Trump to nominate ex diplomat Grenell as German ambassador

FILE: U.S. spokesman to the UN Richard Grenell voting at a UN Security Council meeting. (Photo By Richard Grenell – https://www.flickr.com/photos/137261191@N02/23969812571/, CC BY-SA 2.0)

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump intends to nominate a former diplomat and television commentator to be the United States’ ambassador to Germany.

The White House announced Friday that Trump would choose Richard Grenell for the post.

Grenell served as a spokesman for the United States at the United Nations under four U.S. ambassadors during former President George W. Bush’s administration.

He has also appeared as a foreign affairs commentator on Fox News Channel and founded an international consulting firm in 2010.

If confirmed, Grenell would be the first openly LGBT ambassador for Trump.

The Berlin posting is a high-profile position as Trump’s relationship with German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been closely watched during the president’s first year.