[Chris Cuomo, Cnn:] Best part of the night. Introducing D. Lemon and CNN Tonight.
[Don Lemon, Cnn:] Of course. Of course, it is. It had better be.
[Cuomo:] Makes me smile. It doesn't even matter when things are rough in the world. I always get a smile when I see your face. And I can't wait to hear what you say about the president tonight saying that
[Lemon:] My God.
[Cuomo:] the virus is dying out. The only thing dying are people is people
[Lemon:] Yes.
[Cuomo:] all over this country. And part of the reason why is this lackadaisical attitude about this thing that when you're emotionally done with it, it will go away.
[Lemon:] Yes.
[Cuomo:] It's just not happening.
[Lemon:] Well, if it's something they don't want, they just, you know, they pretend it's not happening, right? And some would say that they're in a state of denial. But, I mean, just think about today, Chris. Everything that happened today. You had the coronavirus. You've got the Bolton book which I'm going to talk about. You've got what happened in Atlanta. You still what's going on with George Floyd and the protesters. I mean, just think about just one day of news at any other time it may be stretched over a week or month. This is just these are just incredible times that we're living in right now.
[Cuomo:] So, a lot of fomented tension in the country because you got a vacuum of leaderships.
[Lemon:] Absolutely.
[Cuomo:] Because instead of having somebody that is working against what divides us, which is what we're used to as a dynamic. We have somebody who is fomenting division.
[Lemon:] Yes.
[Cuomo:] And so, everything is heightened. Everybody is on edge. But this pandemic stuff and there's only one truth, you know. And I have to tell you, if he's going to have people sign releases at that rally, now that he's offering masks? I don't think that's right. I think that if you're offering masks and you're recognizing the risk and you are having this rally anyway. Don't have people sign releases.
[Lemon:] Right.
[Cuomo:] That's dirty pool, man. You know they follow you and they want to come. But you are going to have sent yourself for many responsibility and liability when you're the president who is inviting them there. It's not right.
[Lemon:] Yes, I agree 100 percent. I got to get to it. We have a lot going on. Plus, we have the officers, remember, that you talked to the mayor about in Atlanta. Maybe she has a sick out on her hands. We'll see. Thank you, Chris. See you soon. Love you, brother.
[Cuomo:] Love you, D. Lemon.
[Lemon:] This is CNN TONIGHT. I'm Don Lemon. So, OK. What is this president and his inner circle so afraid of? What are they so afraid of? They are trying everything in the book to stop a book from going public. So, you can't read it. Last minute legal maneuvers coming fast and furious to block the John Bolton book. So, you watch the "Wizard of Oz", right? This is what they don't want. They don't want to pull back the curtain on this "Wizard of Oz" president and reveal the truth of his mediocrity and flim-flam. Look it up. Old word flim-flam, or two words put together. They don't want you to know that right now, this president, President Trump and his top White House aides they're really in denial. They are in denial about the coronavirus pandemic. Just ignoring it at this point. They're in denial about racism in America despite America's streets exploding in angry protests about police brutality just over the past three weeks. And they're in denial about who Donald Trump was elected to serve. Wait until you hear the explosive allegations in this new book by John Bolton. By the way, he was Trump's he is Trump's former national security adviser. So, we have a lot to talk about. But we want to start with the coronavirus. Despite what the president, the vice president and others in this administration want you to believe, it's still a killer disease. But not according to Trump. Incredibly. He is now claiming that it is dying out. Saying, if you look the numbers are very minuscule compared to what it was. It's dying out. By the way, we're doing very well in vaccines and therapeutics also. I think there's going to be some big announcement on that in the not too distant future. But no, we're not concerned. Sound familiar? Kind of like what he said in the very beginning, right? And then, more than 2.1. million confirmed cases in the United States and the nationwide death tolls right now is nearing 118,000. Twenty-one states nearly half the states in the country now experiencing a rise in the number of new cases. Ten states seeing their highest seven-day average of new coronavirus cases per day since the pandemic began. Months ago. The virus is not dying out. The president holding an event at the White House this afternoon invited guests, and as the cameras pull back, there you go, you will notice that pretty much everyone in attendance taking their cue from the president practically no one wearing a mask. The coronavirus task force basically sidelined. Vice President Mike Pence the head of it ignoring the mask guidance. Dr. Fauci says he hasn't spoken to the president in two weeks. And for those stats I just recited on the virus spreading, Trump resorting to an old rule from his play book. He just ignores the facts. As one administration official tells CNN Trump and his top aides are just in denial about the severity of the virus. The president moving full steam ahead with his planned campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Saturday. Twenty thousand people. Twenty thousand people will pack into an arena. Masks, not required. Oklahoma, one of the 21 states with the coronavirus cases on the rise. Dr. Fauci saying this. That he wouldn't go to a crowded event like that. I want you to listen to this exchange today between CNN's Jim Acosta and the White House Press Secretary, Kayleigh McEnany.
