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CNN Live Event/Special

Coverage of the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington; President Trump Holds Rally to Mark 100 Days in Office. Aired 7-8p ET

Aired April 29, 2017 - 19:00   ET

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

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[19:00:00] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please raise your right hand and repeat after me.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I Donald John Trump do solemnly swear --.

From now on it's going to be America first.

That I will faithfully execute --.

Returning power back to the people.

The office of the President of the United States.

We have eliminated jock-destroying regulations.

And will to the best of my ability --.

Who knew health care could be too complicated?

To serve, protect and defend --.

We are going to build a wall.

A judge has just blocked our executive order for travel.

A constitution of the United States.

The newest member of the United States Supreme Court Neil Gorsuch.

So help me God.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

POPPY HARLOW, CNN HOST: Hello, everyone. I'm Poppy Harlow.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN HOST: And I'm John Berman.

Welcome in to CNN's special live coverage of two major primetime events this evening. The first, President Trump holding a rally to mark his 100 day in office in one of the crucial that helped secure his victory, Pennsylvania. And there is a 100 percent chance you will hear about that victory.

The President takes the stage in Harrisburg in just minutes. We will bring that to you live as it begins.

HARLOW: And in true Trump fashion, the rally is going up directly against the biggest night in Washington's social calendar, the White House Correspondents dinner. The President is the first in 36 years to be at the event which is traditionally a chance for the commander in-chief to put fun at his critics and vice versa. But it is (INAUDIBLE) honoring the first amendment.

BERMAN: And for that reason, the party tonight will proceed. We are live on the red carpet. We will bring you highlights throughout the evening.

But first, we are going live to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. CNN's senior White House correspondent Jeff Zeleny is there. That is where we will hear from the President very shortly - Jeff.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: John and Poppy, good evening.

It is a different kind of red as in red carpet here. It is red as in Republican red. And everyone in this arena here remembers how Donald Trump turned Pennsylvania red last fall. Of course, it voted Democratic in every presidential race since 1988. Not last November. So I can vet, I can promised that you all be hearing a lot of that from President Trump tonight.

But if you look behind me here, the crowd is filling into this arena here. Several thousand people are expected to hear from the President. Of course, he will be talking about his accomplishments. A senior White House advisor tells me this is intended to be a forward looking speech. The President will talk about what's to come. But just given the inclinations of this President, you can see he will be talking about his victory as well here.

As we speak, he is touring a factory on his way here to the arena. And he also is going to sign the 31st executive order of his presidency. That makes him the president who sign the most executive orders in the first 100 days for 72 years. Now, some of them are more substantive than others. No question at all. But the President clearly trying to show action. And he will be speaking here joined by the vice President in this hour coming up - John and Poppy.

BERMAN: All right. Jeff Zeleny for us in Harrisburg. We will keep you posted throughout the evening as more and more speakers take that stage.

HARLOW: All right. Let's bring you back to the nation's capital. The rally in Pennsylvania happening as the first jokes are beginning at the annual White House Correspondents dinner. It is a time-honored tradition one that the President's predecessors, many of them, have played along with now for decades. Tonight, though, the President will be the first in 36 years not to be there.

Our Ryan Nobles is there. He is on the red carpet.

Look, this is a President who tweeted have a great time, but I'm not going to be there. He wants this split screen, right, of Washington and the press core, the quote-unquote "opposition party" as he calls the media, dressed up and he wants to be nowhere near it.

RYAN NOBLES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. That's right, Poppy. And you know, I think there were some in the journalism community that maybe breath the bid of the sigh of relief that the president wasn't going to be here and create this kind of confrontation between the White House and members of the press to kind of throw gasoline on that blame that's been burning since he took office. And it is really changed the scope of this event.

You know, at this event last year you saw some major a-list celebrities come down this red carpet. There are hardly many of them are here today. This has really been pushed back to focus now on journalism and the future of journalism. This is a dinner that is designed to raise scholarships money for young journalists. And that's what a lot of people are talking about here tonight.

But as you as the party mentioned, there's no doubt that the President decided to counter program tonight with this big event in Pennsylvania. It is an indication that he is aware of the importance of this event and that he wants to make sure that his supporters, many of whom don't have that high opinion of the press, know that he is speaking to them and speaking to them directly.

