that tonight. "the beat" is over. i'll see you back here at 6:00 p.m. eastern. "hardball" with chris matthews is up next. >> backflip. let's play "hardball." tonight, the remembered announced by the president himself is in. america wins, trump loses. he wanted to troll his enemies, get them angry, get his own people royaled with anger to show how how far he was on illegal immigration, he would separate kids from parents and if that caused a storm, all the better. tonight, trump himself had to say he's lost. he did so with a backflip so high and wide it could put him in the olympics, a backflipers. was it because the policy of tearing children from parents was wrong? no, he said with neither blush nor air brush it was because it looked bad.

good evening, i'm chris matthews in washington. the knowledge that american authorities were separating children from their parents was horrible enough. when word reached the country some of these children were being lost in the system, that must have been too much and the president buckled. under mounting pressure, the president today signed an executive order to keep immigrant families together after they're detained at the border. according to "the washington post," a driving force behind trump's backflip today was first husband to stop the policy.d her "the past couple of days she has increasingly made clear to the president that he should use his power tore fix the problem." but in signing today's order, the president effectively took credit for solving a problem he had personally created. >> what we have done today is we are keeping families together. ivanka feels very strongly, my wife feels very strongly about it, i feel very strongly about

it. i think anybody with a heart would feel very strongly about it. we don't like to see families separated. at the same time we don't want people coming into our country illegally. >> his backflip comes a day after he blamed democrats and insisted those crossing the border are infesting our country. that he allowed babies to be separated added more pressure to do something. orrin hatch remarked this morning tender age shelters is a chilling phrase we will not soon forget. despite the haunting images out of texas, the president reportedly said his policy of zero tolerance will help the party in the november midterms. according to the "associated press," trump has told advisers he believes he strong on the matter suggesting it could be a winning culture war issue much like his attacks on nfl player who's take a knee for the national anthem. to that effect, the president tried to cultivate a false narrative arguing democrats are to blame for his policy

decisions. however, that calculation royaled his party and spurred some republicans to take action. in a letter to the president yesterday, texas house speaker joe strauss called on trump to rescind the zero tolerance policy saying it is wrong to use those scared vulnerable children as a negotiating tool. today's executive order ends the policy of separating families but does not end the broader zero tolerance policy which requires that everyone who crosses the border illegally is prosecuted. with me now is kristen welker, white house corpse, also the author of that letter to the president, texas house speaker joe strauss and terry mcauliffe, former democratic governor of virginia. kristin, what broke the trump's back on this? >> well, i've been talking to senior administration officials. they say he has been speaking to his advisers and his family members, chris, about in this in private conversations, the first lady ivanka trump essentially

saying they were very disturbed by the images at the border. and i think ultimately the personal and the political pressure just became too much. in terms of when officials here learn about it, they say they learned this morning that the president would be signing that executive order. and remember, last night, senator hatch gave him a way out, gave him this executive order idea to essentially allow him to get out of this crisis, which as you pointed out, he created by enacting that zero tolerance policy. so i think all of those factors bubbled up, chris, and that's why he made this decision. but look, the political pressure has been mounting for days. you and i have been talking about this, this is a former reality tv star who knows what makes good and bad tv. the images of the children, the sounds of the children crying who had been separated from their families, i think, was too much for republicans. they starred speaking out against this president.

that was something that we haven't seen frequently here. and you again had privately his own family members saying he had to take action. ultimately, chris, this was a combination of a number of factors, but the realization he was losing the political argument here. >> i mean, i want to slice a t a little thinner if you can help me here. i think trump didn't like the pictures because he'ses a tv producer at heart. mel lannia, i have a sense she's not a politician. is it -- do you think knowing her as much as you can report on in that it was her feelings what was being done and not the r that move her? >> i think that's a significant piece of it. remember, she issued that statement earlier this week that we all tried to interpret was she breaking with her husband when he she said that we have to of course, have strong laws but at the same time, we have to govern morally. and that really was seen by a

number of people as publicly sending a signal that this policy cannot stand. and so i do she was a significant factor here, chris. i think there's no doubt about that. then you go back to theives and the president's own sensibilities about them. he knew on a gut level as a dad, as the president, as a politician that those images were devastating and that ultimately, they were just getting worse. remember also, chris, they were struggling to answer very basic questions what was happening to these kids, where were the girls, where were the young toddlers. they were struggling to answer those questions and i think ultimately, they determined this was indefensible. >> thank you so much, kristen welker. thank god for the television camera. speaker strauss, your feelings about this. you're talking policy, sir, go ahead. >> yes, chris. good evening. i think it's really important to hold all of our public officials accountable. especially when they're not at thing it the truth and when they

