this morning on "world news now," the presidential press conference as we have never seen it before. >> president trump surprised everyone by turning a cabinet pick announcement into a full contact q & a. battling reporters over the many issues plaguing his first few weeks in office. here what got the president and the press corps so fired up. >> while the president tried to frame leaks about staff communications with russia as fake news, he offered little response to the country's recent provocations. hear what he did say. and the bizarre bomb plot aimed at retail giant target. suspect may not have intended on harming anybody at several stories along the east coast. his motive might have been a financial one. we'll explain. and it's time to say bye, bye, bye to bao bao, the beloved panda now heading

china as we bid our farewells. we also say good-bye to a clack monopoly game piece. which one? you're going to have to stick around to find out. it is friday, february 17th. >> announcer: from abc news, this is "world news now." i haven't played monopoly in so long, i don't remember all the pieces. >> there are so many kids that are like what's monopoly, can i play that on my playstation. >> on my mom's phone. >> exactly. we do say good morning to you on a friday. we've made it. >> yes, the weekend. >> and by making it, i don't mean monday through friday. we made it through 77 minutes of the most fascinating daytime drama since "days of our lives"" was on tv, all my children whack was on tv. a former navy seal said no to jumping the trump white house. >> robert harwood turned down an offer to replace michael flynn as national security adviser. harwood cited family

he most recently served as deputy commander of u.s. central command under current defense secretary james mattis. >> he said that the appearance of the current white house is too chaotic, was not a factor. officials say the president has a list of other candidates to fill the critical post. now to you that other headline. the news conference. the 77-minute session with reporters, the president said he's directed the justice department to look into the leaks that have happened during his first month in office. >> the president suggesting those leaks were coming from people who had been an appointed during the obama administration and he put plenty of blame on the media as abc's jonathan karl reports. >> reporter: chaos? what chaos? president trump summoned the news media to the east room of the white house to declare his presidency off to an historically great start. >> i turn on the tv, open the newspapers and i see stories of chaos. chaos. yet it is the exact opposite.

this administration is running like a fine-tuned machine. >> reporter: as evidence, he pointed to the soaring stock market, his executive orders cutting regulations and the smooth roll-out of his supreme court nominee. >> i don't think there's ever been a president elected who in this short period of time has done what we've done. >> reporter: he said he inherited a mess, but in just 28 days of the trump presidency, there's been a year's worth of tumult and drama. the firing of his national security adviser. his travel ban struck down by the courts. his labor secretary nominee withdrawn under a cloud. the president blamed most of it on the press. >> we have to talk about it to find out what's going on because the press honestly is out of control. the level of dishonesty is out of control. >> reporter: as for the growing controversy surrounding his former national security adviser, and reports of his campaign advisers' contacts with the russians, trump dismissed it all as fake news. i want to get you to clarify

point. can you say definitively that nobody on your campaign had any contacts with the russians during the campaign? and on the leaks, is it fake news or are these real leaks? >> well, the leaks are real. you are the one that wrote about them and reported them. the leaks are real. you know what they said. you saw it. and the leaks are absolutely real. the news is fake because so much of the news is fake. >> reporter: but was his campaign in contact with the russians? the first part of my question, the context. can you definitively say nobody -- >> well, i had nothing to do with it. i have nothing to do with russia. i told you. i have no deals there. i have no anything. >> reporter: later, ap's julie pace pressed again. was anybody on his campaign talking to the russians? >> no, no, nobody that i know of. >> so you're not aware of any contacts during the course of the election? >> look, how many times do i have to answer this question? >> can you just say yes or no on it? >> russia is a ruse. i know you have to get up and ask a question. so important. russia is a ruse. i have nothing to do with russia, haven't made a phone

