blayne alexander has more from the white house. >> reporter: the justice department tonight appointingbi director robert mueller as special counsel to step in and lead an investigation into possible trump campaign ties to russia. the administration bending under pressure from both parties. in a statement president trump repeated that there is no collusion between his campaign and any foreign entity. adding i look forward to this matter concluding quickly. mueller led the fbi for 12 years under presidents bush and obama. >> he has a superb reputation as director of the fbi. he's well thought of by people on both sides of the aisle. >> we have to detox this. we have to take the politics as best as we can out of it. >> reporter: the house and senate are each leading their own investigations and nbc news learned two central figures from the trump campaign, former manager paul manafort and former national security adviser michael flynn have been asked to respond to a grand jury. the number two house republican, kevin mccarthy explaining something he said last year that then candidate trump

blayne alexander is tracking the investigation on capitol hill. hi, blayne. >> reporter: hi, doreen. as you know, president trump has repeatedly said the russia investigation is nothing more than a witch-hunt. and now news that the president asked two top intel officials to publicly push back against the investigation. more than six months after the 2016 election, former cia director john brennan says there's no doubt russia played a role. >> it should be clear to everyone, that russia brazenly interfered in our 2016 presidential election process. and that they undertook these activities protests and explicit warning that they not do see. >> reporter: speaking before the house intelligence committee, brennan outlined russian actions. >> they amplified a lot of fake news stories that tried to denigrate secretary clinton. >> reporter: but not saying definitively whether there was a tie to the trump campaign. >> i saw interaction, and aware of interaction, that raised questions in my mind about what was the true nature of it. but i don't know. i don't

blayne alexander is live now at the white house where damage control is in overdrive. >> let's break down the two major headlines that have just come out within the past hour. first from "the washington post." now "the post" is citing people who are familiar with the russia investigation and now reporting that in that investigation, a current white house official is now considered a significant person of interest. now as of right now, we don't know who that white house official is. secondly, "the new york times" article, the second major headline that's come out within the past hour, goes back to the oval office meeting that the president held last week with the two russian diplomats. "the new york times" is reporting that the president called the fired fbi director james comey a nut job and said that he expected that his firing, his termination of comey would ease the pressure around the russia investigation. the white house has said that a thorough investigation will prove, as the president has said repeatedly that there's no collusion between the campaign and any russian foreign g

blayne alexander has the latest. >> reporter: standing beside the president of turkey, a key ally in. fight against isis, president trump today forced to explain reports that he may have undermined that fight by sharing classified information with russia. >> we had a very, very successful meeting with the fight terrorism as possible. >> reporter: this, hours after tweeting, sharing that intel with russia is something, quote, i have the absolute right to do. the white house notably not denying that the president gave out information so sensitive, it's not even being shared with our allies at first reported by "the washington post." >> the president in no way compromised any sources or methods in the course of this conversation. the president wasn't even aware of where this information came from. >> reporter: nbc news is reporting it was israel that provided the information, reportedly shared during this oval office meeting with top russian diplomats. no american press allowed inside. democrats now demanding a transcript fra that meeting. >> totally outrageous. if it was unwitting, tha

blayne alexander, nbc news, washington. >> commercial struck a cord with locals about change in one d.c. neighborhood, now government may be getting involved after the i-team revealed a paid actress was behind the controversial ad against airbnb. >> he was a young man, what brought him to the street, what caused someone to kill him here in the story ♪ pro-tip for making ribs: don't go it alone. get these great smoked ribs. thanks. sure. twenty minutes on the grill. and they're done. you think he cares if i smoke ribs for six hours? what? what? summer made easy at amazing prices. only at giant. narrator:to do time is what is right. ralph northam. army doctor during the gulf war. volunteer director of a pediatric hospice. he passed the smoking ban in restaurants, stopped the transvaginal ultrasound anti-choice law, and stood up to the nra. as lieutenant governor, dr. northam is fighting to expand access to affordable healthcare. ralph northam believes in making progress every day. and he won't let donald trump stop us. >>> people in a normally quiet neighborhood heard a sing

