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

Tom Llamas is signing on.

Llamas made his debut arsenic nan caller anchor of NBC Nightly News connected nan June 2 episode, taking complete nan reins from Lester Holt.

"That's Nightly News for tonight, my first arsenic nan anchor of this awesome broadcast," Llamas said astatine nan extremity of nan episode. "My acknowledgment to each of you arsenic we commencement this caller escapade together. Tonight, and always, we're present for you."

Llamas besides introduced a caller bid during his debut section called "The Cost of Denial," which he explained is "a spotlight connected nan issues millions of American look crossed healthcare and homeownership erstwhile it comes to security coverage."

Ahead of his first section anchoring Nightly News, Llamas sat down pinch Savannah Guthrie connected Today to talk his caller role.

"I consciousness excited. I'm truthful looking guardant to this. I can't wait," he said, adding that he "never successful my wildest dreams" thought he could get to this constituent successful his career. "I'm a small nervous, but I'm looking guardant to nan challenge. I deliberation it's bully to beryllium a small nervous."

With his caller gig, Llamas is nan first Latino weekday evening news anchor — thing he called some a privilege and an honor.

"I convey each nan Hispanic journalists that came earlier maine because erstwhile I was watching news and increasing up, we'd watch news successful English and Spanish, I saw group for illustration José Díaz-Balart, group that I could look up to. And I saw, well, if they tin do it, I could do it," said Llamas, who is Cuban-American.

"I deliberation moreover bigger than that, my parents came present arsenic immigrants. They came present pinch nothing. Their boy is now going to beryllium nan anchor of Nightly News, 1 of nan biggest and astir important newscasts successful our country," he continued. "What it tells maine is that nan American dream is still alive. I cognize that because I'm surviving it."

Llamas besides called his wife, Jennifer, and their 3 children "my biggest cheerleaders."

Holt signed disconnected arsenic Nightly News anchor connected nan May 30 section aft much than a decade successful nan role, calling his stint connected nan evening news show "the grant of a lifetime."

"Around here, facts matter, words matter, publicity matters and you matter," Holt said successful his farewell. "Over nan past decade, we person shared immoderate acheronian and harrowing days and nights from our state — nan pandemic, wide shootings, earthy disasters — each testing our resilience and our compassion. That's why I often for illustration to time off you pinch thing to grin about, moments that reassure and link us."

"Please proceed to return attraction of yourself and each other, and I'll do nan same," he added, besides wishing Llamas "great success."