Might Richard Grenell Be Secretary Of State In 2nd Trump Term? Cuba & Venezuela Likely Subject To "Diplomatic Militancy"

He is a highly visible antagonist of H.E. Dr. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, who will be retiring in 2021. That by itself could be the reason for his appointment.

He does not have the ethical issues that surround The Honorable Michael Pompeo, the current United States Secretary of State. As does Secretary Pompeo, he would not ascribe to the traditional absence of the Secretary of State from involvement in United States elections. He is believed to be the first openly gay member of a cabinet. He would be the first openly gay United States Secretary of State. The Honorable Donald Trump, President of the United States, would relish that “first.” He is young: Fifty-four years of age. He is an avid user of Twitter. He was a Fox News contributor. The current occupant of the Oval Office likes him. He would effectively channel the views of President Trump.

A United States Secretary of State Richard Grenell would be expected to focus using diplomatic militancy upon issues relating to China, Cuba, Iran, Turkey, and Venezuela. His tenure would be judged by which of those five countries, and perhaps others, accede to “regime change” whether as a change in personnel or a change in behavior. Secretary Grenell would be the Sherpa for the “deals” mentioned frequently by President Trump- principally with Iran, then Venezuela, and then Cuba.

NOTE: A potential selection for United States Secretary of State in a Biden Administration could be The Honorable Christopher Dodd, former United States Senator from Connecticut (1981-2011) and former member of the United States House of Representatives (1975-1981), who is a friend of former Vice President Joseph Biden (2009-2017).

The White House
Washington DC
7 September 2020

THE PRESIDENT: “When reports come out that certain countries don't really like me too much, that's not because of my personality, although it could be that also, frankly. It's because of the fact that I've been very tough on countries that have been ripping us off for so many years. If you look at NATO, with the exception of eight countries -- we're one of them -- every country is way behind. They’re delinquent, especially Germany, in paying their NATO bills. That means we end up paying it, and we're not doing it. I told them; we're not doing it. And they've increased their spending now $130 billion, going up to $400 billion a year. It’s all because of me. Then you hear the country doesn’t like me. I mean, I can understand that, because President Obama and other presidents, in all fairness, would go in there and they’d make a speech and they’d leave. I went in there, I looked, and I said, “This is unfair. We’re paying for NATO.” We’re paying for NATO. Almost all of it. So they rip us off on the military and then they rip us off, with the European Union, on trade. And Biden doesn’t have a clue. You know he doesn't have a clue. Everybody knows he doesn't have a clue. In primetime, he wasn't good. And now it's not primetime.”

Thank you, Mr. President. After Navalny poisoning, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany is under pressure to cancel Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia to Germany. Would you support such a move?

THE PRESIDENT: Sure. Well, I've been support- -- I've been supportive of that. I was the first one that brought it up. You never heard of Nord Stream 2 until Trump came along. When I came along, I said, “Wait a minute. We're protecting Germany from Russia, right?” NATO. “We're protecting Germany from Russia. Germany is paying Russia billions and billions of dollars to get their energy.” And the real number is probably 60 to 70 percent, ultimately, of their energy is going to come from Russia. And I said this for years, that nobody talks about it. One of the many things, between sanctions and all of the -- what we've done for Ukraine, relative to what the past -- they used to send pillows, and we sent tank busters. But I brought that up a long time ago. Russia is unhappy that I brought it up. But you never heard of Nord Stream 2; nobody did, until I got elected. And I said, “Why is Germany making a deal to give billions of dollars to Russia, and then we're protecting Germany from Russia? How does that work?” And then, on top of it, Germany is delinquent because they're only paying a little more than 1 percent and they're supposed to be paying 2 percent, and even the 2 percent is low. But just remember: Trump -- me -- I got the countries of NATO to spend one point -- $130 billion, going to $400 billion a year. Think of it: $400 billion a year more for NATO. And the purpose of NATO primarily is Europe protection against Russia. Now, they can use it for other, I guess -- and they have a little bit in the Middle East, et cetera, et cetera. But I'm the one that did that. So -- but nobody talks about that. Nobody talks about Nord Stream 2. The answer is: Absolutely, if they feel that something happens. But I don't know that Germany is in a position right now, because Germany is in a very weakened position, energy wise. They're closing all their plants. They're closing their nuclear. They're closing their coal. They’re closing a lot of plants. And they are -- they have put themselves in a very bad position, frankly. Very, very bad position.”

