WEBVTT 00:00:01.132 --> 00:00:06.065 ABOUT TO REPORT ON THAT. SO WE'VE GOT THAT COMING UP 00:00:06.233 --> 00:00:08.265 AHEAD TONIGHT. BUT WE'RE GOING TO START TONIGHT 00:00:08.400 --> 00:00:14.198 WITH THIS LATE-BREAKING NEWS. SO -- THIS IS A LITTLE WINDOW 00:00:14.332 --> 00:00:18.165 INTO MY WORK DAY. WHOLE STAFF IS WORKING AWAY 00:00:18.299 --> 00:00:19.765 TODAY, CUBICLE FARMS ARE HUMMING. 00:00:19.899 --> 00:00:21.999 WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING. WE'RE WORKING ON THE SHOW. 00:00:22.166 --> 00:00:26.198 I'M IN MY OFFICE THREATENED TO BE BURIED UNDER PILES OF PAPER, 00:00:26.332 --> 00:00:28.465 AS USUAL. WE'RE ALL WORKING AWAY LIKE WE 00:00:28.666 --> 00:00:30.799 USUALLY DO. BY THIS POINT, ALMOST SIX MONTHS 00:00:30.966 --> 00:00:33.599 INTO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WE AS A STAFF ARE NOW USED TO 00:00:33.766 --> 00:00:36.099 BIG STORIES ABOUT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION BREAKING LATE IN 00:00:36.266 --> 00:00:38.799 THE DAY AND THEN WE HAVE TO THROW OUR PLANS OUT THE WINDOW 00:00:38.966 --> 00:00:41.798 AND START TO COVER INSTEAD WHAT THE OTHER NEW BOMBSHELL IS. 00:00:41.932 --> 00:00:46.032 WE'RE USED TO THAT. BUT EVEN WITH THE FACT THAT WE 00:00:46.200 --> 00:00:50.199 ARE USED TO THAT TIMING NOW AND TO STUFF BREAKING LATE IN THE 00:00:50.333 --> 00:00:55.299 DAY, WHEN THESE HEADLINES POPPED TONIGHT, WHEN THIS STORY FIRST 00:00:55.433 --> 00:01:01.899 CROSSED, TRUMP/PUTIN HELD A SECOND UNDISCLOSED MEETING AT 00:01:02.033 --> 00:01:04.732 THE G20. WHEN THIS STARTED TO CROSS OUR 00:01:04.900 --> 00:01:12.099 NEWSROOM, IT CAUSED AN AUDIBLE OH MY GOD TO CROSS OUR CUBICLE 00:01:12.233 --> 00:01:14.399 FARM. OH, MY GOD. 00:01:14.533 --> 00:01:16.132 SERIOUSLY? I GUESS WE SHOULD NOT BE 00:01:16.266 --> 00:01:18.932 SURPRISED ANYMORE. WE SHOULD HAVE EXPECTED 00:01:19.066 --> 00:01:21.932 SOMETHING LIKE THIS. BUT STILL, THIS IS REMARKABLE 00:01:22.100 --> 00:01:24.999 NEWS AND THIS IS ABOUT, OF COURSE, THE G20 MEETING THAT 00:01:25.166 --> 00:01:31.265 TOOK PLACE A WEEK AND A HALF AGO IN GERMANY. 00:01:31.399 --> 00:01:38.765 AND THE FIRST FACE-TO-FACE ONE ON ONE CONTACT WITH VLADIMIR 00:01:38.833 --> 00:01:43.165 PUTIN AS PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA. THAT MEETING ENDED UP BEING 00:01:43.233 --> 00:01:53.165 ITSELF PRETTY UNUSUAL. IT WENT ON FOR MORE THAN TWO 00:01:53.299 --> 00:01:56.798 HOURS AND AFTER THAT UNUSUALLY LONG MEETING WAS OVER, THE 00:01:56.932 --> 00:02:00.698 RUSSIANS HELD AN ON-CAMERA BRIEFING FOR THE PRESS ABOUT 00:02:00.832 --> 00:02:02.998 WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT MEETING WHILE THE UNITED STATES DID NOT 