(NEW YORK) -- President Donald Trump is set to deliver a primetime address Thursday evening, during which he is expected to detail information that he has recently received from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence related to the 2020 election, sources familiar with the matter tell ABC News.

Trump has long pushed debunked conspiracy theories to claim that his 2020 election loss was fraudulent. It's not immediately clear what allegations he will make as part of his speech.

Sources caution Trump's plans can always change, but at this point "election fraud" is the topic of his 9 p.m. address.

Despite Trump's claims of voter fraud that contributed to his 2020 election loss, officials have found no evidence of widespread voter fraud.

Asked about the speech, which he announced on his social media platform on Monday, Trump said it was "really big news," mentioning the importance of "free and fair elections."

"Thursday is, it doesn't get bigger because without free and fair elections, you don't have a country. We'll be discussing other things, too. But -- but it's going to be a very big announcement," Trump said in the Oval Office on Tuesday.

Trump recently installed loyalist Bill Pulte, who has no previous national security experience, to lead DNI and has said that he wanted Pulte to declassify information and fire scores of experienced career staff.

Under the first Trump administration, officials already detailed efforts by Iran, China and Russia to influence the 2020 election, though officials later determined that none of their interference would have changed the election result. Initially Trump administration officials suggested China was also involved in influencing the election, a claim that was later determined by Trump's intelligence community to be false.

The White House is remaining tight-lipped about the president's Thursday night speech.

"The truth is, nobody knows yet what President Trump will ultimately say, which is why everyone should tune in," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement about the remarks.

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(WASHINGTON) -- Former President Joe Biden announced in a video message on Wednesday that he has written a book which is set to be released after the November midterm elections.

The book is titled "Promise Me, America" and is out on Nov. 17. 

Biden said the book is about the decisions he made as president and touches on response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy, "restoring our democracy" after Jan. 6, and conflicts in Afghanistan and Ukraine. It will also discuss why he chose to run for re-election and his decision to step aside.

"Most of all, it's about my faith in the promise of America. The promise we made to those that have come before us and to honor their sacrifice," Biden said. 

The book's release, which will come two weeks after the midterms, could pull attention back to the former president just as Democrats hope to keep it fixed on President Donald Trump's record, with promotional efforts risking distraction.

The former president said since he's left office, he's been spending time with his family and getting treatment for his prostate cancer, which he says has been going "really well."

In the summer of 2024, Biden dropped his presidential bid after a widely criticized debate performance that prompted questions about his mental fitness. Former Vice President Kamala Harris, who has detailed her run for office in a memoir, "107 Days," said that it was "recklessness" to allow Biden to make the decision alone on running for re-election.

Former first lady Jill Biden wrote in her memoir "View from the East Wing," releases last month, that she was concerned her husband might have been drugged ahead of his debate performance.

Joe Biden's two earlier books include "Promises to Keep" and "Promise Me, Dad," a memoir on his older son Beau who died of brain cancer.

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(WASHINGTON) -- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday released a rendering of a commemorative coin featuring President Donald Trump, saying that the U.S. Mint will begin striking the $1 piece to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. 

"As America commemorates 250 years of independence, the [U.S. Mint] will begin striking this new $1 gold coin to honor the enduring legacy of liberty and a lasting symbol of patriotism," Bessent wrote in a social media post. "Featuring President Trump, it celebrates the strength of American values, and the promise of a nation dedicated to preserving freedom for all."

The coins -- which are not real gold but will feature a gold-like finish -- will be available in the fall, a Treasury Department spokesperson said.

The last and only time a living president was featured on hard currency struck by the U.S. Mint was a century ago for the U.S. Sesquicentennial. The half-dollar coin featured then-President Calvin Coolidge silhouetted behind the bust of President George Washington. At the time, the Mint produced a million of the coins with 860,000 of them ultimately returned and melted due to low demand.

While living presidents are generally barred from appearing on U.S. currency, the Trump administration has argued that the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 permits the design because it authorizes the Treasury secretary to oversee the minting of special commemorative coins for the nation's Semiquincentennial. And while the same law bars any person from appearing on the tail side of a commemorative coin, the restriction doesn't apply to its face. 

Federal law also stipulates that coin designs be selected by the Treasury secretary after consultation with the Commission of Fine Arts, which approved the design last March, and review from the bipartisan Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, an 11-person body established by Congress in 2003 to advise on designs of hard currency.

But the Treasury Department appears to have skipped the latter committee, raising questions about the legality of the coin's production.

Donald Scarinci, a numismatist and Democrat who's spent over two decades on the committee, said aside from a last-minute attempt by the Mint to present the proposed coin to the committee in December, the body never had a chance to review the design as required by law.

"We've never seen any design with the portrait of Donald Trump on it," Scarinci told ABC News on Wednesday. 

Scarinci said the proposed December meeting ultimately didn't occur because it was impossible to reach a quorum of members on such short notice. 

During the committee's February meeting, another member of the board, Kellen Hoard, a coin collector who represents the general public, also said that the board received no opportunity to weigh in on the coin, nor did they review the designs ultimately selected for the Semiquincentennial series of quarters. 

"I have never reviewed the Semiquincentennial $1 coin portfolio, much less been given an opportunity to review it. Is it legal now for the Mint to move forward with creating the Semiquincentennial $1 coin despite me never having the opportunity to review the piece?" Hoard asked acting Mint Chief Counsel Greg Weinman at the meeting. 

Weinman replied that he did not agree with Hoard's characterization and said that the Mint's position is the board made the decision to not review the design.

"I think the Mint made a significant effort to request the CCAC to review the portfolio. There was clearly a conscious decision not to do so. The Mint has moved forward accordingly. I am not prepared to discuss more than that at this meeting," Weinman said. 

"I believe the CCAC was given -- at least the chair of the CCAC was given a full opportunity to review this portfolio," Weinman added later. "The Mint, in my opinion, attempted multiple times to find an opportunity for the CCAC to review the portfolio. The CCAC made a decision not to. At least the chair of the CCAC made the decision not to."

"The concept that the secretary of the Treasury can create his own coin -- it's illegal," Scarinci said of the move, adding that Congress would have the authority to confiscate and demonetize the coins and that concern about the coin crosses partisan boundaries on the committee.

"This is not a Democrat-Republican issue as far as the coin is concerned," he said.

A Treasury spokesperson told ABC News, "During the January meeting, Megan Sullivan, the acting chief of the U.S. Mint’s office of design management, assured board members that 'legal research from both the Mint and the Department of the Treasury determined that the proposed coin would not violate any laws and is legal under the law authorizing the minting of coins for the Sesquicentennial.'"

The coin is not the only piece of currency that the Treasury Department is putting Trump's imprint on. Paper currency printed this year will also feature Trump's signature above that of Bessent's -- a first for an American president. Bessent told Fox News earlier this week that, too, would go into circulation this fall.

In May, Trump administration officials pushed the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to move forward with designing a commemorative $250 bill with Trump's portrait and signature, should legislation to create the new currency pass, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions.

That bill has been stuck in the House Financial Services Committee for more than a year.

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(WASHINGTON) -- Jay Clayton, President Donald Trump's pick to serve as director of national intelligence, faced repeated questions from Democrats on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday about whether Joe Biden won the 2020 election -- with Clayton saying Biden was certified as president, but stopped short of saying he won legitimately.

Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the committee, asked whether Clayton denied that Biden won the 2020 election.

"I'm not an election denier," Clayton said. "Joe Biden was certified as the president of the United States.

Independent Sen. Angus King later asked Clayton pointedly: "Who won the 2020 election?"

Clayton danced around the answer multiple times -- refusing to say outright that Biden won, while reiterating that he believes Biden was certified.

