Good morning and welcome to sunday today on this may 19th. Im willie geist. The 2024 president ial campaign is in full swing this weekend with less than six months until election day. This morning President Biden is in georgia, a state he won narrowly last time around, where he will deliver the commencement address at the historically black Morehouse College. Meanwhile, on saturday, former President Trump was in texas speaking at the National RifleAssociation Convention and picking up that groups endorsement. Well have the latest in a pair of live reports and talk to Kristen Welker just ahead. Plus, our sunday focus on the president ial debate this week after back and forth public challenges between President Biden and former President Trump. How will these ones be different . Will they really matter in the end . Then, our sunday spotlight on 50 years of People Magazine at the center of american Popular Culture with famous covers, behindthescenes stories and, of course, a roundup of the sexiest men alive. And later, a new sunday sitdown with one of the most indemand actors in hollywood these days, glen powell, the long career that got a rocket boost from top gun maverick and the Box Office Smash anyone but you where he stars with sydney sweeney. You know, sydney and i want to get back in the trenches on the julia and george, these people that Work Together over and over again. A sunday sitdown with glen powell, plus, another life well lived later in the show. But lets begin with President Biden and former President Trump, both on the campaign trail this weekend as polling this week shows another airtight election likely ahead. We have the story covered from all angles this morning beginning with nbcs Aaron Gilchrist at Morehouse College in atlanta where President Biden will deliver the commencement address a short time from now. Aaron, good morning. Reporter willie, good morning to you. President biden set to give his first of two commencement speeches this graduation season right here at Morehouse College later this morning. A white house official telling me hes been prepping for this address for some time now, and the president s remarks will be directly and very deliberately aimed at the 400 plus black young men graduating today, not necessarily a national tv audience. Now he intends to celebrate their milestone moment while also speaking to his own efforts to address economic, educational and civil rights effectively trying to regain softened support in the black community. This speech, we know, has drawn a lot of attention as protests over the war in gaza and bidens support of israel have enveloped College Campuses around the country. We saw a small, peaceful demonstration on campus friday. Students and faculty and white house officials that ive spoken to all agree that a demonstration is possible, but they fully expect it will not disrupt what they all see as a special dignified moment for morehouse men and their families. Now there have been social media posts calling for students to turn their backs on President Biden while he speaks. One official telling me the image of potentially hundreds of black men turning their backs to a democratic president would be as damaging, if not more, than any verbal protest. Willie . We will be watching as the president speaks at one of americas great institutions today. Aaron gilchrist with the president in atlanta, thank you, aaron. Former President Trump, meanwhile, spoke at a gathering of the National Rifle association on saturday accepting an endorsement from the Gun Rights Organization in what could be his last Campaign Appearance before a verdict in the criminal hush money trial. Nbcs Priscilla Thompson is in dallas with more. Good morning. Reporter willie, good morning. Former President Donald Trump proudly accepted that endorsement from the nra on that stage last night. He also rolled out his gun owners for Trump Coalition telling gun owners no one has done more for them than he has. And, contrary to what research shows, he accused gun owners of not participating in the political process. Gun owners dont vote. Its so crazy. They should be i would think that they would vote more than any other group of people, and its just the opposite. They dont vote. Reporter during the 90minute speech, he also repeated his common claim that gun owners are losing their rights, comparing it to his current legal struggles saying that as folks are trying to take away his rights, as he would say, and, of course, this was a rare opportunity for him to bring his message directly to voters, something we have seen far less of this Campaign Cycle as he has been tied up in a new york city courtroom during this ongoing criminal trial. And that is where he will be again on monday as crossexamination of his former fixer, mike aim cohen, wraps up. No word yet on whether the defense plans to call any witnesses or whether the former president himself will take the stand as he has said that he would. And closing arguments could start as early as tuesday, and a verdict could come by the end of the week. Willie . Priscilla thompson in dallas this morning. Priscilla, thank you very much. Kristen welker is moderator of meet the press. Kristen, good morning. Always great to see you. Yes, testimony resumes tomorrow in the criminal hush money trial with michael cohen. The judge has signaled, could be ready for closing arguments as soon as tuesday, perhaps even a verdict this week. Theres the legal side of it and then theres the fascinating political side of it, as you know, that parade of republicans, including House Speaker mike johnson, showing up at the courthouse last week to show support for the former president. What is the sense of how all this may play into the campaign ahead . Willie, good morning. It has been fascinating. So far this legal battle, the hush money trial, unfolding in new york hasnt really shaken up the state of the race. The race has been very stagnant. We have former President Trump leading in several key battleground states, some within the margin of error. He has a narrow lead nationally, but our february nbc news poll found that actually if trump were to be convicted that swaps and then biden has a very narrow lead. Zooming out the takeaway this is a close race, and that takes mean to the fact these two candidates have now decided to debate. They are going to hold their first debate in june, in about six weeks from now, willie, the earliest debate in modern american history. Theyre circumventing the Debate Commission to do it, debating before the conventions. So this is significant. Former President Trump hoping to prove his case that biden is not ready for another four years. Biden hoping to prove that trump, as hes been arguing, is unfit to serve. But from bidens perspective, look, he wants to shake up this stagnant race. Can he do it . Well have to see, willie. Well have more on those debates in just a moment and perhaps a verdict in new york this week. Kristen, thank you so