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The Brief with Jim Sciutto
CNN International: Trump Hails Friendship with China's Xi in Washington; CNN, MS NOW, Politico Regain Access to White House; Canada's Strategy Amid U.S. Tensions; Walkouts at Netanyahu's U.N. Speech; Trump to Host China's Xi at White House State Dinner; European Officials Split After U.S. Invites Putin to G20 Summit; CNN, MS NOW and Politico Denied Access to Arrivals for White House State Dinner. Aired 6-7p ET
Aired September 24, 2026 - 18:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[18:00:00]
JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR, "THE BRIEF": Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Jim Sciutto in Washington and
you're watching "The Brief."
Just ahead this hour at the White House, President Trump hails what he calls a great friendship with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Diplomats walk out
of the U.N. General Assembly ahead of a fiery defense of Israeli policy by Prime Minister Netanyahu. And CNN Politico and MS NOW temporarily return to
the White House after a judge's order overturning President Trump's media ban.
President Trump set to host a state dinner at the White House for Chinese leader Xi Jinping tonight. The guests include executives from top U.S. tech
firms. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the U.S. and China have agreed to extend their trade truce just till January. Many analysts expect no
major breakthroughs during Xi's visit to the U.S.
Joining me now, Stephen Collinson. And, Stephen, heading into this, an extension of their truce, as I understood it from diplomats, was considered
a win, or at least that's as much as they were seeking and expecting in this summit. But an extension of that truce for just two months, it's not
exactly a comfort zone, it's not a big comfort zone.
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: Yes, exactly. And I think that tells us a lot about where U.S.-China relations are and the volatility
of this relationship, particularly because of the character of President Trump.
Look, it's good that they're extending this truce. Had they not done so, there would have been chaos in the markets. It's good that they are at
least having low-level discussions about A.I., although that's far short of what the rest of the world wants the two great powers of global A.I. to do,
amid fears about what the technology might end up doing to humanity.
And I think the problem with this summit is that often pageantry at summits are a means to an end. It appears often under President Trump, and
particularly in this case, that the summit is the end in itself. He wants the vigils to match the welcome he got in China in May. We saw, for
example, a rather bizarre report today about how he was touring Xi around his new helicopter pad and helicopter on the White House lawn. So, I think
that tells you a lot about the impression the president wants to give.
At the end of the day, this summit, for all the kind words, and it's not clear, actually, that Xi shares the view that they have this great
friendship that the president keeps talking about, this meeting is not going to really advance any of the impediments to better U.S.-China
relations.
SCIUTTO: All right. On to the media ban now, which is, of course, the reason why we're showing this picture of the White House. The pool, as it's
known, the shared resources of media outlets covering events like this normally still has not been restarted because of concerns about CNN's and
Politico's and MS NOW's access to the White House guaranteed going forward. Where does that dispute stand? Because the judge still has a number of
questions to consider.
COLLINSON: That's right. So, our reporters and those from Politico and the other outlet, MS NOW, were let back into the White House after some delay
this morning as officials were trying to find their passes. That at least was the excuse for not immediately submitting to the judge's order.
But this is a temporary block, and I think we are likely to see more White House attempts to reinstate it, particularly on the question which many
legal experts believe is rather spurious, that the coverage of these outlets infringed or endangered U.S. national security when what they
really were was a truthful accounting, for example, of the way that the Iran war has been going. The White House doesn't want to see.
There's ultimately a question here about the constitutionality of barring reporters from the White House. That could be somewhere where the
litigation goes.
[18:05:00]
Just think about this, Jim. On Friday, the president will take President Xi, a totalitarian leader, down to the National Archives to see some of the
U.S. founding documents to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States. Among them documents down there is the constitution and the First Amendment
to which guarantees the freedom of the press. So, you can take your irony from that one where you like.
SCIUTTO: And of course, China has no such media protections. Stephen Collinson, thanks so much. Thanks.
For more now, Elizabeth Economy joins me. She served as a senior advisor for China to the U.S. Commerce Secretary. She's now a senior fellow at the
Hoover Institution. Elizabeth, thanks so much for joining.
