UnlistedNTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 25)

Welcome to NTD Evening News. Our top story tonight, President Trump urging Gulf allies to join the Abraham Accords as he says negotiations with Iran are, quote, proceeding nicely. And the president paying tribute to America's fallen service members at Arlington National Cemetery this Memorial Day. A weekend shooting near the White House is now fueling the administration's push to move forward with President Trump's ballroom project, citing security concerns. Authorities in California say the risk of a chemical tank suffering a catastrophic explosion has passed, but evacuation orders for residents remain in place as the threat of a possible leak remains. Jason Perry with the update. The U.S. pushes deeper security ties with India, Japan, and Australia to contain Chinese military aggression in the region. Officials cite China's increasing naval deployment in the Indo-Pacific. Thousands packing the streets in D.C. for the largest Memorial Day parade in the nation. This as folks from across America are honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to this country. This is NTD Evening News. Live from our global headquarters in New York City, here's Kerry Dunst. Good evening and thank you for joining us tonight. President Trump expressing gratitude for the sacrifice of America's fallen troops at Arlington National Cemetery this Memorial Day. President saying there can be no Independence Day without Memorial Day as preparations are underway for America's 250th birthday. NTD's White House correspondent Mari Otu brings us the details from the North Lawn. What a beautiful day as it turns out. It's just perfect. We'd rather have this than the heat. It's just beautiful. In a rainy Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, President Trump reminds those present ahead of the 250th anniversary of the nation that there could be no Independence Day without Memorial Day. Before we crown the victory, we count the cost. Today we are reminded that there could be no Fourth of July without America's Armed Forces and there could be no Independence Day without Memorial Day. We unite in solemn observance with reverent hearts. We honor those who fell so that our republic might stand. Those who died so that our nation could live. Those who gave up their sacred light on earth so that the sublime light of American freedom would shine forever and ever. The president's remarks coming against the backdrop of ongoing negotiations with Iran, which he says are proceeding nicely. President Trump pushing for a bigger peace plan for the Middle East amid these ongoing negotiations with Iran, now urging Gulf allies to join the Abraham Accords. In his Memorial Day remarks, he's paying homage to those lives lost in Operation Epic Fury. In Operation Epic Fury, we lost 13 wonderful souls, wonderful, special people. These incredible men and women gave their lives to ensure that the world's number one state sponsor of terror will never have a nuclear weapon. Oh, and they won't. They will never have a nuclear weapon. I'm sure you know that. This comes as President Trump says that the potential deal with Iran must be great and meaningful, or there will be no deal. President Trump says that he has informed his representatives not to rush into a deal, saying that both sides must take their time to get it right. And Central Command over the weekend announcing a milestone, saying that they've now redirected 100 ships that were trying to either exit or enter Iranian ports transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and that the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports is still in full effect. President Trump saying that it will remain so until a certified agreement with Iran is reached. As the president said, he's not in a hurry. He's not going to make a bad deal. I mean, the president's not going to make a bad agreement. So let's see what happens. We're going to give diplomacy every chance to succeed before we explore the alternatives. What's the holdup right now? Is there something that needs to be done? It's just a response. I mean, when you get down to some of these things, you've got to hear back, and it takes the Iranian system a little while longer to get back. So look, the president's not going to make a bad deal. He's just not. This issue, no one has done more, and no one has been more serious about the threat of a nuclear Iran than President Trump has been. And so I'm very confident, and we should all be very confident, that we're not going to have a, we're either going to have a good agreement or we're going to have to deal with it another way. We'd prefer to have a good agreement. President Trump changing plans at the last minute to work on these Iran negotiations over this Memorial Day weekend. And Saturday evening around 6 p.m., a shooting incident happened on 17th and Penn near the press entrance to the White House. President Trump responding to the shooting by thanking law enforcement and Secret Service for jumping into action. Also mentioning that this White House shooting was only about a month removed from the third assassination attempt on President Trump at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. The president also renewing his call for the White House ballroom as an issue of national security in light of this most recent shooting. Reporting from the White House, Mario Ciu, NTD News. And President Trump just posted on Truth Social repeating his demand on Iran over what he calls the nuclear dust. Those are the remnants of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile. President Trump says it must either be handed over to the U.S. for destruction or destroyed in place in Iran in coordination with Tehran, with international atomic officials as witnesses. We'll keep you posted on any updates as the negotiations continue. And staying with the president, the