Meet the Press NOW — February 12

If it's Monday. Standing by their man. Democrats in the White House defend President Biden's fitness for office and blast special counsel Robert Herr's damning report as Republicans rally around the former president after he attacks NATO and Nikki Haley's husband who's deployed overseas. Plus, Israeli Defense Forces release new footage of a hostage rescue mission as key negotiators close in on a potential hostage release deal.

All as President Biden meets with the Jordanian king at the White House about the crisis in Gaza. And new details on the Houston megachurch shooter revealing that the word Palestine appeared on her assault style rifle in an attack that left two people injured, including a young child now fighting for his life. Welcome to Media Press. Now I'm Davey Tears in Washing.

Well, we're awaiting remarks from President Biden after his meeting with the king of Jordan. Coming as the administration is signaling optimism about potential new hostage deal on the Israel Hamas war. We'll bring you the president's remarks when they begin. But we begin today.

Allies of President Biden and allies of his likely general election opponent, former President Trump, both grappling with their candidates biggest vulnerabilities. For President Biden, it is his age and concerns about his fitness for office. For Donald Trump, it's his increasingly reckless rhetoric on the campaign trail. Biden administration officials and supporters crisscrossed the airways this weekend trying to rebut and rebuke special counsel Robert Heard's report on President Biden's mishandling of classified documents, a report that also noted some difficulties with the president's memory and his, quote, diminished faculties in advancing age.

A loud chorus of Biden defenders are pushing back against that assessment and accusing the special counsel who was appointed by President Biden's own attorney general, of playing politics. There are literally thousands of people alive in this nation today because Joe Biden is incredibly competent and he's incredibly effective. Robert Hur couldn't make a legal case against Joe Biden, so he decided to make a political case against Joe Biden. What he did was willful.

That is Robert Hur. What he did was deliberate, gratuitous, unnecessary and inaccurate personal remarks, and those are improper. The most difficult part about a meeting with President Biden is preparing for it because he is sharp, intensely probing and detail oriented and focused. This is a man who is sharp, who is on top of his game, who knows what's going on in the Middle east and around the world.

And as he said in his press conference, we should be focused on two things. The outcome of this report. He was cleared completely while Donald Trump faces 40 federal felony charges. Trump allies, meanwhile, are dealing with the latest examples of one of their candidates biggest general election vulnerabilities.

His tendency to create controversy with his comments. At a South Carolina event Saturday, the former president repeatedly questioned the whereabouts of his primary opponent. Nikki Haley's husband was currently deployed overseas with a South Carolina National Guard. Haley fired back, questioning Trump's fitness for office while reminding voters of his shattered past when it comes to his rhetoric on veterans and their families.

If you mock the service of a combat veteran, you don't deserve a driver's license, let alone being President of the United States. You mock one veteran, you're mocking all veterans. But this is a pattern, Dana. He's done this over and over again.

Whether he went and called military members suckers, whether he was at Arlington Cemetery saying what was in it for them, why would they do this? The problem with Trump is he's never been anywhere near a uniform. The former president is also facing backlash for new comments of ridiculing NATO as he told supporters how he threatened NATO members when he was president. NATO was busted until I came along.

I said, everybody's gonna pay. They said, well, if we don't pay, are you still going to protect us? I said, absolutely not. They couldn't believe the answer.

One of the presidents of a big country stood up, said, well, sir, if we don't pay and we're attacked by Russia, will you protect us? I said, you didn't pay, you're delinquent. He said, yes, let's say that happened. No, I would not protect you.

In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You got to pay. You got to pay your bills. The response from Trump's allies is one we're familiar with from his presidency.

Take a listen. Yeah, I just encourage people not to overreact. I learned a long time ago not to overreact what President Trump says or what he tweets. I think that people should take everything he says seriously, but not literally, I think.

Take what? Everything. President Trump seriously, but I don't take everything he says literally. And so seriously, but not literally.

Joining me now, NBC White House correspondent Monica Alba and NBC's Garrett Haig, who's covering the Trump campaign. Monica, I want to start with you. We saw the president allies out in full force this weekend pushing back against the special counsel's characterization of the president. What have we heard from inside the White House?

Yeah, Gabe, that's right. We really did see this full fledged defense over the weekend it had started with the president, the vice president, the first lady coming out. And we of course, saw some of those other senior administration officials, cabinet secretaries, who were closely with the president, try to argue that in their private meetings when they're dealing with with some of the most intense issues, that they have seen a president who is sharp, who is asking important questions and who really doesn't match up to what special counsel Robert Herr pointed out in his report, alleging that he is really someone who struggles with memory and recall. But today we did see the president take on a strategy we've seen before when it comes to his age.

He tried to joke about it and included a new line in reference to much of this conversation when he was making remarks earlier in Washington, listen, reporting clean energy industries of the future. Made here in America. Made in America. What I didn't realize and I've been around, I know I don't look like I've been around a while.

I do remember that. So this is a situation where, of course, the White House is now going to mount this continued defense, are going to be putting out allies and surrogates to continue with this message. But they felt like it was good for the president to come out and address this head on. They think like that is the best strategy going forward and you should continue to do that.