>> reporter: once again, president trump touted his >> we got 306 because people came out and voted like they've never seen before. so that's the way it goes. i guess it was the biggest electoral college win since ronald reagan. >> reporter: the problem, that's not even close to being true. in fact, president obama, president clinton and president george h. w. bush all won with more electoral votes than president trump. as another reporter pointed out, trump's numbers were wrong. >> i was given that information. i was given -- actually, i've seen that information around. but it was a very substantial victory. do you agree with that? >> you're the president. >> okay, thank you. good answer. yes. >> this was only the second solo press conference for donald trump since july. in fact, he has spent much of the time avoiding tough questions in his brief

interactions with reporters. he has called on friendly conservative enjoy what he's doing especially pushing back on hard questions. his staff tells meese that after the press conference, he was energized and they told me to expect he'll do more of these. jonathan karl, abc news, the white house. >> now, early in that event, the president announced his new cabinet pick. alexander acosta has been tapped to head the labor department. right now, he's the law school dean at florida international university. acosta has already won senate approval three times for various government positions. if confirmed as labor secretary, he would be the first hispanic member of the president's cabinet. the president was also asked about several provocations by russia over the last several weeks. among those russian jets buzzing a navy destroyer in the black sea last week as well as russia's kret deployment of a new cruise missile that would violate an arms treaty with the u.s. and a russian spy vessel that's being tracked in

east coast. when pressed about the incidents, the president called them all not good. >> the greatest thing i could do is shoot that ship that's 30 miles offshore right out of the water. everyone in this country is going to say oh, it's so great. what's not great. that's not great. >> can:00 so we did ask about possible responses to those provocations. he said he wasn't going to discuss anything about how the u.s. will react militarily or otherwise. >> the president also revealing he will sign a new travel ban order rather than appeal the federal court ruling suspending his original order. executive order prompting concern when hundreds of people from seven predominantly muslim countries including syria, iraq, iran and sudan were denied entry to the u.s. the president's lawyers saying the new ban will focus on those who have never entered the u.s. instead of on those green card holders. mr. trump admitted he's struggling over the issue of young immigrants brought t

about 750,000 of them are protected under president obama's deferred action for childhood arrivals or daca, a program.president trump promised to revoke when he was candidate trump. >> we're going to show great heart. daca is a very, very difficult subject for me. i will tell you, to me it's one of the most difficult subjects i have, because you have these incredible cases, in many cases in some of the cases daca are gang members and drug dealers too but you have some absolutely incredible kids. >> among the first to be granted daca status is daniel ramirez madinah who was born in mexico and came to the u.s. as a child facing deportation after immigration agents detained the now 23-year-old earlier this week accusing him of being a gang member. >> you heard president trump talking about that. >> uh-huh. turning overseas now, isis is claiming responsibility for a deadly bombings that took places in pakistan and iraq. >> at l

from a bombing at a famed shrine in southern pakistan. it's one of the deadliest attacks in that country in more than two years. pakistan is vowing retaliation. and. baghdad, a car bomb ripped through a used car dealership killing at least 55 people. hundreds more were injuries, some critically in both attacks. >> back here at home, a south carolina man is facing charges for allegedly planning a dylann roof style attack. benjamin mcdowell's alleged targets included a synagoguen an minorities. he was arrested after buying a gun and ammunition from an undercover fbi agent. tragically dylann roof killed nine black parishioners in 2015. last month he was sentenced to death. >> a florida man accused of targeting the retail chain target in an alleged plot to hurt the company's stock. investigators say 48-year-old mark barnett offered a paid informant $10,000 to put

the east coast. detectives say he hoped the explosions would cause target shares to fall allowing him to buy the stock for less. >> we're going to switch gears now. >> crazy. >> yeah, that is insane. from that plot to this one. monopoly players have given the thumb to the thumbable. >> that's catchy. >> america has spoken. and an online contest, the piece was voted off monopoly island. the thumbable has been part of the game since 1935. i feel like it's vintage. you can't get rid of the vicinity and piece. hasbro says it's lost its shine after 82 years. come on, what's wrong with 82. this is not the first piece to be removed from the game. the iron was replaced by a cat four years ago. that's what it was, the cat replaced the iron. >> coming up, mos blockbuster allegations that trump insiders have had contact with russian