ELIZABETH ECONOMY, SENIOR FELLOW, HOOVER INSTITUTION AND FORMER SENIOR ADVISER FOR CHINA TO U.S. COMMERCE SECRETARY: Great to be here. Thanks,
Jim.
SCIUTTO: So, Trump says the two leaders made a lot of progress on trade. But boy, an extension of the truce just till January? Doesn't sound like a
lot of progress. Did you see any?
ECONOMY: No, maybe he's talking about the two pandas that we're going to be getting. I guess maybe that comes as part of the big trade deal. I don't
know. No, I think the two-month extension is really bare minimum. And perhaps that's because something bigger is being negotiated. One can only
hope. But I think so far, this summit has been, I think, as you were suggesting, a lot more about the pageantry than about any real progress in
the relationship.
SCIUTTO: What's your best assessment of how Xi Jinping views not just Donald Trump himself, but Donald Trump's power and position right now as
relates to China? Does he believe, does she believe he has the upper hand?
ECONOMY: I doubt that he believes that President Trump and the United States more broadly has the upper hand. But I do think it's a mistake to
think that the U.S. has no leverage in this situation or that the United States can't in any way constrain China. I mean, you just look, just a
month or so ago when we had the meeting of the G20 and the United States was able to rally 19 countries, China was the one exception, together to
push back against non-market prices. And export of overcapacity.
I mean, the U.S. does still have leverage. We have, you know, advanced semiconductors. We have alliances that control the export of semiconductor
equipment to China. So, we still do have some points of leverage. But clearly, at this moment in time, as President Trump's poll numbers are
sinking and our country is highly politicized and polarized and we're mired in a war in Iran, I think, you know, President Xi can fairly confidently
look around and think that he is sitting in a better position than President Trump.
SCIUTTO: One major issue leading into this summit, much like it was in the Beijing summit, was status of the latest U.S. arms package for Taiwan.
Secretary Rubio, he had some comments today saying the U.S. remains committed to it. Is it clear to you that the president is? Do you expect a
decision on it or perhaps another delay?
ECONOMY: I mean, I think, look, the president is committed to Taiwan to the extent that Taiwan basically sells us more than 90 percent of our
advanced -- is responsible for selling us more than 90 percent of our advanced semiconductors for manufacturing them and is part of the first
island chain, so essential to U.S. national security.
He does not have a sort of emotional attachment to Taiwan. Taiwan is a vibrant democracy in Asia. But I don't think we're going to see a major
shift in U.S. policy. As for the second arms package, I think important to recognize that actually the first arms package that this Trump
administration delivered to Taiwan was the largest in American history, $11 billion.
And so, this $14 billion one would be on top of that, which would be extraordinary. My sense is that it probably will be postponed at least
until the next two summits, if we're going to call them that, where the two leaders are planning to meet over the next few months, probably delayed
past those, but that maybe the deal will be the arms package will be broken up into smaller parts and delivered over time. I haven't heard anything to
the effect that the arms sales are going to be canceled.
SCIUTTO: Before we go, to see Chinese press, much Chinese state media, right, and you know the control under which the state media operates in
China led into the White House to cover an event at a time when U.S. outlets, including this one, were restricted, although temporarily at least
they've had their access restored. What is the impact of that? And I wonder how Xi Jinping might view that. Does he see it as something of a, I don't
know, propaganda victory?
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ECONOMY: I don't know that it's a propaganda victory for Xi Jinping. Look, I think President Trump, you know, has some element in him that seems to
admire dictators and the ability that they have to control opposition, to control the press, basically controlled, you know, negative publicity
around leaders.
And so, I think this was an exercise in that. I don't think it reflects anything about, you know, China's strength, or I think this is really about
a U.S. internal challenge that President Trump poses to our basic freedoms.
SCIUTTO: And they are. Well, and it's a real challenge from where I'm sitting as well. Elizabeth Economy, thanks so much for joining.
ECONOMY: Thank you.
SCIUTTO: Well, joining me now is Congressman Mike Quigley, Democrat from the great state of Illinois. Thanks so much, Congressman. Appreciate having
you.
REP. MIKE QUIGLEY (D-IL): Thank you. Good to be back.
