Former President Donald Trump, who has recently won the American presidential election against Vice President Kamala Harris, has announced on Truth Social, a social platform that he founded, that a former Arizona journalist and a close political ally, Kari Lake, will be appointed director of Voice of America (VOA).
Lake, a former Fox News anchor in Phoenix, spent 27 years in journalism before leaving the profession in 2021 to pursue politics, including a run for Arizona governor and an unsuccessful Senate bid in 2024.
The Arizona journalist has recently become popular for his advocacy on “America First” policies and will be aligning VOA’s direction with Trump’s agenda.
Among the appointments that Trump is yet to make, but he has hinted that he will make, is nominating a candidate that will head the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees the affairs of Voice of America and other government-funded broadcasters.
The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) CEO role needs an approval from the Senate for it to be confirmed, and they will work together with Lake.
Mike Abramowitz, who is the current director of VOA, has acknowledged the announcement by Trump and also transmitted to the staff through mail the statement that he is yet to officially receive further information about their transition.
