Richard Grenell, a former ambassador to Germany, acting national intelligence chief, and special envoy to the Balkans, began his quest to become secretary of state in a second Trump administration by leading a disorganized “stop the steal” operation in battleground states after the 2020 election. Despite false accusations of fraud, Mr. Grenell admitted to his team that the Nevada vote was not stolen and that their goal was to distract the media while the election battle in neighboring Arizona played out. Many Republicans fear reprisal from Mr. Grenell and choose to remain anonymous when discussing him.
Mr. Grenell is seen by his detractors as a caustic opportunist with modest achievements who excelled in the Trump administration’s culture of pit bull partisanship. On the other hand, his supporters praise his loyalty and efficiency in delivering Mr. Trump’s demands. Despite the controversies surrounding him, Mr. Grenell is seen as a likely candidate for a top foreign policy position in a potential second Trump administration, potentially as national security adviser if not as secretary of state.
Throughout his career, Mr. Grenell has leveraged his connections in the Balkans for various business ventures, including projects involving Jared Kushner, Mr. Trump’s son-in-law. He has worked on luxury hotel developments and broadcasting deals in Eastern Europe, as well as explored opportunities in arms manufacturing with a former Newsmax pundit. Mr. Grenell continues to support the Trump family, assisting Melania Trump in securing speaking engagements and praising Ivanka Trump’s recognition of his status as America’s first gay cabinet member.
Mr. Grenell’s road to the Trump White House was marked by controversy, including a brief stint as a foreign policy spokesman for Mitt Romney’s campaign where he faced backlash for his social media posts and deleted tweets. After becoming a fierce Trump supporter, Mr. Grenell was nominated to be the U.S. ambassador to Germany in 2018, where his remarks and behavior drew criticism from both sides of the Atlantic. He later served as the acting director of national intelligence, overseeing declassifications aimed at discrediting the U.S. intelligence community’s assessment of Russia’s interference in the 2016 election.
Despite his controversial past and aggressive tactics, Mr. Grenell has remained a prominent figure in Trump’s orbit, with several individuals close to the former president suggesting that he could be appointed to a key foreign policy position in a second Trump administration. While Mr. Trump has reportedly expressed concerns about Mr. Grenell’s communications work for foreign clients, their relationship remains strong. Mr. Grenell’s efforts in the Balkans and his close ties to Mr. Trump and his family suggest that he may continue to play a significant role in American diplomacy in the future.