SCIUTTO: First, I wonder if I could begin on your view of the summit so far and how the U.S. president welcomed so warmly Xi Jinping, of course,
the leader of an authoritarian state with which the U.S. has many genuine disagreements and challenges.
QUIGLEY: Yes. I favor diplomacy and warm welcomes, but with the acknowledgement that he's dealing with an authoritarian tyrant. And
obviously, this is a country that is a great concern to us. And I was in New York yesterday during the United Nations convening, and it's just
striking the fact that these two leaders are here at a time when the delegations are meeting to talk about climate change, A.I., and two wars.
Yet, we have two leaders who don't believe in strong control of A.I. at a critical point in time. The president called its threats a hoax. They're
doing very little on climate change. They're on opposite sides of the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine.
Our president has not really decided who he wants to win the war in Ukraine and has done almost nothing to help in that effort. In the meantime, our
president doesn't call the war in Iran a war itself, despite its costs and devastation. So, it was a surreal visit to watch all this and to watch the
president of the United States compliment the non-existent free press in China while he suppresses the free one here in the United States. He
doesn't get the obvious. They're not supposed to be friendly. They're supposed to do their duty and report to the U.S.
SCIUTTO: Yes. Well, the truth is one can see similarities in the way Trump treats Xi as he does Vladimir Putin. And we had news yesterday that he's
invited Vladimir Putin to the G20. Your reaction to that invitation?
QUIGLEY: You know, I saw President Zelenskyy talk about it as an opportunity for trilateral discussions. To me, it's more disturbing because
I see no evidence that Putin will ever back off his maximalist demands. What I see instead is rewarding, if you will, Putin for something he hasn't
done. I mean, what has Putin done to earn this right to join responsible nations and discussions along these lines?
He's inflicted a massive disaster on a democratic, autonomous country. He's committed war crimes. He's not been held accountable. He's been nothing but
praised by President Trump at this point in time. So, in effect, I think what he's doing here is giving him recognition and showing the world
there's not going to be any recourse. There's not going to be any accountability. He's showing the tyrants across the world that if you do
something like this, there'll be no accountability. We won't come to their aid. And in fact, in the final analysis, you'll be rewarded.
SCIUTTO: You met with Zelenskyy, as you mentioned, in New York yesterday. And he didn't mention, but he presented you with Ukraine's order of merit.
Our congratulations to you, given your long support for Ukraine. Did you hear from him that he's going to be leaving the United States with any
additional concrete help?
Winter is coming to Ukraine. They have enormous shortages of air defense missiles. Is he getting any of what he's requesting from allies?
QUIGLEY: You know, it's important for me to stress that I've met with Zelenskyy, I believe, about nine times since the war started, five times in
Ukraine since the war started. He has never shown anything but extraordinary appreciation and gratitude to the United States and to the
allies who have helped in this.
[18:15:00]
You know, he's not critical at any point. Look, he doesn't need to say those things. We can figure out. There hasn't been a supplemental military
expenditure of the United States to help them in two and a half years. And the president has, again, never said who he wants to win this for. So, he
shows appreciation, and then he details what he needs. And obviously, it's the points you've just made.
They're going to have another brutally tough, cold winter with Putin bearing down with attacks on the infrastructure that would help in that,
the grid, the fact that almost all of the attacks that Russia is taking, that are taking place, are on civilian targets. I guess it's something that
Trump appreciates when he talks about annihilating a whole country and a whole people in Iran. So, Zelenskyy's appreciative. He details the needs
he's going to need with a cold winter.
But principally, it has a lot to do with air defense and the fact that, again, Putin is ramping this up and the threats are very real for everyone
in Ukraine.
SCIUTTO: You know, it occurred to me as I was at the UNGA and heard the president make that threat to annihilate Iran that no one in the room took
it that seriously, right? That their read of Trump is that Trump has run out of patience with the war and is not going to expand, that he really
does want to get to the negotiating table.
Is that your impression as well? I mean, do you see a president who might ratchet up military attacks again or really wants to get to talks?
QUIGLEY: Look, he's clearly frustrated, but he brought this upon himself. He's vacillated between negotiations and escalating the war again. He's
clearly desperate and frustrated, and he has no place to go. The regime is clearly still in place. They still have the remnants of a nuclear program.
That part hasn't changed. The expenditures are devastating for the U.S. economy, the loss of human life, U.S. soldiers, and he really has no place
he can go other than what would only be a humiliating, complete withdrawal.
I mean, he talks about annihilation. First of all, when this president says he might do something, I think when a tyrant tells you he might do
something, you better listen. I think he's capable of anything. But if he's talking about annihilating Iran, there's really only two things there, and
that is all-out war, which is against a million-point five-man army in Iran, a war that would take all of our army to conduct, or something more
dramatic. His words, not mine. He's talking about annihilating them. You know, there's only a couple ways to do that, and obviously one of them
would be nuclear.
SCIUTTO: Yes.
QUIGLEY: So, I don't put anything past this president when he makes outlandish statements like this. I, for one, don't put anything past him.
SCIUTTO: Yes. Goodness, let's hope we don't get there. Congressman Mike Quigley, thanks so much for joining.
QUIGLEY: Anytime. Thank you.
SCIUTTO: Still coming up on "The Brief," as tensions with Washington grow, Canada is trying to diversify its global partnerships. Coming up, my
conversation with the Canadian Foreign Minister, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[18:20:00]
SCIUTTO: Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the U.N. General Assembly today by video only. He was barred by the U.S. from
traveling to New York for a second straight year. In a pre-recorded speech, Abbas called on the U.N. to ensure the viability of a two-state solution.
He urged the U.N. to hold Israel accountable for the crisis in Gaza and its expansion of West Bank settlements.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAHMOUD ABBAS, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY PRESIDENT (through translator): The world has witnessed the tremendous cost in the Gaza Strip and the West
Bank. So, what is the international community waiting for in order to protect the Palestinian people, ensure their continued presence on their
land and the Israeli occupation, and implement the two-state solution on the basis of international legitimacy? This solution guarantees peace for
all. Instead of the threat emanating from Israeli extremism, which seeks to expand its colonial project towards establishing the so-called greater
Israel and completely erasing Palestinian presence.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was able to attend the session in person, though his trip to the U.N. was short. He's not spending
the night in New York or meeting with anyone, we should note, from the Trump administration.
Quite similar to last year, as the Prime Minister walked up to the podium, a large number of diplomats walked out of the room in protest of the
Israeli war in Gaza. Other delegates stood, stand and applauded him. Netanyahu opened his comments by defending the U.S. in Israeli war against
Iran, calling it a victory.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: Devastating Iran's nuclear facilities was hard. It was very hard to do. But for me, it was one of the
easiest decisions I've ever had to make as prime minister. Because if we hadn't done it, we'd all be dead.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: Before, during and after his address, demonstrators opposing Netanyahu gathered near the U.N. These are live pictures we're showing you
now. This is near Bryant Park, not far from the U.N. In the past several hours, hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched towards the U.N.
headquarters. Dozens were detained by New York police.
Well, Canada has been trying to reduce its economic and military reliance on the U.S. as relations with Washington deteriorate. I spoke to Canada's
Foreign Minister, Anita Anand, and asked her to start whether the two nations were still able to find some areas of cooperation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANITA ANAND, CANADIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: I did meet with Secretary Rubio earlier this week to talk about Arctic security and defense. And he and I
actually met in Washington, D.C. in August to further their bilateral relationship and the work we're doing together. So, it's Arctic security,
it's work on Haiti and support for the gang suppression force, it's work regarding the Strait of Hormuz needing to be freely navigable, and we also
work on cyber and security scam centers in the Indo-Pacific.
So, the work continues bilaterally for Canada and the United States, and the trade teams are at work as well, and that's under Minister LeBlanc and
Jeanne Charette.
SCIUTTO: Do you consider the agreement over Greenland to, one, enhance Arctic security, but do you also believe it has diffused that very genuine
disagreement between the U.S. and its NATO allies?
[18:25:00]
ANAND: Both are correct. The feeling around the table is that this is a very positive development, and we said as much to Secretary Rubio when we
met with him to discuss Arctic security. The question is, where do we go from here? The issues relating to Greenland are issues that affect us all.
How do we secure the sovereignty and the security of the Arctic? And NATO is one piece of that puzzle, and one of the conversations I've been having
with Secretary Rubio, for example, is how do we ensure that NATO has a long-term strategy for the Arctic?
Arctic Century is an initiative, but what we are looking for is a long-term strategy that takes into account the capabilities that Canada and the
United States are putting on the table every day.
SCIUTTO: On the trade front, Canada has been looking, of course, to Europe more to grow its trade, as well as South America and even China. Is this
move, this association agreement with the E.U., is that a move away from the U.S.?
ANAND: Actually, the nomenclature relating to our relationship with the E.U. has not been definitively ascertained. What we are working on right
now are several critical pillars of work with the E.U., critical minerals, energy, A.I., quantum, not to mention trade and investment. And that's the
work that our teams are doing in the lead-up to the summit between Canada and the E.U. to be held in Montreal at the end of October.
In terms of the reasons for the work that we're doing with the E.I., let's be clear that Canada has a diversification of trade agenda. We are putting
on the table several new partnerships, frankly 20 new security, defense and economic partnerships and arrangements over the last year alone, hitting
approximately 5 billion consumers. So, this is work that we'll continue to do.
SCIUTTO: The prime minister has been quite public in saying that the relationship with the U.S. is changed. He doesn't mince words when he
describes that. On the security front, when there are discussions of NATO members in Europe, plus Canada, plus even Ukraine, having some sort of
security cooperation, is that -- at the root of that, is that because you no longer trust the U.S. as you did in the past?
ANAND: Actually, go back to the prime minister's words on September 11th, where we commemorated this really meaningful moment where we stood in
solidarity with our American cousins and friends. And I would say that there is a longevity in this relationship that is absolutely fundamental.
At the same time, we are pursuing a trade strategy and a defense and security strategy that is necessary in Canada's best interest. That means
we are going to continue to cooperate in multilateral organizations and form new ones as the issues demand. And this is the reality of real politic
in 2026.
SCIUTTO: Secretary Rubio said that the U.S. will welcome Vladimir Putin to the G20 meeting in Miami. So, this, of course, will be the second time in a
little over a year that the U.S. has in effect welcomed Putin back into the fold. What's your response to that invitation?
ANAND: I was actually surprised. Having said that, the United States is the host country and they hold the prerogative relating to invitees. We
will, as a country, of course, be at the G20 and we will cooperate and collaborate with other middle powers with the aim of upholding principled-
based pragmatism. And we'll make sure we'll do what it takes to work with countries on a collaborative and coordinated basis while delivering for the
Canadian population --
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SCIUTTO: The Canadian foreign minister, Anita Anand. Still ahead, the U.S. president is hosting a state dinner tonight for Chinese leader, Xi Jinping.
Will this summit end up for shadowing a post-American world or reinforce U.S. power? We'll discuss just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[18:30:00]
SCIUTTO: Welcome back to "The Brief." I'm Jim Sciutto, and here are the international headlines we're watching today.
The leaders of the world's two largest economies held talks today at the White House. China's Xi Jinping, U.S. President Donald Trump getting
together again this evening for a state dinner. A.I., global trade, Taiwan, and the Iran war, some of the top issues.
Journalists from CNN were allowed back into the White House earlier today after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to reinstate their
access. The judge ruled overnight that President Trump's ban, which also affected reporters from MS NOW and Politico, was imposed without
constitutionally adequate due process.
Australia's Prime Minister says he has expressed extreme concern to OpenAI over a hack of a government database there. An OpenAI agent breached
Australia's Medicare records. The incident took place in June. Australians were only told, however, in September. The company insists no patient
records were compromised.
Returning now to our top story, China's leader Xi Jinping honored at the Trump White House with military bans, a flyover, and tonight a state
dinner. Beyond the pageantry, though, the biggest, bigger questions still unanswered. Will there be any significant agreements to come out of all
this?
Joining me now, Daniel Kritenbrink, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. He also served as U.S. ambassador
to Vietnam. Ambassador, good to have you back on.
