U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at Air Force One on July 01, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
(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.”
U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the Mack Trucks Lehigh Valley Operations facility on June 23, 2026 in Macungie, Pennsylvania. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
(WASHINGTON) — President Donald Trump earned more than $1.3 billion from his cryptocurrency ventures in 2025, according to his personal financial disclosure released on Tuesday by the Office of Government Ethics.
The over-900-page disclosure, which covers last year, showed that the president earned billions of dollars in revenue from his properties around the world and from his foray into cryptocurrency. The president also received numerous gifts totaling more than $370,000, according to the disclosure.
But one of the standout performers last year was the president’s cryptocurrency investments.
The president’s disclosure listed earnings of $636 million from CIC Digital LLC, a cryptocurrency firm affiliated with the Trump Organization. The vast majority of that income came from a $635 million license agreement with Celebration Coin to sell the president’s $TRUMP meme coin, which he launched days before his second inauguration, billing himself as the “crypto president.”
Trump also reported earning an additional $526 million from the sale of cryptocurrency tokens through the Trump-connected firm World Liberty Financial. He earned another $65 million from sales of equity in WLF’s holding company.
World Liberty Financial came under scrutiny earlier this year after the firm reportedly sold a $500 million stake to a member of the Emirati royal family shortly before Trump’s inauguration.
The president reported another $196,875,000 in income from investments in Stablecoin Holdco, LLC, the parent holding company of World Liberty Financial.
The president also reported earning at least $389 million from his properties and golf courses and clubs in the U.S. and Scotland, including over $77 million alone from Mar-a-Lago.
Outside of his businesses and physical holdings, the president received a number of gifts last year valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars., according to the disclosure.
One standout gift was a statue from Sticker Mule CEO Anthony Constantino, which depicted the now-iconic image of the president with his fist raised following the attempted assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania. That statue, which now sits prominently at Trump National Golf Club in Florida, was estimated at $250,000.
Trump also received several tickets to a variety of sporting events as gifts, including 10 Super Bowl LIX tickets, 10 tickets to the FIFA men’s World Cup, and 30 tickets to two UFC fights. The president also received tickets to the Ryder Cup, the US Open, and the Daytona 500.
Trump also profited from a variety of lawsuits against media and technology companies, earning $80 million in income from legal settlements throughout the year.
Calais Campbell #93 of the Baltimore Ravens walks off the field after Baltimore Ravens Mandatory Minicamp at Under Armour Performance Center on June 09, 2026 in Owings Mills, Maryland. (G Fiume/Getty Images)
(NEW YORK) — The brother of an NFL player was arrested Tuesday in Atlanta after he allegedly killed his mother in her home the day before, according to police
Ciarre Campbell was charged Tuesday with murder, aggravated assault and possession of a knife in connection with the killing of Nateal Campbell, 71, the Atlanta Police Department said in its arrest warrant.
The suspect is the younger brother of Baltimore Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell, who used to play for the Atlanta Falcons.
Lt. Christopher Butler of the Atlanta Police Department told reporters Tuesday that officers received a call for a welfare check Monday from a “concerned family member.” When officers arrived at the home they found the Nateal Campbell’s body, according to Butler.
“A brief look into the history does show some calls back in April dealing with this location a possible arson incident,” Butler said. “There have been some indications of possible some mental health issues with an individual.”
Ciarre Campbell’s arraignment is pending.
Jay Abt, an attorney representing the suspect, told ABC affiliate WSB that his client is innocent until proven guilty.
“We vigorously protest his innocence. We look forward to his day in court. I’m honored to defend him and, most importantly, the Campbell family, I’m asking on their behalf that the public respect their privacy at this time,” he told the station.
Calais Campbell’s family released a statement to ESPN Wednesday asking for privacy.
“We are devastated to share that the Campbell Family has lost its matriarch, Mrs. Nateal Campbell. While the details of her passing are still being investigated, we take comfort in knowing she is reunited with our father, her beloved Chuck, and in the arms of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” the family said.
Melat Kiros participated in a League of Women Voters Congressional District 1 candidate forum at Montview Presbyterian Church on May 28, 2026, in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
(NEW YORK) — Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old attorney and democratic socialist, will win the Democratic primary for U.S. House in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District, the Associated Press projected, triumphing over longtime incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette and notching another win for the left wing of the Democratic Party over established incumbents.
