Kari Lake, acting CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, rejected Tuesday on Newsmax coverage suggesting the Trump administration isn't doing enough to communicate its support to the Iranian people amid the country's brutal crackdown on protesters.
Lake told "Rob Schmitt Tonight" that such criticism — which she repeatedly labeled "fake news" — falsely portrays the administration as failing to get President Donald Trump's message into Iran.
"We're working really hard to get information, and we want to get information in any way possible," Lake said.
Starlink and virtual private networks could serve as pathways to reach Iranians cut off by Tehran's restrictions.
"Starlink is a great idea," she said. "VPNs work.
"Sometimes when the internet is shut off, you've got to go both ways, and we've been working really hard to get more VPN access for one of our grantees, Open Technology Fund."
Lake said her agency "last week offered $10 million immediately to get that VPN service up and running," and that her agency is coordinating "with our partners at the State Department" to obtain more funds.
The agency, she said, uses its platforms — including Radio Free Europe and Voice of America — "to get that message out that President Trump is standing up for the people of Iran, that America supports the people of Iran and freedom for them."
Lake rebutted media narratives portraying U.S. efforts as insufficient.
"The fake news has got their gaslighting machine out there trying to say that we're trying to prevent President Trump's message from getting in. Just the opposite," she said.
Lake thanked State Department officials and lawmakers for working "really hard with us to ... push more VPNs to get the message in, because they've got to hide."
She added that Iranians risk retaliation if the regime learns they have accessed outside information.
Some media outlets have criticized Lake's management and the broader information push, arguing that core services have been weakened and that messaging into Iran remains limited.
One such criticism asserts that organizational decisions have hampered Radio Farda and other U.S.-funded broadcasts at key moments, limiting reliable outreach to Iranian audiences.
The debate over how best to penetrate Tehran's tight censorship comes as protesters continue to face a violent crackdown — with the U.S. government publicly sanctioning Iranian officials for abuses and Trump urging demonstrators that "help is on its way."
Lake maintained that her agency's mission is clear and ongoing.
"Everything we're doing at U.S. Agency for Global Media, whether it be Radio Free Europe or VOA, we're trying to get that message out that President Trump is standing up for the people of Iran, that America supports the people of Iran and freedom for them, and frankly, a removal of what they've been going through," Lake said.
"And hopefully, they can celebrate freedom soon and get rid of this bloodthirsty regime that's trying to hurt so many people."
GET TODAY NEWSMAX+:
NEWSMAX is the fastest-growing cable news channel in America with more than 30 million people watching!
Reuters Institute reports NEWSMAX is one of the top news brands in the U.S.
You need to watch NEWSMAX today.
Get it with great shows from Rob Schmitt, Greta Van Susteren, Greg Kelly, Carl Higbie, Rob Finnerty – and many more!
Find the NEWSMAX channel on your cable system – Go Here Now
BEST OFFER:
Sign up for NEWSMAX and get NEWSMAX, our streaming channel NEWSMAX2 and our military channel World at War.
Find hundreds of shows, movies and specials.
Even get Jon Voight's special series and President Trump's comedy programs and much more!
Watch NEWSMAX on your smartphone or home TV app.
Watch NEWSMAX anytime, anywhere!
Start your FREE trial now: NewsmaxPlus.com
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.