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CNN NEWSROOM

36 Dead In Philippines Casino Robbery; Trump Team Appeals Travel Ban To U.S. Supreme Court; Global Condemnation Erupts As Trump Quits 2015 Deal; Ivanka Trump Reportedly Opposed Quitting Deal; U.K. Party Leaders Hit the Campaign Trail; "Wonder Woman" Opens in North America Friday. Aired 1-2a ET

Aired June 2, 2017 - 01:00   ET

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


[01:00:00] JOHN VAUSE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello everybody, thank you for joining us. I'm John Vause.

ISHA SESAY, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: And I'm Isha Sesay. This is NEWSROOM L.A. The breaking out of the Philippines where there are 36 people are dead in the dramatic casino robbery. The video shows people running, and screaming, as a man storm a resort shooting gambling machines, and setting tables on fire. Authorities say most of the victims died of suffocation, not gunshots.

VAUSE: Initially, it was thought this was a terrorist attack but police now say it was a robbery. The gunman committed suicide - setting himself on fire in a hotel room at the resort.

SESAY: Well, our Alexandra Field joins us now from Hong Kong. Alexandra, what's the latest you're hearing about what happened at the resort, and how these 36 people lost their lives in this attack?

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Isha, it really took police on the scene there hours to determine exactly what was going on and how many people had been injured. We are now learning that 36 people had killed-it initially appeared that there could be some kind of terrorist attack unfolding at that busy casino frequented not just by locals but, of course, by international travelers. It now seems, as you point out and as police point out, that the motivation may have been a robbery. The gunman was found with a bag about $2 million worth of casino chips, but he certainly unfurled a tremendous night of terror inside of that casino. A terrifying event for anyone was trapped in there.

You can see the chaos that ensued when this gunman stormed in, firing shots, setting tables on fire. It appears that he wasn't shooting at people; they say that he was shooting at gaming machines, setting tables on fire. He was later found, police say, after having set himself on fire and then shot himself. 36 other people, potentially - a mixture of hotel guests and staff members - were also found inside, but because of the heavy smoke, it took hours for police to find those 36 bodies. Police officers are also saying that the windows appeared to have been looked and close, that why so many people were trapped and scrambling to get out. Those who died appeared to have suffocated; they were not shot, it seems, according to the initial investigation from police, Isha. SESAY: Well, Alexandra, as you paved this night of terror-I mean, this is one man who as able to do all of this. The obvious question becomes: what kind of security measures were in place at this resort?

FIELD: That is something that is now being reviewed. And what we are hearing, at least, preliminary from police who are now reviewing what happened, they say that the gunman was able to casually walk into this casino. Some of the witnesses have said that this man was wearing a mask, but investigators say that he walked in armed with at least a pistol and a machine gun. And at the presence of those weapons was enough to scare off a sole security from there-it seems he was able to make his onto the floor there where you saw so much chaos unfolding, so many people trapped inside.

Really a terrifying situation as people scrambled to get out. Police are saying, there were so much smoke and heavy fire because of combustible materials inside, carpeting throughout the casino, and again, the presence of those locked windows. We do know that while this was unfolding, while questions were being asked about whether a terror attack was taken place, whether or not others could be involved. Security efforts were stepped up around the city-we're talking about something that was happening right in the capital of Philippines in Manila.

We understand that at least a dozen of different police station set up security checkpoints around the city in order to raise the police profile in the city to establish greater visibility at the police. And we know that the airport which is just about a mile away from where this all is happening did go into lockdown. The U.S. embassy put out in alert for Americans in the Philippines, warning them of the situation. Again, it appeared, initially, that this could potentially be a terror attack; investigators now saying that that does now appear to have been the motivation, and they say that there do not appear to be any links to ISIS. Certainly, that was something that came to mind for many as we understand the situation on the southern island in the Philippines where ISIS-linked militants have been engaging a conflict with government security forces there, Isha.

SESAY: Truly terrifying. Alexandra Field, joining us there from Hong Kong. Alexandra, thank you.

VAUSE: Well, the U.S. President, Donald Trump, is asking the Supreme Court to reinstate his travel ban which other courts have ruled unconstitutional. The controversial Executive Order was meant to stop refugees and immigrants from six Muslim-majority countries entering the U.S. It's the so-called "extreme vetting," Mr. Trump promised during the campaign.

SESAY: Well, lower courts have repeatedly blocked the order calling it "discriminatory." Now, the Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow the ban to go into effect until the court decides whether to review the case later on this year.

VAUSE: And the U.S. President seems to have united many governments and corporate leaders around the world with widespread criticism of his decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate accord. SESAY: Even though the President telegraphed his intentions well

before the election, the actual announcement still sent shockwaves right across the globe. CNN's Jim Acosta has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[01:05:02] JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: With the Europe hanging in the balance, President Trump's stayed true to political orbit ending U.S. participation in the Paris climate agreement.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: The United States will withdraw from the Paris climate accord.

ACOSTA: After a fierce debate inside the White House that pitted his Top Strategist, Nationalist, Steve Bannon, who favored pulling out of the deal against his own daughter - Ivanka, who advocated staying in the agreement. The President said this administration will try to hammer out a new climate deal, something of a consolation price for Ivanka.

TRUMP: So, we're getting out. But we will start to negotiate, and we will see if we can make a deal that's fair. And if we can, that's great. And if we can't, that's fine.

