Richard Grenell

Grenell was born in Michigan. He attended elementary school in Redwood City, California. Liberty & Justice with Matt Whitaker (Season 3, Episode 15). [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ric-grenell-former-acting-director-of-national/id1608809500?i=1000660789771&l=zh-Hans-CN Ric Grenell, former acting Director of National Intelligence and Ambassador to Germany, joins Liberty & Justice with Matt Whitaker.] Retrieved May 21, 2025. He graduated from Jenison High School in Michigan in 1984.Tower, Mark (April 26, 2018). [https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2018/04/jenison_native_confirmed_as_us.html Jenison native confirmed as U.S. ambassador to Germany.] Retrieved May 21, 2025.

He received a bachelor's degree in government and public administration from Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri. He received a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.{{cite web|date=2017|title=About|url=http://richardgrenell.com/about|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430015827/https://richardgrenell.com/about/|archive-date=April 30, 2018|website=richardgrenell.com}}{{cite web|title=Acting Director of National Intelligence|url=https://www.dni.gov/index.php/who-we-are/leadership/director-of-national-intelligence?highlight=WyJiaW9ncmFwaGllcyIsImJpb2dyYXBoeSJd|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404025633/https://www.dni.gov/index.php/who-we-are/leadership/director-of-national-intelligence?highlight=WyJiaW9ncmFwaGllcyIsImJpb2dyYXBoeSJd|archive-date=April 4, 2020|access-date=May 7, 2020|work=Office of the Director of National Intelligence}}{{Cite news|last1=Williamson|first1=Elizabeth|last2=Vogel|first2=Kenneth P.|date=March 4, 2020|title=An Undiplomatic Diplomat Wins Power in Trump's Washington|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/04/us/politics/richard-grenell-trump-intelligence.html|access-date=June 20, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}

Prior to his service at the State Department, Grenell was a political adviser to a number of Republicans, including George Pataki and Dave Camp.{{cite news|first=Arlette|last=Saenz|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/05/richard-grenell-openly-gay-romney-spokesman-resigns-from-post|title=Richard Grenell, Openly Gay Romney Spokesman, Resigns From Post|date=May 1, 2012|website=ABC News}}

File:Richard Grenell voting at a UN Security Council meeting.jpg

In 2001, Grenell was appointed by President George W. Bush as Director of Communications and Public Diplomacy for the United States permanent representative to the United Nations in New York with the rank of Minister-Counselor.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ESwgkyOuuvwC&q=richard+Grenell+state+department+phone+book+2001&pg=PA269 |title=Executive Office of the Secretary General, Protocol and Liaison Service, Permanent Missions to the United Nations New York, No. 290, 2003 |date=August 2003|access-date=March 23, 2020|last1=Nations |first1=United }}{{unreliable source?|date=March 2020}}{{cite web |title=Mrs. Bush to Attend United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS |url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/05/20060526-10.html |website=The White House, President George W. Bush |access-date=28 March 2024}} Serving in that role until 2008, Grenell advised four different U.S. ambassadors. During his tenure, Grenell promulgated U.S. official position and strategy on such issues as the War on Terror, global peacekeeping operations, nuclear proliferation, and the UN Oil for Food corruption scandal.

In 2009, Grenell founded Capitol Media Partners, an international strategic media and public affairs consultancy. He was also under contract as a Fox News contributor, commenting on foreign affairs and the media.{{cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/archive/richard-grenell/index.html|title=Richard Grenell|website=Fox News|access-date=June 5, 2018}}{{cite news|url=http://www.mediaite.com/tv/richard-grenell-re-signs-with-fox-news-through-election-2016/|title=Richard Grenell Re-Signs with Fox News Through Election 2016|date=October 15, 2014|website=Mediaite |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016110017/http://www.mediaite.com/tv/richard-grenell-re-signs-with-fox-news-through-election-2016/ |archive-date=2014-10-16 |first=Eddie |last=Scarry}} Grenell has written for The Wall Street Journal,{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303610504577419973861004532|title=Marriage, Gay Republicans and the Election|last=Grenell|first=Richard|date=May 22, 2012|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}}{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203611404577044123819688612|title=Obama's Failing Iran Diplomacy |last=Grenell |first=Richard|date=November 21, 2011|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}} CBS News,{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/holden-caulfield-and-me/|title=Holden Caulfield and Me|last=Grenell|first=Richard|date=January 30, 2010|website=CBS News}}{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-yahoo-ought-to-follow-googles-lead-on-china/ |title=Why Yahoo Ought to Follow Google's Lead on China|last=Grenell|first=Richard|date=April 18, 2010|website=CBS News}} CNN,{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/OPINION/12/01/grenell.obama.afghanistan/index.html|title=GOP rescuing Obama's Afghan policy|last=Grenell|first=Richard|date=December 1, 2009|website=CNN}} Politico,{{cite news |url=http://www.politico.com/arena/bio/richard_a_grenell.html|title=Arena Profile: Richard A. Grenell|newspaper=Politico}} Huffington Post,{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-grenell/|title=Richard Grenell |last=Grenell|first=Richard|newspaper=The Huffington Post}} The Washington Times,{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/19/richard-grenell-nigeria-brink/|title=Nigeria on the brink|last=Grenell |first=Richard|date=March 19, 2015|newspaper=The Washington Times}} and Al Jazeera.{{cite news |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/focus/2009/12/200912301195192887.html|title=A year of little change for Obama|last=Grenell|first=Richard |date=December 30, 2009|agency=Al Jazeera}}

Grenell worked for Republican candidate Mitt Romney as a spokesperson (on foreign policy), during his 2012 presidential campaign, making him the first openly gay person in that role for a Republican presidential candidate.{{cite news |date=April 6, 2012 |title=Mitt Romney's Appointment of Gay Aide Richard Grenell Signals New Attitude |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/04/romney-appt-of-gay-aide-signals-new-attitude/ |website=ABC News }}{{cite news |date=April 24, 2012 |title=Mitt Romney's Gay Spokesman: A Milestone in Republican Politics |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/04/mitt-romneys-gay-spokesman-a-milestone-in-republican-politics/256263/ |newspaper=The Atlantic }}

Grenell was a signatory to a 2013 amicus curiae brief submitted to the Supreme Court in support of same-sex marriage during the Hollingsworth v. Perry case.{{cite news|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/02/28/the-pro-freedom-republicans-are-coming-131-sign-gay-marriage-brief.html|title=The Pro-Freedom Republicans Are Coming: 131 Sign Gay-Marriage Brief|date=February 28, 2013|newspaper=The Daily Beast}}

In 2016, Grenell's consulting firm accepted more than $100,000 from the Magyar Foundation of North America to provide public relations support for the Hungarian government of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Grenell did not disclose this payment under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) prior to his work in the Trump administration.{{cite web |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/trumps-new-spy-chief-once-got--100000-from-a-group-funded-by-the-hungarian-government-but-never-reported-it |last=Arnsdorf |first=Isaac |publisher=ProPublica |date=February 24, 2020 |access-date=February 25, 2020 |title=Trump's New Spy Chief Once Got $100,000 from a Group Funded by the Hungarian Government but Never Reported It}}

