Posted on 02/20/2020 8:11:31 AM PST by RideForever
Feb. 20 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump has named U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell as acting Director of National Intelligence.
Trump named Grenell the new DNI on Wednesday, saying he represents the United States "exceedingly well."
"Ambassador Grenell was confirmed to his role as ambassador by the Senate in April 2018, and he has years of experience working with our intelligence community in a number of additional positions, including as special envoy for Serbia-Kosovo negotiations and as United States spokesman to the United Nations," the White House said in a statement Thursday.
"He is committed to a non-political, non-partisan approach as head of the intelligence community, on which our safety and security depend. The president has every confidence that Ambassador Grenell will perform his new duties with distinction." RELATED Pentagon policy chief John Rood resigns
In naming Grenell, Trump thanked current DNI Joe Maguire for doing a "wonderful job" in the post, and suggested he may be headed for another administration position.
"It has been an honor to work alongside the men and women of the intelligence community," Maguire said.
Grenell, ambassador to Germany since May 2018, will be the second acting director of national intelligence since Dan Coats resigned from the position last August. Trump initially appointed John Ratcliffe, who later withdrew his name from consideration amid criticism he was unqualified for the position. RELATED Blagojevich back home after Trump ends 14-year prison sentence
The director of national intelligence position was formed following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to oversee the government's 17 spy agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency.
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., vice chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, derided Trump's selection of Grenell because he lacks "any intelligence experience." He noted that Grenell is Trump's second appointed acting director since Coats' resignation and accused the president of attempting to "sidestep" the Senate's authority to advise and consent.
"The intelligence community deserves stability and an experienced individual to lead them in a time of massive national and global security challenges," Warner said in a statement. "At a time when the integrity and independence of the [Department of Justice] has been called into grave question, our country needs a Senate-confirmed intelligence director who will provide the best intelligence and analysis, regardless of whether or not it's expedient for the president."
Grenell, who will become the first openly gay member of Trump's administration, has been a vocal supporter of the president's and defended him against the criticisms.
Starting a pool on the exact month he betrays the President.
Can I have June? Please...
Democrats oppose him because they are homophobic
He won’t. He has been great as ambassador to Germany.
Grenell has been one of Trump’s strongest supporters and all you need to do is take a look at who’s pissed about the appointment to see that Trump put the right person into place.
Actually , I would bet against that. Grenell has been a standup Ambassador and has pissed off the Germans a couple of times by taking a hard line supporting the Trump Admin. positions. And I don’t care that he’s openly gay. I only care that he puts the nations best interests to the forefront.
That's what we should all be looking at. His sins are between him and God. I want someone responsible in that position and if he's the guy I will support him.
Conservatives will have to get over the fact that Trump has picked him for good reasons, and regardless of the fact that he is “gay”.
The Liberals will go off and look like the Hypocrites they are, Trump keeps them off balance.
Gone are the days, I suppose, where his “happiness” would preclude getting clearance....
I have listened to a few speeches and Q&A’s with Grenell and I have to say I came away extremely impressed. He is direct, has a keen mind, and might be one of the best advocates for the Trump doctrine in the administration.
At first glance, he appears to be a solid choice and he did an interview in Germany that I just tried to find where he presented one of the most effective defenses of Trump vs the Establishment that I have heard from anyone in the administration. I think there was a thread here on it.
However, while I am hopeful that he will not betray Trump like many others have, past experiences do not belittle your skepticism. There are VERY few people in the beltway culture who have exhibited loyalty.
The key for Grenell will be if he brings the same independent streak to the job so he can avoid being captured by the permanent bureaucracy that seems to rule all of the intelligence agencies no matter who is appointed. We need a disruptive force in that position who can end some of the foolishness we have endured.
Ratcliffe was a great choice and would have done that.
“Gone are the days, I suppose, where his “happiness” would preclude getting clearance....”
Yes. Nowadays it’s being a straight, white, Christian male that would cast suspicion on you.
<>Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., vice chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, derided Trump’s selection of Grenell because he lacks “any intelligence experience.”<>
Uh, no. rat Warner and pubbie Richard Burr are neck-deep in leaks and selling out the US and probably taking kickbacks from foreign governments as well.
They will oppose Grenell for the same reason they opposed Ratcliffe and screwed General Flynn; all three would have flipped over the flat damp rocks of our intelligence agencies and stomped on what scurried out.
Remember the decades long committee staffer James Wolfe? He was caught dead to rights leaking intell to newspapers and should have spent the rest of his life in prison . . . except he promised to out the intell committee senators who ordered him to do so.
Oh, and the Chinese spy on Feinstein’s personal staff for 20 years?
Senate intel committee is a traitorous enemy within.
“And I don’t care that he’s openly gay.”
I do.
“I only care that he puts the nations best interests to the forefront.”
Of course. We all do.
Gone long ago, when it became apparent “his happiness” was no longer something he could be blackmailed with and by that blackmail comprise someone, in terms of their security clearance.
Meh....there’s still an argument to be made against it but probably on the military side. I dunno... screw it. Let’s all hug.
Starting a pool on the exact month he betrays the President.
I doubt it. He’s been outspokenly MAGA since the campaign. He’s a gay General Flynn basically.
It really is pretty bad isn’t it? Good points.
But he has no military nor intelligence experience. He has always been a media guy. Maguire was a SEAL and later commander. Coats sat in the Senate Intelligence Committee.
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