But really it's the public polling that suggests that this is still a top concern for many voters. Yeah, Monica, the president trying to brush it off today. He's also set to speak shortly with the King of Jordan. Is the White House going to try to have the president more out there to dispel these accusations about his fitness?

I think what they're going to argue is that through the course of his day job, the president is going to be engaging with world leaders and with the press from time to time and certainly in other key engagements in campaigning. And that would happen no matter what. But I think they are discussing the venues and the ways in which they feel they can put the Joe Biden that they claim they know on full display and that in the course of the campaign has been some of these smaller events. Sometimes when he goes and has interactions more one on one with somebody, they feel like those are better in terms of really comparing that to a larger speech where he maybe could make a mistake or have some kind of a flub that then feeds this narrative about concerns regarding his mental acuity.

So I think you're going to see them continue to say that he's doing all these things no matter what. And he'll continue to, but certainly they are facing that pressure to have him be out there more and more. We should point out, Gabe, that compared to his predecessors, President Biden has done way fewer news conferences and interviews compared to former President Trump and former President Obama at this point in their presidencies. Thanks, Monica.

I want to go with you. So the Chiefs beat the Niners in the super bowl and Republicans are telling us to take Trump seriously, but not literally. Does it feel a little bit like 2020? It does, Gabe, but my hair is grayer now than it was back then.

Look, they're put seriously but not literally on my tombstone because this is something we've been hearing covering Donald Trump for years now. And it is the favorite kind of fallback here. Whenever Trump says something that would put him out over his skis or kind of outside the typical Republican positioning on an AS his comments on NATO certainly appear to be. But what you've also had today, and really since those comments Saturday night, is effort to explain Trump in kind of more normal Republican English and less of the kind of MAGA exaggeration that he likes to use.

That was what Senator Rubio tried to do over the weekend on Sunday. I think his comments are instructive. He was talking about something, a story that he talked about happened in the past. By the way, Donald Trump was president.

He didn't pull out a NATO. The irony of Marco Rubio's lack of concern here about the possibility being pulled out of NATO, Gabe, is that Marco Rubio is the co author of a provision that passed last year to make it harder for presidents to pull the United States out of NATO without congressional approval. So he was concerned about it as recently as the end of last year. But I do think you're seeing these Republicans try to translate this and say, look, this is just about making sure that other countries pull their weight within the alliance.

But Democrats and certainly European leaders are far less certain that Trump's concern. You know, Gary, won't be the first time that Senator Rubio has tied himself in knots trying to explain former President Trump's comments. But for most candidates, the pivot of the general election involves moving a little bit to the center. That's not what we saw from Trump over the weekend.

So clue us in. How are his rallies sounding right now? Yeah, it's been interesting because you look back at in Iowa particularly, but also New Hampshire, the Trump campaign was holding these smaller events. In Iowa, particularly committed caucus events.

They were rallies. There was a few hundred people, not a few thousand. They were shorter. Donald Trump was much more on message than we have sometimes seen in the past.

I was at his event Friday night in Pennsylvania for an NRA sort of sponsored rally, basically. Then this event Saturday in South Carolina, a return to the mega rallies. We're seeing much more red need. I think there's a sort of correlation here between Donald Trump's confidence in his ability to achieve being the nominee for a third time and his willingness to give his supporters exactly what they want and kind of be full throated.

Maga. Donald Trump indicative of a traditional, you know, win over the middle strategy. But if his belief is that there's enough of his base out there around the country that needs to be fired up and believe in him, it's a strategy that could make sense. What I don't know yet and I think will be kind of the tension as we go into the summer and fall is is that a strategy that Donald Trump wants to pursue and his campaign wants to pursue, or is that Donald Trump's nature kind of pulling him in that direction as he gets in front of those bigger crowds?

Jared. Hey, thank you so much. And join me now is Rhode Island Democratic Congressman Gabe Amo. Congressman, thank you so much for joining us here with the press now.

Thanks for having me, Dave. It's a good day. It's a great name. So let's start with the special counsel report.

You used to work in the Biden administration and the Obama administration. What do you mean? Well, look, it's clear that the president was clear of wrongdoing and the headline here should be just that. Ultimately, we need to focus on the fact that the choice between President Biden and former President Trump, who it has himself mired a series of investigations, is very clear.

There's nothing similar between those circumstances. And now we need to move forward to making that choice clear in this election. Some of the president's allies, including the vice president, has called this report politically motivated. You agree?

I agree. I mean, it's, look, it's very clear that there are vendettas made by the Republicans that they want to satisfy with this report that ultimately cleared the president. That's the most important headline here. And it is very clear the contrast with president for President Trump could not be more stark.

He is mired in investigations and those are really unsettling for the American people. And we've heard those comments from your congressional colleagues. You know, it seems like talking points have been out among some of the Democratic colleagues. But what evidence is there that this was politically motivated?

Well, look, the facts are clear. What is most important about the findings? The most important thing about the findings is that the president has been clear. So we should move on to what the voters need to decide this November between former President Trump and President Biden, who has led us into a historic economic recovery and had produced real results for the American people, putting people over politics.