[Jim Acosta, Cnn Chief White House Correspondent:] Will the president or the White House take responsibility if people get sick and catch the coronavirus at this rally on Saturday?
[Kayleigh Mcenany, White House Press Secretary:] So, the campaign is taking certain measures to make sure this is safe rally. Temperature checks, hand sanitizers and masks. So, we are taking precautions.
[Acosta:] But you're not requiring masks.
[Mcenany:] They will be given a mask. It's up to them. Whether to make that decisions, CDC guidelines are recommended but not required.
[Lemon:] Friendly warning to those planning to attend. Or you can call it a caveat. You're on your own. The Trump campaign is not interested in protecting your health. The rally is strictly about President Trump and his need to be the center of attention before adoring fans. Think about this, if the president wasn't really concerned about coronavirus, would he make people sign agreements that they can't they have no recourse if they do get coronavirus? I mean, when he just says, you're not going to get it, it's fine. He's making people sign these agreements. Think about that. The House Speaker Nancy Pelosi bypassing the president taking Mike Pence to task for ignoring the dangers of the virus.
[Rep. Nancy Pelosi  Speaker Of The House:] No, Mr. Vice president you make me sad because you're a person of faith. You're prayerful about praying for a cure and praying for vaccines. And praying for the good health of the American people. Not to minimize the risk that they are taking because the president doesn't want to wear a mask and he wants an ego trip in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
[Lemon:] For the record the director of Tulsa's Health Department warning that anyone who attends the rally faces an increased risk of COVID-19 infection. President Trump and his top aides are also in denial about systemic racism tonight in the United States. Especially in law enforcement.
[Unidentified Male:] You said you don't believe in systemic exists
[Larry Kudlow, Director, U.s. National Economic Council:] I do I do not.
[Unidentified Male:] At all in the U.S.?
[Kudlow:] I do not.
[Unidentified Male:] You don't think there's any systemic racism against African-Americans the United States?
[Kudlow:] I will say it again. I do not.
[Donald Trump, President Of The United States Of America:] We want to make sure we don't have any bad actors in there. Sometimes you'll see some horrible things like we witnessed recently. But 99, I say 99.9 but let's go with 99 percent of them are great, great people. And they've done jobs that are record setting.
[William Barr, United States Attorney General:] I think there's racism in the United States still. But I don't think that the law enforcement system is systemically racist.
[Jake Tapper, Cnn:] Do you think systemic racism is a problem in law enforcement agencies in the United States?
[Robert O'brien, U.s. National Security Adviser:] No. I don't think there is systemic racism. I think 99.9 percent of our law enforcement officers are great Americans.
[Lemon:] Trump fancies himself a law and order president claiming that only a tiny number of police officers bad apples, as he calls them are responsible for acts of police brutality especially against African-Americans. South Carolina Senator Tim Scott the only black Republican in the Senate is leading the GOP's effort on police reform legislation. And he's sticking to the Republican position that plays down systemic racism.
[Sen. Tim Scott:] The fact that some people enjoy talking about systemic racism. The fact that some people want to define everything from a racism, racist perspective. I don't know how to tell people that the nation is not racist. I'll try again. We're not a racist country. We deal with racism because there's racism in the country. Both are mutually true. They are both true but not mutually exclusive.
