[Burnett:] Breaking news tonight. Ted Cruz announcing Carly Fiorina will be his running mate. Obviously, something that never happens at this point in the cycle unless you are at a do or die moment coming into what you hope is a contested convention. Ted Cruz's situation. Sunlen Serfaty is traveling with the Cruz campaign. She's OUTFRONT from Indianapolis. Sunlen, you just actually spoke to Carly Fiorina, and you know, she's defending this, right? She's saying this is smart, not a Hail Mary pass?
[Sunlen Serfaty, Cnn Correspondent:] Yes, that's right. She is clearly defending this move by the Cruz campaign this very unusual, and nontraditional move. And what it reveals about the state of the Cruz campaign right now. If it's trying, just a move trying to refocus attention, kind of give them a boost of momentum. And right after she stepped off stage here today with Senator Cruz when he announced that he has chosen her as his vice president, I talked to her, and I asked her specifically about this criticism today, that this move is seen as desperate. Here's how she responded.
[Carly Fiorina, Ted Cruz's Vice Presidential Choice:] Everything about this campaign. Everything about this election, is unprecedented. Let's face it. These are unprecedented times. And we face unprecedented challenges and dangers. I think this is a confident leader who knows what he wants to do for this nation. And who wants the nation to understand who he is, what he believes, and who he wants by his side to fight this fight on behalf of the American people.
[Serfaty:] So Carly Fiorina really trying to brush the criticism today aside, for what it reveals about the Cruz campaign and the status of their campaign right now. You know, describing it just as this being an atypical election. And Fiorina really also pushing back on Donald Trump's specific criticisms today that he says that Senator Cruz is wasting his time in choosing Fiorina or making any sort of vice presidential pick given that he has no path to the nomination before a contested convention. And Carly Fiorina coming back with a very appointed I should say, in sharp rebuttal, see you on the campaign trail, Donald Erin.
[Burnett:] All right. Sunlen, thank you very much. And back to my panel. Mark, what do you say? I mean, this is a Hail Mary pass. The question is, does it possibly have a chance of working?
[Preston:] I mean, look. If I was a betting man, which I am. If you were to bet on this race, I mean, you would put your money on Donald Trump. I mean, this was a Hail Mary pass.
[Burnett:] Right.
[Preston:] I mean, there's no question about it. The question is, what does Carly Fiorina bring him? I mean, she is well-liked by conservatives. But so wasn't he? You know, does she serve as a very effective attack dog? In many ways, probably so. But is it too late for that to work? And I think at this point, you know, he had to do anything that he could do to try to stop Donald Trump. So you can't fault them for at least trying to do something.
[Burnett:] Right. Kellyanne, here's the thing. Eric Trump tweeted Donald Trump's son this move is, quote, one of the greatest acts of desperation I have ever seen. Certainly, Carly Fiorina, by virtue of her gender, you could see that's part of this, right? You go after the fact that Donald Trump has such huge unfavorables with women. But is that enough? You're going to see women suddenly flock to Ted Cruz because of Carly Fiorina?
[Conway:] Well, I didn't look at Carly Fiorina just as a woman. And I think if the Trump camp really thinks that it's just desperate, just ignore it. I mean, they're really making a lot of hay about it for people who think it's a nonstarter and it's irrelevant, it's not going to work. They sure got under their skin a little bit. Look, of course, she's a woman. And she's proven herself a very formidable, fearless defender of conservative values. But I think, more importantly, Carley are force a two-way conversation on abortion. You know, Hillary Clinton tries to own that, that Republicans are these White men are anti-women and anti-choice. I think Carly Fiorina will get in there and say, you're really extreme on abortion, Hillary and the Democrats because you're for partial birth abortion, sex-selective abortion, tax fair funding abortion, fetal pain abortion, abortion anyone anytime anywhere. That's not something I don't think Donald Trump or Ted Cruz are going to do as comfortably. Secondly, let's give Carly Fiorina her due. Whether it works is a separate question. This woman calling her calling it a desperate move after she was the first Fortune 20 CEO. She's got a resume outside of politics that Hillary Clinton would dream of having. She is now we have a true feminist back in the race.
[Burnett:] She does. She has got a very strong resume, but a very controversial one in the business world to be honest.
[Preston:] But it's not about her. It's not about her. It's about the acts. It's not about whether she has the qualifications to be. It's about their decision to do it at this point in the campaign.
