Trump administration will provide programming from conservative network
OAN for Voice of America
[May 08, 2025]
By DAVID BAUDER
NEW YORK (AP) — The Trump administration, which has fought to dismantle
or hollow out government-run outlets that provide news to other
countries, has agreed to use the conservative media network OAN's feed
on Voice of America and other services.
Voice of America hasn't operated since mid-March because of funding cuts
ordered by President Donald Trump, who has criticized it and similar
services like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty as promoting a news agenda
with a liberal bias.
That has triggered court fights that are still unresolved. But Kari
Lake, Trump's representative at the U.S. Agency for Global Media, the
funding arm for these services, said she had reached out to OAN, which
has offered to provide its news and video free of charge.
In an announcement, Lake called it “an enormous benefit to the American
taxpayer.” She said she initially reached out to OAN at the suggestion
of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting. It was unclear on Wednesday how or
when the OAN material will be used.
The One America News Network is pro-Trump in its outlook. Recently, the
network promoted an “investigation” of Trump's early days in office,
titled “100 Golden Days.” Its White House correspondent, Daniel Baldwin,
said that “President Donald Trump has ushered in a new era of American
prosperity in just 100 days — the closed border, inflation eradicated,
women protected, investments galore.”
Baldwin has also endeared himself to the president through questions
asked at press availabilities. In one Oval Office meeting, Baldwin said
that previous American leaders lacked the conviction to begin talks with
Russia. “What gave you the moral courage and conviction to step forward
and lead that?” he asked Trump.
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This is the Voice of America building in Washington, May 5,
2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
 “Oh, I love this guy!” Trump said.
How OAN is used on Voice of America is in VOA's hands, Charles
Herring, OAN's president, told The Associated Press. “We simply
wished to help when asked,” he said.
Shortly before stopping operations in mid-March, Voice of America
canceled contracts with news services like the AP, Reuters and AFP.
By law, VOA is obligated to provide a balanced news diet to
countries where it operates, said Steve Herman, former long-time
correspondent there. Lake's Agency for Global Media is also not
supposed to dictate its content, he said.
“VOA is not to be the voice of left America nor the voice of right
America,” Herman said.
In a message on social media, Lake acknowledged that she doesn't
have editorial control over what is aired on Voice of America.
“But," she said, “I can ensure our outlets have reliable and
credible options as they work to craft their reporting and news
programs.”
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