The 26yearold driver charged with murder, telling police he was hoping they would shoot him. Force of nature. Former fox news star, bill oreilly, pays tribute to the mou founder and claims public hatred killed his friend. How robert ailes death will affect the lawsuits against that network. Pippa middleton, famously a bridesmaid becoming a bride this weekend. Why a big event is putting another royal coup until the spotlight, today, friday, may 19th, 2017. From nbc news, this is today, with matt lauer and savannah guthrie. Live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. And good morning, everyone. Welcome to today on a friday. Lets go back out there for one second. We have a great crowd outside because we have a great concert in our 8 30 half hour. Mary j. Blige had is here. One of the viewers had the arms up, stronger. But first, President Trump embarking on his First International trip. It will stand as a test abroad for the commander in chief. And it comes as his administration wrestles with controversies here at home. Our team will break it all down. Lets start with Peter Alexander at the white house this morning. Peter, good morning. Reporter good morning. Good friday. President trump set to take off today for that complicated first foreign trip, includie ining highstakes meetings with key alies. He hopes to leave the domestic turmoil in its wake, even as the investigation between trump aides and operatives, have gone from a counterintelligence to a criminal investigation. Ahead of his first foreign trip, the president at home with his lawyers. Following the appointment of Robert Mueller, hired a watergate prosecutor to investigate alleged contacts between the Trump Campaign and russia. The spire thientire thing ha witch hunt. Theres been no collusion between myself and my campaign. I can always speak for myself and the russians, zero. Reporter challenged if he asked ousted fbi director, james comey, to shut down the investigation into michael flynn. No. No. Next question. Reporter and this morning, signs of a rift between the Vice President and the white house. After officials here denied a New York Times report as flat wrong, that flynn told trump transition officials, weeks before entering the white house, that flinn was under investigation as a paid lobbyist for turkey. The Vice President in march. Hearing that story was the first i heard of it. Pence remains he was unaware of flynns ties with turkey. If the white house knew and didnt tell pence, its ma malpractice or intentional. And either is not acceptable. Mr. Trump is standing by his former aide. According to yahoo news, late last month, flynn told loyalists, i just got a message from the president to stay strong. I look forward reporter trump, thursday, offering an evolving explanation why he fired the director in his campaign. Director comey was very unpopular with most people. I thought when i made that decision and i also got a very, very strong recommendation, as you know, from the Deputy Attorney general, rod rosenstein. Reporter one week after telling lester holt i was going to fire regardless of recommendation. Reporter rod rosenstein, on capitol hill thursday, for a closed door briefing with all 100 senators. He knew that comey was going to be removed prior to him writing his memo. Reporter back here at the white house, President Trump says he is close to choosing the next fbi director. And named former senator Joe Lieberman as a finalist. This morning, still unclear whether trump will make that pick announcement before he leaves for the extended foreign trip today. Several Lawmakers Said that the job should not go to a politician. Back to you, matt and savannah. Peter alexander, thanks. Lets turn to nicolle wallace, host of deadline white house. Along with us, steve kornacki. Happy friday. Six months of news, stashed into a week. Maybe ten days. Groundhog day. Yesterday, we were talking, nicolle, and you were saying, the appointment of the special prosecutor can be an opportunity for the white house because it could be a pageturner. The special prosecutor is doing his work. We wont get involved in that. Now, were going about the peoples business. But thats not what happened yesterday. Its not what happened because it seems the president is not capable of doing. Its what republicans like marco rubio was able to do when he was asked about the special counsel. Its textbook politics. When its taken out of your control, turn it into a virtue. But this president seems incapable of letting things go. On that subject, appointing a special counsel, good news bad news for democrats. It ramps up the pressure on the white house. If youre a democrat on the white house intelligence committee, you wanted a lot of key witnesses to come in and raise their right hand in public hearings and you wanted to drive headlines with that. You have less of an ability to do that. They were counting on having the highlypublic hearings. A lot will play out behind the scenes. As a democrat, you have two dates coming up. A special election in montana next week. In georgia, a few weeks later. Both republican seats, traditionally. If the democrats get one of those, they will feel things are in their favor politically. He said theres no collusion, he said repeatedly. Then, he said, i can speak for myself. Is that an ominous line if you are one of the names bandied about . It was a trumpian line. Donald trump walks into every setting thinking how things affect him. Ive been suspicious to the idea that loyalty is what links him to michael flynn. He has not known to be loyal. He didnt feel loyalty to bring surrogates into the administration. It makes the flynn affinity so suspicious. You know the expression, theres no place like home . Donald trump takie ining off on trip. Is he