NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Thursday, February 27, 2025

Episode Date: February 28, 2025

Gene Hackman, wife and dog found dead in Santa Fe; Trump meets British Prime Minister as peace talks over Ukraine kick off; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, the investigation underway after the tragic death of legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife. Their Santa Fe home, now the site of an urgent search. Officials describing where they were found in a mudroom and bathroom and why the couple probably died weeks ago. The 911 calls just in tonight and why so far foul play is not suspected, but not off the table. And we'll remember Hackman's remarkable body of work, two Academy Awards, and some of the

most iconic performances, from Superman to the Royal Tenenbaums, the British prime minister at the White House with the president, as Europe worries about U.S. commitment to Ukraine, President Trump saying he believes Vladimir Putin would abide by a peace deal, and what Keir Starmer told me in my one-on-one. After the rash of collisions and close calls in the skies and at airports, our exclusive interview with the transportation secretary, what he says about pilots involved. If you don't listen to or don't adhere to air traffic control, your pilot's license should be yanked? Hell yes.

Controversial social media star Andrew Tate and his brother fly to Florida, charged with sex trafficking in Europe. But why are they here now? And when this school bus caught fire, the driver jumped into action to get a busload of kids out alive. This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. Good evening and welcome. Tonight, shock in Santa Fe, where screen icon Gene Hackman and his wife were found dead in their home. Their dog also deceased nearby. Authorities calling their death suspicious. Investigators spent the day searching the New Mexico compound for clues,

saying the couple was likely dead for some time before being discovered by a groundskeeper with the front door ajar. Tributes pouring in for the beloved two-time Oscar winner who started everything from the French connection to Superman. Police revealing Hackman's wife was found with prescription pills scattered around her, and 95-year-old Hackman was found in a separate room with a pair of sunglasses near him, possibly indicating a sudden fall. Investigators adding there was no indication of a struggle,

but the cause of death is unknown. Dana Griffin reports tonight from just outside of their family home. Tonight, chilling new details in the death of legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife of 34 years, Betsy Arakawa. You know, all I can say is they have been deceased for quite a while. Their bodies found Wednesday afternoon after a groundskeeper called 911 after arriving at their Santa Fe, New Mexico home and seeing them through a window.

Are they moving at all? No, dude, they're not moving. Just send somebody up here really quick. Authorities are investigating the deaths as suspicious, but have already ruled out a carbon monoxide leak and say there were no obvious signs of foul play. There was no indication of a struggle. There was no indication of anything that was missing from the home or disturbed.

When deputies arrived, they located the body of Hackman's 65-year-old wife in a bathroom located near the front door, which was open, according to the warrant. Officers noted an orange bottle of prescription pills scattered on the countertop and a space heater near her head, which detectives say could indicate she fell abruptly to the ground. 95-year-old Hackman was found dead in a mud room near the kitchen, according to the warrant. It states his cane was next to him, indicating he may have fallen and was unable to get up. Deputies also found the couple's German shepherd dead in her crate. The warrant says both Jean and Betsy's bodies showed signs of decomposition. This is an

investigation, so we're keeping everything on the table. You know, I think the autopsy is going to tell us a lot. Some here. I saw it. Gene Hackman had come to define what a true actor is to be the best that you can be with the uncanny ability to vanish into any role Hackman drew from within to put nuance into all the tough guy roles he portrayed. All right, Popeye's here. Is that gun just for show? Hackman was 36 playing the simple-minded Buck Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde when Hollywood took notice. Woo! Soon after, his tough-as-nails good cop Popeye Doyle

in The French Connection earned him his first Oscar. Hackman won his second Oscar for playing a bad sheriff in 1992's Unforgiven. Misfire. But he felt the tough guy roles never really pushed him. They were cast so close to type in films that you can only do so much within your own persona. Towards the end of his career, Hackman found he preferred comedy for the challenge. Comedy is harder because, you know, it isn't arbitrary. If they don't laugh,

it doesn't work. Moving to Santa Fe after retiring, Hackman continued to work as a novelist, publishing his fifth book in 2013, always letting his actions speak for him on the written page and the silver screen. Tonight, the sheriff's department says they are awaiting official toxicology and autopsy results to help them determine the exact cause of death. They say this remains an ongoing investigation. Meanwhile, the Hackman family releasing a statement saying they are devastated by the loss. Lester. Dana Griffin starting us off tonight. Thanks. And now to that high stakes meeting between President Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Mr. Trump saying his approach to Russia in Ukraine talks will be to trust but verify. Starmer not mincing words about Putin in our interviews a short time ago.