During the 2016 Republican primaries, Grenell warned his Twitter followers about Donald Trump, describing him as "unserious", "reckless", and "dangerous". Grenell deleted all of his negative tweets about Trump after Trump became the Republican nominee. Grenell then began praising Trump regularly on Fox News and on Twitter.{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/21/grenell-trump-critic-116648|title=Trump's new intel chief was a Trump critic in 2016|last1=Bertrand|first1=Natasha|access-date=October 9, 2021|website=Politico|date=February 21, 2020}}

Days after Grenell's appointment as DNI, CNN reported that his personal website had — until 2018 — touted consulting work he had done for clients in Iran, China, Kazakhstan, and other countries.{{cite web|last=Cohen|first=Marshall |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/25/politics/richard-grenell-foreign-clients-moldova-hungary/index.html |title=Richard Grenell once touted his foreign clients. Now he's the top US intelligence official |website=CNN|date=February 25, 2020 |access-date=March 24, 2020}}

File:Ambassador RichardGrenell met today with Berlin Governing Mayor Michael Müller (29276899927).jpg in 2018]]

File:Yehudah Teichtal, Richard Grenell, and Kent Logsdon, 4th of July 2018 in Berlin.jpg with Yehudah Teichtal at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, 2018]]

In September 2017, Trump nominated Grenell to become the United States ambassador to Germany.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-germany-grenell/senate-confirms-ambassador-to-germany-idUSKBN1HX3BL|title=Senate confirms ambassador to Germany|last=Zengerle|first=Patricia|date=April 26, 2018|access-date=February 26, 2020|work=Reuters}} After a significant delay, the United States Senate confirmed Grenell 56 – 42 on April 26, 2018.{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/senate-confirms-grenell-as-ambassador-to-germany-over-democrats-objections/2018/04/26/c6febd70-4979-11e8-9072-f6d4bc32f223_story.html |title=Senate confirms Grenell as ambassador to Germany over Democrats' objections |last=Demirjian |first=Karoun |date=April 26, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=April 27, 2018 |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} Grenell was sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence on May 3, 2018,{{cite web|title=Pence swears in Grenell as ambassador to Germany|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/386130-pence-swears-in-grenell-as-ambassador-to-germany/|last=Samuels|first=Brett|date=May 3, 2018|work=The Hill|access-date=June 6, 2018}} making him the highest-ranking openly gay U.S. ambassador.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/openly-gay-u-s-ambassador-germany-makes-republican-history-n869641|title=Openly gay U.S. ambassador to Germany makes Republican history|date=June 6, 2018|publisher=NBC News}} Grenell was also under consideration for the posts of U.S. ambassador to NATO and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, the latter position being filled by Ambassador Kelly Craft.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-08/trump-said-to-pick-former-un-spokesman-grenell-for-nato-post|title=Trump to Pick Former UN Spokesman Grenell for NATO Post, White House Says|date=March 8, 2017|website=bloomberg.com|access-date=June 6, 2018}}

Grenell presented his credentials to the president of Germany on May 8, 2018.{{cite web |last=Brennan |first=David |title=What was your worst start to a new job? Trump's new German ambassador offended his hosts almost immediately |url=https://www.newsweek.com/trumps-new-ambassador-has-upset-germans-just-hours-his-job-917124 |date=May 9, 2018 |website=Newsweek |access-date=July 11, 2019}} Within hours of taking office, Grenell offended German diplomats and business leaders when he tweeted that "German companies doing business in Iran should wind down operations immediately".{{cite news| url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/new-us-ambassador-to-germany-offends-hosts-just-hours-into-his-first-day_us_5af337d2e4b0859d11cfcd5f |title=New U.S. Ambassador to Germany Offends Hosts Just Hours Into His First Day| first=Antonia |last=Blumberg | website=Huffington Post| date=May 9, 2018| access-date=January 14, 2018}} The tweet was widely perceived as a threat, with the Foreign Minister of Luxembourg, Jean Asselborn, commenting that "This man was accredited as ambassador only yesterday. To give German businesses such orders (…) that is just not how you can treat your allies".{{cite news |last=Noack |first=Rick |title=Hours into his new job, Trump's ambassador to Germany offends his hosts |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/world/wp/2018/05/09/hours-into-his-new-job-trumps-ambassador-to-germany-offends-his-hosts/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 9, 2018 |access-date=January 14, 2019}} The leader of Germany's Social Democratic Party said that Grenell "does appear to need some tutoring" in the "fine art of diplomacy", while the Left Party urged the Merkel government to summon Grenell to explain his comments.

Grenell stirred controversy in June 2018 by telling Breitbart News, "I absolutely want to empower other conservatives throughout Europe, other leaders".{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/04/new-us-ambassador-to-germany-under-fire-for-rightwing-support|title=New US ambassador to Germany under fire for rightwing support|last=Oltermann|first=Philip|date=June 4, 2018|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=June 4, 2018}} This comment was described as a breach of diplomatic protocol and a breach of Article 41 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which stipulates that ambassadors have a "duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State". Prominent German politicians called for Grenell's dismissal.{{cite web|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/german-politicians-call-for-expulsion-of-trumps-envoy|title=German Politicians Call for Expulsion of Trump's Envoy|date=June 5, 2018|website=The Daily Beast|language=en|access-date=June 6, 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.zeit.de/news/2018-06/04/deutschland-eu-parlamentarier-brok-kritisiert-us-botschafter-interview-auf-breitbart-04152803|title=Deutschland: EU-Parlamentarier Brok kritisiert US-Botschafter-Interview auf "Breitbart"|work=ZEIT ONLINE|access-date=June 10, 2018|language=de}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dw.com/en/us-ambassador-richard-grenell-should-reconsider-role-after-europe-comments-german-lawmaker/a-44089702|title=US ambassador Richard Grenell should 'reconsider role' after Europe comments: German lawmaker |website=DW.com |language=en|access-date=June 10, 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/06/06/richard-grenell-u-s-ambassador-germany-should-reconsider-role-lawmaker-says/676189002/|title=German lawmaker says U.S. Ambassador Richard Grenell should reconsider role after 'empowerment' comments|work=USA Today|access-date=June 10, 2018|language=en}} Martin Schulz, former leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, said, "What this man is doing is unheard of in international diplomacy. If a German ambassador were to say in Washington that he is there to boost the Democrats, he would have been kicked out immediately."

