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CNN NEWSROOM

North Korea Freezes Nuclear and Missile Tests; Concerns Trump Personal Attorney Could Flip; Students Demand Action on Gun Reform; The Alter Egos of Donald Trump; Meghan and Harry's Royal Wedding. Aired 4-5a ET

Aired April 21, 2018 - 04:00   ET

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


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NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Suspended: North Korea says it no longer needs to test nuclear weapons. But it remains to be seen who might claim the diplomatic victory.

And closing in on Cohen: investigators focus on president Donald Trump's long time attorney.

Plus -- a young music star's life cut short. We remember deejay and producer Avicii.

These stories and much more ahead coming your way this hour. Welcome to our viewers here and around the world. I'm Natalie Allen. NEWSROOM starts right now.

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ALLEN: And we begin with the major announcement by North Korea. Its leader, Kim Jong-un, says he will close one of the country's nuclear testing sites and suspend further testing of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. Here is how state TV reported his statement.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): Under the proven condition of complete nuclear weapons, we no longer need any nuclear tests, midrange and intercontinental ballistic rocket tests and that the nuclear test sites in the northern area has also completed its mission.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: It is worth noting that the statement doesn't mention short- range missile tests or any plan to scrap any missiles and warheads the country already have. The surprise announcement comes just days ahead of an historic summit with the president of South Korea.

U.S. president Donald Trump praised the move in this tweet, "North Korea has agreed to suspend all Nuclear Tests and close up a major test site. This is very good news for North Korea and the World - big progress! Look forward to our Summit."

Our Will Ripley knows North Korea well. He has reported from there quite often. He is in Hong Kong right now.

Will, so glad to have you with us.

First question, how significant are these concessions by the North?

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's hugely significant because it really underscores the U-turn that Kim Jong-un and his ruling inner circle have taken and they have a big meeting in Pyongyang on Friday.

And this announcement comes on the heels of that meeting, where now they are telling the North Korean people that they should no longer expect to see that legendary North Korean news reader you saw on the screen, coming up to announce nuclear or missile tests because they say that they have finalized their nuclear program and say there is no need to conduct further tests.

That message to the North Koreans is important because it will pave the way for the North Korean government to continue to tell its people about the events as they are unfolding.

Obviously this is a huge week in the region, that summit happening between Kim Jong-un and South Korea's president, Moon Jae-in, in South Korea. They have just reactivated a direct hotline; they have actually set up a hotline between Kim's office and Moon's office.

And, at some point, those two leaders are expected to have a phone conversation ahead of their historic summit here on Friday. And so it is noteworthy, however, that, as you mentioned, these steps at this point are largely symbolic. It wouldn't take a whole lot of effort technically or financially for North Korea to resume missile testing or conduct tests at another test site that we don't know about.

But this is North Korea trying to send a positive message to its people and also to the world ahead of these potential historic talks with President Trump. Kim Jong-un is ready to take meaningful steps toward denuclearization, as long as the United States is prepared to take steps of their own.

North Korea isn't going to do this easily. They will want significant concessions. The price is likely to be much higher than it was back in 1994, when North Korea negotiated with the Clinton administration and came up with a deal that later fell apart.

ALLEN: What is reaction in the region to the North's announcement?

Is it hopeful, skeptical?

Somewhere in between?

RIPLEY: I would say it is hopeful and optimistic at this point. At least the official statements that are coming out of South Korea and China, I'll read you what the Blue House is saying within the last couple hours. Quote, "We welcome North Korea's decision to discard its nuclear test

site and to suspend the launch tests of midrange missiles. North Korea's decision is a meaningful progress for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."

Over in Beijing, they're saying, quote, "The announcement is conducive to the denuclearization of the peninsula and process of resolving the peninsula issue politically.

"Denuclearization and sustainable peace in the region are in the interest of people on the peninsula and the region and is expected of the international community."

Over in Japan, also some cautious optimism, although I would say --

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RIVERS: -- they are a bit more skeptical than others in the region. Of course, Japan has been very hawkish on North Korea, aligning itself closely with the Trump administration's previous stance and sort of blindsided when President Trump so quickly agreed to a summit with Kim Jong-un.