cross clear moral boundaries as was the case here. i think this week also the president, the administration conflated several issues. there's immigration policy. there was a zero tolerance policy. and then there was his desperate attempt to find funding for a border wall. he miscalculated thinking that by this policy of stripping away innocent terrified young children from their parents and putting them in metal cages that he could bring people to the table to negotiate for his border wall. it blew up on him. >> where is the lie here. tell me about the lie. what was the lie from trump? >> well, i mean, he was not telling it the truth when he said it was the law that these family members had to be separated. and they also were not being truthful about what could be done to correct it. that's what i called for in my letter was for the president to call the attorney general, speak to his homeland security secretary and reverse this

rorifying policy. >> trump's border policy has pushed some long-time republicans to their limit like you, sir, today republican strategist steve schmidt who served as john mccain's campaign manager in 2008 announced he's leaving the gop all together. "today i renounce my member to the republican party. it's fully the party of trump. he says this child separation policies connected the worst abuses of humanity in our history." he is now calling for the "the utter repudiation of trump and his vial enablers in the 2018 election by electing democratic majorities. i say it as someone who retains belief in democracy and decency." mr. speaker, you're not going that far. tell me where you draw the line with trump and where you don't. >> you draw the line when he crosses the moral boundary line which he did in this case. i think steve schmidt makes very good points.

i don't have a party to go to that i believe in more than the republican party. i'm part of the stay and fight faction. i mean, november elections are upon us. and let's see which republicans are rewarded in november. those who blindly follow a self-described strong man leader who won't be president forever or those who served like dior remember at least president reagan and george herbert walker bush and president bush 43 and some of the principals that made this grand old party the grand old party. >> this president. >> we have to grow. >> this president helps them look all the better in history. joe straus of texas. a democrat who has no problem with a partisan issue, terry mcauliffe who may play a role in keeping trump to one term. you're a politics, as well. why did trump wait till the day, play his cards to the end, say he couldn't change this policy, denied it was his policy and

then flip late this afternoon? what's it all about? >> first, he created the mess and actually he thought it was working for him. he doubled down yesterday. i think with the pictures coming out and the uproar all over the country, i think he realized once again, he had taken us down the low road. he has done this time and time again. i was hopeful after he got elected when he took the oath of office and i served as chairman of the national governors association, all the governors thought he would rise to the occasion and be president of the united states but he hasn't. he has copiesly taken the low road and what he has done in the situation with the children is appalling. not only in america but chris, all over the world they are looking at the united states of america, the greatest nation on earth, the beacon of democracy and morality. he has questioned people's thoughts how they think about america. for the people who follow us and for people who do things we don't like around the world, they look to what america is doing now and i'm afraid of what their behavior will be going

forward. this man has taken america in the wrong direction. is he a walking nightmare. he is erratic. he did it in charles isville when we had neo-nazis and white supremacists come to virginia. i had a chance to do the right thing. he didn't. he took the low rode, he said it was both sides' fault. it wasn't. 32-year-old heather higher was protesting against hatred. i think he realized that he had no one left. his wife wasn't with him anymore. people around the country weren't with him it, people around the world and he figured he had better cut his losses. this will be a dark moment in america's history. to put these children in steel cages like interment camps is something people will never forget. it was donald j. trump, it was his policy. he has hurt this country around the globe. >> will this remain in the minds of people -- we've learned one thing, governor, that the minute by minute changes in public focus is something that trump has been able to exploit, the

change of mind and topic. will this stay in the minds and hearts of people months from now? >> i think this is something burned in the minds of americans, this was something so abhorrent nobody could believe it. when the tape came out with the children crying for their mother, that is something people will remember forever. it has hurt america and the moral leader that we are. this is going to be well into the elections. but put the politics aside for a second, chris. this is about america. what this man has done to america, what he has done to the g-7 to our allies and the eu, to our allies in canada and into mexico, he has created chaos in the world. the only person looking back satisfied today is vladimir putin who has to be laughing at all the actions he took to disrupt the 2016 election and saying to himself, boy, look what i caused in the united states of america. >> i had elizabeth warren on yesterday from massachusetts. i had her on for a reason.

