Trump's new intelligence director has zero intelligence experience
Richard Grenell has never worked in any intelligence agency, but he has spent thousands at Trump’s hotel chain and earned himself a loyalty ‘Trump Card.’
Donald Trump on Thursday officially appointed Richard Grenell to be acting director of national intelligence, putting a man with zero intelligence experience in charge of the country’s intelligence agencies.
Grenell currently serves as the U.S. ambassador to Germany. And because he has already been confirmed by the Senate in that role, the law says Trump can move him to any other role within the government without needing to go before the Senate again for approval.
And that works out for Trump, as Grenell — who became well known as a Twitter troll for feuding with reporters on the social media platform — might have a hard time earning confirmation for a job he has no experience in.
“Ambassador Grenell was confirmed to his role as Ambassador by the Senate in April 2018, and he has years of experience working with our Intelligence Community in a number of additional positions, including as Special Envoy for Serbia-Kosovo Negotiations and as United States spokesman to the United Nations,” White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement on Thursday.
“He is committed to a non-political, non-partisan approach as head of the Intelligence Community, on which our safety and security depend,” Grisham continued. “The President has every confidence that Ambassador Grenell will perform his new duties with distinction.”
However, working as an ambassador and spokesman is not national intelligence experience.
But Grenell does have experience spending thousands of dollars at Trump’s hotel chain. According to the Washington Post, Grenell has a “Trump Card” at the “Gold” level, which earns him exclusive benefits, including discounted spa treatments and complimentary upgrades.
Trump has spent much of his time in office criticizing the national intelligence community, especially as it unanimously concluded, based on evidence and investigation, that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help boost Trump’s election chances.
Trump begrudgingly accepted that assessment after years of denying it, though he still casts doubt on the conclusion.
Democrats, for their part, immediately criticized Grenell’s appointment.
“It appears 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,” Sen. Mark Warner, the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, tweeted.
Warner added, “The intelligence community deserves stability and an experienced individual to lead them in a time of massive national and global security challenges.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.
Recommended
Biden on abortion rights: President expects to give speech Tuesday on new Florida 6-week ban
‘Having the president of the United States speaking out loud and with confidence about abortion access is a great thing’
By Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix - April 22, 2024Biden calls for expanded child tax credit, taxes on wealthy in $7.2 trillion budget plan
President Joe Biden released his budget request for the upcoming fiscal year Monday, calling on Congress to stick to the spending agreement brokered last year and to revamp tax laws so that the “wealthy pay their fair share.”
By Jennifer Shutt, States Newsroom - March 11, 2024Biden rallies Democrats in Las Vegas: ‘Imagine the nightmare’ if Trump reelected
With a primary win all but inevitable, President Joe Biden used his Sunday appearance in Las Vegas’s Historic Westside to rally his most vocal supporters in a battleground state that delivered for him four years ago.
By April Corbin Girnus, Nevada Current - February 05, 2024