President trump left washington for West Virginia today with no comment about the search for a Supreme Court nominee, but the white house tells fox news the president spoke with three more candidates today. Sources say they include Appellate Court judges joan larson and Thomas Hardeman and utah senator mike lee bringing to seven the total number of candidates the president has interviewed to replace justice kennedy. Despite critics charge that President Trump is seeking to overturn roe vs. Wade, the white house insists there is no litmus test. The main thing the president is looking for our people that set the qualifications that you would want in a Supreme Court justice. A tremendous intellect, someone who will stick to upholding the constitution, and somebody who has great judicial temperament. The white house is also only too happy to turn the waters and speculation surrounding the president s pick. This afternoon, confirming the president s conversation with senator lee. Lee told fox news i thought it went well. It very hard predict. Sources involved in the Selection Process to tell fox news its hardly likely that he will become the next Supreme Court justice. White house officials were amused to watch stories of his possible elevation to the Supreme Court catch fire. As the president searches for the next supreme, hes also engaging the Supreme Leader of north korea. Secretary of state mike pompeo will travel to pyongyang on thursday. The white house has refused to confirm reports that north korea is making improvements to several uranium your richmond sites which will appear to contradict his promise to dismantle his nuclear program. Are not going to confirm or deny intelligence reports. Im not going to comment on that. We had good meetings just a couple of days ago. The goal is the same as its always been, denuclearization and thats what we will continue pushing for. Again this week President Trump said the deal with north korea could fall apart, but he remains optimistic tweeting not for me we would now be at war with north korea. While that statement may be open to debate, the president s tough stance on immigration has found some unlikely company. German chancellor Angela Merkel narrowly avoided the breakup of her government by implementing new border controls. We have found a good compromise after tough negotiations and difficult days. The cohort liberal immigration policies where the target of frequent attacks by President Trump. The german people are going to riot. They are going to end up overthrowing this woman. I dont know what shes thinking. They have millions of people pouring into germany and now they are not stopping them. Today press secretary Sarah Sanders dodged the question whether the president feels vindicated by her aboutface. The president s focused on trying to fix the immigration problem we have here in the United States. He would like to see congress, particularly democrats, stop political grandstanding and actually come up with some Real Solutions and work with us to fix the problem. What are the chances of getting an Immigration Reform bill . To quote muhammad ali, slim to none and slim just left town. There may be little oxygen on capitol hill left for anything else. Jon john roberts at the white house, thank you. The Trump Administration announced this afternoon it is reversing an obama era policy that encouraged colleges to consider race during the College Admissions process. Correspondent Garrett TenneyGarrett Tenney reports tonight on what brought them to this decision. Today the Justice Department announced its getting rid of of obama era guidelines to promote diversity by using race in college initiated stomach admissions decisions. The guideline from 2011 and 2016 laid out legal recommendations looking for affirmative action. Firms doj argues that the obama era guidance isnt legally sound and goes beyond precedent on that issue. It doesnt change the law but supporters of the move hope it pushes colleges to change. It will be one more step in discouraging universities and colleges from using race and ethnicity as a criteria for admissions. That should not be happening in america in the year of 2018. Attorney general Jeff Sessions has now rescinded dozens of guidance documents issued by the Obama Administration after launching a review last year. Doj determined a lot of the obama era policies were inconsistent with the constitution, saying today the executive branch cannot circumvent congress or the courts by creating guidance that goes beyond the law and in some instances stays on the books for decades. But critics suggest this reversal is a politically motivated attack on affirmative action. All across the country we are seeing a coordinated series of attacks on raceconscious policies in the higher ed context. It sends the wrong message to administrators and College President s all across our country that are working hard to ensure diversitys on their campuses. The Supreme Court last held that affirmative action was constitutional in 2016. The deciding vote in that case was Justice Anthony kennedy, who in his opinion left the door open to future legal challenges. With his retirement, its just another example of how his successor is expected to have a major impact on the court for years to come. Jon Garrett Tenney, thank you. President trump wants nato countries to pay their fair share for defense and is making demands of several nato leaders and allies. National security correspondent Jennifer Griffin has a report from the pentagon. In a series of letters that became public after they were sent to european leaders, both President Trump and his defense secretary jim mattis have warned the u. S. Is losing patience with nato allies not pulling their weight and defense expenditure. A june 12 letter from mattis to his british counterpart warned britain could forfeit its special relationship with the u. S. If it does not spend more. All of this week before a nato summit in brussels and its threats from President Trump to pull u. S. Troops out of europe and shutter bases in germany if it does not meet its nato obligations. The United States puts over 4. 