Trump Names Ric Grenell Presidential Envoy for Special Missions

President-Elect Donald J. Trump has just named Richard “Ric” Grenell Presidential Envoy for Special Missions. Grenell who was the acting Director of National Intelligence for the first Trump administration, will be focusing on Venezuela and North Korea as his first two missions.

There have been various reports claiming that Trump would be appointing Grenell for the role of special envoy for Iran. But it turns out his role will be much broader.

The first two missions with Venezuela and North Korea are just the beginning as there will be other issues added.

Saturday, immediately following the Army-Navy game, President-elect Trump posted on Truth Social:

As President Trump said, Grenell has extensive experience in foreign policy. In 2021, he was Trump’s Presidential Envoy for the Serbia and Kosovo Negotiations, bringing extensive experience to the post.

Grenell also has extensive experience with Venezuela. At the request of then-President Trump, Grenell was in negotiations with the Maduro regime in 2020. “Richard Grenell, a close Trump ally who has served numerous roles in the administration, quietly embarked on a pre-election mission last month that was at least partly intended to persuade President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela to give up power,” the New York Times reported at the time. Maduro was responsible for Venezuela’s economy collapsing under widespread isolation, “forcing Mr. Maduro to rely on illicit trade and other assistance from Cuba, Iran, Russia, Turkey and other states that have faced financial punishment or condemnation from the United States as a result.”

Grenell was a US Spokesman to the United Nations Security Council 2001-2008 and during the time that North Korea conducted the detonation of a nuclear device in October of 2006, when the US asked for UN sanctions on North Korea.

Thursday, President-elect Trump posted on Truth Social:

“Richard Grenell is a fabulous person, A STAR. He will be someplace, high up! DJT”

The Globe tried to reach Grenell for comment but was unable to connect yet.