File:Richard Grenell official photo.jpg

Grenell was a regular contributor on Fox News's Tucker Carlson Tonight during the first few months of his ambassadorship in Germany. In November 2018, he appeared on the show and repeated his criticism of Angela Merkel's immigration policies. Grenell contrasted Merkel with the recently elected Chancellor of Austria Sebastian Kurz, who (according to Grenell) "won in a very big way" because of his strict stance on immigration. The magazine Der Spiegel called these remarks a "thinly veiled call for a change of government in Berlin". Grenell's perceived interference in German politics drew criticism from several high-ranking German politicians. In March 2019, Wolfgang Kubicki, Vice President of the Bundestag and deputy chairman of the Free Democratic Party, charged Grenell with acting "like a high commissioner of an occupying power" and called for Grenell to be expelled from Germany.{{cite news |last1=Rodrigo |first1=Chris Mills|title=German opposition politician calls for US ambassador to be expelled |url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/434757-top-german-opposition-politician-calls-for-us-ambassador-to-be-expelled/ |access-date=March 19, 2019 |work=The Hill |date=March 19, 2019}}{{cite news |title=Germany: US ambassador Richard Grenell should be expelled, says FDP deputy leader |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-us-ambassador-richard-grenell-should-be-expelled-says-fdp-deputy-leader/a-47975156 |access-date=17 December 2020 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=19 March 2019}}

In December 2018, during the furor surrounding Der Spiegel writer Claas Relotius, who it turned out had been fabricating stories for years, Grenell wrote to the magazine complaining about an anti-American institutional bias, and asked for an independent investigation.{{cite news|last1=Connolly|first1=Kate|last2=Le Blond|first2=Josie |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/23/anti-america-bias-der-spiegel-scandal-relotius|title=Der Spiegel takes the blame for scandal of reporter who faked stories|work=The Guardian|date=December 23, 2018|access-date=December 23, 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article185986368/Fall-Relotius-US-Botschaft-wirft-Spiegel-eklatanten-Anti-Amerikanismus-vor.html|title=US-Botschaft wirft "Spiegel" "eklatanten Anti-Amerikanismus" vor |website=Die Welt|date=December 22, 2018| language=de}}{{cite news |title=Der Spiegel to press charges against reporter who made up article about Fergus Falls, Minnesota |url=http://www.startribune.com/der-spiegel-to-press-charges-against-reporter-who-made-up-article-about-fergus-falls-minnesota/503414652/ |work=Star Tribune |date=December 24, 2018 |access-date=January 9, 2019 |archive-date=April 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412065306/http://www.startribune.com/der-spiegel-to-press-charges-against-reporter-who-made-up-article-about-fergus-falls-minnesota/503414652/ |url-status=dead }} In January 2019, Grenell told Handelsblatt that European companies participating in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline are "always in danger, because sanctions are always possible". U.S. administrations had long opposed the Russian-backed Nord Stream 2, a pipeline for delivering natural gas from Russia to Germany.{{cite news |title=How the US could halt Nord Stream 2 |url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/today/politics/secondary-us-sanctions-how-the-us-could-halt-nord-stream-2/23834864.html?ticket=ST-677198-y0DTsJxE9CZPFdHrWCBc-ap4 |work=Handelsblatt |date=January 7, 2019 |access-date=January 9, 2019 |archive-date=June 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602184558/https://www.handelsblatt.com/today/politics/secondary-us-sanctions-how-the-us-could-halt-nord-stream-2/23834864.html?ticket=ST-677198-y0DTsJxE9CZPFdHrWCBc-ap4 |url-status=dead }} Grenell also threatened to sanction German companies involved in the construction of the Nord Stream 2.{{cite web|url=http://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/richard-grenell-us-botschafter-schreibt-drohbriefe-an-deutsche-firmen-a-1247785.html|title=US-Botschafter Grenell schreibt Drohbriefe an deutsche Firmen|date=January 13, 2018|website=Spiegel Online}}

Der Spiegel published a profile of Grenell on January 11, 2019, using interviews with 30 “American and German diplomats, cabinet members, lawmakers, high-ranking officials, lobbyists and think tank experts". The magazine wrote that "almost all of these sources paint an unflattering portrait of the ambassador, one remarkably similar to Donald Trump, the man who sent him to Berlin. A majority of them describe Grenell as a vain, narcissistic person who dishes out aggressively, but can barely handle criticism." The profile claimed that Grenell was politically isolated in Berlin because of his alleged association with the far-right Alternative for Germany Party, causing the leaders of the mainstream German parties — including the Chancellor herself — to avoid contact with him; while Grenell had pressed German parliamentarians to invite him to their districts, most had declined.{{cite news| url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/u-s-ambassador-richard-grenell-is-isolated-in-berlin-a-1247610.html| title=Trump's Ambassador Finds Few Friends in Germany| author=Konstantin von Hammerstein| publisher=Der Spiegel| date=January 11, 2019| access-date=January 14, 2019}} The sources claimed that Grenell knew little "about Germany and Europe, that he ignores most of the dossiers his colleagues at the embassy write for him, and that his knowledge of the subject matter is superficial".{{Cite web|url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2019/01/germans-shunning-trumps-vain-narcissistic-gay-ambassador/|title=Germans are shunning Trump's 'vain, narcissistic' gay ambassador|first=Bil|last=Browning|date=January 14, 2019|website=LGBTQ Nation}}

In the fall of 2018, Grenell played a key diplomatic role in planning the arrest of Julian Assange by providing backchannel assurances to Ecuador that Assange would not face the death penalty in the United States.{{cite web

|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-gave-verbal-pledge-death-penalty-assange-sources/story?id=62414643|title=US Gave Verbal Pledge of No Death Penalty for Assange|first1=Tara|last1=Palmeri|first2=Aicha El Hammar|last2=Castano|date=April 15, 2019|publisher=ABC News}} In February 2019, it was announced that Grenell was leading the Trump administration's newly formed effort to promote the decriminalization of homosexuality in nations in which homosexuality was illegal.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/trump-administration-launches-global-effort-end-criminalization-homosexuality-n973081|title=Trump administration launches global effort to end criminalization of homosexuality|website=NBC News|language=en|access-date=April 8, 2019|date=February 19, 2019}} In January 2020, Lev Parnas told The Daily Beast that he was told to ask Grenell for advance notice if the DOJ were to move to extradite indicted Ukrainian oligarch Dmytro Firtash.{{cite web|first=Heather |last=Hurlburt |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/02/richard-grenell-director-national-intelligence.html |title=The Scariest Part of Richard Grenell's Appointment |website=New York |date=February 20, 2020 |access-date=March 1, 2020}}{{cite news|first=Betsy |last=Swan |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/lev-parnas-dishes-on-kushner-maduro-and-soros |title=Lev Parnas Dishes On Kushner, Maduro, and Soros |newspaper=The Daily Beast |date=January 18, 2020 |access-date=March 1, 2020}} Among other actions as ambassador, Grenell pressured Germany to take a tougher stance against Iran and Hezbollah.{{cite web | last1=Weinthal | first1=Benjamin | title=The rise of Trump's new pro-Israel and anti-Iran intel director - analysis | url=https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/the-rise-of-trumps-new-pro-israel-and-anti-iran-intel-director-analysis-618248 | date=February 21, 2020 | work=The Jerusalem Post | access-date=May 10, 2020}}

