(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 An outdated answer key was used to score the promotion test, leading the service to incorrectly notify 135 airmen that they had been selected for promotion to technical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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(WASHINGTON) -- Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell has had phone conversations with several Republican leaders as he remains hospitalized, spokespeople for the lawmakers told ABC News on Tuesday.

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. 

"Senator McConnell appreciates the outpouring of support he's receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital," a McConnell spokesperson said in a statement first issued last week that ABC News was told continues to stand Tuesday. "The Senator continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session."

Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Republican Whip John Barrasso have both spoken to McConnell recently, according to their respective spokespeople.

Thune had a phone conversation with McConnell on Monday, his spokesperson confirmed. 

"They had a lengthy and substantive conversation that covered a variety of topics, including national security," a Thune spokesperson said. 

Barrasso spokesperson Kate Noyes said the two discussed a number of topics, including recent sexual assault allegations against Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner (allegations Platner has denied) and national defense spending, during a 20-minute phone conversation on Tuesday afternoon. 

"They caught up about the latest news impacting Senate races, the Graham Platner scandal, and the recent Supreme Court ruling on coordinated spending limits. They also discussed the Senate's July work period, including the need to pass the NDAA and confirm President Trump's nominee for Director of National Intelligence," Noyes said. "Senator McConnell was fully engaged and is eager to get back to the Senate."

A McConnell spokesperson also pointed ABC News to a statement from conservative political commentator Scott Jennings, who posted online that he had a nearly 20-minute conversation with McConnell on Tuesday morning on several matters.

"I spoke to my old friend Mitch McConnell this morning, the senior Senator from Kentucky. He's still recovering in the hospital. We talked for just shy of 20 minutes ... about IRAN, UKRAINE, the unfolding situation in MAINE, my visit to the TR Presidential Library, and even a little bit of Senate history. I told him we want to see him back at work as soon as possible," Jennings posted on X. 

These conversations come almost three weeks after McConnell was first admitted to the hospital, according to his spokesperson.

McConnell's team has not provided any information about his diagnosis, or a timeline for his return.

ABC News has reported that emergency medical personnel were dispatched to McConnell's Washington home to attend to an unconscious person who appeared to be in cardiac arrest on June 14, the same day that McConnell was hospitalized.

ABC News independently reviewed the audio, which does not directly name McConnell. A spokesperson for McConnell declined to comment on the audio. 

The day after McConnell was hospitalized, Thune and Barrasso told reporters at the Capitol that they had spoken with the former party leader. On June 22, a McConnell spokesperson said in a separate statement that he was "working closely with staff on Senate business and Kentucky matters as he continues his recovery" but that he would not be attending votes that week.

McConnell was last seen on Capitol Hill on June 11. The Senate recessed on June 24, and lawmakers won't return to Washington until July 13. 

This is the latest in a string of medical incidents that the seven-term senator and longtime Republican leader has faced in recent years. McConnell, 84, stepped down from leadership in 2024 and is set to retire at the end of his term in January.

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(MAINE) -- Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner has said he is considering his options in the wake of a sexual assault allegation that he denies. But Democrats in Maine and nationally are calling on him to withdraw from the race against Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins. 

How his replacement could be chosen if he does withdraw and who might run in his place has become a firestorm among Democrats.

How could Maine Democrats select another candidate?

The Maine Democratic Party has called on Platner to leave the race. If he does by July 13 at 5 p.m. ET, the party has until July 27 to nominate a replacement. The state of Maine itself would not hold new primaries. 

But the party has a lot of flexibility as to how it chooses any replacement. One source familiar with Maine politics told ABC News that the party's state committee would vote on who would become the replacement candidate.

The state Democratic party has not responded to ABC News' request for comment.

Another source who is working in Maine politics told ABC News that it’s possible the party could convene delegates to vote for a new candidate -- similar to how the party used to nominate candidates at state party conventions. The source added that it is unclear if the event would be in-person or virtual, or how the delegate vote would be taken, such as by a majority vote or ranked-choice voting. 

The prospect of the party selecting a candidate also raises the possibility of a backlash if Maine voters feel either that the candidate does not represent the ideals they voted for or that party insiders are choosing for them. 