i think she's one of the nominees possible nominees of the democratic party in 2020. i think you're a possible nominee. do you think this is going to make it more likely for people to take the moral plunge against trump this incident? >> it has outraged so many people. the one thing as you saw today the poll is, pew research came out today, voter interest is up the highest level in 20 years. i think what you're going to see a s a huge turnout in the midterms as they vote for the house and senate and 36 governors. we have had it with trump's antics, with him getting rid of all america's allies around the globe. we want a president who unifies people who works together. you can work on both sides for the common good of jobs, on infrastructure. look what he's done to health care. premiums are up all over the country. he's tried to roll back the aca. people are feeing that at home. they're stucking in traffic. infrastructure isn't working. president trump has taken

america down account wrong road. you'll see a lot of people step up to the plate and they should. >> trump's strongest supporters have shown a degree of callousness. last night trump's former campaign chairman mocked a democratic strategist for showing concern for a separated 10-year-old girl with down's syndrome. let's watch this seen. >> i mean, look i read today about a 10-year-old girl with down's syndrome who was taken from her mother and put in a cage. >> wa-wa. >> i read. >> did you say wa-wa to a 10-year-old with down syndrome? how dare you how dare you. >> when you cross the border. >> how dare you, sir. >> speaker, mr. speaker what, do you make of that, this, what's the right word, callousness of the republicans. >> disrespect. >> defending the president to the point of making fun of a kid with down's zram separated from his parents. there's a tragedy to treat a kid who has challenges to begin with

and then separate them from the parents he needs. no, there's no doubt it was a cruel and horrifying policy. andton didn't work. good news in all of this that the american people rose up and expressed themselves. laura bush was clear and eloquent. all of the former first ladies and the current first lady, business leaders, faith leaders and millions of americans spoke up. so the system really did work today or this week. and that's a good lesson i hope. >> i love the fact that you were out there. i hope you run for office again. we've heard too many outspoken republicans are on their way out the door. i like republicans still running for office having to say something about trump. it shows a lot more guts. >> i'm not known to be shy in the past. i'm serving my fifth term as speaker of the house. i'm not planning to go away. >> run again. the former virginia governor himself terry mcauliffe i hope

will run for office. joe straus is, thank you. coming up, the lost children. now that trump is reversing course at least for today, what's the plan to reunite them? some have been taken so far away as michigan and new york up in the bronx. will they ever see their parents again. that's ahead. plus many migrants coming to this country are escaping living hell back home. we'll talk to a roman catholic sister who works was ansylun a m workers. after this week, not so safe, is it? let me finish tonight with trump watch. this is "hardball" where the action is. i don't think enough people heard about your big day. but nothing says "we got married" like a 12 ounce piece of scrap metal. yo! we got married!

honk if you like joint assets. now you're so busy soaking up all this attention, you don't see the car in front of you. and if i can crash your "perfect day", imagine what i can do to the rest of 'em. so get allstate, and be better protected from mayhem. like me. my mom washes the dishes... ...before she puts them in the dishwasher. so what does the dishwasher do? new cascade platinum lets your dishwasher be the dish washer. three cleaning agents dissolve, lift and rinse away food the first time. new cascade platinum. the kayak explore tool shows you the places you can fly on your budget. so you can be confident you're getting the most bang for your buck. alo-ha. kayak. search one and done. michael cohen, president trump's long-time personal

lawyer and fixer, has resigned from his post on the rnc finance committee. according to abc news, cohen cited had his ongoing legal trouble as a reason for his departure. however the rnc chair, cohen took a shot at trump's family separation policy. according to abc, cohen said as the son of a holocaust sfirvegs the images and sounds of this family's separation policy is heart wrenching. i strongly support measures that will support our porous borders, children should never be used as a bargaining chip. fe. who came with a three foot, two inch bonus. for this new stepdad, it's promising to care for his daughter as if she's his own. every way we look out for those we love is an act of mutuality. we can help with the financial ones. learn more or find an advisor at massmutual.com

we can help with the financial ones. which is why i use armor tall ultra shine wash wipes.y. they effectively remove dirt, dust and grime with no water. that car is in tip top shape! we are both in tip top shape! armor all, it's easy to look good. but prevagen helps your brain with an ingredient originally discovered... in jellyfish. in clinical trials, prevagen has been shown to improve short-term memory. prevagen. the name to remember.

hi! are you two getting along? oh, yeah, yeah. [ hiss ] [ gasps ] [ birds chirping] ♪ no matter what you are they're a perfect match. the new ipad and xfinity stream app. hey guys, i'm home! surprise! i got a puppy. add an ipad to select packages for just $5 a month for 24 months. upgrade online now. welcome back to "hardball." the disturbing images of small children being torn from parents were troubling enough to push the president to act. nobody expected it could get worse. last night it did. according to "associated press," trump administration officials are sending babies as well as

small children tosh what are called tender age shelters in south texas. lawyers and medical provider who's spoke to the "associated press" described scenes of play rooms an of crying preschool age children in crisis. while they insist the facilities are safe they add the small children have no idea where their parents are and are hysterical crying and acting out. four days ago, homeland security officials told reporters "we are not separating babies from parents." we know that's not true. the detroit free press is reporting two baby boys aged 8 months and 11 months were shipped to grand rapids, michigan in the middle of the night. we're also hearing stories of being sent as far as kansas or harlem where new york once shot this video of five young girls being escorted to a foster center after being separated from their parents. one honduranen mother said she

has not even her 5-year-old son in six weeks and extremely worried she might be deported without him. given the president's new order late today, it's unclear what happens to the children already separated, thousands of them already separated from their parents. i'm joined by jacob soboroff in mccallan, texas, father john jenkins, president of the university of notre dame, and christine coexecutive director of freedom for immigrants. jacob, of those thousands of kids already torn from their parents including kids that are at the tender age level, will they get back to their parents anytime soon or at all? >> we don't know. i just got off the phone within an official from hhs, the agency that has been responsible for housing these children separated from their parents once they leave the custody of the border patrol. they tell me ultimately whether or not those 2500 or so kids that have been ripped from their parents down here on the

southern border end up back with their parents grandfathered under this order is up to the department of homeland security. i reached out to the department of homeland security tonight. we still don't have an answer. that also leaves all of these children in limbo. i got to remind you, we still have not seen, we know about the three tender age shelters but have not had our eyes on the girls that are detained and the toddlers and infants detained. we continue to ask to see them because despite the fact the kids moving forward will be detained with their families whether in i.c.e. or some other detention center, we don't know what happens to the 2500 children that were the victims. >> just to be simple, it's not a retroactive executive order? >> correct. >> father jenkins, you hold a seat which is treasured in our country in terms of human rights going back to theodore hess berg on the civil rights commission. i wanted you on the show tonight before we knew what trump was up

to this afternoon, i wanted to know what people like yourself in the clergy and academics think about this moment in our history that is not a good one. >> i agree, chris. it is a moral outrage that you're sitting across the political spectrum at this. reason is, families are so central to what holds us together as human beings. saint john called them the fundamental building blocks of society. when the state intervenes to tear families apart, it's intervening at what is at the heart of our values. this is is never what america stood for, it's never been who we are as americans. i think that's why you're seeing such outrage as this practice of separating parents from children. >> what do you say to those who support the president generally on immigration issues or sort of hard liners in this case? >> look, we need secure borders.

everyone agrees with that. what worries me is the rhetoric demeans these people. to talk about them as rapists and criminals, it isn't true. most of them are people looking for a better life pore their families. i'm not saying that we shouldn't have border security. we should. but treat these people as human beings. don't treat them as animals or someone that we can take their rights away that's what i think people are saying. again, you could think what you want about immigration reform but the starting point should be treat these people with decency and treat these families with decency. >> thank you, father. let me go to christine fiallo. for hundreds of years, can the white people of this country to be ethnic about it for a moment separated black people from their families. that was what slavery was all about, people each -- each person having a price on their head. you could sell people and

separate them for money that went on for hundreds of years in this country. it was not a one-week thing like this thing. this goes back to that. the willingness for national policy to breakup families is on the head of this country and those who support the government. >> that is correct, chris. the trump administration's executive order to stop this separation of families but to put them into family immigration detention facilities is not the solution. my organization freedom for immigrants has been visiting and monitoring detention facilities for a a second including family facilities. we know what happens inside of there. it's awful. we released a report last year that found widespread physical and sexual assault in immigration detention fats including a young girl under 18 who filed a claim at a family detention facility in texas about sexual assault. a medical examination showed vaginal scarring and an astd.

