As he leaves his roles as the acting head of US National Intelligence and as US Ambassador to Germany, diplomat Richard Grenell has again heaped praise upon President Donald Trump.
As a thank-you gift, and to mark the fact Grenell was the first openly gay person to take on a cabinet-level role in an acting capacity, Trump bestowed on Grenell the gift of his cabinet chair.
Grenell was appointed by Trump to the acting intelligence position in mid-February. In late February, Trump announced he was nominating John Ratcliffe to take on the role in a permanent capacity.
Ratcliffe’s appointment was confirmed by the Senate last month.
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Related: Trump makes Richard Grenell first openly gay cabinet member in history
Yesterday it was announced that besides departing the intelligence role, Grenell was also resigning as Ambassador to Germany. He held the position since April 2018.
Grenell has not given any reason for his decision to quit his role in Germany. Instead, he posted a photo to Instagram of him and President Trump.
“Today I officially resigned from the State Department. And President Trump presented me with a going away gift – my Cabinet Chair,” he said. “‘Acting’ Cabinet Secretaries do not get chairs but President Trump wanted me to have mine because, as he said, ‘You are the First Openly Gay Cabinet Secretary and it’s a big deal’.”
Grenell posted a link to a Washington Examiner story about his departure to his Twitter, featuring the same photo of him, Trump and the chair: “Happy Pride! 🏳️🌈 – thanks, @realDonaldTrump.” read his accompanying caption. Trump himself has not publicly acknowledged Pride Month.
Happy Pride! 🏳️🌈
thanks, @realDonaldTrump. https://t.co/4o7cLELD8N— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) June 2, 2020
Also in the photo were an unnamed aide, while behind Grenell stood his partner, Matt Lashey; Jared Kushner; and national security adviser Robert O’Brien.
Among those to thank Grenell for his service was gay, Republican fundraiser Bryan Eure.
So proud of you @RichardGrenell and Matt @mattlashey for your stellar service to our country. We are so proud of you both. What an awesome photo and gift from the President to kick off #PrideMonth2020. You made history and made us all proud! 🇺🇸🏳️🌈🇩🇪❤️ pic.twitter.com/sfQOYGaE8V
— Bryan Eure (@JBryanEure) June 1, 2020
Although Grenell has yet to announce what he plans to do next, Washington insiders speculate he is imminently due to join Trump’s re-election campaign. Grenell has been a staunch advocate of Trump’s presidency and leadership. This week he has repeatedly taken to social media to defend Trump’s handling of the protests and riots engulfing US cities following the death last week of a black man, George Floyd, while being restrained by police in Minneapolis.
Until a new German ambassador is selected, the position will be filled by Grenell’s former Deputy Chief of Mission in Germany, Robin Quinville.
Related: Trump’s security chief: US may stop sharing intelligence with anti-gay countries
Jim
Yeah gays can be sycophants too.
Where’s the story?
Godabed
No, he gave you that chair because he probably thought you could get “gay” or “HIV” from it.
Evji108
Keep this old brown chair to remind you that you were complicit too.
JAW
How DARE you say that…
You stole that thought from me. I was thinking the same exact thing.
I guess great minds think alike
Cam
So Trump illegally took taxpayer paid for furniture and handed to a guy.
So illegal and a crap gift.
JAW
FYI… That chair is NOT trumps to give away.
Just another photo op
WSnyder
Too bad the honor of being the First Homo Cabinet official goes to someone who clearly neither had or currently shares Gay Values. He’s just another conservative homosexual like Milo Y. and Aaron S. who either doesn’t understand what being Gay is or doesn’t care. Homos like that do NOTHING to help the LGBTQ+ Community, they are truly self-centered and shouldn’t be called Gay. They don’t deserve the honor because they don’t understand what it means to be Gay. They may love other men, they may have sex with other men but that’s not what being Gay is all about. In part, a Gay man doesn’t support someone like Trump who uses his authority to eliminate LGBTQ+ Rights and undermine Civil protections for the LGBTQ+ Community. You can be Gay and Conservative, but you can’t be Gay and support people who’s agenda is anti-LGBTQ+.
Kangol2
Psst: Grenell is a MCE (man-crush everyday) of Kieran, who frequently posts here. This article does not discuss Grenell’s tenure as US Ambassador to Germany, but it is widely assessed, by others in the US diplomatic corps and by European ambassadors, as a disaster. He was so awful that German politicians requested that he be withdrawn and replaced. I guess it’s something that he’s gay, right-wing, a Don the Con sycophant, and incompetent; would we expect any less from anyone associated with this president, whatever their sexuality?
Gadfeal
Is that a “gift”, some old funiture where his f.. a.. tweeted and wore out the springs? Sounds like an insult to me.
Now, a nice gift would have been an all expenses trip to an Eros house in Germany, especially to the one or two with male workers.
joeboyle49
YES I WAS GOING TO SAY SOME OF THE SAME THINGS YOU GUYS DID BUT ONE THING IS WHY WERE THEY DUMB ENOUGH TO STI;LL WORK FOR A MAN WHO TOOK AWAY ALL OUR RIGHTS??
