ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - April 9, 2026

David Muir, ABC's World News Tonight, America's. most watched newscast. Now streaming same day with all the breaking news of. the day on Disney Plus. Most watched, most trusted. Now on Disney Plus every night. Tonight, the breaking news as we come on the air involving. First Lady Melania Trump. Late today, the First Lady coming before the. cameras at the White House to make a statement, denying ties to Jeffrey Epstein, saying Epstein did not. introduce her to the president, and saying Epstein's victims.

should still have the right to testify before. Congress if they choose. You will hear from the First Lady directly. And why now? We'll go live to Mary Bruce at the White House. President Trump, meanwhile, in this shaky ceasefire with Iran, now being tested tonight, only three known ships passing. through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's demands tonight involving Israel. But a source is now telling ABC News what President Trump. told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. We'll go live to Ian Pannel.

The other news tonight, a major turn, the search for a missing. American wife and mother. Her husband saying she fell out of the boat and was swept away. Tonight he's now under arrest and what we've learned. Tonight the verdict, the husband and doctor accused of trying. to kill his wife on a hiking cliff, trying to inject her. with a syringe, what the jury decided and the scene in that. courtroom. Tonight, the ISIS inspired gunman. entering that class of ROTC cadets opening fire. And now we hear from the. cadets who took him down during that attack and.

the instructor, an army helicopter pilot and his. bravery in those moments before he lost his life. The heroin called a 911 tonight, a woman trapped. inside her vehicle sinking. I'm in the lake. I'm gonna die. I'm not gonna sweat authorities racing to the scene. Tonight, the countdown to splashdown, the astronauts on. Artemis 2 returning, facing one of the most dangerous. moments yet, re-entering the Earth's atmosphere. Tonight, what will happen to the capsule, the parachutes, the heat the capsule will face, and then the team. waiting in the ocean off California for their homecoming.

In New York City, a former police sergeant. who threw a cooler at a suspect who then crashed. on a scooter dying, that sergeant sentenced tonight. This evening, the throwing calls for a school board member. to step down after telling a female student at a board. meeting she was hot. What that board member is now saying tonight. And a Jeopardy! contestant looking to keep his. streak alive tonight. The history he has already made, his story, right here tonight. (upbeat music).

From ABC News World Headquarters in New York, this is World News Tonight with David Muir. Good evening, we begin tonight here. with the breaking news. First Lady Melania Trump, the first lady coming. before the cameras at the White House this. afternoon to make a statement denying any ties. to Jeffrey Epstein, saying Epstein did not. introduce her to the president. And the first lady saying Epstein's victims. still have the right to testify before Congress. if they choose, that they should be heard. The first lady insisting she had quote,

"never been friends with Epstein "and was never a. victim of Epstein's.". And what she's now saying about emails she exchanged. with Epstein's convicted accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell. Those emails were leased in the Epstein files. Tonight, the first lady and what she said this afternoon. ABC's Mary Bruce, leading us off from the White House. - Late this afternoon, the extraordinary moment. at the White House. - Good afternoon. First Lady Melania Trump coming before the cameras to deny. she had any relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Accusing unnamed people of quote looking to cause damage.

to her good name the lies Linking me with the. disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein. Need to end today the first lady insists Epstein. and his accomplice convicted sex trafficker. Galen Maxwell were not her friends. I never been friends with Epstein. Donald and I were invited to the same parties as. Epstein from time to time. To be clear, I never had a relationship with.

Epstein or his accomplice. Maxwell, the first lady addressing the emails she. exchanged with Maxwell released as part of the Justice. Department's Epstein files. In October 2002, Melania Trump writing, "Dear G, how are you? "Nice story about J.E. and NY Mag. "You look great on the picture. "I know you are very busy flying all over the world. "How is Palm Beach? "I cannot wait to go down. "Give me a call when you are back in NY. "Have a great time.

"Love, Melania.". My e-mail reply to Maxwell cannot be categorized. as anything more than casual correspondence. The first lady emphatic that Epstein did not introduce her. to her husband, the president. I am not Epstein's victim. Epstein did not introduce me to Donald Trump. I met my husband by chance at the New York City party in 1998.

She says she had no knowledge of Epstein's crimes. I have never had any knowledge of Epstein's. abuse of his victims. I was never involved in any capacity. was not a participant, was never on Epstein's plane, and never. visited his private island. The president has called the Epstein story a hoax. I know it's a hoax. It's started by Democrats.

