Set, both of them. 20 candidates, two nights. A brewing generational divide. It would serve us well to have a new generation of leadership stepping forward at the highest level. People have a right to question all of our ages. All i can say is, watch me. Just watch me. My guest, mayor Pete Buttigieg of indiana. And growing tensions with iran. The u. S. Blames iran for attacks on tankers and considers deploying forces to protect oil shipments. Ill talk to House Republican whip Steve Scalise and our own Richard Engel reports from the region. Joining me are mark leibovich, chief National Correspondent for the New York Times magazine, Danielle Pletka of the American Enterprise institute, syndicated columnist george will, and helene cooper, both correspondent for the New York Times. Welcome to sunday, its meet the press. From nbc news in washington, the longest running show in television history, this is meet the press with chuck todd. Good sunday morning. Happy fathers day to all the dads out there. Were going to get to President Trump and election interference and our new poll numbers in a moment. We will start with the tension between the United States and iran. The u. S. Is blaming iran for attacks on two tankers. Iran denies it was responsible. There are fears hardliners will use the incident to push for a military confrontation. Nbc news chief correspondent Richard Engel is in turkey with the latest on this allegation. First, is the u. S. Allegation against iran that they did it being taken seriously in the region and with western allies . Reporter i think it is being taken seriously. Sources i have been speaking to are not doubting the americans accounting of events. They think that the iranians did it. They think they did it in such a way to show their displeasure, to show their anger that they have been boxed in by sanctions. They think that the iranians didnt want to attack u. S. Interests in order not to provoke at least at this stage any kind of shooting war. But sources im speaking to are im not hearing other accounts of who was responsible. Richard, there clearly is divides in iran on how aggressive to get. Theres divides in our own country between the president and his National Security adviser. I know theres concern of an accident happening. First walk us through the iranian divide. Reporter so the issue is not so much an accident. We talk about this like were on a slippery slope toward war. We have been put in this position. There have been a series of events that have put us right where we are right now. Lets start with the iranian side. There are hardliners in iran who said for a long time that they should be taking a much stronger action, a more confrontational approach visavis the United States, particularly after the United States started to ratchet up sanctions, put iran into a corner, back them into a position where they fear they have no other economic options. They have been those voices, those hardline voices have been losing out to moderates. But as the sanctions get tighter and tighter, the hardliners are now in the an zend answery. The hard lines think its a good idea, apparently, to attack commercial shipping in order to show their displeasure and to show their strength. You also have hardliners in the United States who put us in this situation, who may have made the sanctions on iran so impossible that iran felt backed into a corner and it is reacting. It is very predictable. I have been watching this for a long time. I could have told you if you ratchet up the sanctions to a point they are unbearable on iran, that iran would react and the hardliners would get the upper hand. I think a lot of people around President Trump, bolton among them, know exactly that thats how iran would react. Very quickly. If you put them in an entunable situation. I assume, is the u. S. Navy going to be used as essentially a military escort for tankers pretty soon in the gulf of oman . Reporter we could get to that stage. President trump said in that phone call with fox and friends that the straits of hormuz will remain open almost at any court. U. S. Military escort would be an escalation. Lets see if it has to come to that. Richard engel in istanbul, turkey. Ruchd, as always, sir, thanks very much. Turning to politics. It has become something of a cliche from the moment donald trump came down that escalator four years ago today, he has changed the norms of our politics. Whether as a candie clairing that john mccain has no war hero or as president or declaring there was fine people on both sides of the neonazi protests in charlottesville, theres a familiar pattern. Step one, stay or do something startling. Step two, public and press react with shock, outrage, approval or all of the above. Step three, say or do Something Else startling. Step four, public and press forget about step one. Wash, rinse, repeat. The latest example, trump saying this week, sure id take incriminate aginformation about an opponent from a Foreign Government. Many heard that as, mr. Trump saying, russia, if you are listening, come on in, the water is fine, if you can help again, i will take it. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the fouryear cycle of these this one goes to 11 controversies is how steady and mediocre the president s Approval Ratings have remained through it all. Our brandnew poll, 44 of the president s job performance. 