Kari Lake Appointed by Trump to Head Voice of America

Kari Lake, once a television news presenter who has gained attention for her right-wing rhetoric and has referred to journalists as 'monsters,' has been tapped to oversee a government-funded international broadcasting organization.

From the nation's capital

On Wednesday evening, President-elect Donald J. Trump selected Kari Lake to lead Voice of America, with intentions of positioning a staunch supporter, known for her derogatory remarks about journalists, at the helm of a broadcasting service funded by the government that reaches an audience in the hundreds of millions worldwide.

During his initial presidency, Mr. Trump faced criticism for allegedly transforming Voice of America, which aims to deliver impartial news globally, into a medium for promoting his administration. By announcing Ms. Lake, a former local news anchor and known skeptic of election outcomes who failed in her attempts to win Senate and gubernatorial seats in Arizona, Mr. Trump suggested he had found a partner in reshaping the service’s reporting.

Mr. Trump stated on social media that Ms. Lake would strive to ensure that 'the American principles of Freedom and Liberty are broadcast worldwide with fairness and truthfulness, contrasting with the falsehoods of mainstream media.'

In her campaign for Arizona governor in 2022, Ms. Lake often concentrated her campaign on attacking news media rather than her opponent, Katie Hobbs, who is now the state’s governor, or the Democratic Party itself. Her animosity toward reporters reflected Mr. Trump's own stance. She once labeled journalists as 'monsters' and promised to become their 'worst nightmare' if she were to come into power.

'Let’s cut off funds to the press,' she declared during a rally.

Ms. Lake will take charge of an organization that broadcasts in 48 different languages and engages more than 326 million people each week. Established in 1942, the purpose of this service is to counteract misinformation from authoritarian regimes, such as those in China, Russia, and Iran.

Under Mr. Trump's administration, Voice of America faced scrutiny regarding its editorial choices, and his appointed officials were accused of attempting to undermine established journalistic principles.