thinking, theres in place like the road . Weve seen this with president s in the past, when they hit turmoil domestically, thats a good time to have an overseas trip. With donald trump, it raises the possibility of changing the subject. Donald trump, weve seen has violated a lot of conventions of the white house. Lets see what he does overseas. Another headline of the week, that roger ailes, the founder of fox news, that turned it into a force, not only in news, but in politics, died at the age of 77 yesterday. Your thoughts . If you were a victim of his alleged Sexual Harassment, there was nothing redeeming about the map. But if you worked in republican politics over the last two decades, there was no one with more influence. The advice he gave for the presidency, was you hunt or youre hunted. He was a cutthroat relic of an era that defined republican politics for two decades. Former president bush tweeted about him. Said he wouldnt have won the election without roger ailes. Thanks for your take on it. Were learning about the driver that is charged in thursdays horrific scene in times square. Chilling Surveillance Video showing that car slamming into a crowd of pedestrians, killing a young tourist, injuring 22 others. Nbcs Thomas Roberts is in times square for us. Good morning to you. Reporter good morning to you. Richard rojas is the man charged with murder, attempted murder and aggravated vehicular homicide. He spent the night in bellevue under psych evaluation. Telling police, he heard voices to cause this strike. Some of the video youre about to see is graphic. At noon thursday, times square erupted with fear. You have a car running people over. We have multiple people injured. Notify everyone. Reporter in one of the countrys busiest areas. A speeding car, seen in this Surveillance Video, jumping the curb. Plowing down a sea of pedestrians for 3 1 2 blocks, until crashing finally into a traffic pole, seen in this sloweddown video. Whatever it was, it wasnt slowing down. People got stuck on the car, as he was driving up. Reporter witnesses captured the scene from the ground. Two vuk times right now. Reporter and from the rooftops. Oh, my god. Reporter Alyssa Elsman killed, news of her death hitting home. She was a thoughtful, really bright, pleasant young lady, that every interaction i had with her was positive. Reporter her 13yearold sister alongside here, wounded, along with nearly two dozen others. The driver fleeing into a panicked crowd was quickly taken into custody. Identified as 26yearold richard rojas. Sources telling nbc news, he had a dishonorable discharge from the navy and history of dwis. Rojas has a possible history of psychiatric problems and told police he heard voices. What were you thinking today . Reporter testing negative for alcohol, he admitted to smoking marijuana before the incident and did test positive for drugs. Police say theres no link to International Terrorism in this case but are looking into whether it was deliberate. After recent attacks using vehicles in berlin, nice and london, police are on high alert. We know the times were living in. We know its a dangerous moment in history. Thank god, based on what we know now, theres no indication this was an act of terror. Reporter so, we can also report that police are saying that rojas wanted to be shot by police. So, some would say he was suicidal, wanting to commit this crime and be killed by the officers, once captured or in capture. One thing we can report, matt and savannah, that times square is slowly getting back to normal. This is the time of day, heavy traffic of folks going to work. This investigation is still ongoing. They were able to move that vehicle and other parts of that vehicle overnight here in times square. But people remain onedge. Back to you. Thomas roberts for us in times square. A major legal victory for wikileaks founder, julian assan assange. They have dropped the Sexual Assault case that kept him in an embassy for the last five years. But hes not a free man. Bill neely in london with the latest on this. Good morning. Reporter good morning, savannah. Its been a sevenyear standoff between sweden and julian assange. Five of the years he spent resisting extradition. Swedens prosecutor saying hes dropping the case against the wikileaks founder, who was wanted over rape allegations he has denied. Shes said hes not been proven guilt or innocent. But the evasion of the law had been a factor in her decision to drop the case. Assange tweeted a picture of himself after the news looking happy. His lawyer saying, this is a victory for him. Weve won. Hes happy and relieved. Is he free . He is in Ecuadors Embassy in london. But police are butdutybound to arrest him for jumping bail. On this is as sang possible extradition to the u. S. , where he could be found guilty of leaking military and diplomatic documents. Jeff sessions said previously that arresting mr. Assange would be a priority. And many in the u. S. Want him punished harshly. But its not clear the british can extradite him to the u. S. , certainly not on a minor charge. Or that u. S. Officials are seeking his arrest because of a possible sealed indictment. Well, assanges swedish lawyer said assange would fly to ecuador if he could, to enjoy his political asylum. And ironically, chelsea manning, the army private who leaked the secrets to wikileaks was released from prison. But theres no sign that assange will follow her to freedom by leaving his rooms at the embassy here in london. Bill neely, a lot of pieces to that puzzle. Thank you very much. Theres a new controversy surrounding the sudden and unexpected death of rock star Chris Cornell. Sheinelle is here with that story. Reporter good morning. The 52yearolds death has been ruled a suicide by medical examiner in michigan. Overnight, cornells