Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Trump Keeps Focus on Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric; Harris, Walz to Focus on Battleground States in Coming Weeks; U.S. Steps Up Military Support for Israel; Florida Republicans Join Biden at Bipartisan Hurricane Event. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired October 14, 2024 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Trump has continued to argue, and he believes personally, that immigration and the border is the top issue.

DONALD TRUMP, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT, 2024 PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: All over the world they come, from prisons and jails, insane asylums.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Vice President Harris using her remarks to argue that the former president is not being transparent enough with voters.

KAMALA HARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE U.S. (D) AND U.S. PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: I do believe Donald Trump is an unserious man.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The U.S. announced it will send an advanced anti- missile system to Israel.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is a defensive effort on the part of the United States. Certainly the U.S. does not want to fight this conflict.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN NEWSROOM with Max Foster and Christina Macfarlane.

CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and a warm welcome to our viewers joining us from the United States and all around the world. I'm Christina Macfarlane. It's Monday, October 14th, 9 a.m. here in London, 4 a.m. in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, where in the coming hours both major presidential nominees are set to hold events vying for the state's 19 electoral votes, the biggest single prize of the seven battleground states.

And with the election just three weeks away, polling data shows there is still no clear front-runner between Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in these three states from the Democratic so-called blue wall. Well, the national picture remains unclear as well, with CNN's latest Poll of Poll showing an average of 50 percent of likely voters supporting Harris, while 47 percent back Trump. Pennsylvania's governor says it's par for the course in his state. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSH SHAPIRO, (D) PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR: In Pennsylvania, the last two presidential races have come down to 44,000 votes and 80,000 votes, representing about a point or less. So it shouldn't shock anyone that the polls are within a point or so or even a dead heat. These are close races, but the stakes are incredibly high.

The contrast is clear. And I'll tell you what, I would much rather be us than them. I think we've got momentum. And like I'm a sports guy, I would much rather have our team on the floor for the final two minutes of the game, standing with Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: CNN's Harry Anton breaks down why the numbers are so close this time around and why it's giving both Democrats and Republicans hope.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARRY ENTEN, CNN SENIOR DATA REPORTER: The voter registration numbers, if you want a stat that Republicans absolutely love, it's this one, all right? Pennsylvania voter registration, you register by party in that state. You go back to November of 2020, you see Democrats 47 percent, Republicans 39. That was an eight-point advantage.

Look at where we are today. Yes, more voters in Pennsylvania are registered as Democrats than Republicans, but it's now just 44 percent to 40 percent.

Now that you've got a four-point gap, Republicans have cut that Democratic advantage in half, in half in such a short period of time. They have gone out. They have registered voters. There are folks that have come over to their side who have previously registered Democrats.

But there's one thing to keep in mind, right? You had that New York Times, Siena College poll that came out yesterday that showed Kamala Harris slightly ahead, but within the margin of error. Why is that?

Because take a look here. This is the Pennsylvania margin by party registration in that poll. What you see here is that Kamala Harris -- I'm going to come over to your side -- is doing better among Democrats, a 77-point lead, than Donald Trump is among Republicans, a 74-point advantage. She's also doing better with those who are not registered with a party or with another party. But this nugget is key because even though Republicans have closed that registration gap, they haven't closed it completely.

So the fact that Harris is doing slightly better among Democrats than Republicans, and there are more of them, that is what gives Democrats solace, is because at this particular point, that state, compared to, say, Arizona, is slightly more favorable to Kamala Harris, at least in the polling data so far.

(END VIDEOTAPE) MACFARLANE: Well, as the election draws closer, Donald Trump is taking his anti-immigration rhetoric to dark and disturbing new levels. The former president is doubling down on his false narrative that the Biden-Harris administration has opened the floodgates to a wave of violent migrant criminals who threaten to destroy the United States. Alayna Treene has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN REPORTER: Well, former President Donald Trump addressing a crowd in Prescott, Arizona, on Sunday, really leaned into that anti-immigration dark rhetoric that we've heard him escalate in recent days. He talked about Operation Aurora, something that he announced on Friday when he was in Aurora, Colorado, but essentially said that he would support the death penalty for any immigrant in this country, whether they're here illegally or not, who kills a U.S. citizen or a law enforcement officer.

[04:05:07]

He also leaned in to his attacks on Kamala Harris, specifically when it comes to her handling of the border. I want you to go listen to what he said.

DONALD TRUMP, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT, 2024 PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: For four straight years, she's imported an army of illegal alien gang members and migrant criminals from the dungeons all over the world. Not, not South America. All over the world they come.

From prisons and jails and sane asylums, mental institutions, from Venezuela, from the Congo, all over. And she's resettled them into your communities to prey upon innocent American people.