Justice Department is describing Saturday's shooting near the White House as a second attempt to attack President Trump in just the latest month. The statement is part of a recent push to move forward with the president's proposed White House ballroom project. In a court filing submitted yesterday, the DOJ argues that the attack underscores the need for top-level security. NTD's Arlene Richards has more on that. Federal investigators are continuing to examine Saturday's shooting near the White House where Secret Service agents killed a gunman after an exchange of gunfire near a security checkpoint. President Trump thanked them for their quick action in a Truth Social post Sunday. The incident is becoming part of a broader legal and political battle over President Trump's proposed White House ballroom project. The Justice Department Sunday asked a federal judge to lift an injunction blocking parts of the project, arguing the ballroom is needed because of growing security threats surrounding the president and White House events. The administration has repeatedly pointed to recent security incidents, including the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner and Saturday's attack near the White House grounds, as evidence that additional secure event space is necessary. The proposed ballroom would replace the demolished East Wing and include enhanced security infrastructure, though preservation groups continue challenging the project in court. The AP reports that authorities have identified the suspected gunman as 21-year-old Nasir Best of Dundalk, Maryland. The outlet says court records show Best previously interacted with Secret Service officers outside the White House and was charged last year with attempting to unlawfully enter a White House access point. One bystander was struck during Saturday's shooting and has been reported to be in serious condition. The individual has not been identified, but the Secret Service said he suffered a gunshot wound described as not life-threatening. It is unclear how he was shot. FBI Director Kash Patel said Saturday the Bureau is assisting the Secret Service and would update the public as we're able. Secret Service Director Sean Curran praised officers Sunday, saying their training, vigilance, positioning, and immediate actions were instrumental in saving lives. Federal agencies, including the FBI, DEA, and Secret Service, continue investigating Saturday's shooting, including the suspect's prior contacts with authorities and possible motive. Arlene Richards, NTD News. Next, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in India for key Quad Alliance meetings aimed at countering the China threat to their growing military in the Indo-Pacific. NTD's Washington correspondent Jack Bradley has more. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in India to meet with his counterparts in the Quad Alliance. That's the U.S., India, Japan, and Australia, a key partnership to counter the Chinese Communist Party's aggression in the Indo-Pacific. 20 billion in investments from Indian companies in the United States. We've deepened a security partnership through military exercises in the Indo-Pacific. Now the world is faced with the most significant structural change in the post-war era, and the security environment has become increasingly severe. Now India is seen as a wild card in this alliance since it refuses to fully align with the Quad or with the China and Russia-led bloc known as BRICS. But relations between India and China remain tense since the deadly 2020 border clash where 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese soldiers were killed in hand-to-hand combat. India responded by banning Chinese apps and restricting Beijing's investments. The meetings come as China ramps up pressure in the region, with Taiwan reporting over 100 Chinese vessels deploying around the first island chain in recent days. Taiwanese and Chinese coast guards faced off near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands this weekend. Meanwhile, U.S. Marines test-fired HIMARS rockets in Japan last week. Now it's a system that could play a key role in deterring a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan. Now Rubio's visit to India and his upcoming meeting on Tuesday with Quad leaders underscores Washington's strategy of strengthening allies to deter the Chinese Communist Party. Reporting from Washington, D.C., Jack Bradley, NTD News. And Trump administration officials are sharing heartfelt messages today to honor America's fallen heroes on Memorial Day. Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth both delivered remarks at the annual ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. NTD correspondent Jason Blair has more. We owe a debt to the people who put on a uniform knowing they might never come back. And indeed, today we pay tribute to those who never came back. Members of the Trump administration commemorate Memorial Day with messages in honor of the fallen who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of their country. Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. The first is that we be the very best version of ourselves in honor of those who gave everything that this nation might be worthy. May the ones we remember today live on in every flag that flies. May they live on in every voice of a schoolchild who says the Pledge of Allegiance. May they live in our prayers to Almighty God. And Secretary of State Marco Rubio shares America was built, defended, and preserved by those willing to give everything for it. On Memorial Day, we honor the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation and our freedom. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. posts, Today we honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country, and we renew our commitment to protecting the health, dignity, and future of the nation they sacrificed to defend. Memorial Day was first observed on a large scale on May 30, 1868, to honor the soldiers who had fallen during the Civil War. It officially became a national holiday by an act of Congress in 1971. Reporting in Washington, D.C., Jason Blair, NTD News. And the annual National Memorial Day Parade kicking off in downtown Washington, D.C. today. Despite the rainy weather, thousands packing the streets as folks from around the country are paying tribute to our fallen service members. NTD's Sam Wong has more on that. The National Memorial Day Parade taking place right here on Constitution Avenue, honoring the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to this country. It's also part of a celebration leading up to America's 250th anniversary. From floats to marching bands to cheerleaders to historical reenactments, crowds packing the sidewalks as veteran units from all 50 states make their way down the avenue, showcasing the history of the U.S. military from its inception to today. Really, it's leaning into that storyline of American sacrifice over those 250 years. So that's what we're kind of leaning into today, what you see on the street, that story of gratitude, the gratitude that's allowed us to have the country we live in today. The parade featured a float marking the 250th anniversary of America's founding. It included athletes like Olympic gold medal gymnast Shawn Johnson. Being able to compete for the country is the biggest honor, and I got to have so much fun. But I wouldn't have been able to do that if it weren't for the men and women who serve. And so being able to be out here and say thank you and celebrate them and honor them is unlike any experience I've ever had. Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day began after the Civil War to honor fallen Union soldiers. Today, it commemorates all service members who gave their lives in the line of duty. For many veterans at the event, it's a time to reflect and remember. I have five generations of my family that have served World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and it stopped with me during the Gulf. I was a deputy chief of the New York City Fire Department, and I served in the U.S. Army from 1960 to 1962. My father's younger brother was my godfather, and he was torpedoed off the coast of Florida. He was a merchant seaman. That's my personal story with World War II. To some, Memorial Day reminds them of their lost loved ones. I lost my son on 9-11. He was one of the firefighters. Every year we lose thousands, hundreds, and now we're up to thousands of firefighters across America every year. It's like a battle as we did in foreign countries. It's a battle right here in the United States. Despite foggy and rainy weather, roughly 100,000 spectators turned out for the National Memorial Day Parade. Reporting in Washington, D.C., Sam Wong, NTD News. And before we go to break, we have an exciting new show coming soon to NTD that you don't want to miss. Every weeknight at 8 p.m., NTD's Tiffany Meyer sits down with newsmakers and a lively panel to connect the dots on national security stories, trending political news, and to show how global events are directly impacting our lives here at home in America. To deliver the clarity and the context you need to truly understand what matters, Tiffany Meyer Tonight premieres tomorrow on Tuesday, May 26th at 8 p.m., only here on NTD. Don't miss it. And coming up, authorities in California say the risk of a chemical tank suffering a catastrophic explosion has passed, but evacuation orders for residents remain in place as the threat of a possible leak remains. Jason Perry with the update. And the Pope weighs in on A.I. citing automated weapon systems and dangerous algorithms as causes for concern. Stay with us for that. I trod on my glasses yesterday and I had to pay up front for a new pair that I can't even pick up for another 10 days. So I looked for another way and I found Select Specs. I ordered online. My new glasses just arrived this morning and I can pay over the next few weeks. This is the way to buy glasses. See now, pay later with Select Specs. Next day delivery and deferred payment options only at SelectSpecs.com. I'm Amy Grant, and I want to talk to you from my heart about the heart. I would have been the last person on the list to say this woman has a problem with her heart. 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It could happen to anybody. Heart disease is America's number one killer, but your support can save your life or the life of someone you love. Give $19 a month with your credit card and we'll send you this special T-shirt you can wear to show you're part of a community of monthly donors working to help save more lives like mine. I'm grateful for the American Heart Association. Their research gave me more time to do the things I love with the people I love. So listen to your heart. I'm here today because I did. Please call the number on your screen or go to HelpHeart.org now to become a monthly donor and help save even more lives. Thank you. If you love them enough to drive an hour to cheer them on as they get beat 11 to nothing in the rain, then surely you'll check NHTSA.gov slash the right seat to make sure they're correctly buckled in the backseat. Welcome back to NTD Evening News. I'm Kerry Dunst. Authorities in Southern California say the risk of a catastrophic explosion off a chemical tank has now passed, but the evacuation orders for residents are still in effect as the threat of a possible leak remains. NTD's Jason Perry has the update. Authorities in Orange County, California, continuing to monitor a chemical tank that was at risk of suffering a catastrophic explosion. The tank's high temperatures caused authorities to take safety measures, ordering evacuations for tens of thousands of residents. On Monday, Orange County Fire Authority Interim Chief T.J. McGovern detailing the specifics, saying