But, you know, Poppy and John, it is important to point out that this is the first time a President hasn't been a part of this dinner since 1981 when President Reagan didn't attend. But that's because he was recovering from an assassination attempt and he even called into the dinner that night. We don't expect President Trump to call in.

[19:05:18] HARLOW: Right. I think you are right on that one.

Ryan Nobles, thank you very much. Looking dazzling in you tuxedo.

I mean, Jimmy Carter skipped it twice and Richard Nixon skipped it for the same reason.

BERMAN: You know, I know that Ronal Reagan called in. In a manner of speaking, President Trump is calling in, also. He is doing it from Harrisburg at this rally you are looking at right now.

We are moments away from that beginning. He wants to mark his 100th day in office where an op-ed of the "Washington Post" today essentially giving himself an A-plus for that first 100 days. And he is ready to address likewise. He said he has done more than any president really ever at this point.

Let's bring in our panel for the evening. Matt Lewis, CNN political commentator, senior columnist for "the Daily Beast," Clarissa Ward, CNN senior international correspondent flew in just to be with us tonight, Mark Preston, CNN senior political analyst, CNN political commentators Kevin Madden, a former spokesperson communications director all-around key strategist for Mitt Romney and his presidential campaign, Symone Sanders, former national press secretary for Bernie Sanders' presidential bid and Andre Bauer, former South Carolina lieutenant governor.

Matt Lewis, I am struck by how important this evening seems to the Trump White House. You have aides tweeting about it. The President's been hyping it all week. They are very proud of the split screen we will have tonight and he seems to want to deliver a clear message and that is?

MATT LEWIS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: That there are two Americas. One America is places like Pennsylvania and Ohio and Wisconsin, the places that deliver the presidency to Donald Trump, working class Americans. And then there's Washington elites who are going to be at the Hilton tonight.

HARLOW: Andre Bauer, he is going to a place that he can -- he didn't win these exact, you know, the counties surrounding Harrisburg but he did win a lot of pretty around it by a lot, right. This helped him in a big way, Pennsylvania. He is thanking them in a way tonight. He is touting his accomplishments, we expect.

But what evidence can he put towards these people that I have made your life better, right. This isn't a president who has introduced for gotten jobs bill passed, for example, when it comes to the voters that he is talking to tonight. What can he say to directly make the argument that yes, I have made your life materially better.

ANDRE BAUER, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Look, this is going to be a rally that's loud, proud and genuinely American. He is going to go to the core of the American values. He is going to hit home for those folks. You are all going to cover it as is everyone else. And he is going to talk about the things he thinks put us genuinely better.

If you look at where we are militarily, they know that America is going to be strong again. And we have put a line in the sand. We are going to stick to it. And our enemies are going to know that as well.

When you look at him trying to bridge the gap between some of his foes and politically, bring in McCain and bring in Ted Cruz in, folks that he didn't normally get along with, he is trying to bridge those gaps. He is bringing Democrats in and saying, I want to work with these folks.

Look. He didn't get down when he didn't have success on the healthcare bill. He took a second bite at it. He didn't say, well, there is no education the second kick of new life. Most politician would. He is still trying to work to bring a common sense solution to fix a major problem. And so, most politicians have washed their hands and moved on. And he is approaching this like a businessman. I'm going to work and get it done. It may take longer than I plan. May be tougher than I thought.

HARLOW: He said it, right. He said he thought it would be easier.

BERMAN: Andre Bauer, by the way, has in his contract that he always has guitar as background. Whenever he talks, they are playing with Andre's demand, I'm just saying.

Symone Sanders, Andre was saying that Donald Trump is speaking about American values. Well, does all of America share those values? Are there Americans out there who didn't vote for Donald Trump that feel differently about him tonight?

SYMONE SANDERS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I think so. Look. I think for the Trump supporters who did vote for Donald Trump, that supported him, they are still with him. We have seen all there is hope. That they haven't waived it.

But I do think Donald Trump is vulnerable to those people and to the folks that did not vote for him because he has yet to show up as the President of everybody. And if you look at things like the healthcare bill which is wildly popular Obamacare or wildly popular with everybody, Democrats, Republicans, independents or otherwise. And Donald Trump has made it a staple that he is going to take health care away from everybody.

