so get out and vote for roy moore. [ cheers ] do it. do it. >> u.s. president donald trump backs the republican senate candidate despite the accusations of sexual misconduct leveled at roy moore. plus, firefighters in the u.s. state of california are having slow but steady progress fighting six fires around the clock. and coming up later this hour, the case of the former congressman and his $5 million offer. trent franks resigns his seat a little earlier than he had planned. >> live from cnn world headquarters in atlanta, we want to welcome viewers in the united

states and around the world. i'm george howell. >> i'm natalie allen. "cnn newsroom" starts right now. ordinarily a president endorsing a senate candidate from his own party is expected. but donald trump is no ordinary president, and roy moore no ordinary senate hopeful. on friday president trump endorsed moore, and that's despite the candidate facing sexual misconduct accusations from several women. >> the endorsement is one that many in the republican party have refused to make and have, in fact, called for moore to quit the race. caitlyn collins was at the rally where mr. trump announced that he was all in for roy moore, and she has this report. >> reporter: although the white house has said repeatedly that president trump would not come to alabama and campaign for roy moore ahead of that senate election on tuesday that is highly contested, he did the next best thing when he came to a campaign-style rally in pensacola, florida, and told an arena filled with alabama

residents to get out and vote for roy moore. not only did he endorse him in person as he has done on twitter, the president also hit his democratic opponent in that race, doug jones, claiming that he's weak on crime and that if he made it to washington, he would be chuck schumer and nancy pelosi's puppet. >> we can't afford to have a liberal democrat who is completely controlled by nancy pelosi and chuck schumer. we can't do it. [ boos ] his name is jones, and he's their total puppet. and everybody knows it. he will never, ever vote for us. we need somebody in that senate seat who will vote for our "make america great again" agenda -- [ applause ] -- which involves tough on crime, strong on borders, strong

on immigration. so get out and vote for roy moore. [ cheers ] do it. do it. do it. >> reporter: though the white house has said the president finds the allegations made against roy moore troubling and concerning and if that if they're true roy moore should step aside, we heard from the president on some of those allegations during his rally. he brought up beverly nelson, the woman who says she was 16 years old when moore assaulted her. and as part of her proof she showed where he signed her yearbook. the moore campaign said it was a forgery and that that was not his signature. when nelson said on friday that she had written the date and location underneath his signature, the moore campaign took that as an opportunity to say that she was lying and had admitted it was a forgery. president trump brought that up on the stage behind me here in pensacola, mocking beverly nelson over that. so we heard from the president himself on what he thinks of that accuser. we know that sources have said

privately he doubts the women who accused roy moore, comparing it to his own situation in the president's election last year when he, too, was accused of sexual assault by multiple women. so though the white house said that president trump would not campaign for moore, he's essentially done the next best thing tonight when he said to get out and vote for moore. >> caitlyn collins was at the rally in pensacola, florida. another story of the president's close aides, one may have been targeted by russian operatives looking to gain a foothold in the white house. >> communications director hope hicks was repeatedly contacted by russian officials after the 2016 election. for more, here's jessica schneider. >> reporter: we've learned that senior fbi officials met with hope hicks earlier this year all to warn her about several introductory emails that she received after the election from russian government e-mail addresses. fbi agents, they met with hope hicks twice inside the situation room at the white house at the beginning of this year.

they told her that those emails were not what they seemed, and they may have been part of a russian intelligence operation. all of that, according to reporting from "the new york times." this, it was a very specific warning. it shows that law enforcement was alarmed that the russians were trying to establish contacts with the trump team after the election. now reportedly hope hicks disclosed her meetings with the fbi to white house counsel don mcgann. and hicks met with robert mueller's team thursday and friday as part of the russia probe. and new details in the paul manafort and rick gates case. so far officials have amassed 400,000 documents in their case. that includes financial records and emails, and they've label good 2,000 of those -- labeled about 2,000 of those documents as hot, meaning that they could be particularly relevant. the government saying that they have 36 electronic devices they seized from paul manafort's

home. investigators have also any case issued 15 search warrants. interestingly in the court filings on friday, the government referenced that manafort and gates have given deposition testimony in another matter. but prosecutors aren't saying exactly what that means. this case is moving full steam ahead. the next status hearing for paul manafort and rick gates, it is on monday. >> all right. manafort, hope hicks, roy moore. let's talk about it with associate professor of international relation at the university of london. thanks for being with us. >> thank you. >> yes. we just saw president trump there right across the border from alabama in florida telling everyone to get out in alabama and vote for moore. he went from silence to being his cheerleader. and now the rnc has fallen behind. it looks like roy moore is getting all the support he could want from those in washington. what do you make of it? >> that's right. it's very interesting actually.

