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HALA GORANI TONIGHT

New Theories Are Rogue Killers Did Away with Khashoggi Or It Was Intended That He Be Sent Back to Britain But Something Went Wrong; Donald Trump Visits Areas Ravaged by Hurricane Michael; Major CEOs Pulling Out of Davos In the Desert; Duke And Duchess Of Sussex To Welcome A Child in The Spring; New Trump Poll Shows Trump's Approval Rating Rising; Black Voters Matter Tour Seeks To Register Voters. Aired 2-3p ET

Aired October 15, 2018 - 14:00   ET

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


[14:00:00] HANNAH JONES, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Hello, everyone. Live from CNN London, I'm Hannah Vaughn Jones. A high-stakes diplomat dance

over the missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi -- U.S. President Trump says Saudi King Salman emphatically denies the kingdom's involvement in an

alleged murder of Khashoggi. We'll be live in Riyadh and Ankara for you. This as the U.S. President is on the move this hour. He is touring

hurricane-hit states. We're live from the Florida Coast.

Also coming up, a royal bundle of joy is on the way for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Prince Harry and Meghan announced they're expecting.

All right. Right now, U.S. President Donald Trump is visiting areas ravaged by Hurricane Michael. He said officials in Florida and Georgia

have done an incredible job responding to the storm's destruction. Mr. Trump says his main concern is providing help to residents.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Making sure everyone is safe, fed. Many of these people have no homes. Some of them have no trace

of home you wouldn't even know. It was just blown right off the footings. So, our big thing is eating, water and safety.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JONES: Well, last week's hurricane has left many people living in dire circumstances. The storm wiped out entire communities in some places and

has killed at least 18 people. Dozens of people we should say remain unaccounted for. Omar Jimenez is in Panama City, Florida for us.

President Trump on the ground there at the moment and criticized in the past for the role of consoler in chief. How's he doing today?

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: At this point, he is kept things moving very quickly and word moments ago he and the first lady wrapped up

an aerial tour of some of the damage here in Florida's panhandle and this was the strongest storm to ever hit this region of the United States. Now,

moving ahead, he teased that he would be moving on to Georgia some point in the day, the in between we're trying to track down and give us an idea of

what his day would look like in a tweet before he landed in the region, saying that he'll be leaving for Florida and Georgia with the First Lady to

tour damage and visit with FEMA, first responders and law enforcement.

Maximum effort taking place. Everyone is working hard. Worse hit in 50 years. And that ties to the power that Hurricane Michael had when it came

through. We are seeing a recovery effort that's tried to match the devastation that has come through.

One of the complicated factors even is displayed really just behind me is that school. Education, thousands of students are basically unsure about

what their future is going to look like. Mainly because many of their places are destroyed or basically dilapidated and this county I'm in

including Panama City has about 26,000 students or so. School officials say here more than 20,000 of them either have been displaced from their

homes or their schools are just too unsafe to go through and they're trying to explore options.

We are hearing from the federal government as well as far as disaster response goes and just earlier today they were approved for transitional

sheltering assistance, it is basically federal government short-term living situations in hotels and motels for family affected so they're going around

and notifying the families right now. They're just the beginning steps of what is said to be a long recover recovery process for people in the

region.

JONES: Thank you for the reporting on this. President Trump on the ground in Florida and Georgia, as well, today. We'll stay across this throughout

the hour and seeing the President perhaps more pictures. Omar Jimenez there, today.

Before this, President Trump was dealing with an international crisis. He spoke on the phone with the king of Saudi Arabia seeking answers, of

course, about the disappearance of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: The king firmly denied any knowledge of it. He didn't really know. Maybe -- I don't want to get into his mind but it sounded to me like maybe

these could have been rogue killers. Who knows? We're going to try getting the bottom of it very soon but his was a flat denial.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JONES: Mr. Trump has sent his U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Saudi Arabia. Khashoggi disappeared after going into the Saudi consulate in

Istanbul in Turkey.

[14:05:00] Turkish police were allowed into the consulate and a source said officials gave them permission to conduct a thorough search and no word if

they found anything, any evidence at all. It is helpful to go back to the beginning to understand how we got to the moment. Let's do that now with

this story.

Here's CNN Chief International Correspondent, Clarissa Ward with a recap of everything we know so far about the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: At 1:14 p.m. on October 2, Jamal Khashoggi steps inside the consulate in Istanbul for a

visit, second viz in it four days. His fiancee waits outside, waits nearly four hours later raising the alarm. By then, several vehicles have left

the consulate. One of them a large van with darkened windows swiftly entered the residence close by. Where those vehicles go next and with what

a mystery to this day.