“My hope is that the process is transparent and fair,” Ryan Fecteau, speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, told ABC News on Tuesday. 

Who might try to replace Platner?

There were two other candidates on the Senate primary ballot with Platner in the June 9 primary, although Maine Democrats are largely not promoting them as alternatives to Platner.  

Maine Gov. Janet Mills, who suspended her campaign before the primary, is largely not being floated as a viable replacement candidate. ABC News has reached out to Mills' office.

Former Maryland state official David Costello placed third in the primary. In a brief post on Facebook on Tuesday, Costello confirmed that he’d try for the seat if he can: “I’m back in, if Graham Platner withdraws.”

Other major Maine Democrats who ran for other offices are indicating they might consider trying for the Senate seat.

Troy Jackson, a logger and former candidate in Maine’s Democratic gubernatorial primary and a progressive, has been floated as a candidate who could appeal to Platner’s voters. He is a former state senator and was the Senate president from 2018 to 2024. 

A source confirmed that Jackson has been receiving immense outreach about the possibility of replacing Platner and that he is interested. The source added that it makes sense for him to carry the “progressive torch,” and that Jackson is coming from a primary where he had an infrastructure in place and would be ready to jump in. 

A campaign committee called the Troy Jackson Senate Exploratory Committee filed a statement of organization with the Federal Elections Commission on Tuesday. The Bangor Daily News was first to report about the filing.

Shenna Bellows is Maine’s first female Secretary of State and was also a candidate in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. A source close to Bellows told ABC News that she has gotten calls about possibly running for the Senate seat.

Nirav Shah, who confirmed he's considering a bid, was in the running to be Maine’s governor and led in the polls prior to the Democratic runoff. Shah confirmed on his X account that he would consider a Senate bid and that he’s been receiving immense outreach to run if Platner withdraws. He told ABC News by phone on Tuesday that he has not declared his candidacy but has an infrastructure in place to run a campaign if he does enter the race.

Shah is an attorney and healthcare executive and oversaw the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Another potential candidate, Dan Kleban, founder of the Maine Beer Company, was an early candidate in the Democratic Senate primary but ultimately suspended his campaign and endorsed Mills.

A source close to Kleban told ABC News on Tuesday that he has been getting calls and is being encouraged to run, and added Kleban also never endorsed Platner and kept his distance from him, meaning he would not appear tied to Platner. 

In a similar boat: Jordan Wood, who was a losing candidate in the Democratic primary for Maine’s 2nd District after originally beginning a run for Senate. Wood wrote on X on Tuesday that he was open to a bid for Senate if Platner withdrew.

A potential wildcard candidate who has not confirmed if he would consider a bid is Rep. Jared Golden, a veteran who has represented Maine’s 2nd District since 2019. In November, Golden announced that he would not seek re-election, citing concerns over the safety of his family. ABC News has reached out to Golden’s office.

State Rep. Valli Geiger, a strong ally of Platner, told ABC News she is in conversations about being considered as a replacement, but hopes that the state party will hold an “open” and “robust" process.

Geiger, who hopes the candidate would embody a progressive agenda, added that she thinks it’s “hard to see a way forward” if Platner stays in the race and thinks he’s “struggling to figure out if there’s a path”

“I'm just so sad about how things have turned out, and there are no winners here. We have lost an incredible voice that I think had a real chance to beat Susan Collins, and one cannot outrun one's past,” Geiger said.

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(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump, during the first day of the NATO Summit in Ankara on Tuesday, said he will consider allowing Turkey to buy American F-35 fighter jets -- despite possessing Russian-made air defense systems, which his first administration sanctioned the country for six years ago.

"It's a decision we're going to make," Trump said as he met Turkish President Recep Erdogan at Erdogan's presidential compound.

"We have a better relationship with Turkey, and Turkey's been, in many ways, much more loyal than other countries that we think would be loyal," Trump said. "So, it's something, certainly, we would consider. It's a great plane, it's the best, currently the best plane by far, and it's certainly something we will consider."

