Crisis, he will have all elements of being Commander In Chief. Barbara starr, thank you so much and theres nothing more serious in terms of being the president than keeping this nation and its people safe. A reminder as the President Elect and Vice President elect go to the tomb of unknown of that solemn responsibility. Back to you, wolf. Thanks. Were standing by at the blair house, official guest house for visitors of the president across the street from the white house. Youre looking at live pictures momentarily the President Elect and his family will be leaving the blair house, well have live pictures, to head over to Arlington National cemetery, well have coverage of that, we have a really good panel to assess what we have heard today, and david gregory, we have heard what almost five hours of testimony from the secretary of
that. Hes held up pretty well. Do you agree . I think democrats who are hoping to score political points is that for most of these its really a tail of two nominees, a he said, she said so either Steve Mnuchin is a guy who raided businesses and got people when they were vulnerable or a guy that stepped up during a financial crisis, rebuilt them and helped them thrive. Thats a heroic version and which version will we end up with at the end of the hearing . And we are going to see the first inauguration event. This will be somber in contrast to the concert at the Lincoln Memorial, this wreath laying
peaceful transfer of power. Its really one of the first time where the President Elect, it really starts to dawn on him that he is going to become the president. That hes becoming Commander In Chief of our armed forces. That has got to be an awesome moment for anyone. And as he thinks about all the enthusiasm for him but no doubt a humbling moment. Tim, our cnn president ial historian, we saw a little bit of that at fort andrews, but now this will be more formal. One thing that we have seen wolf with President Elect who have not had Military Service or have not been associated with military, the military, its very important for them early on to establish a connection. President elect obama for example, also paid a visit to
arlington during the day before the election before the inauguration. Its very important to send a signal that they understand the seriousness of being Commander In Chief. Its not a matter of spectacle or performance. Its a matter of lives and security. Its extremely important and i would say a good choice on the part of President Elect trump that he and the Vice President elect are going to arlington today. But this is something thats traditional. All incoming president s make an appearance, is that right . Some have not. Some have not. It was very important for President Elect obama not only go to arlington but to visit with the wounded warriors, to send the signal that he was a War President , that he was succeeding another War President. Everyone should be watching the symbolism in the next two days, not only is power passing but in
a sense the personification of the american presidency is changing and donald trump will change it but theres much that he cannot change. Its tradition. The President Elect, the Vice President elect but for the respective families as well, theyll be included. Yes, as tim said, theres so much symbolism in the first two days especially the first lady, were all waiting to see what kind of role shes going to play and how hes going to use her position as the emotional tenor of the emotional side of the white house. You also get to see your first look at the first children and the children have already been posting a number of photos over the last couple of days as they have said goodbye to their lives in new york as well. We have seen ivanka posting a photo with children in toe and donald trump posted a picture of
him and his wife and i think its having theyre really appreciating what they are getting to witness. I think the family is getting ready to leave the blair house right near lafayette park. Well see some live pictures coming in from blair house. Its a pretty quick drive across the Potomac River over to Arlington National cemetery. Dana, this is a moment i suspect the President Elect is really looking forward to the actual beginning of the formal Inauguration Events . Oh, no question about it. Looking forward to it, i would imagine as any human would has trepidation, because donald trump started this out on a lark and look at where he is, about
to be the 45th president of the United States. Just the awesome weight of having there you go. Hes in the doorway there now at the blair house. Across the street from the white house. So hes going to be getting in the car at the white house as jake said across the street from the white house and is going to be making his way to Arlington National cemetery. Something certainly that donald trump ever thought for certainly the first several decades of his life as a real estate magnet an then a Reality Tv Star that he would actually be doing, dont you think jake . I agree. And the weight of the office has a way of changing a person. Many former president s have talked about the moment when they really realize when it really hits them how much responsibility they have. Often times its after they win and have that First Security briefing as the President Elect and really hear about everything going on all the threats to the
nation. 99 of which most of us never know or hear about, the Security Apparatus of this country has silent successes that we dont hear about. It was eight years ago and we didnt learn about this until much later that the national Security Apparatus was really worried about the threat to the obama inaugural in 2009 and hopefully we dont know anything about that going on now, but the office has a way of changing people. Theres a reason why president s in eight years age about 30 years. And their hair gets quite gray. I dont think thats going to happen this time. The gray hair. Who knows. Who knows. Were off the map here. Its a whole new era. The President Elect getting ready to leave the blair house an staying overnight for the
