NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Thursday, March 5, 2026

Episode Date: March 6, 2026

Trump fires DHS Secretary Kristi Noem; Exclusive interview with Iran’s foreign minister; Dramatic bodycam footage shows moment police shoot gunman; 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.

We're following two breaking stories as we come on the air. President Trump firing Homeland Security Secretary Christy Noem, and I speak exclusively with Iran's foreign minister as the war spreads to another country. Christy Noem now out, the president's first major firing of his second term. Multiple controversies she was battling, including accusations of an affair with aide Corey Lewandowski, our new reporting on why the president made the change. and what we know about the senator who is likely to lead the agency now. Right now, war spreading across the region, Iranian strikes hitting an airport in Azerbaijan. I speak exclusively with the Iranian foreign minister, pressing him on why they're hitting civilians.

Why are you attacking your Muslim neighbors during the holy month of Ramadan? Telling me, Iran doesn't want to ceasefire and will confront any ground troops head on. Plus, as oil prices spike and the stock market plummets, his response to threats against the critical straight of Hormuz. Are international oil tankers potential targets for Iran? The new body cam video of police taking down the Austin Bar shooter, the chilling moments as the gunman paces with an AR-15 rifle. Growing severe storm threat, this roof collapsing under heavy rain. Millions under alert, Al Roker standing by. Savannah's emotional return to Studio 1A, embracing her Today Show team, what she's saying about returning to the anchor desk.

Singer Britney Spears arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence how her team is responding. And there's good news tonight, a community coming together to surprise a World War II vet on his 100th birthday. Nightly News starts right now. This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas. And good evening. We are tracking major developments in the Middle East tonight. And earlier, we pressed Iran's foreign minister in an exclusive interview on why his country's military is targeting neighboring countries and who is in charge

there right now. We'll get to that in just a moment. But we want to begin with a historic moment here in the U.S. President Trump firing his Homeland Security Secretary, Christy Noam, the first cabinet secretary he's forced out in his second term. Noam has been at the center of President Trump's immigration crackdown, but also at the center of growing controversies. She has faced fierce criticism over two fatal shootings involving federal agents killing American citizens in Minneapolis, and just this week she has faced accusations on Capitol Hill not only about

government contracts, but allegations of an affair with a top aid. We have new reporting tonight on why President Trump decided to fire her today and on the senator, he's now nominating to replace her. Peter Alexander starts us off from the White House. Tonight's Secretary Nome no longer, President Trump ousting perhaps the most divisive member of his cabinet, Homeland Security Secretary Christy Nome, who led his immigration enforcement crackdown. The president abruptly announcing her firing on social media, writing, I thank Christy for her service at Homeland, saying she had numerous and spectacular results, a special on the border. Moments later, this awkward split screen. Thank you for coming to this conference.

Noam on stage at a law enforcement conference, but never mentioning her firing. A top administration official tells NBC News, President Trump, already frustrated by a series of Noem's high profile controversies. This week was infuriated by her testimony before lawmakers, where she was repeatedly pressed on a rule securing a $220 million border security ad campaign that featured her prominently. If you come here the right way, your American dream can be as big as these endless guys. Did the president work with OMB? Yes. He did.

Yes. A White House official says President Trump never signed off on the spending. During this year's immigration raids in Minnesota that left two protesters dead, Nome came under fire for accusing Alex Pretti of domestic terrorism, despite video contradicting her account. Nome's firing comes just weeks after President Trump praised her to Tom. Do you still believe in Christy Noem to deliver on your vision of immigration? Look, she was in charge of the border. The border's closed. I mean, everybody gives me a plus on the border.

