Try to determine what it might mean for the thousands and thousands of transgender members of the military currently serving and sacrificing for our nation. We also expect to hear from the president in just minutes as he addresses the boys and girls American Legion groups after his wildly panned talk to the boy scouts what will he say this time . Lets get to it. First from the fox news deck, Senate Republicans are minute away from holding votes on healthcare. A live look at the floor with the voting will start in a half an hour. Republicans are looking to repeal large portions of obamacare. Actually, its defund them. Thats what they call it. Repeal them now as they put it and give lawmakers two years to get a replacement plan. Gop senators last night failed to approve a different healthcare measure. Nine republicans voted against that bill. Including senator Lisa Murkowski of alaska. She was one of only two republicans that voted against starting debate on a healthcare bill yesterday. Today President Trump went after her tweeting senator Lisa Murkowski of the great state of alaska let republicans and our country down yesterday. Too bad. The republican senator has criticized the gops proposed cuts to medicaid. The Program ProvidesHealth Insurance to low income americans, disabled people, patients and Nursing Homes and others. Kevin corke is live at the white house. Kevin . Shepard, i asked the press secretary, the newlyminted press secretary, Sarah Huckabee sanders, what the president would do if gop leaders on capitol hill came up with a repeal plan and they sent it to him and that plan didnt exactly go far enough in protecting medicaid. You mentioned it. A number of lawmakers have expressed great concern that if you cannot protect medicaid, why would you want to completely repeal the Affordable Care act . Heres part of her answer to me. The president has been clear he wants to protect those that are part of that program. But also very focused on repealing and replacing. Were working through the process. Excited about the progress made yesterday and were going to continue pushing forward until we get a new and better healthcare plan. Something new and better. We dont know what that looks like or sounds like. If you listen to lawmakers, theyre a long way from coming up with something that is new and better. Shepard . Shepard kevin, the president is attacking his attorney general yet again today. Another tweet. This time while sessions was actually in the white house. The president wrote why didnt attorney general sessions replace the acting fbi andrew mccabe, a comey friend in charge of the clinton investigation but got 700,000 for his wifes political run for Hillary Clinton and her representatives . Drain the swamp. This is a false claim. It was fails when he made it during the campaign and false today. His timeline is wrong, his claims are exaggerated and theres no evidence that Hillary Clinton knew anything about it. The Washington Post gave this president ial assertion four pinocchios. When the treat dropped, attorney general Jeff Sessions was in the white house. This is the third day in the row the president has criticized the attorney general on twitter. Yesterday in a News Conference in the rose garden, the president said he was disappointed in sessions and time will tell when it comes to his fate. Time will tell. President trump last week told the New York Times he would not have appointed sessions had he known he would recuse himself from the russia investigation. Again, his timeline is wrong. First, trump appointed him. Then the details of the russia investigation became public. Then the attorney general recused himself. Jeff sessions has said he plans to stay on as attorney general for as long as is appropriate and continue supporting the president s agenda whole heartedly. Attorney general sessions was the first senator to endorse candidate trump. The president down played the endorsement in an interview with the wall street journal newspaper. A company with which we share common ownership. President trump said he won sessions home state of alabama by massive numbers. So its not like a great loyal thing. That too is not untrue. Sessions is widely popular among conservatives in the south and more popular than the president himself there. Sessions endorsements gave trout cloud among strong conservatives and many of the conservatives are backing sessions over trump. Lindsey graham and ted cruz among them. Back to kevin corke at the white house. Very interesting setup there, shepard. I should add, keep in mind, it was Jeff Sessions coming into this position neglected to mention some of the meetings that he had with russian officials. So this idea about maybe i wouldnt have picked him doesnt add up. That being said, you heard Sarah Huckabee sanders ask again today, why not just fire him instead of be rating him on twitter consistently that weve seen . Heres what she had to say about that. I think the president has been very clear about where he is. Hes obviously disappointed, but also wants the attorney general to continue to focus on the things that the attorney general does. He wants him to lead the department of justice, he wants him to do that strongly, focus on things like immigration, leaks, a number of other issues. Thats what his focus is at this point. You heard her mention focus on leaks there, shepard. We understand the attorney general has in fact been focusing on figuring out where the leaks are coming from. Not just here at the white house but throughout the administration. Thats something that we could hear more about very soon, shepard. Shepard kevin, last year a study by the Rand Corporation found there were between 4,000 and 11,000 Transgender