NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Episode Date: March 27, 2025

Newly revealed texts from group chat about Yemen strikes; Active wildfires burn across Carolinas; DHS secretary visits El Salvador prison holding deported Venezuelans; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, the bombshell text from that group chat about a U.S. military strike, the Atlantic Magazine editor inadvertently included in a chat with top-level Trump administration officials, releasing more messages they sent, including the timing and weapons to be used in military strikes in Yemen. The Secretary of State calls the debacle a big mistake, as intelligence officials are grilled once again and defense secretary pete hegseth speaking out as pressure mounts i know exactly what i'm doing ring of fire in the carolinas evacuation orders growing as massive flames close in on homes in florida

and the rare severe weather threat in the pacific northwest as the south part of Texas braces for floods. Al Roker is here. President Trump announcing fresh auto tariffs, what it means for the price you'll pay for a new car. New video of a Tufts University student detained by ICE in broad daylight. As the DHS secretary tours a notorious prison in El Salvador, now housing migrants sent from the U.S. The Michigan couple imprisoned in Mexico, the duo meant to be on a dream vacation in Cancun, now trapped in a nightmare over a timeshare dispute. And Tom Yamas with our very own Vicki Wynn on her family's journey to America, struggles and triumph. This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt.

Good evening and welcome. There are major developments in the controversy over what Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth divulged in real time over the encrypted consumer messaging app Signal shortly before U.S. military strike operations commenced in Yemen. And now the Atlantic magazine has published what it reports are the text messages Hegseth shared with a chat group that included top intelligence officials and inadvertently the magazine's editor-in-chief. The administration, including Hegseth, still insisting the messages were not classified, a claim that led the Atlantic to publish the messages. Some, it reports, were sent as U.S. warplanes were moments from flying to their target.

One message purported to have come from Hegseth reading, weather is favorable, just confirm we are go for mission launch. Another reading, 1215 ET, F-18's launch, first strike package strike package today top intelligence officials faced a grilling by democrats in the house intelligence committee as the calls for an investigation grow louder peter alexander leads off our coverage tonight's secret no more the reporter who was mistakenly added to that group chat with top trump national security officials, releasing what he says are all of the messages exchanged. Among them, this from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, sent just 30 minutes before the U.S. struck Houthi targets in Yemen on March 15th,

detailing exact times and the weapons to be used. Hegseth writing at 1144 a.m. just confirmed with CENTCOM we are a go for mission launch. Previewing that at 12.15, F-18s launch the first strike package. At 1.45, strike drones launch. 2.10, more F-18s launch. And writing that five minutes later is when the first bombs will definitely drop. Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg releasing them after he says multiple officials said no classified information was sent on the encrypted commercial app Signal. If the timing of a combat mission, an imminently launched combat mission, is not sensitive government information, I simply don't know what is. They know it's not war plans.

There's no units, no locations, no routes, no flight paths, no sources, no methods, no classified information. You know who sees war plans? I see them every single day. Late tonight, President Trump was asked if the administration is downplaying the chat. I don't know about downplaying. The press upplays it. I think it's all a witch hunt. And about Hegseth's role?

Hegseth is doing a great job. He had nothing to do with this. In a heated hearing, House Democrats grilled CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who were on the chat. It is outrageous and it is a leadership failure. The idea that this information, if it was presented to our committee, would not be classified, y'all know is a lie. But Republicans emphasize what was not included in that group chat.

Were there any names in the signal chat? No. Any targets? No. Any locations? No. And this from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was also in the chat. Someone made a big mistake and added a journalist, and the White House is looking at it,

but that none of the information on there at any point threatened the operation of the lives of our servicemen. The White House tonight stands by its assertion that nothing classified was shared. The DOD manual details classified information as significant military plans, saying that is secret, that that's classified. So what is it about what Pete Hexeth wrote that makes you say this is not classified? Well, it's not just me saying that, Peter.

It's the Secretary of Defense himself who is saying this as well. And again, this message, there was no classified information transmitted. There were no war plans discussed. You said it's not war plans. Would you characterize these as military plans, military operation plans? I would characterize this messaging thread as a policy discussion, a sensitive policy discussion, surely amongst high level cabinet officials and senior staff. And Peter, tonight tonight a top Republican is now calling for an independent review into the signal chat.

Lester, Senator Roger Wicker, chair of the Armed Services Committee in the Senate, wants the Pentagon's inspector general to investigate, but it's not clear who would lead that investigation since the president fired that independent watchdog when he returned to office. Lester. Peter Alexander starting us off. Thank you. I want to bring in Courtney Kuby now at the Pentagon. The Trump administration, Courtney, says there was no

classified information in these chats, as you heard. What does Pentagon policy say? Well, Lester, Secretary Hegseth's text includes specific times fighter jets would be launched, what would generally be considered military planning. And the Pentagon has clear guidelines on classification, stating that military plans or intelligence operations would be classified at the level of secret at least. And it warns that the disclosure of this type of information could lead to serious damage to operations assets or individuals. Lester. And Courtney, I know at the Pentagon tonight you're following another big headline about U.S. troops overseas. What can you tell us? Yeah, that's right, L following another big headline about U.S. troops overseas. What can you tell us? Yeah, that's right, Lester.

