Tom Llamas, currently a senior national correspondent for NBC News, has been named as the successor to Lester Holt as anchor and managing editor of “NBC Nightly News,” the network announced on March 5, 2025.
The 45-year-old journalist from Miami, Florida will begin his new role this summer, notably being the first Latino journalist to host the weeknight edition of the prestigious news program. Llamas will maintain his position as anchor of “Top Story with Tom Llamas” on NBC News NOW in addition to his new responsibilities.
Janelle Rodriguez, NBC News’ Executive Vice President of programming, stated that Llamas embodies a winning combination of journalistic excellence, passionate storytelling, and unwavering integrity—qualities that have long been hallmarks of “NBC Nightly News.”
Llamas expressed gratitude for the opportunity, saying he was looking forward to working with top-notch journalists at “Nightly News” and “Top Story.” He also acknowledged his predecessor, Lester Holt, as “a great man” and “a trusted broadcaster.”
Holt, who has anchored “NBC Nightly News” for a decade, will remain with the network in a full-time role at “Dateline NBC.” During a call with staff members, Holt expressed confidence in his successor.
Llamas has a long history in journalism, having worked his way up from humble beginnings. He started as an intern at a local Telemundo station before becoming an overnight production assistant at NBC News. His career progressed through positions at WTVJ in Miami and WNBC in New York before he joined ABC News in 2014 as the weekend anchor of “ABC World News Tonight.”
During his time at ABC, Llamas notably clashed with Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign. At a press conference in May 2016, Llamas questioned then-candidate Trump about conflicting reports regarding money raised for veterans groups during a televised event.
Trump responded by calling Llamas “sleazy,” saying: “What I don’t want is, when I raise millions of dollars, have people say – like this sleazy guy right over here from ABC; he’s a sleaze in my book.”
When Llamas asked why he was being called a sleaze, Trump replied: “You’re a sleaze because you know the facts and you know the facts well.”
After the exchange, Llamas posted on social media: “Trump just called me a ‘sleaze.’ Should be an interesting week.”
ABC quickly defended their reporter, calling him one of the most respected and respectful journalists in the US.
Llamas returned to NBC News in 2021 after seven years at ABC. Since then, he has served as Holt’s chief substitute on “NBC Nightly News” while anchoring his streaming show “Top Story.”
His dual role as anchor of both the traditional broadcast and his streaming program reflects the changing media landscape. Llamas will lead “Nightly News” from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. EST, and then immediately transition to his streaming program. This arrangement makes him the first anchor to maintain his streaming responsibilities while taking on the network evening news role.
The son of Cuban immigrants, Llamas graduated from Loyola University in New Orleans and began his broadcasting career with the NBC News Specials Unit in 2000. Throughout his career, he has won multiple Emmy Awards, including honors for “Best Anchor” and “Best Hard News Story” in 2013, as well as two Edward R. Murrow awards for his reporting.
“NBC Nightly News” remains a significant program in the television landscape, consistently ranking as a top-five regularly scheduled program across all TV, with broadcasts reaching millions of viewers. Llamas’ appointment comes during a time of transition for network evening newscasts, as earlier this year, CBS News replaced Norah O’Donnell with John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois.
Llamas lives in Purchase, New York with his wife Jennifer, whom he married in 2006, and their three children.
