New Delhi: When Pakistani news outlet GeoNews ran a headline that made sure to specify US Republican candidate Richard Grenell’s sexual orientation, it did not expect it to become a ‘Free Imran’ campaign. PTI supporters are now rallying for Grenell to fight elections in Pakistan and win against Sharif because he has won ‘the hearts and minds of Pakistan’.
It all started when Geo News posted on X Tuesday, announcing: “Gay Richard Grenell appointed as Trump’s special envoy.” Grenell responded to the post, saying: “I’ll say it again. Free Imran Khan.”
Three days later, the Republican took to X, saying that since his previous tweet got 10 million views, he’d like to reiterate his position.
Grenell became the first openly LGBTQ+ person to lead the US intelligence community in April 2020, during President-elect Donald Trump’s first term.
Now, PTI supporters can’t keep calm. While many have rightly criticised Geo News for its homophobia, there is a barrage of weird insights as well. “After Jemima, another ex of Imran khan demands his release,’ X user Anas wrote.
Pakistanis are now advising Trump on his future foreign policy move, which obviously involves freeing former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. In their eyes, it’s a sure-shot move to win the hearts and minds of Pakistanis.
“This single action alone [freeing Khan] would achieve a lot more than billions of dollars spent on U.S. ‘winning hearts and minds’ initiatives over the last few decades that produced nothing but more anti-American sentiment than ever before around the world. It would be one of the greatest foreign policy moves, costing the U.S. $0, and permanently winning over the 6th most populous nuclear armed Muslim country. Easy win for Trump, big win for the people of Pakistan,” X user Hussain Nadim wrote.
Trump could win more hearts and minds in Pakistan—and across the Muslim world—with a single move: securing Imran Khan's freedom and democracy in the country.
This single action alone would achieve a lot more than billions of dollars spent on U.S. "winning hearts and minds"… https://t.co/cWebjbV49E
— Hussain Nadim (@HNadim87) December 19, 2024
Another user Mudassir Hassan called Trump and Khan “two most loving and peaceful persons in the world”.
Bushra Mughal believes that Grenell can even win an election against the Sharifs.
“Richard Grenell had won the hearts of millions of Pakistanis on the demand for Imran Khan’s release, now he reposted Imran Khan’s tweet, so I think now the matter has gone into crores. Now if Richard Grenell contests the election in Pakistan against Nawaz Sharif and Zardari, Richard Grenell will win,” she said.
Trumping her is X user Sabee Kazmi, who called Khan a ‘philosopher’s stone’. “Whoever touches him turns into gold,” he wrote on X, referring to Grenell.
Also read: After US sanctions, Pakistanis have issued a warning: Don’t mess with Gen Asim Munir
Who is Richard Grenell?
Trump announced Grenell as his choice for presidential envoy for special missions.
Imran Khan, who maintains that his ouster was orchestrated by the US administration under President Joe Biden, has long been an outspoken critic of American foreign policy. Yet, during Trump’s tenure as president, Khan enjoyed a closer relationship, holding several meetings with Trump and even visiting the White House. This rapport has now become a rallying point for PTI supporters, who see the Trump-Grenell duo as key allies in securing Khan’s freedom.
Meanwhile, Republican Ro Khanna too supported Grenell: “This is bipartisan. Free Imran Khan.”
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)