Trump Names Richard Grenell As Acting DNI Despite Having No Intelligence Experience

President Donald Trump named the U.S. ambassador to Germany and staunch Trump advocate, Richard Grenell, as the acting Director of National Intelligence on Wednesday.

“I am pleased to announce that our highly respected Ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, will become the Acting Director of National Intelligence,” Trump tweeted. “Rick has represented our Country exceedingly well and I look forward to working with him.”

By law, the former acting DNI, Joseph Maguire, had to vacate his position by March 12.

As ambassador, Grenell has pushed decriminalizing homosexuality across the world and promoting conservatism.

“I absolutely want to empower other conservatives throughout Europe, other leaders,” Grenell told Breitbart after he began his role in Germany. “I think there is a groundswell of conservative policies that are taking hold because of the failed policies of the left.”

Grenell has been criticized as lacking experience and the nonpartisanship that acting DNIs generally require.

“Another slap in the face to my former intel colleagues,” tweeted Ned Price, the director of policy and communications at National Security Action. “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.”

Susan Hennessey, a legal analyst for CNN and former attorney in the Office of General Counsel of the National Security Agency, claimed Trump is not appointing Grenell to the position, because he knows he would not be confirmed by the Senate.

“Trump is doing this because he knows Grenell couldn’t be confirmed to the role, which is what the US Constitution requires,” Hennessey tweeted Wednesday. “Once again, when the Constitution is inconvenient, Trump finds a work around and the Republican-controlled Senate just obliges. Originalism, indeed.”

Trump has not indicated who he will appoint for the permanent position, but tweeted Thursday that he “will be nominating a terrific candidate for the job very soon.”