Urging Americans to move on. I think it's really time for the country to get onto. something else, really. But today, the first lady declaring it's time to, quote, "work openly and transparently to uncover the truth. Now is the time for Congress to act. Epstein was not alone. Melania Trump saying all of Epstein's victims. should have a chance to testify. Each and every woman should have her day. to tell her story in public if she wishes.

And then her testimony should be permanently entered. into the congressional record. Then, and only then, we will have the truth. - Again, David, this was really extraordinary. The president here behind closed doors. dealing with this fragile ceasefire. while the first lady, who rarely comes before cameras, took center stage. We've asked the White House if the president agrees with her. that Epstein's victims should testify before Congress,

but so far, no response. All right, Mary Bruce on the first lady tonight. Mary, thank you. And as you mentioned, Mary, meanwhile, the president tonight and the shaky ceasefire. with Iran now being tested. Only three known ships passing through. the Strait of Hormuz today. Iran's demands tonight involving Israel now. Tonight, what a source is now telling ABC News. what President Trump told Israeli Prime Minister. Benjamin Netanyahu. Here's Ian Pannel from the region again tonight. Tonight, nearly 48 hours after President Trump. called for that ceasefire with Iran, the number one condition,

to open the Strait of Hormuz immediately. Tonight, it would appear just three cargo ships getting. through that critical passageway today where 20% of the world's. oil remains at a standstill tonight, showing just how. fragile this truce is. And the president late today saying, quote, "Iran's doing. a very poor job, dishonorable some would say of allowing oil. to go through the Strait of Hormuz. The president adding, "This is not the agreement. we have.". The regime saying it'll keep control.

of the vital waterway, but before the president started. this war, there was unfettered access through the Strait. Iran did not control it. And tonight, Iran saying part of the US ceasefire. deal is not being met, pointing to Israel's sweeping. and deadly attacks in Lebanon. Trump insisting Lebanon isn't part of the ceasefire deal. But Iran says it is, calling Israel's attacks on Lebanon. a violation of the truce. A source telling ABC News, President Trump. told Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.

to scale back the strikes and open direct talks with Lebanon. Netanyahu today agreeing to hold talks in the coming days. Overnight, Vice President J.D. Vance making it clear to Iran, Lebanon isn't part of the deal. If Iran wants to let this negotiation fall apart. in a conflict where they were getting hammered over Lebanon, which has nothing to do with them. and which the United States never once said. was part of the ceasefire, that's ultimately their choice. We think that would be dumb, but that's their choice.

And tonight, with this truce wavering, Gas prices in the US now at $4.16 a gallon, up. $1.20 since the war began. And US crude oil just under $100 per barrel. With the Strait of Hormuz still largely at a standstill tonight, two days since the ceasefire was announced. David, the ceasefire looking shaky. The number one issue for President Trump was. the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, but. tonight's limited ships are getting through and Iran remains.

in control. >> David in panel from the region again tonight and thank. you we do move on to the other major news tonight and a turn in. that search for a missing American wife and mother in the. Bahamas. Her husband saying she fell out of that boat and was. swept away tonight that husband is now under arrest and what. we've learned Victor kendo from the Bahamas. >> Tonight, the husband of Lynette hooker the 55 year-old. American mother who went missing in the Bahamas now. under arrest and in police custody. Authorities saying overnight, Brian Hooker.

is being questioned in connection with his wife's. disappearance. Brian has not been charged. It comes just hours after he posted a statement. online saying in part, I am heartbroken over the. recent boat accident that caused my beloved Lynette. to fall from our small dinghy. Ryan told police the couple together for more. than 20 years was returning to their sailboat on. Saturday evening from Elbow Key when their 8.5 ft. dinghy encountered poor weather. Ryan says Lynette fell overboard. along with the boat's key swept away in the current.