family pushed back at that finding. This morning, shock and sadness over the death of soundgarden front man, Chris Cornell. The medical examiner in detroit, said that cornell, one of the architects of the 1990s alternative rock, known as grunge, killed himself by hanging on thursday. But cornell who was found dead, refuted that chris knowingly and intentionally killed himself. The family saying, without toxicology tests completed they cant be sure what led to his death. Overnight, tributes pouring in. In seattle, the citys famed space needle went dark for an hour. Celebrities sent condolences via social media. Elton john tweeting, shocked and saddened by the sudden death of Chris Cornell. A great sing writer, and the loveliest man. Billy idol writing, sad to here of Chris Cornell passing. And a eulogy reading, i love you, brother. Thank you for your friendship, your humor and intellect and your unmatch matched talent. Your beautiful voice will always be in my heart. God bless you and your family. According to the familys lawyer, he had a prescription for an antianxiety drug. In a statement, cornells wife spoke to him after the show, and he told her he may have taken an extra pill or two. Guys . Sheinelle, thank you very much. Lets turn to the weather now. A lot of folks are facing the threat of severe storms today. It is in the same area we saw yesterday. Oklahoma, for example, where we did see really torrential downpours. Look at the cars trying to drive through the flooded waters. Something you shouldnt do. Wind damage was a big issue with trees toppling on to homes. And look at this lightning video. Its hard to capture. But the video managed to do it there. That filled up the sky. Were going to see more of the same type of weather today. Several reported tornadoes, no reports of significant damage. Today, though, were looking at more tornadoes possible. A severe thunderstorm watch in and around st. Louis. You see the lines of storms, moving through that area. We have some storms training to the northwest of san angelo, texas. We could see flooding, as well. From indianapolis right down through central texas, we could see large hail, damaging winds and isolated tornados. Our best chance of tornadoes in orange, southcentral oklahoma into northcentral texas. Into northcentral texas. Thats a hi guys. Its great to be here. In the desert. Into northcentral texas. Thats a at the mall. On the mountain. At school. At the beach. Hi, guys. Great to be here at the desert. At the mall. Today i want to show you guys the equinox. Overbearing. Its not too big. Not too small. It looks like it can go offroading. But at the same time, it looks like a car you can take to a nice event. You can dress it up or dress it down. Seems like the perfect car for anybody. I would take it anywhere. I want one. I love it. Shes a bad mama jama. Chevy stepped their game up. Good morning. Im meteorologist bill henley. A muggy morning, another hot afternoon. 90 degrees in philadelphia. Theres a chance well see scattered showers and thunderstorms in filled. Isolated storms in philadelphia. Isolated storms in the suburbs. 89 this afternoon and up to 90 for new jersey. The chance of afternoon storms, well hit 85 with sunny skies for the jersey shore. Lehigh valley and delaware close to the 90degree mark. Keep an eye on the sky later today for a chance of storms in delaware. Have a great day. And thats your latest forecast. Dylan, thank you. We have we have news from o. The u. S. Military carried out a strike in syria on wednesday, in what is believed to be the first direct confrontation between u. S. Forces and fighters loyal to syrian president ba shash al asad. It was launched because the syrians posted a direct threat to u. S. And rebel forces. No word on casualties. There was a frightening ferris wheel accident in washington state. Three riders fell about 15 feet on to a metal landing after one of the bucket seats flipped over. It happened at a festival in port town send. Officials have shut down the ride while Police Investigate what happen. Coming up, how roger ailes sudden death affects the Sexual Harassment scandals that have rocked fox news. And bill oreillys take on what he says killed his former boss. And then, floridas very large python problem. The passive snakes taking over the everglades. An thed just ahead, one moms creative way to rock her baby that started a debate between parents. And mary j. Blige brings her powerful and soulful slois to our why not give professionalyou the day off . Amateuryou has got this its just an open house. 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Food as it should be. It delivers a whole mouth clean with a less intense taste. Zero alcohol™. So it has the bad breath germkilling power of this. [rock music] with the lighter feel. Of this. [classical music] for a whole mouth clean with a less intense taste. Ahhh. Try listerine® zero alcohol™. Also try listerine® pocketpaks for fresh breath on the go. Good morning. Im vai sikahema. Just about 7 30. It is already in the low to mid 70s. Well get right to meteorologist bill henley with your most accurate forecast. Bill . Yeah, theyre on their way up. Headed back to the 90degree mark this afternoon, which is three in a row for philadelphia. It means a heat wave. 72 now in the suburbs. Lehigh valley, bright sunshine, 72 and 73 in new jersey. The 73 is 90 degrees this afternoon. Theres also a chance well see isolated showers and thunderstorms in philadelphia, the suburbs, into delaware and south jersey. At the shore, meantime, cooler there. Still warm. 85 degrees today. Thank you. Lets check the roads with nbc10 first alert traffic reporter Jessica Boyington looking at 95. Right. Watching 95. Cameras around gerard avenue. The northbound side dealing with problem