President-elect Donald Trump is in the process of selecting key members of his upcoming administration, with his most recent appointment being a familiar face and a former colleague of his.
Ric Grenell has an extensive background in politics and government, having previously worked in the initial Trump administration. He has now been chosen by the incoming president to take on the role of Presidential Envoy for Special Missions.
“Ric will work in some of the hottest spots around the World, including Venezuela and North Korea,” Trump’s announcement said.
In the early stages of his career, Grenell focused on providing communications advice to various Republican figures. During the time of the George W. Bush administration, he assumed the position of Director of Communications and Public Diplomacy for the U.S. Permanent Mission to the United Nations, where he collaborated closely with the then-U.N. Ambassador John Bolton. In this capacity, he was instrumental in developing and overseeing the communication strategies related to the U.S. mission and its foreign policy goals.
When President Trump took office, Grenell rose to greater national prominence. In 2018, he became the U.S. Ambassador to Germany, one of America’s most crucial diplomatic posts. His tenure in Berlin was marked by a direct, and at times confrontational, style. He pressed for stronger European action against Iranian financial networks and publicly encouraged German firms to reduce business ties with Iran.Â
He also urged Germany to meet NATO spending commitments and took a hard line on other transatlantic trade and security issues, frequently drawing attention for his blunt public statements.
In 2020, Grenell was tapped by President Trump to serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence, making him the first openly gay person to hold a Cabinet-level position. In that role, although brief, he oversaw the nation’s 17 intelligence agencies, pressed for the declassification of certain documents related to the Russia investigation, and pushed for greater transparency from the intelligence community.
After leaving these posts, Grenell continued to serve as a trusted Trump ally and advisor, occasionally stepping into the media spotlight to comment on foreign policy and national security issues. Through these roles, Grenell solidified his standing as a high-profile conservative voice, closely aligned with the agenda and public style of the Trump administration.
You can read Trump’s full statement announcing Grenell’s appointment below.