Speaking of the voters, you know, in his report, Robert Heard did make a distinction between President Biden's case and former President Trump. As you said, he's facing many criminal counts, 40 criminal council when it comes to this case. And he allegedly actually hid the classified documents and did not order authorities, which the special counsel credits Mr. Biden for doing.

But when it comes to voters, are they going to be able to separate that? Is it difficult to make the argument that former President Trump should go to jail for mishandling classified documents? And I understand the decision that you made, but will voters see it differently? I think voters will see it clearly because the president was a full, active, forthright participant in the investigation here, did not hide, has not tried to obstruct and wants to move past this so we can focus on delivering results for people instead of dealing with all the charges that former President Trump is dealing with at this moment.

Do you think the transcripts from President Biden's interview should be with this? You know, I defer to the appropriate folks there. Frankly, what I do think the American people care about is that this process was done in a transparent fashion. It appears so.

And now we can move on. Congressman, the fact remains that the president has been in the Senate or has been in politics a really long time. He was a senator for 15 years before you were born. And so age really has become an issue in this campaign.

And one of those recent polls showed most Americans do believe that both President Biden and former President Trump are too old. How do you think the Biden Harris campaign gets over that in the next coming months? Well, I think they focus on the experience that the president brings and what that experience has yielded, which has been historic job growth and recovery, an American rescue plan, bipartisan infrastructure, Law Enforcement Action act, you know, the hit list. No one has done more in this period of time than the President Biden and that's focused on people over politics, on ensuring that when he connects with the American people to solve their problems, he's very focused on them and not the aspirations of former President Trump who wants to break every international relationship that we have by his comments regarding neo.

Congressman, we just heard during my colleague Monica Alba's report that the President today, in his speech, made light of his memory. He tried to deal with it with humor. Do you think that approach is going to work? I think all approaches that make the president very clear that he wants to serve the American people are what we need to focus on.

When I work for President Biden in that Oval Office, when you go to root for president, I'm prepared because he was very focused on how are we working together to solve problems for people. When I traveled with the president after natural disasters, whether it's Fort Myers beach or surfside, I saw him really display the empathy that we require out of our leaders and actually work to help. Should he be doing more robust events? I think he's gonna do a whole range of events.

I think he gotta meet people where they are. You saw last night, they're on TikTok now. The. Which, by the way, they said they didn't.

They weren't gonna be a part of. So is that an acknowledgment that they're not doing those younger voters? Well, I think it's a campaign tool. Look, I'm 36 years old.

I know a lot of my peers are on TikTok. Go meet people where they are. You see the president having dinner in the home of some voters. That's important.

And he will be in front of podiums, in front of crowds. He will do it all because that's what it requires. He has the capacity and the ability to connect with people more than most politicians I've ever seen. And I look forward to seeing more of it along the campaign trail.

You know, the media has talked a lot in the last couple days whether he should have done a Super bowl interview. What do you think? You know, I watched the super bowl, but I was really focused on a halftime show with Usher. So it's like talking about a robust event.

I think that there are so many ways to get to people. And as you know, there's a decentralized way to watch the super bowl now. There's no guarant of finding people in any particular venue. I know that the campaign and the president are doing all that they can to get in front of voters.

And I have confidence that once people spend more time with the president and reviewing their choices, they're going to pick him again this November. Congressman, wanted to talk about your day job now and this national security supplemental that has had so many problems in the last couple of weeks and months. Where does this go from here? Well, I am optimistic.

And I'm optimistic because Democrats in Congress have really led the way. I am glad that in the other chamber we have the Senate hopefully moving forward this week. We'll see what comes out of their amendment process. And then I hope that in the House that there's political will out of Republicans to serve our national security interests.

So do you think the supplemental should be separated from the border deal? Well, I think whatever we need to do to satisfy our obligations both domestically and abroad is the path forward. So if we have to break it up the border, it sounds at this point looking at it, and we've heard from the House repeat of the appears dead. So at this point, do you want to move on to funding for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan?

Well, we know right now that those priorities, Israel, Ukraine in particular, fight for democracy, which is so essential to what our standing is in the world. And of course, what's happening with Taiwan and the South China Sea are very important. So we need to move forward where we can and then return to a more robust conversation on the border. And, you know, Joaquin Jeffries has said that he would use every available legislative tool, you know, for the House floor if it passes through the Senate.

So is there talk of a discharge position if Speaker Johnson won't take up? Take it up. Well, as a good junior member of the caucus, I am looking forward to learning what vehicles we have available. You know as well as I do there are a couple different opportunities.

But I think it's important that Democrats act in unison, show and demonstrate to the American people that we want to put people over politics and get things done as opposed to be mired in what we see out of the Republican leadership, which is to do nothing. And that isn't meeting the moment, isn't servicing the needs of the American people and isn't keeping our world safe. Congressman Gabe Ono, thank you so much for joining us here on READ THE PRESS Now. It's really good to talk to you.

