Women really face. Somewhere on a beach get ready for our Big Block Party, gma and Dierks Bentley crashing a town for a once in a lifetime performance. Well show you who is about to get the Biggest Party of their lives and how theyre helping hurricane victims and celebrating First Responders this morning. Shes naughty and she got me like you never got me somewhere on a beach good morning, america. We are excited for Dierks Bentley and our gma block party. Thats the town about to get a big performance and were going to reveal where it is coming up and all for a great cause as well. Hurricane relief which is a little bit of a clue as to where it might be. Youre right about that. First, though that firestorm over President Trumps false accusations saying former president s didnt call the families of Fallen Soldiers. Backlash has been swift and fierce. Aides to president clinton, george w. Bush and obama have fired back. This as the president tries to present a united front with Republican Leaders saying he and Senate Majority leader Mitch Mcconnell have an outstanding relationship. This, of course, after weeks of attacking him. Our senior white house correspondent, cecilia vega, is in washington with the latest on all this. Good morning, cecilia. Reporter robin, good morning to you. This was an impromptu press conference here at the white house but it is that one statement from President Trump where he accused past president s of not calling those families of Fallen Soldiers that this morning has him facing backlash from both those past administrations and some of those families. At a surprise White House Press conference thank you very much. Reporter President Trump broke his silence about why he had not yet commented on the deaths of four American Special ops soldiers killed two weeks during a siege in niger. Ive written them personal letters. Theyve been sent or theyre going out tonight but they were during the weekend. Reporter and as promised to call the families of the fallen, accompanied by a political attack. The president accusing his predecessors of not making those calls. The traditional way of you look at president obama and other president s, most of them didnt make calls. A lot of them didnt make calls. I like to call when its appropriate, when i think im able to do it. Reporter when asked to clarify that claim about president obama, President Trump had few specifics. I was i was told that he didnt often, and a lot of president s dont. Reporter this morning, aides to the last three former president s say thats just not true. Former attorney general under president obama, eric holder, tweeting, stop the damn lying. Youre the president. I went to Dover Air Force base with 44 and saw him comfort the families of both the fallen military and the dea. Gold star families lashing out too. One mother tweeting, im a gold star mom and a disabled vet. Trump does not speak for me and did not speak for my son. He is an embarrassment. Also in that press conference, President Trump side by side with Senate Majority leader Mitch Mcconnell, a display of unity that seemed designed not just to convince washington they can actually work together. My relationship with this gentleman is outstanding, has been outstanding. Reporter but also each other. We have the same agenda. Weve been friends and acquaintances for a long time. We talk frequently. Reporter President Trump offered this message. The Republican Party is very, very unified. Reporter the president even helped mcconnell up the stairs before leaving the rose garden. But just hours earlier, inside the white house, President Trump made it clear. He is not going to take the fall for his party. Were not getting the job done. And im not going to blame myself. Ill be honest. They are not getting the job done. Reporter on this controversy over calling Fallen Soldiers the white house is not backing down. Take a look at this press statement that Sarah Sanders sent me overnight. She says, quote, the president wasnt criticizing predecessors, but stating a fact. Individuals claiming former president s such as their bosses called each family of the fallen are mistaken. But, robin and george, ive got to say no one connected to any past administration at least none that we could find is making that claim this morning. And that statement itself just isnt really true, cecilia. I mean the president was the one who brought it up himself. He is the one who talked about his predecessors. Reporter and, george, this came, as i said, in this impromptu press conference. This was a question that was asked of President Trump. He was asked to weigh in on those Fallen Soldiers who were killed there in niger. Why he hadnt weighed in at this point. So this came sort of unsolicited and he sort of seemed to struggle through this answer a little bit. But you heard him there and he is facing a lot of backlash this morning. Thats why he backed away at the end as well. Cecilia, thanks very much. In a powerful speech as you know last night senator john mccain warned americans not to turn away from the world. This while accepting the Liberty Medal at the National Constitution center in philadelphia. Mccain spoke out against todays political climate. To fear the world we have organized and led threequarters of a century to abandon the ideals we have advanced around the globe, to refuse the obligations of International Leadership and our duty to remain the last best hope of earth for the sake of some