official guests, he will be staying in the white house and will be president of the United States tomorrow with his family. The white house clearly, a lot more impressive. David gregory, you have often taken that drive from here he comes out. The president , Melania Trump walking out. He looks pretty happy and deeply appreciative of the symbolism of whats about to happen, hes going to go to the arlington ceremony to lay a wreath to the tomb of the unknown. And hes going to come to where you are to the Lincoln Memorial, this concert thats been put together is going to be a couple of hours and i take it at the end of the hour the
President Elect will speak. Yes, we are told he will speak. The Great America great again welcome celebration has been somewhat controversial in the entertainment community. I dont think i am schooled to say that, toby keith, Lee Greenwood will be performing as well as the piano guys, and told john voit will be here as well, The Hollywood Actor not the dentist. And of course the headliner is actually President Elect donald trump who will address the crowd which is starting to gather here and were at the Lincoln Memorial and will extend to the washington monument. And we have talked to people from colorado, florida, certainly vips who get the good
seating up there, but there are clearly those who were Trump Supporters and voters who came to be part of this historic event. And just confirmed that Woody Johnson the New York Jets owner, and will be elected to be the ambassador to the united kingdom, so one thats been honored in a distinct way perhaps following in to footsteps of dan rooney who obama named to be ambassador to ireland. We saw Michael Flynn the threestar retired general the president s National Security adviser also walk down those stairs at the blair house getting ready for this event. Michael flynn head of the intelligence agency, barbara starr, you have some thoughts on what were about to see . Wolf, as we discussed we are seeing all the elements of being Commander In Chief beginning to assemble around mr. Trump. As they were walking down the steps of the blair house there was a young man in a Military Uniform, he had a rope on his shoulder like this, and its usually a signal in a Military Uniform that that person might be a Military Aide to the President Elect. Im not sure we have seen that yet. Perhaps another sign of Military Protocol being extended to mr. Trump and the beginning of what we have been talking about here, all the elements, the very somber elements of being Commander In Chief beginning to assemble around the President Elect. As we said the plane he came to washington on, and very much where he is going now. Just steps from where we will be at the tomb of the unknown, hundreds if not more troops who
have fallen in recent wars especially afghanistan and iraq have been laid to rest. Arlington is perhaps the highly visited memorial to visit in washington d. C. , millions of people have visited President Kennedys burial site just steps of where mr. Trump will be. And the tomb of the unknown where he will lay a wreath that is so representative of so many president s. It is nearly 100 years old an dates back to world war i. The military refers to the unknown as those known only to god because years ago they didnt have dna people fell on the battlefield, could never be identified and never be returned to their loved ones. Its one of the most somber moments in Military Protocol and
one of the things we know is that before that wreath is laid Military Personnel will brief mr. Trump and mr. Pence on Military Protocol and make sure everything goes smoothly for both of them, wolf. Their families, their friends are driving through the streets of washington, they will cross the Potomac River to Arlington National cemetery, we are standing by for the First Official inaugural event. He is now in washington. Well take a quick break and be right back. Motorcade arriving over at the Lincoln Memorial excuse me, at the Arlington National cemetery, going to the Lincoln Memorial after that for the make America Great again celebration. But this much more somber. Dedicated to the u. S. Military Service Members at the tomb of the unknown buried without being identified. This is history unfolding right now. In only a matter of hours, tomorrow, donald trump is going to be the 45th president of the United States and as we pointed out he wont be staying at the blair house across the street, hell be in the white house. I think its important for everyone watching around the world to keep in mind the american presidency is very
unusual, it combines three things, head of chief, head of state, Commander In Chief and we are going to be able to watch today and tomorrow how donald trump in his serious moments how hes handling those three huge responsibilities, going to arlington is his first major act. Not yet president as the future Commander In Chief. Its a major moment. Watch how he acts. Look at his facial expressions. Look at his stature, his poise. Hes going to be doing this a number of times, again and again, but the first time sets precedence. Theres nothing more important than being Commander In Chief, because that commander
in chief will have the lives at stake for so many military personal and the National Security will be in his hands. When people talk about who is ready to be president . Actually only president s are ready to be president. Theres no deputy job that prepares you for it. Being vice Precedevice Precedene same. If we want to know why people age in this job, in this very dangerous world, thats the reason. Take a look at President Obama eight years ago, four years ago and today. President obama wanted to get the symbolism of the military just right an convey the respect and honor. He famously practiced the salute