i know the american public wants to see immediate solution to this brutal reality we're living in, but family immigration detention is not the sugars. we need to abolish the immigration detention system and create truth community alternatives to detention. >> thank you. you have so much information on that. i hope everybody gets it. >> in honor of world refugee day did, former president barack obama weighed in on the trump administration policy of separating families. he wrote "to be an american is to have a shared commitment to an ideal that all of us are created equal and all of us deserve a chance to become something better. that's the legacy our parents and grandparents and generations before created for us, and it's something we have to protect for the generations to come but we have to do more than say this isn't who we are. we have to prove it through our policies, our actions, and our votes." jacob, just to go back to you to

seal this off, you don't know, we don't know the, nobody knows what's going to happen to the 2,000 krids kids, some sent to new york, some kent to michigan. the parents have no idea where they are and some of the parents were lied to. i was reading today some were told you'll see your kid in a couple days. >> yeah, they could be in 17 states in 100 different shelters. i want to go back toing what president obama said there. the words are inspiring but to echo the point we just heard, president obama and his administration operated sheeters just like the ones we got a look into this last week, the ones with the cages and mats and mylar blankets. if you were disgusted by seeing children alone, that's a policy, not the children but the center itself to administrations before this one. if you feel like you want a change after what you've seen, it's about how all immigrants are detained when they come into

this country illegally. >> this debate is going to go on and on and we've seen the human face. i thank you so much. jacob soboroff. thank you father john jenkins, i was going to say holy cross, from notre dame and christine, thank you. jacob will be reporting on the border crisis on "dateline" on sunday. it airs at 7:00 eastern on nbc. president trump claimed those crossing the border are intent bringing drugs and crime into this country. in reality, many of the migrants are escaping horrific violence in sprawl america. we'll talk to a roman catholic nun working to help those asylum seekers. what's forcing them to do this kind of pilgrimage to get away from hell. this is "hardball" where the action is.

behr presents: 2 stains, 4 seasons. ordinary stains say they can do the job, but behr premium stain can weather any weather. behr premium semi-transparent stain and sealer, overall #1 rated, weathers it all. find our most advanced formula exclusively at the home depot.

(male friend) thanks for the invite! show me the movies. (anna) front row? nobody puts baby in a corner. i'll pre-order what she's having. wax on, wax off. yippee ki yay movielovers. (vo) introducing atom tickets. (anna) was that too much? (vo) download the atom app and get $5 off your first ticket.

i think you have to understand we're keeping families together but we have to keep our borders strong. we will be overrun with crime and with people that should not be in our country. >> welcome back to "hardball." that was president trump late this afternoon announcing his executive order to end his own policy of family separations at the border. trump has consistently painted those crossing the border as criminals seeking to here's a word for you infest this country like vermin. it's an awful word for people. the west phillip bump took a

closer look at the choices faced by those who cross noting that view of immigrants copping to the united states as latent criminals sneaking across to plunder ignores a more accurate depiction ofmy grans. people driven from their home countries seeking a better life in the united states. and many of those seeking asylum come from central american's northern triangle. these are three troubled violent countries, guatemala, honduras and el salvador. anyway, gabe gutierrez spoke with several migrants from honduras waiting to cross over into the united states. [ speaking foreign language ] >> she says gangs threatened her life. that's why she had to leave honduras with her 3-year-old child. see says it's not good to be in her home country because of the violence. this is her second time trying to get into the united states. she was at the border once before but she's having to try

back to honduras. s afraid to go >> i'm joined by sister norma executive director of catholic charities at the rio grande border. thank you for joining us. tell us what you've heard from themy grans who have come up particularly from central america to try to get asylum. >> thank you, chris. yes, well, i welcome so many families here in our humanitarian center. the stories that we hear are stories of a lot of pain and hardship of many families go through having to leave their country because the situation they have to face and then go through a journey of a lot of fear and people abusing them and finally entering our country and finding themselves scared and frightened and so finally when they arrive at our door in our respite center, we are able to help them feel better. >> are they escaping their own governments? >> yes, well, they're escaping

