Former Trump Official Ric Grenell Hints At Run For CA Governor

CALIFORNIA — Ric Grenell, former acting national intelligence director in former President Donald Trump's cabinet teased a potential run for California governor at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday.

Grenell met with the former president for dinner Saturday night at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, but he denied previous reports that said the two were meeting to discuss a possible run in the Golden State.

Grenell later told Politico that he was not getting ready to announce a run for Newsom's seat.

"It’s always great to spend time with potus 45," Grenell tweeted Sunday afternoon after sharing a picture of himself and Trump on Instagram.

The news comes as a possible upcoming recall election nears for Gov. Gavin Newsom. Organizers for the effort claim to have garnered more than 1,800,000 signatures, but signatures must be verified as registered voters by the Secretary of State's office. Supporters will need to gather 1,497,709 verified signatures by mid-March to get the recall on a ballot.

"In my three decades in American politics, I have never seen a better case for a recall, than there is right now in California," Grenell said as his closing remarks at the Conservative Political Action Conference Saturday morning. "And of course, if a public official is still failing to deliver on their promises, and if you can't limit their term or recall them in time, there's always one other option: You can run against them yourself."

Grenell, a California native, took aim at Newsom's leadership, which has received backlash during the pandemic.

"California used to be Reagan country — the shining example of business innovation and middle-class success," Grenell said. "But now when you think of California, you think of out-of-control wildfires, of rolling blackouts, of schools still closed, of shuttered businesses, of bans on fracking and wealthy people jumping the vaccine line."

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Grenell, a Trump ally, served as U.S. Ambassador to Germany for two years during the former president's term. He also served as acting intelligence director for three months in 2020.

Although the recall effort kicked off before the pandemic severely affected Californians, supporters say that Newsom's response to the pandemic has been misguided. The effort, which sprouted as an effort backed by right-wing activists, accelerating significantly after Newsom's French Laundry soiree — where the governor was seen dining out with a large group of people after urging Californians to stay home.

Supporters of the recall effort have also decried severe problems with the state's unemployment agency and a slow vaccine rollout.

Two others have announced their intentions to run for Newsom's seat in the past several weeks, including Republican businessman John Cox, who announced his second campaign for California governor Monday in a video that condemns Newsom and vows to lower housing costs and restore jobs for Californians.

Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer also in early February that he would run for governor of California.

White House officials have said that President Joe Biden opposes the effort to recall Newsom.

SEE ALSO:

• Kevin Faulconer Announces Run For California Governor
• John Cox Enters CA Governor's Race With Ad That Slams Rivals