TREENE: Now, when I talk to Donald Trump's senior advisers, they tell me that this is an issue that they are not running away from, even as many people, many Republican allies and those who want Donald Trump to win in November say that the economy needs to be the top issue.

Trump has continued to argue, and he believes personally, that immigration and the border is the top issue. And it was very clear during his remarks on Sunday that that is what he feels will help him be successful come November 5th.

Now, a bit of news from Sunday. Donald Trump called a bunch of Border Patrol agents onto the stage in the middle of his rally where they touted their endorsement of the former president, their first official endorsement of him this cycle, although I will note that they have supported him in the past.

Donald Trump, for his part, also announced a new plan that he would call to add 10,000 more Border Patrol agents if he were elected in November, and also that he would call on Congress to give those agents a 10 percent raise as well as a $10,000 signing and retention bonus, again, if he is elected. Really trying to lean into their support, court these Border Patrol agents, and really embrace what he argues is a necessary action and advancement for these officials on the southern border.

Alayna Treene, CNN, Prescott, Arizona.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: Now, federal officials say Donald Trump was not in any danger at a campaign rally in California on Saturday. A man was arrested for violating state gun laws, but Secret Service officers had the suspect in custody before the rally started. They've identified the suspect as 49-year-old Vem Miller of Las Vegas.

He was charged with illegal possession of a shotgun, a loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine. Miller was released on bail.

Now, campaigning in North Carolina on Sunday, Kamala Harris took aim at Trump, criticizing him for not releasing his medical reports, refusing to do a second debate, and opting out of the customary candidate interview with CBS News program 60 Minutes.

Eva McKend has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

EVA MCKEND, CNN U.S. NATIONAL POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: Vice President Harris using her remarks at a rally in Greenville to argue that the former president is not being transparent enough with voters when it comes to sitting for that 60 Minutes interview, a long honored tradition. When it comes to going up against her for another debate, or even on releasing his medical records. Take a listen.

KAMALA HARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE U.S. (D) AND U.S. PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: And here's the thing. Here's the thing. It makes you wonder. It makes you wonder. Why does his staff want him to hide away? One must question, one must question. Are they afraid that people will see that he is too weak and unstable --

(CHEERING)

HARRIS: -- to lead America?

MCKEND: And a clear goal of the vice president in her two-day swing here in North Carolina was to try to recreate President Biden's winning multiracial coalition that he relied in part on in 2020 with intentional outreach to Black voters. She met with Black farmers. She met with community leaders and faith leaders in Raleigh. And she also spoke at a Black church.

But what we're also hearing from North Carolina Democrats is a big push for voters to get out and vote early. Early voting begins in this state in just a few days.

Eva McKend, CNN, Greenville, North Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: The U.S. announced Sunday it will send an advanced anti- missile system to Israel to help bolster the country's air defenses, along with about 100 U.S. troops to operate it. It comes as the aerospace commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps says his country is ready to respond to any action or, quote, misstep by Israel.

CNN political and national security analyst David Sanger explains the significance of the Pentagon's announcement.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[04:10:00]

DAVID SANGER, CNN POLITICAL AND NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: I think what else we're learning here is that the president's tolerance for having American troops in the way here, even in defensive positions in Israel, is increasing a little bit, that he thinks it's a relatively small risk to have 100 Americans there. Obviously, there are thousands of Americans on board the ships and in nearby bases to try to help defend Israel as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Israeli officials say Hezbollah launched a drone attack on Sunday, killing at least four soldiers and wounding more than 60 people. It's one of the bloodiest attacks on Israeli soil since the war broke out last year. The drones targeted an army base about 40 miles from the Lebanese border.

The IDF says it will investigate why the attack didn't trigger an alarm. Hezbollah called the retaliation for Israeli strikes on Lebanon on Thursday, which continued into the weekend. Lebanese health officials say Israeli strikes on Saturday killed 51 people and wounded more than 170 others.

And while concerns continue over a wider conflict, Israeli strikes on targets in Gaza go on. This was the scene inside the Al-Aqsa hospital courtyard early Monday, where four people were killed and dozens wounded. Tents were in flames, with people trying unsuccessfully to put out the fires.

The Israeli military says it conducted a precise strike on a Hamas command center inside the compound. And we have to warn you that the video we're about to show you is disturbing. On Sunday, more than 40 people, at least 13 children, were killed in another Gaza strike, according to hospital officials.

At least 22 were killed when the al-Mufti school in the Nuseirat refugee camp was hit. But remarkably, today, in the middle of all this destruction, the U.N. is set to begin the second phase of its emergency polio vaccination campaign. The World Health Organization hopes to provide more than half a million doses of the vaccine. After a successful first round in September, when 95 percent of eligible children were inoculated. Joining me now to discuss all of this is CNN's Nada Bashir. Nada, a

lot of important points to get through here.

