The long-stalled nomination of Richard Grenell to be U.S. ambassador to Germany finally made it to the Senate floor Thursday afternoon.
Grenell — former deputy United Nations ambassador and Fox News commentator — was confirmed by a bipartisan vote of 56-42.
With Grenell's nomination held up by Senate Democrats since last November, sources in the German press told Newsmax that Chancellor Angela Merkel had intended to approach the issue of the vacant ambassadorship with Trump during their White House meeting Friday.
Now, the same sources, say Amb. Grenell will participate in the Trump-Merkel meeting.
In assuming the Berlin portfolio, Grenell also becomes the highest gay appointee in the Trump administration.
Senate Democrats had held up Grenell's nomination because of several controversial tweets he made. In hearings before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the nominee apologized for the remarks and said he would be careful about what he tweeted as ambassador.
Although Grenell made it out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on a straight party-line vote, no less than six Democrats voted to confirm him on the Senate floor: Sens. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind.; Doug Jones, D-Ala.; Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D.; Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.; Jon Tester, D-Mont.; and Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. All Republicans present voted for Grenell's confirmation.
The White House placed a high priority on Grenell's confirmation. At several briefings, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders mentioned the importance of getting an ambassador to Germany. President Trump himself tweeted out a message of encouragement on moving the nomination to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
After nearly six months and considerable administration "elbow grease," the U.S. now has its man in Berlin.
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.
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