Grenell presented his credentials to the President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, on May 8, 2018. His tenure has been controversial, and Grenell has been described as politically and diplomatically isolated in Berlin. Most German political leaders avoid contact with him because of his association with the far right, his interference in German domestic politics, and a perceived lack of professionalism.[1][4][5] In 2020, Grenell briefly served as acting director of national intelligence in the Trump administration, the first openly gay person to serve in a U.S. cabinet-level position.[6]