Trump picks Newsmax exec for Voice of America role

A Newsmax news director just got tapped as Voice of America's deputy, one day after a federal judge ordered 1,000-plus fired journalists back to work.

Newsmax veteran named VOA deputy director

• Christopher Wallace was appointed VOA's new deputy director.
• Wallace spent roughly 20 years at conservative news channels.
• VOA journalists worry about editorial independence threats from this pick.
• The agency's internal email vowed to uphold the VOA charter.

Judge already torched Trump's VOA shutdown

• A federal judge nullified nearly all administration actions against VOA.
• Over 1,000 journalists and staff were ordered reinstated by March 23.
• Kari Lake's appointment to lead the parent agency was ruled invalid.
• Chase Untermeyer questioned whether Wallace's hire even survives legally.

Administration already tried to influence VOA coverage

• Officials attempted to air Newsmax content on VOA's networks.
• Funding contracts nearly included hire-veto power for Trump appointees.
• The deputy job posting listed election-fraud awareness as a qualification.
• Trump has repeatedly called VOA the voice of radical America.

Power dynamics remain deeply unclear

• Mike Abramowitz would return as Wallace's boss if the ruling stands.
• Trump fired the entire independent broadcasting advisory board.
• That board must be bipartisan and Senate-confirmed by law.
• VOA broadcasts in 49 languages to 360-plus million people globally.