Updated

This is a rush transcript from "Hannity," March 1, 2017. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

SEAN HANNITY, HOST: And welcome to "Hannity." And tonight, President Donald Trump's major address to Congress is receiving widespread praise, including from his toughest critics. And that is tonight's "Opening Monologue."

Now, President Trump's first address to a joint session of Congress was a very big moment. In my opinion, he knocked it out of the park. And he did so because he focused on his promises and key policy proposals.

Now, in a few moments, we'll get reaction from Laura Ingraham and Ann Coulter. But first, the commander-in-chief simply outlined all of the severe challenges, problems the country faces, then laid out his very bold solutions to fix the problems.

Let's take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: As promised, I directed the Department of Defense to develop a plan to demolish and destroy ISIS.

TRUMP: We will work with our allies, including our friends and allies in the Muslim world, to extinguish this vile enemy from our planet.

TRUMP: And we must support the victims of crime. I have ordered the Department of Homeland Security to create an office to serve American victims. The office is called VOICE, Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement.

TRUMP: My administration has answered the pleas of the American people for immigration enforcement and border security.

TRUMP: By finally enforcing our immigration laws, we will raise wages, help the unemployed, save billions and billions of dollars and make our communities safer for everyone.

TRUMP: Tonight, I am also calling on this Congress to repeal and replace ObamaCare...

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: ... with reforms that expand choice, increase access, lower costs, and at the same time, provide better health care.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

HANNITY: Now, in my lifetime, I've never seen a president so committed to keeping his promises the way President Trump is. Now, he's literally going down a list, checking them off one by one.

So now it's time for Congress to do their job, get moving, get up to the speed of Trump because the future of the country depends on their success. Now, that means repealing, replacing ObamaCare now, not at some point down the road, not repairing it, it's not repairable. That means getting the border wall built as soon as possible. That means slashing taxes, reforming the tax code immediately so that we can reverse the country's precipitous decline and put the millions of Americans that are out of the labor force, on food stamps, in poverty, back to work.

Now, President Trump talked about the economic mess that he inherited from the Democrats, an important point. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Tonight, as I outline the next steps we must take as a country, we must honestly acknowledge the circumstances we inherited. Ninety-four million Americans are out of the labor force. Over 43 million people are now living in poverty and over 43 million Americans are on food stamps. More than one in five people in their prime working years are not working. We have the worst financial recovery in 65 years. In the last eight years, the past administration has put on more new debt than nearly all of the other presidents combined.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: Now, one of the other major takeaways from last night's address was just the pathetic partisan politics displayed by the Democrats. They sat on their hands the entire night, including when the president talked about putting America first and actually creating jobs. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

TRUMP: America must put its own citizens first because only then can we truly make America great again.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: Since my election, Ford, Fiat Chrysler, General Motors, Sprint, Softbank, Lockheed, Intel, WalMart and many others have announced that they will invest billions and billions of dollars in the United States and will create tens of thousands of new American jobs.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

HANNITY: Really, Nancy? You couldn't stand or clap for creating jobs? Now, it just shows how much influence the alt-radical left now has over the Democratic Party, and more importantly, that the Democrats have zero interest in working with President Trump, even though he's trying to clean up the mess that they left from their failed leftist policies.

Now, that means the responsibility now to fix the country falls squarely on the shoulders of the Republicans in the House and the Senate. Now is the time they've got to lead.

Now, just take a look at the reaction to last night's speech from the American public. CNN had a poll, 78 percent of people had a positive reaction to the president's speech, 69 percent said the policies he had laid out would move the country in the right direction. CBS poll found the same thing, 76 percent of the people who watched approved of the speech, and over 60 percent said the address and made them feel more optimistic.

And take a look how the very tough well-respected colleague, fair and balanced newsman Chris Wallace -- listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

CHRIS WALLACE, HOST, "FOX NEWS SUNDAY": I thought it was by far the best speech I've ever heard Donald Trump give. It was one of the best speeches in that setting I've ever heard any president give.