of course, as you rightly said, he -- the president did wait. he didn't come out as quickly as he might have. he was clearly weighing this up. but he's decided that the thing that matters most is getting that seat in the senate. he saw how narrow the vote was on tax reform, just a few days ago. and i think the president is aware that if he doesn't maintain that seat, any prospect for further progress with respect to his ledge slab agenda will be -- legislative agenda will be gravely at risk. this seems to be the thing that matters most. the rally more generally, the president is coming up to the anniversary of his first year in the white house. very few victories. he's going back -- low approval ratings. he's going back to that base, right back to the old messages that were on the very divisive messages that he -- trump did across the campaign trail. so the rally is a throwback in many ways. but looking to claim vacations and to really -- claim victories

and talking about the border wall, announced the recognition of jerusalem this week with very negative consequences on the streets in the middle east, and negative consequences for the security of american personnel abroad. i think he's really trying to shore up that base, and roy moore and this election is absolutely crucial to that. it's upsetting and potentially very worrying because it's going to create a lot oftive -- a lot of negative politics and ethics questions. >> i want to ask about roy moore. sexual assault allegations aside, his inability to follow federal laws as a judge. let's remember that. he puts his religious beliefs first. he's staunchly anti-gay. he's basically a bigot and proud of what he stands for. so will that come back to bite washington and the rnc if their work puts him in there? >> yeah. i think that there are many

people in the senate that see that this is not going to be good for them. roy moore, as you said, he lost his job twice in the state of alabama, supreme court justice, for not following the law. and he's not wildly popular. so it creates -- it's going to create a shadow over the senate if he elected. i think it's an election to watch in a couple of days. and the president's clearly decided that he's going to cast aside the record of this candidate's past. and he's going to go for securing that majority in the senate. so it seems to be far more important than the personal record of the candidate that he's clearly backing now. >> yeah. and the other topic, the russia investigation. mueller has, what, 400,000 documents from mr. manafort. we learned that the fbi has also talked with hope hicks, communications director, that no one ever sees or hears from. no indication she's done

anything wrong but said she should look out for emails from russia. so where is this taking us in this ongoing probe? >> well, i think we're just seeing that mueller's persistent, that he's moving forward. and the question with respect to hope hicks is just, you know, it's more evidence clearly that the russians were trying, and she seems to have been very transparent with respect to that. and i think mueller's looking to see who was potentially, you know, being very truthful about their interactions and who wasn't and how far up does that go. we're still waiting to see, of course, what will happen with respect to flynn and his cooperation, his apparent cooperation with this investigation. but this is -- i think the bigger story is, of course, trump. this is clearly preoccupying him. it's clear that this is going to continue to move forward. and it isn't going away.

and everybody's waiting to see what's coming next. clearly the intelligence that came out last december is being confirmed on a daily basis. the russians are very intent on undermining the integrity of the presidential elections. >> we appreciate as always you talking with us. thanks, leslie. >> thank you. one thing that is for sure, this white house has worked to distance itself from anyone implicated in the special counsel's investigation. that includes this person, george papadopoulos, former foreign policy adviser. >> after his guilty plea in october, the administration described him as a coffee boy and low-level volunteer. his fiancee says that is not true at all. here's what she told pamela brown. >> reporter: what have you seen, what have you ared that doesn't square with the george papadopoulos you know? >> george papadopoulos is everything but a coffee boy. he's an outstanding personality.

