NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Episode Date: January 21, 2026

Trump’s high-stakes trip after Greenland comments rock NATO; Millions battle brutal arctic blast and snow; Trump touts arrests by ICE in Minneapolis while acknowledging potential ‘mistakes’; 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, the president's escalating war of words over Greenland now rocking the NATO alliance and your 401K. The stock market taking a huge hit. President Trump in a marathon news conference today claiming America needs Greenland. European countries not backing down. With more troops arriving in Greenland, our reporter is there. And as fears of a trade war with America's top allies grow, U.S. stocks plunge today. Dangerous Arctic blasts sending cars off roads. even freezing up, one major city's water supply.

Plus, Al Roker tracking the next winter storm, which may be the worst one down south in years. The Justice Department's new legal action against Minnesota's top Democratic officials. Plus, the growing outrage over an American citizen detained, wearing just shorts and a blanket, plus the protest inside of a church in the middle of Sunday service. Breaking moments ago, actor Timothy Busfield set free as he awaits trial

after a court hearing over his child sex abuse case. Four shark attacks in just 48 hours, shutting down beaches in Australia, video of the shark thrashing, and a victim carried out of the water. Rescueers speaking out after a woman drove her car into freezing water how they broke her free, breaking baby news,

Vice President J.D. Vance and the second lady announcing they're expecting their fourth child. Nightly news starts right now. This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yomas. And good evening. We begin tonight with the exploding rift between President Trump and some of America's closest allies over Greenland, with the divide now rocking America's stock market. The president heading to Switzerland later tonight where he'll likely face an icy welcome from many European leaders. Mr. Trump's increasingly tough talk on Greenland rattling not just the NATO alliance overseas, but the stock market here in the U.S.

Take a look at this. All three major indices were way down with the S&P having its worst day in months. All of it fueled by a possible trade war over Greenland. President Trump taking the unusual step of publicly posting text messages he received from France's president. And in a marathon news conference today, the president insisted Greenland was key to American national security. We'll get to the stock market fallout in a moment. And our reporter is on the ground in Greenland. But we begin tonight with Garrett Hake at the White House. Tonight, hours from his meeting with the world's economic elite in Davos, President Trump, setting the stage for a showdown with NATO allies over the future of the Danish territory of Greenland.

How far are you willing to go to acquire Greenland? You'll find out. The president threatening Denmark and seven other allies with escalating tariffs until the U.S. can negotiate a deal to take control of the Arctic island. But Europe now threatening to deploy its own economic countermeasures. including a so-called trade bazooka that could ban U.S. goods from European markets. Still, the president today optimistic about a deal. I think that we will work something out when NATO is going to be very happy and where we're going to be very happy.

But we need it for security purposes. We need for national security and even world security. It's very important. NBC's Ellison Barber is in Greenland tonight. Here in the capital city of Greenland, if you go into a lot of the shops in this area, you will see signs, merchandise with a very clear message. Just like this, Greenland is not for sale.

They all say it's crazy, but also many are scared. President Trump argues Denmark cannot defend the massive island from Russian and Chinese threats, taking the unprecedented step this week of posting private messages from other world leaders, including one from French President Macron, praising President Trump's moves in Syria while adding, I do not understand what you're doing on Greenland and inviting Trump to meet him in Paris. They get a little bit rough when they're, you know, when I'm not around,

but when I'm around, they treat me very nicely. All of it flowing from a lengthy news conference the president held today to mark the anniversary of his second inauguration, focusing on the economy, pointing to rising wages and gas prices at a four-year low. Gasoline prices have come per gallon way down. When that happens, everything else comes down. With polls showing most Americans, satisfied with the cost of living.

They created the affordability problem, and we are solving it. We have solved a lot of it. And there is another foreign leader text message making news tonight. A presidential text with Norway's prime minister released on Monday shows President Trump appearing to link his push for Greenland with his frustration with not being awarded a Nobel Peace Prize this year. The president insisting that he believes the country has, quote, tremendous control over who receives the prize despite their denials.

Tom. All right, Garrett Hake, leading us off tonight. And for that big drop in the markets today, I want to bring in our senior business correspondent, Christine Roman. So, Christine, what was that big sell-off all about? You know, Tom, Wall Street reeling from that threat of a new trade war with Europe if President Trump just doesn't get his way, doesn't get what he wants with Greenland. More tariffs on European goods could raise costs for American companies and consumers. And now European leaders, they are readying retaliation. That could hurt American exporters. All of this leading today to what is being called the Sell America trade, investors dumping U.S. stocks, bonds and the dollar.