fire crews were on the lookout for a possible boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion, also known as a blevy. So basically what that is, it's a substance in a contained tank that is pressurized and there's an ignition. And in that pressurized cylinder, that would be a blevy. Very, very dangerous to first responders. And he added that the threat of a blevy has been eliminated, with firefighters saying that a crack in the chemical tank helped release some of the pressure. Additionally to that, the temperature has been stabilized and actually reducing. It is currently 93 degrees, down from 100 degrees. That is incredibly positive news. However, residents who evacuated the area are still advised not to return home as the evacuation orders remain in place. And authorities say there is still an ongoing threat to the public. The chemical tank, which is located at an aerospace facility in Garden Grove near Los Angeles, is filled with 7000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, a flammable chemical that can cause serious respiratory problems. A local resident who evacuated saying this on Sunday. We were not able to go back. I left my pets there. Then I had to talk to the sheriff's department and ask them if I could go in and get my pets out. We got our pets out, got a couple of clothes. And then started looking for a place to stay and go here at the shelter. The Red Cross opened at Golden West College, and this is where I'm at. Also on Sunday, California Governor Gavin Newsom said he submitted a request to the federal government for a presidential emergency declaration. And on Monday, Newsom said that President Trump approved California's request, which would help support ongoing emergency response operations tied to the chemical incident. Jason Perry, NCV News. And Pope Leo is calling for stronger regulation of artificial intelligence in his first major teaching document. He warns the rapidly advancing technology risks spreading misinformation, fueling conflict and normalizing war. Other very troubling voices have also reached me about increasingly autonomous weapons systems, practically beyond any human reach to govern them effectively. I hear very troubling accounts of algorithms that can block access to health care, employment and security on the basis of data tainted by prejudice and injustice. Artificial intelligence needs to be disarmed. The word is strong, I know, but deliberately chosen because this moment needs words capable of attracting attention, awakening consciences and indicating paths forward for humanity. The first American pope urges governments to slow the AI race. He says political leaders must not surrender oversight to private companies or unchecked market forces. The pope calls for stronger legal safeguards, independent oversight, protections for workers and children and greater transparency around AI driven warfare. He also warns against allowing a small number of companies to control vast amounts of data and power. And lawmakers in Washington commemorating Memorial Day today honoring Americans who died in military service. As Congress prepares to return from recess, Republicans are facing disputes over funding border agencies and a closely watched Senate runoff election in Texas. And it is Chris Bobb reports. Memorial Day commemorations underway across the country Monday. House Speaker Mike Johnson shared this moment from Sunday's Indianapolis 500, nearly 400,000 people falling silent during the playing of taps. Speaker Johnson posting on X, quote, Our best moment of the Indy 500 yesterday was when nearly 400,000 Americans at the world's largest single day sporting event went completely silent for the playing of taps, adding, quote, Our country never takes for granted the profound sacrifices that have been made in the defense of freedom. Lawmakers from both parties posting tributes honoring Americans killed in military service as members of Congress prepare to return from recess to battle in the legislature. In Texas, Republican voters head to the polls Tuesday and a closely watched Senate runoff between Attorney General Ken Paxton and longtime Senator John Cornyn. The race becoming the largest test of President Trump's influence over the GOP after Trump endorsed Paxson last week. In a truth social post Sunday, Trump praised Paxson as, quote, Probably the best attorney general in the country, while attacking Cornyn as, quote, Very disloyal to me as president. Trump later adding, quote, What more needs to be said? Vote for Ken Paxton on Tuesday. Cornyn responding last week when asked about Trump's decision to back Paxton. You tell me how the president makes his decisions. Senate Republicans are returning next week, still searching for an agreement on a reconciliation package focused on ICE and Customs and Border Protection funding. The bill stalled last week over a proposed Trump-backed anti-weaponization compensation fund. Senate Majority Leader John Thune facing pressure to unify Republicans as lawmakers return to Washington. Chris Bobb, NTD News. And coming up, the Memorial Day Foundation is going back to the true roots of what Memorial Day means with small ceremonies across New York City. NTD's Niku Bani has the details. And while we honor those who gave their lives for our country, it's also important to remember the warriors who return home, carrying physical and emotional wounds. We're going to discuss the challenges facing wounded veterans. I was a quarterback at Hardaway High School, college first round draft pick on and off the field. We were taught to not show any signs of weakness. During the football season, I would stop eating, but I didn't know I was depressed. I thought that something was wrong with me for 20 plus years. What's physical, physical, physical. We didn't have any education behind what mental health was. I started to learn it starts here first. If this is together, I'll be