Kari Lake tells Senate panel she’ll improve business relations as Jamaica ambassador

In a confirmation hearing Thursday to be the U.S. ambassador to Jamaica, former Arizona TV anchor Kari Lake said she’ll help dismantle crime and improve business relations with the country.

Lake ran unsuccessfully for Arizona governor in 2022 and U.S. Senate in 2024.

President Donald Trump then appointed her to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media, where she implemented mass layoffs at Voice of America.

A court ruled all of Lake’s actions void and restored employees to work in March because Lake was never confirmed by the Senate.

Now, Trump has tapped her to be the U.S. representative in Jamaica, a country to which Lake told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee she’s vacationed too many times to count.

“It’s the incredible Jamaican people whose warmth, friendliness and deep pride in their country keeps us going back,” Lake said. “When Jamaicans put their heart into something, they succeed, from earning Olympic gold medals to creating entire musical genres like reggae, to creating businesses. Nothing can keep a Jamaican down.”

Democrats on the committee bashed her for her actions at USAGM and attacks on former campaign opponent Sen. Ruben Gallego.

Gallego’s father abandoned him as a child and was convicted for dealing drugs.

Gallego was raised by his mother and took her maiden name as his surname, which he’s been candid about. But Lake used Gallego’s father’s criminal history against him in her 2024 campaign for Senate, accusing him of being controlled by drug cartels.

On Thursday, Lake told the committee she doesn’t have evidence of that, but won’t apologize.

“I’m not here to do reputational control,” Lake said.

“She’s continuing to repeat a lie. She just told the committee she has no idea whether it's true or false but she was glad to say it and she won’t retract it now. That should be disqualifying,” Sen. Tim Kane (D-Va.) told his colleagues.

Democrats also asked Lake about her numerous unsuccessful efforts to overturn the results of the 2022 election, which Lake claimed was stolen from her.

“I fought for fair and free elections in the courts,” Lake said of the lawsuits.

Democrats also pressed Lake about her role at USAGM, where Lake said she is still the deputy CEO.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) accused Lake of dismantling programs designed to deliver news abroad by dismissing hundreds of employees.

“Our adversaries exploited that chaos,” Shaheen said.

Lake disputed Democrats’ characterization of her actions at USAGM and accused the media of being unfair in their coverage of her.

“If you ask people who work there right now they will tell you we’re doing the best news product we’ve ever done,” she said. Lake added that she’s stopped reporters from pushing anti-American sentiment.

Republicans on the committee praised Lake as the ideal candidate for ambassador and celebrated her relationship with Trump.

“Ms. Lake is a true champion of truth, of accountability, of the U.S. Constitution and of the freedoms we all enjoy as Americans,” Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) said.

In terms of the work to be done in Jamaica, Lake said it’s important to work on lifting trade burdens and increasing economic opportunities.

She gave a shoutout to Jamaica’s famous bobsled team, noting that a Utah-based company outfits the athletes.

“We all know that Jamaica has incredible athletes. … They’re one of the only tropical climates that also has a winter Olympic team,” Lake said.

“We want to encourage all kinds of American businesses to invest in Jamaica,” she said.

The committee didn’t take action on confirming nominees this week.