WALLACE: I feel like tonight, Donald Trump became the president of the United States, that yes, of course, he got it 35, 38 days ago, 40 days ago, when he was sworn in. But so many Democrats didn't recognize him. I think tonight, whether they agree with him or didn't agree with him, he became the president of the United States, and everyone's going to have to accept that fact.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

HANNITY: Even Mr. Whitelash himself, Van Jones, who has repeatedly bashed President Trump -- he even praised the commander-in-chief for honoring the widow of fallen Navy SEAL Ryan Owens.

Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, CNN)

VAN JONES, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: He became president of the United States in that moment, period. There are a lot of people who have a lot of reason to be frustrated with him, to be fearful of him, to be mad at him. But that was one of the most extraordinary moments you have ever seen in American politics, period.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: So here's the bottom line. Tonight, President Trump now has the wind at his back. He has sincere, concrete plans to fulfill the promises he made to you, the American people. We'll hold him and Congress accountable. It's pretty simple. The GOP needs to come together and get these things done. The American people deserve that.

Here with reaction, author of The New York Times best-seller, "In Trump We Trust, E Pluribus Awesome," Ann Coulter. You loved -- I -- you loved that -- that moment.

(LAUGHTER)

HANNITY: They were hissing!

ANN COULTER, CONSERVATIVE COMMENTATOR: I think we got our ad for 2018, 2020, 2009 (INAUDIBLE) What is so great about that is it is the Democrats' natural reaction to hearing about the American victims of illegal immigrant crime. They didn't have time to think. They just think, Oh, screw those Americans! They probably deserved it.

No, they immediately automatically take the side of the illegal immigrant criminal. It was an astonishing revealing moment right there. And I don't think they're showing that on the other networks. They will pretend it didn't happen.

HANNITY: And the president mentioned a couple of instances last night. I interviewed -- I did a town hall with Donald Trump, then candidate Trump, with mothers whose sons were murdered by illegal immigrants.

COULTER: Right.

HANNITY: Nobody seems to ever want to talk about that part.

COULTER: Right! And it's worth pointing out also because everyone is lying about this. Everything he said in that speech last night he has been saying for 18 months, or however long since he came down the escalator and talked about Mexico sending rapists and drug dealers. Nothing was new in that.

And this idea that, Oh, suddenly, he looks like a president! No, this is the -- I mean, saying he's putting America first -- he's not running to be president of the world, president of the United States of America -- what would you say, he says to the Democrats, to the American family that's lost jobs, family members, income because we refuse to enforce our immigration laws. He's been saying this every speech! Where have you people been?

And the idea that -- they used to say this, that, oh, was -- What kind of State of the Union address will he give if he's sending out tweets like this? Well, come on. Everybody knows you speak differently to your boss than you to your child than you do to your mother. I always knew (INAUDIBLE) billionaire, and he knows how to behave. It was the same message he has been giving all along but delivered in a proper State of the Union format. And nobody else in that room, not Republicans or Democrats, could have given that speech!

HANNITY: Maybe earlier in the campaign, because it was so new, I didn't know how it would work out. I'm now the biggest fan of him tweeting. He actually had a great line. It's like owning your own newspaper!

(LAUGHTER)

HANNITY: And if you have a many followers as him -- he's getting more people reading his (INAUDIBLE) columns than any newspaper or any major newspaper -- group of newspapers combined.

COULTER: And it drives the left crazy. I see them over on MSNBC saying, Well, we took a poll, and you know, most people out in America say he shouldn't tweet so much. Yes, OK, you checked in the newsroom. I bet you don't want him to tweet so much. But yes, he can punch back through Twitter! And it's fun and it's funny, and I actually do really like him doing that.

But that speech last night -- I mean, there were so many revealing moments.  As you say, the Democrats sitting on their hands when he says we're going to stop drugs from coming into the country, when he...

HANNITY: Create jobs.

COULTER: ... (INAUDIBLE) bringing 10,000 jobs back! And they're sitting, scowling!  I mean, those women in white, those big sows, the most exercise they've gotten, they finally figure out, Oh, we've got to stand for this!  It's like Pilates for them!

That speech was -- it was fabulous...

HANNITY: Amazing!

COULTER: ... and they're not showing it on the other networks. I'm glad you're showing lots of clips from it because I was watching it, thinking what are they going to say about this? I mean, every line was a home run!  So they're just not showing it. This is what they did throughout the campaign. He would give a blockbuster speech...

