Ambassador Richard Grenell, the openly gay US ambassador to Germany, has slammed Mayor Pete Buttigieg, claiming that he’s perpetrating a “hoax along the lines of Jussie Smollett” when it comes to his beef with Vice President Mike Pence.
Grenell, one of the few queer officials appointed by the Trump White House, attacked Buttigieg, the first openly gay candidate to run for a major party ticket, in an interview with Fox News.
“Mayor Pete has been pushing this hate hoax along the lines of Jussie Smollett for a very long time now, several weeks,” Grenell claimed.
“When Mike Pence was governor, there was total silence [from Buttigieg]. It’s ironic that right about now when he’s starting his fundraising apparatus to run for president that he comes up with this idea and this attack.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Related: Pete Buttigieg claps back at Mike Pence, says he needs to stop being such a sniveling homophobe
“Mike and Karen are great people, they’re godly people, they’re followers of Christ,” Grenell added.
“They don’t have hate in their heart for anyone. They know my partner, they have accepted us. You asked me do we agree philosophically on every single issue? No. When Mayor Pete came out, the vice president complimented him and said he holds him in high regard. The vice president said nothing but positive things about Mayor Pete. I think this is a total hate hoax and I think it’s outrageous.”
Grenell’s claim, however, is demonstrably false. Both Buttigieg and Pence hail from Indiana, where the former served as Mayor of the city of South Bend, and where Pence held the office of Governor.
Buttigieg has criticized Pence numerous times, including in 2015 when he attacked Pence for signing a bill which allowed discrimination against LGBTQ people for religious reasons. Pence also has a long history of anti-queer positions and policies, including support for conversion therapy, cuts to HIV/AIDS charities and the aforementioned “religious freedom” bill. Pete Buttigieg has sharply criticized Pence for his record as part of his Presidential campaign.
In related news, we have to wonder if Richard Grenell has partied with fellow elitist and self-loathing gay Republican stoolpigeon Aaron Schock. Somehow, it wouldn’t surprise us.
kayakriver
It’s great to have an openly gay ambassador, a true role model. Thank you Mr. President for appointing him.
DCguy
Another Headline.
Trump supporter attacks openly gay political candidate for pointing out bigotry.
Steve
Spoken like a true Trump ass kisser.
bowlingbutch
This man is an idiot! How wonderful he and his partner have been accepted by the Pence’s. Now let’s talk reality and look at the hate they have directed at the rest of us.
Kangol
Richard Grenell has been a disaster as the US Ambassador to Germany. The German government, as well as a sizable portion of people there who know who is, detest him. Google his name and “Germany,” and you’ll see the extensive criticism. Like many right-wingers, he’s more concerned with Jussie Smollett, who harmed no one beyond himself, his career, Kim Foxx, and those muscle brothers he was rolling with, and less concerned with and by the destructive homophobia the Trump administration and Mike Pence are aiding and abetting. Has Grenell issued a single public criticism of Saudi Arabia, which kills people for being gay? What about US ally Lithuania, not far from Germany, where one of the country’s few LGBTQ center was firebombed last year? What about Armenia, where LGBTQ are fearful for their lives because of the anti-gay violence and lack of government support? What about Egypt, which has repeatedly rounded up gay men and imprisoned them? What about the homophobia in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Qatar, Singapore, or Uganda, all close US allies, and all of which have anti-gay laws on the books? And what about Trump’s close pal and elector Russia, which continues its anti-gay policies? Grenell is just full of it, that’s being kind.
Geeker
Pathetic Trump ass kisser. This is why you can never trust a gay Republican, they are always a Repug first and gay second and will eagerly vote against their own kind if their bigoted masters tell them to.
Itsonlythetruth
Richard Grenell, did Trump force you to say it to keep your job as the token homo in his employ?
Max
you are savage. i like it!
truthseeker
Prior to 2019, when did Mayor Pete ever criticize Mike Pence? Just curious
Heywood Jablowme
You could try actually reading the article, although I realize reading is hard for Trump fans:
“Buttigieg has criticized Pence numerous times, including in 2015 when he attacked Pence for signing a bill which allowed discrimination against LGBTQ people for religious reasons.”
truthseeker
@Heywood Jablowme
I did read the article and read that part but no quotes were provided as to what Mayor Pete said in 2015. I then did tons of Google searches and could not find anything that says Pete criticized Pence prior to 2019. I can’t even find a Queerty article from the past about it.
So it this did happen, what was the quote and source as to what Mayor Pete said prior to 2019 about Mike Pence?
jcoberkrom
While being gay is not a choice being a sycophant is!!
rbernard
So says the self loathing homosexual who serves the interests of the worst, most antigay POTUS in our lifetime, and is so bad at being an ambassador, his German hosts have called for his expulsion.
TheMarc
I wish we could like posts on this site, because I wouldn’t like this, I would LOVE this!
TheMarc
Wouldn’t be surprised if he was the guy Aaron Shock was kissing. Obviously, that isn’t the case; but he is definitely in the same category. Gay only when it benefits him. And hate hoax?? Nah, bruh, we have the receipts on Pence. Soooo not the same scenario. And to try to equate Mike Pence’s long anti-gay history with someone allegedly faking an attack for more fame is as disgusting as it is illogical.
gregj777
Why am I not surprised this was on Fox News.