president's fierce denials. russians have been going to great lengths to get close to the president and his inner circle. what we're finding out this morning how they're doing it. >> and bidding farewell to bao bao, moving day is closing in on one of d.c.'s most famous residents. >> another good-bye this morning. it's too much. remember to find us at facebook at wnn nans.com and @abcwnn. you're watching "world news now" on a friday. your brain, you're watching "world news now" on a friday. ans.com and @abcwnn. you're watching "world news now" on a friday. fans.com and @abcwn. u're watching "world news now" on a friday. 4in1... just one softgel delivers the omega-3 power of two regular fish oil pills... so give your body mega support with megared advanced 4in1. cough doesn't sound so good. take mucinex dm. i'll text you in 4 hours when your cough returns. one pill lasts 12 hours, so...

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i have nothing to do with russia. haven't made a phone call to russia in years. don't speak to people from russia. not that i wouldn't. i just have nobody to speak to. >> president trump smacking down the media during his lengthy news conference dismissing stories that his campaign was in contact with russia as fake news. >> yeah, i think conner mcgregor got fewer hits than the president did on many of the media members yesterday. there's no dispute, however, that russians themselves have been making great efforts to get close to the president and the people around him. abc's brian ross looked into those connections. >> reporter: it's every russian spy's greatest dream, to have a source inside the white house or any place of power in washington. >> they always talk to political figures. they want to know who is a mover and shakener our society, who affects it. >> reporter: and as portrayed in the tv program "the americans," for the russians all is fair in love and espionage. >> i'm in c

intelligence and my secretary married a kgb officer. >> reporter: u.s. intelligence officials describe a massive effort by russian spies to infiltrate and disrupt american politics including the use of what are called cutouts and fronts people and organizations that would not appear to be part of russian intelligence. >> this is a theory of war, a 21st century theory of war that includes false information that includes cyber hacking, that includes you know, in effect sowing chaos. >> senator mark warner is the top democrat on the senate intelligence committee which is investigating the russian efforts to meddle in the election and whether anyone in the trump campaign was involved. >> i think this investigation is maybe the most serious thing that i'll ever take on in my public career. >> when general michael flynn was in moscow in december, 2015, invited to sit next to

president vladimir putin, he was about to become the senior foreign policy adviser for donald trump. now the question for senate investigators and the fbi is why the russians cowered the general who was fired this week and whether they were trying to exploit him even if he did not realize it. >> if by his actions implied or implicit there was an effort to undermine american foreign policy, that bothers me a great deal. >> reporter: also under scrutiny, another former trump foreign policy adviser, carter page who claims he's done major business deals with russians and defends its leaders raising the eyebrows of american intelligence officials. >> would you agree that vladimir putin is a thug as some have called him. >> you know, i thoroughly disagree. >> page is named as a sprawl figure in the now infamous dossier of unsubstantiated allegations about the trump campaign and the russians being in cahoots.

allegations are ridiculous. >> is it absolutely false. >> completely false and laughable. >> laughable. our thanks to brian ross. when we come back, bidding farewell to one of america's most popular social media darlings. and no, it's not a kardashian. why bao bao is about to pack her bags and her bamboo and head to china. you're watching "world news now." you won't see these folks at the post office. they have businesses to run. they have passions to pursue. how do they avoid trips to the post office? stamps.com mail letters, ship packages, all the services of the post office right on your computer. get a 4 week trial, plus $100 in extras including postage and a digital scale. go to stamps.com/tv and never go to the post office again.