HANNITY: Ignore it.

COULTER: ... like his speech in Phoenix, and their position is to just say, Trust us, America. You don't want to see it. It was dark. It was awful. And that's what we keep getting.

Look, there was nothing new here. It was a beautiful speech. He loves America. No one else could give this speech.

Oh, one little tip for the media. Stop asking him if he's softening on immigration.

HANNITY: He's not! He's in!

COULTER: All these rumors keep coming from reporters. It's the damndest thing because he has been very clear about how immigration -- the new lodestar of our immunity policy, will be the interests of the people who already live here, very clear point. How many different ways does he have to say it? And yet they just can't stop asking!

HANNITY: Are you worried...

COULTER: Look at it from the perspective of the poor illegal. No, we're looking at it from the perspective...

HANNITY: Are you worried about Republicans...

COULTER: ... of pure (ph) Americans!

HANNITY: ... in Congress?

COULTER: Oh, yes.

HANNITY: Me, too.

COULTER: Yes, there's only one senator who's desperately trying to become my favorite senator, Senator Tom Cotton. And actually, there are a fair number of House numbers. But no, those guys need to be...

HANNITY: Freedom Caucus.

COULTER: ... knocked around. I think so, though I'm not even -- I mean, I -- I don't know that many House members. But there seem to be a few good ones. But as I wrote last week, stop imitating Reagan and start imitating Donald Trump right now.

HANNITY: Yes. And it would be good for them politically, and the country gets turned around and our place in the world gets restored.

COULTER: I think they may end up getting some Trumpian primary challengers.

HANNITY: Oh, I think you're right.

COULTER: And you know I've always been against primary challenges...

HANNITY: Not anymore.

COULTER: ... to Republican safe seats. Now I -- I think they might want to open it up if they don't...

HANNITY: Step up.

COULTER: Yes.

HANNITY: All right, Ann Coulter, good to see you. Thank you.

COULTER: Good to see you.

HANNITY: Up next, President Trump reached across the aisle numerous times last night, asked the Democrats, work with Republicans on behalf of you, the American people. Will they stop being obstructionist? Don't hold your breath. Larry Elder, Ari Fleischer, Anthony Scaramucci will join us.

And also, later tonight...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL MOORE, FILMMAKER, ACTIVIST: That's why she's there... as a -- as a -- as a sort of a "F you" to the... people who are criticizing him for this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: Liberals lashing out at President Trump. Why? For honoring the widow of a fallen Navy SEAL. It doesn't get any lower than this. We'll have that and more straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Everything that is broken in our country can be fixed. Every problem can be solved. And every hurting family can find healing and hope.  Our citizens deserve this and so much more. So why not join forces and finally get the job done and get it done right?

(APPLAUSE)

TRUMP: Democrats and Republicans should get together and unite for the good of our country and for the good of the American people.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: President Trump called for unity last night, but it appears some Democrats wanted no part of that bipartisan message. Now, here are some liberal lawmakers reacting to the president's speech. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL D-MO.: Here's the thing that was weird about the speech to me.

But I think we've got to say this is a guy in a death struggle with the truth. This is a guy who embellishment is his best friend.

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER, D-N.Y., MINORITY LEADER: With this president more than any other, his speeches are detached from reality.

This speech will be forgotten in a day or two. And where's the action?

SEN. CORY BOOKER, D-N.J.: The policies that he's doing don't add up in any way to the grandiose statements that he's making. In fact, every time I -- I sat there listening to a lot of what he said, and I felt like it was mendacity, it was a betrayal of many of the things -- many of the people that convinced to vote for him in my state.

TOM PEREZ, DNC CHAIRMAN: This was Steve Bannon on steroids with a smile.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: Joining us with reaction, Salem nationally syndicated radio talk show host Larry Elder, who's laughing, and former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer and Trump transition executive committee member and the founder of Skybridge Capital, Anthony Scaramucci is with us.

Why are you laughing, Larry?

LARRY ELDER, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Well, you know, if you are Trump-hating lefty, it seemed to me it's awfully difficult to watch a speech where you're talking about infrastructure spending, talking about paid maternity leave, talking about ensuring that people with preexisting illnesses get covered. It's awfully hard to watch that speech and call him a hateful racist warmonger.

