WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he has chosen Kari Lake, a staunch loyalist and former Arizona gubernatorial candidate, to lead the Voice of America (VOA). The VOA is a government-funded broadcaster that provides independent news to global audiences.
Lake, known for her hard-line stance on immigration, was a prominent television news anchor in Phoenix for nearly 30 years. She left the station in 2021 after facing backlash for making controversial statements on social media, including spreading COVID-19 misinformation.
After her departure from journalism, Lake entered politics, quickly gaining a national following with her combative style and outspoken criticism of what she called “fake news.” She aligned herself with former President Trump, echoing his rhetoric against the media.
In a statement, Trump said that Lake would be appointed by the incoming head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, a position he plans to announce soon. He emphasized that Lake would ensure VOA broadcasts “fair and accurate” reports of American values around the world, in contrast to what he described as “lies spread by the Fake News Media.”
Trump has previously criticized VOA, particularly during his first term. In 2020, he accused the broadcaster of spreading “disgusting” content about the U.S. and faced additional criticism for its early coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, especially its reporting on Wuhan’s lockdowns. At the time, the White House’s “1600 Daily” email said VOA was using taxpayer funds to “speak for authoritarian regimes.”
Founded during World War II, VOA is required by its congressional charter to provide independent news to international audiences. In response to Trump’s criticisms, VOA defended its reporting.
Under President Joe Biden, the VOA underwent significant leadership changes, with many senior officials aligned with Trump being removed from the agency.
Lake, who has consistently promoted the false narrative of widespread election fraud, has not acknowledged her loss in the 2022 gubernatorial race, calling herself the “lawful governor” in her 2023 book, Unafraid: Just Getting Started. She also continued to challenge the election results in court, even after losing her Senate bid last month.
Although Trump briefly considered Lake as a potential vice-presidential running mate, he ultimately chose JD Vance.
In addition to the VOA appointment, Trump announced several other key picks for his administration. He named Leandro Rizzuto as his choice for U.S. ambassador to the Organization of American States, and Florida attorney Dan Newlin as ambassador to Colombia. Trump also selected Peter Lamelas, a physician and major Republican donor, as U.S. ambassador to Argentina.
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