And so, I think what I would hope to hear from the President tonight is that look, I won, I know I won, but I want to be a President for all people. And here's what I'm going to do in my next 100 days. I am - no, I'm probably not going to get that tonight. But that is what I think would go a long way to have the President breaks some of these gaps and hopefully get some wins out here because he has not started to win again.

HARLOW: Clarissa, Andre brought up militarily. When you look at what the President just said and we will play it a little bit in this most recent interview about North Korea. And when you look at the strikes in Syria, what do you expect to hear from the President in terms of touting foreign policy and military accomplishment overseas? That's a real house.

CLARISSA WARD, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think the first time that President Donald Trump felt the taste of sweet success was with those Syria strikes. Because suddenly you had people across both sides of the aisle saying, you know what? Everyone can kind of get on board with the idea of bombing someone who is gassing his own people.

The problem you have of that scenario then is twofold. One, what is the larger overarching strategy of ideology or coherent policy that takes that further? And number two, do you get into a situation where every problem becomes a nail. And I think a lot of people in the international community have been looking it, OK, right after the Syria strikes, then it was dropping the Molave in Afghanistan. Then it was some pretty tough talk with North Korea.

So the military is obviously very happy about this. They haven't had carte blanche like this in many years. But still, there is a sense of anxiety that we don't yet know, and specifically with North Korea. And we will watch that clip later as you said, but still no real indication as to what the overarching policy is here. You want to get rid of strategic patients? Fine. But you have to replace it with something. You can't just get rid of it and nor replace it. [19:10:58] BERMAN: You know, Kevin Madden, Donald Trump from the time

he has been a candidate until the time he has president has broken every campaign communication strategy rule that you probably have, you know, directed in your entire life. Tonight specifically, they raised the bar. They turn the city into a huge event. They want everyone to watch this. And at one point, he was going to announce the U.S. was pulling out of NAFTA at this speech. Apparently, he decided not to. Strategically speaking, what does he need to do tonight as he has going to have more eyeballs than he does for the average speech?

KEVIN MADDEN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, first of all, I think he is -- the other thing he has done differently is usually in politics, you try to manage expectations or lower expectations. He has embraced the expectations around this hundred days. I think he recognizes that so many of his supporters see his accomplishments through the lens not of legislative accomplishments but of shifting priorities. Hoe has gone and shifted the priorities away from Washington establishment towards the people who felt like they haven't had a voice in Washington before. So I think he is going to continue to do that.

And then also, look, embrace the -- I think his comfort zone which is, you know, being able to talk directly to voters about the anxieties that they have. And then talk about not the past hundred days, but what he is going to do going forward.

HARLOW: And we should note just moments ago going into this we understand he has signed an executive order that will allow them to review the WTO, a big trait agreement having to do particularly with China, Mark Preston. That plays right into this jobs, jobs, jobs message from the President. But one of his communication advisors (INAUDIBLE) tweeted this tonight. I will put it up. While the D.C. elite done their black ties and ball gown, potus president, where the people in Pennsylvania, you are not going to want to miss this. He also president who spent 25 days, you know, seven weekends in Mar-a- Lago where I don't think. I think they wear ball gowns sometimes.

MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICS EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Well, I'm sure he wasn't caddying, OK, you know, when he was down in golf course. Let me try to be the great bridger (ph) of the divide between the Republicans and the Democrats. Let give you all the ban-aid that will bring us altogether.

Listen. I think that it's great that he is going out there to the American people, right. I think it is good. He should do this in once a week. He should do this in every state. He shouldn't just go to state and hold campaign rallies. It's very easy for him to do. He likes to be energized by it. I think it's a great idea. I also think it's a mistake to be attacking this dinner tonight which really is a fundraiser for everybody who knew is out there to send people who need money to go to college. That's what it's all about. And yes, some people may say it's a little goofy and it's the academy awards for the Washington elite, so to speak, but who cares?

LEWIS: It's a media event. When the media started bringing Kim Kardashian and Ozzy Osborne to this thing, we surrendered some of our ground. We turned this into something a little bit --.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can bring anyone you want.

LEWIS: It became a joke. It became this celebritization of politics.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Donald Trump is a product of this trend, I would say, you know. He is what I get when you turn into a -- when ESPN --

PRESTON: Let me say this. For Donald Trump to say that, you know, to your point that he is going out to be amongst the people and all that, well, I'm fairly certain that he doesn't live in a little shack down by the railroad.

