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At Least 90 Killed in Suicide Blast in Kabul; Police: Man Arrested with Guns & Ammo at Trump Hotel; Poll: Only 8% Say Senate Should Pass Health Care Bill; Next Hour, Sean Spicer to Hold Off- Camera Briefing. Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired May 31, 2017 - 13:30   ET

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


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[13:33:19] WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: A massive explosion rocked the diplomatic section of Afghanistan's capital today. As many as 90 people were killed in the suicide blast in Kabul, the capitol. Hundreds of others were injured. The attack took place during morning rush hour ensuring that a maximum number of people would be there. It also came close to several western embassies, including the German and French embassies.

Let's go to our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr.

Barbara, I know there were U.S. citizens among the many who were injured. What are you hearing over there about who may have been responsible for this terror attack?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, that's right. About the Americans, the latest estimate, 11 Americans injured. A U.S. official saying they were working as contractors for the U.S. embassy, which was nearby.

You know, there's only a handful of groups in Afghanistan that over the years have been responsible for this kind of thing. Right now, the Taliban say they didn't do it, and all the indications are that the coalition agrees. It's not likely got the hallmarks of a Taliban attack. It's much more likely it's a group known as the Haqqanis, responsible over the years for violent vicious, devastating attacks, masters at the suicide-bomb attack. This is just exactly the kind of thing they would do to strike at the heart of Kabul at the heart essentially of the legitimacy of the Afghan government.

So this comes as President Trump is considering whether to send additional troops to Afghanistan to help bolster that Afghan security force and that Afghan government. Perhaps 5,000 additional troops on their way in the coming weeks to work as advisers and trainers for the Afghan forces. Afghanistan still somewhat, 16 years after the 9/11 attacks, a place where security can become very fragile in just an instant -- Wolf?

[13:35:14] BLITZER: And this is one of the more secure areas near all the diplomatic, the diplomatic presence in Kabul. It was supposed to be a very secure area, and look what happened. So if the U.S., if the president does declare another 5,000 or so U.S. troops on the way to Afghanistan, that, what, brings the number total number up to around 10,000 American troops? Is that right.

STARR: Yeah. They have just over 8,000 or so there right now. So it brings it up to over that, if that is exactly what happens.

I should mention this attack this morning, the U.S. military feels that the Afghan police on site were the heroes here. As devastating as it was, apparently, what happened is this suicide truck, which was a water tanker full of explosives, pulls up to an Afghan police checkpoint in this very secure area, the Afghan police do not let it through. That's when it detonates. That's when the bomber detonated causing this massive destruction, 90 dead, 400 wounded. But if it made it through that checkpoint, if the Afghans hadn't been paying attention, the devastation, all the much worse. In addition to that, the Germans apparent having some people injured at their embassy. Others injured. So this is an attack that had a very unique signature, devastating to the Afghan people and causing a real impact in that diplomatic corridor -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Almost 100 people killed and hundreds more injured.

Barbara, thanks very much. Barbara Starr, reporting from the Pentagon.

Coming up, a man arrested inside the Trump hotel right here in Washington, D.C. In his possession, two guns and 90 rounds of ammunition. The frightening report that police received about what he was allegedly plotting. We have details. That's next.

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[13:40:27] BLITZER: There's more breaking news coming into CNN. Police have now arrested a man inside the Trump International Hotel right here in Washington, D.C. We're told he was in possession of two guns and 90 rounds of ammunition.

Let's go to our justice reporter, Laura Jarrett.

Laura, what can you tell us?

LAURA JARRETT, CNN JUSTICE REPORTER: Wolf, police say 43-year-old Bryan Moles traveled from Pennsylvania to D.C. armed with an A.R. assault rifle, a handgun, and dozens of rounds of ammunition. Police and Secret Service were tipped off in time and managed to arrest Moles earlier this morning at the Trump International Hotel.

Now, at a news conference earlier today, authorities said they did not have enough information to immediately charge Moles with making any threats against the president. But a law enforcement source tells us that Moles allegedly stated in cell phone messages to that tipster that he, quote, "wanted to get close to Trump," and that he, quote, "wanted to be like Timothy McVeigh," a reference to the man who bombed the Oklahoma City federal building in 1995.

Moles is expected to appear in court sometime later this week. And we are told he is cooperating with authorities -- Wolf? BLITZER: Yeah, very, very disturbing development at that Trump

International Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue, only a few blocks away from the White House. The president was not at that the hotel.

