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CAMP DAVID, Maryland (CNN) -- President Bush said Friday he expects his administration will win its appeal of a judicial ruling finding the National Security Agency's warrantless domestic surveillance program unconstitutional.
"Those who herald this decision simply do not understand the nature of the world in which we live," Bush said at Camp David, where he has been meeting with his top economic advisers.
A federal judge in Detroit, Michigan, ruled Thursday that the NSA cannot continue to monitor Americans' phone calls and e-mails to terror suspects overseas without warrants. The decision was considered a setback for the Bush administration.
U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor declared the program -- which the White House has dubbed its "terrorist surveillance program" -- violates the First and Fourth amendments to the Constitution and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978.
The Justice Department quickly announced that it had filed an appeal and that the ruling would be stayed for now.
"I strongly disagree with that decision, strongly disagree," Bush said of Taylor's ruling, "and I believe our appeals will be upheld."
Bush touts lower deficit
On the topic of the economy, he said, "The foundation of our economy is solid and strong. Because of the tax cuts we passed, American workers and families and small businesses are keeping more of the money they earn.
"And they are using that money to drive this economy of ours forward. The economy grew at a 4 percent annual rate during the first half of 2006. And this means that our economy is maintaining solid growth and performing in line with expectations," Bush added.
"We recently learned that this year's deficit is projected to be 30 percent lower than we initially thought. And that means we're on track to cut the deficit in half by 2008 -- a full year ahead of the original goal."
However, according to Reuters, the Congressional Budget Office reported that the deficit is expected to rise to $286 billion next year after an estimated $260 billion this year due to slower growth.
There are also signs that the economy may be slowing. Unemployment rose to 4.8 percent last month, and the housing market also is showing signs of cooling down, according to Reuters.
Bush urged Congress to approve budget legislation allowing a line-item veto, so "unnecessary spending" can be cut, and to address again spending on programs such as Social Security.
Bush hopes for more French troops
Regarding the situation in Lebanon, Bush said he hoped France, which has pledged 200 soldiers to the U.N. peacekeeping force to stabilize the area near Israeli border, would offer more troops.
"France has said they'll send some troops. We hope they send more," he said.
"There has been different signals coming out of France. Yes, they had a statement; today they had a statement. France is a friend, France is an ally, France has got a great stake in the future of Lebanon. President [Jacques] Chirac has made it clear that democracy in Lebanon is very important."
On Thursday, U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Mark Malloch Brown said he was disappointed that France, the former colonial power in Lebanon, had offered only 200 more soldiers than the 200 already taking part in the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon, an observer mission.
But Brown said the French will keep about 1,700 troops in the area for logistical support and may increase their commitment.
Two years ago, France and the United States co-sponsored U.N. Resolution 1559, which eventually led Syria to remove its troops and intelligence assets from Lebanon.
The Lebanon-based Hezbollah contends it won the recent fight with Israel, but Bush has called the militant group a loser in the conflict.
The president said Friday that it will take people awhile to recognize that Hezbollah is a force of instability in the region.
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