Adding to the team he plans to bring into the White House, President-elect Donald Trump announced the appointment of Kari Lake as the next director of Voice of America (VOA). The decision, shared on Trump's social media platform Truth Social on Wednesday, brings the former Arizona news anchor into a prominent role in the US's international broadcasting sector. "She will be appointed by, and work closely with, our next head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, who I will announce soon, to ensure that the American values of Freedom and Liberty are broadcast around the World ..." Trump wrote, in words captured by FOX 10 Phoenix.
Lake, a known loyalist of Trump and, a figure involved in election denialism, has a significant task ahead in VOA, an agency with a global reach tasked with exemplifying the principles of a free press. In a nod to her long tenure in Arizona media, Trump added, "Kari was a beloved News Anchor in Arizona, which supported me by record margins, for over 20 years. Congratulations Kari!" This statement was obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix. Lake's own response to the appointment has yet to be detailed by mainstream media outlets. However, suffering recent electoral defeats, Lake had previously lost her U.S. Senate bid to Rep. Ruben Gallego and in 2022, she also lost her run for Arizona's governor to Katie Hobbs, as noted by The Washington Post.
The Voice of America, established in 1942 and funded by U.S. Congress, is a cornerstone in America's informational influence reaching a diverse international audience. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, VOA's mission spans critical historical periods: "Through World War II, the Cold War, the fight against global terrorism, and the struggle for freedom around the globe today, VOA exemplifies the principles of a free press."
The forthcoming tenure of Lake as VOA director will prove a notable shift for the broadcaster. With her deep roots in Arizona journalism and her recent political endeavors, her perspective on global media and communication will undoubtedly be under scrutiny. More details on this developing story are expected as the Trump administration prepares for its term, and as the U.S. Agency for Global Media properties like Voice of America, adjust to new leadership and possibly, new directives in the coming years.
