Tonight, the firestorm over the president s profane comments. A democratic senator who was in the oval office now describing it. Saying the president used vile, racist language that senator applauding the republican who he says then confronted the president. What President Trump is now saying tonight. The dangerous winter storm hitting right now. The massive Chain Reaction crash on the highway. The images coming in. Freezing rain and snow and its moving east. As we come on the air, a suspect in custody in the death of a Young College student. Police say the student went to the park with his friend. That friend was then reportedly discovered with scrapes on his hand. He had told investigators his friend had wandered off. And that he never saw him again. The deadly flu and what the cdc revealed late today. The growing list of victims. From the mother, to the 21year old to the 19monthold
and what you need to know about the flu shot. And in new york city what theyre calling the miracle on the subway. How did they get her out . Good evening and its great to have you with us on a busy friday night beginning with President Trump and that growing firestorm facing massive backlash over his profane and racially offensive comments at the white house. The president trying to backtrack from the comments on a day celebrating dr. Martin luther king jr. , a report asking are you a racist . One democratic senator describing what happened in that meeting applauding the republican he says stood up to the president. Abcs chief White House CorrespondentJonathan Karl leading us off tonight. Reporter on a day when he is under fire for racially explosive comments, the president signed a proclamation honoring Martin Luther king, jr. , even joined by a member of
the king family, but he couldnt avoid the blunt question, are you a racist . Mr. President did you refer to african nations, did you use [ bleep ] to refer to african nations . Mr. President are you racist . Mr. President are you racist . Reporter early this morning, the president attempted damage control over the vulgar insult he used in his meeting with members of congress, tweeting the language used by me at the daca meeting was tough, but this was not the language used. Adding never said anything derogatory about haitians other than haiti is, obviously, a very poor and troubled country. Reporter but nowhere did the president deny directing that profane insult at african countries. He said these hateful things and he said them repeatedly. Reporter democratic senator dick durbin was in that oval Office Meeting. He said haitians, do we need more haitians . And then he went on and started to describe the immigration from africa. Thats when he used these vile and vulgar comments, calling the nations they come from [ bleep ]. The exact word used by the president. Not just once but repeatedly. Reporter later today, senator durbin detailed more of the president s comments. He said put me down for wanting more europeans to come to this country. Why dont we get more people from norway . That is exactly what the president said. Reporter durbin says republican senator Lindsey Graham challenged the president on the spot. For him to confront the president as he did, literally sitting next to him took extraordinary political courage and i respect him for it. Reporter today senator graham said i said my piece directly to the president yesterday, ive always believed that america is an idea, not defined by its people but by its ideals. Other lawmakers condemned the president s comments as blatantly racist. Democratic senator Dianne Feinstein saying, quote, the president s expressed desire to
see more immigrants from countries like norway must be called out for what it is, an effort to set this country back generations by promoting a homogenous, white society. And prominent republicans weighed in. First thing that came to my mind was very unfortunate, unhelpful. Reporter congresswoman mia love, a daughter of haitian immigrants, said, the president s comments are unkind, divisive, elitist, and fly in the face of our nations values. And former Republican Party chairman Michael Steele was asked point blank if he thinks the president is a racist. Yeah i do, at this point the evidence is incontrovertible. Its right there. Reporter its far from the first time the president has made racially insensitive comments. Theres what he said about mexicans on the very first day of his president ial campaign. Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists. And some, i assume, are good people. Reporter and his comments following the rally of White Supremacists in charlottesville
last august. You also had people that were very fine people on both sides. Reporter but today at the mlk, jr event, the president tried to strike an entirely different tone no matter what the color of our skin or the place of our birth we are all created equal by god. Lets get to jon karl at the white house tonight. Jon reaction to the president s comments pouring in from around the world . Reporter the remarks were condemned around the world. The African Union put out a statement demanding a retraction and apology quote, not only to the africans but to all people of african decent around the globe and the governments of haiti summon the top u. S. Officials at the embassies to ask for an explanation for the president s words. The president also canceled his visit to london saying he was unhappy with the new u. S. Embassy there and the president