ACOSTA: The speech was steeped with campaign rhetoric as the President framed this choice as a win for American workers in the heartland.

TRUMP: I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris.

ACOSTA: And the laws for nations Mr. Trump accused of mocking the U.S.

TRUMP: At what point does America get demeaned? At what point do they start laughing at us as a country? We want fair treatment for its citizens, and we want fair treatment for our taxpayers. We don't want other leaders and other countries laughing at us anymore, and they won't be.

ACOSTA: The President's move was instantly cheered by conservatives who feared the President would fail to keep a campaign promise repeated time, and again.

TRUMP: We're going to cancel the Paris climate agreement.

BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: That this is the moment we finally determine we would save our planet.

ACOSTA: Former President Obama, who helped craft the Paris deal criticized his successor's decision saying in a statement: "Even as this administration joins a small, handful of nations that reject the future, I'm confident that our state cities and business will step up and do even more to lead the way. And help protect for future generations the one planet we've got." Although, it's also being rejected by leading American CEO's who had pleaded with the President to stay in the deal. Tesla's, Elon Musk, announced he's stepping down from the President's Economic Advisor Boards tweeting: "Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America, or the world."

The President's daughter, Ivanka, and her husband, Jared Kushner, did not attend the President's speech. A White House official said, they were observing a Jewish holiday in the morning, but the official added: Kushner opted to keep a pre-scheduled meeting at the White House rather than attend the President's speech. Jim Acosta, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: Joining us now-Democratic Strategist, Dave Jacobson; Republican Consultant, John Thomas; both now officially CNN Political Commentators. OK. Let's have at it. OK. So, John, the first rule of politics seems to be when you're trouble, show up the base, and that's pretty much what Donald Trump did today, right?

JOHN THOMAS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR AND REPUBLICAN CONSULTANT: Well, certainly, he needs to keep his base but he's also keeping his promise. I mean, we're-a lot of people are freaking out about he's doing what he has say what he's going to do. So-no, this is smart politics; there's no doubt about it. And the fact is, he couldn't have gone back on this because estimates from groups like the Heritage Foundation, which is the rightly a think-tank say that energy cost annually might go up 20 percent. There's no way can deliver that to his voters.

SESAY: OK. But, Dave, according to November 2016 polls by the Yale program on climate change communication, the majority of American- 69percent, full America should stay in this deal. So, OK, he did it for his base; small number combined to 69 percent which will include some of those people support Trump. I mean, is there going to be a political price to be paid by the President?

DAVE JACOBSON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR AND DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: I don't think that the slice of the elector to 35 percent of his, sort of, base-they're not going anywhere. This is like red meat for those folks, but I think if you look at like, what some other business leaders across the globe are saying today. And particularly iconic companies in America: you've got Facebook, you've got Google, you've Levi's Strauss, Gap, and I mean big- Tiffany and Co. But then, also, you've got sort of the boogeyman entities, you've got the ExxonMobil, right? The big oil companies are saying, well, perhaps we should stay in the Paris climate accord. So, I think what that does is it undercuts the President's jobs message because you've got high clean tech, new tech companies advocating to stay in this agreement. And they you've also got the oil companies, the fossil fuel entity saying, hey, we ought to stay with it. And so, I think that really undermines the President's message.

THOMAS: I don't think the President would say that any private business can't comply with whatever standards they want; I think that's the difference. He probably would applaud them doing better things, but he's saying that the federal government should dictate to this to business.

VAUSE: Well, what is interesting, you know, he does say that he will try to negotiate a better deal but this is a voluntary agreement like a bunch of people get together to say, hey, we're all going to quit smoking, and we're going to hold each other to it. U.S. could actually adjust its commitment of what it wants to do, the Europeans have made it clear that these whole dealers nod off the table. So, John, exactly what is the President going to try and renegotiate?

[01:10:00] THOMAS: Well, there's no-there's nothing to renegotiate.

VAUSE: That's not happening, I guess.

THOMAS: No, that's just talking. The interesting thing about the Paris deal was there were no teeth in the enforcement. So, it really was more symbolic that Trump pulled out because even if the U.S. had agreed to it-if we didn't comply, there's not there, there.

SESAY: Why don't you say, I'm out? You know, at the end of the day, everyone knows the context in which this was the President who'd said climate change was a hoax-or we know his views. Why not just come and say: we're done with it? Why though, we're going to renegotiate which nobody-

THOMAS: Well, I think - I think he's trying to politically have this cake and eat it, too, you know, instead of just getting into that debate about-

SESAY: That does that actually mean as the politician was going to come out and be courageous, and speak to its power why.

THOMAS: Well, look, they're all political. And he'll even admit that he's new to this politics and he's working it out.

JACOBSON: He nearly had a question though, like, he could've like- theoretically-stayed as part, you know, maintain the agreement but just like change the benchmark internally within the U.S. But he could've done that and modified, and went back to his base and said- hey, listen, I don't agree with these benchmarks. The Obama administration did, here's what we're going to do, and sort of create his own sort of standard practice. He didn't do that. But here are the other thing that's sort of interesting, I think ultimately, this could be a referendum issue in 2020 Presidential race because every five years the countries go back and they report essentially on their progress to hitting x-benchmark, x-goal. And so, that next report comes right after the November 2020 elections, so this could sort of weave into the next presidential race.

