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Richard Grenell
It’s not clear what the role will involve.
President-elect Donald Trump has named Richard Grenell presidential envoy for “special missions,” a new role that appears to have been created specifically for the outspoken ally and pusher of debunked 2020 election denial conspiracy theories after being passed over for secretary of state. Allies of Grenell, who served as ambassador to Germany and acting director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term, had campaigned aggressively for Grenell to get the State Department’s top position, which ultimately went to RepublicanFlorida Sen. Marco Rubio.
Trump announced the appointment on Truth Social on Saturday.
Related: Gay Trump ally Richard Grenell really, really wanted to be secretary of State. It went to Marco Rubio
“Ric will work in some of the hottest spots around the World, including Venezuela and North Korea,” Trump wrote, adding that he would “continue to fight for Peace through Strength, and always put AMERICA FIRST.”
Grenell responded on X (formerly Twitter): “Working on behalf of the American people for @realDonaldTrump is an honor of a lifetime. President Trump is a problem solver who keeps Americans safe and prosperous. We have so much to do. Let’s get to work.” Grenell followed up by retweeting dozens of congratulatory messages from Republican allies, including one from former Rep. Matt Gaetz, whose own nomination for attorney general was dropped after allegations of misconduct.
Grenell’s allies reportedly went to significant lengths to secure him the secretary of state position. Politico revealed that a plan to pay social media influencers to post favorable content about Grenell had been proposed but never executed. Grenell denied involvement in the scheme, calling it “unserious gossip.”
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The specifics of Grenell’s new position remain unclear. The scope of his role and how it will interact with the State Department, led by Rubio, has not been defined.
Grenell’s past positions were marked by controversy. As ambassador to Germany, his partisan rhetoric alienated European allies. As acting intelligence director, he oversaw the declassification of documents to support Trump’s claims of a “deep state” conspiracy. His business dealings, including a $500 million hotel project in Serbia with Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, have drawn criticism over potential conflicts of interest.
