Richard Grenell has won early support from two key members of GOP leadership to be President

Donald Trump's pick as acting director of national intelligence. But it's unclear if most
Republicans — particularly on the Senate Intelligence Committee — are comfortable with the
president's choice.

Trump’s move Wednesday to replace Joseph Maguire in the post has already sparked a backlash
from Democrats and other critics who say the fierce Trump ally and ambassador to Germany
isn’t qualified for the job. So far, however, Republicans who have weighed in don't appear
concerned.

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“If you’re ambassador for some time in a country like Germany, you have a lot of exposure to
intel activities and daily briefings and other things and he’s a very smart, capable guy,” Sen. Roy
Blunt (R-Mo.), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee and GOP leadership, said in a
brief interview Thursday.

Blunt’s comments on Grenell were the first of any Republican on the Intelligence panel, which
oversees the intelligence community. Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.) has
not commented on Grenell. Other committee members like Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) declined to
comment.

If Trump announces a permanent nominee soon, Grenell's role may not be as consequential and
some Republicans may be waiting to see Trump's next move.

House Republicans appeared to be more effusive in their support of Grenell.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy praised the pick, tweeting Wednesday that he “has a
proven track record of fighting for our country, and now, he will work every day to make sure
Americans are safe.” Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah), an Intelligence Committee member also seen
as a potential intelligence chief, also applauded the decision to tap Grenell.

Blunt also appeared to deflect criticism that Grenell has never served in a U.S. intelligence
agency by arguing that Maguire took the job with similar levels of expertise. Maguire was
confirmed as director of the National Counterterrorism Center in December 2018 and made
acting intelligence chief in August 2019 after Dan Coats left the administration.