privately so he can get it just right today, i dont know if donald trump will salute or not but thats one of the gestures and elements of Commander In Chief. When he landed and walked off the u. S. Military plane and as of tomorrow at noon hell be flaying on Air Force One which is clearly the mark of the presidency, so he has to get ready. Its remarkable and humbling, you fly in Air Force One, you realize what a big deal that is, wolf, you have covered president s, i dont know anyone who is so taken back of realizing what it is to have all that power vested in you and comes at a time while donald
trump is a wartime president , some troops committed in afghanistan and iraq, but rethinking what americas role should be in the world and harkened back to a preworld war ii time, this was a senate that never ratified the treaty that was ston ch against it, hes going to be looking at a very difficult threat for america at the time. Hes already receiving these military briefings. Hes got to obey certain Military Protocols as the President Elect at this event at the ceremony at the Tomb Of The Unknowns. Thats right. Things become much more serious,
his words have greater Imp Implicatio implications. This year has been really crazy for those of us who cover and follow politics and there have been a lot of unprecedented things that in the old days might have been not done, but this is time to get back to some of the pomp and circumstances, here is a guy who tweets but yet is going to be observing the tra digs and protocol today, i think its very special and a time to come together. You spent a lot of time studying the families and new responsibilities theyre going to have, not only the spouse but the kids, the grand kids as well. Yes, its interesting because its been reported obviously that ivanka is going to have an office in the east wing which traditionally is the first ladys office but today and tomorrow on this stage taking
these first steps in this very traditional ceremony, i think it was oleg cassini who designed for mrs. Kennedy. Its really one of the largest families ive seen on this stage i think. All the kids an grandchildren are there and the incoming first lady, emily, shes wearing sunglasses which is not unusual even though its not all that sunny here in washington but shes got an enormous amount of responsibility as well. It is unusual shes not going to be moving here right away, she wants their son, baron to finish the semester. Baron will be at School Bright and early monday morning
just like any other kid in new york city. Its very interesting whats going to happen with the first family, you saw her moving to d. C. , jared will serve in the white house, but the two eldest sons will remain taking care of the trump organization. Im excite today sd to see what first look will look like. There are first lays that have not enjoyed being in washington. Margaret truman was a very important helper to president truman, so the fact that the first lady likes to be somewhere other than washington, thats not news. Whats going to be interesting is the fact of what is clear is that the President Elect, soon to be President Trump has enormous respect for his childrens advice. Thats whats really different. Some people might remember how
much trouble president carter got into when he referred to amys thoughts on nuclear weapons. Well, amy was eight or nine years old at the time, but we are already prepared that his children are going to be seen as sources of advice. Thats a big difference. Ronald reagans wife played an incredibly important role. But ron jr. Was not a source of advice. Definitely not. Okay. I want to watch this Wreath Laying Ceremony. Now lets just listen and watch. Both former white house correspo correspondants, no matter how many times you see it youre going to be moved. Its moving to watch as a citizen, its moving for anybody thats got a role in washington. Its beyond that. Its a different level of humility because of all the pageantry around you, it is your job alone to order men and women to their potential death. Theres no way you can sugarcoat it it is part of the job. Its an awesome responsibility and you come face to face with the honor that this represent, the bravery it represents but the painful anonymity that it represents as well that we can
have a son or daughter lost in battle. Were seeing some of the staff there, Military Personnel awaiting the President Elect of the United States walking down the stairs and there we see some of the Family Members ivanka and jared, some of the Adult Children of the President Elect of the United States. Matt lewis is with us as well. Matt, this is a moving moment for them, for the family as well. Absolutely. You think about the history, the tradition, the pageantry, the responsibility and then other president s throughout history, john f. Kennedy is buried there, george washington, abraham lincoln, who sent Service Members into harms way and donald trump you know maybe he started this as a its
unclear but hes about to put his hand on the bible and about to be the person in charge of those decisions. We see ivanka, jared kushner, an advisor to the president of the United States, the two adult sons, john jr. Who will not be in the white house. They will be taking care of the family business, but now were seeing the family beginning to walk down including melania, the next first lady of the United States. Emily, you studied this family for a long time. Yes, absolutely, you see the eldest grandchildren of donald trump, you dont see the youngest members. I would find it hard to believe this family has actually visited arlington before today so not only visiting this emotional seen but visiting it as the first family for the first time. That has to be a tremendous