The S&P 500, which had set record highs this month, now down for the year. Tom, the European Union had been closed to ratifying an important trade deal with the U.S., but now we're back at a risk of a new trade war with Europe. And all eyes on that Trump speech in Davos. All right. Thanks so much, Christine. The other big headline out of the White House tonight,

Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife, Usha, announced today, they're expecting their fourth child this summer. I'm joined tonight by Kelly O'Donnell and Kelly. This is so rare for a sitting first or second lady to have a baby. Tom, the Vance's new edition is making history. The first known time a sitting vice president is expecting a child while in office. And it was rare for presidential families, too, not seen since the Kennedys. J.D. and Usha Vance, who are 41 and 40 years old, delivered this big surprise today on social media,

announcing a baby boy is due in July. They thank the military doctors who are caring for their family. The new baby will join two big brothers and a big sister. Big family. Tom. All right, Kelly, O'Donnell for us. Kelly, thank you. Tonight, a dangerous mix of heavy snow and bitter cold, blanketing much of the country.

In some places, it felt like 20 below zero. And another more powerful storm right behind it. Aaron McLaughlin is tracking it for us. Tonight, extreme weather spelling extreme misery for millions. I'm convinced this weather is not meant for. human consumption. Temperatures 15 to 20 degrees below average, from the Midwest to the northeast, even a cold warning as far south as Florida. All of it creating white out conditions this week leading to one of the largest pileups in Michigan State history. School bus is deployed to rescue

stranded drivers. When you've got 100 cars out there, it's pretty insane. Experts warn just 10 minutes in these bitter cold temps can lead to frostbite. Our emergency departments are really busy, and so the cold only adds to that strain. Milwaukee's chief health policy advisor says the number of patients have been on the rise for weeks because of the flu. This cold is now making things worse. A person who came in with an asthma exacerbation. We saw somebody who was shoveling snow and got chest pain. We saw somebody who reached into a snowblower to try to jam out or get out that jammed snow.

In Pittsburgh at the city's water treatment plant, ice in the river blocked the water. intake. Emergency officials race to clear the blockage. And over in Chicago, we are evacuating. Overnight air traffic control was temporarily evacuated after a water pipe burst in the tower building. Tonight in the Big Apple, the fountains are freezing up, and New Yorkers, like so many Americans, are bundling up getting ready for the next Arctic punch. Tom. We see those icicles building there. All right, Aaron, on a week like this, we do need to talk to Al Roker. Now you're tracking the next winter storm, and it looks pretty serious. time. The big problem, that cold air coming in. So Friday, the snow develops over the Rockies,

the plains, wintery mix of ice and snow threatening the southern plains. Saturday, it intensifies moving across the southeast. You can see a wide swath of ice from Dallas to Atlanta. And then Sunday, it threatens parts of the Northeast. The models still are not in agreement. So how much snow? It's still too early to tell. But what I'm really concerned about, this icing and this snowfall, some of it heavy for folks who are used to it. But the ice is going to be a big, problem from San Angelo all the way to Florence everywhere in between town. These folks are not prepared as far as streets and equipment for this kind of system. They got to get ready down south. Right, Al we thank you for that. President Trump today forcefully defending his crackdown in Minnesota

while also acknowledging ICE has made some mistakes. Here's Maggie Vespos. Tonight, after nearly two weeks of anti-ice protests in the Twin Cities, the Justice Department serving subpoenas to top Minnesota Democrats, including Governor Tim Walls and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry in its investigation into allegations their impeding law enforcement, according to a document reviewed by NBC News, and a person familiar with the investigation. This, as President Trump defends ICE, touting 3,000 arrests in recent weeks. These are real criminal, illegal aliens that in many cases they're murderers, their drug lords, drug dealers. DHS pointing to arrests this weekend, including suspects convicted of homicide, assault, sexual assault, and sexual assault of a minor.

But the president also acknowledging ICE may have made mistakes while defending the mission. ICE is going to be too rough with somebody or, you know, they're dealing with rough people. They're going to make a mistake. Sometimes it can happen. We feel terribly. All as critics are slamming tactics by some federal officers. That's Chong Lee Scott Tao being led out of his St. Paul home in handcuffs, wearing just shorts and trocks draped in a blanket. And Sunday, there's a gun pointed at us. I thought, whoa.

And then they go, you come out here. An NBC News review found the 57-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen has no criminal record. He was released after an hour. DHS says he was living with two convicted sex offenders ICE was targeting and refused to identify himself to officers, something his family denies. While a local police chief says his all. Off-duty officers of color have been pulled over by federal law enforcement.

