U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced on Wednesday his selection of Kari Lake, a former news anchor and staunch Republican ally, as the new director of Voice of America (VOA), the U.S. government-funded international media broadcaster. Lake’s appointment follows her recent failed bid for an Arizona Senate seat and her loss in the 2022 gubernatorial race in Arizona.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated that Lake would “ensure that the American values of Freedom and Liberty are broadcast around the World FAIRLY and ACCURATELY,” contrasting it with what he called the “lies” of mainstream media.
Lake, a prominent supporter of Trump, has repeatedly echoed his unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election. Before entering politics, she was a longtime anchor for Phoenix-based Fox 10.
VOA operates in more than 40 languages through online platforms, radio, and television, reaching audiences worldwide. During Trump’s first term, the broadcaster faced criticism from the administration, with Trump accusing it of amplifying Chinese propaganda after it aired a segment on a light show celebrating the reopening of Wuhan, the city where the coronavirus pandemic began.
Trump’s pick of Lake signals his intention to reshape VOA’s direction in alignment with his administration’s views on media and messaging.
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