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Trump Speaks At National Guard Conference; Clinton's Comment about Americans; Trump Slams Clinton's Remark. Aired 1-1:30p ET

Aired September 12, 2016 - 13:00   ET

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


[13:00:00] DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: She views it as her rules. Her comments displayed the same sense of arrogance and entitlement that led to violation of federal law as secretary of state, hide and delete her e-mails. Nobody's ever done anything like that before. Put classified information in the reach of our enemies, lied to Congress and sell government favors and access through her foundation.

It's the same attitude that explains why Hillary Clinton refuses to take accountability for the deadly disaster she helped to create in Iraq, in Syria and in Libya. To this day, she won't take accountability for her role in unleashing -- and that's what happened, unleashing ISIS across the Middle East or for putting Iran on a path to nuclear weapons. And as far as ISIS is concerned, probably unleashing ISIS here. We better be very, very smart, tough and vigilant, or we're going to have big problems.

Hillary Clinton believes she's above the law, that she is above accountability, and that she is above each and every one of you. Our campaign is about giving voice to the voiceless. It's about representing the forgotten men and women of this country. And they have been forgotten.

I'm here to represent everyone, but especially those who are struggling against injustice and unfairness. I am running so that the powerful can no longer beat up on the powerless. I'm running to take on the special interests, the big donors and the corrupt political insiders, and, of course, never forget the special interests.

I am running to be your voice. Hillary Clinton is a voice for Wall Street, for hedge fund managers, for top -- really, the top 10 percent, and, really, the top one percent and even less than that. Just look at the people funding Hillary -- funding Hillary Clinton's campaign and paying for her speeches, tremendous amounts of money. And you know who she will be representing if she ever won which I don't believe is going to happen. In fact, if you look at the recent polls, the ones over the last few days, we're doing very well. That I can tell you.

The disdain that Hillary Clinton expressed toward millions of decent Americans disqualifies her from public service. You cannot run for president if you have such contempt in your heart for the American voter. And she does. You can't lead this nation if you have such a low opinion for its citizens. Hillary Clinton still hasn't apologized to those she slandered. In fact, she hasn't backed down at all. She's doubled down on her campaign conspiracy and contempt.

If Hillary Clinton will not retract her comments in full, I don't see how she can credibly campaign any further. Let's be clear. These were not off-hand comments from Hillary Clinton. These were (INAUDIBLE) remarks not at all. They were given also in an interview and probably a number of interviews. These were lengthy, planned and prepared remarks. It was perhaps the most explicit attack on the American voter ever spoken by a major party presidential nominee. Total disrespect for the people of our country.

Clinton was using a very deliberate page from the Democratic playbook, smearing someone with one of the names. You know, those names. In order to -- really, in order to scare, and I mean try and seriously scare them out of voting for change. And we're bringing change. She can't bring change. She's been doing this for 35 years.

[13:05:02] She now talks about change. There's no change. It's going to be more of the same only worse. It's going to be four more years of Barack Obama, only worse. She just took it to a whole new level by applying it to 10s of millions of people. She used these vile words in order to bully and intimidate honest citizens out of seeking government reform.

And there will be reform. There has to be reform. People who want their immigration laws enforced, and we have no choice; we have to do that, and their border secured are not racists. They are patriotic Americans of all backgrounds who want their jobs and families protected. People who warn about radical Islamic terrorism are not Islamophobes. They're not.

They're decent American citizens who want to uphold our tolerant values and keep our country safe. People who support police and who want crime reduced and stopped are not prejudice and are not bad people. They are concerned and loves citizens whose hearts break every time an innocent child is lost, and often times killed, to preventable violence. And it is preventable.

Hillary Clinton doesn't have to worry about sanctuary cities or jobs overseas where so many are moving. She's protected from her own policies. The policies of Hillary Clinton have produced failing schools, shrinking incomes, and the tragic poverty and joblessness in our inner cities.

Our inner cities are a disaster. Our campaign is dedicated to changing these policies to make life better for all Americans. Question are the campaign of school choice. We are the campaign dedicated to improving economic conditions for every African-American and Hispanic worker.

And we are doing amazingly well with African-American and Hispanic workers. You've been seeing that over the last week. We are the campaign that will deliver a government of, by and for the people. This change agenda includes a new foreign and new military policy. We are going to put the failed policy of the past, and there are many, behind us. Ideally, way behind us.

