Former Arizona gubernatorial candidate and staunch Trump ally Kari Lake has shot down a swirling rumor that she’s in talks to join Newsmax, calling the report “absolute fake news” in a fiery appearance on Steve Bannon’s War Room.
The rumor gained traction after several outlets claimed Lake was eyeing a new role at the conservative network. But according to Lake, the story is as bogus as they come. “That reporting yesterday was absolutely fake news,” Lake told Bannon. “Think about how bad the media is. You cannot hate them enough, Steve.”
Lake detailed the sequence of events that led to the false report, saying both she and Newsmax denied the claims before the story was published. “They reached out to me, asked if I was negotiating with Newsmax. I said, no, you know, get better sources. You’re wrong. Apparently, they reached out to Newsmax. Newsmax said it’s false, and they run the story anyway.”
Calling out what she sees as a failing media industry, Lake didn’t hold back. “We cannot possibly have enough ire toward the absolute fake news that we already have. Thankfully, it’s starting to collapse. They’ll just run any fake hit piece for clicks to try to disparage me, and I’m used to it.”
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Lake likened her treatment by the press to the relentless scrutiny faced by President-elect Donald Trump. She praised Trump’s proposal to revoke broadcasting licenses from outlets that “have lied to and divided our country,” noting her support for FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr as a critical player in overhauling media accountability.
As for her own plans, Lake said she’s taking time to recharge after spearheading a grassroots movement in Arizona for the past three and a half years. However, she made it clear she’s not stepping away from the political stage.
“I will tell the people listening this, especially if you’ve got some of the leftists who despise our movement, I’m not going away,” Lake declared. “As much as they want me to go away, I am not going away. And so they can’t get rid of me.”
“They can write as many nasty stories about me, filled with lies as they want. We are not going away.”
Before entering politics, Lake built a career as a news anchor in Phoenix, spending over two decades on local television. Lake’s narrow loss to Democrat Ruben Gallego in Arizona’s U.S. Senate race was a blow to Republicans hoping to reclaim the seat.
Despite her focus on border security and election integrity—issues central to her campaign—Lake was unable to overcome Gallego’s coalition, which delivered him a victory by just over two percentage points. The race marked a significant moment in Arizona politics. The general election, held on November 5, resulted in a narrow victory for Gallego, who received 50.0% of the vote compared to Lake’s 47.8%.
Lake, a prominent ally of President-elect Trump, has remained a polarizing figure since her unsuccessful bid for Arizona governor in 2022. Her campaign, marked by allegations of election fraud and fiery rhetoric, solidified her status as a favorite among Trump’s base. Throughout the general election campaign, Lake maintained a strong alignment with Trump’s platform, focusing on issues such as border security and economic policies. She also addressed concerns about election integrity, a central theme in her political narrative.