The Saudis insist Khashoggi left the consulate after picking up papers for his wedding. Though they provide no evidence to support this. But four

days after his disappearance, a bombshell. A senior Turkish official claiming the initial assessment of the Turkish police is that Mr. Khashoggi

has been killed at the consulate. We believe that the murder was premeditated and the body was subsequently moved out of the consulate. A

criminal investigation is launched and in a series of leaks Turkish officials claim 15 Saudis arrived in Istanbul in 2 planes from Riyadh the

day Khashoggi vanished. CNN tracks two flights that did exactly that.

CCTV recordings show one of the planes arriving ten hours before Khashoggi's visit. Turkey ratchets up the pressure. The news agency

publishes the identity of eight of the Saudis. They're described as individuals of interest. Turkey demands access to the consulate. Saudis

say yes but then demur. Ten days into the mystery, another shock. A source tells CNN the Turkish officials are briefing allies about audio

visual recordings from inside this building that showed an assault and a struggle and evidence Khashoggi was killed. President Trump weighs in.

TRUMP: Yes. We're going to be seeing it very soon.

WARD: In an interview with CBS News, he warns of the consequences if Khashoggi was killed.

TRUMP: If that were the case. So, we're going to have to see. We are going do get to the bottom of it and will be severe punishment.

WARD: To diffuse the crisis, Saudi Arabia and Turkey agree to set up a working group but by now the crisis is echoing far and wide. Investors

pull out of a major conference in Saudi Arabia. The Riyadh stock market tanks. A resolution seems no closer nearly two weeks after Jamal Khashoggi

was last seen alive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JONES: Clarissa Ward with that report there and Clarissa in Turkey's capital with the global fallout and Sam Kiley is in the Saudi capital

covering the interim crisis management and we should say Richard Quest also in Atlanta following the billions of dollars in investments that could be

at stake.

Welcome to all of you. Clarissa, we were hearing earlier that President Trump said he spoke on the phone to the Saudi King, sent Secretary of State

Mike Pompeo to meet the king. He seemed pretty convinced of denials of any involvement. Is that going to stand?

WARD: Well, Hannah, funnily enough we are getting new reporting in on just that topic and Saudi Arabia's own internal investigation into the killing

of Jamal Khashoggi. We are hearing from two separate sources that Saudi Arabia will likely present this as a botched operation.

This marks a significant departure from what we have heard so far which is absolute denial of any knowledge regarding this whatsoever. We're hearing

that they'll present it as a botched operation. That did not have the required levels of clearance and transparency. Potentially an attempt to

interrogate and possibly rendition Khashoggi and quite clearly went woefully wrong and also hearing from these two sources that Saudi Arabia

absolutely plans to take disciplinary action against those who participated in this botched operation.

This pretty much gels with what you have heard of President Trump. He called it rogue killers but I think there will be a lot of people asking

the question, Hannah, as to how's it possible with the way the vertical structure of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, how exactly is it possible that

an operation of this magnitude, of this seriousness, could come to pass without direct knowledge of it from the top?

[14:10:00] That is something, of course, that Saudi Arabia has not dealt with yet and we will be watching very closely to see what they say in the

coming days when they are believed to be working up this statement essentially without direct knowledge of it from the top? That is

something, of course, that Saudi Arabia has not dealt with yet and we will be watching very closely to see what they say in the coming days when they

are believed to be working up this statement essentially saying as I have mentioned now that this was an operation gone wrong, Hannah.

JONES: Yes. And sticking with that point, then, Clarissa, as you say, President Trump, what he heard from King Salman of Saudi Arabia it was

potentially rogue killers which would play into the new narrative but then the question is, of course, asked, if it was rogue killers, how did they

get consular access, access to that consulate building in Istanbul?

WARD: These are all the questions that Saudi Arabia will have to answer and I think that probably they have been sort of trying to calibrate the

answers to those over the past few days. The other question is, well, why did it take you so long to acknowledge this? Why are you only just now or

not even now but potentially in the coming days acknowledging this happened?

They're also facing pressure from the Turkish government, particularly here in Ankara and I'll say, Hannah, there have been signs of increased

cooperation of Saudi Arabia and turkey. Potentially indicating that some kind of a deal has been reached between the two powers. Also, with

President Trump weighing in today sending Secretary of State Pompeo. There's kind of an unsaid feeling that many political powers would like to

sort of begin to move on from this.

JONES: Yes. Let's go over to Sam Kiley standing by for us in the Saudi capital Riyadh. Sam, you know, an interesting development if this new

narrative is then pushed by the Saudis about the rogue killers, nothing to do with the power that is be in the kingdom, though. Do you get the

impression that Trump has spoken to the king, now that Pompeo is going to meet with the Saudi kingdom that the crown prince is being sort of pushed

aside in this and this is the parent's cleaning up the mess?

SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think that's very big question. The power in this nation has been very firmly in the

fist of Mohammed Bin Salman over the last two years. He has been the chief author if you like of the continued war in the Yemen although of course he

didn't order it in the beginning.

He was the man behind the arrest and incarceration in the Ritz Carlton of more than 200 princes and billionaires. He is the man behind the whole

2030 vision behind allowing women to drive on the roads and simultaneously having women campaigning for the right to drive on the roads locked up.

One of the problems for any government that is going from a pretty tight monarchy into something more liberals perhaps that is the most vulnerable

period.

It may be said here and it is occasionally said behind closed doors that he has gone too far, that there is certainly people in this country who are

very uncomfortable with the general drift that Saudi Arabia has been heading in under the crown prince but equally there are many people who are

looking to a future that he says is incredibly bright. I think it's a little premature to suggest that essentially that he gave the order for

this rogue element to go ahead. There's no evidence whatsoever of that.

What we do have is Donald Trump blurting out what may be and he has form for this -- recall he blurted out top secret information to the Russian

ambassador about an operative on the ground in Syria sometime ago. If he subsequent to his conversation to the king blurted this out and if we match

that with the fact that the king had reached out to President Erdogan in Turkey we have seen King Salman get a grip on this situation and clearly

the sending of Secretary of State here to see the king to receive an explanation face to face dovetails with what I have been hearing from my

sources which was the statement was due out later on today, perhaps explaining what had happened from the Saudi perspective.

[14:15:00] In a sense one of the scenarios being talked about is that a rendition, an abduction to return somebody who's politically awkward for

the awkward for the Saudis back to the kingdom went wrong. That's the least terrible of the terrible options that Saudis talking about not part

of the inner circle. This is a tightly-held inner circle, Hannah. But nonetheless, that was the explanation that people chatting about and that

is still being assumed now thanks to Mr. Trump's statement to be the most likely statement that we're likely to see probably after the meeting with

Mr. Pompeo.

JONES: As you say, Sam, perhaps Donald Trump jumped the gun slightly by saying that phrase, rogue killers earlier on. The Khashoggi case is, of

course, triggering an exodus of business executives.

For that, let's bring in Richard Quest standing for us in Atlanta.

Richard, we got the Davos in the Desert as it's called, due to take place later this month and run or fronted by the crown prince of Saudi Arabia.

Who's still in and who's pulling out? And what kind of impact is that having on the overall Saudi economic situation?

RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Well, I think the timing from the point of view of the meeting could not have been worse because it's forcing

the world's bankers to decide do you go or do you not? And those like Jamie Dimond of JPMorgan case and head of Blackstone not going and CEO of

Uber and Ford.

Now, the only one -- indeed, the President of the world bank decided he wasn't going to go citing a scheduling conflict. Now, the only question

really remaining since clearly this summit meeting or whatever it will be will be a shadow of what was going to be and whether treasury secretary

Steve Mnuchin goes and Larry Kudlow has basically said Mnuchin should go and there's work to be done and I think it's difficult for him to go but if

he does then it's merely following what President Trump has said from the beginning which is if we don't go then all we do is harm ourselves.

If we cancel business deals and arms contracts, others will take it and we harm ourselves. It is a moral question. One that banks are saying we're

not going. The government, U.S. government seems to be saying, at the moment we still are.

JONES: And has the Saudi economy already been hit just in the last fortnight since the case of Jamal Khashoggi first came to light? What

happened to oil prices, for example, in Saudi stocks?

QUEST: Oil prices have ticked up. Not hugely but there is a threat and the worry that Saudi, the second largest supplier in the world, largest

OPEC member might say boo and cut and not provide more oil. In the longer term, you're left with a country that's got huge debt needs.

Saudi needs to pay -- needs to bring in money and it was -- if there is disruption to their oil revenues, that will be extremely dangerous which is

why Saudi already said you put sanctions on, we will do oil maneuvers that will send the price to $200 a barrel. We'll cancel the arms deals and look

to Russia and or China. And the whole mess will push Iran and the rest of the middle east to Iran. These are nuclear threats in the terms of middle

east politics but at the moment business and economics muted until we see how the summit is going ahead.

JONES: Richard Quest, always good for your analysis, thank you. Richard's there for us in Atlanta and then Sam Kiley and Clarissa Ward. Thanks to

all of you.

Still to come tonight, congratulations pour in from around the world as it is announced the Duchess of Sussex is expecting. All the details on the

royal announcement.

And another week, another very complicated issue throwing Brexit talks into much confusion. What Theresa May is saying about an Irish border solution.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JONES: Some happier news tonight and there are exciting times ahead for the British royal family and of course for royal watchers around the world.