"He went through our processes, and Joe Biden became the president of the United States," Clayton said.

King responded that "saying Joe Biden was certified is not an answer."

Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff later said Clayton wasn't being "honest or forthright" in his responses about Biden's 2020 election victory.

"You refuse to answer a basic question about who won a presidential election. But you ask to lead America's intelligence community," Ossoff said. "Isn't it humiliating to be unable to answer this question? To have to indulge the president's delusions? We know, you know, everybody in this room knows the truthful answer to the question. Why can you not give it?"

Both Republicans and Democrats asked Clayton if he were involved in any way with Trump's primetime address on Thursday that the president said will be a "very big announcement" that will touch on "free and fair elections." The announcement is based on information he recently received from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence related to the 2020 election, sources familiar with the matter tell ABC News.

Clayton said he is "not involved in that," affirming that doing so would violate that understanding that he would take no actions that would presume his confirmation as DNI.

Clayton did say that he thought there was room to improve elections and that he would like to work with the committee to do that.

Questions about subpoenas to journalists

Clayton also faced questions about the subpoenas he issued to several journalists at the New York Times last week after the news outlet reported on security concerns involving Trump's new Qatari-donated Air Force One.

Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden questioned Clayton about the subpoenas he issued -- as U.S. attorney in Manhattan -- to the journalists, asking when he was directed to issue the subpoenas and who asked him to do so.

Clayton responded that the subpoenas are in connection with an "ongoing national security investigation" and reiterated that he respects the First Amendment and the role of the press. But he did not directly answer Wyden's question.

"Those subpoenas are in connection with an ongoing national security investigation. I'm happy to talk to you and this committee about our approach to the First Amendment and our efforts in all cases to limit to the greatest extent possible, any intrusion into the operation of the free press," Clayton said.

Clayton later added that he consulted with career prosecutors in his office before making the decision to issue the subpoeanas. He added that he is confident that the procedures in place to protect the First Amendment and journalists were followed.

Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said the committee was "deeply concerned" with how the process played out, that it "doesn't sound like the proper independent legal process that we would normally expect for issuance of a subpoena."

Clayton said that while he understood her concerns, "I want to tell you, I am comfortable with where we are, and I'm comfortable with how we are proceeding from here."

In a statement on Saturday, a Justice Department spokeswoman said that "reporters are not the targets, those leaking classified information are."

Clayton, prior to his role as the U.S. attorney, was also the former chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Apart from the national security cases he oversaw while serving as U.S. attorney, Clayton also lacks experience in intelligence-gathering and national security matters.

Clayton spent the bulk of his career as a corporate attorney, and prior to his appointment as U.S. attorney last year, lacked meaningful experience in criminal matters.

Clayton will replace the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and Trump loyalist Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence. Clayton's hearing came weeks after the president abruptly canceled his previously scheduled confirmation hearing.

Asked about why his hearing was postponed, Clayton said he was "not going to get into private conversations."

Pulte has been serving as the acting director since June 19. The former DNI, Tulsi Gabbard, announced her intention to resign from the role in May, citing a desire to step away from public service to support her husband following his cancer diagnosis. Gabbard ultimately left the role on June 18, days earlier than planned.

The committee is expected to vote on Clayton's nomination to be the next DNI some time next week.

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(WASHINGTON) -- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday as he seeks confirmation to secure his role on a permanent basis.

Blanche is facing questions over a series of controversies from his time with the Justice Department, including the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and what he says is the now-defunct "Anti-Weaponization Fund" part of a settlement after President Donald Trump sued the Internal Revenue Service for $10 billion.

Formerly Trump's defense attorney, Blanche faced a relatively smooth glide path to confirmation with unanimous Republican support last year when he was nominated to serve as the department's No. 2 official.

Since Trump's ouster of Pam Bondi as attorney general in April, Blanche has served in the position in an acting role and Trump formally nominated him in June.

"We are here today with the awesome responsibility of choosing the next attorney general of the United States of America. We're here because there is a vacancy in the office. The president decided to fire the predecessor of Mr. Blanche after just 14 months on the job after courts and grand juries blocked her from prosecuting the president's political opponents," Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin said in his opening statement. "Seemingly, President Trump believes you, Mr. Blanche, will be more successful."

Blanche's road to confirmation is further complicated by the sudden death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, a veteran of the Judiciary Committee who was expected to be a strong advocate for Blanche with his GOP colleagues. Blanche will likely need the support of every Republican on the committee in order for his nomination to advance to the Senate floor, as all Democrats are expected to oppose him.

It's not immediately clear when the full Senate would move for a vote on Blanche's nomination if passed by the committee, though administration officials have said their goal would be for him to be confirmed before the August recess.

Blanche argued Wednesday that his leadership has restored trust that was lost under the previous administration when the Department of Justice prosecuted Trump and many of his supporters.

"In recent years, Americans watched the Justice Department turned against many of you and a former president, and it damaged the public's faith in justice," Blanche said. "We are fixing that. Members of this committee -- on both sides -- have fair questions about the hard debates of this past year, and I welcome them."

Blanche defends handling of Epstein files
Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, the chairman of the committee, asked Blanche to give his response to allegations that he and other department officials deliberately mishandled the release of millions of files from the Justice Department's past investigations of Epstein. 

As he has in previous congressional testimony, Blanche acknowledged "mistakes" made in the process regarding failures to properly redact certain names of victims, which he said the department immediately sought to fix once they were notified. 

"Whenever we learned that any victim's name had been improperly non-redacted, we immediately took the document down and fixed it as soon as we could," Blanche said. "That doesn't excuse the mistakes of which I take full responsibility, but it does mean that we tried to fix them."

Blanche also used his time to directly address victims of Epstein -- several of whom were in the audience -- telling them that the department would gladly meet with them and open new investigations of potential co-conspirators of Epstein if they came forth with evidence that would warrant it. 

"If we learn today, if we learn next week, if we learn next month, that there's an individual that we can investigate, indict and prosecute out of the Epstein files, you better believe it we will," Blanche said.

Asked if he would notify the committee once such a meeting takes place with a victim of Epstein or their counsel, Blanche demurred -- drawing a rebuke from Durbin. 

"Well, you're dancing on the head of a pin here," Durbin said. 

"I'm not dancing on any pin," Blanche replied. 

Blanche confirms "Anti-Weaponization Fund" is "dead"
For the first time under oath, Blanche confirmed in an exchange with Republican Sen. John Cornyn that the so-called "Anti-Weaponization Fund" is "dead." 

Cornyn, one of the key Republican votes that Blanche will need to make it out of committee, repeatedly pushed him with specific and detailed questions regarding both the fund and the immunity agreement that would exempt President Trump and his family from IRS audits of their past taxes -- which Cornyn described as "unusual."

Cornyn repeatedly noted that the original settlement that first established the fund has still yet to be formally rescinded.

While Blanche acknowledged that, he also said the Department of Justice would be fine with codifying in some way to assure senators the fund would not move forward. 

"It is a moot issue, meaning there is no weaponization fund," Blanche told lawmakers.

On Monday, a federal judge in Florida issued an extraordinary order that lambasted Trump and the Justice Department for misusing her court to legitimize a "settlement" that she says would never have survived judicial review.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams, who had previously been assigned to oversee Trump's IRS lawsuit, referred Trump's attorneys for potential sanctions and separately sent her ruling to the State Bar of New York for consideration in potential disciplinary proceedings for Blanche -- who Williams said had potentially given "misleading" testimony to Congress about how the settlement was executed. 

Blanche, when asked during Wednesday's hearing about Williams' order, said he rejected her "insinuations" and said she had never given the Department of Justice a chance to respond in the case before issuing her order. Judge Williams noted in her order that while the department had 109 days to enter an appearance in the case, it never did so.