Tonight, four U.S. soldiers went missing during a training exercise in Lithuania earlier today. The armored vehicle they were riding in was found submerged in water, but the Army is still searching for those soldiers tonight. Lester. All right, Courtney Kuby with our late-breaking news. Thank you. Millions under fire threats tonight from Maryland to Florida. Fire crews in the Carolinas are working to contain the flames as wildfires there burn and burn. NBC's Marissa Parra is on the ground.

A towering inferno teetering dangerously close to homes in this Florida neighborhood. This is a growing ring of fire forces Carolinians to flee the flames. In Polk County, North Carolina, three wildfires burning nearly 7,000 acres of land. I'm hoping that it doesn't jump and we get it over there and burns up our property. Multiple fires in the Carolinas sparked by a combination of warm temperatures and strong winds. The region still healing after Hurricane Helene just months ago. In Greenville, South Carolina, crews have been working around the clock doing whatever they can to contain the blaze. The Table Rock fire burning nearly 2,500 acres. Wendy Clark leaving last night with whatever she

could carry. This feels like back-to-back natural disasters. Never in my 52 years did I think that I would be running from my home from a fire. The fallen trees left over from Helene further feeding the flames. I mean, it's just like a tinderbox, just ready. We're at Incident Command Center, and these ground crews behind me are keeping a close eye on the winds to make sure this tower of smoke behind me doesn't get any closer. Lester? All right, Marissa Parr. Thanks, Al Roker is here. Al, a volatile night across parts of the country. That's right. Unfortunately, those folks aren't going to get any rain. And here in Texas, it's too much rain, nonstop moisture coming in from the Gulf. We've got a moderate risk of heavy flooding from Laredo to Corpus Christi, all the

way back to New Orleans. Heavy rain overnight, showers and storms will soak Texas. Some of these rainstorms could be producing anywhere from one to three inches of rain per hour with high running streaks, streams and rivers. We are talking about 10 to 15 inches of rain. That is going to cause some major flood problems. And out in the Pacific Northwest, seven million people at risk for severe weather from Seattle to Eugene. Tornadoes possible, Lester. And they've never had a warning for damaging hail of two inches or more. All right. Now, thanks for that. We're going to turn now to a high-profile visit to an El Salvador prison where the Trump administration deported alleged gang members, plus new images of the arrest of a Tufts University student here on a visa. Kelly O'Donnell now with late details.

Tonight, the Homeland Security Secretary beyond the border, Kristi Noem, under heavy guard in El Salvador, there to see firsthand the prison holding alleged Venezuelan gang members recently deported from the U.S. Do not come to our country illegally. The president touting the deportations. You see the ones we're taking out, Trendi, Aragua, the toughest of all gangs. But late today, a new legal setback. An appeals court backed up the federal judge who had ordered deportation flights halted temporarily to review whether the administration

can legally remove migrants without due process under the Alien Enemies Act. The government says 137 Venezuelans accused of being in the gang Trende Aragua were deported. However, a lawyer for 31-year-old Andre Hernandez says he was wrongly swept up based only on his tattoos. He is, in fact, a makeup artist and absolutely no association ever with any type of gang. In a separate immigration action, new video shows the detention Tuesday of a Turkish PhD student at Tufts University with a valid visa.

Tonight, DHS said Rumeysa Ozturk engaged in activities in support of Hamas. A visa is a privilege, not a right. Providing no further details. Tonight, an ICE database says the woman is being held in Louisiana after being detained in Massachusetts. Her lawyer says there's been no contact. Lester? Kelly, thank you. Days before sweeping tariffs are set to kick in tonight, President Trump with a major tariff decision on cars. NBC News senior business correspondent Christine Romans joins me now. What did the president announce? As promised, new tariffs on the auto industry, Lester. The president today announcing a 25 percent import tax on all fully completed vehicles brought into the United States

starting April 2nd. The president said he would exempt auto parts, but a senior administration official says tariffs will apply to foreign auto parts. Many American-made cars are constructed with components that cross borders multiple times. The president's tariffs are meant to bring more car factories and more jobs back to the U.S., but will likely raise prices for some consumers, potentially lestered by thousands of dollars. Christine Romans, thank you. Controversy growing over an anti-vaccine activist now tapped by the Department of Health and Human Services to analyze vaccine safety data. NBC's Hallie Jackson joining us now. Hallie, we're learning more about this researcher.

