[Jake Tapper, Cnn:] We're back. Right now President Trump and the First Lady are arriving at University Medical Center in El Paso where he is expected to meet with some of the victims of the horrific, racist El Paso shooting. Our coverage on CNN continues right now. Thanks for watching.
[Wolf Blitzer, Cnn:] Happening now, El Paso visit. Air Force One just touched down in El Paso. President Trump will be meeting with victims of the mass shooting and thanking first responders. His visit is sparking protests from El Paso residents who don't appreciate his anti-immigrant rhetoric. But will the President see or hear them? "Nice job" earlier the President visited shooting victims and officials in Dayton, Ohio. The city's mayor tells CNN he did a nice job of consoling people but added she's disappointed because he offered nothing concrete about stopping gun violence. Her news conference sparked a Twitter attack from the President as he headed to El Paso. Why can't he resist getting political? In isolation as the President visits survivors of the attack, sources tell CNN the alleged gunman is on lockdown and in isolation. What are investigators learning about the murderous plot that led him to El Paso? And fan the flames former vice president Joe Biden aims a blistering attack at President Trump accusing him of aligning himself with the darkest forces in this nation and fanning the flames of white supremacy. Stand by for more of what Biden and other 2020 Democrats are saying about the President. I'm Wolf Blitzer. And you're in THE SITUATION ROOM. Breaking news. President Trump arriving in El Paso just moments ago. Earlier he and the First Lady stopped at a hospital in Dayton, Ohio to thank first responders and meet with some of the shooting victims and their families. The President spent his flight between Dayton and El Paso tweeting attacks on the mayor of Dayton and Ohio's Democratic U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown even though when he left the White House this morning, the President told reporters he thinks his rhetoric brings people together. This hour, I'll speak with El Paso City Council Member Cassandras Hernandez. And our correspondents analysts are standing by including CNN crews covering the President's trip to Dayton and El Paso, then back to the White House. Let's begin with our Chief White House Correspondent, Jim Acosta. Jim the President Trump can't seem to resist mixing politics with his role as consoler-in-chief.
[Jim Acosta, Cnn Chief White House Correspondent:] That's right Wolf. President Trump just arrived in El Paso, Texas to meet with law enforcement officials and some of the victims from last weekend's massacre. He is heading to the hospital in El Paso right now as we speak. But the President just spent the last few hours blasting away at his critics on Twitter including some on the ground in Ohio while the President was flying on Air Force One. Even when the cities of El Paso and Dayton are grieving, the President is airing his grievances.
[Acosta:] Facing what is shaping to be a critical moment in his administration, President Trump arrived in El Paso, Texas to try to comfort another U.S. city traumatized by a mass shooting. Earlier in the day he spent times with massacre victims in Dayton, Ohio where he was pressed by lawmakers to do something about gun violence.
[Sen. Sherrod Brown:] We can't get anything done in the Senate because Mitch McConnell and the President of the United States are in bed with the gun lobby.
[Acosta:] As the President was flying from Ohio to Texas, he was live tweeting a speech from former vice president, Joe Biden as he ripped into Mr. Trump.
[Joe Biden , Presidential Candidate:] How far is it from Trump saying this is an invasion to the shooter in El Paso declaring, quote, this attack is a response to Hispanic invasion of Texas. How far apart are those comments?
[Acosta:] The President tweeted he was watching and said Biden was so boring. The White House insisted the President would play the role of consoler-in-chief but President Trump sounded at times as though he was consoling himself.
[Donald Trump, President Of The United States:] So my critics are political people. They're trying to make points.
[Acosta:] Dodging questions about his incendiary rhetoric and making the head scratching claim that his language has somehow unified the country.
[Trump:] No, I don't think my rhetoric has at all. I think my rhetoric is a very it brings people together.
[Acosta:] Mr. Trump was pressed on the El Paso gunman's manifesto which appeared to be inspired in part by the President's use of the term "invasion" to describe migrants. He side stepped that one too.
[Unidentified Female:] You and the shooter in El Paso used that same language. Do you regret that?
[Trump:] I think that illegal immigration you're talking about illegal immigration, right? Yes. I think illegal immigration is a terrible thing for this country. I think you have to come in legally.
[Acosta:] The President then proceed to spread the blame around for the outbreak of violence under his watch.
[Trump:] Ip don't like it. Any group of hate, I am whether it's white supremacy, whether it's any other kind of supremacy, whether it's Antifa, whether it's any group
[Acosta:] Just as he did after Charlottesville.
[Trump:] And you bad some very bad people in that group but you also have people that were very fine people on both sides.
[Acosta:] Despite striking a tone of unity earlier in the week, the President lashed out at Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke tweeting, "Beto, [phony name to indicate Hispanic heritage] O'Rourke should respect the victims and law enforcement and be quiet." O'Rourke fired back, "22 people in my home town are dead after an act of terror inspired by your racism. El Paso will not be quiet and neither will
[I." Beto O'rourke , Presidential Candidate:] We will proudly stand together for one another and for this country and that is what I'm doing with my community right now.