ALLEN: We'll have more about Japan's response in a moment. But I also want to ask you, we are hearing there could be some developments on the Americans who are currently detained in North Korea.

What can you tell us?

RIPLEY: We've been hearing for quite some time that the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang, which serves as an intermediary between U.S. and North Korea, because they have no formal diplomatic relations, that they have been working very hard, trying to work with the U.S. to negotiate the release of the three Americans, who are still currently held prisoner in North Korea.

And in fact, North Korea's foreign minister flew to Stockholm last month for three days of meetings. It seems like it would be a pretty easy concession for North Korea to make, for President Trump to go into this summit and to walk away, announcing the release of the three remaining Americans, believed to be in North Korean custody.

This, of course, after last year's tragic death of the fourth American held there, Otto Warmbier, who died just six days after being released from North Korean custody.

It is remarkable to think about how much things have changed from then until now. I was in North Korea many times last year during missile launches, at times of great tension, when it really did seem as if the region was on the brink of war and the dramatic pace at which there has been this shift.

North Korea now apparently feels -- Kim Jong-un himself feels that continuing to grow the nuclear program or escalate tensions is not going to be in the best interests of the country or its people and, in fact, the announcement made in state media now says that the sole focus, now that they say the nuclear force is completed, will be to focus on growing the economy.

That is certainly something that President Trump and the United States can help the North Koreans do if they can sort out what denuclearization means and come to an agreement that is suitable for all stakeholders involved here.

ALLEN: Nothing short of just miraculous progress, all beginning with the Olympics. Will Ripley for us, thanks so much.

And as Will mentioned, Japan's prime minister called North Korea's suspension of nuclear tests "a positive move" but Shinzo Abe told reporters that Japan's policy towards North Korea has not changed; that is, a denuclearized Korean Peninsula.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHINZO ABE, JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER (through translator): North Korea's announcement is forward motion that I'd like to welcome. But what is important is that this motion leads to complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear and missile program. I want to take a close look at it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: Japan's defense minister was more skeptical, calling the North Korean announcement, quote, "insufficient."

Let's talk more about it with Steve Chung, he teaches at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Steve, thank you for talking with us.

I want first just to get your reaction to these concessions by North Korea, what do they represent?

STEVE CHUNG, CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG: I think the overall message that the North Korean government delivered today is to show to the world that they really want to make some concessions in order to build up the peaceful momentum for both sides to have talks.

But I think that the entire rationale behind what Kim Jong-un mentioned today is not sufficient, like Shinzo Abe mentioned. I think, based on the experience with Seoul from the North Korean government, trying to deliver the message to the world, I think they have said something similar before. But they have not done similar thing afterwards.

So I think that it is very important that we have to be very cautious, to look at what Kim Jong-un really want to do something later on instead of looking at the words that he try to present to the world.

ALLEN: So you are a little more skeptical than you are hopeful. And one can understand; this is not a regime that has been honest whatsoever for how many -- so many years.

The question is, what are his goals, what does he want? Our reporter was just saying that, in large part, they are likely economic.

CHUNG: I think in terms of economics, very important what he mentioned in his statement he made for today, I think that it is not completely violating the rationale of the North Korean government really want to do so.

We heard that North Korean government have been proclaiming that they really want a parallel plan between nuclear development and the economy. So based on what Kim Jong-un mentioned today, he said that he want to -- he feel that his country's nuclear defense is quite consolidated.

So he is looking forward to have a parallel development on his economy as well. So I think, based on his words, I think currently the nuclear and missile development in the North is quite --

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CHUNG: -- consolidated. And he feels himself mastering economy. So that is why he want to maintain a more or less parallel development on his economy as well.

ALLEN: Also Mr. Chung, I want to ask you, what got him to this moment here?

We were just saying it started kind of with the Olympics, but we know he met with Xi Jinping in China. He also met with the CIA director in a secret meeting recently.

So what might have transpired in those meetings?

Do we know anything about that, that helped spur this on?

CHUNG: I think the way why he want to present the idea today is trying to put forward the condition that North Korean government really want to present in the forthcoming two major summits between the U.S. and South Korea.

