Author: Rachael Bunyan for Mailonline

Published: December 10, 2021 05:35 EDT | Updated: December 10, 2021 07:46 EDT

Brian Williams hosted the 11th hour of his last episode of MSNBC after 28 years at NBC and warned that "thugs" threatened democracy. 

Williams resumed his career as an MSNBC host after losing his job as an NBC evening news anchor. In his final monologue, he said that his "biggest fear is my country." 

He also accused the politicians who took an oath to the U.S. Constitution for deciding to "burn everything-let us be in."  

The 62-year-old anchor also used a three-minute speech to open the door to the possibility of staying away from NBC in the future, saying that he would “discover the inability to stay away from” audiences and TV cameras. 

Williams’ last performance was when he said in a note to his colleagues last month that “after many reflections,” he decided to withdraw when his contract expired in December.

Williams, 62, said he will take a few months off to spend time with his family.

Brian Williams hosted the 11th hour of his last episode of MSNBC after 28 years at NBC and warned that "thugs" threatened democracy

After succeeding Tom Brokaw in 2005, Brian Williams celebrated his first anniversary in the anchor chair of NBC Evening News

Williams said in his last performance: "I worry about my country the most. The truth is that I am neither liberal nor conservative. I am an institutionalist. I believe in this place. For the love of the motherland, I will not give in to anyone. 

"But the darkness at the edges of towns has spread to major roads, highways and communities. Now in local bars, bowling alleys, school boards and grocery stores. It must be recognized and answered.

Williams continued: "The adult men and women who have sworn to abide by our constitution are elected by voters who have the college degree I dream of. They decide to join the mob and become someone they don’t have, and hope that we somehow forget who they are. Yes.

"They decided to burn it all-shut us in. This should scare you like an elderly volunteer firefighter. 

The concern he raised was that during his tenure he reported on an era of American politics that witnessed the rise of Donald Trump and the congressional riots on January 6, as well as the growth of extreme political factions on the right and left.   

Anchor Brian Williams and Rachel Maddo hosted the 2016 presidential election on MSNBC

Williams did not disclose his next plan, but he did open the door to future opportunities in front of the camera.   

He said: "After I try to relax and find out what I missed and what's there, I may find it impossible to remain silent, away from you, the lights and the camera."     

Williams replaced NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw in 2004 and remained in this coveted position until 2015, when he was hit by enemy fire by falsely claiming that he was flying in a helicopter during the Iraq War. And was suspended. 

A subsequent investigation found that he also made other inaccurate statements about his experience in reporting the incident and lost his job as a result.

Later, he got 11 o'clock in the evening on MSNBC, which turned him into a fast and interesting news broadcast that summarized the news of the day.

Williams replaced NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw in 2004 and remained in this coveted position until 2015, when he was hit by enemy fire by falsely claiming that he was flying in a helicopter during the Iraq War. And was suspended. Pictured: Williams reports with the US military at the Baghdad Freedom Camp in Iraq

When announcing his withdrawal from the Internet in November, Williams wrote: "This is the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. I want to do a lot of things, and I will reappear somewhere. 

"In the next few months, I will be with my family, my favorite people, and the people who contributed to my career. I will reflect on the kindness people show to me, and I will continue to give.

Williams and his wife, Jane, have two adult children, including actress Alison Howell Williams, who is widely praised in the HBO TV series "Girls."

Brian Williams began broadcasting his current show "The 11th Hour" shortly before the 2016 presidential election. His current contract will expire at the end of 2021. 

Williams started his broadcast journalism job at KOAM-TV in Kansas, and worked hard to open up a larger market before getting a job at WCBS in New York in 1997.

Williams began broadcasting his current show "The 11th Hour" shortly before the 2016 presidential election. His current contract will expire at the end of 2021

Someone saw Brian Williams and his wife Jane arrive at the Obama White House in 2009 to host a state banquet for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

This journalist joined NBC News in 1993 as the chief reporter of the White House and also hosts weekend evening news.

After Tom Brokaw retired in 2004, Williams took over the top position in NBC News, hosting the weekday national news broadcast.

He has long won praise for his coverage of Hurricane Katrina, including severe criticism of the Bush administration’s response to the government’s failure. 

Under the leadership of Williams, NBC Evening News has been leading the ratings, beating the competitors of ABC and CBS. Williams won acclaim including 12 Emmy Awards.

However, over the years, it is not uncommon for Williams to be accused of beautifying or fabricating the details of certain events.

For example, in 2008, conflicting claims made him question the claim that he was at the Brandenburg Gate on the night of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Brian Williams prepares for the 2005 evening news broadcast. He won praise early for his coverage of Hurricane Katrina, including severe criticism of the Bush administration.

Williams was interviewed by then Vice President Joe Biden while serving as the NBC Evening News anchor

He also claimed to have flown to Baghdad with the SEAL Team Six, but a special operations official refuted this claim, saying that the SEALs did not embed reporters.

These and similar suspicious incidents went unnoticed in most cases until Williams was forced to apologize in 2015 and gave up telling the untrue story of his experience in the Iraq war. 

He once claimed in the evening news broadcast that he was on a military helicopter in Iraq at the time, which was "forced to land after being hit by a rocket." 

The original recordings of the 2003 incident show that Williams said that the helicopter driving in front of him had become a target of RPG and was forced to make an emergency landing.

Over the years, the story has evolved in multiple retellings, but the soldier in Williams’ helicopter said that no rocket-propelled grenades were fired at that particular aircraft. 

In a public statement announcing the suspension of Williams, then NBCUniversal chairman Steve Burke said: “Brian’s actions have damaged the trust of millions of Americans in NBC News.” His actions are unforgivable. This suspension is serious and appropriate.

Lester Holt succeeded Williams as the evening news anchor, and has held that position ever since.  

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