Ryan saying he was forced to paddle back to shore, alerting police about her disappearance four. a.m. Sunday. Lynette's daughter, Carly Aylsworth, skeptical about her stepfather's account. I don't feel like she would just fall out or bounce out. It's just not adding up to me, so I would just. like a thorough investigation. Tonight, ABC News obtaining a 2015 police report. showing Lynette was taken into custody and jailed. after authorities say she repeatedly.

struck Brian in the face. Carly sharing this voicemail, she. says her stepfather left her after her mother vanished. of the lining. They have found a flotation device. that I threw to mom when she fell overboard. David, we are outside the central police station in. Freeport. Brian Hooker's attorney tells us he is now. being held inside and that he categorically and. unequivocally denies any wrongdoing. David Victor Akendo with us again. tonight. Victor, thank you. Tonight, the guilty verdict, the husband and doctor. accused of trying to kill his wife on that hiking.

cliff in Hawaii, trying to inject her with a syringe. What the jury found him guilty of and the reaction. in that courtroom. Here's Trevor Ault tonight. The Hawaii anesthesiologist accused of trying to kill. his wife during a hike on her birthday has been. found guilty. We the jury in this case finds the. defendant guilty of attempted manslaughter. based upon extreme mental or emotional disturbance. Dr Gerhardt Koenig burying his face in his hands. after he heard the verdict. Prosecutors argued Koenig was obsessed.

with an alleged emotional affair his wife Ariel had. had with a coworker. They say he tried pushing her off this steep cliffside, then tried injecting her with a syringe. before bashing her head with a jagged rock. I'm saying, "What the. (beep) are you doing? "Get off me.". And he's saying like, "(beep) you, you're done.". Dr. Koenig testified he only hit his wife in self-defense. after she attacked him first. You reacted to defend yourself in the heat of that moment. You said yes?

Yes. But the jury heard. bombshell testimony from Koenig's. 20-year-old son, Emil, who said his dad called. him and confessed. That Aerie, my stepmom, had been cheating on him, and that he tried to kill her. The jury convicted the doctor of a lesser charge, attempted manslaughter based upon. extreme mental or emotional disturbance, which the jury foreperson said the couple both. testified to. Both of them both agreed that there was some. emotional disturbance in their relationship.

David dr konig sentencing is set. for august with his lesser charge. Now, instead of facing potentially life. in prison, he faces a maximum of 20 years. David Trevor, all reporting. tonight. Thank you, Trevor. We turn now to the Isis inspired gunman who entered. a class of ROTC cadets opening fire. Tonight we now hear from the cadets who. took him down during that attack and the instructor. and army helicopter pilot and his bravery before. he lost his life. Here's Pierre Thomas. Tonight for the first time we hear the.

riveting accounts of those ROTC cadets who stopped. an ISIS sympathizer from slaughtering their class. It's just before 11 a.m. and Muhammad Jallo shows up at a classroom at. Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. He asked, you know, is this the ROTC classroom? I said, I was like, yeah, like we're ROTC. Then all hell breaks loose. He pulled out his gun. It was a Glock 44, 22 caliber. And shouted "Allahu Akbar" and began shooting.

The ROTC instructor, Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shaw, an Army. helicopter pilot who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, sprang into action. Colonel Shaw lunges at the guy and starts. wrestling with him upright. Two of the students had knives. So I just go in there, just start stabbing him. We're all in a pile. And because he's still a threat, I'm still stabbing him.

-We tried to get the gun away from him, and he wasn't letting go of the gun. And I just happened to have a knife on me at the time, and Chad and I, we were, like, neutralized this guy. -David, one of the students who stabbed the suspect. was shot in the chest, but he's doing just fine. Colonel Shaw, who was also shot, died. David, he was awarded the Purple Heart in death. -Pierre Thomas with us tonight. Thank you, Pierre. We turned out of the harrowing 911 call a woman. trapped inside her sinking vehicle calling for help. as it was filling with water.

Here's Molly Lengy. tonight, the heart pounding race to save a driver. trapped as her pickup truck sinks in a retention pond. outside of Tampa, Florida. Cars for some Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputies. reaching the water just minutes after getting this. desperate 911 call. I'm in the lake. I'm gonna drive. I don't know how to swim. Please. I'm gonna drop. I lost control of vehicle and it fell in. Please. Are you able to open the door?

The woman telling the dispatcher she's. running out of time. I cannot swim. I cannot swim. It's been a little bit water. Okay, I have help coming. You can hear those deputies in the water. trying to get inside. I got it. Moments later, a team on shore helping to pull the. woman and her rescuers to safety. Well, David, the sheriff's department. says the driver only suffered minor injuries. It seems the quick response here made all the. difference. David Mola Lengy with us tonight.

