War of Words over Birthright Citizenship
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Massive sell-off. The Dow Jones industrials plunged more than 500 points. It's the worst week on Wall Street in years. Is this a so-called correction or something much worse for the markets and your investments? Brink of war. North Korea threatens new military action against the South. Tensions right now are soaring. A deadline is looming. Will either side back down? And Trump in the arena. He's holding a super-sized rally tonight and doing battle over a hot-button term to describe hundreds of thousands of American citizens. Are Trump's opponents fighting him? Or are they copying him? We want to welcome our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer. You're in</s>THE SITUATION ROOM. ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.</s>BLITZER: We're following two breaking stories, sources telling CNN that a shooting on a high-speed train is believed to be an Islamist terrorist attack and the gunman appears to be sympathetic to ISIS. The alleged gunman is in custody tonight, accused of opening fire with an automatic weapon on a train from Amsterdam to Paris. Also breaking, Wall Street's biggest loss of the year, the Dow Jones industrials taking a nosedive of 531 points as new economic uncertainty rattles investors. Another major story this hour, we're standing by for a Donald Trump rally in Alabama. It may be the largest campaign event of this presidential primary season so far. It was moved to a football stadium to accommodate 35,000 people expected to attend. The Republican front-runner's popularity growing, despite controversy after controversy. I will talk with one of Donald Trump's rivals, Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum. He's standing by to join us live here in THE SITUATION ROOM. Our correspondents and analysts, they are also standing by to cover all the news that's breaking right now. First, let's go to our terrorism analyst, Paul Cruickshank. He's more on that train attack from Amsterdam to Paris today. What are you learning, Paul?</s>PAUL CRUICKSHANK, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: Well, Wolf, a senior European terrorism official, counterterrorism official telling me this is believed to be an Islamist terrorist attack, that the Moroccan gunman was on the radar screen of European security agencies. The official also telling me that two U.S. Marines in civilian clothing surprised the gunman in the toilet of this high-speed train as it traveled between Amsterdam and Paris, that when they surprised him in the train toilet, that the gunman with a handgun managed to get a round off. He was loading a Kalashnikov at the time. But the Marines were able to overpower him, despite the fact one of the Marines was wounded, and they were able to prevent a massacre, in the words of this senior European counterterrorism official. So extraordinary events playing out on this high-speed train from Amsterdam to Paris. This gunman had a lot of ammunition. He had several weapons. This could have been a truly horrible terrorist attack.</s>BLITZER: Fortunately, those two U.S. Marines were there to stop it. Stand by. I want to bring in our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr. She's getting information on what happened as well. What are you learning, Barbara?</s>BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, very sketchy reports arriving at the Pentagon. Officials tell us so far here at the Pentagon, they cannot confirm that these two individuals were U.S. Marines. They're not disputing it. They just don't have the information in hand to confirm it. But a short time ago, the Pentagon did put out a statement and let me quote. It says: "We are aware of the reports and can only confirm that one U.S. military member was injured in the incident. The injury is not life-threatening." They go on to say that they will monitor the situation. Now, if there were U.S. service members on board this train, they would not be traveling in uniform. They do not do that. That is standard procedure to be in civilian clothes. They would not have any military-issue weapons with them on board a civilian train. If they had personal weapons, that might be something else entirely. But, by all accounts, they certainly were not armed. This appears to be an act of extraordinary heroism to save civilians on a high-speed train in Europe. The Pentagon still, though, trying to put all the pieces together, one military member injured, non-life-threatening. They're looking to find out the rest of the details -- Wolf.</s>BLITZER: Stand by, Barbara. I want to go back to Paul Cruickshank, who is working his sources on what's going on. This follows a series of terrorist incidents in France over these past several months. This individual, this alleged terrorist on this high-speed train from Amsterdam to Paris, we're told that -- and I think you reported it -- that he was relatively well known as some sort of ISIS sympathizer to French authorities?</s>CRUICKSHANK: He was on the radar screen for his radical pro- jihadi views. They believe that he was indeed sympathetic to ISIS, but they're still trying to sort through that to see exactly where his loyalties were. Not clear at this point whether this was a lone wolf terrorist, somebody inspired by a group like ISIS, or somebody that actually traveled to somewhere like Syrian Iraq and learned how to use these kind of weapons. He had a Kalashnikov here. He was loading this Kalashnikov as the Marines surprised him in the toilet on the fast- speed train. Presumably, the Marines feared something was up and felt that they needed to act to stop a lot of bloodshed on this train, Wolf.