Following his appointment as Acting Director of National Intelligence, Grenell has said he would resign as ambassador once a full-time DNI was confirmed.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/19/us/politics/dni-national-intelligence-director-grenell.html|title=Trump Names Richard Grenell As Acting Head Of Intelligence|work=The New York Times|date=February 19, 2020|access-date=April 29, 2020|last1=Barnes|first1=Julian E.|last2=Haberman|first2=Maggie|authorlink2=Maggie Haberman}}{{cite web|first=Nick|last=Visser|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/richard-grenell-german-ambassador_n_5e5f36e7c5b67ed38b3a5734 |title=Richard Grenell, Acting Spy Chief, Sets Timeline For Giving Up Ambassador's Job |date=March 4, 2020 |website=Huffington Post |access-date=April 29, 2020}}{{cite web|first=Spencer|last=Neale|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/acting-spy-chief-richard-grenell-plans-to-resign-ambassadorship-if-john-ratcliffe-confirmed-as-dni |title=Acting spy chief Richard Grenell plans to resign ambassadorship if John Ratcliffe confirmed as DNI |website=Washington Examiner |date=March 4, 2020 |access-date=April 29, 2020}} On May 25, 2020, after John Ratcliffe was confirmed, Grenell confirmed he would resign as ambassador in the coming weeks.{{cite web | last1=Strobel | first1=Warren P. | title=U.S. Ambassador to Germany to Step Down | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-ambassador-to-germany-to-step-down-11590435676 | date=May 25, 2020 | work=The Wall Street Journal | access-date=May 26, 2020}}{{cite web | last1=Noryskiewicz | first1=Anna | title=Staunch Trump ally Richard Grenell to end tumultuous tenure as U.S. Ambassador to Germany | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/richard-grenell-ally-of-donald-trump-ending-tumultuous-tenure-us-ambassador-germany/ | date=May 25, 2020 | work=CBS News | access-date=May 26, 2020}}{{cite web | last1=Weinthal | first1=Benjamin | title=The pro-Israel 'force of nature' US ambassador to Germany steps down | url=https://www.jpost.com/international/the-pro-israel-force-of-nature-us-ambassador-to-germany-steps-down-629356 | date=May 26, 2020 | work=The Jerusalem Post | access-date=May 26, 2020}} He formally resigned on June 1, 2020.{{cite web | title=US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell resigns | url=https://www.dw.com/en/us-ambassador-to-germany-richard-grenell-resigns/a-53659927 | date=June 2, 2020 | work=Deutsche Welle | access-date=June 3, 2020}}{{cite web | title=U.S. ambassador to Germany Grenell steps down | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-usa/u-s-ambassador-to-germany-grenell-steps-down-idUSKBN2391WW | date=June 2, 2020 | work=Reuters | access-date=June 3, 2020}}{{cite web | title=US ambassador to Germany resigns from post, deputy stands in | url=https://apnews.com/115317ce2912b15d7f99a8584e50fb7a | date=June 2, 2020 | work=Associated Press News | access-date=June 3, 2020}}

File:4T0A1674 (49413330273).jpg (sitting left),
Richard Grenell, Special U.S. Presidential Envoy for Serbia and Kosovo Peace Negotiations (standing right),
Eset Berisha, Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Kosovo (sitting right)]]

In October 2019, Trump named Grenell a special envoy for Serbia and Kosovo peace negotiations.{{cite web|last=Bayer |first=Lili |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/trump-names-ric-grenell-his-special-envoy-for-serbia-and-kosovo/ |title=Trump names Ric Grenell his special envoy for Serbia and Kosovo |website=Politico |date=October 4, 2019 |access-date=March 1, 2020}} He continued serving part-time as special envoy after his resignation as ambassador, working from the White House.{{cite web | last1=Jacobs | first1=Jennifer | title=Trump's Ex-Intelligence Adviser to Stay as Kosovo-Serbia Envoy | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-02/trump-s-ex-intelligence-adviser-to-stay-as-kosovo-serbia-envoy | date=June 2, 2020 | work=Bloomberg News | access-date=June 3, 2020}}{{cite web | title=U.S. Envoy Says Kosovo, Serbia Agree To White House Meeting In Late June | url=https://www.rferl.org/a/u-s-envoy-says-kosovo-serbia-agree-to-white-house-meeting-in-late-june/30672406.html | date=June 15, 2020 | work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | access-date=June 19, 2020}}{{cite web | last1=Kllokoqi | first1=Sylejman | title=EU, US display differences over Serbia-Kosovo negotiation | url=https://apnews.com/7fdae2ee083ec9cf1ccb200156d1604a | date=June 16, 2020 | work=Associated Press News | access-date=June 20, 2020}} After months of diplomatic talks, on January 20, 2020, Grenell facilitated negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo where the two nations agreed to restore flights between their capitals for the first time in more than two decades.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/20/world/europe/serbia-kosovo-flights-resume.html|title=Serbia-Kosovo Flights to Resume Under U.S.-Brokered Deal|date=January 20, 2020|work=The New York Times|language=en}}{{cite news|first1=Seana|last1=Davis|first2=Alastair|last2=Jamieson|url=https://www.euronews.com/2020/01/21/kosovo-serbia-flights-to-restart-after-two-decades-thecube|title=Kosovo-Serbia flights to restart after two decades|date=January 25, 2020|website=Euronews|language=en}} A June 27, 2020, peace summit between the two sides was arranged to take place in Washington D.C., but was canceled due to the potential indictment of Hashim Thaçi on war crimes.{{Cite web|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2020/06/24/kosovo-specialist-prosecutor-charges-thaci-with-war-crimes/|title=Kosovo Specialist Prosecutor Charges Thaci with War Crimes|date=June 24, 2020|publisher=Balkan Insight|access-date=June 24, 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/serbia-kosovo-trump-deal-economic-ties-election-israel-a9705836.html|title=Serbia and Kosovo agree to normalise economic ties in US-brokered deal|last1=Wood|first1=Vincent|date=September 4, 2020|work=The Independent|access-date=September 5, 2020}}

According to a report by NPR, Grenell pressured Kosovo prime minister Albin Kurti to accept a deal favorable to Serbia, including dropping tariffs and agreeing to land swaps, and publicly threatened to withdraw U.S. peacekeepers. The analysis says this contributed to Kurti's removal as prime minister, prompting popular protests from his anti-corruption supporters.{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/06/05/870227931/how-a-trump-diplomat-helped-bring-down-kosovos-government |title=How A Trump Diplomat Helped To Bring Down Kosovo's Government |first=Joanna |last=Kakissis |website=NPR |date=June 5, 2020}}

Grenell organized a new summit, located at the White House, for September 3 and 4, 2020. Grenell, along with his friend Robert C. O'Brien, cohosted the talks. On September 4, Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić and Kosovo prime minister Avdullah Hoti signed the Kosovo and Serbia economic agreements.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/515136-us-brokers-economic-breakthrough-for-serbia-kosovo/ |title=US brokers economic breakthrough for Serbia, Kosovo|last1=Kelly, Laura|first1=Maggie|last2=Chalfant|first2=Morgan|date=September 4, 2020|work=The Hill|access-date=September 5, 2020}}{{cite news|url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/serbia-kosovo-agree-to-normalize-economic-relations-11599237632|title=Serbia, Kosovo Agree to Normalize Economic Relations|last1=Ballhaus|first1=Rebecco|last2=Pancevski|first2=Bojan|date=September 4, 2020|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=September 4, 2020}} The signing ceremony took place in the Oval Office at the White House in Trump's presence on September 4, 2020. In September 2020, Grenell traveled to Kosovo to receive the Presidential Medal of Merits from President Thaçi. His tenure ended with the end of the Trump presidency on January 20, 2021.

