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EARLY START
Trump Shifts On Key China Penalties; U.S. Embassy Moves To Jerusalem Today; Prom Night, Welcome To The Jungle; Royal Wedding Week. Aired 4-4:30a ET
Aired May 14, 2018 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DAVE BRIGGS, EARLY START SHOW CO-HOST: President Trump trying to bring jobs back, but China. A potentially stunning concession from the President. He wants to relax penalty on a major Chinese telecom firm.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, EARLY START SHOW CO-HOST: The U.S. Embassy, Israel move to Jerusalem this morning in just a few hours. A high level delegation on hand, protests expected as well. What does this mean for America's role in peace talks? We are live in Jerusalem.
BRIGGS: Is this something you want at your child's prom? That is a tiger. Parents and students outraged after a caged tiger is rolled out. Why the school is defending the move. Unusual to say the least.
ROMANS: All right. I wasn't ready for that.
BRIGGS: Cage, at least. How was your mother's day? Welcome to "Early Start." I'm Dave Briggs.
ROMANS: I had a hard time convincing my kids it is not brother's day, it is not mother's day.
BRIGGS: Brother's day?
ROMANS: Yes, well, because, you know, they had a lot of things they want to do for themselves. I'm Christine Romans. It is Monday, May 14th. 4:00 a.m. in the East, everyone, 9:00 a.m. in London, 11:00 a.m. in Jerusalem.
Let's begin here with the President vowing to save jobs. Save Chinese jobs. Right before more high stakes trade stalks. Trump says, he is working to get Chinese smartphone makers ZTE, quote back into business, tweeting this, "Too many jobs in China lost. Commerce Department has been instructed to get it done." A U.S. ban last month crippled ZTE, suspending operations after the administration barred U.S. companies from selling its vital parts. That was punishment for ZTE, violating U.S. sanctions. ZTE was selling phones to Iran and then lying about disciplining their employees involved. Last year, Commerce Secretary, Wilbur Ross, called ZTE's behavior egregious.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) WILBUR ROSS, U.S. COMMERCE SECRETARY: We are putting the world on
notice, improper trade games are over with.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: And the White House says Trump expects Ross to resolve this trade action after talking so tough just a year ago. Trump's tweet draw sharp criticism from Democratic lawmaker, Adam Schiff, calling ZTE tech a major cyber security threat and that Trump quote, should care more about our national security than Chinese jobs. Trump's apparent policy reversal come as the U.S. and China gear up for round two of trade talks. A Chinese delegation heads to Washington this week. The goal is avoid a full grown trade war.
In a second tweet, Trump said China and the U.S. are now quote, working well together after pass trade talks are one sided, adding quote be cool. It will all work out.
BRIGGS: Be cool.
ROMANS: Be cool.
BRIGGS: All right. The Trump administration doing what president pass to promise by moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem in a matter of hours. The formal ceremony set for 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The White House declaring the move reflects the reality that Jerusalem is the Israeli capital.
Critics arguing this effectively marks the end of America's role as an honest broker in Israeli/Palestinian peace negotiations. U.S. sending a high level delegation to the embassy opening an event marked by angry protests around the region. CNN's Elise Labott, joining us live from inside the new U.S. embassy in Jerusalem. Good morning to you Elise.
ELISE LABOTT, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Dave. Very big day here in Jerusalem for the opening of the U.S. embassy and a very popular move to the Israeli people, pro-Trump -- President Trump signs lining the street of the city. Very high level delegation as you said.
Jared Kushner, the president's son in law, who has been leading the peace negotiations is about to roll out, his peace plan. Treasury Secretary, Steve Mnuchin and also Ivanka Trump, his daughter tweeting this morning, about thank you Prime Minister Netanyahu and Mrs. Netanyahu for the warm welcome to Israel. I'm honored to join you and the U.S. dedication in commemorating the dedication of our new U.S. Embassy and celebrating the friendship between our two countries.