DANIEL KRITENBRINK, FORMER U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS: Jim, thanks for having me.
SCIUTTO: All right. So, your best assessment as to what all has been accomplished from all this, lots of pomp, any deliverables?
KRITENBRINK: Well, I think the deliverables are a bit meager so far. But I think this visit is largely gone, you know, as expected and as planned.
This is a summit defined by optics over outcomes, symbolism over substance. The main outcome, it's not just the meeting itself. It's, you know, it's
optics for a purpose and namely to try to stabilize the U.S.-China relationship and extend this so-called fragile truce between the two
powers.
[18:35:00]
Beyond that, we'll have to see. I think you could see a few trade commercial deliverables and the like, but I think the overall focus of the
trip has been extension of this truce. We should also keep in mind, Jim, the presidents are likely to meet two more times this year, so if you think
about it as a continuum, this is just one stop along the way.
SCIUTTO: When Secretary Bessent says that the extension of the truce goes until January, that's not a long time. I mean, do you run up against
another brick wall then?
KRITENBRINK: Well, you could, but, you know, think about what he means. You know, he's talking about the trade truce, right, where the two sides
agreed, namely China would keep rare earths flowing to the United States to U.S. companies and the U.S. would not impose its strictest tech-related
export controls. I think kicking that can to January is a smart move.
He also hinted that there could be a bigger deal, you know, to be had. So, certainly a truce, even a fragile one, is preferable to a white-hot trade
war, so I'll take that. But even Chinese officials are saying they're already more focused on the meetings likely to take place between the
leaders at the G20 and at APEC, so we'll have to see. But the two sides have bought themselves some time, and I think that's good news.
SCIUTTO: How about Taiwan? Because that, of course, was a burning question in Beijing. The president punted. Does he punt again?
KRITENBRINK: Well, Jim, it feels to me like the Taiwan issue is not central to this visit as it was in Beijing. I mean, our understanding is
that really the Taiwan issue dominated the discussions in Beijing. I don't think that will be the case here in Washington. We'll have to see what
comes out.
But, look, I think it's in both sides' interest to maintain the status quo. I think less is more on Taiwan. This is probably a place where you don't
want breakthroughs and you want maintenance of the status quo. I also think, candidly speaking, that the Chinese may not feel they had to push as
hard on Taiwan in this trip given that I think they were largely satisfied by the nature of the discussions and the president's comments publicly
afterward in Beijing.
SCIUTTO: And how about the arms deal then? Secretary Rubio said something along the lines of the U.S. remains committed, but does that mean delivery
anytime soon?
KRITENBRINK: Well, we'll have to see. You know, Jim, under the Taiwan Relations Act, the U.S. has obligations to help provide for Taiwan's self-
defense. We've been doing so since 1979, and I'm confident the United States will continue to meet those obligations. But when, that will be a
decision that only the president can make. We'll have to see.
There's some talk that you could potentially see movement on that front perhaps even this year. Others think it may be put off until next year. But
I'm confident we haven't seen the last of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.
SCIUTTO: President Xi Jinping and those around him, they don't want the Chinese leader to be embarrassed in any way. He's found himself in the
middle of a quite significant domestic issue here, right? And that is the president denying access to media outlets. And that has meant that there's
been far fewer images of this and less coverage of the events themselves. Would you expect that on the Chinese side that is unnerving a bit or
upsetting in some way, disappointing?
KRITENBRINK: Well, Jim, candidly speaking, I doubt it. At least it hasn't come across that way. I think in the Chinese media it's really been wall-
to-wall positive coverage about the tremendous respect that President Xi has been given by President Trump. So, I think the Chinese have to be
delighted with the way this visit has gone.
You know, historically in U.S.-China diplomacy, usually it was the Chinese side that was more focused on the pomp and circumstance and protocol, face
and security and the like. And usually, it was the U.S. side trying to drive a hard bargain on substantive outcomes. It's quite interesting this
time that I think for President Trump, he's probably just as focused on the symbolism as President Xi is.
