NBC News has yet to name a successor for veteran news anchor Lester Holt, who has led “NBC Nightly News” since June 2015.
On Monday, February 24, Holt announced his departure from the program, set to take effect early this summer. His statement reflected gratitude and pride in his decade-long tenure: “It has truly been the honor of a lifetime to work with each of you every day, keeping journalism as our true north and our viewers at the center of everything we do.”
Holt’s unexpected exit has sparked widespread speculation among fans. Some questioned whether he was leaving voluntarily or being pushed out, while others speculated about his next move. “Is he stepping down? Or are they taking him off?” one user asked. Others noted financial factors, with one observer commenting, “MSNBC making cuts, reports of disastrous viewership declines… really seems like they can’t afford him anymore.”
While stepping away from “Nightly News,” Holt will continue as the principal anchor of “Dateline,” a role he has held since 2011. “I will be expanding my footprint on the broadcast and crafting Dateline hours on subjects I care deeply about,” he shared. Some fans saw this transition as a lighter workload, as one pointed out, “He’s 65—he can work one day a week on Dateline instead of every day til 7 p.m.”
The conversation quickly turned to potential replacements, with many predicting Tom Llamas as the frontrunner. “My bet is that Tom Llamas will be his replacement,” one fan suggested. Others, however, speculated that Llamas had been positioning himself for Holt’s job for some time.
NBC News’ Executive VP of Programming, Janelle Rodriguez, praised Holt’s leadership, crediting him for guiding the network through major global events and offering steady reporting during the pandemic. “Quite simply, Lester is the beating heart of this news organization,” she stated.
Throughout his career, Holt has covered key international events, moderated the 2016 presidential debate, and launched “Nightly News: Kids Edition” to educate younger viewers. He has earned multiple Emmy Awards and was named TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2016.
As he prepares for his transition, Holt remains committed to journalism and his colleagues. He will continue anchoring “NBC Nightly News” until early summer, with a final date to be confirmed. Following tradition, he looks forward to marking his send-off with banana pudding—a customary treat among his “Nightly News” team.