I think hes the worst president maybe in the history of our country. I think the republican nominee is unfit. The president earlier in the day with his harshest words yet. It has to be more than what you say. This is not somebody i can support for president of the United States. As trump tries to dig out of yet another controversy over what he said about women and sexual harassment. And who will it be . Its one of the greatest honors given to an american athlete carrying the flag opening olympic ceremony. We know who it is. And well have the big reveal today, wednesday, august 3rd, 2016. Announcer from nbc news, this is a special edition of today, countdown to rio, with matt lauer live from rio de guthrie, live from Rockefeller Plaza. Welcome to another little bit edition of today, wednesday morning, crunch time here in rio, the openings ceremony at the Olympic Games now just two days away. It is our third morning here on copacabana beach. A little bit cloudy today, but a lot going on, including the womens soccer team gets into action today. And how about that news well reveal who the u. S. Flag bearer will be. Always one of the biggest moments of the Olympic Games. That j this morning. An emirates jet airliner catching fire while making an Emergency Landing in dubai. It happened this morning. Straight to tamron with the very latest. Good morning. That plane, a boeing 777, was arriving in dubai from india. There were thr300 passengers an crew on board. Witnesses say the plane skidded as it hit the tarmac and burst into flames, coming to rest on its right wing with heavy smoke pouring out of one side. Says all passengers are safe. Emirates airlines blaming this on a mechanical failure at this point, savannah. Glad to hear everybodys okay. Now we move to politics and the heated words in the race for the white house between the current president and the man who wants to replace him, donald trump. President obama labeling trump woefully unprepared for the oval office. Nbcs Hallie Jackson has this covered for us in jacksonville, florida for us this morning. Hallie, good morning reporter hi, savannah. Yeah, that and so much more, as this morning we start with yet again a phrase we have heard in this campaign before nearly unprecedented. On the one hand, on the republican side, you have the Top Republican on the ticket refusing to endorse the Top Republican in congress, and for the democrats, president obama at the white house unleashing his harshest attack yet. I think the republican the fact that he doesnt appear to have basic knowledge around Critical Issues means that hes woefully unprepared to do this job. Mitt romney, john mccain were wrong on certain policy issues, but i never thought that they couldnt do the job. There has to come a point at which you say, somebody who makes those kinds of statements doesnt have the judgment, the temperament, the understanding to occupy the most powerful position in the world. Reporter trump firing back tuesday night. I think hes the worst president maybe in the history of our country. Reporter that backandforthcoming as the gop civil war seems to be back, too. Paul ryans office saying he never asked for Donald Trumps endorsement. Trump stunningly not giving him tells the Washington Post. If that sounds familiar, it should. Im not there right now. Reporter its what ryan said about trump back in may, stoking speculation now of possible payback after it took ryan weeks to endorse trump. Ryans office says hes confident, regardless, in a victory in his reelection bid tuesday. But the House Speaker is not the only republican heavyweight trumps not sure hell support. Senator john mccain has his own tough fight coming up in arizona. Im only thinking about it. Of john mccain and i just hate the way our veterans have been treated by john and other people. Reporter that coming just a day after mccain criticized trump for his comments about two gold star parents. Khizr khan, the father of a fallen soldier, again taking aim overnight, this time for this moment at a virginia rally. He handed me his purple heart. I always wanted to get the you know what you should have done . And listen to me, and i want his surrogates to listen to me. You should have pinned that back to that veterans chest and should have hugged him and thanked him. Reporter no laughing matter, as the nominee saves his jokes for his rallies. Interrupted by a crying baby dont worry about that baby. I love babies. Actually, i was only kidding. You can get the baby out here. Reporter democrats, crying foul. Sometimes you wonder who the baby is. Reporter and its not just questions of unity within the Republican Party with the wall street journal reporting this morning, former president george w. Bush took aim at trump in a private fundraiser hitting his isolationism. Its also the unity within trumps own campaign. Our colleague at cnbc, john harwood, reporting that an ally of trumps top aide says staff is suicidal. And now trump is pushing back tweeting today theres never been Greater Unity within his own team adding, beat crooked h. Another issue thats surfaced in the president ial race, sexual harassment. This morning, both donald trump and his son, eric, are facing scrutiny for their comments referring to women who have been targeted in the workplace. Nbcs katy tur is at trump tower following that story. Katy, good morning. Reporter good morning, savannah. The campaign wants donald trump to focus on Hillary Clinton but hi Everything Else keep coming back to haunt him, including what he would tell a woman if she was sexually harassed. Now the family, including ivanka, is trying to play cleanup. Donald trump is fighting for the female vote. Now dispatching daughter ivanka to make the hard sell. Hes incorrectly portrayed often by the media. My fathers incredibly warm and compassionate and loyal