President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering Richard Grenell ― a man with a reputation for launching sexist attacks through his Twitter account ― as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Grenell, a former Bush administration official who briefly joined Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign in 2012 as national security and foreign policy spokesman, has previously come under fire for online comments about prominent women in media and politics, many of which are now deleted.
As The Huffington Post reported in 2012, Grenell used Twitter to ridicule Callista Gingrich, the wife of former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. He mocked her appearance, writing “do you think callista’s hair snaps on?” and asked if she ever speaks.
Grenell has also made disparaging comments about women in the media. He suggested that MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow looks exactly like Justin Bieber, and in another tweet, suggested that “rachel maddow needs to take a breath and put on a necklace.”
In October, he faced criticism after he implied that NBC reporter Katy Tur only got her position because of her relationship with Keith Olbermann.
If he ultimately gets the job, Grenell would be the first openly gay person to fill a Cabinet-level foreign policy post.
The pick would continue Trump’s pattern of filling his administration with men who, like the president-elect himself, have been called out for targeting women. On Sunday, Trump announced his choice of Stephen Bannon as chief strategist, a man who was accused of sexually harassment by a former employee and was charged with misdemeanor domestic violence after his wife told police he grabbed her by the throat. The case was later dismissed.
______
Melissa Jeltsen covers domestic violence and other issues related to women’s health, safety and security. Tips? Feedback? Send an email or follow her on Twitter.
______
Related stories:
- This Is Not A Love Story: Examining A Month Of Deadly Domestic Violence In America
- Why Didn’t You Just Leave? Six Domestic Violence Survivors Explain Why It’s Never That Simple
- It’s Time We Listen When Women Say Their Boyfriends Are Dangerous
- This Is How A Domestic Violence Victim Falls Through The Cracks
- Men Offer Abhorrent Excuses For Killing Women. Don’t Repeat Them.
- We’re Missing The Big Picture On Mass Shootings
- A Legal Loophole May Have Cost This Woman Her Life
- This Woman Is On Trial For Killing A Man She Says Tried To Kill Her
- Woman Accused Of Murdering Her Abusive Ex Goes Free After Almost 3 Years Behind Bars