Chuck Todd Is Your New 'Meet The Press' Host

IT'S HAPPENING: Chuck Todd Is Your New 'Meet The Press' Host

Chuck Todd has been named as the next host of "Meet The Press," NBC News confirmed Thursday.

Todd is replacing David Gregory, who is leaving both the show and NBC News as a whole after 20 years with the network.

Todd will remain NBC's political director, but he will give up his posts as chief White House correspondent and host of MSNBC's "Daily Rundown."

NBC News president Deborah Turness made the announcement in an internal memo to the network's staff. The memo followed multiple reports—the latest by CNN's Brian Stelter—that Gregory's departure and Todd's promotion were imminent.

Before Turness broke the official news, Gregory tweeted that he was heading out the door:

The transition brings Gregory's time at NBC to a crushing end. "Meet the Press" has seen some of its worst ratings ever during his time as host. Gregory took over as moderator in 2008 following the death of the legendary Tim Russert, whose position many said he could never fill, and he has been dogged by a seemingly endless spate of negative press, whether for the audience numbers or for some of his more egregious missteps.

The last few months in particular have seen a brutal drip-drip-drip of gossip and comment about his potential ouster from the show. Despite the rumors, NBC maintained that Gregory was there to stay, telling HuffPost's Michael Calderone that the network was "doubling down" on the host.

In her memo, Turness appeared eager to move on. She wrote that Todd would "ensure that 'Meet the Press' is the beating heart of politics, the place where newsmakers come to make news, where the agenda is set." She also said that Andrea Mitchell will play a "central" role on the show.

Gregory, meanwhile, will be looking elsewhere for a new job.

Read the full memo from Turness below:

Dear All,

I want to share some news about Meet the Press. After an exceptional 20 years with NBC News, David Gregory is leaving the network. I want to express my sincerest thanks to David, who, after the death of Tim Russert, led Meet the Press for almost 6 years. Under his leadership the show has had a string of exclusives, and David has shown a remarkable gift for holding leaders to account and getting answers on issues that matter to our audience. He is an outstanding journalist whose sharp intellect and quick sense of humor have made him a pleasure to work with. I know you all join me in expressing our deepest gratitude and in wishing him the very best. I am very pleased to announce that Chuck Todd will take the helm on September 7. There is no one with a bigger passion for politics than Chuck. His unique ability to deliver that passion with razor sharp analysis and infectious enthusiasm makes him the perfect next generation moderator of this beloved broadcast. Chuck will ensure that Meet the Press is the beating heart of politics, the place where newsmakers come to make news, where the agenda is set. We have some exciting plans to evolve and update the broadcast under Chuck's leadership that we will be sharing with you shortly. Chuck will continue as NBC News political director, and will hand over his roles as chief White House correspondent and anchor of MSNBC’s The Daily Rundown. Andrea Mitchell will serve as moderator of Meet the Press this weekend, and will continue to be a central figure of the broadcast, along with some new names that we will announce in the coming days. For nearly seventy years, Americans have turned to Meet the Press on Sunday mornings for unrivaled insights on the news stories, political battles and public affairs debates dominating the national discussion. The next-generation Meet the Press, led by Chuck Todd, is certain to be the must-watch political destination on Sundays and beyond. Deborah

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