VAUSE: One reason why he'd have done this after he said during the rose garden speech? Are they all not laughing at this hour and no one's saying any advantage of us? There is a report in the Washington Post that, essentially, Donald Trump sees the fact that so many world leaders are upset is just the cherry on the top of all of this. So, that seems to be part of the motivation.

THOMAS: Yes. I mean, he ran on an American first platform- VAUSE: Again, bad media in Sicily with G7. You know, he's sort of comeback he's all grumping, and then it's just ironic kill the Paris climate accord.

THOMAS: Yes, this is-his philosophy of putting America first, I think he doesn't give rip honestly, what, what do people started thinking. And clearly, he didn't read that book that the Pope gave him.

VAUSE: Clearly. Because the book when it comes out, this is a disaster. But is that -- you know, Dave, here's an obvious question, is that a good way to do policy?

JACOBSON: No, absolutely not. I mean, that's the isolationist mentality. It's clear that Steve Bannon's wing of the Trump world is winning internally, right? And I think if he wants the sort of isolationist mentality where were pulling away from some of our traditional alliances, whether it's the G7 or NATO, or you've got the President, essentially, you know, slapping European leaders to their face basically saying, you've got to pay your fair share having a very sort of toxic dynamic with those leaders. At the same time, you see him caressing the leaders of Saudi Arabia who believe in Sharia Law- don't believe in human rights or women's rights. And so, it's a fastening dynamic on how this is shaking out.

SESAY: It is, and it's also a fascinating dynamic in term of the White House interplay and all of the factions. You know, you just mentioned Bannon, you know, and this part of his thinking-

THOMAS: Well, and Ivanka-

SESAY: What about them? They were the moderating tools here.

THOMAS: And they were lobbying their father, but apparently, not enough.

VAUSE: OK. Let's listen to-there's obviously a reaction around the world. But let's listen to California's Democratic Governor-Jerry Brown.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JERRY BROWN (D), CALIFORNIA: Will be destroyed. Seas will rise. Insects will spread in areas they've never been before. This is not a game; it's not politics to talk to your base, its humanity, and whether it makes it to the 21st century.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Jerry Brown, we should know that he's on his way now to China to talk about the future of the Paris accord. Beijing remains committed to this deal. Here's a Spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HUA CHUNYING, CHINA FOREIGN MINISTRY INFORMATION DEPARTMENT DEPUTY DIRECTOR (through translator): China will continue to implement the vision of innovative, coordinated, green. Open and shared development take practical measures to cope with climate change based on its internal demands for sustainable growth and to fill its Paris agreement obligations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: What does it say, Dave, when, you know, China sticks to an environmental deal that every country apart from Nicaragua, and Syria and the U.S. is part of-and the U.S. is not part of that deal.

JACOBSON: I think it does enormous long-term damage to our credibility and our prominence on the world stage. You've got another superpower who's sort of taking advantage, capitalizing on this opportunity. And now, you see them sort of having conversations with the E.U. saying listen, I'll collaborate with you on this issue. And I think it undermines America's prominence and dominance as a superpower, globally.

THOMAS: Well, it's good politics for the coast governors like Jerry Brown to rail against the President and talk about climate change. That's just smart politics but it's not smart competition, because if California starts pushing it, you know, dual referendum-it does its own climate change though, it's going to increase cost in doing business in California, driving, even more, businesses to places like Nevada, and Arizona, and Texas.

SESAY: Well, you made that it's smart politics for the coastal leader that, you know, Democratic leaders like Jerry Brown. But what about for Republicans-what about Republican lawmakers, I mean? This isn't a consensus issue; there is a division within the party on this.

[01:15:04] THOMAS: Yes, it really depends on their district, I think. The members of Congress on the Republican side are more just a reflection of popularity if you look at place Alabama where climate change is popular. It's no surprise they're against it. But the Presidents, look it's this is consistent he's also ordering the EPA because he believes over-regulation mothers.

[01:15:23] VAUSE: Just want to pick there on point you said there, you know, essentially climate change measures half of the economy from everything that the economy say it's quite the opposite is that renewable energy, renewable resources that's the way the -

JACOBSON: Well California has been a pioneer on that movement. We're one of the most visionary who are forward thinking state implementing and executing a very aggressive clean energy new technology agenda and that's where it sink California growing economically, creating jobs and solar and wind sectors and now were the six largest economy in the world bigger than Italy.

SESAY: And John there's one more, one more moment where you are going to see state stand up to the President if that continued division. Sanctuary cities now something like this.

THOMAS: And I think the Trump administration would applaud that, they believe in a strong state's system. States can do whatever they pleased but they want to weak Federal government on this.

VAUSE: No, they're not going to applaud California and Washington and New York at together --

THOMAS: No, but they should be able to make up their own mind.

JACOBSON: On that note actually, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg actually supporting the New York Times, he's already building a collision between Governors in state. Mayors and cities and also business to collaborate and try to be part of the Paris agreement.

VAUSE: We need to very quickly talk about this move to get the travel ban being stated by taking to the Supreme Court. So John to you, clearly now that Neil Gorsuch is being confirmed, is that one of the reasons why this move is happening right now because what there's only the original (INAUDIBLE) meant to expire.