♪ bye bye bye >> adrian trying to figure out remember the dabs. remember high school dpapz what was the dance? >> i don't know. >> but it's a fitting song because america will soon be saying bye-bye to one of its, i think it was that, one of its beloved social media celebrities. >> the kids grow up so fast now days. >> back in the day. >> it's been nearly four years since the birth bao bao at the snashl zoo in d.c. now she's grown up and heading to china to find some love already or at least some new mate. here's abc's gloria riviera. >> reporter: when we first met bao bao -- it was hard to believe so much cuteness came in such a tiny package. since her debut at washington's national zoo, the baby with her own bear cam has charmed millions. so you were basically in the waiting room when she was born.

>> yes. we all screamed with joy, hugged each other. >> reporter: every milestone -- >> her first teeth. there is nothing cuter than baby panda teeth! >> reporter: every birthday celebrated. independent and playful, she reminded us what it's like to be a kid on a snow day. but now it's time to say good-bye. next week, bao bao will board fedex's vip panda plane, stocked with 55 pounds of bamboo and head to china to breed more pandas as part of an agreement with the zoo. >> i want her to make lots of cubs. >> reporter: until then, dumplings from the chinese embassy. >> i wanted to catch her before she leaves. >> reporter: and a final farewell from all her friends. to their beloved bao bao. gloshia riviera action news at the national zoo. >> very cute. chowchow bao bao. >> just to prove that bao bao is not there anymore, this live picture. it

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ly last 4 hours. but just one mucinex lasts 12 hours. let's end this. your friday mix. >> whoo-hoo. i think i'm first, right? >> yes. >> let's talk about romance. >> we should always put love first. >> let's do it on the basketball court. >> you've got this woman who decides she's going to go to her game. i think these a season ticket holder at siena athletics. she makes the shot. >> wow from, half-court. >> that's not the story though. it the story is that her boyfriend was disguised as the dunkin' donut mascot on the court. and he takes off his costume and. >> one of those moments. >> and proposes. isn't that beautiful? >> she's winning twofold. look at that. as if he knew she was going to hit that shot which is incredible enough. >> she said she was more nervous about hitting the shot but she got a $500 gift card for m

that. i think they're going to be spending their anniversaries at dunkin' donut. >> yes, absolutely. st. louis be check out this couple in the meantime. amanda and her fiance todd craig, he's been paralyzed since 2015. when they finally got pregnant, they decided this is the only way to mark that occasion with this sign that they sent out to many of their friends. it still works. and this other photo. >> very personal. >> it is very personal. slightly -- so happy for them. >> congratulations. >> let's polka. ♪ politics and foreign wars all the weather all the scores ♪ ♪ that's the world news polka ♪ if you're an insomniac and a good night's sleep you lack do the world news polka ♪ ♪ it's late at night you're wide awake and you're not wearing pants so grab your "world news now" mug and everybody dance ♪ ♪ may have some fun be a pal every anchor guy

world news polka ♪ ♪ world news polka ♪ ♪ ♪ world news polka if you're up it's late you must be headed for the job so grab to get your polka on ♪ ♪ five full days every week we're here with our tongues in cheek and the world news polka ♪ ♪ who cares what the bosses think they're a goofy crew ♪ ♪ and if you need here's all you have to do ♪ ♪ half past 3:00 tell them hey it's news to me ♪ ♪ that's the world news polka ♪ oh, do the world news baba baba polka ♪ , baba baba polka ♪

this morning on "world news now," pulling no punches. in his first so loss news in his first solo news conference, president trump took on who he sees as the opposition party. you're looking at them there the media, facing the press and shouting down reporters for asking "bad questions." those fiery exchanges ahead. >> one of those exchanges under a lot of scrutiny when asked about fixing the inner cities by including black leaders in congress, the president asked the reporter for her help in setting up a meeting, even though the black caucus had already reached out. >> also happening right now, the west coast bracing for another monster storm. >> oh, yeah, this is a big one. already record setting winter is about to get worse with up to 10 inches of rain expected in some parts of southern california. the accuweather forecast straight ahead. >> but there is something to look forward to. could we finally be getting them