Richard Grenell, who became the first openly gay man to serve in the president’s cabinet after being appointed acting director of the National Intelligence Agency (DNI) last year, congratulated Pete Buttigieg on his position as second after he was passed by the Senate on Tuesday. .
“Congratulations to @PeteButtigieg for becoming the second openly gay member of a president’s cabinet. Welcome to the club! ”He tweeted Tuesday afternoon.
congratulations to @PeteButtigieg about becoming the second openly gay member of a president’s cabinet.
Welcome to the club! pic.twitter.com/BbKK6iTBW1
– Richard Grenell
Richard Grenell Edward Snowden, the media and the espionage law Kentucky governor calls vandalism in McConnell’s house Pelosi’s ‘unacceptable’, McConnell’s homes destroyed because K-stimulus control law is no longer passed (@RichardGrenell) February 2, 2021
The Senate voted earlier on Tuesday to confirm that Buttigieg will lead the department in an 86-13 vote. Although he is only the second openly gay person to serve as a member of the president’s cabinet in the history of the country, he is the first to be confirmed in the cabinet by the senate.
Grenell became the first openly gay cabinet member ever after former President Trump designated him a DNI in February 2020.
The former ambassador to Germany also criticized news media for their coverage of Buttigieg’s confirmation, often playing the historical aspects of Tuesday’s Senate vote.
“Fake news,” Grenell said in response to the ABC News post.
Fake news. https://t.co/CHWyF4yxPI
– Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) February 2, 2021
Grenell, a staunch supporter of the Republican president, had previously served as the US ambassador to Germany and retained that position after being named to lead the intelligence community. Grenell was ratified by the Senate in April 2018 for that position as ambassador.
At the time, the appointment raised concern among Democrats and professional officials who expressed doubts about his qualifications for the position and pointed to earlier comments he made about the desire to “strengthen” conservative leaders “across Europe.”
“There are a lot of conservatives across Europe who have reached out to me to say they feel like a resurgence is underway,” Grenell told Breitbart in an interview in 2018.
Former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe was sworn in in late May as Grenell’s successor. Days later, Grenell also stepped down from his ambassador role.
The Senate confirmed late last month that Avril Haines is President Biden’s DNI. She was the first of his cabinet choices to be confirmed by the higher chamber.