"I very much disagree with -- with the judge's insinuations about me, and we're going to do what we can to make that right," Blanche said.

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(WASHINGTON) -- U.S. Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett made a rare appearance before Congress on Tuesday to pitch lawmakers on new security enhancements for the Supreme Court even as they fielded criticism about their transparency and ethics practices.

The hearing marked the first time since 2019 that members of the Supreme Court have testified on Capitol Hill and comes as the justices seek support for a larger budget -- $228 million, up 10% from last year -- to accommodate more security.

The funding increase would go almost entirely toward beefing up personal protection for the justices, though the court has also asked for funding to support more building officers, an off-site security office and new cybersecurity hires.

Lawmakers seemed largely sympathetic to the justices on Tuesday, who cited a heightened threat environment -- and the personal toll it takes on their daily lives -- in recent years. The Supreme Court police report that threats against the justices increased by 38% last year and 25% the prior year.

In the hearing's most personal moment, Justice Barrett shared that she brought a bulletproof vest home around the time of the court's leaked opinion overturning Roe v. Wade -- a precaution she struggled to explain to her 12-year-old son. 

"I didn't expect that performing this service was going to put me in the position of explaining to my children what a bulletproof vest was and why I had to wear one," Barrett said, calling the threat environment "really high."

Barrett also confirmed news reports that she was the target of a swatting incident six weeks ago, saying her teenage son opened the door to swarms of law enforcement. Swatting involves hoax calls about bogus shootings and other emergencies.

Other justices have also faced security concerns in recent years, most notably when a man went to Justice Brett Kavanaugh's house in 2022 looking to assassinate him in the weeks after the Dobbs opinion was leaked.

Each member currently has between four and eight agents assigned to them, the justices testified on Tuesday -- a number they said fluctuates based on the justices' schedule and the scrutiny they're under. 

The Supreme Court's requested 2027 budget would significantly expand that security force. The justices are seeking $14.6 million to fund six additional agents per justice -- a total of 54 new officers -- and to hire 25 officers dedicated to the Supreme Court building.

The justices argued on Tuesday that the current staff allocation is insufficient. Barrett said it risks burn out and exhaustion, noting the same detail often drops her off at 11 p.m. and must then arrive in the morning again.

The court has also asked for $6.5 million to fund an "exterior visitor screening facility design." The money would go toward blueprints and early planning for an off-campus security process for those entering the court.

Kagan briefly addressed the proposal, saying the justices were concerned about visitors entering the building before they had been screened. Currently, members of the public go through magnetometers and x-ray machines inside the lobby area beneath the grand staircase. 

The justices were also asked about more unconventional threats, including from drones and cyber warfare.

Barrett acknowledged that "drone mitigation measures are certainly on security's radar." She also said that cybersecurity attacks were increasing "by magnitudes year after year." The Supreme Court has asked for $2.3 million to fund cybersecurity-related hires -- part of a yearslong plan to protect its data and bolster technology infrastructure.

Though lawmakers largely steered clear of hot-button policy issues on Tuesday, Democrats pressed the justices on transparency-related concerns that they say have eroded trust in the court. 

Lawmakers appeared most frustrated with the court’s prolific use of the so-called "shadow docket" -- also known as the "emergency docket" -- to reach decisions on emergency requests more quickly and without a full briefing or oral argument.

Notably, Kagan -- who has long been publicly critical of this practice -- defended the practice on Tuesday. She said it was no longer accurate to refer to it as "shadow" because the court was more frequently providing explanations alongside their snap decisions on the docket.

"We have done, I think, a better job in the recent past of where appropriate -- and it's not always appropriate -- but where appropriate, explaining ourselves at least to a moderate degree,” Kagan said.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, pressed the justices in particular on their ethical practices after recent ethics scandals, such as Justice Clarence Thomas' unreported financial ties to and luxury travel with a billionaire GOP donor and Justice Samuel Alito's reported luxury vacation he took with a wealthy hedge fund manager who later had business before the Supreme Court.

DeLauro called on the Supreme Court to adopt a gift ban, citing a bill reintroduced by her colleague Rep. Jamie Raskin on Tuesday that would prevent the justices from accepting gifts greater than $50.

DeLauro also pressed the justices on how they were enforcing their code of conduct, adopted in 2023. Though Barrett hesitated to endorse an independent enforcement mechanism, Kagan said she was supportive. 

"I think that we would be better off with an enforcement mechanism," Kagan said. "I think that my colleagues are taking this code incredibly seriously, all making every effort -- and I think successful efforts -- to live by it. But if nothing else, for public confidence."

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(WASHINGTON) -- Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham's sister, was officially sworn in to the Senate on Tuesday afternoon to finish the remainder of her late brother's term.

Republican Chuck Grassley, the president pro tempore of the Senate, presided over the ceremony.

Darline Graham was escorted by fellow South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and Alabama Sen. Katie Britt, both Republicans, as she approached to dais to take the oath of office. The chamber, filled with a number of Democratic and Republican senators, applauded after she was sworn in.

Lindsey Graham, a four-term Republican senator, died over the weekend at the age of 71. Darline Graham will serve out the remaining months of his current term, which expires in January.

Darline Graham was appointed by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster on Monday. President Donald Trump supported her appointment, calling it a fabulous tribute" to Lindsey Graham, who at a young age became Darline Graham's legal guardian after the deaths of their parents.

"Lindsey has always been there for me. And now I will be there for him," Darline Graham said on Monday.

Who is Darline Graham?

Darline Graham, who lives in Lexington, South Carolina, has served since 2019 as commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, according to a biography provided by Gov. McMaster's office on Monday. She also serves on the South Carolina State Workforce Development Board and is president-elect of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind.

She also previously held roles with Clemson University, the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce and the South Carolina Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, the governor's office said.

Darline Graham, a mother of two, earned a bachelor's degree from the College of Charleston, a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling and is a certified public manager, according to the release.

After their parents died when Lindsey Graham was 22 years old, he took on a caretaker role for Darline Graham, then 13, and became her legal guardian. Talking to C-SPAN in 2015, Lindsey Graham said his sister's success was "the highlight" of his life "by far."

Their close relationship was evident throughout Lindsey Graham's political career. Darline Graham appeared with him several times on the campaign trail and in campaign videos.

"It is such a privilege to get to finish some of his important work, and I promise to work hard over the next several months to support the president and carry forward the efforts of my brother on behalf of the citizens of South Carolina and the United States," she said on Monday.

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(WASHINGTON) -- Secretary of State Marco Rubio is preparing to host delegations from more than 70 countries this week for a gathering focused on addressing what the Trump administration describes as the overlooked threat posed by "the resurgence of transnational far-left terrorism," according to a State Department official and internal documents reviewed exclusively by ABC News.

"For too long this threat has remained a blind spot in the international community's counterterrorism focus, underestimated and under-resourced, despite the danger it poses," a note shared with foreign governments describing the concept of the meeting reads.

It goes on to assert that law enforcement and counterterrorism experts have revealed a "clear trend" of "globally networked, politically-motivated terrorists -- particularly far-left terrorists" increasingly turning to "organized, deadly violence to advance their political objectives."

The meeting, which will take place in Washington on Thursday, will lay the foundation for "coordinated action" to counter international organizations that are "seeking to implement an extreme political vision through intimidation and coordinated campaigns of terror," the document states.

Representatives from roughly 60 countries were initially expected to attend, but the State Department said in a post to X on Friday it would expand the ministerial due to "overwhelming interest" by inviting additional countries "working to combat the growing international threat of far-left violence."

A State Department official said more than 10 additional invitations had been extended.

Some critics of the Trump administration's counterterrorism approach have claimed its focus on threats from the far left is misguided.