better as a father, as a man and as a husband. Put the importance on your mental health. I'm not scared to talk about it anymore. The first tool is therapy. The second one is positive self-talk. Then journaling, putting your thoughts on paper. We have to redefine what being a strong man is and heal, love your mind. I am so glad you ladies are here. You each have your own rooms. Thank you. Get settled in. I'll call you for dinner. Adopting teen sisters, it's a lot. Girls, you're going to be late. You want breakfast? No, thanks. We're good. They're always in their own world. Twice the work, twice the surprises. Just try it. But if you think of it that way, they're also twice as fulfilling. Is it OK to call you mom? Of course you can. Welcome back to Into the Evening News. I'm Kerry Dunst. While many Americans spend Memorial Day weekend celebrating with friends and family, small ceremonies in New York City and beyond focus on the true meaning of the holiday, honoring service members who never came home. Entities Niku Bani has the story. I'm here in New York City at the Vietnam War Memorial, where a small group of people from the Memorial Day Foundation are remembering those who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. On a holiday weekend, often associated with sales and celebrations, members of the Memorial Day Foundation spend Memorial Day visiting memorial sites across New York City to honor fallen service members. Ceremonies include prayers, poetry readings, wreath layings, moments of silence and the playing of taps, a piece traditionally played at funerals and memorial ceremonies honoring fallen service members. At the Horse Soldier Memorial near Ground Zero, dedicated to those who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, former Marine Nancy Batrista reflected on why the ceremonies matter personally. She served in Iraq during the war, where many American troops never returned home. It weighs heavy on my heart, and this is my way of making them live again, you know, giving them meaning, commemorating them, making sure they're never forgotten and the sacrifice that they gave for our country and for our freedom. The Memorial Day Foundation says its mission is to preserve the true meaning of Memorial Day and remind Americans of the sacrifices made by members of the military. John Hamre, treasurer of the foundation, tells us he did not serve in the military himself, but says honoring those who did is a responsibility shared by all Americans. I am one of the ninety nine percent of the United States that has not served, so I feel there's an obligation of service in some way to support those who go in harm's way. The Memorial Day Foundation also has volunteers across the country carrying out similar small ceremonies with only a willingness to stop, reflect and remember those who never came home. Niko Bani, NTD News, New York. And thank you. Thanks to Niko for that report. Next, while Memorial Day is a time to honor those who gave their lives in service to our country, it's also important to remember the warriors who return home carrying physical and emotional wounds. Joining us to discuss the challenges facing wounded veterans and how Americans can help support is Tom Kilgannon. He's president of Freedom Alliance. Thank you for joining us today on this special day, Memorial Day. Let's start with the physical toll of war. When a service member is seriously wounded, what are their greatest needs and how does Freedom Alliance help support them and their families? Sure. Thank you for having me on today because it's an important day to remember, as you say, the fallen and the wounded. And at Freedom Alliance, what we do is try to address both. And for those who do come home and have physical injuries, we are providing a number of programs. One is to give customized all-terrain wheelchairs so that veterans, amputees and those who are paralyzed are able to get out in the great outdoors, enjoy the fresh air and which is very invigorating to them and helpful to their rehabilitation. And to be able to join other veterans, their brothers who are able to get around and get out and enjoy the activities that they grew up with, that they love and which means so much to them. Yeah, mobility, something that you take for granted until you or someone you know does not have that mobility. And then being able to restore that is is so life changing. I want to move on from the physical injuries, though, which are, of course, visible to what many veterans are facing, which is the invisible wounds. Veterans experience suicide rates significantly higher than the general population. What are some of the biggest PTSD and mental health challenges that veterans are facing and what kinds of support have you seen make a difference in their recovery? Well, it is a big issue. Suicide is it's just really horrible what's going on with suicide in both the veteran and the active duty ranks. And so what we see is one of the problems is that when it comes to suicide, there is no one solution. It affects veterans in different ways. But I think the two big categories that we see are injuries of the brain and injuries of the heart and soul. And that's what we call moral injury. And that means that their hearts and their souls and their memories are scarred by combat. The ugly things that they've seen, that they've witnessed, that they've heard, the battles that they've had to participate in. They carry that home with them and it impacts their lives in a variety of ways. In some ways, it impacts their marriages. Maybe their marriage falls apart. It impacts the relationship with their children. And so when those kinds of injuries pile on and affect their lives in negative ways, that's only going to make them more susceptible to suicide. And so we know that the Veterans Administration and the Pentagon are trying to address these issues. But one suggestion I would have, at least for