nbc's blayne alexander has the story from the white house. >> reporter: tonight more damage control for the white house, now denying new reports that president trump urged former fbi director james comey to drop the investigation into michael flynn who lost his job as national security adviser for lying about his ties to russia. >> he said that general flynn was a good man, and that the fbi needed to move beyond the investigation of him. this deeply concerned comey, who immediately after leaving the white house wrote an extensive detailed two-page memo that outlined his conversations with the president. >> reporter: the white house insists that the president never asked comey or anyone else to end the investigation, pointing to last week's testimony by acting fbi director, andrew mccabe. >> there's been no effort to impede our investigation to date. >> reporter: the president abruptly fired comey last week saying he wasn't doing a good job. the latest revelation catching republicans off guard. >> i doubt there's much to it, if there were i would have thought director comey would have re

i'm blayne alexander, news4. >>> miss usa 2017 is -- district of columbia!just days after miss usa made her comments on health care, d.c.'s kara mccullough is still the talk around town. during the pageant, she said health care is a privilege, not a right. and that ignited a fire storm of criticism on social media. she has clarified the remarks to say, she's privileged to have health care, and it should be a right. instead of celebrating a local woman's big win, critics are calling mccullough out of touch with some of the people she represents. >> absolutely. it's interesting to follow this story. because they were very excited to see another win for the district. a woman who is extremely accomplished. and a lot of people were feeling good about that, but when they started to analyze some of the things she said about health care being a privilege, a lot of folks thought she was out of touch. especially since she is representing people here in the district. a lot of folks were telling me, it's interesting to hear those comments from a person who said they're

extremely times what the normal rate would be. >> reporter: blayne alexander, nbc news, washington. >he caps' quest for the cup continues tonight and boy, this team really needs a win. >> that's right. sherree burruss is live in pittsburgh, where all eyes are going to be on the caps' goalie, berat braden holtby. >> lot of pressure. >> reporter: hey, guys, yeah. all eyes on braden holtby, because on saturday, he played his worst game of the playoffs, but he's hoping to make it up tonight. right now the penguins lead the series 2-0. the caps gave up six goals on saturday, three got past holtby. despite being told after the second period, the team's confident in their starting goalkeeper. >> he's the best. so we support him, it doesn't er confidence in each other. we've had success throughout the year and i think that's why we'll have success now, sticking together as a team, trusting in each other and playing the games that have made us successful. >> reporter: holtby will be starting between the pipes tonight for the capitals. coming up, barry trotz is still having fun and we'll tell y

blayne alexander is at the white house where the president's team is stressing there is no decision yet. blayne? >> sure. and doreen, of course before we get into that, the biggest news coming out of the white house is that which we broke in the past few minutes, that fbi director james comby ey is out of his position. this comes as a complete surprise to everyone in the phisfbi, the white house saying they will begin a search for his replacement immediately. all of this, doreen, comes on the same day that we learned that president trump is exploring possible new strategies in afghanistan. remember, this is a conflict where victory has been very difficult to define since the very beginning. nearly three years after the end of america's longest war, the new commander in chief now considering a new plan to send as many as 5,000 additional troops how do we eliminate the threat? >> reporter: a question asked since 2001. >> what is the strategy now for increasing troop strength? >> reporter: this time around, president trump would potentially give the pentagon power to determine troop number

blayne alexander is live with the latest details. this story keeps evolving. >> reporter: the white house insists and has continued to insist that president trump is not forcing a vote on health care and says the gop leaders will only go when they feel they can win. today new life for health care reform. two key republicans announced they have flipped to a yes after an oval office meeting president trump. >> he said that this bill would be just as strong on preexisting illnesses as obamacare. i want him to keep that pledge. >> reporter: congressman fred upton offered the amendment that could be a game changer, setting aside $8 billion to ease insurance costs for those with preexisting conditions. democrats say that's not enough. >> it will make it impossible for millions of americans to afford the health coverage they desperately need. this is deadly. >> reporter: the bill would dismantle obamacare but republican supporters promised to keep the most popular parts. >> coverage for people up to age 26 on their parents plan, check. no d

right now we're going to go live to blayne alexander. she has been covering all of the new developments with the administration. she is live at the white house. hi. >> reporter: good evening to you. keep in mind that this breaking news comes less than 24 hours after reports that the president back in february asked then fbi director to drop an investigation into michael flynn. he's the national secit lying over his ties with russia. the white house had repeatedly said that the president never asked comey or anyone else to drop any investigation and the president pushed back on those reports today. president trump offering some career advice to the coast guard academies class of 2017. >> over the course of your life, you will find that things are not always fair. >> reporter: thoughts from a commander in chief under fire. >> look at the way i've been treated lately. you can't let them get you down. >> reporter: a cheering crowd of cadets a stark contrast to the scene back in washington. >> facts, we need facts. >> reporter: capitol hill i

