The staunch Trump supporter has served as ambassador to Germany since 2018.
February 20, 2020, 12:39 AM
4 min read
President Donald Trump has named Richard Grenell, the current U.S. ambassador to Germany, to be the acting director of national intelligence.
Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire testifies before the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Sept. 26, 2019.
Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire testifies before the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Sept. 26, 2019.Andrew Harnik/AP, FILE
Trump posted the announcement on Twitter, and also thanked Joseph Maguire who has been serving as the acting DNI since Dan Coats resigned Aug. 15.
In the tweet, the president also said Maguire may serve in another capacity within the administration.
The 53-year-old is a staunch Trump supporter who has served as ambassador in Berlin since May 8, 2018. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in a 56-42 vote on April 26, 2018.
Grenell will become the first openly gay member of the cabinet. The Michigan native is also a former spokesman at the United Nations and worked on the 2012 presidential campaign of Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah.
According to ABC News' records, on Sept. 14, 2019, Grenell joined the president at the White House for dinner with Fred and Cindy Warmbier, whose son Otto died shortly after being released from captivity in North Korea in June 2017.
US ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell awaits the arrival of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at Tegel airport in Berlin, May 30, 2019.
US ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell awaits the arrival of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at Tegel airport in Berlin, May 30, 2019.Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images, FILE
Grenell received a master's degree in Public Administration from Harvard University and completed a bachelor degree at Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri, according to his biography posted on the State Department's website.