5 of the gdp into nato. It wants other countries to step up. They have a commitment to meet the 2 threshold. The u. S. Actually spends closer to 3. 5 of its gdp on defense, still far more than the other 28 nato allies. Britain is one of just four nations currently spending more than 2 of their gdp. For President Trump, it has become a rallying cry. We are the piggy bank that they like to take from. Germany is paying 1 of a much smaller gdp. That doesnt work, folks. It doesnt work. So i think we should pay the same as germany. Former defense secretary robert gates raised the issue in 2011. Future u. S. Political leaders, those for whom the cold war was not the formative experience that it was for me, may not consider the return on americas investment in nato worth the cost. President bush and obama both pressed nato allies to pay their fair share, estimated at 2 of gdp. President obama famously referred to some as free riders. Going forward, every nato member state must step up and carry its share of the burden. By showing the political will to invest in our collective defense. The allies agreed to ante up by 2024. While pentagon officials agree nato countries should spend more, former top u. S. Commanders who served in europe warned it would be a colossal mistake for President Trump to pull out the 32,000 u. S. Troops currently in germany suggesting it would simply be a win for russia. Jon Jennifer Griffin at the pentagon, thanks. For the short trading day ahead of the holiday the dow dropped 132, the s p 500 lost 13 and the nasdaq finished down 65. As americans hit the road for the holidays the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline, 2. 86, the highest level for the july 4th period in years but still about 0. 10 less than a month ago. Republican congressman jim jordan is facing accusations of ignoring allegations of sexual abuse by a by a doctor t ohio state university. Three torments till my former wrestlers told nbc news that it was Common Knowledge that he inappropriately touched players during appointments. Now congressman jordan was assistant wrestling coach at the university from 1986 to 1994 and is denying any knowledge of that abuse. His spokesperson today is saying he never saw any beers, never heard about any abuse and never had any abuse reported to him during his time as a coach at the school. He has not been contacted about the matter but will assist them in any way they asked because of what is alleged is true with the victims deserve a full investigation and justice. Male athletes from 14 sports in the university have reported alleged misconduct by strauss. Strauss died in 2005. 12 boys and a coach are no longer alone in a flooded cave. Theyve been trapped there for more than a week. Seven members of the thai navy seals, including a doctor, joined them in the cave, but a Senior Foreign Affairs correspondent even as rescuers make it in, they still face challenges in getting them out. How to get these kids out of a mile deep cave in northern thailand. Thats the challenge facing rescue teams now. Many people are coming. The boys, aged 1116, and their 25yearold coach have been practicing soccer since ten days ago when they decided to explore a nearby cave. Heavy rains flooded the cave trapping a deep underground. After days of frantic searching, including u. S. Military Service Members from japan, they were found alive. I have to think the International Community in assisting us. This would not have been possible if we didnt help each other. The 13 are said to be in stable condition. Theyve been living off water dripping from the cave walls but theyve had nothing to eat. We have given the boys food, starting with easily digested and high protein food with enough minerals. Getting those trapped out is a challenge. It waiting for flooding to receipt or drilling a tunnel could take months with more rains forecast, officials are considering assisting those trapped to dive their way out with special breathing gear, also very tricky. Once the cave flood seriously again, with the amount of water going through in the current and the visibility and water, it may be that diving operations will become impossible. For now, family and friends who have been waiting for joe are their loved ones are alive. When you think about such a problem set when the outcomes could have been far worse and to have such a miracle story, i dont see how you couldnt be believing in humanity. For now rescue teams continue to pump out water from the caves to keep the boys alive and to keep hope alive that this miracle story ends up well. Jon greg palkot, thanks. A former i. T. Aid to Congressional Democrats has pleaded guilty to bank fraud. Pleaded guilty to making a false statement on an application for a home equity loan. Once worked for congresswoman Debbie Wasserman schultz among other lawmakers and was investigated for possible cyber breach. Investigators determine federal charges were not warranted in that probe. Congress sets another date with fbi