But I just want to start first with the increased military presence that the U.S. announced they were sending on Sunday. Troops on the ground. Also, a deployment of this advanced anti-missile system to Israel.

Talk to us a bit more about the significance of this decision at this time when Israel is weighing and preparing for a response militarily to Iran.

NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Christina, we know that the Biden administration has been in close contact and coordination with counterparts in Israel. The tone from the White House is one of de- escalation. They want the response by Israel to be proportional in order to prevent this from spiraling out of control into an even more broader regional war than what we have already seen escalating in parts of Lebanon and Syria, of course.

But clearly, what we've been also hearing from the Biden administration is that continued steadfast support for the state of Israel. And this support in the form of air defense system support and, of course, U.S. troops as well to operate them comes amid those mounting tensions, amid concern that there could be yet a further response from the Iranian regime targeting Israeli territory if, indeed, we do see an attack by Israel targeting Iranian territory.

Now, this specific defense system is focused on defending against ballistic missiles. The hope would be that this would support Israel in its defense against any future attacks from the Iranian regime. And, of course, we have been hearing from Iranian officials suggesting that that attack, that that response could well be likely if, indeed, we do see Israel taking action. Take a listen to this statement from the Iranian foreign minister.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ABBAS ARAGHCHI, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): We are prepared for any kind of circumstances. We are ready for war, but we are also ready for peace. This is the definitive stance of the Islamic Republic.

We are entirely ready for a military conflict. We are not afraid of war, but we do not wish for war. We want peace, and we will seek a just peace in Lebanon and Gaza.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASHIR: Now, of course, the Israeli government and cabinet has not yet come to a conclusive decision as to what that response by Israel will look like with regards to retaliation for Iran's attack on Israeli territory on October 1st. Again, the Biden administration has been calling for the response to be proportional. They do not want to see Israel targeting Iran's nuclear facilities or oil fields. That is certainly a huge concern with the potential for that to trigger an even broader war in the region, particularly with regards to Iran's regional proxies. We have already seen the effect of the broadening of the conflict in Gaza, in Lebanon, in Syria, with disastrous impact for civilians there as well.

MACFARLANE: Yes, and we should talk about the two devastating strikes on Gaza on Sunday, reports of a horrific situation actually emerging in the tented village outside the Al-Aqsa hospital courtyard, whiting strikes on Gaza on Sunday, reports of a horrific situation actually emerging in the tented village outside the Al-Aqsa hospital courtyard. We know that many women and children were sheltering there. We don't yet know the numbers of those who have died. But what more are you learning about those attacks, Nada?

BASHIR: That's right, this is the second time we've seen the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital compound struck in just a week, but the videos that we've seen emerging from the aftermath, in fact, the videos that we've seen emerging from overnight, are some of them too graphic to show. As you mentioned, a number of civilians were believed to be sheltering on the ground, on the compound of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. In fact, hospital officials say at least 5,000 people are believed to be sheltering on the compound, on the grounds of the hospital.

But again, this strike, particularly targeting that hospital compound area, of course, impacted the tents where civilians had been sheltering and sleeping overnight. We have seen video emerging showing these tents engulfed in flames, some videos showing civilians engulfed in flames in these tents as well. Again, at least 5,000 people believed to be sheltering there.

This is one of the last remaining hospitals still functioning in Gaza. It is one of the main hospitals, it is somewhere where Doctors Without Borders, the international NGO, has its staff operating and supporting Palestinian medics on the ground there.

We have heard from the Israeli military acknowledging responsibility for this strike. They say they were targeting Hamas militants there. They have accused Hamas once again of using civilians as human shields. But again, this is a hospital, an area that was known to be housing and sheltering civilians. It has been from the early weeks of the war.

So, of course, the efforts to mitigate any sort of civilian harm are clearly not enough in such a densely populated area. And this comes as we continue to see strikes in other parts of Gaza and, of course, the deepening of Israel's incursion around the Jabalia region in the north, where it is proven near impossible to get enough food or aid in so far.

So, clearly, a desperate situation across the Gaza Strip.

MACFARLANE: Yes, and as you say, 5,000 people there attempting to shelter in place. It's just truly devastating. Nada Bashir, thank you very much. Now, for the second time in two weeks, President Biden got a first- hand look at hurricane devastation in Florida, and he's making a big pledge to help states bolster their power grids. That's just ahead.

Plus, escalating tensions in East Asia as China launches a new round of war games around Taiwan. We'll have the latest on Taipei's response.

