Kari Lake's New Trump-Announced Gig Has Critics Fuming

Lee Moran
Updated ·4-min read

President-elect Donald Trump stirred yet more controversy on Wednesday with another pick for his administration ― this time of former news anchor Kari Lake to run the government-funded, historically nonpartisan Voice of America broadcast agency.

As director of VOA, Lake, who has lost twice in statewide elections in Arizona, will help “ensure that the American values of Freedom and Liberty are broadcast around the World FAIRLY and ACCURATELY, unlike the lies spread by the Fake News Media,” Trump wrote in an announcement on his Truth Social platform.

“Kari was a beloved News Anchor in Arizona, which supported me by record margins, for over 20 years,” he added. “Congratulations Kari!”

Lake said she was “honored” and described VOA as “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.”

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“Under my leadership, the VOA will excel in its mission: chronicling America’s achievements worldwide,” she added. “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.”

Lake lost the Arizona gubernatorial election to Democrat Katie Hobbs in 2022 and a U.S. Senate election to Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) in November. She repeatedly claimed election fraud in her 2022 loss and pushed Trump’s own 2020 election lies.

Lake had reportedly been considered for the position of Trump’s U.S. ambassador to Mexico. The VOA role is not confirmed by the Senate.

Critics on social media feared what her new role would mean for VOA:

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He's really gonna make Kari Lake chief international propaganda minister holy shit

— The Get More Smarter Podcast (@getmoresmarter.com)2024-12-12T02:28:11.025Z

Kari Lake to lead Voice of America? Folks, this isn’t broadcasting—it’s propaganda. From spinning news in Arizona to spinning it for Trump worldwide. VOA should amplify democracy, not MAGA talking points. This is about CONTROL, not communication. SHAMEFUL!

— Liberal Donald J. Trump (@notdontrmp.bsky.social)2024-12-12T02:44:16.252Z

How can Kari Lake serve at VOA when she's already AZ Governor and Senator? 🤷♂️

— Jack Brand (@jacklbrand.bsky.social)2024-12-12T03:56:38.790Z

With Kari Lake doing Trump's bidding, Voice Of America will be ruined.VOA is a non-partisan, non-hostile way to build foreign relations, in times of war and peace, and these bastards will make it the kind of propaganda mill you'd expect from the old USSR, China, or North Korea.

— SethFromThe716 (@sethfromthe716.bsky.social)2024-12-12T03:27:47.444Z

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