Laura, thanks for that report. We'll check back with you when we get more information.

Coming up, President Trump promised to repeal and replace Obamacare. But a new poll says most Americans think the Republican plan that moved out of the House of Representatives will leave them worse off. Only 8 percent think the Senate should pass it as is. We'll break down the numbers when we come back.

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[13:47:06] BLITZER: Certainly was a core issue of the Trump campaign, but a new poll finds a majority of Americans aren't big fans of the House Republican bill to repeal and replace Obamacare. In fact, only 8 percent think the Senate should pass the House bill as is. That according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The poll also shows 55 percent of the public has a negative view of the bill compared to 31 percent who view it favorably.

Joining us now, senior writer for "CNN Money," Tami Luhby.

Tami, Republicans blasted Obamacare for sending health care costs skyrocketing but this poll shows most Americans think they'll end up paying more under the Republican plan.

TAMI LUHBY, CNN MONEY SERIOR WRITER: Yeah, 45 percent of Americans feel that their health care costs are going to worsen under this plan, while only 16 percent feel it's going to get any better. And that's a really big problem. There's also a lot more people who feel that the quality of their health care is going to worsen as well as their access to health insurance, period. So it's really not surprising that it has such a low favorability rating.

BLITZER: Tami, the Senate Republicans face an uphill battle right now in overhauling this House bill because, as it stands, few Americans apparently think the House plan lives up to the president's promises during the campaign on health care.

Listen to what happened during a town hall with Republican Senator Bill Cassidy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BILL CASSIDY, (R), LOUISIANA: You want it to continue coverage, caring for those with pre-existing conditions while eliminating the Obamacare, the Affordable Care Act mandates, because Americans hate the federal government telling them what to do.

(CROSSTALK)

CASSIDY: And lowering premiums.

(CROSSTALK)

CASSIDY: And lowering -- you all may disagree but --

(SHOUTING)

CASSIDY: And so -- so --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: So does the poll also reflect some of the sentiment you just heard in that room?

LUHBY: Trump has been tweeting constantly that he's going to make health care better. He's going to lower deductibles. He's going to lower premiums. There will be more access for all. That's all these great things. But a lot of people don't believe those promises and feel that this bill -- only 14 percent of them actually feel that it lives up to most or all of his promises. And about 40 percent feel that it lives up to some of his promises.

Some of the things they really don't like in the bill, they don't like the fact that it's going to cut back on benefits to lower premiums. They don't like the fact that it's going to charge sick people more in some cases. And they don't like the fact that they'll be able to -- the insurers will be able to charge higher premiums for those who let their coverage lapse. There's a lot of things in this bill people don't like.

[13:49:52] BLITZER: Tami Luhby reporting for us. Tami, thanks very much.

Coming up, the White House on the hunt for a new communications director. But when you have a president who likes to tweet as much as President Trump, will anyone really make much of a difference? We'll discuss that when we come back.

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BLITZER: We are going to be hearing from the White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer in the next hour, but he won't be on camera. Spicer is going to be holding an informal, off-camera briefing, known as a gaggle there. There will be audio, and CNN is going to bring that to you live.

For more on Spicer, the president and the press, let's bring in CNN politics reporter, editor-at-large, Chris Cillizza.

Chris, what's the point? If you're going to do the briefing, in the briefing room, but there are cameras there, but the camera crews have been told you can't shoot it, you can listen to the audio, you can take it live. Why not let the cameras roll, and we can see? Not only hear what's going on, but we can see what's going on?

[13:54:58] CHRIS CILLIZZA, CNN POLITICS REPORTER & CNN EDITOR-AT- LARGE: Short answer, I don't know why. Well, the gaggle -- and you know this well from covering the White House, Wolf -- was once meant to be an informal thing. It was done in the press secretary's office and not done, as this one will be done, in the actual briefing room. The growth of the press corps, and the more formalizing, has faded a little bit. I think that what I am doing, if I had to make an educated guess, which is what I feel I make most of these days, is that they are trying to fiddle with the formats here. And so a cabinet secretary and off-camera briefing. And then, one day, Sean does a briefing that is incredibly brief and walked out after six or seven questions. And we know that Donald Trump doesn't like the idea of the daily press briefing. He is proposing that maybe he does one every few weeks. They are fiddling with the format. And Sean has been on thin ice for some time, and Donald Trump views him as the best spokesman. And looking for ways to minimize the way of the surrogates, and maximize his role while doing all of the things that he does as president.

