President-elect Donald J. Trump has appointed Richard Grenell, his former ambassador to Germany and acting director of national intelligence, as his “envoy for special missions.” This role is separate from the position of secretary of state, which Trump plans to appoint Senator Marco Rubio.
Grenell, a loyalist known for his social media attacks, led an effort to challenge the 2020 election results in Nevada after Trump’s loss. He has also lobbied for a diplomatic job in the new administration and worked with foreign clients on luxury hotel development projects in the Balkans.
The role of envoy for special missions is not subject to Senate confirmation, unlike traditional envoys. Grenell will work on sensitive issues such as Venezuela and North Korea. His appointment comes after questions about his paid work for foreign clients were raised.
Grenell’s history includes working as a spokesman for the US mission to the UN under multiple presidents, but his abrasive personality and partisanship led some centrist conservatives to distance themselves from him. He has worked with Kash Patel, another loyalist who is now Trump’s pick to lead the FBI.
In 2020, Grenell attempted to coax Serbia into recognizing Kosovo’s statehood, proposing a name change for a lake that would have memorialized his achievement. However, negotiations failed, and Grenell was also among those dispatched by Trump to sow doubt about election results in Nevada.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/14/us/politics/trump-richard-grenell-special-missions.html