File:Appointment of Richard Grenell as Director of National Intelligence.png

On February 13, 2020, Shelby Pierson — the intelligence community's top election security official, deputy to Joseph Maguire — advised members of the House Intelligence Committee that Russia was interfering in the 2020 election in an effort to get Trump re-elected. Trump chastised Maguire for allowing the briefing, concerned that Democrats might "weaponize" the information against him.{{cite news|last1=Barnes|first1=Julian E.|last2=Haberman|first2=Maggie|date=February 19, 2020|title=Trump Names Richard Grenell as Acting Head of Intelligence|website=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/19/us/politics/dni-national-intelligence-director-grenell.html}}{{cite news|author1=Jim Acosta|author2=Zachary Cohen|author3=Dana Bash|author4=Jeremy Herb|title=Russia is looking to help Trump win in 2020, election security official told lawmakers|website=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/20/politics/trump-russia-intelligence-2020/index.html}}{{cite news|title=Senior intelligence official told lawmakers that Russia wants to see Trump reelected|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/after-a-congressional-briefing-on-election-threats-trump-soured-on-acting-spy-chief/2020/02/20/1ed2b4ec-53f1-11ea-b119-4faabac6674f_story.html|last1=Nakashima|first1=Ellen|last2=Harris|first2=Shane|date=21 February 2020|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=28 May 2020|last3=Dawsey|first3=Josh|last4=Gearan|first4=Anne}}

On February 20, 2020, Trump replaced Maguire as Acting Director of National Intelligence, appointing Grenell to the role.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/who-is-richard-grenell |title=Who is Richard Grenell, the new acting director of national intelligence? |last=Norman|first=Greg |website=Fox News |date=February 24, 2020 |access-date=March 23, 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.dni.gov/index.php/who-we-are/leadership/director-of-national-intelligence |title=Acting Director of National Intelligence |website=Office of the Director of National Intelligence |access-date=February 26, 2020 |quote=The Honorable Richard A. Grenell assumed the role of Acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI) on Feb. 20, 2020.}} Maguire and his deputy, Andrew Hallman, resigned from the Office of the Director for National Intelligence (ODNI).{{Cite news|last1=Barnes|first1=Julian E.|last2=Goldman|first2=Adam|last3=Fandos|first3=Nicholas|date=February 21, 2020|title=Richard Grenell Begins Overhauling Intelligence Office, Prompting Fears of Partisanship|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/us/politics/richard-grenell-dni.html|access-date=February 23, 2020|issn=0362-4331}} Kash Patel — a National Security Council official and former aide to Congressman Devin Nunes — was named the next day as a senior advisor to Grenell.{{cite news|title=NSC aide who worked to discredit Russia probe moves to senior ODNI post|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/20/kash-patel-odni-post-116546|last=Lippman|first=Daniel|website=Politico|date=February 20, 2020}}

As a temporary incumbent, Grenell was not subject to Senate confirmation. Although Trump indicated he would be appointing a new U.S. ambassador to Germany,{{cite news|date=February 23, 2020|title=As Grenell moves to spy post, Trump looks for new ambassador to Germany|work=Reuters.com|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-dni/as-grenell-moves-to-spy-post-trump-looks-for-new-ambassador-to-germany-idUSKCN20H0JR|access-date=March 1, 2020}} Grenell kept this position while also serving in his new role,{{cite news|last1=Barnes|first1=Julian E.|last2=Haberman|first2=Maggie|date=February 19, 2020|title=Trump Names Richard Grenell as Acting Head of Intelligence|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/19/us/politics/dni-national-intelligence-director-grenell.html|access-date=February 20, 2020}} and Grenell indicated he did not expect to take the director of national intelligence job on a permanent basis.

On February 28, 2020, Trump announced the nomination of U.S. representative John Ratcliffe to the post of Director of National Intelligence. The nomination allowed Grenell to stay on as Acting Director pending Ratcliffe's confirmation.{{cite web|title=Trump nominates Rep. John Ratcliffe to be intel chief — again|date=February 28, 2020 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/trump-says-he-will-nominate-john-ratcliffe-be-intel-chief-n1145621|publisher=Nbcnews.com|access-date=March 1, 2020}}{{cite news|author=Nicholas Fandos|title=Richard Grenell Begins Overhauling Intelligence Office, Prompting Fears of Partisanship - The New York Times|work=The New York Times|date=February 21, 2020 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/us/politics/richard-grenell-dni.html|access-date=February 26, 2020}} With Ratcliffe's confirmation and installation, Grenell's tenure as Acting Director ended on May 26, 2020.{{Cite news|last=Zwirko|first=Walt|date=May 26, 2020|title=Ratcliffe sworn in as new US spy chief|language=en|work=KTEN|url=http://www.kten.com/story/42175102/ratcliffe-sworn-in-as-new-us-spy-chief|access-date=May 26, 2020}}

Grenell enacted a hiring freeze at ODNI and ordered a review of the agency's personnel and mission.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/12/us/politics/richard-grenell-intelligence-office-review.html|title=Acting Intelligence Chief Freezes Hiring and Looks to Cut Office|first1=Julian E.|last1=Barnes|first2=Adam|last2=Goldman|newspaper=The New York Times|date=March 12, 2020}} On May 8, he announced a reorganization of ODNI including a consolidated cyber office,{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/496874-grenell-announces-creation-of-intelligence-community-cyber-executive/|title=Grenell announces creation of intelligence community 'cyber executive'|first=Maggie|last=Miller|date=May 8, 2020|website=The Hill}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-intelligence-idUSKBN22K2ZW|title=Acting U.S. spy chief overhauls agency in defiance of congressional concerns|work=Reuters|date=May 8, 2020|last1=Landay|first1=Jonathan}} and on May 15, he announced organizational changes to the National Counterterrorism Center.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/15/us/politics/counterterrorism-intelligence.html|title=Intelligence Chief Reduces Size of Counterterrorism Office|first1=Julian E.|last1=Barnes|first2=Eric|last2=Schmitt|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 15, 2020}} Also on May 15, Grenell announced that ODNI would lead election security threat briefings for 2020 presidential candidates, replacing the FBI.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/odni-to-offer-election-security-briefings-for-both-parties-in-run-up-to-november|title=ODNI to offer election security briefings for both parties in run-up to November|first=Brooke|last=Singman|date=May 15, 2020|website=Fox News}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.axios.com/election-security-briefings-dni-1ac86dfc-c75e-4990-ba32-1bc45eb3d5b0.html|title=DNI to take lead role in election security briefings|first=Orion|last=Rummler|website=Axios|date=May 15, 2020}}{{Cite web|first=Jerry|last=Dunleavy|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/grenell-top-counterintel-official-will-take-charge-of-2020-campaign-briefings-on-election-interference|title=Grenell: Top counterintel official will take charge of 2020 campaign briefings on election interference|date=May 16, 2020|website=Washington Examiner}}