Kiros’ projected win is a stunning victory for a political newcomer and yet another apparent sign of Democratic voter discontent with incumbents, just a week after three insurgent candidates triumphed against incumbent or incumbent-backed candidates in New York City congressional races.
The primary challenger, who was fired from her law firm in 2023 after writing an open letter criticizing her employers’ response to pro-Palestinian protests, campaigned on channeling voters’ anger with the political system; her campaign also tapped into the strength of local and national branches of the Democratic Socialists of America.
DeGette, who has served in the House for around three decades, had argued that her experience, including in leadership roles during President Donald Trump’s impeachment proceedings, made her effective at pushing back against the Trump administration.
Kiros will face Republican nominee Christie Peterson, an accountant, who was uncontested in the GOP primary. The Cook Political Report rates the seat, which is based around Denver, as solidly Democratic.
Another victory for progressive wing in gubernatorial primary
The Associated Press also projected on Tuesday night that Attorney General Phil Weiser will win the Democratic primary for governor in Colorado, triumphing against Sen. Michael Bennet.
The results could potentially be seen as another sign of Democratic voters’ dissatisfaction with Washington and incumbents in Congress, even though the race was technically for a state position.
Weiser, who served in the Obama administration and as Colorado’s attorney general since 2019, had positioned himself as the insurgent in the race against Bennet, linking the longtime senator to Washington and gridlock in Congress. Incumbent Democratic Gov. Jared Polis is term-limited.
But there was better news for another congressman from Colorado. The Associated Press projected Tuesday night that incumbent Sen. John Hickenlooper will win the Democratic primary for Senate in Colorado, putting him on a glide path back to Congress as he runs for a second term.
Hickenlooper triumphed over a primary challenge from state Sen. Julie Gonzales, who ran a progressive campaign and notched the endorsement of left-leaning organizations.
Inside the Melat-DeGette race
Still, most of the attention was focused on the 1st Congressional District.
Ahead of Tuesday’s primary, Kiros told ABC News she hoped to build on the movement’s momentum from last Tuesday in New York.
“Ultimately, folks are really tired of the party failing to meaningfully represent the values and policies that are extremely popular with our base,” she said. “And we’re looking for leaders that are unbought and unafraid to stand up to a lot of these corporations and special interests that have gotten us into this mess in the first place.”
Kiros has also been outspoken about criticism of Israel and its conduct in Gaza, another issue that has divided Democrats and played a major role in the New York primaries. She recently faced some pushback for not calling the June 2025 firebombing in Boulder, Colorado, of on a group of demonstrators calling for the release of Israeli hostages antisemitic, although she condemned the violence and said she is committed to combatting antisemitism.
Kiros told ABC News on Monday that the attack was “a horrific attack on a group of Jewish people that were just engaging in peaceful protest,” and said that she is committed to combatting hate in all forms, including antisemitism; that responsibility also includes “making sure that we are rejecting this conflation of the state of Israel’s actions with Judaism and with the Jewish people, and making sure that we are preventing that kind of conflation from leading to the kind of horrific attacks that a lot of Jewish people are afraid of.”
While Kiros netted the endorsement of progressive stalwart Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent, and some left-leaning groups, the race did not break down evenly along ideological fault lines.
DeGette is a leading member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus who has led Democratic messaging on abortion rights and served as a House impeachment manager during Trump’s second impeachment trial.
Unlike some incumbent Democrats facing primaries, she has criticized Israel’s handling of the war in Gaza and voted against additional U.S. military aid to Israel.
“Denver knows I don’t back down. That’s why I’m taking on Donald Trump to protect our reproductive freedom, abolish ICE, and pass Medicare for All. Together we’ll win and deliver on our progressive values,” DeGette said in a statement to ABC News before the primary.
In a recent interview with ABC affiliate KMGH-TV, DeGette argued that her time in Congress was an asset to her constituents.
But that long record also made her a target for frustrated progressives, who sense momentum after democratic socialists Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez defeated establishment-backed Democrats in two New York City primaries — including the chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus — last week, with the help of democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
“They see Melat as someone who has put up a fight — not just against Republican fascism, but also against the Democratic establishment that has failed voters,” Usamah Andrabi, communications director for Justice Democrats, told ABC News.
The group helped Kiros and her allies knock on tens of thousands of doors and make more than 200,000 calls to potential voters since last week, according to the Justice Democrats.