THOMAS: Yes, I know and that's kind of the silly thing about this whole thing. When a party expired, yes I think it's just Trump wants to be a proven right. And this is his best crack at it, the problem is it's still a risk it's not guaranteed to pass. And if it doesn't passes Supreme Court as another major blunder. What I find fascine about this travel ban, is you're exactly right what if it expires, sometimes when you get kicked in the teeth multiple times, you let it go. You move on to the next policy point where he keeps coming back because he wants to be right. I guess if he is right, if he does get it approve at Supreme Court he will be vindicated.

JACOBSON: I think he's taking his heels and no because he's politically desperate for a win. He hasn't done anything meaningful through the legislative branch, right? I mean he's gone health care through the House but, you know, by a very narrow margin but nothing to designate yet. So I think he's desperate to score political points.

SESAY: So then you have to ask about strategic advices because like you just said why go down this road it was already an expire. He would won again about the set up in the White House and who's giving him advice?

VAUSE: Because when you're in a hold stop thinking.

THOMAS: It's my mom used to say.

VAUSE: I mean this is kind to sort of, you know, of pulling out the Paris accord really annoyed almost world leaders and gave me a hard time to place a cherry on a top. I'm going to take this to the Supreme Court just because I want to be proven right. It just seems to be an incredible waste of energy another distraction.

THOMAS: I mean, the major win the President needs tax reforms but the problem is that it keeps slipping through his fingers.

VAUSE: So does health care?

THOMAS: Yes, but right.

VAUSE: Health care is a bigger one.

THOMAS: Health care and tax reforms, he can do those to his a big win but both are getting further, further out of reach.

SESAY: They're certainly are.

VAUSE: Political Commentators, brand new. Thank you so much.

SESAY: Congratulations.

VAUSE: Come back anytime soon.

SESAY: Quick break here. Russian President Vladimir Putin called them artist and patriots, how they influence the U.S. Presidential election and who put them up to it, next on NEWSROOM L.A.

VAUSE: Also if the reviews are right. "Wonder Woman" might rewrite the rules of almost Hollywood action movies.

SESAY: You did to say that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[01:20:58] VAUSE: Welcome back everybody, more at major stories this hour, 36 people are confirmed dead after a robbery gone wrong at a casino in Manila. There was mass panic as the gunman storm the building only Friday. He opened fired but apparently didn't target anyone.

SESAY: As police close in, he set gambling table on fire and set fire to himself in a hotel room, filling the casino with smoke. Most of the dead were women found inside a bathroom. Initially, there were fears that this was a terrorist attack but investigators say they found more than two million dollars in casino chips in the gunman's backpack.

VAUSE: Well all the attention right now maybe focused on the Paris climate accord but there are also new developments in the investigation into the Trump campaign ties to Russia.

SESAY: Well Senate Democrat growing doubts about Attorney General Jeff Sessions and we now have a date for former FBI Director James Comey's testimony. CNN's Dianne Gallagher reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEN. ED MARKEY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: One is this given information by Mr. Mueller to do so that potentially we could have bombshells that begin to land next week.

DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And when James Comey testified next Thursday he could be at -- but Attorney General Jeff Sessions meeting with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Following CNN's reporting that Congressional investigators are examining whether Sessions had an undisclosed private meeting with the Russian Ambassador in April of last year at the Mayflower Hotel.

REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D), CALIFORNIA: Allegations approve to be correct they would be very serious because after all, he failed to disclose his meetings with a Russian Ambassador when he testified. So that is an enormously serious charge.

GALLAGHER: Today Democratic Senators out front an imp trick lay he release three letters send in March, April, and May of this year in which they asked the FBI to investigate. Whether Sessions lied to Senators about previous meetings between Sessions and Kislyak. Writing quote, "We are concerned about Attorney General Sessions lack of candor to the committee and his failure thus far to accept responsibility for testimony that could be construed as perjury". Department of Justice responded saying, "The fact haven't changed the then Senator did not have any private or signed conversation with any Russian official at the Mayflower Hotel". Former campaign Policy Adviser Carter Page who the President recently tweeted would blow the Democrats case away with his testimony was asked about his meetings with Kislyak on CBS this morning.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have you only met with one time?

CARTER PAGE, TRUMP CAMPAIGN FORMER FOREIGN POLICY ADVISER: Well I mean, he was around for several days right? And I - again I don't like talking about confidential information. Everyone that was in that meeting had agreed that it's off the record and we're not going to disclose that.

GALLAGHER: But the President tweeted today that the big story is about the unmasking and surveillance of people. And House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes tweeted this. Named committee issued four by partisan subpoenas Wednesday but Nunes who promised to step aside from the Russian investigation back in April after becoming the subject of a House ethics probe into whether he revealed classified intelligence. Well, he shot additional subpoenas targeting documents related to former Obama administration officials in his probe of unmasking.

SCHIFF: We do oversight all the time of issues of unmasking immunization, so I'm not sure why there was an excessive two issued subpoenas for agencies that are already working with us. Unless the goal was simply to get publicity or perhaps obscure the subpoenas that were going out in a by partisan way.

GALLAGHER: This as the U.S. discuses whether to return this luxury compounds to Russia after they were closed last year by the Obama administration as punishment for Russian interference in the U.S. election. Russian President Vladimir Putin also speaking out today, suggesting he and President Trump aren't friends after stressing the two have never met.