agent peter strzok over his antitrump text. This as a senate panel announces it agrees russia preferred a trump rather than a clinton presidency. Catherine herridge joins us live with more. Catherine, good evening. Thanks, good evening. The Senate Intelligence committee released an unclassified report backing up the 2017 intelligence assessment that found restroom wanted to down damage the liver clinton, harm or elect ability and over time the russian government developed a clear preference for donald trump. When the report was released in 2017 there was some daylight between nsa, the fbi then led by director james comey, and the cia, then led by director john brennan over the key findings. Senate investigators interviewed analysts and concluded the differences were not politically motivated. The Senate Report also confirmed Opposition Research compiled by former british by Christopher Steele and paid for by the dnc and Clinton Campaign did not play any role in the 2017 assessment because the information was considered unverified. In a separate development, a federal judge ordered special counsel lawyers and former National Security advisor mike flynn to appear in a d. C. Court on july 10th after both sides ask for most more time for thed time. Since the december guilty plea, pointing to a republican drafted congressional report that found Andrew Mccabe and fbi director james Comey Told Congress their agents found no signs of deception during his interview about his russian context. Legal analysts are warning against jumping to any conclusions. Its kind of tough to unring that bell. He has stood up in court, he has said he lied. He has said the circumstance of the lie. If he undid it, it all goes away, his protection goes away on Everything Else as well as this. They also issued a subpoena for fbi agent peter strzok to publicly testify on the tenth. He is one of two agents who interviewed flynn. Jon catherine herridge, thanks. Up next, stories from the border from texas to israel. But first, heres what some of our fox affiliates around the country are coming to me. Fox 40 in sacramento, where firefighters are still trying to get the upper hand over a Massive Wildfire in sparsely Populated Areas in the northwest of the cities. That fire has grown to 109 square miles. Fox 25 in boston, where the governor is hoping to get guns out of the hands of people considered a danger to themselves or others. The socalled red flag measure will allow a relative or someone else with close ties to a legal gun owner to petition a court for a 12 month extreme Risk Protection order if the individual was exhibit any dangerous or unstable behavior. If the gun owner is allowed to appeal the decision. And take alive look at st. Louis from fox 2. The big story there, the reopening of the famous gateway arch. The arch is back open after undergoing five years of renovations to make the National Monument more accessible. And that is tonights live and rainy look outside the beltway from special report. Imagine enjoying a slice of pizza. Now its as easy as pie. Nexium 24hr stops acid before it starts for allday, allnight protection. Can you imagine 24 hours without heartburn . For allday, allnight protection. No mathere are over 10,000 allstate agents riding sweep. Call one today. Are you in good hands . A hotel can make or break a trip. And at expedia, we dont think you should be rushed into booking one. Thats why we created expedias addon advantage. Now after booking your flight, you unlock discounts on select hotels right until the day you leave. Addon advantage. Discounted hotel rates when you add on to your trip. Only when you book with expedia. My lineage was the vecchios and zuccolis. Through ancestry, through dna i found out that i was only 16 italian. He was 34 eastern european. So i went onto ancestry, soon learned that one of our ancestors we thought was italian was eastern european. This is my ancestor who i didnt know about. He looks a little bit like me, yes. Ancestry has many paths to discovering your story. Get started for free at ancestry. Com jon right now we are awaiting President Trumps remarks at the salute to Service Dinner in West Virginia. But first, his epa administrator scott pruitt is denying reports that he personally asked the president to fire attorney general Jeff Sessions and let him run the Justice Department. Pruitt told fox news the story is 100 false, however just a short time ago a white house spokesperson said the president is looking into the reports that he calls troublesome. He added that the president has been very concerned about reports of possible ethics violations by administrator pruitt. A federal court is blocking the Trump Administrations zerotolerance policies towards immigration saying it must stop putting legitimate asylumseekers into tension. Correspondent Casey Stegall with what this means for one Border Crossing in el paso. In response to a joint lawsuit filed by the aclu and others, a federal judge has determined at least five ice field offices around the country were not affording asylumseekers their full rights. Judge states this opinion does no more than hold the government accountable to its own policy, which recently has been honored more in the breach than the observance. He issued a temporary injunction ordering ice to stop what the suit calls arbitrary detention of legitimate asylumseekers. The court points out long before enforcement of the zerotolerance policy began, directives were already in place on how to handle asylum cases. Screenings are given to those individuals to see if there