did you at any time urge former fbi director james comey to close or back down the investigation into michael flynn. >> no. no. next question. >> president trump facing tough questions about russia, the election and firing of fbi director james comey. today the so-called leader of the free world begins a 9-day five-city tour that takes-imdeep in the middle east and allows him to temporarily escape washington controversies. he told police he was hearing voices. we're learning more about the man accuse of killing a tourist. a weather day that saw over

severe weather reports and at least 20 reports of tornados in multiple states. and take a look at what $110 million buys today. "early today" starts right now. happy friday. good to be with you. i'm frances rivera. in hours the president will depart on his first overseas excursion. it is a whirl wind trip and complex itinerary that starts with a visit to saudi arabia, israel, the vatican, nato and brussels and g-7 summit in italy. crisis at home, an almost constant stream of revelations each day. this morning is no different. "the daily beast" reporting the president had to persuade mike flynn to take the nsa job in the first place. the news outlet claims mr. trump hopes flynn ril return. that as new

much vice president mike pence who ran the transition knew about flynn's controversies. one source tells nbc news the veep knew nothing about the issues. a pattern has emerged in which staffers failed to inform pence of necessary information. those develop 789s as the new york iams times publishes new details about james comey and the memos he kept on his meetings. those are currently being sought by congress. among the reporting this key passage, quote, president trump called the fbi director weeks after he took office and asked him when federal authorities were going to put out word that mr. trump was not personally under investigation. mr. comey told the president that if he wanted to know details about the bureau's investigations he should not contact him directly. comey the article claims felt the fbi's independent had been jeopardized and purposely took steps to

it is clear the president wanted what he saw as a sham investigation to be put to an end blasting often twitter as the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in american history. it's a sentiment not lost on those who recall this from "the washington post" during nixon's watergate scandal. still the president's press conference failed to put issues to rest. hallie jackson brings us the details. >> new reaction to the special counsel taking 0 over the russia investigation. >> i respect the move but the entire thing has been a witch hunt. there is no collusion between certainly myself and my campaign but i can always speak for myself and the russians, zero. i think it divides the country. >> at his first press conference after a series of bombshell reports presidential pushback. >> did you at any time your honor former director james comey in any way to close or back down the investigation into michael flynn. also -- >>

next question. >> on defense and on the record president trump denying james comey's version of what happened before he was fired, according to sources who saw a memo comey wrote about a meeting with the president. president trump again revisiting why he fired comey in the first place, the night it happened he pointed to a recommendation from his deputy attorney general. later he told lester. >> i was going to fire regardless. >> now. >> director comey was very unpopular with most people. i actually thought when i made that decision and i also got a very, very strong recommendation as you know from the deputy attorney general. rod rosenstein. >> on capitol hill, rod rosenstein acknowledging his role. >> he knew that comey was going to be removed, prior to him writing his memo. >> for the president, his public venting about the so-called witch hunt undercutting the message from his own aides about the special counsel, nbc news led

the oval office urged team trump to turn the page and focus on the agenda according to a senior administration source. speculations swirling about a possible shake up the spot light on sean spicer. two top aides tell nbc news the president is considering having his deputy play a larger role in briefings. >> this morning politico is reporting saying that shawn spilser will no longer be expected to do a daily briefing. he would be a dramatically diminished role for spicer who had become a household name. due to his combative press conferences lampooned almost weekly by "snl." mr. trump could name his choice as early as today. the front-runner former senator joe lieberman seen on wednesday. lieberman a former democrat turned independent previously served as coec

senate. when asked the president responded yes, he is. >> to breaking news. police charged richard rojas, killing a young woman at times square. the suspect faces one count of second-degree murder, 20 counts of attempted murder and five counts of vehicular homicide. rojas allegedly steered his car on a sidewalk running through three blocks of times square then mowing down 23 pedestrians. the car eventually smashed into a steel barrier and came to rest with two right bhewheels in the air. two sources say rojas claims he was hearing voices. they are investigating whether it was a deliberate act and are conducting drug tests. rojas tested negative for alcohol but he has a history of arrests for driving while intoxicated as well as other infractions. police ideif

michigan. she was at times square with her 13-year-old sister who was among the injured and taken to a hospital. four of the hospitalized have serious injuries. now to iranians lining up at the polls as the country holds its 12th presidential election. the incumbent president is seeking a second term. the moderate candidate was mob bid photographers as he cast his vote. his main opponent is the conservative has support of religious leaders. some iranian women fear any gains made could be rolled back. in a vote could signal inward looking iran, could find itself at odds with the united states. for the first time ever the united states launched an air strike directly against pro assad forces in syria. there was no word of casualties which hit northwest of the u.