trying to connect the decision on that new embassy to former president obama . Reporter the visit to london had been widely reported to be happening next month. The president said that he was doing this was cancelling on twitter because the bad deal that the u. S. Got on the new embassy there. But this embassy was started, the move was started by the bush administration, not by president obama. Jon karl leading us off. Thank you. The powerful winter storm tonight at this hour. More than 70 million in the path from mississippi to maine. More than 40 vehicles involved in a pileup on interstate 40. Temperatures are about to plunge more than 30 degrees and heres eva pilgrim on the reaction crash. Reporter tonight both hands on the wheel for millions, this powerful winter storm bringing snow, ice, sleet, and rain. In indiana an icy glaze on
everything including roads. Troopers warning drivers to be careful and prepared. Have a full tank of gas, have some food in the car with you, have a charged cell phone. Reporter and on interstate 40 in Carroll County tennessee the highway a tangled mess of vehicles and auto parts. Walter kohler and his wife nearly killed after a Chain Reaction crash at least 40 cars and semis piled up. My wife screamed and somebody hit us in the back, spun us out to the side here and then another semi truck that couldnt stop hit us in the front head on collision so we got hit in the front and the back so this pickup here thats your truck . Thats my truck. Reporter overnight treacherous blizzard conditions from kansas to the dakotas to wisconsin. This car in missouri losing traction in fresh snow swerving across i 29 doing a full 180, wheels spinning to get out of that ditch. And in the east thawing conditions caused ice jams along
the great lakes in upstate new york. And flooding near pittsburgh ruining this entire lot of brand new cars. This dangerous driving continuing into the night and eva joins us live from jfk airport. Affecting flights as well. Reporter thats right. Nationwide more than 5,000 flights delayed. 1,000 canceled today. David. This storm on the move and bringing bone chilling cold and lets get to rob marciano life on new yorks west side highway. We can see the fog behind you as well rob. Reporter yeah, its bad. The warm side of the system bringing its own set of problems. You cant see the bridge behind me. Look at the precip. It is huge. Kentucky and tennessee and ohio,
pittsburgh getting into the frozen precip and albany as well tonight. Difference at midnight. 55 in new york. 18 in syracuse, raining through the morning and daytime tomorrow. Boston could see flooding and temps fall below freezing and then were back into the fridge on sunday. David. All these wild temperature swings continue. Next the deadly flu declared an epidemic across america. The cdc out revealing that the rate of hospitalized children under 5 years old has doubled in just two weeks. Flu season likely reaching its peak right now with 49 states reporting widespread flu. Health officials reporting at least 7 pediatric deaths just this week. Heres Steve Osunsami with what you need to know. Reporter already, this mother, this little boy, and even this personal trainer, have all died from this years flu. The cdc tonight is calling it an epidemic, with 13 more weeks of the flu season to go. This is just a problem bug. We hate it when this bug shows up. And we probably are going to see a lot of hospitalizations and deaths. Reporter here in atlanta, where they showed us today their plentiful supply of flu shots for anyone who needs, hospitals are seeing a flood of patients. Compared to last year, weve tested nearly twice as many patients as we have the year before and were seeing about four times as much flu. Reporter and theres another problem. Hospitals need bags of iv fluid to treat the flu and theres a shortage after Hurricane Maria shut down a factory in puerto rico. At mass general in boston, theyre having to give patients gatorade instead. In northern idaho, an entire School System had cancel classes. There were so many cases. This new york doctor explains to our tj holmes that the virus can live for up to 24 hours on Revolving Doors and elevators. Dont touch a door with you hands. You can push it with your elbows, you can push it with you back, anything thats not going to touch your face. Reporter across the country, hospitalizations of children
under 5 have doubled this week. This particular strain of flu is hardest on children and seniors. David. Steve thank you. Dr. Jen ashton is back with us and we have reported interesting things about the flu shot itself. We have known it takes two full weeks to kick in but now we have learned at some point it starts to kick in and lessens the symptom tons no matter what. You are telling us even if the flu shot isnt a Perfect Match for the strain, it still helps. Absolutely. Anyone listening tonight if you have not been vaccinated get that vaccine. There is some data that suggests that if you get the vaccine and you get the flu after that, you face lower risk of serious complications like pneumonia, hospitalization even death, particularly in children and your symptoms may be less severe. Some protection is better than no protection. If you get the shot and get the flu anyway, it still helps . Absolutely. Thanks so much. Were going to turn to the deadly mudslides in california. There are still gas leaks, no Running Water and they are spray painting warnings in the mud so rescuers and families dont fall in when they return. Rescue crews are still searching for possible victims. Still some hope tonight. Take a look at this live picture. Youre looking at highway 101 still buried in mud. Still closed tonight and standing where there should be traffic is our matt gutman who has been covering this from the start. Good evening matt. Reporter good evening david. Officials say they have no estimate when they might open this crucial freeway and the reason is that theres concern there may still be victims here in this sludge. That as this turns from a search and rescue operation to one of recovery. Reporter tonight most montecito residents ordered out, replaced by an army of 1250 First Responders. Its important we give our