is credible evidence they are indeed fleeing persecution in their home countries. If they pass, they are eligible for humanitarian relief so they are not detained as their case winds through the court. The ruling came down as a delegation of top Leaders Within the Catholic Church traveled to the border in brownsville, texas. We also have to be worried about the human voice, face and lives of those to come to us because they are so fearful of where they live. The bishops met with law enforcement, prayed with those in custody and even held mass. And while they praised the work of hhs, federal agents and everyone they had met with, they also urged people to look at this as a humanitarian issue, not a political one. When you have the opportunity to sit down with a family, liberal labels and conservative labels melt away. Back out here live on the texasmexico border tonight, the white house has pointed to smugglers and violent criminals will also try and claim asylum, in other words exploiting the system since they knew in the past it could potentially make them eligible for earlier release. Its not clear to make if the doj will fight this latest injunction. Jon Casey Stegall in el paso. Thanks. On another border, syrias neighbors to the south are not accepting refugees, even as they continue to crowd along the borders of israel and jordan to escape the deadly civil war there. But as chief correspondent Jonathan Hunt reports from israel, despite keeping refugees out, they are not leaving them high and dry. The Syrian Refugees keep coming and more tense go up daily to provide them shelter from the searing heat at their encampment on the Israeli Border and on the border with jordan, which says it cannot take anymore refugees having admitted 1 million since 2011. Israel too says it will not open its border because israel suspects rebels are among the refugees, but like jordan, israel is delivering tons of ai aid. We were alongside one of the aid trucks heading to the border last night under cover of darkness for security. Corn, bread, other food is going to go under military escort and heres how the aid drops work along the sensitive border. The israeli army opens up a section of the fence and then the food, medicines and other supplies are draft on the syrian side. The israeli army then closes off that section and pulls back. Its only then that syrians are allowed to move up to the fence, take the aid and start handing it out to the refugees. The flow of refugees is driven by the march of Syrian Government troops. In this video, provided by the Syrian Government, soldiers shout their allegiance to the president as they apparently retake control of towns in southwestern syria previously held by the rebels, against whom the government has fought this seven year civil war. And as Syrian Forces continue their operations largely unimpeded, it is clear that the major powers involved, the u. S. , russia, and israel, all decided some time ago that it is in their best interest for the president to stay in power for now. There are obvious risks in that policy, but it is based on the simple calculation better the devil you know. Jon chief correspondent Jonathan Hunt. Thanks. Up next, another obamacare checkup as Health Care Premiums price thousands out of the markets. First, beyond our borders to me. The former Prime Minister of malaysia is under arrest in connection with a theft and Money Laundering investigation. The arrest comes during a probe into a 10. 6 million transfer to the bank account. At least five people were hurt when a pedestrian bridge collapsed at a mumbai train station during heavy rains. The concrete slab fell onto empty train tracks damaging part of the platform roof and electrical system. And in france, greenpeace activists say they crashed a drone and a radio controlled plane into a French Nuclear plant to highlight the lack of security around the facility. The Group Released a video showing the crash into the tower. They say the aircraft were harmless but demonstrate that lacks Nuclear Security in france. Just some of the other stories beyond our borders tonight. Back in this country, we are waiting for President Trump to take the stage in West Virginia for his remarks at a salute to Service Dinner on this, the day before independence day. We will be right back. You okay . Eczema. Its fine. Hey hi arent you hot . Eczema again . Its fine. I saw something the other day. Myeczemaexposed. Com. 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When her patients Blood Pressure drops, she can share the information with. Jon fox news alert and President Trump has arrived at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia where he will address the military as the salute to Service Dinner. We will take you there live from the president takes the stage. Despite promises that it would be affordable, obamacare premiums have skyrocketed and according to a new government report, those spikes priced about 1 Million People out of the Health Insurance market last year. He intimates obama checkup, correspondent peter doocy with a look at just how high costs have risen. More than a million americans decided to drop Health Insurance coverage last year once policy changes dictated that 20 of people paying for obamacare plans would no longer get government help paying for them. This years early numbers show a slight 3 rise in obamacare science but the centers for medicare and Medicaid Services administrator says these reports show that the highpriced plans on the individual market are unaffordable and forcing unsubsidized