President Trump said former acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell will take up a “high-level” position in his administration after a short “breather.”
Trump talked up Grenell, who temporarily filled the role of spy chief before former Texas Rep. John Ratcliffe was confirmed last month, during an interview with the Daily Caller on Friday.
“I don’t know, but he’ll come back in some form, at a high level. He was fantastic, the job he did,” Trump said. “He did a fantastic job. So, I believe that justice will be served. I hope that justice will be served, and I believe justice will be served.”
Grenell, who concurrently served as the U.S. ambassador to Germany, became the first openly gay Cabinet-level official after Trump announced in February that he would replace retired Navy Vice Adm. Joseph Maguire as director of national intelligence in an interim capacity.
“Rick has represented our Country exceedingly well and I look forward to working with him,” Trump tweeted at the time.
While filling the role, Grenell declassified a variety of documents relating to the Obama administration’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, raising further questions about the origins of the inquiry into the Trump campaign. Trump called Grenell an “all-time great” for his performance in the job.
Marking his departure from the role, Grenell was given his Cabinet chair in the West Wing of the White House by Trump as a token of appreciation.
“‘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 said in a post on Instagram.
Grenell remains part of the Trump administration as special presidential envoy for Serbia and Kosovo peace negotiations.