crews the ability to get in there and access these areas without interference. Reporter the order affects about 9,000 residents. There are hazards everywhere here and aside from this quicksand like mud, i want you to hear that. Thats a gas pipe that ruptured and whats astonishing is that it is still going. Other dangers include swimming pools now completely concealed by layers of mud. Reporter parts of highway 101 that major artery still submerged. Debris reaching the ocean and engulfing not only homes but the chapel at la casa de maria. And Historic Hotels like the montecito inn. Its pretty unbelievable and were just starting the basement which has about 8 or so feet of dirt in it right now. Reporter tonight we are seeing the faces of many of the victims ranging in age from just 3 to 89yearold jim mitchell. He had just celebrated his birthday. Married to wife alice for more than 50 years. Both perished. David engineers tell me the debris flows here were so colossal they havent been able to access all the areas affected and they say enough boulders and diller came roaring down that mountain to fill 1 million dump trucks. Matt, thank you for your reporting night after night. Next this evening news coming in about the president s health. President trump had his First Physical since taking office. There is word from the president s doctor. He says the exam went exceptionally well and the president is in excellent health. Details will be discussed early next week. Much more ahead on world news tonight this friday. Brak breaking news after the death of a college student. A suspect in custody at this hour. What authorities have now revealed about this young man right here. Also, the urgent manhunt after a suspect fires several shots at a police officer. And authorities now hear he may be holding a woman against her
will. Take a look at this image, some are calling it the miracle on the subway in new york city. That is a young woman trapped under the train. Everyones worst nightmare. How did they get her out . A lot more news ahead. Eight hundred dollars when wet switched our auto and home insurance. With liberty, we could afford a real babysitter instead of your brother. Hey. Oh. Thats my robe. Is it . You could save seven hundred eighty two dollars when liberty stands with you. Liberty mutual insurance. No one burns on heartburn. My watch
try alka seltzer ultra strength heartburn relief chews. With more acidfighting power than tums chewy bites. Mmmmm. Amazing. I have heartburn. Ultra strength from alka seltzer. Enjoy the relief. There are new developments coming in from california after a Young College student was discovered in a park. The case is a homicide and a young man is now in custody at this hour. Heres abcs kayna whitworth. Reporter authorities in Orange County, california taking this man into custody. Not yet identifying him but calling him a suspect in the death of 19yearold College Sophomore blaze bernstein. His body found tuesday in this local park six days after leaving his parents home. Blaze was a brilliant colorful man who shined light on all of the lives of the people and communities he touched. Reporter in an affidavit obtained by the Orange County register but later sealed a high
school friend told police he picked up bernstein before midnight to hang out but that bernstein walked off into the park by himself and didnt return. After waiting an hour, the friend reportedly says he drove to his girlfriends house, but police say he couldnt recall his girlfriends name or address. Investigators also reportedly noticed scratches on his hands which the friend claimed were from a fight club. After todays arrest, blazes mother tweeting revenge is empty, it will never bring back my son. My only hopes are that he will never have the opportunity to hurt anyone else again. David, bernstein was a premed student at the university of pennsylvania and was just days away from returning to school. David. Thank you. When we come back, the terrifying moment i mentioned on the subway in new york. Youll see the images. That urgent manhunt. Police officers shot and say they believe the suspect may be holding a woman against her will. Well be right back. Stay with me, mr. Parker. When a critical patient is far from the hospital, the hospital must come to the patient. Stay with me, mr. Parker. The at t network is helping First Responders connect with medical teams in near real time. Stay with me, mr. Parker. Saving time when it matters most. Stay with me, mrs. Parker. Thats the power of and. Cancer that has spread to other parts of her body. H is breast shes also taking prescription ibrance with an aromatase inhibitor, which is for postmenopausal women with hormone receptor positive her2 Metastatic Breast Cancer as the first hormonal based therapy. Ibrance plus letrozole was significantly more effective at delaying disease progression versus letrozole. Patients taking ibrance can develop low white blood cell counts which may cause serious infections that can lead to death. Before taking ibrance, tell your doctor if you have fever, chills, or other signs of infection, liver or kidney problems, are pregnant, breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant. Common side effects include low red blood cell and low platelet counts, infections, tiredness, nausea, sore mouth, abnormalities in liver blood tests, diarrhea, hair thinning or loss, vomiting, rash, and loss of appetite. Julie calls