United States Department Of State
Washington DC
2020

Richard A. Grenell served as the U.S. Ambassador to Germany 2018-2020. He continues to serve as Special Presidential Envoy for Serbia and Kosovo Peace Negotiations. Ambassador Grenell previously served as Acting Director of National Intelligence, spokesman to four ambassadors at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, and founded the global public affairs consultancy, Capitol Media Partners. Ambassador Grenell holds an MPA from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and a BA from Evangel College.

The White House
Washington DC
20 February 2020

Statement from the Press Secretary: Today, the President designated United States Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell as Acting Director of National Intelligence. 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. He is committed to a non-political, non-partisan approach as head of the Intelligence Community, on which our safety and security depend. The President has every confidence that Ambassador Grenell will perform his new duties with distinction.

The White House
Washington DC
3 October 2019

President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Appoint Individual to a Key Administration Post

Richard Grenell of California to serve concurrently as Special Presidential Envoy for Serbia and Kosovo Peace Negotiations and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Federal Republic of Germany. Richard A. Grenell has served as the United States Ambassador to Germany since May 8, 2018. Mr. Grenell, a foreign policy writer and commentator, founded the international consulting firm Capitol Media Partners in 2010. For nearly two decades, he has served as the primary communications adviser for public officials at the Federal, State, local, and international levels, as well as for a Fortune 200 ranked company. Mr. Grenell is the longest serving United States spokesman at the United Nations (2001-2008) having served four United States Ambassadors. He earned a B.A. from Evangel University and an MPA from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

United States Senate
Washington DC
8 January 2018

REPORT FOR THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS- UNITED STATES SENATE
SUBJECT: Ambassadorial Nomination: Certificate of Demonstrated Competence- Foreign Service Act, Section 304(a)(4)
POST: Federal Republic of Germany
CANDIDATE: Richard Allen Grenell

Richard Allen Grenell, a foreign policy communications specialist, writer and commentator, is the Founding Partner of Capitol Media Partners. He has served as the primary communications adviser for public officials at the local, state, federal, and international levels, as well as for a Fortune 300 ranked company. Mr. Grenell has worked extensively with clients based in the U.S. as well as around the world and throughout Europe. He has been a Fox News Foreign Policy Contributor and frequently writes and comments on foreign affairs for a variety of news outlets. Mr. Grenell’s leadership, management expertise, knowledge of governance and highly developed communication skills make him an excellent candidate for Ambassador to Germany.

Mr. Grenell is the longest serving U.S. spokesman in history at the United Nations in New York (2001-2008), where he was part of the negotiation team with the German delegation on a myriad of global issues, including Iran and North Korea sanctions, UN reform and peacekeeping operations. Previously, Mr. Grenell served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications for DaVita, El Segundo, California (2008-2009), Press Secretary, Mayor of San Diego, California (1998-2000), Press Secretary, State of New York Division of Lottery, Albany, New York (1995-1997), Press Secretary, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. (1993-1995), Assistant, Campaign Division, National Republican Congressional Committee, Washington, D.C. (1993), Coalitions Coordinator for the Bush-Quayle Re-election campaign, Washington, D.C. (1992) and Administrator, American Arbitration Association (1989-1991).

Mr. Grenell earned a B.A. from Evangel College (now University) and a M.P.A. from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He received a Superior Honor Award from the Department of State and speaks basic Spanish.