Turkey seeks to join a U.S. F-35 program but is prohibited from doing so under U.S. law as long as it possesses Russian-made air defenses.

In a 2020 release, Trump's former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said those systems "would endanger the security of U.S. military technology and personnel and provide substantial funds to Russia’s defense sector, as well as Russian access to the Turkish armed forces and defense industry."

Vice President JD Vance, during an Oval Office meeting with Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte last week, said Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Defense Department were reviewing the Turkish purchase of American F-35 fighters, and Trump during that meeting teased a "gift" for Turkey, suggesting the sale.

Trump later said the U.S. had an "obligation" to maintain the engines of planes Turkey has bought because Turkey, he said, has been "more helpful" on Iran than other NATO countries.

Trump again lashed out at other NATO allies for their reluctance to join U.S. military operations in reopening and patrolling of the critical Strait of Hormuz.

"I was very disappointed with NATO," Trump said. "And frankly, if it weren't held in Turkey, where my friend happens to be a very strong leader, a very strong person, it's possible that I wouldn't have attended."

Trump again questioned the alliance as he singled out nations he said declined to assist the U.S. on Iran, saying he was "testing people."

"Italy turned us down, and Germany turned us down and France turned us down. And it's OK, but why are we spending hundreds of billions of dollars and they're not there for us? We've always been there for them," the president said.

"They've been extraordinary in many ways with respect to our relationship, including trying to end the war with Iran, or whatever you call it, it's not even a war, it's a military operation, it's a denuclearization, that's really what it is, of Iran, because I don't think he wants to see them have a nuclear weapon either. I'm pretty sure that. In fact, I'm totally sure of that," Trump said.

Trump suggested that he didn't have a problem with the fact that Turkey was also using Russian air defense systems, telling reporters: "I have no concerns at all about anything."

Trump told reporters that his administration is working to lift sanctions on Turkey, saying "it's time." Trump's first administration sanctioned Turkey in 2020 for acquiring the Russian defense systems.

"I can tell you we're going to take the sanctions off," Trump said, answering a Turkish question that appeared to be directed at Erdogan. "I don't want him to waste his time answering that question."

Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Hegseth were working on it.  

"We're going to be taking the sanctions off. It's time to do that, OK?" he said.

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(MAINE) -- Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner on Monday pushed back on an allegation of sexual assault, calling it "categorically false," adding that he is "taking the time to reflect on the best path forward."

In a report from Politico published on Monday, Jenny Racicot, a former girlfriend, alleged that Platner, while they were dating five years ago, forced her into having sex without her consent after she had repeatedly called for him to stop.

ABC News has not confirmed the contents of the Politico story.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that he is constructing a granite helipad for Marine One on the White House South Lawn, and said it will be paid for by Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, which makes helicopters that transport the president.

"So, now we're building a helipad, a beautiful helipad, and it's got the seal of the White House on it, in granite, in carved granite. It's really a beautiful thing," Trump said while taking reporter questions at an event in the Oval Office. 

Trump said Sikorsky would pay for the construction.

"It’s about $5 or $6 million. They're paying the full cost," the president said.

A Lockheed Martin spokesperson, in a statement provided to ABC News, said the company "has a long history of supporting projects" in Washington, D.C., and across the country.

"This specific contribution was made to the Trust for the National Mall, the National Park Service’s non-profit organization," the spokesperson said. "Our engagement with the federal government is guided by rigorous ethics and compliance standards and conducted in full accordance with all applicable laws and regulations."

Lockheed Martin delivered a new fleet of Sikorsky helicopters to the Air Force in 2024, but the White House has had to keep using an older fleet for South Lawn departures and arrivals because they burn the grass. Trump on Monday said the helicopters not only singed the grass but also "ripped it out."

The newer helicopters have been used when the president is away on travel.

A spokesperson for Sikorsky said in a statement that the new helicopter, a VH‑92A Patriot, "is a recognizable patriotic asset known around the globe for safety, security and reliability."

The U.S. Navy awarded Sikorsky Aircraft a $1.24 billion contract to replace the Marine One helicopter fleet. The deal was agreed to under President Barack Obama's administration.

