Inside the Apprentice-style tryouts among Trump's inner circle to be his next Russian Ambassador… as firebrand Ric Grenell handed brutal truth

By ELINA SHIRAZI, US SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER Published: 16:22, 4 April 2026 | Updated: 16:22, 4 April 2026 The most consequential diplomatic vacancy in the world sits empty – and President Donald Trump is in no hurry to fill it. The US ambassador to Russia remains unoccupied – and the glaring hole on Trump's team has turned the competition for the prestigious slot into a real–time Apprentice audition, full with schemers, rivalries and of course, victims. Despite official denials, all roads reportedly lead back to Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, reportedly favored to stay in his current role. Insiders say the search isn't stalled by a lack of talent, but by the need for any appointee to align with Witkoff's own vision for America's most sensitive back–channel. The absence of a confirmed US ambassador to Russia creates a significant void in a crucial diplomatic relationship. This vacancy comes amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, a war that has entered its fourth year. Without a designated ambassador, the US lacks a direct and high–level channel to Moscow for de–escalation and conflict resolution. Since the invasion, Congress has authorized over $170 billion in total aid. 'This is a pattern, especially in the Trump administration – special envoys big–footing the ambassadors,' a diplomatic source familiar with the region tells the Daily Mail. 'It is shocking that we are already in April and we don't have an ambassador to one of the most important countries in the world.' In the running were a veteran Wall Street financier with deep Kremlin ties and a seasoned political operative who has held senior intelligence and envoy roles across both Trump administrations, both out of the running.  Operating as a special envoy, Witkoff has bypassed decades of State Department protocol to become the primary – and perhaps sole – conduit between Washington and Moscow, alongside his unofficial negotiating partner Jared Kushner. In the running were a veteran Wall Street financier with deep Kremlin ties and a seasoned political operative who has held senior intelligence and envoy roles across both Trump administrations, both out of the running Special envoy Steve Witkoff, left, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, center, and Jared Kushner attend a meeting with Ukrainian officials back in November of last year Ric Grenell, the former acting director of the renamed Trump–Kennedy Center, floated his interest in the Moscow role to close colleagues, according to two sources close to Grenell Bob Foresman, a seasoned businessman with deep, decades–long ties to the Kremlin, was reportedly once the frontrunner, according to three sources familiar with the process Operating as a special envoy, Witkoff has bypassed decades of State Department protocol to become the primary – and perhaps sole – conduit between Washington and Moscow , alongside his unofficial negotiating partner Jared Kushner  His influence is staggering. Witkoff has already logged eight face–to–face meetings with Vladimir Putin, a level of access that would make a career diplomat weep with envy. 'There's nobody in Moscow that does anything without his blessing — so why does he need an interlocutor getting in the way?' one former ambassador familiar with the situation said. Diplomatic insiders say Witkoff is 'highly comfortable' with the status quo and has privately expressed concern that a heavyweight diplomat could dilute his direct line to the Russian president. While Witkoff and Kushner's back–channel diplomacy fires on all cylinders, the broader US–Russia relationship is falling into a black hole of neglect – and the search for a permanent ambassador has already left bodies in its wake. Ric Grenell, the former acting director of the renamed Trump–Kennedy Center, floated his interest in the Moscow role to close colleagues, according to two sources close to Grenell.  'He had an interest in the job – or at least he floated the idea to select colleagues. But Putin's regime is extremely anti–LGBTQ, so I'm sure they didn't take that thought too seriously,' one source close to Grenell told the Daily Mail. 'That would never happen anyway.' Bob Foresman, a seasoned businessman with deep, decades–long ties to the Kremlin, was reportedly once the frontrunner, according to three sources familiar with the process. Foresman served as Vice–Chairman of UBS Investment Bank and Deputy Chairman of Renaissance Capital between 2006 and 2009, and earlier led investment banking for Russia at Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein from 1997 to 2000, chairing its regional management committee. He declined to comment when contacted by the Daily Mail. Russia's President Vladimir Putin welcomes US special envoy Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and Commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service, Josh Gruenbaum, during a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on January 22, 2026 Grenell, meanwhile, is said by those closest to him to be holding out for a 'top national security job' Trump looks on next to Russian President Vladimir Putin during a press conference following their meeting to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, in Anchorage, Alaska, back in August last year The absence of a confirmed US ambassador to Russia creates a significant void in a crucial diplomatic relationship. This vacancy comes amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, a war that has entered its fourth year. Without a designated ambassador, the US lacks a direct and high–level channel to Moscow for de–escalation and conflict resolution. Since the invasion, Congress has authorized over $170 billion in total aid Two diplomatic sources say Foresman was sidelined because the administration didn't want him – and that Witkoff told the President he didn't need the help.  A White House staffer confirms it was Trump himself who, after brief consideration, pulled the plug. A source familiar with the selection process says it will be a tough role to fill: 'Certain ambassadorial positions are considered more desirable than others. This is considered a hardship post by the State Department.' Grenell, meanwhile, is said by those closest to him to be holding out for a 'top national security job.' Two attendees at last year's Munich Security Conference told the Daily Mail they watched Grenell behave like a 'commissar' at the conference's annual Ukrainian lunch – hovering over diplomat and former Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg to ensure the 'right things were said,' as both men sat beside Ukraine's defence minister. Those present described it as 'an embarrassing look' ––  and read it as Grenell already auditioning for an advisory role. 'Everybody speculating at the conference thought he's just waiting for Rubio to fail so he can take that job. There were even rumours he'd become national security advisor,' one former diplomat who attended said. Yet while the internal jockeying continues, the reality in Moscow is unchanged. 'There is truthfully no ambassadorial appointee who's going to have top Putin ally Kirill Dmitriev calling the ambassador instead of Steve and Jared,' said another former ambassador familiar with the region. 'There is no rush to fill that role because it has now been deemed unnecessary' Diplomatic insiders say Witkoff is 'highly comfortable' with the status quo and has privately expressed concern that a heavyweight diplomat could dilute his direct line to the Russian president 'There is truthfully no ambassadorial appointee who's going to have top Putin ally Kirill Dmitriev calling the ambassador instead of Steve and Jared,' said another former ambassador familiar with the region. 'There is no rush to fill that role because it has now been deemed unnecessary.' The US Ambassador's seat in Moscow has been empty for nearly nine months following the departure of Lynne Tracy on June 27, 2025. Tracy, the first woman to hold the post, concluded her mission after a turbulent 29–month tenure that began in January 2023 – let go by Trump when the new administration was ushered in. Her time in Moscow was defined by Putin's suspension of the New START treaty — effectively blinding the world's two largest nuclear powers to each other's arsenals — and a volatile era of hostage diplomacy that culminated in the landmark August 2024 prisoner exchange. New START was the last major nuclear arms control agreement between Washington and Moscow. Signed in 2010 by Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev, it was designed to cap both nations' nuclear arsenals and prevent an all–out arms race. “This is totally fake news. Special Envoy Witkoff has not put his thumb on the scale in any way for a US Ambassador position in Russia. These personnel decisions are made by the President, and the Special Envoy is focused on bringing the Russians and Ukrainians together to facilitate a peace deal,' Anna Kelly, White House spokeswoman told the Daily Mail in response to this story.  No comments have so far been submitted. 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