In April 2020, Grenell said the administration was considering policies to reduce intelligence-sharing with countries that criminalize homosexuality.{{Cite web|title=U.S. May Share Less Intelligence With Countries That Criminalize Homosexuality|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/22/us/politics/intelligence-sharing-lgbt-laws.html|last=Barnes|first=Julian E.|date=April 22, 2020|website=New York Times|access-date=28 May 2020}} On April 29, 2020, he ordered each intelligence agency to review their policies on handling and sharing information on U.S. citizens.{{Cite web|title=Acting Intelligence Chief says he's "increasingly concerned" over handling of sensitive U.S. person information among agencies and orders broad review|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/national-intelligence-director-orders-agencies-to-review-rules-for-sharing-of-personal-information/|website=www.cbsnews.com|date=May 2, 2020 }}{{Cite web|title='Increasingly concerned': Spy chief orders review of unmasking policies for intelligence agencies|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/increasingly-concerned-spy-chief-orders-review-of-unmasking-policies-for-intelligence-agencies|date=May 2, 2020|website=Washington Examiner}}{{unreliable source?|date=May 2020}}

On April 2 and 15, 2020, Grenell acted to declassify several footnotes in a report on FISA abuse released by DOJ inspector general Michael E. Horowitz.{{Cite web|title=New intel chief pivotal in releasing classified dossier bombshell|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/apr/19/richard-grenell-reveals-russia-fed-christopher-ste/|work=The Washington Times}}{{Cite web|title=GOP seizes on newly declassified material to raise further questions about Steele dossier|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/16/politics/christopher-steele-footnotes-russian-disinformation/index.html|author1=Jeremy Herb|author2=Evan Perez|website=CNN|date=April 16, 2020 }} He also played a role in the release of 57 transcripts of Russia probe interviews by the House Intelligence Committee.{{Cite web|title=Intel chief tells Schiff transcripts of Russia probe interviews cleared for release|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/intel-chief-tells-schiff-transcripts-of-russia-probe-interviews-cleared-for-release|last=Singman|first=Brooke|date=May 6, 2020|website=Fox News}}{{Cite web|title=House Intelligence Committee releases dozens of transcripts from Russia probe|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/house-intelligence-committee-transcripts-russia-investigation/|website=www.cbsnews.com|date=May 7, 2020 }}{{Cite web|title=Acting DNI Grenell Statement on Release of HPSCI Transcripts|url=https://www.dni.gov/index.php/newsroom/press-releases/item/2114-acting-dni-grenell-statement-on-release-of-hpsci-transcripts|website=www.dni.gov}} On May 12, 2020, Grenell declassified the names of Obama administration officials who unmasked Michael Flynn.{{Cite news|title=Intelligence Chief Declassifies List of Obama-Era Names in Unusual Step|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/12/us/politics/richard-grenell-declassification-unmasking-list.html|last1=Barnes|first1=Julian E.|last2=Benner|first2=Katie|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 12, 2020}}{{Cite news|title=Acting intelligence chief Grenell gave DOJ list of Obama officials who 'unmasked' Michael Flynn|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/acting-intelligence-chief-grenell-gave-doj-list-of-obama-officials-who-unmasked-michael-flynn/2020/05/12/8b7beb48-9467-11ea-82b4-c8db161ff6e5_story.html|last1=Harris|first1=Shane|last2=Zapotosky|first2=Matt|newspaper=Washington Post}} A subsequent Justice Department investigation of Obama administration unmasking concluded in October 2020 with no findings of substantive wrongdoing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/barr-unmasking-review-no-charges/2020/10/13/0f63fd2e-0d67-11eb-8074-0e943a91bf08_story.html|title='Unmasking' probe commissioned by Barr concludes without charges or any public report|first1=Matt|last1=Zapotosky|first2=Shane|last2=Harris|via=www.washingtonpost.com}} On May 19, 2020, Grenell declassified an email that Obama's national security advisor Susan Rice sent to herself.{{cite web|title=Grenell declassifies Susan Rice email sent on Inauguration Day|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/498591-grenell-declassifies-rice-email-susan-rice-email-sent-on-inauguration/|last1=Moreno|first1=J. Edward|date=May 19, 2020|work=The Hill|access-date=May 20, 2020}} On the day his tenure ended, Grenell declassified several documents related to the Russia probe.{{cite web|title=Grenell declassifies slew of Russia probe files, as Ratcliffe takes helm as DNI|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/grenell-declassifies-slew-of-russia-files-as-ratcliffe-takes-helm-as-dni|last1=Singman|first1=Brooke|date=May 26, 2020|work=Fox News|access-date=May 26, 2020}}

In August 2020, the American Center for Law and Justice announced that Grenell had been named Special Advisor for National Security and Foreign Policy{{cite news|title=Richard Grenell Joins the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) as Special Advisor for National Security and Foreign Policy|agency=American Center for Law and Justice|url=https://aclj.org/aclj/richard-grenell-joins-the-american-center-for-law-and-justice-aclj-as-special-advisor-for-national-security-and-foreign-policy}} for the organization. That month, Grenell became a senior advisor to the Republican National Committee, focusing on outreach to LGBT voters.{{cite web|last1=Singman|first1=Brooke|date=August 20, 2020|title=Grenell joins RNC as senior adviser focused on LGBT voter outreach|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ric-grenell-joins-rnc-lgbt-voter-outreach|access-date=August 20, 2020|work=Fox News}} In 2021, Grenell was also hired as on-air analyst and contributor by Newsmax.{{cite web | url=https://www.metroweekly.com/2021/12/ric-grenell-first-lgbtq-cabinet-level-member-joins-newsmax-as-contributor/ | title=Ric Grenell, gay Trump cabinet member, joins Newsmax as contributor | date=December 22, 2021 }}

file:Matt Lashey, Mariam Ali Moussa, and Richard Grenell, 4th of July 2019 in Berlin.jpg and Grenell in the Berlin Embassy in 2019]]

Grenell's selection as a foreign policy adviser to the 2012 Romney campaign was controversial. He was criticized for "snarky" tweets about various public women and that he is openly gay. Democratic Party official Susan E. Rice described Grenell as "one of the most nasty, dishonest people I’ve ever encountered"{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/04/us/politics/richard-grenell-trump-intelligence.html|title=An Undiplomatic Diplomat Wins Power in Trump's Washington|last1=Williamson|first1=Elizabeth|last2=Vogel|first2=Kenneth|access-date=2021-10-18|website=The New York Times|date=March 4, 2020}} and journalist Reuters Irwin Arieff described Grenell as "the most dishonest and deceptive press person I ever worked with."{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/richard-grenell-mitt-romney-online-attacks_n_1442726|title=Richard Grenell, New Mitt Romney Spokesman, Scrubs Online Attacks On Media And Women|last1=Calderone|first1=Michael|access-date=October 18, 2021|website=Huffington Post|date=April 22, 2012}}