Analysis conducted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in 2025 found that while left-wing violence in the U.S. has increased over the past decade, "it has risen from very low levels and remains much lower than historical levels of violence carried out by right-wing and jihadist attackers."

The CSIS report concluded it was "important to resource all dimensions of the terrorism threat."

"Left-wing terrorism is a Trump administration priority, but jihadist terrorism also remains a concern even though it has declined," it states. "Right-wing terrorism could come roaring back, especially if in 2028 there are complaints of a 'stolen election' or similar incendiary claims."

The ACLU has also taken issue with multiple actions taken by the Trump administration's counterterrorism approach, accusing it of targeting politically opposed but peaceful activists and donors "under the guise of addressing political violence and domestic terrorism."

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(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump said on Monday he wants Lindsey Graham's sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to be his temporary replacement in the Senate.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announced around the same time as Trump's post that he will be making an announcement about who is appointing to the Senate seat at 4 p.m. on Monday

ABC News has reached out to McMaster's office about Trump's push for Nordone to be Graham's replacement. ABC News has already reached out to Nordone for comment.

Trump wrote in a social media post that he made his recommendation to McMaster, and said it would a "fabulous tribute" to Graham.

Separate from the temporary replacement to complete Graham's term, South Carolina will hold a special election on Aug. 11 to replace Graham as the Republican nominee on the general election ballot this November.

Graham and his sister shared an incredibly close relationship. After their parents died when Graham was only 22 years old, he took on a caretaker role for his younger sister, becoming her legal guardian.

Nordone, in a recent video for Graham's reelection campaign, said of her brother, "He's always been there for me, no matter what."

It is not immediately clear if Nordone has any political experience or aspirations. According to The New York Times, Nordone is a mother of two and has worked to help people with disabilities find jobs. 

Graham's office announced over the weekend that the longtime Republican lawmaker had died suddenly at the age of 71. Preliminary findings from the Medical Examiner of the District of Columbia said the senator died from an "aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease."

Trump, in an interview with "Fox and Friends" on Monday morning, called Graham a "friend" and praised his work on shepherding through the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his first term.

"He had fun with politics, but he was really good at it," Trump said of Graham. "And then when he got angry, like he did in the case of Brett Kavanaugh, it was so impactful."

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(WASHINGTON) -- Lindsey Graham, a longtime Republican senator from South Carolina, who had become one of President Donald Trump's staunchest political allies, died on Saturday after a "brief and sudden" illness, his office said in a statement. He was 71.

"Senator Graham's family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period," said the statement, which was posted early Sunday on social media.

First elected to the Senate in 2002, Graham had in 23 years risen to be one of the chamber's most prominent figures. He won reelection three times, most recently in 2020.

"Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead!" Trump said on social media on Sunday morning. "He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!!"

The flags above the White House, as well as on the White House North Lawn flagpole, have been lowered to half staff following the news of Graham’s death.

Graham was aligned with the president on most matters and the two were seen together frequently on the golf course and at events. He advised the president on matters of foreign policy, including recently on the Iran war. He was outspoken in support of the president's decision to lead strikes on nuclear sites in Iran last year.

Graham served as the current chair of the Senate Budget Committee, a role he had most recently used to lead the Senate's efforts to pass a roughly $70 billion budget reconciliation bill to provide funding for border security. That legislation was signed by Trump in June.

He was a also member of the Appropriations, Judiciary and Environment and Public Works committees.

In his time in the Senate, Graham also helmed the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2022.

While atop the panel, he led the committee through the swift confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the final months of Trump's first term. Graham had earlier been among those who blocked President Barack Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland, his pick to fill the vacancy left by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, almost 11 months before the 2016 presidential election.

Graham would have returned to the top GOP position on the committee next Congress.

Before his time in the Senate, Graham had served in the House, where he represented South Carolina's third district. He was first elected to that office in 1994 and served four terms.

In his more than three decades in Washington, Graham had sparred with several presidents. As a member of the House in 1998, he was appointed a manager of the impeachment proceedings against then-President Bill Clinton. He was a harsh critic of Obama, as well as President Joe Biden, whom he also considered a longtime friend from their years together in the Senate.

Graham was also once numbered among the fiercest critics of Trump, whom he ran against in the 2016 presidential election, a race he withdrew from before the primaries. But their relationship had softened, with Graham saying he had turned into one of his closest friends.

"On a professional level, I am proud to have been there at the beginning when President Trump -- through sheer force of will -- achieved the greatest political comeback in American history," Graham said in March 2025. "On a personal level, I genuinely enjoy our friendship. He's an awesome golfing buddy, who I have yet to beat."

The president recently endorsed Graham in his primary campaign, in which Graham sailed to victory in June with nearly 57% of the vote, defeating several challengers. He was slated to appear on the ballot this November.

Trump held a tele-rally for Graham ahead of the race, praising their partnership amid the war in Iran, which Graham staunchly defended.

"They cannot have a nuclear weapon," Trump said at the time. "And Lindsey has been fighting with me all the way. All the way for that. We've been a very tough team and I think we are winning that battle."

He was a member of the Judiciary committee since he first joined the Senate in 2003. His time on the panel was spent working to mold the federal judiciary. While serving on the committee he helped to advance confirmation of conservative judges to the federal bench, and also became a staunch defender of Trump, his close friend and ally.

Graham in recent statements appeared positive that he and Trump would continue in lockstep if Graham was reelected the in fall.

"Let me tell you in '27, if I win in November, I'll be chairman of the Judiciary Committee," he said. "I'll wake up every morning and go to bed every night, thinking, 'How many judges can we put on the bench before Trump leaves in '28.'"

He had been a foreign policy hawk during his time in office, supporting the president in his war with Iran, making visits to Israel and fostering a strong and at-times contentious relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He pushed for military aid to the country, including weapons and financial assistance.

Shortly before his death, Graham made his 10th visit to Ukraine -- meeting with Zelenskyy and visiting a drone manufacturer in the country. He and a bipartisan group of senators announced on Friday a bipartisan deal with the White House on a Russia-sanctions bill that Graham had long-championed.

"In my opinion, this summer is the time to go all in to put pressure on [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to get to the peace table and end the bloodbath," he said on July 7.

Zelenskyy said on Sunday that he and Graham met twice in the past week, adding that he was "deeply saddened" by the news, calling the senator a "true defender of freedom," a "staunch advocate" for Ukraine and a "determined leader."

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, in a statement posted on Sunday morning, called the senator a "dear friend," going on to say, "Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend."

Graham was also highly involved, earlier in his career, in efforts to craft a bipartisan deal on immigration. He worked across the aisle in 2013 to negotiate a border security bill that created a pathway to citizenship for some undocumented migrants while increasing border security and changing immigration rules. That legislation never became law.

Lindsey Olin Graham was born on July 9, 1955, in Central, South Carolina, a town in the state's northwest that, at that time, had little more than 1,000 residents.

His official Senate biography described his family as "blue collar," saying his parents ran a local restaurant and pool hall. He became the legal guardian to his younger sister and raised her after his parents died.

"The first member of his family to go to college, Graham earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of South Carolina," his bio said.

The year after he earned a law degree in 1981, he joined the U.S. Air Force, where he served as a lawyer. He was assigned overseas in Germany between 1984 and 1988, before leaving active duty the following year.

As a reservist, he was later called to active duty during the first Gulf War, during which he served state-side.

He retired as a reservist in June 2015 at the rank of colonel.

Graham lived in Seneca, South Carolina, and was not married. His official biography says he was a member of Corinth Baptist Church.

He last voted in the Senate on June 24, right before the chamber departed for the Fourth of July recess. The Senate is slated to return on Monday.

