --
ANDERSON: On the part of the UAE.
GARGASH: On the part of the UAE. Yes. And I think here our support is -- I think we all agree that we actually want to see a Turkey that is more of a
Westphalian nation state, respective of its borders, respective of other's borders. And I think Turkey has a crisis with many, many other countries on
how it sees its sovereign sphere. And this is how I see.
ANDERSON: Dr. Gargash, what happens next in the eastern med?
[10:10:03]
GARGASH: Well, again, I'm not an expert in the eastern med, but I think in my assessment that the Turks bit more than they could chew. And I think
recently, the, you know, the sort of pulling back their, you know, their ship with regards to exploration et cetera, was basically a rational move.
And I think they are also -- the concern also for this new U.S. realistic approach also to Cyprus shows Turkey that if you really push too hard,
there will always be a reaction.
And I think we all really crave a day where Turkey is back to its, you know, basis basically, of peace in in Turkey and peace in the world which
was really perceptive of Turkish policy for a long time. We want to have a constructive relationship with Turkey, of investment, of tourism, of, you
know, economic transactions and so on and so forth. But, again, the politics of it is complicating Turkey's relations with many countries.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that was Dr. Anwar Gargash, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs here in the UAE. CNN's Arwa Damon joins me now reporting
from Istanbul as we join the dots on this story. Arwa, so as Nic explained, at the heart of this latest spat between Turkey and Greece, the dispute
over what lies below these small Mediterranean islands but the biggest story here complaints that Turkey's increasingly militaristic maneuvers in
the med are infecting, not least France, but as you heard the UAE and concerned by others across Europe and indeed the Middle East. What's going
on? What's the perspective from the Turkish side?
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, turkey's perspective is especially under President Erdogan has always been quite
straightforward that Turkey is looking out for its own national security interest, whether that is in terms of some of the military maneuvers that
it is making in other countries or whether it comes to energy resources, and specifically when it comes to energy resources.
And this more recent tension that's happening with Greece, Turkey very firmly believes that it is well within its rights to be exploring in these
areas. And Turkey says that this is about its own energy security. We had a background briefing with a senior official with the energy ministry a few
days ago who was saying that, look, right now Turkey has to import a lot of its fuel. It has to import the vast majority of it's not troll gas.
And therefore nothing is going to stop it. Not even the potential threat of sanctions from trying to ensure that it can be a bit more independent. But
that being said, you know, the Turkish Government will always repeatedly say that it is looking for peaceful negotiations for a way to come to some
sort of an agreement with Greece and with other nations. Here's what the defense minister had to say.
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HULUSI AKAR, TURKISH DEFENSE MINISTER (through translator): We are on the side of peace, dialogue and political solution. We want good neighborly
relations. We are respectful of agreements and of everyone's borders. We do not have an eye on anyone's land. But we are fully determined, decisive and
capable of protecting our countries and our nation's rights and interest until the day we die.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DAMON: And, you know, Becky, you know, this region just about as well as anyone and all of these maneuvers, all of these statements by these
various, you know, different countries, whether it's the UAE that is right now also going through an incredibly tense relationship with Turkey or
others. This is all about power and control over this region's natural resources, whether it's natural resources on land or natural resources that
could potentially be in the water. This is geopolitics at its best, and also at its worst.
ANDERSON: What risk briefly that those geopolitics is kind of maneuvering, this shifting of tectonic plates, as it were, might just slip into
something awful, God forbid war.
DAMON: It's very real, you know, and it's something that people are potentially concerned about, even if it's not necessarily at the forefront
of their psyche because we've seen how quickly things can flip.
[10:15:04]
DAMON: You know, one wrong move, one misinterpretation of something, it does escalate into something bigger. So when you do have, you know nations
and let's look at Turkey and Greece as an example that are kind of playing a game of chicken with each other in the eastern med, this is cause for
concern. Yes, right now cooler heads have prevailed, the situation may temporarily be dialed back but, you know, from Turkey's perspective, this
is not over.
It is not going to stop exploring in the Eastern Mediterranean what it believes are its rights even though it is aware that this could escalate
the situation even further.