Tonight, President Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirming the country's enduring special relationship. In a moment of real danger around the world, the relationship, this relationship matters more than ever. A high stakes meeting as talks start to end the war in Ukraine. President Trump saying he's confident any deal with Russia's President Putin will last. I don't believe he's going to violate his word. You know, it's trust and verify. Let's call it that. And he was asked, can he get back Ukrainian territory that Russia

seized? A lot of the sea line has been taken. We're going to see if we can get it back or get a lot of it back for Ukraine, if that's possible. President Trump saying Ukraine's President Zelensky will come to the White House tomorrow to sign a deal giving the U.S. access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals to pay back the U.S. for billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine. And the president was pressed about his previous comments, calling Zelensky a dictator. Do you still think that Mr. Zelensky is a dictator? Did I say that? I can't believe I said that. Next question. Hello, Prime Minister, how are you?

We spoke with the Prime Minister moments after that White House meeting. If I understand President Trump correctly, he says let's do a peace deal regarding Ukraine first and then come back and visit the area of security guarantees. That doesn't sound like what you came here to tell him. Well, let me first start by saying that President Trump has changed the conversation on Ukraine. And so it's created this opportunity. And we all hope that that deal is forthcoming. What's most important, I think, is that it's a lasting deal, that it's not just a temporary pause. And to be lasting, it's important that the deal is defended, that Putin knows he

can't go again. And that's why I've been concerned to ensure that on the European side, all countries, including the United Kingdom, step up. And I've said that we are willing to play our full part in any security guarantees. And obviously talking to the president about what that might look like. You said in a news conference today that you're all in, that you're ready to go to put boots on the ground. What's your larger message about what the UK is willing to do and advance forward in the name of peace? The first element is a wider argument, which is that Europe and the United Kingdom need to do more in our own defence. And that's why this week I announced the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War. That's the macro argument about the defense of the continent in relation to Ukraine. I do think that it's important that European countries play a leading part in any security guarantees. And that's why

I've said that the UK would put boots on the ground if necessary. The president speaks positively of Russia, of Vladimir Putin. He's the one that ultimately he'll have to negotiate with. Do you trust Vladimir Putin as a good faith bargainer? Well, look, I think President Trump is quite right to have brought these proceedings to talks because we've had three long years now. There have been many, many, many people killed and injured in this. I was in Kiev just a few weeks ago, and I was in the burns unit of a hospital. I saw firsthand the human scars that those on the front line and actually civilians are bearing. So we need this peace.

My concern is that we know historically that Putin might go again. Sounds like you don't trust him. Well, look, I mean, I think that he has ambitions. I think he will go again. And I've made my views on Putin pretty clear on a number of occasions. Part of my interview with Prime Minister Starmer today. Just breaking, we have learned the government's climate and weather agency, NOAA, is laying off 5% of its staff.

While earlier, foreign aid workers at USAID cleaned out their desks. Here's Garrett Haig. An emotional exodus at the former headquarters of USAID. I've dedicated 13 years of my life to this. Where recently fired federal workers were given just 15 minutes to clear out their desks. The Trump administration recently fired 1,600 staff and placed thousands more on leave at the agency that doles out foreign aid. They're treating us like the enemy. Ben Thompson, a Europe-focused communications specialist, criticizing Elon Musk, whose Department of Government Efficiency quarterbacked the cuts.