We will empower or generals to do the job they were hired to do and that begins with defeating and destroying ISIS. Thank you. Instead of endless wars, we want a real plan for victory. We will abandon the policy of reckless regime change favored by my opponent, and we will, instead, work with our allies to advance the core national security interests of the United States. America first. Remember that. America first.

My plan calls for a major rebuilding of the entire military, and the elimination of the defense. And we have to do this so quickly. It's a disaster -- of the defense sequester. It is a disaster. I have no choice. It is a disaster. It's called depletion. We have been depleted as a military. We can't let that happen. The greatest men and women on earth, but we have been depleted by what's taken place.

[09:10:04] In this rebuilding, we will provide our National Guard with the best modern state-of-the-art equipment in the world. Bar none. The National Guard is often the first and the last line of defense for our people. You are there when the hurricanes and floods and tornadoes strike. Always amazes me. The courage, the care, the love that you give, amazing. And the danger is beyond belief.

You are there to protect civilians in times of unrest. You are there to respond to every natural disaster. You deserve a government that recognizes and honors your contribution, and then ensures you have the resources you need to get the job done and to get the job done right. Right?

In a Trump administration, the National Guard will always have a direct line to the Oval Office. And I mean direct. You will have an administration that never loses sight of the vital contribution you make each and every day. You will have a president who supports, promotes and speaks up for the National Guard at every single turn.

The incredible members of the National Guard have sacrificed life and limb for our freedom, our safety and our country. We will never forget our heroes, their families and the ones they've left behind. Our gratitude is and will be ever-lasting. We will protect those who protect us, and we will follow your example of unity, working in common purpose and for a common cause. We will be one people under one God saluting one American flag.

We will rebuild our military country. We will make America strong again. We will make America safe again. And we, together, will make America great again. Thank you very much, everybody. God bless you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, everybody.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Donald Trump wrapping up his address before the National Guard Association, the annual meeting that they're having in Baltimore right now. He used the occasion to really go after Hillary Clinton for comments she made the other day about a basket of deplorables. At one point, she said half of his supporters were part of that basket of deplorables.

Later, she expressed regret, saying she did not mean to say half -- although, she went on to say a lot of his supporters have done really bad things and expressed critical, horrible views, if you will, on various issues.

Let's get some analysis on what we just heard. Our Political Analyst Gloria Borger is with us. Our Political Director David Chalian and CNN Political Analyst Kirsten Powers. Gloria, he minced no words, saying that Hillary Clinton spoke about these Americans, these supporters with him with hatred and derision. She mocked and demeaned hard-working Americans.

GLORIA BORGER, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: And that is exactly what we would expect him to be saying. I mean, she handed him an opportunity here. Although she has apologized for saying half of his supporters, she's still taking after the rest of his supporters. And he's taking advantage of it, because I think the last thing do you in a campaign is criticize voters

[13:15:05] And that is exactly what Hillary Clinton did. That's exactly what now President Obama did, you know, when he was talking about people clinging to their guns and their religion or Mitt Romney when he talked about the 47 percent. So she made a mistake. He's clearly taking advantage of it.

What he didn't talk about right, of course, was her health issues. He's being very magnanimous about that, taking the high road on that because that's also a smart political move for him right now.

BLITZER: It is -- he didn't mention the health issue at all --

BORGER: Yes.

BLITZER: Although he did two television interviews this morning, David Chalian, in which he did expressed hope she would come through, recover quickly --

DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Get well.

BLITZER: And get well.

CHALIAN: Looking forward to seeing her at the debate.

BLITZER: And he's looking forward to the debates with Hillary Clinton.

BORGER: Right.

CHALIAN: Yes. But the campaign clearly wants to stay focused on this basket of deplorables issues. They have the new ad up today on this topic. And as Gloria said, look no further than Hillary Clinton's quick attempt at cleaning up on Saturday, to say she clearly made a mistake. There's no doubt about that. What -- what is interesting and i think perhaps different than the 47 percent or the Obama example you gave about custom (ph) and religion, those were closed door fundraisers --

BORGER: Right. This is out there.

CHALIAN: And those were -- so there was a whole sort of like secret audio hear what they're saying that they don't intend you to hear.

BORGER: Right.

KIRSTEN POWERS, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Yes.