is very educated, articulated. and even his contribution to the campaign has been much more advanced than bringing coffee. >> reporter: why do you think the white house was so quick to come out and call him a coffee boy or a low-level volunteer? >> i think they wanted to disassociate from the first person who decided to actively cooperate with the government on the right side. probably the easiest way is to dismisses his personality and equate him to a low-level volunteer. >> reporter: you don't believe he was? >> i know he wasn't. >> reporter: how do you know he wasn't? >> he shared with me something else about his contribution to the campaign. >> reporter: you say he was consistently in touch with the high-level campaign officials. >> yes. >> reporter: what was his interaction with michael flynn? >> he was in contact with michael flynn and worked with -- and worked with flynn during the

transition. he was actively contributing to the foreign policy strategies for the campaign. he didn't take any initiative on his own without campaign approval. >> pamela brown there with that interview. papadopoulos is still waiting for sentencing as he cooperates with the fbi. you can find the rest of that conversation on line. our website at cnn.com. still ahead here as "newsroom" pushes on, more protests may be coming to the west bank after a change in u.s. policy toward jerusalem. we have live reports from the region ahead. plus, towering smoke and fast-moving flames. people in southern california feeling the ferocious heat from six wildfires that continue to rip through their neighborhoods. we'll have the latest. beyond is a natural pet food that goes beyond assuming ingredients are safe... to knowing they are. going beyond expectations... because our pets deserve it.

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and it has been slammed by much of the american community including u.s. allies. here's what happened at a security council meeting that took place on friday. >> we, therefore, disagree with the u.s. decision to move its embassy to jerusalem and unilaterally to recognize jerusalem as the capital of israel before a final status agreement. these decisions are unhelpful to prospects for peace in the region. >> translator: we're worried that the new position by the united states on jerusalem risks further complicating the situation in palestinian/israeli relations and in the region as a whole. >> the u.s. decision to reward israelis impunity undermines and essentially disqualifies its leadership role to seek peace in the region. >> that is some of the blow back from leaders. let's get reactions from across the region. cnn's arwa damon and ian lee are both in the west bank. war joins us from bethlehem.

ian in ramallah. arwa, let's start with you. aside from a few israeli soldiers that we've seen in the background from time to time in your shot, what is the mood there? are things quiet, and what is expected? >> reporter: we're expecting a demonstration to start here shortly in that direction. the demonstrators will be coming down this road. the demonstration was called for yesterday by all palestinian factions. it's meant to make a statement. and that statement is to express their desire, their demand that arab countries and, in fact, muslim countries across the world expel their u.s. ambassadors, of course in reaction to u.s. president trump's declaration that the u.s. would be recognizing jerusalem as the capital of israel. this has not only incensed the palestinian population here but really muslims across the world. there is this sense that by

making that declaration, the u.s. has not only completely eliminated, eradicated the palestinian dream of also having east jerusalem as the capital of their future palestinian state, but that it is also sending a broader message to muslims across the world that they are no longer welcome in jerusalem. now throughout the morning here so far, there have been small clashes. groups of youth are gathered around us. you see in the background, this road, again, that the demonstrators are meant to be marching toward the wall. >> the shot in bethlehem. we're losing the signal a bit. sorry, continue. we lost your signal. >> reporter: yeah. it tends to break in and out. the demonstrators are expected to be marching down this road. there's been rocks throwing, teargas back and forth.

this is very much the norm. this is the standard of what happens. the demonstration we've been seeing throughout, the clashes are nothing new to this part of the world. when you talk to people, they tell us that this time they feel as if there's something that is perhaps different. it's different because of that declaration by the united states. it's different because other than america no other country has come out in support of the official recognition of jerusalem as being the official capital of israel. there's also perhaps a sense that, yes, the two-state solution is dead. negotiations at this point, you know, what chance do they actually have? what chance is there for this elusive peace that so many will say they fundamentally want. wanting peace is one thing. the reality, the dynamics on the ground, are something else. these are two populations, the israelis and the palestinians, that have grown up amid these tensions that do quite often

erupt into violence. for many, you also get a sense that they're actually exhausted least on the palestinian side. they are exhausted by this back and forth that keeps happening time and time again with at least from their perspective, no resolution at all to decades of grievances. george? >> important to point out, arwa, before the declaration by the u.s. president, the palestinian/israeli conflict has not been at the fore, but it is at the forefront now. and we're seeing the reactions on the streets. live in bethlehem. stand by. let's bring in ian lee, also following the situation on the streets in ramallah. and ian, from what you're seeing and to arwa's point, is there a sense among people you've spoken to that things are somehow different now? >> reporter: yeah, that's the one question we've been asking a lot of people is what is