live on capitol hill, blayne alexander, news4. >>> you're with the live desk.e're getting new reaction from walter scott's family pleaded guilty in federal court. officer michael slager entered the plea this afternoon, more than two years after he shot walter scott in north charleston. the officer pulled him over for a broken brake light and cell phone video appears to show slager shooting him five times in the back as scott was running away. now scott's family is calling it vindication for their son. >> today is a day of victory for walter. we got justice. >> he told the truth. he said he did it. and that's our victory. and the healing starts today. >> in exchange for entering that guilty plea, the state is going to drop murder charges against slager, but he could still receive a life sentence on the federal charges. michael slager is scheduled for sentencing later this month. jim? >> chris, thank you. >>> president trump and russian leader vladimir putin spoke on the phone first mr. trump ordered a cruise missile strike in syria after the chemical attack on c

our team is tracking all the angles and we begin with blayne alexander on capitol hill. >> reporter: and doreen, for the very first time, we're hearing directly from the president on that special counsel. over the past 24 hours, we've seen two very different responses from the prent approach. he said he looked forward to ending the matter quickly. but today, not once, but twice he likened the investigation to a witch-hunt. >> a lot of time -- >> reporter: president trump today welcoming the colombian president to the white house, but he's firing back on his critics here at home. >> the entire thing has been a witch-hunt. >> reporter: this after the justice department appointed former fbi director robert mueller as special counsel, leading an investigation into possible trump campaign ties to russia. >> i think it divides the country. i think we have a very divided country, because of that and many other things. >> reporter: the americ >> the american people have a right to know the tuth truth. >> the appointment of a special counsel helps assure people and the justice department that

blayne alexander has been learning the details. >> reporter: we know that jared kushner is the only current west wing that's known to be under scrutiny. what this does is for the first time, this now puts the russia investigation inside the white hou house. officials tell nbc news, the president's son-in-law and close adviser jared kushner, is a person of interest, not suspected of a crime. but he likely has significant information relating to the russian investigation. >> he was the point person. so it makes a lot of sense that the fbi would want to talk to him to ask the key question at the center of this. why was there so much interaction, both meetings and communications with russians? >> reporter: last year, kushner met at least once with the russian ambassador, a central figure in the investigation and also with a prominent russian banker. back in march, sean spicer described kushner transition team's main point of contact. >> reporter: kushner's lawyer said his client will work with investigators. in the uk, secretary of state rex tillerson putting out intel fires on a different fron

blayne alexander is live now on capitol hill to break it all down for us. blayne? >> reporter: pat, it's safe to say there's mending that needs to be done when it comes to relations between the u.s. and one of our strongest allies, great britain. this comes u.s. officials of leaking intel to the press. behind the pomp and circumstance in brussels, a more strained reception for president trump speaking today at the brand-new headquarters for nato, the very group he once called obsolete. >> i'm honored to be here with members of an alliance that has promoted safety and peace. >> reporter: a series of perceived missteps drawing criticism. first, scolding allies for not paying their fair share. then this. >> i never asked once what the new nato headquarters cost. >> reporter: later appearing to shove aside the prime minister of montenegro. and while condemning the manchester bombing -- >> it was a barbaric and vicious attack. >> reporter: the president did not reaffirm article 5 of the nato treaty. an attack on one ally is an attack on >> it leaves our nato allies desp

blayne alexander has new details. >> reporter: already calling this robinhood in reverse. mind this is just a proposed budget, it will be revealed tomorrow. but if it's passed, it throughs some major cuts that could take a huge toll on some of the nation's poorest americans. a warm welcome today for president trump in israel as part of his first official trip overseas. while back on the washington home front, the president's team is not getting a similar reception for his budget blueprint. vice president pence on capitol hill today meeting with a small group of gop lawmakers ahead of the budget rollout tomorrow. already some pushback against a proposed massive $800 billion cut to medicaid, a move that could leave nearly 10 million people without health insurance over the next decade. >> i think this would be very devastating for the lowest income people. >> reporter: but experts say this version of the budget not likely to pass. >> house republicans came out with the builder have seen the very negative reaction it's received around the country and are not likely going to a