"It brings increased capabilities for the no‑fail mission supporting the Commander‑in‑Chief around the world. The helicopter delivers increased performance and reduced maintenance costs and time over the current fleet of presidential helicopters," the Sikorsky spokesperson said.

The helipad will be Trump's latest construction project at the White House.

The East Wing was demolished last year to make way for construction of Trump's massive White House ballroom. The ballroom addition has sparked numerous legal challenges.

Trump installed plaques underneath portraits of presidents at the White House -- dubbed the "Presidential Walk of Fame" -- along the West Wing Colonnade.

He also paved over the grass at the White House Rose Garden to create a patio with tables, and installed two massive flagpoles on the North and South lawns. More recently, scaffolding was erected for restoration work on the building's stone columns.

Trump commented on the work while hosting a lunch at the new Rose Garden Club.

"A lot of love is being put in the White House," the president said.

ABC News' Alexandra Hutzler contributed to this report.

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(WASHINGTON) -- The White House released a scathing 162-page report accusing the Smithsonian Institution of engaging in "extreme political activism" and presenting "a radical view of American history."

The report, which was published on Saturday, July 4, 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 has identified as problematic.

Asked about the report, a spokesperson for the Smithsonian, which oversees 21 museums, galleries and the national zoo, told ABC News 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 on Sunday.

In his most recent public comments, Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch told NBC's "Meet the Press" in an interview that aired Sunday morning that the institution is "in pursuit of the promise of America."

The report, which was published by the White House's Domestic Policy Council, 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. Asked about the status of the internal review, a spokesperson for the Smithsonian did not comment.

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.'"

What's in the report?

The report includes dozens of examples of exhibits and materials in exhibits that the White House has determined to be examples of "radical activism."

For instance, the report highlights an exhibit titled "Many Voices, One Nation," and claims that its contents attempt "to instill within visitors its belief that migration and immigration, including the granting of citizenship to illegal aliens, is a defining modern-day civil rights and human liberty issue."

The report also takes issue with displays about transgender people, including an exhibit titled "Girlhood" that profiled transgender media personality and LGBTQ+ rights advocate Jazz Jennings.

"One of the clearest examples of NMAH's radical ideology is its refusal to correctly identify or define what a woman is," the report states -- reinforcing language from Trump's January 2025 executive order, which outlined that this administration's policy would be to "recognize two sexes, male and female" based on biology.

Overall, the report takes issue with materials addressing "white supremacy," "racism" and the country's history of "slavery," "conquest" and "exclusion."

The report claims that the museum fails to substantially represent the founders of the United States and that the exhibits cast America as "a problematic country irredeemably conceived, founded by deeply flawed men, and still operating today as an instrument of systemic racism and oppression."

Sarah Weicksel, executive director of the American Historical Association, 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 American Historical Association (AHC), which represents 10,000 historians across various educational and cultural institutions in the U.S., 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."

ABC News reached out to AHA for further comment.

What comes next?

The report does not specify action points related to correcting the so-called "activism," but does reference the fact that the Smithsonian Institution is largely funded by the federal government and U.S. taxpayers.

"That means the public has a right to expect that it will operate as a faithful steward of the Nation's historic and cultural heritage, not as a vehicle for ideological campaigns," the report says.

According to the Smithsonian Institution, which oversees 21 museums and galleries and the national zoo, it currently receives more than $1 billion in federal funding -- about 62% of its funding -- and the remainder of the funds come from "trust funds or non-federal funds, including contributions from private sources" and revenues from Smithsonian enterprises.

Bunch has been leading the Smithsonian since 2019 but the institution is overseen by a 17-member governing body, known as the Board of Regents. Bunch, who met with Trump at the White House on Aug. 28, 2025, repeatedly affirmed the Smithsonian's "independence" from political influence.

Referencing his conversations with Trump in a Sept. 3, 2025 letter to the institution's employees, Bunch underscored the independence of the Smithsonian, saying it was "paramount." He also told employees that the institution remains committed to telling the "American story" and "will always be, a place that welcomes all Americans and the world."

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(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump will head to the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, this week as an unstable ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran and Trump's feud with his NATO allies continue.