Kensington palace announced the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to welcome a child in the spring. The new royal baby, seventh in line to the British

throne, bumping Harry's uncle the Duke of York into eighth place. Now, this was always going to be a high-profile tour for the newlyweds and now

ratcheting up the interest even more and now max foster with the details. Max, I almost feel relieved for her, the pressure being so much on a

newlywed and a royal bride.

MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes.

JONES: To be able to reproduce. Well done her.

FOSTER: She -- we were talking about it earlier. You walk into the situation but I think she's only just now -- protected her closely leading

up to the engagement announcement. Protected her completely but now she's not only got the royal tour to contend with and immense amount of personal

pressure with the photographers going to work tomorrow in Australia following her all focused on her stomach.

They look for that baby bump picture. Huge amount of value to it and frustrates Harry in particular of media pressure and money to be made from

it, as well. I think they have handled it as well as they could and going to Australia. They're open to the media. Sort of throwing it all in in

one event if you like.

JONES: A huge amount of pressure doing one of the tours. I mean, you followed the royals for a number of years now.

FOSTER: Seventeen engagements in four countries. A lot of traveling and probably the positive and feels well enough to do that. Considered it.

Obviously, a risk of Zika in Fiji and Tonga. You know, with Meghan, we don't hear much from her and doesn't do receptions and you have to go on

the signaling and she is clearly saying I'm ready for this, strong and going to do a lot of women's empowerment events and keen on doing that.

JONES: We know that the baby's due in the springtime and not given more of a specific kind of date and don't know how far along she is.

FOSTER: No.

JONES: But the rumors as far as I heard is she may have announced this to the royal family on Princess Eugenie's wedding day.

FOSTER: What they said was -- the royal family were able to congratulate them on Friday. But it's pretty clear they announced it on Friday not

during the wedding and perhaps the reception afterwards. That's caused controversy in the British tabloids saying steal the thunder of poor

Eugenie. Same time it's an unusual family. They don't often get together like that and an opportunity to tell them all at one time.

[14:25:00] JONES: Looking at what it means constitutionally, as well, lines of succession, the newborn will be seventh I believe?

FOSTER: Yes.

JONES: Bumps the Duke of York down. Do we have a name -- we don't know the gender presumably until the day but also whether any title will be

given to the child?

FOSTER: It's interesting. It's up to the queen really. They're not in the direct line of succession and not automatically prince and princess and

I'm sure what we have here, Harry and William are going to be the slim down monarchy and the other royals pushed aside. Talking about Eugenie, no

public role but in the past the cousins had a role. It's coming down to William and Harry and a co-monarchy and make sense for Harry to have prince

and princess, for example.

JONES: Yep.

FOSTER: But Princess Ann decided not to do that for her children. He might decide that the pressure's too much on him, let alone on his

children, and might decide not to have the titles for them.

JONES: Everyone since the wedding, of course, waiting to see if they're going to announce a pregnancy, as well. I know you had your program

earlier. Live from Buckingham Palace on "CNN Talk" and the interest in the family is intense, isn't it?

FOSTER: I'm always sort of interested. Here in the U.K., so much cynicism.

JONES: Never.

FOSTER: And global audience, there's congratulations. Comes from every corner of the globe so I think a lot of brits fail to realize that actually

the royal brand is linked actually to the British brand for many people.

JONES: Yes.

FOSTER: And they see this as an exciting event and what Meghan's done incredibly is bringing in a whole new audience. We get many more comments

from Africa and must be linked to his African-American heritage.

JONES: And the commonwealth, as well. A big deal for America and the commonwealth.

FOSTER: Yes. And America, I mean, they have this -- you know? American princess now. And this baby. Earlier they were saying it's exciting to

have a baby not only be blue blooded and of biracial blood, as well. A big moment in British culture actually.

JONES: Max, thank you so much. No doubt plenty more to talk about this for you.

FOSTER: What more is there to say? I'll think of something.

JONES: Thank you.

Still to come tonight on the program, a new poll shows some positive results for President Trump and his approval rating. But with a bit of a

twist.

Plus, new scrutiny of Saudi Arabia's role in Yemen as aid agencies sound the alarm on the growing possibility of widespread famine there.

[14:30:00] COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JONES: Welcome back. Brexit is starting to get very, very real. A flurry of weekend notions ended in failure days before a critical summit in

Brussels. The one issue stopping both sides, how to sort out the very complex issue of the Irish border. It is all over a Brexit backstop. That

is in essence a safety net, a solution to make sure there's no hard border in Ireland etch if the EU and U.K. can't agree to a full deal.

They agreed there's a need for this. They signed up to it nearly a year ago and can't agree on which one. Which backstop. The EU suggesting that

the backstop would only apply to North Ireland, meaning free trade and mean that a customs border along the Irish sea and as the prime minister has

made very clear she will not accept that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

THERESA MAY, U.K. PRIME MINISTER: So this backstop is intended to be an insurance policy so people for Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Previously, the European Union has proposed a backstop that was seen Northern Ireland cast off and the E.U.'s customs union and parts of the

single market, separated through a border in the Irish Sea from the U.K.'s own internal market.