Noam was a lightning rod for criticism, hosting a photo op at a maximum security, Salvador in prison, purchasing a luxury plane that DHS claimed would be used for deportation flights, and facing allegations of an affair with her top advisor, Corey Lewandowski, who an administration official says is also expected to depart. Noam brushed off questions about the relationship at a congressional hearing this week. President Trump naming Republican Senator Mark Wayne Mullen of Oklahoma the next DHS secretary, pending Senate approval. There's an opportunity to build off successes, and there's also opportunities to build off things that maybe didn't go quite as plans. Peter joins us now from the White House, and Peter, the president, has publicly praised Noem, but you have new reporting tonight on what's been going on behind the scenes? Tom, that's right. The president announced Noam will move to a newly created position overseeing a security initiative.

but tonight an administration official tells NBC News that Noam's drama, in this person's words, overshadowed and distracted from the president's immigration agenda, which this official insists will continue full force. Tom. Peter, Alexander, with that big shake up tonight. Peter, thank you. Now to our other big story today, the widening war with Iran, another country now in Iran's crosshairs. And I spoke exclusively with Iran's foreign minister today. I asked him whether Iran is ready for U.S. ground troops and what his message is to President Trump,

And I also pressed him about those ongoing Iranian strikes on its neighbors. Tonight, the alarming airport attack. Video showing a drone striking in Azerbaijan, injuring four people. The country's foreign ministers saying more drones hit, including near a school, calling them Iranian terrorist attacks. It's the 15th country Iran has struck with drones or ballistic missiles since this weekend. Today we spoke to Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Arachi about those Iranian strikes. Why are you attacking your Muslim neighbors during the holy month of Ramadan?

Please don't mistake. We have not attacked our neighbors. We have not attacked Muslim countries. We have attacked Americans' targets and Americans' bases, American installations, which are unfortunately located in the soils of our neighbors. But Minister, Iran is hitting severe. civilians targets, striking hotels, high-rise apartments, airports in many of these countries. Those are not military targets.

Well, no, we have targeted very well the Americans are. Maybe there have been some collateral damages as it is in every war. This is a war of choice by the United States, and they should be held responsible for all those damages. Minister, NATO said they shot down an Iranian missile, which Turkey says. was in its airspace. Are you creating new enemies every single day? Well, we have, you know, our military has denied firing any missile to either Turkey or Azerbaijan. There's video of the missile on the ground. NATO has said this was fired by Iran.

Well, there is no reason why we should fire, you know, a missile to Turkey, which is, you know, a good neighbor of us. Also, there is no reason to fire, you know, drones to Azerbaijan. We are investigating that was what has gone wrong regarding these missiles or drones. It comes as the Pentagon says America is winning decisively against Iran in the joint U.S. Israeli operation. That they have complete control of the skies and are taking out Iranian ballistic missile launchers. Ballistic missile attacks have decreased by 90% since day one. Drone attacks have decreased by 83%. since day one.

President Trump tonight. As soon as they set off a missile within four minutes, the launcher gets hit. They don't know what's happening. But we have the greatest military anywhere in the world. We press the foreign minister. The Pentagon says America is winning decisively. Do you think they're wrong?

Well, I think, you know, now six days after the war, it is clear that the U.S. has failed to achieve its main goal, which was a clean, rapid victory. They failed to achieve that, and now they are trying to justify why they did attack us. Minister, your supreme leader was killed. Your top military leaders were killed. Your military installations have been bombed. How can you call that a failure? Well, then what they have achieved? What was their goal? They came here for a regime change, perhaps they came here for a rapid victory so that can control everything. But they have failed. The system is working. The commanders have been replaced, and the supreme leader is going to be

replaced soon, according to the procedures set by the constitution. So everything is in order. Can Iran win this war and what does winning look like for Iran? Well, there is no winner in this war. Our win is to be able to resist against, you know, their illegal, you know, goals. And this is what we have done so far. Right now, you're saying Iran does not want to ceasefire. We are not asking for a ceasefire. And we don't see any reason why we should negotiate with the U.S. when we negotiated with them twice. And every time they attacked us at the middle of negotiations. So who comes next after the Ayatollah? There are reports that Ayatollah Hamani's son is a frontrunner. Is that true? Well, actually, I have done, you know, exact information.