</s>BLITZER: Could have been a huge, huge massacre. Fortunately, those two U.S. Marines were there. One of them injured, we hope not seriously. We will stay on top of the story. Guys, thanks very much. There's other breaking news we're following, including that huge sell-off on Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrials plunging nearly 531 points at the closing bell just a couple hours ago. Our business correspondent, Richard Quest, is joining us now from New York. Almost 1,000 points down in the last few days alone, what's going on, Richard?</s>RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's a question of serious selling, but no panic. I can make an argument either way, Wolf. But the best view seems to be, you look at China, which had bad manufacturing numbers. There are worries over the strength of the Chinese economy. Now, because China is for many U.S. corporations their profits and growth for the future, that is transmitting itself around the world. The reality is, we just don't know how good or bad the situation in China is at the moment. And that's the uncertainty. But one other important point, oil under $40 a barrel. That's great, Wolf, for consumers, for holiday-makers and vacationers driving on the summer vacation. But it's dreadful for oil companies, for North Dakota, for Texas, for out West, where the oil industry is such an important part of the economy. As I say, you pays your money on this one, you takes your choice.</s>BLITZER: They're saying this is, what, a correction, not necessarily the start of a bear market, right?</s>QUEST: Well, at the moment, we're 10 percent down from the May high. So, yes, we are now officially in a technical correction sense. We'd have to go 20 percent lower before we were in a bear market. And it would have to be a series of sustained sell-offs to make a bear market. A bear market is when you get the feeling the market's going down and it ain't going to recover. Now, so far, yes, there are people out there who will say this looks like a bear market. But the people I have been speaking to today say, this is an overdue correction, it's 1,200 days since we had the last one, it's needed, there was way too much froth and frivolity in the market, and that's what's happened. It's been wiped away, brutally, in two short sessions, but it's gone.</s>BLITZER: Almost 1,000 points -- at least 1,000 point in the last few days, four days in a row now. Thanks very much, Richard Quest. A lot of nervous investors over the weekend. Let's go to Donald Trump's big rally tonight, the newest uproar he's creating in the presidential contest. We have new reaction to Trump's use of a controversial term to describe the children of undocumented immigrants who are citizens of the United States because they were born in the United States. Our senior Washington correspondent, Jeff Zeleny, is in Iowa right now with the latest on what's going on. Jeff, what are you hearing?</s>JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, as Donald Trump's momentum continues to grow, he finds himself at the center of another immigration firestorm. And it's really triggered an extraordinary back and forth between Donald Trump and Jeb Bush that's only likely to intensify tonight. But not all Republican candidates are eager to weigh in on this Trump primary. We caught up with Ted Cruz today, who's smiling from the sidelines.</s>DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I will use the word anchor babies. Excuse me. I will use the word anchor baby.</s>ZELENY (voice-over): That single phrase that many consider offensive is now setting the agenda for the whole field. Ted Cruz, who hopes to siphon some of Trump's anti-establishment momentum, said today it was political correctness gone wild.</s>SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The focus on language and P.C. and bickering back and forth, most people I think don't give a flip. They're interested in solving real problems.</s>ZELENY: Cruz is holding a rally in Iowa tonight as he tries to tap into the Trump phenomenon.</s>QUESTION: Some of your rivals are trying to figure out how to run against Donald Trump. You seem to be running with him.</s>CRUZ: I am a big fan of Donald Trump's, and I think it is a mistake for other Republicans to try to take a stick to Donald Trump and whack him.</s>SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Are we prepared to do what it takes to remain the greatest nation ever?</s>ZELENY: For Marco Rubio, a candidate who the GOP hopes can repair its image with Latinos, the anchor baby fight is a chance to take a stand.</s>QUESTION: Anchor babies. People are talking about anchor babies.</s>RUBIO: Well, these are 13 million human -- those are human beings. And, ultimately, they're people. We're not -- they're not just statistics.</s>ZELENY: And for Jeb Bush, the term became a problem of his own making after he used the phrase himself in an interview.</s>QUESTION: Governor, do you regret using the term anchor babies yesterday on the radio?</s>JEB BUSH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: No, I didn't. I don't. I don't regret it.</s>QUESTION: You don't regret it?</s>BUSH: No. Do you have a better term?</s>QUESTION: I'm not -- I'm asking you.</s>BUSH: OK. You give me a better term and I will use it. I'm serious.