Thank you, Dave. And coming up, NBC News exclusive reporting on the choice words President Biden used in private to describe Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and what rising tensions between the two leaders needs for the war against Hamas. Plus, new health concerns that the Pentagon as the secretary of defense is hospitalized again and has transferred power to his deputy again just weeks after suffering complications from a prostate cancer procedure. You're watching MEET THE PRESS now.

Stay with us. And breaking right now, President Biden delivering remarks alongside King Abdullah of Jordan. Let's to listen. Between Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas, over four Months ago, on October 7, Hamas attacked Israel in an act of sheer evil massacring More than 1,200 innocent women, men and children.

The deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. More than 250 hostages were taken. 134 are still being held hostage by Hamas. We don't know how many are still alive.

The anguish that their families are enduring week after week, month after month, is unimaginable. And it's a top priority for the United States to bring them home. I make clear the United States shares the goal of seeing Hamas defeated and ensuring long term security for Israel and its people. After October 7 attacks, Hamas retreated back into Gaza where its leaders live in underground tunnels stretching for over 100 miles beneath civilian infrastructure, including including schools, playgrounds and neighborhoods.

The past four months, as the war has raised, the Palestinian people have also suffered unimaginable pain and loss. Too many, too many. Of the over 27,000 Palestinians killed in this conflict have been innocent civilians and children, including thousands of children. And hundreds of thousands have no access to food, water or other basic services.

Many families have lost not just one, but many relatives cannot mourn for them, even bury them, because it's not safe to do so. It's heartbreaking. Every innocent life and gossip is a tragedy. Tragedy.

Just as every innocent life lost in Israel is a tragedy as well. We pray for those lives taken, both Israeli and Palestinian, and for the grieving families left behind. Not only do we pray for peace, we're actively working for peace, security and dignity for both the Palestinian people and the Israeli people. I'm working on this day and night with the King and others in the region to find the means to bring all these hostages home, to ease humanitarian crisis and to end the terror threat and to bring peace to Gaza and Israel.

Enduring peace with a two state solution for two peoples. As the King and I discussed today, the United States is working on a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas which would bring an immediate and sustained period of common to gaze Gaza for at least six weeks, which we could then take the time to build something more enduring. Over the past month, I've had calls with Prime Minister Netanyahu as well as leaders of Egypt and Qatar to push this forward. The key element of the deals are on the table, the gaps that remain.

But I'm encouraged Israeli leaders to keep working to achieve the deal. The United States will do everything possible to make it happen. The King and I also discussed the situation in Rafa. As I said yesterday, our military operation Rafah, the major military operation Rafah, should not proceed without a credible plan, a credible plan for ensuring the safety and support of more than 1 million people sheltering there.

Many people there have been displaced, displaced multiple times, fleeing the violence to the north. And now they're packing the Rafah, exposed and vulnerable. They need to be protected. We've also been clear from the start we oppose any forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.

Today, the King and I also discussed in detail how to get more humanitarian aid in the Gaza. From the very beginning, my team and I have relentlessly worked to get more aid in. I urged Congress for months to make sure that our nation's support for Israel and also includes innocent Palestinians. And I've spoken repeatedly with partners across the region, including the King, to help facilitate the flow of such aid in Gaza as much as possible and then actually get to the people that are needed.

We work to get the Rafa crossing over open. We work to get creation home open. And we insist that we remain, remain open, both remain open. We're working to open other routes as well.

And we're also working relentlessly to make sure aid workers can get the aid where it's needed once it gets through. I want to recognize Jordan and the King specifically for all he has done to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, including just a few days ago, he personally got a plan and helped conduct an airdrop of virgin immediate medical supplies in the Gaza. I understand that two of his children have also joined those airdrops. They help fly humanitarian supplies in.

For years, the Queen has been passionate, a passionate advocate for the Palestinian people, particularly women and children. Your family's leadership, your majesty, and humanitarian commitment are commendable. And at the same time, we're working to create the conditions for lasting peace. As we talked a lot about upstairs, with Israeli security guaranteed and Palestinian aspirations for our own state fulfilled, I say this is a long, lifelong support of Israel.

That's the only path that guarantees Israel security for the long term. To achieve it, Palestinians must also seize the opportunity. As discussed with the King today, the Palestinian Authority must urgently reform so it can effectively deliver to the Palestinian people in both the west bank and Gaza. Once Hamas's control of Gaza is over, they must prepare to build a state that accepts peace, does not harbor terrorist groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

And together we will keep working to complete what is we started to integrate the region to bring about peace between Israel and all its Arab neighbors, including the Palestinian state. That effort was already underway before October 7th attacks. It's even more urgent today. No one, no one understands better than our allies and partners in the region, including the King, what we need I'm grateful for his friendship, including his and Jordan's unique role.

Unique role. Custodian of the holy sites of Jerusalem. We're grateful for this friendship. We saw that again just two weeks ago when three brave American servicemen were killed in an attack at a military office in Jordan close to the Syrian border by radical militant groups backed by Iran operating in Syria and Iraq.