ANDERSON: Awa Damon is in Istanbul for you. Arwa, always a pleasure. Thank you so much. Regional deals are being struck at present. Israel's Prime
Minister heads for Washington, strike not one but two deals with its Arab neighbors. Who are they? Well, that is up next. But Israel facing another
lockdown as its COVID cases soar. We are live with the very latest on when that lock down begins.
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ANDERSON: Now there are four or at least there will be by tomorrow. Four Arab countries recognizing Israel. Egypt made the move in 1979, Jordan in
1994. The Arab Emirates, the United Arab Emirates made the decision just weeks ago and only 30 days later, Bahrain two deals in a month of the two
in 26 years. But we are not connecting you to a history lesson. No, we are connecting you to history unfolding.
Tuesday's plan signing ceremony at the White House will bring together the U.S. president, the Israeli prime minister and top officials from right
here in the UAE to solidify full normalization of relations. And now, Bahrain will also be joining the party as it were. The first Gulf state to
follow the Emirati lead. Now this comes after President Trump's key Middle East advisor Jared Kushner, along with America's top diplomat Mike Pompeo
did a reset lap around the region.
So will Oman be next? It already says it likes what it sees. So as I mentioned, the UAE has been leading the way on this in the region. I've
been speaking to the country's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Anwar Gargash just told me something very interesting about Israel and what he
sees for the Palestinians. Have listen.
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GARGASH: We think that we can have the right balance of having a normal relations with Israel, but at the same time being, you know, steadfast with
regards to our goal towards a two-state solution and dependent Palestinian state. And withdrew East Jerusalem as its capital. So I would say that it
is really about a fresh approach.
[10:20:03]
GARGASH: Clearly the old approach of the empty chair, the old approach of no communications, no bridges, in our assessment has not worked. And, you
know, we look really at the Egyptian peace, overtures and initiatives of the late 70s and 80s as a successful episode and out of Israeli, you know,
sort of narrative. And we look also at the Jordan agreement, overall as also successful.
So what do you draw from that? You draw from that is that the empty chair approach, the no communication approach. There, you know, the sort of
higher rhetoric approach doesn't really help anybody. And I think if we did not step in, the threat of annexation of Palestinian lands would have been
a real and I think reading back in what we see in the region is reality on the ground actually changes the shape of possible agreement.
So I would disagree really with the Palestinian approach on our deal and would say that we had an opportunity where not only the Palestinians were
worried about annexation, the whole world was worried about annexation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK. That was Dr. Anwar Gargash, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs speaking to me earlier. Let's get to Oren Liebermann who is in
Jerusalem. I guess a question at this point is what are we expecting of tomorrow signing, Oren?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, no doubt, it'll be a major ceremony, one touted of course by President Donald Trump and Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. As you pointed out, these are the two countries leaders that will be there while the Arab states, the UAE and
Bahrain have sent top officials but not the country's kings or Crown Princes in that case.
Nonetheless, this A major foreign policy achievement. One, very few presidents have been able to host at the White House.
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LIEBERMANN: The gesture was simple, but the consequences shook the region. In 1979, a handshake between Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Bagan and
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat marked the first piece of agreement between Israel and an Arab nation. The picture with U.S. President Jimmy Carter
standing front and center was historic. Two neighboring nations who had known mostly war coming together for peace.
15 years later, it was President Bill Clinton who stood in the center as Israel and Jordan made peace with Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, and King
Hussein.
BILL CLINTON, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: Here in this region, which is the home of not only both your fates, but mine, I say. Blessed it all the peacemakers, for they shall inherit the earth.
LIEBERMANN: Another historic moment in a region known more for starting wars and for ending them, but major progress on the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict proved much more elusive. A series of interim agreements and steps like Madrid in 1991 never materialized into a final status solution.
GEORGE H.W. BUSH, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: Real peace, lasting peace must be based upon security for all states and peoples, including Israel.
LIEBERMANN: The major breakthrough was the Oslo Accords in 1993.
CLINTON: Let us all go from this place to celebrate the dawn of a new era, not only for the Middle East, but for the entire world.
LIEBERMANN: But even that fell far short of ending the conflict. When President Donald Trump took office, he immediately set to work on his
vision of a conflict, one that was heavily in favor of Israel, built in part on his personal relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
After Trump move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and took other pro-Israel steps, the Palestinians cut off contact with the White House.
