UPDATE 12/18/2020:
Former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg will be the first out gay person to be a member of the presidential Cabinet. The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana will reportedly be nominated to be transportation secretary by President-elect Joe Biden.
While President Donald Trump appointed Richard Grenell acting Director of National Intelligence, a Cabinet-level position, Grenell wasn’t confirmed by the Senate and only served as a seat warmer for the incoming DNI.
Our original post about Grennell’s appointment did not make this distinction clear. We apologize for the confusion.
Donald Trump is appointing Richard Grenell, US ambassador to Germany since 2018, to the position of acting Director of National Intelligence.
The President tweeted the news last night, saying, “I am pleased to announce that our highly respected Ambassador to Germany, @RichardGrenell, will become the Acting Director of National Intelligence. Rick has represented our Country exceedingly well and I look forward to working with him.”
I am pleased to announce that our highly respected Ambassador to Germany, @RichardGrenell, will become the Acting Director of National Intelligence. Rick has represented our Country exceedingly well and I look forward to working with him. I would like to thank Joe Maguire….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 20, 2020
It is the most senior intelligence position in the Trump administration and entails overseeing 17 different military and civilian intelligence agencies, including the CIA. In doing so, Grenell, 53, becomes the first openly gay man to hold a cabinet position.
Related: Gay ambassador compares Pete Buttigieg to lying hoaxer Jussie Smollett for challenging Mike Pence
Among those to congratulate and praise Grenell was Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, who tweeted, “Fifty years ago a gay man or woman couldn’t work in the intelligence community. Today President Trump is appointing an openly gay man to serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence. Congratulations, Ambassador @RichardGrenell.”
Grenell has been an outspoken advocate for advancing LGBTQ rights around the world, recently criticizing, “Hollywood gays who raise a lot of money for black tie events and aren’t doing a thing to help our brothers and sisters in Lebanon…”
However, the move has surprised some observers. The role of intelligence chief – created after the 9/11 attacks in 2001 – is usually bipartisan. Many regard Grenell as a staunch Trump loyalist who frequently voices his support – particularly on Twitter – for the President on a wide range of issues.
By making Grenell the ‘acting’ Intelligence chief, the President also side-steps the need for Senate confirmation – a tactic he has used previously in order to place loyalists in position of power.
Some critics have already denounced Grenell for having little intelligence experience compared to previous holders of the role. He has no background in the military or working specifically for intelligence agencies – although he receives security briefings in his capacity as a US ambassador.
Related: Germans think Trump’s gay ambassador is an ignorant, thin-skinned, far-right tool
“The president has selected an individual without any intelligence experience to serve as the leader of the nation’s intelligence community in an acting capacity,” said Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee.
Former National Security Agency lawyer Susan Hennessey went further on Twitter, saying: “This should frighten you. Not just brazen politicization of intelligence, but also someone who is utterly incompetent in an important security role. The guardrails are gone.”
Jim
I remember when being gay was thought to be a national security risk.
The time they are a changin’
tf3.0
Watch all these queens heads explode when they realize Trump is more progressive in LGBT acceptance then almost every previous president.
The way that he balances the interests of his bed with his acceptance is masterful.
Kieran
It’s changing under President Trump and his “New York Values”. It wouldn’t be changing under President Pence—-which is what we’d have if the idiot democrats had succeeded in removing Trump from office.
Den
While he might be congratulated for this appointment, it is tempered by his three years of appointing vocally anti LGBT judges to federal courts. It is also tempered by the adoption of “religious freedom” laws allowing people to once again discriminate against LGBT people in the provision of goods and services.
Plus there are the typical Trump issues of the choice being more about presumed loyalty than qualifications, as noted on both sides of the aisle.
It’s great he is a gay man, but that is overshadowed by his being a definite sycophant and lacking in credentials.
Jenniferp412
HOW CAN THIS BE? All the Liberals promised me that Trump hates gays.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Glad to see you emerged from that three year coma!!!
Alexis
Just because Trump appointed an individual who is gay, it doesn’t mean that he supports their rights. Trump rewards loyalists… pretty much anyone who is willing to praise him and kiss his ass.
Here, Grenell was not chosen because he was gay (not even based based on his experience). He just knows how to kiss ass. So please… don’t try to justify Trump’s actions as a sign of support for the LGBTQ community.
Selecting one gay individual doesn’t excuse him from all of the negative things he’s done against the LGBTQ community as a whole. That’s the right wing justification for everything… oh Trump is not a racist against minorities, he employs them at Malargo.
As a loyalist yourself, you might be blind to this— he can probably take your rights, do the worst things to you, you’ll still probably worship him. Unfortunately, history is full of blind followers like yourself
Cam
Translation: Somebody who hires a black maid CAN’T be racist. That is what Republicans are all about, a fake appearance of inclusion to hide the fact that Trump STATED he would appoint anti-LGBTQ judges. Which he has done.