halfbaked, spurious nationalism cooked up by people who would rather find scapegoats than solve problems [ applause ] is as unpatriotic as an attachment to any other tired dogma of the past that americans consigned to the ash heap of history. Mccain who was diagnosed with brain cancer over the summer said america will not thrive in a world where u. S. Leadership and ideals are absent. He did not mention the president by name. Perhaps he didnt need to. Lets bring in our chief white house correspondent, jon karl, for more on that right there. No mistaking there who john mccain was addressing in that statement and he has been a real thorn in the president s side especially since that health care vote. Reporter no mistaking at all. As robin pointed out, he didnt actually utter the words, donald trump, and john mccain has been striking these themes for as long as he has been in politics, but he was clearly referring to the president here, and after the speech, he actually received a warm congratulations from former president barack obama for the medal that speech was about. And, of course, he was introduced by joe biden right there. Jon, that comes in the wake of this meeting yesterday, this peacemaking meeting between Mitch Mcconnell and the president. The fact they came out there for the press conference shows how desperate they are to try to get something done and put on a united front because theres been so much tension behind the scenes. Reporter an incredible amount of tension, george, and just before that joint appearance in the rose garden, just before they had lunch, i had a chance to ask the president in the cabinet room about the words of steve bannon. Steve bannon has declared war. Those are his words. Declared war on Mitch Mcconnell and the republican establishment. The president didnt tell him to back off. In fact, he called bannon a friend and said he understands how bannon feels. Seems to be trying to straddle a very fine line there. On another front the president said hell declare in opioid emergency that comes in the wake of this blockbuster report and 60 minutes and the Washington Post which showed how lobbyists worked with members of congress to reduce the deas power to freeze these opioid shipments and thats put the president s nominee for drug czar in peril. Reporter the president s choice for drug czar was a big factor in getting that law passed and now, george, we have learned he is pulling out of consideration for drug czar. We learned it in a tweet from the president saying tom marino has informed he he is withdrawing his name from consideration. Yeah, look into are not good words coming from the president when hes talking about a possible nominee or cabinet member. Jon karl, thanks very much. We move from politics now, george, to those new concerns about ford explorers. The center for auto safety demanding a recall over fears of Carbon Monoxide leaks that could affect 1. 3 million vehicles. Abcs diane macedo is here with those details. Good morning, diane. Reporter good morning, robin. This all started when thousands of Police Ford Explorers got pulled off the road because of Carbon Monoxide concerns. Now, ford says the issue there wasnt really with the cars and that civilian models are fine. But the center for auto safety says given how potentially dangerous or even deadly this could be, the Company Needs to issue a recall. This morning, ford is under pressure to recall over 1. 3 million ford explorers. Amid a federal investigation into reports of potentially deadly Carbon Monoxide leaks, the carmaker has offered a free service to reduce the potential for exhaust risks. But ford says its only doing this to create peace of mind and that its own investigation found the cars are safe. Now the automotive giant is getting calls from the center for auto safety to do more. The consumer Safety Organization is urging ford to issue a full recall for all explorers made between 2011 and 2017 writing in a statement, with something this potentially dangerous, the responsible step is a full recall. And if ford will not do it, nhtsa should step in. What our larger concern is is that they put it out as a repair program as opposed to a recall. Carbon monoxide can kill people. Kills almost 400 over 400 people a year in the united states. Reporter across the country a verse of the suv created especially for Police Departments has already been taken off the road by the thousands. We need to remove these vehicles from service immediately. Reporter officer involved crashes like this one are blamed on exposure to the colorless, odorless gas. I began to get a severe headache and began to feel nauseous. Reporter watch as he plows over the median crossing multiple lanes, then crashing into a tree. Over the summer, austin pulled its fleet of nearly 600 modified explorers after 60 officers filed official complaints about fumes in their vehicles. I almost hit a bus. It scared the [ bleep ] out of me. Reporter now, ford says the issue with those Police Vehicles were modifications that the Police Departments made after they purchased them. As for the modifications ford is offering they say they will reduce the risk of a potential Carbon Monoxide leak but say they are not necessary. They are identifying and addressing potential vehicle issues, george. Were going to turn now to the wildfires in california. This morning people are returning to see the devastation firsthand as evacuation orders are lifted. The fires have destroyed