A February 20, 2020, White House press release announcing the appointment of Grenell to the post of acting director of National Intelligence, stated that Grenell had "years of experience working with our Intelligence Community in a number of additional positions";{{cite web|title=Statement from the Press Secretary|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/statement-press-secretary-113/|via=National Archives|work=whitehouse.gov|date=February 20, 2020}} however, this assertion was disputed by others who asserted Grenell had little background in intelligence matters.{{cite web|title=White House Appoints Outspoken Ambassador As New Acting Head Of Intelligence|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/02/20/807644469/white-house-appoints-outspoken-ambassador-as-new-acting-head-of-intelligence|website=NPR|date=February 20, 2020 |last1=Neuman |first1=Scott }}{{cite news|title=President Trump appoints loyalist Richard Granell as acting intelligence chief - CNN Video|website=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2020/02/20/richard-grenell-national-intelligence-marquardt-dnt-lead-vpx.cnn}}{{cite web|title=Trump angry after House briefed on Russia meddling in 2020 election on his behalf|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/trump-anger-cost-joseph-maguire-job-director-national-intelligence-n1140086|website=NBC News|date=February 21, 2020 }} Republican senator Susan Collins, one of four co-authors of the legislation creating the ODNI in 2004, said: "I care deeply about that position and believe the person needs experience in the intelligence community, which regrettably Ambassador Grenell does not have."{{cite web|title=Trump Creates New Headaches for GOP with Top Intelligence Pick|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/484440-trump-creates-new-headaches-for-gop-with-top-intelligence-pick/|last=Bolton|first=Alexander|date=February 25, 2020|work=The Hill|access-date=February 25, 2020}}

On the day his tenure began, it was reported that Grenell had not disclosed payments for advocacy work on behalf of Moldovan politician Vladimir Plahotniuc, who has been accused of stealing USD 1 billion from the Moldavan banking system between 2012 and 2014.{{cite web|first=Isaac|last=Arnsdorf|url=https://www.propublica.org/article/trumps-new-spy-chief-used-to-work-for-a-foreign-politician-the-us-accused-of-corruption|title=Trump's New Spy Chief Used to Work for a Foreign Politician the U.S. Accused of Corruption; Richard Grenell did not disclose payments for advocacy work on behalf of a Moldovan politician whom the U.S. later accused of corruption. His own office's policy says that could leave him vulnerable to blackmail|website=ProPublica|date=February 21, 2020}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/richard-grenells-paid-consulting-included-work-for-us-nonprofit-funded-mostly-by-hungary/2020/02/24/003322d4-558a-11ea-929a-64efa7482a77_story.html|title=Richard Grenell's paid consulting included work for U.S. nonprofit funded mostly by Hungary|first1=Emma|last1=Brown|first2=Beth|last2=Reinhard|first3=Dalton |last3=Bennett|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=27 February 2020}}

On March 10, 2020, Grenell declined to attend a congressional hearing on election security, "citing apprehension about his preparedness to address sensitive subjects that tend to upset the president."{{Cite news|title=No evidence yet that Russia has taken steps to help any candidate in 2020, intelligence official tells Congress|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/richard-grenell-trump-intelligence-election-security/2020/03/10/6504cc36-62d6-11ea-acca-80c22bbee96f_story.html|last1=Nakashima|first1=Ellen|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=March 10, 2020}}

Grenell stated in August 2020 that "President Trump is the most pro-gay president in American history. I can prove it." The Washington Post fact-checker gave his claim "Four Pinocchios" and described the claim as absurd. The fact-checker noted, "the only items Grenell can cite in support of his supposedly pro-gay record concern Grenell’s own temporary appointment and a policy announced by Grenell that Trump apparently knew little about... That’s pretty thin gruel on which to claim Trump is the most pro-gay president in history, especially when Trump has worked actively to undermine protections for the LGBT community that were enacted under Obama."{{Cite news|date=2020|title=The absurd claim that Trump is the 'most pro-gay president in American history'|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/08/24/absurb-claim-that-trump-is-most-pro-gay-president-american-history/}}

On November 5, 2020, Grenell appeared as a speaker of the Trump campaign press conference in Las Vegas, pushing the local effort to overturn the presidential election Donald Trump had lost and announcing a federal lawsuit against "illegal" votes. He made allegations of fraud, claiming that non-residents and people who were long dead had voted in Nevada and accusing the state of covering up these incidents. When asked by journalists to identify himself and present evidence backing up any of his claims, Grenell refused to answer the questions and told reporters: "You're here to take in information".{{Cite web|last=Graziosi|first=Graig |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election-2020/ric-grenell-matt-schlapp-nevada-press-conference-trump-us-election-b1622823.html|title=Trump spokesman lashes out at journalists for asking for evidence behind Nevada fraud case: 'You're here to take in information'|date=5 November 2020|access-date=2021-01-11|website=The Independent}} All the post-election lawsuits related to Nevada were later either dropped or dismissed.

Grenell sought to build support for Trump's 2024 presidential campaign among Libertarian activists and donors.{{cite news |last1=Gold |first1=Michael |last2=O'Brien |first2=Rebecca |title=Trump Tells Libertarians to Nominate Him, and Mocks Them When They Boo |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/25/us/politics/trump-libertarian-convention.html |access-date=28 May 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=25 May 2020}}

In June 2020, Richard Grenell was made a senior fellow at the Carnegie Mellon University's Institute for Politics and Strategy in the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences.{{cite web |last=University |first=Carnegie Mellon |title=Richard Grenell joins IPS as a Senior Fellow - News - Carnegie Mellon University |url=http://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2020/june/grenell-named-ips-fellow.html|access-date=2020-09-24 |website=www.cmu.edu}} He is to work on two projects, a report on the worldwide decriminalization of homosexuality and various campus-engagement projects about the changing face of Europe.{{cite web|last=University|first=Carnegie Mellon|title=Statement from IPS Director and Taube Professor Kiron Skinner on Richard Grenell - Institute for Politics and Strategy - Carnegie Mellon University|url=http://www.cmu.edu/ips/kiron-skinner-statement-richard-grenell.html|access-date=2020-09-24|website=www.cmu.edu|archive-date=October 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007001156/https://www.cmu.edu/ips/kiron-skinner-statement-richard-grenell.html|url-status=dead}} Grenell's position as Senior Fellow is for one year and is a non-teaching position.{{cite web|title=Grenell hiring stirs campus controversy - The Tartan|url=http://thetartan.org/2020/8/30/news/rick-grenell|access-date=2020-09-24|website=thetartan.org}}

