President-elect Trump has nominated Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake to lead the Voice of America (VOA), a decision that renews concerns about partisan interference in the government-funded global news agency. It's increasing.
Lake, who ran for Arizona governor and U.S. Senate and previously worked as a local news anchor, is one of many supporters Trump has asked to serve in his Cabinet and administration.
Trump said Lake's vision is to “unbiasedly and accurately spread American values of liberty and liberty around the world, unlike the lies spread by the fake news media.”
But Lake's history of attacking the media and spreading baseless theories about voter fraud suggests that the news organization will be used by the federal government as a megaphone to spread pro-Trump propaganda around the world. This is causing widespread concern.
“VOA was originally designed to be objective and independent,” Joe Peyronin, a former broadcast news executive turned media commentator, told The Hill. “Kari Lake's appointment as director signals that VOA will become President Trump's global voice.”
VOA representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
Lake said he will ensure VOA is used to promote America's accomplishments in 49 languages to an estimated 354 million viewers each week. She also emphasized that it is different from mainstream media.
“Under my leadership, VOA will successfully carry out its mission of chronicling America's accomplishments around the world,” Lake wrote in a recent social media post.
“It is absolutely disgraceful to let fake news cover America’s resurgence under Trump without any pushback,” she wrote in another article. “At Voice of America, we work to prevent that from happening.”
A spokesperson for Trump and Vance's transition said in a statement to The Hill this week: “Contrary to the lies spread by the fake news media, with Kali Lake leading the Voice of America, the international community “They will have access to authentic reporting that guarantees truthful reporting of America.” The values of liberty and freedom are broadcast all over the world. ”
Several Voice of America employees declined to comment or speak on the record to The Hill about how Lake would influence the agency's direction, fearing retaliation. I refused.
One source said Trump's announcement caused tensions among the agency's staff and the mood worsened.
Many of the journalists working for VOA are dual citizens, reporting from war-torn countries and are particularly fed up with leaders with authoritarian impulses, the person said.
Lake appeared on national television and on President Trump during the 2022 midterm election season for making baseless claims about the legitimacy of the 2020 election and attacking the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). He made a name for himself in orbit.
Political and media officials say Lake's selection will bring new scrutiny to VOA's journalism.
“Trump has appointed a number of disturbing MAGA insiders to Cabinet and federal agency positions, and Kali Lake is following his model,” said Toby Berko, a professor emeritus at Boston University who specializes in political communication. Vitz stated. “Like Patel, Hegseth, Weldon, McCurry, Kennedy, she is anathema to the workers who are currently in these organizations,” he continued, referring to the Trump administration's numerous nominees.
Some of President Trump's most loyal allies praised Lake's selection to head VOA.
“This is perfect,” Steve Bannon, Trump's former chief of staff, said on the “War Room” podcast. “And I can't think of a platform that needs it more…we need Kali Lake's energy, dynamism, urgency and patriotism.”
While President Trump cannot unilaterally appoint Lake as head of VOA, people familiar with the process believe she was ultimately appointed to the role by the CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). There is near unanimous agreement that the position be confirmed by the Senate. Trump has not yet named a candidate.
Since 2020, USAGM's CEO has been working with a bipartisan group called the International Broadcast Advisory Committee.
As VOA outlined in a recent news report about President Trump's selection of Lake, the agency is made up of six members appointed by the president who serve staggered terms and the U.S. Secretary of State.
The agency's role is to “ensure respect for the editorial independence and integrity of the network and grant recipients, and advise CEOs to ensure that the highest standards of journalism are maintained,” the agency said.
The Voice of America was no stranger to controversy during President Trump's first term.
The former president failed to secure his first nomination for USAGM CEO Michael Pack for two years.
Once the facts were established, Mr. Pack faced numerous allegations during his tenure, ranging from interfering with the press to targeting employees deemed insufficiently loyal to President Trump.
In 2021, a government watchdog found that Mr. Pack had made errors in firing six employees, in what appeared to be retaliation against a whistleblower who had unfairly stripped some of their security clearances. It will be done.
Current leadership is ensuring staff are committed to a “smooth transition” to the Trump administration.
“I intend to cooperate with the new administration and follow the process established by Congress for the appointment of VOA Directors,” the agency's current leader, Michael Abramowitz, said in a memo to staff and obtained by The Hill. said.
Hans Noel, an associate professor of political science at Georgetown University, said, “Every administration is acutely aware that how the Voice of America represents America is really important.'' Ta.
“It's true that President Trump is less popular overseas than he is in the United States, so this seems like a tactic to create a more pro-Trump view through VOA,” Noel said.