That he really want to present the idea first and later on he can try to make some marketing trips with the U.S. and South Korea. So to put forward earlier the agendas is the way that North Korean government really want to do so.

And I think that the economic sanctions also play a very important role, that the U.S. and the U.N. sanctions is substantially hurting the North Korean economy, so that is why they have to make some sacrifice and try to return back to negotiation table to talk to the U.S. and South Korea in order to lift some of the sanctions.

And I also think that the role played by China, also very important because, I think, like what you mentioned about the last few weeks, we have seen Kim Jong-un also pay several visits to China.

And I think that China also want to persuade North Korea to downplay some of the provocations and also to talk to the U.S. and South Korea in order to create a peaceful involvement in Northeast Asia.

And so I think several factors are playing very important role in channeling up the entire summit meeting and also the release by Kim Jong-un in two days.

ALLEN: We certainly appreciate your expertise. Thank you, Steve Chung with the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Thanks.

North Korea's announcement that it would suspend nuclear and missile testing was big news there. Here is how we know.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Speaking Korean).

ALLEN (voice-over): A familiar face there in North Korea; when news breaks, this newscaster is there to announce it. Now she only makes rare appearances. But the former actress has delivered news of major events to North Koreans since -- get this -- 1971.

She announced the passing of the supreme leader in 1994 and Kim Jong- il in 2011.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: Ahead here, we turn to Washington, concerns in the Trump camp about the president's personal lawyer.

Will he turn on his boss?

Plus, French president Macron heads to the U.S. this week for a state visit with President Trump. We'll look back on their sometimes rocky relationship.

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ALLEN: Welcome back. Several developments in the legal firestorm surrounding President Trump. "The Washington Post" reports attorney general Jeff Sessions told the White House that if President Trump fired assistant attorney general Rod Rosenstein, Sessions would consider leaving as well.

That came in a phone call last week between Sessions and White House counsel Don McGahn after Rosenstein had met with the president.

Rosenstein oversees the Russia probe and there are reports that Trump also lashed out after Rosenstein approved the raids on his personal attorney -- Trump's personal attorney, Michael Cohen. The former attorney for both porn actress Stormy Daniels and former

"Playboy" Playmate Karen McDougal is now cooperating with federal authorities in their probe of Cohen.

Keith Davidson was at the center of agreements that kept both women quiet over their alleged affairs with Donald Trump before he became president. Davidson has turned over what his spokesman calls "certain limited electronic information."

A source familiar with the matter tells CNN that, earlier this month, the FBI seized recordings Cohen made of his conversations with Davidson.

And in Los Angeles Friday, Cohen's attorneys asked the judge to delay Daniels' civil suit against Cohen and the president, saying that Cohen could soon be indicted in that federal criminal case in New York.

But Cohen's attorney was actually saying in court what Stormy Daniels' attorney had said on TV. Our Anderson Cooper spoke with Daniels' attorney, Michael Avenatti.

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ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: What do you make of Michael Cohen's legal team using in court today your own timetable for what you say could be a potential criminal indictment him in New York, basically trying to use that against you, to try to slow down your civil lawsuit?

MICHAEL AVENATTI, STORMY DANIELS' ATTORNEY: Well, I thought that it was cute but, beyond that, it wasn't very effective. I mean the judge isn't going to make a decision based on the timetable that I provide publicly.

He will make a decision based on competent, admissible evidence and he found, to quote him, that their motion, their attempt had "gaping holes," closed quote, in connection with it.

So I think they are in a bad place as relates to this motion. And I think the judge sees through it. I don't know what he will ultimately rule. But we were very pleased with how the hearing went today.

And this is really a continuation of Donald Trump and Michael Cohen, trying to be cute in their approach to things. It is no different than Donald Trump not signing the NDA. Now we have Michael Cohen not wanting to go on record and submit a document that states unequivocally that it is his intention to plead the Fifth Amendment.

The reason why he doesn't want to do that is they don't want to face scrutiny from you and others in the media as to the seriousness of that.

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AVENATTI: We're talking about the personal attorney of the President of the United States that will plead the Fifth as it relates to issues directly at the feet of the president. (END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: Let's talk more about these developments. Inderjeet Parmar is professor of international politics at City University in London and a regular guest for us.