blayne alexander is at the white house with news on the source of that secret information. blayne? >> doreen, nbc news has confirmed that it was israel that provided that information. that's at the center of all of this. information about isis plans to use laptop computers to blow up airplanes. now the question that so many are asking today, did the president cross the line when sharing that information? standing beside the president of turkey, a key ally in the u.s. fight against isis, president trump today forced to explain reports that he may have undermined that fight by sharing classified information with russia. >> we had a very, very successful meeting with the foreign minister of russia. and we want to get as many to help fight terrorism as possible. >> reporter: this, hours after tweeting, sharing that intel with russia is something, quote, i have the absolute leaked that information to the press in the first place. jim? >> blayne, thank you. >>> the next fbi director will not be federal judge merrick garland. today senate majority leader mcconnell floated garland's name a

blayne alexander is tracking the reaction fto all this on capito hill. >> reporter: and already a lot of criticism coming over that proposed budget plan. all right a lot of critics calling it robinhood in reverse. remember this is just a proposal, we'll get it revealed tomorrow. but if passed, it does include a number of cuts that could affect some of the nation's poorest americans. a warm welcome today for president trump in israel as part of his first official trip overseas. while back on the washington home front, the president's team is not getting a similar blueprint. already some push back against a proposed massive $800 billion cut to medicaid, a move that could leave nearly 10 million people without health insurance over the next decade. but experts say this version of the budget not likely to pass. >> house republicans came out with the bill very much like this, but senate republicans have seen the very negative reaction it has received and are not likely going to adopt this. >> reporter: and still looming, the ongoing orussia investigatin taking a new turn. michael flynn who

blayne alexander, nbc news, the white house. >>> i wonder how hillary clinton must be taking this. >>> mr. trump will meet with sergey lavrov at the white house today. this will be the highest level between the president and the russian government since he took office. let's have a quick look at the markets. the comey firing was treated as a bit of a risk-off event. that was shown in the dollar ini index overnight. let's turn our attention to the action in terms of the european equity markets. the ftse 100 is off by 0.1%. the dax coming off the record highs of yesterday, off by 24 points. the cac 40 is off by 0.34%. if we move on to the sectors, this is still very much driven by the earnings we had oututili. axa higher because of the float of the u.s. business. construction material off by 0.9%. this is after heidelbach cement had disappointing numbers. >>> shares of barratt development expects its profit to be at the top end of estimates. it says it is benefitting from solid market conditions driven by rising house prices, cheap mortgages and government schemes to promote homeownersh

blayne alexander is on capitol hill to try to break it down for us. hi, blayne. >> reporter: and doreen, you mentioned that november meeting. it's certainly one that we all remember well. incoming president. they sat down and talked in the oval office for about 90 minutes. sources tell nbc news that it was during that meeting that president obama first raised concerns about general flynn. >> reporter: the white house pushing back against an nbc news report that two days after the november election, president obama warned donald trump against hiring michael flynn has national security adviser. >> shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone given that general flynn had worked for president obama, was an outspoken critic of president obama's shortcomings. >> reporter: in 2014, obama fired general flynn, who left with his security clearance intact. general flynn is under fire for his ties to russia, at the same time that russia was interfering in u.s. elections. >> the question you have to ask yourself, if they were concerned, why didn't they take any steps? >>

. >> blayne alexander has details. >> one lawmaker put it like this, he said, you know it's a bad dayen you're getting lectured about customer service by the united states congress. but for more than four hours today, that's what happened with airline leaders, repeatedly promising to do better. navigating rough air on capitol hill. >> we're kind of sick of it, as the consuming american, we gotta fly, you got us. >> pretty soon you're going to charge to use the rest room. >> at the center of it, united airlines ceo oscar mean yunoz aa passenger is bloodied and dragged off a flight to make room for a crew member. >> it's not who we are. >> reporter: it's the latest in a series of incidents. a delta passenger booted after leaving his seat to use the rest room. >> i never want to see a paying customer to move off a flight. you charter a flight if you need to do it. >> reporter: customer compositioas lawmakers echoing common passenger frustrations. >> and the tiny, tiny awful seats. one congressman pointed out, united raked in $800 million a year in changed seats alone. >> seize this oppor

