No farewell tour, no slow transition—just one seismic shake-up that flipped American journalism overnight. With the dust still settling, insiders reveal the battle behind the scenes that no one saw coming
Tom Llamas is signing on.
Tom Llamas’s sudden takeover of NBC Nightly News has sparked intense discussion across the media industry. His appointment marks the end of Lester Holt’s decade-long reign, signaling a major shift in American journalism. While Holt’s departure was not entirely unexpected, the abrupt nature of Llamas’ transition has caught many off guard.
In his debut broadcast, Llamas wasted no time in asserting his leadership, unveiling a new investigative series titled The Cost of Denial, which focuses on critical issues like healthcare access and homeownership struggles. The decision to introduce this segment on his first night suggests a strategic pivot for NBC Nightly News—one that may depart from Holt’s traditional storytelling approach.
Beyond the newsroom, Llamas’ ascension carries a deeper significance. As the first Latino anchor to lead a major weekday evening news show, his rise underscores broader shifts in media representation and diversity. In interviews, he has emphasized the importance of those who paved the way before him, calling his role both a privilege and an honor.
As Llamas settles into his new position, speculation grows about the future direction of the show. Will he reshape the format entirely, or lean on Holt’s legacy while injecting his own style? Whatever happens next, one thing is clear—this transition is one of the biggest media shake-ups of the year.
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.”
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Ahead of his first episode anchoring Nightly News, Llamas sat down
“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.”
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(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.”