Instead, Trump and Senior Advisor Jared Kushner shifted their efforts to the rest of the region. The first Israeli commercial flight to land in Abu
Dhabi celebrated the normalization agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
JARED KUSHNER, SENIOR ADVISER TO U.S. PRESIDENT TRUMP: While this piece was forged by its leaders, it is overwhelmingly desired by the people.
LIEBERMANN: Less than a month later, Bahrain announced it too would normalize relations with Israel. This time, it'll be President Donald
Trump, where he loves to be front and center at the White House. If he couldn't make peace in the Middle East with the Palestinians, he would do
it without them.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIEBERMANN: Our fundamental differences here between the agreements with Israel, and Jordan and Egypt versus the agreements with Bahrain in the UAE.
Let's not forget that Israel and Egypt as well as Israel and Jordan had fought multiple wars. So those peace agreements were truly an ending of a
state of conflict, the hostilities between the countries, Israel and the UAE, Israel and Bahrain have never been at war.
So these are more normalization agreements than true peace agreements in the ending conflict. Another fundamental difference there is animosity on
the Egyptian and Jordanian street towards Israel.
[10:25:06]
LIEBERMANN: There is not at the UAE, so this could be a very much warmer relationship between Israel UAE, Bahrain, Becky, that remains an
interesting question.
ANDERSON: Yes, doesn't it just? And let's be quite clear, you know, this is a normalization of relations that have been covert now for some time,
nobody's hiding that fact, including the Bahrainis are and there is a large Shiite population in Bahrain. And that does meet the domestic side of the
deal there. Fairly complex. Can you just explain why?
LIEBERMANN: It does, of course, let's not forget that it is a Sunni kingdom that is very close to Saudi Arabia. But Bahrain is a majority Shia
population. This trip -- this agreement, this normalization agreement between Israel and Bahrain might be viewed very unfavorably. They have had
massive protests in Bahrain before, notably in 2011. Protests that led the Bahrainis to call in the Saudis and the Emiratis to help quell and put down
those protests.
Could we see protests again against the Israel Bahrain agreement? Certainly. Will they be as wide scale? We will certainly have to wait and
see how this develops on the ground in Bahrain and how they react to the ceremony tomorrow.
ANDERSON: So Benjamin Netanyahu, out of town, and at the time, of course, that there is a very big story in Israel, the government, a previous second
lockdown after a spike in COVID cases. How has that been received? And, quite frankly, are people willing and ready to go back into a lockdown at
this point?
LIEBERMANN: I don't think people are willing and ready at all. However, some people view it as simply necessary because of how bad the coronavirus
crisis is here now. Three straight days about 4000 last week, the numbers remain high. One of those days was a record for Israel and critics of Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu basically said he's jetting away from the problem and avoiding the lockdown which effectively starts when he gets
back.
Here's how he explained it in a press conference last night before he left for Washington
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BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL (through translator): I know those measures will exact a heavy price on us all. This is not the kind of
holiday we are used to. And we certainly won't be able to celebrate with our extended families. And there will also be those affected by the
lockdown such as business owners and others.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIEBERMANN: This will look very much like the first lockdown back in April, citizens will be required to stay within about a quarter mile of their
homes. Restaurants will be shut down except takeout and deliveries. Schools, entertainment venues, leisure venues, all of those shut down
strict gatherings on indoor and outdoor strict limitations on indoor and outdoor gatherings.
So this is perhaps the first country in the world that's imposing a second general lockdown because of coronavirus, because of how bad the situation
is here. Becky, when Netanyahu was asked last night whose failure is this that the country's returning to lockdown his answer was there are no
failures here, only achievements
ANDERSON: Oren is in Jerusalem for you. Well, we are then just shy of 24 hours until what will be and historic signing at the White House ahead of
that. The UAE Minister for international cooperation, Reem Al Hashimy spoke to my colleague Wolf Blitzer and told him that the Palestinian should not
be worried about this deal with Israel and articulated a progressive view of the future for this region. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REEM AL HASHIMY, UAE MINISTER FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION: For us, it's an important strategic play. It has incredible merit. It does not forgo the
Palestinian cause. In fact, it promotes it and pushes forward with it. It stands on the premise of our belief in coexistence, our respect for
Judaism, our respect of Christianity, our respect of the Muslim faith, and frankly, all other faiths.
