APPLENEWS - STORY ADD
Trump admin live updates: Trump pardons former entertainment exec indicted by own DOJ
Tim Leiweke was indicted for allegedly orchestrating a bid-rigging scheme.
President Donald Trump answered questions about a controversial Sept. 2 boat strike while in the Oval Office Wednesday afternoon. Trump, who said Tuesday that he "didn't know" about a second strike on an alleged drug boat in September that reports say killed two survivors of an initial strike, said Wednesday that he would be open to releasing more video of the boat strike.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that he didn't see the second strike and didn't see survivors from the initial strike. Hegseth has backed Adm. Mitch Bradley, who the White House said made the decision for the second strike. Bradley is set to brief the Senate and House Armed Services committees on the strikes on Thursday.
Key Headlines
White House says 'mass deportation operation' must continue after DC National Guard shooting
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the White House is "praying" for the family of Andrew Wolfe, the National Guardsmen who was injured during a shooting in Washington, D.C., last week.
Leavitt said the suspect, identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, will be "prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
She also said "in the wake of last week's atrocity, it is more important than ever to finish carrying out the president's mass-deportation operation."
"America cannot allow millions upon millions of unvetted illegal aliens to be rewarded with amnesty," Leavitt said.
She added that it is "essential to immediately address the massive fraud and corruption that has been going on for decades."
Sen. Kelly to hold news conference to address Trump and Hegseth's 'efforts to intimidate' him
Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly will hold a news conference in the Capitol at 3:30 p.m. on Monday to address what he calls Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's "effort to intimidate" him.
Kelly was one of the six lawmakers who appeared in a video last month telling military members that they could refuse illegal orders.
The Department of Defense last week said it would launch a "thorough review" into Kelly, citing "serious allegations of misconduct."
In the video, the group says, "The threats to our Constitution aren't just coming from abroad, but from right here at home. Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution."
-ABC News' Allison Pecorin
Trump said he would 'absolutely' release results of his MRI
During a gaggle with reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday night, Trump said he would release the results of his MRI and said he didn't know what part of the body the scan was targeting.
Trump was asked about calls from Democrats for him to release the results of the MRI that he revealed he got during an appointment at Walter Reed Medical Center in October.
"But if you want to have it released, I'll release it, absolutely," Trump said Sunday.
A reporter than asked what the MRI was looking at, to which Trump replied he didn't know.
"I have no idea. It was just an MRI. What part of the body? It wasn't the brain. Because I took a cognitive test and I aced it," Trump said.
-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart
Trump praises success of Syria, says Israel should not interfere
President Donald Trump said in a social media post on Monday that the United States is "very satisfied" with the results in Syria after the nation has seen new leadership and also warned that Israel should not do anything to "interfere with Syria's evolution into a prosperous State."
"We are doing everything within our power to make sure the Government of Syria continues to do what was intended, which is substantial, in order to build a true and prosperous Country," Trump wrote.
Trump also issued a call for Israel and Syria to maintain good relations.
"It is very important that Israel maintain a strong and true dialogue with Syria, and that nothing takes place that will interfere with Syria's evolution into a prosperous State. The new President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is now working diligently to make sure good things happen, and that both Syria and Israel will have a long and prosperous relationship together," Trump said in the post.
Trump's comments come after Syria's new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, visited the White House last month.
-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart