Muslim supporters of President-elect Donald Trump have urged him to consider former Ambassador to Germany Ric Grenell for the role of secretary of state, highlighting his outreach efforts during the recent election campaign.
In a letter addressed to Trump and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, which was shared with The Post, a group called Muslims and Middle Eastern Americans for Trump praised Grenell’s efforts. They noted, “The deployment of Ambassador Richard Grenell and his dedication to engaging our communities to vote for you was a challenging mission — one few could have undertaken with such tenacity and skill.” They credited his work with helping to shift key precincts, traditionally Democratic, towards supporting Trump.
Grenell, who previously served as the acting director of national intelligence, has been actively involved in outreach efforts, including speaking at events for Muslims and Bangladeshi Americans for Trump in Michigan. A source familiar with Grenell’s discussions told The Post that he is in consideration for the secretary of state position, but a final decision has yet to be made. “He [Grenell] wants secretary of state and that’s where he thinks he can really best advance President Trump’s peace vision,” the source stated. It was also noted that Grenell participated in a meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in September.
Grenell, 58, made history as the first openly gay person to serve in a cabinet-level role when he was appointed by Trump as acting director of national intelligence in 2020.
A Michigan native, Grenell played a visible role during Trump’s campaign, speaking at the final pre-election rally in Grand Rapids and engaging with majority-Arab communities in Michigan. Trump’s victory in Michigan, including wins in historically Democratic areas like Dearborn and Dearborn Heights, was highlighted as a significant achievement by his supporters.
Grenell’s potential appointment as secretary of state has been discussed alongside other candidates, including Senators Marco Rubio of Florida and Bill Hagerty of Tennessee. Trump has spoken favorably about Grenell’s potential for a national security role in his administration.
The letter from Grenell’s supporters emphasized his impact, stating, “Ambassador Grenell’s work in Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina brought record numbers of former Democrat voters to support you and your resounding message of peace.” They expressed strong confidence in his ability to advance Trump’s “America First” agenda on the global stage, following extensive campaign engagement and outreach.