Inderjeet, thank you for talking with us. My goodness, we are seeing the pressure build on Mr. Cohen, so many legal avenues here, not painting a pretty picture for him. He could end up cooperating with investigators.

How much of a worry might that be for President Trump?

INDERJEET PARMAR, CITY UNIVERSITY LONDON: It would be a very, very major worry, of course, it would be a heightening of the already deep crisis, the number of issues in which the president finds himself mired ever since his campaign began but certainly since his inauguration.

So I think this would deepen his crisis if Mr. Cohen were to begin to testify in various ways about the kind of thinking within the campaign and a lot of its activities, as well as the kind of business activities and financial connections that the Trump Organization has with a whole range of institutions internally and externally.

ALLEN: Well, let's look at Mr. Trump's latest tweet talking about this investigation. He hasn't been a fan of it from the start.

He tweeted this, "James Comey illegally leaked classified documents to the press in order to generate a Special Council (sic)? Therefore, the Special Council (sic) was established based on an illegal act? Really, does everybody know what that means?"

This after "The Washington Post" reported that attorney general Jeff Sessions said that he would consider resigning if Trump fired the special counsel's boss, Rod Rosenstein.

Is that likely to stop Mr. Trump firing Rosenstein or even Mueller?

PARMAR: It is difficult to predict that. Clearly the situation -- the pressure around President Trump is mounting all the time. It is difficult to know exactly what he will do. But this, I suspect, suggests that he is less likely to do that now than he may have been before, given that Jeff Sessions is the attorney general.

So he is talking about a building of a set of ramparts around Rosenstein, which is higher than it was before. So I suspect that it strengthens Rosenstein's position. And I think even a lot of loyal Republicans would be counseling President Trump against such a course of action.

But he is mired in a lot of crises. He clearly is exploding at a number of these crises and the book probably hasn't improved his mood very much.

But this war within the United States political establishment, really, it is not a great example to the world about how democratic politics are supposed to work.

And I do wonder where this is all headed because, in terms of popularity, President Trump remains actually relatively stable; an average of 41 percent approval, 54 percent disapproval. And with Rasmussen, he is almost 50-50.

ALLEN: And it is interesting what his approval ratings will do, considering the story in North Korea. This might be a positive distraction for this president, the regime is making concessions saying that -- not saying that they will denuclearize but will freeze midrange missile testing.

That is hopeful; however, this is not a regime that has been trusted.

So the question is how should the U.S. president approach this summit and does Mr. Trump deserve credit for the concessions we're seeing now?

PARMAR: If we look at what was the rhetoric even just a few weeks ago, a few months ago, what we see now is a much, much calmer position. We see some room for optimism in this.

And I think that there are a lot of actors who effectively are at the helm of their countries and basically they should be given some credit; South Korea, China and the United States and, of course, North Korea.

I don't think anybody there should not be given credit. The key thing is, I think is to look at the motivations of each of those particular administrations. And they all have, if you like, varying interests and maybe contradictory interests. The key thing North Korea will be looking for is guarantees about regime security in the end.

And I'm not sure how much they will be reassured by anything that the United States may do. In the end, China is worried about the fact that North Korea's provocations were leading to a sort of really high levels of militarization of the Northeast Asia. And that was worrying to the Chinese and they were putting pressure on North Korea, too. President Trump obviously was putting pressure on all parties, including China; has declared --

[04:25:00]

PARMAR: -- Russia and China revisionist powers. Russia is worried about the North Korean situation, too, because a sort of a pro- American Korean Peninsula has borders with both China and Russia.

I think there are some big roadblocks to full peace in that region and there are too many contradictions there. But I would say, overall, this is a step in the right direction. But as we know, Mr. Trump tweeted just a couple days ago the talks might not happen.

And if they don't go well, he may walk out of them with respect during them. So I think that this could still go in a number of different directions and I think intractably has been laid in concrete yet. But I think the signs are hopeful and those at the helm of their stats should be given some credit for this.

ALLEN: We'll see how it progresses with the meeting between the South and North this week. As always, Inderjeet Parmar, we appreciate your analysis. Thank you.

PARMAR: Thank you.

