Chris Matthews Abruptly Announces Retirement From MSNBC

MSNBC's Chris Matthews speaks onstage during the Screenwriters Tribute during the 2017 Nantucket Film Festival - Day 3 in Nantucket, Massachusetts on June 23, 2017. Noam Galai/Getty Images for Nantucket Film Festival

Longtime MSNBC anchor Chris Matthews announced he is retiring at the top of his program, “Hardball,” on Monday night after which he abruptly disappeared off camera in a commercial break.

“I’m retiring. This is the last ‘Hardball’ on MSNBC, and obviously this isn’t for lack of interest in politics,” the 74-year-old told viewers during the top of the show.