00:02:03.132 --> 00:02:05.632 DO THAT. NOW, THE RUSSIANS BRIEFING THE 00:02:05.766 --> 00:02:10.398 PRESS AFTER THE MEETING AND THE AMERICANS NOT BRIEFING THE 00:02:10.532 --> 00:02:16.765 PRESS, "THE NARRATIVE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED BEHIND CLOSED DOOR." 00:02:16.899 --> 00:02:19.998 SO THE OFFICIAL MEETING, IT WAS UNUSUALLY LONG. 00:02:20.132 --> 00:02:23.132 MORE THAN FOUR TIMES ITS SCHEDULED LENGTH. 00:02:23.300 --> 00:02:26.532 IT ENDED WITH JUST THE RUSSIANS BRIEFING THE PRESS ON WHAT 00:02:26.700 --> 00:02:28.399 HAPPENED. BUT NOW ON TOP OF THAT WE ARE 00:02:28.533 --> 00:02:31.932 LEARNING THAT THERE WAS A SECOND MEETING AT THAT SAME EVENT. 00:02:32.100 --> 00:02:35.232 AND YOU KNOW, THE FIRST PEEP ABOUT THIS AS A POSSIBILITY HAD 00:02:35.400 --> 00:02:39.099 ACTUALLY BEEN THE DAY AFTER THE MEETING. 00:02:39.233 --> 00:02:41.532 THE SATURDAY AFTER AT THE END OF THE STORY THAT THEY REPORTED ON 00:02:41.700 --> 00:02:45.899 THE G20 THAT DAY, BUZZFEED NEWS MENTIONED IN THEIR ARTICLE ABOUT 00:02:46.033 --> 00:02:49.132 THE G20 THAT THEY HAD HEARD FROM A SINGLE SOURCE THAT THERE MIGHT 00:02:49.300 --> 00:02:53.599 HAVE BEEN AN ADDITIONAL LONG CHAT BETWEEN DONALD TRUMP AND 00:02:53.766 --> 00:02:55.499 VLADIMIR PUTIN THAT HADN'T BEEN DISCLOSED BY THE WHITE HOUSE BUT 00:02:55.633 --> 00:03:01.099 NOW TODAY IT HAS BROKEN WIDE OPEN. 00:03:01.233 --> 00:03:05.132 IAN BREMMER WILL DESCRIBE HIS SOURCES. 00:03:05.266 --> 00:03:08.665 BUT HE'S REPORTING THAT, IN FACT, IN ADDITION TO THAT FORMAL 00:03:08.833 --> 00:03:11.899 MEETING THAT WENT ON FOR TWO HOURS, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ONLY 00:03:12.066 --> 00:03:15.265 SCHEDULED FOR HALF AN HOUR, TRUMP AND PUTIN THEN THEREAFTER 00:03:15.433 --> 00:03:18.232 HAD A SECOND LONG MEETING LATER THAT NIGHT. 00:03:18.366 --> 00:03:22.365 THAT TOOK PLACE OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT AN HOUR. 00:03:22.499 --> 00:03:26.065 AND IN WHAT'S BEING DESCRIBED AS A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT BREACH OF 00:03:26.199 --> 00:03:30.965 NATIONAL SECURITY NORMS AND PROTOCOLS, IT WAS APPARENTLY 00:03:31.099 --> 00:03:34.798 ONLY VLADIMIR PUTIN'S TRANSLATOR WHO WAS PRESENT FOR AND 00:03:34.932 --> 00:03:38.599 PARTICIPATING IN THAT MEETING. IN THE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN TRUMP 00:03:38.766 --> 00:03:42.098 AND PUTIN, THERE WAS JUST THE RUSSIAN TRANSLATOR. 00:03:42.232 --> 00:03:45.032 THERE WAS NO AMERICAN TRANSLATOR, NOR WERE THERE ANY 00:03:45.200 --> 00:03:48.632 OTHER AMERICAN STAFF MEMBER WHO IS WERE TAKING PART IN THOSE 00:03:48.800 --> 00:03:51.232 DISCUSSIONS. THAT IS A VERY UNUSUAL THING. 