11th HOUR" GETS UNDERWAY. >> GOOD EVENING ONCE AGAIN FROM
OUR NBC HEADQUARTERS HERE IN NEW YORK.
DAY 264 OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
AND TONIGHT THE PRESIDENT REMAINS ON ATTACK WITH PEOPLE HE
NEEDS AT HOME AND AROUND THE WORLD.
IT STARTED WITH THE PRESIDENT EXTENDING HIS PUBLIC FIGHT WITH
SECRETARY OF STATE REX TILLERSON INTO DAY 6.
IN AN INTERVIEW WITH FORBES MAGAZINE, THE PRESIDENT TALKED
ABOUT THE NBC NEWS REPORTS THAT TILLERSON CALLED HIM A MORON.
HE SAID, QUOTE, I THINK IT'S FAKE NEWS, BUT IF HE DID THAT, I
GUESS WE'LL HAVE TO COMPARE IQ TESTS AND I CAN TELL YOU WHO IS
GOING TO WIN. A FEW HOURS AFTER FORBES POSTED
THE INTERVIEW, THE PRESIDENT WAS ASKED ABOUT IT AT THE WHITE
HOUSE WHILE SITTING NEXT TO FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE HENRY
KISSINGER. >> DID YOU UNDERCUT THE
SECRETARY OF STATE TODAY WITH THE IQ STATEMENT?
>> NO, I DIDN'T UNDERCUT ANYBODY.
I DON'T UNDERCUT PEOPLE. >> WITHIN AN HOUR OF THAT
EXCHANGE, TILLERSON ARRIVED AT THE WHITE HOUSE TO HAVE LUNCH
WITH THE PRESIDENT. WE HAVE SEEN NO BYLINES
REPORTING IN ANY PUBLICATIONS AS OF YET ABOUT HOW THAT
CONVERSATION WENT. THEN A FEW HOURS LATER STILL,
PRESS SECRETARY SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS TOOK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
SEEMINGLY CONFLICTING MESSAGES COMING FROM HER BOSS.
>> OVER THE WEEKEND, THE
PRESIDENT SAID THAT HE WISHED HIS SECRETARY OF STATE WAS A
LITTLE TOUGHER, AND NOW TODAY HE IS SUGGESTING THAT SECRETARY
TILLERSON HAS A LOWER IQ THAN HE DOES.
MY QUESTION IS, WHY WOULD THE PRESIDENT WANT SOMEBODY WHO HE
THINKS IS NEITHER TOUGH NOR PARTICULARLY SMART AS SECRETARY
OF STATE? >> THE PRESIDENT CERTAINLY NEVER
IMPLIED THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE WAS NOT INCREDIBLY
INTELLIGENT. HE MADE A JOKE.
NOTHING MORE THAN THAT. HE HAS FULL CONFIDENCE IN THE
SECRETARY OF STATE. THEY HAD A GREAT VISIT EARLIER
TODAY, AND THEY'RE WORKING HAND IN HAND TO MOVE THE PRESIDENT'S
AGENDA FORWARD. >> WORKING HAND IN HAND, BUT NEW
REPORTING FROM JONATHAN LEMERE AT THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SUGGESTS
PRESIDENT TRUMP MIGHT BE MAKING HIS JOB MORE DIFFICULT.
HE WROTE, TRUMP'S COMMENTS HAVE THREATENED TO UNDERMINE
TILLERSON'S DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVES AND SO CONFUSING
AMONG ALLIES AND FOES WHETHER HE SPEAKS FOR THE U.S. AND HAS THE
SUPPORT FOR THE WHITE HOUSE. THE PRESIDENT'S STAFF ALSO TOOK
AIM AT SENATOR BOB CORKER TODAY. HE SAID, QUOTE, THE FAILING "NEW
YORK TIMES" SET LIDDLE BOB CORKER UP BY RECORDING HIS
CONVERSATION. WAS MADE TO SOUND A FOOL AND
THAT'S WHAT I AM DEALING WITH. PRESS SECRETARY SARAH HUCKABEE
SANDERS ALSO WENT AFTER SENATOR BOB CORKER, GIVING A MISLEADING
ACCOUNT OF CORKER'S ROLE. THEN SHE TOOK A SHOT AT
REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS IN GENERAL.
>> TWO OF THE PRESIDENT'S ALLIES HAS SUGGESTED THAT SENATOR
CORKER RESIGN. DOES THE PRESIDENT THINK SENATOR
CORKER SHOER SHOULD RESIGN? >> I THINK THAT'S A DECISION FOR
SENATOR CORKER AND THE PEOPLE OF TENNESSEE, NOT FOR US TO DECIDE.
>> THE PRESIDENT ALSO SAID THIS WEEKEND THAT SENATOR CORKER WAS
LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE IRAN DEAL WHICH THE PRESIDENT HAS
HINTED THAT HE WANTS TO RENEGOTIATE.
THAT WAS A DEAL THAT WAS NEGOTIATED BY BARACK OBAMA'S
ADMINISTRATION. WHY DOES THE PRESIDENT THINK
THAT THAT WAS LARGELY BOB CORKER'S FAULT?