Invader7
He does you right wing TROLL loser brown nosing idiot !!
Roy Moss
Why are you here? Wouldn’t you feel more at home on a neo-Nazi website?
tf3.0
The difference between this and maid, is obviously the level of responsibility.
Putting someone in a position to influence your political fortunes is a vote of confidence for their abilities and their character… Here as a gay person.
Cam
@tf3.0 said….”Here as a gay person”.
Only trolls feel the need to say something like this. The other people on this site know who they are. But it’s always someone defending a right wing bigot who says something like “As a lesbian I support this anti-lesbian person” or “As a trans person, I support Donald Trump kicking trans people out of the military”.
Please send us smarter trolls, you’re really really really bad at this.
tf3.0
You people always resort to personal attacks, because you know facts are not on your side.
Your hatred blinds to you to the fact that the economy is amazing, minority unemployment at record lows, wages are on the upswing, and gay rights are precisely in the same place where they were before Trump was elected.
Any changes have come from Congress, and not from the top.
You have no logical reason why he has a bad man other than what your own bigotry informs you.
Kieran
They want to keep you picking cotton on that democrat plantation.
Alexis
@tf3.0 I think this is where you’re wrong (and yes I am willing to engage you intellectually, rather than resorting to personal attacks).
Sure the economy is doing well but the deregulation of Wall Street is bound to do that…Trump didn’t really actually do anything, beside removing barriers from risky practices. Jobs aren’t really back from overseas. They were just created here due to this current t economy and can easily be taken away, if the economy tanks. Also, crime rates against the LGBTQ community have been on the rise, as Trump is facilitating the anti-LGBTQ behaviors of bigots. Sure you might have been affected, but then you’re probably not out as others.
So while money and the economy might be a reflection of your life, please keep in mind that not everyone base their quality of life with such materialism (which is what made Trump). Social issues are equally important. You might not care because they don’t affect you, which is a shame to have such a mindset. But if you are really gay, and think that this won’t affect you (unless you’re close ted of course), keep dreaming.
Parkside
@tf3.0 Didn’t you trolls call us snowflakes? Now you want to say OUR hatred blinds us. Are you all there? We are fighting hatred from the conservative, right wing, wrongly-quoting-bible-fake-christian republicans. We hate bigotry, racism, homophobia, sexism and any oppression bestowed upon law-abiding American citizens. Sue us.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Like this is supposed to erase three years of devastating, vicious, harmful attacks and appointments on our community???
Jenniferp412
Oh please give us the facts on how Trump has hurt the gay community?
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
I will not even dignify your ignorant inane comment with anything more than this:
Go the fcuk away troll, seriously go the fcuk away….
Cam
@Jenniferp412
Oh, so this is Rex’s new name. Sweetie, you mean other than the fact he stated he would appoint anti-LGBTQ judges, and has done that?
No go troll somewhere else, your crazy is boring.
tf3.0
He’s not going to dignify it with a response, because he has no good response. He has no actual evidence of the realities on the ground.
Parkside
@Jenniferp412. If you have to ask, you are not in our community. Go troll elsewhere.
fur_hunter
Thank you. And any gay person who has not seen the trashing of the gay community by the present administration has been living under a rock for 3 years. We all saw what happened to those MORON LOSERS, the Log Cabin Dim-wits about a week ago, being snubbed at a republiKKKan convention. Yeah. Not to mention the ass hole fundamentalist leaders he surrounds himself with who are constantly degrading gays and preaching discrimination against gays. Yeah. Trump’s love of gays is as genuine as that stupid dumb ass suntan he wears.
succubus
you are an idiot…, shut your syphilitic pie hole…. your HPV warts at the corners of your mouth are turning red and starting to foam…. be gone you fool!
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Cam:. It has multiple names. Pathetic loser noxious pig troll.
Wishing Queerty would isolate and tag it’s IP address to banish it forever….
Donston
This doesn’t surprise me. He’s in placating mode, readying his defense for when “queers” go at him during the debates. Especially if he’s up against Pete. Everything Trump does is about maintaining power, especially at this point. And he’ll embrace anyone so long as it helps him and they’re willing to lessen their self-respect for opportunities.
Cam
This guy didn’t just fail at his ambassador job, he insulted Germany and was forced to leave. Now Trump and Republicans are so anti-American and care so little about national security, that they appointed somebody with ZERO intel experience, and who failed at their last job to run the intel department in America.
No surprise. A Trump crony who can try to go in and find out what the intel agencies have discovered about Trump and his co-conspirators.
UlfRaynor
Grennel has been shunned by German diplomats and politicians in conservative Bavaria of all places (where he served his diplomatic tenure) they consider him a buffoon.