more than 5,700 buildings and homes. Abcs Clayton Sandell is in santa rosa with the latest. Good morning, clayton. Reporter and good morning, george. As you say, the good news is many evacuations here have been lifted, but if you look at this neighborhood, you can see so many people have nothing to come home to. This as the death toll here continues to rise. Signs of progress on californias wildfires this morning overshadowed by the first firefighting death. Traffic medical for a possible water tender rollover. Reporter Officials Say fatigue may have played a role in the crash of a water tanker that killed the driver. Everyone is getting tired. There has been no break for these firefighters since the fires erupted last sunday evening. Reporter this is a typical scene here as thousands return home for the first time. The gibson and vella families have been neighbors and best friends for decades, but facing very different outcomes. The america news reports the gibsons house is still standing. Vellas completely destroyed. Crystal bell along with nine family members have been living in the rv and have nowhere to go. How are you holding up . Its getting rough. Its getting rough. Its starting to become real real. I just want to go home. You just take home for granted, you know. Its like starting over from ground zero. Reporter still they are feeling grateful. Is it all stuff or you have your health . Everything, yeah. Well, im lucky to have my family here. Were all together. Some people dont even have that so im blessed no less. I cant complain. Reporter Dmitri Menzel has been a firefighter for 25 years. I had a shed here and this is our walkway. Reporter he is 1 of approximately 40 First Responders who have lost their homes. Ive been on the site helping people and trying to get them through, you know, bad times, and, you know, to suddenly be in that position is odd. You know, i dont know how to react to it. Reporter this morning, Officials Say about 40,000 people are still evacuated. They hope to lift those evacuations soon, robin. Clayton, thank you. Now to floor still recovering from Hurricane Irma. Nearly newly released 911 calls reveal the desperation at that nursing home where 14 residents died after the storm knocked out the power and airconditioning. Abcs Victor Oquendo has that story. Reporter this morning, were hearing for the first time, the 911 calls that came from inside that florida nursing home where 14 people died after the facilitys airconditioning failed in the wake of Hurricane Irma last month. She is not breathing. Okay. Shes on oxygen. Reporter leading some residents with body temperatures as high as 106. We dont have any airconditioning so i saw her slouch over and realized that shes not breathing. Reporter the nine separate calls for help placed over three days painting a picture of chaos. Im on the phone for the next patient. Reporter and confusion. How old is the patient . Trying to find her paperwork. The computer is slow. Oh, my god, this is crazy. Reporter the nursing home has since had its license suspended and is closed while Police Conduct a criminal investigation into the deaths. No charges have been filed but now the family of at least one of the victims is planning to sue the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills for negligence. Now were hearing the 911 calls and there were nine of them. Theres a patient in cardiac arrest. Theres someone who cant breathe. Thats right. Knowing one of those may have been your sister its heartbreaking. Its unfathomable. Reporter roberts sister dolores suffered from a neurological disease that left her blind and bedridden. She was the youngest victim, just 57 years old. We would encourage the state Attorneys Office as well as police to do everything that they can to bring the people to justice for manslaughter for what it is that happened to the residents. Reporter this is Memorial Regional Hospital behind me and it is directly across the street from this nursing home. What makes this even more frustrating for robert his sisters window overlooked the hospital and the nursing home has since closed its doors saying its cooperating with the investigation. George. A lot more interest still to come. Okay, victor, thanks very much. We move on to california which is become the first state to pass a law requiring pet stores to get their puppies, kittens and rabbits from shelters and rescue centers. Abcs becky worley is in San Francisco with the story. Becky, what theyre trying to do here clearly is ban these unsafe puppy mills. Reporter thats right. This is exactly a move to put puppy mills out of commission, george, and while some say its an assault on small businesses, many animal advocates are hailing this as a victory. This morning, getting a pure this morning, getting a pure bred puppy at california pet stores will soon become impossible. A controversial new state law making illegal for pet stores to sell dogs, cats and rabbits from any source other than a shelter or rescue group. The problem is puppy mills and this law is specifically targeting shutting down and not supporting puppies being manufactured in unsafe, unsociable and horrific conditions. Reporter the first statewide ban in the country, the law doesnt go into effect until 2019. And while consumers will still be able to buy purebreds directly from breeders, the American Kennel Club is standing up against the law saying it not only interferes with individual freedoms it also increases