Donald Trump selects Kari Lake to lead Voice of America

This announcement comes after Lake, a former TV news anchor, lost her bid for Arizona’s Senate seat in November.

Lake, who is known for her strong support of Trump, previously ran for Arizona governor in 2022 but lost. She has been a vocal supporter of Trump and often echoed his claims about the 2020 election.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump shared the news, saying that Lake would be appointed soon and would work closely with the next head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees VOA. Trump also mentioned that he would reveal the new head of USAGM soon.

Voice of America is the United States' largest international broadcaster, reaching an audience of about 354 million people per week. It broadcasts news in 49 languages through radio, TV, and online platforms. 

The VOA began in 1942 and is part of USAGM, a federal agency that operates independently. VOA has a budget of roughly $260 million and employs about 2,000 people.

In her own statement on social media, Lake expressed her excitement about her new role. She said she was "honored" to be selected as VOA’s director and promised that under her leadership, VOA would excel at sharing America’s achievements around the world.

Although Trump’s announcement is a big step, Lake’s appointment still needs to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Once confirmed, she will take over from John Lippman, who is currently the acting director of VOA. Lippman has held this position since October 2023.

Lake’s appointment comes at a time when the Voice of America is under close scrutiny, especially after Donald Trump’s first term in office. In 2020, Trump appointed Michael Pack, a conservative filmmaker and ally of Steve Bannon, as CEO of USAGM. This led to concerns about the VOA’s editorial independence.

Pack made controversial decisions during his time at USAGM, including not renewing the visas of 10 VOA journalists. This raised concerns from members of Congress and the international community about whether VOA’s news coverage would remain unbiased.

The Voice of America is considered an important tool in the U.S. government's efforts to communicate its values and news to people around the world. It operates in multiple languages to ensure that the global audience can stay informed about important events in the U.S. and around the world.

Kari Lake's appointment signals a new direction for VOA, with her leadership promising to focus on promoting America’s positive image abroad. Her strong connection to Trump suggests that VOA’s programming may take a more conservative tone in the future, which could lead to more debate about the network’s role in delivering impartial news.

As Lake prepares to take over the Voice of America, many are watching closely to see how her leadership will affect the network’s approach to international broadcasting. The impact of her appointment could shape how VOA operates in the coming years, especially in a world where global media is constantly evolving.