Richard Grenell
Richard Allen Grenell (born September 18, 1966) is an American media commentator and diplomat who has been the Special Presidential Envoy for Special Missions since 2025. Grenell was the acting Director of National Intelligence from February 20, 2020 to May 26, 2020. He was the United States Ambassador to Germany from May 8, 2018 to June 1, 2020. He was the longest serving spokesman at the United Nations.
Richard Grenell | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2020 | |
| Special Presidential Envoy for Special Missions | |
| Assumed office January 20, 2025 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Special Presidential Envoy for Serbia and Kosovo Peace Negotiations | |
| In office October 4, 2019 – January 20, 2021 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| United States Ambassador to Germany | |
| In office May 8, 2018 – June 1, 2020 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | John B. Emerson |
| Succeeded by | Amy Gutmann |
| Director of National Intelligence | |
| Acting February 20, 2020 – May 26, 2020 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | Andrew P. Hallman (acting) Neil Wiley (acting) |
| Preceded by | Joseph Maguire (acting) |
| Succeeded by | John Ratcliffe |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
18 September 1966 (aged 59) Jenison, Michigan, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Domestic partner | Matt Lashey |
| Education | Evangel University (BA) Harvard University (MPA) |
Grenell also briefly served as national security spokesman for Mitt Romney in his 2012 campaign for President, becoming the first openly gay spokesman for a Republican presidential candidate.[1][2] He resigned after pressure from social conservatives.[3]
In September 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Grenell as U.S. Ambassador to Germany.[4] He was confirmed 56–42 on April 26, 2018.[5] He presented his credentials to the President of Germany on May 8, 2018.
In June 2013, Grenell revealed that he had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma and started chemotherapy.[6] In September 2013, Grenell announced that he was in remission.[7]
On February 19, 2020, President Trump announced his plans to make Grenell as the acting Director of National Intelligence.[9] This made Grenell the first openly gay politician to become a member of the United States Cabinet.[10]
On December 14, 2024, Trump hired Grenell to be the presidential envoy for special missions.[11]
Richard Grenell Media
Grenell voting at a UN Security Council meeting in 2005
Grenell (left) with Berlin Governing Mayor Michael Müller in 2018
Ambassador Grenell and Deputy Chief of Mission Kent Logsdon with Yehudah Teichtal at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, 2018
US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell
Milun Trivunac, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy of Serbia (sitting left),Richard Grenell, Special U.S. Presidential Envoy for Serbia and Kosovo Peace Negotiations (standing right),Eset Berisha, Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Kosovo (sitting right)
Appointment of Richard Grenell as Director of National Intelligence
Matt Lashey, Chadian ambassador Mariam Ali Moussa and Grenell in the Berlin Embassy in 2019
President Trump signing Grenell, February 2025 (Grenell discussed until 3:08)
A representation of the United States National Security Medal Ribbon
Vector version of the ribbon bar of the Presidential Medal of Merit of Kosovo
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References
- ↑ Mitt Romney's Appointment of Gay Aide Richard Grenell Signals New Attitude. April 6, 2012. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/04/romney-appt-of-gay-aide-signals-new-attitude/.
- ↑ Mitt Romney's Gay Spokesman: A Milestone in Republican Politics. April 24, 2012. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/04/mitt-romneys-gay-spokesman-a-milestone-in-republican-politics/256263/.
- ↑ Rubin, Jennifer (May 1, 2012). EXCLUSIVE: Richard Grenell hounded from Romney campaign by anti-gay conservatives. https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/post/exclusive-richard-grenell-hounded-from-romney-campaign-by-anti-gay-conservatives/2012/05/01/gIQAccGcuT_blog.html.
- ↑ Giaritelli, Anna. "Trump picks 42 key administration nominees, including heads of NASA and Office of National Drug Control Policy" (in en). Washington Examiner. http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/trump-picks-42-key-administration-nominees-including-heads-of-nasa-and-office-of-national-drug-control-policy/article/2633254. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
- ↑ Demirjian, Karoun (April 26, 2018) (in en-US). Senate confirms Grenell as ambassador to Germany over Democrats' objections. . https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/senate-confirms-grenell-as-ambassador-to-germany-over-democrats-objections/2018/04/26/c6febd70-4979-11e8-9072-f6d4bc32f223_story.html. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
- ↑ "Joining the Fight". richardgrenell.com. June 10, 2013. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
- ↑ Richard Grenell [RichardGrenell] (September 30, 2013). "I'm officially in remission. #CancerFree @cityofhope" (Tweet).
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ↑ The Pro-Freedom Republicans Are Coming: 131 Sign Gay-Marriage Brief. February 28, 2013. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/02/28/the-pro-freedom-republicans-are-coming-131-sign-gay-marriage-brief.html.
- ↑ "Trump to install loyalist Ric Grenell as acting intelligence chief". 20 February 2020. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ↑ Trump names the first openly gay person to a cabinet-level position
- ↑ Grimes, Katy. "Trump Names Ric Grenell Presidential Envoy for Special Missions – California Globe". Retrieved 2024-12-15.
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