Trump Nominates Conservative Activist to Head U.S. Global Media Agency

The President of the United States announced that Brent Bozell, founder of a conservative media center, has been nominated to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). Donald Trump stated on Wednesday, January 23, on Truth Social, his social media platform, that Al Brent Bozell III, founder and director of the Media Research Center, has been chosen to head the U.S. government's international media outlets. USAGM includes five international media organizations funded by the U.S. government: Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, the Cuba Broadcasting Office, and the Middle East Broadcasting Network. These media outlets send news to over 100 countries in 63 languages. USAGM has an annual budget of $900 million, employs 4,000 staff, and has more than 50 offices worldwide. Trump, who has previously criticized the media coverage at USAGM during his first term, mentioned in his message regarding Bozell's nomination: "Brent will bring about a much-needed transformation at the media agency." According to Trump, "Few understand the global media landscape as well as Brent. He and his family have fought for American principles of freedom, equality, and justice." In response to this message, Bozell emphasized on X that he will explore ways to "ensure the President's priorities." Bozell needs the approval of U.S. Senate members to assume this position. Al Brent Bozell III is the owner of the Media Research Center, a watchdog organization focusing specifically on so-called liberal media in the U.S., defining its work as identifying unfair bias in these media, especially bias against Trump. One of Bozell's sons was among the prisoners known for the January 6 riot, who were granted a blanket pardon on the first day of his work in the White House.