The summit will be held Tuesday and Wednesday at the Beştepe Presidential Compound and chaired by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The formal opening is scheduled for Tuesday and the event is expected to conclude the following day, when Trump will hold a news conference.

Trump's trip will be brief. He is expected to leave the White House Monday night and return to the U.S. on Wednesday evening. While in Turkey, the president is expected to take part in a bilateral meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and participate in a number of working sessions.

'Taking stock' of NATO 

Matt Whitaker, the U.S. ambassador to NATO, said Sunday that the summit will measure the progress of NATO allies' commitment to spend 5% of their GDP on defense and said that the U.S. would also "take stock of our allies' expanding NATO's capabilities in support of the burden-shifting going on here on the European continent."

"Some allies are doing more than others. Poland, the Nordic countries, the Baltic countries lead the way, and Germany is on track for the 5%, reaching it in 2029. But many others are lagging behind," Whitaker said.

The summit also comes after Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of leaving NATO. As recently as April, Trump expressed frustration with European allies amid the U.S.'s war with Iran, as many members have been reluctant to join military operations in re-opening and patrolling the Strait of Hormuz.

"Oh yes, I would say [it's] beyond reconsideration. I was never swayed by NATO," Trump said in April when asked if he would reconsider the U.S.'s membership after the conflict ends. "I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way."

More broadly, Trump has been extremely critical of NATO allies over their ability to share the burden of contributing to the post-World War II alliance.

Whitaker said, "The United States remains a proud NATO member," but "we have responsibilities elsewhere in the world as the world's only superpower."

Trump continued his criticism of some NATO allies as recently as last week.

"Ridiculous for the U.S.A. to continue along this one sided path when the relationship is not reciprocal. They were not there for us," Trump wrote last Thursday on his social media platform.

"The United States spends more money on NATO than any other country, by far, to protect them, without getting any benefit from so doing," the president also claimed on Thursday in a post on social media.

While Trump claims that allies spend "on NATO," that's not how the alliance works. Member states must spend 2% of their GDP on their own national defense budgets. The U.S. is NATO's largest defense spender by virtue of having the world's largest defense budget. But taken as a percentage of GDP, the US has hovered around 3% range -- less than Poland and Baltic allies.

NATO's involvement in Iran war

Trump's requests for allies' support in the U.S. war against Iran goes beyond NATO's collective defense agreement, which calls for all to respond to an attack on a member country. Yet Trump has framed it as a test of whether allies reciprocate in return for American security commitments.

A senior U.S. official said Sunday the U.S. believes ensuring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz would be on the agenda, but that many NATO allies don't have the capabilities to support those operations.

"I certainly believe that the Strait of Hormuz and the protection of the maritime traffic going through there is going to be a subject that comes up," the official said.

But, they continued, "Many [NATO allies] don't have the necessary ships or assets to contribute to a meaningful maritime effort" despite the fact that "we've had a lot of allies raise their hand and offer to participate."

Shifting the burden to NATO allies

Two senior U.S. officials said on Sunday that the U.S. plans to further shift the burden of European defense onto European countries, saying that a force posture review currently underway of the military's presence in Europe "very well may lead" to changes.

Asked about the potential for a U.S. force reduction in Europe, one senior U.S. official confirmed that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attended a meeting of NATO defense ministers weeks ago to announce a "six-month or less" review of the U.S. force posture in Europe.

"The main reason being, we continue to have global demands as the United States of America, and we should always be looking at how we're deployed to our threats," the official said, adding that any shift in troop placement would be "based on nonpolitical reasons."  

"There should be no surprise that we're doing a posture review or surprise if that posture review very well may lead to us adjusting our posture because we're trying to shift burden to Europe," another official added.

NATO 3.0

The summit comes fresh off of Rutte's visit to the White House on June 24, when he said NATO is entering a new phase centered on greater European responsibility while keeping the U.S. engaged in the alliance. Rutte framed the summit as the moment when member countries begin implementing the spending and capability commitments made at last year's Hague summit.

Rutte said the summit will be the beginning of a transatlantic "defense industrial revolution," promising announcements of "tens of billions" of dollars in defense-related contracts. He ventured that this year's summit is "more important" than last year's in the Hague because of implementation of concrete investments aimed directly at Russia.

