Welcome to Meet the Press Now. I'm Kristen Welker in Washington after a blockbuster primary night in Texas in North Carolina, where the stakes could not be higher with the control of Congress up for grabs

this November. We'll have much more on the key results and biggest takeaways from the first

primaries of the 26 midterms coming up. But we begin with the intensifying war in the Middle

East and the administration defending its military operations in Iran and its efforts to evacuate

Americans caught in the crossfire.

It comes as we have brand new NBC news polling showing voters are skeptical of the mission

and the president's handling of it. These are hot off the press. Take a look.

52% of registered voters saying the U.S. should not have taken military action against Iran.

54% saying they disapprove of the president's handling of the situation.

Diving deeper, Republicans largely standing behind the president.

Democrats largely critical, but take a look.

Independent voters, 61% saying they disapprove compared to just 28% who approve.

Today, my NBC colleague Garrett Haigke, pressing White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt,

in her first briefing since the war began.

Take a look.

Does the president believe the country supports the actions that he's taken so far in Iran?

I think he does.

And I think the president

knows the country is smart enough to read past many of the fake news headlines produced by

people in this room, that this action was unjustifiable. Again, this is a rogue terrorist regime

that has been threatening the United States, our allies, and our people for 47 years. And the American people are smart

enough to know that. Last hour, President Trump touting the success of the U.S. War on Iran.

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