CHALIAN: Here, the cameras came in Friday night to shoot her head-on at the -- in the open press moment of the fundraiser --

POWERS: That's right.

CHALIAN: Because there's a part of this message, and you saw that in her half cleaning it up on Saturday, that she thinks works to bring her base alive in this election as well.

BORGER: But she stated it so badly.

CHALIAN: Yes, without a doubt.

BORGER: That was the problem.

BLITZER: And Trump --

CHALIAN: And they're going to exploit it all the way through November.

BLITZER: Trump made the point that it wasn't an offhand comment --

BORGER: Right.

BLITZER: By Hillary Clinton. She not only said it in that one public event, but she also said it in an interview with Channel 2 on Israel -- in Israel.

POWERS: Right. Well, she has said basket of deplorables, which is obviously not something you just come up with on the fly. This was something that was a planned speech. In this case, she knew she was being taped. And so I think it's something she said she just didn't say the 50 percent the first time, which I think, honestly, if she just said 10 percent, something probably a candidate should stay away from. But what Trump is doing is very effective in this speech right here because he's basically saying to people, she's laughing at you. she's with her rich friends and she's looking down on you. You're the people who make America run. You're the hard-working people who are scraping by. And it's turning this very much into her 47 percent comment very much like Mitt Romney's, which is, I have disdain for the little people.

BORGER: Right. And it confirm this narrative about her, which is that she hangs out with the rich.

POWERS: Right.

BORGER: She's been in the south Hamptons. You know, they've earned millions and millions of dollars after the presidency and --

CHALIAN: She was dead broke when she left the White House. Yes, remember that? BORGER: Yes, when she left the White House.

And, Trump, who I might point out, who's a billionaire --

POWERS: Yes.

BORGER: Is -- is really able to take advantage to this. I think what we're -- you know, what we're going to see now from the Clinton campaign on the health issue is, and you had Brian Fallon on, is talking about releasing more of her medical records and then she's going to force Donald Trump to do more, they believe, than just, you know, a physical with his doctor. And it's going to be, you know, you have these two candidates out there who are not trusted very much, who are attacking each other, you know, right and left, and yet they're the most secretive candidates that we've had. He hasn't released his taxes.

It's a -- it's situation where if you're a voter you're kind of sitting there going, what's -- scratching your head.

BLITZER: I want to go to Baltimore right now.

BORGER: Yes.

BLITZER: Sara Murray is our correspondent on the scene for us at this National Guard Association event.

Donald Trump, he was basically saying to these members of the National Guard, you are the ones that Hillary Clinton is attacking right now, slandering, because you are among my supporters. He refers to the military, police officers, and he claims that Hillary Clinton is simply attacking them.

SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: That's right, Wolf.

It was really interesting to see Donald Trump framing this today saying it's cops, soldiers, welders, middle-class families who are supporting him and really saying that Hillary Clinton was directing her comments at all of them, casting this as a disqualifying remark in the run for the presidency. Essentially saying she needs to apologize, she needs to retract and disavow these comments if she even wants to continue campaigning.

And, Wolf, of course, the irony of this is not lost on you. This is all coming out of the mouth of a candidate who has attacked John McCain for being a POW, who has attacked gold star families, who once mocked a disabled reporter and he never once apologized for any of those instances. But it's clear that the Trump campaign sees this as an opportunity to hammer Hillary Clinton over this remark.

Now, of course, we also know that Donald Trump does have some supporters, and we've seen them on Twitter and we've seen them beyond on social media who do hold Islamophobic views, who do hold racist views, but Trump is trying to cast a much broader view saying that when Hillary Clinton talks about 50 percent of my supporters, she's talking about hard working class families like you guys. Wolf.

[13:20:02] BLITZER: All right, Sara, I know you're there in Baltimore. We're going to get back to you.

I want to take a quick break because when we come back, we're going to hear directly from the Hillary Clinton campaign. The press secretary, Brian Fallon, he's standing by. He'll answer my questions, what we just heard from Donald Trump, also the latest on Hillary Clinton's health scare over the weekend. Brian Fallon, standing by, we'll discuss with him, right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.

Once again, we want to welcome our viewers in the United States and around the world.

Donald Trump, only moments ago, you heard it live here on CNN. He went on the attack against Hillary Clinton, defending his supporters, some of whom she has called deplorable.