Now, President Netanyahu -- Prime Minister Netanyahu, will be here this morning addressing the embassy ceremony. The opening ceremony, and yesterday, he was calling on all nations to follow suite and open their embassies here in Jerusalem, recognize Jerusalem as the capital, saying it will advance peace. Obviously, most nations in these region don't agree. Early this morning, you heard some very tough tweets from the Iranians and other countries condemning the move. And clearly the Palestinians see that Jerusalem will be part of their future capital and so very upset with the move. They have not talked to the administration since President Trump made this controversial announcement in December.
Another interesting note today, a very controversial priest, the Baptist Pastor, Robert Jeffers, will be giving the opening invocation today. He has been criticized for some anti-Muslim and anti-gay and other derogatory comments about other minority and religions. A very controversial move, a lot of critics condemning the move this morning, Dave.
[04:05:21] BRIGGS: Indeed, very controversial. Elise Labott, live for us in Jerusalem, thanks.
ROMANS: So the U.S. Embassy move to Jerusalem has people bracing for large scale protests on the Gaza border. Israeli defense forces tweeting a video warning Hamas may attempt to breach security. And carry out a massacre. Over 100,000 Palestinians are expected to turn out to demonstrate. CNN's coverage continues with Ian Lee, he is there for us, live from Gaza. What are you seeing now behind you there and how large are they expecting this to get?
IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Christine, right behind me now you can probably see this is the thick black smoke from burning tires. The protesters have used it to obscure the sight of their movement from the Israeli snipers. We have also seen already this morning, valleys of tear gas. It is shaping up to be a very volatile day. And just this morning, it is still fairly early here for this protests. We have already seen people just streaming and they are expecting as you said, over 100,000 people all up and down this border. This is just one of multiple camps were Palestinian will be gathering and what their objective is, I don't know if you can really see it here, but there is a berm. A dirt berm behind me and their goal is to breach that border fence, they say, that they want to return the lands that they list during the 1948 war. On the Israel side though, they say that is not just going to happen. They say that they are going to have verbal warnings and non-violence -- sorry -- non-lethal means, like tear gas, to disperse a crowd and then they try push further forward, then they will use live ammunition. But Christine, I have to say, you know, this is expected to be the largest protest so far in the seven-week demonstration. And when you have large numbers of people, just expect a very deadly and bloody day.
ROMANS: All right. Stay on it for us. We will come back to you again, very soon. Ian Lee for us in Gaza. Thank you.
BRIGGS: OK. The White House aide that made the horrible joke about Senator John McCain still has not apologized. Last week, White House communications aide, Kelly Sadler, said that McCain's opposition to CIA Director Nominee, Gina Haspel did not matter, because quote, he is dying any way. Now, a phone call to the senator's daughter, Megan McCain, Sadler said, she would have apologized publicly. White House advisers refusing to directly comment focusing, instead on criticizing on the leak that made the remark. That is not sitting well with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM, (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: It is pretty a disgusting thing to say, if it was a joke, it was a terrible joke. I just wish somebody from the White House would tell the country that was inappropriate. Somebody in my office said that such thing about somebody, I would apologize on behalf of the office.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS, (I), VERMONT: It is beyond my comprehension. It is one thing in the White House for somebody to say something crude and stupid and disrespectful of an American hero. It is another thing for them not to apologize.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Source telling CNN, White House Press Secretary, Sarah Sanders privately scolded White House communications and press staff Friday after the Sadler comments were reported by CNN. Another news outlet.
ROMANS: All right, breaking overnight, a volcano emergency in Hawaii intensifying. A new fissure opening up near the Kilauea volcano. Officials say, it is active and producing fumes and lava spatter. They say, an eruption is still possible at the top of the volcano which could send boulders flying and generate ash plumes over an area of 12 miles from the summit crater.