VLADIMIR PUTIN, PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA (through translator): He is a straight forward sincere man, you can't really classify him as traditional politician. He never worked in politics, therefore, this is a person with a fresh view of things. Whether you like or not but this always very often bring something good. GALLAGHER: Now Putin also sounded like he was echoing Trump calling for a normalization of the U.S.-Russia relationship. When it comes to their personal relationship well the two Presidents won't be able to say they haven't met officially for long. Both will be in Hamburg, Germany for the G20 next month and to bet the eyes of the world will on that handshake. Dianne Gallagher CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[01:25:15] VAUSE: Let's go to Moscow now CMM's Clare Sebastian. I say Clare as far what Vladimir Putin said the fact that, you know, there may be need patriotic hacker who meddled in the American Presidential election. It does seem to be evolution of a denial here though but as far as the Kremlin is concern, if there were these hackers involve patriotic or otherwise could the Kremlin as if they close them down?

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well I mean, again anything's possible in this case John. I think the interesting point about what Vladimir Putin was saying, was that he was, you know, he did emphasize again from he retired from the Kremlin all along that there was no government-sponsored hacking in the Kremlin was not behind this but if he said he did say - said there was potentially patriotism from the attackers hackers there was a fairly colorful speech. Take a listen to a small part of it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PUTIN: Hackers are fretted just like artist, they wake up in good mood and paint them. Same with hackers they woke up today read something about the state to state relations, if they are patriotic they contribute in a way they think is right. To fight against those who say bad things about Russia,

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SEBASTIAN: Serving was when he's emphasizing here perhaps there's a Russian government deny ability and this is issue. It's deceive-deny ability even if, you know, they can't trace this hack back to Russia. The government come and deny a link but I think of course as we know 17 U.S. intelligence agency would disagree with that but having said that this was a very colorful, very frank discussion from Putin and a time where they've been very sparring with any commentary frankly about the United States. In particularity about the accusations against him with regards to hacking and interfering the U.S. elections, John.

VAUSE: It does seem that Mr. Putin has gone much further than the President of the United States has gone on this issue. Clare good to see you, thanks.

SESAY: Next on NEWSROOM L.A., stunned leaders around the world reacts with dismay after the U.S. President decides to pull out of the Paris climate agreement.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) SESAY: Hello everyone you're watching CNN NEWSROOM Live from Los Angeles, I'm Isha Sesay.

VAUSE: And I'm John Vause, we'll check the headlines now.

(HEADLINES)

[01:30:26] VAUSE: The United States, which led the way in forming the Paris Climate Accord will no longer be a part of the historic agreement. As expected, President Donald Trump, on Thursday, announced he was pulling the U.S. out of the deal, alleging it was just unfair. Corporate and government leaders around the world immediately denounced Mr. Trump's decree as a mistake.

SESAY: Mr. Trump's moves to quit the Paris Climate Accord marks a major break with international partners fighting global warming.

VAUSE: Already it's starting strong criticism around the world.

CNN's Michelle Kosinski has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN SENIOR DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: The world's reaction came fast and furious.

TRUMP: The United States will withdraw.

KOSINSKI: Paris lit up its city hall green. Canada's Justin Trudeau expressing deep disappointment, along with Brazil. Germany, France and Italy, in a joint statement, saying the Paris climate agreement cannot be renegotiated, despite President Trump saying it's a possibility.

EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT: It is not the future we want for our society. It is not the future we want for our children.

KOSINSKI: The president of the European Commission pulled no punches, reminding the U.S. that withdrawal from the deal is a years-long process.

JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER, PRESIDENT, EURIPEAN COMMISSION (through translation): That's not how it works. The Americans can't just leave the climate protection agreement. Mr. Trump believes that because he doesn't get close enough to the dossier to fully understand that.

This notion, I am Trump, I am an American, America first, and I'm going to get out of it, that won't happen. We tried to explain that to Mr. Trump in clear German sentences.

KOSINSKI: The Vatican called the American decision a disaster for the planet. When the Pope met with Trump, he gave him his published thoughts on the environment, calling for a revolution on climate change before the earth devolved into, quote, "an immense pile of filth." (APPLAUSE)

KOSINSKI: The UN Secretary-General:

ANTONIO GUTERRES, SECRETARY-FENERAL, UITED NATIONS: Climate change is undeniable. Climate affection is unstoppable. And climate solutions provide opportunities that are unmatchable.

KOSINSKI (on camera): Some foreign policy experts, including ones who served in Republican administrations, feel this decision now could have the greatest diminishing effect on the U.S.'s influence in the world.

(voice-over): With China, India, Europe more than ready to step in and fill that void.

ANGELA MERKEL, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (through translation): Cooperation with the European Union and China in this area could play a crucial role, especially in regards to new technology.

KOSINSKI: A role China seems to relish today in an editorial in its England-language tabloid: "A reckless withdrawal from the climate deal will waste increasingly finite U.S. diplomatic resources and the U.S.'s selfishness and irresponsibility will be made clear to the world crippling the country's world leadership."

Michelle Kosinski, CNN, the State Department.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SESAY: Joining me now to discuss President Trump's decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord is Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, a grassroots U.S. environmental organization. He joins us from Oakland, California.

Michael, welcome.