As I've said many times, I could never accept that no matter how unlikely - -

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JONES: Now, the E.U.'s idea has also angered the DUP. That's the Northern Ireland's party who supported currently propping up Theresa May's

government. So what is the U.K., what is Theresa May want instead?

Well, she suggested that a customs arrangement could cover all of the U.K. but for a limited time. The E.U. is skeptical about this as our parts of

Mrs. May's own party. We feel it keeps Britain far too close to E.U. rules.

Now, with all that, and might as worth remembering that all of this is of course hypothetical neither the U.K. or the E.U. actually want this. It

only comes into play if a deal cannot be reached.

Let's take you live then to Brussels. Erin McLaughlin is standing by for us. Goodness me. That was a mouthful just getting all of that out, Erin.

You're going to have dissect it for us.

So my understanding Theresa May wants to temporarily backstop and the E.U. now wants a backstop to the backstop. Explain.

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Hannah. The backstop to the backstop has to deal with Northern Ireland, specifically. The E.U.

wants a legal test that's legally enforceable that essentially say, at the end of the transition in the event that a future relationship has not been

cemented that would prevent a border on the island of Ireland, then Northern Ireland would remain in the customs union, as well as in the

single market within the U.K.

Theresa May today before parliament rejecting that backstop, the backstop outright. She says that she has put forward her own proposal that would

keep in the event to that future agreement not being in place by the end of the transition.

The whole of the U.K. inside that customs union. But she wants it to be time limited. Something that the E.U. says they will not agree to. And

she wants it to be time limited because part of the reason, Euro skeptic Brexiteers have been pushing for Brexit in the first place is this idea

that the U.K. can go out and strike its own trade deals with other countries such as Japan and the United States.

That's not possible if the U.K. indefinitely is trapped, so to speak, within the E.U.'s own customs union. However, the E.U. wants assurances

that there -- and there are no circumstances will there be a border on the island of Ireland. And they see a backstop with no time limit being key to

that.

JONES: So now that we are, you know, midway through October, we've got another summit taking place on Wednesday of this week, what's the time

frame as we push ever closer then to March 29th of next year?

MCLAUGHLIN: Well, you know, that is the key question, Hannah. The sources I've been speaking to here in Brussels keep telling me the clock is

ticking, the clock is ticking and that's because March 2019 really is around the corner.

They need to get this done. But there is this impact -- I was speaking to one source with knowledge of the negotiations and he told me that actually

last night here in Brussels, they had nearly reached a draft agreement.

But at the 11th hour, London took the political decision to let the air out of the balloon of the negotiation, so to speak. They send Dominic Raab to

tell Michel Barnier, the chief Brexit negotiator for the E.U. know effectively.

Now, as things stand, the negotiations are frozen and they're heading into this very important summit on Wednesday. There'll be a dinner. Theresa

May is expected to be at that dinner. It'll be very interesting to see what E.U. officials have to say out of that.

JONES: Yes. So many people now saying no deal is looking ever more likely.

Erin, thank you so much. Erin McLaughlin live for us there in Brussels breaking down all the backstop news for us.

Now, earlier in the program, we discussed of course the case of the missing journalist, Jamal Khashoggi earlier this hour that was. And that headlined

grabbing mysteries during attention to Saudi Arabia's regional influence. Most notably, its role in Yemen's civil war.

The conflict there exposing a growing hunger crisis. Our Nima Elbagir has the very latest now on the crisis and crucially Saudi Arabia's involvement.

And we must warn you, some of the pictures you're about to see in Nima's report are graphic.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Another day in Yemen's bloody war. This exclusive footage was sent to CNN by Houthi

rebel-backed, Ansarullah media, showing the aftermath of a direct strike by a Saudi-led collation plane on Saturday.

[14:35:06] Local officials saying 19 men, women and children were killed as they attempted to flee the Yemeni port city of Hodeida. The site of an

existential struggle between the U.S.-backed coalition and the Tehran- backed Houthi rebels. As ever in war, the victims are too often innocence caught in the crossfire.

As scrutiny grows around allegations of the Saudi Crown Prince's involvement in the disappearance of Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi,

criticism is growing around and the essence he's known other great recklessness. The three-year long war in Yemen.

Today, the World Food Program told CNN the number of Yemenis facing famine could rise nearly 12 million. Making it the worst famine for a century and

one that is entirely manmade.

The fighting around through data's support in the (INAUDIBLE) Saudi-led bombardment aid agency say has created a perfect storm, one that leaves the

parties of the conflict and their international backers with blood on their hands.