middleclass consumers to drop coverage. Thats a different reality than the one president obama promise promised. If you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your health care plan. Democrats believe pricier plans are a product of a republic and majority with their priorities backwards. We watched the g. O. P. Tax bill scam for the rich and rich republican donors, wealthy shareholders and wall street, reward big corporations shipping american jobs overseas and driving up Health Care Costs for hardworking americans. The most popular option on the government run market place is the silver plan, and there are 13 states were premiums for silver plans are already at least 40 higher this year than last year. Including senator john barrassos wyoming. We have lots of ranchers in wyoming. They had insurance they could afford and work for them but it was made illegal by the obamacare regulations that said its not good enough for the government. Experts say that when premiums double or triple, the quality of care doesnt double or triple as well. On average, 4,000 in the networks are getting narrower and they exclude the best doctors in the best hospitals. Control of congress could be determined by these rising Health Insurance premiums, or at least by which party voters blame for the price tag going up because the next round of premium increases will be announced right before the midterms. Jon peter doocy, thanks, peter. Public employees can no longer be forced to Pay Union Dues as a condition of employment. The Supreme Court made that ruling last week but getting that word out to employees might not be easy. Correspondent dan springer reports on the place where one organization is running into difficulty informing employees of their rights. Before the ink was even dry on the Supreme Court ruling barring publicsector unions from automatically collecting fees from workers who do not join the membership, libertarian groups were outside Government Office buildings spreading the word. Have you heard the good news about workers rights . Speak with the Freedom Foundation in Washington State has waged this battle before. Several years ago it won a small but similar ruling. Four years later it still has not been able to reach all affected workers because the unions have blocked access to personal contact information. With a quarter million Government Union workers potentially impacted, outreach is in overdrive. We are planning and all of the above comprehensive Educational Program to reach those employees. According to union stats. Com, both of the fall it will be in the northeast and along the west coast where there are no right to work laws while nationally just a third of government workers belong to unions, the penetration is much higher in blue coastal states and thats where organized labor called for rallies, blasting the court ruling and vowing to only get stronger. This was one of the dumbest things that could possibly do. It will absolutely energize the Public Sector and the private sector unions in this country and you will see a resurgence. Unions are also waging an information campaign, selling members on the value of staying and paying. Some are more convinced than others. Those people who say they have no voice, the union is the foundation of democracy in this country. I have a voice. They have to win me back. And they are welcome to win me back. If they are going to be bipartisan. According to the center for responsive politics in the 2016 election cycle, publicsector unions spent over 64000000. 90 of it went to democrats. Losing union fees means losing clout. Jon dan springer and spee seattle. Thanks. Canada is making a renewed push to get a new trade deal with the u. S. And mexico. Canadas foreign minister says she has spoken with u. S. Trade representative robert light has or six times last week and wants to kick nafta talks into high gear this summer. However, President Trump told our colleague Maria Bartiromo that he is holding out until after the falls Midterm Election to get a better deal for the u. S. We are continuing to watch the stage in West Virginia where the president is expected to speak shortly. While we await his remarks, we discussed his choice to interview a sitting senator for the next Supreme Court justice. Our panel weighs in on the likelihood of senator mike lee of utah being named, thats next. Still a chance here. 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Tell your doctor if you have a heart condition, high Blood Pressure, glaucoma, prostate, bladder, or urinary problems. These may worsen with anoro. Call your doctor if you have worsened breathing, chest pain, mouth or tongue swelling, problems urinating, vision changes, or eye pain while taking anoro. Ask your doctor about anoro. Go your own way get your first prescription free at anoro. Com. I think the person that is chosen will be outstanding. The main thing the president is looking for our people that set the qualifications that you would want in a Supreme Court justice. A tremendous intellect, someone who will stick to upholding the constitution and somebody who has great judicial temperament. Jon so the suspense continues to build as we await the president s nomination for the Supreme Court to replace the retiring Justice Anthony kennedy. Our nomination that we expect will be announced on monday, at least thats what the president says. We learned this illuminating bit of information from the white house today. Raj shah, the president s deputy spokesperson says the president spoke to three potential Supreme Court nominees