the rate of violence that is produced by all the corruption and all the gangs that are after them and their children and trying to recruit them and threatening to kill them. that story just goes on and on all the time. >> i heard that some of the young kids, can the young boys very young boys are reroo kruted for ms-13. also girls are told if they don't support that, their parents will get killed. it's that frightening. >> that's true. that's totally true. the families even today we had a mother that was actually sharing how 15-year-old daughter was very frightened because they told her, you need to join us and be part of us. if not, we will kill your family and kill you, as well. >> tell me about the pact. is it your sense that pretty much all the people coming from those three countries on hur das, el salvador and nicaragua, that those countries are really, they're all honest cases for

asylum as you see it? what mostly all or mostly? how would you describe? are all the people coming up -- how would you describe the percentage of people coming up who do face fear at home? >> you know, i can hear their stories and the majority of the families that i see that are actually arrive to our center are family who's really are frightened who fear for the lives and the lives of their children. i think that they have a legitimate credible fear for their life and the life of their family. i think ha that is a valid reason to one, be in this country to ask for protection for safety and to apply for little asylum. >> sister, thank you so much. my two aunts, my mom's two sisters were sisters it of st. joseph. i'm glad to have you on the program. we don't have enough nuns on the program. >> thank you so much, chris. >> up next. >> nice being here. >> thank you. president trump is holding a rally. do you believe he's having a

rally tonight in minnesota despite today's policy? what a night to celebrate. trump reportedly considers immigration a winning issue heading into the midterms. we're ready for what could be a great fun night for him, mr. backflip. you're watching "hardball." to gs like concert tickets or a new snowboard. matt: whoo! whoo! jen: but that all changed when we bought a house. matt: voilà! jen: matt started turning into his dad. matt: mm. that's some good mulch. ♪ i'm awake. but it was pretty nifty when jen showed me how easy it was to protect our home and auto with progressive. [ wrapper crinkling ] get this butterscotch out of here. progressive can't protect you from becoming your parents. there's quite a bit of work, 'cause this was all -- this was all stapled. but we can protect your home and auto when you bundle with us.

but we can protect your home and auto okay, so... my mom washes the dishes... ...before she puts them in the dishwasher. and if they come out gross... ...she washes them again. so what does the dishwasher do? new cascade platinum lets your dishwasher be the dish washer. these new actionpacs unleash three different cleaning agents that dissolve food, lift it off, and rinse it away the first time. wow! that's clean! and less work for my mom. new cascade platinum. nothing cleans better. before discovering nexium 24hr to treat her frequent heartburn,

lucy could only imagine enjoying a slice of pizza. now it's as easy as pie. nexium 24hr stops acid before it starts for all-day, all-night protection. can you imagine 24 hours without heartburn?

welcome back to "hardball." president trump's about to hold a make america great again again rally in duluth, minnesota, hours after he signed the executive order to undo his own order of separating kids from their parents. as "the washington post" reported earlier this week, he had been originally defiant as protests grew over his immigration policy. according to "the post," he considers immigration a winning issue for him politically. he complained repeatedly he looks weak on enforcement and has been concerned his base could turn on him for not being tougher. his tough stance is central to his 2016 presidential campaign,

of course. let's watch. >> when mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best. they're bringing drugs, they're bringing crime. they're rapists. >> a lot of the places they're illegals. and they're tough dudes. they're tough. they're out of here. before i even get the wall started, they're gone the first day. one of the first things, they're gone. >> one of the reasons we've done so well here is because we are going to stop illegal immigration and if we don't stop it, we don't have a country, folks. we don't have a country. we don't have a country. and you know, i have as big a heart as anybody here. it's like with the migration. help them. let's do something. we can't let them come over almost more importantly than anybody. >> tonight's roundtable, you have to be hard headed for this one. ruth marcus, editor of the west and msnbc contributor. aisha ras cuss, from npr and

eugene scott from the "washington post." sometimes i think what trump does is macks eth glick prejudice by saying it's not that we're against hispanics but we're against rapists. go ahead. >>? >> >> it didn't work. kids don't look like rapists. >> the mask comes off pretty quickly where trump is concerned. he'll always ledge it a little bit. some of them i guess are good people was what he said. >> in that speech he said they're all rapists. >> some of them i suppose are good people. it is not subtle. it is racist at its core and fundamentally -- and this is how we got i think to the family separation policy. which is not understanding that these people who are crossing the border as the sister said to you are taking their children on this dangerous journey because they are desperate. they are desperate to get out of the dangerous situation in their countries to try to build a

better life for their children here. he does not see them as people and that is the reason he is not treating them as people. >> what do you make, i even shah, of the first lady getting involved in this? >> i think. >> i think she did. >> i think there's definitely a narrative where there are officials who want to us feel like she got involved. >> you're skeptical. >> i think that there is a picture being put out that she did try to. >> you think it's a lie. >> to lobby the president. >> i'm not going to say it's not true. i think. >> okay. i see the little smile you got. i know that skeptical smile. you think they're trying to say trump did the right thing. he was the tough guyen at wife's a little softer and that sovietened him a little bit. >> ivanka. >> it takes the edge off the backflip. >> i think it's interesting they're putting this in the mouths of ivanka and melania, the first lady. >> why? tell me the politics.