But every ones missing the elephant in the room, Grennel has zero experience in the intelligence community, this is not a job that can wait for him to garner even a superficial understanding of whats needed for this position; national security isn’t gonna wait while he attempts to catch up, the job requires proficiency starting day one. Quite literally, peoples lives could be in the balance.
The fact Trump supporters on this message board don’t get that speaks volumes toward their lack of mental capacity.
Den
@Ulf:
EXACTLY!
The major thing Trump looks for in an appointment is the ability to kiss his ass.
Invader7
Grenell is just like the Jews who appeased Hitler. Now we have a spineless , two faced sellout brown noser who has & will do anything to have a little bit of power (like that other pathetic con artist : the creepy Stephen Miller) . Those losers have sold their souls to the devil all to ride the coat tails of one of the most heinous, putrid, corrupt, vile, compromised, repugnant people in all of history.. Grenell is a total JOKE-just like his boss.. Mr Chaos & Confusion.. Herr Drumpf…
fur_hunter
Your post is excellent and gives a perfect example for contemplation. Thank you.
Kangol2
Read up on Richard Grenell. He was a total disaster as US Ambassador to Germany, which is saying something, since the US and Germany (West Germany till US reunification in 1990) have had a generally very good and close relationship since the end of WWII.
Grenell was so out of control and incompetent that a number of leading politicians from several of Germany’s major parties, on the right and left, criticized him, and one politician even called for his expulsion. In addition, he has allegedly been linked to Germany’s far-right AfD Party, even though ambassadors are required by diplomatic protocol to remain politically neutral. As one pol put it about Grenell: “”Mr Grenell is a complete diplomatic failure.” Der Spiegel wrote this about him last year: “Grenell [is viewed] as a vain, narcissistic person who dishes out aggressively, but can barely handle criticism. His brash demeanor, some claim, hides a deep insecurity, and they say he thirsts for the approval of others.” Sounds just like Drumpf!
He is a Drumpf gay token lackey, and Drumpf isn’t fooling anyone by appointing this lone gay man to this post, for which he is totally unqualified by background or training, but clearly, this fake symbolic gesture is all that’s needed with the right-wing gay quislings out there.
Meanwhile Drumpf is packing the court with anti-gay judges, he has given the green light for “religious” people (not just churches) to openly discriminate against LGBTQ people, coddles virulently anti-gay countries like Russia, Saudi Arabia (why don’t the conservagays speak about Saudi Arabia, which is still killing gay people?), Egypt, North Korea, etc., has banned trans people from serving in the military, and on and on. He is no friend of LGBTQ people, even if he has found a gay token to use as a decoy!
EZinHTown
Could not have said it better myself, especially the last paragraph
fur_hunter
EXCELLENT comment!!!!!!……Thank you. It is obvious the trolls here are totally UNinformed.
Kieran
How many openly gay men did Clinton and Obama have in their administrations again?
But the left wants us all to see Trump as the “enemy”. Sorry, but the days when the GOP automatically conceded gay, lesbian and bisexual voters to the democrat party is officially over under President Trump. And of course, that is a very good thing for gay Americans. It’s never a good thing to be taken for granted.
Parkside
@Kieran PLEASE! Just because Trump hired Stephen Miller and Ben Carson, racist and anti-Semitic harassment didn’t decrease. It increased dramatically under Trump. Same with the attacks on LGBTQ community. Wake up.
ShiningSex
SO WE SHOULD PRAISE A SEXIST, TRANSPHOBIC, HOMOPHOBIC, RACIST PIG BECAUSE HE PUTS 1 HOMOSEXUAL IN PLACE.
WHAT ABOUT THE GAY AND TRANS RIGHTS HE’S TAKEN AWAY. I THINK THAT’S FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN PUTTING A QUEEN IN HIS ADMINISTRATION. GO BACK TO YOUR KKKLAN
Kieran
@ Parkside Yes, oppressed Jewish-Americans are suffering horribly in Trump’s America. What the feck planet do you live on?
Gandalf The Grey
Trump makes gay Benedict Arnold a token cabinet member, thus insuring the Log Cabin republiKKKon vote!
UlfRaynor
An organization that has already been denied a place at the up coming Republican national convention and it’s Caucasus.
How self loathing and pathetic does one have to be to still shill for a party that still refuses to let you in the house, let alone grant you a seat at the table.
Mack
I can see the right wing trolls are alive and well on this site. He didn’t appoint Grenell because he’s gay, he appointed him because he’s a certified butt kisser.
fur_hunter
Mack……Thank you. Your post has me laughing my ass off. It is totally correct!!!
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
fur_hunter:. How do you always keep such a positive disposition in this unfortunately now pernocious troll infested sewer?
