Public statements or surveys conducted among VOA employees

Trump Taps Kari Lake for Voice of America, Awaiting Bipartisan Board Approval

Dec 12, 2024, 09:19 PM

President-elect Donald Trump has announced that Kari Lake, a former local television news anchor and prominent MAGA supporter, will serve as the next director of Voice of America (VOA). This appointment is part of Trump's broader strategy to align VOA with his administration's goals, ensuring that the broadcaster promotes American values of freedom and liberty. Lake, who has been critical of the media and denied election results, is expected to work closely with the incoming head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees VOA. The move has sparked concerns among some VOA employees and observers about the potential for political interference in the outlet's editorial independence, given Trump's past criticisms of VOA and his efforts to control its content during his first term. The appointment requires approval from a bipartisan board, which was established to protect the editorial integrity of VOA and other government-funded broadcasters. VOA, founded in 1942, has a mission to provide comprehensive coverage of the news and tell audiences the truth, reaching an estimated 354 million people weekly in nearly 50 languages. The USAGM ensures that VOA and other networks maintain their editorial independence, and its CEO position requires Senate confirmation.