DeGette’s record “is very progressive, and she’s not a moderate,” Doug Friednash, an attorney who was chief of staff to Hickenlooper, told ABC News. “A lot of young voters are demanding change … they look at rising health care costs, gas prices, and there’s a view that the establishment hasn’t done enough.”
Elsewhere, in Colorado’s 8th District, a battleground seat currently held by a Republican, Democrat Manny Rutinel, a 31-year-old state representative, was projected by the Associated Press to win the primary for the Democratic nomination against former state lawmaker Shannon Bird.
(NEW YORK) –A dangerous heat wave is bringing prolonged extreme heat to the Midwest, the South and the East Coast this week.
The heat started in the Midwest, where extreme humidity levels are rivaling the Amazon rainforest, creating life-threatening conditions for tens of millions of people.
Chicago activated cooling centers throughout the city, including at community service centers, senior centers, libraries, city colleges and police districts. Chicago Public Schools said all summer programming will be inside through Wednesday.
On Wednesday, the dangerous heat expands from the Midwest and the South into the Northeast.
The heat index — what temperature it feels like with humidity — is forecast to soar to 104 degrees in Chicago, 109 in Detroit, 104 in New York City, 107 in Philadelphia, 108 in Washington, D.C., and 111 in Nashville, Tennessee.
By Thursday, the heat index could reach 106 degrees in Boston, a scorching 111 degrees in New York, 110 in Washington, D.C., and 109 in St. Louis, Missouri.
There will be minimal relief overnight, which makes the heat even more dangerous.
The unrelenting heat will continue on Friday. The heat index is forecast to hit 107 degrees in New York, 110 in D.C., 105 in Raleigh, North Carolina, and 109 in Memphis, Tennessee.
It’ll stay hot and humid on the 4th of July on Saturday, with triple digit heat indices across the Midwest, South and Northeast.
Extreme heat is considered the deadliest weather-related hazard in the U.S. At least 13,000 Americans have died from heat since 2018, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Close-up of a woman holding several GLP-1 injection pens used for weight loss and diabetes treatment. Modern injectable medication concept for obesity management, healthcare and pharmaceutical therapy. (Kateryna Borodina/Getty Images)
(NEW YORK) — For the first time, Medicare will cover GLP-1s for obesity-related weight loss, without any other medical conditions.
Starting Wednesday, eligible Medicare beneficiaries can receive GLP-1s for obesity for $50 per month by prescription. Medicare is the primary federal health insurance program in the U.S. for individuals 65 and older.
Federal rules ban Medicare Part D — which helps cover prescription drug costs — from covering drugs solely to treat obesity, but a new federal pilot bridge program approved by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be in effect until Dec. 31, 2027.
This move could dramatically expand access to Eli Lilly’s Foundayo and Zepbound and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy for seniors 65 and older as well as other eligible Medicare enrollees.
Foundayo and Wegovy Pill are daily tablets. Wegovy and Zepbound are weekly injections that require refrigeration.
A month supply of Wegovy will come in four pre-filled pens while Zepbound will be delivered in a KwikPen, which holds four weekly doses in a single device.
Single-dose Zepbound pens and Zepbound vials will not be covered by the bridge program.
“These treatments are a major medical advancement, but too many seniors are currently unable to access them due to high cost,” Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, said in a statement last month. “The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge changes that by making these medications more affordable and accessible, while advancing our broader goal of helping Americans live healthier lives.”
An estimated 3.8 million beneficiaries could be eligible for the program, according to a KFF analysis of 2023 Part D enrollment data that was published Monday.
The government negotiated with the manufacturers to reduce the price the government will pay to $250 for a month’s supply and in return the companies will have access to the larger patient population. Each patient will pay a $50 copay towards the cost of the medication, but that co-pay will not go toward an individual’s annual deductible.
Patients will first need prior authorization — prescribing clinicians will submit documentation proving the patient meets strict body mass index (BMI) and health condition requirements. That means patients will need to wait for the prescription to be approved before it can be filled.
Patients must have Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35 or higher. If their BMI is 30-35, they must have certain types of heart failure, hard to control blood or chronic kidney disease.
If their BMI is 27-30, they must have prediabetes, history of heart attack or stroke or blocked arteries in the arms or legs.
These requirements are more restrictive than the FDA approval language or what private insurance companies require, which is a BMI of 30 or over.
Patients must also not have type 2 diabetes, moderate-to-severe sleep apnea, or fatty liver disease because their Medicare plan may already cover GLP-1s.
