President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he wants ally Kari Lake to lead the Voice of America (VOA), a federally funded international broadcaster under the U.S. Agency for Global Media.
Trump shared the news on Truth Social, saying Lake would be nominated by the next head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, a position he plans to fill “soon.” In his post, Trump declared Lake would “ensure that the American values of Freedom and Liberty are broadcast around the World FAIRLY and ACCURATELY, unlike the lies spread by the Fake News Media.”
VOA representatives did not immediately respond to questions about the nomination process or the status of current director Michael Abramowitz. The VOA’s stated mission, however, contrasts with Trump’s comments, as the organization describes its purpose as “committed to providing comprehensive coverage of the news and telling audiences the truth.” The VOA emphasizes maintaining a journalistic “firewall” that protects its reporters from political interference to uphold the “highest professional standards of journalism.”
Lake expressed her enthusiasm for Trump’s nomination on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Under my leadership, the VOA will excel in its mission: chronicling America’s achievements worldwide. Thank you for putting your trust in me, President Trump. I look forward to leading the Voice of America, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Lake, a former news anchor for Phoenix’s Fox affiliate KSAZ, spent over 20 years in the media before leaving to pursue politics. She has since gained prominence as a staunch Trump ally, aligning herself with his views and critiquing the media she once worked for. At the Republican National Convention, Lake accused journalists of spreading falsehoods, saying, “You’ve worn out your welcome,” and claiming they had “spent the last eight years lying about President Donald Trump.”
Lake has also promoted debunked claims of election fraud in both the 2020 presidential election and her failed 2022 Arizona gubernatorial campaign, where she alleged the race was stolen.
The Voice of America has a significant global presence, reaching an audience of approximately 354 million people each week with programming in 49 languages, according to its website.
Trump’s announcement regarding Lake came alongside several other key administration picks shared on Truth Social. Trump named Leandro Rizzuto for ambassador to the Organization of American States, Peter Lamelas for ambassador to Argentina, Daniel J. Newlin for ambassador to Colombia, and Michael J. Rigas for deputy secretary of state for management and resources.
Trump’s previous appointments to the U.S. Agency for Global Media, including Michael Pack in 2020, faced widespread criticism for allegedly undermining the independence of federally funded broadcasters. The announcement of Lake’s nomination is expected to reignite discussions about VOA’s role and independence under Trump’s leadership.
I am honored that President Trump has asked me to lead the Voice of America. @VOANews is a vital international media outlet dedicated to advancing the interests of the United States by engaging directly with people across the globe and promoting democracy and truth.