amount to take in. The President Elect of the United States and the Vice President elect of the United States will be walking down with military escorts an they will be presiding over this Wreath Laying Ceremony. Interesting, wolf, when President Kennedy looked at his face and the superintendent of arlington, he said out loud this would be a marvelous place to be buried some day, of course so premature in his own life and of course the kennedy brothers are there as well, so to take in the view as someone who is going to be sworn in as president tomorrow on top of the honor and awesome responsibility this represents again one of the earliest pieces of the pageantry where the president is going to the history, and he was at blair house where he learned of the old kentucky newspaper man who ultimately became an advisor to andrew jackson, living this the
house where the Get Tysbutysbur address resides. The 45th president of the United States tomorrow will be donald trump. Every individual who has become our president shapes the office in a certain way. An we have a sense of how donald j. Trump here he comes. Tomorrow, well start seeing it. Lets watch the President Elect of the United States. The Vice President elect of the United States as this Wreath Laying Ceremony at Arlington National ceremony at the Tomb Of The Unknowns is about to begin. On it again. This is one of the set pieces for the President Elect to pay tribute to the tomb of the unknown, as the trump family look on, some family so young as children, as we watched the obama girls grow up in their time in office, but this is a moment where he really prepares as President Elect trump to become Commander In Chief and come to grips of the enormous sacrifice of our men and women in the service, and all of the decisions hell have to make with regard to National Security threats and challenges he will have to faces a president and what we know from president s past and the president s club known as that they can all appreciate the lonely experience it is to be Commander In Chief
and order people to give the ultimate sacrifice you can give the depth of the difficulty of those decisions is now part of what donald trump will share with others who have come before him. Jake tapper is over at the Lincoln Memorial which will be the next official event. A concert there, whats called a make America Great again event. Im anxious on your thoughts, jake. Beyond the trade deals, that moment that we just witnessed rarely represents the most serious and consequential trust that a nation can bestow on someone. Lives are about to be in Donald Trumps hands not just the lives of the u. S. Service members but as Commander In Chief his primary responsibility is keeping the American People and homeland safe and secure and what we just witnessed, the
Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Tomb Of The Unknowns represents that grave responsibility in a way that words fail to describe, but since we dont have the President Elect with us, let us turn to one of the next best things we have with us with me an dana, tom berrick, the celebration of the 45th presidency, thanks so much for being here. Thank you. Congratulations on everything thats about to unfold. Let me ask you as somebody who knows donald trump and is watching him go from a civilian to the Commander In Chief, what are you witnessing Behind Closed Doors . Goosebumps. The waiting as of the moment of transitioning from candidate to president is momentous. And i think what youre seeing and if you just look in his eyes at arlington, you see in that moment and that anticipation of that peaceful transfer of partisan power that the rhetoric of a campaign moves aside and that responsibility of saying all of these lives as we look is incredibly important and say were just players on this stage and hes the lead actor where youre going to see a shift from candidate to leader. Before coming out we were watching and you were noticing that the guy that you have known for so many decades the look on his eyes and face change, how so, can you be more specific. Look, the man is intent. I dont think you have ever had a harder Working Candidate in history. And instead of showing up for
two or three events on thursday or friday, tomorrow, st. Johns, coffee and tea with one great president and his Wife Transcending in three hours to the home an turning that home over to him is a change in attitude of saying im here because of a constituency in a Political Campaign and im going to represent all the constituencies that didnt represent me and that heaviness and burden of being able to communicate with that. You can see in his eyes, hes there, up for it. You also said you dont think hes going to be as glib anymore. Not just the coampaigner, but also the tv reality star, you really think so . No the glibness 144
characters, polls are relevant, short kwirp when you dont have to dictate policy is okay, and its a great tool that he utilized. Now he has a cabinet, now he has heavy issues and i think youre going to see him do it as he did selecting his cabinet. Thoughtfully, considered. Hes got a team, hes going to give them accountability, reresponsibility. And i think its time for all of us in america to say whatever it was that we did during the campaign, we should follow his lead. Lets put it behind us, give him a chance look at the monuments, korea, vietnam, washington, jefferson, lincoln, these were wilt built on the baf peoples lives and spirits and this moment is one in the world in which transfer of power
happens in this one way, the one most unbelievable way is coffee an tea, the compassion they must feel for each other, President Obama saying hey, pal, youre about to step into something you probably cant imagine, and President Elect trump saying, i have such compassion, respect for what you have done, may not agree with the political issues, but as a man and a leader, thank you. This evening there will be a dinner with President Elect trump, Vice President elect pence, were told there may be some big names at that dinner. Can you fill us in, anyone that we should know about . The big names in trump land are actually the invisible people. If you look at the people who got him elected. Its the waiters, the drivers, the people who are working three shifts when we the beneficiaries are able to celebrate a triumph,
