Richard Grenell

American politician (born 1966)

Richard Allen Grenell (born September 18, 1966) is an American media commentator and diplomat. 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
Director of National Intelligence
Acting
In office
February 20, 2020 – May 26, 2020
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byJoseph Maguire
Succeeded byJohn Ratcliffe
United States Ambassador to Germany
In office
May 8, 2018 – June 1, 2020
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byJohn B. Emerson
Succeeded byAmy Gutmann
Personal details
Born
Richard Allen Grenell

(1966-09-18) September 18, 1966 (age 58)
Jenison, Michigan, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Domestic partnerMatt Lashley
EducationEvangel 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]

Grenell is openly gay.[8]

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]

References

change
  1. "Mitt Romney's Appointment of Gay Aide Richard Grenell Signals New Attitude". ABC News. April 6, 2012.
  2. "Mitt Romney's Gay Spokesman: A Milestone in Republican Politics". The Atlantic. April 24, 2012.
  3. Rubin, Jennifer (May 1, 2012). "EXCLUSIVE: Richard Grenell hounded from Romney campaign by anti-gay conservatives". The Washington Post.
  4. Giaritelli, Anna. "Trump picks 42 key administration nominees, including heads of NASA and Office of National Drug Control Policy". Washington Examiner. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
  5. Demirjian, Karoun (April 26, 2018). "Senate confirms Grenell as ambassador to Germany over Democrats' objections". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  6. "Joining the Fight". richardgrenell.com. June 10, 2013. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
  7. Richard Grenell [@RichardGrenell] (September 30, 2013). "I'm officially in remission. #CancerFree @cityofhope" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. "The Pro-Freedom Republicans Are Coming: 131 Sign Gay-Marriage Brief". The Daily Beast. February 28, 2013.
  9. "Trump to install loyalist Ric Grenell as acting intelligence chief". 20 February 2020.
  10. Trump names the first openly gay person to a cabinet-level position