I want you to listen to Scott Pruitt, the Environmental Protection Agency director, defending the decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT PRUITT, EPA SECRETARY: This is not about whether climate change is occurring or not. This is about making sure that America, as we negotiate CO2 reductions, that we do so with an America-First approach. And that's why -- it was a bad deal for this country when it was signed. It's a bad deal today. It puts us at an economic disadvantage. The president has said, unequivocally, that he is committed to continue the discussions about CO2 reductions but with America at the forefront in the discussions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Michael, your organization put out a statement in which you say, in part, "Donald Trump has made a historic mistake, which our grandchildren will look back on with stunned dismay at how a world leader could be so divorced from reality and morality."

Michael, the president and the like, Scott Pruitt, framing this as an economic issue, but you see this as a moral one.

MICHAEL BRUNE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SIERRA CLUB: It's both actually. We know fighting climate change is a moral obligation that we have for ourselves as well as future generations. We're already seeing life- threatening risks on the American public and people all around the world from not acting on climate change more strongly. But what we are also seeing is, as clean energy gets cheaper and cheaper, and in many cases, is cheaper than coal or cheaper than natural gas, that there's an economic opportunity inherent in switching from fossil fuels to solar and wind. So that's why it is one of the things are so frustrating about today's announcement, is that, right at the time when countries all around the world have come together and have already made great progress on climate change, this president wants to take us in the opposite direction.

[01:35:27] SESAY: In your view, what will be the immediate impact on the president's decision?

BRUNE: Honestly, I think it will be galvanizing to the American public. I was on the phone today with mayors across the United States who are wanting to take deeper, stronger action on climate change and accelerate the rate at which they move to 100 percent clean energy. Portland, Oregon, voted just a couple hours ago to move to 200 percent clean energy. Orlando, Florida, voted yesterday. Columbia, South Carolina, just the day before that. I think we're going to see is a surge of activism in the United States from people who were never politically active before, and a lot more leadership from corporate CEOs, from mayors, from governors, from prime ministers outside of the U.S. I think you'll see Trump unwittingly building a huge wall and that's a wall of resistance to some of his destructive ideas.

SESAY: Let me ask you this. Jeff Emmelt, head of GE, General Electric, he tweeted this. I want to put this tweet up on screen. "Disappointed with today's decision on the Paris agreement. Climate change is real. Industry must now lead and not depend on government."

Which goes to what you said about industry leaders and activists taking a stand here. But in the absence of a president and an administration that is part of the climate change fight, how much can be achieved?

BRUNE: A lot actually. Don't get me wrong, we needed a president who not only would honor the Paris climate agreement and keep our commitments, but would exceed those commitments and lead the world and hastening a transition away from fossil fuels. So to have this president try to do the opposite is highly destructive. However, there is momentum that is already being felt in cities and states and, as I mentioned, in the private sector. So what we can do is, if Trump is going to do less on climate change, we all can do a lot more and we can make up for his abdication of real leadership. I'm very optimistic about the future primarily because there is a movement of CEOs and scientists, of civil society and political leaders outside of the White House who will keep working for change. We won't give up. SESAY: You mentioned scientists. Famed Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, as well know, slammed the present's decision. He tweeted this, "If and my advisers had never learned what science is or how and why is works, I would consider pulling out of the Paris Climate Accord, too."

Do you think the president's decision comes down to a lack of understanding about the science or is this a willful ignorance of the facts?

BRUNE: I think it's the latter, a willful ignorance of the facts that is coupled with political incompetence. This is a president who failed again and again and again in the private sector, in the business world, and now he's failing again and again and again in his -- in the political world. He failed to enact a Muslim ban because that was misguided. He has failed to enact a budget because it is mean-spirited. And he is going to fail to try to take the United States backwards on climate change because he doesn't have the support. He doesn't have the support of the American public or the support of the business community or the support of the global community, and he certainly doesn't have support from scientists domestically and around the world. So we will fight this. We will resist this ministration. But we will also make strong progress at the local level, at the state level, again, in the private sector. And I think eventually we will make up for this president's failure to lead.

SESAY: Michael Brune joining us tonight, giving us his perspective. He's the executive director of the Sierra Club.

Thank you so much for your time.

BRUNE: Sure. Thanks for having me on.

[01:39:21]VAUSE: Well, next on NEWSROOM LA, less than a week until the voters will explain why Theresa May is facing a tough election in the U.K. than she expected.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VAUSE: Well, in the last week in the U.K. election campaign, the latest polls are showing some bad news for Prime Minister Theresa May. Projections indicate her lead is shrinking over Jeremy Corbyn. The Labour leaders says he isn't just fighting to win the election, but he's leading a movement to change the government.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEREMY CORBYN, LEADER, U.K. LABOUR PARTY: The cynics started this election by saying nothing can change, nothing can alter, nothing can happen. Do you know what's happened? Thousands and thousands and thousands of people coming to our company offices, met up with out candidates, and got out there door knocking, donating small sums of money to the Labour Party. Average donation is 22 pounds. I suspect the other donations to Conservatives is slightly more.

(LAUGHTER)

Add a number of noughts to that figure.