today and thats where it ended. Lets bring in our panel. Mollie hemingway, Senior Editor at the federalist, mark eliasson, National Political correspondent at National Public radio and katie pavlich, news editor of townhall. Com. Molly, its fascinating to watch republicans or conservatives who are most vocal about these nominees trying to either rally behind one or maybe squelch the opportunities. The list that donald trump put forth, which he sounds like hes going to stick with even though he interviewed mike lee was a list that really garnered a lot of support for donald trump in the election and him sticking to it is probably very key, but within that list, even though everyone is going to be largely an originalist on questions of the constitution and textual list on questions of the law, there will be some discrepancy. If you can look at it in the form of the two most recent republican nominated justices. A man like roberts, who cares a great deal about the perception of the court and what the reputation of the court will be. Someone like gorsuch cares a great deal about the constitution and fidelity to the constitution and a belief that failure to live according to the boundaries of the constitution has caused a lot of problems. So within this, these are all people who are largely somewhat the same in their traditional approach, you will see some variation and that is interesting and we just have to wait to see who gets picked. Jon we know that senator mike lee was spoken to by the president today. With the president put him on the Supreme Court . Just based on all of the chatter, i put him low on the list. I put amy barrett or Brett Cavanaugh up towards the top. There are a lot of republicans and conservatives who think it would be a good idea to pick a woman, not only for the confirmation battle to come, but also if you are going to undermining or chipping away at roe vs. Wade, good to have a woman on the court. Jon senator Dianne Feinstein made it pretty clear, katie, that she didnt think much of amy barrett when she was interviewing her for the appeals court. Is not even didnt think much, was very disrespectful saying that the dogma was running high with her and that she had very serious concerns about that. The left, for decades, has used roe v. Wade is really a red herring to be against any nominee that republicans put up. Its especially going to be bad when it comes to President Trump and who he chooses. When you look at the list of people and the people hes interviewed, he says he likes all of them. Hes clearly very heavily weighing all of their qualifications. When it comes down to this fight, the white house acknowledged by reassigning raj shah to the Communications Effort on that front, this is going to be a fight that the left decides to come out with emotion and republicans and conservatives who are interested in the longterm ramifications of who the nominee is going to be, what they do think about the constitution, what they do think about things like roe v. Wade and other Supreme Court precedent, they are coming out this from an academic standpoint and a longterm debate. They are not going to come at this with emotion, as weve seen senators like Dianne Feinstein do and of course all these left interest groups, including the media, quite frankly over the last week. Jon let me just take a pause from this discussion to mention that the West Virginia governor jim justice is getting ready to introduce the president. He is going to be speaking at that dinner at the Greenbrier Resort. When the president does take to the podium, we are going to take you there life and we will hear whether he might Say Something about his Supreme Court nominee. The confirmation of neil gorsuch was maybe touch and go, but a lot of democrats felt that this was a conservative replacing a conservative, antonin scalia. Does that suggest that the fight to replace im told that the president is standing up during we will have to wait for that answer. Heres President Trump. Getting ready to speak at the Greenbrier Resort. This is the salute to Service Dinner thanking those who serve. President trump thank you very much. Thank you, jim. That is a great gentleman and hes a big man, isnt he . Hes a big man, big jim. And thank you to kathy, very much. Its an honor. Please sit down. Thank you very much. West virginia is truly blessed to have someone like the governor, wonderful first lady and i just want to say that i love this state, which i happen to win by 42point oh a democra democrat. 42 points. Thats like one of these genius golfers winning by 9. Its like the same thing. But i want to thank everybody. Ive spent the last three days interviewing and thinking about Supreme Court justices, such an important decision and we are going to give you a great one. We will announce it on monday and i think you will be very impressed. These are very talented people, brilliant people and i think you will really love it like justice gorsuch. We hit a home run there and we are going to hit a home run here in stepbystep we are making America Great again. [cheers and applause] so jim asked me to do this. He did switch from democrat to republican. If you see that often, so its hard for me to say no, im not coming. I said im coming, jim, and its a beautiful place and i watch these tournaments. I have such respect for these golfers, these great talented nobody knows how good they are. They are really talented athletes. But we are gathered here on the eve of the fourth of july to celebrate the courageous men and women who make freedom possible. Our brave