HARLOW: He hasn't gone west of the Mississippi. I mean, this is to your point, he should be in every state, right. It's not just because you know you are going to be surrounded by those who love you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely.

SANDERS: He doesn't want to get booed. Look, I think Donald Trump is going low with --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you?

SANDERS: Look. I'm willing to really go with the people if we are really going to have real conversations here. But we don't have a President that is willing to do that. Donald Trump doesn't want to take responsibility of any of the bad things that have happened in this country and all. He only wants take the goods which means he is only to go around those folks to make him feel good and energize him. And that's what he needs. So look, I think we will have a decent maybe speech tonight, but I'm looking for what's happening on day 101.

(CROSSTALK)

[19:15:08] BERMAN: Hang on a second, guys, if you bet the first part we are going to have this panel is going to be over Kim Kardashian, that's all I can say --.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) what's next.

BERMAN: It's going to be really exciting evening. So you will want to stick around here on CNN as we await the President's really big important speech on this 100th day of his presidency live from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. We will bring that to you very shortly. And then we are also watching the red carpet. Matt Lewis --.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not Kim Kardashian.

BERMAN: He can't take his eyes off it right now. It will be filled with interesting people shortly. You will want to see who is there. And the main event will be, you know, a comedy routine. The President won't be there. So will he roast him in absentia? Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[19:19:07] PRESTON: Well, I think for me, the most memorable moment of the first 100 days actually came before the president took office, it was during the transition, not only news conference he had during the transition on January 11th where he refused to take my question on whether his aides had had contact with the Russians during the campaign. He described me as fake news. And that was obviously a very big moment.

But flash forward to that first really freewheeling news conference that he had during the administration and we went round and round again. He called me at one point, very fake news. And I said well, Mr. President, we are real news. And then in that sparing he acknowledged that he would asked his advisors whether his labor secretary nominee Alexander Acosta was somehow related to me. He wanted to make sure that we weren't related. It was a pretty light hearted moment, but it also goes to some of the tensions that we have had back and forth. So undoubtedly that was the most memorable moment for me during the first 100 days in office.

(END VIDEO CLIP)\

[19:20:02] HARLOW: All right. Our Jim Acosta. He has had quite a busy 100 days.

BERMAN: Yes. But he broke the rules. He didn't talk about the 100 days. He talked about before the 100 days. So Jim Acosta --.

HARLOW: You broke the rules, my friend.

All right. So tonight the White House Correspondents dinner is just beginning. Mine is the President who is traditionally ropes it at this annual event. President Trump might still be the butt of jokes, lots of them, maybe. Who knows?

BERMAN: Our next guest knows a thing or two about that dinner and also poking fun at the President. Look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DARRELL HAMMOND, COMEDIAN: 20-year-old intern, big old boobies. Go ahead, what would you do? I think you know the answer.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They Are stupid. You should be paying me. And Wolf Blitzer looks like papa Smurf.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: That actually wasn't a comedy routine, anyway. That comedian is Darrell Hammond. He has played Donald Trump on "Saturday Night Live" since the 1990s. Played this with everyone else as well. And he hosted the White House Correspondents dinner back in 2001.

Darrell Hammond joins us now live. Thank you so much for being with us.

Look, I just want to jump in and ask about, you know, the elephant not in the room tonight. The President will not be there. How do you think that will change things for the person who will be trying to fill your shoes, you know, the comedian who will be doing the roast?

HAMMOND: The first thing that strikes me about it is that even though he won't be there physically, he is going to be there more than he would be than if he were there. It's like the night really now is about Donald Trump again. And the way -- the way he put that together, I have to say, it's kind of remarkable that, you know, the times that I played, you know, it was the king and his court. And what made it especially gratifying is that if you could somehow make the king laugh, you know. But you learn pretty quickly that if the king didn't laugh, much of the court wouldn't laugh, either. But the king's not there tonight.

HARLOW: Yes.

HAMMOND: But he is. He's more there than if he were there. It's not like he's not watching, right?

HARLOW: Look. It's pretty brilliant counterprogramming by his team to -- they want that, as I said earlier, that split screen. Hang with the people and the opposition on their ball gowns.

