Staff Reports
President Trump has never been shy about his disdain for the mainstream media, and it seems the media is starting to reciprocate with some self-inflicted wounds. The latest high-profile exit is none other than NBC’s Lester Holt, who has decided to leave “NBC Nightly News” in favor of “Dateline.” This move might finally give Trump the last laugh among his many media adversaries.
Holt announced his transition in an announcement that sounded more like a farewell party than a news update. Instead of anchoring the nightly news, he’s headed to “Dateline” to do what he claims he cares about—crafting broadcast hours on subjects close to his heart. Apparently, those subjects don’t include the things most Americans care about, like inflation or border security. Holt’s enthusiasm about bonding with his “enormously talented friends” at “Dateline” suggests that he might enjoy the thrill of investigative journalism more than ripping headlines off the latest political madness. Good luck finding a new audience while he’s at it.
🚨 Trump shakes up White House press access! 🚨
Reuters, HuffPost, and Der Tagesspiegel banned from Trump's first cabinet meeting, while ABC, Newsmax & Bloomberg get the green light.
New press rules in effect—media landscape shifting fast! Fair game or suppression? 🔥🇺🇸 #Trump… pic.twitter.com/wrFyoWNJu7
— Jose N. (@JoseN1426871) February 27, 2025
The executive vice president of NBC News expressed her undying affection for Holt, labeling him “the beating heart” of NBC News. It raises eyebrows when even the leadership uses such extravagant terms. It suggests either hyperbole run amok or a genuine belief that Holt’s style transcends the dismal ratings his network has faced. The memo highlighted his “deep respect” and “reverence,” but if the ratings are any indication, the viewers haven’t been lining up to see Holt’s charm as they once did.
Ironically, Holt’s resignation coincided with Trump taking a victory lap over MSNBC’s decision to finally bid farewell to left-wing host Joy Reid. The former president wasted no time in labeling Reid a “mentally obnoxious racist” and lamenting that she should have been let go long before now. With incredibly low ratings, Trump’s remarks may not be too far off base—Reid has more than earned her place on the chopping block alongside Holt, who’s traded one sinking ship for another.
As the media landscape continues to morph, one wonders whether Holt’s shift to “Dateline” is a strategic move or a graceful exit from a network teetering on the edge of irrelevance in the eyes of viewers hungry for something more substantial than the nightly biases poured out by mainstream anchors. Regardless of Holt’s reasons, one thing is clear: Trump is not the only one poking fun at the flailing media giants. The tide seems to be turning for those who once thought they were untouchable in their berth atop the news hierarchy.
