U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged Congress to shut down the Voice of America, accusing the taxpayer-funded broadcaster of promoting radical leftist views and calling it a "total, leftwing disaster."
In a post on his Truth Social platform, President Trump intensified his criticism of the Voice of America (VOA), saying it no longer serves its original mission and instead operates as a "Democrat mouthpiece."
"Why would a Republican want Democrat 'mouthpiece,' Voice of America (VOA), to continue?" he wrote. "It’s a TOTAL, LEFTWING DISASTER – No Republican should vote for its survival. KILL IT!"
This marks the second attempt by Trump to dismantle the broadcaster since returning to office. His comments were echoed by Kari Lake, his senior adviser overseeing the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees VOA. Speaking at a Capitol Hill hearing the same day, Lake described VOA as “outrageous,” “deeply corrupt,” and “a serious threat to our national security.”
Calls to dismantle the outlet date back to February, when Elon Musk, then serving as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, posted on X that VOA was "just radical left crazy people talking to themselves while torching 1 billion U.S. dollars a year of U.S. taxpayer money."
In March, the Trump administration released a statement labelling VOA as “The Voice of Radical America,” citing what it claimed were instances of “anti-Trump content on social media” and editorial guidelines instructing staff “not to call Hamas and its members terrorists, except when quoting statements.”
Since March, VOA has undergone sweeping layoffs. More than 1,400 employees have reportedly been dismissed, including more than 600 in the latest round of terminations last Friday, leaving the staff count below 200.
Founded in 1942 during World War II to counter Nazi propaganda, the Voice of America has historically been supported across the political spectrum as a vehicle for promoting American values and democratic principles abroad.
Its future now faces uncertainty as Congress weighs funding decisions under growing partisan pressure.
Talks with the U.S. should be pursued to secure national interests as long as "threats and unreasonable expectations" are avoided, President Masoud Pe...
Mexico said it will stop sending oil to Cuba as U.S. President Donald Trump ramped up pressure on the Caribbean nation....
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 3rd of February, covering the latest developments you need to ...
Russian forces have resumed attacks on Ukraine's capital Kyiv, as well as its second largest city Kharkiv and other cities early on Tuesday (3 Februar...
China and Uruguay should should work together to advance an "equal and orderly multipolar world", President Xi Jinping told his counterpart Yamandu Or...
Vladimir Putin’s special envoy Kirill Dmitriev is expected to travel to Miami on Saturday for meetings with members of Donald Trump’s administration, two sources familiar with the plans told Reuters.
The United States says it's handing over a tanker to Venezuela that it seized earlier this month, according to two U.S. officials, marking the first known case of President Donald Trump’s administration returning such a vessel, Reuters reported.
At least 15 people have died across the United States as a powerful winter storm moves east and a surge of Arctic air drives temperatures sharply lower across much of the country, authorities said on Monday.
The UN Human Rights Council has condemned Iran for rights abuses and ordered an expanded investigation into a crackdown on anti-government protests that killed thousands, as Tehran warned any military attack would be treated as an all-out war.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has begun negotiations with European leaders over Greenland and that an agreement is already taking shape.
The United States accused Cuba of interfering with the work of its top diplomat in Havana on Sunday (1 February) after small groups of Cubans jeered at him during meetings with residents and church representatives.
Dmitry Medvedev, said European countries have failed to defeat Russia in Ukraine and have instead inflicted serious economic damage on themselves, as he criticised EU policy, praised Donald Trump as a leader who seeks peace, and said Russia would “soon” achieve military victory in the war.
Heavy snow continued to batter northern and western Japan on Saturday (31 January) leaving cities buried under record levels of snowfall and prompting warnings from authorities. Aomori city in northern Japan recorded 167 centimetres of snow by Friday - the highest January total since 1945.
A daylight robbery at a jewellery shop in Richmond, one of London’s most affluent and traditionally quiet districts, has heightened security concerns among residents and local businesses.
Mexico said it will stop sending oil to Cuba as U.S. President Donald Trump ramped up pressure on the Caribbean nation.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 3rd of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Russian forces have resumed attacks on Ukraine's capital Kyiv, as well as its second largest city Kharkiv and other cities early on Tuesday (3 February), officials said, triggering fires and dealing new blows to energy infrastructure.
China and Uruguay should should work together to advance an "equal and orderly multipolar world", President Xi Jinping told his counterpart Yamandu Orsi on Tuesday (3 February).
India says it's going to stop buying Russian oil and lower trade barriers after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with India on Monday (2 February) that cuts American tariffs on Indian goods to 18% from 50%.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment