Peter Alexander has announced he is leaving NBC News after 22 years with the network. He shared the news on the Saturday edition of the TODAY show and gave his reasons
11:42 ET, 28 Mar 2026Updated 12:45 ET, 28 Mar 2026
Peter Alexander is leaving NBC News after over two decades(Image: Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)
Veteran anchor Peter Alexander has left NBC News after 22 years.
The 49-year-old reporter announced he was departing the network on the Saturday edition of TODAY on March 28. Peter has been co-hosting Saturday TODAY since 2018 and has also be doing double duty as NBC‘s co-chief White House correspondent since being named in 2021.
Peter expressed gratitude to NBC News, his colleagues and the viewers on the emotional episode. He also shared how he wants to spend more time with his family and seek new challenges. Peter and his wife Alison Starling and their daughters—Ava, 12, and Emma, 10—live in Washington, DC while the Saturday TODAY broadcasts films from 30 Rock’s Studio 1A in New York City.
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“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,” Peter 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 and to challenge myself with something new,” he added.
Peter was also a White House correspondent for the network(Image: Shannon Finney/NBC via Getty Images)
Peter first joined NBC News in 2004 where he covered issues domestically and internationally. He was assigned to cover the Republican presidential race in 2012 and was then named White House correspondent that same year.
Peter did a short stint as a national correspondent between 2014 and 2016 but came back to the White House beat in 2017. He subsequently got named as co-chief White House correspondent alongside Kristen Welker in 2021. Kristen was appointed as moderator to Meet the Press in 2023, leading to Peter being the sole chief White House correspondent.
Prior to Peter’s confirmation of leaving, Page Six reported that his departure was not due to his rigorous work schedule and family, but because he was tired of being overlooked for bigger positions in the network like at NBC’s notable shows like TODAY and Nightly News.
“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 told the publication.
Variety had also reported that according to sources familiar with the situation, Peter had voiced a desire for new challenges but there were not many larger positions for him to be considered for. Kristen is settled at Meet the Press, same as Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin on Today and Tom Llamas at NBC Nightly News.
Peter talked about missing time with his family in his departure announcement(Image: Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)
Per Variety, Chloe Arensberg, NBC News’ Washington Bureau Chief, and Matt Carluccio, executive producer of weekend broadcasts of Today, wrote 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.”
Peter has not said where he is going next in this new chapter but the outlet noted that MS NOW has an open anchor slot for its 11 a.m. hour on weekdays.
MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) was once connected to NBC News before it’s split in 2025. The Versant-owned company recently revamped it’s daytime schedule but has not yet disclosed a host for their 11 a.m. position, stating the details will be revealed at a later date.
The Mirror US reached out to NBC News for comment.
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