But there are many rumors around. But, you know, we have to wait for the Assembly of Experts to choose the new Supreme Leader. We asked about the American submarine that took out this Iranian battleship with a torpedo. The world saw your battleship sunk in the Indian Ocean. Dozens of Iranian sailors died. Your response was, quote, mark my words, the U.S. will come to bitterly regret the president it has said. So what is Iran going to do? And at this point, given the state of your military right now, what can you do? Well, first of all, that was a training navy, training ship, which was invited by the Indian Navy to take part in an exercise. The ship was unarmed. So attacking an armed, unarmed ship,

full of, you know, training officers and sailors is, you know, a war crime, I have to say. What type of battleship, what minister, excuse me, but what type of military would allow a battleship into the ocean with no weapons on board? Well, because it was, you know, the goal was not, their aim was not going to war. They went for an exercise. And tonight, Israel striking Iranian internally. security forces, it says, are responsible for those recent brutal crackdowns on Iranian protests. We spoke to one man inside of Iran tonight who asked us to conceal his identity for his safety,

telling us his reaction to the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. I was exhilarated that finally, finally someone astute to this nasty people, nasty people who just machine gun, empty-handed protesters. Now he's worried the strikes will end too soon, allowing the government to stay in power. Just help us. I'm afraid if the help and military action will stop so they can recover. And again, after stopping, they will come and hunt for us. Even if my house is bombed by U.S. or Israel, they are not responsible. He's responsible. Regine is responsible. They have caused this.

He says the internet is cut off in Iran. We asked the foreign minister. Inside Iran right now, we've heard that the government is cutting off the internet. Why are you closing off information for the Iranian population while this crisis is unfolding? Well, this is not the case. Almost, you know, all Iranians have access to social networks. and, you know, in some cases, for security reasons, we have, you know, caught access to internet. President Trump has not ruled out boots on the ground in Iran. Are you afraid of a U.S. invasion in your country? No, we are waiting for them.

You are waiting for the U.S. military to invade the ground troops? Yes, because we are confident that we can confront them. That would be a big disaster for them. Minister, the White House will likely see this interview. What is your message to President Trump? Well, my message is that their plan A to achieve a clean, rapid victory in Iran has failed. I'm sure the plan B would even a bigger failure. So there is no way that they can win this war.

As long as it takes, we resist. so they better to stop this war and stop killing our people. While President Trump tonight with a message to Iran. And I'm once again calling on all members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the military, and the police to lay down their arms. They're only going to be killed. And on the issue of those rising oil prices, the foreign minister told me Iran has no intention to close the strait of Hormuz right now.

But as the war continues, he told me he will consider every scenario. Back here at home, we have some chilling new body camera footage tonight showing the moments police confronted and then took down that mass shooter in Austin earlier this week. NBC's Priscilla Thompson has the latest and a warning. Some of what you're about to see is disturbing. This is the moment Austin police took down the gunman on a deadly rampage. Stop morning! Stop morning! The body cam released by the department today shows two different angles. Where is it? Where is it?

Police frantically searching for. the shooter. Don! Everybody don't! And returning fire. Fire! This aspect is down! Also released this chilling video, showing the shooter in a downtown Austin parking lot with what investigators say is an AR-15 rifle.

At one point, appearing to take aim. There are people dead over here. There have been multiple people shot. Three people were killed and 16 injured. Multiple sources say the gunman is 53-year-old Iniaga-Diagné. who wore an Iranian flag shirt during the attack. The Department of Homeland Security says the Iranian flag was also found in his home. Police say the suspect's only other interaction with law enforcement was a 22 welfare check in New York,

and that they are still investigating a motive and possible nexus to terrorism. We conducted two search warrants. You talk about the digital evidence and all the things that we have to do. We are not ready to talk about exactly what that nexus is. Tonight, the community, remembering the victim, victims, 19-year-old writer Harrington, 21-year-old Savitha Sean, and 30-year-old George Peterson, and praising the heroic officers who returned fire that day. Priscilla Thompson, NBC News.