Graham had been a longtime friend of Sen. John McCain, a Republican, who died in 2018, and Sen. Joe Lieberman, a Democrat-turned-independent, who died in 2024.

The three "traveled the world together," Graham said in 2018.

"I’ve seen these guys in action," Graham said at the time. "I’ve learned a lot from both of them and we had so much fun."

Majority Leader John Thune said on Sunday that his "heart is heavy" to learn of the death of his friend and colleague.

"As South Carolina's senior senator, Lindsey fought passionately for the Palmetto State," Thune said in a post on social media. "He was a trusted adviser and colleague to me and many others, and numerous presidents and heads of state have relied on his counsel. His influence on the federal judiciary, our national defense, and his beloved South Carolina will be felt for generations."

ABC News' Shannon Kingston, Nicholas Kerr and Charlotte Gardiner contributed to this report.

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(SOUTH CAROLINA) -- The suspensions of eight Apache pilots who flew low over the South Carolina coast on July Fourth were lifted Friday, according to the South Carolina National Guard, just hours after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth publicly called for the reversal.

The Apache attack helicopters were flying in South Carolina's annual "Salute from the Shore" event -- which flies from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to Beaufort, North Carolina, along the coast on the Fourth of July -- when video footage posted online appeared to show the pilots flying low over a crowded coastline. The pilots are members of the South Carolina National Guard’s Alpha 1-151 Attack Battalion.

The eight pilots involved were temporarily suspended shortly after the flight, Maj. Lisa Allen, a spokesperson for the South Carolina National Guard, confirmed on Thursday to ABC affiliate WPDE in Florence, South Carolina. What prompted the suspension is unclear.

The Guard clarified in a Thursday press release that the action was a "routine administrative measure whenever a flight profile is under review" and that the soldiers were still taking part in "regular daily duties in a non-flying capacity" -- emphasizing in a post on X that it was "not a disciplinary action." Allen confirmed on Friday that the review was now complete.

Low-altitude flying carries inherent risks, including the potential for debris to scatter on the ground and less time for pilots to respond to emergencies.

As the video of their flyover circulated on social media, reports of the suspension drew national scrutiny and prompted backlash from state and federal lawmakers. 

Republican Rep. Russell Fry of South Carolina called for the National Guard to "drop this review and restore these pilots immediately" in a Thursday morning post on X, saying the pilots "should be celebrated, not sanctioned." Fry also penned a letter to the South Carolina National Guard, where he decried the suspension as a "misguided decision and a misuse of resources."

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican, also criticized the suspension.

"Surely, they know how to safely navigate the coast of South Carolina — and her scores of cheering residents and tourists on our 250th anniversary," McMaster wrote on X.

Hegseth weighed in on Thursday evening, promising to "fix" the suspension in response to a video of the flyover posted on X.

"We’ll fix this. Carry on, Patriots," Hegseth wrote.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell echoed Hegseth in his Friday announcement lifting the suspension, writing on X that "Effective immediately, the suspension of all involved South Carolina pilots has been lifted. Carry on Patriots."

Allen also announced in a press release that the suspension was lifted, adding that "The South Carolina National Guard appreciates the outpouring of concern and support from our community and state leaders."

It is not the first time that Hegseth has intervened on behalf of suspended Apache pilots. In late March, two Apache helicopters were flagged by the Army for flying low and hovering near Kid Rock's Nashville house. Their suspension was rolled back just hours after it was announced, and Hegseth quickly took credit.

“Pilots suspension LIFTED. No punishment. No investigation. Carry on, patriots,” he posted on X at the time. 

Apaches are the Army's primary attack helicopter, being fully integrated into the force in the 1980s and seeing their combat debut during the U.S. invasion of Panama. They continued to be heavily used in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and are currently deployed in the war with Iran.

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(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump said in a social media post Friday morning that he "will not sign" the bipartisan housing reform package, which he abruptly placed into limbo last month after demanding that his unrelated signature election reform law be sent to his desk alongside it.

Trump said he won't sign the housing bill "in PROTEST" over the Senate's inability to pass the Save America Act.

The housing bill can still become law overnight without Trump's signature.

If a president doesn't sign a bill or veto it, it automatically becomes law after 10 days while Congress is in session, excluding Sundays. The housing bill was presented to Trump on June 29, and the 10-day clock began on June 30. If Trump issues a veto, Congress would need to attempt to override it by a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate.

The 21st Century Road to Housing Act aims to address the country’s housing shortage by increasing the supply of homes and overall homeownership by loosening regulations to encourage housing construction and by limiting Wall Street investors from buying homes that could go to families instead.

New data from the National Association of Realtors shows the median home price increased 1.8% in June from a year ago, and is now $440,600 -- an all-time high.

The Senate voted 85-5 on passage of the housing measure on June 22 before the House approved the bill by a vote of 358-32 on June 23. Both totals represent sufficient support to overcome a potential presidential veto with a two-thirds majority in both chambers.

Even though the stage was set for the president to sign the bill in a rare ceremony at the U.S. Capitol, the bipartisan breakthrough did not last long, as Trump quickly announced he would not sign the bill unless lawmakers approve the SAVE America Act. 

The SAVE America Act would make significant election and voting reforms, including requiring photo ID at polling places and proof of citizenship before a person could register to vote. The legislation has been flatly rejected by Democrats and would require 60 votes to prevail in the Senate.

Trump has pushed Republicans in the Senate to eliminate or modify the filibuster to get the bill through, though Majority Leader John Thune has said Republicans don't have the votes to do so.

Trump wrote in his social media post Friday that if Democrats "do not allow a positive Vote on SAVE AMERICA, TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER, and pass this, and every other Bill that true Republicans have ever dreamt of."

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(WASHINGTON) -- Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch disputed the scathing July 4 report released by the White House, which accused the National Museum of American History and its leaders of presenting a "radical view" of American history.

In an internal letter to staff that was obtained by ABC News, he wrote that Smithsonian leadership is "carefully" reviewing the report's findings. Bunch has not addressed the report publicly.

"While there will always be room for improvement, this report is not a fair characterization of the work and totality of the National Museum of American History," Bunch said in the letter. "At the Smithsonian, our work is driven by scholarship, accuracy, and an uncompromising commitment to tell the fullness of America's story."

"As public servants and the keepers of this institution, we are charged with helping a nation find understanding, hope, and clarity and as part of that duty, we are dedicated to excellence, reflection, and growth," Bunch added.

In the letter, Bunch thanked staff members for their "dedication" to their work and their "belief" in the institution's mission.

"Every day, we are honored to tell America's stories and hold that responsibility with the utmost regard, respect, and fidelity. We remain committed to fulfilling our mission for generations to come," he said.

The report was published by the White House Domestic Policy Council. Vince Haley, the group's director, said in a statement to ABC News that "No American wants the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History to be a system of ideological activism."

"Unfortunately, the report demonstrates that is exactly what the Smithsonian's flagship museum has become," he said. "During this 250th anniversary year of our heroic founding, the least we owe our Founding Fathers is an honest and inspiring account of who they were, what they did, and what they built. It is our hope and expectation that the Smithsonian will eventually rise once again to that noble obligation -- to tell America's story for our children, the world, and future generations of Americans."

Bunch's letter comes days after the Domestic Policy Council released the scathing 162-page report accusing the Smithsonian Institution of engaging in "extreme political activism" and presenting "a radical view of American history."

The report particularly took aim at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History (NMAH), accusing its leadership of adopting "an ideological framework that no longer treats the American story as a shared national inheritance to be taught or celebrated, but as a political instrument to divide, dispirit, and discourage our citizens."

The report accuses the museum of "anti-White activism," "illegal alien activism," and "transgender activism." It also includes many photos of materials the White House identified as problematic.