all the big donors, big Cabinet Nominees the congressional leadership, its who you would expect as a prelude to the next day which is really show time. Right . At 11 23 when he steps on to the west platform of the capitol, that moment is an impactive moment so this isnt just a prelude of that community for everybody thats worked for that twoyear period to say thank you on his behalf. I think there are a lot of americans out there who would love President Elect trump to rise to the moment you talked about in a way to uniting the country to talk about putting away the divisions of the campaign, that have been disappointed by a lot of things that have happened in the transition. This is not a sunday show, you
understand what im saying, there are a lot of people who would love to rally behind him. Hes totally ready and he gets it. And i think what we have to do is give him a chance. He hasnt got his team in place. Hes President Elect and if you look at the cabinet selections, people criticize it saying its all billionaires or only successful people and i say would you like him to have unsuccessful people . If were having cardiac surgery you go to the best Cardiac Surgeon in the world or if youre going into a war you would prefer to have a general, general mattis than a west point cadet and thats whats happened and what i would love to see and i think what will happen with him is he now knows hes president for all, i think youre going to see it in spades and in turn all of us need to give him a chance and to say great, now youre the leader,
take those 100 days and fabricate that tapestry with congressional leadership, you have 535 people hes got to meld this way, hes not a dictator so that weaving of that tapestry which is his vision which incorporates all the threads of all of us in every walk in life can happen and it can happen if we all get behind it. Hell do it. And his first opportunity to do that his first opportunit that is his big address down on the mall, his inaugural address. Have you spoken to him about it, have you seen it, do you feel confident hes going to set the tone you describe in the major address . Yes, by the way, he wrote it himself. Hes got the best Speech Writers available to him. He wrote it himself. Hes written 13 best sellers. Have you seen it . No, he would never share it with any of us, right . Probably going to tuse it as a surprise for all of you. Its from his heart, well thought, and i think it will be a message to the world. And what we need to do as a Message Totd World is say, look, we can never be attacked by the outside if were together on the inside. So, i think thats the first task. The first 100 days, domestic policies, immigration, tax reform, obamacare, education, hell nail those and his team will do it. And foreign policy, he was the first president that ever reached out to the domestic diplomatic core. When we start this had he said, look, i want you to reach out to the domestic diplomatic core. I want to know what they think. I researched it, it had never been done. So, he said i want to do it someplace special. He did it in the Melon Building which hes been a crit of nato. We did it at a building in whic. One Reverse Mortgage has a great way for you to live a better retirement. Its called a Reverse Mortgage. Call Rfree Information Kityour with no obligation. It answers questions like. How a Reverse Mortgage works, how much you qualify for, the ways to receive your money and more. Plus, when you call now, youll get this magnifier with led light absolutely free when you call the experts at one Reverse Mortgage today youll learn the benefits of a governmentinsured Reverse Mortgage. It will eliminate your monthly Mortgage Payments and give you taxfree cash from the equity in your home. And heres the best part. You still own yohome. Call now take control of your retirement today
we will hear from the band three doors down. I think its fair to say President Elect trump will get top billing. The President Elect will speak tonight just hours before he will be sworn in as the 45th Commander In Chief. Were going to carry this all live, of course. And dana, one of the first people were going to hear from after a patriotic opening will be the actor John Voight Who narrated Donald Trumps biography, the short little film during the republican convention. Thats right. He is kind of a staple, a hollywood staple at Republican Conventions and inaugurations. As weve been talking about, hollywood does not tend to be very rahrah republican, especially when it has come to donald trump. But john voight is certainly different from that. The one thing that struck me as we were standing here with tom barak we were just interviewing, the guy who ran this whole thing, the whole inauguration, is that everybody was sitting here on the big screens watching
donald trump lay the wreath or at the tomb of the unknown soldiers. It was almost as if you could hear a pin drop here. Obviously thousands of people here. Were at the Lincoln Memorial. Behind us in front of us rather is the reflecting pool and the washington monument. There are thousands of people here, fans of President Elect trump. Tom making the point this is a celebration, not merely of one man, but a celebration of america, of the peaceful transfer of power, of the fact that we have 220 plus years of such peaceful transfers of power in this nation, something to celebrate. And that this is really a celebration of that. This is really honoring that american tradition. But in addition to john voight, i believe one of the first big ones were going to have is Lee Greenwood, of course, is going to be here. For those of us who go to republican and democratic rallies for a livein, we hear a lot of greenwood