the VA, is to try and incentivize the counselors to stay longer in their jobs. Because what we hear from veterans is that once, you know, it takes a long time to find a counselor that they're comfortable with. And then it takes numerous appointments just to be able to get to a point where they want to talk. And I've heard from many that when they do get to that point, the counselor moves on to a different job, a different career path, perhaps, or a different institution. And then they have to start all over. And that's demoralizing for the veteran to have to go back to square one and do it all over again. And as you point out, it's not just the veteran that suffers, it's their nuclear family and even their wider family. But your organization, Freedom Alliance, has seen success with a variety of different sort of gatherings and other things that you host and organize that allows the opportunity for healing to happen, not just with the veteran, but maybe with their spouse. Can you highlight some of that work? I'd love to. Thank you. We, Freedom Alliance, is putting together lots of retreats. We do them in several different categories. We do retreats for the veterans themselves. We do retreats for the married couples so that they can ensure their marriage is not going to become a casualty of war. And we do retreats for the spouses or the caregivers. And so that because when you're a 24-7 caregiver to a veteran with all of these injuries, both physical and emotional, it takes a toll on them. So we get them out to some of the most beautiful places that this country has to offer. We get them out on the water, into the mountains, into the fresh air and provide wonderful, fun, enjoyable activities, but also bring them together and have structured conversation, specifically address the issues that are impairing their journey to a more complete rehabilitation and talk about that and come together in prayer as well, because prayer and faith is a big part of it. When you have these injuries of the soul, injuries of the heart, you've got to bring God into this conversation and allow him to work his miracles and take care of these couples or these veterans in ways that we humans are limited in. Yeah, prayer, faith and certainly God's creation of nature, all healing to the soul. I want to move on to something that is ending sort of on a positive note. We're seeing some of the strongest military recruiting number in years. From your perspective, working closely with service members and veterans, how would you describe the current morale within the military community? I think the morale is very much improved over the last since the start of this administration. And you're right, we're seeing recruiting numbers that we haven't seen in 15 years or better. And I attribute that to leadership. I think the president and the secretary have done a phenomenal job of speaking to young Americans and telling them about the benefits of military service and specifically requesting and asking them to serve their country. That is a big part of it. And that's something we have not seen from previous administrations dating back many, many decades, where they just take it for granted that young people are going to step up. That recruitment is just that you have to go out and you have to talk to them. You have to incentivize them. I think this administration has done that with pay raises, with enlisted enlistment bonuses and in other ways. And so we are seeing the benefits. But Secretary Hicks, not only has met these recruiting goals, but now he's telling Congress that he wants to expand the strength of the military by about 50,000 in this current year. And they're on track to meet those expanded goals as well. So I say three cheers to this administration for getting more Americans involved in military service. Well, Tom Kilganan, thank you so much for joining us on this important Memorial Day and also for the important work that Freedom Alliance is doing. We appreciate it. My pleasure. Thank you. Next, Russia is threatening to launch additional attacks. On Ukraine's capital city of Kyiv, Moscow launched a hypersonic ballistic ballistic missile at Kyiv over the weekend, one that's capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. And today's international correspondent, Arian Pazdar, has the war update. Footage shows a hypersonic ballistic missile striking a town near Ukraine's capital city, Kyiv, over the weekend. In total, Moscow fired four types of missiles in an assault that lasted for one hour. It's one of the heaviest bombardments on Kyiv since the start of the war. It's also only the third time that an intermediate range missile has been used in the conflict. The weapon is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. Its use comes just days after Russia finished a major military nuclear drill. Russia says the attack on Kyiv is in retaliation against the Ukrainian attack on a school in Luhansk, reportedly killing over 20 civilians. And now on Monday, Russia says more attacks are coming, warning that Russian forces are beginning to carry out a series of systematic strikes on facilities of Ukraine's defense and industrial complex in Kyiv. Ukraine's foreign minister is responding to the Russian threat. There is no need to give in to this Russian blackmail. We have been through all of this before, and we know when Putin amps up this rhetoric, this is his way of mocking all peace efforts. And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commenting on the imminent Russian threat. Anti-ballistic missiles are now in short supply because of the war with Iran. But we must look for solutions. We are trying to accelerate work in Europe on producing our own anti-ballistic capabilities in sufficient quantities. Zelensky also extending his wishes to the US on Memorial Day and thanking it for its support. Without the United States, there simply would have been no European freedom. And the 20th century proved this absolutely clearly. And now Russia's full scale war is not only against Ukraine, but also against the very form of such a Europe. He says Russia is threatening the Euro-Atlantic unity that was formed after the Second World War. Ariane Pasdar, NTD News. Coming up, a touching story this Memorial Day, a nearly 100 year old veteran fading memories and a surprise honor at Yankee Stadium that brought four generations of family together. And in the NBA, Jalen Brunson and the Knicks look to sweep while the Cavs need a win just to stay alive. Dave Martin joins the discuss. 