00:03:51.366 --> 00:03:53.532 AND THEN THERE'S THE FACT THAT THE WHITE HOUSE DIDN'T TELL 00:03:53.700 --> 00:03:55.932 ANYBODY THAT THE SECOND MEETING HAPPENED. 00:03:56.100 --> 00:03:58.432 YOU HAVE TO IMAGINE, PUT YOURSELF IN THE SHOES OF ANYBODY 00:03:58.566 --> 00:04:01.232 WHO WORKS AT THE WHITE HOUSE. YOU HAVE TO IMAGINE IF THERE'S 00:04:01.366 --> 00:04:05.165 ONE THING THIS WHITE HOUSE MIGHT BE AWARE OF BY NOW, IT'S THAT 00:04:05.333 --> 00:04:10.965 UNDISCLOSED CONTACTS BETWEEN AMERICANS ASSOCIATED WITH DONALD 00:04:11.133 --> 00:04:15.032 TRUMP AND RUSSIAN OFFICIALS, PARTICULARLY AT THE HIGHEST 00:04:15.166 --> 00:04:16.732 LEVELS. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS OF 00:04:16.866 --> 00:04:18.765 INTENSE INTEREST IN THIS COUNTRY. 00:04:18.933 --> 00:04:21.032 BUT STILL, THE WHITE HOUSE NEVER MENTIONED IT. 00:04:21.166 --> 00:04:24.265 THEY NEVER MENTIONED THAT THERE HAD BEEN THIS SECOND LONG 00:04:24.399 --> 00:04:30.465 MEETING UNTIL IAN BREMMER BROKE THE NEWS AND THEN THE WHITE 00:04:30.633 --> 00:04:33.332 HOUSE BELATEDLY CONFIRMED IT TONIGHT. 00:04:33.466 --> 00:04:38.565 JOINING US NOW IS IAN BREMMER. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. 00:04:38.699 --> 00:04:45.465 >> SURE, RACHEL, MY PLEASURE. >> SO FOR FOLKS WONDERING WHAT 00:04:45.633 --> 00:04:51.198 THE EURASIA GROUP, TELL US WHAT THAT IS AND WHO YOU ARE. 00:04:51.332 --> 00:04:54.399 >> SURE. I'M A POLITICAL SCIENTIST. 00:04:54.566 --> 00:05:01.832 THE WORLD'S LARGEST POLITICAL RISK WHO LOOK AT HOW POLITICS 00:05:01.966 --> 00:05:04.999 AFFECTS MARKETS ALL OVER THE WORLD. 00:05:05.166 --> 00:05:11.832 >> POLITICAL RISK CONSULTANTCY. HOW DID YOU COME TO KNOW ABOUT 00:05:11.966 --> 00:05:14.132 THIS MEETING THAT THE WHITE HOUSE DIDN'T DISCUSS? 00:05:14.266 --> 00:05:17.565 >> I DON'T WANT TO TELL YOU WHO DIRECTLY TOLD ME, BUT THIS IS A 00:05:17.733 --> 00:05:23.032 MEETING OF THE PRINCIPALS, THE G20s HEADS OF STATE, THEIR 00:05:23.166 --> 00:05:26.665 SPOUSES, MOST IN ATTENDANCE. IT WAS A LONG DINNER, ALMOST 00:05:26.799 --> 00:05:28.965 3 1/2 HOURS. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THAT 00:05:29.099 --> 00:05:34.265 GROUP AND MANY OF THEM, INCLUDING ALL OF AMERICA'S 00:05:34.433 --> 00:05:38.532 PRINCIPLE ALLIES, THEY FOUND IT REMARKABLE. 00:05:38.666 --> 00:05:42.165 THEY WERE CONCERNED BY IT. IT WAS NOTEWORTHY AND SO IT GOT 00:05:42.332 --> 00:05:44.298 OUT. AND I PERSONALLY WAS QUITE 00:05:44.432 --> 00:05:47.998 SURPRISED THAT THERE WAS NO READOUT ON IT WHATSOEVER AFTER 00:05:48.132 --> 00:05:53.998 THE MEETING HAPPENED AND SO, AS A CONSEQUENCE, ESPECIALLY SINCE 00:05:54.132 --> 00:05:57.299 TRUMP HIMSELF AND THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH TALK ABOUT WHAT WAS AND 00:05:57.466 --> 00:06:01.865 WAS NOT DISCUSSED IN THE BROADER FORMAL MEETING, THE TWO-MOUR 00:06:01.999 --> 00:06:05.265 MEETING THAT YOU JUST SPOKE ABOUT, DID THEY TALK ABOUT 00:06:05.399 --> 00:06:09.432 SANCTIONS, THE HACKS, DID HE PUSH THEM, DID THEY NOT, 00:06:09.566 --> 00:06:12.065 UKRAINE, ALL OF THAT. NONE OF THAT MATTERS IF THEY 00:06:12.199 --> 00:06:16.432 THEN HAD AN HOUR ONE ON ONE AT THE DINNER WITH ONLY THE RUSSIAN 00:06:16.600 --> 00:06:18.132 TRANSLATOR. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WAS IN THAT 00:06:18.266 --> 00:06:20.332 CONVERSATION. >> NOW, WHEN YOU DESCRIBED THAT 00:06:20.500 --> 00:06:23.965 AS A ONE-ON-ONE, WHILE YOU'RE TALKING, WE HAVE PICTURES FROM 00:06:24.099 --> 00:06:27.199 THE DINNER. IS IT -- SHOULD WE THINK OF THE 00:06:27.333 --> 00:06:29.932 SECOND MEETING THAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING AS BEING SOMETHING 00:06:30.066 --> 00:06:33.299 WHERE THEY WERE SEPARATE AND APART FROM EVERYBODY ELSE AT THE 00:06:33.433 --> 00:06:35.232 DINNER? WERE OTHER PEOPLE AT A POSITION 00:06:35.366 --> 00:06:37.799 WHERE THEY COULD OVERHEAR WHAT WAS BEING SAID? 00:06:37.933 --> 00:06:40.132 >> I DON'T KNOW IF WE SHOULD CALL IT A MEETING. 00:06:40.266 --> 00:06:43.532 IT'S A DINNER. THE DINNER WAS 3 1/2 HOURS LONG. 00:06:43.700 --> 00:06:45.832 VERY LONG. NOT EVERYONE THAT WAS SUPPOSED 00:06:45.966 --> 00:06:49.232 TO ATTEND ACTUALLY SHOWED UP. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF EMPTY 00:06:49.366 --> 00:06:51.832 SEATS AND HALFWAY THROUGH THE DINNER, TRUMP GETS UP, GOES 00:06:51.966 --> 00:06:57.032 AROUND THE TABLE, SITS DOWN NEXT TO PUTIN AND HAS -- BEGINS THIS 00:06:57.166 --> 00:06:58.732 CONVERSATION. EVERYONE THAT WAS THERE -- THIS 00:06:58.866 --> 00:07:02.632 WAS IN FULL VIEW OF ALL OF THESE HEADS OF STATE AND THEIR SPOUSES 00:07:02.766 --> 00:07:06.165 AND IT WAS VERY ANIMATED. IT WAS EXTREMELY FRIENDLY. 00:07:06.299 --> 00:07:09.865 THERE WAS CERTAINLY A LOT OF HAND MOTION GOING ON BETWEEN THE 00:07:10.033 --> 00:07:13.765 TWO LEADERS, THE TWO PRESIDENTS. BUT NO ONE KNOWS WHAT -- THEY 00:07:13.933 --> 00:07:17.765 WERE OUT OF EARSHOT. UNLESS THE RUSSIAN TRANSLATOR 00:07:17.933 --> 00:07:22.032 HAS A TAPE -- AND I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY A REASONABLE 00:07:22.166 --> 00:07:25.398 LIKELIHOOD THAT HE DOES, THEN NOBODY ELSE IS GOING TO HAVE A 00:07:25.532 --> 00:07:28.698 READOUT OF THIS MEETING. >> HOW UNUSUAL -- ON THAT POINT 00:07:28.832 --> 00:07:31.998 OF THE TRANSLATOR, HOW UNUSUAL IS IT FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE 00:07:32.132 --> 00:07:36.399 UNITED STATES TO HAVE