different about this time versus previous times. of course, you had that major announcement by u.s. president donald trump declaring jerusalem the capital of israel. but really we have ventured into the unknown. you talk to palestinians and ask them where does this go from here. a lot of the them have told me that, frankly, they don't know. they think it could go a lot further. you bring up the word -- the phrase third infanata, something that hamas and gaza has called for. people say it could happen. it could not happen. that's the unknown. where we are, we're expecting protests to come here again today. this is where thursday we saw some of the most violent clashes between the israeli army and palestinian protesters. this area behind me, there was just thick with black smoke, burning tires. there was teargas filling the air, as well as rocks. a back and forth between the

sides. people were saying they were out to vent their frustration. we're expecting that to happen, we're told that protests are going to -- protesters are going to start coming in an hour's time. and like arwa said, there's protests planned in bethlehem. there are protests planned for ramallah, in jerusalem. really across the west bank, across gaza. and in jerusalem. palestinians don't seem ready to lay down their cause. they're ready -- they're continued to keep fighting for it, and that's what we're seeing today. really that's going to be the test. if they can keep up the protests on a daily basis, what will that pressure have? no one can know. it will have pressure on politicians in one way or another. >> to both of you, we appreciate the reporting as we bring you a look at what's happening on the streets given the declaration by

the u.s. president. the question again, will this day, again, turn into more clashes on the streets? ian lee live in ramallah. arwa damon in bethlehem. thank you for the reporting. we turn to southern california. thousands of firefighters working there nonstop to combat thick wildfires. they made progress friday containing five blazes. however, the largest inferno, thomas wildfire, grew to nearly 58,000 hectares or 143,000 acres. at least one person has died in a car crash while evacuating from that fire. >> to compare again, it's been compared to the size of seattle and orlando together, these fires. just massive fires that are taking place. nearly 200,000 people have been forced to leave their homes since the fires started this week. some have returned only to find the homes destroyed. almost 14,000 in the area don't have power. cnn has more in this report.

>> reporter: new information from fire officials on the thomas fire, the largest fire that's burning which is three times now the size of washington, d.c. they are now saying that 87,000 people have been evacuated. that's almost half the total number of people that have been evacuated across southern california because of these fires. and here's why -- this is just one home. but around us there are within eyesights 20 homes that we can count that are burned to the ground. they look just like this. basically the chimney is the only thing that is standing. here is another vista, a view from atop ventura. this neighborhood devastated by this fire. home after home after home leveled to the ground. and many of the folks who live in these homes, the homeowners don't even know what their homes look like yet because they have not been able to make it back after evacuating. some of them with just the clothes on their back or with just a small bag. for example, their prescriptions. this has been such a difficult

time for them and for the firefighters who are working double and triple shifts trying to knock this fire back. it's still only 10% contained at this point. i do need to mention how many firefighters are battling this blaze which is still raging in the hills. about 3,500 fire personnel, 21 helicopters that you have been seeing, of course, dumping water and trying to stop these blazes. i must say that when you watch the work they do, they are amazingly accurate with dumping that water. but the flames just too strong, and they keep on rolling. >> wow. >> derek van dam here with us now. these devastating fires follow the ones in recent weeks in the wine country -- >> that's correct. >> might have people in california thinking about b where they live and thinking of the climate change situations that they'll see in the next years. >> this has been the costliest wildfire season in u.s. history. that was as of five days ago before the fires started to burn in southern california. already at $10 billion.

and of course we have to calculate the devastation already from what's happening now. look at thomas fire, this is the overnight visuals from the thomas fire in ventura county. believe it or not, there's been some progress. it's at 10% containment. this fire, explosive growth. the sheer movement of the system because of the santa ana winds and extremely dry vegetation and topography there just making the recipe for disaster obviously. there was this narrow window of time when the los angeles county fire officials were able to get some of the helicopters and fire bombing airplanes into the sky and accurately get in advance of some of the approaching fires within the area and help contain at least a number of the fires especially south of where the thomas fire is burning. the lilac, liberty, rye fires. all of them reporting improvements which is good news. that doesn't mean the threat has diminished.

