Lester Holt’s Last Day as Anchor
Lester Holt ended his role as the anchor of NBC Nightly News on May 30, 2025. He announced his departure earlier in February. After 10 years as the main host, Holt’s final broadcast marked a major change for the show. Tom Llamas was named as his replacement in March.
Reflecting on a Remarkable Career
In a message to the Nightly News and Dateline teams, Holt called his time at NBC “an amazing ride.” He said he felt proud to anchor two of NBC’s most famous news programs. Although stepping down from Nightly News, Holt will stay with NBC as a full-time anchor for Dateline. He looks forward to covering stories he cares deeply about.
Why Did Lester Holt Decide to Leave?
Holt began anchoring NBC Nightly News in June 2015. During his time, he covered important events like presidential elections and world crises. On February 24, 2025, he said it was “time” to step down. But Holt is not retiring. Instead, he plans to focus on long-form journalism. He mentioned that he has been with NBC for 17 years if you count his weekend work.
What’s Next for Lester Holt?
Holt will now work full-time on Dateline NBC. He has hosted the show since 2011 but is excited to take on a bigger role. Holt wants to report more in-depth stories that take months to prepare. In a May 2025 interview, he said his decision came after many talks with his wife. He wants to create longer, detailed programs and spend more time with producers.
Meet Tom Llamas, the New Anchor
In March 2025, NBC announced Tom Llamas as Holt’s successor. Llamas joined NBC in 2021 after leaving ABC. He said anchoring NBC Nightly News is a great honor. Llamas promised to keep the trust viewers have in the program. He will also continue hosting Top Story with Tom Llamas on NBC News NOW.
Summary
Lester Holt’s exit from NBC Nightly News ends a decade-long chapter. He moves to focus on investigative stories for Dateline. Tom Llamas will take over as the new anchor. This change promises continued trusted journalism at NBC.