So Jeff Mason, the President of the White House Correspondents association says this, talking about the comedian who will be doing the roasting tonight. I was not looking for somebody is going to roast the President in absentia. That's not fair. And that is not the message that we want to get across. So then what will we here do you think, Darrell Hammond?

HAMMOND: I thought that was the point was to --

HARLOW: Yes.

HAMMOND: -- was to poke fun at the President. And you know, in comedy, it's political -- I assume it will be political comedy, so you are poking fun at something. So is it just a general political comedy monologue? I mean, it's a great room for it, right? That would be a great place to try it out.

On the other hand, that crowd has so many luminaries and so many powerful people, you have to think for one second, do I want to be seen laughing at this joke, you know?

HARLOW: I mean, it is all on TV, sure.

HAMMOND: That's right.

HARLOW: It's all broadcast live.

HAMMOND: Yes. And there's a camera on everyone. There is a way to zoom in on everyone. It's a tough -- it's a real high wire act, you know. And I remember there was this one time I very dumbly said something about how great women would be in positions of leadership, in the military, because I believed that. And I don't know, man, the room stopped.

You know, Clinton who had been laughing at everything I said, suddenly those eyes just glazed over and he is like I'm not joining you -- you're on your own. You are on your own. And to see that August room of people turn into a large pool of carp just looking at me like I don't know what you're doing. I realized that that's not a normal audience. Everyone there has some power and a lot of people have great power.

BERMAN: And you made a great point which is a lot of people in the audience are performing in their way while you are performing because they know the camera is rolling.

Darrell, let me ask you because you have been playing Donald Trump for years, I mean, before he was anywhere near politics. You know, I assume there are moments when you are still obviously, you know, doing him now. Is he different for you to play now that he is President? Do you approach it differently?

HAMMOND: I want to say that people are different in different context. I have never seen him in the political landscape. And now, I want to say political battlefield, the way he strategizes. You know, when he was at SNL, the way he approached that show and the diligence with which he approached it was really kind of impressive because he knew that wasn't his game. You know, sketch comedy wasn't his game. So he was either going to learn that game in six days or he was going to change the rules, you get it?

[19:25:16] HARLOW: Yes.

HAMMOND: So keeping people off balance, man, you know, it is how many times have we looked at our television set this year and said I don't really know what I'm looking at. I haven't really seen this before. I mean, he is nicknaming his political opponents, for God's sake. Can you do that, you know? It's clever to watch that machine move across the landscape, you know?

HARLOW: Darrell Hammond, it is so nice to have you. Thank you.

HAMMOND: Thank you, so much.

HARLOW: All right. I just got kept thinking 2011, remember that, when he was pre-roasting the audience and the President didn't crack a smile.

All right, coming up, while the bow ties and the ball gowns file in to the White House correspondents dinner, the President is filing in somewhere else with a lot of folks, a lot of supporters watching him in Pennsylvania for his big 100 day address. The commander in-chief set to address this crowd in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in just minutes. You will see it all live right here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[19:29:40] TRUMP: My fellow Americans, I truly believe that the first 100 days of my administration has been just about the most successful in our country's history.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: All right. There you have it. One statement from two angles from the President of the United States saying the first 100 days of his presidency essentially the most successful ever in his mind. He is moments away from far we are saying that. Again, behind the hand right now is a large crowd in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. They are waiting for a rally the President is holding to mark his 100 days in office.

[19:30:10] HARLOW: Let's bring out panel back in. And as we do - I mean, let's get to something very important top of mind for many people and that is North Korea.

And Clarissa, you were just saying at the beginning of the show if strategic patience isn't the strategy now what is the strategy? Here is the President just told (INAUDIBLE) of CBS in an interview that lay out tomorrow. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President, you and the administration said North Korea don't test a missile. They have tested a missile. Is the pressure not working?

TRUMP: Well, I didn't say don't test the missile. He is going to do what he has to do. But he understands we are going to be very happy. And I will tell you, a man that I have gotten to like and respect, the President of China, President Xi, I believe, has been putting pressure on him also. But so far, perhaps nothing has happened and perhaps it has. This was a small missile. This was not a big missile. This was not a nuclear test which he was expected to do three days ago. We will see what happens.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You say not happy, what does that mean?