I give you credit, good on you!!
fur_hunter
Plays Well with Others……..I was 24 when Stonewall happened and I know how it was before that event. Yes. There have been significant improvements but there is still a long way to go. I smile because I know that in the end, we will win the fights. We have the Constitution and many supporters on our side. I have done my marching and protesting and I just hope the younger gays will take up the banner and fight. Vote. It is very important…….Thornton
Bob LaBlah
Folks, beware of fake pearls and remember that everything that glitters isn’t gold. As Director of National Security he has the ability of crushing any group he feels poses a threat to his lord and master, Donald Trump. Why isn’t this guy tooting on how many gays he has hired or requested as ambassador to Germany? He is in a position to do more than lip service but lip service is all that I read in his resume. Ok, he’s gay, so what. It sounds as though he is a career Log Cabin member who knows how NOT to rock the boat and opens his mouth on que when needed. Get real people. Wake up and smell the coffee.
fur_hunter
Bob…..You have hit the nail on the head. Thank you.
Smith David
I’m proud of myself. I didn’t write a single negative thing about Trump in this comment section:) Snaps for me!
ShiningSex
Here…let me do it for you.
Trump is a pedo scumbag
Mr-DJ
Gay or not, he’s not qualified.
And he is Far Right.
And he will eventually be unpleasantly discarded like everyone else in Trump’s circle.
nacinla
Let’s not get all aflutter about this. 45 did not appoint a “gay” man to the post (acting, so he can bounce him when no longer convenient, and also to bypass the Senate.) He appointed one of the few willing hacks he can find to work in his admin, to join the illustrious ranks of Barr, Ivanka, Jared, Miller, Conway. No one of any standing in government, policy, business, academia, etc., wants to be a part of the con man’s train wreck. Grenell is totally unqualified for this job, and is roundly being criticized as such. As to comments from the lapdogs abt “progress”: There’s simply no historical data to support their lies that gay people have done better under Republi-cons than Democrats. None.
brentmercer71
This is just a ploy to try and get votes because he needs votes for re-election. He cannot stand Gays and Lesbians nor can the vice President. If Trump had his way we all would be in concentration camps on a deserted island far away from people. I know a lot of people like and support Trump but he is not making America great. He is hurting the Seniors and really has not done much. We need a change in 2020. Everyone is entitled to an opinion and I am sure there will be lots of people who hate this.
ShiningSex
and he’s a vile person just like Trump
fur_hunter
I loved your reply to Smith David. It has me laughing my ass off. Thank you.
Max
it’s nothing but a token gesture that is empty of substance.
Grenell does not bring any experience with him to the DNI position. this spells danger. more “they-don’t-know-what-they’re-doing folks” hired by Trump.
DeVos, Carson, and the rest are proof, and their smugness during their inability to answer questions says volumes about how they’re there to collect government paychecks and do nothing else.
justyouandi
Trans aren’t in the military because we can’t afford their trans surgery they demand be paid by the taxpayers.
EZinHTown
That is the most ignorant comment I believe I have ever read!
Dick Gozinia
Trump has vowed to overturn Roe vs Wade. If he is reelected in 2020, he will likely get to name the replacements on the Supreme Court for Ginsberg (86) and Breyer (81). He has said that he’ll use Roe as a litmus test for who he nominates. That will give conservatives a 7-2 majority on the Supreme Court. If you think they’ll overturn Roe vs Wade and NOT overturn gay marriage, you’re deluded. As long is Trump is in bed with Christian Evangelicals he is NOT our friend and NOT on our side. Appointing a gay man to a position for which he has no qualifications doesn’t change anything.
fur_hunter
YOU are absolutely CORRECT! Thank you. I hope everyone realizes that the legalization of gay marriage is at stake here. I have a bad feeling about it if that ass hole in the white house gets re-elected and appoints republiKKKan judges.
Celtic
From reading comments above, it is obvious several folks posting have NOT looked at Trump’s record against LGBTQ rights. Or, how Trump has surrounded himself with many preachers who have been calling for the extermination of gays. Those who think Trump has gone soft on queers have gone soft in their brains.
fur_hunter
Thank you. You are absolutely correct. The trolls are totally UNinformed.
t
This is no different from, “I am not a racist because I have a black friend.” The orange baboon is a racist, homophobic, bigoted POS and I’m placing a bet that he’ll highlight his token gay as a political ploy to try to get the LGBTQ community’s vote in no time at all. There is no sense of honesty and integrity whatosoever that is associated with the orang baboon.
fur_hunter
You have seen the light. You are totally correct. I believe that when all is said and done, The Dumb ass presently in the White House will be remembered for telling the biggest and most lies of ANY president EVER in history. Anyone who believes a word he says is an IMBECILE!
Jerry
Pandering the gay vote in an election year. Trump will remove him as soon as he is re-elected.
dhmonarch89
Trump appointed Ben Carson to the cabinet- does that make him/his policies any less racist????? Grenell is a facist and NOTHING for our community to be proud of!!!!