Patsy Widakuswara

Patsy Widakuswara is an Indonesian–American radio and broadcast journalist in the United States who covers the White House and U.S. politics. She is the White House Bureau Chief of Voice of America. She has a bachelor's degree in International Relations from the University of Indonesia and completed a master's in Journalism from Goldsmiths College, University of London.

Career

Widakuswara has worked in broadcasting and radio in Indonesia, the United Kingdom, and the United States since the 1990s.

In early 2021, Widakuswara covered the Trump administration for VOA.

On January 11, 2021, after VOA news director Robert R. Reilly interviewed Pompeo but did not allow reporters to ask questions, Widakuswara asked Pompeo several questions that he did not answer as he left the building. She was hours later removed from the prestigious White House beat and then reassigned to VOA Indonesian service. The Coalition For Women in Journalism and the White House Correspondents' Association condemned Widakuswara's removal.

In September 2023, Widakuswara, while traveling with U.S. vice president Kamala Harris, was temporarily barred by Indonesian security officers during a press event an at ASEAN summit meeting, after she shouted two questions at Indonesia president Joko Widodo; neither of her questions were answered.

Widakuswara was a lead plaintiff in a legal case to overturn Trump's executive order who had ordered that the Voice of America should be shut down in March 2025. 1,300 VOA employees were placed on leave.