Service Members and our wonderful veterans. And we love our veterans. [applause] love our veterans. For 242 years, thats a long time, american independence has endured because of the sweat, blood and sacrifice the American Armed forces. Youve probably been hearing we may add a little thing called spaceports. We have air force, spaceports. I dont know if anybody wants to hear that, but we are thinking very seriously about it because space is becoming very important militarily as well as other reasons. The greatest force for peace and justice in the history of the world during both the civil war and world war ii, the greenbrier served as a hospital for wounded soldiers, so its so appropriate. Tonight at the greenbriers first annual salute to Service Dinner we are calling upon this rich history and we are carrying on the pgas proud legacy of supporting americas heroes. Joining us for tonights ceremony are many incredible golfers who will be competing at the greenbrier this week and i will be sitting home at the white house and i will be watching and saying i wish i could play like that. Among those with this, i just said hello to a few of them. Bubba watson. Hes having a good year. Where is he . Bubba, he is having a good year. Thank you, bubba. Keegan bradley. Keegan, great. Thanks, keegan. Thanks. Thanks, keegan. That potter is working. I just said that shorter potter is okay. Longest hitter ive ever seen, big john daily. John. I played with john in a tournament that we won, meaning that he won. He won. Its funny, he won and then i go back and everyone said how did you do . I won, wright, john . He something. And phil mickelson. I will never forget i dont think phil can remember this where is phil . Where is that guy . Hes so incredible. It was about 15 years ago and i was donald and im watching and the place is packed with people and phil is there and he sees me and i like phil and phil i think likes me and hes on the third hole and its a big deal, a big tournament and he said excuse me, just a second, and then he gets up, hits of all, it was a three wood. He hits a three would like 280 right on the middle and then he comes back, but, how is Everything Else . And i said that really is special talent. Thats the office, right . Thats just the office. What a great career, what a great gentleman. I also want to think jim nantz for leading this evenings program. Jim, wherever you may be, wheres jim . Does a great, great job. Hi, jim. Great job. Really good. And slugger white, he keeps everybody honest. Slugger has done a fantastic nobody plays games with slugger. I tried to move the tees back and he just wouldnt let me do it. There was no doubt about it. Slugger is great. And all of the pga officials, tournament staff and the volunteers for their incredibly hard work in putting this really incredible event together and the job that jim justice has done with the course is really spectacular. Also with us this evening is acting va secretary, doing a phenomenal job at the veterans administration, peter orourke. Peter. Peter. Good job, peter. Youve done a lot of work at the va along with West Virginia senator shelley more, who is a good golfer, by the way. And congressman alex mooney and morgan griffith. Where are they . Great, thanks. Tremendous help to me getting things passed. You think its easy and congress. Not easy. If i didnt introduce them as an example today, they would never vote for me again. That would be the end of your taxes. That would be the end of everything. I also want to thank our great attorney general from West Virginia, patrick morrisse morrissey, who is fighting a great race. And congratulations to patrick running for the u. S. Senate and he is a tough, strong guy and he ran an incredible race against some very talented people and he won and now hes got another race and its going to be i see the polls have it very close. It you may be surprised to see whats going to happen. Hes got incredible energy, incredible strength and he loves the people of West Virginia, like, a lot. So good luck, we are proud of you. Great job. Speaker to morningside and majority whip carol miller, i want to thank you very much for being here and carol, good luck in the race. I know youre going to do well. I know you are going to do well. And we are honored to have with us Major General james sawyer of the national guard. The big cheese. Thank you, general. Thank you very much. Tomorrow, families across our nation will gather to celebrate the fourth of july. As we do, we will think of the men and women serving overseas at this very moment, far away. Far far away from their families, protecting america, watching over our people. They are there and they are with us and they are brave. These are incredible people. And we will thank god for blessing us with these unbelievable heroes. To everyone here tonight who has served our nation in uniform, will you please stand so we can express our gratitude. Please stand. Please. [applause] tough cookies. Tough cookies. And when it comes to ice and Border Patrol and all of these incredible people that youve been reading about who are doing an unreal job, we want border security. We want security and our country. We respect ice. Ice is the one. These are tough people and you have to be tough and when they have a problem with ms13 gangs and all of these others that came in through these horrible and weak immigration laws that we are strengthening up, we will get them done. We need tough laws. If we need laws. [applause] but when these people come into our country and come in illegally and then