blayne alexander, news4. >>> leon harris here at the live desk where we are digging for more details on the death of ops mission in somalia. it happened on a raid 40 milds west of the capital. the special ops were working with soldiers from the somali national army in an advise and assist capacity. the name of the fallen s.e.a.l. has not been released. two other s.e.a.l.s were wounded, and this is the first combat death of an american in somalia since the "black hawk down" incident in 1993. we lost 18 service members in that battle. >>> in fairfax county today, a special ceremony to honor officers who have died in the line of duty. ♪ ♪ >> because of the rain, the service was moved indoors. six officers in the county have lost their lives in the past four decades. their loved ones joined county supervisors, the police chief and other ceremony. the promise to the fairfax county fallen officers and their families, we'll never forget their sacrifice. >>> coming up, a look at the headlines, from health care to russia. >>> $30 million worth of illegal cigarettes found. more on the crime as

the bill faces an ce blayne alexander has more now.eally came down to the wire. >> yes, this was a very close vote. republicans needed 216 votes to pass this, they got 217. so just a very, very small margin there, but still it was enough to give president trump a much needed victory. >> thank you very much. >> reporter: a major legislative win for the president and the republicans who delivered it. >> make no mistake, this is a repeal and a replace of obamacare. >> the bill has passed. >> reporter: passed without a single democratic vote, now moving the fight to the senate. >> starting today, obamacare is on its way out the door. >> i urge my colleagues, come to your senses, defeat this bill. >> the vote coming after weeks of negotiations, amendments, even personal phone calls from the president, whose first try at health care ended in embarrassing defeat. it died right here on the floo now it's come back to life. like a zombie. even more scary than before. >> the house bill would roll back medicaid expansion and decrease subsidies for

blayne alexander is at the white house tracking that part of the story for us. >> reporter: it was james comey who was supposed to appear and testify at today's hearing on worldwide threats. it was a previously scheduled hearing before the senate intelligence committee. but it was acting director andrew mccabe who instead appeared in comey's place. and senators today took the opportunity to ask mccabe about those claims from the white house. >> is it accurate that the rank and file no longer supported director comey? >> no, sir. that is not accurate. there were folks within our agency who were frustrated with the outcome of the hillary clinton case and some of those folks were very vocal about th director comey enjoyed broad support within the fbi. and still does to this day. >> reporter: and mccabe was also asked today whether comey's sudden departure would derail the russia investigation and he was adamant, he said absolutely not. that you cannot stop the men and women in the fbi from doing good work. >> thanks so much. andrew mccabe game acting director of the fbi when comey was fired

blayne alexander is digging through both bills to find out how your family might be affected and >> goodernoon to you. when it comes to health care, really so much of this comes down to pre-existing conditions. and how those will be covered. that's what so many americans are watching and that's really proving to be the sticking point for lawmakers. but still republicans say they are very close to a deal on this. and they're hoping to have a vote before the end of the week. on capitol hill, it's a budget deal. lawmakers overnight agreeing to a $1.2 trillion spending plan to keep the government funded through the end of september. >> this is a down payment on border security. it's a down payment on his ability to rebuild the military. >> reporter: the budget also includes a $25 billion increase in military spending, a win for the president, but also some losses. 1.5 billion for border security, half of what he requested, with no money for the wall. and the national institutes of health get a big boost that the president did not want up republicans predicting a possible vote this week. >> t

blayne alexander has details on the vote that came down to the wire. >> thank you very much. >> reporter: president trump celebrating a major legislative win, and delivered it. >> make no mistake, this is a repeal and a replace of obamacare. make no mistakes about it. >> reporter: passed without a single democratic vote, now moving the fight to the senate. >> starting today, obamacare is on its way out the door. >> i urge my colleagues, come to your senses, defeat this bill. >> reporter: the vote, coming after weeks of negotiations, amendments, even personal phone calls from the president whose first try at health care ended in embarrassing defeat. >> it died right here on the floor. now it's come back to life. like a zombie. even more scary than before. >> reporter: the house bill would roll back medicaid expansion and decrease subsidies for low income families, meaning higher costs. and it would end the individual mandate, one of the most hated parts of obamacare. the bill would a conditions, but if states opt out, costs could rise. some lawmakers upset they were rushed to vote before

