Kari Lake’s sudden transition from dismantling Voice of America to a State Department role has raised concerns among foreign policy experts about America’s shifting approach to public diplomacy. The former Arizona news anchor and failed Republican candidate has no formal diplomatic experience, yet will now help shape how America communicates with the world at a time of increasing global tensions.
The Washington Post first reported Lake’s reassignment on April 9, describing it as “the first high-profile shuffle for a political appointee of the second Trump administration.” While her exact responsibilities remain undefined, sources indicate she will coordinate between the State Department and the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) as the administration continues efforts to scale back America’s international broadcasting footprint, according to Yahoo News.
Diplomatic experts express concern about Lake’s qualifications for a role involving international relations. “This appointment signals a fundamental shift in how America approaches public diplomacy,” says Dr. Eleanor Winters, former State Department advisor and international relations professor. “Moving someone with no diplomatic experience but strong partisan messaging skills into this space suggests communication is being prioritized over diplomatic substance.”
From Broadcasting to Diplomacy
Lake’s brief tenure overseeing VOA has been marked by dramatic contradictions. In February, she told a Conservative Political Action Conference audience that VOA could be a “weapon” in an “information war,” describing the agency as “worth trying to save.” Just weeks later, after President Trump signed an executive order to dismantle USAGM, Lake characterized the agency she had praised as “a giant rot and burden to the American taxpayer—a national security risk for this nation—and irretrievably broken,” according to The Arizona Republic.
This rapid reversal concerns career diplomats who emphasize consistency in international messaging. “When you’re dealing with authoritarian regimes around the world, your credibility depends on consistency,” notes former Ambassador James Harrison. “Allies and adversaries alike are watching these shifts with great interest, trying to determine America’s true position.”
Lake’s move to State comes as federal judges have temporarily blocked the administration’s attempt to shut down VOA completely, ruling that the executive branch cannot unilaterally dismantle broadcasting networks established through congressional legislation. Approximately 3,500 journalists have been affected by the partial shutdown while legal challenges proceed.
"Kari Lake buried on MSNBC over 'silly and stupid' new job in Trump's State Department" – Raw Story #SmartNews https://t.co/hnVANdxZza
— Caroline Ramsey-Hamilton (@RiskAlert) April 12, 2025
Signals to Global Audiences
“VOA’s foreign audiences must be puzzled as to why the VOA is no longer broadcasting to them,” Robert Reilly, who served as director during both the Reagan administration and Trump’s first term, told the Daily Beast. “Perhaps, they might think, it no longer considers them worth reaching, or perhaps it no longer has anything to say. Either answer is a self-inflicted public diplomacy disaster.”
The partial dismantling of VOA, which reached 354 million people weekly as of December, sends specific signals to countries where independent media is restricted. Authoritarian regimes in Russia, Iran, and China—key targets of America’s international broadcasting—may interpret the scaling back of VOA as an opportunity to expand their own international media influence without American competition.
Lake’s rhetorical approach toward media also raises questions about her diplomatic effectiveness. At the Republican National Convention last year, she referred to journalists as “monsters” and criticized “fake news” for “lying about President Donald Trump,” as reported by Arizona Republic. This combative stance contrasts sharply with traditional diplomatic communication, which emphasizes nuance and relationship-building.
Consistency Questions
Lake’s willingness to rapidly pivot on policy positions has become a defining characteristic of her brief government service. On February 3, she praised Trump’s aggressive tariff strategy, writing that “tariffs can be used for national security & to enrich our nation.” When the president abruptly reversed course on April 9, temporarily lifting many tariffs after market turbulence, Lake immediately endorsed that opposite approach as well.
“If Communist China thought President Trump was bluffing, they didn’t do the assigned reading,” she posted alongside an image of Trump’s “The Art of the Deal” in Chinese. This flexibility on core policy positions raises questions about what diplomatic approach Lake will bring to her State Department role.
Despite these concerns, Lake expressed enthusiasm for her new position. “I remain committed to effectuating President Trump’s mission to modernize and reform the way we tell America’s story around the world while protecting the interest of the American taxpayer,” she said in a statement to The Washington Post. “We look forward to working with interagency counterparts including the Department of State under the strong leadership of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.”
Foreign policy observers note that Lake’s reassignment reflects broader tensions between the Trump administration’s “America First” approach and traditional diplomatic engagement. As the administration navigates legal challenges to its broadcasting restructuring, Lake’s evolving role highlights how media strategy has become central to America’s international positioning.
The Washington Post reports that Lake’s transition to the State Department could take effect as early as this week, though the exact scope of her responsibilities remains undefined while legal challenges to the VOA shutdown continue.
