NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Monday, September 14, 2026

Episode Date: September 15, 2026

Trump calls concerns over AI destroying humanity a “hoax”; McConnell returns to Senate; Crane collapses onto cars in Miami; and more on tonight’s broadcast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tonight, President Trump jumping into the fight over AI, saying it's not a danger. The president firing back at AI leaders who are warning about the new technology, calling it a, quote, hoax. The moment he called one leader on stage as a chorus of CEOs sound the alarm about the technology. Breaking right now, Senator Mitch McConnell returning to the Senate for the first time in months. Fiery crane collapse, a car crushed and on fire as a crane comes toppling down, a driver somehow escaping through the back, and the moment this worker was pulled out alive from the mangled metal. Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding festivities partly funded by a Russian oligarch with ties to Vladimir Putin, even renting out an entire island for the couple. How Trump Jr. and his new bride are responding. The new Star Wars? The Air Force General revealing for the first time the U.S. now has weapons in space.

Also tonight running for governor and surviving a plane crash, the Wisconsin candidate's aircraft crashing into a lake, how he escaped as it sunk. Music superstar McElmore dropped from Ed Sheeran's tour after he made free Palestine remarks on stage, why Patriots owner Robert Kraft stopped him from performing. Chaos at New York Fashion Week, the fashion CEO grabbing a protester on the runway, covering her mouth, how he's responding tonight. A sleep at the wheel, a city bus driver dozing off veering into the oncoming lane and crashing right into a tree. Remembering Bob Mackie, the fashion designer to the stars, his dazzling creations worn by Cher, Madonna, and Diana Ross. This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yomas. And good evening. We thank you for joining us on this Monday night. We begin with President Trump

thundering into the debate today over AI regulation and perhaps the fate of humanity, saying that any predictions that artificial intelligence could destroy the human race are, quote, a hoax. It comes as some of the country's top AI leaders say the opposite, that the danger is real and must be regulated. From the CEO of Anthropic to Open AI Sam Altman to Elon Musk, a collective raising the alarm over their own technology with calls to slow things down. Concerns growing particularly after a former anthropic researcher told NBC News AI could, quote, kill us all by the end of the decade. But even as those tech giants agree, something must be done,

tonight there's no sign any of them are stepping on the brakes. Our Christine Romans is following this story. She leads us off tonight. President Trump tonight blasting doomsday predictions over artificial intelligence, Posting on social media, AI taking over the world, destroying humanity and all other things bad is a hoax and slamming tech leaders who are saying they need to slow down. Late today, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Wong, even saying President Trump called to interrupt this tech summit. So we're getting a microphone. Mr. President. Wong then putting his phone on speaker.

The robots will not be taken over. The AI will not be taken over the rest of the world. The whole thing is a hoax. Now, with that, we have to be a little bit careful. Trump responding to a groundswell from AI CEOs speaking out over the weekend. Anthropics, Dario Amadei, saying this. There are real dangers. And I think for too long, the industry lied to people about the fact that this technology had risk.

AI fears renewed by posts now viewed more than 170 million times from a 27-year-old former Anthropic researcher, warning AI, could kill us all by the end of the decade. Then Amade published an essay on Saturday titled, We Must Pace the Frontier, saying, it is worth taking unusually deliberate care to get it right, and I believe we owe it to humanity to try. SpaceX AI's Elon Musk, quickly endorsing his caution, and Open AI's Sam Altman on a podcast,

said now wasn't the right moment for his company to go public. We are clearly today in a point on the curve with great potential and real risk. The backdrop to the debate, a race with China for AI dominance. Whoever wins AI wins. House Speaker Mike Johnson saying the president will summon AI leaders to the White House in the coming days. There'll be a deliberate discussion about the responsibility of the companies to maintain safety and what role, if any, the government has to play in that.

Christine, Romans joins us now live in studio. Christine, these tech CEOs are all saying they're going to slow down. Do we have any reason to believe they're doing that? They say there's a need to slow down, but they haven't said how or when. In Anthropic and Open AI, these are private companies. So essentially, we can't see exactly what's happening behind closed doors other than what they choose to tell us, Tom. All right, Christine, thank you for that. We're also following more breaking news tonight playing out right now.

Republican Senator Mitch McConnell has just returned to the Senate after a three-month absence. Ryan Nobles is live on Capitol Capitol Hill tonight for us. And Ryan, McConnell has faced persistent questions over his health issues. Yeah, that's right, Tom. And this is the first time that we've seen McConnell since he fell in June. And during that time, his office has been very guarded about his return and his recovery. But you can see him tonight. He was on the Senate floor being greeted by his colleagues. He did miss more than 60 votes in the Senate during his absence, but vowed in brief remarks today to finish out his term. Now, during his absence, his office released statements explaining why his return was taking longer than expected. They noted lingering issues from his childhood battle with polio and revealed that he had contracted pneumonia while in the hospital. He did get some criticism from Kentucky's governor, but he is back here tonight. Tom. Okay, Ryan, thank you for that. We want to head to Miami now where a crane collapsed onto multiple cars, one exploding into flames, and our cameras were there when a worker was pulled

from the wreckage alive. Jesse Kirsch is on the scene tonight. In Miami, this crane collapsing, smashing multiple cars and sparking this fiery scene. A car in flames with the driver, somehow officials say, escaping on her own. To be able to see the crane falling, pull the car in reverse and pop out of the back while the car's on fire, really incredible. Crews racing to the scene as thick smoke billowed from the mangled wreck. The Miami Fire Department says the Riggs' 47-year-old operator jumped as it fell this morning. Two workers winding up trapped within crushed metal. This man embracing one of his rescuers as they pulled him out. construction equipment still blocking this street, at least three vehicles crushed underneath.

