Trump Ally Kari Lake Proposed to Lead Voice of America

President-elect Donald Trump has expressed his intention for Kari Lake, a staunch supporter known for disputing the 2020 US presidential election results, to take charge of Voice of America (VOA), a global news organization funded by the federal government. The announcement was made by Donald Trump on Wednesday evening via his Truth Social platform. He stated that Lake’s appointment would be made by, and she would collaborate closely with, the forthcoming leader of the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the entity responsible for supervising all non-military, international broadcasting by the US. Trump indicated that his selection for the USAGM head would be revealed “soon”. In 2021, Lake resigned from her long-standing position as a news anchor to pursue unsuccessful Republican campaigns for a US Senate seat in Arizona and for the governorship of the state. During her relatively short political career, she emerged as an outspoken critic of the media, having previously described journalists as “monsters”. Trump commented that Lake would “ensure that the American values of Freedom and Liberty are broadcast around the World FAIRLY and ACCURATELY”. Responding on X, Lake stated she was “honoured” by Trump’s choice. She wrote, “Under my leadership, the VOA will excel in its mission: chronicling America’s achievements worldwide. Thank you for putting your trust in me.” According to the New York Times, VOA operates with a budget of nearly $267.5 million (£211 million) and employs over 2,000 individuals. Established in 1942, the organization’s congressional charter safeguards the editorial independence and integrity of its broadcasts. VOA’s website indicates that it broadcasts in almost 50 languages, reaching over 326 million people each week by “providing comprehensive coverage of the news and telling audiences the truth”. During his initial administration, Trump was a strong critic of VOA, remarking in 2020 that the “things they say are disgusting toward our country”. In the same year, Trump appointed Michael Pack to lead the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the agency responsible for VOA, which subsequently encountered multiple legal issues. Pack faced accusations of transforming VOA into a propaganda outlet favoring Trump, and a federal judge determined that Pack had infringed upon journalists’ First Amendment rights. Upon assuming office in 2021, President Biden promptly removed several senior VOA officials who were aligned with Trump. Lake was employed at a local Fox News affiliate in Phoenix for 22 years, concluding her career there in 2021 to run for Arizona governor as a Republican candidate. During her campaign, she garnered Trump’s notice by vehemently denying his 2020 election defeat and reiterating his allegations of fraud. Lake also contested the outcomes of her own gubernatorial election, initiating multiple unsuccessful lawsuits aimed at overturning her loss, and making claims of election fraud that led to a defamation lawsuit against her. Her confrontational political approach contributed to a more significant electoral defeat in 2024 during her Senate campaign. Lake also uttered contentious statements regarding the media, such as the suggestion: “Let’s defund the press”. In 2022, she informed a group of camera operators and reporters that, if elected, “I’m going to be your worst fricking nightmare”. George Washington University political science professor Quardricos Driskell stated that her appointment to lead VOA would be “significant” and, for some, a reason for “alarm”. He elaborated, “The alarm here is when you have a person who is making threatening comments towards this idea of a free press,” referencing Lake’s previous “fake news” comments. Michael Abramowitz, a former Washington Post White House correspondent and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, currently serves as the VOA director. On Wednesday night, Trump also revealed several other appointments, including Florida personal injury attorney Dan Newlin as US ambassador to Colombia and physician and Republican donor Peter Lamelas as US ambassador to Argentina.