So, there will be, I think, some substantive outcomes, but, again, I think they're going to be limited to probably some Chinese commercial purchases,
maybe of agricultural products, maybe of aircraft. I'm hearing maybe a significant Chinese LNG purchase. But beyond that, I think it's going to be
difficult to have anything momentous come out of this visit, again, other than extension of this truce.
SCIUTTO: And two pandas, we learned. But before we go --
KRITENBRINK: Indeed.
SCIUTTO: -- I'm curious, as the president reaches the halfway point of his second term and he's facing political headwinds at home, is there some
point when China calculates he's a lame duck, right, that there's not a lot of value conducting long-term negotiations because the timeline is limited
under this president?
KRITENBRINK: I think traditionally, Jim, Chinese friends have known there's only one U.S. president at a time, and then they know that the
president of the United States has awesome power.
[18:40:00]
So, I don't think that the Chinese are going to start thinking about the president in a supposed lame duck status anytime soon. I think what I'm
more concerned about, Jim, is that I think Chinese confidence is about as high as I've ever seen it. They're confident in their ability to deal with
a transactional U.S. president in President Trump. They're delighted that increasingly China internationally is seen as a responsible power and the
U.S. is seen as the source of instability.
So, despite the fact that they're a bit uneasy about some of the instability in the international system, I think Chinese friends think most
issues are breaking their way. I'm more concerned about that than I am any worry about the Chinese thinking the president is a lame duck.
SCIUTTO: Daniel Kritenbrink, thanks so much for joining.
KRITENBRINK: Thank you, Jim.
SCIUTTO: Still ahead this hour, no word yet on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to accept the Trump administration's surprise
invitation to the G20 summit later this year in Miami. We will hear what Germany's foreign minister has to say about that invitation, whether it's a
good idea and the U.S. approach to Russia.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SCIUTTO: The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin has yet to accept the Trump administration's invitation to attend the G20 Summit in
Miami, Florida, this December. Some European leaders are furious. Poland's prime minister says it could encourage more Russian aggression against
Ukraine.
Germany's foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, told me today it could, though, in his view, be a positive development to help jumpstart
negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHANN WADEPHUL, GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER: It was a good initiative from the American president to invite Mr. Putin to the G20. This will be a
litmus test whether Putin is really ready for negotiations. Until then, we have to keep course. We are with Ukraine. We are supporting Ukraine.
Germany is the most important bilateral supporter of Ukraine. And on the other side, we have to keep the pressure on Russia to make clear to Putin
that it makes no sense to prolong the war, but to come to the table. So, and if we do so, I do see a realistic chance that negotiations could begin
this year.
[18:45:00]
SCIUTTO: Regarding the invitation to the G20, of course, Germany would be in the room as well. Would the German leader meet with Putin, sit next to
Putin, take a picture next to Putin?
WADEPHUL: No, it's not time for normality with Russia. This is absolutely clear. Russia is still the aggressor is still responsible for all the
atrocities against civilians and also against his own people, sometimes 40,000 Russians being killed in one month. But we are in a situation that
everybody understands that negotiations are needed.
And if the G20 is a format for Russian and for Putin to appear, it is acceptable for us and we should not waste that opportunity. So -- but
really, Putin has to show whether there's a willingness to negotiate or if we want to prolong the war. And we very much hope that he understands that
now he has to come to the negotiation table and we support the U.S. administration and President Trump with all his efforts to bring this war
to an end.
SCIUTTO: Your government is facing increasing political pressure following AfD's additional victories in elections there. Is Germany's support for
Ukraine under threat at home, given AfD's quite different approach to the Ukraine war?
WADEPHUL: Our support for Ukraine is unwavering. Ukraine knows that we are with this country, with the people. And we know, like other countries in
Europe, that Ukraine is not only defending their own freedom, but the freedom of the whole of Europe and also Germany's freedom. The reasons for
voters to go with AfD were different.
And the root causes for their success in some elections now in the federal states was not only our policy with -- together with Ukraine. Of course, we
do have to explain to our people what we are doing and what the reasons are, and that it is for Germany's favor that Ukraine will have the favor in
this conflict with Russia.
SCIUTTO: Germany was the target of a Russian hybrid war attack that very nearly could have been deadly, this drone at the Leipzig airport. What
happens if and when one of these Russian hybrid war attacks is deadly on NATO's soil? How does NATO respond?