much. We, of course, will look for much more this morning on meet the press when kristen is joined by republican senator and trump Vice President ial contender marco rubio of florida. Also marylands democratic governor, wes moore, and olympic swimming legend michael phelps. A top member of is rams war cabinet and a rival of Benjamin Netanyahu is warning i will resign if the Prime Minister does not change course in gaza. Benny gantz laid out his own sixpoint plan for the war claiming if it is not adopted, he will leave the cabinet in early june. The move comes as National Security adviser Jake Sullivan is meeting with netanyahu in israel today. Golfs second major championship of the year, the pga championship, will wrap up today after a wild week in louisville. On saturday the worlds top golfer, skol Scottie Scheffler a 2 over par, 73, just one day after he was arrested in a strange traffic stop outside of valhalla golf club. He is set to be arraigned on tuesday. Scheffler is eight strokes off the lead held by Xander Schauffele and collin morikawa. The Dallas Mavericks are headed to the western conference finals after a dramatic victory over the topseeded Oklahoma City thunder last night. P. J. Washington made two clutch free throws with two 1 2 seconds left in the game. And then intentionally missed the third shot to keep the clock running. The thunders desperation heave at the buzzer was well off the mark. The mavs will face either denver or minnesota in the western conference finals. They play their game seven tonight with the knicks and pacers in a big game seven of their own at Madison Square garden this afternoon. With just over two months until the summers paris olympic games, simone biles has proven she still is the g. O. A. T. Biles came out on top on a night when three olympic gymnastic champions faced off at the core hydration classic in connecticut. Good morning. Reporter when simone stepped on the mat, she was competing in a sense against herself. The classic is a crucial stem on the road to paris. Simone biles dominated. But Gabby Douglas didnt have the night she wanted. Great way for her to start this competition. Reporter these gymnasts have something in common allaround olympic Gold Medalists. Saturday night they made history competing against each other for the first time vying for a spot on team usa in paris. Triple series, no problem. Reporter a triumphant return for simone biles, who struggled in tokyo. She pulled out then from events to protect her mental health. But saturday ladies and gentlemen, thats how its done. Shes a champion for a reason. Reporter shining on the bars, she won her first meet of the season. I was just happy to be back out there, get through those nerves again, feel that adrenaline. Gabby douglas back to make a run toward paris. Reporter it wasnt the comeback the Gold MedalistGabby Douglas wanted. The 28yearold struggled on the uneven bars, falling twice. She withdrew after the first rotation, this was her first elite competition since the 2016 olympics. Suni lee who won gold in tokyo is back after doctors said she would never compete again due to kidney disease. On saturday proving them wrong and winning the beam. This is the lee we expect to see in paris. And jones showed she is the strongest allaround gymnast next to biles, but all eyes were on biles, who holds the tightal of g. O. A. T. On and off the mat. In the sport, a lot of adversity you have to overcome. As soon as were there cheering each other on, having confidence in each others gymnastics, its going to work. Reporter a pro, even helping her competitors handle pressure as they all push toward paris. And with only five coveted spots on team usa, the excitement is building. Now its time for everyone to gear up for the u. S. Championships at the end of the month. Then the olympic trials in june will determine who secures a spot in paris. Willie . Just an incredible collection of talent, and we straight ahead, the highs and lows of the week, including the story behind the lucky fan who probably should play the lottery this week after he caught a pair of foul balls on consecutive pitches. And the First Official portrait of King Charles Iii drawing mixed reaction and some tough, but fair, comparisons on social media. Then, up next, our sunday focus on a pair of president ial debates set this week after the two leading candidates traded dares. But can debates really do anything to shake this divisive mpaign . Ca welcome to the wayborhood. With wayfair, finding your style is fun. [ music playing ] yes when the music stops grab any chair, it doesnt matter if its your outdoor style or not. [ music stops ] im sorry, carl. This is me in chair form. I dont see you. Oh, come on. This ones perfect for you. But you. Love it. 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Choose three flavors for just 20. Get your grills out this summer with pepsi, like new street corn shrimp. And our famous garlic shrimp scampi. Its time to grab some cheddar bays and get flavorfull. Hurry in to try shrimp your way, only at red lobster. In a backandforth flurry on wednesday morning, President Biden released a video challenging former President Trump to a pair of debates ahead of the election in november. Trump quickly took up the president on his offer. President bidens proposal came weeks after the former president issued a wild weststyle anytime, any place offer to his successor in the white house. Through all that bluster, though, will the debates actually impact the race . Have they ever . Nbcs Vaughn Hillyard has our sunday focus. Reporter the televised debate has been an American Institution for half a century. John f. Kennedy outshining a fading richard nixon. I think we can do better. Reporter catapulting the senator into the white house. There you go again. Reporter in 1980, ronald reagan, a former hollywood actor, reenergizing his campaign in a debate with jimmy carter just ten days before the election. Debates elect president s more often than we think. Reagans performance was so strong that the race moved from a near tie to almost a landslide for ronald reagan. Reporter and this week confirmation of a rematch between joe biden and republican nominee donald trump four years after the pair squared off in two bruising debates in the summer of 2020. The radical left will you shut up, man . Reporter biden commit to go a debate during an interview with howard stern. I dont know if youre going to debate your opponent. I am somewhere. I dont know when. Im happy to debate him. Reporter before officially throwing down the gauntlet on wednesday. Donald trump lost two debates to me in 2020. Since then he hasnt shown up for a debate. Now hes acting like he wants to debate me again. Make my day, pal. Reporter trump quick to accept writing on truth social, i am ready and willing to debate crooked joe at the two proposed times. As it stands, it will take part in two debates. The first june 27th, hosted by cnn. The second on september 10, hosted by abc. B