Watch live: Trump holds news conference

President Trump is speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday ahead of the holiday weekend. The news conference comes a day after an article in The Atlantic alleged he had called American service members who died fighting “suckers” and “losers,” which Mr. Trump has denied. 

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Friday strongly denied The Atlantic's report, saying it was based on “four cowardly anonymous sources, who probably do not even exist.” Fox News confirmed large portions of the story Friday afternoon.

On Friday afternoon, the president was asked if he regretted his Trump: McCain only a war hero because he was captured, when he said he likes people who didn't get captured. The president turned down the opportunity.

“Look, I say what I say, and I never got along with John McCain … I wasn't a fan,” the president said, adding he “disagreed with many of his views” on wars in the Middle East. 

How to watch President Trump's news conference today

• What: President Trump holds a news conference 

  

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• Date: Friday, September 4

• Time: 5:30 p.m. ET

• Location: The White House, Washington, D.C.

• Online stream: Live on CBSN — in the player above and on your mobile or streaming device.

Earlier Friday, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper did not directly refute the report, saying only that Mr. Trump “has the highest respect and admiration for our nation's military members, veterans and families. That is why he has fought for greater pay and more funding for our armed forces.”

Meanwhile, USA Today reported Friday that the Pentagon plans to shut down the military newspaper Stars and Stripes by September 30. The publication dates back to the Civil War.

Mr. Trump tweeted Friday that the funding to the military newspaper Stars and Stripes will not be cut “under my watch.”