blayne alexander is tracking all this from capitol hill house says there's no question that the president supports and stands by nato. they say that his very presence makes that absolutely clear. but still, by not specifically reinforcing that in his speech today, it's a strong departure from the actions of every u.s. president dating back to harry truman. ♪ ♪ >> reporter: behind the pomp and circumstance in brussels, a more strained reception for president trump. speaking today at the brand-new headquarters for nato, the very group he once called obsolete. >> i'm honored to be here with members of an alliance that has promoted safety and peace. >> reporter: a series of perceived missteps, drawing criticism. first, scolding allies for not paying their fair share. then this. >> i never asked once what the new nato headquarters cost. >> reporter: later appearing to shove aside the prime minister of montenegro, and while condemning the bombing. >> it was a barbaric and vicious attack. >> reporter: the president notably did not reaffirm article 5 of the nato treatment, an attack on one ally i

blayne alexander standing by at the white house with reaction opini. >> reporter: good evening to you. nbc news has con tirmd that reporting from "the washington post." and the white house was quick to put out a statement after the white house has said many times before, and that a thorough investigation will prove there was no collusion between the trump campaign and any foreign entity. but it cannot be denied, this is truly bad timing for the white house. for weeks, they have tried to put the russia story aside and shift the focus back to the president's agenda. this is yet another blow for a white house hoping to use this first foreign trip to change the narrative. president trump wheels up for his first trip abroad just as two major headlines are breaking back at home. "the new york times" reporting during his oval office meeting with two russian diplomats last week, president trump called fired fbi director james comey a nut job, adding that firing him the day before would likely ease pressure on the russia investigation. "the washington post" reporting a current white house offi

blayne alexander is live at the white house to break it all down. lot going on here, blayne. >> absolutely. this is something that we've heard before from the white house, pushing backn sources. and today they called many of the recent reports on the russia investigation unsubstantiated. >> reporter: facing cameras for the first time in nearly two weeks, white house spokesman sean spicer returning to a slew of questions. topping the list, russia. >> your question preas opposed tos -- presupposes facts that have not been confirmed. >> reporter: son-in-law and senior adviser jared kushner, now under scrutiny, officials saying he tried to set up back channels with russia for private communication. >> there's a lot of stuff that has gotten pushed out based on unnamed sources that is very troubling. >> reporter: on twitter, president trump says russian officials must be laughing at the u.s. and how a lame excuse if are why the dems lost the election has taken over the fake news. >> i think that's right, but they're laughing at how easy it is and helping w

blayne alexander is live with new details. >> good afternoon to you.he president is spending the weekend at his home in new jersey, and he is still celebrating that win on health care, even as it goes on to face a tougher battle in the senate. meanwhile today, millions of families are still trying to figure out exactly what all of this means for their coverage and their families. >> thank you very much. >> reporter: on the heels of a health care victory, more good news for president trump. 211,000 jobs added in april, unemployment dropping to 4.4%, the lowest since 2007. >> the president and his entire team will continue this laser focus on creating jobs for heard-working americans. >> reporter: it caps off a who today signed a bill to avoid a government shutdown through september. >> he's stopping obamacare regulations, got his health care plan through the house of representatives and now we see a jobs report that there's economic enthusiam in the country. >> reporter: this morning on twitter, the president celebrating what he calls a big win on healt

blayne alexander live with late details from capitol hill. >> reporter: good afternoon to you. the white house says the president is not forcing a vote on health care and says gop leaders will only go when they feel they can win. today new life for health care reform. two key republicans announced they have flipped to a yes after an oval officeti where he said that this bill would be just as strong on preexisting illnesses as obamacare. i want him to keep that pledge. >> reporter: fred upton offer the amendment that could be a game changer setting aside $8 billion to ease insurance costs for those with preexisting conditions. democrats say that's not enough. >> we'll neighboring impossible for millions of americans to afford the health coverage they desperately need. this is deadly. this is deadly. >> reporter: the bill would dis mantle obamacare but republican supporters promised to keep the most popular parts. >> coverage for people on page 26 on their parents plan, check. no discrimination based on gender, check. >> reporter: meanwhile another house floor debate the spending

blayne alexander has it all covered. >> reporter: the president had two oval office meetings on his schedulerst was with russian diplomats and the second was with henry kissen jer. he was the secretary of state under nixon. the white house said both of these appointments had long been they're certainly adding fuel to the fire. >> we want answers. we want answers. >> reporter: with outrage growing over the ouster of james comey, president trump today defending his attention. >> very simply he was not doing a good job. >> reporter: the white house pointing to comey's controversial handling of the hillary clinton e-mail investigation. >> she would've fired comey immediately and the very democrats that are criticizing the president today would be dancing in the streets. >> reporter: perhaps more controversial, the timing as the fbi investigates possible ties between russia and the trump campaign. this amid conflicting reports that only days ago comey requested more resources for that investigation. that has democrats crying foul and demanding an independent prosecutor. >> there is a clear and pr

