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Trump nominates Kari Lake for Jamaica ambassador role
Former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake has been selected by President Donald Trump as the next U.S. ambassador to Jamaica, the White House announced on Monday.
Lake's tenure at Voice of America
Lake currently serves as the head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees the federally funded broadcaster Voice of America (VOA). If confirmed by the Senate, her departure would conclude her leadership at the agency, where she has overseen significant staff reductions.
Under a presidential executive order, Lake moved to terminate hundreds of VOA employees, a decision that drew criticism from media advocates who argued it undermined the broadcaster's independence. VOA, founded in 1942, delivers news in nearly 50 languages worldwide.
Trump's criticism of VOA
President Trump has long accused VOA of exhibiting a left-wing bias, a claim the broadcaster has denied. His administration has sought to reshape the agency's operations, with Lake playing a central role in implementing those changes.
Lake's political background
Before joining the Trump administration in 2024, Lake spent 22 years as a news anchor at a Fox affiliate in Phoenix. She left journalism in 2021 to run for Arizona governor as a Republican but lost the election. Following her defeat, she filed multiple lawsuits challenging the results, alleging election fraud-a claim that was dismissed in court and led to defamation lawsuits against her.
Lake also mounted an unsuccessful campaign for an Arizona Senate seat. Her alignment with Trump's election denialism elevated her profile within the Republican Party.
Lake's statement on Jamaica nomination
In a social media post following the announcement, Lake expressed gratitude to Trump and enthusiasm for the potential role. "Jamaica is a country I know very well, full of incredible people," she wrote. "If confirmed, 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."
FEMA leadership change also announced
The White House revealed another key nomination on Monday: Cameron Hamilton, who previously led the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will return to the role. Hamilton was removed from the position last year by the Trump administration but has since been renominated.
FEMA has faced significant challenges in recent months, including a wave of employee departures and the fallout from a 75-day partial government shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security, which concluded on April 30.