>> these are the women, they're saying look, you got to be soft. as you said president trump wants to be tough. he said today i think you got to be tough but then you get these horrible images. so he's trying to say that's what he wants to show. >> gene, i've only met melania a few times and think she's nice. her parents are immigrants. she does have some knowledge of an immigrant experience even if these she's fortunate to the marry the president. have to believe she knows what's it feels like to be somebody from another country. >> absolutely. i think it's worth noting he's often defended trump on very problematic ideas and not encouraging him to apologize and saying he needs to double down. she doesn't have a consistent track record of speaking out for the least of these -- >> what does it mean this time? >> it's not clear she's doing it as strongly as the white house perhaps is putting out there. i think far more importantly, she didn't do it when he called

mexican immigrants rapists and murderers on day one. >> we're getting very political here which is fine with me. do you think the president and his people approved that press release she put out that tweet where she said this is wrong, this separation of children from their parents? do you think that got approved by the big shots in the white house like kellyanne and the rest of them? >> my gut is not. >> you think it's for real. >> that was a very carefully crafted statement where you could read it as. >> and wouldn't offend the bear, wouldn't poke the bear. >> did not poke the bear. you no who poked the bear, the former first lady laura bush really poked. >> and rosalynn carter, too. reported on the president's distortions of the truth "the washington post" knows president trump has been outdoing himself with falsehoods. according to a psychology researchers his use of repetition is an effective technique for convincing his supporters for the vasivity of his claims.

there are many signs such falsehoods have take among many in his base. a trump supportner duluth, minnesota, just told me she has compassion for separated families but ultimately believes that the detainment center photos and videos are fake and photoshoped. aisha faked and photoshopped like the people that say we didn't go to the moon. they believe this is faked. >> it seemed like the people trying to defend this policy couldn't decide where they wanted to land. the president himself said it was horrible, these ins. they were trying to say this wasn't a big deal. >> knee high kids like that cute girl in the red jacket we see the pictures of looking up. she's an actor? that's what they're saying. >. >> she's in crisis but not an actor. >> by the media that they consume. we've seen anchors on pro trump networks clearly say whatever the networks say, it's the exact opposite. if that's all they're consume --

that's what they believe. >> why do they say that? because the president of the united states has told them the scum fake news is per have aing this. >> i turned on fox last night, i flipped had the of channel this morning. they're talking about the fbi and ig and all that stuff. they're not even talking about this. >> we have a west reporter in duluth right now who said even before trump came on stage, they're chanting lock her up. >> locking hillary up. >> they're talking about hillary clinton in 2018. >> she's got a life after political death. she's a ghost to these people. the roundtable is sticking with us. i want to recognize someone, i have to slow down who has been here from "hardball"'s earliest innings. my friend court harson is leaving the show after 1 years. what a great run. there we are with the stanley cup. he mass been universally admired and loved and will be missed by everyone here. you're watching "hardball." en yn condition called dry mouth...

which can be brought on by many things, like medication and medical conditions. biotène provides immediate, long lasting relief from dry mouth symptoms. it is clinically proven to soothe and moisturize a dry mouth. plus, it freshens breath. biotène. immediate and long lasting dry mouth symptom relief.