(LAUGHTER)

And there's a movement going on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Mrs. May says she and her Conservatives are fighting for every vote. She is reminding her supporters than these opinion polls don't make a difference.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

THEREA MAY, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: You know there is only one poll that matters and that's the poll that is going to take place next Thursday in the general election when people go and cast their vote. And when they do that, the choice they have is a simple one, because there's only one of two people who is going to be prime minister after the general election. It's either me or Jeremy Corbyn. So the choice people have is do they want to -- how do they see the future. They have a choice to decide who they want to lead this country into those Brexit negotiations, get the best deal for Britain in those Brexit negotiations, but also lead us to building a stronger, more prosperous future for our country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Let's take a look at all of this with Annabelle Dixon. She is in London. She's a reporter at "Politico."

Annabelle, thank you for being with us.

At one point, Theresa May had a double-digit lead over Labour Party's Jeremy Corbyn, which, in recent days, according to a number of polls, is down to single-digits. How did she squander her lead?

ANNABELLE DICKSON, REPORTER, POLITICO: I think it's a combination of two things. I think there was a bit of a miscalculation by the Conservative campaign. They made mistakes. Probably the most high profile of them was the social care policy and their manifesto, which went down badly. Not only did it go down badly, he was quickly dubbed a dementia attack. The policy was that people would have to pay for their social care apart from 100,000 pounds in assets. Those would be taken after people died. I think not only was that something that -- well, it landed quickly. There was no running to it, no leaps or preparing people for it, which often politicians do with these policies. It came as a bit of a shock. Not only that, but then this woman who was saying that we wanted to be a strong and stable leader suddenly decided to do what looked like a U-turn. She suddenly imposed a cap on it, didn't say what he was going to be. I think that particular element of the manifesto has been a bit of a shambles.

SESAY: Yeah. [01:44:57] DICKSON: But you can't discount Jeremy Corbyn and the role he's played. He had a really good campaign. I think that's down to expectations. Again, I think the Conservatives underestimated what a kind of campaigner he is. He relishes the campaign trail. He's doing it right. He rallies, which make great TV shows. The more people see him --in an election, you get to see the leaders a lot more. I think there are scare stories about him that were written. We're seeing a lot of Jeremy Corbyn and he's exceeding expectations.

SESAY: What does it say about Theresa May that the primary political message throughout this election, and this is essentially what it was built upon, as you mentioned, the strong, stable leadership. I mean, what does it say about her, the calculation that it has failed to resonate in this election?

DICKSON: I think her campaign chief underestimated how bad she is on TV really. We can't debate -- because she hasn't debated. We have these TV events this week and she hasn't performed very well. She was on Jeremy Paxman (ph) on Bank Holiday Monday, and she - when it came to Brexit, she talked about she was able to do the Brexit, we know the Brexit line she's so keen on. With the audience, with the really horrendous interview, she hasn't been comfortable in the way that her predecessor, David Cameron, was. He was a good media performer. He was a P.R. man. I think Theresa May, she's been in government for a long time. She was in the Home Office for a number of years. But she didn't do a lot of broadcasts. She wasn't sent out to defend the government very much. We didn't see a lot of her. I think she has struggled with the pace of the campaign and these major TV moments.

SESAY: We will see. Not long to go now.

Annabelle Dickson, joining us from London, we appreciate the insight. Annabelle Dickson, with "Politico," thank you.

DICKSON: You're welcome.

VAUSE: Well, ahead on NEWSROOM L.A., with --

(CROSSTALK)

VAUSE: -- she's got a lot. "Wonder Woman."

SESAY: Me?

VAUSE: She's fighting for your rights and the red, white and blue. But does the new blockbuster movie live up to the iconic TV show, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VAUSE: It's cut throat, it's brutal, and it's the strongest survivor of the annual Scripps Spelling Bee. These are kids in elementary and middle school.

SESAY: They are focused and they can spell words most adults don't know exists. (CROSSTALK)

SESAY: This competition was no exception. Round after round went by until this moment. 12-year-old Ananya Vinay, of Fresno, California, had the chance to win it all with this word, "marocain."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANANYA VINAY, SCRIPPS SPELLING BEE CHAMPION: Marocain.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know what it means.

VINAY: M-A-R-O-C-A-I-N, marocain.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Correct.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's correct. Congratulations.

(CHEERING)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You are the champion.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: I thought it was like a dessert but, apparently, it's --

SESAY: It's a vegetable.

[01:50:11] VAUSE: Yeah. Ananya wins a $40,000 in cash and gets to appear on a couple of TV shows. And she gets an encyclopedia, but she doesn't need one, because she's really smart.

SESAY: Yeah.

VAUSE: OK. Can Wonder Woman do what Superman never did and save the D.C. Comics franchise with an action movie, which is actually good?

SESAY: Really, really good.

VAUSE: The long-awaited film opened in North American on Friday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC)

GAL GADOT, ACTRESS: You'll soon find out.

(SINGING)

(EXPLOSION)

(MUSIC)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Exciting. The movie follows the origins of Princess Diana, the fortunes of Zeus and the queen of the all-female Amazons, played by Israeli actress. Takes an unexpected turn when she meets an American pilot.

VAUSE: Wonder Woman has the potential to be the first female superhero, and the point not lost on Wonder Woman herself.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GADOT: I feel really grateful for the opportunity given to me, and I just hope everyone will enjoy the movie.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Amy Nicholson is MTV's chief film critic and host of the podcast Skillset and the Cannon." And she joins us.

Good to see you.

SESAY: Hey, Amy, welcome.

