Richard Grenell, U.S. President Donald Trumpâs former ambassador to Germany who was tapped to be acting director of intelligence, said on Thursday Trump would not be nominating him for the job permanently, a move that would require Senate approval.
âThe President will announce the Nominee (not me) sometime soon,â Grenell tweeted a day after Trump announced his selection to lead the nationâs intelligence agencies in an acting capacity.
Trumpâs move follows his former national security adviser John Boltonâs abruptly departure last year amid disagreements with the Republican president over a number of foreign policy issues involving North Korea, Iran and other hot spots.
A strong Trump supporter with a reputation for sometimes being abrasive, Grenell has also been a lightning rod for controversy during his post in Germany due to his unorthodox style of diplomacy.
Joseph Maguire was serving as acting intelligence chief before Trump announced Grenellâs appointment to the post in a Twitter post on Wednesday.
(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
