Trump names Kari Lake as America’s next Ambassador to Jamaica

Pundits in America are questioning her suitability for the Jamaican posting

Durrant Pate/Contributor

Kari Lake, who tried and failed to fire hundreds of Voice of America journalists and to cut funding for other federally funded news groups like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, has been named as America’s next Ambassador to Jamaica.

President Donald Trump made the appointment of Lake, a fierce ally, who had led the administration’s efforts to shutter Voice of America (VOA) and other federally funded news groups. She tried to dismantle VOA, and to block funding for America’s other broadcasters, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia. 

By doing so, Lake reportedly ceded influence to Chinese and Russian state media all over the world and undermined America’s ability to reach people during times of crisis, most notably in Venezuela and Iran. Her appointment, if confirmed by the Senate, would end her tumultuous time at the parent agency for federally funded news groups that broadcast to countries with limited press freedom, such as China, Russia and Iran. 

Failed role at U.S. Agency for Global Media 

Under Ms. Lake’s leadership, the U.S. Agency for Global Media tried and failed to fire hundreds of Voice of America journalists and to cut funding for other news groups after facing setbacks in court and in Congress. 

VOA remains severely diminished from its earlier presence, broadcasting only in a handful of languages, including Persian, Korean and Chinese, often airing less than an hour of news service a day, except for its service to Iran.

In March, a federal judge voided Lake’s actions as the global media agency chief, ruling that she was appointed illegally as the interim leader. That ruling effectively nullified nearly all of the actions the Trump administration took to dismantle V.O.A., the news group that was founded in 1942 to combat Nazi propaganda and broadcast to more than 360 million people every week in 49 languages until early 2025.

The Trump administration did not appeal the judge’s ruling that found Lake’s appointment illegal. The 60-day deadline to appeal passed as of last week. American media quoted Lake as saying in a social media post that she was “honoured to continue serving in this historic administration….I look forward to strengthening the partnership between our nations, advancing America’s interests abroad, and building on the deep friendship shared by the American and Jamaican people.” 

After the judge ruled her appointment invalid in March. Lake continued serving at the media agency as its deputy chief executive. The White House and the global media agency did not respond to requests for comment on Monday.

In a separate social media post on Monday night, Lake said she would continue serving at the global media agency while the Senate considers her confirmation for the ambassadorship.

What did Jamaica do to deserve Kari Lake?

American pundits are questioning what Jamaica has done to deserve that Lake, a failed Senate and gubernatorial candidate from Arizona, has just been named as President Trump’s candidate for ambassador to Jamaica.

If confirmed, she will arrive in Kingston with no diplomatic or political preparation, other than the 14 months she just spent running America’s foreign broadcasting agencies into the ground. During a chaotic tenure as the leader of the U.S. Agency for Global Media

Jamaica and the United States, according to the State Department website, “maintain strong and productive relations, based on trust and mutual interest.”