"Vladimir, we will defend ourselves," Rutte addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin in a speech to the Atlantic Council last week.

A 'big gift bag' for Turkey

Trump said last Wednesday he would not have attended the summit were it not for his relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and suggested he plans to bring a significant offer, or a "big gift bag" for his host -- potentially including the sale of dozens of F-35 fighter jets to the country.

"I am going to the summit out of respect for President Erdogan ... Except for the fact that it was being held in Turkey by President Erdogan, I don't think I would have gone to it," Trump said before a meeting with Rutte in the Oval Office in June.

Turkey is seeking to join the U.S. F-35 program, but it is prohibited from doing so as long as it possesses Russian-made air defenses.

"I'm probably going to do something that's going to make him very happy," Trump said.

Ending the war in Ukraine

As has been the case since the war with Russia began in 2022, the issue of Ukraine is also likely to play a key role in the NATO gathering.

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said Sunday that Trump will meet separately with Zelenskyy on Wednesday afternoon in addition to other meetings with NATO leaders.

A senior U.S. official said Sunday that Trump planned to speak with Zelenskyy about "how we can end the war."

"So, there are some small areas where Ukraine has made progress. There's some small areas where Russia has made progress. But, the line of contact has been frozen over the last couple of months," the official said.

The official said that Trump was hopeful a meeting with Zelenskyy could bring the war closer to an end.

"We're hopeful that we can make progress towards doing that when, when the president gets together with President Zelenskyy and I'm sure he'll follow up with President Putin as well," the official said.

The conversation with Zelenskyy would come after Trump spoke with Putin on Saturday for nearly an hour and a half, according to a Kremlin readout, which noted that the two touched on Ukraine and that Trump "reiterated his readiness" to find a solution to the conflict.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment on the call.

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(WASHINGTON) -- Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Thursday dismissed protesters chanting "Guard go home" outside a ceremony in Washington, D.C., honoring National Guard troops as their presence in the nation's capital approaches the one-year mark and has nearly doubled in recent weeks to roughly 5,000 personnel.

"It's the sound of ingrates," Hegseth told a formation of some 250 National Guardsmen gathered at a park nestled in Washington D.C.'s northwest neighborhoods. "People who are so blinded by ideology they can't see law and order and common sense in front of them. There's nothing ideological about this group."

Outside the park, dozens of protesters gathered in front of a security perimeter formed by National Guard troops and law enforcement, chanting through megaphones and blowing whistles while drums and a trombone added to the noise as they sought to drown out the speeches. The peaceful demonstration remained largely uneventful.

Speaking in front of the Meridian Hill Park fountain that was recently repaired by the Department of the Interior after years of being inoperative, Hegseth was joined by National Guard chief Gen. Steven Nordhaus, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Brig. Gen. Leland Blanchard, commander of the District of Columbia National Guard, and senior White House aide Stephen Miller, who has been an architect of the Trump administration's National Guard mission in Washington D.C. Each praised the troops serving in Washington.

The deployment has largely focused on high-visibility patrols through downtown corridors and major tourist areas, far from the city's high-crime areas, along with civic support missions, including trash collection. Troops are commonly armed with 9mm SIG Sauer M17 pistols or 5.56mm M4 rifles. 

National Guard troops have been deployed to Washington since last August, with states maintaining a steady rotation of personnel into the city. The broad mission has placed military personnel on civilian streets in an unprecedented domestic role, though National Guard troops retain very limited legal authority. 

The National Guard also maintains its constant rotation of units to missions in Africa, Europe and in the Middle East amid the war with Iran. Troops often serve in a part-time capacity, juggling their Guard duty with typical civilian careers. 

The force has been drawn overwhelmingly from Republican-led states. The D.C. National Guard itself accounts for about 500 troops, roughly one-quarter of its force, serving on the mission.

South Carolina has deployed roughly 700 troops, Georgia nearly 800 and Mississippi about 500, according to National Guard figures. Other states with sizable contingents include West Virginia, Nebraska, Florida and Louisiana.