dispersed throughout the country and all of a sudden you see nests of ms13, its like you were liberating towns. We sent ice in and for ice its just another day like phil and john and keegan, all of the guys and bubba, like the way they play golf. They go, they play. They dont know. Its hard. They dont know what that is. These guys, they walk into those areas, they take them out of there so fast, they are not afraid of anything. It is, its like you were liberating a town. Like in a war coming or liberating a town or an area and ice goes in there and they go in there and sometimes they have to go in swinging. They dont mind. They are tough. And then i hear democrats saying we want to abandon ice. We want to abandon we we are not abandoning ice and we are not abandoning our law enforcement. Just the opposite. [applause] so i want to recognize today a legendary hero from West Virginia, a veteran who fought in iwo jima in february of 1945, he volunteered to straight into enemy fire to destroy vital enemy fortifications and to clear a path for American Forces to continue forward. He went right into the machine gun nest. John daly wouldnt do that and hes a pretty tough would you do that . I dont think so. Definitely hurts your golf game, thats the end of golf. In the face of bullets and bayonets he risked his life for his brothers in arms and he earned the congressional medal of honor. [applause] today, Woody Williams is 94 years old. He has dedicated his life to supporting gold star families and building memorials to honor our fallen Service Members. In 2016, thousands were moved by woodys patriotic words when he spoke at one of our rallies in West Virginia. He was incredible. I still remember it. And of course we all remember that wonderful moment when woody flipped the coin at this years super bowl. Woody, you are a National Treasure and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Woody, where is woody . Where is woody . Thank you, woody. [applause] thank you, woody. Brave man. 94. I give a lot of congressional matters of honor. When i say a lot, probably five so far and its really one of my greatest honors to do it. The congressional medal of honor. Its our highest honor. Woody, fantastic. So often and giving them posthumously where they are just not around, but we hear the stories and their families are there and everyone is proud. But every once in a while we have one that can be given to people that are living, like you, woody. So thank you very much. We are also deeply moved and honored to be joined by a gold star spouse who knows the true price of freedom. Christine. Christines husband chris was a sergeant in the armys 82nd airborne division. Great group. Chris was killed in action in iraq in 2005. Christine, tonight we send love and gratitude of our entire nation. If your husband was a special man. We will hold you and your precious family in our hearts forever. Christine, where are you . Thank you very much. Thank you. [applause] thank you, christine. And christine, through your husbands heroic sacrifice, you understand that he has achieved immortality and our debt to him and to you is eternal and everlasting. Thank you very much. From bunker hill to the beaches of normandy and the jungles of vietnam, americans in every generation have given their last breath, their last measure of love and her final moments on this earth in defense of their country and their countrymen. Our Service Members have fulfilled a duty to america a million times over. Now we must fulfill our sacred duty to them. We must protect those who protect us. When our Service Members are in uniform, it is our obligation to ensure that they have the finest equipment, the finest training, care, resources, better than any military on earth and when our Service Members return civilian life as veterans, we must ensure that they have access to the best care, treatment and support in the world. If we are American Security by rebuilding our great military. We have secured this year with the help of shelley and her great congressman, a record 700 billion for our military and next years 716 billion, the most amount ever, we are rebuilding our military. And when have we needed it more outside of the wars themselves . When . Think about it. We are building it so big, so powerful. Hopefully we will never have to use it. As the golfers can tell you, the stronger we get, the less likely it is that we will have to use it, but we will be at a point the likes of which weve never been as a power and again, hopefully never having to use that incredible equipment that is built right here, best in the world, in the usa. [applause] we also gave our great warriors their largest pay raise in eight years, so they got a pay raise and it was about time. Theyve been waiting for a long time. [applause] and im proud that under my administration we have passed the largest va reforms in half a century. I signed into law just recently the va accountability legislation and just so you understand, accountability. You couldnt fire anybody in the va. They could be sadists. They could be bad, they could have lots of problems. They could talk back to you. You couldnt do a thing. For 40 years theyve been trying to get it passed and we got it past. Va accountability and as ive said before, we now look at the person that violates our great veterans and we say, jim, get the hell out of here and we fire him. And if they are good, we have a lot of great people. As promised, we opened the white house va hotline and have instituted new transparency on wait times and quality of care. We are