53 disapprove. Always holding between 43 and 46 consistently. All of which is to say, mr. Trumps style is a weakness and a strength. A weakness because the controversy that kept his Approval Rating from reaching 50 . A strength because with each new controversy it becomes easy to forget what last weeks fuss was all about. They have information. I think i would take it. The four years after descending on that escalator in trump tower and announcing his candidacy, mr. Trump is preparing to kick off his Reelection Campaign on tuesday in battleground florida. This week, he made it clear, if a Foreign Government offers him help to win, he will take it. This is somebody that said, we have information on your opponent. Oh, let me call the fbi. Give me a break. Life doesnt work that way. The fbi director says thats what should happen. The fbi director is wrong. His Campaign Calls those comments a directive. The president s directive as he said, case by case basis, he would likely do both, listen to what they have to say but also report it to the fbi. After some republicans condemned the idea of accepting foreign help again in 2020 it would strike at the heart of our democracy. I think its a mistake. I think its a mistake of law. The chair of the federal Election Commission pointed out that taking information of value from a Foreign National is illegal. Its actually a matter of black letter law. Its pretty straightforward. On friday, the president tried to backtrack. Of course, you have to look at it, because if you dont look at it you are not going to know if its bad. How are you going to know if its bad . But of course, you give it to the fbi or report it to the attorney general. Still, Mitch Mcconnell blocked a bill that would require fbi disclosure of any foreign assistance. While democrats competing to take on trump pounced on his comments. I believe hes dead wrong. He was perfectly willing to break the law. Its illegal. What he said was openly treasonous. Its terrorism. Its like the guy hates america. Mr. Trumps opponents are struggling with how far to go. Would you want the department of justice, now that he is no longer a sitting president , to go forward with obstruction of Justice Charges . I believe that they would have to choice and that they should, yes. There has to be accountability. By friday, harris was trying to backtrack. You would prosecute donald trump. No. I said that the department of justice will need to go and follow the facts wherever they lead. Ahead of their first debate, the 2020 democrats are trying to prove they are best equipped to take mr. Trump on. A gigantic mistake if democrats, 20 or whatever number we have, go after each other. Former vicepresident bidens rivals are already playing up the contrasts that are likely to appear on stage. If we are perceived as replicating a system that let people down economically and politically, we could lose again. The same people say, we have to have somebody new. We have to change the system. Guess what. Systems work pretty damn well. Its called the constitution. Joining me now is the mayor of south bend, indiana, Pete Buttigieg. Mayor, welcome back to meet the press, sir. Thank you. Good to be with you. I want to start with sort of the news of the moment that were all dealing with as a country, whats going on in the middle east. Do you believe the administration has provided enough proof that iran was behind these tanker attacks . I think what we have seen is compelling. There seems to be more information that we havent had a chance to see. Its a little distressing to think that because this administrations credibility is so low in general, i think a lot of people are thinking twice in a moment when americas words should be decisive, when the u. S. Says this is something that has happened and this is the consensus of our administration, that should be something that goes without question. Of course, thats just not the case in an administration that has been extremely unreliable in so many ways. That being said, this is not inconsistent with iranian behavior that has been aggressive and often malignant in the region. The real question is, what can we do given the facts on the ground to ensure a measured response that will deescalate rather than inflame tensions in the region. What is that measured response that a president buttigieg would do at this point . I know you want to go back into the Nuclear Agreement. But the Nuclear Agreement did nothing about the belligerent behavior of iran. So what would you be doing . We would consult and coordinate with allies. Everybody has an interest in the region becoming more stable. Let me pause you there. Our closest allies in the middle east, saudi arabia and israel in particular, they seem to be in a different place on iran than the United States even. Well, our allies in the middle east are going to be concerned first and foremost with their own security. We need to make sure that we have tensions deescalating rather than escalate when it comes to whats going on. What we see out of the white house is something disturbingly reminiscent of the accelerating drumbeat that got us into the war in iran. War in iraq. Worse, it has some of the same cast of characters. Im mystified who john bolton is said to be behind a lot of the administrations policy on iran, as well. Its not only allies in the region but allies across the globe who have an interest in stopping any pathway toward the middle east becoming more violent, more unstable than it already is. Do you take comfort at all that President Trump appears to be more dovish about this than john bolton . The president has said that he does not want a conflict. Of course, its very difficult to take the president at his word any time he says anything. To the extent that we believe him, the real question is, is a dynamic underway in the Administration Just as much as in the middle east that could get out from control of the president himself. Im concerned about that. Its one more reason why we need stable leadership in the United States and a Stable