WADEPHUL: NATO responds against each and every attack. We will defend every inch of NATO territory against everybody who attacks us, also against
Russia. And we showed a clear reaction to this hybrid attack at the Leipzig airport. We closed the general consulate from Russia in Bonn in Germany.
So, Russia knows who we are and that we are a strong alliance together with our partners and also the United States of America. So, this strength is
needed to deter Russia from further attempts against us and our NATO allies. We have to show strategic patience in this very situation, be
strong, staying together, staying together alongside with Ukraine, and also to be open for negotiations. This is our task in these crucial times.
SCIUTTO: Chancellor Merz has said in public comments more than once that Germany and Europe cannot trust the U.S. to the same degree it did in the
past to come to Europe's defense. Do you share that fear?
WADEPHUL: We are, of course, in more complicated times regarding our relation than I was used to in the last decades. But in the end, we know
eventually the United States is committed to NATO and to the transatlantic relationship. This administration expects, as earlier administration also
did already, that Europe does more for the defense of Europe, that we take our responsibility. And Germany is going here into a leading role.
[18:50:00]
We will reach the 5 percent earlier than others for defense. And this is the new situation we are in. But still, this relationship between the
United States of America and Europe, and especially Germany, is a cornerstone of our foreign policy and of our security architecture. And I
do have no doubts that we have truly partners here in the United States.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SCIUTTO: Breaking news now. CNN, MS NOW, and Politico have been denied access to cover arrivals for the state dinner between U.S. President Donald
Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Kristen Holmes, who, of course, covers the White House from us, for us, joins us now. Kristen, I thought the judge
made it clear that our access was restored. What happened?
KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, we do have access to the grounds, but clearly the White House feels as though they
don't want us in actual events.
Now, I want to tell you exactly what happened, because they did offer us two spots. We had put in for pre-credentialed media the night before. This
is not a pool event. This is something that any reporter can submit their name for. We never heard back. We had heard other outlets had already been
approved. At a certain point, we believed that we would not be approved and not hear back.
And then moments before the actual event, or at least the reporters being called together, we received an email saying, who would be part of your
team? We wrote back very explicitly that in compliance with all of the other TV networks, what has been agreed upon, no cameras, no audio, but we
would have an editorial presence. And we submitted my name and my producer, Kit Maher's name.
We did not hear back from them. We walked up to the gate, and we were told to talk to Stephen Chung, but the invitation for CNN was only for a camera
person and an audio person, not for any editorial presence. We, of course, asked why. This is -- again, we saw the other producers, the other
correspondents from other networks who were there, did not have cameras. They just told us to talk to the press office. We have not heard back from
the press office on this.
I do want to be clear. It is up to the White House who gets to go into these pre-credentialed events. We have never been denied before, to my
knowledge. But the idea was that they specifically asked us, you know, who would be in there? We responded with our names and compliance, again, with
what the other networks are doing. And that's when we were denied.
SCIUTTO: Kristen Holmes, thanks so much for pursuing. We'll continue to cover. And I'll be right back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SCIUTTO: An investigation is now underway in Australia into another alarming A.I. data breach. According to officials, an OpenAI agent
illegally accessed the country's national healthcare database. The hack first discovered in August, but Australians were only informed in
September. It is widely believed to be the first known A.I. hack of a government system.
[18:55:00]
The Australian prime minister is blasting OpenAI for how it handled the incident.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTHONY ALBANESE, AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER: I spoke with the CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, to express Australia's extreme concern about this
incident. And I also expressed my disappointment that it took the company way too long to inform the government what had occurred and the nature of
the way that that notification occurred as well was unacceptable.
No personal information is believed to have been accessed at this stage. Nonetheless, this situation is obviously unacceptable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCIUTTO: A brand-new CNN poll finds deep concerns among Americans about rapid advances in A.I. Three out of four Americans expressed fear or
concern about A.I. The story we'll certainly continue to cover.
Thanks so much for joining us today. I'm Jim Sciutto in Washington. You've been watching "The Brief." Please do stay with CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:00:00]
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