All right, we're also tracking a dangerous storm system firing up right now. Heavy rain, cave in this massive warehouse in Texas. Look at that. And rivers flooding out as far as Indiana. Al Roker is here, and Alick gets even more dangerous for millions tonight. That's right, Tom. We are seeing the transition from winter to spring. You can see the heavy showers and thunderstorms. Right now, tonight, we've got damaging winds, hail possible, especially Oklahoma and Texas. Tornado can't be ruled out. Tomorrow, we've got 29 million people at risk, especially from Kansas all the way down to Oklahoma for damaging winds and tornadoes likely.

And then on Saturday, from Pittsburgh down to Houston. Again, big threat of storms. We're talking the heaviest rain down from Texas into Missouri. We're talking anywhere from three to five inches of rain top. All right, Al, we thank you for that. In 60 seconds, the emotional reunion right here at NBC News. Savannah Guthrie reuniting with her Today Show family for the first time since her mom, Nancy, went missing, and why she's determined to come back to the show. That's next. We're back now with the emotional reunion here at NBC News.

Our friend and colleague, Savannah Guthrie, returning right here to this studio, sharing a powerful message, even as she deals with the horrific. horrific kidnapping of her mother. This morning, an emotional return to the Today Show. For the first time since her mother was abducted 33 days ago, Savannah Guthrie stepped foot into Studio 1A, where her Today's show family was waiting with open arms. She hugged every member of the staff and crew,

thanking them for the love, for the prayers, and for caring about my mom as much as I do. going on to say, I wanted you to know that I'm still standing, and I still have hope, and I'm still me, and I don't know what version of me that will be, but it will be. Her colleagues, including her co-host, lined up to show their love and support. Savannah telling the team, I'm holding on to my faith, I still believe. Dylan Dreyer led a group prayer, which began, we're here holding hands as a family, in a place where we don't understand why this is happening.

It is not too bold to ask God for the biggest miracles every day. As far as her return to the anchor desk, Savannah says, I have every intention of coming back. I don't know how to come back, but I don't know how not to. You're my family, and I would like to try. Moments later, Jenna and Chanel talked about her visit on their show. She is beyond loved here. And so we're happy that she is home.

I don't know when she's actually returning to the show, but she was here. And that felt so good. She feels your prayers and your well wishes and all of it. And I think we just keep it going. Yeah. We just keep loving her. And we are all still praying and thinking about Savannah and her family. We're back at a moment with why Britney Spears was arrested today and taken into custody.

What law enforcement sources are telling us. That's next. Back now with Britney Spears. Spears arrested on suspicion of DUI. Jail records show that Spears was arrested in Southern California late last night and released today. Police say the arrest was alcohol and drug-related. A representative for Spears called the incident inexcusable, adding that Spears will comply with the law. Also tonight, top Republicans in the House are calling on Texas Congressman Tony Gonzalez, a fellow Republican, to drop his reelection campaign after he admitted to having an affair with a staffer. Gonzalez is

now facing an ethics investigation into that affair with that former aide who later died by suicide. Gonzalez is locked in a close runoff after Tuesday's primary. When we come back tonight, we have some good news about the community stepping up big time to celebrate a World War II hero just in time for his birthday. Finally, there's good news tonight in Redondo Beach, California. War II veteran John Oliver was celebrating a major milestone, his 100th birthday. But it wasn't It wasn't just his family who showed up to celebrate. Take a look at this. Firefighters, police officers, neighbors, even the mayor, turning out to say happy birthday and to thank an American hero for serving our country. Happy birthday, sir. Thank you so much for what you did for us. And we too thank Sergeant Oliver for his service and wish him a very happy birthday.

That's nightly news for this Thursday. I'm Tom Yamas. Thanks so much for watching tonight. We're here for you. Good night.