[Acosta:] After some elected leaders in El Paso urged the President to stay in the White House, the city's main newspaper published an open letter to Mr. Trump that reads, "Mr. President the hatred of the El Paso shootings didn't come from our city." Residents in El Paso remember the President's visit to the city in February when he painted migrants as criminals.
[Trump:] Murderers, murderers, murderers, killing, murders. We will. We will.
[Acosta:] And we should point out right now the President is on the ground in El Paso. He is visiting a hospital there in El Paso to meet with some of the victims there after last weekend's massacre. There is a large police presence as you could see on the ground right now outside of that hospital, trying to make sure everything stays safe in that area. We should point out White House officials earlier in the day, Wolf lashed out at Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown and the mayor of Dayton as the President did on Twitter accusing those two elected leaders of quote "disgusting behavior for not acknowledging the reception Mr. Trump received at the hospital in Dayton, Ohio earlier today. But Senator Brown, we should point out for the record Wolf, told reporters the President was, quote, "received well and did the right thing at the hospital. So it is not exactly clear what the White House what the President is talking about. As to whether the President will take action on gun violence, a source tells CNN Mr. Trump is looking at some kind of executive order to tighten up the nation's background check system Wolf.
[Blitzer:] We'll see if that happens. Jim Acosta, at the White House for us thank you very much. Also tonight, we're learning more about what has happened to the El Paso suspect who gave himself up after Saturday's massacre. Let's go to CNN's Brian Todd. He's getting new information. What are you hearing Brian?
[Brian Todd, Cnn Correspondent:] Wolf we have new information tonight from the investigation on how police tracked the shooter's alleged manifesto and new details tonight on his conditions inside a local jail cell.
[Todd:] Tonight law enforcement officials tell CNN suspected shooter 21-year-old Patrick Crusius is being held on lockdown in isolation inside this detention center in downtown El Paso. A sheriff's Department Official said he's being held in a single 7 by 11 foot cell away from other inmates. Law enforcement veterans tell us his possible interaction with other inmates is a major concern.
[Carlos Leon, Former El Paso Police Chief:] Just moving him from his area to another area, just to make sure that he's not attacked. There is all sorts of things when you transfer, they've got to ensure that that person makes it to trial. So as I understand, he's been held in an area where he will be safe from other inmates and safe from himself.
[Todd:] But a sheriff's department official tells CNN the suspect is not on suicide watch. The El Paso police lieutenant leading the team which track down what they believe is the shooter's racist manifesto tell CNN affiliate WOI, police had to sift through a lot of false information and panic to find that clue.
[Lt. Dustin Liston, Director, El Paso Fusion Center:] We were able to uncover this manifesto relatively quickly. But we weren't able to attribute it to the suspect until later.
[Todd:] Tonight investigators are piecing together information on the shooters alleged planning, including his 10 to 11 hour journey to El Paso. Key questions they're looking at
[Leon:] Did he talk to anybody. Did he indicate anything at all? Do you have tape on that?
[Prof. Daniel Lieberman, George Washington University:] You never know who it is that is going to see the signs. And people who see the signs might assume, well, I don't know this person very well, someone else is going to report it. That is not a great idea. If there is a problem, anyone who sees it should get involved and report it.
[Todd:] Former El Paso police chief Carlos Leon is confident this resilient community will recover but he says residents will have serious security concerns going forward.
[Leon:] There will be a fear factor in all of us as we go to these larger stores, large events. Of course we're going to be thinking in the back of our mind, hey, am I safe here? And you start looking around.
[Todd:] And tonight Walmart itself is having to address a lot of those security concerns. The retail chain under scrutiny for not having any security guards whatsoever here on Saturday and for the policy of selling guns. Walmart officials telling CNN tonight they are reviewing their security protocols at all of their stores and taking a very deliberate measure in reviewing their policy on selling guns Wolf. And to set the tone more of what is going on on the ground, as President Trump right at this moment is at that University Medical Center here in El Paso, still a lot of raw emotions and frankly a lot of tension here on the ground. Behind me is this memorial area where people have come to pay tribute to the victims but on occasion you've had sporadic protests her behind plus heated street arguments here between Trump supports and others. Also, as we've been reporting, a protest at a nearby park here in El Paso where people are being very, very passionate about just, you know, what is going on her and about President Trump's visit. So as the President visits that medical center, just a lot of raw emotion here on the ground.
[Blitzer:] Brian Todd reporting for us in El Paso. Thanks Brian. Let's go to Dayton right now where the President met with shooting victims, their families and local officials. CNN'S Jason Carroll spoke with the Dayton's mayor. What did she tell you about the meeting with President Trump?
[Jason Carroll, Cnn Correspondent:] Well, a couple of things. She was very honest about the meeting Wolf. She said that the meeting initially went well in terms of how Trump had responded to some of the victims at the hospital from this terrible shooting. But she also did not hold back her impressions of how she feels as though the President handles the issue of gun control. She said, quote, "She does not believe the President is capable of having a real conversation about gun safety."
