President Donald Trump has named U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell to serve as the next acting director of national intelligence, in a move celebrated by the president's supporters and slammed by his critics.



What are the details?

Grenell has been an ardent supporter of the president and his policies, and his appointment is historic: He will become the first openly gay Cabinet member selected by a U.S. president.

The diplomat and foreign policy expert will replace current acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire.

"I am pleased to announce that our highly respected Ambassador to Germany, @RichardGrenell, will become the Acting Director of National Intelligence," President Trump tweeted on Wednesday night. "Rick has represented our Country exceedingly well and I look forward to working with him," he continued.

President Trump also praised Maguire, saying, "I would like to thank Joe Maguire for the wonderful job he has done, and we look forward to working with him closely, perhaps in another capacity within the Administration!"

Fox News reported that President Trump's selection of Grenell "heartened conservatives eager for new leadership as a series of scandals have plagued the intelligence community." Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported, "Grenell's appointment is likely to exacerbate tensions between the president and members of the intelligence community, who have been frequent targets of Trump's ire."

Ned Price, a former CIA officer who served as a special assistant to former President Barack Obama, reacted to news of Grenell's appointment by tweeting, "Another slap in the face to my former intel colleagues. Grenell is a partisan bombthrower whose only skill is defending Trump. Trump's decision not to nominate a permanent DNI underscores that he has no use for intel and no regard for national security."

Republican Senate aide John Noonan praised the president's selection of Grenell while hitting back at critics who claimed the diplomat did not have the qualifications for the role, tweeting, "@RichardGrenell is sharp and competent. Harvard Kennedy School grad, senior UN official, ambassador to one of the most important US partners. Susan Rice went from UN Ambassador to National Security Advisor but Ambassador to Germany to ODNI is somehow out of bounds? Ok."

