PHOENIX – Arizona’s outspoken Kari Lake has been appointed as the new director of Voice of America, a position aimed at countering the media’s depiction of America and its principles, as announced by President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday night.

This announcement concludes a period of uncertainty regarding Lake’s political future in Arizona after experiencing a series of electoral defeats.

In a post on social media, Trump mentioned that she will serve under the leader of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, a role that has yet to be filled.

Trump emphasized that Lake’s responsibility will be “to ensure that American values of Freedom and Liberty are communicated globally FAIRLY and ACCURATELY, unlike the deceit propagated by the Fake News Media.”

He referred to her as “a beloved News Anchor in Arizona.”

What Exactly is the Voice of America?

In a social media update on Wednesday evening, Lake expressed her gratitude for being chosen by Trump to lead VOA.

She described VOA as “a critical international media entity committed to promoting the interests of the United States by connecting with people worldwide and advocating for democracy and truth.”

“With an audience of 326 million, Voice of America provides news in 48 languages. Under my guidance, the VOA will thrive in its mission: showcasing America’s accomplishments on the global stage.”

Lake, who has been a prominent supporter of Trump over the last two years, will oversee an organization that was established during World War II with the purpose of countering propaganda.

VOA operates as a nonpartisan, government-funded news organization catering to an international audience. It functions under the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which is dedicated to “informing, engaging, and connecting people across the globe in support of freedom and democracy.”

Throughout her unsuccessful campaigns for Arizona governor in 2022 and U.S. Senate in 2024, Lake exhibited a confrontational attitude towards the media, dismissing it as “fake news” and advising Americans to disregard it. At a campaign event in 2022, she referred to reporters as “monsters” and has continued to appear on conservative cable news outlets, including after her Senate race loss.

She is stepping into a role within an organization that, during Trump’s first term, encountered management issues and pressure to present Trump and his administration in a more favorable light, as indicated by a report from the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.

Michael Pack, described by the New York Times as an “ally” of Trump advisor Steve Bannon, led the agency overseeing VOA during Trump’s presidency.

According to an Office of Special Counsel report from last year, Pack’s brief tenure in office was marred by various misconducts, with some actions classified as abuse of authority, gross mismanagement, waste of resources, or violation of laws or regulations.

Under Pack’s direction, the agency retaliated against whistleblowers, disregarded record-keeping rules, and improperly allocated funds for private legal counsel.

Moreover, the report indicated that Pack conveyed he was not dedicated to the agency’s mission or journalistic independence.

Lake Had Been Considered for an Ambassador Position

Earlier this week, Lake, who previously anchored at Fox 10 in Phoenix, was under consideration for the role of Trump’s ambassador to Mexico, marking a considerable shift in her responsibilities, given her lack of diplomatic experience.

She recently lost the Senate election to U.S. Senator-elect Ruben Gallego, a Democrat from Arizona, and previously lost the governorship to Governor Katie Hobbs in 2022.