NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Friday, August 15, 2025

Episode Date: August 17, 2025

Trump and Putin do not announce ceasefire after summit; Man rescued after being trapped in California waterfall for two days; Ohio man etches wedding proposal in corn maze; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin meeting face-to-face, but what has been accomplished at their historic summit? The two world leaders descending from their jets, shaking hands, then riding to the high-stakes summit together. The stunning image of Vladimir Putin smiling inside Trump's armored car, did the Russian leader go off script. The two leaders meeting for hours behind closed doors before changing plans again, coming out together, the Russian leader calling their meeting, quote, constructive, and President Trump

hailing great progress. The two leaders, though, not taking questions, leaving the state of their conversations unclear. The words behind the two leaders pursuing peace, setting the stage for the crucial meeting about a bloody war that has already cost hundreds of thousands of lives, Richard Engel joins us on the ground in Ukraine as the invasion rages on. Also tonight, Hurricane Aaron getting stronger by the hour on track to be a category three by tomorrow night. What's its track could mean for the East Coast? Military vehicles on the streets of the nation's capital, D.C.'s growing power struggle as the Attorney General tries to take over the police department. What cities, she says, could be next. Breaking tonight, the mayor of New Orleans

indicted the long-running investigation leading to federal fraud charges, all stemming from an alleged romantic affair with a city police officer. The stunning survival story, a man saved after being trapped behind a waterfall for two days, the extensive search, and our conversation with the rescuer who saved his life. Plus, the marriage proposal months in the making, the big question carved into a big cornfield, how he pulled it off, and did she say yes? Nightly News starts right now. This is NBC Nightly News, the Trump-Pooten summit. Reporting from Anchorage, Alaska, here is Tom Yamas. And good evening.

Tonight, the eyes of the world are on Alaska and the summit happening just a few miles from where we are broadcasting right now. But little clarity on any progress in the pursuit of peace after neither leader took questions from the gathered press. Just moments ago, President Trump and the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin walking out to address the world side by side after a closed-door meeting running about three hours. President Trump stopping short of announcing any type of deal, but saying they made, quote, great progress, hailing what he called their great relationship. He also referred to

the investigation into the 2016 Russia election interference, calling it once again a hoax. Before their meeting today, Trump announced his goal, a ceasefire to the bloodshed in Ukraine, a war instigated and prolonged by Vladimir Putin. To get Russia to the negotiating table, President Trump rolled out the red carpet today, greeting Russia's leader warmly at one point, even riding together sitting inches apart in the president's official vehicle. Putin's seen smiling as they departed for the critical meeting. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy sidelined but telling President Trump not to fall for Putin's deception.

Hundreds of thousands have died, more than a million casualties, but will the end, end of Europe's bloodiest conflict since World War II begin with negotiations happening here in Alaska. Tonight, the first step towards peace came in a split-screen moment. President Trump, coming down Air Force One, and Russian leader Vladimir Putin deplaning onto a red carpet. The two leaders meeting, joining hands, smiling, even chatting before walking on a stage titled Alaska 2025. Reporters, quick to ask questions. Putin, will you stop killing civilians? Putin signaling he can't hear them.

Then, this stunning moment, Putin walking towards the president's retrofitted Cadillac, the beast, getting in, even though reports his own vehicle was on the tarmac. The two leaders seen in the back seat chatting, though Putin is not fluent in English. And then this, the leader of Russia, a man seen by Ukraine as a warmonger, responsible for killing tens of thousands, seen smiling and waving from the president. President's official vehicle as the motorcade drove off. This remarkable and striking arrival as the war in Ukraine is still raging on after nearly three and a half years. The cost of war, so many dead and nearly a million and a half casualties on both sides. Inside the summit,

the first image of the bilateral meeting, along with the two world leaders, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Whitkoff for the U.S. Vladimir Putin, flanked by his foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, the words pursuing peace seen behind them. Will you agree to a ceasefire? Again, reporters trying, but the leaders staying quiet for now, until the press was ushered out, and the two sides started to negotiate. Earlier, speaking on Air Force One, President Trump saying in an interview, he would want a ceasefire. I'd like to see a ceasefire.

I wouldn't be thrilled if I didn't get it, but everyone's saying, says, you're not going to get the seat fire. It'll take place on the second meeting. This is really setting the table today. We're going to have another meeting if things work out, which will be very soon. The president also hinting Ukrainian territory could be on the bargaining table, a critical concern for Ukraine. They'll be discussed, but I've got to let Ukraine make that decision. And I think they'll make a proper decision. But I'm not here to negotiate for Ukraine. I'm here to get the president has said he hopes today's summit leads to another meeting that would include Ukrainian president, Vladimir Zelensky.

Zelenskyy earlier saying Ukraine is ready to work as productively as possible to end the war, and we hope for a strong position from the U.S. But today, Russia launched several deadly attacks across Ukraine. I think they're trying to negotiate. He's trying to set a stage. I mean, in his mind, that helps him make a better deal. It actually hurts him. But in his mind, that helps him make a better deal if they can continue the killing.

