Tom Llamas Marks the Start of a ‘New Adventure’ as He Anchors First NBC Nightly News After Lester Holt’s Exit

Tom Llamas made his debut as the new anchor of NBC Nightly News on the June 2 episode, taking over the reins from Lester Holt.

Tom Llamas on ‘NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas’.Credit : NBC

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Tom Llamas celebrated his debut as the new anchor of NBC Nightly News on the June 2 episode, calling it the start of a “new adventure”
Llamas, who is also host of Top Story with Tom Llamas, succeeds Lester Holt in the role
The journalist spoke to Today ahead of his first episode behind the Nightly News desk, revealing how he feels as the first Latino weekday evening news anchor

Tom Llamas is signing on.

Llamas made his debut as the new anchor of NBC Nightly News on the June 2 episode, taking over the reins from Lester Holt.

“That’s Nightly News for tonight, my first as the anchor of this great broadcast,” Llamas said at the end of the episode. “My thanks to all of you as we start this new adventure together. Tonight, and always, we’re here for you.”

Llamas also introduced a new series during his debut episode called “The Cost of Denial,” which he explained is “a spotlight on the issues millions of American face across healthcare and homeownership when it comes to insurance coverage.”

Ahead of his first episode anchoring Nightly News, Llamas sat down with Savannah Guthrie on Today to discuss his new role.

Tom Llamas on ‘Today’ in 2021.Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

“I feel excited. I’m so looking forward to this. I can’t wait,” he said, adding that he “never in my wildest dreams” thought he could get to this point in his career. “I’m a little nervous, but I’m looking forward to the challenge. I think it’s good to be a little nervous.”

With his new gig, Llamas is the first Latino weekday evening news anchor — something he called both a privilege and an honor.

“I thank all the Hispanic journalists that came before me because when I was watching news and growing up, we’d watch news in English and Spanish, I saw people like José Díaz-Balart, people that I could look up to. And I saw, well, if they can do it, I could do it,” said Llamas, who is Cuban-American.

“I think even bigger than that, my parents came here as immigrants. They came here with nothing. Their son is now going to be the anchor of Nightly News, one of the biggest and most important newscasts in our country,” he continued. “What it tells me is that the American dream is still alive. I know that because I’m living it.”

Llamas also called his wife, Jennifer, and their three children “my biggest cheerleaders.”

Holt signed off as Nightly News anchor on the May 30 episode after more than a decade in the role, calling his stint on the evening news show “the honor of a lifetime.”

(L) Tom Llamas and (R) Lester Holt.Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty; Joe Scarnici/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

“Around here, facts matter, words matter, journalism matters and you matter,” Holt said in his farewell. “Over the last decade, we have shared some dark and harrowing days and nights from our country — the pandemic, mass shootings, natural disasters — each testing our resilience and our compassion. That’s why I often like to leave you with something to smile about, moments that reassure and connect us.”

“Please continue to take care of yourself and each other, and I’ll do the same,” he added, also wishing Llamas “great success.”