>>> TONIGHT, DONALD TRUMP'S MONEY TROUBLES AS HE DEFENDS HIS WARNING ABOUT A, QUOTE, BLOODBATH IN NOVEMBER. THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S ATTORNEY SAYING HE CANNOT GET A BOND TO COVER HIS $464 MILLION CIVIL FRAUD JUDGMENT. COULD IT LEAD TO HIS PROPERTIES LIKE TRUMP TOWER BEING SEIZED? AND HIS CONTROVERSIAL COMMENTS AT A RALLY OVER THE WEEKEND. MR. TRUMP TALKING ABOUT THE AUTO INDUSTRY, PREDICTING A BLOODBATH IF HE'S NOT ELECTED. NOW HE SAYS HE'S BEING TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT. >>> SPRING BREAK VIOLENCE. THREE SHOOTINGS IN 40 MINUTES IN JACKSONVILLE BEACH. AND THE BODYCAM, A TEEN WITH A GUN SPARKING CHAOS ON THE BEACH. >>> VLADIMIR PUTIN CLAIMING VICTORY IN RUSSIA'S ELECTIONS. AND AFTER A QUESTION FROM NBC NEWS, WHAT HE SAID ABOUT ALEXEY NAVALNY. >>> ISRAELI TROOPS RAIDING GAZA'S LARGEST HOSPITAL, AND THE WARNING PRESIDENT BIDEN GAVE TO PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU. THEIR FIRST CONVERSATION IN MORE THAN A MONTH. >>> THE FIRST VIDEO OF PRINCESS KATE SINCE HER SURGERY RELEASED BY TMZ. AND THAT PHOTO FIRESTORM. WILL IT QUIET THE QUESTIONS ABOUT HER HEALTH? >>> OUR NBC NEWS EXCLUSIVE. THE FATHER OF LAKEN RILEY, THE GEORGIA STUDENT MURDERED, SP WHO LOST HIS JOB BUT DAYS LATER LED HIS TEAM TO THE BIG DANCE. >> Announcer: THIS IS NBC "NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT. >>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME. HIS CRIMINAL CASES MAY BE CAUGHT UP IN A CYCLE OF DELAYS, BUT THINGS MAY HAVE MOVED TOO QUICKLY FOR FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IN THE WAKE OF THAT STUNNING CIVIL FRAUD JUDGMENT AGAINST HIM LAST MONTH. IN A COURT FILING TODAY MR. TRUMP'S ATTORNEYS SAYING THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO SECURE THE $464 MILLION BOND DUE NEXT WEEK, SAYING A BOND IN THE FULL AMOUNT IS A PRACTICAL IMPOSSIBILITY. THE FORMER PRESIDENT, WHO BUILT HIS PROFESSIONAL REPUTATION IN PART ON HIS WEALTH, WAS HELD LIABLE LAST MONTH FOR FRAUDULENTLY OVERSTATING THE VALUE OF ASSETS. TODAY'S DEVELOPMENT POTENTIALLY OPENS THE DOOR FOR NEW YORK'S STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO SEIZE AND SELL OFF TRUMP ASSETS WHILE MR. TRUMP APPEALS. MEANTIME, THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS ON THE POLITICAL DEFENSIVE TONIGHT OVER SOME REMARKS HE MADE OVER THE WEEKEND. GARRETT HAAKE HAS OUR REPORT. >> Reporter: TONIGHT THE FATE OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S MOST FAMOUS PROPERTIES COULD BE UP IN THE AIR, WITH TRUMP ATTORNEYS TELLING A JUDGE HE'S UNABLE TO SECURE BOND IN THE $464 MILLION CIVIL FRAUD JUDGMENT AGAINST HIM. ASKING THE JUDGE FOR AN EMERGENCY STAY. GUARANTORS WON'T ACCEPT REAL ESTATE AS COLLATERAL BUT WANT NEARLY A HALF BILLION DOLLARS IN CASH, WHICH TRUMP'S COMPANY DOESN'T HAVE, HIS LAWYERS SAY. IF HE CANNOT POST BOND FOR THE FULL AMOUNT BY NEXT WEEK, DEMOCRATIC NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL LETITIA JAMES COULD START SEIZING HIS ASSETS, POTENTIALLY EVEN HIS TRUMP TOWER PENTHOUSE. IN THEIR FILING TRUMP ATTORNEYS ARGUE THE PENALTY IS GROSSLY DISPROPORTIONAL WHEN THERE WERE, QUOTE, NO VICTIMS, NO DAMAGES AND NO ACTUAL FINANCIAL LOSSES IN THE CASE. IT COMES AS THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN ALSO FACES BLOWBACK AMID MR. TRUMP'S NEW INFLAMMATORY RHETORIC AGAINST WHAT HE CALLS CRIMINAL MIGRANTS. >> THEY'RE NOT PEOPLE IN MY OPINION. BUT I'M NOT ALLOWED TO SAY THAT BECAUSE THE RADICAL LEFT SAYS THAT'S A TERRIBLE THING TO SAY. THESE ARE ANIMALS. OKAY? >> Reporter: MR. TRUMP HAS VOWED TO BRING BACK HIS REMAIN IN MEXICO POLICY THAT KEEPS MIGRANTS WAITING OUTSIDE THE U.S. UNTIL COURTS DECIDE THEIR ASYLUM CASES. THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS RELEASING 85% OF MIGRANTS INTO THE U.S. WHILE THEY WAIT FOR ASYLUM DECISIONS. AND TONIGHT THE PRESUMPTIVE GOP NOMINEE ALSO PUSHING BACK, SAYING DEMOCRATS, QUOTE, PRETENDED TO BE SHOCKED AT MY USE OF THE WORD BLOODBATH DURING THIS RIFF ABOUT CHINESE CAR MAKERS. >> WE'RE GOING TO PUT A 100% TARIFF ON EVERY SINGLE CAR THAT COMES ACROSS THE LINE. AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SELL THOSE CARS. IF I GET ELECTED. NOW, IF I DON'T GET ELECTED, IT'S GOING TO BE A BLOODBATH FOR THE WHOLE -- THAT'S GOING TO BE THE LEAST OF IT. IT'S GOING TO BE A BLOODBATH FOR THE COUNTRY. THAT WILL BE THE LEAST OF IT. >> Reporter: MR. TRUMP SAYING HE WAS REFERRING TO PRESIDENT BIDEN ALLOWING IMPORTS HE SAYS ARE KILLING THE AUTO INDUSTRY. LATE TONIGHT CALLING DEMOCRATIC ATTACKS, QUOTE, MISINFORMATION. >> THE WORD BLOODBATH, I USED IT ABOUT TRADE, ESSENTIALLY AUTO TRADE BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING RIPPED OFF WITH BIDEN'S REALLY DUMB AUTO POLICY. >> Reporter: THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN REJECTING THAT IT WAS ABOUT ONLY CARS. >> EVERY SINGLE DAY DONALD TRUMP IS PROMOTING AND ENDORSING AND ENCOURAGING POLITICAL VIOLENCE ON THE STUMP. >> AND GARRETT, NBC NEWS ALSO HAS NEW REPORTING TONIGHT ABOUT PRESIDENT BIDEN SHOWING SOME GROWING FRUSTRATION ABOUT HIS RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN. WHAT DO WE KNOW? >> Reporter: YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT, LESTER. PRESIDENT BIDEN SHOUTED AND SWORE ABOUT FALLING POLL NUMBERS IN A JANUARY WHITE HOUSE MEETING AND HAS FELT COCOONED BY STAFF EAGER TO MOVE MORE AGGRESSIVELY IN CAMPAIGNING AGAINST MR. TRUMP, SOURCES TELL NBC NEWS. LESTER? >> ALL RIGHT. GARRETT HAAKE, THANK YOU. >>> WE'RE LEARNING MORE TONIGHT ABOUT WHAT BROUGHT ON SOME OF THE SPRING BREAK VIOLENCE IN FLORIDA THAT LEFT ONE PERSON DEAD AND THREE OTHERS INJURED THIS WEEKEND. OUR SAM BROCK IS THERE WITH THE LATEST. SAM? >> Reporter: LESTER, GOOD EVENING. NOW, HERE IN MIAMI BEACH RAMPED-UP SECURITY MEASURES AND EVEN A MIDNIGHT CURFEW THIS PAST WEEKEND HAVE KEPT THINGS VERY