USA Trump appoints former ambassador Grenell as special envoy
The former US ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, is to become US President-elect Donald Trump's envoy for special missions. "Ric will be working in some of the world's hottest hot spots, including Venezuela and North Korea," Trump wrote on the online platform Truth Social, which he co-founded. "Ric will continue to fight for peace through strength" and will always put America first, Trump said.
15.12.2024, 08:57
SDA
During his time in Berlin, where Trump sent him in 2018 during his first term as president, Grenell was not sparing in his criticism of then CDU Chancellor Angela Merkel and Germany. This was primarily about Germany's financial contribution to the NATO defense alliance. Even afterwards, the now 58-year-old repeatedly lashed out against Germany. When the Federal Foreign Office took aim at a statement made by Trump in a TV duel during the election campaign on Platform X, Grenell called the post election interference.
The Trump loyalist had previously been considered as a possible Secretary of State. However, the nomination went to Marco Rubio, a senator from Florida.
Another appointment: Truth Social CEO to lead intelligence advisory board
Trump announced another appointment on Saturday: The head of Truth Social, Devin Nunes, is to chair the president's future intelligence advisory board. However, he will retain his position at Truth Social, Trump announced on the platform. Before Nunes was given the role at the media company in 2022, he was a Republican member of the US House of Representatives and already stood out as an avid supporter of Trump during this time.
As chairman of the Intelligence Committee in the US House of Representatives, Nunes was involved in wiretapping allegations against the FBI and other intelligence agencies during the 2016 election campaign during Trump's first term in office. Trump wrote that Nunes would use his experience as former chairman of the Intelligence Committee to provide him with independent assessments of the effectiveness and appropriateness of the activities of the US intelligence agencies.