we still have critical fire danger from los angeles to san diego. about 25 million americans live within this red flag warning zone. that means tinderbox conditions for the area. there was a brief lull and the strong santa ana winds relaxed a bit. look at the computer models into the day today, gusting to 40 to 50 kilometers per hour, then picking up once again as we head into the day on sunday. to make matters worse, we'll take out the available moisture out of the atmosphere and see the relative humidity values drop into the single digits. we had a smoke plume from the thomas fire extend 1,000 miles across the pacific ocean. that's equivalent to new york to miami. unbelievable stuff. air quality index, you can imagine, going downhill for southern california as we speak. i've got to show you this picture. this is from galveston, texas, on the gulf coast. snowmen. they had to use a seashell to put on the mustache and the smile there. winter storm warnings, watches, and advisories for nearly 60

million americans as we speak. and this beautiful shot, enjoy it. six inches of fresh snow. that is curo the cat, six months old, loving it in birmingham, alabama. he loves it. where did he go? everybody loves a cat in the snow, right? >> sure, why not. >> thank you. >> you're welcome. coming up here, it's been tough to get to friday's breakthrough in the brexit negotiations, and it's still just the beginning of the divorce proceedings. we'll have the latest. directv has been rated number one in customer satisfaction over cable for 17 years running. but some people still like cable. just like some people like wet grocery bags. getting a bad haircut. overcrowded trains. turnstiles that don't turn. and spilling coffee on themselves. but for everyone else, there's directv.

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welcome back to our viewers here in the united states and around the world. you're watching "cnn newsroom." i'm getting a little ahead of myself, natalie. i'm george howell. >> we're global. that's what we're trying to say. that's what he meant to say. i'm natalie allen. here are our headlines -- u.s. president trump gives an enthusiastic endorsement to senate candidate roy moore. several women have accused moore of sexual misconduct. mr. trump slammed moore's opponent and urged alabama voters to elect moore. the election is set for tuesday. at least one fire-related death has been reported in southern california. firefighters are working round the clock to fight six fires. they made some progress on friday with the liberty fire. it's now 90% contained. the creek fire now 70% contained, but strong winds expected through sunday. that could fuel the flames more. prosecutors in the russia probe looming over the white house have obtained some 400,000 documents that they investigate

paul manafort and rick gates seen here. they have pleaded not guilty to charges of money laundering and foreign lobbying. protests in kiev after the former president of georgia was detained friday. he's accused of assisting a criminal group associated with ukraine's former president. it's actually the second time this week that sakshveli was detained. supporters smashed the windows of a police car in which he was being held. it has been a long, rocky road since british voters decided to leave the european union. >> on friday, negotiators from the uk and the eu wrapped up a phase one of the divorce proceedings. despite all of the hard work, the toughest challenges are still to come as our erin mclachlan reports. do you have a deal? >> reporter: after nearly nine months of punishing negotiation, a breakthrough. something to make teresa may

smile. the all clear from the european commission. >> the commission has formally decided to recommend to the european council the progress has been made on the strict terms of the divorce. >> reporter: a deal many feared might never be done, especially after what happened in brussels earlier in the week. >> some differences do remain which require further negotiation. >> reporter: may was forced to go home empty-handed. after texts settling what may happen to the northern border leaked to the press. the unionist party that holds the key to the majority nixed the agreement. >> we will not accept any afford of divergence -- >> reporter: it took four more days of intense phone calls between belfast, london, dublin, and brussels. then in the small hours of friday morning, just enough progress paving the way for a press conference, unveiling a deal on the breakup. the issues that matter most to

the eu. the financial settlement ripe for eu citizens. in the 15-page report outlining the agreement, the uk has made plenty of concessions on the issues including on money, committing to a formula to pay the eu tens of billions of euros and a role for the european court of justice to be able to weigh in on what happens to eu citizens. a red line for hard-line brexiteers who wanted to leave to avoid the european courts. >> the whole thing's a humiliation. >> reporter: what's seen in brussels as a diplomatic victory for may is also likely to be bittersweet. >> we all know that breaking up is hard, but breaking up and building a new reconciliation is much harder. >> reporter: friday's deal still needs to be approved here at the european council in brussels. something that seems likely. then the focus shifts to the potential transition.