VAUSE: Hey, the reviews overwhelmingly positive. Here's a sample. "Wonder Woman does the job Superman couldn't." "A worthy big-screen treatment of a long-neglected Wonder Woman. "Can we build a better blockbuster? Wonder Woman points the way forward."

What is it aboutthis movie that gets it all so right?

AMY NICHOLSON, CHIEF FILM CRITIC, MTV: Well, Patty Jenkins, the director, has managed to make the film in the D.C. universe that's better than the ones that have come before it, "Man of Steel" --

(CROSSTALK)

NICHOLSON: -- "Batman versus Superman."

(CROSSTALK)

NICHOLSON: Fair, fair, fair. But those films are so dark. And she has made a film that, to me, harkens more back to the Christopher Reeve era of Superman, a good, strong role model here who is just powerful and has audiences thrilled.

SESAY: You mentioned the dark. Patty Jenkins, the first woman to direct a $100 million blockbuster movie. The fact that she's the first woman to direct one of these movies, can you tell the difference? Does it appear on screen? Does it feel different? What's your sense?

NICHOLSON: It does. She's not making a film where Wonder Woman stops in the battle and she says a speech about feminism and a need to respect women. It's just part of the film. It's embedded in the DNA. You can tell in the way she shoots Wonder Woman, this isn't a film where you're supposed to be looking at her breasts and ogling her body. You're just looking at her muscles. Thinking how amazing is this woman? And look at what she's doing with that sword.

VAUSE: Let's take a closer look at how amazing she is, because there's a female lead. Let's look at her in full action.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(CROSSTALK)

(SHOUTING)

(SHOUTING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: She is so cool.

SESAY: Wow.

VAUSE: Screenwriter Allan Heinberg talked about the challenges of having a movie with a female lead. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN HEINBERG, SCREENWRITER: (INAUDIBLE) -- a misfire. It's been in development for so long. I think the reason economically it's not centered around movies led by women, and so, I think it's weird that it's happening now to be honest with you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: We couldn't hear what he said, but he said it's a miracle the movie got made. Is it a miracle?

NICHOLSON: It is. Patty Jenkins is the first female to handle a film like this, a major superhero film in this decade where superhero films have dominated the blockbuster. What's exciting about that is, this weekend, it's pretty likely she'll become the female director with the biggest box office of all time.

What's kind of bittersweet about it is it's not going to be that hard because all she has to do to have the biggest open of all times is beat $81 million. For a superhero, that's not big. "Batman versus Superman" open to $160 million and it had terrible reviews. "Wonder Woman" is getting amazing interviews. She's going to hit a homerun, I think.

SESAY: What about Gal Gadot herself? It's remarkable that she got the part, and it's near universal praise for her. She's going to become a megastar.

VAUSE: And she's Israeli.

SESAY: Yeah, there's that.

NICHOLSON: the film is banned in Lebanon because they don't like Israeli input, but they brought "Fast Five" in which was another -- (INAUDIBLE).

SESAY: You think she'll become a mega star? [01:54:53] NICHOLSON: I would love to see it. I mean, Israel loves her. She was their former Miss Israel and she went on to Miss Universe. Then she came home and did her Israeli military service. She actually said that's why she was cast in the first place because they knew she could handle a gun. They're thrilled to see her take off.

VAUSE: Of course, though, the gold standard, the best ever Wonder Woman was in the 1970s on TV starting Linda Carter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: We didn't get the part in tights.

(CROSSTALK)

VAUSE: And the old red, white and blue.

(CROSSTALK)

VAUSE: It's going to be hard to top that. I mean, is this movie true to its heritage?

NICHOLSON: It does not have the quirkiness. But there is a scene where Chris Pine, the love interest, puts on a pair of glasses like those, thinking he can hide her beauty, and it clearly isn't possible. You'll never disguise it.

SESAY: Patty Jenkins reached out to Carter and asked her for her blessing. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PATTY JENKINS, DIRECTOR: I think it's a belief that actually these movies (IAUDIBLE). Wonder Woman has had a huge following for a long time, so I'm so excited. (INAUDIBLE).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Obviously, the sound we're not very wonderful with the sound today.

Patty was saying they want to be true and loyal to this fanbase out there. There has been a dedicated following of Wonder Woman for so long. That was the moment of pressure for her.

NICHOLSON: It's true. What I love about the film is that Wonder Woman -- do you actually use the word Wonder Woman in the film. She only refers to her as Diana. So it's paying tribute also the character, of who she is deep, deep down. There's an idea in the film there's no one Wonder Woman. It's more inclusive. It's saying, like, every woman in the audience can feel wonderful. Even the men. You guys can feel wonderful, too.

VAUSE: Thank you, yeah.

By the way, who played Wonder Girl on the TV show?

NICHOLSON: I don't know. Is this a pop quiz?

(CROSSTALK)

VAUSE: Debra Winger.

NICHOLSON: Oh, really?

VAUSE: Yeah.

(CROSSTALK)

SESAY: Yeah, yeah.

Amy, thank you.

VAUSE: Good to see you.

NICHOLSON: Thank you.

VAUSE: Thank you very much.

You've been watching CNN NEWSROOM, live from Los Angeles. I'm John Vause with Wonder Woman.

SESAY: And I'm Isha Sesay. Yes, I am.

And we'll be back with more news after this.

We're all Wonder Woman.

(CROSSTALK)

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