What’s New
Arizona Republican Kari Lake issued a new warning on Saturday about President-elect Donald Trump‘s mass deportation plan as she took aim at the media, saying it is “going to try and spin it” in a negative way.
Newsweek has reached out to Lake and Trump’s transition teams via email for comment,
Why It Matters
Trump announced Lake, a former television news anchor, as his choice to lead state-funded media network Voice of America (VOA) in a post to Truth Social last week, where he said that he expected Lake to use her position to counter “the Fake News Media.”
VOA produces news content for the international market, including broadcasts that are transmitted in dozens of foreign languages.
During Trump’s first term, Politico reported on concerns that he was attempting to turn VOA into a propaganda machine. His decision to hand control of the outlet to Lake, who has notably pushed pro-Trump falsehoods concerning his 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden, could trigger similar criticisms during his second term.
This comes as Trump is set to resume office next month where he is expected to implement a slew of hardline immigration policies, including mass deportations, which are designed to crack down on illegal migration.
What To Know
During a Saturday appearance at AmericaFest in Phoenix, Lake spoke about Trump’s deportation plan.
“We’re sending people back to their homeland, and we’re going to be freeing up our country for the citizens of this country, but we’ve got to make sure that they [the media] don’t spin it. You know they are going to try and spin it and they are going to try and make it look like the worst thing in the world,” Lake said.
She added: “I see it as human beings heading back to their homeland. They will go there and make their homeland better and we will make our homeland better…We’re going to have to push back when the fake news tries to take everything President Trump is going to try to do to make our country great and they are going to try and spin it in the opposite way.”
Lake, a staunch Trump supporter and 2020 election denier, has echoed his stance on tough immigration policies during her U.S. Senate race in Arizona. Lake lost to Democrat Ruben Gallego in last month’s election. She also lost the 2022 race for Arizona governor to Democrat Katie Hobbs.
The president-elect’s mass deportation plan has come under scrutiny as some lawmakers have raised concerns about the potential wide-sweeping approach rather than a more targeted program to remove migrant criminals.
What People Are Saying
Twenty-six GOP governors signed a letter stating they “stand united in support” of Trump’s plans to protect American citizens from “disastrous open border policies.”
Among those who signed were Texas‘ Greg Abbott, South Carolina’s Henry McMaster, and Florida’s Ron DeSantis.
“When the Biden Administration refused to secure our borders and uphold the rule of law, it was Republican governors who took action,” the letter read. “We mobilized state resources, including law enforcement and National Guard units, to protect Americans from disastrous open border policies and prevent illegal immigration from overwhelming our country.”
In contrast, Democratic governors and mayors have promised to protect undocumented migrants in their communities, using sanctuary laws that have prevented local officials and law enforcement from assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Many of the governors and city mayors signaling they plan to stand against the plans have voiced concerns over the logistics of such an operation, which will seek to target at least 11 million undocumented migrants.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs said during a recent press conference, “I will not tolerate misguided policies that don’t actually help with the critical work that’s happening here, that you’re seeing here today, that actually keeps our communities safe and secure. I will not tolerate terrorizing communities or threatening Arizonans.”
What Happens Next
With Trump resuming office next month, preparations are already underway from the incoming administration to carry out his immigration agenda.
Trump is expected to sign a series of executive orders on “Day 1” of his presidency, focusing on mass deportations and enhanced border security—key promises of his successful campaign.
Meanwhile, Lake will need to be appointed by the U.S. Agency for Global Media, the federal agency overseeing VOA, before starting her position.
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