Service members in the active duty military and reserves. Last month, up to 250 of those were in the process of transitioning. Last year defense secretary ash carter announced all transgender members of the military will be treated the same as everyone else. Allowed to serve openly without prejudice. They would have the same rights to offer service and sacrifice for a country they love. Today on twitter, President Trump reversed that policy. He tweet ed thank you. After consultation with my generals and military experts, be advised that the United States government will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the u. S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with a tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you. But at least check, the policy allowing Transgender Service members was still up on the Defense Department website. Former secretary carter who noted the change in his policy last year released a statement. It reads in part heres how the current defense secretary james mattis responded in january. Do you believe that allowing lgbtq americans to serve in the military or women in combat is undermining our lethality . Frankly, i never cared much about two contenting adults and who they go to bed with. Shepard we have not heard from secretary mattis. Republican senator Lindsey Graham called for a hearing and said once he hears from military leaders, the move may make sense. Republican Congress Woman vicky heartsler of missouri treated to hear that real donald trump shares my readiness and cause concern and will changing this costly and damaging policy. Critics including the ranking democrat on the House Armed Services committee, adam smith, called the move flat out discriminatory. The senate Armed Services care john mccain said this is another example of why major policy announcements should not be made on twitter. He called the president s statement unclear and said any americans that want to serve and are able to serve should be treated as the patriots they are. Others are noting that the contrast between todays decision and a tweet that trump sent when he was a candidate. Thank you to the lgbtq community, i will fight for you where hillary brings more people that will threaten your freedoms and beliefs. Why the change . We dont really know. We know what he said. The white house says its about readiness. Analysts say its likely a play to his Political Base leaving trans warriors no directions about their careers. Kevin corke at the white house asked the press secretary about this today. Potentially thousands, by the way, as you point out, shepard, thousands potentially transgender warriors out there already serving. If youre alongside someone that is doing the job with a weapon, youre in a forwardfacing unit, does it matter . That was at the heart of a great many questions today and what about the notion of equal protection under the law and what message was the president trying to send . I asked Sarah Huckabee sanders that question here today. What is the message that hes attempting to send to them by making this shift in policy and if i could follow on that healthcare let me answer the first question. On that, the decision is based on a military decision. Its not meant to be anything more than that. Its simply about obviously its a difficult decision. Its not a simple one. The president feels its the best one for the military. Not a simple one. Apparently not one that has been fully fleshed out. You heard the press secretary say the white house will work with the pentagon and will work with the White House Counsels Office to making sure that the process is going to play out in the courts is handled in an expeditious way. I think the obvious question, shepard, why not do that first before rolling out the new policy. Thats one of many questions that well hear about this latest proclamation by twitter, shepard. Shepard kevin corke, thanks very much. President speaking as advertised to boys and girls. Its not in front of me. Here he is. And i want to congratulate you, what a job youve all done. Basically on all youve achieved at a very young age. Its incredible. For decades, the American Legion has brought the best and the brightest to the white house. This has taken place for many years. Each of you were chosen out of the many thousands of people that, you know, theyre all calling in, they want to get into the white house. Is anybody upset that here . No but youre all really happy that youre here, right . Yes [applause] you represent your state that is a very important element, too, a very important factor in getting here. You all share incredible talent and drive. Most importantly, you have each other to really work with and to help and you help each other, your teammates, you love our country. That is something that we all have in common. We love our country, right . [applause] why you come from all corners of our great landscape, youre all united by your devotion, total devotion to our Great American flag, our freedom and the principles that bind us together as one people and one nation. For more than a century, the American Legion has taught young citizens about the importance of patriotism and loyalty to our country and through it all, theres nothing like what youre doing today and what youve achieved over a very, very short period of time. We want to thank you and we want to thank the National Chapters and everybody else. We have to really give a special thanks to commander charles schmidt. Where is charles . [applause] come on up here, charles. What a great job. See . He wants to give you all the credit. Who served in the air force for 28 years and now advances the legions proud legacy. Thank you, charles. [applause] today