A ONE-ON-ONE LENGTHY DISCUSSION 00:07:36.566 --> 00:07:40.898 WITH A FOREIGN HEAD OF STATE USING ONLY THAT COUNTRY'S 00:07:41.032 --> 00:07:44.765 TRANSLATOR WITH NO AMERICAN TRANSLATOR PARTICIPATING IN THE 00:07:44.899 --> 00:07:47.965 DISCUSSION? >> APPARENTLY, PRESIDENT NIXON 00:07:48.099 --> 00:07:51.398 USED TO DO IT BECAUSE HE FELT -- HE DIDN'T REALLY TRUST THE STATE 00:07:51.532 --> 00:07:55.099 DEPARTMENT AT THAT POINT PROVIDING THE TRANSLATORS AND 00:07:55.266 --> 00:07:57.732 DIDN'T WANT INFORMATIONATION GE OUT, LEAKING THAT HE WOULD WANT 00:07:57.866 --> 00:08:00.332 TO KEEP PRIVATE. >> WOW. 00:08:00.500 --> 00:08:02.199 >> INTERESTING HISTORICAL POINT. >> UH-HUH. 00:08:02.333 --> 00:08:06.899 >> BUT GIVEN THE FACT, GIVEN HOW UNUSUAL THE TRUMP/PUTIN 00:08:07.033 --> 00:08:10.899 RELATIONSHIP HAS BEEN, HOW NOTABLY AND CONSISTENTLY WARMLY 00:08:11.033 --> 00:08:14.999 BOTH OF THESE LEADERS HAVE TAKEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO BE TOWARDS 00:08:15.133 --> 00:08:19.132 EACH OTHER, BOTH PUBLICLY AND AS WE SEE PRIVATELY, THE FACT THAT 00:08:19.300 --> 00:08:23.432 YOU WOULD HAVE THIS KIND OF A MEETING IN FRONT OF ALL OF THESE 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:27.265 LEADERS, THE FIRST G20 SUMMIT THAT TRUMP HIMSELF HAD ATTENDED 00:08:27.399 --> 00:08:31.632 WITH AMERICAN ALLIES ALREADY UNNERVED THAT THEIR 00:08:31.766 --> 00:08:34.265 RELATIONSHIP, THEIR PRIVATE BILATERALS, PHONE CALLS WITH 00:08:34.433 --> 00:08:37.165 PRESIDENT TRUMP LEADS THEM WORRYING, CAN WE REALLY COUNT ON 00:08:37.299 --> 00:08:41.132 THE UNITED STATES IN TERMS OF NATO, SECURITY, GLOBAL TRADE, 00:08:41.266 --> 00:08:48.332 CLIMATE, VALUES, YOU NAME IT, TO THEN SHOW THAT BY FAR HIS 00:08:48.466 --> 00:08:50.632 PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP IS WITH 00:08:50.766 --> 00:08:53.865 COUNTRY THAT MANY OF THEM CONSIDER TO BE ANTAGONIST AND AT 00:08:54.033 --> 00:08:55.865 LEAST UNTIL TRUMP BECAME PRESIDENT, THE UNITED STATES DID 00:08:56.033 --> 00:08:58.465 AS WELL. THAT'S UNUSUAL AND DISCONCERTING 00:08:58.633 --> 00:09:03.565 FOR AMERICAN ALLIES AROUND THE WORLD AND IT CERTAINLY -- 00:09:03.699 --> 00:09:06.465 DESPITE THE FACT THAT TRUMP TWEETED THAT IT'S FAKE NEWS, 00:09:06.633 --> 00:09:08.532 IT'S A REAL STORY. >> YEAH. 00:09:08.666 --> 00:09:11.265 ANYTIME THE PRESIDENT HAS JUST TWEETED THAT SOMETHING IS FAKE 00:09:11.433 --> 00:09:16.165 NEWS, WE JUST CONSIDER THAT TO BE A DAY THAT ENDS IN WHY AROUND 00:09:16.333 --> 00:09:19.165 HERE. ONE LAST QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU, 00:09:19.299 --> 00:09:22.565 MR. BREMMER, ON THE POINT OF THE WHITE HOUSE NOT DOING A READOUT 00:09:22.733 --> 