Grenell's appointment was controversial at the university.{{why|date=July 2023}}{{cite web|title=CMU receives backlash over the naming of a senior fellow|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2020/06/17/Carnegie-Mellon-University-Richard-Grenell-provost-academic-freedom-fellow-CMU-Trump-college/stories/202006170125|access-date=2020-09-24|website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}} Kiron Skinner, the founding director of the Institute for Politics and Strategy, defended the hiring decision on the basis of academic freedom and diversity of thought. The university issued a report on Grenell's hiring, titled Report on the Appointment of Richard Grenell to the Carnegie Mellon University Institute for Politics and Strategy. The report found that Skinner had followed hiring mandates by consulting with the three deans of Dietrich College, the College of Engineering, and the School of Computer Science.{{cite web |last=University|first=Carnegie Mellon|title=Staff Hiring Freeze Approvals - Human Resources - Office of the General Counsel - Carnegie Mellon University|url=https://www.cmu.edu/hr/coronavirus/staff-hiring-freeze-approvals.html|access-date=2020-09-24|website=www.cmu.edu}} They also found that there had been no other "senior fellow" in the institute's history, and that no other visiting scholars in the university's history had received the title of senior fellow.{{cite web |last1=Kamlet |first1=Mark S. |last2=Bryant |first2=Randal E. |last3=Rousseau |first3=Denise M. |title=Report on the Appointment of Richard Grenell to the Carnegie Mellon University Institute for Politics and Strategy |url=https://www.cmu.edu/leadership/assets/pdf/committee-report-regarding-grenell-appointment.pdf |publisher=Carnegie Mellon University |date=August 3, 2020 |access-date=November 7, 2020}} It also stated that "there are features of the hiring of Mr. Grenell which, to our knowledge, are unique in Carnegie Mellon’s experience, and for which Carnegie Mellon does not currently have policies. As such, the determination of whether appropriate policies and procedures were used cannot be answered." The report's conclusion also stated that "Prof. Skinner followed the small set of existing policies and procedures in place in the hiring of Richard Grenell, and he began his position on July 1."

On December 14, 2024, Trump named Grenell as his nominee for presidential envoy for special missions, a post that would be established by his confirmation.{{Cite web |last=Grimes |first=Katy |title=Trump Names Ric Grenell Presidential Envoy for Special Missions – California Globe |date=December 14, 2024 |url=https://californiaglobe.com/fl/trump-names-ric-grenell-presidential-envoy-for-special-missions/ |access-date=2024-12-15 |language=en-US}} Grenell's first assignment in this role was to oversee the administration's response to the 2025 California wildfires.{{cite web |last1=Kaenel |first1=Camille |title=Trump's LA fire guests: A GOP water expert and Biden's forest chief |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/24/trumps-la-fire-guests-a-gop-water-expert-and-bidens-forest-chief-00200493 |website=Politico |date=January 24, 2025 |access-date=27 January 2025}}

On January 31, 2025, Grenell travelled to Caracas, Venezuela, to meet with Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro allegedly to discuss Trump's deportation strategy for accepting undocumented immigrants. The following day, on February 1, six American prisoners in Venezuela were released.{{Cite news |last=Glatsky |first=Genevieve |date=2025-02-01 |title=Venezuela Frees 6 Americans After Visit by Trump Envoy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/31/us/politics/us-prisoners-venezuela.html |access-date=2025-02-06 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} Trump announced in an unverified post on Truth Social that this arrangement was in exchange for Venezuela accepting future Venezuelan deportees from the United States.{{Cite news |last=Schmidt |first=Samantha |date=January 31, 2025 |title=Venezuela releases 6 U.S. detainees after Trump envoy meets with Maduro |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/01/31/maduro-trump-grenell-envoy/ |access-date=February 5, 2025 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} Details on the detainees have not yet been released.{{Cite web |last=Lau |first=Alejandra Jaramillo, Chris |date=2025-02-01 |title=Six Americans freed in Venezuela after Trump envoy meets with Maduro |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/01/americas/americans-freed-in-venezuela-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=CNN |language=en}}

File:Donald Trump signs executive orders on February 3, 2025.webm signing Grenell, February 2025 (Grenell discussed until 3:08)]]

On February 10, 2025, Trump appointed Grenell as the interim Kennedy Center executive director. {{cite news| url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5137022-trump-names-grenell-kennedy-center/ |title=Trump names Grenell as interim Kennedy Center executive director |last=Gangitano |first=Alex |work=The Hill |date=2025-02-10}}

In February 2025, according to the Financial Times, Richard Grenell played a key role in securing the release of Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan, two influencers prosecuted in Romania on charges of rape and human trafficking. He discussed the matter with Romanian Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu at the 61st Munich Security Conference. Grenell denied any pressure on the Romanian government. {{cite news| url=https://www.ft.com/content/52a17ca9-c253-4e92-852a-a8cb8592cb16 |title=How the Tate brothers won US backing for their release |last=Nicolaou |first=Anna |publisher=Financial Times |date=2025-02-28}}

Also in February 2025, the German tabloid Bild reported that Grenell was conducting secret negotiations with Russia in Switzerland to reopen the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Grenell denied any involvement. {{cite news| url=https://www.kyivpost.com/post/48164 |title=Trump's Special Envoy Reportedly Held Secret Talks on Nord Stream 2 Gas Pipeline in Switzerland |publisher=Kyiv Post |date=2025-03-03}}

In May 2025, Live Nation announced that Grenell had joined their board of directors. Supporters of the Justice Department's antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation–Ticketmaster suggested that the appointment was an attempt to curry favor with the Trump administration amid the conflict.{{cite web|title=Trump ally Richard Grenell joins Live Nation board amid antitrust probe|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5311464-ric-grenell-live-nation-board-trump-doj-ticketmaster-antitrust/|last=Crisp|first=Elizabeth|date=May 21, 2025|work=The Hill|access-date=May 21, 2025}}

Grenell is a registered Republican.{{cite news |date=September 27, 2008 |title=Gay Bush Appointee Loses Appeal for Fair Treatment |url=http://www.advocate.com/news/2008/09/27/gay-bush-appointee-loses-appeal%C2%A0-fair-treatment |newspaper=The Advocate}} He has a longtime partner, Matt Lashey. He is Christian.{{Cite web |last=Merritt |first=Jonathan |date=2017-04-23 |title=The Gay, Conservative Christian Who Might Be Trump's NATO Ambassador |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/04/trump-nato-grenell-lgbt-rights/523830/ |access-date=2022-04-18 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2020-03-20 |title=Richard Grenell Says His Sexuality Made Him A Better Christian |url=https://www.mygwork.com/en/my-g-news/richard-grenell-says-his-sexuality-made-him-a-better-christian |access-date=2022-04-18 |website=myGwork}}

In June 2013, Grenell revealed that he had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and started chemotherapy.{{cite web |title=Joining the Fight |url=http://richardgrenell.com/joining-the-fight/ |date=June 10, 2013 |publisher=richardgrenell.com |access-date=December 28, 2015 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075337/http://richardgrenell.com/joining-the-fight/ |url-status=dead }} In September 2013, he announced that he was in remission.{{cite tweet |author=Richard Grenell |user=RichardGrenell |title=I'm officially in remission. #CancerFree @cityofhope |number=384850091195895809 |date=September 30, 2013}}

• Game Changer Award by the Log Cabin Republicans (2021).{{Cite web|title=Log Cabin Republicans Announce Additional Award Winners at 2021 Spirit of Lincoln Gala|url=https://logcabin.org/pressrelease/log-cabin-republicans-announce-additional-award-winners-at-2021-spirit-of-lincoln-gala/|access-date=2021-11-08|website=Log Cabin Republicans|date=October 19, 2021 |language=en-US}}

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