were joined by president of the American Legion and auxiliary, mary davis. Where is mary . Hello. Come on up here. [applause] executive director that i know, verner jones. Come on, verner. Come on up. [applause] come on up, mary. Careful. I want to thank you for your commitment to these incredible students and our country. Thank you. I also want to honor bob turner who everyone really knows. [cheers applause] [chanting]. Wow thats pretty good, bob. Thats as good as i have ever heard. Fantastic. Come over here, bob. Be careful. We dont want to see bob go down. Do you agree with that . He will never forget that. This year bob is celebrating his 35th year helping to lead boys nation all as a volunteer. Thank you very much, bob. [applause] and bob, i know everyone here today agrees when i say thousands of Young Americans are better patriots because of your incredible and steadfast service, right, fellows . Right . [applause] through this program, countless young people like you have been inspired to protect american interests and to promote american values, right . Many of us that have been in your place have gone on to become governors, members of congress, generals and one even became a president. You know who that was . Bill clinton. Thats true. See . The American Legion has held this meeting for seven decades. Just think of the history that has occurred during that time when the first group of students met in 1946. That is an important day. You know why . Thats when i was born. I hate to admit it. [applause]. I hate to admit it. 1946. Oh, wow i shouldnt have said that, bob. Our nation had just welcomed home our brave heros whose spirit and courage achieved victory over tyranny in world war ii. Just over 20 years later, young men and women like you watched a man land on the moon and dreamed of new frontiers in space. In 1987, americans all across this nation joined their hearts with president Ronald Reagan in the hope, the prayer and the conviction that the berlin wall would crumble in the face of truth, justice and freedom. You know all about that. In each of these moments and so many others, america triumphed. We win. We know how to win, right . We win because of the spirit of our people. Believe me, thats a big part of it. Just think of the amazing moments in history you will witness during your lifetime. You saw one on november 8, right . [applause] that was a Pretty Amazing moment. Were doing a good job. Our country is doing so well now. Were doing a good job. You all happy . Yes [applause] because you have what it takes to be the leaders that will shape this future. Some of you may want to come back to the capitol some day. Youll be back, many of you, and help make the laws that will guide this nation. Govern our land. Others may choose to answer the call of duty, put on the uniform and risk everything for our nation and for our nations people. Still others may become business leaders, teachers, artists and inventors. We have them all. We have them all here today. Some of you dont even really know what it might be, but we have people that are going to be so successful, so incredible in their lives. Youre going to be happy. Do what you love. Do what you love. Follow what you love. So i want to just tell as you pour your whole heart into everything you do, really youre doing it for your family, youre doing it for your country, but youre also doing it for yourselves. Because ultimately you have to do it for yourself. Its better for your country and your country wants you to succeed so much. Theres no country like the United States of america and theres no country that can give you the kind of opportunity that we give you in the United States. [applause] being successful is about finding your purpose in life. And never ever giving up. You ever give up . No way. Does anybody here give up . No, sir what about here . No, sir youre right. And i think they mean it. I think they mean it. You were chosen for this program because you believe in americas future and because you have the ambition and the heart to ensure that america will always be victorious and will always prevail. Through boys and girls nation, youre learning the values that are necessary for a nation to endure and for a nation to thrive. Pride and our history, loyalty to our citizens and allegiance to our Great American flag. In the decades to come, youll help our nation reach new heights. Well be so proud of you. Discover new frontiers and strengthen the bonds of loyalty between our country and its people. It is my honor to meet with you all today and it was my greater honor to come out here early before the press got here to take all of those pictures that we took. I hope they send you the right pictures. [applause] and they will. As i look out at the audience, i see the next generation of american leaders. I see the promise of our future, i see the strength and love of the american spirit. Because of young like you, i am more confident than ever in the future of the United States. Together we will make america greater than ever before. I meet that. Make america greater than ever before. Were on our way. Were building up military, getting great job numbers. Best in 17 years. Best job numbers in 17 years. The enthusiasm for manufacturers and business is at just about the highest point since they started taking those tests. So i just want to tell you, go out there, go getem. I have no doubt youre going to every one of you be successful. Never quit, never give up. Always do what you love. Take great care of your family and your parents because we love your parents. You probably wouldnt be here without your parents. Right . [applause] so thank you again to the American Legion and congratulations to yo