border of iraq and jordan. officials say the pro assad forces were advancing into deconflicted zone posing a direct threat to u.s. and allied rebel forces. the syrians made this advance despite russian warnings against it as well as warning shots from coalition aircraft. the united states fired tomahawk missiles, cruise missiles at an air field in april this is the first publicly known direct confrontation between u.s. forces and pro assad fighters. violent clashes that broke out in greece as thousands took to the streets to protest new austerity measures. crowds filled the square. a small group began throwing fire bombs and tried beating them. officers used tear gas to disperse the crowd. the protests came as parliament voted for more pension cuts and tax hikes on citizens already reeling from a poor economy. the vote was part after requirement for the country to continue receivi a

from its european creditors. 24 million people are at risk today, severe weather slams the center of the country. tornados ripped through oklahoma, leaving it in a state of emergency, a stunning bolt of lightning from ground lighting up the sky over the state's capital. heavy rain and hail and some streeted flooded. the winds knocking down trees causing damage and in iowa, over 70 miles per hour winds knocked over that semitrailer killing the driver. in colorado a late spring storm dumped heavy snow in the mile high city shutting down highways and many schools, ahead of their summer recess. time to turn to nbc meteorologist bill karins who is watching more severe weather threats. >> not as dangerous but over highly populated areas. yesterday a tornado in rural section. one left areas of missouri and northern arkansas. mostly a wind damage threat. as we mentioned 24li

st. louis through missouri, south of kansas city and right through oklahoma and texas. if the we get tornados the favorite area will be between abilene, wichita falls and ft. worth area. we'll watch that this afternoon. as we head into your weekend on saturday 10 million at risk from indianapolis down to memphis, along the cold front, not too many tornados. a hail and wind damage threat into the weekend. now here is a closer look at your day ahead. you can see cool air behind the storms, responsible for the amazing snow pictures out of boulder. and temperatures are cooling off in the northeast after record highs yesterday, it was 95 in boston, back down where you should be today in the low 80s, upper 70s. this proposal was seen in a twisted way. a storm chaser proposed to his girlfriend in front of a tornado near mclean, texas. he had the ring since march but want

front of a twister. she said yes. she forgot there was a storm behind her. congratulations to the storm chasing couple. >> talking about swept away in a safe sense. bill, thank you. ahead william and harry speak out about their mother princess diana. then why is toby keith holding a man only concert. and new details on the cause of death of roger ailes. wake up skin. neutrogena® hydro boost hydrating tint. the first water gel foundation

it plumps, quenches... delivers a natural, flawless look. this is what makeup's been missing. neutrogena® ♪ dixie ultra's new flexproof® technology makes it twice as strong as the leading store brand. that's strength you can count on. ♪ only tylenol® rapid release gels have laser drilled holes. they release medicine fast, for fast pain relief. tylenol®

the smoother the skin, so find a venus smooth that contours to curves, the more comfortable you are in it. flexes for comfort, and has a disposable made for you. skin smoothing venus razors. venus it's thursday night which means time to bleep and blur the moments of the week whether they need it or not. it is this week in unnecessary censorship. >> i'm thrilled to be back at liberty university. i have been here this is my third time and we love [ bleep ] right. they always [ bleep ]. we have thave [ bleep ]. >> the president have loose lips and [ bleep ]. >> the

[ bleep ]. >> you can fill in the blankses there. a sample of this week's unnecessary censorship on jimmy kimmel live. leading the news controversy around star toby keith to perform in saudi arabia this weekend. the same time president trump will pay a visit. keith will perform for a men only crowd. the concert has no connection to the president. it's marketed as event limited to men over 21 years old. it's causing an uproar in the united states. saudi arabia abides by a strict islamic law that bans alcohol and prohibits unrelated men and women congregating in public. keith's spokeswoman offered no comment. keith previously performed at president trump's inaugural weekend. england's princess william and harry are marking the anniversary of their mother's death. commemorating theeg

