PHOENIX (AZFamily/AP) — President-elect Donald Trump announced on Truth Social on Wednesday evening that he has tapped former Phoenix news anchor Kari Lake to run state media broadcaster Voice of America, installing a staunch loyalist who ran unsuccessfully for Arizona governor and a Senate seat to head the congressionally funded broadcaster that provides independent news reporting around the world.
On social media, Trump said that Lake would be appointed by the next head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, whom he has yet to announce.
Lake later posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that she is honored that Trump asked her to lead Voice Of America.
“Under my leadership, the VOA will excel in its mission: chronicling America’s achievements worldwide,” Lake said. “Thank you for putting your trust in me, President Trump. I look forward to leading the Voice of America, and I can’t wait to get started.”
I am honored that President Trump has asked me to lead the Voice of America. @VOANews is a vital international media outlet dedicated to advancing the interests of the United States by engaging directly with people across the globe and promoting democracy and truth.
With an… pic.twitter.com/UWVdPeF6Ye
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) December 12, 2024
Voice of America is the United States’ international state broadcaster, fully funded by the federal government. According to its website, the network provides news and information in nearly 50 languages across digital, TV, and radio platforms.
Trump has in the past been a fierce critic of Voice of America, including saying in 2020 that “things they say are disgusting toward our country.”
The broadcaster drew additional criticism during Trump’s first term for its coverage of the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, with a White House publication accusing it of using taxpayer money “to speak for authoritarian regimes” because it covered the lifting of lockdown in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the virus first emerged.
VOA was founded during World War II, and its congressional charter requires it to present independent news and information to international audiences. It responded to Trump’s criticism by defending its coverage.
Upon taking office in January 2021, President Joe Biden’s administration swiftly removed a number of senior officials aligned with Trump from VOA and positions affiliated with it.
Over the past month, Lake has settled a defamation lawsuit filed last year by outgoing Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer.
Reports had circulated that Lake was a top contender for ambassador to Mexico but that job went to diplomat Ronald Johnson.
She was also reportedly in talks to join conservative-leaning outlet NewsMax, but she and the network later denied those reports.
Lake was a television news anchor in Phoenix for nearly three decades until she left in 2021 after making a series of controversial statements on social media, including sharing COVID-19 misinformation during the pandemic.
She launched her political career a short time later, becoming a star on the populist right with her 2022 campaign for Arizona governor but lost to current Gov. Katie Hobbs.
Lake endeared herself to Trump through her dogmatic commitment to the falsehood that both she and Trump were the victims of election fraud.
She later ran to replace outgoing Sen. Krysten Sinema in a crucial U.S. Senate seat in 2024 but lost to Rep. Ruben Gallego by an even larger margin compared to 2022.
She never acknowledged losing the gubernatorial race and called herself the “lawful governor” in her 2023 book. She continued her unsuccessful fight in court to overturn it even after beginning her Senate campaign.
Trump considered her for his vice presidential running mate before deciding on JD Vance.
Other Trump appointees
Also Wednesday, Trump announced Leandro Rizzuto as his choice to be the U.S. ambassador to the Washington-based Organization of American States, and said he wanted Florida personal injury attorney Dan Newlin to be his administration’s ambassador to Colombia.
He also picked Peter Lamelas, a physician and the founder of one of Florida’s largest urgent care companies, to be the U.S. ambassador to Argentina. Lamelas is also a large donor to the past campaigns of Trump and other top Republicans.
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Publish date : 2024-12-11 19:59:00
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