ALLEN: Well, French president Emmanuel Macron arrives in the U.S. Monday, the first official state visit of Donald Trump's presidency. He is set to address a joint session of Congress. It is the next step in what has been a bumpy relationship between the two leaders. Our Melissa Bell reports from Paris.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The strikes may have been carefully coordinated but the row that followed was anything but, after the French president claimed to be driving U.S. policy in Syria.

EMMANUEL MACRON, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE (through translator): Ten days ago, President Trump said the U.S.'s will is to disengage from Syria. We convinced him. We convinced him that it was necessary to stay.

BELL: It took less than five hours for the White House to respond, denying that its policy had changed. A squaring off between two presidents that began nearly a year ago with the grip that was more arm wrestle than handshake.

Last May, two ideologically different political newcomers sized each other up for the first time. The policy clash came only weeks later over climate change when President Donald Trump announced the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris accord.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris.

BELL: Emmanuel Macron responded, turning Trump's campaign slogan against him.

MACRON: Make our planet great again.

BELL: But the sizing up and political differences then gave way in July to an unexpected truce. In Paris, the two presidents met and it appeared actually liked each other.

TRUMP: I really have a feeling that you're going to have a very, very peaceful and beautiful Paris and I'm coming back. You better do a good job, please. Otherwise, you're going to make me look very bad.

MACRON: And you're always welcome.

TRUMP: Thank you.

BELL: Progress, they said, had been made on a number of issues, even it seemed on climate change.

TRUMP: We discussed a lot of different topics. We briefly hit on the Paris accord. We'll see what happens.

BELL: After the pomp and circumstance of the Bastille Day parade and more exchanges between the two presidents, it was time to say good- bye, which they did with more warmth than anyone had imagined possible -- warmth that has now translated into the first state visit of Donald Trump's presidency -- Melissa Bell, CNN, Paris.

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ALLEN: They are not letting up. Thousands of students across the U.S. walked out of their classrooms Friday to demand action from lawmakers on gun control.

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ALLEN (voice-over): How are they going to fight?

The students say they are taking it to the ballot box. That is coming up here.

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ALLEN: Also ahead, people all over the world paying tribute to a Swedish music star, who has died at a very young age.

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ALLEN: Welcome back to our viewers here in the U.S. and all around the world. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. Here are our top stories.

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ALLEN: For the second time in two months, thousands of students in the U.S. walked out of their schools to demand action on gun reform.

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ALLEN (voice-over): "Stand up, fight back."

The National School Walkout occurred Friday at 10:00 am in each time zone across the United States. Some students used the opportunity to register eligible voters, march and hold rallies.

In Phoenix, Arizona, students used the event to spell out the distress call, SOS, to highlight their message. Our Kristen Holmes has more on students' concerns, which carry even more urgency after news of yet another school shooting in Florida on Friday. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From Texas to Florida, California to Washington, students across the country unifying to protest gun violence today.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're taking action, we're taking to the streets. Most of us can't even vote yet but we're working extremely hard to make sure that no one has to suffer the way that people have.

HOLMES (voice-over): Marking the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting, walking out of classrooms and demanding action from lawmakers. The students calling for a ban on assault weapons, high-capacity magazines and bump stocks as well --

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HOLMES (voice-over): -- as universal background checks and other gun buying restrictions.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're here to tell Congress that we want something done.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Make it more difficult to buy guns because right now, I'm 18 years old; I live right across the street from Walmart and I can go buy a gun and I don't think that is OK.

HOLMES (voice-over): Students, many of them in orange to represent the movement, marching out at 10:00 am, observing a 13-second moment of silence to remember those killed in Columbine.

This is the second National School Walkout in the two months following the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 dead.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The shooting in Parkland really inspired me to make a change. My sister lives near there and she is a teacher at a school nearby. And I fear for not only students' lives but teachers' lives as well.

HOLMES (voice-over): A dark cloud cast over the early morning protests, as a student was injured in another school shooting in Central Florida moments before the walkouts were set to begin. That student is expected to survive -- I'm Kristen Holmes, reporting.

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ALLEN: There have been at least 20 school shootings in the United States so far this year. And look how spread out they are across the United States. Of course, the deadliest was in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people died on Valentine's Day.