In the U.S., the drum beat criticism among lawmakers is growing, across the political aisle.

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I), VERMONT: One of the strong things that we could do is not only stop military sales, not only put sanctions on Saudi Arabia,

but most importantly get out of this terrible, terrible war in Yemen led by the Saudis.

ELBAGIR: In spite of the president's avowed support for Saudi Arabia, including broader large arm sales.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I would not be in favor of stopping a country from spending $110 billion which is an all-time record.

ELBAGIR: Here in Yemen, they're helping all the talk will finally result in action.

Nima Elbagir, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JONES: Thank you, Nima, for that a very disturbing report but important one.

Let's turn our attention now to some extreme weather in Southwest in France. Heavy and sudden rains cause rivers in the country's old region to

overflow, sweeping away cars and people alike.

Local officials say three months' worth of rain has fell in just six hours overnight are prompting emergency rescues. At least 10 people have died in

the flash flooding.

Still to come tonight, U.S. senator, Elizabeth Warren takes a DNA test to settle any questions about her Native American heritage.

What President Trump is saying about it today after mockingly calling her Pocahontas?

Also ahead on the program, the big news for royal watchers, of course. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expecting a baby. We'll have all the

details and the couple begin their tour of Australia. All the details on that coming up after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:40:02] JONES: U.S. President, Donald Trump says Vladimir Putin is probably involved in assassinations and poisonings, and he doesn't seem too

worried about it.

In an interview with "60 Minutes," the president was asked why he's so hesitant to criticize the Russian leader. Listen to this exchange with

Lesley Stahl. Mr. Trump apparently suggesting Mr. Putin's conduct is less of a concern because his victims are not in the United States.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LESLEY STAHL, AMERICAN JOURNALIST: Do you agree that Vladimir Putin is involved in assassinations and poisonings?

TRUMP: Probably yes. Yes, probably. I mean I don't --

STAHL: Probably?

TRUMP: Probably, but I rely on them. It's not in our country.

STAHL: Why not they shouldn't do it? This is a terrible thing.

TRUMP: Of course they shouldn't do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JONES: Well, when it comes interfering in U.S. elections, President Trump says he believes China is a bigger problem than Russia and then Vladimir

Putin.

Let's stay then with U.S. elections. Of course, just weeks to go until those crucial midterms. A new polling out which finds Mr. Trump's approval

ratings, his personal approval rating. Well, that is on the rise.

This poll from the Washington Post, an ABC News shows Trump's approval rating up to 41 percent this month. That's up from 36 percent back in

August of this year. But the poll also found a majority of 55 percent. You want a next Congress controlled by Democrats instead of Republicans as

a check on the president.

Now, with more on this, let's get to our Stephen Collinson live in Washington for us. So what, just three weeks to go or so until this

midterm election, Stephen.

We always talk about momentum, don't we? In the aftermath of the Kavanaugh, the Supreme Court row. Also the hurricane Michael as well.

Who's currently -- which party currently has the momentum?

STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, all the suggestions are that this is quite a strange midterm election in many ways. Democrats look like

they're on course to win a majority in the House of Representatives.

But at the same time, it's such sort of a quirk of the election that Republicans look like they might expand or at least keep their majority in

the Senate. The whole of the House of Representatives is up for election in the midterm elections and a third of the Senate.

So it does look like it's going to be a good night for Democrats. And Republicans could lose power in the House which means that President Trump

could come under a lot more scrutiny and have checks on his power that he hasn't had, either to in his election.

But the big question is, who is going to turn out to vote? It's very difficult to work out whether Democrat enthusiasm will translate into

people coming out of the polls or whether President Trump will be able to recreate that massive enthusiasm that he had among his voters in 2016.

JONES: Yes. And what's interesting here is that Donald Trump, of course, isn't actually up for election in these midterms. But those polls that we

were talking about just before we came to you, Stephen, seem to suggest that his personal approval rating, yes, that's on the up, but at the same

time, people are more likely to vote democratic -- for the Democrat Party only because they want more checks and balances on executive power, which

would then, of course, hold Donald Trump back. So it seems really confused picture for the pollsters right now.

COLLINSON: Right. And it's a perennial question in midterm elections when the president is not in the ballot. It's whether he can get his voters

infused about other candidates when he's not really running himself, even though the election is hugely important. It was a problem for George W.

Bush. It was a problem for Barack Obama.

And we're going to see whether Trump can change that equation. That's why he's spending three or four evenings a week out of rallies and places where

he won big in 2016, in the Midwest and in the south, to try and get those voters out.

Now, although his approval rating, as you said there, was up to 41 percent, up from 36 percent in the previous polls, 41 percent is still a bad place

for a president to be in the midterm election in his term. History suggest that with those kind of numbers, you're going to see huge losses in

Congress.

