Loyalty Did Not Trump All for Trump Loyalist Ric Grenell
He and his supporters launched an intense campaign for the position of top diplomat.
TroibNews 
As Richard Grenell sought to become Donald Trump’s secretary of State following the election, a surge of social media posts from MAGA influencers emerged in support of his candidacy. Simultaneously, an associate of Grenell reached out to conservative social media influencers, offering substantial paid contracts — amounting to as high as five figures — to create favorable content about him, according to two sources familiar with the situation.
One of these contracts, which PMG has obtained and which has not been reported before, specified that influencers were to post during "peak posting times," ensure that the "content must appear genuine," and avoid making it "appear as an overt advertisement or promotional message."
Though the organizers informed PMG that the social media campaign never launched, it highlights the extent to which Grenell's associates went to secure his position. Grenell, known as Ric, had openly expressed his ambition to serve as Trump’s secretary of State during private conversations over the past three years, stating it was “or bust,” as noted by someone close to Trump.
As Trump's former ambassador to Germany and acting director of national intelligence — often referred to by Trump as his “wild man,” according to a former official — Grenell had been one of the president-elect’s staunchest supporters throughout the 2024 campaign. However, Trump ultimately appointed Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to the esteemed State position, rewarding one of his top vice presidential candidates, albeit one viewed as less aligned with the MAGA agenda, while leaving Grenell without the role he desired.
While Grenell turned down other positions in Trump’s administration, including the director of National Intelligence, as two individuals familiar with the discussions have reported, he has been vocal about supporting his friend, Kash Patel, for the FBI Director position. There are also indications from multiple sources involved in the transition that Grenell may still land an important role.
There remains no direct evidence linking the influencer initiative to Grenell. In response to inquiries, Grenell dismissed the PMG reporter as an “unserious gossip reporter,” asserting that “none of this is true.”
Grenell had actively worked to prove his loyalty to Trump, advocating for the president-elect’s policies in both public and private spheres, campaigning across the country, and raising funds. He maintains a close relationship with Melania Trump, who engaged in political activities this year primarily with the conservative LGBT group Log Cabin Republicans, an organization with which Grenell is associated. Several senators close to Trump, including Sen. Lindsey Graham and Sen. Mike Lee, recognized Grenell as a leading candidate for secretary of State. Additionally, he joined Trump during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in September.
During Trump’s final rally of the election, held at midnight in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Grenell also spoke, Trump lauded him as “a man who’s very special, with a great talent.”
“I’ll never forget, when I took him out, the happiest person in the world was Angela Merkel,” Trump remarked about the former German chancellor. “When Ric Grenell was taken out, this was the best day in Angela’s life. He was not your typical ambassador.”
Trump noted that “they really loved him” among German officials, but acknowledged that Grenell was “wise to what they were doing.”
In addition to serving as ambassador to Germany, Trump also appointed Grenell to a significant diplomatic role as a special envoy for Serbia-Kosovo relations. Thanks to Grenell’s diplomatic efforts, Serbia and Kosovo agreed to reinstate flights between their capitals, marking progress towards normalization.
Following this, Grenell continued to engage with foreign leaders to champion Trump and his foreign policy, functioning in a shadow secretary of State capacity.
However, various factors worked against his candidacy.
Had Grenell been selected for a Senate-confirmed position, his business dealings abroad — including plans for a $500 million hotel project in Belgrade with Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner — would likely have come under scrutiny.
Additionally, Grenell's push for the top State position raised eyebrows, with his candidacy seeming to unsettle some in Trump's circle. Concerns emerged regarding his personality, which was perceived as prickly and potentially lacking the diplomatic touch necessary for the secretary role.
"People assume the president wants a big personality who is pushing the envelope. That’s not always the case. I think there were a lot of questions about whether Ric was diplomatic enough to be secretary of State,” commented a source familiar with the transition.
This individual added, “Ric was offered several positions that he turned down; it’s not like he was shut out.” After the news broke that Rubio was Trump’s choice for State, many top MAGA voices rallied in support of Grenell, expressing skepticism about the finality of the decision. In response to one supporter encouraging fellow activists not to concede, Grenell replied, “BS. Stop grifting. Not true.”
Support from Grenell's allies, who pushed for his candidacy, may have complicated his bid as well.
