Kari Lake & Iran: How Trump’s Ally Complicates His Foreign Policy

Kari Lake’s Actions at Voice of America Draw Scrutiny

Kari Lake, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump and currently overseeing the agency that governs Voice of America (VOA), has faced increasing criticism for actions that critics say undermine the network’s independence and potentially violate federal law. The controversy centers on Lake’s efforts to utilize VOA to promote Trump’s views, particularly to audiences in Iran, and her subsequent restructuring of the Persian Service, which has significantly reduced its capacity.

The concerns first surfaced in January 2026, when Lake appeared on VOA’s Persian language service, offering effusive praise for Trump. According to a review by NPR, Lake lauded Trump’s actions toward Iran, referring to him as “the president of peace” and repeating his claims of having ended multiple wars and conflicts. She also criticized judges who ruled against the Trump administration and disparaged the record of former President Joe Biden, characterizing it as “horrific.”

These comments sparked immediate backlash, with critics arguing that Lake’s actions violated the spirit, and possibly the letter, of federal law designed to protect VOA’s editorial independence. VOA is intended to provide unbiased news and information to international audiences, particularly in countries where access to free press is limited. The concern is that Lake, in her role at the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), is using the network as a platform for political messaging.

Lake defended her appearance, stating that VOA’s mission includes sharing statements from President Trump and highlighting support for him among the Iranian people. She asserted that VOA was “telling the story of the brave Iranian people and their fight for freedom.”

However, Lake’s actions extend beyond a single interview. She has actively sought to reshape VOA’s Persian Service, a crucial source of information for Iranians. In March 2026, Trump initially ordered the shutdown of VOA programming in all 49 of its broadcast languages, including Persian, effectively crippling a key component of U.S. Soft power. While the administration later reversed course, attempting to revive the Persian Service following escalating tensions with Iran, Lake subsequently laid off most of the Persian journalists in June 2026, despite initial assurances of potential restructuring opportunities.

The layoffs, impacting 639 employees across VOA, were described as “sabotage” by some observers, damaging staff morale, institutional integrity, and America’s global credibility. Attempts to livestream Trump’s remarks on Iran were reportedly hampered by technical issues, with audio failing and the full video delayed for hours, allowing Iranian state media to dominate the narrative.

Prior to the recent layoffs, Lake had also blocked Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty from using a USAGM transmitter in Kuwait to broadcast into Iran, citing concerns about “mixed messages.” This move further limited the availability of independent information to the Iranian public during a period of significant political unrest and government crackdown on protests.

The Trump administration has also faced legal challenges regarding its attempts to exert control over VOA. A judge previously blocked Trump’s effort to fire the head of Voice of America, underscoring the legal protections afforded to the network’s independence. The ongoing situation raises fundamental questions about the role of U.S. International broadcasting and the potential for political interference in its operations.

The actions taken by Lake and the Trump administration have effectively diminished a vital tool of U.S. Soft power in a strategically important region. The dismantling of VOA’s Persian Service, coupled with restrictions on other independent broadcasters, has created a vacuum that Iranian state media has readily filled, shaping the information landscape and potentially influencing public opinion.