BRIGGS: meantime, more residents on the big island forced to evacuate on Sunday after a new fissure several hundred yards long opened up. In only nearly 2,000 people had been forced to evacuate, vacation rentals in lower Punta, directed to close to relive the demand for water. President Trump has declared a major disaster to expedite federal assistance.
ROMANS: The sights and sounds of that volcano are just really compelling. You can hear the hissing of the steam coming out from those fissures and splatter of lava. Just incredible.
BRIGGS: A lava chaser on CNN Sunday taking photos and images. While others evacuate.
ROMANS: Yes, be careful out there folks.
All right. Iranian officials to the full court press to salvage the nuclear deal minus the U.S. How long will the Iranian willing to work to save it? We're live in Tehran.
[04:10:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAKE TAPPER, AMERICAN JOURNALIST CARTOONIST: Is the United States going to sanction European companies that do business with Iran?
AMB. JOHN BOLTON, WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: I think the issue here is what the Europeans are going to do. If they are going to see that it is not in their interest to stay in the deal, we are going to have to watch what the Iranians do. They love to stay in the deal. Why shouldn't they? They got everything they wanted from the Obama administration. But I think the Europeans will see it that it is in their interest ultimately to come along with us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: National security advisor, John Bolton, refusing to rule out sanctions against European companies doing business with Iran as the Iranians announce a timeline for saving the nuclear deal. But President Trump just abandon Iran's foreign minister, touring Europe and Asia and launch its attempt to salvage the agreement. Fred Pleitgen is live for us from Tehran with the latest. Fred, what is the likelihood this is deal being kept together without the United States?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Well, I think it is going to be quite difficult. It is interesting, Dave, because throughout the weekend, you really have Iranian officials were ripping into President Trump and the United States for getting out of that deal. The interesting thing, from our vantage point here, on the ground in Iran is it seems that though, more than dividing moderates and hard liners here in this country. It seems to be uniting them.
[04:15:02] One of the things bad as a common position is saying look, Iran wants to stay in the nuclear agreement, but they want to make sure that Iranian interest are preserve and that is exactly why the Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif, is now on that tour, as you said he is in Russia today. That is a pretty easy stop on the Russians also fully committed to that deal, because they also stand to economically benefit a great deal. The next stop though is Europe. And that is going to be the really tricky one, because the Iranians say, look, European companies have to be able to invest in Iran without fearing retribution from the United States.
The big question is going to be, are the Europeans going to be willing to do that? We know they are angry at President Trump for pulling out of the deal. The big question is are they going to be able to protect their companies that want to do business here in Iran? Dave.
BRIGGS: All right. Fred Pleitgen, lice for us, just before 1:00 p.m. there in Tehran. Thanks, Fred.
ROMANS: Three former U.S. prisoners, released by North Korea are reuniting with their families this morning. They left Walter Reed Medical Center on Sunday, three days after returning home to joint Base Andrews, where they were greeted by the president. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo brought them back. He says the U.S. is not willing to invest taxpayer dollars to help North Korea, but will cautiously consider lifting sanctions to clear the way for private American development in North Korea's energy, agriculture and infrastructure sectors.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE POMPEO, SECRETARY OF STATE: Well, to coop President Trump, we'll see. We are not to the place where we should be remotely close to declaring that we have achieve what it is we want. There is a great deal of work that remains. Our eyes are wide open with respect to the risks. But it is our hope that Chairman Kim, wants to make a strategic change, a strategic change in the direction for his country and his people. And that if he is prepared to do that, President Trump is prepared to ensure that this could be a successful transition.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: North Korea announcing technical measures that is taking to dismantle its nuclear testing site. The ceremony is scheduled for next week.
BRIGGS: Breaking overnight. At least four police officers and six civilians injured in an attack outside a police station in Surabaya, Indonesia. Four suicide bombers on two motorbikes carried it out. Police say, all of them are dead. This comes one day after a husband and wife used their four children in a string of deadly suicide attacks on three churches in Surabaya leaving seven people dead. The family included two daughters, ages 9 and 12 and two teenage boys. The investigators believe the parents belonged to a terrorist group that lends support to ISIS in Indonesia. No proof ISIS actually directed the attack.