[13:25:07] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: We have the support of cops and soldiers, carpenters and welders, the young and the old, and millions of working-class families who just want a better future and a good job. These were the people Hillary Clinton so viciously demonized. These were among the countless Americans that Hillary Clinton called deplorable, irredeemable and un-American. Nobody's heard anything like this. She called these patriotic men and women every vile name in book.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: All right, joining us now from the Hillary Clinton campaign in Brooklyn is the Clinton press secretary, Brian Fallon.

Brian, thanks very much for joining us.

BRIAN FALLON, PRESS SECRETARY, HILLARY FOR AMERICA: Hi, Wolf. Thank you for having me.

BLITZER: I want you to respond to what Donald Trump just said before this National Guard Association. Specifically he said, Hillary Clinton must retract her comments in full, otherwise, he said, I don't see how she can continue in this race for the White House. Your reaction?

FALLON: Well, Wolf, Hillary Clinton was actually very quick on Saturday morning to express regret for one aspect of what she said on Friday night, which was to cite half of Donald Trump's supporters as expressing these types of sentiments. But the larger point of what she said on Friday remains true, and it is something we do not apologize for and that we're going to continue to talk about for the remaining two months of this campaign. And that point is this, that Donald Trump continues to not just condone but welcome, promote and lift up divisive, hate-filled elements in this country that he is giving a platform with his campaign. David Duke, no less a white nationalist figure than David Duke actually has come out and said that the Donald Trump campaign represents a growth opportunity for the white nationalist movement. You've seen him elevate Steve Bannon to the top echelons of his campaign. It is Steve Bannon's news website, Breitbart, that gives a platform for this right wing fringe element that continues to engage in hate-filled rhetoric.

So, no, we are not going to be backing down and having this conversation over the next two months. And if Donald Trump wants to continue to talk about this, we'd be happy to. Hillary Clinton has already given a whole speech on this. We'll be happy to talk about it for the remaining two weeks of the -- two months of this campaign:

BLITZER: So she said it twice, this basket of deplorables, in that Israel television interview and then in this rally the other day. How should she have said it? Why did she make that kind of mistake, if you will, to say half of Donald Trump's supporters engaged in these kinds of views?

FALLON: The mistake, I think, Wolf, was trying to quantify it. But there's no doubt about it, that there is a strand of Donald Trump's campaign that is inclined to want to engage in this type of hate- filled rhetoric, and Donald Trump himself promotes it. He, on his own Twitter account, has been lifting up Twitter personalities that engage in expressions of white nationalism and he himself is someone who back in the 1970s was sued by the Justice Department for housing discrimination refusing to rent apartments to African-American in New York City. And in the course of this campaign, he has demeaned a federal judge for being of Mexican-American dissent. He has called all Mexicans rapists. He continues to promote policies that impose a religious litmus test against Muslim-Americans.

And so, from one aspect to another, Donald Trump continues to traffic in these hate-filled sentiments. He continues to give a platform to these elements with his campaign. And Hillary Clinton is not going to be shy about calling that out. We cannot treat Donald Trump as a normal presidential candidate. The idea that somebody is running a campaign that is engaging in this type of hate-filled demagoguery in 2016 is deplorable.

BLITZER: So instead of saying half, she said half of his supporters were part of this so-called basket of deplorables, what should she have said, 10 percent, 20 percent, 5 percent? What would have been a more accurate number?

FALLON: I don't know, Wolf. It's certainly a non-zero number. But the reality is, while every Donald Trump supporter is not necessarily a member of the alt-right, it seems like the alt-right is fully aligned with Donald Trump.

And with the second half of what Hillary Clinton said in those remarks on Friday night gets very little attention, but she was very deliberate in saying that the vast majority of those Donald Trump supporters are people that are frustrated with the state of the economy, who want change, who want to see more action taken to address the circumstances that they're confronting in their everyday lives. Those are the voters that we are competing for ourselves. In fact, you're seeing a good number of independents and even Republicans move away from Donald Trump and in support of Hillary Clinton. We've had for several weeks now a number of Republicans come forward and say they can't possibly support Donald Trump. They're going to be with Hillary Clinton. We're going to continue to reach out to those types of voters. And so the vast majority of those people that are with Donald Trump right now are people that we're going to continue to compete for. The people that want to see the economy improve.

[13:30:06] But they're -- it's undeniable that there continues to be an element that Donald Trump promotes and continues to condone with a wink and a nod.