Ukraine also striking an apartment building on the border with Russia. The two leaders behind closed doors for hours, emerging then at a news conference. I expect that today's agreements will be their starting point. I believe we had a very productive meeting. There were many, many points that we agreed on. Most of them, I would say, a couple of big ones that we have. quite gotten there, but we've made some headway. So there's no deal until there's a deal. I will call up NATO in a little while. I will call up the various people that I think are appropriate.

And I'll, of course, call up President Zelensky and tell them about today's meeting. It's ultimately up to them. We'll speak to you very soon and probably see you again very soon. Thank you very much, Vladimir. Next time in Moscow. oh that's an interesting one i don't know i'll get a little heat on that one but i uh i could see it possibly happening a historic meeting wrapping up but the future in ukraine still unclear we have more breaking news at this hour we want to go live right now to harkeef in ukraine that's where our richard angle is reporting richard junior team i hope are safe air raid sirens are going off right now just moments after this summit about peace has just wrapped up here in alaska

So as you were talking in that last package right now, we were hearing air raid sirens here in Harkiv, as if on cue there was no ceasefire agreement today. There was no clear agreement on anything. And then we heard the air raid sirens, which is something we've been hearing every night out here in eastern Ukraine, often several times a night. And generally, these are drone attacks. These are drone attacks by Russia launched at civilian cities, but there are also missile attacks, there are also glide bomb attacks. Russia is on the offensive out here. And many Ukrainians were deeply skeptical, deeply nervous about this meaning. Obviously, they want these air raids sirens to stop. They want the raids to stop. But Ukrainians were nervous

that President Trump and Vladimir Putin today were going to announce a deal, unilaterally, without Ukraine's participation. So in a sense, even though it means the war is back on, and the war is back on right now, we are listening to it, no deal is perhaps better than a bad deal that could set this country up for more war and more failure. Richard Engelfrost tonight live. Richard, again, you and your team, please stay safe out there as the bombing continues apparently in Ukraine.

Garrett Hake joins us now live here in Alaska. Garrett, we've got to be very clear with our viewers. It is unclear what, if any, deal was made here, and what was accomplished? Yeah, and Richard's report. about these air raid sirens only makes the situation more uncertain about what was accomplished here. It's worth pointing out President Trump's own metrics for this meeting where his best case scenario was to try to achieve a ceasefire, but his primary goal was to see if there could be

another meeting between Vladimir Putin, President Zelensky, and himself. That was not mentioned at all at this brief statement after the summit concluded, at which President Putin talked for more than twice as long as did President Trump. Putin talking about an agreement suggesting he was concerned the European leaders or that Ukrainian officials could throw a monkey wrench into it. President Trump mentioning no such deal and saying he has to talk to those European leaders next time. And we'll wait and see. All right, Garrett, great to have you here. I do want to bring in the moderator of Meet the Press now.

Kristen Welker, Kristen, I know you've been working that phone and talking to your sources. What are you hearing about the reaction about what we just witnessed here in Alaska? Well, Tom, I'm getting a flood of reaction in tonight. One Democratic lawmakers saying we have no idea what was accomplished. What we do know is he still has not stopped the war so you can anticipate hearing that line from some Democrats, an ally of President Trump saying this person was encouraged by the fact that the door was left open to a second meeting, but saying if President Putin does not reach a deal with the president, President Trump will have to, quote, crush him. You heard President Trump say that there would be consequences if Putin does not comply. European allies, as Richard was saying, saying that no deal is better than a bad deal, but the political pressure ramping up on him to end this war, which he vowed he could end within the

first 24 hours of taking office, Tom. Kristen, welcome for us. Kristen, we thank you. And please make sure to watch Meet the Press this weekend when Kristen is joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. So much to ask him. All right. Now to the tropics and Hurricane Aaron powering up to become the first hurricane of the season. Bill Cairns joins our coverage now and Bill, this could be a category four, but the big question, will this hit the U.S. or come anywhere close? Yeah, Aaron is already a large storm, and this weekend it's going to get powerful. It's in the process of what was eventually going to be some, you know, rapid intensification. Right now, it's approaching the islands. It's going

to go north, the core of it. So Puerto Rico and all the islands here are just going to get brushed with wind and the rip currents and big waves. The hurricane center still has it in between the outer banks and Bermuda, the direct impacts missing everyone by only about 400 miles. So that's why we still have to watch it closely this weekend, especially for Eastern North Carolina. The waves are going to be huge. We're going to have problems with rip currents at all the high tide cycles. We're going to have beach erosion. But Tom, so far, no changes to the track. All right, Bill Cairns, we appreciate that. We'll keep an eye at an all weekend. Now to a remarkable clash in Washington between local and federal officials, D.C. suing the Trump administration after what it calls a hostile takeover.