So although the president can say, well, you know, I'm not as bad as I -- bad a position as I was a few weeks ago and I'm going up, it's still, you

know, with only 21 days until the election is not the kind of place a first term president want us to be.

JONES: Yes. And as you mentioned earlier, of course, turnout, it could be key on this as well as to -- as to which way it swings.

Stay with me, Stephen, because we tease this before the break a well as the forthcomings here. And a democratic senator who's rumored to be Donald

Trump's political rival come 2020 in the next presidential election.

Well, she's clearing up a story. Elizabeth Warren has long says she has a Native American ancestry. And now, she's taken a DNA test and it backs up

her family law. It's something that President Trump himself challenged her to do months ago to take this DNA test. With one big promised attached.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[14:45:07] TRUMP: Let's say I'm debating Pocahontas, right? I promise you I'll do this. I will take -- you know those little kids they saw on

television for $2? And we will say, I will give you a million dollars to your favorite charity, paid for by Trump if you take the test and it shows

you're an Indian.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JONES: So, what was Trump's response today when the DNA test and the $1 million came up? I didn't say that. Warren wasting no time taking aim on

Twitter. She has tweeted, "I took this test and release the results for anyone who cares to see, because I've got nothing to hide. What are you

hiding, Donald Trump? Release your tax returns or the democratic-led House will do it for you soon enough. Tick-tock, Mr. President."

Stephen, still standing by for us. After hearing all of that, the latest Warren versus Trump battle. I mean, we don't yet know if she is going to

run against him in 2020. Donald Trump says, you know, who cares? I mean, has she effectively just played into his hands with this one? He said,

yes, go and prove all of this stuff. She's proved it all and then he just says, no, I'm not interested enough by you, anyway.

COLLINSON: Yes, I think you could argue that she's played into his hands. But it's also being seen this offensive by Warren as a clear sign that she

wants to deal with this issue and get it out of the way and that she is indeed running for president. Who in fact -- the fact she's come out in

dominance before the 2018 midterms as -- where some Democrats the wrong way who thinks she should be more concerned about electing Democrats to the

House and the Senate.

But I think it gets to this whole issue that Democrats are going to face. The Republican presidential candidates never really mastered in 2016, is

how do you run against someone as slippery and unpredictable as Donald Trump? This is a presidential candidate and a president who really has no

shame about how low he's going to go in his attacks. He's willing to use race and culture and ethnicity. And he will never let up.

So Warren in some ways is I think sending a signal to democratic voters that she is prepared to take on Trump at his own game, whether that is the

right approach. We've seen other Democrats, for example, Michelle Obama, the former first lady saying Democrats should still take the high road when

they're confronting Donald Trump.

But there's a real debate going on ahead of the 2020 election as to exactly how you try to take down Trump, whether you play him in his own game or

whether you stick to sort of more policy focused attack.

And I think that's going to be a real backdrop to the campaign, which really to all intents and purposes, has already begun even before the

midterm elections.

JONES: Just seem to have done so. Stephen Collinson, live from Washington. Thank you.

Well, one group is working very, very hard ahead of the midterm elections as to get African-American voters enrolled around the U.S. south. It's

called the Black Voters Matter bus tour. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right, yes, let's rock it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Black Votes Matter. Every day, everywhere.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Make sure November the 6th and the next election cycle, you should be given a card and be in here in a couple of weeks.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: November 6th is important to us. More importantly it's about beyond November 6th, beyond Election Day. Because all those issues

are still going to be there on November 7th.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you registered to vote? Yes?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good. All right, then.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Shaming people into voting has never worked. You've got to show what the benefits are. They've got to see how it's connected

to improving their daily lives.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're the (INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Black Voters in America. I like that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are going throughout the south on a big bus. This is the people's bus. This is a community bus.

We are happy to be here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They represent so much more than just a bus, right? It's all about the notion of the combination of love and power. And a

notion that we could drive throughout these states which for the most part is basically the old confederacy in this bus and unapologetically let folks

know that they matter.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The message of this bus is actually universal. It's been centered in a black experience but anybody who can really identify to

what it means where folks are being exclusive and not being inclusive of people, we all know what that feels like, particularly and it doesn't feel

good.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What you want, baby, I got it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People want to be listened to, people want to be heard. That's what makes a difference.

I don't think the work just as happening around race, has happened in the African-American community, we need white people of goodwill to be talking

about racism within their own community. And to really be thinking about how do dismantle this, how can we have honest conversations that were

really going back to -- we're going to build the love community and if so, what does it take to do that?

[14:50:01] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sign your name and the date. And when you go vote, sign your name like that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I it weren't for you all, I wouldn't have probably never did this. We need more things like this in our community.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All of us has something in us that says, well, what's in it for me? Unless you make that connection, you lose people. So I know

you well, but we need you get find more people.