[04:20:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MACFARLANE: The death toll from Hurricane Milton in Florida now stands at 23, according to the latest tally from law enforcement. In places like Hillsborough County, recovery efforts are being hindered by ongoing flooding issues. Milton dumped more than 16 inches of rain in some areas, and the flooding is slow to subside due to Florida's flat terrain.

The state is really suffering from a domino effect of problems. The floodwaters and debris are blocking roads. That means fuel trucks can't get to gas stations that are running low, crews can't fix the downed power lines as quickly, and those fuel and power shortages, in turn, are hampering the recovery efforts.

More than 400,000 customers statewide are still without power, and almost 30 percent of the state's gas stations were without fuel as of early Sunday.

And for the second time in just two weeks, U.S. President Joe Biden was back in Florida surveying the damage from yet another major storm. During his visit on Sunday, President Biden thanked FEMA and local officials for their recovery efforts. He also announced more than $600 million in projects to help states like Florida bolster their power grids.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is a whole-of- government effort, from state and local to FEMA to U.S. Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, the Energy Department, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Defense, just to name a few. FEMA has delivered 1.2 million meals, over 300,000 liters of water, 2 million gallons of fuel, and so far we've installed 100 satellite terminals to restore communications in impacted areas.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACFARLANE: Notably absent from the president's statement was any mention of the misinformation being spread by his critics, namely Donald Trump, who has cast doubt on the federal government's response to the recent storms. CNN's Brian Todd has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President Biden got an aerial and ground tour of the hardest-hit areas of St. Pete Beach and the areas near here today, and this was kind of a bipartisan tour by nature. Several prominent Republican officials touring the area with the president and speaking after the president, including St. Pete Beach Mayor Adrian Petrilla, Kathleen Peters, the Republican chair of Pinellas County, both of whom Republicans. Also accompanying the president was Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, a staunch Republican, and Republican Senator Rick Scott.

So the president really trying to strike that bipartisan tone as a response to the hurricane, because kind of playing off the idea that some people here were playing politics, Kamala Harris and Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, both accusing each other of playing politics with the response, but the president himself kind of trying to stay away from that fray, striking that bipartisan tone while he was here saying both Democrats and Republicans are coming together to gather themselves and to help this area respond to the hurricane.

The president also kind of striking a personal tone, talking about how his own homes were damaged in major storms and talking about the damage that was suffered here.

BIDEN: Thankfully, the storm's impact was not as cataclysmic as we had predicted, but on top of two before it, it just seems to be getting worse. And, you know, but for some individuals, it was cataclysmic.

[04:25:00]

All those folks who not only lost their homes, but more importantly, those folks who lost their lives, lost family members, lost all their personal belongings. Entire neighborhoods were flooded, and millions, millions were without power.

TODD: We should also note that President Biden was scheduled to be overseas at this very moment. The White House had scheduled a trip for the president to go to Germany and to Angola, which would have been the president's first and only trip to the continent of Africa while he was president. That trip had to be postponed.

It was postponed on the eve of the day that Hurricane Milton hit this area. But President Biden says he is still determined to make a trip to Africa before he leaves office.

Brian Todd, CNN, St. Pete Beach, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: Well, after months of searing heat and record high temperatures, much of the U.S. is in store for an early blast of cold weather this week, stretching from the northeast to the southern plains. Our meteorologist Allison Chinchar has the forecast.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Now much of the eastern half of the U.S. is going to get quite a shock of change of seasons as we go through the next few days, and it's all thanks to this cold front. Now that it's going to pass through many of these areas, temperatures are going to be dropping pretty significantly.

Take Washington, D.C., for example. Those high temperatures on Sundays in the low 80s, by the time we get to Tuesday, they may not even make it to a high temperature of 60 degrees, and they're not alone. Look at Dallas, going from a high in the mid-90s on Sunday, dropping all the way back to the upper 60s by the time we get to Wednesday. Keep in mind, the average is 80, so going from above average to below average in just simply two to three days.

Atlanta, also going to see a similar drop, but you're really going to notice it in those morning low temperatures. Take a look at this. Wednesday night into Thursday morning, that low temperature in the city of Atlanta going to get all the way down into the upper 30s. So again, very chilly for some of these locations.

The good news is, notice that little bit of a rebound that we get once we get back into next weekend. So this little bit of a brief preview of those fall-like temperatures is really going to be short-lived, as those above average temperatures will really start to push back into areas of the Midwest and then continue to spread east as we head through the rest of the week.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MACFARLANE: It certainly feels like fall-like temperatures here in London. And if you want to win the White House, Wisconsin is key. Still ahead, we check in with Black voters there to see what they're saying about the Democratic ticket just weeks before the election.

And if you want to win votes in North Carolina, show them you're a NASCAR fan. Just ahead, why J.D. Vance took his wife and kids to Charlotte Motor Speedway Sunday.