at the ceremony the princes opened up about their mom. >> summer marks 20 years since our mother died. she achieved so much in her life. from helping to shelter the sick, to fighting to ban land mines and supporting the homeless she touched the lives of millions. >> one of the things our mother taught william and i was the value of doing good when no one is watching. she achieved a lot by shining a spotlight but she worked just as hard when the cameras were gone. >> meanwhile prince william's sister-in-law is set to tie the knot in a lavish wedding tomorrow. you may recall pippa stole the show in 2011 with that form fitting gown. an american painting broke an auction record selling for $110 million. look at it there. it's unti

artist is jean-michel basquiat. it sold for the sixth highest price. in 1984 it sold for $19,000. the lucky winner of the auction is a chinese billionaire in japan. he plans to lend it before displaying it in his own museum in japan. still ahead the roger ailes helped three politicians reach the white house and changed the face of cable news. that's not all. you're watching "early today."

why do people put why does your tummy go "grumbily, grumbily, grumbily"? no more questions for you! ouph, that milk in your cereal was messing with you, wasn't it? try lactaid, it's real milk without that annoying lactose. good, right? -mmm, yeah. lactaid. the milk that doesn't mess with you. it can seem like triggers pop up everywhere. luckily there's powerful, 24-hour, non-drowsy claritin. it provides relief of symptoms that can be triggered by over 200 different allergens. live claritin clear. does your makeup remover every kiss-proof,ff? cry-proof, stay-proof look? neutrogena® makeup remover does. it erases 99% of your most stubborn makeup with one towelette. need any more proof than that? neutrogena. hey team, i know we're tight on time, but i really need a... ...sick day tomorrow. moms don't take sick days. moms take nyquil severe: the... ...nighttime sniffling,sneezing, coughing, aching, fever best...

of providing reliable energy and that'll never change. what is changing, is our name to dominion energy. it's a reflection of our commitment to energy innovation and renewable sources like solar, wind... and cleaner energy like natural gas. and we'll continue to innovate, upgrade technology, protect our environment and serve our communities. dominion energy. more than a new name, a new way of seeing energy.

this morning we're learning more about what caused the sudden death of fox news founder roger ailes. the coroner says he died from complications related to a head injury related to a fall. his death less than a year after he was ousted from the empire he built following a sexual harassment scandal. bill o'reilly who parted whiches with the network writing to say that roger ailes led a full life is a massive understatement. a force of nature with agenda, ra, was a man on a mission. nbc's anne thompson brings us more. >> reporter: the news traveled on the ticker outside headquarters. and from the studios within.

founders of the fox news channel has died. >> reporter: a polarizing figure to the end roger ailes combined his passions, politics and television to build fox news. allegedly abusing his power for his own pleasure. >> women who worked for ailes told me over and over they felt pressured to suacome to advance. >> he always denied the advances. it began on the mike douglas show going to producer until a meeting with richard nixon led him to a career in republican politics. ailes was steed have two speeds, attack and destroy. >> i predicted in 1968 that nobody would ever be elected to high office again without learning how to communicate effectively on television. >> his savvy helped election nixon, ronald reagan and coverage h.w. bush. bush tweeting not sure

have been president. >> politics is america's favorite indoor sport. >> he would make his mark creating fox news, a platform for conservative voices. what is ailes legacy >> i think transforming american politics into a contact sport. >> his biographer calls it a world wrestling style of politics that led to the election of donald trump. a controversial republican king maker undone by scandal. anne thompson, nbc news, new york. ahead a new report in the changing face of married couples, plus a volcanic situation caught on camera. we'll bring it to you next. e fo, that's why you'll stay in this drawer forever. i can't live without you, and that's why i'll never ever wash you. protect your clothes from stretching, fading and fuzz with downy fabric conditioner. fading and fuzz with downy fabric conditioner. it smooths and strengthens fibers to protect clothes from the damage of the wash.

downy fabric conditioner. heare you one sneeze away from being voted out of the carpool? try zyrtec® it's starts working hard at hour one and works twice as hard when you take it again the next day. stick with zyrtec® and muddle no more®. flea bites can mean misery for your cat. advantage® ii monthly topical kills fleas through contact. fleas do not have to bite your cat to die. advantage® ii. fight the misery of biting fleas. you'll be amazed what happens when you pu♪ your red nose on. you help ensure that children in the u.s. and around the world are safe, healthy and educated. this red nose day, swing by walgreens and get your noses on to help end child poverty.

