President-elect Trump has nominated GOP Senate candidate Kari Lake to lead Voice of America (VOA), sparking concerns of potential partisan interference at the government-funded global news agency. Lake, a former local news anchor who ran for governor and senator in Arizona, is among the loyalists Trump has tapped to serve in his Cabinet and administration. Trump envisions Lake promoting American values of Freedom and Liberty globally, contrasting with what he sees as biased reporting from mainstream media. However, Lake’s history of attacking the media and promoting unfounded theories on voter fraud has raised fears that VOA could be manipulated to spread pro-Trump propaganda worldwide.
Critics worry that Lake’s appointment signals a shift away from VOA’s original mission of objectivity and independence, potentially turning it into a mouthpiece for the President. While VOA representatives declined to comment, Lake has pledged to highlight U.S. accomplishments to a vast international audience in multiple languages. She aims to set VOA apart from mainstream media by offering what she deems as a counterbalance to what she perceives as biased reporting.
Amidst these developments, concerns have been raised among VOA employees about the agency’s future direction under Lake’s leadership. Some staff members, who come from diverse backgrounds and have reported from conflict zones, fear that Lake’s close association with Trump and past controversial statements could compromise VOA’s journalistic integrity. Trump’s nomination of Lake is seen as part of a broader trend of appointing individuals aligned with his political views to key government positions.
While Lake’s nomination has garnered support from some of Trump’s allies, including Steve Bannon, critics argue that her selection may lead to increased scrutiny of VOA’s reporting practices. The move is seen as part of a larger pattern of appointing individuals with strong partisan leanings to influential roles, potentially influencing the direction of federal agencies and departments.
“It is widely believed that Kari Lake embodies the energy, dynamism, urgency, and patriotism that a certain platform requires. While former President Trump does not have the authority to unilaterally appoint Lake as the head of the Voice of America (VOA), it is expected that she will ultimately be selected for the role by the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) CEO, a position that requires Senate confirmation, a nominee for which Trump has yet to announce.
Since 2020, the USAGM CEO has collaborated with the International Broadcasting Advisory Board, a bipartisan group tasked with advising the CEO to uphold the editorial independence and integrity of the networks and grantees, ensuring the highest journalistic standards. Comprising six members appointed by the president and the U.S. Secretary of State, as reported by VOA, this body plays a crucial role in the selection process of key leadership positions.
Voice of America has faced its share of controversies during Trump’s presidency. Michael Pack, Trump’s initial nominee for USAGM CEO, faced a lengthy confirmation process and subsequent allegations of meddling in news coverage and targeting employees perceived as disloyal to Trump. In 2021, a government watchdog determined that Pack wrongfully dismissed six employees, allegedly as retaliation against whistleblowers, resulting in the unjust revocation of their security clearances.
Currently, the VOA leadership seeks to ensure a seamless transition under the incoming Trump administration. Michael Abramowitz, the current leader, expressed his commitment to cooperate with the new administration and adhere to the congressional process for appointing the VOA Director in a memorandum addressed to staff.
Hans Noel, an associate professor at Georgetown University specializing in politics, emphasized the significance of VOA’s portrayal of the United States on the global stage. Recognizing the varying perceptions of Trump internationally compared to domestically, Noel suggested that efforts to influence VOA’s coverage could be aimed at presenting a more favorable image of Trump on a global scale.