...to give you the protein you need with less of the sugar you don't. i'll take that. [cheers] 30 grams of protein and 1 gram of sugar. new ensure max protein. in two great flavors. president trump's meeting with congressional republicans yesterday was supposed to be about immigration. but the president couldn't resist using that occasion to take a shot at outgoing congressman mark sanford who just lost his primary to a pro trump challenger. according to "the washington post" president trump mocked sanford saying i want to congratulate him on running a great race. the comment drew awkward silence among republicans. today trump disputed that reporting writing on twitter

house republicans laughed loudly when he mentioned my experience with mark sanford. i have never been a fan of his. republican congressman justin ach issue who was in the meeting responded house republicanss had front row seats to the president's dazzling display of pettiness and insecurity. nobody applaud or laughed. people were disgusted. they're finally challenging this guy. we'll be right back. ymore, td ameritrade lets you trade select securities 24 hours a day, five days a week. that's amazing. it's a pretty big deal. so i can trade all night long? ♪ ♪ all night long... is that lionel richie? let's reopen the market. mr. richie, would you ring the 24/5 bell? sure can, jim. ♪ trade 24/5, with td ameritrade. ♪ it's these new fresh-fx car air fresheners from armor all. each scent can create a different mood in my car.

like tranquil skies. armor all, it's easy to smell good.

"hardball" round table. ruth, tell me something i don't know. >> my very smart colleague e.j. dionne has an interesting column in which he talks about the incredible shrinking republican party. it's gone from about 32% of people who right before the election identified themselves as republicans to about 28% now but e.j. makes the point that the impact of this is actually like cooking down the stock for your soup. it makes the republican that remaining part of the republican

party is more and more conservative, harder, much more tied to trump. >> from 32 to 28. >> that's a little bit of a chop. that's a lot of people that buy trump. >> go ahead. >> so the trade dispute between the u.s. and china is heating up. china has told its farmers to grow more soybeans. they told them to set aside 1.6 million more acres to grow soybeans. that has a huge impact on u.s. farmer who's supply like a third of china's crops. >> one of the organizers. >> import substitution it's called. >> yes. >> one of the organizers of last year's unite the right rally received initial approval to hold an anniversary rally in august across from the white house. so that will be happening this coming summer. >> give me the history. >> it's one of the groups the movement of the white supremacists white nationalists. >> charlottesville. >> to celebrate the confederate. >> what a great history they've got. being sarcastic.

thank you ruth, ayesha and euge eugene. let me finish with trump watch. . you don't really believe it. and then you see one for the first time. it's a miracle. [ roar ] you see that? holy! rated pg-13. if you have moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, little things can be a big deal. that's why there's otezla. otezla is not an injection or a cream. it's a pill that treats psoriasis differently. with otezla, 75% clearer skin is achievable after just 4 months, ... with reduced redness, thickness, and scaliness of plaques. and the otezla prescribing information has no requirement for routine lab monitoring.

don't use if you're allergic to otezla. otezla may cause severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. tell your doctor if these occur. otezla is associated with an increased risk of depression. tell your doctor if you have a history of depression or suicidal thoughts, or if these feelings develop. some people taking otezla reported weight loss. your doctor should monitor your weight and may stop treatment. other side effec ide uppereatory tract infection and headache. tell your doctor about all the medicines you take and if you're pregnant or planning to be. ♪ otezla. show more of you.

a hilton getaway means you get more because... you get another day in paradise. get a sunset on a sunday. get more stories to share. get more from your summer getaway with exclusive hilton offers. book yours, only at hilton.com

trump watch, wednesday, june 20th, 2018. the president's language late today was a giveaway. he was reversing his policy on separating parents from their children at the border for reasons particular to him. it wasn't the policy, it was the images. he said right up front without a note of shame or any other respectable tone of voice it was the images, the look of those children down there in texas that caused him to do his backflip. his announcement of an executive order he said just yesterday he didn't have the right to issue. it was the images. the look of what was happening to those children that forced him to undo what had he done in the first place, required by executive action that children should be separated from their parents. there will be good reporting because there has been a lot of good reporting on trump on what constituted the straw on trump's back that caused him to perform this political backflip. but a backflip it was. not even his most stone-eyed supporter on immigration, perhaps he more than anyone been

deny trump flipped. he flipped faster than michael flynn, than george papadopoulos, faster than rick gates because the picture kep seeing ot trump rate show were reality itself. and that's "hardball" for now. thanks for being with us. all in with chris hayes starts right now. >> tonight on "all in" live from the boarder. >> you're really, really pathetically weak, the country's going to be overrun with millions of people. >> after all the deception. >> you can't do it through an executive order. >> the president gets caught. >> we're signing an executive order. i consider to be a very important executive order. >> donald trump forced to slink away from his own policy. >> shame, shame, shame, shame. >> tonight, the ongoing and lasting damage of family separation. >> these kids are still in the system. we don't know where they are. >> what happens next on the