CNN "The Lead with Jake Tapper" - Transcript: Interview with Sen. Mazie Hirono

Interview

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TAPPER: This argument is just false. U.S. servicemen and women can and do take prescription drugs, including, experts say, hormones such as the hormones that transgender individuals take.

I want to bring in Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono. She's on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Senator, thanks for joining us.

Now, we've heard arguments against transgender service members having to do with unit cohesion, we've heard the president even talking about the cost of surgery when discussing the ban.

Have you ever heard this argument before about prescription medications?

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO (D-HI): No. So it's an example of how Trump just makes up things to bolster whatever it is that he's doing. And really, this is part of an all-out attack on LBGTQ people, who are, by the way, serving in the military, in our intelligence services, and all walks of life.

And, by the way, when General Mattis was before our armed service committee, I asked him very specifically, is there something innate in LBGTQ persons that would make them unfit to serve in the military and he said "no".

TAPPER: I want to ask you also, president Trump repeated his threat

today to impose tariffs on Mexico until they stop letting these caravans of migrants cross into the United States. Take a listen.

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TRUMP: I think Mexico has to step up, and they don't, tariffs will go on. And if they go high, the companies are going to move back into the United States. That's all. It's very simple.

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TAPPER: So, the president believes this will force Mexico to crack down on these migrants coming through their countries. I know you disagree with the president's policies.

HIRONO: Yes.

TAPPER: But do you agree that the Mexican government should be doing more to stop allowing thousands of migrants, Central Americans, mainly, to caravan through, to cross illegally into the United States?

HIRONO: I think our government should be doing more to help the Central American countries with the problems that they have in economic and other issues, because that is really one of the reasons that so many families now with children are coming across the border.

And as for the president unilaterally trying to slap on a tariff to Mexico, we do have a trade agreement with Mexico. I would say that this kind of an act on the part of the president would violate that trade agreement and will be subject to lawsuits.

But that's par for the course. Every time the president or the administration makes various kinds of decisions, then lawsuits ensue. There are dozens of examples of this. So, it would be good if we had a president who actually comported with the law, and you know, the rue of law is applying to him and his administration.

TAPPER: OK, so I understand that you think that the U.S. should be sending more aid to the Central American countries to make them safer to the migrants don't flee.

HIRONO: Yes.

TAPPER: But don't you see the point with those who say, look, Mexico is just basically allowing thousands -- it could be up to a million undocumented immigrants coming into this country illegally. Mexico should do something more. They're an ally of the United States.

HIRONO: Well, if we expect Mexico to do something more, we should actually talk with them and engage with them as to how Mexico could do more. But what the president does is unilaterally make a decision that is basically threatening Mexico. That is not the way to get another country to be cooperative and supportive of our perspectives.

TAPPER: Well, I think there's a meeting going on right now between the United States and the Mexican government, trying to resolve this issue.

Let me ask you, Customs and Border Protection released statistics today showing that apprehensions at the border are down 32 percent -- or up 32 percent since April. Homeland Security says they need $4.5 billion, $4.5 billion, most of which will go to help build facilities for these migrants, as to avoid all the overcrowding issues that we've seen in recent days.

Why not give the Department of Homeland Security the money, the billions they need to provide more suitable shelters for these migrants?

HIRONO: Well, of course the Department of Homeland Security, as well as the Department of Human Services know full well that there are alternatives to placing everybody, particularly families in these shelters, that there alternatives to making sure that they show up for their court appearances, et cetera.

But they keep saying that those alternatives are not going to work. They just want to come and ask for more and more money, to basically incarcerate these people. They do not pose a danger to our communities, but there are other ways that we can humanely address the issues that they have.

But it's a multi-faceted problem, so there are a lot of us who focus on the reasons that so many people come to our country and there has been a real change in the makeup of the people who are coming here.

[16:20:12] It used to be single males, but now it's families. Why? They're fleeing horrible conditions and murder and mayhem in their own countries. So there's a lot more we can do across the board, I'd say.

TAPPER: All right. Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, thank you so much for your time. Appreciate it, as always.

HIRONO: You're welcome.

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