Asked about the report, a spokesperson for the Smithsonian, which oversees 21 museums, galleries and the national zoo, told ABC News in a statement on Sunday that the institution remains committed to impartial learning.

"For more than 180 years, the Smithsonian has served the American public with nonpartisan and independent scholarship, and we remain committed to doing so," the spokesperson said.

The report comes amid an ongoing White House review of the Smithsonian as well as a separate internal review launched by the Smithsonian into its own exhibits and processes.

The White House review was launched in response to President Donald Trump's March 27, 2025 executive order, "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History."

The executive order directed Vice President J.D. Vance, in consultation with the president's advisers on domestic policy, "to remove improper ideology" from Smithsonian institutions, arguing that materials that cast America in a "negative light" have no place in federal cultural institutions. 

"The serious concerns raised in this report are not about a few exhibits or a few controversial labels," the report says. "As it stands today, it would benefit most Americans, especially parents bringing their children for a tour, if the Smithsonian's flagship history museum had a label at every entrance that reads: 'Warning: the exhibits in this museum were prepared by people who don't want you to love your country.'"

Sarah Weicksel, executive director of the American Historical Association (AHA), previously told ABC News that the White House is seeking to create "a narrowly sanitized version of the American past" at federal cultural institutions "that fits comfortably" into Trump's executive order.

The AHA, which represents 10,000 historians across various educational and cultural institutions in the U.S., including the Smithsonian, has publicly defended the Smithsonian and urged the White House to "respect and value the expertise of the historians, curators, and other museum professionals who conduct the review and revision of historical content according to the professional standards of our discipline."

"History is under attack right now, and we are seeing our expertise devalued in the public sphere," Weicksel told ABC News Live in an interview on Monday. "It is really upsetting to see the executive branch intervening in our work."

ABC News' John Santucci and Sabina Ghebremedhin contributed to this report.

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(WASHINGTON) -- The Air Force earlier this week said 135 airmen who were initially told they had earned promotions will not receive those promotions after the service discovered a scoring error on a required promotion exam.

The issue, announced Tuesday, affected only security forces airmen, who serve as the Air Force's law enforcement and security personnel. An outdated answer key was used to score the promotion test, leading the service to incorrectly notify 135 airmen that they had been selected for promotion to technical sergeant, a mid-level enlisted rank, according to the Air Force.

"We owe it to those affected to address it immediately," Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David Wolfe, the service's top enlisted leader, said in a statement. "This is going to be hard for everyone impacted."

Airmen's promotions are based on a series of factors including testing, schooling and how long they've been serving.

The service called the incident an "isolated" and a "highly unprecedented anomaly." It rescored each exam with the correct answer key. Out of 586 airmen selected for promotion, 451 will keep their promotions, according to the service.

Air Force officials said they are evaluating the implementation of additional safeguards in its promotion process. 

A separate group of 135 airmen who were incorrectly denied promotions because of the testing error will now be promoted, the Air Force said.

The incident is the latest in a series of high-profile testing and evaluation issues involving the service. Last year, the Air Force Academy launched a broad investigation after discovering nearly 100 cadets had cheated on a weekly knowledge test. A separate cheating scandal in 2020 involved nearly 250 cadets accused of honor code violations, prompting a review of the academy's programs.

"We promote Airmen based on merit, which is established in federal law and policy," Lt. Gen. Jefferson O’Donnell, deputy chief of staff for Air Force Manpower, Personnel, and Services, said in a statement earlier this week. "Who we are as an Air Force, defined by our core values, demands integrity in the meritocratic promotion system; we have a core obligation to ensure the Airmen who earned it are selected."

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(WASHINGTON) -- Former U.S. Olympian David Hearn appeared in D.C. Superior Court on Thursday and pleaded not guilty through his attorney to the felony charge he faces for allegedly damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

Hearn was seated between his attorneys, Steven Levin and Mary Dohrmann, with another attorney, Norm Eisen, seated behind them in a packed courtroom.

A sizable crowd gathered outside the courtroom and Eisen said that Hearn was being used as a "scapegoat" for the administration's "failures" on one of Donald Trump's pet Washington beautification projects.

The Reflecting Pool turned green and pieces of the liner started bubbling up to the surface after it was painted last month. It was plagued with algae and peeling paint since the Trump administration completed the $16 million renovation of the landmark.

President Donald Trump shifted the blame to vandals, without providing evidence. Hearn was among those arrested and Trump threatened 10-year prison terms. 

Dohrmann, a former federal prosecutor who previously served on Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigative team, entered the not guilty plea on Hearn's behalf. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Reddington was the lone prosecutor from the Justice Department present at the hearing, which concluded after only 13 minutes. 

Judge Carmen McLean ordered Hearn released on his own recognizance and set the next status hearing in the case for Wednesday, Aug. 5. 

Hearn was indicted on July 2 for allegedly "maliciously" destroying part of the lining of the Reflecting Pool. The single count of destruction of property -- for a 2 square foot section of the massive pool -- carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

Eisen, an attorney for Hearn, briefly addressed reporters outside of court, drawing cheers from the crowd as he maintained his client's innocence while declining to discuss substantive details about the case. 

"Today, Davey Hearn pled not guilty because he is not guilty," Eisen said. "If Mr. Hearn can be charged with a felony for touching the Reflecting Pool, every American is at risk and every American should be alarmed about this prosecution. This indictment reflects the administration's effort to scapegoat Davey and to shift blame for their own failures."

Eisen previewed an aggressive legal strategy to challenge the legality of the indictment similar to other foes of Trump who have accused the administration of weaponizing the Justice Department against them. 

"We anticipate receiving substantial discovery," Eisen said. "The evidence will establish, as we have stated today, Mr. Hearn is innocent. We will reserve questions about exactly what happened for the trial. That is what the justice system is for."

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced the indictment in a press conference, alleging that Hearn was "forcefully and violently" pulling up the liner and "damaged approximately 2 square feet of sealant from the bottom of the pool."

Hearn previously told ABC News that police arrested him after he touched a piece of blue coating that was partially detached from the bottom of the Reflecting Pool. He said he went for a bike ride on June 19 and stopped by the pool as a "curious, concerned citizen."

"I did not remove, I did not damage, I did not rip, tear, break, destroy or harm any part of the Reflecting Pool," Hearn told ABC News. 

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is now being drained after the issues, which Trump blamed on vandals, including one he said used a boxcutter or knife to make a 350-foot gash in the pool. When asked by ABC News last Thursday about the president's claim, Pirro said, "Someone intentionally did a tremendous amount of damage to the pool, and you can actually see where all the cutting is."

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(NEW YORK) -- The Secret Service urged President Donald Trump to fly out of Turkey on the old Air Force One instead of the newly retrofitted Qatari-gifted plane out of an abundance of caution amid the escalation with Iran, multiple sources familiar with the plans told ABC News.

The Qatari-gifted plane left the NATO summit in Turkey earlier in the day for Mildenhall Air Force Base in England, a move Trump claimed Wednesday morning was for members of the military to tour the aircraft.

While Trump has said the change in plane had nothing to do with security concerns, he also reiterated, when asked by reporters if security concerns caused the change in flight plans, that he's "No. 1 on the kill list for Iran."

The change in plans was not prompted by a specific threat, but influenced in part by differences in the plane security capabilities, two U.S. officials told ABC News.

Mike Centrella, the Secret Service's former head of field operations, said the law enforcement agency "simply doesn’t take chances when it comes to the president’s safety, whether at home or abroad."

"Presidential travel is incredibly complex, and every movement and potential risk is carefully considered," Centrella told ABC News. "The mindset is always the same: plan for what you know, prepare for what you don't and make sure you’re ready for the unexpected."

Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, told ABC News on Thursday that "the new Air Force One is a state-of-the-art aircraft that has been fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the president and his staff. As the president has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal -- including distraction and misdirection -- to address those threats."

The New York Times first reported on the Secret Service recommendation.

When the president ultimately left Turkey in the old Air Force One to link up with the new plane in England, passengers on the aircraft were instructed to keep their windows down during the flight. According to flight data, the plane carrying the president did not turn on its tracker until it was over the Black Sea near Istanbul.

Despite continuing to insist there was no security issue that prompted him to change planes for his Turkey departure, Trump suggested that the passengers may have been asked to keep their window shades down because they were "probably on a dangerous flight."

“Well, yeah, because you're, you know, probably on a dangerous flight, because of the sleaze bags that we have to deal with,” Trump said, referring to Iran.

While the administration insists that the newly acquired plane meets the safety and security requirements necessary to fly the president, the speed of the retrofitting, which took about one year, has raised questions about whether the Qatari-gifted plane boasts the same defensive security measures as the old plane.

Many of the details of the retrofitting on the new plane are considered classified. The Air Force has said the new plane is "safe, secure and equipped with the most advanced technologies necessary to meet the requirements of the presidential mission. Those requirements were carefully crafted to prioritize mission over aesthetics, leaving much of the previous head of state interior layout minimally changed."

On Tuesday, a group of Senate Democrats sent a letter to Air Force Secretary Troy Meink demanding transparency into the project from the Air Force and L3Harris, claiming the administration is ignoring national security concerns so in service of delivering Trump a "fancy plane for his personal enjoyment."

Trump took his first trip in the newly retrofitted plane last week on a trip to North Dakota.

Before the first trip, the U.S. Air Force had been modifying the jet in Texas since September to meet the security, communications and other needs to transport the president. The Air Force had estimated it would cost less than $400 million to retrofit the gift.

The plane is to be used as the new Air Force One until shortly before Trump leaves office, at which time ownership of the plane will be transferred to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Foundation, sources familiar with the proposed arrangement have told ABC News.
 

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(BELLUVUE, Neb.) -- While Congress is out of session this week, a House Republican encountered a hostile crowd at a heated town hall meeting in Bellevue, Nebraska, Tuesday night – a sour reception that may preview the tenor other lawmakers could face heading into the midterm elections.  

Rep. Mike Flood faced repeated boos and shouts from audience members as they pressed him on the SAVE America Act, Israel, NATO, the bipartisan housing bill, the Trump administration’s policies and more, as seen on video of the town hall recorded by ABC affiliate KETV in Omaha.

While it's uncertain how many in the audience were constituents, Tuesday's contentious event wasn't the first time Flood has found himself before angry crowds at town halls. Flood was shouted down and booed in Seward, Nebraska, where hundreds of people attended his town hall May 28 of last year, while defending the then-proposed One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The month after Trump signed the bill into law, Flood faced a hostile crowd once more during an August town hall in Lincoln as the audience questioned its impact on Medicaid.

“F------ liar!” one attendee shouted at Flood Tuesday while he was discussing violent crime rates declining and the Trump administration’s ongoing deportation efforts.

“Listen, violent crime is down – ask the people of Washington, D.C., how much safer Washington is today compared to a year ago,” Flood said as the audience jeered.

“Violent crime is down in American cities. Violent crime is down in New York City. A lot of people that came here that were committing crimes have either been incarcerated or deported. The numbers speak for themselves,” Flood said.

Flood also was drowned out by the audience as he voiced his support for the proposed SAVE America Act and voter ID laws – key issues that are part of President Donald Trump's policy agenda.

“What I can't stand is what is so objectionable about having to show a driver's license, a passport, or a birth certificate at your place where you vote,” Flood said, as the attendees booed. 

The congressman further said that while Nebraska in his "opinion" deals with “little” election fraud, he added, “when people believe that our elections are secure, it breeds respect for the law, our democracy, our country, our election leaders. There are so many benefits.”

A man in the audience demanded the congressman explain the evidence he has to back up claims of election fraud, which Trump continues to promote without evidence to support his claims. Flood pushed back, saying he believes Joe Biden was duly elected president in the 2020 election. 

”I have never argued that there was an inaccurate result, and I always recognized Joe Biden was our president, so I am not a congressman that has ever made that claim,” Flood responded.

Constituents further heckled Flood when the congressman said, “I want to be very clear: We have no greater ally in the Middle East than Israel,” prompting loud boos from the audience.

“What happened in Israel was horrific,” Flood said, referring to the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas. “If that had happened on our soil, we as Americans would rise up and eliminate that threat.”

As the conversation continued to scrutinize the Trump administration's foreign policy, Flood also appeared to defend the administration’s actions in Iran. 

“We need to finish the job. We cannot put up with a regime that in the last 12 months has killed 45,000 of their own people. That is wrong. We have to have moral clarity here,” he said. “I support Israel.” 

While Trump attends the NATO Summit in Turkey, Flood said he fully supports the alliance, declaring it "has contributed greatly to the security of the world. I think they're an important part of us.”

Flood received a more positive response regarding other topics, such as when he called Russian President Vladimir Putin "a thug" and voiced his support for Ukraine. He also earned some applause when he expressed confidence that the bipartisan housing bill currently on Trump's desk will become law. 

“If [Trump] doesn't sign it, it becomes law, and the good news about this is next week it's likely to be a public law,” he said. “That's what I'm focusing on – bipartisan common-sense results."

However, when Flood brought up the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes massive cuts to government benefits such as Medicaid and SNAP food assistance, the audience loudly booed. Several constituents raised concerns about losing SNAP benefits under the new law. 

“I want people that are food insecure to get resources. I also want people that are able-bodied and can work to work. If you don't work, you shouldn't expect free healthcare,” Flood said.

Flood's comments about Medicaid prompted one audience member to shout "tax the rich" in response.

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(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump, sitting next to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the NATO summit in Turkey, said Wednesday that he will remove Syria from the State Department's State Sponsors of Terrorism list. 

"He's done a great job. Maybe he would have brought that up. That's a good question. Yeah, any problems with that? I think we should. Yeah, I will," Trump said of al-Sharaa when asked about removing Syria from the list.

Trump offered high praise for al-Sharaa during their meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit, a remarkable turnaround for the man who once led an al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria.

Al-Sharaa at one point had a $10 million bounty on his head and served time in the infamous Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

He then then led a coalition of Islamist rebel factions in late 2024 to topple former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

"He's done a really fantastic job as president. He's unified the country in a very short period of time," Trump said Wednesday, describing the Syrian leader as a "strong person" who is "respected by everybody."

"We're proud of the job he's doing," Trump said. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump had alerted Congress Wednesday of the administration’s intent to rescind Syria’s designation following a 45-day period -- the amount of time required for congressional review. 

In his statement, Rubio referenced an executive order issued by the president last year ordering a review of Syria’s designation and remarks on the "positive changes and counterterrorism actions taken by the Syrian government under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, and formal assurances provided by President al-Sharaa that Syria will not support acts of international terrorism in the future,” two requirements for delisting. 

Congress could attempt to block the delisting but the move is not expected to face significant opposition. 

What it means for Syria

Trump's commitment to potentially remove Syria from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list would mark one of the final obstacles blocking the country from fully rejoining the international financial system.

The U.S. designated Syria a state sponsor of terrorism in 1979 -- the longest such designation for any country on the list. The other countries on the list are Cuba, Iran and North Korea. Syria was designated as such because of the former al-Assad regime's historical support for designated terrorist groups.

But U.S. officials have said there are a number of steps needed ahead before the designation can be removed.

U.S. lawmakers are cautiously optimistic.