Mola, thank you tonight. The countdown to splash down the. return of four astronauts on board Artemis to. splashdown expected at about 8 0 7 eastern. tomorrow night. Of course, will be on the air with. live coverage of the whole thing. The journey home reentering the earth's. atmosphere is always the most harrowing. The intense heat that capsule will. face and the parachutes that will carry them to the. ocean. The country waited to celebrate them when. they arrive home. Here's what johnson tonight. tonight after that historic liftoff captivated humans.

around the world and And those stunning images beam. back during their journey around the far side of the moon. It is absolutely spectacular. The four Artemis astronauts are on track to splash down off. the coast of Southern California tomorrow night around. 8 p.m. Eastern time. Overnight as they begin their journey back, pilot Victor. Glover on the final hurdle to get home. At one of the first press conferences we were asked, "What. are we looking forward to?". and I said, "Splashdown," and it's kind of humorous, but it's literal as well that we have to get back.

-Those astronauts all know what now comes. as one of the most dangerous parts of spaceflight. Before they reach the Earth's atmosphere, first, the Orion spacecraft will separate from the module. that's been powering it, revealing Orion's. all-important heat shield that will protect the astronauts. from the 5,000-degree heat that will be generated as Orion. enters Earth's atmosphere at about 24,000 miles per hour. The intense heat will knock out all contact with mission.

control for about six minutes. Then two sets of parachutes will deploy, ultimately slowing the. spacecraft to about 20 miles per hour and then about 13. minutes after reentering the atmosphere and after. traveling about 695,000 miles the splashdown in. the Pacific off Southern California. Right away the recovery team waiting in. the water will race to the capsule and bring the. astronauts to a nearby ship the USS John P. Mirtha which is already traveled out.

to sea. Teams on board have been running drills. preparing led by Lieutenant Commander Jesse Wang a. doctor. We do expect them to have some symptoms for. being in space for 10 days, most commonly. nausea, a little bit of vertigo or disequilibrium. as well as just being dehydrated, tired and. overnight, the astronauts already reflecting on. their history made when we watched that that earth. eclipse behind the moon. Wow, I'm actually getting chills right now.

Just think about my palms are. sweating. And David, so far the weather looks good. for splashdown. This final historic test as American. astronauts returned home from the moon for the. first time in more than 50 years. David wit. As you know, Americans at home can. watch it live right here on abc tomorrow. night. World News tonight friday, followed by our. live coverage right here. Artemis twos return beginning after the news. will come on around 7 30 p.m. Eastern right through at all here on ABC. When we come back tonight, a. lot more news ahead in new York City, a former police.

sergeant who threw a cooler at a suspect who then. crashed on a scooter, dying that sergeant now. sentenced tonight. Also tonight, the growing calls. for a school board member to step down after telling. a female student at a board meeting she was hot. But that board member is now. saying tonight about this. The stunning rescue, a minor trap for 14 days in a. flooded tunnel now pulled out alive and America. strong tonight. The jeopardy contestant looking to keep. his streak alive, the history he's already made. and what he's hoping to do tonight. His story in a moment tonight, a former.

new york city police sergeant who threw a cooler. at a fleeing suspect that suspect crashing his scooter. and dying. The former sergeant now sentenced to. 3-9 years in prison. Eric Durand's attorney tonight. saying he will appeal Tonight, a school board member. in northern Tennessee is facing calls to step down. Keith Irvin caught on a hot mic at a Washington County school. board meeting, telling a female student she was hot. The board voting to censure Irvin.

Tonight, he has apologized. He says his comments were taken out of context. When we come back here tonight, the minor trapped underground. in a flooded tunnel for 14 days, pulled out alive. and you'll see it and the Jeopardy contestant. tonight looking to make history what he's done. already in a moment. to the index tonight, a miraculous rescue in Mexico. searchers pulling the minor out alive. You've been trapped underground. for 14 days in that flooded tunnel. Another minor still missing tonight. this evening. All eyes on Jeopardy contestant Jamie.

ding the Detroit native going for 20 straight. wins tonight, which would put him in seventh place. on the all time leader board host Ken Jennings. of course is the all time leader. When we come back tonight, the astronauts. of course coming home and the one image going viral. tonight, you'll see it in a moment. tonight. The astronauts on their way home will carry. it live tomorrow night in this sweet image. Mom, Christina Turtle in Orlando capturing her son's. watching Artemis to launch Samuel and Joseph now. waiting for them to come home and so are we. I'll see you tomorrow.

Good night. David Muir, the most trusted anchor in. America, the most watched anchor in America. Thank Thank you for making World News. Tonight with David Muir the number one newscast in America.