And even with questions surrounding this construction site, right now there's an excavator on the move inside. Officials say four people suffered minor injuries. Later, Miami-Dade County telling NBC News a stop work order has been issued for the project as an investigation unfolds. For you to feel comfortable for another crane to go up and for construction to resume here, what do you need to hear or see from authorities? Definitely an investigation to see how this happened. And tonight, Cruz, breaking this rig into pieces, getting it out of the street, as several questions remain unanswered. Tom. Jesse Kirsch for us, Jesse, thank you. Now to that new report, President Trump's son, Don Jr.'s elaborate wedding party paid for in part by a Russian oligarch reportedly with ties to Vladimir Putin.

Democrats outraged, and tonight President Trump is defending his son. Here's Hallie Jackson. A wedding weekend controversy tonight over a new report saying a Russian oligarch picked up part of the tab for Donald Trump Jr's lavish Bahamas celebrations in May. ProPublica saying Umar Kremlev linked to a member of Vladimir Putin's inner circle who leads presidential security shelled out hundreds of thousands of dollars for things like a fireworks display and a private island rental. According to ProPublica, citing records reviewed and interviews with three. people familiar with the event. ProPublica's report included this photo showing what it said was Umar Kremlev at the festivities, partly blocked there in the back row, whose office tells

them he first met Don Jr. a couple years ago. According to Chinese state media, Kremlin had traveled with Putin to China as part of the Russian delegation just days before the wedding events. The couple confirming Kremlin hosted two incredible nights of celebrations, but not the smaller wedding ceremony itself a day earlier. Tina Trump calling Kremlin's contributions a wedding gift from a dear friend. Slamming that something so happy can be recast as something political or sinister, simply because of who someone is or where they came from, adding no conspiracy, no mystery.

He's happily married, which is nice. He's calmed down so much, you know. President Trump, who did not attend the wedding events, saying today he never heard of Kremlin, who he says didn't pay for Don and Bettina's wedding. It was an after party given. in their honor, not a big deal. But the close connection between his son and the Russian, raising concerns from a top Democrat. It's another example of the enormous corruption and grift of the Trump family, and we're surely demanding answers. Kremlev's press office tells ProPublica he has never discussed political matters with any of his American friends. Tom? Hallie, Jackson for us, Hallie, thank you. Now to those rising gas prices as a result of the

Iran war and concerns tonight that a new drop in the oil supply could lead to even more pain at the pump. Monica Alba is at the White House. Tonight, new fears a drop in the global oil supply could send energy prices even higher. In the Middle East, this key Saudi oil pipeline seen last week, now damaged by a drone attack a few days ago, leading to a temporary shutdown. Adding to the concerns, Iran-backed Houthi rebels capturing islands in the Red Sea. Tonight, oil up to around $105 a barrel. We're going to keep on monitoring it, making sure that Americans' best interests are represented.

And in Ukraine, President Trump says President Zelensky has agreed to stop targeting Russian energy plants, while the Ukrainian leader says Russia must stop its attacks as well. The president argues that conflict has led to higher diesel prices, now at an all-time high. The diesel is being driven up by the fact that it's having a hard time coming out of Russia. Here in the U.S., the overall inflation rate did not increase last month, but gas prices are on the rise. averaging $4.29 a gallon nationwide, ranging from 358 in Indiana to 597 in California. Oh, the prices are ridiculous. While inside Iran, the U.S. blockade is sparking long gas lines.

And now the New York Times citing three Iranian officials reports a hardline cleric in Iran made the decision to attack oil tankers that derailed that ceasefire with the U.S. in July, which the president of Iran had supported. Iran wants to make a deal so bad. They're calling constantly. They want to make a deal. Monica joins us now live. And Monica, as we see the gas prices rise, now a new headline about mortgage rates. Exactly, Tom. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose above 7.1% today, the highest level of President Trump's second term. It was just under 6% before the war against Iran started. Tom?

Monica Alba at the White House tonight. Monica, thank you. The Republican candidate for governor in Wisconsin is lucky to be alive. tonight. After a plane he was on crashed into a lake as he returned from a campaign trip, Tom Costello now with new video of that plane going down. Pulled from the water today, the single-engine plane that went down in Warsaw, Wisconsin. A home surveillance camera captured the very distant image of flashing lights as the plane crashed into a lake. On board, Wisconsin Congressman Tom Tiffany with 12 fresh stitches now over his right eye. We are just really fortunate. We're really fortunate that God was looking after us. Tiffany, the Republican gubernatorial nominee, was returning from a campaign event when the pilot said they'd lost power.

