WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday his selection of Kari Lake to lead Voice of America. Lake, a staunch Trump supporter who unsuccessfully ran for Arizona governor and Senate, will head the federally funded broadcaster known for its global independent news reporting.
Lake, known for her hardline stance on immigration, was a Phoenix television news anchor for nearly 30 years before leaving in 2021 following controversial social media posts, including the dissemination of COVID-19 misinformation.
A charismatic and effective communicator, Lake transitioned into politics, quickly amassing a dedicated following and national recognition through her clashes with journalists and criticism of what she termed “fake news,” often echoing Trump’s rhetoric.
In a statement, Trump stated Lake’s appointment will be finalized by, and she will collaborate closely with, the incoming head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, whose appointment he will announce shortly.
Trump asserted that Lake will guarantee that American values of freedom and liberty are broadcast globally with fairness and accuracy, in contrast to what he described as the falsehoods perpetuated by the mainstream media.
Trump has previously expressed strong disapproval of Voice of America, even stating in 2020 that their reporting was “disgusting” towards the United States.
The broadcaster faced further criticism during Trump’s first term, particularly concerning its coverage of the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic. A White House publication, the “1600 Daily,” accused VOA of using taxpayer funds to promote authoritarian regimes after VOA reported on China’s lifting of Wuhan lockdowns.
Established during World War II, VOA’s congressional charter mandates independent news and information dissemination to international audiences. The organization defended its reporting in response to Trump’s criticisms.
Following President Joe Biden’s inauguration in January 2021, several Trump-aligned senior officials at VOA and affiliated positions were swiftly removed.
Lake gained favor with Trump by steadfastly maintaining the false claim that both she and Trump were victims of election fraud. She continues to assert she is the “lawful governor” in her 2023 book, “Unafraid: Just Getting Started,” even after losing her gubernatorial race.
Lake pursued legal challenges to overturn the election results even while campaigning for the Senate, a race she lost by a larger margin last month, despite attempts to moderate her stance on contentious issues such as election fraud and abortion.
Trump had previously considered Lake as a potential running mate before choosing JD Vance.
Also on Wednesday, Trump announced Leandro Rizzuto as his nominee for U.S. ambassador to the Organization of American States, and Dan Newlin as his choice for U.S. ambassador to Colombia.
He additionally selected Peter Lamelas, a physician and founder of a major Florida urgent care company and significant donor to Trump and other Republican campaigns, as the U.S. ambassador to Argentina.
—Cooper reported from Phoenix.