Since then, US Military forces have stopped targeting in Iraq and Syria. Our response will continue. We're grateful to our partners and allies like the King who work with us every single day to advance security stability across the region and beyond. It's difficult times like these when the bonds between nations are more important than ever.

And Joe and I are pleased to welcome him and the Queen and the conference of the White House today. Your Majesty. Over to you, Mr. President.

Thank you for your gracious hospitality. According to me and my delegation today, my visit today carries anatomy name as our countries this year mark 75 years of exemplary strategic partnership. However, we had hoped we would be marking this major milestone during better circumstances in my region and the world. Unfortunately, one of the most devastating wars in recent history continues to unfold as we speak.

Nearly a hundred thousand people have been killed, injured or are missing. The majority are women and children. We cannot afford an Israeli attack on Rafah. It is certain to produce another humanitarian catastrophe.

The situation is already unbearable for over a million people who have been pushed into Rafah since the war started. We cannot stand by and let this continue. We need a lasting ceasefire now. This war must end.

We must urgently and immediately work to ensure the sustainable delivery of sufficient aid to Gaza through all possible entry points and mechanisms. And I thank you, Mr. President, for your support on this. Restrictions on micro relief aid and medical items are leading to inhumane conditions.

No other UN agency can do what UNRWA is doing in helping the people of Gaza through this humanitarian catastrophe. Its work in other areas of operation, especially in Jordan, where 2.3 million are registered, is also vital. It is imperative that UNWA continues to receive the support it needs to carry out its mandate. The potential threat of Palestinian displacement beyond the borders of Horizon and the west bank is something we view with extreme concern and cannot be allowed.

At the same time, we must ignore. We must not ignore the situation in the west bank and in the holy sites in Jerusalem. Nearly 400 Palestinians have been killed in the West bank since October 7, including almost 100 children and over 4,000 injured. Continued escalations by extreme settlers in the west bank and Jerusalem solicites and the expansion of illegal settlements will unleash chaos on the entire region.

The vast majority of Muslim worshippers are not being allowed to enter Al Aqsa Mosque. Christian church have also voiced concerns about increasing and unprecedented restrictions and threats. It is also important to stress that the separation of the west bank and Gaza cannot be accepted. Seven decades of occupation, death and destruction have proven beyond any doubt that there can be no peace without a political horizon.

Military and security solutions are not the answer. They can never bring peace. Civilians on both sides continue to pay for this protracted conflict with their lives. All attacks against innocent civilians, women and children, including those of October 7, cannot be accepted by any Muslim.

As I have previously stressed, we must make sure the horrors of the past few months since October 7th are never repeated nor accepted by any human being. We must together, along with Arab partners and the international community, step up efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and immediately start working to create a political horizon that leads to a just and comprehensive peace on the basis of a two state solution. An independent, sovereign and viable Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, but living side by side with Israel and peace and security. This is the only solution that will guarantee peace and security for the Palestinians and the Israelis as well as the entire region.

Your leadership, My dear friend, Mr. President, is key to addressing this conflict. And Jordan is ready to work as always with you towards peace. Thank you.

President Biden taking no questions after delivering remarks with King Abdullah of Jordan. I want to go to NBC's Monica outside the White House. We're also joined by Raf Sanchez and Tel Aviv. According at the Pentagon.

Monica, this, these remarks at times, if not scolding Prime Minister Netanyahu, then it really seemed at least a warning. The President saying too many of those killed have been innocent civilians. He also warned the Israelis that civilians in Rafah need to be protected. What's that?

Yeah, really illuminating there some of these key differences and areas of concern. I thought it was notable that the president specifically referenced 27,000 Palestinian lives that have been lost in Gaza. Remember some weeks and months ago, the Biden administration had cast doubt on the death toll and didn't want to get into the specifics. And so for the President to acknowledge that in the way that he did today was notable.

And then of course, King Abdullah, who has not been shy at all about his position in calling for a ceasefire, we heard there President Biden saying effectively he's working on trying to get a hostage deal that would open up a six week temporary pause in the fighting. And he did say while there are still significant gaps, major obstacles that need to be overcome in order to achieve that. That he did have hope there could be some progress on that this week in terms of possibly remaining hostages in Gaza being freed as a result of that deal. We know that the CIA Burns is heading for some critical meetings with others in the region on that exact topic.

And then, yes, also on Rafah, we know that President Biden, in his call with Prime Minister Netanyahu yesterday, expressed high concern about what the Israeli military may be preparing for its next phase. They're saying you have to have some kind of evacuation plan for the more than 1 million citizens who are there who were told to move there for their safety. So all of that, a very key, key signal to Israel, but also to Arab states in the region that the president wants to continue to tell that he is working on this and wants to see a stop in the fighting and a release of the hostages. Monica Alba I'm thinking on that point, I want to go to Raf Sanchez and Tel Aviv.

Raf King Abdullah said we cannot afford another Israeli attack on Rafah at this point. Has Israel laid out a plan for where those civilians are supposed to go? They haven't gave. And I was speaking to an Israeli military spokesman earlier.

I asked him about that plan where these civilians are expected to flee. To remember Rafah, the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip. The Egyptian border, which is sealed, is to their south. You have the Israeli military to their north.