He's not going through with a fine-tooth comb. He's tearing down our institutions for fun. It's a game. It's not public service. Musk on Wednesday defending federal worker layoffs, saying it's critical to reduce government spending. If we don't do this, America will go bankrupt. President Trump today praising the cost-cutting. We are having great success in slimming down our government. It's been really very successful. USAID supporters note the agency provides food aid to 28 million children per year worldwide suffering from malnutrition and treats more than five and a half million children around the globe every year with pneumonia. These are real people that are going to suffer from USAID

not being there. But Republicans call much of USAID's spending wasteful, pointing to items like $2 million given to an organization for gender-affirming health care in Guatemala and $13 million to put on a Sesame Street production in Iraq. We owe the American people the assurances that every dollar we are spending abroad is being spent on something that furthers our national interest. And Garrett, meantime, President Trump made headlines today regarding plans for new tariffs. Lester, the president announced he's planning another 10 percent increase on tariffs on imports from China and moving forward with 25 percent tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico. Illegal border crossings have plummeted, but he blames all three for the flow of fentanyl into the U.S.

Lester. Garrett Haig, thank you. Now to our nightly exclusive. After the recent string of aviation crashes and close calls, the Trump administration's new transportation secretary told our Tom Costello the common thread appears to be human error. It's great to be here. On his first visit to the FAA's Air Traffic Control Academy in Oklahoma City. He's coming to the other runway. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy got a hands-on look at the high-stakes training to become a controller. Runway 28 left, clear the lane.

His visit comes as the NTSB and FAA are investigating a string of aviation crashes and close calls in Washington, D.C., Nome, Alaska, Toronto. And this week's close call on the runway at Chicago Midway Airport. That's a 2504 going around. Is there anything that connects them or is it the possibility of human error? They're all very unique. But I do think in all of them, and again, not exclusively, not 100 percent, but a majority probably of the of the airs go to the pilots. Right. There's some pilot air at play in each of these incidents. The NTSB chair says it appears the private jet pilot who taxied in front of a Southwest plane had failed to follow controller instructions to hold and wait. FlexJet, the owner of the company, says it's conducting its own investigation.

Any action to rectify and ensure the highest safety standards will be taken. Your message after the Midway incident was, if you don't listen to or don't adhere to air traffic control, your pilot's license should be yanked? Hell yes. And says Duffy, Congress will need to spend billions very soon to upgrade America's antiquated ATC technology. If this takes four years or five years, it won't happen. And then if it fails and people get hurt or people die, everyone's going to be disappointed. Meanwhile, the FAA is still short some 3,000 to 4,000 controllers and struggling to hire and train enough to replace those who leave. The academy is not easy. 35% of the students here quit, fail, or wash out. Another 20% wash out

once they're on the job. It's a stressful job, but you also need to be able to control your nerves. After hearing from students, Duffy today announced steps to attract what he calls the best and brightest. Fast tracking students with the highest application test scores, accelerating the hiring process and a 30 percent pay hike for academy students. One hundred and sixty grand a year. Three years after you graduate. Come on. So young people, check it out. 1,800 students came through here at the academy last year. 2,000 are expected this year. They'd like to add more. The biggest problem is a shortage of controller instructors, all of whom are retired controllers. Lester? All right. Tom Costello, thanks. In 60 seconds, intrigue over

influencer Andrew Tate back in the U.S. after charges of sex trafficking overseas by Florida Governor DeSantis speaking out about it. Andrew Tate, a controversial influencer, is back on U.S. soil. Tate is facing sex trafficking charges in Romania and had been banned from leaving. It's raising questions about why he was allowed to leave. Here's Laura Jarrett. Right-wing influencer Andrew Tate landing in Florida today by private jet, setting off a swirl of questions about why Romanian officials permitted he and his brother Tristan to leave the country where they're facing sex trafficking charges. I think my brother and I are largely misunderstood. We've yet to be convicted

