US President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for special missions, Richard Grenell, has been making headlines in and outside Pakistan due to his ‘support’ and clear stance on freeing former prime minister of Pakistan and founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan.
He wrote and spoke everything a PTI supporter and voter wanted to hear from any stronghold US politician. Richard Grenell used the hashtags #FreeImranKhan to Haqiqi Azadi (real freedom).
Richard tweeted: “You are late. This is too little and too weak. Speak normally. Free Imran Khan.”
Read more: Trump's aide urges Imran Khan's release
Grenell served as the Director of Communications and Public Diplomacy for the United States at the UN during the George W. Bush administration, becoming the longest-serving U.S. spokesperson at the UN from 2001 to 2008.
He was ‘triggered’ by a ‘social media post’ about his sexual orientation as gay — which is a lawful thing in the United States — and all of a sudden he started a full-fledged campaign for the PTI founder to be released from jail and compared Imran Khan with Donald Trump style of politics labeling both as ‘outliers’ facing false cases.
After his tenure at the State Department, he founded Capitol Media Partners, a political consultancy firm, and contributed as a Fox News commentator.
Grenell briefly served as the foreign policy spokesperson, making history as the first openly gay spokesperson for a Republican presidential candidate.
Nominated by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the Senate, Grenell's tenure was marked by his outspoken views on various international issues, which earned him both support and criticism.
Appointed by President Trump, he played a significant role in facilitating discussions aimed at normalizing economic relations between Serbia and Kosovo.
Grenell was the first openly gay person to hold a U.S. Cabinet-level position, overseeing the U.S. Intelligence Community during his tenure.
Throughout his career, Grenell has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ issues within the Republican Party and the broader political landscape.
Grenell has received several accolades, including the National Security Medal in 2020 and the Order of the Serbian Flag in 2023, recognizing his contributions to national security and international diplomacy.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said he was picking Richard Grenell, his former intelligence chief, as presidential envoy for special missions, a post where he will likely drive policies toward some U.S. adversaries, including North Korea.
"Ric will work in some of the hottest spots around the World, including Venezuela and North Korea," Trump said on his Truth Social media platform without further describing the duties.
A Trump transition source told Reuters that Grenell will also focus on tensions in the Balkans.
Grenell served as Trump's ambassador to Germany, a special presidential envoy for Serbia and Kosovo peace negotiations, and as acting director of national intelligence during Trump's 2017-2021 term.
After campaigning for Trump ahead of the Nov. 5 election, he was a top contender for secretary of state, a job that went to U.S. Senator Marco Rubio. He was also considered for special envoy for the Ukraine war, which went to retired lieutenant general Keith Kellogg.
Presidents name presidential and special envoys to focus on global issues, crises or specific diplomatic efforts.
Grenell had previous interactions with Maduro associates.
Reuters reported that in 2020 Grenell secretly met with a Maduro representative to try to work out the Venezuelan leader's peaceful exit from power after his 2018 re-election was considered a sham by most Western countries, but no agreement was reached.
