Abstract Voice of America (VOA), a U.S. government-funded international broadcaster, has traditionally served as a nonpartisan tool of American soft power. However, former President Donald Trump has exhibited an unprecedented hostility toward VOA, viewing it as an adversary rather than an asset. This paper examines Trump’s long-standing grievances against VOA, beginning with his first term and culminating in his administration’s efforts to dismantle the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the parent agency of VOA. The paper critically assesses the ideological motivations behind Trump’s opposition, the policy actions taken against VOA, and the broader implications for press freedom, international broadcasting, and U.S. soft power.
Introduction Voice of America (VOA) has historically been a central instrument of U.S. global influence, providing objective journalism to audiences worldwide, particularly in nations where press freedoms are restricted. Despite its bipartisan support over the decades, Donald Trump emerged as a uniquely vocal critic of VOA, repeatedly attacking the agency for perceived disloyalty and partisan bias. His administration took direct steps to weaken and ultimately dismantle the organization. This paper explores the historical trajectory of Trump’s attacks on VOA, the broader ideological and political underpinnings of his opposition, and the lasting impact on U.S. public diplomacy.
Timeline of Trump’s Criticisms and Actions (2017–2025)
Early Attacks and Initial Concerns (2017–2019) Trump’s hostility toward VOA was evident early in his presidency. In January 2017, within days of taking office, his administration sent aides to VOA’s headquarters, signaling an intent to exert control over the agency (Politico, 2017). The passage of a 2016 law granting the president the authority to appoint a USAGM CEO in place of a bipartisan board further enabled this influence. By 2018, Trump had nominated Michael Pack, a conservative filmmaker and ally of Steve Bannon, to lead USAGM. Pack’s confirmation stalled for two years amid ethics investigations, during which Trump expressed frustration over his inability to reshape VOA (Columbia Journalism Review, 2020).
Escalation During COVID-19 (2020) Trump’s grievances escalated dramatically in April 2020, when the White House accused VOA of amplifying Chinese propaganda during the COVID-19 pandemic. In an official statement, the administration criticized VOA for using Chinese government statistics in its coverage, arguing that taxpayer funds were being misused to promote foreign narratives (Heritage Foundation, 2020). Trump personally attacked VOA in a press briefing, calling its reporting “disgusting” and falsely claiming that it disseminated Chinese Communist Party talking points (Business Insider, 2020).
The Michael Pack Purge and Judicial Intervention (2020) Following the delayed confirmation of Michael Pack as CEO of USAGM in June 2020, the Trump administration executed a sweeping purge at VOA. Pack forced out leadership figures, refused to renew visas for foreign journalists, and launched investigations into perceived anti-Trump bias (Politico, 2020). His efforts to remove the editorial firewall between VOA and the White House prompted legal challenges, culminating in a federal court ruling that his interventions violated the First Amendment (Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, 2020).
VOA Under Biden and Trump’s Second Term Attacks (2021–2025) Following Trump’s departure, President Joe Biden swiftly removed Pack, signaling a return to VOA’s traditional independence. However, by early 2025, Trump, upon reclaiming office, resumed his efforts against VOA. He appointed Kari Lake, a staunch loyalist, as a special adviser to USAGM. In March 2025, Trump signed an executive order to eliminate USAGM, placing VOA’s 1,300 employees on administrative leave, effectively shuttering the broadcaster (Politico, 2025).
Ideological and Political Motivations Trump’s opposition to VOA was rooted in several key ideological beliefs. His “America First” doctrine clashed with VOA’s charter, which mandates independent, objective reporting. Trump viewed any criticism of his administration as disloyal and conflated negative reporting with partisanship. His White House repeatedly framed VOA as an extension of the so-called “Deep State,” alleging that career journalists worked to undermine his presidency (Heritage Foundation, 2020). His administration also accused VOA of leftist bias, pointing to coverage on topics such as systemic racism as justification for defunding (Politico, 2025).
Impact on Press Freedom and U.S. Soft Power Trump’s actions had far-reaching consequences for press freedom and international broadcasting. His administration’s attacks emboldened authoritarian regimes, which cited U.S. rhetoric to justify crackdowns on VOA reporters abroad (Committee to Protect Journalists, 2020). The dismantling of USAGM weakened U.S. public diplomacy efforts, reducing America’s ability to counter disinformation from adversaries such as China and Russia. VOA’s credibility was also undermined; once perceived as a reliable news source, its role became politicized, diminishing trust among global audiences (Columbia Journalism Review, 2020).
Conclusion Trump’s hostility toward VOA was unprecedented among U.S. presidents. While past administrations occasionally disagreed with VOA’s editorial choices, none sought to dismantle the agency outright. Trump’s efforts to reshape, control, and ultimately eliminate VOA reflect broader patterns of media hostility that defined his political career. His actions raise critical questions about the resilience of independent journalism within government-funded media and highlight the need for stronger legal protections to insulate VOA from political interference. Moving forward, policymakers must consider structural reforms to ensure that VOA remains a credible, independent source of information, free from the whims of any administration.
References
Business Insider. (2020, April 15). Trump threatens to adjourn Congress after rant about Voice of America. Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com
Columbia Journalism Review. (2020). Trump, Michael Pack, and the complicated role of Voice of America. Retrieved from https://www.cjr.org
Committee to Protect Journalists. (2020). Trump’s White House blasts VOA for “promoting propaganda”. Retrieved from https://www.cpj.org
Heritage Foundation. (2020). Trump’s attack on VOA over COVID-19 shows need for new agency chief. Retrieved from https://www.heritage.org
Politico. (2017). Trump moves to put his own stamp on Voice of America. Retrieved from https://www.politico.com
Politico. (2020). White House rips U.S.-funded outlet Voice of America in daily newsletter. Retrieved from https://www.politico.com
Politico. (2025). Trump has long hated this media outlet. Now he’s ordering it dismantled. Retrieved from https://www.politico.com
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. (2020). Federal judge: Editorial interventions by USAGM leadership violate First Amendment. Retrieved from https://www.rcfp.org