SAFE. BUT LESTER, OTHER PARTS OF FLORIDA RIGHT NOW ARE REELING FROM CHAOS. VIOLENCE TONIGHT ONCE AGAIN UPENDING SPRING BREAK CELEBRATIONS IN FLORIDA. THIS TIME IN JACKSONVILLE BEACH. >> WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING THREE SEPARATE UNRELATED SHOOTINGS. >> Reporter: ALL OF THAT IN A ROUGHLY 40-MINUTE SPAN, SENDING BYSTANDERS SCRAMBLING AND THE CITY INTO LOCKDOWN. >> 80 PEOPLE RUNNING DOWN THE STREET. WATCHING YOU DROP TO HIS KNEES. >> Reporter: NOW WE'RE LEARNING NEW DETAILS ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAVE PROMPTED GUNFIRE THAT LED TO THREE PEOPLE INJURED AND ONE KILLED. JACKSONVILLE BEACH POLICE RELEASING VIDEOS OF HUNDREDS OF JUVENILES BRAWLING ON THE BEACH. >> WHEN THE CROWD WAS DISPERSED, THAT'S WHEN THE SHOOTINGS HAPPENED. >> Reporter: AND IT'S NOT THE ONLY INCIDENT RAISING ALARM. >> WE'VE GOT A FIGHT OVER THERE. >> Reporter: A FIGHT IN NEW SMYRNA BEACH NEAR ORLANDO. LED VOLUSIA COUNTY DEPUTIES TO DRAW THEIR WEAPONS WHEN THEY SAY A 16-YEAR-OLD PULLED OUT A FIREARM. >> DROP THE [ BLEEP ] GUN NOW! >> Reporter: OFFICERS CHASING DOWN THE TEEN AND EVENTUALLY ARRESTING HIM. INCIDENTS LIKE THESE HITTING HARD FOR FAMILIES AND VACATIONERS. >> IT'S LIKE THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO WORRY ABOUT, IS NOT -- IS COMING SOMEWHERE TO HAVE FUN AND THEN GETTING HURT. >> Reporter: BUT FARTHER SOUTH MIAMI BEACH IS USING A SERIES OF MEASURES TO CRACK DOWN ON VIOLENCE. >> DO YOU FEEL SAFE THIS YEAR? >> OF COURSE, YES. >> Reporter: OCEAN DRIVE NOW A STARK CONTRAST TO PREVIOUS YEARS. THE CITY MANAGER ALSO IMPLEMENTING A MIDNIGHT CURFEW THIS WEEKEND. >> FOR 72 HOURS OUT OF AN ENTIRE YEAR WE MADE A DECISION, AND LAST NIGHT BEING OUT ON THE STREETS I THINK IT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION. >> Reporter: MIAMI BEACH NOW A SAFE SPOT IN A STATE STILL STRUGGLING WITH SPRING BREAK MAYHEM. SAM BROCK, NBC NEWS, MIAMI BEACH. >>> OVERSEAS A VICTORY LAP FOR RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN TONIGHT AFTER HE WON A FIFTH TERM IN AN ELECTION WHOSE OUTCOME WAS NEVER IN DOUBT. KEIR SIMMONS IS IN MOSCOW FOR US TONIGHT. >> Reporter: TONIGHT IN RED SQUARE A FLAG-WAVING WARTIME CELEBRATION FOR RUSSIA'S RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT. PRESIDENT PUTIN CENTER STAGE. THE PINNACLE OF THIS STAGE-MANAGED ELECTION. AND THE CROWD SHOUTING "RUSSIA, RUSSIA." THESE ARE SOME OF THE 87% OF RUSSIANS WHO OFFICIALS SAY VOTED FOR PRESIDENT PUTIN. THE YOUNG POSITIONED IN THE FRONT ROW TONIGHT. FOR 24 YEARS HIS LEADERSHIP IS ALL THEY'VE KNOWN. >> ALL MY LIFE PRESIDENT PUTIN. >> Reporter: ALL YOUR LIFE. AND WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HIM? >> I LOVE PUTIN. >> Reporter: PRESIDENT PUTIN IS POPULAR HERE, BUT NOT WITH EVERYONE. THIS WEEKEND SAW ARSON ATTACKS ON POLLING STATIONS, DYE THROWN INTO BALLOT BOXES, AND SILENT PROTESTS. NBC NEWS THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL NEWS ORGANIZATION TO QUESTION PUTIN AFTER HE WON SIX MORE YEARS. >> MR. PRESIDENT, JOURNALIST EVAN GERSHKOVICH SPENT THIS ELECTION IN PRISON. BORIS NAVISHTIN WHO OPPOSES YOUR WAR IN UKRAINE WASN'T ALLOWED TO STAND AGAINST YOU. AND ALEXEY NAVALNY DIED IN ONE OF YOUR PRISONS DURING YOUR CAMPAIGN. MR. PRESIDENT, IS THIS WHAT YOU CALL DEMOCRACY? >> Reporter: "THAT'S LIFE," HE TOLD US, THEN CALLED NAVALNY'S DEATH AN UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT. HE HAD AGREED TO RELEASE HIM, HE SAYS, BEFORE HE DIED AS LONG AS HE DID NOT RETURN. UNTIL NOW HE'D NEVER PUBLICLY MENTIONED ALEXEY NAVALNY'S NAME. AND TONIGHT THE WHITE HOUSE DENYING KNOWLEDGE OF A PRISONER SWAP. >> WE HAVE NOT HEARD A RUSSIAN OFFICIAL RAISE NAVALNY AS PART OF A PRISONER SWAP IN ANY OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS. >> Reporter: THE WHITE HOUSE IS CALLING THIS ELECTION NOT FREE, NOR FAIR. WHILE CHINA, NORTH KOREA AND SAUDI ARABIA ARE AMONG THOSE CONGRATULATING PUTIN. LESTER? >> KEIR SIMMONS, THANK YOU. >>> PRESIDENT BIDEN ISSUED A NEW WARNING TO ISRAEL TODAY, TELLING PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU THAT A GROUND INVASION OF RAFAH WOULD BE A MISTAKE. THE WARNING CAME AFTER ISRAEL RAIDED A HOSPITAL IN GAZA. RICHARD ENGEL NOW WITH LATE DETAILS. >> Reporter: ISRAELI TROOPS TODAY ZEROED IN ON GAZA CITY. THIS WOMAN SCREAMS SHE WENT TO GET FLOUR AND RETURNED TO FIND HER HOME REDUCED TO RUBBLE WITH ALL HER FAMILY INSIDE. THIS WAS ONCE GAZA'S MOST POPULOUS CITY. IT'S NOW A WASTELAND. BEFORE DAWN HERE ISRAELI TROOPS STORMED SHIFA HOSPITAL. THE ISRAELI ARMY SAYS HAMAS WAS DIRECTING ATTACKS FROM THE HOSPITAL, WHILE THE GAZA HEALTH MINISTRY SAYS 30,000 PEOPLE WERE SHELTERING THERE. PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU AND PRESIDENT BIDEN SPOKE TODAY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER A MONTH. THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS PRESIDENT BIDEN WARNED AGAINST A GROUND INVASION IN RAFAH. >> A MAJOR GROUND OPERATION THERE WOULD BE A MISTAKE. IT WOULD LEAD TO MORE INNOCENT CIVILIAN DEATHS. >> Reporter: NETANYAHU TODAY TOLD MEMBERS OF THE PRO-ISRAEL LOBBY GROUP AIPAC THAT VICTORY IS NEAR. >> HOW DO WE DEFINE VICTORY? WE DEFINE IT AS THE DESTRUCTION OF HAMAS'S MILITARY AND GOVERNING CAPABILITY. WE DEFINE IT ALSO AS THE RETURN OF THE HOSTAGES. AND WE DEFINE IT ALSO AS PREVENTING THE RETURN -- GAZA FROM BECOMING A THREAT TO ISRAEL AT ANY TIME IN THE FUTURE. >> Reporter: BUT WHAT WILL THESE CHILDREN, TODAY WAITING FOR FOOD HANDOUTS, GROW UP THINKING ABOUT ISRAEL? THIS MORNING THE WORLD'S LEADING AUTHORITY ON FOOD SECURITY BACKED BY THE U.N. AND THE U.S. GOVERNMENT SAID 1.1 MILLION PEOPLE, HALF OF GAZA'S POPULATION, FACE CATASTROPHIC HUNGER AND STARVATION AND THAT FAMINE IS IMMINENT. NEGOTIATIONS ARE RESUMING HERE IN QATAR. AMONG THE PROPOSALS A SIX-WEEK TRUCE IN EXCHANGE FOR 40 HOSTAGES. LESTER? >> RICHARD ENGEL IN