[Burnett:] Should it even a double down?
[Mcenany:] No, it won't help. This is unprecedented. You don't name a VP pick until you are the nominee or presumptive nominee. And you look Ted Cruz is desperate to get in the news. That's why Sunday night he leaked the story about the Kasich alliance. That's why he tried to do that silly basketball stunt last night, which fell flat. That's why today he's doing this VP pick. He's trying to get in the news, because he knows this is a Hail Mary. It's the last thing he can do. It won't work.
[Burnett:] Unusual press conference. For many ways. Carly Fiorina came out, she had the cheers, she had the crowd. And then there was this one rather strange moment. Let me just play it.
[Fiorina:] We've been traveling. Around the country. And I've come to know Ted and Heidi and Carolyn and Kathryn. I know two girls that I just adore, I'm so happy I can see them more because we travel on the bus all day, we get to play, we get to play, I won't bore you with anymore of the song.
[Preston:] She's a better singer than I am. I mean, no question about that. Listen, she is trying to soften a persona of Ted Cruz, who is seen as very rigid and doesn't seem like he has a whole lot of emotion inside of him. I mean, that's clearly what happens.
[Mcenany:] She beats screaming at the podium like Hillary does.
[Setmayer:] Right. And it also beats barking which Hillary Clinton did. At least there wasn't that. Listen, Carly Fiorina is brings a political upside for Ted Cruz. I don't believe this is an act of desperation. I think it was smart politics. That's right. This is unconventional. This election, there's nothing traditional about this election. It actually has been done before. Ronald Reagan did it. It didn't work for him. But it has been done before. So why not? This way, the American people can see a stable ticket. You see what you get. Not, you know, behind closed doors on one way and in front of people I'm a different way. And this week, I'm going to act one way and next week I'm going to act a different way. You have no idea what's going to happen every time he steps in front of a television camera. Ted Cruz is trying to show that this is a mature race and that we're serious about running for president. And this is what we bring to the table. She's an effective attack dog. And it did get under Donald Trump's skin for sure, Kellyanne, because let's not forget, Carly Fiorina is the only one who really smacks Donald Trump around on the debate stage when he tried to go after her looks. And she cut him down to size. And you know he didn't like that. So that's another reason why.
[Kellyanne Conway, Keep The Promise, Super Pac Supporting Ted Cruz:] The primary in California. I mean, she won over 4 million votes. Remember, California, is the big prize, 172 delegates. Republican primary voters.
[Burnett:] All right. Thank you all very much. Of course, California so crucial with its delegates, coming up on June 7th. Tonight, Donald Trump is bashing U.S. foreign policy. Today, he actually with a teleprompter laid out his own vision in a speech, all part of the major policy address by the frontrunner. Here's part of what he said.
[Donald Trump , Presidential Candidate:] Our foreign policy is a complete and total disaster. No vision, no purpose, no direction, no strategy. If President Obama's goal had been to weaken America, he could not have done a better job. The legacy of the ObamaClinton interventions will be weakness, confusion, and disarray a mess.
[Burnett:] Chief national security correspondent, Jim Sciutto, is OUTFRONT. And, Jim, this is a major foreign policy speech for Donald Trump. He did it with a teleprompter, obviously edited himself that had some of the trademark phrasing. But this was very much a formal prepared speech. How was it received?
[Jim Sciutto, Cnn Chief National Security Correspondent:] It was prepared and more yellow in tone, no question, but very familiar positions. Listen, there was tremendous amount of criticism, but also praise from people like Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the house. He talked about how, yes, he mispronounced the word Tanzania, but he pronounced America right. Earlier, he said he started a profound rebellion. Ari Fleischer coming out in support of him. And let's be honest, Erin, we know there are critics even within his own party of Donald Trump. Many of the positions he laid out today, even though they had that characteristic Trump brashness, are familiar Republican Party establishment positions. For instance, criticism of the Iran nuclear deal. So, a lot of this was not out there at least from a foreign policy perspective.
[Burnett:] Now Trump mentioned radical Islam several times today, Jim. Used it as a way to go after President Obama and Secretary Clinton. He said, look, they are afraid to use the word. He's not. Here's how he put it.
[Trump:] We're in a war against radical Islamic, but President Obama won't even name the enemy. Hillary Clinton also refuses to say the words "radical Islamic", even as she pushes for a massive increase in refugees. We must stop importing extremism through senseless immigration policies. A pause for reassessment will help us to prevent the next San Bernardino, or, frankly, much worse.