“GLP-1s can be life-changing for patients managing obesity and related conditions,” Chris Klomp, director of Medicare and chief counselor at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement last month.
“This demonstration is designed to make accessing those medications simpler, more predictable, and more consistent across the Medicare program, which means better quality of life for seniors and better value across the health care system,” the statement continued.
Individuals will be able to fill their pre-approved prescriptions at local retail pharmacies and directly through Novo Nordisk or Ely Lilly’s direct to consumer mail order pharmacies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky prepares to pose for a family photo before a cultural performance and concert during the G7 Summit on June 16, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Photo by Evelyn Hockstein-Pool/Getty Images)
(LONDON) — The Ukrainian military struck a Russian oil refinery in Ufa on Wednesday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as Kyiv continues its pressure campaign seeking to push Russia to end the war.
“This is an entirely just response to everything Russia is doing against us,” Zelenskyy said on social media. “Peace is needed, and this is exactly what Russia’s leadership must realize. Russia must end its war.”
The Russian Defense Ministry did not appear on Wednesday to publicly comment on the attack, but said in a message on Telegram that its forces had shot down or otherwise destroyed at least 179 Ukrainian drones over Russian or Russian-occupied territory overnight.
The refinery, which Zelenskyy said was one of Russia’s largest producers of lubricants, sits more than 1,300 km, or about 800 miles, from the frontline.
Ukraine overnight also launched an aerial strike at a military complex in the Penza region, where Russia develops and manufactures components related to missiles, Zelenskyy said.
The General Staff of Ukraine’s military said the target was an aerospace facility known by its Russian acronym, NIIFI. The site is used to build sensors for some cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as satellite components, Ukraine said.
“Hits and smoke were recorded at the facility,” the General Staff said in a Ukrainian-language update posted on social media. “This is a leading Russian enterprise in the field of space, aviation and military instrument-making.”
U.S. President Donald Trump attends a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office of the White House on June 24, 2026, in Washington, DC. Secretary-General Mark Rutte is meeting with the President before the annual NATO summit next month and as the Pentagon does a six-month review of American forces in Europe. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
(WASHINGTON) — President Donald Trump brushed off his loss after the Supreme Court rejected his attempt to end birthright citizenship — rooted in the 14th Amendment — on Tuesday, saying the decision is “too bad for the Country” and insisting that he can “easily make it up in Congress through Legislation.”
The court ruled in a 6-3 decision to reject Trump’s executive order that he issued on the first day of his presidency, with Chief Justice John Roberts writing for the majority, “Citizenship, then and now, was the right to have rights — to freely participate in our political community. The Framers of the Fourteenth Amendment extended that promise to every free-born person in this land. We keep that promise today.”
Trump responded to the court’s decision with a post on his social media platform, writing, “The Supreme Court upheld Birthright Citizenship, which is too bad for our Country, but we can easily make it up in Congress through Legislation, with the support of the President, that has now been determined during this process,” he wrote on his social media platform.
“No long and unwieldy Constitutional Amendment is necessary! Congress should start TODAY to work on ending expensive and unfair to our Country, Birthright Citizenship,” he added.
Birthright citizenship is rooted in both the Constitution and 1940 federal citizenship law. But even if the law were to be changed, this would likely be challenged in court on constitutional grounds with the possibility of the issue making its way back to the Supreme Court.
ABC News reached out to the White House for more information about how the president would use Congress as a workaround for the court’s decision and if he is prepared for the issue to potentially return to legal scrutiny, but the White House referred questions back to the president’s post.
On Monday, Trump said he would “accept” the results of the Supreme Court and acknowledged that “it’s up to them.”
In a subsequent post Tuesday, Trump again reiterated his desire to “correct” the birthright citizenship case in Congress while touting other cases that he won before the court.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, speaking at a House Republican news conference before Trump posted, said he was “very disappointed” with the decision and that Congress will look at amending the Constitution to address the issue.
“I think it subjects the country to serious challenges going forward and we’ll have to deal with it as a Congress,” Johnson said, saying the policy has been “grossly abused.”
“I’m sure we will continue to look at that. I’m sure the conclusion from this opinion is going to be you’ve got to amend the Constitution to fix that,” he said.
Johnson acknowledged a constitutional amendment would be “very complicated” and a “many-years-long process,” but said he thought it was likely the only way forward.
Amending the Constitution would take a two-thirds majority in both chambers of Congress ratification by three-quarters of the states.