And the other thing, Sean,is, I think a lot of people who can't stand Donald Trump, halfway through the address probably thought PriceWaterhouseCooper had handed him the wrong speech.

I mean, the man in four weeks he has said and done more things and expressed more policies and compassion to improve the inner city than Obama did in eight years. It's awfully hard to come away from that speech and call him a hatemonger unless you really are irrational, and a lot of these people like Chuck Schumer are irrational!

HANNITY: You know, and we'll get into this in the next segment, but Ari, it's clear the Democrats have now made a decision that they're going to listen to the loudest voices. They don't want to be primaried. They want to hold onto power. And that means they will appeal to the liberal snowflakes, the Michael Moores, the Rosie O'Donnells, the Bill Mahers. The Republicans can expect no help from them.

ARI FLEISCHER, FORMER WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I think that's largely right, except for a small group, maybe eight to ten senators who are up for reelection in Donald Trump states, states that Donald Trump won. There may be a little bit of movement from those people.

But you know, Sean, I was raised as a Democrat when I was young. I changed after Ronald Reagan became president at the age of 21. So I know it is never a good time to be a Democrat. But I also know now is an even worse time to be a Democrat. I tweeted last night any Democrat who stands up more than three times during that speech is going to get a primary.

HANNITY: That's a sad state of affairs. I am watching the speech and I'm there, and even when he said "We're going to create jobs for those Americans left behind," they still, Anthony, they didn't applaud.

ANTHONY SCARAMUCCI, TRUMP TRANSITION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER: You are in a tough spot, though, because what he basically did was he took three or four aspects of the playbook, middle-class jobs, blue-collar families getting a wage increase, infrastructure building to rebuild our inner cities and help the African-American communities, and that is supposed to be their base, Sean. And he took that base from them. So they're going to have a very hard time in that group, that voting segment.

HANNITY: Agreed. And Larry, I don't think he is getting any help from any Democrats. And that now puts the responsibility squarely where it belongs, on the Republicans to do their job. And I prefer they move faster and get the job done sooner. But if they do these things, really to me it's not going to matter what any Democratic pundit or congressman or senator says on television.

LARRY ELDER, SALEM RADIO NATIONAL SYNDICATED HOST: That's right. That's between the media that dislikes him and the Republican Party. I've got a feeling Donald Trump is going to have more difficulty with the Republicans.  Look, Van Jones even praised the speech yesterday. And Mitch McConnell said "I find myself in the strange position of agreeing with Van Jones for the first time in my life."

(LAUGHTER)

HANNITY: Ari, you have been a lot to a lot of these states of the union.  And they're usually partisan, let's be honest. I thought this was hyper- partisanship.

FLEISCHER: I do remember what it was like to be a Republican when Barack Obama took office and Republicans didn't want to stand, they didn't want to give the president applause for the things he was doing, and that is traditional. The party in power gets the advantage of saying the things that bring people up to their feet, and the other party has to sit there looking dour and trying not to look too dour.

But the power of the speech last night, Sean, was it put wind in Donald Trump's sails. It's allows the president now to get momentum and to show leadership and competence and strength. And that's powerful. And that also sends a sign for to Republicans that they need to do things the president is asking them to do. It's giving him a lot of momentum that, frankly, he needed at this point in his presidency, and I am very glad he got it last night.

HANNITY: Well said.

SCARAMUCCI: I just want to add something. The morale today from the people I talked to including the president is off the charts. So we have very good momentum. There was a very good inflection point in the president's early stage.

HANNITY: Democrats hurt themselves, too, because even CNN and CBS, the American people liked the speech overwhelmingly. They loved.

SCARAMUCCI: And they're getting emotional, Sean. They get emotional about it, they get upset. I've been on other air where the hair catches on fire, smoke is coming out of their ears.

HANNITY: My sympathy for doing those interviews. All right, guys, thank you all. I appreciate your input as always.

And coming up tonight right here on "Hannity."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That is why she is there, as a sort of f-you to them.  People who are criticizing him for this --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: A number of people on the left had the most vile and vicious things to say after a fallen Navy SEAL's widow was honored last night at the president's joint address to Congress. Up next, we'll get reaction from Bob Beckel and Tomi Lahren.