Rick Loughery, the former chair of the Young Republicans, contacted conservative influencers post-election, proposing payments for positive posts about Grenell on X and Instagram. The contract required influencers to “engage in their comment section, quote tweet, share, add to stories and reply in relevant threads and posts.” Magnify Media Partners LLC, a political consulting firm led by Taylor Strand, was to disburse payments in installments from November through January, as per the contract.
Strand mentioned in an email that this initiative was “a project about defending Trump loyalists against mainstream media attacks,” but clarified that “this project never moved forward, and Ric Grenell nor any other MAGA leaders were involved.” A follow-up question regarding the social media push for Grenell’s candidacy did not receive a response. Neither Loughery nor the influencer associated with the contract provided comments for this report. Grenell also did not answer additional questions about Loughery's efforts and the Magnify Media initiative. A representative for the Trump transition declined to comment.
It's still possible for Grenell to achieve his goal of becoming secretary of State should Rubio vacate the position within the next four years, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
“If he’s not doing something or accepting something, it’s because he decided not to,” said one Grenell ally on the condition of anonymity, noting that he continues to be presented with opportunities to work with Trump but emphasizing Grenell’s tendency to “play the long game” for a job he genuinely wants.
The recent round of appointments has demonstrated that some individuals have navigated Trump’s world with more success than others in securing positions. Loyalty emerged as a pivotal factor in Trump’s cabinet selections, with any indication of inconsistency, such as rumors of personal ambitions or past criticisms of his conduct, potentially alienating candidates. Multiple advisers revealed that Trump grew annoyed if anyone expressed a sense of entitlement to a role, assumed it was theirs, or attempted to curry favor.
Nevertheless, Trump has acknowledged persistent efforts from those vying for prominent positions who were bypassed for their initial choices. For instance, Matt Whitaker, who sought the top DOJ job, was not chosen as attorney general. Yet, after Trump selected Rep. Matt Gaetz for that position — who later withdrew, leading to Pam Bondi’s appointment — Whitaker adeptly positioned himself for another significant role, ultimately becoming U.S. ambassador to NATO.
Patel, who was recently named FBI director, similarly campaigned for the job despite earlier uncertainty about his confirmation prospects as articulated by certain Trump advisers.
“There is a need and a desire to keep these people close,” observed a source familiar with Grenell’s situation, referring to individuals like Trump’s former trade representative Robert Lighthizer, who has also yet to secure an administration role. “They are loyalists who have been really successful at getting Trump elected. Where does Trump park these people?”
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
One of these contracts, which PMG has obtained and which has not been reported before, specified that influencers were to post during "peak posting times," ensure that the "content must appear genuine," and avoid making it "appear as an overt advertisement or promotional message."
Though the organizers informed PMG that the social media campaign never launched, it highlights the extent to which Grenell's associates went to secure his position. Grenell, known as Ric, had openly expressed his ambition to serve as Trump’s secretary of State during private conversations over the past three years, stating it was “or bust,” as noted by someone close to Trump.
As Trump's former ambassador to Germany and acting director of national intelligence — often referred to by Trump as his “wild man,” according to a former official — Grenell had been one of the president-elect’s staunchest supporters throughout the 2024 campaign. However, Trump ultimately appointed Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to the esteemed State position, rewarding one of his top vice presidential candidates, albeit one viewed as less aligned with the MAGA agenda, while leaving Grenell without the role he desired.
While Grenell turned down other positions in Trump’s administration, including the director of National Intelligence, as two individuals familiar with the discussions have reported, he has been vocal about supporting his friend, Kash Patel, for the FBI Director position. There are also indications from multiple sources involved in the transition that Grenell may still land an important role.
There remains no direct evidence linking the influencer initiative to Grenell. In response to inquiries, Grenell dismissed the PMG reporter as an “unserious gossip reporter,” asserting that “none of this is true.”
Grenell had actively worked to prove his loyalty to Trump, advocating for the president-elect’s policies in both public and private spheres, campaigning across the country, and raising funds. He maintains a close relationship with Melania Trump, who engaged in political activities this year primarily with the conservative LGBT group Log Cabin Republicans, an organization with which Grenell is associated. Several senators close to Trump, including Sen. Lindsey Graham and Sen. Mike Lee, recognized Grenell as a leading candidate for secretary of State. Additionally, he joined Trump during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in September.
During Trump’s final rally of the election, held at midnight in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Grenell also spoke, Trump lauded him as “a man who’s very special, with a great talent.”