We haven't been in a community that don't want quality healthcare. We haven't been in a community that don't want all of their children to learn.

We want the same things.

I am a native (INAUDIBLE) there was a small group of people but not a lot of money, not a lot of resources but had the faith and belief that they

could actually change and get voting rights. They transformed the nations. I firmly believe that that's happening now. That those of us with some

courage that really have love like in our spirit, that we love human beings, right? And that we really want to see a better world that those

folks arrives in us.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) yes, we got a couple of registrants today.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Already?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, already. Lights on too, sided.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This bus is really a manifestation of one of my favorite quotes from Dr. King. What he said was that power without love is

reckless and abusive. But love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. That's what

this is about. That's what our organization is about. That's what this tour is about.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I believe firmly in my heart that those stand on the right side of the history ultimately we always win. It may take a while,

but it will never change unless some of us believe it. All right. Let's go.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JONES: More to come on the program including America's first royal baby? Well, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expecting and it's not just the

U.K. that's celebrating.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JONES: Let's return now to the news that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expecting their first child in the spring. That announcement from

Kensington Palace earlier on. And the excitement certainly isn't confined just to the U.K. People around the world are sharing their joy at the

news. And perhaps know and more so and in the United States.

With that mind, let's bring in royal expert, Victoria Arbiter, who's in New York for us. Victoria, wonderful to see you. This child will be the first

American prince or princess of Royal blood. I'm curious as to know how Americans or states side are responding to this news. Are they more

excited about the baby than they were about the bride?

VICTORIA ARBITER, CNN ROYAL COMMENTATOR: Yes, I think so. That's definitely a powerful voice sent to the excitement on this side of the

pond. Prince Harry, royal baby, and Meghan have all been trending its individual hashtags all day since the news broke.

And that's unusual. None you will see something trench for a little while but certainly not all day. Social media had exploded. I've gone from show

to show to show talking about this news. So I think there's definitely continuing excitement over Meghan being a member of the royal family. The

viewing is alone for the royal wedding well off the charts. But now to know that there's a baby in the mix, yes, everyone's on board.

JONES: And talk us through the constitutional significance then that a child will be seventh in line to the throne as we were discussing with max

foster earlier on. But we don't yet know as far as I understand about any titles being given to the child. And of course whether that sort of any

significance to Harry and Meghan. Well, they want their child to be sort of thrust into the limelight. The spotlight in this royal family.

[14:55:09] ARBITER: Well, that's a million dollar question. And I think there are a lot of factors to consider here. At the moment, yes, given

this child will be seventh in line to the throne, a type that doesn't seem necessary, shall we say. And Harry and Meghan may say, no, thank you to

(INAUDIBLE) very wisely with Peter Phillips and Zara, her children. They've been able to lead a relatively carefree life. With a few of the

perks who are being members of the royal family as well.

Having said that, Charles will be king in the not too distant future. And as his son, he may want Harry's children to have titles prince and

princess. He may want them to have the same privileges as William and Kate's children.

I think it really sort of remains to be seen. But we'll need to know before the baby is born. Now, the way an HRH will come about is that the

queen is using new letters pattern. It was Harry's great, great grandfather, George V in 1917 who restricted the use of titles. He didn't

want everybody having a royal title.

So it could go either way at this moment. But we also have to think about what kind of royal family we want in the future. Charles has made no

secrets of his desire for a slim down monarchy. But with him and Camilla, William and Kate, Harry and Meghan, that's a very slim royal family. So

perhaps, we do want another prince or princess.

JONES: And of course there's a huge amount of expectation on all newlyweds to all women. If they choose to want -- to have a family, then to actually

reproduce, but even more so than on royal brides. I mean, it hasn't been long, of course, since their May wedding where the fans say (INAUDIBLE) do

we know, will we ever know how long this has been in the planning whether they expected and hope to get pregnant in their first year of marriage?

ARBITER: Well, I think Harry and Meghan have made no secret of their desire for a family. And without getting too personal, of course, Meghan

is 37. I would imagine they'd like to have perhaps more than one baby. But I think it kind of goes beyond that in terms of just the biology side

of things. The queen is stepping to that more and more in her role which means Harry and William are stepping up to the plate more.

William and Kate have been very fortunate to have quality time at home with their children without too much royal responsibility. And I think Harry

and Meghan are going to be keen to have that too. So I think it was always likely that they would have a baby soon and rather than later. I just

don't think anyone who were anticipating being quite this soon.

JONES: Quite this soon, exactly. Victoria Arbiter in New York for us. Thank you for giving us the American perspective. Thank you.

ARBITER: Thank you.

JONES: And thank you for watching tonight. Stay with CNN. "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS" is coming up after the short break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END