00:09:25.432 OF THIS, NOT EXPLAINING WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS DISCUSSION, IT 00:09:25.566 --> 00:09:29.032 SEEMS TO ME, JUST AS AN OBSERVER OF THESE THINGS, THAT THE WHITE 00:09:29.166 --> 00:09:32.765 HOUSE ALMOST ALWAYS OR ALWAYS DOES A READOUT OF ANY DISCUSSION 00:09:32.899 --> 00:09:35.565 THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS WITH A FOREIGN HEAD OF STATE. 00:09:35.699 --> 00:09:38.765 PARTICULARLY IF IT'S NOT ONE HELD IN SECRECY, IF IT'S HELD IN 00:09:38.899 --> 00:09:40.998 FULL VIEW OF OTHER PEOPLE SO THEY CAN TELL THAT SOME 00:09:41.132 --> 00:09:43.198 DISCUSSION HAPPENED. ARE YOU SAYING THAT THAT, TOO, 00:09:43.332 --> 00:09:45.899 THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO WHITE HOUSE READOUT OR DISCUSSION 00:09:46.066 --> 00:09:48.165 ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED, THAT ALSO IS VERY UNUSUAL HERE? 00:09:48.299 --> 00:09:52.098 >> I THINK IT DEPENDS. I MEAN, CERTAINLY WHEN YOU HAVE 00:09:52.232 --> 00:09:56.265 MEETINGS LIKE THIS, BIG SUMMITS, IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR A COUPLE OF 00:09:56.399 --> 00:10:01.399 LEADERS WITH BUSINESS TO DISCUSS TO TAKE EACH OTHER ASIDE FIVE 00:10:01.533 --> 00:10:03.165 MINUTES, TEN MINUTES, THAT SORT OF THING. 00:10:03.299 --> 00:10:07.399 BUT GIVEN THE UNUSUAL NATURE OF THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY, THE 00:10:07.566 --> 00:10:10.832 UNIQUELY UNUSUAL NATURE OF THE TRUMP/PUTIN RELATIONSHIP AND THE 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:15.332 LENGTH OF THIS MEETING THAT THEY CHOSE NOT TO DISCLOSE, GIVEN THE 00:10:15.466 --> 00:10:19.632 CONTROVERSY AROUND THE BROADER DISCLOSED MEETING, PUBLIC 00:10:19.766 --> 00:10:23.399 MEETING AS IT WERE, THIS ALL STRIKES ME AS EXCEPTIONALLY 00:10:23.533 --> 00:10:24.799 UNUSUAL. AND SOMETHING THAT IS NOT GOING 00:10:24.933 --> 00:10:34.965 TO GO AWAY ANYTIME SOON. >> IAN BREMMER, PRESIDENT OF THE 00:10:35.133 --> 00:10:37.665 EURSIA GROUP WHO THIS TO NATIONAL ATTENTION TONIGHT, 00:10:37.799 --> 00:10:41.598 THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> MY PLEASURE, RACHEL. 00:10:41.732 --> 00:10:42.498 THANKS. >> YEAH. 00:10:42.633 --> 00:10:46.132 LIKE I SAID, THE NEWS CAME ACROSS SECOND UNDISCLOSED 00:10:46.300 --> 00:10:49.232 MEETING BETWEEN TRUMP AND PUTIN. MY OFFICE IS LIKE HERE AND MY 00:10:49.400 --> 00:10:52.332 EXECUTIVE PRODUCER'S OFFICE IS HERE AND THE OTHER OFFICES FOR 00:10:52.466 --> 00:10:57.932 EVERYBODY WHO WORKS ON THE STAFF KIND OF SPLAY AROUND THE CORNER 00:10:58.100 --> 00:11:00.932 LIKE THIS. I HEARD IT LIKE A STADIUM WAVE 00:11:01.066 --> 00:11:04.365 MADE AUDIBLE. OH, MY GOD, OH, MY GOD, DID YOU