There is some beach line west of Honis, north of Rafah, where people in theory could flee to because there is no shelter there. We are in the depths of winter here in the Middle east, not as cold as it is on the east coast, but there is regular rain. And you simply cannot expect more than a million people to wait on a beach run while Israel carries out a military operation of undetermined length in Rafah. That's according to UN officials who we spoke to earlier this morning.

A lot of concern in the region about what it means if the Israeli military does carry out this threat from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to head south into Rafah. Now, for Israel's perspective, they are saying Rafah is Hamas's last bastion inside of the Gaza Strip. They say there are at least four battalions of Hamas fighters who are hiding in the city. And as we saw overnight, there are at least some Israeli hostages being held there.

Israeli special forces bursting into an apartment building at 1:40am local time. According to the Israeli military, they stormed into a second floor apartment rescuing those two hostages, Fernando Marman and Louise Har who'd been held for 129 days. They are now at a hospital here in the greater Tel Aviv area. They are said to be in good condition with the Israeli military carrying out a wave of airstrikes to cover the retreat of those special forces as they pulled out of Rafah.

Those strikes killing at least 67 people on the ground, including a number of civilians, according to the Hamas Ryan Health Ministry. So while there's a day of celebration here in Israel, there's two hostages released, there is more mourning going on right now in southern Gaza. Now, Raf, US Officials say we're getting closer to a hostage deal and perhaps a temporary ceasefire. We just heard the president there talking about there are still gaps.

Do we know what those gaps are, Raf? So one of the perennial gaps, Gabe, has been this question of whether this ceasefire is going to be temporary, hostages released, more aid allowed into Gaza, and then on the other end, the fighting is going to resume, which is what Israel has said will happen. They say they are determined to carry out their war objective of destroying Hamas. And while they prepare to pause the fight and get hostages out, they won't end the war.

Hamas has said consistently it is not going to release hostages unless it is part of some broader agreement to bring this four month war to an end. That is the major, major gap, the sort of zero sum gap, if you will, between the two sides. There are other issues potentially what ratio of Palestinian prisoners need to be released in exchange for these Israeli hostages. And as Monica was saying, all eyes this week are on the Egyptian capital of Cairo, where CIA Director Bill Burns is heading to meet with fellow intelligence officials from around the region and see if there's some way to close those gaps.

Ralph Sanchez, Intellijah at the White House, thank you so much to you both. I want to turn to our Pentagon correspondent, Gordy Cuby, who has been waiting patiently here. Courtney, thanks so much. You have new reporting about President Biden's frustrations with Prime Minister Netanyahu.

What's he saying behind closed doors? Yeah, so it's not a surprise that President Biden is frustrated with Prime Minister Netanyahu. In fact, we've heard that before. But I think what was really striking to our colleagues Carol Lee, John Allen and Peter Nicholas as we were reporting out this story is how President Biden is more openly talking about it in small groups and frankly gave some of the frustration centered around exactly what you were just talking to Monica and Raf about.

And that is one of the things that President Biden has specifically said, is that he believes The US Keeps taking good deals to the Israelis and that Netanyahu is dismissing them and he is not working towards a deal. In fact, in some of these small group meetings, the President has even said, according to officials who are familiar with these conversations, he's even said that he believes that Netanyahu is trying to extend this war, extend this conflict, conflict so that he can remain in power. So we've also heard about President Biden using some very colorful language when describing Netanyahu in these private conversations, according again to officials who are familiar with the conversations. But again, what's surprising to us here is not just that the President has expressed frustration, but it's very specifically with Netanyahu in this case and that he is saying it somewhat openly in some of these meetings now.

And Courtney, at the start of this war, there was a lot of talk about that bear hug between President Biden and Netanyahu as Israel prepares for military operation in Rafah. Is there any sign at all that Israel is heeding the warnings from the U.S. yeah, and that's another level or another space of frustration for the President as he feels as if he is still, he's still, he is still holding Netanyahu and Israel close, so called bear hug that we talked about for weeks here now, but that it is not having an impact, that the Israelis are not heeding the US Requests or advice or even warnings in some cases. And that is where the frustration really lies.

And according to the officials we've spoken with and in fact, President Biden getting pretty fiery about this behind the scenes, referring to Netanyahu is that guy or this guy, and at times even calling him, you know, to put it politely, calling him a nahole to some of these, these officials who are familiar with these conversations. But again, this all goes back to a frustration where President Biden for months has believed, according to officials, that he was right, that his, his theory here of holding Israel closed would give the US Access and leverage. And the frustration seems to be about the fact that that is not working right now. Colorful language indeed.

Quoting before I let you go, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin back in the hospital, what's the latest on his concern? Yeah, so we found out today that he underwent several non medical or, excuse me, non surgical procedures that did require general anesthesia to address this emergent bladder issue. We don't really know exactly what that is. In fact, Gabe, we don't even know if it's directly tied to the complications from his prostate cancer surgery back in December.