And later, while in Texas interviewing President George W. Bush for his new book, we had the chance to meet some of the wounded American heroes that the 43rd president of the United States painted portraits of. Find out what those paintings mean to them and more, straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We are blessed to be joined tonight by Carryn Owens, the widow of U.S. Navy Special Operator, Senior Chief William Ryan Owens. He was a part of a highly successful raid that generated large amounts of vital intelligence that will lead to many more victories in the future against our enemy. Ryan's legacy is etched into eternity. Thank you.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: Wow, what a moment from last night. President Trump during last night's address honoring the widow of fallen Navy SEAL Ryan Owens. He was killed last month during a raid in Yemen. But loudmouth liberals stooped to what is a new low after that very touching and real moment. Listen and watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

BILL MAHER ON MSNBC: I wish she hadn't allowed herself to be used as his prop like that.

MOORE: That's why she's there... as a -- as a -- as a sort of a "F you" to the... people who are criticizing him for this.

What's he thinking about? My ratings. Record applause. I'm going to get an Emmy for this, most applause for a dead soldier on my watch. This is the sickness of this man.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

HANNITY: Prop? Dead soldier? Wow. And what was said on Twitter was even more this vicious. Here with reaction is the co-host of "The Five" Bob Beckel and the host of "Tomi" on The Blaze, that's Tomi Lahren is with us.  You are not going to defend that. I've know you for years.

BOB BECKEL, CO-HOST, "THE FIVE": No, no, no. I thought it was -- I felt so badly for that woman.

HANNITY: I wanted to cry.

BECKEL: And it was -- it's times like that when I think you could argue about the father disagrees with the mission and all the rest. It doesn't matter. The guy was an American hero. And he went in and he died. And at a minimum, the idea of being able to stand up for five minutes and applaud his widow seems to be perfectly legitimate.

HANNITY: But, you know, Tomi, all these liberal snowflake lunatics, that was so mean, cruel, and heartless to say these things. And I'm sitting here and listening, this guy died. These men and women fight, bleed and die so they have the right to be ignorant and stupid. And that lack of appreciation I think bothered me the most in their comments.

TOMI LAHREN, HOST, "TOMI," THE BLAZE: How condescending. That is what I first thought when I hear them saying that she is a political prop. That is why she is there, for Trump's ratings. No. No. To talk down to her like that, to make her seem as if she is an infant, that she doesn't know what she is there for, clearly they could learn a thing or two from Carryn Owens. And I would encourage all the women out there that are holding up their "F Trump" signs and marching in their little pink hats, I would encourage them to look at someone like Carryn Owens and see what a real woman is and what real sacrifice looks like because I don't think they get it yet.

HANNITY: My heart goes out to her. What a tough thing that anybody has to go through.

Let me play Rosie O'Donnell, and if this represents Bob Beckel's party, I think they are doomed. We will get Bob's reaction to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROSIE O'DONNELL, COMEDIAN: Even if our major media will not call him a liar, we will. He lies! He lies! He lies! He lies! To Donald Trump and his pathetic fans of white privileged criminal businessmen, I would like to say to him, nyet, sir! Nyet! Nyet! No, we won't. We have seen what you have done, sir. We have seen your connections with Russia. The game is over.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: So that is your party. That's Rosie, Maher, Moore, Ashley Judd, Madonna, wait a minute, and your liberal friends that sat on their hands last night. That is your party. It's run by the loony left.

BECKEL: Can you imagine waking up next to her every day?

(LAUGHTER)

HANNITY: No, not exactly.

BECKEL: Let me explain something to you. I was around for the Lincoln's second inaugural.

HANNITY: For the Lincoln second inaugural? You have been around a little bit?

BECKEL: But you know something, you make the same mistake that Hannity makes which is you pick out two or three liberals and you make us all that way. And it's just unfair, uncouth, and sad. And I think a good idea, if I can give you a little bit of advice. I've been at this business a long time. If I were you, I would be a little careful about generalizing about people.

HANNITY: I'm looking at Bob, I'm looking the tape.

BECKEL: Yeah, but you're seeing but four things.