That's right, Lester, this anti-vaccine activist and discredited researcher who's now being tapped to look at possible links between vaccinations and autism, according to two sources familiar with that plan. This HHS analyst, David Geyer, has a history of spreading misinformation that vaccines do cause autism. That's a conspiracy theory that has been widely debunked. And some of the studies on the topic he's done in the past with his father have had to be retracted. It's why some experts are now concerned about fallout if Geyer leads this new analysis, with a former CDC acting director calling Geyer a deeply irresponsible choice. Neither Geyer nor HHS has responded to our request for comment. Lester. Ali, thank you. We'll be back in 60 seconds with the American grandparents from Michigan imprisoned in paradise while they're behind bars in Cancun and their family's efforts to get them free.

Now to a vacation horror story. A Michigan couple has spent the last three weeks in a notorious Mexican prison over a dispute with a resort company. Maggie Vespa spoke to their daughter who was pleading for the U.S. government to help. For years, Mexico is where Christy and Paula Keogh vacationed with friends, celebrated birthdays, holidays. Lindsay Hull is Christy's daughter. They love being there. That's just where they like to travel.

Three weeks ago, the couple flew to Cancun, excited for another trip. But shortly after landing, Paul called Lindsay. He just said, we're being arrested for fraud. How do you process that? I said fraud for what? Mexican authorities had issued a warrant for the couple's arrest over a years old dispute with an all inclusive luxury timeshare chain, Palace Elite Resorts. This photo shows Christy at the notorious Mexican prison where she and Paul have been ever since. She's sitting there on the phone crying to us that she's starving. She has nobody to talk to. She can't trust anybody. According to the criminal complaint, back in

2021, the Achaios bought an elite membership contract with Palace for exclusive benefits. But within months, Palace and the Achaios were at odds. In a post on Facebook, Christy wrote that Palace accused her of wrongfully posting photos to profit off the resort and canceled stays, racked up through a referral program. The complaint says Paul then successfully disputed nearly $117,000 in American Express charges tied to their membership. The family's lawyer says Palace failed to provide the goods and services. They're sitting in a Mexican prison right now indefinitely over a contract dispute. For more than two years, the Akaos assumed the ordeal was over. Lindsay says they had no idea there was a warrant for their arrest when they flew to Cancun.

This past weekend, the Akaos lawyers say Palace offered a settlement if the couple paid $250,000, signed an NDA about the ordeal, and publicly apologized, which the family turned down. Palace Resorts declined NBC News' request for an interview, the company's lawyer saying in a statement their complaint was filed in accordance with Mexican laws, writing the conduct of the Akeos appears to be criminal and pointing to Christie's Facebook post instructing others how to report similar charges to the detriment of the palace. Lindsay says she's been in touch with the State Department, which tells NBC News they are aware of the case. We need help. We need help from our politicians. We need help from our government. She says she's desperate to bring her parents home to their grandchildren. I was picturing that moment of them being able to come home and like taking our daughters there to see them. And I'm sorry. And just having our family there to hug them. Maggie Vespa, NBC News, Diamonddale, Michigan.

When we return, Coming to America, a family story of love, loss and leaving that hits close to home. Tonight, we want to share a remarkable story about NBC's Vicky Nguyen, her personal new memoir called Boat Baby that follows her experience as a Vietnam refugee. Here's Tom Yamas with that. In 1975, Saigon falls and the scramble is on to get out. For the Nguyen family living in South Vietnam, there's no escaping the war. My dad recalled to me joining the war effort. My dad's older brother, Hung, went missing in action.

Three years later, refusing to live under communism, Nguyen and his wife, Lin Do, know they need to flee to the U.S., but now they have a baby and the journey to freedom will not be guaranteed. That baby? Our very own Vicky Nguyen. Do you ever think back on your parents when you were just a baby, leaving their country, crossing an ocean. So to have an eight month old baby and think we are going to wrap our baby in a towel, we are going to smuggle ourselves out through a jungle and hope that we can get onto a fishing boat and cross an ocean to safety, to a refugee camp. I feel like you only make that decision if you are desperate and hopeful.

That trip, the new life the winds found in America, and how a refugee toddler grew up to be a network correspondent and anchor is the basis for Vicki's new memoir, Boat Baby. I look back and I think about all of the things my parents survived, all of the things they went through, and their attitude was always never complain, never explain, focus on what you can control, keep moving forward. And a lot of that rubbed off on me. But early on, the family learned that life in America would not be a fairy tale.

My uncle Tam was at a party and gathering, got into an argument with someone and was stabbed to death. And that devastated my mother. The wins would carry on in their new country. Vicky growing up in the Bay Area, her prom date would later become her husband, and she would build a lasting career in news, but with obstacles. People would, you know, drive by and be like, hey, it's Connie Chung. It indicated to me that representation matters and that there's still a long way to go. Despite it all, she calls herself a proud American, an immigrant who is living the American dream.

Can you believe this is your story? This is a dream that was too big for my family to have, for me to have. And yet it's coming true every single day. Tom Yamas, NBC News. And that is nightly news for this Wednesday. Thank you for watching. I'm Lester Holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night.