Kari Lake Reveals Her Vision for Voice of America
Acknowledging VOA’s historical mission during the Cold War to combat communism, she expressed a desire for an investigative unit dedicated to examining the CCP and the transnational corruption stemming from Beijing.
Kari Lake has articulated her vision for transforming the Voice of America (VOA), promising impartial and editorially independent reporting while reaffirming her allegiance to President-elect Donald Trump.
This month, Trump appointed her to lead the government-funded broadcaster, which targets audiences beyond U.S. borders.
A former Arizona television journalist with a long career in media, Lake also discussed the potential for future investigative reports, particularly those centered on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). She suggested expanding coverage on Mexican cartels and the potential mass deportation initiatives by Trump. Additionally, she expressed enthusiasm for collaborating with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to identify possible cost reductions at VOA.
The politician noted that expanding the outlet’s reach and altering its overall presentation could attract a larger audience. She described some government-funded broadcasts as less than captivating.
Lake shared her insights on why the president-elect chose her for the VOA role in an interview with The Epoch Times.
“I believe President Trump selected me because he knows I will ensure we do not produce a fake news product,” she stated.
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In announcing Lake’s appointment as VOA’s new director, Trump noted she would be appointed by his yet-to-be-named CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media.
Abramowitz has a rich history as a reporter and editor with The Washington Post and has held positions at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and, more recently, at Freedom House.
The U.S. Agency for Global Media oversees the VOA, Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia, and other American media enterprises focused on specific regions worldwide. It is currently led by journalist Amanda Bennett, who was at the helm of VOA for most of Trump’s presidency after her appointment towards the end of the Obama administration.
She resigned in 2020 amid disputes concerning VOA’s coverage of COVID-19, which Trump claimed included messaging from the Chinese state media.
Lake emphasized her intent to prevent CCP influence within VOA.
“We face a significant communist threat with the CCP, so I want to ensure we’re not disseminating any pro-CCP propaganda,” she asserted.
Reflecting on VOA’s mission during the Cold War to counter communism, Lake advocated for the establishment of a dedicated investigative unit focused on the CCP and its global corruption.
Lake believes that its audience could be dramatically increased: “What if we set a goal of reaching a billion?”
A News Anchor Transitions to Politics
Lake enjoyed a lengthy career as a television journalist, working at various stations nationwide, including over twenty years at KSAZ-TV, known as Fox 10 Phoenix.
During her interview, she recalled key moments from her journalism career, such as reporting on individuals attempting to clear landmines in Cambodia. She also had the opportunity to interview two sitting presidents: Barack Obama and, during his first term, Donald Trump.
“Interviewing a sitting president is a career highlight,” she remarked.
Lake gained notoriety for her critique of COVID-19 reporting during the pandemic and echoed Trump’s sentiments while campaigning.
She elaborated on her perspective of journalism during the interview.
“When I ‘attack the media,’ it’s aimed at those cowardly individuals who never posed the critical questions that the public needed answered,” she explained.
Shortly after, she declared her candidacy for governor of Arizona, losing that 2022 election to Democrat Katie Hobbs, although she contested the results.
Following that, she ran for Senate in the current cycle, facing defeat against Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), who won by a margin of 2.5 percent. Trump had carried the same state by 5.5 percent in November.
A Trump Loyalist Commits to Editorial Independence
Lake has established herself as a fervent member of the MAGA movement and a staunch Trump supporter. This has raised concerns in some circles about potential biases in the organization in favor of the incoming administration.
“Am I loyal to President Trump? Yes, I guess you could say I’m loyal because he shows loyalty to this country,” she affirmed.
“There’s an idea in mainstream media that one can only be a fair journalist by opposing President Trump. That’s a fallacy,” Lake argued.
While she acknowledged having her own viewpoints on VOA’s coverage, she stressed the significance of maintaining a separation between political influences and the outlet’s reporting.
“We aim to provide impartial coverage that is both accurate and honest,” Lake emphasized.
She also maintained that VOA would not uncritically support every action taken by the U.S. government. With a Republican majority set to take control, renewed scrutiny over policies executed in the previous four years seems probable.
“Investigations will be forthcoming,” Lake indicated.
“I believe most Americans cherish this country, but that doesn’t imply we should view our government’s actions as flawless, unlike how they perceive things in the CCP,” she added.