And so it fits with what we've been trying to do. You know, Wolf, next year, the UAE will complete its fifth year anniversary. We'll celebrate our
golden jubilee. And if you just think of how much this nation has been able to do in 50 years, 50 short years, whether it's our hope probe, that's our
mission to Mars, which we just launched a couple of weeks ago or hosting the World Expo in Dubai next year, which I work very closely with the team
on or it's the Special Olympics, which we hosted again.
And like I mentioned earlier, the pope, the nuclear reactor in Baraka, which we also launched a couple of weeks ago. All of these are indicative
of a nation that believes in the future, that believes in the importance of prosperity and science and innovation and cutting through barriers. We have
points of disagreement, but that doesn't mean that we can't find ways in which we can solve it and really take matters in our own hand as we try to
solve through them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Reem Al Hashimy speaking to Wolf Blitzer on Sunday. Well, ahead on this show, the World Health Organization reports a new single day high
in reported cases of COVID-19. Officials in Europe a warning of a deadly few months to come.
[10:30:08]
ANDERSON: Plus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Their bodies so stripped of fat that every move is agony. Hard to believe but these are the lucky ones.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Heartbreaking scenes from Yemen battered by years of war and famine and now a new enemy coronavirus. Coming up in an exclusive report.
Why aid from around the world is down to a mere trickle.
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ANDERSON: In a sign that the worst of COVID-19 is far from over. On Sunday, the World Health Organization reported the highest single day increase in
global infections. Nearly 308,000 were reported in a single day. According to WHO that brings the total number of infections globally to more than
28.8 million. And the death toll to more than 920,000. Well, it would be no surprise to those of us who are regulars with this show that the U.S. leads
the world with 6.5 million coronavirus cases.
And with just 50 days to go until the election there, President Trump was once again flouting social distancing rules with a packed indoor rally in
Nevada on Sunday. Many people there not wearing masks. That was the President's first indoor rally since June. Alexandra Field has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: President Trump holding a crowded indoor rally without social distancing and very few masks.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: A great gentleman who owns this building said, you know what, what they're doing is really unfair.
You can use my building.
FIELD: The event going against his own administration's safety guidelines and define Nevada's restriction on gatherings of more than 50 people.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If I thought I was a risk I wouldn't be here. I'm not an idiot.
FIELD: Trump's last indoor rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma June 20th was followed by a spike in coronavirus cases, that risk sending Nevada's governor called
Trump's actions "Reckless and selfish," adding the president appears to forgotten that this country is still in the middle of a global pandemic.
DR. JONATHAN REINER, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: The virus doesn't care whether you believe in it or not. If enough people can track the virus and at a
gathering like this people will, some people will die.
FIELD: Meanwhile, the race to find a coronavirus vaccine, drug maker Pfizer offering some hope saying theirs could be ready to give to the public by
the end of the year.
ALBERT BOURLA, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, PFIZER: Our base case, we have quite a good science, more than 60 percent but we will know if the product
works or not by the end of October. But of course doesn't mean that it works. It means that we will know if it works.
FIELD: Medical experts stressing and approved vaccine by that date is not likely.
[10:35:06]
DR. TSION FIREW, EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY: It's important that we gather appropriate amount of phase two data which they
are in right now and not rush into vaccine for the matter of like, you know, for the public safety and it's also good science.
FIELD: This wall coronavirus surges continue to play college towns. Florida State University will begin randomly testing asymptomatic students, faculty
and staff today, as the university's first football game of the season showed some fans of the stadium without masks defying school policy. Health
officials asking all Michigan State University students to self-quarantine linking a third of new cases to parties. As of Saturday at least 342 people
affiliated with the school testing positive since August 24th.
LINDA VAIL, HEALTH OFFICER, INGHAM COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT: We need a break and transmission to get this to stop and that means just getting
everything to just died down for several days so that we kind of can restart the clock.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Alongside the pandemic the climate crisis is also hitting America hard right now. In the coming hours Donald Trump will head to California
for his deadly wildfires rage across the west coast of the United States. Nearly 100 places have scorched about two million hectares so far. 35
people have sadly lost their lives. Mr. Trump mentioned the fires over the weekend after weeks of remaining largely silent over the historic disaster.
