NBC News has officially tabbed Sunday, September 17th as the debut of Kristen Welker as the host of Meet the Press.
Welker hosted the weekend edition of Today with co-host Peter Alexander Saturday, and will officially begin transitioning to take over the reins of the venerable Sunday political affairs program from longtime host Chuck Todd.
“Chuck brought me to D.C. to cover the White House many years ago, and I have learned almost everything I know about politics from Chuck Todd,” Welker told a local NBC affiliate while covering the first Republican Presidential debate in Milwaukee. “And I just want to make sure that I am making him proud, and that I am building on the incredible legacy that he started and also the legacy of the show.”
In June, Todd announced he would depart Meet the Press after a nine-year run leading the program. “It’s been an amazing nearly decadelong run. I am really proud of what this team and I have built over the last decade,” Todd said at the time. “I’ve loved so much of this job, helping to explain America to Washington and explain Washington to America.”
Welker has been with NBC News since 2010. She has since risen to the Chief White House Correspondent role for the network.
A new logo has been created for the Welker-led program. Additionally, NBC News has redesigned the set and studio in advance of her debut.