ROMANS: A very difficult story there. All right. They are rolling out the welcome mat in Windsor. Harry and Meghan walk down the aisle this week. We are live in England with final preps.
[04:20:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: T-minus five days to the royal wedding. And preparations are at a fever pitch in Windsor. As the town gets ready for Prince Harry and Meghan Markel's wedding and for an influx of some 100,000 well- wishers. CNN's Anna Stewart, live in Windsor for us, with this final preparations. Hi there, Anna.
ANNA STEWART, CNN PRODUCER: Hey, the town is in serious wedding preparation mode, Christine. The queen is home, some several signs of a flags, you can't quite see it, but it is flying high. You could probably overseeing all this last minute, bits that involves that needs to be done. We have seen deliveries heading up to the castle all morning. And horses and carriages, practicing around about the castle.
Now as you said though, 100,000 people will be flooding into this very small town. Which means a security nightmare obviously, but also great business for the local pubs, restaurants and shops. We actually we have been sampling some of the delights already. We have been trying some of the royal wedding beer that has been brewed especially for the day, called the Windsor knot. And it combines Royal Windsor barley with west American hops. The perfect marriage like the marriage of Harry and Meghan, so it tells. And also lots of shops. Look at some of this, Christine. We got some (inaudible), some mugs. I am feeling like maybe we should ship some of this over for you guys, so the Atlanta studio could also be royal wedding ready.
ROMANS: I know. My colleague Alisyn Camerota is going to cover it. So I am hope she is going to brings something back for us.
BRIGGS: I hope so. At least a mug.
ROMANS: A little hat with a fascinator, something like that. All right. Anna, nice to see you Anna Stewart. As we all get ready for that big day this weekend.
BRIGGS: Should be an interesting week. All right, just published "The New York Times" reports, suggesting keyless cars pose a hidden and potentially deadly threat. Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Found in at least, 28 people have died and 45 others have been injured since 2006 after drivers mistakenly left their cars running in garages allowing the gas to seep into their homes. In 2016, a Judge dismissed a class action lawsuit linking 13 deaths to keyless cars. So far, carmakers have resisted regulations at the national highway traffic and safety administration has not followed through on including warnings like a series of beeps, if the keyless car is kept running.
ROMANS: That is something troubling, if you have one of those.
All right. A caged tiger causing quite an uproar at high school prom in Miami. Welcome to the jungle was the theme for this year's Cristopher Columbus High School Prom Night. But no one expected a real jungle creature to be wheeled in Friday night. Several students and parents complaining about safety and the stress the tiger appears to be showing by pacing back and forth in that cage. The school is defending the animal entertainment claiming the tiger was in a relaxed state most of the time and was overseen by a state licensed facility.
BRIGGS: OK. You have three kids. Would you be troubled by that?
[04:25:00] ROMANS: I don't know, what the make of that is. I'm not -- I don't know what to make of that, I mean --
BRIGGS: I'm into it.
ROMANS: I wasn't ready for a tiger to come in there.
BRIGGS: My kids love animals, they'd be static by that, by the appearance, I guess, I would to.
OK, some sports news. The Boston Celtics just stunning LeBron James and the Cavs in game one of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics raced out to a 26-point halftime lead over James and the Cavs on the way to the 108-83 blowout. Boston's shuddering defense really the difference here. Holding the king to 15 points, 5 of 16. Shooting all of five from three. What a -- just a dominating win by the Celtics. The Western Conference Finals, meanwhile between Rockets and Warriors gets underway tonight. Boston has been one of the great stories in sports this year.
Remember this from the campaign trail?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: China is taking our jobs and our money, our base, our manufacturing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: China was one of the President's favorite targets. But now the message is a bit different. Be cool. It will all work out, he says. A major about-face on penalties for Chinese smartphone maker.
