Richard Grenell confirmed that his role as acting director of national intelligence will be a temporary one.
Grenell, who is the U.S. ambassador to Germany, said over Twitter on Thursday that President Trump will soon announce a permanent nominee — and that the nominee would not be him.
Responding to an article about the acting capacity of the selection, Grenell tweeted, “Correct. Acting. The president will announce the Nominee (not me) sometime soon.”
The 53-year-old ambassador is a staunch Trump loyalist, and the Wednesday announcement that he would oversee the intelligence community was met with disdain by Democrats. Opponents claimed he doesn’t have the experience for the role and would not likely be confirmed by the Republican-held Senate if Trump nominated him for a permanent post.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted the appointment in a statement.
“Sadly, President Trump has once again put his political interests ahead of America’s national security interests by appointing an acting director of national intelligence whose sole qualification is his absolute loyalty to the president,” the California Democrat said.
He will replace acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire, a retired Navy vice admiral whom Trump appointed to the role last August.
Grenell, who would be the first openly gay Cabinet secretary, is a fierce advocate for Trump’s foreign policy and, in his position leading the U.S. delegation to Germany, said he wanted “to empower” conservatives in Europe who are “experiencing an awakening from the silent majority.”
The last permanent director of national intelligence was Dan Coats, who resigned last July.