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This Memorial Day as the country remembers those who served and never made it home. Nearly 100 year old veteran just received a tribute of his own on his favorite team. NTD's Dave Martin introduces us to the man behind the honor. A long time ago. At nearly a hundred years old, Frank Martucci's memories sometimes come in pieces. Joe DiMaggio. Okay, all right. Joe D. Who didn't like Joe D? Yeah, that was a good player. But some things still stand out, like his army buddies. Who are those guys with you? Who are those guys? Mickey, Stevie, and Vincent. And of course, being from New York, he's a big Yankees fan. Yankee players? Born into the Great Depression, Frank was drafted during the Korean War after being rejected from service in World War II for being underweight. He recalled a lot of his friends going in that met the requirements and a lot of them never returned. Frank chose to serve those injured during service. What was your job in the army? But in the army? Yeah. Well, I was a dinner technician. His sons say he rarely talked about his service. Little things, nothing much. But the values stayed with them long after the uniform came off, like patriotism. He always had the American flag out in front of the house. So I kind of have my flag out in front of my house all these years. As well as hard work. I had a very good work ethic growing up. So he passed that on to all his sons. And of course, family. Family's everything. And he used to tell me, he says, you know, it doesn't matter how much money you make. If you're there taking care of your family, that's more important than the money. At home, baseball is a part of family life. It's like apple pie, you know. We always grew up with the Yankees on the television whenever they would play. Now, nearly a century after Frank first started watching his Yankees play baseball, four generations of his family are preparing to see him receive a special honor. And it's right here at Yankee Stadium. Ladies and gentlemen, you rise. This May, nearly 75 years after Frank Martucci was honorably discharged from the Korean War, his big honor finally arrived in front of his favorite team. It's a home game tradition for military heroes and organized by one of their own. It's all perfect love and support and remembering these folks that gave so much. Tony Nutellus helps organize the Veteran of the Game program. He says for many veterans, especially older generations, moments like this mean far more than baseball. And for the very first time in my life, they tell me this. In my life, I felt honored to be an American and to serve. For Frank's family, the honor is about more than one night on the field. For me, at 69 years old, I'm going to be 70. To be with my father that it's turning 100, you know, most people don't get that. I'm very fortunate. And while Frank may not remember every detail from nearly a century of life. I don't remember. The people around him will always remember him. And so will the fans at Yankee Stadium. For the humble Frank Martucci, it's an honor of a lifetime. Had a good time, that's all I know. This is Dave Martin, NTD News, New York. And now for your sports news, we're joined by NTD's Dave Martin. Dave, that was a very touching package of the Martucci family. Great story. It was it was a lot of fun to meet them. It was kind of an honor. I mean, the guys, like you said, 99 years old, fought in the Korean War. The Korean War, you know, it's kind of like we were talking about earlier. It's kind of a forgotten war. You know, everyone remembers World War One, World War Two. And then you kind of go right straight to Vietnam. But the Korean War there in 1950, 1953, more than 30,000 soldiers lost their lives there. Would have been more had it not been for guys like Frank Martucci there. So it was really nice to meet his family. A lot of law enforcement he had in his family there. So it was a really nice family there. Well, kudos to the Yankees organization for giving him a well-deserved honor. And speaking of New York teams, let's move on to the New York Knickerbockers. I'm starting to feel the feelings I had back in the 90s with those great teams under Pat Riley and Jeff Van Gundy. It feels like we're on the cusp of something special. 3-0 sweep. Is that possible? What do you what do you think is going to happen tonight? Well, it's a very good chance that this was an excellent chance that they win the series. You know, no team has ever come back from an 0-3 deficit. I like those numbers that Cleveland Cavs are facing right now. I've got on the map 159 NBA teams have fallen behind 0-3. None have won. Only four have even come back to force a game seven. Of course, none of that won, though. There is a little bit of precedence in hockey for NHL teams have actually won a series after falling behind 0-3, including one in the 1942 Stanley Cup Finals. One baseball team did it. That was the Boston Red Sox for the New York Yankees in the 2004 ALCS. I'm certainly not predicting Cleveland will do it. I mean, the Knicks are just playing so well right now that they've got that 10 game winning streak in the playoffs. Nine of those have been by double digit wins. You know, they had a good chance there in the first game one. And the Knicks then woke up by eight minutes left in