The U.S. has ordered airlines to closely inspect engines similar to the one that exploded during a Southwest flight this week. The plane was headed for Dallas from New York when an engine fan blade broke.

Shrapnel shattered a window, leaving a hole in the fuselage. A woman was killed. Investigators say metal fatigue couldn't be seen by the naked eye and the Aviation Authority is requiring a more stringent inspections. Within the next 20 days, airlines must conduct ultrasonic tests on certain engines with about 20 years of service and the tests must be done while the engine is mounted on the aircraft.

The death of a Swedish star has stunned people in the music industry. Tim Bergling, better known as Avicii, has died at age 28. His publicist says he was found dead in Muscat, Oman. No cause of death has been released.

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ALLEN (voice-over): Avicii electronic dance music made him famous. His first international hit came in 2011 with "Levels," which reached number one in Sweden and the U.S. Billboard dance club songs chart. He was also well-known for his live performances.

But Avicii suffered from acute pancreatitis, which he attributed to excessive drinking. In 2014, he had his gallbladder and appendix removed. He announced his retirement from live shows in 2016.

Tributes to him are coming in from all over the world. Musician Steve Oakey (ph) tweeted simply, "My brother, I miss you." Avicii, again, was just 28.

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ALLEN: A new report says that President Trump may have manipulated his way on to "Forbes" magazine's annual list of richest Americans. A former "Forbes" reporter has shared audiotape of what he says was then citizen Trump posing as his alter ego, "John Barron." Here is Randi Kaye with the tapes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JONATHAN GREENBERG, "FORBES": OK. What's your first name by the way?

"JOHN BARRON," TRUMP ALTER EGO: John.

GREENBERG: John.

"BARRON": John Barron.

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Does that voice sound familiar?

That was Donald Trump posing over the phone as an executive from the Trump Organization. He called himself John Barron.

"BARRON": Most of the assets have been consolidated to Mr. Trump.

KAYE: The call was recorded back in May 1984 by then "Forbes" magazine reporter, Jonathan Greenberg, who is now sharing it, first with "The Washington Post." Greenberg says the fictitious Trump Organization executive, John

Barron, was trying to convince him that Donald Trump was rich enough to earn a higher spot on the Forbes 400, a list ranking America's richest people.

GREENBERG: Are you saying that perhaps for tax purposes it's been -- the ownership had been transferred to Donald Trump.

"BARRON": Correct. Correct. That's correct.

GREENBERG: OK. And when you say, you know, in excess of 90 percent of the ownership maybe?

"BARRON": I'd say in excess of 90. In fact, well, it's really closer to even the ultimate, but it's in excess of 90 percent, yes.

GREENBERG: He figured it out what he had to do in order to deceive me and get on to that list and he did it very well.

KAYE: In the end, Forbes estimated Trump's 1984 net worth to be about $400 million, earning him a higher spot on the list.

GREENBERG: He lied about his father that he owned all his father's assets. He didn't own any of them until his father died in 1999. Greenberg said Trump posing as Barron, spoke with a slightly stronger New York accent and switch up the rhythm of his voice.

"BARRON": I'd like to talk to you off the record if I can just to make your thing easier.

KAYE: CNN has reached out to the White House for comment about this recording, but so far, no response. Trump meanwhile has been hiding behind fake names for decades.

Back in 1980, Trump apparently also acting as John Barron, gave "The New York Times" this quote after Trump, the developer, had smashed two sculptures at a demolition site in New York instead of giving them to a museum as promised.

Notice the source is John Barron. Turns out in the 1990 lawsuit, Trump himself reportedly admitted under oath that, on occasion, he has used that name. In the heat of the 2016 campaign, another alter ego resurfaced.

"The Washington Post" published an old interview with Trump posing as a publicist named John Miller, a name he appeared to use so he could handle media calls like this one with a "People" magazine reporter asking about Trump's break up with girlfriend, Marla Maples.

JOHN MILLER (TRUMP): He's somebody that has a lot of options. And frankly, he gets called by everybody. He gets called in the book, in terms of women.

KAYE: Trump later told "People" magazine it was just a joke, but then on NBC, this.

TRUMP: It was not me on the phone and it doesn't sound like me on the phone.

KAYE: An audio forensic expert disputed that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm confident that it's Donald Trump.

KAYE: John Miller, John Barron, whatever the name. Seems they all lead back to Donald Trump -- Randi Kaye, CNN, Palm Beach, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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ALLEN: The man credited with revolutionizing English football is calling it quits. After more than two decades, Arsene Wenger is leaving his role as Arsenal manager at the end of the season.

He introduced new ideas about nutrition, training and tactics. Under Wenger, Arsenal won the Premier League title three times and his 2003 team was nicknamed "The Invincibles" after ending the season undefeated.

We asked fans what they will remember about the phenomenal career of the man nicknamed "The Professor."

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He will be remembered for (INAUDIBLE). He'll be remembered for the playmanship, the FA Cup.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He will always be remembered because he's been there since I was born. So I will always remember him as our first manager.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I will remember him. I will remember him for the good times, The Invincibles and changing the club. But I also remember him for giving us humiliating defeats in Europe as well. So there's two things to remember him by.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, he's had great success here. I think if we get him a statue here, it would be amazing, be a brilliant way to remember him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: Probably would.

Royal wedding fever is sweeping Britain with less than one month until Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tie the knot. We see how the wedding preps are coming along -- next.

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ALLEN: No one compares to singer-songwriter Prince. Saturday marks the second anniversary of his death, so Prince's estate released something special from his vault. This is the original 1984 recording of "Nothing Compares to You," the song made famous by Sinead O'Connor.

And we move from one prince to another. Prince Charles will succeed his mother, Queen Elizabeth, as the head of the commonwealth. Leaders of the 53 member nations made the decision on Friday at Windsor Castle. The queen said it was her sincere wish the Prince of Wales would follow in her role.

Meantime, the queen is celebrating her 92nd birthday on Saturday. The world's oldest and longest reigning living monarch will attend a special concert, where Sting, Shaggy and Kylie Minogue are set to perform. Plus Prince William and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, are expecting their third child any day now.

And, of course, the royal wedding countdown is on. Prince Harry and his fiancee, Meghan Markle, aren't the only ones preparing for the big day. Isa Soares has more about that.

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ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We're less than a month away from Harry and Meghan's wedding day and preparations are well on the way. Security is a top priority.

Police in Windsor, where the couple will wed, are beginning one of the biggest security operations in their history. They plan: to set up barriers to stop vehicle attacks, have armed patrols and airport staff security to prevent any incident. They will even have police dogs on high alert, as over 100,000 visitors are expected to descend on --

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SOARES (voice-over): -- the city to celebrate the joyous occasion.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The dogs which you saw today are the expert search dog teams, so they're all trained in accordance with police guidelines and they're regularly assessed to make sure that they are in license and they're fit for purpose.

SOARES (voice-over): Meanwhile, long time royal biographer Andrew Morton says Princess Diana would approve of the marriage.

ANDREW MORTON, ROYAL BIOGRAPHER: I think there is a kind of "Sliding Doors" element here. Diana died at 36; Meghan comes into the scene at 36. And so, in a way, she's picked up Diana's pattern, that she is both elegant, she's glamorous and also she's a humanitarian. And so Diana would very much have approved of Meghan and seeing that

kind of working of fate almost.

SOARES (voice-over): Morton is out with a biography of the new royal to be titled, "Meghan; A Hollywood Princess."

And that is not the only book. Royal watchers can also pick up a new comic book about the couple's romance, available for purchase online. Craftsmen are also busy making souvenirs for the big day. A once- around a factory in Central England, workers are handmaking and decorating thousands of commemorative mugs.

Meghan Markle will also bid farewell to her acting role in the season's seventh finale of "Suits." Markle's character, Rachel, will tie the knot on the screen. That episode airs on Wednesday.

And what is a wedding without a pint?

Royal fans can celebrate the nuptials with a specially brewed beer. It is being called Harry and Meghan's Windsor Knot, made right in the city where the wedding is being held -- Isa Soares, CNN.

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ALLEN: We will continue to bring you stories on the upcoming nuptials. Our top stories are just ahead here. More of CNN NEWSROOM continues after the break. I'll be right back.