Democratic-led states and U.S. territories have begun sending troops to D.C. in recent weeks, but only for events tied to America's 250th anniversary celebration and an expected surge in tourism. 

Earlier this week, Michigan's Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer warned she would withdraw her state's troops if they were assigned to President Donald Trump's ongoing "Safe and Beautiful" mission rather than July 4th-related events. 

In practice, however, drawing a distinction between holiday security operations and the Guard's broader mission in Washington, D.C., may be difficult. Much of the ongoing mission is already concentrated around the National Mall and downtown transit stations, where tourists and local residents celebrating the holiday are expected to converge, one U.S. official explained. National Guard units from other states are frequently sent to Washington for major events such as presidential inaugurations. 

Estimates have shown the Guard deployment is more expensive than using additional police officers or municipal workers.

An analysis from the Niskanen Center found the cost differential between troops and local law enforcement was roughly $607 per Guardsman per day compared to about $384 per day for a D.C. police officer.

The report also noted that the National Guard’s presence in D.C. has not reduced violent crime but has coincided with a decline in property crimes.

One estimate from the Congressional Budget Office found the National Guard's D.C. footprint will cost at least $660 million this year, but it doesn't account for the additional surge of troops for the summer.

A White House spokeswoman dismissed the Niskanen analysis and insisted the National Guard presence had driven down crime and improved quality of life in the District.

Two National Guard members from West Virginia were shot in the head while on patrol in November. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died from her injuries. U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, was critically injured and is still recovering, his family says. 

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 30, an Afghan national and suspected gunman, pleaded not guilty to the shootings. The Department of Justice said in June it is determining whether to seek the death penalty.

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(WASHINGTON) -- Three-time U.S. Olympian David Hearn has been indicted in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for allegedly "maliciously" destroying lining at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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(WASHINGTON) -- Emergency medical personnel were dispatched to the Washington home of Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell last month to attend to an unconscious person who appeared to be in cardiac arrest, according to EMS dispatch audio reviewed by ABC News.

While the audio does not indicate who the person is, the incident occurred on the same day that McConnell was hospitalized on June 14. 

At 8:36 a.m., a dispatcher directed an "ALS response" ambulance to McConnell's residence for an "unconscious" person. "ALS" stands for Advanced Life Support.

At 8:42 a.m., the EMS responder, identified as "Medic 3," responded to the dispatcher, saying "inform supervisor CPR in progress." 

At 8:43 a.m., the dispatcher said "EMS to respond, for cardiac arrest," and once again repeated McConnell's address.

McConnell is not named directly in any of the audio.

A spokesperson for McConnell declined to comment on the audio and did not provide any update on McConnell's current condition.

On June 14, McConnell's spokesperson confirmed he was admitted to the hospital, adding "he is receiving excellent care." It's unclear if McConnell remains in the hospital. 

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said on June 15 he had spoken with McConnell following the Kentucky senator's hospitalization. Thune told reporters McConnell was "dialed in" and "wants to be back."

Republican Whip John Barrasso also spoke to McConnell that day, a spokesperson for Barrasso confirmed. Barrasso said McConnell was "engaged" and eager to return to the Hill.

On June 22, McConnell's office indicated he was still working on Senate business, but would not be appearing on Capitol Hill for votes.

"Senator McConnell is still working closely with staff on Senate business and Kentucky matters as he continues his recovery. However, he will not be voting this week," a McConnell spokesperson said on June 22. 

McConnell has not yet returned to the Senate and was last seen on the Hill on June 11.

This is the latest in a string of medical incidents that the seven-term senator and longtime Republican leader has faced in recent years. McConnell, 84, stepped down from leadership in 2024 and is set to retire at the end of his term in January.

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(WASHINGTON) -- Immigration officials have quietly ramped up arrests in the recent days, taking 10,000 people who they say are illegally in the United States into custody within a five-day space, sources familiar with the figures said Thursday.

The source said the significant number of arrests have occurred around the United States since last week.

The new goal for immigration authorities is to arrest at least 2,000 per day going forward, according to sources. Last year, in a meeting with senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, White House and senior Department of Homeland Security officials urged a goal of 3,000 arrests per day, a source familiar told ABC News.

