Why Is Lester Holt Leaving NBC Nightly News? Here’s the Reason Today Was His Last Show

Lester Holt’s last day hosting ‘NBC Nightly News’ was May 30

Lester Holt.Credit : Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

Lester Holt left his post as anchor of NBC Nightly News on May 30
The longtime host announced his exit months earlier in February 2025
Now, Tom Llamas will be taking over as his replacement

After 10 years behind the NBC Nightly News desk, Lester Holt has signed off for the last time.

The longtime anchor announced his departure from the show in February 2025, and hosted his final segment on May 30. Tom Llamas was named as his Nightly News replacement in March.

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In a memo to the Nightly and Dateline staff, Holt described his run with the network as “an amazing ride.”

“A smile comes to my face when I think that with Nightly News, and Dateline, I have now anchored two of the most successful and iconic television news programs in broadcast history,” he started his message.

The journalist noted that he will continue to work with NBC in a full-time role on Dateline, writing that he was excited to report on subjects he “deeply cares about.”

Holt is the latest in a line of news anchors across networks who have left their shows or shifted to different roles. The same day as the news of Holt’s departure broke, MSNBC’s new president, Rebecca Kulter, announced that Joy Reid and three other anchors would be leaving the network.

So why is Lester Holt leaving NBC Nightly News? Here’s what we know about the iconic anchor’s exit.

Why is Lester Holt leaving NBC Nightly News?

Lester Holt on NBC NIGHTLY NEWS WITH LESTER HOLT on February 9, 2018.Joe Scarnici/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

On Feb. 24, Holt announced he would be stepping down from anchoring NBC Nightly News at the beginning of the summer, marking 10 years at the news desk. He took over as anchor in June 2015, covering the decade’s defining events, from presidential elections to global crises.

In his memo to staff, Holt explained that it was “time” for him to step away — however, he wasn’t planning on retiring. The longtime news anchor has already worked on NBC’s Dateline since 2011, and added that he will continue in a full-time capacity come summer.

“After 10 years, 17 if you include my years on the weekends, the time has come for me to step away from my role as anchor of Nightly News,” he wrote. “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.”

What is Lester Holt doing next?

‘Dateline NBC’ Season 33 Correspondents.Miller Mobley/NBC via Getty

Though he’s leaving Nightly News, Holt will remain an NBC staple as an anchor for Dateline. He’s hosted the investigative series since 2011, but this marks the first time he’ll take on the role in a full-time capacity.

In his memo to his staff, he wrote, “I’m excited to report I will be continuing as anchor of Dateline NBC, but for the first time in a fulltime capacity whereby I will be expanding my footprint on the broadcast and crafting Dateline hours on subjects I care deeply about.”

In a May 2025 interview with Variety, Holt said his decision was shaped by many long conversations with his wife, Carol Hagen, and a growing desire to pursue more long-form storytelling.

“I’ve done a lot of things that are outside of what many would think is a traditional Dateline,” he said, noting instances like spending two nights in a prison cell and reporting on the asthma crisis. “I want to do more of those, and I want to be able to tell a producer, ‘Yes, I’ll be there for that interview next week.’ “

He added, “We’re still doing journalism, but these are hour and two-hour shows we’re doing. Some of the stories you’ll see me doing will be months in the making.”

Who is replacing Lester Holt?

Tom Llamas on Tuesday, August 17, 2021.Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

In March 2025, NBC announced that Llamas would take over Holt’s role as the show’s anchor and managing editor. The journalist joined the network in 2021 after leaving ABC.

“Anchoring NBC Nightly News is a profound honor and one that carries tremendous responsibility,” Llamas said in a press release. “Lester Holt is a great man and one of the most trusted broadcasters of our time. Just like Lester, I promise to be devoted to our viewers and dedicated to the truth.”

He will continue to host Top Story with Tom Llamas on NBC News NOW.