something that the uk desperately wants to maintain the status quo for two years after brexit to give british business more time to adjust. eu officials warning that that, too, will come at a high price. cnn, brussels. let's talk more about brexit and friday's developments and where it goes from here. we're joined by simon ushered woo, director of uk in a changing world. thanks for joining us. >> great to be here. >> first of all, what do you think about what just transpired vis-a-vis northern ireland and the border and teresa may finally working to get this figured out? >> i think it's an important development. i think it highlights the difficult position that may has been in. as the piece just now was saying that the government relies on the democratic unionist party

for its majority in parliament. they were able to delay this agreement coming together during the week. so i think it's a good sign that the two sides have been able to find common ground. but there is an awful lot left to do if the uk is to get an agreement by the time that it's due to be leaving in march, 2019. >> let's talk about what the common ground represents. i want to read to you something from the "irish times," an opinion piece. it said, "by standing firm against their attempts to bully, cajole, and blame it, ireland has shifted brexit toward a soft outcome. it is now far more likely that britain will stay in the customs union and the single markets, also more likely that brexit will not, in fact, happen." what's your take on that opinion? >> that's -- there's a real tension here, isn't there? on the one hand, the uk says it will be fully aligned with those parts of the single market and the customs union that relates

to the good friday agreement that has brought peace to northern ireland in the past two decades. but at the same time, the document also clearly says that the uk will leave both the customs union and the single market. i think what the government here is counting on is that alignment doesn't mean you actually have to be formally inside those arrangements. you might be shadowing closely, but you're just on the outside, and you can have your own rules labeled as uk rules. so that whole agenda of taking back control is something that the government is going to try and make the case it still has managed to achieve. >> so the question is, a hard brexit, soft brexit, we're not sure where this will go. achieving brexit has been likened to unbaking a cake. nearly impossible or possible. what do you think in the big picture? >> i think it is really difficult. this is the way in which the european union entangles states.

upon in a malicious kind of way, but just modern government, modern governance just brings together a whole range of different rules and regulations that entangle countries. it's hard to unpick that. the uk's going been a -- uk's been a member for over 40 years. if you think about how much has happened in that time, all the rules that it built up, that to unpick that in even two years is a really hard task. and i think that one thing that's clear is that this was a difficult deal to reach this week, but that was on the easier parts. that was about tying off some of the most critical issues. as we move into phase two in the new year where we're talking about the new relationship, there's going to be an awful lot more to be discussed and more to debate and disagreements. >> we will talk with you again for sure. simon usherwood. thank you. >> thank you. still ahead, there are new

developments in the resignation of u.s. house member trent franks. plus, the naacp puts out the not welcome mat for president trump. how can you make your hair even stronger? use pantene shampoo together with 3 minute miracle daily conditioner. their pro-v formula is like a multi-vitamin.

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immediately amid new allegations. we have the story. >> reporter: there are new allegations and details about allegations coming out against congressman trent franks. i spoke to a confidante of one of the accusers who detailed her side of the story to this confidante. she says she was a former aide with the congressman, and she was asked by the congressman to be a surrogate in exchange for money. the woman says she was asked to look over a contract to potentially carry his child. and if she conceived his child, she would be given $5 million. this account comes from andrea lafferty. member of the coalition. she was in the room when this side of the story was presented to the speaker of the house paul ryan's office. this was first reported by the associated press. the speaker of the house quickly called for his resignation after

a very swift condemnation. he called the charges very credible and very serious. now the congressman pushed up his deadline for his official resignation. he did that on friday. instead of resigning on january 31st, he is out on friday. and franks publicly punting to his family. he said his wife was admitted to the hospital with an ongoing ailment. the best thing right now for the family to have him go and resign. it was clear in the halls of capitol hill that there is no appetite for him to stay a day longer. cnn on capitol hill. in a matter of hours, the slip civil rights museum -- the mississippi civil rights museum is set to open. normally that would be a cause for celebration, not controversy. >> protests may take place instead. this because the u.s. president donald trump will attend. the civil rights icon and u.s.

congressman john lewis says he will skip that event, as will mississippi congressman benny thompson. they call mr. trump's presence an insult. in a statement, the naacp said this, "president trump's statements and policies regarding the protection and enforcement of civil rights have been abysmal, and his attendance is an affront to the veterans of the civil rights movement." derek johnson is president and ceo of the naacp, america's oldest civil rights organization. he's also the former president of the mississippi dhachapter. he spoke friday to kate bolduan. i will not be there tomorrow. his attendance is a distraction from us having the opportunity to honor true americans who sacrificed so much to ensure that democracy works. and it is unfortunate. in fact, an affront to those individuals who fought for voting rights to make sure that people had quality education and access to health care would be celebrated.