TRUMP: I will not be happy if he does a nuclear test. I will not be happy. And I can tell you also I don't believe that the President of China who is a very respected man will be happy either.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not happy meaning military action?

TRUMP: I don't know. I mean, we will see.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: So on top of that, Clarissa, he just told a group of reporters at this factory in Pennsylvania, when they said military action, the question about North Korea, he said you will soon find out. WARD: He likes to have this sort of air of unpredictability. And

there is kind of a theory that it's the power of the mad man that nobody ever knows what you are going to do. And we have seen in the start where he has had a lot of admiration for president Putin. President Putin has also benefitted a lot at time for having his complete erratic or seemingly erratic. The question is with President Putin, there is a sense that it comes to a place of strategy. With President Trump, it is a little unclear. Is this coming from places of strategy when he says I will not be happy and we are all sort of hanging on that and thinking what does that mean? Like how unhappy will you be exactly?

LEWIS: Reagan also had that. You know, I think that it was -- in the case of Reagan, it was strategic, but there was a sense that he was this loose cannon, this cowboy, whether it was firing the pack of workers early on which sends a message we are going on the radio and say we are going to bomb Russia in five minutes. That set Russia on guard. And that could have had potentially send decade of consequence, but I think it worked out pretty well for Reagan.

WARD: It can absolutely work to your advantage. And who knows? Maybe he and Tillerson have a good cop-bad cop thing going on. Because you see Tillerson at the U.S. He went we are not interested in regime change. We don't want a reunified the Koreas. We are just looking for denuclearization. It is all seemingly very civilized and sort of in line with the rhetoric that we are hearing from the Obama administration. Then you are hearing suddenly different tone from President Trump. And clearly, he expects President Xi to just sort it all out.

BERMAN: Look, but the question is, is this the mad man theory which Richard Nixon used and Ronald Reagan they do at certain extent or is it, for Poppy has called that, mad theory. Or there's essentially that there is no core conviction there so solid that he is not willing to change it. You know, Nixon had anti-communism at his core unifying theory, you know. And Ronald Reagan had that plus small government. The question is, is there a single core unifying value that Donald Trump has that he won't budge on?

PRESTON: Yes. What that mean is there is just one word that really can in capsulize what Donald Trump believes in, and that's winning or victory, right? And so, it is not necessarily a core ideological stance. It is just that he wants to win at the end of the day.

Now, when he was running in the campaign and he won the nominees and then he eventually won the general election, a lot of people said that would be such a strength coming to Washington. He is not going to be beholden to the Republicans. He is not going to be necessarily beholden to the Democrats, of course, being Republican. But he could work with the Democrats. And he could bring it all together.

The first 100 days has been really wrap with unpredictability, with havoc, with chaos. And in many ways, his administration embraced that and they would (INAUDIBLE), right, and they would say he loves chaos because chaos forces people to compete against each other. These are his advisors. You don't want them competing against each other. No want different views.

LEWIS: We had three consecutive presidents who were smart and confidant and highly educated and diplomatic who listened to smart advisors. And North Korea did nothing but develop nuclear weapons along the way. And now, they are going to, you know, in 2020 able to deliver them to the continental of United States. Maybe somebody like Donald Trump, this is hope. This is the optimism. Maybe someone like Donald Trump is the guy to stop it finally.

HARLOW: Maybe. Right, maybe. Kind of wildly optimist.

MADDEN: (INAUDIBLE). And I think that goes to Clarissa was saying is that if this is his strategy, whether it's a mad man theory or if it is the --

HARLOW: Or the mad man theory.

MADDEN: Right or bad/good cop-bad cop.

HARLOW: Yes.

MADDEN: They need to communicate that, not only to the American public but our allies. Because out allies I think right now are still trying to figure this out in our own shore. And that's not a good place to be because you absolutely still have to bring diplomat pressure with China, with others in the region if you are going to solve this problem.

[19:35:10] HARLOW: Symone Sanders, he has been and will continue to be criticized for not getting any major legislation through in the first 100 days, signing a whole lot of executive actions but something lashing with legislation. But the polling this week shows he is more popular in terms of how not his approval rating, but 54 percent of people now think that country as a whole is moving in the right direction. That's way up from November. So what do you attributed to?