blayne alexander, news4. >>> just ahead of mother's day, members of the group called "moms rising" andporters, marched to trump international hotel this morning, protesting what they called the trump administration's anti-immigrant and health care policies. they pushed strollers of statue of liberty figures and planned to deliver them to the president, justice department and senate offices. >> and we're here to really remind our leaders that, you know, we are -- have come too far in america to give up on the american dream, that we want more for our kids. >> the group says it's especially concerned about the increase in the number of immigration raids across the country, the muslim travel ban, and the push for a wall along the u.s.-mexico border. >>> a bike ride that will close college grads and their family, major events can cause big delays getting around town this weekend. >> i'm melissa mollet with a couple of warnings for you. downtown this week, graduations happening, extra traffic and maybe, paing might be a bit tighter than normal. american university, howard university, and al

blayne alexander is tracking it all from the white house this evening f >> reporter: that highly anticipated testimony is expected next week as you said and it's coming just as this wide reaching russia investigation continues to expand. now all along of course the white house has really been trying to focus on the president's agenda but today, again, they're finding that their main message is being -- is competing with some very different headlines. >> we look forward to being together. >> reporter: the white house rolling out the red carpet today for vietnam's prime minister but in the spotlight, news about james comey, the former fbi director expected to testify next week in an open hearing on capitol hill. his first comment since his abrupt firing by president trump. >> he tends to say more than a political actor would actually reveal so i expect that he will probably be quite forthcoming. >> reporter: also on the horizon a decision on the paris climate agreement. nbc news is reporting the president is leaning toward pulling out of the deal to cut greenhouse gas emissions. one signed by

about a tweet that seems to imply he recorded conversations with fbi director, the one that he blayne alexander is covering the latest fire storm at the white house. we often say what a difference a week makes, but this time around, wow. >> a tremendous difference from last week to this week. good afternoon to you. as you could imagine, that tweet that you spoke about was the first question right out of the gate during today's white house press briefing. and sean spicer refused to elaborate on it, saying the tweet speaks for itself. >> hello, everybody. hi, lester. >> reporter: still feeling fall-out from his exclusive interview with nbc's lester holt, president trump opening a new controversy, tweeting this thinly veiled threat to the fbi director he fired. james comey better hope that there are no tapes of our conversation before he starts leaking to the press. but in an interview with fox news, the president refusing to deny whether a tape exists. >> i can't talk about that. all i want is for comey to be honest. and i hope he will be, and i'm sure he will be, i hope. >> reporter: the white h

blayne alexander is at the white house where answers seem to be in short supply. >> reporter: facing for the first time in nearly two weeks. white house spokesman sean spicer returning to a slew of questions, topping the list, russia. >> your question assumes facts not confirmed. >> reporter: a pushback, but not a denial of the latest twist in the russia investigation. son-in-law and senior adviser jared kushner, now under scrutiny. officials saying he trying to set up back channels with russia for private communication. >> there's a lot of stuff that has gotten pushed out based on unnamed, that is very troubling. >> reporter: on twitter, the president says, russian officials must be laughing at the u.s. and how a lame excuse for how the dems lost the election has taken over the fake news. >> i think that's right. but they're laughing at how easy it is and how our president unfortunately is helping with their agenda. >> reporter: on the heels of the president's first foreign trip, the white house downplaying tension with german chancellor angela merkel who said europe can no longer r

blayne alexander is tracking the story for us. so what's the latest from the white house? >> reporter: the very latest is just stand by. earlier today this morning, in fact, president trump himself tweeted that he's very close to announcing his decision on the paris climate agreement and he's expecting that decision to come any day now, but as you mention, nbc news is already reporting that according to sources inside of the white house, trump is leaning that way. he is leaning toward removing the u.s. from that agreement. now this is something that a lot of people are watching very closely, already some republicans have said, yes they would support that move but you're hearing an overwhelming cry from not only democrats this is not the move to make. many of them have signed on urging the president to stay in that agreement and within just the past hour or so, ceo of tesla saying that he would take himself off of the president's ceo advisory panel if president trump did make the decision to leave that agreement. now again, sources saying that he's leaning toward getting ou