walgreens. at the corner of happy and healthy. it's realizing beauty doesn't stop at my chin. roc®'s formula adapts to delicate skin areas. my fine lines here? visibly reduced in 4 weeks. chest, neck, and face cream from roc®. methods, not miracles.™ ♪ dixie ultra's new flexproof® technology makes it twice as strong as the leading store brand. that's strength you can count on. ♪ wearing powerful sunscreen? yes! neutrogena® ultra sheer. unbeatable protection helps prevent early skin aging and skin cancer

the best for your skin. ultra sheer®. neutrogena®. in today's quick hits a show of force in mexico as one of its most active volucanos spewed as. it's active since the 1990s. a report shines a light, 17% or one in six newlyweds had a spouse of a different race or ethnicity compared with 3% 50 years ago. and robin wright is not getting paid the same as her coproducer. she threatened to go public if she wasn't paid the same as her male co-starment ahead keep it here on "early today." it delivers a whole mouth clean with a less intense taste. here on "early today." ment ahea "early t

with the lighter feel... of this. [classical music] for a whole mouth clean with a less intense taste... ahhh. try listerine® zero alcohol™. also try listerine® pocketpaks for fresh breath on the go. hey julie, i know today's critic...need a sick day. dads don't take sick days. dads take dayquil severe: the... ...non-drowsy, coughing, aching, fever, sore throat, stuffy... ...head, no sick days medicine.

good morning, everybody. it's 4:26 right now. i'm aaron gilchrist. >> and i'm eun yang. breaking news dominating our morning. first in prince george's county where firefighters set out a may day fall at a house fire. also in prince george's county, a pedestrian hit and killed. d.c. gunned down at a gas station. the video just coming into the newsroom. "news 4 today" starts now. a very busy morning here this morning at news 4. let's get to the weather and traffic to start things off with chuck bell. >> good morning. yes, indeed. very mild morning. temperatures in the 60s and 70

sheena is outside, bug spray in hand. >> yeah, it's actually sitting over on the ledge. i already sprayed myself, chuck. in fact, bug spray smells so much better these days than it used to. anywho, it is warm this morning. 73 in the district, 70 in gaithersburg. another warm start. that means another hot day. temperatures once again could be reaching 90 degrees as we go through the afternoon. we're looking at a chance for some scattered afternoon thunderstorms, too, so have the umbrella with you. tomorrow though big changes for the weekend. we'll take a look at that coming up in just a bit. we want to turn to some breaking news from the live desk. erika gonzalez is there. >> reporter: this morning, aaron, breaking news from prince george's county. 1:00 in the morning a woman was hit by a car. putting up this map to show you where this has happened. indian head highway at

scene now. justin finch is on his way. going to try to get a live update from the scene as soon as we get there. i think some of that area may still be closed because investigators are still on the scene. for that i want to send it to first alert traffic's melissa mollet. let you know if you need to do anything different. meliss melissa? >> taking a look at this now, this will be underway for a couple of hours. northbound at indian head highway at farmington road, all lanes blocked due to the investigation. a couple of other problems. 223 between steepd and temple hill, all lanes blocked. mack arthur boulevard still shut down. bw parkway and the beltway inner

loop and outer loop rolling along just fine. we'll follow this all morning long. >> reporter: back here at the live desk with another story that we are following this morning. an impressive scene here. a house fire that had a number of firefighters, emergency responders there on the scene, five university of maryland students lived at this house. the good news is that everybody got out okay. there was such a large presence of neighbors and community members that were out here making sure that their friends or perhaps family members got out okay. we understand it was also so intense that in fact there was a may day call. at some point in time there may have been a structure collapse of sorts. again, it looks like firefighters were able to get the fire extinguished. i'm erika gonzalez. back to you. >> it's

there's still so much raw emotion this morning after the death of a 6-year-old boy. it's hard to make sense of a child dying that young. even harder to cope with when you learned that xavier lucky was hit and killed while walking home from his birthday party. ♪ ♪ >> he never got to hear his friends sing him happy birthday before he died on a crash on livingston road wednesday night. that group of children you just saw sang it last night at a vigil. xavier's family is describing the person who hit the 6-year-old as a careless driver. so far police have not filed any charges. >> he had to lose his life because someone was careless behind the wheel. >> he was a good friend. we played football. we went to the playground and played on the playground. >> going to miss him? >> still unclear how or why xavier decided to cross livion