</s>ZELENY: Trump was quick to seize on what he called a Bush flip- flop, tweeting, "Jeb Bush signed a memo saying not to use the term anchor babies, offensive. Now he wants to use it because I use it. Stay true to yourself." But that tweet, not exactly true. This is the memo. It does say to not use the phrase anchor baby. But it's not signed by Bush, simply issued by a group he was co-chair of. So Bush fired back with his own swipe at Trump. "His massive inconsistencies aside, Donald Trump's immigration plan is not conservative and does not reflect our values."</s>CRUZ: I will not engage in the personal attacks.</s>ZELENY: Cruz says he has differences with Trump, but now is not the time. He's waiting and watching, making sure no bridge is burned.</s>CRUZ: Do I want Donald Trump supporters to support me? Absolutely.</s>ZELENY: Now, here in Des Moines, Ted Cruz is planning a rally of his own tonight. But it's hardly Trump-sized. Only 3,000 people or so are planning to attend. But I can tell you all eyes of the Republican Party are on Mobile, Alabama, tonight to see what Donald Trump will do next. Of course, that is a key primary state next spring. But people are more interested in what he's going to say tonight about the rest of this GOP field -- Wolf.</s>BLITZER: Yes, he seems to be dominating and driving this Republican presidential discussion. Thanks very much, Jeff Zeleny. I want to show our viewers some live pictures outside Trump's rally tonight in Mobile, Alabama. People are lining up, about 5,000 people waiting in line right now. It's expected to be the largest campaign event of this presidential primary season so far. Maybe as many as 35,000 people will show up. Let's go to Ryan Nobles. He's on the scene for us. Set the scene for us, Ryan.</s>RYAN NOBLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Wolf, right now, they just opened the gates here to this football stadium in South Alabama and the crowds are now starting to pour in. They're estimating somewhere in the range of 35,000 to 40,000 people will be here for this rally tonight. That will be the largest campaign rally of the cycle for any candidate, but even for Donald Trump, who's drawn big crowds across the country. This event will have all the trappings of a presidential visit. He's going to arrive in his private jet. He's going to come here by motorcade, riding with the mayor of Mobile. And he's expected to continue that fiery rhetoric that has drawn so many big crowds. Now, people were lined up out here as early as 6:00 this morning. And I talked to many of them, Wolf. And they weren't talking about coming here because they want to gawk or see a celebrity. Many of them genuinely believe that Donald Trump is the best candidate for president of the United States. Not all of them are necessarily Republicans. Many of them describe themselves as independents. But they want to see what he has to say today, take that home with them, and then perhaps sell that message to their friends and colleagues. This will no doubt be a big event tonight for Donald Trump -- Wolf.</s>BLITZER: All right, Ryan, stand by. I want to bring in the Republican presidential candidate, the former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania Rick Santorum, who's with me here in THE SITUATION ROOM. Senator, thanks very much for joining us.</s>RICK SANTORUM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you, Wolf.</s>BLITZER: Did you ever think that we'd be seeing this in this presidential campaign, what's going on, for example, in Mobile, Alabama, tonight?</s>SANTORUM: Donald Trump is making an impact. And so, you know, it's good to see that he's energizing people and getting people talking about issues that frankly I care a lot about. I mean, the most recent issue set is one that I have been out there focused on for actually quite some time. It's part of a package of trying to get people back to work and have their wages go up and benefits go up, so they can live a better quality of life here in America. I think the immigration debate has too long focused on the people who are here illegally and not focused on the people who are impacted by the amount of illegal and even legal immigration that we have in this country.</s>BLITZER: All right, let's talk a little bit about that. First of all, where do you stand on the use of the term anchor babies?</s>SANTORUM: Yes, I mean, I don't use that term. Is it pejorative or not? I don't know. It's a term that I know is used and is often used. I try to call children children and not anything other than that. These are people who were born in this country. These kids are born in this country. And under the law right now, they're American citizens. They didn't do anything wrong. Their parents did. And their parents should have to pay a price for doing that.</s>BLITZER: You think Jeb Bush, for example, should apologize for using that term?</s>SANTORUM: No, I don't -- look, I don't think -- I don't see it as an offensive term. It's a common-use term. I have heard it for a long, long time. Up until last week, a couple of days ago, I should say, I never heard it -- anyone say it was an offensive term. I think it was just -- it was a term used to describe a phenomenon here in this country. But I think -- again, I think much has been blown up about this. I don't think it's offensive. I don't use it.</s>BLITZER: You don't use it. All right. What about Donald Trump's notion that all 12 million, 11 million, 13 million undocumented, illegal immigrants need to be deported; the good ones, he says, can then come back?