And tonight, a new development in the battle over who's in charge of the police department. Gabe Gutierrez reports. Free D.C. Free D.C. Tonight in the nation's capital, an escalating standoff between the White House and City Hall. D.C.'s Attorney General suing the Trump administration after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi installed DEA Administrator Terry Cole as emergency police commissioner. D.C. will not remain a sanctuary city actively shielding criminal aliens.

Will not happen. Under Donald Trump's directive, D.C. will become safe again. Following the Trump administration's takeover of the police department and deployment of hundreds of National Guard troops, late today, D.C. officials said their police chief was back in charge after closed-door discussions with the Justice Department to avoid a judge's ruling. We don't need a hostile takeover from the federal government to do what we do. every day. He argues the Trump administration was violating the 1973 Home Rule Act, which allows D.C. residents to elect a mayor and city council, while Congress oversees the district's budget and the president appoints its judges. While some locals welcome the crackdown on crime, around here, especially in this neighborhood in Shaw, the streets seem a lot quieter. Others are

protesting the federal intervention. I think it is terrifying to have a federal presence in D.C. that is taking away our local autonomy. Today in court, the Justice Department said if Congress does not extend this, the federal takeover will end after 30 days. Tom. Gabe Gutier is for us tonight. Nato was a stunning rescue in California of a man who got trapped for two days after attempting to repel down a waterfall.

Liz Croyd spoke to the deputy who saved him. This incredible rescue tonight caught on video, showing first responders safely rescuing a man who got stuck for two days. behind a dangerous waterfall in California's Sequoia National Forest. Authorities say 46-year-old Ryan Wardwell was attempting to repel the 7 T-Cups waterfalls when the conditions got too rough, trapping him right here behind the rapidly rushing water. What was his condition like when you found him? He was hypothermic.

He did have food and water. He was just pretty much extremely cold. Tulare County Sheriff's deputy, Craig Douglas made the daring rescue. They were able to lower me perfectly right next to him, and I was able to get him in the recovery suit, hook him up, get him back into the helicopter. According to authorities, Wardwell's family reported him missing Monday after he didn't return Sunday night. First responders began an extensive search deploying a plane with camera and infrared technology, which spotted his ropes. But it wasn't until Tuesday they were able to send in a drone to check behind the waterfall where they finally found him, alive. He was very excited that we were there to get him out. He was very thankful.

And authorities say Wardwell had experienced repelling this waterfall before, but it is known to be very dangerous. Last year, three people died in that same area. Tom. Liz Kreutz, our thanks to you. We're back in a moment with the breaking investigation. The mayor of New Orleans just indicted what federal prosecutors alleged she did. Welcome back. New Orleans's mayor, Latoya Cantrell, has been indicted on federal charges. A grand jury indicting her on fraud and other obstruction charges stemming from an alleged romantic relationship with a city police officer. She's accused of filing false payroll records. Cantrell's office and attorney have not yet commented. All the thinger, Sean Kingston was sentenced to three and a half years in federal prison after a jury found him and his mother were guilty of wire fraud. His lawyer attributed the crime. to a 2011 jet ski accident that left him severely injured. The prosecution said he was a, quote, thief through and through.

And the first world humanoid robot games began today in Beijing. Take a look at this with more than 500 robots on 280 teams from 16 countries, including the U.S. competing. The events were soccer, running, and boxing. The games are meant to show how far robotics have come, as China's government tries to close the AI gap with the U.S. All right, when we come back, love is in the air, why this farmer let a cornfield do the talking

when he wasn't sure how to propose to his girlfriend when we return what she said on nightly news. Finally, there's good news tonight about a newly engaged couple and the wedding proposal that sent their love sky high. Here's Jesse Kirsch. Tim Sullivan wanted to ask his girlfriend, Caroline Liggett, a very important question. And he did it without saying a word. All of that, thanks to this in the fields below.

A 13-acre corn maze outside Columbus, Ohio, spelling out, Will you marry me, Caroline? I think I was just so shocked. Caroline and Tim, who both work in agriculture, have known for months they wanted to spend their lives together. But Tim wasn't sure how to ask. We both really like corn a lot, not to be corny. I wanted to do something that we would both be able to remember for the rest of our lives.

The idea hit him in late April. Pop the question with his family farm's annual corn maze. With help from computers and consultants, Tim designed and planted the maze. Then he had to wait for the message to grow. Are you starting to lose patience? You told this guy in April you want to marry him? Tim is quite the planner, so I knew it was going to be something quite elaborate. So I had quite a bit of patience.

Then earlier this month, they flew over the farm. I look back at her and she's looking out the other side of the plane. So they circled around and finally, love was in the air. And I've never seen her face light up as much as she did. And it was definitely one of the coolest experiences that would be able to tell for a lot of time going forward. And back on land, Tim still got down on one knee to complete a proposal that was unquestionably amazing. Jesse Kirsch, NBC News. A great way to end the week.

That's nightly news for this Friday. I'm Tom Yamis, reporting live from Anchorage, Alaska. We thank you so much for watching. Tonight and always, we're here for you. Good night.