DOHA, THANK YOU. >>> NOW TO THAT ALLEGED HEZBOLLAH BOMB MAKER CAUGHT CROSSING THE SOUTHERN BORDER WHO SAID HE WANTED TO TRAVEL TO NEW YORK. JULIA AINSLEY IS FOLLOWING THIS. JULIA, WHAT MORE DO WE KNOW? >> Reporter: LESTER, BORDER PATROL SAYS THE LEBANESE MAN WAS CAUGHT EARLIER THIS MONTH CROSSING ILLEGALLY NEAR EL PASO. 22-YEAR-OLD BASEL BASSEL EBBADI TOLD AGENTS HE WAS AFFILIATED WITH THE TERRORIST GROUP HEZBOLLAH, THAT HE WANTED TO BUILD A BOMB AND HE WAS HEADED TO NEW YORK. OFFICIALS I'VE SPOKEN TO SAID IT IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL FOR SOMEONE TO VOLUNTARILY DISCLOSE THAT INFORMATION. WE DON'T KNOW IF EBBADI WAS ON THE U.S. TERROR WATCH LIST. OVER 160 MIGRANTS CROSSING THE BORDER LAST YEAR WERE ON THAT LIST. IT'S BEEN A MAJOR CRITICISM OF BIDEN BORDER POLICY BUSINESS REPUBLICANS. EBBADI IS CURRENTLY IN U.S. CUSTODY AND UNDER INVESTIGATION. LESTER? >> JULIA AINSLEY, THANK YOU. >>> LET'S TURN TO THAT NEW VIDEO TONIGHT SHOWING THE PRINCESS OF WALES IN PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE HER ABDOMINAL SURGERY. IT COMES AFTER WEEKS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HER WHEREABOUTS AND AFTER CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING A HIGHLY EDITED PHOTO. HERE'S MOLLY HUNTER. >> Reporter: TONIGHT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE DECEMBER VIDEO OF KATE THE PRINCESS OF WALES IN PUBLIC. THE VIDEO, OBTAINED BY TMZ, REPORTEDLY SHOWS KATE AND HUSBAND PRINCE WILLIAM WALKING OUT OF A WINDSOR FARM SHOP OVER THE WEEKEND. DRESSED CASUALLY, THE PRINCE OF WALES SPORTING A BASEBALL CAP. THE 42-YEAR-OLD PRINCESS IN WORKOUT CLOTHES AND RUNNING SHOES, WALKING BRISKLY WITH SHOPPING BAGS, SMILING. >> GOOD EVENING. NEW PICTURES CLAIMING TO SHOW THE PRINCESS OF WALES OUT AND ABOUT. >> Reporter: AND AS THE BREAKING HEADLINES IN THE UK TONIGHT DECLARE, "GREAT TO SEE YOU, KATE." "SHE LOOKS HAPPY AND RELAXED," SAYS THE SUN. THE VIDEO FOLLOWS ANONYMOUS REPORTS OF A SIGHTING BUT WITHOUT PHOTOGRAPHIC PROOF. IT COMES EXACTLY A WEEK AFTER THAT PHOTOGRAPH ON MOTHER'S DAY, THEN KATE'S APOLOGY THE NEXT MORNING. KENSINGTON PALACE OFFICIALS STAYED MUM ALL WEEK, EVEN AS THE PRINCE OF WALES PARTICIPATED IN PUBLIC EVENTS. THE ALTERED FAMILY PHOTOGRAPH MEANT AS A SWEET GESTURE DID LITTLE TO QUELL THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES SWIRLING ON SOCIAL MEDIA SINCE KATE'S JANUARY ABDOMINAL SURGERY AND RAISED MORE QUESTIONS INSTEAD OF PROVIDING THE INTENDED REASSURANCE. LESTER, WE REACHED OUT TO KENSINGTON PALACE TONIGHT. THEY WOULD NOT COMMENT ON THE VIDEO. AND WE STILL DON'T EXPECT TO SEE KATE IN ANY OFFICIAL CAPACITY UNTIL AFTER EASTER. LESTER? >> MOLLY HUNTER IN LONDON. THANKS. >>> WE'RE WATCHING A SPRING FREEZE TONIGHT IN THE SOUTHEAST, WHERE 23 MILLION PEOPLE ARE UNDER FREEZE ALERTS FROM PARTS OF TEXAS TO THE CAROLINAS. IN WASHINGTON THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS ARE AT THEIR