>> SENATOR CORKER WORKED WITH NANCY PELOSI AND THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION TO PAVE THE WAY FOR THAT LEGISLATION AND
BASICALLY ROLLED OUT THE RED CARPET FOR THE IRAN DEAL.
THOSE ARE P PRETTY FACTUAL. >> WHAT DO YOU SAY TO CRITICS
WHO SAY THAT THE PRESIDENT IS ALIENATING HIMSELF FROM
REPUBLICANS THAT HE WILL NEED TO MOVE HIS LEGISLATION FORWARD?
>> I DON'T THINK HE'S ALIENATED ANYONE.
I THINK CONGRESS HAS ALIENATED THEMSELVES BY NOT ACTUALLY
GETTING THE JOB DONE THAT THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY ELECTED
THEM TO DO. >> LET'S GO OUR LEAD-OFF PANEL
TONIGHT, BOB ACOSTA AND NARRATOR OF WASHINGTON WEEK, HERE IN NEW
YORK THE A FOREMENTIONED JONATHAN LEMERE.
ALL THREE POLITICAL ANALYSTS. A BIT OF OLD BUSINESS.
WE SHOULD CLARIFY, SENATOR CORKER WAS AWARE OF THE TAPING
OF HIS INTERVIEW, THE AUDIOTAPING WITH THE "NEW YORK
TIMES." ALL RIGHT, MR. ACOSTA, TALK
ABOUT WHAT YOU KNOW ON BOTH PRONGS OF THIS, THE PRESIDENT
VERSUS SENATOR CORKER, THE PRESIDENT VERSUS SECRETARY
TILLERSON, AND YES, THIS IS THE PLOT LINE OF TODAY.
>> BRIAN, FIRST ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE, ASSOCIATES OF THE
SECRETARY OF STATE TELL ME THAT TILLERSON HAS BEE BEEN FRUSTRAT
WITH HIS POSITION. HE TALKED WITH THE PRESIDENT ON
FRIDAY. HE TALKED WITH GENERAL KELLY
OVER THE WEEKEND, AGAIN WITH THE PRESIDENT TODAY TRYING TO GET
THE RELATIONSHIP REPAIRED BETWEEN HIM AND PRESIDENT TRUMP.
THEY KNOW IT'S BEEN REALLY AT ODDS WITH EACH OTHER FOR WEEKS
NOW, AND FOR THE SAKE OF THE UPCOMING SUMMIT WITH CHINA, FOR
THE SAKE OF THE CRISIS THAT'S UNFOLDED IN NORTH KOREA, THE
WHITE HOUSE BELIEVES IT'S A PRIORITY TO MAKE SURE TILLERSON
STAYS AT LEAST FOR THE MOMENT IN SPITE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS.
AND THEN WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT SENATOR CORKER, IT'S REVEALING
OF WHERE THE PRESIDENT IS WITH CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS, A
PARTY SPLITTING APART, A PRESIDENT ALMOST MORE
COMFORTABLE BEING AN OUTSIDER. >> AND, ASHLEY, WE SAY THIS ALL
THE TIME. ANOTHER DAY IN THE LIFE OF THIS
ADMINISTRATION. SO WHAT WAS TODAY ABOUT AT THE
WHITE HOUSE, IF ANYTHING OTHER THAN THIS?
>> I THINK IT WAS JUST ABOUT THIS.
AND YOU EVEN SAW THAT IN THE QUESTIONS IN TODAY'S BRIEFING.
I MEAN, A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME WAS DEVOTED TO WHAT WAS
GOING ON WITH SENATOR CORKER, WHAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE HAPPENING
BEHIND THE SCENES WITH SECRETARY TILLERSON.
YOU JUST GET THE SENSE OF PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY THE WHITE
HOUSE IS SPENDING A TON OF TIME MANAGING RELATIONSHIPS THAT
THEY, TO BE CLEAR, SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE MANAGING.
THIS IS A REPUBLICAN SENATOR. THIS IS A CABINET MEMBER WHO THE
PRESIDENT HIMSELF CHOSE. THEY HAVE A LOT OF LEGISLATIVE
ISSUES THEY COULD BE FOCUSING ON, BUT TODAY, PUBLICLY AND
PRIVATELY, SHOULD BE PUBLIC MATTERS AND NOT PERSONNEL
MATTERS.ERS. >> AND ASHLEY, WE ARE PREPARED
FOR SOMETHING YOU MENTIONED. HERE IS SOME OF THE QUESTIONS
THAT CAME UP AT THE BRIEFING AT YOUR WHITE HOUSE TODAY.
>> OVER THE WEEKEND, SENATOR BOB CORKER CALLED THE WHITE HOUSE AN
ADULT DAYCARE CENTER, SAID THE PRESIDENT COULD LEAD THE COUNTRY
INTO WORLD WAR III AND SAID, QUOTE, HE CONCERNS ME.
HE WOULD HAVE TO CONCERN ANYONE WHO CARES ABOUT OUR NATION.
OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, THE PRESIDENT HAS CRITICIZED A
NUMBER OF SENIOR REPUBLICANS, SOMETIMES IN VERY PERSONAL
TERMS. >> SARAH, THIS MORNING THE
PRESIDENT RETURNED TO LIDDLE,
L-I-D-D-L-E, BOB CORKER AGAIN. >> THE PRESIDENT SAYS WE'RE IN
THE HIGHEST TAX BRACKET IN THE WORLD.
WHY DOES THE PRESIDENT KEEP SAYING THIS?
IT ISN'T TRUE OVERALL. >> IS IT PROPER FOR THE
PRESIDENT TO ATTEND A BASEBALL GAME WHERE THEY MIGHT TAKE A
KNEE AND HE WILL WALK OUT IF THEY TAKE THAT ACTION?
>> HOW DOES THE PRESIDENT EXPECT THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO BE
EFFECTIVE WHEN HE IS QUESTIONING HIS INTELLIGENCE?
>> BACK TO ASHLEY FOR A SECOND. ASHLEY, CAN YOU TELL OUR VIEWERS
HOW FAR FROM NORMAL, HOW FAR OFF PLUMB THIS IS?
>> WELL, THIS IS A WHITE HOUSE PRESS CORPS THAT AT THIS POINT
DOESN'T STARTLE OR SURPRISE PARTICULARLY EASILY.
BUT THERE IS, AS YOU JUST ROLLED THAT MONTAGE, SORT OF A SURREAL
QUALITY TO ALL OF THIS, JUST THE BARRAGE AND THE ONSLAUGHT AND
THE TYPE OF QUESTIONS THEY'RE BEING ASKED, AND THE EXTENT TO
WHICH THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY IS HAVING TO, IN
PUBLIC, SORT OF LITIGATE HALF-TRUTHS, MISTRUTHS, AND AS
YOU HEARD IN ONE OF THESE QUESTIONS, SOMETHING THAT HAS
COME UP REPEATEDLY IN THE BRIEFING ROOM, THE PRESIDENT IS
SAYING SOMETHING WE KNOW TO BE FACTUALLY UNTRUE ABOUT THE TAX
RATE, AND HE CONTINUES TO REPEAT IT.
SO IT'S ODD. >> JONATHAN LEMERE, THIS IS WHY
I LOVE THE JOURNALISTS WE GET TO TALK TO HERE TONIGHT.
YOU WROTE ABOUT THE IQ COMMENT, TRUMP ON TILLERSON, THE REMARK
LANDED WITH A DISTINCT HINT OF MALICE.
THE TRUTH IS, FOR AS MANY WORDS AS THIS PRESIDENT KNOWS AND
USES, HE NEVER SAYS ANYTHING BY ACCIDENT.
THERE IS A DESIGN BEHIND EVERYTHING, EVEN IF IT'S A
SEEMING AD LIB. >> RIGHT, AND THIS IS A
PRESIDENT NOT KNOWN FOR HIS SENSE OF HUMOR.
HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING. THIS FEUD HE HAS WITH THE
SECRETARY OF STATE WHO, IN
PRIVATE, HE'S BEEN BASHING FOR WEEKS.
HE'S BEEN UPSET ABOUT ANY NUMBER OF THINGS.
HE WAS UPSET THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE CRITICIZED HIS RESPONSE
TO CHARLOTTESVILLE WHEN THE
PRESIDENT SAID, THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES.
AND TILLERSON CAME OUT AND SAID, MORE OR LESS THE PRESIDENT
SPEAKS FOR HIMSELF AND IS NOT THE MORAL CONSCIENCE OF THIS
NATION. HE HAS TOLD PEOPLE HE'S UPSET,
THAT HE DOESN'T FEEL TILLERSON IS VERY LOYAL, THAT HE DOESN'T
DEFEND HIM IN PUBLIC. HE THINKS TILLERSON IS ON THE
WRONG SIDE OF A NUMBER OF ISSUES.
THE IRAN DEAL, THE PARIS CLIMATE ACCORD.
ONE OF THE RARE WINS FOR TILLERSON, IF YOU WILL, AT THIS
POINT IN THE ADMINISTRATION, WAS MAINTAINING THE STATUS QUO AND A
SLIGHT INCREASE OF A NUMBER OF TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN, WHICH
YOU'LL RECALL ONLY CAME ABOUT AFTER TILLERSON, SECRETARY
MATTIS AND OTHERS HAD TO HAVE A TUTORIAL FOR THE PRESIDENT AT
THE PENTAGON, EXPLAINING TO HIM WHY THIS MATTERED, WHY IT
MATTERED THAT AMERICA HAVE A ROBUST PRESENCE ACROSS THE
WORLD. THIS IS SOMEONE THE PRESIDENT --
HE DOESN'T SEEM AT THIS MOMENT LIKE HE'S WILLING TO FIRE HIM,
ALTHOUGH THAT COULD CHANGE AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE, BUT IT SEEMS
REX TILLERSON IS NOW IN JEFF SESSIONS' OLD CHAIR, THE CABINET
MEMBER WHO I