Len said to me, we are going down, pull your seatbelt tight. And that's exactly what I did. I gave it a yank and pulled it good and tight. Once in the water, the two stood on the plane and called 911. But as their plane began sinking, they swam to shallow water and waited for rescue. They hauled us in the boats and took us away to the ambulances. His Democratic opponent, David Crowley, today said he was grateful that Tiffany was okay. We may be political opponents, but we're still human. And I still look at him as a neighbor. We're so fortunate to be safe, and we're going to continue on here.

The cause of the crash now under investigation, though Tiffany says he, will fly again. Tom? Tom, thank you. A major fight in the music world going public today with the superstar rapper McElmore, saying he's being booted from touring with Ed Shearin over his support of Palestinians in a clash that includes singer Pink and NFL owner Robert Kraft. Liz Croyce has a story. Tonight, rapper McElmore speaking out after he says he was dropped from Ed Shearin's loop tour following comments he made on stage in support of Palestinians. I said breathe in a post on Instagram, the Can't Holda singer says he was scheduled to play with Sharon at Jolet Stadium, which is owned by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

But that last week, Ed told me that Kraft said I would not be allowed to perform in his stadium. And that it also told me that Kraft had rallied some of the other stadium owners, and collectively they gave him an ultimatum. If McElmore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues. The decision to remove McElmore comes after the rapper faced backlash from pro-Israel group, following his remarks. I wanted to stand up here on stages and stadiums across America and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart, free Palestine.

Among the critics, Singer Pink, who was Jewish and said the show could make some Jewish families feel scared or targeted. She pointed to a past incident in 2014 when McElmore had to apologize after dressing up in what looked like a Jewish caricature. The rapper later said that was absolutely not my intention. Tonight, Robert Kraft saying he made his decision based on McElmore's recent actions, material shared from the stage during Ed Shearren's shows in New Jersey, and a broader history of anti-Semitic rhetoric and imagery,

adding this decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians. Meanwhile, Macamore writing, if those words cost me the stage while turning the conversation back to Palestine, then it was the most successful tour I've ever been on. And Tom, we've reached out to Ed Shearin's team so far. No comment. Tom. When we return in 60 seconds here on nightly news, Star Wars, did the U.S. just confirmed our first space weapon in orbit?

Plus, the confrontation on the runway. The fashion CEO apologizing after pinning down a protester and remembering Bob Mackey, the icon who dress Cher, Marilyn Monroe, and so many more. Stay with us. We're back now with new video out of New York Fashion Week. The man in charge of it all, grabbing an. animal rights protest right on the runway, forcibly pinning her down. Eric McLaughlin picks it up from there.

Tonight, this shocking encounter, the talk of New York Fashion Week. In the video, you see the head of the CFDA, the Fashion World's premier trade association physically restrain a PETA activist protesting the use of wool. In another clip, CEO Stephen Colb appears to cover a protester's mouth, then wraps his leg around her. All of it as a major fashion show for the H&M-owned brand costs was underway. Fashionista editor Steph Salzman caught it all on camera. It went on for quite a while and people were watching the show as usual. Stephen himself seemed to be trying to take in the show as well,

while holding the protester down physically. I mean, that must have been surreal. I definitely was surprised in the moment. PETA released this statement, saying in part, Colb's actions are endorsing Pete's complaint that the fashion industry is unthinkingly violent. While H&M says animal welfare is very important to the company, Colb says the incident is completely out of character and that he's deeply sorry. Tonight, the head of the CFDA telling NBC News he's taking a voluntary leave from work.

Aaron McLaughlin, NBC News, New York. All right, when we return is the U.S. using weapons in space, and how do they work? the surprising announcement tonight. Plus, the passengers taken on a terrifying ride when their city bus driver fell asleep at the wheel. That's next. Just in tonight, for the first time, a major military leader appears to have publicly acknowledged

the U.S. is operating weapons in space. The Air Force Secretary today acknowledging space-based weapons in orbit for the first time. He did not reveal what kind of weapon it is or what capacity it has. It comes amid ongoing tensions in space with China. and Russia. That is some startling video out of Atlanta.

Watch as the city bus driver appears to nod off crossing a double yellow line. You see it there. His hands not even on the wheel until it drifts off the road, and he slams right into a tree sending him into the air. According to police, three passengers were injured, and the driver was charged with distracted driving. Also tonight, the fashion world is remembering legendary designer Bob Mackie, who dressed some of the biggest Hollywood stars.

His iconic looks include shares, gown for the Oscars, Elton John's Dodgers costume and Tina Turner performing in a flame dress. He was 87 years old. All right, we thank you for watching Nightly News on this Monday. I'm Tom Yamas tonight. And always, we're here for you. Good night.