EARLIEST PEAK BLOOM IN YEARS BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE. LOWS WILL BE IN THE 30s FOR MOST OF THE WEEK, BUT THE COLD IS NOT EXPECTED TO DAMAGE THE FAMOUS FLOWERS. >>> IN JUST 60 SECONDS WE'LL HEAR EXCLUSIVELY FROM LAKEN RILEY'S FATHER, WHY HE SAYS THE POLITICAL DEBATE OVER HIS DAUGHTER'S DEATH MAKES HIM ANGRY. >>> BACK NOW WITH OUR NBC NEWS EXCLUSIVE. FOR THE FIRST TIME THE FATHER OF LAKEN RILEY, THE GEORGIA NURSING STUDENT MURDERED LAST MONTH, IS SPEAKING OUT ABOUT HIS LOSS, THE UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANT ACCUSED OF KILLING LAKEN, AND HOW HER DEATH IS BEING POLITICIZED. HE SPOKE WITH PRISCILLA THOMPSON. >> I CRY EVERY DAY. >> Reporter: IT IS A PAIN UNLIKE ANY JASON RILEY HAS EVER FELT. >> I WISH I COULD HAVE BEEN THERE. TO PROTECT HER. >> Reporter: MOURNING THE LOSS OF HIS 22-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, LAKEN, WHO WAS MURDERED LAST MONTH WHILE JOGGING ON CAMPUS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA. >> DO YOU REMEMBER THE LAST CONVERSATION YOU HAD WITH HER? >> WE JUST TALKED ABOUT HOW SHE WAS DOING IN SCHOOL. I WAKE UP EVERY DAY THINKING, YOU KNOW, THAT I CAN CALL HER, AND I CAN'T. >> Reporter: LAKEN WAS A MARATHON RUNNER STUDYING NURSING WITH DREAMS OF ONE DAY WORKING WITH CHILDREN, HER DAD SAYS. A VENEZUELAN MIGRANT WHO ENTERED THE U.S. ILLEGALLY IN 2022 IS NOW CHARGED WITH HER MURDER, OFFICIALS SAY. THE SUSPECT HAS NOT YET PLED IN THE CASE. RECORDS SHOW A PRIOR ARREST IN NEW YORK AND A CITATION FOR SHOPLIFTING IN GEORGIA. BUT HE WAS NEVER DEPORTED. >> DO YOU THINK A DIFFERENCE IN IMMIGRATION POLICY WOULD HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR LAKEN? >> WE HAVE NO IDEA IF THAT WOULD HAVE CHANGED ANYTHING. BUT I DO KNOW THAT HE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN HERE HAD -- HAD WE HAD SECURE BORDERS. >> Reporter: LAKEN RILEY'S NAME HAS BECOME A BATTLE CRY IN THE PARTISAN FIGHT OVER BORDER POLITICS. REACHING A FEVER PITCH AT THE STATE OF THE UNION EARLIER THIS MONTH. >> LAKEN RILEY, AN INNOCENT YOUNG WOMAN WHO WAS KILLED BY AN ILLEGAL. >> Reporter: DAYS LATER HER MOM AND STEPFATHER MEETING WITH FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. >> IT'S INCITED PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE A VOTE IN NOVEMBER, AND I THINK IT'S BEING USED POLITICALLY TO GET THOSE VOTES. >> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT? >> IT MAKES ME ANGRY. SHE SHOULD BE RAISED UP FOR THE PERSON THAT SHE IS. >> WHAT DO YOU WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW ABOUT HER? >> JUST HOW AMAZING SHE WAS. SHE WAS ONE OF A KIND. >> Reporter: PRISCILLA THOMPSON, NBC NEWS, BUFORD, GEORGIA. >>> UP NEXT, OUR RARE LOOK BELOW THE SURFACE AS THE U.S. MILITARY DEPLOYS UNDERWATER DRONES TO COMBAT BRAZEN ATTACKS IN THE RED SEA. >>> WE'RE BACK WITH THE RISING TENSIONS IN THE RED SEA. WITH COMMERCIAL SHIPS UNDER ATTACK BY IRANIAN-BACKED MILITANTS THE U.S. IS DEPLOYING ONE OF ITS NEWEST WEAPONS IN THE FIGHT. UNMANNED SEA DRONES. AND TONIGHT OUR COURTNEY KUBE TAKES US INSIDE THE FLEET FOR A RARE LOOK. >> Reporter: IRANIAN-BACKED HOUTHI MILITANTS HAVE ATTACKED SHIPS OFF THE COAST OF YEMEN MORE THAN 50 TIMES IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS, RECENTLY SINKING THIS CARGO SHIP AND KILLING AT LEAST THREE CREW MEMBERS ON ANOTHER. THE U.S. RETALIATORY STRIKES HAVE NOT DETERRED THE HOUTHIS. BUT THE U.S. NAVY IS NOW ALSO USING ANOTHER TOOL IN ITS FIGHT, ONE BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE WATER. >> THESE ARE ALL MARITIME ROBOTICS HERE. THESE ARE UNMANNED SYSTEMS WITH THE ABILITY TO NAVIGATE. >> SO DRONES. >> DRONES, EXACTLY. >> OKAY. SO SEA DRONES. >> SEA DRONES. EXACTLY. >> Reporter: WE TRAVELED TO THE U.S. NAVY HEADQUARTERS IN BAHRAIN. CAPTAIN MICHAEL BRASSEUR WAS THE FIRST COMMODORE OF TASK FORCE 59, WHICH USES DRONES AND ROBOTS ON AND BELOW THE WATER, GATHERING INFORMATION AND USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. >> WE ARE USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO SIFT THROUGH ALL THAT INFORMATION AND HIGHLIGHT ACTIVITY THAT'S OUTSIDE THE NORMAL PATTERN OF LIFE THAT WE MAY WANT TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT. >> Reporter: THE U.S. MILITARY HAS DECREASED ITS PRESENCE IN THIS REGION OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. BUT NOW WITH SYSTEMS LIKE THESE THEY CAN MAINTAIN THEIR PRESENCE HERE AT SEA. THE DRONES SEE POTENTIAL THREATS AND SEND A WARNING HERE TO THE ROBOTICS OPERATIONS CENTER. >> THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COMPONENT IN PARTICULAR ALLOWS US TO PICK OUT MALIGN ACTIVITY AND THEN USE OUR CREWED VESSELS MORE EFFECTIVELY TO GO AFTER THEM. >> Reporter: IN ADDITION TO DETERRING HOUTHI ATTACKS, THE U.S. NAVY IS PATROLLING TO STOP PIRACY, HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND WEAPONS SMUGGLING, ACKNOWLEDGING ONE COUNTRY REPRESENTS THE GREATEST DANGER HERE. >> IRAN TODAY IS THE MOST SERIOUS THREAT IN THE REGION. >> Reporter: ESPECIALLY IRANIAN DRONES AND BALLISTIC MISSILES. IN JANUARY THE U.S. INTERCEPTED IRANIAN MISSILE PARTS HEADED TO HOUTHI REBELS IN YEMEN. THE SEA DRONE, THE NEWEST WEAPON TO COMBAT IT. >> WE'RE GOING ABOUT THIS FROM SEA BED TO SPACE AND HAVING SENSORS EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN. >> Reporter: MEANWHILE, THE HOUTHIS NOW HAVE THEIR OWN SEA DRONES, BUT NOT FOR SURVEILLANCE. THEY'RE PACKING THEM WITH EXPLOSIVES AN >> LIVING THE DREAM. I LOVE THAT. THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS." JOIN US TOMORROW FOR MY EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE HEAD OF THE FAA AFTER SOME SERIOUS QUESTIONS RECENTLY ABOUT BOEING'S SAFETY RECORD. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, EVERYONE. I'M LESTER HOLT. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND EACH OTHER.