Trump announced a series of appointments of former Trump administration officials on Saturday night.
President-elect Donald Trump has appointed trusted former Trump administration official Richard Grenell to be Presidential Envoy for Special Missions for his incoming administration.
The special missions position is typically reserved by presidents to appoint trusted individuals who they know align with their agenda to action narrowly focused policies.
“I am pleased to announce Richard Allen Grenell as our Presidential Envoy for Special Missions,” Trump said on his Truth Social social media platform on Dec. 14. “Ric will work in some of the hottest spots around the World, including Venezuela and North Korea,” the incoming president said of his plans for Grenell.
In the first Trump administration, Grenell served as U.S. Ambassador to Germany where he was instrumental in securing German commitment for increased defense and NATO spending and revisiting policies for energy security in the region amid Germany’s reliance on Russian energy.
He was then tapped by Trump to serve as acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI), becoming the first openly gay person to hold a Cabinet-level position in U.S. history, which Grenell said he did not want to be the focus of his appointment.
“I’ve made it clear that I am not asking for special treatment or special rights—just equal access and consideration. It is important to me that I not be defined by my sexual orientation—I want to be defined by my experience and skills,” he said at the time.
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Grenell describes himself on X with the following introduction: “I’m stronger after cancer. My dog runs my life. Imperfect follower of Christ.”
He moved on from the role overseeing U.S. spy agencies after DNI John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) was confirmed by the Senate on May 26, 2020.
Grenell then served as Presidential Envoy for the Kosovo–Serbia peace negotiations, where he successfully facilitated economic normalization agreements between the two nations amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Trump touted the Harvard Master of Public Administration’s experience during the Bush administration at the U.N. Security Council where he worked on issues like North Korea.
“Ric will continue to fight for Peace through Strength, and always put America First,” Trump said.
Grenell thanked Trump for the appointment on X, saying, “Working on behalf of the American people for [President Trump] 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.”
President of Log Cabin Republicans, the largest GOP organization dedicated to representing LGBT conservatives and allies, Charles Moran said of Grenell’s appointment, “There is no better person than my friend [Richard Grenell] to serve as [President Trump’s] Special Envoy. Being the point-person for the biggest challenges that face America abroad is a monumental task, and Ric will be able to directly convey President Trump’s voice into the most dangerous places where our leadership is most desperately needed. So thankful for this critical appointment of a phenomenal man.”
Moran also praised Trump’s Saturday night appointment for Log Cabin Republican Bill White.
“We are thrilled for the news that our friend, steadfast supporter, and Trump Unity Co-Chair [Bill White] has been appointed by [President Trump] to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium.”
Trump said he tapped White for the position as the businessman, philanthropist, author, and advocate has “worked tirelessly to support Great American Patriots who have given everything for our Country by raising over $1.5 Billion Dollars for our fallen heroes, catastrophically wounded, and severely burned Service Members,” alongside his contributions to the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy.
The position requires Senate confirmation.
Nunes to Form Advisory Board of Private Sector Leaders
Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) on his family’s farm in San Joaquin Valley, Calif., on Sept. 2, 2020. Brendon Fallon/The Epoch Times
Trump also announced in his series of appointment posts on Saturday night that he is appointing former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and Truth Social CEO Devin Nunes as chairman of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board, which will include leaders from the private sector.
“Devin will draw on his experience as former Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, and his key role in exposing the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, to provide me with independent assessments of the effectiveness and propriety of the U.S. Intelligence Community’s activities,” Trump said. “Congratulations Devin!”
Before his 2017 inauguration, Trump attempted to form a similar advisory group consisting of prominent business leaders to provide him with nonpartisan, business-centric perspectives to help shape U.S. economic policy. Elon Musk joined the group, dubbed the Strategic and Policy Forum, but resigned on June 1, 2017, when Trump announced he was withdrawing the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement. Jeff Bezos and Jamie Dimon were also on the board.
The group dissolved in August 2017 following a wave of resignations after the Charlottesville rally and false reports that Trump was allegedly calling neo-Nazi’s “fine people.”
Trump also named Troy Edgar as deputy secretary of Homeland Security and Edward Sharp Walsh, P.E., as U.S. Ambassador to Ireland—both positions that will require Senate confirmation.
Trump said that IBM executive Edgar during the first Trump administration was instrumental in ensuring there was funding for border wall construction and backed critical immigration policy in his role as chief financial officer and associate deputy under secretary of management for Homeland Security.
The president-elect touted Walsh, president of the construction and real estate firm the Walsh Company, as a great local philanthropist who is well equipped to represent the United States in Ireland.
