Lester Holt’s Farewell to NBC Nightly News: A Decade of Trust and a Bold New Chapter

On May 30, 2025, the NBC Nightly News studio was steeped in emotion as Lester Holt, the trusted anchor who guided millions through a turbulent decade, signed off for the final time after a remarkable ten-year run. The broadcast, marked by a montage of Holt’s defining moments, left the studio in reverent silence, with colleagues and viewers alike reflecting on his legacy. As Holt passed the baton to Tom Llamas, his parting words—“Facts matter, words matter, journalism matters, and you matter”—resonated as a testament to his integrity. Yet, insiders whisper that Holt’s next move, a full-time role at Dateline NBC, could eclipse even his monumental tenure at Nightly News in influence.

Holt, 65, took the helm in 2015 amid controversy, replacing Brian Williams after a scandal over embellished reporting. As the first Black male solo anchor of a major network’s weekday newscast, Holt brought calm authority to a fractured media landscape. He steered Nightly News through defining events: the COVID-19 pandemic, Trump’s political rise, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the 2023 Israel-Gaza conflict. His exclusive interviews—Trump in 2017, Biden in 2024, and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy—set the news agenda. Holt’s steady voice, especially during the pandemic’s early days when viewership soared to 12 million, became a beacon of trust, earning him the title of America’s “most-trusted television news personality” twice by The Hollywood Reporter.

The studio’s silence during his farewell reflected the weight of his departure. Surrounded by his wife, Carol Hagen, and colleagues, Holt’s final broadcast was both a goodbye and a promise. “I’m not retiring,” he said, his bespectacled gaze unwavering. “I’ll see you on Dateline.” His shift to Dateline NBC, where he has been principal anchor since 2011, is no mere step back. Insiders say Holt plans to dive into long-form investigative journalism, tackling issues like racial inequity and systemic injustice—subjects he’s passionate about. “Lester wants to tell stories that unfold over months, not minutes,” a source close to the network shared, hinting at projects that could redefine Dateline’s scope.

NBC’s response has been a mix of celebration and urgency. The network announced Tom Llamas as Holt’s successor in March, praising his “journalistic excellence.” But behind the scenes, executives are navigating a shifting landscape. Nightly News averages 6.3 million viewers, trailing ABC’s World News Tonight but outpacing CBS Evening News. Holt’s exit, alongside Hoda Kotb’s recent departure from TODAY, signals a broader transition at NBC. Some speculate the network pushed for a younger face to compete in a digital-first era, though Holt’s decision appears driven by his desire to flex “different news muscles,” as he told Variety. His Dateline role will focus on in-depth storytelling, from prison exposés to public health crises, leveraging his knack for on-the-ground reporting.

Social media reflected the public’s bittersweet reaction. #ThankYouLester trended, with fans posting, “Lester Holt was my evening anchor through every crisis. He’s irreplaceable.” Others expressed excitement for his Dateline chapter, with one X user noting, “If Lester’s diving into investigative work, watch out—those stories will hit hard.” The network’s challenge now is maintaining Nightly News’s credibility while Holt redefines his legacy elsewhere.

What makes Holt’s next move so intriguing is its potential to reshape broadcast journalism. Dateline’s longer format allows Holt to explore complex issues with the gravitas that made him a household name. As he told TODAY, “I’ve got gas in the tank.” With Nightly News behind him, Holt’s influence may grow even larger, proving that his decade at the desk was just the beginning of a storied career.