“I’ll never forget, when I took him out, the happiest person in the world was Angela Merkel,” Trump remarked about the former German chancellor. “When Ric Grenell was taken out, this was the best day in Angela’s life. He was not your typical ambassador.”
Trump noted that “they really loved him” among German officials, but acknowledged that Grenell was “wise to what they were doing.”
In addition to serving as ambassador to Germany, Trump also appointed Grenell to a significant diplomatic role as a special envoy for Serbia-Kosovo relations. Thanks to Grenell’s diplomatic efforts, Serbia and Kosovo agreed to reinstate flights between their capitals, marking progress towards normalization.
Following this, Grenell continued to engage with foreign leaders to champion Trump and his foreign policy, functioning in a shadow secretary of State capacity.
However, various factors worked against his candidacy.
Had Grenell been selected for a Senate-confirmed position, his business dealings abroad — including plans for a $500 million hotel project in Belgrade with Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner — would likely have come under scrutiny.
Additionally, Grenell's push for the top State position raised eyebrows, with his candidacy seeming to unsettle some in Trump's circle. Concerns emerged regarding his personality, which was perceived as prickly and potentially lacking the diplomatic touch necessary for the secretary role.
"People assume the president wants a big personality who is pushing the envelope. That’s not always the case. I think there were a lot of questions about whether Ric was diplomatic enough to be secretary of State,” commented a source familiar with the transition.
This individual added, “Ric was offered several positions that he turned down; it’s not like he was shut out.” After the news broke that Rubio was Trump’s choice for State, many top MAGA voices rallied in support of Grenell, expressing skepticism about the finality of the decision. In response to one supporter encouraging fellow activists not to concede, Grenell replied, “BS. Stop grifting. Not true.”
Support from Grenell's allies, who pushed for his candidacy, may have complicated his bid as well.
Rick Loughery, the former chair of the Young Republicans, contacted conservative influencers post-election, proposing payments for positive posts about Grenell on X and Instagram. The contract required influencers to “engage in their comment section, quote tweet, share, add to stories and reply in relevant threads and posts.” Magnify Media Partners LLC, a political consulting firm led by Taylor Strand, was to disburse payments in installments from November through January, as per the contract.
Strand mentioned in an email that this initiative was “a project about defending Trump loyalists against mainstream media attacks,” but clarified that “this project never moved forward, and Ric Grenell nor any other MAGA leaders were involved.” A follow-up question regarding the social media push for Grenell’s candidacy did not receive a response. Neither Loughery nor the influencer associated with the contract provided comments for this report. Grenell also did not answer additional questions about Loughery's efforts and the Magnify Media initiative. A representative for the Trump transition declined to comment.
It's still possible for Grenell to achieve his goal of becoming secretary of State should Rubio vacate the position within the next four years, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
“If he’s not doing something or accepting something, it’s because he decided not to,” said one Grenell ally on the condition of anonymity, noting that he continues to be presented with opportunities to work with Trump but emphasizing Grenell’s tendency to “play the long game” for a job he genuinely wants.
The recent round of appointments has demonstrated that some individuals have navigated Trump’s world with more success than others in securing positions. Loyalty emerged as a pivotal factor in Trump’s cabinet selections, with any indication of inconsistency, such as rumors of personal ambitions or past criticisms of his conduct, potentially alienating candidates. Multiple advisers revealed that Trump grew annoyed if anyone expressed a sense of entitlement to a role, assumed it was theirs, or attempted to curry favor.
Nevertheless, Trump has acknowledged persistent efforts from those vying for prominent positions who were bypassed for their initial choices. For instance, Matt Whitaker, who sought the top DOJ job, was not chosen as attorney general. Yet, after Trump selected Rep. Matt Gaetz for that position — who later withdrew, leading to Pam Bondi’s appointment — Whitaker adeptly positioned himself for another significant role, ultimately becoming U.S. ambassador to NATO.
Patel, who was recently named FBI director, similarly campaigned for the job despite earlier uncertainty about his confirmation prospects as articulated by certain Trump advisers.
“There is a need and a desire to keep these people close,” observed a source familiar with Grenell’s situation, referring to individuals like Trump’s former trade representative Robert Lighthizer, who has also yet to secure an administration role. “They are loyalists who have been really successful at getting Trump elected. Where does Trump park these people?”
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