of any crime in our lives ever. Romanian officials today confirming travel restrictions preventing the brothers from leaving were lifted, but the case against them remains ongoing. They deny any wrongdoing. Andrew Tate, a self-proclaimed misogynist with millions of online followers, also charged with rape by Romanian prosecutors and faces civil suits for sex abuse in the U.K. Tate, a vocal Trump supporter, forecast his release two weeks ago, posting, the Tates will be free. Trump is the president. The good old days are back. When asked by reporters today, the president denied any role in their release. I just know nothing about it. We'll check it out. The State Department declining to comment. A lawyer for the Tates wouldn't comment on whether or not state

or the White House was involved. But several Republicans, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, voiced concern. Florida is not a place where you're welcome with that type of conduct. We were not involved. We were not notified. Meanwhile, an attorney for an American woman who says she was lured from Florida to Romania for sex trafficking and now faces a defamation lawsuit by the Tates for her allegations blasted the reemergence back in the U.S. The message is clear. If you're famous, if you can go viral, then it doesn't matter if you sexually abuse women. Laura Jarrett, NBC News. Up next for us here tonight, the backlash to a new proposal to make parents prove their

kids are U.S. citizens before going to school. We are back with the states now considering proposals to ask about immigration status when enrolling students in school. Gabe Gutierrez is in Oklahoma City. After weeks of protests, today... Suspend all activity related to immigration. A contentious school board meeting. Why is this board to say to God that people or children are trash? We're standing up with you and so glad you're standing with President Trump. Last month, state board members here approved the proposal that would require public school districts in Oklahoma to ask parents for proof of citizenship before enrolling their kids. Ryan Walters is the state superintendent and a staunch supporter of President Trump.

Do you believe that local and state officials should help enforce federal immigration law? Absolutely. They should be following every order, every director from the Trump administration. A landmark 1982 Supreme Court decision held that children are entitled to public education, regardless of their immigration status. But in addition to Oklahoma, at least four other states have seen measures introduced in their legislatures trying to restrict undocumented children from attending public school, or that would require proof of citizenship. Are you scared?

This woman in Oklahoma City is undocumented and asked us to conceal her face. She says every child should have the opportunity to go to class, but she's now terrified of her son being rounded up. Walters, the superintendent, is now facing backlash from within his own party. Do you support it? You know, no, I don't. Governor Kevin Stitt, a Republican who says he supports Trump's immigration policies, argues Walters is going too far.

I've never heard President Trump say, I'm going to go pick on kids. I've heard him talk about criminal elements and get them out of our country. The proposal now heads to the Republican-controlled legislature here. But even if lawmakers were to sign off, the governor says he'll veto it. Lester? All right, Gabe, thanks. When we come back, the school says he'll veto it. Lester? All right, Gabe, thanks. When we come back, the school bus fired, children rescued by the driver, why he is now being called a hero.

In Ohio, a heroic bus driver's swift action saved his students after a fire broke out on board. Here's Maggie Vespa. Heart-stopping video of a near tragedy in Ohio. This is going to be a bus vehicle on fire, unsure if it is occupied. Showing massive flames and black smoke engulfing a Cleveland Heights school bus during its morning run to a local middle school. The district confirming there were 15 students on board. Every child is accounted for. Every child's off the bus. Firefighters hailing the bus's driver for acting quickly and getting everyone out safely. It's just a blessing that the kids got on the line. Witnesses saying they heard a loud explosion. I saw the girl waiting for the bus. Two to three minutes later, I hit a big

boom. City officials telling NBC News the fire appears to have been caused by a mechanical issue, with the superintendent saying in a letter to parents, flames broke out behind one of the rear wheels. The exact cause under investigation. After about five minutes, it was all engulfed in flame and it was just unbelievable. This report from Ohio State Highway Patrol confirms the bus just passed its annual mandatory inspection on February 14th. The superintendent noting the entire fleet is now being re-inspected out of an abundance of caution. She writes the driver, who's asking not to be identified, credited annual evacuation drills for getting students out safely, adding, I can't express how relieved I am that no one was hurt.

Maggie Vespa, NBC News. And that is nightly news for this Thursday. Thank you for watching. I'm Lester Holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night.