[Sciutto:] A pause for reassessment there, Erin. That's really referring to his ban on Muslims coming to the U.S. he didn't say it in so many words but in effect doubling down on that position. And at the same time, hitting on points that really have resonated with many of his supporters, this idea of calling it radical Islam, which the president has been reluctant to do, saying it's not the faith, it's a bastardization of the faith. But these are positions that resonate and that as you know, many people said, when he for instance mentioned the Muslim ban, that he couldn't survive this, and yet he is the presumptive Republican nominee at this point. And perhaps taking that in, these again are campaign-tested positions. He's sticking with them.
[Burnett:] All right. Jim Sciutto, thank you very much. And this was such a crucial speech. I want to go now OUTFRONT to the man who introduced Donald Trump today, Zalmay Khalilzad. He is the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Afghanistan and Iraq and the author of "The Envoy". Ambassador, thank you so much for being with me. Look, just to be very blunt here, you are the highest-ranking Muslim ever to hold office in an American administration. You introduced Donald Trump today. As you are well aware, you were immediately criticized on social media. Why did you do it?
[Zalmay Khalilzad, Introduced Trump Durign Foreign Policy Address:] Well, first, I'm glad you called me by my name because I thought you may continue to refer me as "the Muslim man". But I did it because I'm on the board of the National Interest Foundation, and that foundation hosted Donald Trump to give his speech. And they asked me to chair it, and I did, and I'm glad that I did it.
[Burnett:] Let me ask you, though, because I understand your frustration. Look, you don't want it to be about your religion, but nonetheless, the fact that you were the highest-serving Muslim. A lot of people when you look at Trump's proposed policies, that's a significant thing, to be, to go ahead and announce him. He said, today, if there were a pause in allowing Muslim immigration into the United States, it could prevent the next San Bernardino. You heard that little clip there in which he said that. By your introducing him, given your faith, are you saying that he's right? Do you think that there is something to that policy? Or no?
[Khalilzad:] Well, I think we as Americans, irregardless of what religion we have, what our faith is, should support policies that can protect America. And if we don't know who is coming in, whether that person regardless whether he's a Muslim or she's a Muslim or from another faith, then not allowing the person to come is not a bad idea until we can figure out to know who we are admitting to the country. So I think I don't see it so much as a ban on Muslims as a ban, as he explained it if he meant something different, I would disagree with is that we should know who we are admitting so that that person doesn't pose a threat to U.S. security.
[Burnett:] Right. Of course, he had proposed a temporary ban on Muslims, because, you know, he says that Muslims
[Khalilzad:] He doesn't say that today. He didn't say that today.
[Burnett:] So you think today was a change, then, in his policy, but the way it was originally put forth, you would not agree with if it was specifically a ban on Muslims.
[Khalilzad:] I agree with you that if it was a ban on all Muslims, I would disagree with because we need Muslims, moderate Muslims, anti- extremist Muslims, to defeat the extremists. We by ourselves cannot defeat extremism. Muslims generally have to defeat them and we have to support those moderate Muslims.
[Burnett:] So, would you serve in a Trump administration?
[Khalilzad:] Well, if I thought that I could make a positive difference, to help U.S. national security, I would do so. But I would also serve in an administration that was led by someone else, as well, including by Hillary Clinton. I have benefited from this country. I love the United States. And I will do what I can to help the United States. So
[Burnett:] OK.
[Khalilzad:] But today wasn't I wasn't there to endorse him.
[Burnett:] OK.
[Khalilzad:] I was there to introduce him.
[Burnett:] Right, right. And, of course, it sounds like you at least disagree with the way he has put forth the policy in the past. Have you had a chance to speak to Donald Trump about his comments on Muslims?
[Khalilzad:] Well, I met him for the first time today, before the speech. So I have not had the opportunity to discuss it in detail. But I was encouraged by the evolution in his approach, given what he said before.
[Burnett:] All right. Well, Ambassador Khalilzad, thank you very much. I appreciate your time and certainly in making it very clear, far from an endorsement, to stand there and introduce Donald Trump today. OUTFRONT next, more breaking news. The Sanders campaign announcing tonight, they are laying off hundreds of workers. We have that report ahead. And Donald Trump charging Clinton is playing the, quoteunquote, "woman's card". Clinton firing back. We have a special report.