Kari Lake’s New Role Rocks DC

Conservative firebrand Kari Lake has officially stepped into her new role as Senior Advisor to the Trump administration at the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM).

With her appointment, the left-leaning bureaucracy at the agency—responsible for overseeing Voice of America (VOA)—has been put on notice.

Lake was sworn into the position on Monday, wasting no time in making her presence known. The Gateway Pundit obtained an email she sent to all agency staff, outlining her mission to restore integrity and efficiency to USAGM’s operations.

I got sworn in today🇺🇸

Looking forward to serving America, streamlining the United States Agency of Global Media and everything it oversees. pic.twitter.com/cqDSGEC6VA

— Kari Lake (@KariLake) March 3, 2025

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She emphasized the importance of delivering honest journalism during this pivotal time in American history.

Lake’s new position is seen as a strategic move by President Trump’s administration to position her within the agency immediately, while the formal process of appointing a new USAGM CEO continues.

Trump had previously announced in December that Lake would eventually lead VOA as its director, a position appointed by the agency’s CEO and International Broadcasting Advisory Board.

With Lake now at the helm in a senior advisory role, the days of USAGM serving as a mouthpiece for left-wing narratives appear to be numbered.

USAGM, long infested with leftist activists masquerading as journalists, has become a major problem for the Trump administration.

The current VOA Director, Michael Abramowitz, is a notorious anti-Trump figure who penned a January 6 op-ed in 2022, slamming President Trump for supposed “disregard for constitutional checks and balances.”

His hyperbolic claims painted Trump as a threat to democracy, echoing the tired narratives of the D.C. establishment.

Another left-wing operative within VOA is Steve Herman, a former White House correspondent who openly attacks Trump on social media.

Posting under the handle @W7VOA, Herman recently pushed the idea that Trump’s plan to cut USAID funding would endanger Americans at home and abroad.

Eliminating USAID “makes Americans less safe at home and abroad,” says Skye Perryman, president of Democracy Forward.
https://t.co/3xYpJwXv4v

— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) February 7, 2025

Former Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell didn’t mince words, calling Herman out for working against official U.S. government policies while collecting a taxpayer-funded paycheck.

“It isn’t too much to suggest this is treasonous,” Grenell stated, demanding that Herman be “immediately fired.”

Aren’t you a taxpayer funded “reporter” for @voa?

Why are you working against President Trump’s reform plans for the U.S. budget?

You weren’t elected.

It isn’t too much to suggest this is treasonous. You don’t get to work against the official U.S. government policies while… https://t.co/P8Egpx9PJV

— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) February 9, 2025

Even billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has weighed in on the state of USAGM, calling for the shutdown of Voice of America and Radio Free Europe.

Musk blasted the agency, saying it was nothing more than “radical left crazy people talking to themselves while torching $1B/year of US taxpayer money.”

Yes, shut them down.

1. Europe is free now (not counting stifling bureaucracy). Hello??

2. Nobody listens to them anymore.

3. It’s just radical left crazy people talking to themselves while torching $1B/year of US taxpayer money. https://t.co/PnmN4erD91

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 9, 2025

However, Kari Lake is determined to clean house rather than dismantle the agency. She sees USAGM as a powerful tool in the global information war—one worth salvaging.

In her email to staff, she made it clear that reforms were coming fast, stating she would modernize the agency to make it something the American people could trust and support.

A Message from Kari Lake

I am delighted to be joining the United States Agency for Global Media as the Senior Advisor for the Administration, and I’m honored President Trump has chosen me to serve in this role overseeing the agency, its outlets, and grantees.

We have an important mission: “inform, engage, and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy.” It doesn’t get much bigger than that.As President John F. Kennedy said on the 20th anniversary of Voice of America—our task is “to tell America’s story around the world” and to do so in a way that is truthful. That remains our job today.

Some of you may know, I had a 30-year career as a professional broadcast journalist covering Arizona, America, and beyond. I am married to an incredible photojournalist and videographer. So, I understand the challenges faced by those who cover news both in front of and behind the camera, and I have immense respect for the men and women who do the job with honesty and integrity.

Sadly, journalism is experiencing dark days right now. The public has lost almost all trust in the media. For those reading this—it is critical we recognize our agency is funded by hardworking American taxpayers, many of whom are struggling to make ends meet. That means we have an added responsibility to restore their trust while working efficiently and honestly to cover this consequential moment in our nation’s history.

In my new role at USAGM I am committed to quickly reforming and modernizing the agency into something the American people are willing to support. I look forward to working with you.

Kari Lake

Lake’s message was crystal clear: the days of unchecked left-wing propaganda at USAGM are over.

With her at the forefront, expect the agency to undergo a dramatic transformation, cutting waste, restoring journalistic integrity, and finally reflecting the priorities of the Trump administration.