[Mayor Nan Whaley, Dayton, Ohio:] he was there to comfort the those injured and those victims and he and the First Lady did a nice job of that. I would say no. There was nothing concrete that we got out of it but, you know, we got to speak our mind about this issue which I think is so important to Daytonians. And so that did happen. It's disappointing. It's disappointing when your community has gone through this much and, you know, there is no discussion really about what needs to change, what policy matters need to change. It's disappointing. Well I mean he just uses words that don't really mean anything. So we're going to do something. Because I was really like, you know, Mr. President, we need to see action. We need to see something done on gun control, specifically on gun control. We're going to do something.
[Carroll:] So what you're hearing from there Wolf, is Mayor Whaley very frustrated, very disappointed overall about that meeting with the President. She really feels as though was hoping that the President would at least commit to something when it comes to gun safety. She said she came out of that meeting with nothing Wolf.
[Blitzer:] Jason Carroll in Dayton for us. Jason thanks very much. Joining us now, the El Paso City Council Member Cassandra Hernandez. Cassandra thanks so much for joining us. And I know these are difficult days for you, for everyone in El Paso, for so many people around the country. You joined a protest today against President Trump. He's in your city right now. What is your message to the President?
[Cassandra Hernandez, El Paso City Council Member:] My message to the President is that he is not welcome for many reasons. Because he has dehumanized immigrants and Mexicans, people of my community. He has taken no action on gun reform and diverted that blame. And worst, he has awakened a hate deep within white supremacists that has caused shootings like we have seen tis weekend.
[Blitzer:] On his way to your city, El Paso, the President criticized the mayor of Dayton who had just hosted him in the aftermath of her city's mass shooting and last night the President tweeted that your former congressman from El Paso, Beto O'Rourke, should be, quote, "quiet". Are you concerned about what he might say about El Paso following his visit there?
[Hernandez:] No. I'm not concerned. But I have some advice for him. How about he instead celebrates American El Paso heroes that we see here in El Paso. Like two African-Americans, Christopher Grant who was throwing bottles at the shooter to distract him from shooting a newborn baby. Like Army Serviceman Glendan Oakland who had carried children to keep them from being shot by the shooter. And like U.S. CBP agent for helping bring aid to Chris Grant. And like our first responders and thanking the people who supported this tragedy and the hospital staff and so many more. So I would like to see the President honor our heroes before criticizing our leaders in El Paso.
[Blitzer:] Some El Paso residents actually put out signs for President Trump. I want to read one of them. This is translated from Spanish. It says, "Mr. Trump, no more acts of racism, acts of hate, acts of terrorism. We are a Hispanic country and the hate towards Mexicans is not fair. We are three girls, American citizens, our parents are Mexican. And we are afraid to go outside," end quote. Does that line up, Cassandra, from what you're hearing from your constituents?
[Hernandez:] I hear a variety of things. But I think what saddens me the most, Wolf is how parents are trying to talk about this to their children. Are they next to be shot for being Hispanic or migrants? And that is very unfortunate that this is the America that we have created. And Trump has had no has not brought us the words to comfort us, has contributed to the problem. He is part of the problem. He needs to take back his evil words about migrants, about asylum-seekers, about refugees, about Mexicans, about Hispanics people who look like me. And I'm so I'm so sorry to the people who are living in fear. But this evil act will not define us. We are more united than I've ever seen before. We're El Paso strong. And that is the message that we are sharing with everybody, those who are fearing to live in their own skin.
[Blitzer:] President Trump says he's looking at background check legislation. But CNN has also learned that top White House officials have held conversations with the National Rifle Association, the NRA, since the shooting in El Paso. What is your reaction to that?
[Hernandez:] I think it is a good first step. I'm not I'm not confident but I will be optimistic that something comes from that. Until we ban assault rifles weapons of war, high-capacity magazines, universal background checks, we're not going to see the end of these mass shooting. This has been normalized and this is commonplace in our nation. And he needs to do more than just meeting with NRA members who give money and lobby and give millions of dollars to congressmen and to senators. We need more than just talk. We need action. We need policy today.
[Blitzer:] What does your community right now need most to begin healing?
[Hernandez:] I think we need to hear President Trump apologize to Hispanics who look like me, to the immigrants. I think what we need is for President Trump to denounce some of the executive orders and some of the practices of the border patrol and homeland security, leaving migrants in Mexico so that they can't seek asylum here. We need to see him reverse a lot of his actions and to apologize to the American people, to the Hispanic and Latino communities and to immigrants of the United States.
[Blitzer:] Cassandra Hernandez thanks very much. We'll stay in very close touch with you. Once again we're monitoring the President. He's in El Paso right now. Very, very heavy security surrounding the President. He's over at the University Medical Center where he's meeting with first responders and hospital staff and, most importantly, victims. Much more of our special coverage right after this.