Exclusive | Peter Alexander is leaving NBC after years of being passed over for top anchor jobs: source
He’s over it.
Peter Alexander is saying sayonara to NBC News after nearly 22 years — including 15 years on the White House beat and eight as co-anchor of “Saturday Today,” we hear.
The reason he’s leaving is a familiar one for TV anchors: The rigorous grind of 6-7 day workweeks has left him longing to spend more time with his family and young children, according to our source.
And while that may be true, we’re told Alexander was also sick of being overlooked for top jobs at the network’s more prestigious shows like “Today” and “Nightly News.”
Peter Alexander is leaving NBC News for MS Now. Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images
Alexander replaced Craig Melvin as anchor of “Saturday Today” in 2018. Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images
Alexander has been with NBC News nearly 22 years. peter alexander/ instagram
“He’d be the first to say he’s had ambitions for the top anchor jobs, and with all of those spots recently filled, he’s going to try something new,” the source said.
Alexander, who is also the network’s Chief White House correspondent, took over the “Saturday Today” anchor seat from Craig Melvin in 2018, when he was pulled off in order to make way for a more permanent seat at their flagship morning show. Sources told us at the time that Melvin was taken off Saturdays “to elevate him on weekdays.”
Melvin has since become the leading man at “Today,” thus leaving Alexander without hope of ever landing that gig. Ditto for the other top jobs. In recent years, Tom Llamas was hired to anchor “Nightly News.” Kristin Welker was elevated to host of “Meet the Press” and Hallie Jackson is anchoring “Weekend Nightly News.”
Top jobs such as anchoring “NBC Nightly News” are already filled by other talent like Tom Llamas. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Alexander’s last day at NBC News is Saturday. Shannon Finney/NBC
Alexander’s last day will be on Saturday. We hear he’s going to settle for an 11 a.m. weekday anchor gig at MS Now, formerly MSNBC, the network NBC separated from after restructuring in 2025.
A spokesperson for NBC did not get back to us. However, Alexander confirmed the news on air Saturday morning.
Alexander said he wants to spend more time with his daughter and “challenge himself with something new.”
“I’ve been away from home more than 80 nights in the last seven months. More than 200 Friday nights away from my family in the last seven years,” he said. “So, in this limited window before my daughters lose interest in hanging out with me…I’m eager to carve out a better balance between my personal and professional lives.”
According to Variety, Chloe Arensberg, NBC News’ Washington Bureau Chief, and Matt Carluccio, executive producer of weekend broadcasts of “Today,” wrote the following in a memo to staffers on Saturday, “Peter has been a trusted presence with great range across NBC News, and a friend to so many across the Washington Bureau, ‘Today’ and the broader NBC News team. We are grateful for all his contributions and wish him the best.”