BLITZER: It sounds like a vote of no confidence, that you don't think that your administration is coming off the on-camera briefing looking that great in the face of serious and important, tough questions from the reporters?

CILLIZZA: Particularly, given what we know of Donald Trump. This is not someone who is not unaware that how you look, how you present yourself, what the perception is visually, the power of television, this is not someone immune to that. And so, yes, we have seen now two off-camera briefings from Sean in the last few weeks, and the foreign trip was in between it. And I would not be feeling great about it if I were Sean Spicer.

But one thing I would say on that front, Wolf, is I thought that Sean Spicer's press conference yesterday was a disaster, from a reporting and democracy perspective, for not answering questions and then leaving. My guess, from what we know, is Donald Trump thought it was a command performance by Sean Spicer, attacking the media, setting up an alternative story line, and then leaving on his own terms.

BLITZER: And he started the briefing with a very lengthy speech of how great the president's trip was to Saudi Arabia --

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: -- to Israel, and the West Bank. He was in Bethlehem and then he went to Italy. There was a long, long presentation about how successful that overseas mission was.

CILLIZZA: And a former colleague of mine, Gina Johnson, at "The Washington Post," noted that word "historic" was used three times to describe three different moments on the trip.

Look, Sean Spicer beholding to Donald Trump and he has given up the idea of trying to maintain credibility with the press corps and he's trying to maintain credibility and his job with Donald Trump. The performance yesterday will, I think, help with that, unfortunately, I would say.

BLITZER: I simply don't understand. If you are having a briefing -- and when I was a White House correspondent, the gaggle was in the press secretary office, very informal, and start the day on a little background, on what is going on. But if you have a briefing in the briefing room and there are cameras there, and you don't allow the cameras to be turned on, you can only hear the audio, that is --

CILLIZZA: You make a good point on the timing that I didn't make. They were usually in the morning --

BLITZER: Yes.

CILLIZZA: -- as opposed to the afternoon. It was a scene setter.

BLITZER: right.

CILLIZZA: It was a different thing.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: Here is what the president is planning on doing today. And we would go into Mike Curry's office or Joe Lockhart's office, they would brief us, and then we would move on. And later, there would be an on-camera briefing --

CILLIZZA: That's right. That's right.

BLITZER: -- at 1:00 or 2:00 in the afternoon.

The typo that went viral. Shortly after midnight, 12:06 a.m., the president tweeted -- we will put it up there, you'll see it -- "Despite the constant negative -- and I don't know how to pronounce it. Covfefe?

CILLIZZA: I went Covfefe.

BLITZER: Covfefe.

CILLIZZA: But that could be wrong.

BLITZER: I like covfefe.

CILLIZZA: I spent a lot of time on that.

BLITZER: I don't know what covfefe is. Some people thought it was a typo and he meant negative coverage.

CILLIZZA: I think that's right.

BLITZER: Which is possible, in that tweet by mistake. But it stayed up until almost 6:00 a.m.. The tweet was deleted later. A little bit later, the president tweeted, "Who can figure out the true meaning of covfefe, question mark, question mark, question mark."

Can you figure out the true meaning --

(CROSSTALK)

CILLIZZA: And I am 99 percent sure that he meant coverage. And second, this is dumb. And he put out a tweet that is wrong. And the big question is, why is Donald Trump tweeting at 12:06 a.m., and then back up at 5:00 a.m. tweeting again?

BLITZER: Why?

CILLIZZA: He shouldn't be. And every Republican politician, privately or otherwise, says that the best thing he can do is to stop with Twitter. The reason? No one can control him, no one tells him what to do. He may listen to people, but he does not follow through. And that is the problem well larger than the typo at 12:00 at night.

BLITZER: Proofread the tweets before you hit that tweet button.

CILLIZZA: Are you telling me, because I need to do.

BLITZER: Yes. All right.

(LAUGHTER)

Thank you very much. Chris Cillizza reporting.

That's it for me. And I will be back at 5:00 p.m. eastern in "The Situation Room."

Up next, more on the breaking news, the fired FBI Director James Comey ready to testify in public. We will hear from Sean Spicer soon as well.

The news continues right now.

[12:00:07] ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Wolf, thank you so much.

Good to be with you. I'm Brooke Baldwin.