SANDERS: I mean, it can be attributed to a couple of things. Look. I mean, we had a tumultuous election season. There are some people frankly in this country that didn't like the Barack Obama was president. And just for the fact of the matter that he is no longer in the White House, they feel differently. I think we really just have to break it down and understand that Donald Trump put out a contract with the American voter and did not deliver. He hasn't delivered on anything.

HARLOW: He actually did on a lot of things in that context but specifically because they were executive order things. They weren't legislation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, the Supreme Court justice.

SANDERS: But the Supreme Court justice as we know it is important, but every day American people sit at home, that does not directly affect their lives. I believe it does. But if you - look, I have seen in the poll. I poll people every week. Obamacare voters, they start drop up voters to Democrats. They didn't care about Gorsuch. But what people cared about is health care. They care about jobs and they care about the economy. And Donald Trump has deliver on that. He hasn't just yet.

BAUER: Right now "Washington Post"/ABC poll 67 percent of America thinks the Democrats are out of touch with the population and they are. Trump's tagged in to something bigger than most people are getting, and especially the pundits. He is resonating with the American public.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is resonating with 44 percent of Americans. You can throw that polling out.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We will not!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm just telling you --

BAUER: You keep getting polls that say he is not popular. But the guy as the president of the United --.

HARLOW: John is exactly right, he is the lowest approval rating in his first 100 days of any modern president.

SANDERS: He didn't won because he was popular.

BAUER: If he produces jobs, John, take all the poll as you want. He will be president for like four years.

SANDERS: I will agree on that.

BERMAN: You cited polls and said you need to turn them out at the same time.

(CROSSTALK)

HARLOW: I have no doubt why you ended up at lieutenant governor.

BAUER: (INAUDIBLE) Nikki Haley.

BERMAN: Thank you guys. Stick around. We have a lot more to talk about. We are going to look live at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania right there. That is where we are going to see the President of the United States very, very shortly. Have some opening speakers. Listen to a little my way. I hope to surprise. I think that is often his voice going. We will get to that when we come back as well. Stay tuned for the speech.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:41:23] HARLOW: The vice president, Mike Pence, introducing President Trump in Pennsylvania. Let's listen in.

MIKE PENCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He has put America back on a path to energy independence and under President Donald Trump, the war on coal is over.

And just this past week, President Trump laid out a plan for one of the biggest tax cuts in American history. We are going to cut taxes across the board for working families, small businesses and family farms.

Just a few minutes ago, the President took another step, to make sure that trade deals benefit American workers first. Folks, that's American leadership for the American people.

Make no mistake about it. President Trump will not rest, will not relent until we repeal and replace Obamacare and give the American people the world class health care they deserve.

The result of all this, more than 500,000 new jobs have been created since January 1st of this year. President Trump's vision to buy American, hire American is catching on with businesses all across the country. Company after company are investing in record investments in American workers, billions of dollars, tens of thousands of jobs. As Ford motor company chief executive put it, their decision to build in America was a quote "vote of confidence in President Trump's vision for America."

You know, the American people in our nation's small businesses haven't been this confident in the decade. And manufacturers, the beating heart of Pennsylvania and the heartland of America are more optimistic today than any point in the last 20 years!

You know, across the board, our new President is doing exactly what he said he would do. And it's driving all them a little bit crazy.

In his first 100 days President Trump has signed more legislation and executive orders than any President in more than 50 years. And he has picked a world class cabinet, hasn't he? Men and women working every day to make this country great and strong, like Secretary Ben Carson, Ambassador Nikki Haley and our secretary of defense, Jim "mad dog" Mattis.

And President Trump has stood by the God-given liberties of our constitution without apology, the sanctity of life and the right to keep and bear arms in the second amendment of the constitution.

And he nominated to the Supreme Court in the Justice Neil Gorsuch, a conservative jurist in the tradition of the late great justice Antonin Scalia and the American people couldn't be more proud.

And most important of all, President Donald Trump has stood by those who defend our families and our freedom at home and abroad. In the first 100 days, President Trump has kept his word to stand by the men and women in law enforcement to secure our borders and remove dangerous criminal illegal immigrants from our streets.

And, you know, thanks to President Trump's tough immigration policies, illegal immigration is already down more than 60 percent this year alone. And as commander in-chief, President Donald Trump is rebuilding our

military, restoring the arsenal of democracy and President Trump is fighting every day to give our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and coast guard the resources and training they need to accomplish their mission, protect our nation and come home safe.