But once again, instead of acknowledging climate change he blamed the devastation on something else.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Tonight we're also praying for everyone throughout the West, affected by the devastating wildfires. We want really forest management, we
want forest management. My administration is closely coordinating with the state and local leaders with the governor and we thank the more than 28,000
firefighters and first responders courageously braving the danger and ally.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Stephanie Elam is following the story from Arcadia in California where it is getting, Steph, increasingly more difficult to even breathe.
Donald Trump heading to California later today. He's already been slammed by local officials over his rally comments. What's been the reaction there,
Steph?
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's it's very clear how the officials here in California feel about what's happening. They're sure that
this is about the fact that there is a climate crisis. And as someone who grew up in California, I can tell you we didn't see fires like this when I
was a kid. But they're definitely encroaching more and more into areas where there you see higher populations. And it's not just in those wild
lands, or just in the forests.
It's actually encroaching. I'm standing in a neighborhood right now. This is one fire burning in the Los Angeles area in a suburb called Arcadia by
the foothills here and we've been walking overnight as the fire was burning up there. Now you can see just how much smoke is there now that the sun has
come up. This fire is -- has burned over 33,000 acres. Just to give you an idea. This is just one fire when overall you have 3.3 million acres that
have been burned in California, just this year.
4100 structures that have been destroyed. And we also know that 24 people in California have lost their lives in these fires. All of this while
firefighters are bouncing around the state trying to battle all these blazes. They are extended to the very end, they're tired, many working 24-
hour shifts and just trying to rest when they can and then getting back up because they don't have the personnel to bring in new people to replace
them.
That's how bad it has gotten here. So if you take a listen to just what the mayor of Los Angeles has had to say, Eric Garcetti and also what the
governor of California, Gavin Newsom has said about it, they're very clear what side of the fence they are on. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR ERIC GARCETTI (D), LOS ANGELES: Well, I listen to fire professionals, not the President of the United States or politician when it comes to
actually what causes these fires. It's been very clear that years of drought as we're seeing whether it's too much water and too much rain in
parts of our country right now, or too little, this is climate change.
GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM (D-CA): Mother nature is physics, biology and chemistry. She bats last and she bats 1000. That's the reality we're facing. The smash
mouth reality. This perfect storm. The debate is over, around climate change, just come to the State of California.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FIELD: So what they will say today, what the conversation may be like between governor Newsome and President Trump today. Hopefully we'll find
out more about that when they meet up. It'll be near Sacramento, which is Northern California near the state capitol where there is an area there
that is burned. That's where Trump's going to go to get this briefing from local and federal officials, emergency personnel as well as fire officials
about what's going on here in the state.
[10:40:04]
FIELD: And keep in mind Becky, this is all while we are still dealing with the pandemic and people supposed to be socially distancing and wearing
their mask. And now you need your mask for two reasons because it's so much smoke. The air quality's bad. It does also heat warnings in California
right now, and also dealing with the virus. So a lot happening here.
ANDERSON: Yes, you couldn't make it up [inaudible] Stephanie Elam, on the ground for you, viewers. Thank you, Steph. Coming up after the break. One
big rule and five red cards. We'll get the story from World sport. Up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back. You might see one player gets sent off in a football or soccer game maybe two. But how do you -- how often do we get
five red cards? Five players red card, it will -- like this check out what was this massive brawl between Paris Saint-German and Marseille on Sunday.
Don's with us from World Sport. What happened?
DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT ANCHOR: You could see what happened. Cooler heads did not prevail at the end of that game between Paris Saint-German
and Marseille. Yeah. Everything got completely out of control. Five red cards including one of the most famous football players on the planet,
Neymar. There is an extra layer to this story though because he was agitating throughout the match.
And he has accused one of the players on the other team of racially abusing him. He hasn't named or blamed that player publicly, so we don't quite know
where this story is going to go next. But that is definitely a theme here and it's a reminder of what players -- because we're seeing a lot of them
speaking out now, are dealing with both on the field in the stadiums and in life in general but yet certainly a spectacular and chaotic into this one.
ANDERSON: Don, I know you got a 15-minute wrap of everything that our viewers needs to know about what is going on the World Sport, that is up
next. I'll be back at the back end of the hour. See you then.
[10:45:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WORLD SPORT)
[11:00:00]
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