and funny. And anyone who knows him knows portrayed. Reporter a new nbc News Survey Monkey online poll shows trump is in trouble. His appeal to women, over half of the electorate, isnt improving. Trump, in a hole and digging deeper, after defending former fox news executive roger ailes, accused of sexually harassing anchor gretchen carlson, and others. I can tell you that some of the women that are complaining, i know how much hes helped them. Reporter trump told usa today, if daughter sexually harassed, i would like to think she had aide find another career or find another company. When asked if the victim should leave, trump told the Washington Post, if she was being harassed, would you want to say . On cbs, son eric trump tried to clarify. What hes saying is ivanka is a strong, powerful woman. She wouldnt allow herself to be objected to it. Reporter that prompted more backlash. Carlson. Jane harman spoke with msnbcs thomas roberts. Well, as saying someones a strong and powerful woman and she could walk away doesnt apply to most women in a workplace. Reporter in her book, the trump card, ivanka wrote about the discomfort women can feel in the workplace admitting she overcompensated by covering up. There was nothing about my appearance to suggest that i was a confident young woman, she wrote. Last night, she told fox news she understands. General, regardless, sexual or otherwise, is totally inexcusable. If it transpires, it needs to be reported and it needs to be dealt with. Reporter but are ivankas words enough to convince voters her dad gets it, too. Even trumps strongest voting bloc, white men, is starting to crack. The campaign is long made them a priority but now signs that this growing list of controversies is savannah . Katy tur, thank you. Another major story this morning, a stunning new report tagged to januarys release of americans who were detained in iran. Now there is word that the u. S. Sent 400 million cash to iran on the same day those hostages were freed. Nbcs Kelly Cobiella has more on this story this morning. Kelly, good morning to you. Reporter good morning, savannah. Thats right. New controversy over that iran deal struck earlier this year. The wall street journal citing u. S. And Congressional Staff reporting this morning that the u. S. Made a secret airlift of cash in to iran the very weekend the deal was finalized. After decades of animosity, a nuclear deal and a hostage release on the same day. Among those coming home, Washington Post reporter jason rezai rezaian. What wasnt seen, an airlift of settlement over a failed arms deal with the shah of iran toppled during the revolution in 1979. President obama hailed the event as a breakthrough. New clear deal, implemented. American families reunited. The third piece of this work that we got done this weekend involved the United States and iran resolving a financial dispute that dated back more than three the payment reportedly i palates of bills on an unmarked cargo plane. And about the timing. Senator tom cotton with be fiercely opposed to the iran nuclear deal, accused the government of paying for hostages. The white house replying, the negotiations over the settlement of an outstanding claim were completely separate from the discussions about returning our american citizens home. And there is still more to be settlement. Meantime, the u. S. Is investigating the arrest of at least two iranianamericans in iran. And donald trump already weighing in on this in a tweet calling secretary of state Hillary Clinton incompetent. Our incompetent secretary of state Hillary Clinton was the one to started the thalks to now back here, the growing zika crisis in the u. S. A new case is now being reported in miami and the head of the cdc says mosquitos carrying the cyrsi virus are harding to wipe out than originally thought. Kerry sanders has more. Reporter this morning Miamidade County had planned to put a plane up to mist to square about a tensquare mile area but four inches in two hours which would dilute any insecticide. So for the moment that flight is on hold. Overnight, rain. Bad news for the zika battle in south florida. The spraying going on day and night, now less effective killing mosquitos. And worse, the rain creating puddles where mosquitos breed. The latest count one new case of mosquito transmitted infection bringing the total number to 15. Experts now encouraging repellants like deet for everyone here. Deet should basically be the new perfume for miami. It has put our practice almost in panic. Reporter dr. Rebecca martin martinez, an obgyn, sees pregnant women every day who are frightened because zika is linked to horrifying birth defects. I many am absolutely terrified. Reporter patients like lindsay, 22 weeks along, she worries constantly. The moment i lay down for bed. It just never stops. Weve never faced a situation like this. In the 30 years that ive been practicing. Reporter the virus is spread when a person is bitten about i a mosquito with zika and gets infected. That person travels out of the area, gets bitten again, infecting that mosquito, which then bites someone else. The virus can also be spread through sex and possibly blood transfusions. According to the cdc, zika carrying mosquitos can live in about half the country. Officials are trying to stay ahead of the outbreak. Its going to get worse before it gets better . Were doing everything in our power to make sure it doesnt get worse. Reporter as government teams here are trying to get a handle on the zika mosquitos, businesses are also taking things into their own hands. Just a short distance from where i am at the wynwood yard, they decided to lock the gates. It is a popular outdoor gathering spot. Jetblue has announced that anybody who had plans to travel here because of the cdc warning can now get a waiver on rebooking fees if they planned