HANNITY: Tomi, what is interesting is the Democrats that sat on their hands when the president is talking about jobs last night and doing things that everybody should agree on, I think they are responding and reacting to the loudest voice in their party. They are afraid of those people. They owned those people in the chamber last night on the Democratic side.

BECKEL: War scares the hell out of me, I can tell you that.

LAHREN: Sean, what they are doing is they are reminding those Democrats that voted for Donald Trump that were kind of in between, didn't know which way to go, they are reminding them exactly why they cast their vote for Donald Trump. And then sitting on their hands while President Trump is talking about American jobs and infrastructure, the fact that they are sitting there and they're groaning when he talks about securing our borders, it just goes to show why he is the president of the United States and their party lost.

BECKEL: Can I just say one thing? He gave a good speech, of course expectations being what they were. But at the end he said let's all get together and unify. This is from the man who for 18 months ripped the country. Now, he picked up enemies, he picked up all kinds of enemies, he was cruel.

HANNITY: And people on your side called him a Nazi and Hitler and fascist.

BECKEL: You say our side. Will you stop doing that? You want me to lump you in with Alex Rose or whatever that idiot's name is.

HANNITY: Alex Rose, who is that?

BECKEL: That fat slob who does the --

HANNITY: Are you talking about Michael Moore again?

BECKEL: No, no, no, that guy that Trump's friend, that radio guy.

HANNITY: All right, Tomi, we'll give you the last word.

LAHREN: I think it's a great day to be an American. I think that was one of the best speeches I have heard. I am very proud that, yes, and the left is going to hate this. The left in its entirety is probably going to hate this. But guess what? That is our president. And I couldn't be happier.

BECKEL: He has got a lot more speeches in front of you. And you will hear a lot more.

HANNITY: All right, thank you, both.

Coming up, more for my recent interview with President George W. Bush. Up next, we'll meet one of the American heroes featured in the 43rd president's new book, one of our heroes. Find out what the president's paintings meant to him. That and more tonight on HANNITY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HANNITY: Welcome back to "Hannity." So during my recent interview with President George W. Bush about his brand new book, "Portraits of Courage, A Commander-in-Chief's Tribute to America's Warriors," I had the chance to meet some of the American heroes that were featured in the 43rd president's book, including Purple Heart recipient, retired U.S. army sergeant, Daniel Casara. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HANNITY: Was it surprising that the president of the United States did a portrait of you? Did you know it was coming?

SGT. DANIEL CASARA, (RET) UNITED STATES ARMY: I did not. It wasn't until I want to say maybe a Facebook post. And I don't even have Facebook, but someone did and sent it to me and blew me away.

HANNITY: What does that mean to you?

CASARA: It was an honor. And just knowing that someone that has been a part of leading the free world, and took the time. And that is what I think people need to understand. He took the time. He could have gone and withered away or cycled or golfed.

HANNITY: He could have done what I want. I have been wanting him to bash Obama for eight years. He wouldn't do that.

CASARA: He did not do that because he is a man of honor and integrity.  And to see the 90-something portraits of great men and women shows that integrity and honor that this man has for this country.

HANNITY: This really means a lot to you. I know it does for all the other guys.

GEORGE WILL, SYNDICATED COLUMNIST: Guess what I call him?

HANNITY: What?

BUSH: The preacher.

HANNITY: Is that what you call him?

BUSH: So at our events we ask the vets to speak. He gave one of the most stirring speeches. I've heard a lot of speeches. This guy can speak.  Remember that?

CASARA: Thank you, sir.

HANNITY: That was awesome. Would you consider being a preacher?

CASARA: No.

(LAUGHTER)

CASARA: I love God, but I don't believe that is my calling.

HANNITY: Let's talk about what happened.

CASARA: Sure. So on 23, September, 2005, I was in south Baghdad, Iraq.  And me and five others were in an M-113, armored personnel carrier, so a smaller tank basically to get us from point A to point B. We rode over an anti-tank mine, IED, EFP, whatever it was. But it had enough power to where it flipped the tank over. It killed two of my guys. From that I sustained bilateral fractures to my right tibia and fibula, shattered left tibia, both my heel and ankle bones were shattered and dislocated right here.

HANNITY: And how did you heal? How are you now?

CASARA: Healed slowly, still healing to this day.