it her new normal. Because a lot has changed, but a lot hasnt. Ibrance, the 1 prescribed fdaapproved oral Combination Treatment for hr her2 mbc. My doctor recommended i switch to miralax. On, stimulant laxatives make your body go by forcefully stimulating the nerves in your colon. Miralax is different. It works with the water in your body to hydrate and soften. Unblocking your system naturally. Miralax. Get ready for centrum microworkouts. The bottle curl. The twist n turn. The stretch n grab. The gummy squish. Centrum micronutrients fuel your body from the inside out. Grab a centrum and join in. Repeat daily. When you have a cold, stuff happens. { sneezing ] shut down cold symptoms fast [ coughing ] with maximum strength alka seltzer plus liquid gels. To the index and a urgent manhunt for a suspect who allegedly shot a police officer. Authorities say 31yearold ronnie lurk cas wilson wounded a Knoxville Police officer and believe wilson is a maybe of the aryan nation and added him to the states most wanted list and the Authorities Say he may be holding a woman against her will. A frightening scene, a young woman passing out on a train. The 22yearold law student trapped between the rail and platform wall. New york city firefighters worked for 20 minutes, pulled her free. Shes in serious condition tonight and expected to be okay. And the 450 million Mega Millions mist revealed tonight. The 20yearold, 20 years old who simply wrote on facebook, oh, my god. Shane missler opted for the 281 million lump sum he says he
hopes to use the money to do something good for humanity. We hope so. When we come back, a little boy and his simple wish come true tonight. Who is our person of the week . burke at farmers, weve seen almost everything so we know how to cover almost anything. Even a swing set standoff. And we covered it, july first, twentyfifteen. Talk to farmers. We know a thing or two because weve seen a thing or two. We are farmers. Bumpadum, bumbumbumbum anyone ever have occasional constipation,diarrhea, gas or bloating . She does. She does. Help defend against those digestive issues. Take Phillips Colon Health probiotic caps daily with three types of good bacteria. 400 likes . Wow try Phillips Colon Health. But prevagen helps your brain with an ingredient originally discovered. In jellyfish. In clinical trials, prevagen has been shown to improve shortterm memory. Prevagen. The name to remember. Essential for vinyl, but maybe not for people with rheumatoid arthritis. Because there are options. Like an unjection™. Xeljanz xr. A once daily pill for adults with moderate to severe ra for whom methotrexate did not work well. Xeljanz xr can reduce pain, swelling and further joint damage, even without methotrexate. Xeljanz xr can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. Serious, sometimes fatal infections, lymphoma and other cancers have happened. Dont start xeljanz xr if you have an infection. Tears in the stomach or intestines, low blood cell counts and higher liver tests and cholesterol levels have happened. Your doctor should perform blood tests before you start and while taking xeljanz xr, and monitor certain liver tests. Tell your doctor if you were in a region where fungal infections
are common and if you have had tb, hepatitis b or c, or are prone to infections. Needles. A must for vinyl. But for you, one pill a day may provide symptom relief. Ask your doctor about xeljanz xr. An unjection™. We saw an image of a boy in his new bedroom and wanted to know more. Our person of the week. Watch as 8yearold dear neeley
sees his bedroom for the first time. He and his mother have been momentless. Open them. Ah what do you think . Oh, my gosh. [ crying ] sweetie, its all for you. He is overcome. Homeless for nearly six years after diana lost her job. At the time she had been using the money she had been earning to train as a nurse. They are living in this house with help from the state but could not afford furniture, a bed. A local group run by a detroit couple stepping in to help are the cofounders of humble design. We take your donated goods and all your nick knacks and repurpose it for families sleeping on the floor providing hope and dignity for those who have lost it. Just watch lamont browns reaction. This is yours. You can see how powerful it is when a child finally sees a
bed in their room. And when the couple heard about dear and his mother they got to work again, the before and after in the living room and that little boys bedroom before and after and tonight hi, david. That mother and son with a message for everyone who helped. We want to thank everyone for all the love and support we received. One more surprise. Knowing that she had started nursing school, uhaul given her a check to be used to finish her nursing school. To help you realize your dream of nursing school, i would like to present you this check for 10,000. Oh. And just look at her boy, his smile says it all. Generosity and a chance to get their life back. And so we choose that mother and son and all those who helped. Im david muir. It is our responsibility to say his comments do not reflect america. The purported use of an expletive while discussing immigration. Thanks for joining us. President trump is said to have made those vulgar comments during an ole Office Meeting in discuss immigration. Kenneth is joining us live from washington with the latest on the fallout from these remarks. Larry and kristin, President Trump just touched down in south florida to spend the weekend in maralago. He refused to address the alleged comments on immigration. President trump honoring the man who called for racial justice. We are all created equal by god. The president signed the mlk day proclamation