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. 

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. He resigned after pressure from social conservatives.

In September 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Grenell as U.S. Ambassador to Germany. He was confirmed 56–42 on April 26, 2018. 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. In September 2013, Grenell announced that he was in remission.

Grenell is openly gay.

On February 19, 2020, President Trump announced his plans to make Grenell as the acting Director of National Intelligence. This made Grenell the first openly gay politician to become a member of the United States Cabinet.Trump names the first openly gay person to a cabinet-level position

On December 14, 2024, Trump hired Grenell to be the presidential envoy for special missions.

References

Category:1966 births
Category:Living people
Category:American LGBT politicians
Category:Gay men
Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Germany
Category:Republican Party (United States) politicians
Category:Politicians from Michigan