a vacation here. Savannah . Kerry sanders, thank you so much. The u. S. Has opened a new front in the war against isis. Air strikes launched from the uu. Uss wasp hit near the coa city fof the president described the strikes as necessary to keep militants from getting a further foothold in libya. Three employees at a florida walmart have been charged with manslaughter for restraining a suspected shoplifter who passed out and then died. A medical examiner ruled that 64yearold Kenneth Wisha humanitarian died from affix sp due to rerestraint. He had 350 worth of stolen dvds in a shopping cart. He cried out he couldnt breathe while workers pinned him down the ground face down for ten minutes. According to authorities, he was also punched. Now let us turn to rio and matt who is holding down the fort at the olympics. Hey, savannah, great to see you. We are seeing a lot of preparations for the 2016 Olympic Games, with the clock racing towards fridays opening cereny venues are ready. For example, behind me on copacabana beach is the Beach Volleyball venue. When i got here saturday morning, that was noing but raw scaffolding. Theyve now covered it in that famous olympic draping. They say it is ready to go. And they are also putting in to place new security measures as team usas athletes are getting their first taste of this city. Nbcs Peter Alexander is at olympic park this morning. Peter, good morning to you. Reporter hey, matt, good be competing today, including team usa looking for its fourth consecutive gold facing off tonight against new zealand. Also the torch is now finally arriving in rio, on board a yacht steered by brazilian medalists to thick security. Here in rio, Security Forces now to you fortifying the citys two most iconic sites, christ the redeemer and sugarloaf mountain. For the first time deploying metal detectors machines to search visitors. The Brazilian Military taking charge promising a safe Olympic Games. Just hours after touching down with his teammates, Michael Phelps, the most decorated ohio olympian ever, heading into what he says will be his last olympics, taking his first laps at the aquatic center. Barely 48 hours to the Opening Ceremony, the teams are settling in to the athletes village. Whether you are a fencer or Michael Phelps, you want to be in the village. Olympic experience. Reporter nbc news invited inside. No matter what country you are from or what sport you do, everybodys here for that common denominator which is sport. Reporter making themselves at home, the new fierce five, decked out in matching tshirts and playing around at practice. This athletess village is really a small city. 31 brandnew buildings, 18,000 athletes and team members at its peak. Despite some problems in the runup, clogged even a small fire, nobody here is complaining. It is awesome, really, really beautiful. It is a really good energy here. Basketball . No, rowing. Youre huge i am. Reporter the largest flag of the village, the russians, and still looming large, fate of their team. In the wake of a doping scandal more than 100 russian athletes already banned. A final decision due before the Opening Ceremony. That means some russian athletes already here may be heading leading the u. S. Delegation, john kerry, the secretary of state, practicing just in case. Most striking from our tour in the athletes village, the fact that the u. S. Building is the only building without any patriotic bunting, no flags whatsoever. For security reasons. For years, the u. S. Olympic committee has made it that way installing that policy that no patriotic symbols are flown. The only other country that follows that same precaution israel. Matt . All right, by the way, the first olympic eventually tkicks off today. Womens soccer. Team usa, of course, is the threetime reigning olympic champ. Were going to hear from its stars coming up. And well also catch up with nbcs bob costas, get his take on these games. And a reminder, ill be hosting nbc coverage of the Opening Ceremony along with Meredith Vieira and hoda kotb. Cant wait. Lets bring in al for our first check of the weather. Stay on that rio theme. Look at what we can expect as we get into the first weekend of the games out there in Rio De Janeiro. It is looking fantastic. Temperatures will be in the low to mid 80s with plenty of sunshine. And as we look closer to home, were talking about a lot of heat today from tulsa all the way to montgomery. 16 Million People at risk today and tomorrow for heat indices that will reach over . Were going to get to what makes a woman feel beautiful . Its about her presence. A radiance that shines, deep inside. A je ne sais quoi. A youthful aura. Advanced g . Nifique by lanc . Me. Every serum drop infuses youthful radiance throughout the skin. Patented until 2029. Advanced g . Nifique. Lanc . Me. Receive a free 7piece gift. Only at macys, bri good morning, everybody. Im meteorologist bri eggers in for Chris Lambert this morning. After we get the locally dense fog to burn off in the next hour or two, were in for plenty of sunshine. That sunshine around not just for today but through the end of this work week. Pictureperfect weather for us. Not only do we get the sunshine back, but also temperatures enter the low 80s for highs this afternoon. Light sea breeze keeping the immediate coastline in the upper 70s to near 80. And a look at the 7 on 7 scattered showers and thats your latest weather. Savannah . All right, al, thank you so much. Just ahead, are those new credit cards good or bad for consumers and businesses . Were going to go inside the great chip debate. From rio, that burning question who will the u. S. Choose as its flag bearer for it is an enor in mous honor. We get to reveal the pick exclusively. But first, this is today on coming coming i have cervical cancer. From an infection. Human papillomavirus. Wh