Aires the Ram
Care to provide us with a list of the rights that were supposedly taken away from you?
Cam
@Aires the Ram
Troll, just stop it, you’ve tried this MULTIPLE TIMES and every single time somebody lists out “Trump stated he would appoint judges to reverse LGBT rights rulings” and has, Trump removed protections keeping LGBT people from being fired in state, Reversed the ruling allowing trans people to serve in the military, etc..
So its cute that you keep trying that same ploy and thinking that none of us remember the LAST time you did it.
We get it, you are anti-LGBT and are here to defend bigots.
Kieran
Okay big deal, so you appointed one of your gay Republican friends to be US Director of National Intelligence, Miss Rick Grenell. But why didn’t you pick a gay DEMOCRAT to be the first openly gay US cabinet member? Huh? Why? Can’t answer that one can you Miss Donald?
Cam
1. Obama appointed several Republicans
2. We get it, this screename is here to always defend Republican bigots just like your “Aries” screename tried to.
barryaksarben
DOes anyone know what the gay equivalent of “Uncle Tom” is. I suggest it be a “Richard Grenell” as he is a disgrace and isnt gay at all. SO a jewish nazi is a richard grenell.
rockland2u
Aunt Dorothy?
Bubbleandsqueal
Gay Quisling humblebrags about being FIRSTEST Gay Quisling!
GayEGO
Trump was worried he would catch a gay disease from that chair. Not to worry, Trump already has the Trumpavirus which his Trumpsters have caught!
fur_hunter
It is F ucking A ss holes like this who hold back the progress of the Gay Community. They are nothing but self-ingratiating, egotistical, Pieces of S hit. Maybe Karma will catch up with them one day. I can only hope.
Black Papa
Totally agree.. Speak the Truth
hayesj
Gay or straight this man is a disgrace to this country for sucking up to a criminal madman like Trump. Here’s hoping he’s miserable for the rest of his life. Scum.
Saps48
I don’t know who’s a bigger jerk, Trump or Grenell. This whole administration makes me sick to my stomach.
Kieran
Remember folks, it’s not about sexual orientation at all anymore. It’s about advancing a narrow, leftist political ideology and agenda. We’ve successfully hijacked the movement. We’re a “big tent community”, —-but only if you’re a registered democrat.
Saps48
Wrong, again..
Hussain-TheCanadian
There is nothing wrong with advancing leftist policies, it’s the humane thing to do, better than the capitalist sh*t show we all are going through.
Cam
It’s adorable when trolls try to hide the words “Civil Rights” behind cover words like “Leftist ideology”.
Translation: Republicans want it to be legal to fire LGBTQ people for just existing, we don’t. And because of that, we are narrowminded and have a “Leftist ideology”.
PLEASE….PLEASE! Somebody send us smarter trolls!
contrary1
Swamp scum – don’t come back to Palm Springs – you WON’T be welcomed back…
Patrick
I hope that Grenell enjoys the crumbs the Bigot in Chief gave him.
DavidIntl
It is pathetic that so much of the LGBT community is so lost in its extreme left-wing world that it can’t acknowledge the accomplishments of someone like Grenell. But unfortunately I am not surprised by the vitriol in the comments here. Even Pete Buttigieg received much of the same flack, since – even though quite a liberal Democrat – he still wasn’t far enough left to pass the progressives’ litmus tests.
Personally – because it is who I am as well – it is quite refreshing to see gay men in positions of national/international prominence whose homosexuality, while quite open and honest, does not define them. Men whose homosexuality is an anecdote more or less irrelevant to their professional work, not the focal point of their lives.
Cam
I think I remember your last article, attacking those Jews who were mad at the few who worked for the Nazis, because you said that they should e happy to see a few of them get a good job.
jwtsuhou
Thank you for you comment. It is who I am, too. And I agree with your comment. I admire Ric’s achievements and his strength to do what he thinks is right. He believes in President Trump, as I do, and doesn’t follow the typical “gay herd” mentality of hating the president. (Joe Biden said, “If you don’t support me then you ain’t black”… and that same kind of “if you don’t hate Trump you ain’t gay” mentality exists in the gay “community” – whatever THAT means!) My partner and I are happy to be gay… but being gay does not control our entire lives, our every thought and certainly not our politics. Just a quick read of the nasty, bitchy comments on this post is a sad commentary on too many gays and the hatred and intolerance carried in their hearts. Instead of being happy for an openly gay, successful professional like Ric, too many gays attack and ridicule the achievement. There are a lot of “us” out here… but we are mostly silent because we know the fervor of the attacks we would receive from our fellow “tolerant” (not!) gay brothers and sisters if we are seen as not “towing the line”. As a woman entertainer who was very friendly and supportive of the gay community once asked me long ago, “Why do so many gay men seem to have ALL of the bitchy characteristics of women and almost none of the good characteristics?”
Ronbo
Vote and let’s give tRump the door.
dougie
He doesn’t get any points for being gay. But, he gets a lot of demerits because he’s a member of the Trump Regime and everything that vile lot stand for and do.
TonyPSP
Grenell puts the moron in oxymoron.