William Durham is seen in a photo released by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. (North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation)
(WILKES COUNTY, N.C.) — A United States Postal Service letter carrier was murdered while delivering mail on her rural North Carolina route, authorities said.
Brandi Reynolds, a 35-year-old mother of two, was shot and found dead by responding authorities in Wilkes County, according to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. The incident occurred Friday afternoon, while she was on her route, according to the United States Postal Inspection Service.
William Craig Durham, 56, was subsequently arrested in connection with the deadly shooting and has been charged with first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping, court records show.
The charges allege that Durham restrained and kidnapped Reynolds “for the purpose of terrorizing” her and “did of malice aforethought kill and murder” her, according to a court filing. Authorities have not released any further information, including an alleged motive and any connection between the victim and suspect.
Durham is being held without bond following his initial court appearance on Monday, online records show.
The judge noted that Durham has a “significant criminal record,” a court filing shows. His prior convictions include second-degree kidnapping and possession of a firearm by a felon, according to court filings.
Durham’s attorney had no comment when contacted by ABC News.
The homicide investigation is being conducted jointly by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service said no additional information on the case is being released at this time amid the ongoing investigation.
“Our heartfelt sympathies go out to her family and co-workers,” the U.S. Postal Inspection Service said in a statement.
Reynolds was remembered as a friendly and dependable presence in the community.
“Outgoing, friendly, usually never missed a beat. We could count on her,” Julie Smith, who received mail from Reynolds along her route, told ABC Greensboro affiliate WXLV. “I think if you ask anybody in the community, they would probably tell you the same thing.”
“My heart broke for her family and for her children,” she said.
Reynolds is survived by two daughters, who were “her whole world,” her obituary noted.
Tragedy previously struck the family last year, when her husband, Brent Andrew Reynolds, died in a car crash in December 2025.
His obituary remembered him as a “loving and devoted husband, father, son, and brother,” and called Brandi his “soulmate” and their two girls the “light of his life.”
Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. (R-NJ) arrives at the U.S. Capitol on June 30, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
(WASHINGTON) — Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey arrived back on Capitol Hill on Tuesday after a nearly four-month absence, and announced on the House floor that he received a depression diagnosis that led to an extended hospital stay.
“Now, when people hear the word ‘depression,’ many people think, simply feel, it means feeling sad, but depression is so much more than that,” Kean said. “It is physical, it is emotional, and until you experience it yourself, it is difficult to fully understand how powerful this illness can be.”
Kean said he wanted to get back to Congress as quickly as possible, understanding the importance of representing his constituents, but ultimately decided to follow his doctor’s recommendations to stay under their care.
“The doctors recommended that I remain in the hospital to address my illness. They explained to me that this would be the fastest way to recovery, and to be honest, I was hesitant. I didn’t think that I had time for it. I had responsibilities to my family, I had responsibilities to my constituents, I had responsibilities to this institution, and like many people, I believed that I could simply push through, but I agreed to follow my doctor’s recommendations again, not believing that it would result in a long-term stay,” he said.
Kean has not voted in the House since March 5, missing more than 100 roll call votes during his time away.
The congressman had not publicly addressed the reason for his absence prior to Tuesday, raising questions on his whereabouts.
During his absence, Kean won the Republican primary (where he was unopposed) in his reelection bid and received President Donald Trump’s endorsement. Kean will face Democrat Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, in November for New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, a toss-up district Democrats hope to flip.
Kean, on Tuesday, did not answer multiple questions from reporters on why he didn’t communicate with his constituents earlier about his health issues.
In his floor remarks, Kean said he believed he would’ve been back on Capitol Hill in a few weeks, but soon began to realize that there is “no timeline for healing, there is no timeline for recovery, only the work of getting better one day at a time.”
“Today I am grateful that I listened to my doctors. I am grateful for the exceptional care that I received from doctors, nurses, and support staff. I am grateful that I accepted help, because today I stand before you healthier, stronger, and excited to return to the work that I love,” he said.
He then thanked his family, staff, constituents, and medical team for their care and understanding, going on to advocate that “asking for help is not a weakness, it is a strength.”
“This is not a partisan issue. It touches every community, every family and every corner of this country. If sharing my story encourages even one person to seek help, if it gives one family the courage to have a difficult conversation or reminds one person that recovery is possible, then this moment will have been worthwhile,” he said as he concluded his speech.
If you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You will reach a trained crisis counselor for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also go to 988lifeline.org.