those are principles this president do not support. with his voting commission, he don't support open and fair elections to ensure that all citizens have the right to vote. he don't affect free, quality, public education for all children. his most recent attempt with tax reform show he don't support affordable, quality health care. that was the movement. that's why we're celebrating the individuals who sacrificed, and his attendance is an affront. >> but important to point out that johnson's views are not universal. here's utah congressman mia love. >> i think if anybody should be going to civil rights museums and to learn about the suffering and -- i would say the triumph of black americans, it should be the white house. and i think that we should welcome that type of participation. >> the white house calls the reaction to the president's attendance unfortunate.

coming up here, we have one more for you. you know, this time of year, a lot of children awaiting santa claus. one child wrote quite the scathing letter. directv has been rated number one in customer satisfaction over cable for 17 years running. but some people still like cable. just like some people like wet grocery bags. getting a bad haircut. overcrowded trains. turnstiles that don't turn. and spilling coffee on themselves. but for everyone else, there's directv. for #1 rated customer satisfaction over cable, switch to directv. and for a limited time get a $100 reward card. call 1-800-directv (avo) if yand constipation,ling and you're overwhelmed by everything you've tried-- all those laxatives, daily probiotics, endless fiber-- it could be wearing on you. tell your doctor what you've tried, and how long you've been at it. linzess works differently from laxatives. linzess treats adults with ibs with constipation or chronic constipation.

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christmas is coming. that means santa is receiving millions of letters as he makes his list and checks it twice. >> some are exciting letters. some are -- like the letter from this 6-year-old santa skeptic who had a list of complaints. here's jeanne moos with that. merry christmas. >> reporter: a lot of kids are scared of santa. >> no! >> sweetie, come on. >> look, you can pull it -- >> reporter: maybe santa should be scared of the kid who wrote this letter to him. we took the liberty of adding the voice -- >> "santa, i'm only doing this for the class. i know you're naughty list is empty and your good as well as empty and your -- your good list is empty and your life is empty. oup the trouble i've had in my life. good-bye." >> give that kid the boot. might be a bad santa's reaction, but a good santa understands. >> there's a lot of rejection in

this job. >> reporter: npr reporter and mother sarah mchammond posted the letter saying, "my 6-year-old santa skeptic was told to write a letter to santa at school, so he did." mom didn't want to do an interview, so all we have is the now-gone-viral letter which ends -- >> love, i'm not telling you my name. >> reporter: there's a hall of fame for santa letters, this one goes in it. your life is empty, you don't know the troubles i've had. future country songwriter, tweeted one admirer. noted his mom, p.s., the troubles in his life -- his brother. don't call child services. the letter is adorned with jolly wreaths on one side and skulls on the other. sure santa's used to misspellings that turn him into satan. this 4-year-old is now 13 and went on to win spelling bees. but it was the bleak nailism

along with misspellings -- >> i know your naughty list is empty -- >> reporter: that put this on the worst santa list as in "elf." as if santa is nothing but an empty suit. >> and your life is empty. >> reporter: jeanne moos -- >> i'm not telling you my name -- >> reporter: cnn -- ♪ joy to the world >> reporter: new york. >> good he didn't sign it. maybe santa will still give him something to pep him up. beat up on his brother. like a weapon. >> a smile is not a bad thing. all right. we end this hour with a story about the canadian tennis star eugenie bouchard. she agreed to a date with a college student, this after losing a super bowl bet to twitter. a few months ago, she and john gerke went to a basketball game. and now -- take a look. looks like they're still in touch. in 2014, wimbledon finalist tweeted, "look who came to visit." and another, "getting in spirit of christmas." >> their saga started on twitter

during the 2017 super bowl between the atlanta falcons -- yay -- and new england patriots. bouchard predicted that the falcons would win, but gerke bet her a date his team would turn things around which they did. so we'll keep you post on that one. >> that's awesome. don't want to talk about the falcons in the super bowl. >> love's good. maybe -- >> love is better than that. all right. should we end on that? let's do. thanks for watching "cnn newsroom." i'm natalie allen. >> i'm george howellme. for our viewers in the united states, "new day" is ahead. and around the world "amanpour" is next.

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