President-elect Donald Trump announced that Kari Lake, a former news anchor and Arizona Senate candidate, will be the next director of the public Voice of America network. This update comes amid several back-to-back nominations within his administration on Wednesday evening, all of which he shared via his Truth Social account.
In his message congratulating Lake, Trump said: “Kari was a beloved news anchor in Arizona, who supported me by record margins, for over 20 years.”
Kari Lake at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 16, 2024.
Bloomberg via Getty Images
Trump also said he would soon announce a head for the U.S. Global Media Agency. He wrote that Lake would work closely with this person “to ensure that American values of freedom and liberty are delivered to the world fairly and accurately, contrary to the lies propagated by the fake news media.”
Lake, who lost his bid for the Arizona Senate in this year’s election, did not have a straightforward political career before aligning with Trump.
She left the Republican Party for eight years to run as an independent, then as a Democrat, before resuming her political career as a Republican, where she found success with policies aligned with those of Make America Great Again.
She forcefully supported Trump’s “big lie” about voter fraud in 2021 — and she used that narrative to fuel her own campaign for governor in 2022. She also refused to admit losing her own race for governor and tried, unsuccessfully, to overturn the results.
Trump also announced that he would nominate Michael Rigas to the State Department as assistant secretary of state for management and resources.
Rigas served in the last Trump administration in several capacities, including as deputy director and acting director of the Office of Personnel Management, and as acting deputy director in the Office of Management and Budget.
In his message, Trump said, “Mike is a conservative warrior who knows how government works and will help make America great again!” »
Trump also announced that he plans to nominate three of his former donors as ambassadors on Wednesday: Peter Lamelas, Daniel Newlin and Leandro Rizzuto.
He wrote that Newlin would be named U.S. ambassador to Colombia.
In his congratulatory note on Truth Social, Trump bragged about Newlin’s career in law enforcement, writing: “Dan can boast an impressive 28-year career with the County Sheriff’s Office. Orange County in Orlando, Florida. Throughout his tenure, Newlin rose rapidly in the major crimes field as a fugitive detective. Dan has demonstrated exceptional investigative skills, successfully taking hundreds of violent offenders off the streets, including those involved in armed robberies, gang violence, human trafficking and illegal arms trafficking and narcotics.
He also praised Newlin for founding an injury law firm and added, “With his law enforcement expertise in handling complex international matters and his business knowledge that fosters economic partnerships, Newlin presents himself as a powerful defender of American interests and a Champion of strengthening ties and making a difference in the world. »
Electronic billboards advertising attorney Dan Newlin and political ads for Donald Trump also paid for by Newlin, along I-4 in Florida, July 10, 2024.
Orlando Sentinel/TNS
He also announced Lamelas as his choice for ambassador to Argentina, posting: “Peter is an incredible physician, philanthropist and businessman, best known for founding the largest emergency healthcare company in Florida .”
The post continues: “As a child, Peter and his family fled communist Cuba and immigrated LEGALLY to the United States, starting with nothing and achieving the American dream.”
Trump then announced that Rizzuto would be his choice for U.S. ambassador to the Organization of American States, citing his professional accomplishments and saying the Conair co-founder would be “fantastic.”
Ambassadorial positions require Senate confirmation.