regulation, went on a 44 run, 44-11 run to end it. So they've got a very good chance to wrap up the series tonight. They have almost 100% chance to win the series overall. Mathematically speaking. The other series is a series, Oklahoma City versus San Antonio. Wim Benyama has just been absolutely on the big, played great on the biggest stage. I mean, the guy is incredible. There's not much you can say about a 7'4 guy. He was almost, he has the agility of Michael Jordan. You know, it's absolutely amazing. He's got the distance. He can shoot like Steph Curry, too. You know, he hit that 47 push half quarter yesterday. So we've got one series, looks like it's about over. Another one is he's still a ways to go. Let them beat each other up is what I, I'm supposed to be neutral, though, right? I think we're past that point. That ship has sailed. But it's it's fascinating to see two great teams in the West beat each other up. The Knicks looks like they're going to get some rest. Will that hurt or help them? Time will tell. Yeah, time will tell. All right. Well, moving on to tennis, actually, we have three time major champion Stan Wawrinka. What happened with him at the French? Well, this was his farewell at the French Open today. This season is going to be Stan's last. He's a three time major champion. He won the French Open here all the way back in 2015, beating Novak Djokovic in the finals. Roger Federer, meanwhile, beating him in the quarterfinals. He was the runner up then at the French Open in 2017, losing to the great Rafael Nadal there in the finals. So at his best, when he was in his prime, he proved he could play right there with the big three and even beat them some of the times. So at 41 years old, though, this is going to be his final season elsewhere at the tournament today. We've got a teenager on the men's side, been turning heads. Nineteen year old Rafael, I think it's Yodar. I, you know, I can't remember these. We won't hold you to it. I can't remember the pronunciation. A very impressive French, French Open debut today. Nineteen year old beat American Alexander Kovacek 6-1, 6-0, 6-4. Dropping just five games there in those three sets. The last man to do that in his debut was Novak Djokovic, 21 years ago. Meanwhile, temperatures have been soaring here, not only into the 90s this week. They got quite a heat wave going on over there in Paris. That is far beyond normal for late May over there. And it's punishing as it is on that hard clay. Just long rallies, over 20 hits per rally. It's it's going to be a lot to look out for. And of course, Rafa used to be the king of the red clay. You know, I miss seeing Rafa out there just dominating. I mean, it was that guy hit the ground running there. I think he won his first he won his first time there. And it just started going. What, he lose four matches in like 19 events there or something like that? Incredible. Yeah, pretty incredible. Well, let's talk about some other all-stars. But this now we're going to baseball. Milwaukee Brewers all-star Jacob Mizorowski. He had a pretty good game. What happened? Yeah, Mizorowski was dealing today with some incredible heat of a different kind here, Kerry. He's a six foot seven right hander for the Milwaukee Brewers threw 96 pitches today. 57 of those 96 pitches were clocked at at least 100 miles an hour. That is the most ever in a game by one pitcher, eclipsing the old record of 47. Overall, he allowed just two hits, one run against the St. Louis Cardinals and getting the win. Milwaukee won that game 5-1. Brewers, meanwhile, lead the NL Central Division by two and a half games over the Cardinals. They beat today. Mizorowski, meanwhile, with those 12 strikeouts today, now leads the major leagues with 100 strikeouts on the season. He also lowered his ERA in the season to 1.83 as the fourth lowest in the major leagues. Elsewhere today, Japanese sensation White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami retook the American League home run lead with his 18th home run of the season this afternoon. White Sox beat the Twins 3-1. So we got we got plenty of sports going on, you know, in baseball season, obviously in full swing, NBA and NHL are in the playoffs. And of course, we got tennis. The French Open just started yesterday. So a whole lot going on here. A whole lot indeed. Well, thanks for joining, Dave. You're going to want to stick around for this sports story coming up. We're going to witness one of Britain's cheese rolling contests. Spectators and competitors gathered at Cooper's Hill in Gloucestershire today for the annual fun fair. And as you can see, the participants raced down a very steep 200 yard slope, chasing a wheel of double Gloucester cheese. Winners are those who reach the bottom first as catching the cheese is pretty much impossible. This year's competition had the added element of sweltering temperatures like we're seeing over at the French Open. They were reaching the upper 80s, the hottest May Day on record. It was crazy. I think this was my most controlled run ever. I don't know how it looked, but I just remember seeing Chris Anderson in front of me. I was like, I need to go faster. Then I sent it the rest of the hill down. I'm perfectly fine. I'm just very hot in this suit. Definitely going to need to get this into our sports update going forward. This race is notorious for its high risk of injury. You can see there are no pads on these participants. They should maybe get some helmets and shoulder pads due to the extreme steepness of this hill. Competitors are required to acknowledge that they participate at their own risk. The unusual event dates back to 1826, but it's thought to have its roots in an ancient festival that marked the return of spring. There you have it. That's all for today's news. But for around the clock coverage, please visit us at NTD.com or even better, use our NTD app. Thanks for tuning in. I'm Kerry Dunst. Good night.