They were forced to identify themselves as a Brooklyn Park police officer. The agents then immediately left after hearing this. Today, the Border Patrol commander was pressed about their tactics. I would say that those tactics are born of necessity. What we do is legal, ethical, and moral. While President Trump slamming anti-ice protesters who confronted parishioners inside a church where they believe a pastor works for ice. What they did in that church was horrible.

And with that, Maggie, joins us tonight. Maggie, those Democratic officials are now responding to those DOJ subpoenas. Yeah, Tom, that's right. Governor Walls calling the investigation a partisan distraction. And Mayor Fry posting tonight when the federal government weaponizes its power to intimidate local leaders for doing their jobs, every American should be concerned. Tom. Maggie, thank you.

We have some breaking news coming in right now. actor Timothy Busfield will be released as he awaits trial on sex abuse allegations. Dana Griffin was in court when the judge made that decision just moments ago. Tonight, actor Timothy Buzzfield will be released from jail as his child sex abuse case moves forward. There's no evidence of a pattern of criminal conduct. There are no similar allegations involving children in his past. There's no evidence of noncompliance with prior to court orders. wife and actress Melissa Gilbert emotional in court and tonight speaking out i want to thank all of the friends the co-workers who've worked with tim our relatives people have been coming out of the woodwork

showering us with so much love buzzfield faces child sex abuse charges the allegations involve two child actors brothers in the drama series the cleaning lady the prosecutor today calling buzzfield dangerous there's a pattern the pattern the pattern is all touching. There's a pattern of his conduct. Prosecutors also raising an alleged incident between Buzzfield and a different actor. Almost immediately after she entered his trailer, he forcibly grabbed her and threw her against the wall and started kissing her. The defense says the stories are all fabricated. Every aspect of the state's case is flawed.

calling the lead director of photography Buzzfield worked with on the cleaning lady as a witness to discuss if inappropriate touching could have taken place. The film sets may seem chaotic if you're an outsider, but everything we do is incredibly regimented. There was at minimum of 10 people there on the set with them.

It's just how it works. In court documents, the defense accusing the boys' parents of making up allegations for a financial and retaliatory motive because the kids were recasted from the show in 2024. How's Glessful doing? He's doing great.

He knows he's innocent and he's going to prove it. Dana Griffin, NBC News. And when we come back in 60 seconds, the heroes who dove in, when this SUV plunged into freezing waters, all these Good Samaritans broke her free. We'll show it to you. That's next. We're back down with an incredible rescue in Virginia Beach,

an SUV plunging into the freezing water there, and that's when some Good Samaritans sprung into action, managing to save the driver's life. Here's Liz Kreutz with that video. Hey, go to the back. Tonight, a heart racing moment caught on video in Virginia Beach. A group of Good Samaritans jumping into frigid waters to rescue the driver of this sinking SUV that within minutes was underwater. It's tilted!

The man here is Jeremy Way, a longtime rescue swimmer in the Navy, who tells us he just happened to be eating lunch there when he heard a loud splash. Oh my God. In that moment, what's going through your mind? There's a person in the water. That's all I cared about. Our motto is so others may live. Not going to stand by the wayside. Way says in the water, he began talking to the woman behind the wheel, who he says appeared to be going through a mental health crisis and didn't want to unlock her seatbelt. Eventually, he helped convince her. And with the car nearly fully submerged in the water, they managed to get her out. He pulls her out right at the nick of time. I helped grab her and I threw her on my hip. She was crying and I was holding her. Officials say the driver and the Good Samaritans were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Way says just today he got a call from the driver's brother, thanking him for saving his sister's life. At the end of the day, it was just a lot of good people in the right place at the right time that were able to give this woman a second chance. Liz Kreutz, NBC News. And we're back in a moment with four shark attacks in just 48 hours, beachgoers racing to save this man, where it all happened. Back now with a deadly train crash near Barcelona, several people are injured and the driver has been killed after this train slammed into a wall. This comes just two days after a high-speed train derailed in southern Spain, killing at least 40 people and leaving dozens of others injured. In Australia, local officials say more than a dozen beaches are closed following four shark

attacks in just 48 hours. This video capturing the emergency response on Monday, a man hold from the water by beach goers after being bitten by a shark. Sharks also attack surfers and swimmers in what's being called an unprecedented spree. And look at this video. It may prove that cows are way smarter than we thought. It shows Veronica the cow using a tool to scratch her back, it looks like. The studies author said this marks the first time on record that a mammal that wasn't a primate has been documented using a tool. That's nightly news for this Tuesday. I'm Tom Yamas. Thanks so much for watching tonight and always we're here for you. Good night.