That's one of the questions the Pentagon is still supposed to get us an answer to but he went to Walter Reed yesterday. It was a complete departure from what we saw in January with his hospitalization because in this case the secretary notified the White House, Congress, Pentagon officials and even the public almost immediately with his going to Walter Reed. After a series of tests, he transferred authority to his deputy secretary, Kathleen Hicks late yesterday afternoon around 5pm before undergoing these procedures today. His doctors now are saying they expect a recovery.

They do not expect a long term hospitalization. And in fact, he may even resume his duties even if he's in the hospital when doing. He could resume those duties as early as tomorrow gate according to the Pentagon. Courtney, thank you.

And after the break, the special election that's kicking off the national fight for control of Congress for the seat once held by George Santos. You're watching MEET THE PRESS now. And welcome back. A special election tomorrow in New York's third Congressional District could have significant impacts on Congress for both the short term and long term.

Democrat Tom Suozzi is facing Republican Mozzie Pillip to fill the seat that was held by George Santos before he was expelled from Congress. In the short term, a victory by Suozzi, a former congressman, would shrink Republicans already razor thin majority. And the latest poll from News dancing at Siena College shows Swozzi with a four point lead. That's within the march of error.

And in the longer term, tomorrow's election is a test of messaging for both parties ahead of November, specifically on the issues of immigration and abortion which have been front and center in this race. Count Swazi rolled up the red carpet for political interference to take ice out of national town Swassey, help create our immigration crisis. I am pro life. Me Mazi Manasseh.

I am pro life. Mazi Club is running on a platform to ban abortion. An AMC senior national political reporter Sahil Kapoor joins me now from Great Neck, New York. Sahil, so good to see you.

What's at stake nationally from the special election? Well, two big things, Gabe. The first thing that's at stake is the balance of power in Washington. This is one seat in the House of Representatives, which may not seem like a whole lot, but we saw this last week with that attempted impeachment of the secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, what one seat means because that was literally the margin of difference between what ended up being a spectacular failure and what would have for Republicans been a success if they had to see.

The second thing that's at stake is that this is a glimmer into the national political environment heading into 2024. This district has reflected the national mood since at least 2018. And it's kind of beltwell weather district that both parties believe they need to win in order to have a very good shot at taking control of the House of Representatives this fall. How important is it to you which party controls Congress?

The both of them need to work together. I, I don't know. They I want a middle. One is too far left, one is too far right.

I think that both of the parties are not focused with a clear intention of the majority of the people this country at this point. And I think that what matters is standing for what the people care about. Now there are multiple national issues, divisive national issues like immigration, crime, public safety and abortion that are decisive, that are proving or showing up to be decisive in this race so far that will be decisive in other districts as well. Gave one unifying factor for voters here, whether they're supporting Tom Swazi or Mac is a shared embarrassment in George Santos.

The fact that he was elected for one year, didn't have any committee assignments before he was ultimately indicted on 23 counts, disgrace, expelled from Congress. Republicans are trying to wash the stench of George Santos off their party brand, seeing him as a major liability in what in Nassau county has been a pretty good last few years. Zaha Kapoor in New York and the embarrassment for George Santos. Apparently that's something that can bring people together and everyone can grant.

Thank you. Joining me now on set is Eugene Scott, senior politics reporter for Axios, Adrian Elrod, former senior aide in the Biden Harris campaign and Sarah Chambly, president and CEO of the Republican Main Street Partnership. Thank you all so much for joining us. Eugene, I want to start with you and let's go back to what we were talking about at the beginning of the program.

You know, here we are in the presidential race and is this going to be where we're at seven months ago? You know, President Biden is going to be 81. Donald Trump is still, you know, his rhetoric isn't going to be toned down at all. This snapshot right here, we're talking about President Biden's age and talking about former President Trump saying something out Mandishah then is this what we have look forward to?

Well, the only thing, the only way should I say that could change is if the former president stops saying outlandish things and the current president stops aging. Neither of those things is going to happen. Right. And what would need to happen to convince voters on, you know, outside these two individuals camps that these issues are not actually issues is for their teams to somehow figure out a way to message to those voters who are concerned about these things in a way that communicates that this is not a legal problem, as voters repeatedly tell us it is.

And Sarah, speaking of messaging, you know, Donald Trump could have an easy weekend just basking in the fallout of her report. He, of course, did not. He never does. He never does what can it be changed?

Does the Trump campaign, Can they raid him the at? No, this is who he is. He loves doing this. He loves doing it for the applause.

He loves it for the controversy. He loves the fact that we are now talking about it. So now that this is his campaign, Adrian, I want to talk about Democrats, though. And they over the weekend talking about messaging.

A lot of Biden surrogates really came out and said the same thing, similar talking points, calling the special counselors report politically motivated. Can Democrats credibly make that argument, though, when they've been saying for so long that Donald Trump can make our argument in his case? Now, I know the special counsel may have distinguished two cases, but we'll vote to see that one. And that's why they can.