[Lemon:] Wow. Also, he said he's pulled over by police 10 times in a year. Now you ask yourself, how many times have you been pulled over in a year? How many? But he's been pulled over 10 times. According to him. But there's no systemic racism. Interesting. By the way, Tim Scott, please come on the show. I'd love to talk to you. The president's executive order on police reform no teeth in it. Suggestions. Not mandatory changes. Chokeholds are banned but there is a loophole. But he insists he is out in front leading the effort to reform criminal justice. And as usual bashing Barack Obama.
[Trump:] I passed criminal justice reform which nobody could get. President Obama couldn't get it. I don't know if he tried it. But he certainly didn't get it or didn't come close. Opportunity zones. Historically black colleges and universities, I got them funded.
[Unidentified Male:] But do you need to sound more empathetic?
[Trump:] Well, I think what I have to do is get jobs back. I mean, if you want to know the truth, I do. I am empathetic.
[Lemon:] No, he's not. Donald Trump is the least empathetic president in any of our lifetimes. He's one of the angriest. And now we know why he is suing to stop the release of John Bolton's new book next week. Former national security adviser making bombshell accusations against his former boss. Claiming in his book that President Trump personally asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to help him win the 2020 presidential election. That's what Bolton says. Bolton writing about Trump during a meeting last year with President Xi. He then stunningly, and I quote here, "turned the conversation to the upcoming U.S. presidential election. Eluding to China's economic capability to affect the ongoing campaigns. Pleading with Xi to ensure he win. He stresses the importance of farmers and increase Chinese purchases of soybeans and wheat in the electoral outcome." Bolton also claims that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo once passed a note to him during a meeting with Trump in which Pompeo told Bolton that he believed Trump was quote, "so full of shit." That's what he says. Also, tonight, we're going to talk a lot about this. Coming up. And that is a former Atlanta police officer now charged with felony murder in the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks last week. He could face the death penalty. And sources telling CNN that Atlanta police officers calling out sick tonight in protest. A lot coming up. The latest on all these stories. But first, straight to our White House correspondent Jeremy Diamond with the very latest from Washington. Jeremy, good evening to you. Thank you so much for joining us. Despite rising numbers of cases in coronavirus cases in 10 states, President Trump says that the cases are, quote, "dying out." That simply is not true.
[Jeremy Diamond, Cnn White House Correspondent:] It certainly is not, Don. And what's most striking is the question that he was asked that led to this response. The question was about this rally that the president is hosting in Oklahoma on Saturday. And whether or not he's concerned that he could potentially put people at risk that people could get sick by attending this rally. The president saying the virus is dying out. Listen.
[Trump:] If you look, the numbers are very minuscule compared to what it was. It's dying out.
[Diamond:] And so, you can hear there that's how the president is saying that the coronavirus is going. Of course, we know, Don, that the reality is that nearly two dozen states coronavirus cases are actually rising. And today, Don, the White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany was asked whether or not President Trump would assume responsibility for the potential of an outbreak tied to his campaign rally. And instead she said that people are assuming personal risk. Just like when they would be going out to a baseball game. They would also be assuming personal risk. But of course, Don, what we know, baseball games aren't happening. The MLB is closed for business right now. And instead, what President Trump is doing here is hosting this rally. He's the one creating the risk of course for these rallygoers who will make their own choice about whether or not it is wise to attend. But what we do know, Don, is that this all comes as President Trump is personally trying to move on from this pandemic. Not wanting to talk about it even behind the scenes in meetings. Instead, Don, the president is laser focused on the economy. Nothing is going to stop this reopening that the president has encouraged and that is currently underway. And so, that is where the president's focus is. And why, Don? Because he knows it's his surest ticket to reelection. Don?
[Lemon:] Encouraging thousands and thousands of people into possible danger. Jeremy Diamond, thank you very much. I appreciate your reporting. We are going to get to this breaking news coming out of Atlanta. Charges against the two officers involved in the killing of Rayshard Brooks out today. One could even face the death penalty. And tonight, sources are telling CNN some police in Atlanta are not responding to calls in protest of those charges that I mentioned. Stay with us. We'll be right back.