A bipartisan trio of lawmakers wrote to Trump earlier this month lobbying for Syria's removal from the list. But they argued al-Sharaa's government has more work to do to follow through on equal representation for women and minority constituents in Syria and ensuring security in the region. 

The new US-Syria relationship 

In May 2025, Trump announced he would lift sanctions on Syria to create a new relationship between the two countries.

Last November, the United Nations Security Council formally adopted a U.S.-led resolution that lifted sanctions on al-Sharaa so he could travel to the U.S. to meet with Trump in the Oval office, the first offical visit by a Syrian president. 

Congress also approved repealing comprehensive sanctions under the Caesar Syrian Civilian Protection Act. Trump signed it into law in December.

The repeal provided a way for Syria to begin transacting with regional and U.S. businesses, but the state sponsor of terrorism designation blocks it from accessing significant U.S. foreign assistance.

Lifting this designation on Syria could facilitate a whole range of investments in the country, including in oil, banking, technology, and real estate -- which could lead to an economic sea change for the country and more overall stability. 

ABC News' Shannon K. Kingston contributed to this report.

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(WASHINGTON) -- Kentucky's Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear sent a letter on Wednesday to Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell asking for details on McConnell's health situation after weeks of the Kentucky senator being hospitalized with few details shared by the senator's team.

"Over the last several weeks, Kentuckians have grown increasingly concerned about the current state of your health and wellbeing, and ability to hold office in the United States Senate," Beshear wrote in the letter, which was shared by the governor’s office.

"As Governor, I request that you fully update Kentuckians regarding the current status of your health."

Beshear wrote that public officeholders "have made a commitment to our constituents to do our best to represent them and to always be transparent."

"I believe this requires clear communication about one's ability to serve," he wrote.

He also wished him a speedy recovery.

ABC News reached out to McConnell's office about the letter and didn't receive an immediate response.

Beshear and McConnell are far apart ideologically, although they have worked together on some issues. The governor said last week he had not gotten any updates on McConnell’s condition.

If McConnell’s seat were to become vacant, Beshear would likely have to set up a special election to fill it, although that could depend on timing. McConnell's seat is also up for election this year, but he is not running for reelection. Kentucky lawmakers previously passed legislation that blocked the governor from having the ability to appoint a temporary replacement.

The letter came amid questions over the longtime senator's health. A spokesperson for McConnell first confirmed the senator had been hospitalized on June 14 for an unknown condition. His office has not provided many updates, though they said McConnell is continuing his recovery in the hospital.

Spokespeople for the lawmakers told ABC News on Tuesday that McConnell has had phone conversations with several Republican leaders as he remains hospitalized.

The health of McConnell "did not warrant an immediate return to the US" for his wife, former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, while she was on a trip abroad, according to Chao's spokesperson.

In a statement to ABC affiliate WHAS on Tuesday, a spokesperson for Chao wrote, "The secretary was on a long-planned trip in China to support her family's philanthropic endeavors. During the trip, she met with a number of people, including the US ambassador. The Senator's health did not warrant an immediate return to the US."

ABC News' Allison Pecorin contributed to this report.

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(ANKARA, Turkey) -- President Donald Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday the U.S. will give Ukraine a license to produce Patriot air defense systems.

"One of the things we're going to be talking about is, you'll -- we're going to give a license to you to make Patriots. That's pretty cool, right?" Trump told Zelenskyy during a bilateral meeting at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.

"This way he can't complain that we're not giving him enough. I said, 'Make them yourself,'" Trump added.

Trump said the company that manufactures Patriot systems hasn't been informed yet, but "that’ll work out all right."

But when asked whether Trump would be willing to provide Patriot interceptors to Ukraine up front while production gets into place, the president said the U.S. didn’t have that many missiles.

“We have Patriots, but we don't have that many. We need them for ourselves, too,” he said.

The meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy in Ankara came as expenditures of U.S. Patriot PAC-3 interceptor missiles in Ukraine and the Middle East have dramatically outpaced current production capabilities, resulting in a critical global shortage as the Russia-Ukraine war drags on.

"We need to find a way to get as quick as possible, as much as possible, missiles for Patriot systems. This is the most important thing," Zelenskyy said at a defense industry forum at the alliance's annual summit on Tuesday.

Russia has sought to exploit this shortfall by launching concentrated bombardments of ballistic missiles and drone swarms at Ukrainian targets, overwhelming the country's defenses and resulting in scores of civilian deaths. 

On Wednesday, Zelenskyy praised the U.S. for its support throughout the war. 

"Mr. President, thank you very much for this meeting. And we're thankful, as always, to your support, American support, bipartisan support," he said.

Russia's 'last major advantage'

In an address to members of the NATO alliance on Tuesday, Zelenskyy stressed the critical nature of the shortage and argued it was time for Europe to produce its own systems to counter Russian ballistic missiles, calling the rocket-powered missiles Moscow's "last major advantage."

"We all value the Patriot system. It's an excellent system," he said. "But today's wars have shown current Patriot production is not enough to meet the growing demand for protection against ballistic missiles. That is a fact."

For his part, Trump presented a rosier outlook -- asserting that an end to the conflict in Ukraine, which is now in its fifth year, could be on the horizon. 

"I think we're getting much closer than people realize, and President Putin wants it to end," Trump said on Monday. "And President Zelenskyy actually wants it to end now."

Trump also downplayed the impact of the war in Ukraine on Tuesday, saying "it doesn't affect us" and depicting the conflict as a European issue. Trump had promised to end the war on Day 1 in office -- a pledge he later said was hyperbolic.

Trump's comments come amid Russian escalation in recent days. On Monday, Russian strikes targeted Ukraine’s military-industrial complex and energy infrastructure in and around Kyiv, according to Russia's defense ministry.

Zelenskyy has been warning the Trump administration about the crucial depletion of interceptor missiles for several weeks. He is also pressing the U.S. to expedite a license that would allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot batteries and interceptors domestically.

A strained relationship

The bilateral meeting tested the strength of Trump and Zelenskyy's sometimes-rocky relationship at a time when Ukraine is facing new vulnerabilities on the battlefield and diplomacy with Russia has largely stalled. 

Trump, on Wednesday, described Zelenskyy as a "difficult character," but said they have a good relationship.

The leader's first meeting of Trump's second term -- a February 2025 conversation in the Oval Office -- devolved into a shouting match after Trump expressed skepticism about Ukraine's position in the conflict and called for more gratitude from Zelenskyy for U.S. support.

But Trump appeared to grow more sympathetic to the Ukrainian cause over the past year as repeated efforts to bring Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table fell flat.

A watershed moment came last July when, after repeatedly pausing military aid to Ukraine, Trump agreed to supply weapons to Ukraine if they were purchased from the U.S. by NATO allies.

And there have been signs over the past month that Trump is reengaging in efforts to bring peace to Ukraine and once again eager to coordinate a deal between Zelenskyy and Putin. 

During their bilateral meeting, Trump said he spoke with Putin about the Russian president's desire to set up a meeting in Moscow, though Zelenskyy wouldn't commit to such a meeting.

Trump held calls with Zelenskyy and Putin over the weekend as both leaders congratulated the president on the 250th anniversary of the United States' independence. 

It's unclear how substantive the conversations were, though a Kremlin aide said that Trump spoke to Putin for 90 minutes and again offered to help end the war. Zelenskyy said he had "a very good call" with Trump and conveyed there was a "real prospect" for peace.

Trump last met with Zelenskyy at the G7 summit in June, where he, at times, appeared friendly to Ukraine's cause -- describing Russia as the "offensive" party in the conflict and saying he was "going to do whatever" he could to strike a deal.

French President Emmanuel Macron -- the host of the G7 summit -- said after the meeting that he was optimistic about Trump's support for Ukraine, claiming he observed "a real change in comparison to recent months" in his attitude. 

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