I mean, look, James Comey started the president. You know, obviously it was a slightly different situation because he's the FBI director, but he started the president. Unfortunately, I'm using his own political opinion to make an ultimate determination on. I mean, that was not why Hillary Clinton was not recommending criminal charges, but the fact that he stood out and fully cold for 15 minutes and ridiculed her and then said, oh, by the way, we're not going to recommend the charges go forward.

He set the precedent to make it seem like it's acceptable. But look, the bottom line is this. I am going to slightly agree with my friend Eugene on this for a second because I don't think that we're going to be talking about Biden's age at this point. Seven months from now, people are going to be talking about the danger that Donald Trump presents to our country.

I think he's going to say far more crazy and egregious things that put us in a very careless situation. And I think Biden's age is going to take a massive backseat to the crazy things that Donald Trump is saying, the way he would govern his president. Again, I take your point, but it's not just media talking about President Biden's age. We all saw that poll from this weekend newspaper.

Most Americans think that not only President Biden, but actually former President Trump, both of them are too old to go for a second term. But the numbers are much higher in terms of, you know, voters who feel the way about President Biden. How do Democrats over there? Well, I think again, when you look at that poll, yes, maybe a majority, significant majority of voters think that both Joe Biden and Donald Trump are too old.

But that doesn't mean they're not going to vote for Joe Biden. That's the thing. It's the same with approvals and disapprovals and polls. Just because you're approving somebody or disapproving of somebody doesn't necessarily dictate how you're going to vote.

Same with age factor. And we put these two candidates against each other, the contrast could not be more clear. And as you know very well, you cover a lot of elections and campaigns. The campaign will be decided, the election will be decided by a small sliver of the electorate.

And those independent swing voters are going to want someone who's going to govern, continue to govern effectively as opposed to somebody who's going to govern rapidly and a small sliver of voters as voters, as you mentioned. Adrian, you want to talk. I want to pick up on that point. You know, Donald Trump right now is running a campaign over bench.

Joe Biden is running a campaign of fear, fear of Donald Trump. Our voters are just gonna throw up their hands and just not turn out. We're talking about how critical that small amount, you know, small amount of voters is for Joe Biden supporters. Will they just get frustrated?

Not sure why. Tomorrow I'm talking to voters with the Axios Swing Voter Project, and it's voters who backed Trump in 2016 before swinging over to Biden in 2020. And a lot of times when we talk about swing voters, we think of people who are gonna go back and forth between Republicans and Democrats, but more often than not now, people are gonna decide to actually stay home or vote. Now, what we've seen is that majority of these voters actually do not want to swing back to Trump.

They just still haven't been given a strong enough reason to swing turnout, should I say, for Biden. And so whether or not they actually turn out depends on what the former, the current president says about the former president in terms of whether or not these people should show up for him. Now, Sarah, I want to play some more of former President Trump's comments about NATO. Actually, not the comments, but the reaction to.

So what do you say our new allies in Europe who are worried about a potential invasion from Russia like Trump mentioned, I would be worried. I'll be very worried, especially if they don't have 2% of their GDP in the fence. So I think it's very important what Trump was saying, that they need to pay their fair share, they need to pay their way. I think it was a mistake to say he would encourage Russia to attack them.

That was a careless remark and shouldn't consider. Now some Trump allies, you know, say they take him seriously but not literally. But there are some Republicans who are taking him literally. You know, should, at what point should he be taking literally?

There are a lot of Republicans that agree with him in his comments and NATO. I think Donald Trump has shown us he's a lot of rhetoric. Sometimes he should be taken literally, but usually it's just, he loves the, just the reaction. I mean he says stuff just to see if we can get start talking about it.

I don't think the naval thing is going to be realistic. I do think he wants everyone to pay their fair share, but I do not think he expects it to turn Europe over to Putin. I think that will not happen. And Adrian, as we're running a little bit long time here, but you were talking about what the Biden campaign needs to do in the coming months in terms of messaging.

Are they putting him out enough? Is he doing enough interviews? Is he doing enough video appearances? Of course, all that news conference on Thursday night.

Do they need to put him out more? Yeah, I do. And I think you will see him out there more. I think Biden is at his best when he's pressing the flesh, going to states, meeting directly with voters.

I think you're gonna see more of that and I think you're gonna see more interviews for sure. I have no doubt. And like, you know, obviously made a couple gaps Thursday night. I know he wishes that he had not and some of the campaign staff and the White House staff wishes not.

But let's also remember that Donald Trump twice over this weekend gave two major speeches and made multiple gaffes that paled it that his comments did not get nearly like half the attention that the Biden said. Well, to be fair, the Donald Trump comments got a lot of attention today. But point eight, thank you all so much for joining us. We really appreciate it.

Eugene, Adrian and Sarah really appreciate you joining us here on Meet the Press now. And I'll give Gutierrez, I'm back here tomorrow with more MEET THE Press. Now the news continues with Hallie Jackson right now. He was a young Marine.

She didn't care about convention. They made a life together. Then one night the Marine died and then the death investigation took a wild, unexpected and utterly bizarre turn. I'm Josh Matowitz, and this is Trace of Suspicion, an all new podcast from Dayline.

Listen to all episodes of Trace of Suspicion. Now, wherever you get your podcasts.