And Now It's Official...

Last week, FTVLive told you that ABC World News Tonight Weekend Anchor Tom Llamas was leaving the network at the end of the month.

This is the internal email that went out to ABC stations, informing them that this was Llamas’ last weekend at ABC News.

January 29, 2021

Dear ABC Affiliate,

Please be advised ABC News President James Goldston announced today that Tom Llamas is leaving ABC News. Sunday will be his last day on the air.

Below is a note from James Goldston to his team. Please contact your Station Relations Representative if you have any questions.

Regards,

John L. Rouse
Executive Vice President
ABC Affiliate Relations and Marketing

And here is the internal memo that went out to the staff at ABC News from James Goldston:

Team,

I’m writing today with some bittersweet news on one of own – Tom Llamas is leaving ABC News.  Sunday will be his last day on the air. 

I want to thank Tom for all of his terrific hard work and many contributions over the years.  Since joining ABC News in 2014, Tom has been an integral part of covering the past two presidential elections, reporting breaking news on ABC News Live, and a steadfast presence at the evening anchor desk on the weekends. 

Most recently, he led investigative reports on the candidates and campaigns and deftly ran the touchscreen map during all our big nights of special events coverage, memorably guiding our audience through the “red waves” and “blue mirages” throughout election week with our powerhouse political team.  As anchor on ABC News Live, Tom led pre- and post-show coverage of debates, conventions, Election Night and the days after, as well as important specials on the racial reckoning, the Black Lives Matter protests and the power of the Latino vote. 

For nearly two years, he tirelessly covered President Trump’s first campaign and the vast field of GOP candidates during the 2016 election.  Tom often held then-candidate Trump to account with tough questions, and his exchanges frequently drove the news cycle.  In 2018, he landed the exclusive interview with Melania Trump during her first solo foreign trip ever as First Lady.  Tom traveled with her to Africa, which made for a very revealing and wide-ranging primetime special.  In 2019, Tom had an exclusive interview with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas during an escalating humanitarian crisis and nationwide protests. Tom pressed him about the starvation and oppression tied to his regime.

From reporting in COVID-19 hot zones around the country and several natural disasters to covering the immigration crisis at the U.S. border and investigating ICE detention centers, his reporting has been impactful and full of heart.  He’s been a true mentor to so many here, and we will all miss him.

 We’ll announce very shortly who will take over for Tom at World News Tonight on Saturdays and Sundays.  In the meantime, please join me in wishing him well on his next endeavor. 

James

His next endeavor is going to land him at NBC News, but for right now that is all hush/hush.

So, don’t say anything. OK?