</s>SANTORUM: Well, I would say this, that we have to go through a process of enforcing our laws. And the laws say that if you came here on a visa and you overstayed your visa, you need to go home. And that's roughly, according to the numbers, anywhere from 40 percent to 60 percent of folks who are here illegally came here legally and chose not to leave. They need to be removed. They need to go home. The people who came across the border illegally are in the same situation. Eventually, we have to go through an orderly pass of removals and enforce the laws of this country.</s>BLITZER: What about the children, their children who were born here in the United States?</s>SANTORUM: I look at it as the situation that confronted my father and grandfather. My grandfather came to this country right after my father was born, lived here for seven years, never saw his son, and had to wait until he became a citizen in order to bring them over. I asked my dad, were you ever upset with America that you had to live in fascist Italy and march as a Brownshirt in Mussolini's little Youth Corps? And he said, no, America was worth the wait. And I would just say that it's going to certainly put a strain on families, but they put themselves in that situation and they have to suffer the consequences.</s>BLITZER: Do you believe the 14th Amendment to the Constitution guarantees citizenship to the children who are born in the United States whose parents are here illegally?</s>SANTORUM: I don't. I think that that's a -- I think there is some controversy about whether it does or not. I know that currently we do grant citizenship to people who are born to illegal immigrants here in this country. But -- and I would actually want to change that. I think that we need to have -- the Congress has the authority, under the Constitution, to determine citizenship. It's very clear in Article I that they have the ability to determine naturalization. And so whether these children in the future will be considered citizens or not, I think, is under the purview of the Congress, and I would urge Congress to change that.</s>BLITZER: You think Congress can do it without a constitutional amendment?</s>SANTORUM: I do. I think it's clear in the Constitution. I think it's unclear in the 14th Amendment. The 14th Amendment doesn't say, if you're born here, you're a citizen. It says, you're born here, and you're under the jurisdiction of the United States. And I think the United States Congress has the right to determine that jurisdiction.</s>BLITZER: Because children who are born in the United States of foreign diplomats who are serving in the United States, they're not...</s>SANTORUM: They're not. And at the time the 14th Amendment was passed, Native Americans weren't considered citizens of this country, even though obviously they were born here. So there is a precedent to say that just because you're born here doesn't mean that you're...</s>BLITZER: So, on this issue, you're with Trump?</s>SANTORUM: On this issue, I agree with Trump. I don't know exactly -- I believe that people who are currently here in this country who were born here to illegal immigrants are citizens and you can't be retroactive. I don't think anyone's suggesting that people who are now citizens because of the way the law was enforced should be now stripped of their citizenship. I think we have to do this going forward.</s>BLITZER: When you see tens of thousands of people lining up in Mobile, Alabama, tonight to listen to Donald Trump, we know the primary in Alabama I think is early in March. It's not that far away.</s>SANTORUM: Yes. And I won that primary four years ago.</s>BLITZER: So you remember that.</s>SANTORUM: Yes.</s>BLITZER: Have you at all campaigned, by the way, in Alabama yet? Have you been down there?</s>SANTORUM: I actually have been down to Alabama earlier this year. Yes.</s>BLITZER: So, when you see -- look at these pictures, what's going on right now. It's pretty amazing when you think about it.</s>SANTORUM: Yes. Oh, it is. There's clearly a buzz out there. The media's focused on it. He's certainly developed -- continued to develop his persona. I just keep reminding everybody it's five-and-a-half months until the first votes are cast and we're working really hard in Iowa and we feel very good that we're going to do well.</s>BLITZER: Very quickly, because I want to get to some substantive policy issues, but if Donald Trump were to win in Iowa, he's ahead in the polls there, New Hampshire, South Carolina, he's doing well in all of those states, do you think that automatically would set the stage for his winning the Republican presidential nomination?</s>SANTORUM: I -- one of the things I found last time when I ran, it's a long presence. And if he wins some early states, I think there will be an effort to try to galvanize behind some other candidate, as what happened when Romney won some of the early states four years ago. And that galvanizing came behind me. We didn't quite pull it off, but I think there will be a similar effort. I don't think anyone, whether it's Donald Trump or anybody else, is going to skate through this by winning the first few primaries and having everybody say it's over. I think this is going to be a long process.</s>BLITZER: All right, we have some issues to go, the news of the day, what's going on with ISIS, the Dow Jones of course taking a huge fall today.</s>SANTORUM: Yes.</s>BLITZER: Much more with Senator Rick Santorum when we come back.