‘International propaganda minister’: Social media rips Kari Lake’s new Trump role
President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement that election denier Kari Lake would be tapped to serve as director of Voice of America in his new administration prompted swift reaction inside and out of MAGA world.
Trump praised Lake as a “beloved news anchor” after making the selection public Wednesday night, ending speculation that Lake, a former TV news anchor and two-time failed Republican candidate, would be selected as the incoming president’s ambassador to Mexico.
MAGA world quickly followed.
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“Kari has YEARS of experience as a broadcaster, so this is the perfect position for her! far-right internet personality Nick Sortor wrote on X. “Congrats @KariLake!”
“I am honored that President Trump has asked me to lead the Voice of America,” Lake wrote on X. “@VOANews is a vital international media outlet dedicated to advancing the interests of the United States by engaging directly with people across the globe and promoting democracy and truth.”
She added that under her leadership, the VOA will "excel in its mission: chronicling America’s achievements worldwide. Thank you for putting your trust in me, President Trump. I look forward to leading the Voice of America, and I can’t wait to get started."
But not all were thrilled by the prospect of Lake helming the government-funded broadcast agency, which has historically been nonpartisan.
“We’re going to need a bigger tub of Vaseline,” podcast and tech journalist Kara Swisher wrote to her Bluesky followers, adding: "I used to work at the Washington Post with Michael Abramowitz and I am not entirely sure he can be removed like this."
“He's really gonna make Kari Lake chief international propaganda minister,” a post from the Get More Smarter Podcast said, which is hosted by two Democratic insiders. “Holy sh--”
X user Adam J. Smith made an apparent dig at Lakes’ repeated election-denying claims.
“How will Kari Lake serve as Senator, Governor, and Director of Voice of America at the same time,” Smith joked to his social media followers.