HANNITY: Are those the two guys that were with you.

CASARA: These are. Anytime I have a bad day, I just look down and think about their families and it pushes me through.

HANNITY: I told the president, I have been, I went to Iraq. I also went into one of the hospitals there when I was there. And I've gone to Bethesda, Walter Reed. It is embarrassing. You kind of walked out saying, these things are pretty superfluous that I think in my life when you see the suffering.

BUSH: Tell him what you said about your legs.

CASARA: Oh, right, yes. So the doctors asked me if I wanted to keep my legs. The chance of me being able to walk again was pretty low according to them. It was early on so they had not seen many cases like mine. So the question was, do you want to keep them? And I told them. I said I came in with two, I would like to leave with two.

HANNITY: So it made it harder, your recovery?

CASARA: It did. It did. I remember the first time I got out of the wheelchair to try to walk again. I was on parallel bars. I went half the way with my arms because I was strong, tough. It's just I had no mobility down below. And I am walking with my arms. And the physical therapist yanked on the belt that was around me and pulled me back and said no, that is not how this works. And just trying to put one foot in front of the other was very difficult.

HANNITY: He didn't want to be relying on your upper body strength?

CASARA: That's correct, because when you walk you rely on your lower body.

HANNITY: And where are you now in terms of all your progress?

CASARA: Well, golfing and cycling.

BUSH: He's one of the few vets that has played golf in our tournament and rode the W-100. He is doing damn good.

HANNITY: That's pretty good.

CASARA: That's a very accurate statement.

(LAUGHTER)

HANNITY: What was the speech that so inspired the president? Do you remember what you were talking about?

CASARA: It was just about just being there and just kind of how I felt and trying to be a voice for the men and women that were sitting there. I wanted the donors and those that were in attendance to understand that we are not to be looked down forests or seen as oh, poor warrior, poor veteran. This man, woman is at this place. What can we do to help them?

HANNITY: I do think a lot of people don't understand the trip to Germany, the trip to Bethesda, Walter Reed, these guys are there for a year or longer.

BUSH: Yes, but most people -- a lot of people. I should say most. A lot of people would look at Danny and say I feel sorry for you.

HANNITY: You would hate that.

CASARA: I really would.

HANNITY: I respect your courage. I think the single most special quality, character trait, is courage. And you embody it. All these other guys embody it. And Mr. President, I think that is what you capture in these guys.

BUSH: Thank you. I think the thing we ought to focus on is helping people like Danny transition because the future of our country is very bright when you think about the Dannys of the world taking leadership roles. And that is what we are all about. That's why this book was written, how can we help these men transition. This guy is awesome.

HANNITY: Pleasure to meet you.

CASARA: Thank you, sir.

HANNITY: I think you're really supposed should be a preacher, though.

CASARA: I appreciate that.

HANNITY: If the president says you've got to do something you've got to say yes.

BUSH: No, he doesn't.

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HANNITY: And coming up, we need your help. A very, very important "Question of the Day" and some of the voicemails -- maybe not so nice -- that you left me on the "Hannity" hotline, that is straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HANNITY: And time for tonight's "Question of the Day." So what did you think of President Trump's first joint address to Congress? We want to hear from you. Go to Facebook.com/SeanHannity, @SeanHannity on Twitter, let us know what you think.

Now it's time to play some of the messages you have left for me. By the way, they don't all have to be nice. They can be mean, hateful. Just let it rip. There's no rules on the hate or love "Hannity" hotline.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm a lifelong Democrat that voted Republican for Trump. Trump all the way forever. All the Democrats are a bunch of crybabies.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am a closet "Hannity" watcher because I am surrounded by liberals in my life. I so appreciate you, Sean, and I love your clarifying all of the news, and I can look it up and fact check it for myself, and you're always right now. So thank you. I appreciate you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: All right, that was a nice night. The other night wasn't so nice. Anyway, if you have something you want to say to me, nice, mean, hateful, we don't care. We like freedom of speech. We make our living with the First Amendment. Call that number on the screen, 877-225-8587.  All you haters out there, I can handle it. Give me your best show. Now is your chance to tell me how you feel.

That's all the time we have left this evening. We'll see you back here tomorrow night. Thanks for being with us.

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