International community where our alliances are steady and our word is taken seriously. At a minimum, would it be appropriate if they ordered if they had the u. S. Military essentially in the gulf of oman as a Police Escort for these tankers . Do you think thats a necessary step . Yes, it could certainly be appropriate for u. S. To use our sea power to make sure that there is safety and freedom of passage in that part of the world thats so vital to the world economy. You are making a generational argument during the campaign, being the youngest contender in the race. The youngest top tier contender in this race. Its an obvious thing for you to do. Let me ask this about joe biden that you have been ducking all week long. What can joe biden do to convince you he is future oriented . I think every one of us is running our own playbook. A candidate of any age could speak about the future. I think not every candidate is doing that. The future cant just be a bump er sticker or word or vague idea we throw out there. I want us to be forming policies today that are going to make sense in the 2050s that were going to look back. You think somebody in their 70s cant have a good vision of what 2050 is going to look like in america . Of course they can. I think i have the best one. My plan is to go out and compete with it. Thats a fair point. Let me ask you this about the president s comments having to do with accepting foreign interference. If somebody offered your Campaign Dirt on either President Trump or a democratic candidate, what would you do with that dirt . You wouldnt do anything with that dirt. You would call the fbi. This isnt even would you look at it . No. You call the fbi. The moment that you look at it, you have implicated yourself. I dont think you would want to do that. Some things are complicated in politics and ethics. This is not. This is not theoretical. A hostile foreign power successfully attacked our democracy in the last election. Theres no indication that they are going to back off from trying do it in the next election. Thats why its shocking to hear the president say what he said. Then again, he specialize ms. Shocking us so that we cant talk about anything else. I hope that while we are forcefully responding to the outrageous suggestion that he would do something illegal in that situation, its not making us less able to talk about our own agenda of making americans lives better off of delivering better wages, Better Living standards and health care. And all the other issues on which Americans Trust the democratic party. He needs us talking about him so that were not talking about voters. When we talk about voters, we win. We will call out his wrongdoing and return to our message, because thats whats going to make for a better america all the way to the 2050s. You responded to a question about the idea of prosecuting a former President Trump, possibly having the Justice Department look at the obstruction case. You are open to this idea that if thats what the Justice Department says, then they should pursue it. How do you if you are elected president , one of the reasons you got elected is you would have convinced the country its time to change the channel. How do you change the channel and prosecute the former president at the same time . America can do many things at the same time. Its not the president s job to prosecute a foreign president. Changing the channel means focusing on how we can make peoples lives better. If in parallel there are investigations going on into criminal behavior by people who were formerly at some of the highest levels in our government, so be it. Thats how the Justice System works. The most important principle here is the independence of the judiciary, the independence of the doj is not something this president respects. Hes treated it like it ought to be his own personal law firm. This wont be a litmus test for your attorney general. Look at it if you want to. Im not going to tell you which way to come down on whether to prosecute the former president of the United States . Prosecution decisions shouldnt be made by politicians. What i will say is any attorney general that i would appoint is somebody who will faithfully apply the concept that no one is above the law, that everybody ought to be held accountable, whether they are a former president or whether they are somebody who has never been anywhere near the halls of power. Thats the point. Its that justice is blind. I will appoint an attorney general and for that matter justices and judges who uphold that principle. If there is final topic i want to get to is your ability to win this democratic nomination in general. If there is one whisper that democrats have about your candidacy, many are excited you hear the whisper what, but can he get africanamerican support. I want to read you a quote from a pastor at the Uplift Church in indianapolis. Heres what he said. I guarantee its going to be an obstacle. This is about the fact that youre married to another man. I guarantee its going to be an obstacle for the candidate everybody south bend. That is still a touchy subject, especially in the africanamerican church. I think it could be overcome. We are getting to a point of i dont want to say accept, but realizing this is the culture we have to begin to live with and adapt to it. I know youre trying to have these conversations with a lot of africanamericans. How are they going . They are going well. We are working hard to engage people across the party but especially black voters who expect you to demonstrate, especially when you are new on the scene, what your values are and how you are going to promote policies that lift them up. I think we have a moment on our hands when we ca