The President has actually proposed one of the biggest increases in defense spending since the days of President Ronald Reagan. And President Trump has taken decisive action to support those who have worn the uniform. He is working every day to make sure that the veterans of our armed forces have the benefits they have earned, including world class health care.

President Trump will make the strongest fighting force in the world even stronger. And with renewed American strength, President Trump is standing with our allies and standing up to our enemies. He has put Iran on notice. He is standing strong in the face of threats from the regime in North Korea. And when the world saw our President's strength and resolve in the actions he took in Syria and Afghanistan, the credibility of American power was restored.

Thanks to President Donald Trump, Isis is on the run in Iraq, in Syria, in Afghanistan, and we will not rest until we destroy is once and for all.

[19:48:01] CROWD: USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!

PENCE: In just 100 days, President Trump has turned America around and he is just getting started. Under President Trump's leadership we will make America safe again. Under President Trump's leadership we will make America prosperous again. And under President Trump's leadership, I know in my heart with your help and with God's help, we will make America great again. So with gratitude for his boundless energy, his optimism and the love he shows every day for this country and the American people, for these last 100 days and beyond, it is my high honor and distinct privilege to introduce to you the President of the United States of America, President Donald Trump!

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

[19:50:59] TRUMP: Thank you.

CROWD: USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!

TRUMP: Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, it is truly great to be back in the wonderful, beautiful state of Pennsylvania.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: I love this state and I love the people of this state. It's special and it carried us to a big, beautiful victory on November 8th.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: I want to recognize some of our friends that have helped us so much. Congressman Scott Perry, G.T. Thompson, a couple of my originals, Mike Kelly, who I watched on television. He was great. Where is Mike Kelly? Where is Mike Kelly? He is here some place. Where is he? Were you great on television this morning. And, of course, one of our other originals, Congressman Tom Marino, right. Thank you. Thank you, Mike. Thank you, Tom.

As you may know there's another big gathering taking place tonight in Washington, D.C. Did you hear about it?

(AUDIENCE BOOS)

TRUMP: A large group of Hollywood actors and Washington media are consoling each other in a hotel ballroom in our nation's capital right now.

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: They are gathered together for the White House Correspondents dinner without the President.

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: And I could not possibly be more thrilled than to be more than 100 miles away from Washington swamp spending my evening with all of you and with a much, much larger crowd, and much better people. Right?

(APPLAUSE)

CROWD: USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!

TRUMP: And look at the media back there. They would actually rather be here, I have to tell you. That's right.

Media outlets like CNN and MSNBC are fake news. Fake news. And they are sitting and they are wishing in Washington, they are watching right now they're watching, and they would love to be with us here tonight. But they are trapped at the dinner which will be very, very boring. But next year maybe we will make it more exciting for them in Washington. We will show up. But we have a good chance of showing up here again next year, too.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

[19:55:55] TRUMP: The truth is there is no place I would rather be than right here in Pennsylvania to celebrate our 100-day milestone to reflect on an incredible journey together and to get ready for the great, great battles to come and that we will win in every case, OK. We will win. Because, make no mistake, we are just beginning in our fight to make America great again.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: Now before we talk about my first 100 days, which has been very exciting and very productive, let's rate the media's 100 days. Should we do that? Should we do it? Because, as you know, they are a disgrace.

According to a morning consult poll, more than half of Americans say the media is out of touch with everyday Americans and they have proven it. According to media research center, 89 percent of the media's coverage of our administration has been negative and purposely negative and perhaps that's because according to the center for public integrity 96 percent of journalists who made donations in the last election gave them to our opponent. Does anybody remember who our opponent was? That was some opponent.

Finally, according to a poll last year from the "Associated Press" only six percent of Americans have a lot of confidence in America. That's very bad. That's much lower than Congress, by the way. But I'll give you an example of something really incredible. That's right. Get them out of here. Get them out.

CROWD: USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!

TRUMP: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Do we love our law enforcement or what? And I want to thank the fire marshals. They have a lot of people standing outside. We really maxed out. We broke the all-time record for this arena. How old is this arena? This is not -- we broke the all-time record. And I don't have a guitar, which is pretty tough.

So just as an example of media take the totally failing "New York Times."