"Since Day One, DHS law enforcement has been delivering on President Trump’s promise to the American people to arrest and deport criminal illegal aliens including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members, and terrorists," a DHS spokesperson said in a statement.

During the immigration crackdown, President Donald Trump has pledged to target the "worst of the worst" criminal offenders among the nation's migrants. While the criminal histories of those arrested in this latest sweep is not yet clear, the DHS spokesperson said that "nearly 70% of ICE arrests are of illegal aliens charged or convicted of a crime in the U.S."

The recent arrests have been carried out with little publicity, according to sources, after DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin pledged during his confirmation hearing earlier this year to keep the agency out of the headlines and do the work quietly. That is in contrast to former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who wanted maximum publicity for ICE enforcement.

ICE has a new pick to lead the agency, Lance Schroyer, a top Mullin ally and former Oklahoma state trooper who has no federal immigration experience. 

The New York Times first reported the details.

Mike Howell, who serves as the president of the Trump-aligned Oversight Project and a leader of the Mass Deportation Coalition, applauded the arrests numbers, but said there should "transparency and meaningful metrics on deportation-related statistics," which are not publicly available.

"There have been so many numbers thrown around in press releases, estimates, extrapolations, and puffery that most people are just kind of immune to it and waiting to see the hard data that's being withheld," Howell said.

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(WASHINGTON) -- Former CIA Director John Brennan on Wednesday sued President Donald Trump and his top law enforcement officials to force them to preserve records related to investigations into Brennan.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump on Wednesday is taking the first ride on the newly retrofitted Air Force One 747, which was donated by the Qatari royal family.

Trump, taking the retrofitted jet to North Dakota, touted it as "maybe the greatest commercial plane ever built."

"I said to Boeing, 'What's the best one?' They said this is the best plane ever built, and you're going to have the privilege of flying it, and I have a privilege also of flying it," Trump told reporters before boarding the jet -- which is approximately 14 years old -- at Joint Base Andrews.

ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce, who is traveling with Trump on his trip, asked him about the use of taxpayer dollars to modify the luxurious plane, which likely only will be used by him.

"Well, it cost very little relative to what it would cost if we did it a different way," Trump said.

The Qatari-gifted jet worth $400 million raised questions from some lawmakers and ethics experts over the unprecedented foreign gift. But Trump on Wednesday gave credit to the Qatari government.

"Frankly, we couldn't build a plane like this because we wouldn't be willing to spend the kind of money necessary. They spent top dollar," the president said.

The U.S. Air Force has 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.

Boeing was already contracted by the United State government to build a new fleet of jets that would serve as the next-generation Air Force One, expected to be delivered in 2028 around the time Trump leaves office.

Trump on Wednesday said the gifted plane was needed, citing the age of the past jet.

"Our Air Force One was 35, 36 years old, and it would be parked next to the new ones like this, and it really didn't look appropriate for our country. So we're very proud of this," Trump said.

Trump is traveling to North Dakota to participate in a Freedom 250 Train Ride and Welcome Ceremony and to tour the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library before delivering remarks in Medora.

"I'm excited about the first flight. It's something nobody's ever seen anything like it, even you people, with all your experience and all of your talent, you will never see anything like this," Trump said just before his departure. "So, they just completed it. They made it appropriate for a president, that means the security and all of the different bells and whistles they put on. Very complex stuff, but it's really quite something, and this is a plane that the United States of America should have."

Inside the Air Force One

ABC's Bruce, part of the press pool for the president's visit to North Dakota, flew on the retrofitted plane. Reporters were not given a full tour on the flight to North Dakota and remained confined to the press cabin.

The interior color scheme is soft beige and tan with some gold hues with dark wood accents. The carpet is beige with dark tan and cream stripes.

The press cabin contains 14 lie-flat pods, including large tan leather seats with luxury features such as lumbar supports and massage functions. Televisions on the back of each seat played a cable channel of the White House's choosing. During Wednesday's flight, it aired Fox News.

White House spokesperson Steven Cheung also shared pictures of the interior on his X account.

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